"Let's see what we have here," Alex said as he threw the capsule in front of him. Just as Pilaf had said, a box appeared.
"Hey, Alex! C'mon, open the box! I can't wait anymore!" Mellon said, hurrying as she could barely contain her excitement.
"Alright, alright. Don't get so excited," Alex said as he opened the box in front of him. Inside were three Dragon Balls and a Dragon Radar.
"Is that all? Can I have my wish now?" Mellon asked, taking the Dragon Balls in her hands.
"No, we still need three more to summon Shenron. Now, give me those," Alex said as he took the Dragon Balls from her, put them back in the box, and turned it back into a Hoi-Poi Capsule. Then he took out the radar and checked for the rest of the Dragon Balls.
"Hmm… these places don't seem too far. We'll probably get them in a few weeks," Alex said as he pocketed both the radar and the capsule before they set off on their search.
"So, what is it that you want to wish for?" Alex asked, curious, since she seemed so excited about it.
"Well… I can't seem to decide. I just want so many things! Imagine having some kind of weapon that makes you invincible! Or becoming the ruler of Earth! I'd keep you as my bodyguard, of course!" Mellon started blabbering about different wishes, while Alex, on the other hand, was developing a headache.
"Forget I ever asked," he sighed.
Weeks Later
After weeks of searching, Alex and Mellon had finally found all seven Dragon Balls.
"Hey, Alex, I've been thinking… can these Dragon Balls really grant any wish?" Mellon asked in a serious tone.
"Of course. Haven't I told you? As long as it's within Shenron's limits, he can grant anything," Alex said, intrigued. He had never seen her this serious before. He stepped closer to her, looked her in the eyes, and said, "Is something bothering you, Mellon? You can tell me. You know I'll be there for you."
"No, it's just… I've been thinking about what I want, and… I know exactly what it is. Alex, I know you might also have something you want, but… c-can I have this wish, please?" Mellon asked, lowering her head.
"Hmm… let me think…" Alex said, pretending to consider it. Then, with a smirk, he lifted her chin, got closer, and whispered, "It won't be for free."
Mellon blushed furiously, her heart skipping a beat. Just as she thought he was going to kiss her, he suddenly backed off.
"Here," Alex said, presenting her with the Dragon Balls.
"Y-Y-You… I thought… I thought I was gonna have a heart attack!" Mellon stammered, taking deep breaths.
"I was just kidding, Mellon. I trust you enough to know you won't use the Dragon Balls for something bad," Alex said with a smile. Then he placed the Dragon Balls in front of them and shouted,
"Eternal Dragon! By your name, I summon you forth—Shenron!"
The sky turned pitch black, and the Dragon Balls began to glow. Soon, Shenron emerged, towering over them as his body coiled through the sky.
"SPEAK YOUR WISH… FOR I SHALL GRANT ANY SINGLE WISH..."
Mellon stood in awe. She had never seen anything like this before. Alex stepped beside her, reassuring her, "Go on, Mellon. It's time for your wish."
"Can I really?" Mellon asked, looking at Alex, who nodded. She then stepped forward, took a deep breath, and shouted,
"BRING BACK MY FATHER TO LIFE!"
Shenron's eyes glowed, and suddenly, a person appeared, falling to the ground. It was a healthy middle-aged man with a mustache.
"DAD!" Mellon shouted as she ran toward him and helped him up.
"YOUR WISH HAS BEEN GRANTED."
With those words, Shenron disappeared, and the Dragon Balls turned into stones, floating into the air. Before they could disperse, Alex jumped up, caught them, and put them back inside the box before turning it back into a capsule and pocketing it.
Alex then turned to Mellon and her father. They were already chatting happily. For a moment, he felt a pang of jealousy and realized just how lonely he had been without a family. Still, he walked toward them.
"Dad, look! It's Alex! He's the one who helped bring you back!" Mellon said, linking her arm with Alex's.
"Hello there, young man. My name is Kanta Curbits. It's nice to meet you, son," the middle-aged man said, then sighed. "I've been neglecting my family all this time because I couldn't see past my career. And now… because of you, I've been given a second chance. I'll make sure to give my family the attention they deserve."
"Alex, I… I've decided. I'm going back home with Dad. I want to spend some time with my family," Mellon said as she looked into his eyes.
"But I… sigh… I understand, Mellon. It's your choice," Alex said as he looked down. But then, he lifted his head.
"Why are you making that face, silly? I'm not going away permanently! When you're done with your training, come and get me, okay?" Mellon said with a smile.
"Alright, I will. Just wait for me," Alex said, smiling back.
Mellon then handed him the capsule house.
"Here, I want you to have it," she said.
"Huh? What about you guys? Won't you need it more than me to get back home?" Alex asked, puzzled.
"Well, we would have needed it if we were walking, but… I've got this!" Mellon said as she pulled out a capsule case, took out a capsule, and threw it in front of her. It transformed into an airplane.
"Where did you even get that?! Last time I checked, you didn't have any capsules!" Alex asked, shocked.
"I bought it when we went to town after leaving the desert."
"But then why didn't you use it? I mean, it's not like I needed it. You could've used those vehicles," Alex said, trying to make sense of it.
"Because… I was embarrassed, okay?! Seeing you train so hard, I couldn't just sit in a vehicle doing nothing!"
"Mellon, let's go! I'll be inside the plane," Kanta said as he walked into the aircraft.
"Look, Mellon, it'll take some time, but I promise I'll—" Before Alex could finish his sentence, Mellon tiptoed and kissed him. Then she quickly ran toward the plane, turning back to shout,
"I'LL BE WAITING!"
Alex stood there, dazed, as if it had all been a dream.
Then, as the plane floated into the air and took off, someone suddenly landed behind him.
"Oh, man… it seems I'm a bit too late."
---
Power Levels:
Alex: 170
Mellon: 5
Kanta:6