Chapter 15: The Final Chase

As Goku, Bulma, and Oolong sped toward the location of the final Dragon Ball, the mood was tense yet hopeful. They were so close to completing their quest, and each had their own reasons for wanting to gather all the Dragon Balls. For Goku, it was a journey of discovery; for Bulma, it was a chance to wish for her ideal boyfriend; and for Oolong, it was about survival.

The desert landscape zipped by as Bulma drove, her car roaring with effort as it navigated the uneven terrain. The final Dragon Ball was within their grasp, and they were determined to reach it before anyone else could interfere.

But just as they neared their destination, a shadow loomed overhead. Before they could react, a rocket whistled through the air and struck the ground in front of them. The explosion sent sand flying everywhere, forcing Bulma to slam on the brakes. The car skidded to a halt, and they all looked up to see a large battle robot descending from the sky, its metal frame glinting ominously in the sunlight.

The robot landed with a heavy thud, and before they could react, Shu jumped down and sprinted toward their car. With surprising agility for someone piloting such a massive machine, he grabbed Bulma's suitcase, which contained most of the Dragon Balls they had collected, except for the Four-Star Ball, which Goku had kept safe.

"Stop right there!" Bulma yelled as she jumped out of the car.

Shu smirked, holding the suitcase tightly. "My name is Shu, one of Emperor Pilaf's loyal servants. You should know, my boss has big plans for these Dragon Balls. He's going to use them to rule the world!"

Bulma's eyes widened in shock. "What? Rule the world?"

Shu grinned as he took a step back, ready to make his escape. "That's right! And there's nothing you can do to stop us!"

But Goku, who had been silently observing the situation, stepped forward calmly. "Let him go," he said, much to Bulma and Oolong's surprise.

"What do you mean, 'let him go'?" Bulma demanded, turning to Goku. "He's got almost all of our Dragon Balls! We need those!"

Goku smiled confidently. "It's okay. If we let him go, he'll lead us right to Pilaf's base, where the last Dragon Ball is. We can get them all in one go."

Bulma blinked, trying to process Goku's plan. "So, we just... follow him?"

Goku nodded. "Exactly. We'll let him think he's won. Then, when we get to Pilaf's base, we'll take back the Dragon Balls and get the last one too."

Oolong, though still a bit confused, trusted Goku's instincts. "Well, I guess that makes sense... as long as we don't lose him."

With that, Goku quickly picked up Bulma and Oolong, effortlessly carrying them in his arms. "Don't worry. I've got this."

Without another word, Goku launched into the air, following Shu's escape plane from a distance. Shu, still smug from his apparent victory, didn't notice Goku flying high above, keeping him within sight.

As they flew, Bulma's mind raced. "Goku, are you sure this is going to work? What if Pilaf manages to use the Dragon Balls before we get there?"

Goku shook his head. "He won't. I still have the Four-Star Ball with me, so Pilaf can't make his wish. As long as we get to his base before they find a way to get it from me, everything will be fine."

Oolong sighed, still nervous but feeling more at ease with Goku's plan. "I really hope you're right, Goku. I don't want to end up with Pilaf ruling the world."

After a short flight, they finally reached Pilaf's base—a massive fortress hidden in the mountains. The base was heavily guarded, with watchtowers and armed guards patrolling the perimeter. Goku landed softly at a safe distance, setting Bulma and Oolong down.

"Alright, we're here," Goku said, surveying the fortress. "Now, we just need to find a way in."

Bulma frowned, thinking. "It's not going to be easy with all those guards. But maybe we can sneak in through one of the side entrances?"

Goku nodded in agreement. "Let's find a way around."

Carefully, they crept around the fortress, staying out of sight. After a few tense minutes of searching, they found a small, unguarded side entrance. The door was locked, but Bulma quickly hacked the keypad with one of her gadgets, and the door slid open with a soft hiss.

"Nice work, Bulma," Goku whispered as they slipped inside.

The interior of Pilaf's base was just as foreboding as the outside. The walls were made of cold, dark metal, and the halls echoed with the sound of distant machinery. They moved quietly through the corridors, avoiding detection as they made their way toward the main chamber, where they hoped to find Pilaf and the Dragon Balls.

As they approached the central room, they could hear voices echoing through the halls. Peeking around a corner, they saw Shu handing the suitcase to Emperor Pilaf, who was practically giddy with excitement.

"Finally! The Dragon Balls are mine!" Pilaf cackled, opening the suitcase to admire the glowing orbs. "Soon, I'll have the power to rule the world!"

Goku, Bulma, and Oolong watched from the shadows, their hearts pounding with anticipation. All they needed to do now was retrieve the last Dragon Ball and stop Pilaf from making his wish.

Goku whispered to Bulma and Oolong, "Let's wait until they bring out the last Dragon Ball. Then, we'll strike."

Bulma nodded, her grip tightening on the gadget she had prepared to help them escape. Oolong just gulped, nervously sweating as he tried to keep calm.

Pilaf, unaware of the impending ambush, placed the Dragon Balls from the suitcase on the altar in front of him. He then turned to his minions, Mai and Shu, who brought out the last Dragon Ball from a secure vault. The moment they placed it with the others, Pilaf grinned with maniacal glee.

"It's time," Pilaf said, stepping forward to summon Shenron.

But just as he began the incantation, Goku burst out from the shadows, launching himself at Pilaf with lightning speed. In one swift motion, he knocked Pilaf away from the Dragon Balls, sending him crashing into a wall.

"Not so fast!" Goku shouted, grabbing the Four-Star Ball from his pocket and adding it to the collection. The seven Dragon Balls glowed brightly, but Pilaf's wish was now out of reach.

Bulma and Oolong quickly joined the fray, using Bulma's gadgets to disable Mai and Shu before they could react. The base was plunged into chaos as alarms blared, but Goku's focus remained on the Dragon Balls.

With the final Dragon Ball in their possession, Goku, Bulma, and Oolong quickly gathered the rest and made their escape, leaving Pilaf and his minions scrambling in confusion.

As they flew away from the fortress, the Dragon Balls safely secured, Goku couldn't help but smile. "That was close, but we did it!"

Bulma grinned, the thrill of victory washing over her. "Yeah, we sure did. Now let's go make that wish!"

Oolong, still shaking from the adrenaline rush, could only nod in agreement. They had managed to outsmart Pilaf and secure all seven Dragon Balls. Now, all that was left was to decide what to wish for.