The Junkyard Planet 015 - Invited

Suddenly, there was a shift in tone, as Yangcongs approach and disposition changed. Thought startling at first, it was not undesired; in fact, it helped Zuqetta regain her focus. This individual was truly a strange one with how his personality seemed to shift at the slightest moment, but now he had asked questions she'd be able to follow with answering much more easily; especially if the questioning was being done through training.

Catching the strange stick tossed to her with her tail, Zuqetta would close up the hatch to her pod before leaping a short distance away and taking the stick in hand. She questioned if it were a weapon of some fashion, having never seen a tool like it before; but her curiosity was overpowered by her urge to engage in combat, even if Yangcongs implication for the sudden training was to use the sticks.

"Heh, not much ta say about my past..." She began, twirling the bamboo stick in her hands before positioning it for a proper grip, "I was born on Plant, lived with my dad still his uhh... passing, and then Vennel took me in." She answered, "Hehe, pretty lackluster backstory, I know; but I don't care about my past, only my future!" She proclaimed, her tail beating against the ground fiercely, "If you can really make me strong enough ta beat them, then lets get ta trainin'!" She persisted excitedly, "This is much better, I can answer your questions while we fight!" She cheered with a sharp grin.

---

As she watched Yangcong take on his defensive position, Zuqetta would attempt to follow suit; copying his motion to some degree, but finding the position somewhat awkward for hold. She kept her left leg out before her and took a wide stance, expecting to be tripped up by the staff Yangcong held. Her left arm would be out before her to defensively guard her chest while she attempted to imitate the way her opoenent held his weapon. The staff dragged across the ground however, much too long for her short stature; the fight had only just begun and the tool had already proven more cumbersome than necessary.

She kept her gaze glue to the man as all fell silent, however, no sooner did she blink she she suddenly see the man upon her and preparing to strike. FAST!!! She thought, attempting to pull back; only to have her widened stance work against her as Yangcong neared. She intended to strike out, but her motion wit the staff was slow and unruly; surprisingly however, the man would strike in a way that would nearly catch Zuqetta completely by surprise.

As the man opened his mouth, Zuqetta's eyes would widen as a snake of all things shot out! Caught completely off guard and improperly positioned, it looked as thought she'd have been set upon by the creature. However, in a knee jerk reaction, Zuqetta's tail would quickly coil around her own back leg and tug; dropping her at the last second from being struck upon by the snake. She had been far too slow to react to the following strike by the mans staff however; striking her directly in her sternum and knocking the wind out of her.

Zuqetta would stumble back, rolling across the ground several times as the man made his comment. She coughed and gasped for air, gritting her teeth in anger as she quickly rolled back to her feet with a stumble. "I -cough- I DO want it!" She exclaimed, slamming her tail upon the ground as she glared at the man; she couldn't hesitate, and she knew it, she would need to strike.

Though fumbling in her first step, Zuqetta would quickly regain her footing and dash off from the ground towards Yangcong; staff brandished behind her. She still wasn't sure about how exactly to use the weapon, and so swung wildly in a full swing; hoping to use it's length to her advantage. Though she put as much strength as she could into her swing, her conviction was lacking; she desired power, as it was the only thing people like Vennel and Vocado would respond too, but she still desired peace above all else. As such, her motion would be sluggish in spite of her proclamation, and the impact, should it have landed; dulled.

---

In spite of her best effort, her attack had been useless against Yangcong; he held the greater experience both in fighting prowess and with the weapon itself. Not only did Yangcong display a significant enough speed to have been able to dodge with ease; but with his strange powers, he toyed with her, slicing in half the very weapon he'd given to her for this brief training session. With a slight panic, Zuqetta would quickly cease her advance before leaping back to gain a bit of distance; examining the staff before choosing to discard it in favor of taking up a more familiar battle stance. However, in spite of her readiness to continue; the man had taken up a more relaxed stance, as though the session had concluded.

"Wh-?" She was still catching her breath, and her heart was racing; but she was left befuddled by the mans actions. She dropped her guard for the briefest of moments as the man approached, before just as quickly raising her fists back up as he reached for her neck; believing he had been attempting a feint. Only to realize instead that he had pulled out... jewelry?

Curiouser and curiouser the situation had become; very well since the moment she had met this man, the situation had been strange throughout the whole ordeal. "First ya wanna fight... then ya stop ta gimme some kinda necklace thingy?" Zuqetta questioned as she examined the amulet, "Whatever, if it means I can get stronger..." Zuqetta began, taking a deep breath to calm herself, "If it means I can bring about peace, I'll be your apprentice." She stated firmly, averting her attention away from the medallion and back towards Yangcong.

"I need power, and I need it fast! Before Plant is destroyed by that senseless war..." She explained, clinching her fist, "It's only a matter of time until they-" She continued, interrupting herself before shaking her head and resume a fighting stance, "Whatever, just tell me what to do!" She said firmly, trying to ignore the inevitable fate the Saiyans were soon to face; the claim to the Saiyan throne drawing nearer by the day.

Including Vennel and Zriracha, Yangcong would be the third she'd have formally accepted training from; though she seemed much more serious than either of the previous two. Between Vennels 'hands-off' approach and Zrirachas cryptic, aloof lessons; Zuqetta was incredibly curious to see what Yangcong had to offer as an instructor.

---

As the man spoke, Zuqetta's guard lowered further; she felt sympathy for his plight and for what he had suffered. She had been curious about the scar he wore for some time now, but felt it rude to ask. He had already explained that it was a Saiyan's who did it to him; evil Saiyan who were incapable of even the slightest bit of empathy, but... did that not apply to all Saiyans? They fought the Tuffles, they invaded worlds, they eradicated species under the pretext of 'cleansing the universe'; but it was all a lie. Saiyans, they merely wanted war, and as Shakuhachi had surmised, they would make any excuse to fight; and the young would be taught the same.

"You would...?" Zuqetta mumbled, listening to Yangcongs explanation.

He would be there for her when the time came, and the time would most certainly come; she didn't know Vennels exact intentions, but it was clear that if Zuqetta stood in either Vennel or Vocado's way, then... Zuqetta didn't want to think about that outcome; but Yangcong presented another option. "Queen?" She questioned; the thought had not yet even occurred to her. Becoming Queen was a possible solution, if she led the Saiyans, then she could stop all the violence; by force if necessary, and she would have Yangcong to guide her.

Leading on high as Monarch felt like a task for an adult, Zuqetta had no business even considering it; she had no idea how to rule, but maybe Yangcong did? If not him, then maybe his friends could help too; she wouldn't be alone in the endeavor after all, and he had been willing to do things without committing murder! The foreboding chill continued to run down her spine and through her tail, as if to warn her; but so caught up in the moment was she, that the sensation was all but ignored.

As Yangcong took her hand to his scarred face, a chill would overtake her body; her eyes would widen as she felt a rage build up within her. "I don't know if my heart is pure..." Zuqetta began, her expression full of determination, "But I'll protect you, and anyone else that needs help! I won't allow ANYONE to do something like this to you again!" She declared, taking hold of the amulet in her free hand, "I'll become Queen, I'll become stronger, and then, I'll unlock the power of this amulet too! I'll use all my power to protect the universe from ANY threat!" She finished with an absolute conviction; fueled by the determination to protect any from the same atrocity Yangcong had experienced.

It pained her to know how much he had gone through, and that the scars were not only a lingering reminder of the pain he'd once experienced, but an eternal, physical pain as well. She knew pain like this wasn't something that could so easily be relieved; but if saving Plant, the universe, and all the future generations would give him at least a bit of solace, then she would do so! Not simply for Yangcongs sake, but for the sake of all those who were suffering by the hands of those who sought to do harm!

---

She would grin at being called a hero; with all she'd done up till now, she had been feeling particularly in a rut and far off from such a term. But now, it seemed things would change! She had Yangcong on her side to defeat the Saiyans that sought to do harm, and if she ascended to the throne, then none would ever be allowed to do harm again! Yangcong was only half Saiyan, so it made sense to her why he didn't simply try to claim the throne himself, should he have done so, then pure blooded Saiyans would have undoubtedly rose up; not that she would allow them to harm Yangcong.

"I'll follow you, and lead the Saiyans; only in your stead." She would respond, her eyes slightly glazing over as Yangcong stared into them, "Together, no one will stop us... we'll save the universe!" She continued, before averting her gaze as she felt a bit of pain come to her head. As Yangcong walked away, the medallion would illuminate an incredibly faint glow before quickly dimming away. Shaking her head of the strange, cloudy-like sensation; Zuqetta would return to her senses just in time to notice Yangcong departing the area.

"Cya again!" She'd wave, before turning to face her pod; hesitating for a brief moment with a confused expression, "Wait... what was I saying before?" She questioned, before looking down at the medallion she wore and giving a shrug, "Eh, doesn't matter; pod is fixed! Time ta get back ta Plant!" She cheered, before jumping into her pod to begin her ascent.

With her new ally, things were going to change; she needed to train up further if she was going to face Vennel and Vocado. Even if it meant making a few trips to other planets; she would gain the strength and knowledge necessary to defeat them, and help Yangcong bring peace to the universe!

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