Standing at the outskirts of the city, Celes let her gaze wander across the distant horizon, lost in thought.
She had gained much in her time here, refined her abilities, unlocked new knowledge, and absorbed everything the Yardrats had to offer. Yet, her path forward was still undefined.
She needed a destination. A purpose.
Her mind drifted, weighing possibilities until the answer became clear.
Planet Cereal.
Few places in the universe offered such a wealth of untapped potential, and Celes knew exactly what she could gain there.
The Sugarian's advanced technology would provide further insights into engineering and infrastructure, expanding what she had already learned from Yardrat.
The Cerealian's possessed enhanced eyesight, a potential upgrade that could sharpen her visual perception to unparalleled levels. More importantly, their extended lifespan, combined with the Namekian's, would push her longevity to nearly 300 years.
But what truly piqued her interest, what made her pulse quicken, was the Namekian presence.
Beyond their superior healing and regenerative abilities, beyond their refined telekinetic control, they held something far more valuable.
Magic.
And not just any magic, Materialization magic, the ability to create and shape objects from pure energy.
With enough mastery, she could form clothing, weapons, tools, and even the legendary Dragon Balls themselves.
But its true potential extended far beyond simple constructs.
Once she reached the level of a God of Destruction, she believed she would be able to wield Materialization magic in ways far beyond simple constructs.
At that point, if her theory was correct, she could potentially reshape entire dimensions, forge planets from pure energy, and establish celestial bodies purely through her mastery of creation.
It wasn't a certainty, not yet, but the possibility was thrilling.
If she could truly push Materialization magic to its limits, it could become something far greater than what it was now.
It wasn't just a skill, it was creation in its purest form, a power that could bend reality to her will.
Then there was the dormant potential ability.
The Namekian's possessed the knowledge to unlock hidden reserves of power, and if she could learn it, she could help Goku tap into his true strength much earlier in his journey.
Her lips curled into a small smile, excitement flickering in her chest.
This wasn't just another stop in her journey.
Planet Cereal was an opportunity to evolve, to reach beyond the limits of what she had known, to claim abilities that would reshape her future.
And the more she thought about it, the clearer her decision became.
With resolve settling in, she turned her attention toward the stars, ready to begin the next chapter of her journey.
Planet Cereal was her next destination.
With resolve settling in, Celes took a breath, steadying herself.
She had made her decision. Now, it was time to act.
Focusing her energy, she reached out across the vast expanse of space, locking onto a distant signal.
The air around her shifted, bending to her will as her Ki wrapped around her form, ready to propel her forward.
And then, she vanished.
The stars twisted, folding in on themselves before reassembling into a new landscape below.
Planet Cereal.
She had arrived.
Celes stepped forward, the crunch of dirt beneath her boots breaking the quiet stillness around her.
The twin suns loomed overhead, casting their golden light across the vast plains. Though the land was open and wide, something felt... off.
She scanned the terrain, taking in the mixture of reddish-brown soil and scattered patches of deep purple forests, their twisting branches stretching toward the sky like grasping fingers.
Despite the quiet beauty, she could sense the weight of history pressing down on this planet, a world that had been reshaped, not by time, but by conflict.
Her gaze drifted upward.
And there it was, the fractured remains of the moon, suspended like a shattered relic in the atmosphere, its jagged ring of debris casting faint shadows against the sky.
A scar. A reminder.
The Frieza Force had attacked without mercy, their Saiyan warriors transforming into Great Apes, overwhelming the Cerealians in sheer power and numbers.
In a desperate act, Flayk had destroyed the planet's moon, stripping the Saiyan's of their transformation and cutting their rampage short.
Yet, even with the advantage gone, the damage had already been done.
The battle may have ended a decade ago, but the remnants hadn't faded, only adapted, much like the world below.
Near the horizon, towering domed cities glowed with artificial light, their sleek structures humming faintly with energy. The Sugarians thrived in their sanctuary, oblivious to the planet's true history.
Celes exhaled slowly, shifting her focus.
She hadn't come for the past, she had come for what remained.
The Sugarians' technology, the Cerealian's enhanced sight, and the Namekian's magic and abilities, all of it had value.
And now, it was hers to claim.
Celes closed her eyes, reaching deep within herself, allowing her senses to stretch across the planet. She focused on the natural flow of ki, seeking out the signature energy of the Cerealian and the Namekian.
Nothing.
She sharpened her focus, straining to detect even the faintest trace. Yet, it was as if their presence had vanished entirely.
They were hiding it.
Her brow furrowed slightly. That meant they were cautious, careful enough to suppress their energy to the point of near invisibility. Tracking them through ki alone wouldn't work. She needed another method.
Celes opened her eyes, her gaze shifting toward the nearest domed city glowing beneath the twin suns.
If she couldn't sense them directly, she could gather information.
The Sugarians had built this sanctuary, unaware of the planet's history. But their technology, their archives, their sensors, their records, could hold the clues she needed.
With her path set, she strode forward, stepping toward the dome's towering entrance.
Celes stepped into the domed city, the shift from open plains to the structured environment immediate.
The towering buildings pulsed with energy, their sleek designs humming with efficiency. This place was advanced, modernized and thriving, a testament to the Sugarians' ingenuity.
But she wasn't here to admire their work.
The moment she entered, she sent a silent signal to Raphael.
Her longtime partner, bound to her through an intricate connection, wasted no time.
Within the depths of her mind, her mental library stirred.
One by one, books began to appear on the endless shelves, their covers forming as knowledge from the Sugarians' networks was siphoned in.
Technological archives. System schematics. Infrastructure details. Everything stored in their vast digital databases now materialized, waiting to be read and deciphered.
But that wasn't all.
Raphael was also searching for records on the Dragon Balls, the Namekian, and the Cerealian, sifting through layers of historical data, security protocols, and buried research.
After a moment, his voice echoed in her thoughts.
"Access established. Their security is layered but straightforward. Extracting everything—completely and without gaps—will take one week."
Celes remained still for a moment, letting Raphael's words settle in her mind as the weight of incoming knowledge filled her mental library. The shelves expanded, volumes appearing one after another—containing the Sugarians' technological secrets, whispers of the Dragon Balls, and any trace of information on the Cerealian and the Namekian.
It would take time—one week for everything to be fully extracted—but patience was something she had in abundance.
Her focus shifted, grounding herself back into the present.
Without hesitation, Celes strode forward, stepping deeper into the city.
As she moved through the bustling streets, she couldn't help but notice the stark contrast. Among the small-statured Sugarians, she felt like a towering figure, her presence unmistakable amidst the sea of compact, pink-skinned beings.
She ignored the subtle glances, the flickers of curiosity and unease from those who momentarily looked up before quickly averting their eyes.
She continued forward, adjusting to the rhythm of the city, weaving through the steady flow of small-statured Sugarians. Their quick, efficient movements barely slowed as they passed her, their attention flickering toward her towering form only to shift away just as quickly.
She ignored the fleeting glances, more focused on the task at hand.
Her search had led her to several Sugarians, each conversation yielding mixed responses. Some outright denied seeing anyone fitting her description, others paused as if trying to recall half-forgotten details, and a few mentioned figures they had spotted in passing—but their accounts were inconsistent at best.
Then, finally, she found one.
A Sugarian who, upon hearing her question, paused for a moment, their fish-like fins twitching slightly in thought.
Celes watched as the small figure considered her words, their gaze flicking up to meet hers with measured curiosity.
"Excuse me," she said, keeping her tone measured but firm. "I'm looking for someone. Have you heard any mention of a tall, green-haired humanoid? Or maybe a tall, green-skinned one?"
The Sugarian hesitated for a moment, their eyes flicking up to meet hers.
Celes watched closely, her patience unwavering.
Celes towered over the Sugarian, watching as their fish-like fins twitched slightly in response to her question.
For a moment, the small figure hesitated, their pink-skinned fingers tightening at their sides.
"A tall, green-skinned humanoid?" they repeated, shaking their head slightly. "No, I've never seen anyone like that."
There was no uncertainty in their voice, just a simple truth.
Celes let that answer settle. The Namekian was staying hidden.
But then, the Sugarian's expression shifted as if recalling something.
"Green-haired, though... yes, I've heard of someone like that."
Celes watched closely, waiting for them to continue.
"They stand out," the Sugarian said, their fins twitching slightly as they thought. "We don't get many outsiders here. Just... some traders. They were the ones who sold this planet to us, and they still live in the city to the east."
There was a pause, their gaze drifting slightly before they continued.
"And then, there's the green-haired person you're asking about."
So, the Cerealian wasn't entirely unknown.
"Where have you seen them?"
The Sugarian glanced north, their fins flicking again.
"Not here. But sometimes, they appear in the city further up, beyond this one."
That was enough.
The Namekian might be impossible to track directly, but the Cerealian had a presence.
And now, Celes knew exactly where to start looking.
Celes gave a small nod, acknowledging the information.
"Thanks for your help," she said simply before turning away.
She moved with purpose, retracing her steps through the city's structured pathways.
Despite her towering presence, the Sugarians barely paid her any attention now—too absorbed in their routines to linger on an outsider passing through.
Minutes ticked by as she made her way toward the city's exit, the towering dome behind her gradually shrinking with each step.
Then, at last, she reached the outskirts.
Without hesitation, she lifted off the ground, energy surging around her as she took to the skies.
She angled north, her focus sharp.
She had a destination.
And soon, she would have answers.
(Words: 1837)