looking around. "Where is this device?"
<br />
"He is standing at the door to the space of spirit and time," replied Dende in astonishment. "But why...?"
<br />
"Please, God Dende, let me try. I mean, I like Tenshinhan a lot, and we went out of our way to find the Dragonballs just so I can tell him something important."<br />
Dende looked doubtfully at Lunch.
<br />
"Yes, she's right," C17 interfered. "She has loved the guy for years. Now she's a new person and finally wants to tell him. There is a lot more power in her than you can see at first glance. She could make the miracle come true."
<br />
"Well, if that's what C18's brother says," smiled Dende and nodded, "then let's try it."
<br />
He and Popo led lunch and C17 through the corridors and down winding stairs deeper and deeper into the incredibly spacious palace.
<br />
After about ten minutes, Lunch was about to ask how far it was when Dende stopped. "It's over there," he said, pointing to a door in front of which a strange device was set up. It was an elongated box made of solid metal with noticeably thick walls and bottom. Its shape was reminiscent of a coffin. Countless pinhead-sized crystals glittered on the inside.A spherical crystal the size of an apple hovered over the broader head of the box.
<br />
"So, according to our calculations, it should work in such a way that the small crystals capture the emotional and auric energy and transmit it to the large crystal, which then sends the collected energy to the door, which opens it again."
<br />
"And that's not dangerous for anyone lying in there?" Asked C17 suspiciously.
<br />
"Unfortunately not," Dende had to admit. "If the large crystal turns blue, the energy is sufficient and is given off, otherwise it is sent back. In the second case, you are just a little tired and bruised." He scratched his tentacles. "In the former case, however, the loss of energy may also cause the donor's vitality to decline and some of his organs to fail. But in this case I am on the spot and can reverse this damage through my healing powers."
<br />
"Then I want to do it right now!"Lunch climbed into the coffin and looked at Dende invitingly. The young god nodded and bent down to press a well-hidden switch at the head of the coffin. A low humming could be heard and red lights flared around the coffin.
<br />
"Good. Now concentrate on Tenshinhan and your feelings for him. If the displays all turn green, there is enough energy to try, otherwise we will abort."
<br />
C17 had taken a few steps back so as not to be in the way. Deep down, he wished it couldn't work. But at the same time, he painfully knew how much Lunch's heart was attached to it. She would be devastated if, of all things, her long-cherished feelings for Tenshinhan were not strong enough to open the door.
<br />
Lunch closed her eyes and reviewed all of her experiences with Tenshinhan. His silence, his inner calm and his strength, her self-discipline and above all his modesty, all the things she admired about him came back to her.His deep friendship with Chaozu, his patience and the selflessness with which he threw himself into the breach for his friends, had always given them hope that one day they too could occupy a special place in his heart ... He didn't drool on every woman's skirt like Muten Roshi or Yamcha and he did not suffer from an inferiority complex like Krilin, he was serious and a little shy and ... above all, he had a not entirely pure past with the tricks that he and Chaozu had pulled off earlier forgot that he had been in the service of the Lord of the Cranes ... So she had hoped that he understood her way of life and did not take her back ... His smile was always open and heartfelt, how wonderful it would be, if it were for her once and only for her ...
<br />
Dende watched one red light turn green one after the other. "You were right 17, she has really deep feelings for Tenshinhan.It could be enough. "
<br />
C17 only nodded briefly because he was still not at peace with himself. It was really fun to be around with her. She was wild and didn't look at him sideways, even though he was a criminal. With someone like you at his side, his life in the forest hut would be even more varied. She would turn the crookedest things with him and since she was also the gentle lunch, they would run the household together ... He didn't want to see how she threw Tenshinhan around the neck, didn't want to congratulate her and Tenshinhan and wish her all the best while his insides contracted in pain.
<br />
Still, she deserved the happiness that she could only find together with Tenshinhan, the happiness that her heart longed for and so he would just bite the bullet and let her go ...
<br />
Lunch had no idea what was going on in C17, because all her feelings and thoughts were focused on Tenshinhan. She relived the excitement at his tournament fights, the luck when she moved in with him without him being able to defend himself against it, the pain when he simply disappeared and left her with no explanation ...<br />
The last light changed from red to green.
<br />
"Done!", Dende pressed another button and stepped back. “Now it's getting serious.” The sound of his voice was still hanging in the room, flashes of light flashed up from the many, many crystals. The great crystal first turned yellow, then green, then red, and finally a brilliant blue.
<br />
"And the last step!", Dende flipped a blue switch down and the collected energy shot towards the door as a blue beam. This trembled under the pressure, first became cherry red and then also blue and in its center a dark vortex formed, which grew bigger and bigger and finally released a gap in the space / time structure, through which one can access the marble steps of the space of time and mind could see.
<br />
Dende had long since leaned over the coffin and the heavily breathing lunch, whose fluttering heartbeat made people fear the worst, received through his hands the healing power that compensated for the loss of vitality.<br />
"Did I make it?" Was her first question as soon as she had the strength to speak again.
<br />
“Yes, look here!” C17 put his arm around her shoulders and helped her to sit up. "There is your ticket to happiness."
<br />
"You have to hurry up," said Dende and wiped the sweat from his forehead, because the heat that was there at the moment came through the gap. "The gap will last for a quarter of an hour at the most. By then you must have returned with the two of them."
<br />
"Got it!", Lunch struggled to his feet and climbed out of the coffin. “I'm already on my way.” That wasn't easy, especially since her knees were still so wobbly. C17 supported her and helped her up to the gaps. "Be careful not to hurt yourself!" He said and let go of her shoulders.
<br />
"I will," she replied. "Thanks for everything. You're a damn good accomplice!", She winked at him, leaned over and kissed his cheek before stepping through the gap."Wish me luck!"
<br />
C17 swallowed. "All the best", and very quietly so that no one could hear, he added, "my lunch!".
<br />
Through the gap he could see that she was standing on the stairs of the room and looking around. She formed a mouthpiece with her hands and shouted something at the top of her throat. Since there was no sound coming from the other side, he couldn't hear if someone was answering her, but the way she was starting to shine all over her face, it was clear enough for him. He put his hands in his pockets and clenched them into fists. With a jerk he turned his back on the scene and turned to Dende. "I'll wait until the three of them are back, then I'll fly home. Do you have a good ticket with you? I've never been to your palace and I don't want to fly in the wrong direction."
<br />
....
<br />
"Tenshinhan!", Lunch's heart was beating faster than ever when she saw his figure step out of the room.
<br />
"Well, who are you?", Tenshinhan asked astonished."And how did you get here?"
<br />
"It's me, lunch!" She laughed and stepped closer. Yes, he had aged, she could see that clearly. He even had a few wrinkles around his eyes and a thinker's crease on his forehead. He was still bald and as sleek as he moved he might have gotten stronger.
<br />
“Lunch?” That was Chaozu's voice. The little one who would never grow up still had the red cheeks and big eyes of a child. His voice was still bright too. "You're never lunch in your life."
<br />
"Yes, I've just changed a bit, thanks to the Dragon Balls."
<br />
In short words she described how she got here and what she had wanted from the Dragonballs. "And", she turned in a circle so that her long locks flew, "how do you like my new body, Tenshinhan? Am I beautiful?"
<br />
Tenshinhan looked at her, blushed a little, and nodded. "That ... you have ... always been."<br />
Lunch's heart cheered. Finally, finally, she could tell him. "Tenshinhan", she cleared her throat and stepped up to him at arm's length. "Tenshinhan, I ... I've loved you for a very, very long time."
<br />
Her eyes searched his, searching for an answer. But she read no joy in it, no warmth that went beyond sympathy. Since she still couldn't believe it, couldn't believe it, she wrapped his arms and neck and kissed him with all the fire that was in her heart.
<br />
His lips were cool and hers couldn't warm her. He gently grabbed her arms and loosened them. As he moved away, a sharp pain ran through her soul. “I'm sorry.” His voice sounded like it came from far, far away through a wall of cotton wool to her ear. "I cannot reciprocate your feelings, Lunch. You are beautiful and I am very honored, but ... but I am a monk in my heart and I will never take it off. Not for you, and not for any woman."<br />
"Don't worry!", Chaozu Lunch tried to cheer up. "That's just how Tenshinhan is."
<br />
He and Tenshinhan exchanged a look and a warm smile