Dragon Ball: Mori's tales

Mori had only been in space for five minutes, the infinite void surrounding him as he floated among the stars. He reveled in the silence, the vastness, and the freedom of being far from Earth. Yet, he knew he wasn't ready to leave just yet. His mind returned to the people he cared about—the friends he needed to say goodbye to, and the one person he would have to face before he left: Goku.

Deciding to wrap things up on Earth before truly beginning his cosmic journey, Mori made a quick detour. He flew back through the atmosphere, descending swiftly toward Capsule Corporation. As he landed outside Bulma's lab, he spotted her working on a new invention.

"Back so soon?" she asked with a smirk, wiping grease off her hands. "I thought you'd be halfway across the galaxy by now."

Mori chuckled. "I'm just returning the Dragon Radar and… I also found this," he said, holding up the 4-star Dragon Ball. "Figured you might want it back for safekeeping."

Bulma blinked in surprise, taking the ball from him. "The 4-star ball, huh? Goku's old favorite. Thanks, Mori."

He handed her the Dragon Radar and paused for a moment. "Bulma… I'm heading off for a long time, probably a few years. I wanted to ask you to tell everyone except Goku. I'll handle him myself."

Bulma's eyes softened. "You got it. I'll let the others know. Be safe out there, Mori."

With a final nod, Mori said his goodbyes and flew off, heading toward Mount Paozu. As he approached Goku's home, he could feel Goku's energy—strong and welcoming. He also sensed a smaller, more delicate presence nearby.

When he landed, he saw Goku and Chi-Chi sitting outside, enjoying the quiet mountain air. Goku stood up with a smile, clearly having sensed Mori coming from miles away.

"Mori!" Goku greeted, his eyes lighting up. "I had a feeling you'd come by."

Mori smiled, but before he could say anything, he noticed a small figure nestled in Chi-Chi's arms. His eyes widened in surprise as he saw the baby's bright eyes and familiar spiky hair.

"Mori," Goku said with a grin, walking over and gesturing to the child. "This is my son, Gohan."

Mori's heart swelled as he looked down at the tiny Saiyan-human hybrid. Gohan was Goku's son? It was an odd feeling, seeing his friend as a father, but it made sense. 

"Heh, didn't think I'd be meeting your kid today," Mori said, kneeling down to get a closer look at Gohan. "He's already got your hair."

Goku laughed. "Yeah, he's got a lot of energy too."

For the next hour, Mori stayed with Goku, Chi-Chi, and Gohan. They talked, laughed, and Mori even found himself playing with the baby, who seemed fascinated by Mori's energy and strength. The time passed quickly, but Mori knew he had to get going.

Standing up, he stretched and looked at Goku. "Alright, I've gotta go for real this time. I'm heading out for a few years to get stronger. I'm not satisfied with where I am yet."

Goku's expression softened, his respect for Mori clear in his eyes. "I get it. We'll be here when you get back. Just make sure to come back stronger, okay?"

Mori smirked. "You know I will."

With one last glance at Gohan, Mori waved goodbye to Goku and Chi-Chi, taking to the skies. But halfway across the mountains, he suddenly realized something important—he had forgotten to grab supplies!

Cursing his forgetfulness, Mori made a beeline back to Capsule Corporation. Bulma was surprised to see him again, but when he explained that he needed a few capsules full of food and a device to track Earth's time, she didn't hesitate. After a quick trip into her lab, she handed him the necessary items.

"Okay, *now* I'm really gone," Mori said with a grin before flying off.

His next stop was the moon. Mori landed on the cold, desolate surface, the Earth hanging like a jewel in the sky above him. This would be his base for the next month, where he would train his body, mind, and spirit under the harsh conditions of space. 

The training was grueling. Mori practiced relentlessly in the moon's lower gravity, pushing his physical limits as far as he could go. With no atmosphere, no sound, and no distractions, his focus sharpened like never before. He honed his techniques, meditated, and trained his body under the intense pressure of the void.

A month passed quickly, and Mori knew it was time to go further—to venture deeper into the stars.

---

Five Years Later

Five years passed. Mori's journey through space had been one of constant struggle, testing his will and his strength in ways he never imagined. He battled through comets, forcing his body to move faster and react quicker. He trained on planets with extreme temperatures—searing heat that blistered his skin and freezing cold that nearly froze his bones solid. Each day pushed him closer to his limits, but each time, he survived and grew stronger.

One planet, in particular, was unlike anything he had ever experienced. The gravity was five times that of Earth, forcing every muscle in his body to work harder just to stand. Training there was pure agony, but it was also the crucible that forged him into something greater. Mori's newfound ability, granted by Shenron, amplified his growth after every near-death experience. Each challenge, each brush with death, made him stronger than before.

He lost count of the number of times he had nearly died, but each time he rose again, more powerful than the last. His body was now tougher, faster, and more resilient than it had ever been. But the trials had also taught him something deeper—patience, focus, and a mastery over himself that he had never known before.

After five long years, Mori decided it was time to return home. He missed Earth, missed his friends, and wanted to see how far Goku had come. As he descended into the planet's atmosphere, a strange feeling settled in his chest.

Something was wrong.

He reached out with his senses, searching for Goku's ki—but he couldn't feel it. His heart raced as panic set in. Where was Goku?

Without wasting another moment, Mori flew directly to Kame House, where he could sense the others gathered. As he landed, his friends looked up in shock, their faces filled with surprise and relief.

"Mori!" Krillin shouted, rushing forward. "You're back!"

Mori could see the tension in their faces, the unease hanging in the air. "What happened?" he asked, his voice tight. "Where's Goku?"

Everyone fell silent for a moment, the weight of their expressions sinking into Mori's heart. Finally, Master Roshi spoke, his voice heavy with grief.

"Goku's dead, Mori. He died in battle against a powerful Saiyan named Raditz… his brother."

Mori's blood ran cold. "His… brother?"

"There's more," Krillin added, his face grim. "Two more Saiyans are coming to Earth in 11 months… and they're even stronger than Raditz."

Mori clenched his fists, his energy spiking uncontrollably. Rage, sorrow, and frustration filled him in equal measure. Goku was gone, and now, Earth was facing a new threat. 

"I'll be ready," Mori growled through clenched teeth. "I don't care how strong they are. They'll pay for what they've done."

As the anger surged through him, Mori's eyes burned with a fierce determination. He had trained for five long years, facing death over and over again. But now, it was personal.

The chapter ended with Mori standing among his friends, the storm of emotions swirling within him as the weight of Goku's death—and the coming battle—settled on his shoulders.