The moon hung high over Pilaf's shattered fortress, casting long silver shadows across the ruined hallways. Hours had passed since Buu had sent Mai and Shu away. Bulma had vanished into one of the side rooms, muttering about "a decent bed for once," while Pilaf still dangled midair in his pink energy prison.
A faint hum broke the silence. Outside, engines whined — the sound of a capsule bike cutting through the night.
The gates creaked open. Mai stepped through, dusty and bruised, clutching a sack heavy with glowing Dragon Balls.
Buu turned from the throne where he'd been sitting, his eyes gleaming faintly in the dark. "You're late."
Mai dropped to one knee, breathing hard. "Forgive me… It took longer than expected. Shu—he's… retrieving the last one."
"Hmm." Buu rose slowly, each step echoing like thunder in the hollow hall. He took the sack from her hands, opening it. The glow of the Dragon Balls illuminated the room in molten gold.
"Well done," he said simply. Then, with a casual gesture, the ring that bound Pilaf tightened and carried him to a cell, sealing him in the far corner of the castle. Pilaf screamed, banging on the bars.
"H-Hey! I helped! You can't just—!"
Turning to Mai, he added, "You can rest if you want."
Mai's lips parted as if to speak — but she stopped herself. "Understood."
Buu left the hall, his steps silent despite the weight of his power.
He found Bulma in one of the castle's surviving chambers, sitting cross-legged on a bed, surrounded by scattered blueprints and notes. She looked up as he entered. "Oh. So the mighty collector returns."
"I told you they'd come back," Buu said. "Now we have almost all of them."
Bulma smirked, though her tone softened. "Guess I should thank you… again."
Before Buu could respond, a faint metallic creak echoed through the corridor.
Deep within the shadows of the hall, Shu crept along the walls, clutching a keycard stolen from Mai's belt. He reached the shimmering pink cell, eyes darting nervously around.
"Emperor Pilaf! I-I'm here!" he whispered, fumbling with the controls.
"About time!" Pilaf hissed, his eyes wide with fury. "Hurry before that pink monster comes back!"
As the lock disengaged and the energy faded, Pilaf dropped to the floor with a thud, rubbing his wrists. His face twisted into a grin. "Good work, Shu. Now we'll see who gets the last laugh."
Shu trembled. "B-but sir, maybe we should just—"
"Quiet! We're taking our Dragon Balls back!" Pilaf snapped, producing a strange metallic gauntlet covered in blinking lights and wires. "Behold! The Pilaf-Power-Vacuum Mark II! It'll suck all the spheres right out of his grasp!"
The gauntlet buzzed, sparks dancing across its surface.
Meanwhile, down the hall, Bulma frowned, glancing toward the door. "Did you hear that?"
Buu didn't answer — but his eyes flickered crimson.
Back in the throne room, Pilaf grinned manically and raised his arm toward the pile of Dragon Balls resting near the throne. "Activate suction mode!"
A whirring noise filled the air, and the orbs began to tremble, lifting slightly from the ground. Pilaf's laughter echoed through the halls.
"Yes! Yes! They're mine again!"
But just as the first Dragon Ball drifted toward him, a blur of motion cut through the air.The gauntlet was ripped from his hand and smashed into the ground.
The machine sparked once… then shattered into pieces.
Pilaf froze. The laughter died in his throat. Slowly, he turned.
A dark shadow loomed behind him — tall, silent, and far too close.
"W-Why?" he whispered, his voice trembling.
The only reply was the sound of quiet, measured breathing.