Chapter: The Curse - Parts 7 and 8

VoWo: Sorry that it took so long after all. I just didn't run out of time anymore.
<br />
I just didn't get the tension I wanted.
<br />
I hope you enjoy reading anyway.
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Part 7
<br />
<br />
<br />
Princess Lia was amazed at the graceful and flowing movements of her playmates. Rey and Yaka fought each other in the royal battle ring, while Lia sat under a Japanese-style pavilion. The pavilion had been erected right next to the battle ring and lay in the middle of the extensive palace garden.
<br />
The king and his court attended the little spectacle. Lia snuggled close to her father, King Vegeta.
<br />
A servant approached the king from behind: "Your Majesty, General Zarlek is here with his 'pupil'." With a wave of the hand the king ordered the general to come to him.
<br />
Zarlek knelt before him resignedly. The king watched the battle over his general as he spoke to him: "Well, how does it look?Is she ready. "" Yes, your Majesty. She is ready. "" After this training match, I'll check them out. "
<br />
<br />
Meanwhile, Rey ended the fight by kicking Yaka out of the ring with a targeted kick. The courtiers and guards clapped.
<br />
Lydia stood with Bardock a little away from the pavilion and now watched dejectedly as Rey accepted the congratulations on the victory.
<br />
"I'll never be as good as the two of them." Lydia mumbled and drew circles in the sand with her foot.
<br />
<br />
The king also congratulated Rey. Then he turned to Zarlek: “Bring this to the little one.” He pointed to a servant who had a breastplate, white gloves and boots ready.
<br />
King Vegeta put an arm around his fearful-looking daughter reassuringly: "Don't worry. I have no intention of killing her, little one." He had promised Lia to accept Lydia as her new playmate, if she should meet the requirements.Otherwise Lydia would end up as a servant or a slave. His expectations were high, as his generals had described Lydia as a very talented, if weak, fighter. His blood also flowed in your veins.
<br />
<br />
Zarlek returned to Lydia with the servant. "And who is my training partner today?" she wanted to know. "You'll find out soon enough!" with a serious face he put the breastplate on Lydia. She was amazed at the piece. So far she had only worn the black body. “The king will have that sent to you.” “It's pretty easy, that part.” Zarlek handed her the gloves and boots.
<br />
As soon as she had everything on, she tested her freedom of movement. “Wow.” Amazed at herself, Lydia studied her appearance again carefully. Then they went to the battle ring.
<br />
<br />
Lydia tugged shyly on Zarlek's cloak. "You? Who am I fighting now?" "Have a little patience."
<br />
She looked uncertainly at the courtiers and guards in the pavilion."Do I have to fight in front of all these people?"
<br />
Bardock put a hand on her shoulders: "You don't have to be afraid, little one. They don't bite." He nodded to her encouragingly.
<br />
She entered the ring with a queasy feeling in her stomach. Beside the fighting ring, besides Rey and Yaka, there were also Lia and a small man with black flaming hair. He held Lia in his arms. Lydia stood too far away to hear what he was talking about. Somehow she knew the guy, but where from?
<br />
<br />
It was only when Zarlek and her guard kneeled down in front of the man that it dawned on her. At the same time, she began to panic. Should she really fight against King Vegeta, the father of her real favorite hero ??! If so, that was sure to be her death sentence. She looked around for help. Why had Zarlek withheld that from her? She was scared of those expectant looks from the people around her.
<br />
<br />
Zarlek came over to Lydia and tapped her shoulder. Startled, she turned around."I just wanted to explain the rules of the game to you, little one." he started. "Well." she just nodded. With fearful looks she looked at her opponent again.
<br />
Zarlek continued: "Well, whoever first touches the ground outside the ring, gives up or remains on the ground for more than ten seconds, has lost. Grabbing the opponent by the tail is prohibited. Otherwise everything is allowed except killing." Flies too? "" Yes.
<br />
Lydia's gaze hardened. Since Zarlek had not taught her to fly, she now had serious doubts about surviving the fight without major damage. There was little consolation left for her to get off alive. Certainly only as a cripple, but always alive.
<br />
"One more question .." Zarlek was about to leave the ring, but stopped. ".. Why did you hide from me that I am going against the king?" her angry look reminded Zarlek very much of Prince Vegeta at the moment. Hesitantly he replied: "The way you reacted last to a hint about a visit to the king, you would have tensed up during training.And I didn't want that. "Slowly the general went to the edge of the ring." Zarlek. "Lydia's call made him stop for a moment. He looked at her." Thank you for everything. “Her now soft facial features elicited a smile from him.” You're welcome. "With that he jumped out of the ring.
<br />
<br />
The king had meanwhile entered the ring. With an immovable mine, now each examine the other. Lydia hid her fear as best she could. Somehow she felt the king was too big a chunk for herself. If she wanted to remain unscathed, it was only possible with a ruse. She feverishly searched for a suitable tactic. Bardock's tips from this morning came in very handy.
<br />
Lydia looked like a little fish to the king. Even if the generals presented her as gifted, it looked like an easy victory. A strong blow in the pit of the stomach would be enough to send them to the mat. But first he wanted to give her the chance to put her skills to the test.
<br />
<br />
It was very quiet around the two opponents.Just a light pinch made the leaves of the treetops tremble briefly. The king and Lydia circled slowly, always keeping the other in view.
<br />
Lydia got the impression that the king would leave the first attack to her. 'Now just don't make a mistake.' she thought. King Vegeta went into attack position.
<br />
Now Lydia had an idea. She jumped at him in a flash. He dodged to the left. She purposefully kicked his chest from the front. King Vegeta grabbed her left leg and started a twist. While still in the air, Lydia thundered her right foot in his face.
<br />
Surprised, the king almost threw her out of the ring after a quarter turn. Amid the yelling of people, Lydia caught herself about half a meter from the edge.
<br />
<br />
Not a bit impressed, the king rubbed his chin. For him it was just a tickle. He walked up to her calmly.
<br />
Lydia collected herself again.
<br />
She threw herself at him like a big cat.A wild battle broke out with arms and legs. For minutes she looked for a gap in cover with the king.
<br />
<br />
"WAAH" barely rushed his fist past her. With one kick she pushed away from him again. There was a little pause.
<br />
'Somehow the guy didn't show what he can do.' thought Lydia and went into attack position. Her opponent also stood to attention. He was preparing an AI attack. A white sphere of energy formed in his hands. Obviously he took his time.
<br />
<br />
Lydia drew in air audibly. In training, she had never managed to fend off an energy attack. No matter what she did, it always got her. But this time she couldn't fail. It was her only chance.
<br />
She sensed only too clearly what the bystanders thought of her. Their faces gave it away: rejection and contempt. For them Lydia was just an unwelcome something that stirred up too much dust in the yard. You and the king's daughter?NEVER!! Nothing more than scraps and filth that belonged in the street gulli.
<br />
Lydia came up with a plan in a matter of seconds. Perhaps she managed to block the attack by screaming accordingly. (The fight between Tao Baibai and Tenshinhan at the 23rd Tenhaichi Budoukai served as a model.)
<br />
<br />
Everything happened very quickly now. King Vegeta fired the weak energy ball. At the same time Lydia let out a high-pitched scream. She put all her strength into it.
<br />
The audience watched in amazement as the AI ​​attack burst like a soap bubble. Lydia hadn't been scratched, but she was already finished. Exhausted, she sank to her knees. A slight stomach ache forced her all the way to the ground.
<br />
<br />
A murmur went through the crowd. The guards' scouters had measured a significant increase in energy in her.
<br />
The king was quickly informed of this by one of his generals. He stepped up to Lydia calmly and crouched down in front of her.<br />
König: "She passed the first part. Let's see how she does in the second part." Lydia almost puked. Another test? What did it look like? "Take her to an uninhabited area, that's where she can let off steam tonight." The king grinned and walked away.
<br />
Zarlek helped Lydia back on her feet: "Bravo little one. Up to now nobody had achieved such a high increase in strength in such a short time."
<br />
"What did that guy mean by romping around tonight?" Lydia looked after the king with glassy eyes. "You will find out soon enough. I just know that the first time was a pleasure for me." Lydia was too exhausted to understand what Zarlek meant.
<br />
<br />
She spent the rest of the day resting. Princess Lia stayed with her all afternoon. Rey and Yaka also kept her company. Little Lia kept talking about keeping Lydia and all that. She didn't care much, though.She just wanted to be left alone.
<br />
<br />
------
<br />
<br />
The sun slowly disappeared behind the horizon. Enrico sat on the terrace of the house and enjoyed the last rays of the sun. By now he had gotten over Lydia's loss a little. In the meantime, his parents knew what had happened, but had not believed his story. Who