I do not own Dragon Ball Z in any way. I make no profit from this story. I just wrote it for fun.

"Come on, you can do much better than that!" Nappa chastised his student.

The Prince growled, angry that his best hadn't been good enough. He had to try harder. His father was watching.

The King leaned against a tree in the courtyard watching his son train. He smiled as the Prince lunged himself at Nappa when the warrior turned his head ever so slightly. The commander's attention was diverted by some servant women that had come outside with some laundry. The Prince picked up on his trainer's distraction and took the opportunity to show him just what he could do. He punched. The Prince's tiny fist connected dead on with Nappa's jaw. Nappa stumbled backwards and wiped his own spit from his face.

"Why you little…" He exclaimed and dove at his student in a fit of choler. Vegeta saw this coming ahead of time and was prepared to jump out of the way. He did a somersault over Nappa's head as he went to grab him. The massive warrior skidded across the grass on face down and smashed his face on the trunk of a tree.

King Vegeta burst out laughing at Nappa's foolishness. His temper always got the better of him and caused him to make stupid mistakes. Prince Vegeta smiled quite pleased with himself.

"Well done, Prince. I'm impressed." The King said proudly. Prince Vegeta beamed at this compliment, ecstatic that he'd managed to please his father.

"And so am I." Said a voice. The cleaning ladies gasped and quickly returned to the Palace.

Frieza ,accompanied by Zarbon and Dodoria, crossed the courtyard.

The king went to his son and stood in front of him protectively. Nappa frantically tried to wipe the grass stains from his bare chest and took a position on one knee and bowed submissively.

Vegeta stood behind his Father very confused. He had never seen Nappa submit like that to anyone besides his Father, then to his astonishment his father did the same as Nappa.

"Greetings, Lord Frieza." King Vegeta stated, then got up. Prince Vegeta unconsciously grabbed on to the King's pant leg and examined Frieza from behind his leg.

"Hello, Vegeta. It's a lovely day on your planet. I was just on my way home from the last planet you occupied for me. The clients are very pleased with it. I thought since I was passing by I'd drop in and congratulate you in person."

"Thank you, Lord Frieza. But the compliment does not belong to me alone, my men are very hard workers and are proud to be your servants."

"Yes I know." Frieza replied somewhat uninterested. His eyes were focused on the child nearly completely hidden behind the King's massive leg.

"Is this the little Prince I've heard so much about?"

The King chuckled nervously. "Yes." He replied as he removed his leg from in front of his son for Frieza's inspection.

To the king's relief, Vegeta didn't cower. He stood up like he was facing any of the elite.

Frieza studied him and smiled.

"I watched you fight. You're quite the little warrior."

Vegeta stared at him, not knowing how to respond to that.

"You like fighting, don't you?"

"Yes." Vegeta promptly answered.

"Come here." Frieza ordered and motioned towards him self with his index finger.

Vegeta looked up to his Father for his approval. The King motioned with his head for him to obey.

Vegeta walked up to Frieza's hover throne like he would walk up to anyone, proudly. He stopped about three feet in front of it and looked up expectantly at the warrior.

Frieza chuckled pleasantly. "How strong are you, little Prince."

"My Power level is 890." Vegeta replied.

"Goodness, you don't look that strong!" Frieza stated in over-exaggerated astonishment.

"Well, Father says that you're the most powerful being in the entire universe and you don't look that strong."

King Vegeta went bug eyed at his son's bold observation.

Frieza belly laughed at the child. His tail twitched happily. Then it swung. Then it lashed out and smashed the Prince on the side, causing him to go flying through the air and slam into the tree his Father had been leaning against.

"HEY!" Nappa cried out in anger. The King held up his hand to him, warning him to control himself.

Prince Vegeta was hurt but he got up quickly, quite unsteady and looked at his still laughing attacker. He was confused as to what he should do. The pain on the side of his body where he slammed into the tree was excruciating, as was the side where Frieza had struck him with his tail. Vegeta never suspected that a tail could be used to attack. It was taking all his strength to keep himself standing. He would've gladly remained on the ground but he didn't want his Father to be ashamed of him.

He whined slightly and stumbled over behind his father's leg again. The King allowed the small display of weakness considering that not even he was expecting the attack. Had the attack come from an elite the King would've been angry at his son's whining, but the attack came form Frieza, the fact that his child was still conscious was testimonial to his great strength.

King Vegeta examined Frieza's facial expressions, trying to determine whether or not the lord of the universe realized his son's great strength as well.

Frieza stopped laughing and looked at the Prince again.

"Well, Princeling, now we both know that looks can be deceiving. I'm very impressed." He turned to King Vegeta. "You've got something to be proud of there."

"I know." The King replied solemnly. He was quite angry with Frieza for attacking his son like that. Vegeta didn't know any better than to say what he did. That was his mother coming out in him. She said whatever she liked.

"I have a job for you, Vegeta." Frieza started then continued to relay the particulars of the task to his servant. Without being told, Nappa came over to the King and Prince, picked the ailing child up, then headed towards the palace.

Vegeta watched his father over Nappa's shoulder as they walked away. When they got into the palace, Vegeta whined again, only more loudly than before.

"Don't be upset Prince. You acted the way your father wanted."

"But.."

"Now you understand why your father is always pushing you so hard, don't you?"

"Yes." Vegeta replied with a sniff. The pain was getting unbearable.

"We'll get you fixed up."

Vegeta decided right then that he hated Frieza.

Recely stood alone in the far corner of King Vegeta's siting room, staring out of the massive picture window at the city. She hardly noticed anything going on around her. The King was having a party for some reason. Recely did not care to know what it was for, there had been no occupation of late. She felt the party in bad taste considering that not two days before they were at each other's throats.

A servant offered her some refreshments and she sent him away with a hand gesture. She normally wouldn't have used an action she considered so rude, but she was in no mood to be polite. She was angered by the fact that the King obviously expected her to help him entertain his guests after what he'd done to her and her child. Recely had a surprise for him though. She absolutely refused to talk to anyone but Argo or Sala.

Argo made an attempt to console her. Promising that he would talk to his best friend. Recely doubted that that would work. The King seemed determined to keep her away from her child at all costs.

The sensation of her cape being tugged broke her reflection. She glanced down, expecting Sala again but was pleased to see her son smiling up at her. Recely faintly smiled back hoping that the King was not watching. She glanced over in his direction and felt her heart sink as she saw that he was watching, intently. Recely pleaded with her eyes for him to allow her a small conversation with her child but the King wasn't going to allow it. He shot a fierce warning glance at her, none like she had ever seen before. It was absolutely savage.

Recely's smile, faint as it was, gave Vegeta enough indication to start talking. "Mama, did you hear what happened to me yesterday?" He asked proudly, remembering how his Father told Frieza that he was proud of his him. But he saw his mother staring across the room and not listening to him.

"Mama?" he prodded and tugged at her cape a few times to regain her attention.

Instead of answering her son's plea, she turned to his nursemaid.

"It's well past his bed-time." She stated simply, with a hint of regret that only Beana noticed.

"But…" Vegeta protested as his mother led him away from her with her hand on the back of his head.

"Good-night, Vegeta." Recely stated as Beana took him by the hand and led him through groups scattered all over the room. Vegeta stared back at her as he was led. The look on his face broke his mother's heart. But she knew that if she did not shun him that his father would hurt him. She didn't want that to happen.

Recely returned her gaze to the king, demanding to know if he was satisfied. He responded by turning towards one of his elite and began conversing with him, ignoring the queen's presence once again.

Recely hmph'd and returned her attention to her city gazing.

 He will be mine and only mine! I swear!