Serena rolled as another knee came for her stomach. It wasn't the first time, nor would it be the last as he lunged for her. The past several years had been hell on her, and she was still no where close to being in Bardock's lead. Every time she thought she was improving, he would start picking up the pace as if she were a beginning white belt in a kiddie karate class.

Bardock never gave her praise, but he never said anything negative either. She often wanted to ask what he saw in her; why he chose to train her when she wasn't anywhere close to his standards? Serena remembered conversations she used to have with the Saiya-jins on Lunaria. They only trained outsiders that had earned their respect; so why had Bardock taken on the task? There had to be a reason, yet all she could pick from his mind was a simple wish.

He wanted something to end, but Serena couldn't figure out what. Bardock often corrected her mistakes, but unfortunately for Serena it was with his hands and feets instead of words. He didn't believe in wasting time with words; often as silent as Serena.

Serena knew he often understood what she needed to do or wanted without having to write it down. Bardock was confusing to her; he fought and acted like a Saiya-jin, but his spirit was never in the training. He seemed so far away and it frightened her. What was it that he wanted so badly that he would agree to train her? Bardock, despite his promise to keep an emotional distance, had started to like the girl and her strong determination to save her friends.

Bardock decided that she needed a break, wanting for her battered body to recover. He didn't want to admit it, but he respected and felt bad for the girl. Too much was riding on her small shoulders, yet she didn't seem to mind. Why was she so determined to fight with an enemy that she knew was stronger?

"Go find something to eat," he ordered. Serena picked herself up off the ground, but hesitated. In about a week, her ten years would be up and she didn't like the look on his face. Ignoring his command, knowing she would be in trouble for it later, she walked up to him and touched his arm.

'He may not be the easiest guy to understand, but he's like an uncle. Bardock never lets anything happen to me, and I know he guards me while I sleep. He keeps the nightmares at bay by waking me when they get bad. Why can't I see what he plans to do?'

"Serena, I don't allow you breaks often. Take advantage of it."

She didn't care how bad she hurt, Serena wasn't giving up. Bardock blinked in surprise, watching the blue of her eyes flicker silver. Serena took another step, her grip becoming almost painful as she stared him down. He thought he had her moods figured out, and never had he seen her angry before.

"Fine." Bardock made a sweep for her feet, but to his surprise she jumped and slammed all her strength into his chest. It didn't hurt, but the fact that she had managed to strike him at all was impossible for him to comprehend. "Dammit kid, you're asking for it!" He snarled, rolling back to his feet to catch her fists.

Any traces of the gentle Serena he had been training suddenly vanished, replaced with a cold glare. She was beyond angry; the girl was furious. Silver radiated around her body, pushing him back until he was forced to scream and power up. Startled, she jumped back, staring at Bardock's now golden hair and green eyes.

Serena barely managed to dodge his attacks, unable to keep up and strike back. He rarely got mad enough to punish her, but she had disobeyed him when he had specifically ordered her to rest. 'Dammit, I don't care! Something's wrong and I'm not quitting until I figure it out!'

Bardock had no clue to where her energy was coming from, nor why she was so determined to continue fighting him. Hundreds of fighters had gathered around, startled by the intensity of Serena's rage and Bardock's growing power. Pikkon was impressed, seeing for the first time why the girl needed to be trained. This was the dark power the Grand Kai had spoken of, and it only seemed to be growing with each strike Bardock landed on her.

Too mezmerized by the battle, no one was aware of the silent shadow that walked between them, watching Serena's aura change to almost an angry red. He raised a brow, amused by the improvement in her skills and her temper. Sitting on a nearby tree branch, he waited for one of them to tire. He had a feeling it would be his sister, but Bardock would not come out of this without a few scratches of his own.

He kicked her in the stomach, but she ignored the pain and simply glared at him as she jumped back to her feet. She was drenched in sweat, but suddenly she froze, her gaze sweeping the crowd. Finally it landed on the man sitting a little away from the crowd, his silver gaze staring down at her with pride.

The man had black hair and a crescent moon like the one she wore on her forehead, only his was black. 'As is yours,' he taunted. Gasping, she lost the will to fight, her hair and eyes back to normal. Serena collapsed to the ground, too weak to stand. Unlike the last time she had lost control, she remembered and was horrified to know that she had challenged her trainer.

Bardock had spotted the stranger as well, a small smile appearing for the first time in several hundred years. At last, he would have his wish. Did it matter that her brother was a few days early? Jumping down from the tree, the man approached, his gaze never leaving his sister. Serena wanted to run, afraid of what his appearing meant.

"Was it not your desire to return home?" He carefully knelt, not once breaking eye contact with her. Serena wanted to glance back at Bardock, but the man was too quick and snatched her chin. "He has done what I asked. Your place is in the mortal world, not in the land of the dead."

If Serena could have snarled, she would have, her eyes once again silver. They were filled with a cold anger. 'If I'm not mistaken,' she mentally shouted, watching in satisfaction as her brother flinched, 'you were the one that forced me to remain here in the first place!'

"Serena, we'll dicuss this later."

'No! You made a deal with Bardock, didn't you! The Grand Kai couldn't grant it, but you can! What wish is so powerful that you have to grant it? I know you have more power than all the Kai's combined!'

"Should Bardock not be the one to decide what he wants? I needed you trained and he was the best choice."

Serena jerked away from her brother, whirling on Bardock in fear and rage. Storming up to him, she forced him to look at her; he didn't look away. For the first time in ten years he dropped all barriers and allowed her to see the never ending sorrow and pain.

She staggered back, seeing and smelling death. Serena witnessed the murder of millions, the pain and torture endured by a being called Frieza and his servants. In the end he had turned on the Ice-jin, knowing he would die. Bardock hadn't cared, but even now, allowed to keep his body, he never forgot his failure and never ending guilt. It wouldn't go away, and people hated him for the things he had been forced to carry out. Serena had heard the rumors from some of the other fighters, but had refused to pay attention to them.

Suddenly she knew what his wish was, what Bardock had wanted for close to two hundred years. He had been dead for close to five hundred, and he was just so damn tired of seeing it again and again. The souls cried out, the ones that wanted justice and the only way he saw to satisfy them was to not exist himself. Bardock wanted his soul completely destroyed and Damien could grant him that desire.

Serena's anger vanished, left with a deep terror as she watched the events playout in Bardock's life. She shook her head, not wanting to believe that Damien was willing to give it to him. Bardock started to reach for her, but she quickly turned around and slapped her brother as hard as she could.

Everyone gaped at the girl, watching the most feared being in the galaxy tremble in unrestrained rage. She didn't seem to care as she swung at him again. Damien snatched her fist, barely missing the other as it swung at his head. Confused, he could only crush her in a tight hug, waiting for her to collapse in exhaustion. Her shoulders trembled as she cried, Serena struggling wildly as she tried to fight him. "Stop it, Serena."

'You can't do this! Dammit, you can't grant him that wish!' People could only stare in confusion, the conversation between the two seeming one sided. Pikkon knew the two were telepaths, but then again so was he.

"It's his choice, Serena."

'It was never his choice! His spirit was beaten out of him when he was barely a child! Is Vegeta and the others like this as well!'

"Vegeta and Turles. Raditz was always protected by them, being the weakest of the group."

'No! I won't let you do it!'

"Serena, this will stop! I will not deny Bardock his request!"

Bardock could only stare in confusion as Serena struggled with her brother. She knew what he had done, yet she hadn't pulled away in fear or hate. Serena was fighting for his soul. 'Why? I don't understand.'

Too tired to continue with the battle, she sagged against Damien, her heart breaking in a thousand pieces. 'Dammit Damien! If you do this, I swear I'll follow him!' Damien froze, the air around him dropping several hundred degrees. His grip on her tightened, a dark rage threatening to explode.

"You will not!" Yet he knew that she would. Damien had underestimated his sister, Serena too forgiving to allow Bardock to end his existance. She didn't understand his guilt, only that he had been badly abused as a child. Serena blamed Frieza and the creatures that made the Saiya-jins what they were.

Bardock moved towards the devastated girl, reaching out to touch her shoulder. Instantly she was in his arms, soaking his uniform with her never ending tears. He didn't hear the collective gasp, all eyes staring in awe as the cold hearted Saiya-jin wrapped her in a protective embrace. Bardock, the Saiya-jin who never showed any emotion, who hated everything and everyone, had grown to care about the girl he had raised and trained in the past ten years.

She always had a smile for him, and now she cried for him. Serena didn't want him to leave her. He stroked her hair, trying to soothe her, but it only seemed to upset her further. "Serena..." Her grip around his waist tightened, afraid that he would vanish at any moment.

"Look at me," he commanded softly. Gently he wiped away the tears, "Why do you cry for me Princess?"

"Damn brat!" Damien growled. "You were always too forgiving!"

Bardock could only gape at her in astonishment. Was she truly forgiving him, despite everything he had done? She nodded, confirming that she could read his every thought. He smirked, "Brat. Dammit, now what am I suppose to do? That's the only wish that I've wanted for two hundred years."

She gave him a gentle smile, glancing at her brother. 'Please Damien?'

If looks could kill, she would be dead, but Serena knew deep down her brother would never hurt her. Serena knew then that she was the only one that was truly safe from Damien. He had been furious when she had threatened to follow after Bardock, and Serena had a feeling hell would have frozen over first. "She wants you to return to Earth with her."

"What?" He gasped. "But..."

Damien smirked, as if life and death were a mere inconvience. "Name your wish Bardock. If you still desire the first, Serena will have to accept it!" His tone ended any protest she might have had, not wanting to hear her screaming in his mind any longer. He had every intentions of knocking her out and keeping her asleep for several thousand years, but he awaited Bardock's answer.

"I've been wanting to talk with those brats of mine anyway. Why the hell are they allowing girls to fight there battles and where was Kakarot before Serena was tossed down here in the first place?"

"Serena," Damien growled. "If you ever pull a stunt like this again... I swear, I don't give a damn if you are my sister." She was suddenly hugging him, giving him the same smile she had given Bardock. He scowled, knowing it was pointless to threaten her. "Brat! I knew there was a reason we avoided the surface Lunarians!"

Before she could blink, they were standing on a cliff, staring at the ocean slamming against the rock. She couldn't believe that she was finally home, and hoped that someone would be glad to see her. The halo over Bardock's head was gone and he stared at his surroundings in shock. Never did he think he would be allowed a second chance, nor had he wanted it. Bardock had a lot to thank her for, but didn't have the words.

Grabbing his arm, she took off down the surf, knowing instictively where her friends were at. Bardock chuckled at the happy blond, her eyes shining with laughter.

"Dammit," Raye fumed, tossing a rock into the ocean. "He's so impossible! I am not an onna!"

She swiped angrily at the tears threatening to fall, but more replaced them until her shoulders shook. Raye didn't want him to see the well of emotions that threatened to explode. She felt like she was ten again, standing on the steps of the shrine. Her father had left her, a look of contempt in his eyes. He wanted nothing to do with a troublesome girl, a freak that had the ability to know things before they happened.

Was it so much to ask that Raditz accept her for being what she was? No, she wasn't a Saiya-jin, but she had her own powers. Long after the others had fallen asleep, she had snuck off, wanting to be alone. She was faster, stronger and could even block a few of her trainer's moves. Still, no matter how hard she tried, she never came close to defeating him. What good was she? If she couldn't stand to the might of a Saiya-jin, how was she going to fight the Negaverse?

"Onna, you should sleep." She was thankful that the shadows hid her face, not wanting him to see the shame filled tears sliding down her cheeks.

"Go away," she whispered, too tired to argue with him.

Raditz stared at the female, kneeling down to get a closer look at her. She tried to turn away from him, but the scent of salt had him grasping her chin. Her eyes were a deep violet, shimmering with tears. He started to say something, but froze. In the past ten years, he had never seen her once give in to his taunts. He only said them because he liked her nasty temper.

Without a word, his tail circled around her waist and pulled her into his lap. Startled, she could only stare at the man she thought hated her. "What..."

"If crying will return you to normal, then do so."

Of all the self-centered, arrogant... Raditz fought the urge not to laugh, loving the flash of rage in her expressive eyes. He'd be the first to admit that he had hated the idea of training this girl, but she was strong in her own right. "Aren't you suppose to be sparring with Turles or something?"

"He's with Vegeta."

"What about Kakarot?"/p>

"Hasn't been around for two weeks." Raye blinked in surprise. Kakarot had been absent off and on for the past six months, but hadn't noticed until Raditz made the comment. She thought about it. Kakarot wsa quieter, his eyes holding a deep sadness that made even Vegeta flinch. The first few years he had been dominating and angry, but gradually he lost the fire that drove him to fight.

Raye tried to pull away, but Raditz simply held her tighter. 'He's not even straining; the bastard! Does he always have to be this strong?' It was humilating, bringing on more tears.

Raditz wasn't familiar with how to comfort a woman, having spent most of his life killing and fighting for Frieza. Earth had been good to Vegeta and his brothers, allowing them to feel the comfort of peace for the first time in their lives. Even after they had lost their memories, with the exception of Kakarot, they had always looked over their shoulders in fear.

The fear gradually faded until all of them felt a faint chance that they would one day destroy the monster that had enslaved and destroyed their race. If only Raye knew how much he understood their fear and devastation. All of them had regained their memories of the Silver Milliennium in the past ten years, and it seemed Raye had taken it the hardest.

While holding her securely with one arm, he lifted his free hand, unsure of what he was doing as he stroked her hair. Slowly his fingers curled around her neck, turning her face into his chest to allow her to cry. She had expected harsh words, but this rare display of compassion was the breaking point as she began to sob. It was like she was that lost little girl again, confused and very alone.

They were several yards away from the camp, but Raditz was almost positive Turles and Vegeta could hear her. Neither of them would speak a word of her tears, all of them knowing that even the strongest warrior had a breaking point. Her black hair was almost as long as his own, the waters of the ocean licking at the ends. Raditz had thought himself immuned to her soft curves, but at that moment, his instinct took control.

Saiya-jins knew what it was like to lose their females, to stand-by and watch them die from either a virus that had swept the planet in a matter of days, or a battle they had no chance of winning. As he trained Raye, he realized that she had as much pride and courage as one of their prized females, and he didn't have the heart to deny her right to battle against the Negaverse. Like his home planet, everything she had known had been destroyed by Beryl, leaving one girl from each race as the only survivor.

Raye cried for what seemed an eternity, the older Saiya-jin rocking her gently. Without realizing it, he had begun to pur, his nose nuzzling the soft skin of her neck. She shivered, a new awareness making her forget why she had been crying in the first place. Raditz was acting so unlike the arrogant bastard she knew, his embrace almost protective.

"We should go back," Raye whispered, confused by the emotions he stirred up.

"Later. Perhaps you should rest tomorrow."

Raye knew she had been hit too hard the other day; she was hallicunating that Raditz was giving her a day off. He never allowed her time for herself. "I'm not an Onna."

Raditz chuckled, a rare sound that Raye found she liked. She would do almost anything to hear him do it again, wondering why all the Saiya-jins rarely smiled or laughed? "You're a strong onna, but an onna all the same."

"Dammit!" Raye couldn't believe she was starting to like him when he covered her lips, stealing away every sane thought from her head. His tongue demanded entrance, and a set of fingers brushing against her side had her gasp in surprise. 'Did he just tickle me?'

"Why do you allow words to anger you?" He growled, nipping at her bottom lip before moving to her throat. "I call all your friends onna, but you were the one I asked to train. If you know anything about the Saiya-jin race, we do not teach those we consider weak."

She was trying to find reasons to hate him, but how could she when his teeth were nipping at her ear, sending jolts of desire racing down her spine? "Raditz..." She needed to get some distance, to sort out her conflicting emotions.

"Do you remember that piece of paper you put on me? Dammit woman, I never wanted to strangle a female more in my life! How the hell did you do that anyway? I couldn't move for a week! And did you think I forgot your attempt to toast my hair? Why do you think I took your transformation stick away?"

She whimpered, tilting her head back as he licked near the collar of her shirt. Raye knew she should tell him to stop, but the words stuck in her throat. "But..."

"I call you onna because I like seeing the spark in your eyes. Besides, you fight better when you're angry. The past few years have been difficult and I at times forget that you're not Saiya-jin. Take a couple of days and regain yourself."

"But... The Negaverse. I can't..."

"You're in no shape to fight them if you're upset. If I go into battle, I need my fiery pyro at my side. Will you disappoint me?"

She studied him for a long time, seeing past the mask. It was at that moment that she understood. The past ten years, no all his life, had been an act. He could never reveal his trueself, afraid to allow himself to care. Raditz had started to like her and he was terrified of losing her now that he was finding a thin thread of hope. Happiness had never been a dream, but they had been given the rare gift and Raditz found he would fight for it with every breath of his body.

"Jerk..."

"Onna..."

"I still don't like you," she replied; they both knew she was lying. They sat and watched the rising of the moon, the stars twinkling down on their heads. Her eyes began to close, and a few breaths later, she was asleep in his arms. He stared down at the Raven Haired girl, wondering why he hadn't tried this sooner? She was breath taking, but he didn't dare bond with her before the fight with Beryl. If he lost her... Raditz refused to think about it. An image of Kakarot came to mind and he shuddered. He had no desire to become an empty shell, so lost that he wouldn't be able to find his way back from the pits of hell. He knew Kakarot was hurting, tormented by the years away from Serena.

Not wishing to wake her, he carefully carried the fire priestess to her blankets, deciding to share his warmth as she slept. With a whimper, she snuggled closer, feeling safe and free of the past. With Raditz she didn't have to see her father walking away or hear the cruel words of the other children as she played with two crows for friends.

"No one else will ever call you onna, fire bird; only myself," he whispered into her ear. The one thing he hoped would never change was her fiery personality. She would never hold back as long as she was driven by her emotions.

Turles ducked another kick, following with a punch to her chest. She barely had enough time to slide out of the way before a tail slipped around her ankle and tugged. Growling, she rolled, avoiding several ki blasts before she managed to get back to her feet. He smirked. She was by far the strongest of the senshi, and eventually she had begun to trust the others enough to rely on them as a group.

Lita gasped for air, but her pride wouldn't allow her to quit. They had been training for hours. Bruises covered every inch of her body, but she was satisfied enough to know she had delivered a few injuries of her own. Turles was fighting her at his lowest level, but the fact that she could keep up at all had his blood racing.

He wanted her on so many levels, but Turles wondered if she was ready for that kind of step? She had been deeply hurt by a boy she had trusted, but Lita was still very innocent. Lita had no concept of Saiya-jin culture and mating rituals. If she had, she would have demanded to train with one of the others. Turles had been courting her, challenging her in every sense of the word.

One word from him to make it official and Turles was legally permitted to claim the girl, but he chose to allow her to make the decision. She would never trust him if he tried to take her in the way of his race, and her trust was everything to him. He would not allow her to be hurt again.

Kakarot had often watched them. It was as if he was searching for something, and he must have found it when he finally left, showing himself rarely in the last six months. This time he had been gone for a total of two weeks. Vegeta had demanded that they leave him be. Kakarot's depression was affecting them all, the three Saiya-jins used to seeing his bright smiles. They often heard the sound of his roar, far in the distance, and it never failed to awaken a urge to answer.

Darien was the only outsider that seemed to understand the group of Saiya-jins, watching as they tried to rally around Kakarot. None of them knew how to help, his sorrow so deep that he had no choice but to seek solitude. Kakarot had learned a lot from his brothers and Vegeta in the past ten years, but Turles never expected for Kakarot to withdraw into himself. He tried to open the bond they used to share as twins, and pulled back at the dark emptiness that threatened to consume Kakarot's very soul. Turles was terrified for Kakarot; they all were.

He snatched one of her legs, but Lita flipped and caught him under the chin with her other. Turles growled, punching and blocking in a dance that Lita seemed to understand. It helped her to forget, and she loved the challenge he presented. Lita always gave everything she had; it was who she was.

"Were there any others like you?" He asked, striking her in the side again. She grunted from the pain, but forced herself to continue.

Lita couldn't believe how fast he was, but she never had trouble sleeping at night. Turles was always close, especially when she would start to cry out, re-living the death of her parents or the betrayal of her first love. "I think... there was one other..." She wheezed. "Her name was Haruka, from Sailor Uranus. She was the senshi of the winds and rarely visited Lunaria. Haruka was extremely loyal to Serenity and no other."

"Could you defeat her?"

Lita would have loved to say yes, but gave a disgruntled snort. "Defeating Uranus was always a dream of mine, and most of the time I was sent to the medical ward to recover. Just once I'd like to know that I was good enough to beat her. She's fast too; I don't even think Kakarot could out run her."

Turles laughed, tumbling out of the way as she managed to knock his feet from beneath him. He was seriously thinking about powering up, but he would wait until he couldn't defeat her first. She was definitely mating material, and he'd be damned to let anyone else have her. Turles didn't spend the last ten years trying to repair the damage done by an idiot, to lose her!

"I would pay to see someone out race Kakarot. We all thought Raditz was the faster runner until Kakarot decided to quit playing around. He doesn't even try. Kakarot is unique, and I don't think we'll see another like him. Even when we train, we never seem quite able to touch him."

"How strong is he?"

"I think Vegeta has an idea, but he's uncertain. I'll say this; I'd hate to be the one that hurts that girl once she returns."

"He loves her."

"It's much deeper than love," Turles said, no longer wishing to fight. Lita sighed, but knew that she needed to stop anyway. "Kakarot, if anything were to happen to that girl, would either destroy everything in his path, or we'd lose him."

"I don't understand."

"Saiya-jin bonding is very rare, especially without the exchange of blood. We mate for eternity, beyond death. A Saiya-jin rarely survives the passing of a bonded mate. That's bascially what's happening to Kakarot, not once but twice now."

"Why can't humans be like Saiya-jins?"

Turles knew she was talking about the past, but stifled his growl of jealousy. The last thing he needed was to frighten her off. "We cherish women, having watched them die by the hundreds."

"What happened?" Lita gasped, hearing the raw pain in Turles's voice.

Turles smiled, tossing Lita a towled. "Lita, we had a deal. I tell my secrets only if you tell yours."

She giggled, wiping the sweat from her brow. "No one said I couldn't try."

"Brat. You're not too big for a spanking."

Lita blushed, choosing not to respond. "I wonder if our training will be enough? Serenity's suffered so much that it would kill her if something were to happen to us again."

"Lita..." Turles was immediately in front of her, his eyes glowing in the shadows of the night. He reached up to touch her face, but decided to lower his hand. "You and the others are no longer alone. We need this battle as much as the sailor senshi."

"You've said that before. Why? Why are the four of you training so hard to fight our enemy?"

"Because then we might have a chance." He couldn't help himself, brushing her cheek with the back of his hand. "A slave is still a slave until they kill the master."

"You're a slave!" Lita asked in horror.

Turles gave her a bitter smile, his eyes haunted by images of the past. He could still hear the sound of the whip, tearing open the flesh of his back. His screams would only fuel his tormentor, but it was nothing compared to what they did on Vegeta. He still woke with the sight of his mangled body being thrown in their bed chambers at night. Raditz had been the weakest of the group, sheltered by Vegeta and Turles from most of the beatings.

"So... Do I get to hear why you're so afraid of me?"

'I'm not..." Turles silenced her with a finger on her lips, a knowing smile curving at the corners of his mouth.

"You don't fear our battles; you fear the growing emotions I stir in you. Lita, do you trust me?"

How did she feel about him? Turles seemed so vulnerable at the moment, as if her answer could literally tear him apart. Were all the Saiya-jins like him? Who would love these men, who had been so cruelly treated and who fight for their very right to live? "I guess we're both a reck. Tell you what," she challenged; "If you fight our battles, we join in yours."

"No!" Turles roared. "Lita, you have no concept of what you ask! We've been fighting him our entire lives and not once have we come close to that Ice-jin's power. No, I'm not willing to risk your life!"

Lita wanted to be angry, but he wasn't trying to stop her out of male pride. He was trully terrified for her life. "Turles, you're so bent on protecting us; who the hell is left to protect you?"

Turles crushed her in a tight embrace, his body trembling at the gift she had given him. No one had ever offered to help the Saiya-jins, yet here was a girl that was willing to fight an enemy that perhaps only Kakarot had a chance in defeating. Kakarot insisted that it would be Vegeta who would fight the Ice-jin, but they all had their doubts.

"God, if I hadn't promised to give you time, I'd take you here on this beach without a second thought." She gasped. His grip tightened, Lita feeling something warm on her neck. Was he crying? He wouldn't allow her to pull back, his tail wrapping around her waist to keep her close. "Don't worry; I would never do anything you didn't want."

"Turles, I trust you." He was so used to people cowering from him in fear, but four little words had him wrapped around her finger. Lita didn't regret the last ten years, having learned a lot from the other senshi and Saiya-jins. They all had their dark pasts, needing each other for various reasons. Lita didn't want to be alone anymore, returning his embrace.

Vegeta shook his head, drying his hair. He was starting to miss his hot showers, but he hated being dirty even more. Black eyes watched the blue haired girl type furiously away on her computer, a gift from Luna after the first few weeks of training. It didn't take Vegeta long to figure out that Amy would never be on the same fighting level as the other senshi; however, intellectually, she could easily have them all in vulnerable positions.

He still couldn't believe she had managed to freeze his tail. Vegeta had wanted to kill her, but decided to have her perform the same trick on the other Saiya-jins. The only one they hadn't caught was Kakarot. Vegeta still taught her the basic self-defense moves, but combinations were a waste of time and effort.

The first time he had tried to teach her, Vegeta had broken her arm. She didn't cry, but he had hated the fear and pain in her eyes. He was tired of people fearing him, and he was tired of being afraid himself. As soon as this war with the Negaverse was over, he planned on tracking down a certain lizard. It no longer mattered if he lived or died, only that they would finally be free.

Amy had contributed to their training on another level, calculating how to increase their power levels until all of them were on the verge of becoming legends themselves. Raditz had laughed at the girl when she told them they could all become Super Saiya-jins, but shut up when Kakarot surprised them all by transforming several years ago. It was so unexpected, but had confirmed Vegeta's suspicions about Kakarot.

Between the two of them, Vegeta and Amy had studied Kakarot's power. She had asked him a lot of questions and quickly discovered that it was fueled by extreme emotions such as love and hate. Vegeta wondered who Kakarot hated enough to reach such a level, but Amy's computer indicated that Kakarot had only shown them a glimpse of what he was truly capable of.

Walking up to her, Vegeta looked at what she was working on. "Battle strategies?"

"There was a lot of information on the Negaverse and I thought it would be a good time to study their strengths and weaknesses. I've also done a search on the Ice-jins you told me about."

"And?"

"According to the records stored during the Silver Alliance, there was no Frieza born at that time. There was only King Cold, Queen Iceaia, and their new born son Prince Cooler. They're much like the Saiya-jin race, living for centuries before they die."

"What kills them?"

"What generally kills a Saiya-jin? It isn't age. As long as a Saiya-jin continues to train and fight, they stay relatively young. It's only when they stop that their bodies start to decline."

Vegeta chose to sit, pulling Amy closer so he could read the wealth of information pouring out on her little computer. "Is it possible to make another of those?"

"I guess, but the technology is far more advanced than what we have here on Earth. I would need someone that was familiar with alien computer science."

"Damn! At times like this, I hate the fact Bardock had to return home."

"Bardock? Wasn't he the Saiya-jins' main scientist before he was forced back into the Army?"

"Hai. He started out as a low level fighter, but as he continued on purging missions for Frieza, his power grew at an alarming rate. Frieza began to fear him, but none of us knew how much until the planet was detroyed three years later. Some would joke around that he would have become a legend of his own, but Bardock never cared for rumors. He simply did his job and loyally served my idiotic father."

"Anyway, do you know if any of the other Ice-jins I mentioned were still alive during your time period?"

"Hai. Frieza was only about a hundred before he decided to conquer the galaxy."

"Then it's a good possibility he's still alive. According to my computer and the rate at which he was moving from system to system, Frieza should arrive in the Terra quandrant within the next five to ten years."

Vegeta snatched her little computer and closed it, smirking at her cry of protest. "You're exhausted."

"But... We only have a few more days before we return and..."

"Amy," Vegeta growled, "you will do as I ask and get some rest. Must I make it an order?" Standing up, he tucked the computer into his uniform, watching her blush as he lifted and carried her to camp. "We've pushed all of you to your limits. Fighting your enemy without being fully rested, mentally and physically, is stupid. Have you not learned this with all the history data from your studies?"

She curled into her blankets, her eyes opening and closing as she watched him. Before she sank into oblivion, she grabbed his hand and tugged. "Should you not follow the same advise? I know you rarely sleep; is it the nightmares?"

Vegeta growled, but another tug had him resting beside her. As she slept, he would gently play with her hair, his thoughts in another time. He never spoke of his days with Frieza, and he was thankful she never asked. How can one forgive a murderer?

"Darien?"

"You should rest."

"I can't sleep." Darien was sitting at the fire, roasting a rabbit he had recently caught. "I'm worried about Kakarot."

"He'll be fine."

"Will he? Everyone thinks Serena is the cause of his depression, but I know it's much deeper than that."

"Mina, Kakarot needs to work this out on his own. There comes a time when all warriors lose their path, and he's at the point where he doubts himself as Serena's friend and protector. He's still a very dominating male of his race, but watching the other Saiya-jins make allowances for the other girls, has taught him that their differences aren't necessarily a weakness."

"I wish there was some way to help him."

"Be his friend; that would be Serena's advise. She loved both Jekkanadar and Kakarot, not because he commanded it, but because that's who and what she is. In all my years of battle, I've never met another like her. She has enough room in heart to love everyone, forgiving people of any crime."

"Why does Kakarot worry then? Serena wouldn't blame him for the Negaverse or being sent to hell."

"Kakarot is a Saiya-jin and they rarely have the ability to forgive themselves for mistakes."

"I don't think that's a Saiya-jin problem as much as it is a male thing."

Darien chuckled, sharing half his meal with Mina. "Don't tell Kakarot that. He may give you another lesson despite his command to rest."

"No thank you. I rather spar with his brothers combined."

"Has he really hurt you?"

"No, but that doesn't mean our training sessions aren't painful. I don't think the others realize how strong he really is. I'm not even psychic and I can feel it."

"Mina, he wasn't the most feared man in the galaxy for nothing. It was once thought that Kakarot's main goal was to conquer other planets. That's what we were told before he came to Lunaria. We were never so wrong about a person until then. Serena knew, but none of us were willing to believe and trust in the Saiya-jin like she did. It's Serena we should thank for saving us from our ignorance and stupidity. If we had attacked Kakarot as originally planned, the Negaverse would have been the least of our problems."

"I don't understand. He was anything but friendly when he arrived."

"True, but who was the first to greet him despite the guards we placed on her? She disobeyed all orders to remain in her room, and to this day I still don't know how she did it." Mina had heard about Serena greeting Jekkanadar and his crew, but not the details. As Darien continued, her respect for their princess grew.

"She walked through the powerful warriors, a smile on her face as she knelt before their leader. I wanted to snatch her away, but we were afraid of making a wrong move. Serena offered complete access to the moon kingdom and ordered that all Saiya-jins were to be treated with respect until they chose to left."

"None of us understood, but the moment her blue eyes turned to me, I had no choice but to support her decision. She never explained her actions that day, nor would he allow the princess to be punished. To say Queen Selinity was furious was an understatement. I'll never forget the moment the Saiya-jin leader demanded that Princess Serenity become his mate."

"She simply agreed, offering no word of protest. Kakarot offered an alliance between the two races, and Queen Selinity didn't dare refuse. He was to return to claim her six months later, but the Negaverse changed that."

"How did you find out about the rest? Did Serena tell you?"

"Kakarot told me. He's struggled to become the mate Serena needs, yet a part of him will always be Jekkanadar. His goals weren't to conquer, but to test the different races he encountered. If they attacked, he would destroy or enslave the entire system. If offered shelter and hospitatlity, he would leave."

"So in reality, the real enemy wasn't Jekkanadar."

"No. He was a warrior, and he carried a huge responsibility even among his own men. Saiya-jins in his time were never allowed to display weakness. Challenges weren't rare for the throne, giving him little choice but to become the best. He trained for days, seeking challenges that would have often killed him, but gave him the power he needed to remain at the top."

"I feel sorry for him."

"Don't. He is what he is, and he's not ashamed of it. The only thing he regrets is never being able to show his affections for the princess. Watching the other Saiya-jins has simply reminded him of that fact. They aren't afraid to show their desire towards the senshi, nor do they appear weak for it. If anything, it's made the Saiya-jins even deadlier."

"I later asked Vegeta about the differences between his and Jekkanadar's time. There were so few females, that apparently Jekkanadar never experienced the fierce rage of protecting a mate."

"No wonder he feels so alone and angry. He thinks that by not staying to protect Serena, he failed her as a potential mate?"

"Hai." Mina couldn't help the tears that filled her expressive eyes. Darien gently brushed them away, neither of them seeing the shadow that walked away from them.

Kakarot flew for hours, trying to rid his mind of the guilt. He had spent so many years in battle, that the one time he needed to offer his protection, he had failed. The same had been ten years ago, unable to prevent Serena from getting hurt. To hear the note of anguish in her voice, the terror of never being able to speak again, had affected him on so many levels.

They still communicated telepathically, but there was still that hint of sadness before the connection became too difficult to maintain. She deserved someone that could keep her safe, but Kakarot just couldn't find it in himself to let her go. On Lunarian, all he knew was that she would make a suitable mate. Growing up with her on Earth, had taught him an emotion that terrified and humbled him at the same time. He loved Serena, not because she had been the moon princess, or that she had courageously walked up to him while others cowered in fear. Kakarot loved Serena because of her laugh, her smile and her ability to enjoy life.

At first he had been furious, hating the idea that she was figthing the enemy that had stolen her from him a thousand years ago. Now he could only admire her courage and determination to destroy an enemy when it was the exact opposite of her gentle nature. He knew she possessed a darker power, but Kakarot simply didn't seem to care. All he wanted was for Serena to be home, safe and where she was needed.

In all his life, either as Jakkanadar, Goku, or Kakarot, he had never needed anyone. A part of him wondered if his obsession with Serena was wrong, if it would end up destroying them both? The other part knew he would savagely destroy anything that threatened her. He knew the other Saiya-jins felt the same, each quietly protecting the senshi they had chosen as a future mate.

The senshi weren't aware the Saiya-jins wanted them, but it didn't matter. Once a Saiya-jin offered their protection, nothing would change it. Dammit, he was so confused. Kakarot wanted to randomly destroy various objects; instead he roared his rage filled sorrow.

He knew the Saiya-jins felt and heard his pain, but they wisely left him alone. The only time it seemed to dim was when Serena spoke to him. After an hour, she would have to quit, leaving him more alone than if she had never spoken to him at all. The separation was driving him insane, his blood raging out of control. He had a feeling the others knew what was happening to him, but Kakarot never bothered to ask.

'Serena...'

Kakarot felt the power overwhelming him, and he did nothing to stop it. He screamed, watching the waves part, as if afraid of the powerful being streaking by. First he was surrounded by red, gold, and then pure black energy. If he didn't stop, he would destroy the planet, but his emotions had been bottled up for far too long. He couldn't pull back even if he wanted to.

Serena froze on her way towards the senshi, her head turning towards the sea. In the distance she could see clouds of smoke and dust, surrounded by an energy so dark that even she staggered at the intensity. 'Damien...'

'Send Bardock!'

Serena trusted her brother, her hand touching Bardock's arm. She pointed, knowing he would understand. Serena thought of going with him, but chose to believe in Bardock to bring his son back. "Go," he said, already blasting off. She could feel the earth tremble, threatening to shake apart. 'Can he be stopped,' she wondered.

'There are only three people that possess enough power to stop Kakarot, and I doubt that you want your father or I to handle it.'

Serena paled. Damien would kill any threat to her life, and that included Kakarot. 'No...'

Despite Bardock's order, Serena chose to wait, praying that Bardock could stop Kakarot. She wanted to be the first person he saw, to know that he wasn't alone, to know that she never blamed him. If anyone were to blame, it was herself for not being strong enough to fight back. Sinking to her knees, Serena clasped her hands together and began to concentrate, focusing all her efforts on a power she had faintly felt during her training with Bardock. Until now, she had always tapped into the power inherited from her father. Did she not have her mother's power as well?

It was slow, but as the minutes passed, a white light began to glow all around her, filling her with a warmth that left her calm and at peace. A cool wind began to circle around her legs, and looking up, she saw a set of wings beating powerfully from her back. Her school uniform had been replaced with a white dress, much like the one she used to where on the moon.

Unafraid, she chose to go after Bardock, wanting the rage and battles to stop. She couldn't bare to have anymore of her friends or family hurt, especially a man she had come to love. Feathers floated to the ground in a white shower, calming everything they touched.

Bardock wasted no time in powering up, matching the intensity of his son's power. Unlike Kakarot, he didn't need the rage to obtain that kind of level. There were powers he had obtained that the other Saiya-jins, and that included Kakarot, could only dream about.

He felt the planet straining at the impact of Kakarot's fury, and without warning, he slammed all his weight into his son's side. Kakarot was crying blood, red tears, and without thinking lashed out at Bardock. They came together in a sonic blast, tearing chunks into the ocean floor. This was the only way Kakarot could relieve his guilt and pain, and Bardock understood and gave it to him.