A/N: I don't remember ever having heard of anyone outside of Jaenelle's immediate family (and some people that were semi important to a part, but not really cause they usually died or got married or something) having a last name that was mentioned, so I just made up 18's last name in honor of the country that she doesn't want to be Queen of.
Chapter 13-The Arrival
"Oh dear. Someone had better pick her up. We need to get going."
"Ebony?" 18 said tightly.
"What are you going off about Woman?" Vegeta said insultingly, earning a sharp glare from 18 before she ignored him to focus on Bulma.
"Yeah, that's what I though too. It's rather weird that he hasn't beat Goku at all yet… then again, maybe it's not," the young queen added thoughtfully moving toward the dark stone building after making herding motions at everyone else.
"Ebony, and he can't even beat Goku?" 18 asked flatly, unmoving.
"18, Ebony isn't that much stronger than Black. Besides you're forgetting Vegeta's background as opposed to Goku's."
My background as opposed to his? And what's with all this queen stuff?
*I'll explain later, Vegeta. *
"No, Bulma you're forgetting something. A rather important something I might add. Gray is not a birthright stone, Ebon- gray is not a birthright stone, Black is definitely not a birthright stone, and Ebony for a male is right out!" 18's voice rose with the most emotion any of them have ever heard from the blonde android.
"Ok, we're obviously not going anywhere until I clarify some things very quickly. A, Vegeta is a prince; guess how many years of breeding went into making him. B, Goku was raised on Earth, which gives him a slight advantage in a certain sense. C, Saiyans come from a different part of the universe and no, Draca was not the most powerful dragon Queen there was, so what is normal for the Realms and what is normal for Vegeta-sai are obviously two different things. And d, we're going to need that strength later, and it's pretty stupid to be sitting here complaining that he has the potential strength of an Ebony jeweled Warlord Prince when there's an enemy coming who was able to kill Jaenelle, who I might add, was a Queen with an entire set of lighter jewels, seven blacks, and six Ebony jewels by the time she made her Offering. So all things considered I THINK WE NEED TO KEEP OUR PRIORITIES STRAIGHT!!!!"
"Oh… We should go before the building vanishes."
"Good idea," Bulma said dryly, her face returning to its normal shade. The women hurried toward the building leaving the stunned males, and the unconscious queen, to follow in their wake.
They all entered the heavy stone building, walked toward the heavy stone slab where the robed priestess stood waiting patiently. When they arrived at the altar the woman had a book sitting open to the side. She raised an elegant brow at the sight of ChiChi's unconscious form, but didn't ask about her.
"Names?"
"Gohan Son, birthright potential red, adult strength potential of at least low range Black," Bulma ignored the shocked look that passed over Cassandra's face as she continued. "Piccolo, birthright Sapphire, jewel of rank is Ebon-gray-
"Last name?" she interrupted before Bulma could go on.
"He's a Namek darling, they don't have last names."
"Yaslana," ChiChi's voice came from Goku's arms.
"You formally declare him a part of your families' court?" Cassandra asked, carefully neutral. ChiChi's eyes opened and fixed on the red haired witch.
"Well, he doesn't exactly serve me in the traditional sense of the word, but he does train my son and he's a friend of the family. It is customary for a male without a last name to take the last name of the Queen to whose court he belongs. Yaslana is my Blood maiden name and it will serve him better in Kaeleer than the name Son. Is there a problem with claiming him as a member of my family?"
"Piccolo Yaslana it is then," Cassandra sighed, "next?"
"Krillin Galician, green strength, potential for deep Red, possibly Gray," 18 spoke up before Krillin could answer.
"Very well, husband of Ebon-gray jeweled Queen. You know they wanted you to rule Glacia after your grandmother don't you? They were rather disappointed you disappeared after the others. Next," she went on without waiting for the response that 18 didn't plan on giving her in any event.
"Goku Son, birthright Black, potential strength unsure," ChiChi said smugly from where she was now standing next to her husband. Cassandra's head snapped up and she paled, opened her mouth before snapping it shut. The Priestess carefully noted down the information provided. Then she turned to Bulma with an expectant look as if she was afraid to speak, couldn't trust her voice.
"Vegeta…" she hesitated, glanced at him and shrugged, "Vegeta Briefs, birthright strength of Ebony, potential full strength unsure as yet." The woman called Cassandra whimpered quietly, looking sick as she filled out the information with an unsteady hand. Then she quickly turned toward the black candles arranged in the candelabras and began to light them in the proper sequence. Her trembling hands nearly knocking over the candles as she held a tongue of dancing witch fire over the wick of each. She quickly stepped back and out of the way, careful to avoid looking at the males as she moved as far away from all of them, especially the saiyans, as possible.
The women looked at the wall, ignoring Cassandra now that her part of the deal was done. The wall slowly swirled, grew thinner and misted. The women motioned the males toward the wall and they followed closely behind. The males stepped through the roiling black mist that parted for them, then closed around them clinging to them as they walked forward.
Then the world opened for them and they stopped to stare.
The rich green grass filled the countryside, flowers and trees dotted the land. The sky was painfully blue and clear, and the sun warmed the air around them. The green forest with the moss-covered trees separated them from the dark shadow looming majestically in the distance; a pale shape flitted through the shadows created by the trees. Slowly it came into the open and they stared at the breathtaking beauty. The unicorn pawed the ground nervously, stared at them with wild intelligence before turning its attention beyond the males.
* Welcome home, Ladies. You have brought us your families? * A soft feminine voice spoke in their minds, startling the males.
"Hello MoonShadow," Bulma called back. "I take it Draca told you to greet us?"
"Probably just as well," ChiChi added under her breath, "there's no point in making the guys have to deal with anymore surprises today than absolutely necessary, and there's no telling how they'd respond to KaeAskavi."
"For sure," was 18's muttered agreement. The guys looked back to see the women were now all wearing long tunics and comfortably worn trousers, with ankle high boots that none of them had ever seen before. The women made the introductions between the mare and males, and she inclined her horned head to each in turn.
"We're going to travel to the Keep. Where is everyone?" Bulma asked, walking forward to meet the splendid creature. As they neared each other she ran her hand along the white horse's neck in a soothing stroke.
*Well enough, tending to their own territories. If you call them, they will come. *
"Not just yet, I don't think. I will summon them when the time is right. Our families are not quite prepared to deal with each other, and I must speak with Lorn about getting a jewel to show their outward strength first. The boyos will have a harder time accepting that our consorts are worthy of us if they think they aren't worthy of even wearing a jewel. And with a Warlord Prince's temperament, the fighting that would result…"
*They'd all rip the land to shreds trying to prove whose cock is bigger. * 18 observed on a female thread, unaware that Vegeta still had complete access to Bulma's surface thoughts, and subsequently to sent thoughts as well. He jerked when he picked the thought up, looked about ready to say something pithy, but subsided, much to Bulma's surprise. She raised a brow at him in question.
What? I'm finding this all very…educational.
*You would. *
"We should hurry. We'll meet you at the keep then MoonShadow."
*Lady *
"Yes?"
*There has been trouble in Kaeleer. Be careful. *
"Trouble? What kind of trouble?" the guys were beginning to recognize the sudden shift, the Queen was now speaking.
*I…am uncertain Lady. A cold wind rises as a bloody moon overshadows the land. Skeletal branches reaching from a barren land. A howling fills the skies, full with the whisper of death. *
ChiChi stiffened, 18 began to swear vehemently under her breath. Bulma inhaled sharply, her eyes narrowing as her breath hissed out from between her clenched teeth.
I hadn't realized things had gotten so bad. Apparently the enemy has more power to affect reality from the Abyss than I recognized.
"Thank you for the warning, Sister," Bulma said formally, respectfully inclining her head. The unicorn bent her head down, touching her horn to first Bulma's chest where her heart was, and then 18's and ChiChi's in turn. She tossed her head at the males by way of parting and then wheeled away toward the forest where she was joined by a creamy white stallion. Their horns glinted in the sunlight as they raced away through the trees.
Bulma imagined a force pushing against her body, shoving her away from the ground, "I want to speak with Lorn, and I need to get Geoffrey or Saetan to help me look for something at the Keep Library. Probably Geoffrey, since he's been there longer." By the time she was finished speaking she was hovering in the air. Her friends joined her and after telling the guys to come on the three shot off into the sky, flying toward the dark mountain sanctuary they all had noticed upon first arriving.
"Wow, when did Mom learn how to fly?" Gohan asked, blinking at the retreating form of his mother. Vegeta lunged into the sky after them, silently repeating Gohan's question to himself.
"You know, I don't know Gohan, but I have a feeling that ChiChi and I are going to have to have a little talk when we get to wherever we're going," Goku decided before launching himself into the air. Piccolo followed suit.
"No kidding. Every time we turn around there's something else they're throwing at us. At this rate we're going to be thinking everything that they do or say is normal and then we'll go back to Japan and we'll stand out more than ever. Just watch," Krillin announced, joining his friends.
The males quickly caught up with them and tried to get answers for their newest questions, and tried to ask them about their newly discovered powers. The only response they received in turn was a "Later." Before they could say anything else all three women jerked to a sudden halt and turned as one to stare to the east.
From the east a dark energy rushed toward them blocking out the sun's light, casting its shadow across the land in a deafening tidal wave that devastated everything it touched, sent everything in its path to the Darkness. Psychic lightening ripped through the sky, scoured the ground in its wake. The wind began to blow, whipping around them in an icy blanket that struck at their bodies, their minds. Trees burst into flames of unnatural colors that no human tongue had ever put a name to. The shrieking agony of innocent animals caught in its path could be heard over the malevolent howling of the psychic storm.
And it was coming directly toward them.
Thanks for Reviews were posted with the next Chapter! Pease feel free to keep reading. ^_^
