Priceless Jewels
Chapter 18-The Dragon

They entered a very large dark room. The only light in the room seemed to emanate from the back wall. Filling the wall, as high as the light reached, was a highly detailed bas-relief. A dreamscape, a nightscape, shapes rising up from and dissolving into others. Animal shapes. Human shapes. Blending. Entwined. Fierce and beautiful. Ugly and gentle. All and none at once. The bas-relief finally gave way in the center of the back wall and the Dark Throne. Surrounding the dais upon which the throne sat were three wide stone steps that enclosed it on three sides. But what really caught everyone's attention was the huge dragonhead sculpture came from the stone and rested to the simple throne's right side.

The dragon was made of glittering stones that looked a deep green, until one looked closer and saw the other colors swirling just below the surface of its scales. All of them, except for Bulma whose attention was fixed on the room's other inhabitant, stared in awe at the sight. None of the males paid any attention to the tiny figure that floated mere inches from the ground before the steps staring up at the dragonhead as well.

"Wow. He looks just like the Great Dragon," Krillin whispered in wonder.

The statue's eyes the color of glowing red coals suddenly shifted away from the figure before it and pinned the intruding group. Slowly the red faded and they found themselves staring into his large midnight eyes. Vegeta was fascinated by the ancient strength he felt coursing through the room, finally understanding what Bulma had been trying to tell them. Being compared to this was an honor indeed.

*Why have you brought thessse humansss and ssssaiyanss to my lair Witch? *

The small man who had been patiently floating turned around and raked a thoughtful look over them all before his gaze settled on Bulma. He gave her a slight smile, which she returned before responding to the dragon's demand.

"And a Namek, oh great and fearless Dragon Prince," Bulma dimpled at him, coming farther into the room. "I brought them 'cause you said you wanted to get to know them, and I wanted to ask you a favor Lorn. But we can get to that in a minute."

*I never sssaid that, * he stated slowly, a flavor of baffled male filling the air, and the they finally noticed the small man who had a very pained expression, as if he were having a hard time trying to decide whether he should be having a fit of hysterics or laughing himself silly. Bulma flashed him a grin as Lorn's annoyance returned.

"Well you admitted you were curious about whether the people that kept bugging you and dragging you into Terreille would still be willing to do so if they visited you. So I thought I'd bring them for a visit."

*I wasss being ssssarcassstic when I sssaid that I ssshould like to meet anyone who wassss sssso persssissstently annoying assss to keep ssssummoning me to deal with their petty problems after they have met me. I did not mean that you sssshould invite everyone who hasss ever ussssed my Dragon Ballssss for a sssssocial gathering in my den! Little Queen, have you heard ssssome of the wissshessss thessse beingsss have asssked for? * The feeling shifted, became a sort of horrified fascination tinged with disbelief, as his eyes returned to the guys who still stood just inside the door, listening to the exchange uneasily.

"So just what are you saying? That you'd pass up a visit from me just because I wanted you to meet some of my friends and my consort? Shouldn't you be doing something parental like and threatening him with assorted horrors that will happen to him if he doesn't take proper care of me? You're really thankless great-grandpapa dragon you know that?! I feel so insulted!"

*I am not your great-grandfath… You have taken a conssssort? * He was no longer a baffled male trying to reason with a species that defied reasonable thinking, male thinking. He was a predatory warlord who was ready to protect his queen from a potentially unsuitable match. His gaze was sharper as he studied the males, no longer amused with their presence. *Which one isss he? * the Prince of Dragons asked silkily, dangerously.

The sudden change in his demeanor cause the tiny man at his side to double over holding a fist to his mouth as he struggled not to laugh at the sudden protectiveness in Lorn's voice. *I'll deal with you later. * Lorn flicked him an annoyed glance before ignoring him in favor of trying to determine whom the, as yet unapproved male was.

"That got your attention didn't it?" Bulma laughed. "Alright, allow me to introduce my friends the Princes Goku, Krillin, and Piccolo. And of course my Prince Consort Vegeta," they all greeted the dragon in their customary manners, except they were all a bit more respectful than they normally were, especially Vegeta. "I think you two will get along well. Everyone this is the Warlord Prince of the Dragons, Lorn who comes to Kaeleer when you bring the seven scales from him that became the dragon balls together and grants people wishes. I know you've all met but now you can finally get a chance to talk. Isn't that nice? But actually that's not the main reason we're here. About that favor that I wanted to ask you?"

*Do I want to know? *

"Probably not but you're going to anyway," Bulma informed him with a noticeably cheerful lack of sympathy. Then she looked at him with her sapphire eyes, exasperated. "Really, it's not that bad great-grandpapa." A blast of hot, dusty-dry air hit them all with enough force to push all of them, except the tiny man who remained unmoving in the air, back a couple of steps.

*I'm not your great-grandpapa! *

"Of course you're not, Grandpapa," she agreed in an absently soothing gesture as she focused on the silent spectator who had been there since the beginning of the discussion. The stranger finally broke his self-imposed silence.

"So this is what it meant, or at least part of it. Well old friend I will leave you to attend your granddaughter's latest whim. Lady," he gave a polite nod before a pale glow began to expand around his body. Bulma let out protesting squawk and rushed forward.

"Just where do you think you're going buddy boy?!" she demanded drawing nearer to him.

"Um… Away," he said faintly as his body began to fade.

"Plant your feet!" His sigh was audible to all in the room as he solidified once more and settled firmly on the ground. "I need you to back me up on this one since he's obviously in a snarly mood."

"Mother Night! Why are dragging me into this? I don't even know what you're planning, and frankly my dear I don't want to know!"

"Of course you do. You just don't know it yet."

"Well then I don't want to know that I want to know it Bulma!"

"Aw come on, where's your sense of adventure? You're not very daring for such an important warrior type you know that?"

"That's because I'm sensible enough to know when to fight and when to run away, so if you'll excu-"

"No! You're staying whether you like it or not!" They all winced at the rather strident note Bulma's voice hit as she screamed this last statement.

*Enough! What isss it you wanted to requesssst little one? *

"Oh I just wanted you to jewel my friends here since they're Blood anyway and then we can properly train them."

*Absssolutely n- *

"Wait a minute Lorn, that could be a good thing."

*How sssso? *

"Well…" The diminutive figure sent the thought directly to the dragon so that the others wouldn't hear it. *If the girls are pestering these guys then they're not pestering you. We can take care of this little problem quietly then. Or if they're useful enough, we might even be able get them to help, without involving the witches. *

*Very well. I will grant this request. The benefits are not as one sided as I had believed. * The small man gave a slight smile when Lorn grudgingly conceded his point, and his earring twinkled as he looked back at the small group.

"Alright! See that wasn't so bad was it Lorn?"

*Yesss * his mental voice grumbled back.

Bulma gave a small laugh, "Yep, you'll definitely get along with Vegeta."

"Now may I please leave?" the tiny man asked, brushing a hand through his white mow hawk.

"No. What if the guys want to talk with you or learn something you can teach them?"

"Why would I teach them anything?" he muttered to himself, but the guys and, more specifically, Vegeta overheard it.

"Well why would we want to learn anything from him?" Vegeta demanded, annoyed that Bulma thought he could need training from such an insignificant person.

"Why wouldn't you want to train with him? That's a warrior thing isn't it? I mean isn't it a good thing to be strong enough to get taught something by the Supreme Kai?"



A/N: Sorry this chapter took so long, I was planning on getting this out earlier today, but I had company. Raksha's little sister is urgently requesting that someone create a fic in which Surreal hooks up with someone, no one in particular, just someone random and sexy! Hm, I think that's all the announcements I have for today.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Thanks for Reviews~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Raksha: Thanks for the reviewing. I rather like the sound of Warlord Prince Vegeta also. Hope this lived up to expectations. The winds blow your way, Dark Sister. Lol

Kiarene: I'm glad you found that part amusing. ^_^ Keep reviewing and welcome back.

Empress Sarah-sama: Whatever you are on at the moment you need to share ^_^. I'm glad you seem to like it though. Thanks for reviewing.

Grimsister: You little fink! How dare you betray me you impudent mortal!?!? You can't give away my plotline for a mere reasonable sum!!! What are THINKING?!?!?!?! It must be an extravagantly exorbitant one! Have you learned nothing I have taught you?! Lol, thanks for reviewing Mama!