Chapter 8: The Great Pilaf Heist & The Dragon's Gift
Year 749 (DB Calendar) — Emperor Pilaf's Castle
The journey across the globe had been a wild ride for the trio. Between Goku's absurd ape-like strength, Bulma's fiery temper, and Tony Brief testing his Mark VI suit against rogue martial artists and Red Ribbon scouts, they had successfully gathered six of the seven mystical spheres.
Until Emperor Pilaf tricked them.
Deep inside Pilaf's dark, gothic castle, Goku, Bulma, Tony, Yamcha, and Oolong found themselves trapped inside a high-grade, energy-shielded steel cage.
"Mwahahaha!" Pilaf's tiny voice echoed through the intercom as the ceiling opened up to reveal the night sky. "You fools! The seven Dragon Balls are finally assembled!"
Outside on the stone dais, all seven Dragon Balls began to glow with an intense, pulsing orange light.
"Hey, Tony!" Bulma yelled, rattling the bars. "Can't you just blast us out with your Mark suit?!"
Tony, sitting calmly in the corner with his hands behind his head, sighed. "Cousin, this cage is lined with density-absorbing titanium alloys. I could blow it up, but the kinetic feedback would turn us all into strawberry jam."
"Then we're doomed!" Oolong squealed. "He's gonna wish to rule the world!"
Outside, Pilaf threw his arms into the sky, his eyes gleaming with mad ambition.
"COME FORTH, SHENRON! AND GRANT MY WISH!"
The sky darkened to pitch-black as violent storm clouds gathered overhead. Golden lightning tore through the heavens, and with a thunderous roar that shook the entire continent, the massive, majestic body of Shenron the Eternal Dragon burst forth from the glowing spheres, towering over the castle.
"I AM THE ETERNAL DRAGON," Shenron's booming voice reverberated through the air, his glowing red eyes looking down on the tiny emperor. "STATE YOUR WISH, AND IT SHALL BE GRANTED."
Pilaf was drooling with excitement, puffing out his tiny chest. "I WISH TO BE THE—"
POOF!
Before Pilaf could finish his sentence, a cloud of soft white smoke materialized directly on top of the Dragon Balls.
Out stepped a ridiculously fat, fluffy orange cat wearing a sleek black bowtie.
Pilaf blinked. "W-What?! A cat?! Where did a fat cat come from?!"
The cat slowly stretched its legs, yawned, and then—in a flash of blinding light—transformed into a handsome, well-dressed man in a dark suit with a red cloak draped over his shoulders.
Ron.
"Hey there, giant green snake," Ron said casually, waving a hand at the multi-story mythical dragon like he was greeting a neighbor. "Sorry to interrupt the villain monologuing, but I'm placing an emergency order."
Inside the cage, Tony's eyes widened, a massive grin spreading across his face. "Dad?!"
"Wait, THAT'S YOUR DAD?!" Bulma shrieked.
Pilaf went pale, pointing a shaking finger. "GUARDS! SEIZE HIM! DON'T LET HIM TALK TO THE DRAGON!"
Ron didn't even look at Pilaf. He simply released a tiny, fraction-of-a-percent pulse of Conqueror's Haki.
FOOM!
The invisible wave of mental pressure flattened Pilaf, Mai, and Shu instantly, knocking them cold before they even hit the stone floor.
Shenron stared down at Ron, his red eyes flickering as his ancient dragon instincts sensed the vast, terrifying cocktail of energies dwelling inside the man—Shanks' Haki, Frankenstein's dark aura, Kayden's divine lightning, and Pluton's gravitational force.
"...SPEAK YOUR WISH, MORTAL," Shenron boomed, notably much more polite than usual.
Ron smiled warmly, thinking back to his cozy home in West City, to Hazel baking in the kitchen, and to young Tony and Bulma playing in the yard.
"I wish for my family—my wife Hazel, my son Tony, Bulma, and my extended family—to be blessed with ultimate health. Let them never fall ill, never suffer from any disease, and always live full, happy lives."
Shenron's red eyes glowed intensely.
"A NOBLE AND SIMPLE REQUEST. YOUR WISH HAS BEEN GRANTED."
A warm, gentle golden light washed over the entire area. Inside the cage, Bulma and Tony felt a subtle, refreshing wave of energy ripple through their bodies—a permanent, divine immunity bestowed by the Dragon itself.
"FAREWELL."
With a final roar, Shenron dissolved into seven golden beams of light. The Dragon Balls launched into the high atmosphere, scattering across the Earth to turn back into ordinary stone for the next year.
Aftermath: A Smooth Ride Home
With the wish granted, Ron casually walked over to the reinforced titanium cage. He raised two fingers, coating his hand in a subtle blade of Kayden's lightning-infused Ki, and sliced through the impenetrable steel bars like butter.
SLICE!
The massive cage door fell flat, freeing the group.
"Dad!" Tony chuckled, hopping out and shaking Ron's hand. "Talk about theatrical timing. You couldn't have showed up five minutes earlier before I got locked in a box?"
"Where's the fun in that?" Ron grinned, ruffling Tony's hair. "Besides, your mom would've killed me if I let you guys miss dinner."
Bulma ran up, hugging Ron's arm. "Uncle Ron! You saved us! But... wait, you used the wish for our health?! What about my handsome boyfriend?!"
"Bulma, sweetie," Ron chuckled, tapping her forehead gently. "You're sixteen and built like a supermodel with a billion-dollar inheritance. Trust me, you'll find plenty of boyfriends. Staying healthy forever? That's the real win."
Bulma pouted for a second, then smiled warmly. "I guess you're right. Thanks, Uncle Ron."
Goku walked up, tilting his head as he stared at Ron with his arms crossed. The young Saiyan's tail twitched excitedly—his warrior instincts telling him that the funny man in the suit was stronger than anyone he had ever met.
"Whoa... mister, you're crazy strong!" Goku grinned, his eyes sparkling. "Can we fight sometime?!"
Ron looked down at the future hero of the universe, a mischievous smirk touching his lips as he stroked his chin in his fat cat transformation posture.
"Maybe when you're a little bigger, kiddo," Ron laughed, snapping his fingers. "Now, who wants a ride back to West City in a Capsule jet? My treat!"
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