Celes materialized back in the Eastern City on Planet Cereal, the weight of her previous mission fading as she set her sights on the next objective.
The Heeter Syndicate, erased from existence.
Now, there was only one thing left to do.
Retrieve the Dragon Ball in the Southern City.
Celes extended her ki outward, searching for signatures across the planet. It didn't take long.
A dense concentration of ki flickered to the southwest, the Southern City.
She pushed off the ground, rising swiftly into the sky, her path clear.
Minutes passed as she soared, the landscape beneath her blurring by in streaks of dust and rock.
Then, the domed city came into view, standing tall against the barren terrain surrounding it.
She descended smoothly, landing just outside the massive gates leading into the city.
Without hesitation, she stepped forward, crossing into the bustling streets beyond.
The Southern City was alive, filled with movement, conversations, and the hum of daily life. But none of that mattered, her focus was set.
She moved through the crowd, keeping her presence controlled, calculated.
At the center of the city, standing among towering structures, was her destination, the research institute, the place holding the Dragon Ball.
Minutes passed as she moved through the streets, navigating past towering buildings and clusters of civilians.
Then, it finally came into view.
While not the tallest structure around, the research institute was the largest, dominating the skyline with its massive dome-shaped design.
It stood as a fortress of knowledge, a vault holding exactly what she had come for.
Celes slowed her pace, studying the facility, her sharp gaze noting every detail.
It was bustling with activity, scientists, security, workers, all moving with purpose. Getting inside unnoticed, let alone retrieving the Dragon Ball, would be far more difficult at this hour.
She needed to be patient.
Her decision was made, wait until late into the night when the institute would be near-empty, when only a handful remained.
Then, she would strike.
Hours passed, the once-busy streets now eerily quiet beneath the glow of dim streetlights.
The research institute stood unchanged, its massive dome looming against the night sky.
Celes watched from a distance, her ki suppressed, eyes locked onto the facility as she scanned for activity.
Only a handful remained, scientists, guards, late-night workers, but nothing compared to the crowds earlier.
Now was the time.
Celes pressed forward, slipping through the facility's entrance with precision.
As she walked, her ki sense expanded, sweeping through the corridors, identifying every remaining presence within the institute.
Scientists, stationed near their workstations.
Guards, patrolling the perimeter in pairs.
Late-night workers, scattered, focused on their tasks.
She analyzed their positions, their movements, where they lingered, where they rarely strayed.
Then, Rapheal's voice echoed within her mind.
"Position confirmed. Dragon Ball remains secured within Research Room 13. No unexpected shifts detected."
Celes exhaled slowly, reassured by the verification. She had already known its location, but reconfirming intel was essential.
Moving with precision, Celes maneuvered through the facility, her presence unseen, ki fully suppressed.
Minutes turned to an hour, every step calculated, every turn deliberate.
Then, she arrived.
The hallway stretched before her, lined with research rooms marked 11 through 20.
Scanning ahead, she pinpointed a lone researcher inside Room 13, the Dragon Ball resting somewhere within.
No guards. No immediate threats.
Just one civilian.
Celes moved with precision, slipping through the doorway, keeping her presence masked.
The researcher remained focused, unaware of the silent intruder weaving through the maze of equipment.
A calculated step. A slow advance.
Then, a deliberate shift of movement.
Metal scraped against metal. A faint but noticeable sound.
The researcher paused, head turning toward the disturbance.
Exactly as planned.
They started toward the noise, curiosity guiding their steps, away from the Dragon Ball.
As the researcher moved toward the disturbance, Celes slipped through the gaps, weaving between equipment, keeping her presence masked.
Each movement was precise, controlled, her body shifting effortlessly between cover.
Then, she reached it.
The Dragon Ball rested before her, its golden surface reflecting the dim glow of the lab's overhead lights.
Without hesitation, her fingers closed around it.
The researcher was still distracted, still inspecting the far side of the room, oblivious to the silent thief in their midst.
Celes wasted no time.
In a blink, she vanished, teleporting out of the city, the Dragon Ball firmly in her grasp.
Celes materialized outside the domed city, the cool night air brushing against her as she examined the Dragon Ball in her grasp.
Small, yet brimming with power.
One of two needed to awaken Toronbo.
She tightened her grip, gaze shifting toward the horizon.
With both tasks complete, Celes turned toward her next destination, soaring across the quiet expanse of Planet Cereal.
Monaito and Granolah's house awaited.
As Celes soared through the quiet expanse of Planet Cereal, Raphael's voice cut through her thoughts, the familiar tone carrying an update she had been waiting for.
"Celes," Raphael spoke with measured certainty, "both telekinesis and telepathy have been successfully acquired."
The confirmation settled over her, a subtle shift in her awareness as she processed the newfound abilities.
Continuing toward Monaito and Granolah's house, Celes reached out once more.
"Raphael," she spoke through their telepathic link, her tone calm yet firm, "Start work on acquiring shapeshifting."
Celes smirked, excitement sparking in her eyes at the possibilities.
Oh, the fun she could have with this one.
Messing with people, slipping into places unseen, even throwing opponents off in battle, the sheer mischief potential was thrilling.
"Understood," Raphael's voice echoed in her mind, calm and efficient.
"The process will take approximately five months. By then, shapeshifting will be fully integrated into your abilities."
Perfect.
Celes pressed forward, the Dragon Ball still in her grasp, her next stop Monaito and Granolah's home.
A couple minutes later, Celes arrived at the house, the familiar structure standing quiet under the night sky.
Still holding the Dragon Ball, she stepped forward, raising a fist and knocking firmly on the door.
Moments passed in silence.
Then, the door creaked open.
Granolah stood there, his gaze sharp yet curious, studying Celes before his eyes flicked to the glowing orb in her grasp.
Celes, not wasting any time, met his eyes.
"Are you ready to answer my question?"
Granolah nodded, his stance firm.
"We are."
With that, he stepped aside, motioning for her to enter.
Celes walked in, her movements steady as she moved toward the couch, settling into the seat.
The moment had arrived.
The conversation was about to begin.
Granolah stood nearby, arms crossed, his gaze shifting between Celes and Monaito.
Monaito took a seat across from Celes, his expression firm yet contemplative.
Celes leaned forward slightly, resting her forearms on her knees, her sharp gaze settling on Monaito and Granolah.
"So, what's it going to be?" she asked, her tone firm yet measured. "Are you going to sit back and do nothing, or will you step in to help guide things?"
She paused for a moment, considering the peaceful nature of the Cerealian's, Namekian's, and Sugarian's.
"I know none of them are violent by nature," she continued. "But bringing back an entire lost people... It's going to cause disruption, confusion. Even among peaceful civilizations, misunderstandings can spiral. This planet will need guidance."
Granolah exchanged a glance with Monaito, his expression thoughtful.
Monaito exhaled slowly, his arms still crossed.
"We've lived through the destruction, the loss," he murmured. "We understand the weight of it. And we also understand the opportunity in what you're offering."
Granolah's fingers curled slightly, deep in thought.
"It won't be about control," he admitted. "Only making sure the transition goes smoothly. No one wants division, not the returning Cerealian's, not the Namekian's, not the Sugarian's. But if no one steps forward to help... even peaceful people can struggle to adapt."
Monaito nodded, his expression steady.
"Then it's settled. We'll do what we can."
Granolah sighed, then gave a small nod.
"We'll help. Not as leaders, but as bridges between the old and new."
The decision was made.
The path to restoring Planet Cereal was clearer than ever.
Celes tossed the necklace the moment Granolah and Monaito confirmed their willingness to help.
It wasn't just about handing it over, it was about closing a chapter.
As soon as Granolah agreed to guide the transition between the Sugarian's, Cerealian's, and Namekian's, Celes flipped the necklace through the air, letting it land smoothly in his grasp.
A token of the past, now resting in the hands of someone shaping the future.
Granolah caught the necklace mid-air, his fingers tightening instinctively around it.
He studied it for a moment, his brow furrowing, uncertainty flickering across his expression.
"What is this?" he asked, his voice edged with curiosity and caution.
Celes met his gaze, her tone even, deliberate.
"It belonged to the killer of your mother," she said, the weight of her words settling between them. "And now? He's dead."
Silence hung in the air.
Granolah's fingers tightened around the necklace, his expression shifting, not with anger, but something quieter, deeper.
Then, without hesitation, he closed his fist, the metal snapping beneath the pressure, the last trace of Elec reduced to nothing.
A slow exhale followed, as if something long left unspoken had finally settled.
"Thank you," Granolah murmured, his voice steady, his past no longer dictating his future.
Celes watched him for a moment, then turned to Monaito, holding out the Dragon Ball.
"Are you ready?" she asked.
Monaito pulled the second Dragon Ball from his neck, its surface catching the faint light as he studied them both.
Silence. A brief pause.
Then, with a deep breath, he nodded.
With that, the three stepped outside, the night air cool, the planet beneath them brimming with something new.
The summoning was about to begin.
(Words: 1648)