Authoress’ Note: I had started this months ago, but I became pretty busy with things that were going on in my life and my health.

Prior to everything that's happened, I had started this personal challenge, but hit a roadblock in writing. Then, I had so many appointments and other things that kept me busy.

Only a couple days after my birthday, I had to restart my treatments in the hospital. It was rough, and there are days where I am feeling tired. At the moment, I'm doing fine thankfully, and I am hopeful that this next treatment gets me in a better place.

Then, I began to realize that I need to finish this challenge with Tarble since I want to explore his character following the issue with Cell. At least he won't end up like his future counterpart considering what happened.

A Prince's Reflection 

One Shot

Everyone was sound asleep when Tarble made his way to the roof of the former ship that they now considered their home. Trunks, rather, the future version of the baby was due to return to his timeline in the morning.

It had taken hours for Kauli to heal after sustaining a horrible injury courtesy of Cell. After she healed up, she brushed right past Tarble before he could assess to see if she was better. Perhaps she was still angry at him for nearly crushing her to death in his Oozaru state prior to returning to normal.

Guilt. He knew he had royally messed up and blamed himself for not taking preventative measures to ensure her safety during that fight. The necklace he wore around his neck was more of a hindrance than something that could prevent him and any Saiyan who had a tail from transforming. He truly wished that there was something else they could try to prevent it from happening overall instead of using a charmed necklace as a clutch…

‘Gah, I’m supposed to be trying to feel relieved! Not thinking about things that are not relevant right now!’ Tarble let out a heavy sigh of frustration. His inability to rest was the main reason he came outside after tossing and turning in bed. He thought that the fresh air might aid him in getting groggy enough to at least find some semblance of sleep.

Instead, he was just mulling over everything that has happened lately.

The androids they had saved from Cell were not grateful for the assist, both of them practically sending glares at them, but who could blame them for having the enemy spare their lives? They both departed, mostly to find their place in this chaotic world after enduring so much from a mad doctor and an army of insane people.

The same thing happened with the humans and the Namekian who fought alongside them during the battle with Cell. While they were grateful for the temporary truce, they did not want to stick around longer than intended. They left before Vegeta decided that the truce was over and they had to die yet again.

Then, there was the new transformation that the half-Saiyans managed to obtain after Kakarot’s death. The power that they exhibited was insane, and the prince had to admit that he envied how everyone else could witness such power with their own eyes.

Even though he claimed that he was alright being blind, he envied those who had their sight. He had been somewhat lying when he said he could live without it, knowing full well that he was missing out on a lot of new experiences due to not having it. Tarble was actually quite curious about the new transformation, about how to make prosthetic arms better for Turles.

What Kauli looked like…

‘As if she’d give me the time of the day after I came that close to killing her earlier!’ Tarble grasped at his head, clearly being hard on himself for such a mistake.

He was unaware that he was no longer alone as soft footfalls suddenly startled him. Tarble growled, thinking it was Vegeta coming to pester him.

“Easy… I thought you were asleep…” a familiar voice reached his ears as the prince quickly managed to correct his behavior.

“K-Kauli… what… what are you doing up at this time of night?” He fumbled over his words, clearly taken off-guard. He had not expected she would come to him considering what transpired what felt like hours ago.

“Nothing, just wanted to get out of the stuffy room and get some fresh air…” Kauli huffed before sitting down next to Tarble.

“Are… are you still mad about…?” Tarble was still processing what was going on, wondering if he had drifted off to sleep.

“If I was, I wouldn’t be anywhere near ya,” Kauli shook her head while looking up at the stars. “I know you didn’t mean it…”

“Of course I didn’t… I never wanted to hurt…” Tarble started, but he was interrupted.

“I know you don’t want to, but I just want you to know that you and Turles have this dumbass game of trying to win me over like I’m some sort of prize…” Kauli was clearly annoyed. “I mean you two are practically being kind to me while wanting to throw hands so I can be with one of y’all…”

“You… you don’t understand… that’s how it is in our culture…” Tarble stammered, clearly wanting to explain everything to her, but finding it difficult considering that he was exiled from an early age and had not expected to find a female of their kind to be living here on Earth under their noses.

“Screw Saiyan culture! We’re not on that planet! We’re here on Earth and men like that don’t try to woo a woman by wanting to fight every five minutes!” Kauli was clearly against the idea of Saiyan courtship. “Y’all need to find a better way to let me know you're interested and stop beating around the bush!”

Tarble was clearly stunned at how Kauli pointed out how bizarre their culture was.

“It's not that easy!” Tarble protested. “We don't really know how to express it in words! It's more complicated than you think!”

“How hard is it to just say ‘I like you’ to someone?” She huffed with frustration.

Was it really that easy to say? A part of him wondered, but another was really conflicted.

“It… I thought if I said it like that, you might have taken it the wrong way…” Tarble admitted softly.

“The only wrong way I see is how you guys could have just been more forward instead of being so shy!”

“I suppose that would be easier. Though it is still hard to say…”

Silence filled the air. Tarble couldn't tell what expression she had on her face, but her energy did remain still.

“Kauli?”

“What is it?”

“Do you regret meeting us?”

“Not really… I always felt a certain way about Aqua… though I do miss my daddy…”

“He must have been a good man…”

Kauli nodded before yawning.

“Tarble…”

“Yes?”

“If you ever try to be someone like Vegeta again, I'll kick your ass.”

Tarble felt his jaw drop slightly at the thought. He did act like his brother, and it was clearly more than just a psychotic episode.

“I'd deserve it and would like it if you did so I know how bad I messed up.”

“Good…” Kauli moved a bit closer to Tarble as he felt her head rest against the side of his body. He was a bit stunned before she drifted off to sleep.

‘At least she didn't completely reject me,’ Tarble thought before he too drifted off to sleep.