When Earth Arises

Disclaimer - All the characters from the Circle of Magic, The Circle Opens, The Immortals, The Lioness Quartet, The Protector of the Small, etc. belong to Tamora Pierce. I don't own them. Or characters from Dragonballz, which belongs to Mr. Toriyama…..

Thanx for all my reviewers!!!!

Hey, Rosethorn here. I know, I know….I'm a horrible procrastinator….L ….I try to be better, but it isn't working --" hehe…anyway, here's the next chappie!

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Thought for the Day:

Never miss a good chance to shut up.

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"You may leave, if you are sure," he said. "I see no reason to keep you. As I understand, the two young ones are quite worried."

As the healer began to leave, Gohan remembered Gainel's visit. He opened his mouth to asked about the Dream King, but found he could not speak. He closed his mouth and frowned, then tried again. It was too late. The Duke had left, leaving the puzzled sixteen-year old to wonder at his inability to speak.

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Chapter Eighteen-

Trunks scowled in irritation. He watched the pale-blonde headed boy stalk away, accompanied by his two friends, Vinson and Garvey. Joren of Stone Mountain was proving himself to be a great annoyance to the young Saiyan prince. Trunk's scowl turned into a smirk. Everyone knew what Trunks did with people that annoyed him.

"Goten!" The black-haired chibi turned from where he was examining the hardened jerky given to him by the Shang Wildcat. "Yeah, Trunks?" he asked, as he popped the food into his mouth. "Come here." Trunks noticed Kel raise her eyebrow at her friend Neal at the command, and a returning look when Goten obeyed. He scowled in their direction. "Something for you, humans?" he demanded. Their faces quickly schooled, the two shook their heads, but Trunks noticed a twitch that played at Neal's lips. His scowl deepened as he turned back to his friend, deciding to ignore them. They would have to find out the folly of laughing at the Saiyan prince later. Right now, he had that pale-haired girly pansy Joren to take care of.

"Hey, Goten," he said. "We're gonna have a little fun." The Son chibi's eyes lit up. "Pranks?" he asked. Trunks grinned and pulled out a capsule.

"What else?"

Goten frowned then. "But who? Gohan's no fun to get without Videl around, and definitely not Piccolo…" He looked questioningly at the lavender-haired boy as Trunks began to laugh in a frighteningly similar way to his father's most evil laugh. He followed his friends gaze to where Joren stood talking to Zahir and a couple other. He began smiling as well.

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"What is going on?" Tris demanded as Numair herded them out of the lower levels of the castle and up to his and Daine's room. Kitten bustled along behind Evvy as if to keep her from turning back, whistling softly . The most powerful mage in all of Tortall, and perhaps the entire realm, chose not to answer, but simply pushed them all into his room and shut the door firmly. Kitten whistled her approval and sat next to him as he collapsed into a chair.

"There is something evil down there. I don't know what, but…" his voice trailed off as he looked at Evvy.

"You don't remember what happened before Kitten jumped on you?" he asked. The little stone mage shook her head, then stopped with a frown.

"Wait," she said. "I think…." She fell silent for a moment, and thought. Her eyes widened, and she looked up.

"There was an incredible power stored within the stones down there," she said. "That's why they were weakened. The magic has been there for a long time, and it is becoming too much to handle."

"Could it be…?" Numair's voice trailed off to a mutter as he jumped up and began digging through a bunch of old papers that littered his desk. The three younger mages exchanged confused glances, but kept their silence. If the black-haired man had an idea, they didn't want to spoil it by distracting him.

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Hmmmmm…..{Rubs chin and examines work}...... I suppose that I could write longer chapters….Oh well….Review!