Dragon Ball: Mori's tales

Mori lay in his bed, the soft hum of the village's early morning routine gently stirring him from sleep. His room was quiet, save for the faint sound of sizzling coming from the kitchen. The smell of fresh waffles and bacon filled the air, pulling him into consciousness. He opened his eyes slowly, a warm sense of comfort washing over him. It had been a long time since he felt this level of peace.

He sat up, stretching his muscles, the bed sheets falling away as he took in the familiar surroundings. His home, their home, was just as it always had been—serene, filled with the love of his family. He could feel the subtle energy of his children playing outside, their giggles reaching him even from a distance. A smile tugged at the corner of his lips as he stood, feeling a sense of contentment he hadn't known in years.

Following the smell of breakfast, Mori made his way to the kitchen. There, standing at the stove, was Lisa. Her long, curly black hair shimmered in the soft light, cascading down her back like a waterfall. She moved gracefully, flipping waffles on the stove while tending to the crispy bacon sizzling in the adjacent pan. Her white eyes sparkled with life, and for a moment, Mori found himself simply admiring her—his wife, his partner, his everything. 

"Lisa," he called softly, stepping closer. She turned, her face lighting up as she caught sight of him. 

"Mori," she responded, smiling. She set the spatula down for a moment, stepping forward to meet him. She rose on her toes, her soft lips brushing against his in a brief kiss. "Good morning."

"Morning," Mori said, his voice soft, holding back the deep affection that was welling up inside. "Where are the kids?"

"Outside," Lisa replied, her eyes twinkling with joy. "Leonidas is sparring with Elec and Hazel before he heads off to school with Gohan."

"Of course he is," Mori chuckled. His son, Leonidas, was always training, pushing himself as much as his father had at that age. "He'll need to be careful, or Hazel might surprise him."

Lisa laughed, the sound like music to Mori's ears. She returned to the stove, flipping the final waffle onto a plate. "He could use the challenge."

Mori nodded, then stepped toward the front door, eager to see his children before the day truly began. As his hand reached for the handle, a strange sensation washed over him. A voice—distant, almost like a whisper—called his name. He paused, frowning, as the voice grew louder. 

"Mori..."

He whipped around, eyes darting across the room, but saw nothing. His heart raced, the sound now overwhelming. And then, everything went black.

---

With a sharp gasp, Mori jolted awake, his body covered in cold sweat. He blinked rapidly, the dream fading as he found himself in a strange, unfamiliar bed. The room was small, humble, nothing like the home he had just been standing in. His heart ached as he recalled Lisa's smile, the smell of breakfast, the warmth of their life together. It had all felt so real... but it was nothing more than a dream.

Mori squeezed his eyes shut, fighting back the wave of sorrow that surged through him. His body trembled, his hands gripping the sheets tightly as he sat up. He had thought he'd moved on from that pain, but even now, it lingered just beneath the surface. For several minutes, he sat there, struggling to calm his racing thoughts.

After a while, the door creaked open, and a young boy, no older than ten, peeked inside. His wide eyes lit up with surprise as he noticed Mori was awake. "Dad! He's up!" the boy called out before disappearing from the room.

Mori exhaled slowly, pushing his emotions down as best as he could. Moments later, an older man entered the room, his face a mixture of relief and curiosity. The man looked like an ordinary human, with brown hair streaked with gray and weathered skin that showed signs of a long life of hard work.

"You're awake," the man said, his voice filled with a mix of astonishment and concern. "I have to say, it's a miracle you're alive. You fell from the sky, out of nowhere."

Mori frowned, his mind still groggy as he processed the man's words. "Fell... from the sky?" He rubbed his head, trying to recall what had happened before the dream. "Where am I?"

The man stepped closer, pulling up a chair beside the bed. "You're in my home," he explained. "My son, Jake, and I found you after you crash-landed in the forest nearby. You've been unconscious for three days."

Mori's confusion deepened. "Three days..." he muttered, sitting up slowly, his muscles stiff but functional. "And... what planet is this?" he asked, not sure if he really wanted to hear the answer.

The man chuckled lightly, though there was a hint of concern in his expression. "Planet? This is Earth."

Mori's eyes widened. "Earth?" he repeated, disbelief settling in. But this didn't feel like the Earth he knew. Something was wrong. The energy of the planet, the absence of familiar presences... it was too quiet, too normal.

He stood up abruptly, steadying himself. His mind raced as the realization set in—he wasn't on his Earth. The wormhole he'd fought must have sent him to an alternate reality. He could feel it in the very air. No demi-humans, no familiar ki signatures...nothing.

"I need to go," Mori said suddenly, his tone flat as he turned to the man. "Thank you for your help, but I have to figure out where I am." He paused, his thoughts clearing. "Your name?"

The man blinked in surprise. "John," he said after a moment. "And my son's name is Jake."

Mori nodded. "Thank you, John. I'll repay you for your kindness, but for now, I need to find my way." With that, he walked out of the room, the man following close behind.

John escorted him outside, the dense woods surrounding the small house. Once he was certain John and Jake wouldn't see him, Mori leaped into the air, hovering just above the treeline. He scanned the horizon until he saw a distant city.

"I'll start there," he muttered, flying up higher into the clouds before heading toward the city.

---

Mori landed quietly in an alley, blending into the flow of people on the bustling streets. He walked among the crowds, his mind racing as he observed the humans around him. Full humans. No demi-humans, no anthropomorphic creatures, no one with elevated ki signatures. This was an Earth like no other he'd ever known.

He found a bench in a nearby park, sitting down to gather his thoughts. "An alternate reality..." he muttered, running a hand through his hair. "So, where am I exactly? This doesn't look like West City, East City... or even Satan City."

Before he could get too lost in his thoughts, a loud explosion shook the ground. Mori glanced up, watching as a massive robot with a glowing green core rampaged through the city, blasting cars and buildings with beams of energy.

"Interesting," Mori mused, not moving from his seat. He raised a hand casually, deflecting stray energy blasts to ensure no one got hurt. He watched with mild interest as the robot continued its assault. If no one intervened soon, he'd have to take care of it himself.

Just as Mori was about to stand, a figure streaked across the sky in a blur of red and blue, landing a powerful punch on the robot. Mori's eyes narrowed as he focused on the new arrival—tall, muscular, with a bright red cape and an enormous "S" emblazoned on his chest.

Mori blinked, then suddenly burst into laughter. "No way," he muttered between chuckles. "Is this guy... wearing his underwear on the outside?"

As Mori continued laughing, the battle between Superman and the robot—Metallo, as he was called—raged on. Metallo, though damaged, fought back fiercely, unleashing a wave of green energy that sent Superman crashing to the ground. Mori's laughter subsided as the robot turned its attention toward him.

"Uh-oh," Mori muttered, realizing too late that Metallo had locked onto him. Before he could react, the robot grabbed him from behind, its metal arms wrapping around his throat in a chokehold.

Mori raised an eyebrow, bemused. "Well, this is a new one. I'm the hostage now."

Superman, struggling to get back to his feet, shouted, "Metallo! Let him go! He's just an innocent civilian!"

Mori's laughter returned. "Innocent? Oh, buddy, you've got the wrong guy."

Metallo ignored Superman's plea, tightening his grip on Mori. But before he could do any real damage, Mori sighed, gripping Metallo's arm and effortlessly pulling it away. The robot froze, its sensors whirring as it tried to process what had just happened.

"Superman, was it?" Mori asked, walking over to the fallen hero. "You seemed stronger before that green stuff came out of the robot. Need help?"

Superman, still weakened from the kryptonite's effects, looked up at Mori in confusion. "Run... he's dangerous," he gasped.

Mori chuckled softly, his hand already glowing with energy as he reached into Metallo's chest. With a swift motion, he crushed the kryptonite core, reducing it to dust. The robot collapsed in a heap of metal, its power source destroyed.

Superman stared in shock as Mori casually dusted off his hands. "Problem solved," Mori said with a grin.

Superman got to his feet, his eyes narrowing in suspicion. "Who... are you?"

Mori's smile widened, a mischievous glint in his eye. "Just a guy passing through."

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