12 True to his Word
After a couple of Saiyans took Nappa's unconscious body away, I looked towards the King and saw him staring back at me with a blank expression. We stared at each other for what seemed to be an eternity until he turned and walked away.
His wife followed after him immediately, but the Prince had lingered for a moment. Apparently I had captured his attention.
I can't tell if that's a good thing or a bad thing.
"Zyleth!"
Hearing my name, I turn and immediately get sent tackled into the ground by a flying embrace by my mother.
I groan, having had the wind knocked out of me. Before I can collect myself, Gine hold me up and rubs her cheek on mine like I'm some sort of puppy.
"I was so worried about you!"
I try to pry myself away, but surprisingly I wasn't able to pry her arms away from me. I'm ten times stronger than her! How can I not budge her at all!
"Gine, if you keep squeezing him like that you're gonna break him worse than what he just did to Nappa." Bardock points out.
Hearing this, Gine lets me go and I drop onto the ground like a sack of potatoes.
"Sorry!" Gine apologizes immediately.
I give her a thumbs up as I finally catch my breath.
"You were so cool! You were all like bam! Boom! Pow!" Raditz says as he strikes the air, mimicking what I did to Nappa.
Bardock ruffles his hair. "Yeah he was amazing." He said before turning his gaze towards me. "Mind explaining how exactly you got that strong?"
I stand up and give him a shrug. "I have good genes."
"Ha! Damn right you do!" Bardock exclaimed with pride.
"Great, fill up his ego even more why don't ya?" A familiar voice sounded off.
We all turn and see the members of Team Bardock all standing there with various degrees of emotions.
Tora comes up and starts ruffling my hair. "Looks like the little cub is all grown up now, huh?"
"You did us proud, kid." Shugesh said, with Borgos nodded along in agreement.
"I don't know how I feel about a kid being stronger than me, but the way you knocked that infuriating look off Nappa's face is a good consolation prize." Fasha said with a smirk and a shrug of her shoulders.
"So if I'm stronger than you now, does that mean I'm in charge of the next training session, Fasha?" I asked with a shit eating grin.
"This kid..." Fasha gritted her teeth, the smirk she had twitching at the sides. "You're just begging for a beating."
Huh... Now that I'm not deathly afraid of her petty retaliation, she looks kinda hot when she's angry.
Okay, what the hell is up with me today?!
I've never paid attention to any woman's looks before today, now I'm straight up admiring Fasha right after Vegeta's mom? While bantering with the former?
Not to mention the overwhelming annoyance I had experienced in the throne room when I bowed down to the king. That's never happened before. It's like coming back from conquering that planet changed something inside my head.
.
.
.
Oh, I'm on a power high.
Well that's a relief. I thinking that I just went through a Saiyan's version of puberty for a second.
Oh god, what happens when I actually go through puberty?
"Zyleth?" A voice pulls me back into reality and I see an unknown Saiyan standing off to the side, waiting for my attention. "The King wishes to see you in the throne room."
"Thank you. I'll go straight away."
He nods and takes his leave.
I look back over towards everyone. "I'll see you all after?"
"Yeah, we'll be waiting for you at your parents place." Tora said, the members of Team Bardock nodding in agreement.
Bardock pats me on the back and Raditz just continues to strike the air.
"Stay safe." My mother says, hugging me before leaving with everyone.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I enter the throne room and see that besides Paragus and Broly, there were no other Saiyans inside besides the King and Prince.
"Zyleth." The King acknowledges my presence and motions for me to stand beside Paragus.
I do so and wait for the King to speak. The seconds of silence seems to cause Paragus to tense, which in turn makes Broly tense.
"Tell me, Zyleth. Are you loyal to Vegeta?" The King finally asks.
"Your son, the planet, or you?" I ask.
"Yes." He says.
Having the clarification I wanted, I bow my head. "Of course, My Liege. I am one hundred percent loyal."
"If that's so, then why do you wish to train the son of Paragus?" He asked.
How do those two things correlate at all? Is he thinking that I'm planing a coup or something?
"For the good of Vegeta. And if possible, to help us get out from under the Frost Demon's thumb" I state resolutely and without hesitation.
More like for the good of my training, but he doesn't need to know that.
"And what if I deemed him to be too dangerous for the Saiyan Race? What would you do?" He asked, causing my eyebrows to furrow, although he can't see it.
"I would find it regrettable to lose such a potentially powerful warrior, but I will respect your decision." I answered.
"And if I ordered you to kill them?"
I feel Paragus tense even harder the moment that question left the King's lips.
Damnit. I had a feeling that this is where it was going. "I would do so quickly and without hesitation."
"Then prove yourself." He stated.
I stood up straight and extended my hand towards Paragus and Broly, a dark yellow ki sphere gathering in my palm.
I see the look of shock on the father and son, but I continue my actions. Shit! I didn't want to have to do this, but I have no choice.
I prepare to let it fire when the King suddenly shouted, "Enough!"
Too late, I had already released it.
I quickly raise my hand towards the sky and the blast puts a hole through the ceiling.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Shocked by the events unfolding, Paragus quickly hid Broly behind him as Zyleth prepared to execute them both. The child who he had placed his belief in was now going to be his executioner.
But before the child fired off his attack, for a split second Paragus swore that he saw Zyleth's eyes turn towards the King.
"Enough!" The King shouts.
Unable to stop the blast, Zyleth quickly moved his hand towards the ceiling and instead blasted it off towards the sky. A few pieces of rubble fell from the ceiling, but otherwise everyone was left unharmed.
"Damn, that was close..." Paragus heard Zyleth mutter to himself.
"Your lack of hesitation in response to the order has proven your loyalty. Though I do not appreciate the hole in the Royal Throne Room." The King said as his eyebrow twitches in annoyance.
"So... does that mean--"
"Yes, Paragus. Your son will continue to live on Planet Vegeta under Zyleth's supervision." The King nodded before turning his gaze towards Zyleth. "Along with Paragus' son, Vegeta will also be under your care. I trust that you have no objections?"
Zyleth shakes his head, understanding that he was now the trainer and supervisor of not just one, but two Saiyan children.
"Then you may go. The Royal Courtyard is now open to you for whatever you wish. I'll be eager to see the results of your training." The King said before waving them off.
Zyleth, Paragus, and Broly all exited the throne room, the three letting out breaths of relief.
"Dear Lord, that man knows how to leave an impression." Zyleth groaned before shaking his head and walking away. "Training will begin tomorrow morning. Make sure Broly is there."
Seeing that Zyleth was about to walk away, Paragus couldn't help but think back to the situation that just happened and ask the question lingering in his mind.
"You were going to shoot the King, weren't you?"
Zyleth stopped in his tracks, but he didn't turn around. "Excuse me?"
"Before you fired... for a split second your eyes went towards the King. If he hadn't have stopped you, you were going to blast him instead..."
After a few seconds, Zyleth looked at Paragus over his shoulder.
"What of it?"
"Why? Why are you willing to do all of this for my son?" Paragus asked.
Zyleth was silent for a moment before continuing to walk down the hallway. "I just am."
