Summary: On the first day of her journey, sixteen year old Enne Shinkou stumbles on Cell, an intriguing bug-like creature idling in the forest. Together, they travel across the globe searching for the magical dragon balls that can grant only one wish. Set two years after Cell landed on DBZ's default timeline up to the end of the Cell games. Rated T only because of curse words.

Disclaimer: For legal purposes, I, in no way, claim any right to Akira Toriyama's ideas, characters, and everything. I only own the Shinkous, period. Also, no profit is being made from this fanfiction. On a final note, please don't claim my writing as yours, thank you.

Author's Notes: I've been thinking about writing this since February, 2014. I post this now that I have only three or four last chapters to write. So it's nearly complete.

The first half is fun and adventure. The second is angst-ridden. I hope the story gives you a "healthy" dose of both. Ha ha ha.

Also, he turns into imperfect form in chapter 11, but I encourage you to read through chapter 1 - 10.
You may interpret their relationship romantically but I myself am not sure of that. *evil laugh*

Things to take note of:

1. I refer to Cell in his cocoon/pupa/shell form as Cell in his pupal stage/form. I refer to his fetus-like, baby form as his larval form. I'm pretty sure "larval" is what they called him when he was in the tank/incubator. If both fetal and pupal stages are called his larval form, then I've made a distinction so we won't be confused.

2. Please ignore the fact that pupal Cell isn't burrowed (for two years since his arrival).

3. Pupal Cell isn't completely helpless, he can even run if necessary.

4. Enne is pronounced as it is, like En, the letter N.

Of course you're free to point out inconsistencies in the course of the story. I'd be glad to consider your opinions.

Having said all that, enjoy. :)

The Bonds That Can't Be Known

Friendship? Love? Family? These two have something words can't describe.

Chapter 1: Find the Dragon Balls!

"Enne m'dear, let me tell you about the legend of the seven mystical Dragon Balls," Grandpa Shinkou said as he finished reading a bedtime story to his four-year-old granddaughter. He did not usually follow up bedtime stories with short tales but tonight was different. The four-year-old girl who was snuggled comfortably in her bed waited on him with glowing eyes.

It was a full moon night, quite silent, the sounds of the rushing river and chirping crickets were the only ones to be heard. The cabin was a few miles away from the outskirts of Yahhoy City, nearby Fukurou forest. In this cabin, the Shinkous lived a simple life.

Grandpa Shinkou was very old. For a man in his early seventies he could still chop firewood, gather water from the river, cook meals, and keep a keen eye on his granddaughter. He even taught her some martial arts for self-defense when he had spare time. He always bought her books, fiction and not, whenever he went to the city to buy supplies. Every night he would read her bedtime stories mostly about adventure and fantasy. These acts showed how much he loves his granddaughter, unfortunately, he knew that his time left in this world was short.

"Listen closely. They say that these dragon balls, orange, about the size of an apple with stars in the middle, are scattered all over the Earth. The lucky person who finds them and brings them together is said to be granted one wish. You know, if you grew up and had time to spare, you could find them and wish for whatever you want." Enne looked at him with fascination. He smiled at her and kissed her forehead. "Now go to sleep, sweetheart." She closed her eyes and drifted off to sleep.

Yeah, just a little effort and dedication. Enne thought to herself as she stood on an elevated mound that overlooked Fukurou forest, taking in the view of a clear blue sky. Twelve years have passed since that night and here she was, looking for the dragon balls. With black hair cut at shoulder length, a blue tank top, black jeans, and white sneakers, she was ready to go.

Now she understood why her grandfather held on to such an unbelievable tale. She held the object called a dragon radar. She found it in one of her grandfather's side table drawers when she was putting his stuff in a wooden chest shortly after his timely, peaceful, death. It seems that even her grandfather had forgotten where he found the device let alone his possession of it. Grandpa loved adventure so much, he must have found it in one of his random journeys. There was also a strange note that said "The magic word is Shenron" tied to it with a rubber band, this note she put in the front pocket of her backpack. Shenron? The magic word? Wasn't please the magic word?

"Alright! Time to find those dragon balls!" she shouted with a fist pump to the air. Clutching the strap of her green backpack, she turned around to face the direction the radar was pointing in. There was a Tyrannosaurus rex eyeing her. Her shoulders dropped. They're everywhere, aren't they? Trying her best to hide the fact that she was about to escape, she suddenly ran to her left.

"Kami I'm too young to die!"

Provoked by the shriek, the T. rex ran after her. She ran to the part of the forest that was thick with trees to throw off the dinosaur's speed. Damn it! Straying from the path to the dragon ball irritated her but she was correct in judgment. The T. rex had to slow down to avoid the thick branches its head might hit. She reached a clearing near a cliff and carefully jumped over elevations so that she could reach the ground below safely. After she landed, she continued running as fast as she could. She didn't care about the direction even when the T. rex stopped by the cliff, unable to pursue its prey.

"Huff, huff." Panting, she put her hands on the nearest tree to support her weight. After regaining her stamina, she scanned the area for an easy way south. The radar she had was able to pinpoint the exact location of the dragon balls. During her survey of the surroundings, she saw something weird at the meadow straight ahead. "What's that?" She saw something yellowish, it looked like a rocket ship but she wasn't sure. The trees were thick but not thick enough to conceal the mysterious structure. "It wouldn't hurt to take a look." And then she walked toward it. What's a rocket-like ship, building, whatever, doing out here?

When Enne reached the structure, she examined it. It did look like a rocket ship with its oval shape, four tube-like launchers, and shattered, more like melted, glass head. Thick moss had covered a small part of its bottom. All four launchers were labeled with "1 Capsule Corp" and one had the word "HOPE" written on it.

Hm, who in the world would break out of his own spaceship? Unless he was attacked by a monster, the poor guy. Well, he wouldn't mind if I checked a bit. Enne hooked on one of the launchers and hoisted herself up to the cockpit. She looked through the glass head and saw something weird inside. She slightly leaned in to take a closer look. It's a purple, spiky, round thing cut in half. What on Earth? After some effort to extract the thing and jump off the structure, she laid it down on the ground. She touched the insides and felt that it was kind of wet with an unknown slimy liquid, then she repeatedly tried putting the two halves together, felt the outer shell, the small round spikes, and the orange rim of the cut. "If I'm to put two and two together, something must have come out of this but what was it doing there in the first place? Someone brought it with them? C'mon Enne, think!" After some musing. "Okay, it's either someone brought it with them and they were attacked by a monster leaving this egg thing behind to hatch, or something hatched from this that ate the poor guy and blasted out of the ship!" Yikes!

Enne tied a string on each half and hung the shells over her shoulder like messenger bags. "Whatever this is, it's a rare find!" Then she looked at the radar and started walking in the direction of the dragon ball. She jumped over more shallow cliffs until she slipped on a big moss-covered rock that she thought would be a good platform. "Ou, ou…" She looked back at the rock. "Hey."

Enne saw it. It had a weird shape. It had two wide horns protruding a bit sideways from its head and another two that looked like wings, or shells, she couldn't tell. One thing was clear, it had four legs each having three claw-like fingers and toes. This thing that she mistook for a mossy rock was something that looked like an overgrown grasshopper minus the antennae. A chill went up her spine, Enne had a dislike for insects that bordered on a phobia. Nevertheless, her curiosity got the best of her and she examined what seemed to be its face.

"Oh my Kami."

Upon closer inspection, the creature had two snake-like pinkish eyes with slits for pupils and a blunt round beak between them. Enne knew that it wasn't a strangely formed green rock, it was a living creature.

Thank you for reading. And If you ever fav or review, thank you so much.