Broly - in his base form - sat motionless on the edge of his bed, staring at his open palms as if they belonged to someone else.
The chambers provided by the Cold Empire were opulent beyond anything he'd ever experienced - polished obsidian floors, crystal lighting fixtures, furniture carved from rare woods harvested from a dozen worlds - yet he barely noticed his surroundings.
For a week now, the memories had been tormenting him. Fragmented. Disjointed. Like shattered glass reflecting distorted images.
They weren't his memories, but they were inside his head nonetheless. Memories of being Bane - the fusion of himself and Toji.
Memories of Toji himself, though those were strangely incomplete. As if Toji had only existed for months rather than twenty-one years.
A knock at the door interrupted his thoughts.
"Enter," Broly said, his deep voice carrying across the chamber without effort.
The door slid open to reveal Paragus, his father's single eye darting nervously around the room before settling on his son.
Even after a week, Paragus hadn't adjusted to seeing Broly without the golden control crown.
"My son," Paragus began, his voice carefully controlled to sound paternal rather than fearful. "I've come to check on your... well-being."
Broly didn't respond, returning his gaze to his hands.
Paragus stepped further into the room, his artificial confidence growing with each step. "The King has been asking about you. Your power greatly interests him. This could be an opportunity for us-"
"Leave me," Broly interrupted, still not looking up.
Paragus hesitated, then pressed forward. "Broly, you must understand our position here. We are guests of the Empire. If we're to maintain-"
"I said leave." Broly's voice remained calm, but something in it caused the temperature in the room to drop several degrees.
"You haven't left these chambers in days," Paragus continued, either oblivious to the danger or foolishly pressing his luck. "The royal family expects-"
Broly moved so quickly he seemed to teleport. One moment sitting on the bed, the next towering over his father, one massive hand wrapped around Paragus's throat, lifting him until his feet dangled above the floor.
"You think I have forgotten?" Broly growled, his eyes boring into his father's. "Fifteen years, father. Fifteen years you kept me chained. Controlled me like an animal."
Paragus clawed desperately at the hand crushing his windpipe, his face purpling. "B-Broly... please... it was... necessary..."
"Necessary?" Broly's grip tightened slightly, causing Paragus to gasp. "Do not mistake my restraint for forgiveness. The only reason you still breathe is because of a sentiment I cannot explain."
He leaned closer, his voice dropping to a whisper. "But test me again, and I will end you."
With a contemptuous flick of his wrist, Broly tossed his father aside. Paragus crashed against the wall, crumpling to the floor in a heap, gasping for air.
Broly turned away, striding toward the door. "Stay out of my sight."
He stormed through the corridors of the Regents' Complex, palace staff flattening themselves against walls as he passed.
His massive frame seemed to fill the hallways, the air around him crackling with barely contained power.
Eventually, he found himself outside, in one of the palace's many gardens. Night had fallen, and storm clouds gathered overhead, mirroring his turbulent thoughts.
The first drops of rain began to fall as he walked deeper into the garden, away from prying eyes.
The rain intensified quickly, becoming a downpour that plastered his black hair to his scalp and ran in rivulets down his bare chest.
He hadn't bothered with a shirt, wearing only his white pants with the red sash and yellow boots.
Broly tilted his head back, letting the rain wash over his face as memories continued to assault him.
His birth - he remembered everything from the very moment he was born.
The power level reading of 10,000 that had terrified King Vegeta.
The assassination attempt - the knife plunging into his tiny infant body.
The rage that had allowed him to survive.
He remembered being placed next to another Saiyan infant - Kakarot.
He remembered the feeling of that particular ki signature burning itself into his memory, becoming forever associated with the pain of King Vegeta's betrayal.
For years afterward, whenever he thought of Kakarot's ki, the phantom pain of being stabbed would return, driving him into uncontrollable rage.
His ki would surge, wild and untamed, demanding release through destruction.
But something had changed.
Since the fusion with Toji, since becoming in a sense Bane, that trigger seemed... dulled.
The wildness of his legendary ki felt more manageable somehow.
As if Toji's extraordinary ki control had tempered his own raging power.
The effect was strongest when Toji was nearby. The memories became clearer, the techniques for controlling ki more accessible.
But Toji had left with Vegeta for Earth days ago, and Broly found himself struggling once again.
"Beautiful night for contemplation, isn't it?"
The deep, cultured voice cut through the sound of falling rain. Broly didn't turn, recognizing the ki signature of King Cold approaching behind him.
"Leave me," Broly said flatly. "Unless you wish to die."
Cold chuckled, coming to stand beside Broly, seemingly unconcerned by the rain soaking his imperial regalia. "Such hostility. And here I thought we might have a civil conversation."
Broly remained silent, staring up at the clouded night sky.
"Your ki betrays you, young Saiyan," Cold observed. "I can read the conflict within you as clearly as a book. It must be quite jarring, having memories that aren't truly your own."
Broly's eyes narrowed slightly, but he still didn't look at Cold.
"Memories of what might have been, had your heritage not been stolen from you," Cold continued. "First by King Vegeta's attempt on your life, then by Beerus ordering the destruction of your planet."
Cold paused, watching Broly carefully before adding: "Perhaps even memories of the First Legend himself."
Broly's head snapped toward Cold, his eyes widening slightly. Cold smiled, satisfied to have finally gained his attention.
"Ah, there we are. I appreciate finally being able to look you in the eye."
"How do you know this?" Broly demanded.
"The final conversation between Bane and Cumber was quite enlightening," Cold explained. "Our ship's observation systems recorded it. The audio was poor, but... informative."
Cold began to walk in a slow circle around Broly, his massive tail dragging behind him.
"I know your story, Broly. How for more than half your life, you were controlled by your father - a man you geniunely loved from the moment of your birth."
After a moment of silence, Cold chuckled softly. "How ironic that the Saiyan Warrior Race's Messiah, the living embodiment of their existence, is the one who holds the purest, most innocent love of them all."
Broly's expression darkened, but Cold continued undeterred.
"Love so great that even as an infant, when your planet was being destroyed, rather than only saving yourself, through sheer instinct, you saved your father too."
Cold's voice carried a note of genuine admiration. "Even in your most berserker rages, you refrained from killing him, protected him. Only accidentally ever hurting him."
Cold gestured to his own eye, mimicking Paragus's injury.
"But I suppose it makes sense," Cold mused. "The greatest warriors are those who have a purpose for their strength. Strength is sought to protect what one loves. And hate is born to destroy what threatens what one loves."
The rain began to ease slightly as Cold completed his circle, coming to stand before Broly again.
"Love is quite necessary to be a great warrior," he continued. "One cannot simply be alone. It would make one's purpose... superficial at best."
Broly's teeth clenched. "Speak your purpose in seeking me out."
Cold smiled, his eyes gleaming in the darkness. "I wish to see the path to the peak." he stated simply.
Broly's brows furrowed in confusion. "What?"
Cold swept his right arm sideways, his cape billowing with the movement despite being soaked by rain.
"All my life, what I have sought was... the way to eternity. The absolute freedom above all laws," Cold declared. "Especially the laws of the Gods. The way to control life and death, choose when to live and when to die, alongside the choosing of who lives and who dies."
Cold's expression turned contemplative. "But... I've come to realize my limitations. I simply do not have the talent necessary to find this path, this way to achieving that for myself."
He fixed his gaze on Broly, his eyes burning with intensity. "So I searched for who did. And now I've found it in the two of you - you and Toji."
"Toji, my beloved Son-In-Law, is a mortal who has ascended to godhood," Cold continued. "And you are a mortal who can rival the gods naturally. The two of you complement each other, and are each other's natural rivals in the paths of power."
Cold stepped closer, his voice dropping to an almost conspiratorial tone. "Don't you see? You yourself hold a nature of ever-growing wild power, unending in its growth, constantly rising and rising and rising, to no end, until you overcome any limitations. You are the Flaw of War, a breaker of rules, an unfair enemy who can never be overcome in a true battle."
"Only through it not being a battle, and being up against a supreme being, defeated instantly, can you lose," Cold continued. "Your potential for raw power is unending."
"Lord Duskborn, on the other hand, is the Flaw of Dusk, one who dominates the very essence of power and life - Ki itself - with sheer will alone, transforming it, having it transcend the rules from desire alone. His potential for control and domination is unending."
Cold's voice rose with excitement. "The two of you, if you work together, can achieve... anything. But you can also push each other to greater heights."
Cold fell silent, lowering his hand to his side. After a moment, he continued in a more measured tone.
"My Son-In-Law's growth has only been in moments of adversity, of danger. But that isn't... sustainable. It is too chaotic for my taste."
Broly, who had been listening intently despite himself, finally spoke. "Get to the point."
Cold raised an eyebrow. "Is it not obvious?"
At Broly's irritated gaze, Cold after a moment of silence, continued. "To become my apprentice - that is what I am offering you."
"Apprentice?" Broly repeated, genuine surprise in his voice.
Cold nodded. "My Son-In-Law is going to be taught by the gods as a god himself. If you are to be his rival and push him to greater heights, then you'll need the greatest teacher a mortal can have."
Broly crossed his arms, raising his right eyebrow skeptically. "And that's you?"
Cold smiled and shrugged, "Perhaps in the universe there may be masters who are better than me in their own personal crafts. I'm not arrogant enough to think myself perfect. But when it comes to a good master in everything - none can rival me."
Broly fell silent, considering Cold's words. After a long moment, he voiced the question that troubled him most: "Do you not fear being overthrown? Even ignoring me, if you make Toji stronger and stronger, he will come for your throne."
Cold spread his arms in challenge, his smile widening. "I would welcome it. I made the greatest empire for the greatest being to ever exist. I desire myself to be that being, but if it is someone else - especially my family, one I consider a son-" he included Toji in this category without hesitation, "-then so be it. I simply wasn't worthy of it."
His eyes gleamed with ambition. "But of course... I won't make it easy. I won't stagnate myself."
The rain had almost stopped now, a few final drops falling as Cold asked, "So, what is your answer?"
Broly stared at Cold for a long moment, his expression unreadable. Without a word, he turned and walked away, heading back toward his chambers.
Cold remained standing in the garden, watching Broly's retreating form. As the clouds began to part, revealing the stars beyond, a small smile played across his lips.
"At least that wasn't a definitive refusal," he murmured to himself.
He turned in the opposite direction, walking toward his palace, his mind already racing with plans. The path to the peak was becoming clearer with each passing day.
As Broly reached his chambers, he paused at the doorway, looking back over his shoulder at the distant figure of King Cold. The Emperor's words echoed in his mind:
"The two of you complement each other, and are each other's natural rivals in the paths of power. "
"The two of you, if you work together, can achieve... anything."
For the first time since the fusion ended, Broly felt something beyond confusion and rage - a flicker of purpose.
Perhaps... Perhaps even a desire for direction.
He entered his chambers, closing the door behind him.
Tonight, he would consider Cold's offer. Tomorrow... tomorrow would bring its own decisions.
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(Author note: Hello everyone! I hope you all liked the chapter.
Apologies for the slowing done of the dropping of chapters - as you see, I am... Contemplating how to incorporate everything.
There is just so much going on right now, so many characters, I need to think well how to deal with them, and not write something illogical by going too fast and overlooking something.
So yeah, I hope you guys understand and to see you all later,
Bye!)