Frieza snapped out of his stupor and bellowed in rage. He shot off in pursuit of the Kobitians. Cooler sighed, growing tired of his spoiled little brother, and began to follow. He stopped short as his father's limp form suddenly appeared before him, suspended by an unseen force. Cooler staggered back and, stumbling over his feet, fell to the ground, repulsed by the sight.

"I take it you don't like my little trophy."

Cooler looked up towards the ceiling as a cloaked figure slowly descended, stopping a good distance from the floor.

"Papa..." Cooler stammered. "You, you... how?"

From underneath his hood, the cloaked shadow closed his black eyes and chuckled revealing two dainty, yet sharply tapered fangs. His face then turned as hard and cold as stone as his eyes opened once again, glaring at the violet creature sprawled out upon the floor beneath him. Cooler looked into the hellish eyes that seemed to glow with the absence of light, darker than the darkest night on any land. He recoiled in fear as the shadow fell upon him...

Kori sat back on his feet and stared at his hands. He sat for what seemed like an eternity, until he heard a familiar chuckle from behind him.

"Oh, now that really is a pity."

Kori slightly turned his head and glanced over his shoulder at Frieza. With tears running down his face he stood and faced him.

Frieza grinned. "Real warriors don't weep like children. This will be an easy victory."

Kori stood with an almost peaceful expression upon his face. A rose-colored aura started to form about him as he began to rise into the air. "Frieza, today it is you who shall die."

"Oh, someone shall die - many will - but I will not be one of them," Frieza said as he, too, rose into the air. The weaker Kobitians and Nameks watched in horror as Frieza formed and energy sphere and launched it, almost simultaneously. Kori effortlessly dodged it. Kori turned and watched in painful dismay as the orb landed in the middle of the crowd, striking a brown-haired Kobitian.

"Ibaru!" Kori screamed.

"That was for my tail," Frieza said, unceremoniously. Kori hovered in shock, staring at the smoldering form. Frieza yelled as he charged at Kori. Still in a daze, Kori was given a swift kick to the face, sending him flying back. Frieza lunged again towards Kori. Kori dodged and caught Frieza with an elbow jab to the back. Frieza swung around again and hit Kori with a double-fisted punch, slamming him into the ground. Kori pulled himself up as Frieza landed delicately upon the ground. "Hmm, I would think that any son of mine would be able to keep up better than that. Pathetic." Frieza smiled.

"Don't you dare call me your son!" Kori growled in rage. He raced towards Frieza. He was about to strike him when Frieza seemingly disappeared. Kori looked around, confused.

"Pay attention now, son."

Kori faced the voice and gasped as a pain struck his chest. He looked down to see Ibaru's knife embedded to the hilt in his flesh. He lightly touched the knife and then, taking hold of the hilt, removed it from his chest. Kori dropped the blade and fell to his hands and knees. Frieza chuckled and walked over to the fallen boy, stopping a few feet away.

"Your time is over." Frieza stood, arms crossed in front of his chest.

Frieza looked up in shock. "What?! Who said that?" he raged, trying to find the source of the mysterious, silent voice. Kori looked at his distracted foe and, grabbing hold of the knife, leaped up and plunged the blade into Frieza's heart. Frieza looked at Kori, shocked.

"You die today, damn you," Kori said, staring into Frieza's eyes. Kori dragged the blade down to Frieza's waist before pulling it out through his side. Kori leaped up again, slit Frieza's throat, and jumped off of Frieza's right shoulder before spinning around and finally planting the blade permanently in Frieza's back. Kori stood as Frieza uttered a final gasp and fell over, unmoving. Only then did Kori groan and fall to the ground. He opened his eyes and saw Kirei's body a few feet away from him. He pulled himself over. Kori brushed her face with his hand and took in his hand the cobalt-blue flower pendant that lay around her neck.

"Open your eyes."

Kirei opened her eyes and looked down. She took the pendant in her hand and admired the finely crafted petals. "Oh, Kori - it's beautiful! It looks just like the first one you gave me!"

Kori smiled. "A lovely flower for a lovely angel."

Kirei smiled and embraced Kori, kissing him on the cheek. "Thank you, Kori. I love it. You are so wonderful." Kori smiled as he held her, returning the embrace.

Kori smiled and closed his eyes, resting his head on his hand, then relaxed his body, falling unconscious.

"Kori!" Nashi cried. "Tetsudai!" Nashi turned to the Namekian healer. Nashi ran to Kori, followed closely by Zarbon and Tetsudai. All three stopped abruptly as a cloaked figure appeared in front of them, facing away from the three, looking at Kori. Nashi stopped so suddenly that she fell backwards, but was stopped before hitting the ground. She looked around, uneasy.

"Females are delicate flowers that should not be stained by a planets' filthy surface." The cloaked being turned his head slightly.

Nashi swallowed, but remained composed. "But that same flower grows and depends on that very soil for life."

The figure laughed. "Very well." Nashi yelped as she fell to the ground. Zarbon went to her and helped her up as the being knelt next to Kori and Kirei. The figure reached out with a pallid, almost transparent, hand and grazed Kirei's face and Kori's shoulder with his fingers. He inhaled sharply and closed his eyes as a frigid chill swept over him.

He knelt down next to the pale, opalescent form. He took her hand as tears streamed down from his tightly shut eyes. "Nozomi," he whispered. He clenched his other hand. "What more can you take away from me?!" he cried. "Are you content? What more do you want?!" He brought his head down to meet her hand and wept softly for a long while. He looked up as he felt a presence behind him, like a frozen breeze. He faced the presence to see his silver pendant, hovering in midair. "No, stay away from me. No more." He stood and backed up, stepping over the dead body. The pendant hovered closer, following the slowly retreating form. "No, please - stay away!" He backed against the wall and sat down, shaking violently. He shielded his face as the pendant descended upon him...

He looked up with calm, cool eyes. He looked down and touched the pendant that lay on his bare chest. His hand jerked away as the cool metal burnt him as it always did when it had complete control. Sighing, he looked up again and began walking. He knew he was dead inside. But that didn't matter now, nothing did...

"Please..."

The being opened his eyes and turned his head to the voice. He stood and turned slightly, holding his hand out in front of him in an 'after you' gesture. Nashi looked at the figure as Tetsudai timidly stepped up to Kori. He looked up to the being to see that his face was covered in the shadow caused by the cloak's hood. Tetsudai turned away and knelt next to Kori. He rolled Kori onto his back and looked at the stab wound. He bit his lip as he began to try and heal the young prince. Nashi looked at the cloaked being.

"Who are you?" she asked. The being face Nashi and Zarbon completely and pulled back the hood that covered his head. He closed his eyes and looked down, causing two strands of hair that were as black as sloes to fall into his face. The being smiled.

"I am your end, and this is your dying day." He opened his eyes to see Nashi and Zarbon take up a fighting stance. He laughed. "I should give you time to lick your wounds, but I have waited long enough."

Zarbon glared at the pale impostor. "What do you want with us?" The figure simply smiled and then vanished. Zarbon and Nashi looked around as a silent voice echoed though everyone's minds.

Nashi looked to Zarbon then turned to their frightened people who had all heard the curse. She bit her lip and turned towards Tetsudai and Kori. She went over and knelt next to her healed son. "Thank you, Tetsudai." The Namek smiled and nodded his head, accepting the thanks. Nashi rested her hand upon Kori's arm. "Oh, Kori. My brave, strong fighter." She looked up as Zarbon approached and knelt beside her. "Zarbon, we have to do something. That... creature was incredibly strong - almost twice as strong as Frieza."

Zarbon brought his hand to his brow, thinking. "I think we need contact someone - anyone. We need help. This looks really bad."

Nashi nodded solemnly. "I think I know who can help us. We'd better hurry - we don't have much time." Zarbon placed a hand on Nashi's shoulder then stood and walked to the crowd, telling the frightened villagers what to do.

"Kassan..."

Nashi looked at Kori and helped him sit up. He placed a hand where his wound used to be. Kori looked to his mother and then to the villagers and Zarbon, seeing fear in all of them. "Mom, what happened? What's going on?"

Nashi gave a weak smile. "It's not over yet."