The Loyal Abandoned Son

"Alright," Son Goku clapped his hands, breaking the silence, "it's over, let's head home!"

"Over?" Piccolo let out a cold snort, "I think it's only just begun. With a personality like Vegeta's, he won't let this go. Besides... he still has Frieza backing him."

Son Goku's smile faded slightly, his gaze turning serious: "I know. That's why... everyone needs to keep training hard!"

"You don't have to tell me that!" Krillin clenched his fists until his knuckles turned white, "After seeing the strength of a monster like that, who would dare slack off?"

"Exactly!" Yamcha chimed in, "Next time we meet, we'll definitely show that so-called prince what's what!"

The group chatted and laughed as they took to the sky, transforming into several streaks of light as they flew toward West City.

A few hours later, in the Gravity Chamber.

"Ugh..."

Nappa let out a pained groan and slowly opened his eyes.

The first thing he saw was the blinding light, followed by the metal ceiling. He sat up abruptly, only to find himself strapped to a chair. Although he had the strength to break free at any moment, he didn't dare.

Because standing before him were Raditz, Piccolo, and the black-haired man who made him feel fear down to his very bones: Son Goku.

Where is Prince Vegeta?!

Nappa looked around in a panic, but he didn't see that familiar, short figure. The training room contained nothing but cold metal walls and a few instruments he couldn't name.

Where... is His Highness the Prince?

"Stop looking," Raditz said, crossing his arms with a smirk, "Vegeta is already gone. He abandoned you, calling you 'useless trash'."

"W-what?"

Nappa shuddered, his massive frame trembling violently.

Impossible...

He lowered his head and looked at his own shaking hands, his knuckles thick and covered in scars.

I am a warrior directly under the royal family... I have been by Prince Vegeta's side since he was four years old. For twenty-three years.

When he killed his first enemy with his own hands, I stood behind him. When he was first humiliated by Frieza, I knelt on the ground and swore to become strong enough to share his burden.

How could I be... trash?

"Prince Vegeta... abandoned me?" Nappa's voice was hoarse, "Did he... did he really say that?"

"Every word," Raditz crouched down to look Nappa in the eye, "I heard it with my own ears. 'What use is such useless trash?' were his exact words."

Nappa's pupils contracted.

Exact words... that was indeed Prince Vegeta's tone.

He closed his eyes, the image of Vegeta's final, indifferent back flashing through his mind. His Highness never needed the company of the weak. This was the law of the Saiyans; he knew it better than anyone.

But I thought... I thought I was different.

I thought at least... at least I would die on the battlefield, not be discarded like an old piece of equipment on a strange planet.

Nappa opened his eyes, his sockets turning red.

It's over... everything is over...

"Listen, Nappa," Raditz held up a finger, "you have two choices now."

Nappa lifted his head, his eyes devoid of fear, replaced by a numb, hollow daze. He looked at Raditz, a former comrade who now stood before him, looking down at him from a position of superiority.

"First," Raditz said coldly, "you behave yourself, follow Earth's rules, and train with us. Even though you tried to kill us, Goku said he'd give you a chance."

"And... and the second?"

Raditz grinned, revealing his white teeth: "Second, you can try to resist. But I have to warn you—"

He pointed to Piccolo behind him, "That Namekian has a power level of twenty-five thousand, and mine is fifteen thousand. Yours is no higher than four thousand. Care to guess how many seconds you'd last?"

Nappa's face turned pale.

He looked at Raditz, then at Piccolo, and finally at Son Goku, who was standing at the door with a smile on his face.

Kakarot... that monster.

Even when Prince Vegeta turned into a Great Ape, he was defeated by him in one move... I'm not even as strong as His Highness, what could I possibly use to resist?

Nappa gritted his teeth, the taste of blood filling his mouth. He lowered his head, veins bulging on his bald scalp as he struggled internally.

If I resist, I will surely die.

But if I surrender... am I still a Saiyan? Do I still deserve to call myself a warrior of the royal guard?

His fists clenched, relaxed, and clenched again.

No...

Prince Vegeta doesn't want me anymore, but I cannot just die like this.

If I die here, there will be no more chances... no chance to let His Highness see what a loyal warrior he threw away!

Nappa suddenly raised his head, his voice hoarse but firm: "I choose the first one."

Raditz raised an eyebrow: "Oh? That was quick."

"I will obey," Nappa said, practically grinding the words out through his teeth. His voice trembled, but his gaze did not waver. "I will absolutely obey. But—"

He stared fixedly at Raditz, enunciating every word: "It is not because I fear death. I am a Saiyan, a warrior of Prince Vegeta. Even if he no longer wants me, I will not be crushed like a piece of trash."

Raditz froze for a moment, a flicker of complex emotion crossing his eyes. He stood up, remained silent for two seconds, and then patted Nappa on the shoulder. "Very well. Then first, rule number one: on Earth, you are not to kill at will, you are not to destroy cities, and you are not to bully the weak. Anyone who violates this..."

He made a throat-slitting gesture.

Nappa nodded.

Son Goku watched this scene from the doorway, not laughing, just quietly looking into Nappa's eyes.

"Do you hate him?" Son Goku suddenly asked. "Vegeta."

Nappa's entire body stiffened.

Hate?

He lowered his head, his voice muffled: "No... Prince Vegeta is not wrong. It is I who am too weak. If I were stronger... he would not have abandoned me."

Son Goku was silent for a moment, then smiled. "Then get stronger. Here, you don't need anyone's permission to get stronger."

Having said that, he turned and walked away.

Nappa stared blankly at Son Goku's retreating back, his lips moving, but in the end, he said nothing.

Get stronger... without needing anyone's permission?

In the Frieza Force, only Saiyans recognized by their superiors are allowed to undergo high-intensity training. The weak... are only fit to be sent to their deaths.

But here...

Raditz undid the restraints on Nappa and tossed him a set of Earth-style sportswear. "Put these on. From today, you train with me. Five o'clock in the morning, Gravity Chamber. One minute late, and I'll break your legs."

Nappa took the clothes, clutching them so tightly his knuckles turned white.

Prince Vegeta...

I will become stronger.

Even if you don't want me anymore, I will not disgrace the name of a Saiyan warrior.

One day... one day I will stand before you and let you know that what you threw away back then was not trash.

From that day on, there was one more bald figure in the Gravity Chamber.

At first, Nappa was clumsy and silent, training as if his life didn't matter. If Raditz told him to run fifty laps, he ran eighty; if Raditz told him to lift five hundred kilograms, he lifted seven hundred. Sweat soaked his clothes, his muscles tore and healed, yet he didn't utter a sound.

Not enough... still not enough!

Four thousand power level... here, that doesn't even qualify me to be at the bottom!