Pan can't join the Team

Really, Bulma?" Krillin gulps.

"Yes, we just have to find the Dragon Balls," she smirks.

"But the Supreme Kais took them. They said we weren't getting them back," Goku reminds her.

"I don't mean those," Bulma frowns, placing her hands on her hips.

"You mean the Black Star Dragon Balls, don't you?" Piccolo says, and they all gasp.

"Yes, those are the ones we have to find before they cause the doomsday," Bulma asserts.

"How do you plan to do that? They could be anywhere in the galaxy," Master Roshi quizzes her.

"It is our only shot: We have to find those Dragon Balls, get them to King Kai so they can be sealed away for good," Bulma asserts.

"Yeah, but how?" Krillin asks.

"I'll search for them," Trunks volunteers.

"Whoa, what?" Bulla says.

"I can't sit around if there's a way to stop this destruction," Trunks says.

"Sure but..."

"I'll be alright. Mom will help me with a shuttle that can handle Galactic travel," he says.

"Yeah, I'll help," Bulma smiles.

"And Goku should go with you, Trunks," Piccolo suggests, "He can use instant transmission, so if you guys are in a bind, you'll just retreat safely."

"Yeah," Trunks says; "I'm in," Goku smiles.

"In that case, Bulla, you should go with them," Vegeta says, folding his arms although his eyes are closed.

"Really... I can go?" she asks; "You are an engineer and have been helping Bulma with these astrophysics projects for years, you're more than qualified," Vegeta says.

"Heh, you are right father: I can do this!," she pridefully smiles.

"Wait, are you sure? She'd be safer here, right? She doesn't need to put herself in danger," Trunks rebuts.

"Oh, yeah? And do you know how the galaxy actually works? How to navigate in dark space, huh?" Bulla quickly chides, "I'm better at all that, so you need my help."

"Ah... but," Trunks mutters.

"Don't worry about anything Trunks, I'll just be steering us away from dangerous situations in flight," she assures him.

"Then, we have our team for this mission," Piccolo says.

"Better get to work on that shuttle then," Bulma calls on Bulla to help her out with it.

"Hey Goten, you wanna help us test the shuttle?" Trunks invites his best friend.

"Yeah, just like old times!" he agrees.

"I'll help out too," Maron volunteers, "you don't mind, right Goten? Trunks?"

"Actually, two strong boys is all we need," Bulla interjects with a big grin on her face, "Plenty. Thank you, though. Bye b--"

"I don't see a problem, sure you can come too," Trunks invites Maron.

Bulla glares at him (Trunks!!! she yells angrily internally), but he dismisses her with a smile.

"This way, Maron, Goten," he leads them to the changing room.

"Alright, Piccolo I'm heading home now. Don't wanna keep Pan waiting too long," Goku says.

"Right, I'll head to the lookout."

As they take off, Gohan and Videl join Goku to see how Chichi's doing as P.

"See grandma, everything's alright. mom, dad and grandpa are all coming home," Pan says.

"Pan, we're home," Goku calls out as they enter the living room.

"Grandpa," she runs over to him, "and mom and dad, you're all here," she smiles.

"Hi, Pan" Gohan says, "Is mom still asleep?"

"Uh huh, she seems to have calmed down, and she's not sweating anymore," she smiles.

"That's good to hear," Videl sighs.

"So Grandpa, what happened at the party? It was fun, huh?"

"Well..." Goku rubs the side of his face with his index finger, "a lot went down."

"Huh?"

As Gohan explained everything they learned about how Goku was turned into a child through a wish using the Black Star Dragon Balls and how Trunks, Bulla and Goku were chosen to find them spread throughout the whole galaxy, while Videl prepared a meal for everyone in the kitchen, Pan was getting excited, imagining a high stakes adventure in space to save the galaxy and impress on her loved ones how strong and important she is.

"Whoa... all that happened?"

"Yep," Goku confirms to her.

"Hmm, then..." Pan says, "I want to go too," as she bangs the table, with excitement in her eyes.

"Ah!" Gohan gasps realising he's stoked her excitable imagination, "you can't... it's dangerous, Pan."

"Yeah, sweetie you should stay here... plus, school is resuming soon, you need to focus on academics too little missy," Videl walks into the living room, placing the plates on the table as the aroma from the meal she's preparing disperses throughout the house.

"Oh come on mom, we're on summer break! Plus, the more people who search for those Dragon Balls, the quicker we get home!"

"Pan, you..." Gohan says, "you have to stay here, where it's safe."

"But dad..." she starts to get disappointed, if she doesn't change their minds, she'll not join the epic Galactic adventure, "there's nothing to worry about, Grandpa and Trunks won't let anything bad happen, right Grandpa?"

"Uhh..." Goku realises she's stoked for the adventure, but he doesn't indulge, "Your parents are right Pan, this could be really dangerous, even for us," Goku says.

"But?" Pan pouts, disappointment turns to sorrow.

"Look, it's safer here," Gohan tells her.

"Dad, I... But... Grandpa?", she frowns:

I want to go an epic, important adventure.

Pan, frowning and upset with her parents and grandpa, disappointed that they are forbidding her from joining the team, leaves the house:

"I need some air," her tone is unusually serious before taking off.

Why can't I go?

Bulla's no older than me, but she gets to go!

I want...

"I want to show them that I'm strong too!"

Pan's sour mood grows, but the cool breeze and the wind wash all over her face as she soars through the sky calming her down.

She heads over to Capsule Corp to see her uncle Goten and Bulla, her peer who is allowed to go.