A/N: Ok, I hadn't really given much thought to the Offering itself until someone mentioned it and I started to think about it and, I would like to thank Silverstar for making me think about how I wanted it to be and to Grimsister for her comments. For once they were useful. ^.^

Another A/N: The whole color thing going on is because each witch or warlord gets a jewel at their birthright ceremony and it's listed from weakest to strongest, aka light colors to dark colors. Also this was not, as far as I was concerned, a very interesting chapter T_T especially if you're a straight DBZ fan, so unless you're curious about the Offering process itself feel free to read the beginning and skip to the end.

Priceless Jewels Chapter 24-The Offering

"So it is possible?" she pressed as she made her way toward the Dark Altar. The response when it finally came was slow and reluctant.

*…Yessss. *

"Please Lorn this is important to me," she spoke aloud as she walked, not seeing anyone else around. "Would you be willing to do it? Please?"

*…When you recover, if the Supreme Kai agrees, then I will do thisss thing for you. * The ancient voice was filled with pain as he spoke, as if the words wrenched at his heart. But then he understood exactly what was being risked with her request.

"Thank you grandfather."

*Hurry, young one. It would not do to be late to ssssomething that Jaenelle wasss wanting you to do for her. * Bulma giggled and began to run through the halls toward her destination, forgetting all the things weighing on her mind and throwing dignity to the winds, maybe for the last time.

*Right you are grandpapa dragon! * She giggled again when he grumbled a sour, unrepeatable, response back. She was still running when she hit the room where everyone else had already gathered. She stopped abruptly and grinned at the assemblage in general when 14 pairs of eyes settled on her. All of her friends, the whole family, Geoffrey, Draca, Shen, and most surprising of all to her, Vegeta was there as well.

"Hey guys! Am I late?"

"I should hope not considering the fuss you made yesterday," Daemonar grumbled, still dissatisfied but unable to come up with an argument against Bulma's reasoning for going ahead with it.

"Bulma was fussing?" one of the newest members to the group, an Eyrien, asked with a raised brow.

"Don't believe it Saediar. As I remember it was them who were fussing," Bulma gave a pointed look at the males of her family.

"I see… So is anybody going to tell why someone was fussing the other day?"

"Sshe will tell you later," a sibilant voice stated from the corner, "she musst hurry if she planss on making the Offering today."

"Good idea Draca," Bulma nodded respectfully at the older woman with the distinctly reptilian cast to her features, and the feel of an old dark strength surrounding her.

"The family wisshed to ssee you off. They will be waiting for you in the sitting room while you make the Offering. Come children." They all hugged Bulma quickly.

"Be careful," Marian said warningly.

"Don't forget to what we-"

She cut him off with a slightly exasperated amused tone, "I know Daemonar."

"Yeah well…" He gave her a quick hug and stepped away, muttering something about stubborn females. Before Bulma could snap at the statement her grandfather stepped up to her.

"I remember when your grandmother made her Offering. I wonder if that's prepared me in any way for what yours will undoubtedly be like. We'll be here when you get back Witch child," Saetan murmured, earning a wicked grin from his granddaughter.

"Let's hope it hasn't prepared you for this. You need something to keep you on your toes." He wouldn't wince. Wouldn't give her the satisfaction. Damn it!

"Have fun," 18 murmured and Krillin just opted to hug her since he didn't understand enough to know what was going on and wasn't quite sure what to say. He jerked back quickly when he heard a low growl. Shen quickly took his place and gave Bulma a quick kiss on her forehead before floating back down to the ground and giving her a reassuring smile," Don't forget it's a bit different for everyone, but you can't panic no matter what."

Piccolo nodded slightly as Gohan wrapped his small arms tightly around her waist and clung until his mother moved forward to speak with her best friend. "Take care. And remember what Shen said, panicking is the absolute worst thing to do," ChiChi hugged her and pulled away, keeping hold of her hands to see how her Bulma looked. Excited. Uneasy. Laid- I mean happy. But it's a good thing she seems so positive. ChiChi grinned at her, sending her the thought that they needed to speak when she got out on a female thread so the guys wouldn't pick up on it. Bulma blushed at the knowing tone in Chi's mental voice, but managed to mumble a vague agreement. Vegeta gave a small snicker at his mate's discomfort.

Goku gave her a bear hug, causing another, more dangerous, growl to be emitted from the corner Vegeta occupied. Saediar echoed Goku's action, grinning as he felt the angry saiyan prince's eyes boring into the back of his head. "Take care cuz," he cheerfully handed her to Geoffrey who kissed her forehead and smiled gently at her, turning to raise an eyebrow when he felt the hostility now being directed at him.

*My dear prince. Bulma did explain that being my Guardian means that she's perfectly safe from sexual advances, even if I hadn't watched her grow up from an infant, and her mother before that, and her mother before that, didn't she? *

*I. Don't. Care. * The whole sending thing had been surprisingly easy for Vegeta to pick up. And he used it to let the dead guy know just how little he appreciated any male, even an old family friend touching his mate. Geoffrey was very careful to hide his smile, thinking this was interesting considering what the other males, as well as the ladies, had said about the older saiyan last night after Bulma and he had retired for bed.

After all the well wishing was finished they all followed the Keep's seneschal who moved with a careful ancient grace toward the sitting room where they would all settle in for the long wait.

Vegeta was the only one who didn't follow the others. He had come directly from the gravity room, so he was still in his training suit. He stared at her with unblinking onyx eyes. Bulma fidgeted nervously under her consort's unwavering stare. She noticed that he still hadn't put on the ring.

"I didn't think you would show up with the family to wait for me to return," she spoke in a small voice, hating herself for the uncertainty in it.

"I understand this is a very important ceremony to you." Bulma nodded, not sure she could trust herself to speak again. "Well in that case try not to trip, woman. The mate of the prince of Saiyans doesn't mess up important ceremonies because of nerves."

Her eyes lit up at his observation. It was just so irritatingly Vegeta that she couldn't keep the smile from spreading across her face. "Of course not." She stepped close and gave him a hug that he returned after a quick look around to ensure that no one was watching. Then she stepped back and without meeting his eyes stepped through the room with the altar just as the sun cleared the ground.

The blue haired woman paused on the other side of the heavy stone doors. Allowing her eyes adjust to the lack of light. The black marble altar stood in the center of the room, a pale illumination gradually spread from the altar seeming to come from within the heart of the ageless slab itself. Occupying space on the top of the altar was a candelabrum with four fresh candles and a simple silver goblet. Bulma's steps were deliberate and ceremonial as she approached the dark stone; the soft click of her heals echoing in the silence. Finally she stood before her destination in the darkened room.

Bulma called in the scepter, all of her jewels, carefully arranging them around the space that would be occupied by the chain web that trailed along her throat down over her breasts. She unattached the chains at the top of her dress then spread the golden web out on the center of the altar top. Slowly she reached down to unclasp the chain from her heel, allowing the chain to dangle free, brushing lightly against her leg. Then she detached the leg chain and spread it out below the web chain. Keeping her movements slow and steady she removed the black jewel clasp before turning her attention to the jewel hanging from her stomach.

Her dress slipped open in the front revealing her white flesh. Bulma began to unlace the side of her dress in the same manner that she had done everything else in the room. Soon the rest of her dress followed, falling open to reveal the rest of her body. She shrugged her dress off her shoulders, carefully draping it on the floor beside her. Her shoes followed. After seeing that everything was in place she turned to the candles and lit each in order they represented. Father. Brother. Lover. And the center of the Blood triangle that connected all the sides together, Queen.

Bulma raised her sharpened nail and pierced the sensitive skin on the inside of her wrist allowing the blood to flow rich and warm from her vein. She held her hand carefully above each of her jewels allowing her own blood to awaken the power residing within, causing each to flare sharply, a brightly colored star lighting in the darkness, glowing with a cold blazing fire.

A glimmering White light glowed to life, followed by a melting Yellow softly reflecting the rays of the sun that wasn't present. The gleaming gold of the predatory Tiger Eye stared up at her from the gold base it had been mounted in. The pale pink petals of a fresh spring Rose grew brightly in the darkness. The Summer-sky shimmered with the glow of its namesake. An amethyst light stretched from the heart of a Purple Dusk jewel as an opaque nimbus surrounded the Opal stone, the dividing color between light and dark.

Green glittered sharply against its black backdrop, while the Sapphire gave off an electric blue that was almost painful to look at. The Red slowly expanded out ward in a bright pool the color of blood. Gray had a foggy light that burn with strange fire, Ebon-gray shone fiercely, defiantly in the flickering candlelight. Black pulsed with raw energy that teased the edge of her vision with light, while Ebony emitted a near-luminous darkness deeper than the blackness beyond it.

A spiral of color reaching up from the dancing shadows that enclosed, embraced, the area around the altar. She reached out a hand, held it still over the goblet allowing her still running blood to mingle with the contents contained within. A brush of power healed the wound. Sure fingers closed around the silver stem, lifted the chalice shaped cup to her lips.

The cup was a symbol of her mind. The once half full goblet had been enclosed wine, now full of blooded wine, representing the mixing of her past experience with her full power, her mind shaping her power. The wine flowed smoothly down her throat, and the silver cup was returned to its rightful place. The silence stretched, an expectant feel began to grow in the air, bringing a flood of dark power surging to life around her. Her eyes darkened to gleaming sapphires, became untamed.

Her hair began to curl slightly, becoming a mix that was neither hair nor fur, but a curious combination of the two. Fangs extended from their sheaths as nails grew into claws. A small spiral horn rose from the center of her forehead. Her tail unwound from her tiny waist while her silvery blue wings unfurled with a gentle rustle until they reached their full span. And a howling rose from the Abyss, a song full of joy and pain, rage and celebration.

Slowly Witch began to spiral down into her power, exploring the hidden crevices of each level and gathering her strength as she glided through the Abyss. From white to yellow, yellow to Tiger's Eye, Tiger's Eye to Rose, going deeper and deeper until she had descended to the darkest depths of Ebony. And there she stopped, balanced. Slowly she opened her inner barriers, tasting the power in the air around her, probing with her mind, reaching outward with the power already in her possession. She felt the resistance against her mind as she carefully pushed against the barriers that stood between her and her full strength.

The young Queen was intent, looking for the weak spot she would have to break though to create an opening through which she could reach her full strength. She didn't notice the danger to herself until it was too late. Her thoughts brushed against the tangled web that rose from the Abyss and she instinctively fought against the threads that began to spin around her mind. She somehow knew that if she didn't fight against the blackness that danced chaotically at the edge of her eyes teasing her mind with half formed visions, that she would fall into the Twisted Kingdom, the place non-Bloods referred to as madness.

She felt an overwhelming numbness pull at her body, dragging her down. The web was trying to pull her down into the Darkness itself even though her mind was not yet ready to embrace the Offering of it's power. It was suddenly cold, as if she were moving through freezing water, struggling against the searing barbs that were sinking into her mind from all directions, weaving through her very first inner barriers that guarded her inner Self. 

  She felt panic clutch at her heart. If she didn't find out a way to stop the threads of the tangled web from reaching the core of her Self then she would crash though her Inner Webs, and completely loose her power to do craft, not just basic but all of her power would be burned out, and if she were lucky she would die. Death was preferable to the aching void that would fill her life with the loss of her power. But it was too hard to think, too hard to breathe. Even to care.

Bulma's eyelids fluttered. They were too heavy, but there was the thought of something tugging at her. No not something, someone. Someone… the name eluded her, slipping through her grasp whenever she tried to reach out and find it. She was falling, plummeting. She crashed through a delicate white web. The wind felt so good, like riding on her motorcycle. She hadn't ridden her motorcycle in forever. There were only a few more barriers left to protect her Self remaining, the tangled web had already slipped through most of them.

 I should be worried about that… although I can't remember why it was important…WHERE'S MY DINNER WOMAN?! Someone, someone… you are not answerable to anyone else for your actions. Such pretty colors, like looking at the back of your eyelids right after you turn off the lights… On one condition…But there was someone I was thinking of, now who was it? I am NOT snarly! Huh? Ebony eyes staring unblinkingly at her. Oh no, I broke it! I BROKE the pretty blue gossamer! A wicked grin playing around the edges of his lips. I'm so sorry! You will not act as if it is shameful. I didn't mean to honest I just- ohh look at the pretty PURPLE! But there was something about the blue… Such a pretty blue, not like the dark blue training suits that- What was I thinking? The mate of the prince of Saiyans… Vegeta!

Bulma's half closed eyes flew open and she stared in horror as she watched the Twilight's Dawn web hurtling upward toward her. She scrabbled frantically at the insidious threads that were sliding against her final barrier. Now that she was alert again the threads began to dig into her mind, burning, distracting her from trying to save herself. She closed her eyes, trying to think quickly, ignoring the pain and searching for the answer within the stillness of her self. As she forced herself to silence she felt a slight give in the enveloping tangled web. The answer suddenly dawned on her.

Bulma quickly flung open her inner barriers, surrendering herself, and used her power to slow her plunge. She poured all the strength she had gathered as she descended into keeping herself from crashing through the iridescent purple web laced with other colors. She felt the change in her momentum, but kept her eyes closed, focusing instead on the gentling breeze that brushed along her body. The body that she soon felt pressing against the threads of her last inner web. She felt the strands stretch absorbing her weight, and stopped.

Cautiously prying open an eye she peeked at the web that she was clinging to. Her hands were wrapped around a taut strand. A strand that began to glow. In fact the entire web was glowing, becoming see through. Soon the entire web vanished and the blue haired witch began to float down. Finally Bulma felt her feet settle on solid ground. Sweat trickled down the side of her face and her breathing was ragged, but she was safe. She opened her eyes.

Darkness. Swirling mist.

Before her stood an altar, similar to the one that stood before her body in that which she referred to as reality. Only this one didn't have the black candles, didn't have the golden web, had only some jewels and in place of the silver goblet was a chalice.

A crystal chalice.  Her mind. She breathlessly watched the power churn in the small space. She could feel her strength change as she watched. The shivering liquid darkness became a tiny whirlpool in the crystal chalice… and she felt pain. Pain so excruciating that her knees buckled and she gripped the edge of the altar to keep from falling to the ground. She sensed something warm and slightly metallic tasting trickling down her lip. But that was somewhere far away, not here in the Abyss, and she couldn't worry about it. Something was strange…

She looked closely at the jewels. Her grandmother's jewel, the Twilight's Dawn that she had been so proud to receive at her birthright ceremony remained unchanged. There wasn't a stronger jewel that existed. But her Ebony had become Twilight's Dawn as well. Her three Blacks were now Ebony. Bulma frowned as she tried to remember something that teased the edges of her memory. Her grandfather's voice, not Grandpapa Saetan but her beautiful, wonderful grandfather Daemon's voice reaching out to her from a distant memory, "The Twilight's Dawn was the only one of it's kind. Lorn said there never would be another of its kind. Treasure it my little witch for you gaze upon the most priceless jewel. The jewel that saved the heart of Kaeleer itself."

Bulma's frown deepened. If Lorn said that was the only one that would ever exist then where is this one coming from?

"Excellent question my Lady," a deep cultured voice spoke, carefully pronouncing the words as if they were a foreign language that required precise enunciation.

Bulma whirled around to face the intruder… and screamed.


It didn't really turn out the way I would have liked but things seldom do :P. I would also like to thank everyone who expressed their sympathy for my aunt and grandmother, I greatly appreciated it. Also I would like to point out another story that has caught my attention, it's by Daniela and is called Sinister One, it's a really major A/U and I loved the concept. It was not only very original but Iwas impressed that she was writing that well in English when that isn't her native.

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

Grimsister: As I already explained, Bulma is an inventor, besides if they have regular clocks in the actual Dark Jewels series don't you think they's have regular clocks centuries later? They had freakin' photographs in DJ! THanks for reviewing Mama ^_^

manga: Thanks for the sentiment and for reading. Um, I'm not sure if Vegeta is going to do an Offering in this one, but I was thinking a short sequel with the kids perhaps... That is if people aren't already sick of this story and don't care about the whole aftermath thing...

Raksha: Sorry, it's a new villain, but I do think he's a twist... I just hope you like him! ^_^ Thanks for your wonderful reviews. The winds blow your way Dark Sister.

Roya: I will try, but my aunt died so I might not get as much out in the next couple of days as I normally do, at least not until after the funeral.

IneiTenshi: Welcome back! ^.~ I'll go ahead and send you the chapter now, k? Thanks.

TigerWolf: Amazing? O_O Wow,I'm not sure about that, but thanks. I'm glad you seem to think so, although it's hard to screw up a story that is based off of two of the best series in existence ^_^. The world is from the Dark Jewels series and the main characters from DBZ. I just thought it would be neat if someone combined the two. Graci.

Silverstar: Well here it is, I hope you liked it. Next chapter will focus a bit more on Vegeta's thoughts and all. YOu'll figure out the villain in the next chapter, or two... lol. As to the Shen well, i'll see what I could do okay? Actually, he probably will come up a bit more...