Hey guys I'm really happy with how the last chapter turned out, it turned out much better than the first, at least in my opinion.
Well anyways my first exam season is almost over so during tge next month I'll be either hungover or working on new chapters.
Thank you so much to those of you who are leaving reviews, following me, the story and saving it. It really, really makes a difference to me so yeah...
If anyones interested in creating a cover for this story please do so (I would really appreciate it).
Well anyways enjoy the chapter :)
Gohan leaned against the cool cave wall, watching as Diane laughed in delight. Her laughter was like music, echoing through the forest, bringing a genuine smile to his face. But as he glanced down at his own body, the smile faded. He felt weak, stiff, and unaccustomed to standing. The added weight of his extra tail altered his balance, making him feel as if he were learning to walk all over again. His muscles protested with every small movement, a stark reminder of the two weeks spent bedridden.
With a furrowed brow, he examined himself, noticing how his limbs felt heavy and unresponsive. I can't believe how out of shape I am, he thought, feeling a wave of frustration wash over him. He recalled his father, Goku, always telling him that there was always someone stronger out there, no matter how strong he became. That thought lingered in his mind, mixing with the anxiety about his new surroundings. What if I'm not strong enough to face whatever's waiting for me out there?
Diane's laughter, however, cut through his thoughts. Her carefree demeanor drew his attention back to her, and he shook his head as if trying to dispel the weight on his shoulders.
"Hey, Diane!" he called out, drawing her gaze. "I know you've told me before that you dislike violence, but being bedridden for almost two weeks has left me stiffer than a rock. What do you say to a friendly spar?"
Diane's smile wavered, and she hesitated. "A spar?" She crossed her arms, looking at him thoughtfully. "Gohan, I… I know you look strong, but you're still human," she said with a teasing grin, "and I don't actually know how strong you really are. I'd hate for things to get out of hand."
Gohan chuckled, trying to put her at ease. "I promise it won't get too serious. Just enough to loosen up. And hey-how about this? Whoever wins has to cook lunch"
Diane still looked uncertain, but after a moment, she nodded slowly. "Alright, Gohan. If it's only for fun, I don't mind. Just… don't expect me to go easy on you!" She forced a grin, clearly trying to convince herself.
"Wouldn't dream of it!" Gohan replied with a smile. As they prepared for the match, he felt a lightness in the air, as if the doubts and worries could wait a little longer.
"Ready?" Gohan asked.
"Ready."
Gohan dashed forward, his movements slower and less steady than usual, but still surprisingly quick. Diane's eyes went wide, her mouth forming a small "O" of surprise as he darted around her and aimed a quick kick at her shin. She yelped, stumbling back as her big hands went up to defend. "Hey! That kinda hurt!" she exclaimed, rubbing her shin with a pout.
Gohan smirked, circling her carefully, trying to keep up his focus even as he felt his muscles protesting. Diane, looking at him with newfound determination, bit her lip, her brows knitting together. "Okay, no more Ms. Nice Giant!" she declared with a huff, raising her hands playfully in mock defense.
But Gohan was already on the move, ducking under her outstretched arm and delivering a sharp punch to her ankle. Diane gasped, hopping back with a stunned expression. "You're really strong!" she blurted, her eyes sparkling with a mix of surprise and admiration. He's so tiny, but he packs a punch! she thought, her grin widening as she shifted her stance.
Gohan, breathing heavily, could see that his strength had caught her off guard, and he couldn't help but feel a bit of pride. "Thanks!" he managed to say, catching his breath. "Didn't think I'd surprise you so much."
Diane's face lit up with a bright, childish smile. "Well, I didn't think someone as small as you could actually make me feel it!" she giggled. She spread her arms wide, her expression becoming exaggeratedly serious. "Alright, Gohan! Time for my super-duper serious mode!"
He tried to keep his focus, though he couldn't help but chuckle as she struck her exaggerated "serious" pose. But even as the match continued, Gohan's energy began to fade, his limbs feeling heavier with each strike. Diane, noticing this, softened her stance. She crouched slightly, trying to match his eye level, her mouth quirked in a lopsided grin. "Getting tired, huh?" she teased, poking him lightly in the shoulder.
"Maybe… just a little," he admitted, breathing hard but smiling.
Diane, giving him a playful grin, reached out and gave him a gentle but exaggerated "tap," knocking him off his feet. Gohan landed with a light thud, laughing as he lay back on the grass, exhausted but happy.
As Diane flopped back onto the grass beside him, still giggling over their match, Gohan took a moment to catch his breath, his smile fading into a thoughtful expression. He tilted his head up, gazing at the sky above, the bright blue stretching endlessly over the treetops. Diane lay beside him, oblivious to his shift in mood as she continued to laugh softly to herself, still caught up in the thrill of their sparring.
Gohan's hand tightened into a fist, and his brows knitted together. Damn it, he thought, frustration welling up. Why is it so hard to control my energy here?
He could feel all of his ki inside him but ge could not control it, like trying to build a castle with water, no matter how hard he tried to use it. It's almost as if… the world doesn't want me using my ki, he mused, a knot of unease tightening in his chest. He'd never struggled this way before—never felt this strange disconnect, like his own strength was being smothered.
It must have something to do with this universe's rules, he thought, his gaze still fixed on the open sky, Diane is a magic user, maybe ki is not a thing in this place. That would explain why I can't sense anything here… not even her.
The realization brought a chill, but he forced himself to stay calm, letting the thoughts drift like clouds. For now, he'd keep pushing forward, trying to adapt—even if it meant fighting a bit differently in this strange, new world.
As Gohan's gaze drifted back from the sky, Diane's voice pulled him from his thoughts. "Hey, what about lunch? You know, you did promise," she teased, a mischievous glint in her eyes. Gohan looked over at her, catching her playful smile and feeling the last of his frustration melt away. "Sure, I'll cook it for us," he replied, returning her grin with one of his own.
Diane's face lit up as she leaned a little closer, clearly thrilled at the idea. But as she did, her nose scrunched slightly, and she gave a short laugh. "Oh, Gohan, I'm sure it's going to be delicious… but you really need to take a bath before you cook anything!" she giggled, covering her nose for effect.
Gohan's eyes went wide, a bright blush spreading across his cheeks as her words hit him. He took a quick sniff of his shirt and winced. Oh man, she's right, he thought, feeling his cheeks flush deeper with embarrassment. I haven't cleaned myself in almost two weeks.
"Yeah, I'll go right away!" he stammered, scrambling to his feet and making a beeline for the river. Diane watched him dash off, chuckling softly to herself at his flustered retreat. As he disappeared among the trees, she gave a warm smile, stretching her limbs one last time before heading back into the cave, ready to relax after their training and sparring session.
At the river, Gohan drifted through the clear water, his ragged clothes hanging nearby on a tree branch. After a few strokes, he paused, letting himself float on the surface as he gazed up at the sky. The forest was peaceful, the quiet hum of life filling the air around him.
"It sure is nice here," he murmured, his eyes tracing the leafy canopy above. "I get why Diane likes it. But… I wonder why she lives all alone." He frowned thoughtfully. She doesn't seem much older than me, he mused, the question lingering in his mind. I'll have to ask her later—maybe it's a difficult subject.
After a final dive under the cool water, he came back up and took a deep breath, his resolve steadying. Shaking off the questions for now, he focused on his next task—finding some fish for their meal. Holding his breath, he submerged again, moving silently as he caught fish after fish with ease.
A few minutes later, he surfaced, pulling himself onto a sunny patch of grass. The warmth dried him off as he lay back, satisfied with his catch. When he finally sat up, his eyes widened in surprise. A literal mountain of fish, nearly two meters tall, lay to his left.
"Maybe I went a little overboard…" he said to himself with a sheepish smile, realizing just how much he'd caught. "The fish here are smaller… but they're so much easier to catch."
He set to work fashioning a makeshift sled out of nearby branches and wood, using quick, precise cuts and his martial arts skills to strip and bind it all together. Once dressed, he loaded the fish onto the sled, then started his way back to the cave, his thoughts lingering on the quiet mysteries of the forest and his new friend.
When he finally reached the cave, Gohan was met with Diane's warm, beaming smile, and for a second, he felt his heart skip. Clearing his throat to shake off the sudden rush of warmth, he gestured to the mountain of fish stacked on the sled he'd crafted. "Well, here are the ingredients."
Diane's eyes widened as she took in the pile of fish. "I rarely eat fish, Gohan, but I can't wait to see what you make me!" she said, practically bouncing with anticipation.
Gohan closed his eyes with a confident nod. "I think I can whip up something special."
Diane's smile softened as she looked him over, noticing the worn state of his gi. "Hey, Gohan," she began, sounding a bit hesitant, "I'm sorry, but… do you want me to make you some new clothes?"
Gohan's gaze dropped to his tattered gi, a pang of sadness flickering as he recalled how it had been torn during his fight with Cell. This gi wasn't just any clothing—it was a gift from his master, a reminder of everything he'd learned and all the battles he'd fought.
He sighed softly. "There's no need," he said, voice quiet. "My master… he showed me a technique one time. Took me a whole week to learn it." His voice trailed off into a whisper, "Before I ended up here." Diane didn't catch the last part, but she watched him with gentle curiosity.
Taking a steadying breath, Gohan held his hand to his chest and closed his eyes, focusing on the technique Piccolo had taught him. He could still remember the long, grueling hours spent perfecting it, with Piccolo guiding him, sometimes offering a rare nod of encouragement.
Finally, he opened his eyes and, with a spark of determination, called out, "CLOTHES BEAM!" In an instant, a bright flash burst around him, filling the cave with light. As it faded, Gohan looked down and saw his outfit completely transformed—a clean white button-up shirt, loose blue pants, and polished black shoes, his casual attire from before the Cell Games.
Diane's eyes widened in delight, her mouth forming a small 'o' of surprise. "Wow, Gohan! You actually made new clothes… just like that?" She clapped her hands, her laughter bright and full of amazement, causing Gohan to blush a bit.
He scratched the back of his head, chuckling sheepishly. "Yeah, it's a technique someone taught me. Took forever to get it right since it was such a different way of using my energy, but… I figured it'd be useful." He looked down at his new outfit, feeling a sense of pride—and comfort.
Diane grinned, admiring his clean, sharp look. "Well if your cooking is as good as your magic clothes-making, I think we're in for the best meal I've ever had!"
Gohan lingered on Diane's words, "magic clothes-making." The idea made him smile. For all his training, he hadn't thought of it as magic—it was just ki, the life energy Piccolo and his dad had shown him how to harness.
He laughed, rolling up his sleeves. "Then let's get started!" He set to work, feeling energized by Diane's excitement, as they prepared for a meal that already felt special.
Meanwhile at the DBZ WORLD
Back at the Lookout, an intense quiet settled as Piccolo finished recounting what had transpired: Goku's selfless sacrifice, the brutal defeat of Cell, and finally, the heartbreaking mystery of Gohan's disappearance. Chi-Chi's sobs had quieted, though her face remained buried in Bulma's shoulder, clinging to her as if the weight of the world rested in that embrace. Bulma held her, silent tears tracing her own cheeks.
After a moment, Bulma's resolve hardened. She pulled back slightly, wiping her eyes and gathering herself. "If what Goku said is true… then Gohan really is out there, somewhere in another universe," she said, voice laced with fierce determination. She looked up at the sky, then around at the other Z Fighters, finally landing her gaze on Chi-Chi. "But don't worry, Chi-Chi. I swear, I'll find a way to bring him back."
Chi-Chi looked up, eyes bloodshot and brimming with hope. "Really? Y-you can do that?" Her voice was thick with desperation, as if she were clinging to Bulma's words as a lifeline.
Bulma's mouth quirked into a confident smile, and she raised a finger. "Oh, please! I'm THE Bulma Briefs! You think a little thing like a universe is enough to keep me from bringing your son home?"
Chi-Chi blinked, then pulled her into another hug, her cries now softer, filled with relief and gratitude. Bulma stroked her friend's back gently, allowing her a few moments to gather herself before Krillin stepped forward. He leaned in close to Bulma, whispering, "Hey… you really think this'll work? I mean, this is… a whole other universe."
Bulma whispered back with a small grin, "Well… if King Kai can tell us that Gohan's in another universe, then he probably has a way to pinpoint where. Once I have that, it's just a matter of building a machine that can cross over. Leave it to me."
Her quiet confidence brought a smile to Krillin's face, and he took a step back, looking visibly reassured. Piccolo, who had been standing slightly apart, caught every word of their exchange with his Namekian hearing. His usually stoic face softened as he looked up at the sky, his eyes warm with hope and a quiet, fierce determination. "Just hold on, Gohan," he murmured, voice low but filled with resolve. "We're coming for you… no matter where you are."
Well here it is, this chapter came out a bit shorter than the last one.
Congrats to you DammitMichael1, you got it right The time in the dbz works differently to the sds one. Its a 100x difference, if you pay attention to the time that passes, gohan spends 14 days bedriden but only 3:30 hours pass since he disappeared in the dbz world.
Next chapter will come out in 2-3 days at max.
See you then ;)