I don't own Dragon Ball Z.

A/N: yeah, so I don't have chapter names. Deal with it :P

The Quest for the Divine Dragon

Night fell on the world. Chichi looked after Bulma most of the time, while being urged by the Ox King to rest herself. 18 joined the team, sick of waiting for Krillin. They talked about the mysterious enemy's whereabouts and possible strategies to deal with Vegeto. Trunks and Goten were hardly seen.

"It's no use, he's just too strong for us."

Krillin said desperately.

"Maybe we should call Mr. Buu on this one…"

"We want to save them, 18, not turn them into chocolate!"

Gohan said angrily. 18 had good ideas, but her cold calculations were beginning to wear down everyone's nerves.

"Honey, those are our friends there…"

"I'm hungry…"

Krillin looked around him, blinking.

"What's wrong, Krillin?"

"I could've sworn I heard… Goku…"

Everyone blinked.

"Ok, that's it, we're all over tired."

Gohan declared.

"We'll all know if Vegeto comes a' calling, so let's just go to bed, ok? We'll continue first thing on the morning."

Passing through the room where Goten and Trunks were, Gohan peeked in. Goku smiled at the kids, then at Gohan, before disappearing. Gohan couldn't see his father even though Goku was still there. Goten wore the amulet around his neck, as did Trunks. Bulma and Vegeta had quite a conversation since Vegeta got there.

"How's it going, Kakarotto?"

Vegeta asked as he, too, came to watch over his son. Gohan has left a moment before.

"Well, I'm pretty sure almost all of them saw me at least once. Figured as many links as I could get. You?"

The prince sat on the end of Trunks's bed.

"I… have quite a strong link. One, but… it's a start. A good start."

Goku smiled knowingly.

"Bulma?"

"Shut up, Kakarotto."

Their sons' sleep didn't seem peaceful to the fathers.

"What do you think could they be dreaming about?"

"Who knows, Kakarotto… who knows…"

The two boys looked around them in awe. It was a heavenly place. A small stream went at the side of the cave, framing a small plateau. Crystals reflected the light off of them in all the colors of the rainbow. On the plateau sat a beast which was more magnificent than the whole place.

"Children of Saiyan and man… what is your wish?"

The dragon said calmly. The two exchanged looks. What did they want at the time?

"To save our dads!"

"To heal my mom!"

The Dragon looked them over, and his gaze lingered on their amulets.

"Your hearts wish well… you are not yet ready. When the time comes, I will be waiting. Deep in your souls."

In a brilliant flash of light, he spread his noble wings, and disappeared inside their lockets. Eyes glowing bright white, the boys left that dream world.

The little villain walked back and forth, mumbling.

~Not good, not good.~

He felt a great decrease of power. Power that was meant for him. It was sent away.

~If he leaves me, I'll be ruined! How could I control Vegeto?! …no, he won't leave me… he needs me… to get those brats… he can't leave me…~

Vegeto watched from the darkness, smirking.

'So, you're not as powerful as you'd like to think. Good. I'll break you. Slowly.'

"Couldn't sleep either, eh?"

Goten looked from the moon at his friend. Trunks sat next to him, legs hanging from the edge of the lookout.

"How's your mom?"

"Zenso Bean helped her, but the baby's still… well, I donno. Chichi just ruffled my hair, smiled, and sent me on my way. I'm guessing it can't be that bad, but not that good, either."

"Don't worry, she'll pull through. Krillin'll take care of her."

"I know."

Above them, unnoticed by the two, Piccolo was meditating. He slowly turned his attention to their conversation.

"Say, Trunks, Did you have a dream…"

"About a dragon?"

The Namek watched as the two extracted the dragon amulets.

'Those amulets… such great powers! Where did they get them?'

"You got on, too?"

Goten asked, eyes wide.

"Yeah, it just appeared in front of me."

"Same here."

They sat for a moment before Trunks asked silently:

"Think he might be able to help us?"

"Why should we trunks him? We turned that other guy down…"

Trunks clutched the amulet in his fist.

"I don't care anymore. That's not my father in there, and even if it was, he needs to pay for what he did to my mom!"

"I guess… but if we kill him, we'll kill our dads!"

"Better to just let 'em kill us, then?!"

The older boy spat out angrily.

"What are you turning on me, for?! I'm on your side!"

As the boys' anger flared, so did the energy Piccolo felt.

'I don't like this…'

"Yeah right, thanks for the vote of confidence, buddy!"

Neither boy was going to back down.

"What, I'm supposed to by happy to hurt my dad, is that it?!"

"Goten! Trunks!"

"WHAT?!"

Piccolo was amazed at how the boys' anger burned.

"Stop it! You two should be resting!"

Finally regaining their composure, the boys lowered their gazes.

"Sorry, Mr. Piccolo."

"Now, why don't you two go and get some rest? We're planning a big thing tomorrow."

"Be right there, Mr. Piccolo."

The Namek flew away and woke Krillin up.

"Wake up."

Krillin didn't budge. Piccolo grabbed his hair and pulled. Krillin woke up instantly.

"Why'd you do that for?!"

"I need you to look after Goten and Trunks."

The monk rubbed his head, confused.

"Huh? Why?"
"I have a bad feeling something's going to happen."

"But… Piccolo, what could happen?"

The Namek frowned.

"I don't know. But I don't want to take any chances. Our chances are slim as they are. Anything happens to those two, they go down to none."

"I hear ya."

"Good."

"I don't like it."

Goku said thoughtfully.

"Something bad's in the air."

Vegeta humphed.

"What? You don't trust King Kai?"

"It's not that… there's a tension in the air… the fight's gonna be bigger than what we think. You must feel it too, Vegeta."

"I do… Excuse me, Kakarotto."

Goku blinked.

"Huh? Vegeta, where are you going to?"

There was a pause before Vegeta answered.

"My wife."

Goku nodded and sighed as he watched his own wife in her sleep.

'If only she'd be half as peaceful while awake! GEEZ!'

Krillin held a small bag of Zenso Beans and yawned as he walked to where Trunks and Goten were. The two were sitting on the edge again.

'I wonder what Piccolo was all up about… they seem to be doing ok…'

Trunks stood up and said something. Krillin got closer so he could head.

"…And I dare them to stop me."

Goten's answer:

"But Trunks, it's insane!"

"Oh, and I suppose you're gonna let him go on free?!"

Goten stood up as well.

"No. you're right, let's go look for him."

'Look for who? And at this time of the day! Er, night…'

Krillin thought.

"Ok. We should be back by dawn if we can't find him. Ok?"

"Deal."

"Let's go, then!"

Krillin began to panic. The two flew off, and he was torn.

'What should I do? The others need me…'

"Krillin!"

Turning around, Krillin almost fell over.

"So, Son Goku! You're here!"

Goku grinned.

"Only in spirit, though, friend. Go, Krillin. Take care of the boys. Piccolo'll understand."

"All right. I'll do it."

Turning around right before he left, Krillin smiled.

"…It's good to see you again, Goku."

"Take care, Krillin."

Encouraged by his friend's reappearance, Krillin flew off into the night. Goku frowned. His link back to the physical world was obviously getting stronger, but he could feel something trying to interfere. And how comfortable, King Kai was, for some reason, out of reach.

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAHHH!!!"

Chichi's scream rang through the lookout, causing everyone to rush over to where she was.

"What happened, Chichi?!"

"Kame Senin! Where are they?! Where are the children?!"

The old man was trapped as Chichi grabbed his shirt collar. Gohan managed to get her to let go.

"Great. As though the entire Vegeto issue wasn't bad enough…"

"Dende! He'd know!"

Chichi rushed through the halls until she found the little Namek, conversing with Piccolo and Mr. Popo.

"Dende! You know everything! Where are they?! Where's my baby?!"

Piccolo frowned.

'So, they went after all…'

"Chichi, please calm down."

"Answer me! I don't care if you are Kami, where's my baby!"

"Hey, where's Krillin? He's missing, too."

Gohan commented while looking around. Dende was grim.

"They're doing what they're supposed to be doing. It matters not, now. You have to go and buy them some time."

"Time, for what?"

"For getting the strength needed to beat Vegeto. And his creator."