Chapter 17 - Wishes and return.

I looked up at Porunga, the massive, green dragon that filled the sky, his imposing form radiating a palpable sense of power. His crimson eyes glowed, and a deep, rumbling voice echoed across the Namekian landscape. I took a deep breath, steadying myself as I turned to Dende, who stood beside me, waiting for my wish.

This moment was crucial. I had already thought through the wishes I was about to make. There were many things I wanted, but I knew I had to be strategic, considering the challenges awaiting me. Reviving the Z-Fighters in my future timeline was something I had planned to do with the future Namekian Dragon, After taking care of Janemba. Bringing them back now without eliminating the threat would be meaningless. Instead, I decided to focus on empowering myself to deal with the immediate danger.

"My first wish is to know how to speak the divine language!" I declared, my voice echoing as I looked at Dende, who nodded and proceeded to translate my wish to Porunga in the Namekian language.

Porunga's red eyes glowed, and suddenly, I felt an unfamiliar but strangely comforting knowledge take root in my mind. It was as if a veil had been lifted, and the mysteries of a language that transcended universes were suddenly clear to me. This was an important step, now I could search for the Super Dragon Balls if I needed to.

Dende turned to me, smiling. "The wish has been granted, Gohan. What is your second wish?"

I paused for a moment, thinking through my next words.

"My second wish is for my potential to be fully revealed!" I stated with determination.

Dende nodded and repeated the wish to Porunga. The dragon's eyes glowed for a moment before his voice rumbled in response, speaking directly to Dende in the Namekian language. Dende listened intently and then looked back at me with a slightly apologetic expression.

"Porunga says that he cannot reveal your potential in its entirety," Dende said, his voice tinged with regret. "But he can unlock a portion of it, which will make you much stronger than you are now. Do you still want to proceed?"

'Damn,' I thought to myself, frustrated. I had hoped that fully unlocking my potential would give me the strength I needed to handle Janemba with certainty. Still, this partial power boost would be better than nothing. I nodded to Dende to go ahead.

Dende translated the wish once more, and Porunga's eyes began to glow brightly. A surge of energy coursed through my entire being, and I could feel my power multiplying exponentially. My senses heightened, and my body vibrated with newfound strength. I clenched my fists, feeling the incredible energy pulsing within me. This was going to make a real difference.

When the light finally faded, I took a moment to catch my breath, my heart pounding with exhilaration. My power had grown immensely, but it was still my own effort that had to take me the rest of the way. Apart from that, I didn't want to use shortcuts, or easy cheats.

Dende smiled at me, his eyes showing hope. "You have one more wish left, Gohan. What will it be?"

I took a deep breath. This next wish was something risky, something that might prove extremely useful in the future.

"My final wish," I said, focusing my gaze back on Porunga, "is to have the ability known as Toki Tobashi! "

Dende's eyes widened slightly at the boldness of my request, but he nodded and translated it to Porunga. The dragon listened, his red eyes glowing once more as he responded in the Namekian tongue.

Dende turned back to me, his expression cautious. "Porunga says that he can grant you this ability, but it will be limited by your current power. As you are now, you won't be able to trigger it properly or even make use of it in a practical fight."

'Even with this boost, I can't properly use Toki Tobashi yet,' I thought, frowning. Still, having the ability, even in a latent form, was better than not having it at all. It was an investment for the future, something to work on until I was ready. I nodded, signaling Dende to proceed with the wish.

Porunga's eyes glowed one final time, and a strange sensation settled over me, it felt like I was aware of something in my mind, a new instinct that could potentially be accessed once I reached the appropriate level of strength.

After a moment, Porunga's immense form began to dissolve back into the glowing orbs, his final words echoing in the air, "Your wishes have been granted. Farewell." The Dragon Balls lost their glow, returning to their stone form before falling to the ground, now useless for another Namekian year.

I let out a breath I hadn't realized I'd been holding, and Dende looked at me with a mix of relief and excitement. "You did it, Gohan! Those were some impressive wishes."

I smiled, feeling both a sense of accomplishment and determination. "Thank you, Dende. I couldn't have done it without your help."

Dende blushed slightly, rubbing the back of his head. "Aw, it was nothing. We're happy to help you, Gohan. You've done so much for us."

The Elder Namekian approached, and the other villagers gathered around. The Elder looked at me with wise, kind eyes. "Gohan, you have proven yourself a true friend to the Namekian people. Our Dragon Balls are a gift to those who use them wisely, and I believe you have done so. May your journey bring you success."

I bowed my head respectfully. "Thank you, Elder. I won't forget this kindness."

The Namekians began to say their goodbyes. I could see the gratitude in their eyes, and it warmed my heart. Though their lives had been filled with strife and turmoil, they were still a peaceful people who looked out for others.

Dende walked me to the edge of the village, a smile on his face. "Will you come back to visit sometime, Gohan?" he asked hopefully.

I smiled back. "I hope so, Dende. I think there's a lot I could learn from the Namekians, and there's still much I need to do."

Dende nodded. "No worries Gohan, you will succeed in whatever you are doing !"

"Thanks, Dende." I raised my hand, placing two fingers on my forehead, focusing on the image of Earth, specifically, Capsule Corporation. "Take care of everyone here. Until we meet again!"

I looked around, taking in the bustling scene of Bulma's home. Vegeta was training in the gravity room, as usual. I could hear the faint hum of the equipment and the occasional crash as Vegeta pushed himself to the limit.

'Now,' I thought, my resolve firming, 'it's time to go back. I won't go on a search for the Super Dragon Balls here; Kibito and Shin could appear at any moment in the future.'

But before leaving, I wanted to visit my dad one more time. I could sense his energy nearby, along with the familiar ki of my younger self and Chi-Chi. They were gathered together, having a meal. Piccolo was outside, as usual, keeping watch over the area.

I approached Piccolo, who stood silently under a tree, his arms crossed as he observed the surroundings. His eyes flicked towards me as I arrived, and he gave me a small nod.

"Hi, Piccolo. Are Dad and little me here?" I asked, smiling at the Namekian.

Piccolo gave a small smirk, his eyes narrowing as he studied me. "Yes, they're inside eating right now. But I can sense it, your power has risen significantly in just a few hours," he noted, his voice carrying a hint of curiosity.

I chuckled. "Yeah, I had my potential unlocked," I replied. Piccolo's eyes widened slightly in surprise. It was clear he hadn't expected that. He seemed to be considering something, perhaps thinking of how my younger self or even he himself could benefit from such a power-up.

"It's something you could consider too, Piccolo. It could help you keep up," I added, giving him a knowing look.

Piccolo's expression softened for a moment, and he nodded thoughtfully. "I'll keep that in mind," he replied, a rare smile tugging at the corner of his lips.

I made my way to the door of the house and knocked gently. A moment later, Chi-Chi opened the door. She blinked, her eyes widening in shock as she took in my appearance.

"Who is—I...!? Why do you look like Gohan?" she stammered, her eyes darting between me and my younger self, who was watching from the table.

Little Gohan quickly got up and rushed over. "Mom, it's me! Well, sort of. He's me from the future," he explained, his face lighting up with excitement. He then explained my circumstances.

Chi-Chi looked at me, her eyes softening, and without warning, she pulled me into a tight hug. "Oh, Gohan... you must've had it so tough," she whispered, her voice cracking slightly. I could feel her trembling as she held me, and I hugged her back, a bittersweet smile forming on my face.

"I'm okay now, Mom," I said gently, trying to reassure her. "I've made it here, and everything will be alright." Chi-Chi pulled away slightly, her eyes wet with unshed tears, and gave me a tender smile.

I looked over her shoulder and saw my dad, who had paused mid-bite, staring at me. He quickly set down his food and stood up, walking over with a warm smile. "Hey, Gohan," he greeted, his eyes full of pride. "It's really something, seeing you like this. You've grown so strong."

I felt a lump form in my throat as I looked at him. "Hey, Dad... I just wanted to say goodbye before I head back," I said, my voice faltering slightly.

Goku's smile softened, and he placed a hand on my shoulder. "I'm proud you're okay, and a bit sad I wasn't there for you in the future."

I nodded, my heart feeling heavy but full of determination. "Don't worry, Dad. I'll make sure our future is a bright one."

My younger self stepped closer, looking up at me with wide eyes. "I... I want to be just like you someday," he said, his voice filled with awe.

I knelt down to his level, placing a hand on his head. "You will, kiddo. You've got all the potential in the world. Just keep training and trust in your strength, okay?"

He nodded eagerly, his eyes shining with determination. "Okay! I'll do my best!"

Chi-Chi wiped her eyes, her expression turning stern but affectionate. "You better stay safe, you hear me? No more getting into dangerous situations!"

I laughed softly, nodding. "I'll do my best, Mom."

After saying my goodbyes, I made my way back outside. Piccolo was still there, waiting. He gave me a nod of acknowledgment as I approached.

"Take care of them, Piccolo," I said, my voice carrying both a request and a deep trust.

Piccolo smirked. "You don't even need to ask. Go take care of your timeline, Gohan. We'll handle things here."

I nodded, feeling a sense of closure. With everything said and done, I took a deep breath and activated Kai Kai. In an instant, I was back in the rocky area where my time machine was hidden. The landscape was barren, a stark contrast to the warmth of my family's home.

I pulled out the capsule containing the time machine, pressing the button and throwing it to the ground. With a puff of smoke, the machine appeared, ready for use. I climbed inside, looking around at the controls. My heart pounded with anticipation, I was ready to head back to the future and face whatever challenges awaited me.

I started up the machine, the hum of its engines filling the air.

It felt as if I'd been gone for four days, but when I finally landed back on Capsule Corp grounds, I knew it had only been a single day. The air was still, and the night sky loomed above, the stars twinkling as if nothing had changed. Sadly, no one was there to welcome me; the whole place was quiet. It seemed everyone was asleep.

I packed the time machine away in its capsule, taking a moment to glance around the silent compound. The familiar sight brought a sense of calm, even if there wasn't anyone awake to greet me. I made my way into Bulma's house, careful not to wake anyone. I needed to let her know I was back and give her a summary of everything that had happened.

I found her asleep on the living room couch, a stack of papers and blueprints scattered across the table. I smiled to myself. It was so typical of her, working late into the night, even after everything we had been through.

"Bulma... hey, Bulma," I whispered, nudging her shoulder gently.

She stirred, her eyes fluttering open, and when she saw me, her eyes widened. "Gohan! You're back!" she said, her voice a mix of grogginess and excitement. She sat up quickly, rubbing her eyes. "How did it go? Are you okay?"

I nodded, giving her a reassuring smile. "Yeah, I'm fine. Everything went well. I took care of Frieza, talked to Dad, and warned everyone about the androids. And... I managed to make my wish with Shenron." I summarized briefly, seeing the curiosity spark in her eyes.

"Wishes, huh? What did you wish for?" she asked, leaning in.

"I wished to learn teleportation !" I replied.

Bulma raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Teleportation, that's op, Gohan. Well, I'm glad you're safe." She smiled, her eyes softening. "Get some rest, alright?"

I nodded. "Thanks, Bulma. I'll see you tomorrow."

Leaving her to her well-deserved sleep, I used Kai Kai to teleport back to my home. As I arrived, the familiar warmth of the place filled me. The door creaked softly as I opened it, and there, waiting for me, was my mom.

"Gohan! You're home!" Chi-Chi exclaimed, her eyes lighting up. She rushed over, pulling me into a tight hug. "You had me worried sick! Are you alright? Did everything go well?"

I hugged her back, feeling the tension leave my body. "Yeah, Mom, I'm fine. Everything's okay now. I just need some rest."

She looked me over, her eyes filled with concern, but she nodded. "Alright, dear. You must be exhausted. Go on, get some sleep. I made your favorite dinner, so make sure you eat before you rest."

I smiled. "Thanks, Mom. I really missed your cooking."

After eating, I finally went to bed, the exhaustion catching up to me. As I lay there, staring at the ceiling, my mind wandered. 'Now, I need a training partner and possibly an ally,' I thought, feeling the weight of the challenges ahead. The Z Fighters were stuck in the otherworld for now, and I needed someone who could help me grow even stronger.

'But who?' I pondered, my mind racing. Trunks was still too young, and waiting for him to grow up wasn't an option, things could get messy at any moment. I needed someone now, someone powerful, someone whose potential could match mine. Then, it hit me. Someone who was still out there. Someone whose strength was legendary.

'Broly!'