Morning came quietly on Namek.
Not with the blaring light of a rising sun, but with a soft, diffused glow that seeped through the green-tinted sky like liquid warmth. The first thing I felt wasn't sunlight, it was heat. Not the oppressive, suffocating kind, but the kind that came from a body pressed close, a breath shared in the stillness of dawn.
Faye.
Sometime during the night, he had shifted in his sleep, his head now resting against my chest, one arm draped loosely across my torso. His breathing was slow, rhythmic, the rise and fall of his chest a quiet counterpoint to the silence of the hut. His pink hair was slightly tousled, a few strands sticking to his forehead, and his lips were parted just enough to let out the faintest sigh.
I stared at the ceiling of the small Namekian hut for a long moment, my fingers tracing idle patterns against the rough fabric of the pallet beneath us. After everything that had happened yesterday, the battle, the barrier, the revelations, this quiet felt almost unnatural, like the calm before a storm that had yet to break.
Eventually, I moved, shifting my weight carefully to avoid disturbing him. Faye stirred, his fingers tightening briefly around the fabric of my clothes before relaxing again. A soft, sleepy murmur escaped him, his voice muffled against my chest.
"Mmm…"
I held my breath, waiting to see if he would wake. When he didn't, I slipped out from underneath him, my movements deliberate and slow.
He barely noticed, his body curling slightly in on itself as if seeking the warmth I had taken with me. I pulled the simple woven covering over him, tucking it around his shoulders before stepping outside.
The moment I emerged, Namek's morning air washed over me like a cool, cleansing wave. It was alive, not in the way his realm air was, thick with the scent of magic and nature , but in a way that felt old , untouched.
The breeze carried the faintest hint of moisture, the scent of the river that wound its way through the landscape like a vein of liquid silver. The sky stretched endlessly overhead, a vast expanse of green so deep it was almost black, punctuated by the distant, lazy drift of clouds that looked like smudges of chalk against the heavens.
And beside the river, sitting in quiet meditation, was Elder Oru.
His legs were crossed, his staff resting beside him, its wooden surface worn smooth by time and use. His eyes were closed, his antennae twitching slightly as if tuning into some unseen frequency. He looked like a statue, carved from the same stone as the plateau beneath us, yet there was a vitality to him that belied his age, a quiet strength, the kind that came from surviving when so many others had not.
"You've been awake for some time."
His voice came without warning, without him even opening his eyes. It was smooth, measured, the kind of voice that carried the weight of centuries.
I stopped mid-step, my boots pressing into the damp earth. "I didn't want to disturb you."
A faint smile tugged at the corners of his lips, though his eyes remained closed. "Your footsteps are not what woke me."
I approached, my shadow falling over him as I came to a stop a respectful distance away. "You sensed me."
"I sensed your thoughts before you left the hut."His voice was calm, almost amused. "You were debating whether to wake Faye or let him rest. You decided on the latter."
I smiled faintly, rubbing the back of my neck. "Then I suppose there's no point pretending otherwise."
Oru opened his eyes, his gaze sharp and knowing. The green of his irises seemed to glow faintly in the morning light, like embers in a dying fire. "Good morning, Taru."
"Good morning, Elder Oru." I bowed my head slightly, the gesture instinctive. "Thank you."
He looked at me, his expression softening. "For what?"
"For allowing Faye and me to stay here." My voice was sincere. After the battles, the revelations, the exhaustion, this small act of kindness felt like a balm.
Oru's smile deepened, his antennae twitching in what might have been a chuckle. "Namek has little left to offer strangers." He glanced toward the river, its surface rippling gently in the breeze. "But hospitality is one thing Frieza never managed to take from us."
I sat beside him, the damp earth cool beneath me. For a while, neither of us spoke. The river continued its endless flow, the water whispering against the rocks as it passed. Somewhere in the distance, bird-like creatures cried out, their calls echoing through the valley like a haunting melody. The wind rustled through the trees, their leaves shimmering with a faint, iridescent sheen.
Then, finally, I broke the silence. "The Dragon Balls."
Oru's expression changed, only slightly, but I noticed. A shadow passed over his face, his fingers tightening imperceptibly around the shaft of his staff. "Can they still be used?"
His silence stretched for several long seconds, the kind of silence that felt like a held breath. Then, at last, he exhaled, his voice quiet. "They can."
I turned toward him, my gaze intent. "But?"
He looked toward the distant mountains, their peaks shrouded in a faint mist. "The Dragon Balls are not toys."
"I understand that, elder oru ."
"They carry the combined divine energy of the Kais who fought for this planet." His voice was heavy, as if the words themselves were a burden. "The Kais who nearly gave their lives for this planet."
"And if they fall into the wrong hands…" He didn't finish the sentence. He didn't need to.
" yeah I know".
Oru looked directly into my eyes, his gaze piercing. Then, with a slow exhale, he sighed, as if releasing a weight he had been carrying for a long time. "You do not seem to seek them for conquest."
"No."
"For immortality then.. ? That's the favorite of some people "**
"haha No." I smiled a little
"oh then Power perhaps ?"
I considered the question, my mind flickering through the possibilities of improving my bloodline . "Not primarily." I said..
That earned the faintest smile from Oru, a flicker of amusement in his ancient eyes. "Then yes." He looked toward the horizon, his voice carrying the weight of a decision. "They can be used."
I nodded, my thoughts already racing ahead. "Then why haven't you used them to rescue the Kais?"
Oru's smile disappeared, his expression turning grim. He lowered his gaze, his fingers tracing the grain of his staff. "We tried."
That answer surprised me. "How many times?"
"A few."His voice was barely above a whisper. "After the Kais were captured, we gathered the Dragon Balls."
"And wished for their freedom?"
"Yes."
"What happened?"
Oru's grip on his staff tightened, his knuckles turning white. "The wishes failed."
I frowned, my mind working. "Failed how?"
"They could not overcome the protection surrounding Frieza's divine planet." His voice was hollow, as if the memory itself were painful. "No matter what we wished for, the magic could not penetrate the defenses Frieza had put in place."
I stared across the river, the water glinting under the green light of Namek's suns. So even the Namekians didn't know the entire story. Frieza's empire was more intricate than I had realized.
Then an idea came to me, a spark of possibility in the darkness. "Could we bring Kami here?"
Oru turned toward me, his expression cautious. "Kami?"
" yeah old man, remember.. The creator of Earth's Dragon Balls."
His eyes narrowed, his antennae twitching as he considered the implications. "Oh yeah, yea.. That might be possible."
"If he is being controlled by Frieza, the Dragon Balls could bring him here."
Oru's expression shifted, his gaze sharpening as understanding dawned. "You wish to remove him from Frieza's control."
"Exactly as he is the main threat to anything that goes against Frieza plans.. "
A long silence followed, the only sound the gentle rustle of the wind through the trees. Finally, Oru stood, his staff tapping lightly against the ground as he rose. "Then we should try."
By midday, the seven Dragon Balls had been gathered.
They were enormous, their orange surfaces glowing faintly beneath Namek's green sunlight, as if they were drinking in the light and reflecting it back in a way that was almost alive.
The Namekians had placed them carefully upon the ground in a precise arrangement, their positions forming a perfect circle in the center of the plateau. The ten surviving Namekians gathered around the clearing, their expressions a mix of hope and solemnity.
I stood slightly behind Oru, my arms crossed, my gaze fixed on the Dragon Balls as they pulsed with a quiet, ancient energy.
Faye had finally awakened and, despite his lingering embarrassment from the day before, had insisted on accompanying me.
He remained close to my side, his fingers brushing against mine every now and then, as if seeking reassurance. I didn't pull away. The contact was grounding, a reminder of why we were here.
Oru raised both hands, his staff held aloft. The Dragon Balls began to glow, their light intensifying until it cast long, dancing shadows across the plateau.
The sky darkened, the green hue of Namek's atmosphere deepening into something closer to twilight. Clouds twisted above us, their forms writhing like living things, and lightning flashed in the distance, its light illuminating the faces of the Namekians in stark relief.
Then Oru shouted, his voice carrying the weight of centuries:
"Rise, Porunga!"
The world shuddered.
A deep, resonant hum filled the air, vibrating through the ground beneath our feet, through the very bones of the planet. The Namekians braced themselves, their antennae twitching as they felt the shift in the atmosphere.
Then, with a sound like a thousand drums beating in unison, the earth split beneath the Dragon Balls, a fissure tearing through the plateau as a colossal figure began to rise.
Porunga.
His massive body towered over the landscape, his scales glinting like polished obsidian under the green light. His eyes opened, and the air itself seemed to grow heavier, as if the very atmosphere were bowing to his presence.
The wind howled, whipping through the valley as the dragon's gaze swept over us, his voice a thunderous rumble that seemed to come from everywhere at once.
"Speak your wishes."
Oru stepped forward, his staff planted firmly in the ground. "I wish to bring the being known as Kami to Namek."
Porunga became silent.
I waited.
One second.
Five.
Ten.
Twenty.
Nothing.
The silence stretched, thick and suffocating, as if the very world were holding its breath. I glanced at Oru. The Elder's expression had become deeply confused, his brow furrowing as he stared up at the dragon.
Finally
Porunga spoke.
"Your wish is impossible."
The words hit like a physical blow. My eyes widened, my mind racing as I tried to process what I had just heard.
Oru froze, his grip on his staff tightening. "What?"
Porunga's voice was calm, but unyielding. "The one you call Kami has grown strong enough to ignore my wish magic level."
Silence.
Even the wind seemed to stop.
"What?"The word escaped me before I could stop it, my voice sharp with disbelief.
Oru stared upward, his expression a mix of shock and dawning horror. "You cannot move him?"
"I cannot." Porunga's voice was final, the kind of finality that came from a force of nature acknowledging its own limits.
My mind immediately began racing, the pieces clicking into place with a speed that left me breathless. Strong enough to resist Dragon Ball magic? That shouldn't have been possible. Unless…
Then I remembered something.
An old memory, a fragment from my previous life. An episode, a conversation about Dragon Balls. The creator could increase their power.The stronger the creator became, the stronger the Dragon Balls could become.
My eyes narrowed, the realization settling in my gut like a stone. "Kami."
Oru looked at me, his expression grim. "He was possibly trained and increased his power "
"Trained?"
"Frieza must have done something." My voice was low, dangerous. "He's been under Frieza's control for years."
My thoughts accelerated, the implications unfolding like a dark flower blooming in my mind. If Kami had become stronger, the Dragon Balls could have become stronger. And if the Dragon Balls had become stronger…
Oru's eyes widened, his voice a whisper. "And Frieza would have access to them."
"Exactly."
I looked up at Porunga, my voice sharp. "Then I want another answer."
Oru nodded, his expression resolute. He raised his hand, his voice carrying across the plateau. "Porunga."
The dragon's gaze shifted to him, his massive head tilting slightly. "Ask."
"Tell us what truly happened to Kami after Frieza captured him."
Porunga's eyes glowed, the light within them swirling like a storm. This time, there was no hesitation. "Your wish is granted."
Images appeared in the air before us, shimmering like a mirage. Kami, bound in chains of energy, Frieza's soldiers surrounding him, their faces twisted in cruel amusement. Then another figure appeared, Piccolo, the evil counterpart, his form wreathed in darkness, his eyes burning with malice.
The vision darkened, the air growing colder as the scene unfolded. Kami was forced into fusion, the two Namekians merging under duress. But something was wrong. The resulting being's energy wasn't balanced. The evil influence had won.
Porunga's voice echoed across the valley, his tone grave. "Kami was forced to fuse with his evil counterpart, Demon King Piccolo."
Oru's face became grim, his grip on his staff tightening until his knuckles turned white. "As a result of the forced reunion, the resulting fusion became more evil-aligned due to Demon King Piccolo's nature."
I stared upward, my mind racing. "And the Dragon Balls?"
Porunga continued, his voice heavy. "They became dormant."
I already knew what came next. The pieces were falling into place with a terrible clarity. "The new fused Namekian eventually decided remake them."
Oru's eyes widened, his voice a whisper. "Remake?"
"Yes."Porunga's voice was final, the kind of finality that came from a truth too heavy to bear. "Those Dragon Balls now possess wishing power greater than my own."
Nobody spoke.
The clearing became silent, the weight of the revelation pressing down on us like a physical force. I slowly lowered my head, my mind working furiously.
So that was it.
The Earth Dragon Balls weren't simply being used by Frieza. They had evolved. And the being who had created them had become something fundamentally different, something stronger, something darker, something capable of resisting Porunga's magic.
Frieza had turned Kami into another weapon.
And the Dragon Balls themselves had become a greater asset.
My irritation grew, a slow, simmering fury building in my chest. Frieza had built himself an empire not just through strength, but through manipulation, through turning the very tools meant to oppose him into instruments of his will.
I looked toward Porunga, my voice sharp. "One final wish."
Oru nodded, his expression solemn. "Ask."
I looked directly at the dragon, my gaze unyielding. "Where are the nameless Namekian and the Earth Dragon Balls?"
Porunga answered immediately, his voice echoing like thunder. "The nameless Namekian resides within Frieza's palace."
My expression hardened, my fingers curling into fists. "The Dragon Balls are there as well."
I frowned, my mind racing. "All of them?"
"Yes."Porunga's eyes narrowed, his voice carrying the weight of a warning. "They remain attached to the nameless Namekian."
The clearing became silent once more, the weight of the revelation settling over us like a shroud. Oru lowered his head, his expression grim. Faye stared at me, his golden eyes wide with a mix of fear and determination.
I slowly exhaled, my breath steady despite the storm raging in my mind.
That complicated everything.
The Kais were prisoners.
Earth's Dragon Balls were in Frieza's possession.
Kami or what was left of him had become a powerful, evil-aligned Namekian.
And Namek's own Dragon Balls weren't powerful enough to simply retrieve him.
I looked toward the sky, my gaze sharp and unyielding. Frieza had built himself an absurdly complicated fortress of advantages, a web of power and control that seemed almost impenetrable.
But there was one thing he had underestimated.
Me.
I glanced toward Faye, his hand finding mine, his fingers squeezing gently. Then toward Oru, his expression a mix of resolve and concern.
"At least now we know where everything is."
Oru gave me a solemn nod, his voice quiet. "And what will you do?"
I looked toward the distant horizon, my mind already moving, already planning. I wasn't going to charge blindly into Frieza's palace. Not anymore. Not when the stakes were this high.
First, I needed information.
Then allies.
Then a plan.
Because rescuing the Kais was no longer simply a matter of defeating Frieza's soldiers. It was about dismantling the machinery that kept his entire empire functioning.
And somewhere inside that empire…
Frieza was probably already preparing for me.
The thought didn't scare me.
It excited me.
I tightened my grip on Faye's hand, my voice a low growl. "We're going to bring him down."