Dragon Ball: Mori's tales

The air was thin and crisp at the top of Kami's Lookout. The endless blue sky seemed to stretch out in every direction, with clouds drifting lazily far below. In the center of the circular platform, two young boys stood side by side. Goku and Mori, still bandaged and a little weary from their recent battles, gazed at their new surroundings with awe. Standing across from them was a squat, dark-skinned figure with a turban and puffy genie-like clothes. His eyes seemed to glint with a mixture of kindness and sternness.

"I am Mr. Popo," the figure introduced himself, his voice steady and calm. "I serve Kami, the Guardian of this world, and I am to be your first test."

"Test?" Goku tilted his head curiously.

Mori grinned, cracking his knuckles. "He means we're gonna fight him."

Mr. Popo gave a slight nod, acknowledging Mori's assumption. "You must defeat me if you wish to train under Kami. However, do not think it will be an easy task."

Goku and Mori exchanged a confident look. Despite their young age and recent experiences, the thrill of a new challenge had quickly reignited their fighting spirits. With the rush of adrenaline surging through them, the boys' auras began to swell. Unintentionally, their ki seemed to merge, resonating as if they had been partners for years. 

Popo's eyes narrowed, noticing the phenomenon. "Your ki is synced… most unusual," he murmured to himself.

The boys, unaware of this, continued to feed off each other's energy. "Let's do this!" Goku exclaimed, his fists tightening. 

"Yeah! We'll show you what we've got!" Mori added, taking a fighting stance beside his friend.

"Very well," Mr. Popo said with an unreadable expression. "Come at me, then."

Without hesitation, Goku and Mori launched themselves forward at the same time, moving with speed that belied their injuries. They closed the distance in the blink of an eye, their fists already in motion. Goku threw a powerful punch toward Popo's head, while Mori came in with a sweeping kick aimed at Popo's legs. 

But Popo didn't flinch. Instead, his body blurred, and with a fluid motion, he sidestepped both attacks. Goku's fist struck nothing but air, and Mori's kick sailed harmlessly by. Before either of them could react, Popo flicked a hand outward, delivering a light tap to Goku's shoulder and then Mori's back. The seemingly harmless touches sent the boys sprawling to the ground.

Mori's eyes widened in shock as he pushed himself up. "What was that?" he gasped. "I didn't even see him move!"

Goku, already back on his feet, wiped a bead of sweat from his brow. "He's fast… way faster than Piccolo," he muttered, a hint of frustration creeping into his voice.

Mr. Popo's expression didn't change. "You rely too much on your strength and speed. If you cannot sense my movements, you will never land a hit."

Undeterred, the boys charged in again, this time with Goku aiming a low kick while Mori went high with a spinning backfist. Their timing was perfect, a seamless combination that should have left no room for their opponent to evade. Yet once more, Mr. Popo effortlessly glided out of their reach, dodging their attacks as though he was merely dancing.

Before they could retreat, Popo struck again. He struck a series of light but precise blows, first to Goku's gut, then to Mori's chest, sending the boys skidding across the platform. They managed to keep their footing, but both were breathing heavily.

"We're not getting anywhere!" Mori growled, frustration bubbling up inside him.

Goku's brows furrowed as he focused his ki. "We have to try something different." He glanced at Mori, who nodded in agreement.

They quickly adjusted their strategy. Instead of rushing in blindly, they began to coordinate their movements even more, moving in unpredictable patterns and switching positions rapidly. Goku attacked from above while Mori closed in from the side. Then they would switch, with Mori unleashing a flurry of punches while Goku kept Popo occupied with swift kicks. Their ki still resonated together, and as they fought, the sensation grew stronger.

Popo began to notice the subtle change in the boys' approach. Their coordination was improving, and their attacks were becoming harder to predict. But he still had the upper hand. With a slight shift of his stance, he deflected a punch from Goku and sidestepped a sweeping kick from Mori, then swiftly leapt into the air.

Hovering above them, Mr. Popo looked down, his voice calm. "You are learning, but you still do not understand. Your fighting spirit is strong, but that alone will not defeat me."

Landing softly on the ground, Popo waved them forward. "Try again."

Mori's teeth clenched as he exchanged a quick look with Goku. He could feel the frustration building, but at the same time, something else was stirring within him. He could sense Goku's determination, their shared desire to overcome this challenge. It was as though they were connected by an unspoken bond, pushing them to fight harder. 

"Alright, let's give it all we've got!" Mori shouted, his aura flaring.

Goku's energy spiked as well. "Right!" he agreed, his voice steady with resolve.

They both rushed at Popo one last time, pouring everything into their combined effort. Goku fired a Kamehameha at point-blank range while Mori launched a powerful ki blast from the opposite side. The twin attacks collided at Popo's location, creating a massive explosion of energy that rocked the lookout.

For a moment, it seemed as if they might have succeeded. But as the smoke cleared, Mr. Popo's silhouette emerged, completely unharmed. He walked through the dissipating energy as though it were a light breeze, his expression unchanged.

"That's… impossible," Goku panted, his energy nearly spent.

Mori's legs trembled from the exertion. "How… how can he be so strong?"

Mr. Popo approached them, stopping just a few feet away. "Strength and power are not enough," he said, his voice gentle but firm. "True martial arts are about much more than defeating an opponent. It is about awareness, self-control, and understanding your own limitations."

The boys stood there, panting and drenched in sweat, realizing just how far they still had to go. Mr. Popo's strength was far beyond what they had imagined, and it was clear that brute force would not be enough to overcome him.

"You have potential," Popo continued, his tone softening. "That is why Kami has agreed to train you. But you must learn to master yourselves before you can master your power."

Mori and Goku nodded, determination blazing in their eyes. Despite the overwhelming defeat, neither of them felt discouraged. Instead, a new fire was lit within them. This was just the beginning of their training, and they were eager to face whatever challenges lay ahead.

"Thank you, Mr. Popo," Goku said with a small bow. "We'll do our best to get stronger."

"Yeah," Mori agreed, giving a respectful nod. "We'll keep trying until we can take you down."

Popo's lips twitched into a subtle smile. "Good. Then let us begin your real training."

With that, the first true step of Goku and Mori's journey under Kami's tutelage began. Together, they would face the harshest challenges and push their limits beyond what they had ever thought possible. Only through overcoming these trials would they gain the strength they needed to protect their world from the threats that lay ahead.