Chapter 12: Showdown at the Castle – The Final Dragon Ball
With six Dragon Balls in hand, the group's journey neared its climax. Goku, Aera, and Android 8 now followed the final flickering signal on the Dragon Radar. It led them into a dense jungle, humid and filled with strange chirping animals.
Aera rode on the Flying Nimbus with Goku, swinging her legs playfully.
"Do you think the last Dragon Ball is hiding from us?" she asked.
"Maybe," Goku said. "Or maybe someone already found it."
"Maybe it turned into a bunny!"
He laughed. "It doesn't do that either."
"Aw…"
As they descended through the trees, they saw it: a dark castle surrounded by high walls and searchlights sweeping across the grounds. It stood crooked, looming like something out of a storybook.
"That's Pilaf's Castle," Goku said. "We've been here before."
"Who's Pilaf?" Aera asked.
"A short blue guy who wants to take over the world."
"Ooooh, that sounds fun."
"Not if he actually does it."
They landed outside the walls, hiding behind thick foliage. Android 8 scanned the area.
"Heavily guarded. Mechanical dogs. Lasers. Turrets."
"Sounds like a party!" Aera grinned.
Goku smirked. "Let's crash it."
---
Inside Pilaf's Throne Room
Pilaf cackled as he gazed at the single glowing orb resting on a pedestal.
"At last! With this final Dragon Ball, my wish will come true!"
Mai sighed, arms crossed. "Except we still need the other six."
"Details! We'll take them!"
Shu, trembling, raised a screen. "Uh, boss… we have company. It's the kid again. And he brought… her."
Aera popped up on the screen, waving cheerfully. "Hi~!"
Pilaf shrieked. "Nooo! Not her! Not the hug demon!"
---
The Infiltration Begins
Android 8 led the way, disabling turrets and carving through steel doors with his bare hands. Goku and Aera followed close behind, dodging traps and overwhelming robotic guards.
At one point, they were nearly caged in.
"I got it!" Aera shouted.
She charged up a glowing green ball of ki—newly developed from her last training session with Goku.
"Hug Beam!"
The ki burst in all directions, warping the bars with sheer pressure. The walls buckled.
"That's not how hugs work," Goku said.
"It is if you hug REALLY hard."
They sprinted toward the throne room.
---
Showdown
Pilaf stood atop his chair in a panic.
"Activate the Pilaf Machine!"
A large mecha, piloted by the trio, crashed through the wall and stood between them and the last Dragon Ball.
"You won't get it this time!"
Goku leapt up and smashed one of the mecha's arms.
Aera zigzagged through a barrage of rockets.
Android 8 grabbed a leg and began swinging the machine.
"She's on the windshield!" Mai screamed.
Aera pressed her face to the glass and waved.
"Hi again!"
They launched a barrage of missiles at her.
Aera spun through them and released another Hug Beam, this time wrapping the entire machine in a spherical shockwave.
It exploded—non-lethally—flinging all three pilots into a wall.
Smoke cleared.
Aera picked up the final Dragon Ball from the wreckage, holding it above her head.
"It's so shiny!"
Goku grinned. "We did it!"
---
The Dragon Rises
Outside, the group placed all seven Dragon Balls on the ground. Thunder rolled in the sky as the orbs began to glow.
"Here we go!" Goku shouted.
Aera watched in awe as Shenron, the eternal dragon, rose from the clouds with a mighty roar.
"State your wish," the dragon boomed.
Everyone looked at each other. Goku stepped forward.
"We want Upa's father to come back to life."
Shenron's eyes glowed.
"It is done."
The Dragon Balls shot into the sky and scattered across the planet.
---
Aftermath
As the winds settled, Aera sat by a stream nearby, splashing water on her face.
"That was a big lizard."
Goku sat beside her. "That's Shenron. He can grant any wish."
"Could he give me infinite rice balls?"
"...Probably."
She giggled.
Android 8 stood behind them, arms crossed protectively. "What now?"
"We train," Goku said. "And get stronger."
Aera leapt up. "Yay! Let's find more strong people!"
"We'll meet a lot soon," Goku said. "There's another tournament in three years. We can both enter."
"Three years?!" Aera gasped. "That's like a hundred naps away!"
Goku laughed. "Plenty of time to train."
They stood on a hill, watching the sun rise over the jungle canopy.
Their first great adventure was over.
But the world of Dragon Ball was only beginning to open its arms to the legendary girl with an innocent heart—and power the world had never seen.
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End of Chapter 12