"No..." Vegeta whispered inaudibly as he watched in pure, helpless horror. Meir moments ago he'd been so peacefully asleep in Frieza's ship and at Goku's wounded side, dreaming of immortality and kingdom's rising in his name...and awoke to discover that his darkest nightmares faded through the light of that glory not in dreamland, but reality. And at that moment, Vegeta desired nothing more than to've just stayed asleep. But unlike Freiza's, Vegeta's wish would forever remain ungranted.

'Story of his life...

The expressions on Krillin, Gohan and Dende's faces were hardly different as their stares locked on the same monster before them. Dende was pinned beneath Frieza's foot, while the two tiny warriors from earth stood a few yards away. But the fear was almost no match for the throat-tightening guilt that stirred their stomachs as they stood frozen in place, like sheep patient in line for the slaughter. Why? Why hadn't they waited?! Why were they so stupid as to try and get in their wishes before Frieza showed up?

"What have I done?!" Killan thought as his mind was sent in a downward spiral, the world literally trembling under his feet as he watched Frieza being endowed with such an intense amount of power the air grew thick. "What am I supposed to do?! We can't die here! I can't let Gohan down! Gaaaah! Goku!" He whirled around and looked behind him, past Vegeta and his gaping stare, back toward Frieza's ship as the creature's maddening laughter rang in his ears.

"I have to save Goku! We have to get out of here! I...I-I'm sure we could fly that ship! Somehow!" He thought then grabbed Gohan's arm, "Let's get out of here!" He shouted and in a flash of light that lingered like a walkway toward Frieza's ship and through the door, they were gone, leaving Vegeta and Dende to their fate. There was...there was nothing he could do for them...

Frieza's laughter died down as the light of his energy faded, seeping into every fiber of his being. "I feel....good! Ahaha!" He ranted in pure excitement. Oh glorious day...

His eyes slowly moved from admiring his risen fist to the Saiyan prince at his left, receiving a few startled whimpers in return.

"Ahhh, Vegeta. Don't be so jealeous..."

The small saiyan took a step back as Frieza picked up Dende by his shirt and hovered toward him, the prince's eyes wide and mouth agape, his voice audible and trembling almost as badly as he was. It was over...all over...

"After all, you and your little friends made this all possible..."

"What is your final wish...!?" The dragon, who'd all but been forgotten at this point, thundered his echoing lyrics in a deep, monstrous voice.

Frieza lifted his head, eying the dragon from beneath his brows with a devilish grin, still clutching the speechless Dende.

"Hmhmph....tell him to...bring back the planet Vegeta, just the way it was before I destroyed it..."

Dende shook his head and clutched his eyes tight. Vegeta was inwardly floored.

"No!" The Namek fired back sternly, bravely, "You'll have to kill me fir--mmf!" Frieza clasped his ghostly pale hand around the child's face, his black finger nails digging into his cheek, "Now now, little one...I was actually planning to spare this mud-ball of a planet since I now have my wish..." The inner ends of his brows raised, making a sad, pitiful face at the Namek, and his tone reflected his expression, "Do you really want to make me rethink that?"

Dende stared into the eyes of death, tears streaking his cheeks and flowing over Freiza's cold fingers. But at last, he nodded. He had no choice. And after the tyrant released him, he stumbled over to the dragon's base, lifted his hands, and started the shaky chant.

"Your wish...has been granted..."

Frieza casted a sideways stare at the stunned and confused Vegeta, neither noticing that his ship was taking off in the background over the roaring noise of the Dragon's departure. And at the twinkling of his eye, a small explosion blasted from beneath Dende's feet. The little namek had served his purpose. And Vegeta trembled as he tried to hold the stare on those dark eyes. "I-It's my turn now...I can't b-believe this is--"

"I need a few more monkeys do to my dirty work for my growing empire, now that they're not, as you say, a "threat" to me. And as for you..." Frieza's vocals chimed, "Nobody enjoys losing their own pet..."