Miles above the ground of planet Earth, higher even than Karin's tower, lived the God of Earth, Dende, and his friend and companion Mr. Popo. In recent years, though, they had had some company: Son Goku, Earth's most reliable protector, had brought his young prodigy of ten years, Uub, up to Dende's Lookout to test his training.
In the Room of Spirit and Time (complete with restored door after the Earth was wished back 20 years before), Goku and Uub were fighting furiously. Goku's hair was golden, and he was surrounded by electricity: a Super Saiyan 2. He was just barely managing to keep up with Uub, who was punching and dodging faster than the eye could see. Goku could see him, however, and he was dodging and blocking accordingly. Uub suddenly disappeared and reappeared behind Goku, administering a kick that sent him flying toward the ground. Goku managed to land on his feet, and stood up panting.
"Wow, Uub! Even with all the training I've done in the ten years before I met you, you still have the edge over me as a Super Saiyan 2!"
"I know, Goku. But you could still beat me if you went beyond that."
"Yeah, but I just wanted to see how strong you'd gotten! You're just as strong as Majin Buu, now!"
"Well, that was our goal, wasn't it, Goku? Do you think I've learned enough to start training myself now? I've gotten a lot stronger, and I---WAAAH!"
A series of energy blasts flew toward Uub; reacting quickly, he deflected them in various directions, dodging some, countering others, until they were all far away from him. Instead of dissipating, however, the bursts flew back toward Uub! They collided with a tremendous blast, and when the dust cleared, Uub was nowhere to be found. Goku waited. He sensed Uub behind him at the last second, and prepared to block the kick that followed; Uub disappeared again, however, and reappeared above Goku.
"HAAAAH!" Uub yelled, and slammed Goku into a sprawling position on the ground. Hand outstretched, he began to form an energy ball aimed at Goku's face. Right before the critical moment, however, he stopped. The ball dissipated. Uub grinned. Goku got up with a grunt.
"Yes," he said happily. "I think our training is done. Great reflexes, Uub!" He extended a hand. Uub shook it.
"Thank you, Goku," he said. "You won't be disappointed!"
Neither Goku nor Uub had any idea what was happening outside the Room of Spirit and Time. Onto the lookout crept a small, blue man in a much larger robot. His name was Pilaf, and he had not aged well; he had spent the last 35 or so years plotting revenge against the one boy who had always stood in his way: Son Goku. It was lucky that he had heard the rumor about the Black Star Dragonballs; otherwise he would never have been able to formulate this brilliant plan.
"Mai! Shu! Hurry up!" yelled Pilaf to his two underlings. They clambered up the side of the lookout after him.
"Emperor Pilaf...why are we doing this?" asked Mai in bewilderment. "We've tried to get the Dragonballs before, and it's never worked!"
"Because, fool," Pilaf said in exasperation. "These are no normal Dragonballs! They were created by the new Kami-sama! He made a special set of Dragonballs, more powerful than the normal set! And I know exactly where they are..."
The door to the Room of Spirit and Time opened. Dende and Mr. Popo entered.
"Goku, Uub, how is the training coming?" asked Dende.
"Pretty good!" said Goku. "Actually, I think we're about done, for good!"
"Really?" asked Dende. "If that's the case, Goku, maybe you should return to your family. It has been a while, hasn't it?"
"Yes," Goku said. "Quite a few months since I last visited. We've been training like crazy! It was worth it, though. Uub is as skilled as anyone!"
Outside the Room, Pilaf, Mai and Shu were sneaking toward the room behind Kami-sama's throne. No one was around! Amazed at his good luck, Pilaf boldly entered the throne room and ran toward the back. Behind the throne, there was a small room; in it, there was a basin with seven round orange spheres--Dragonballs! Pilaf gazed at them.
"Yes...yes! After all this time, we've obtained the Black Star Dragonballs!"
"But, Emperor Pilaf," began Shu. "Aren't these Dragonballs only supposed to be used in an emergency?"
Pilaf couldn't believe this. "You idiot! This is an emergency! We've waited over 35 years for an opportunity like this! Now, finally, the world will belong to Emperor Pilaf!" He placed the Dragonballs on the floor and yelled, "I summon you, Shenron!"
Out of the Black Star Dragonballs burst a huge, black dragon. His very presence looked more powerful than the dragon from the normal Dragonballs. It was at this moment that Goku exited the Room of Spirit and Time, leaving Dende and Popo to talk with Uub. He saw the sky had grown dark, and knew the Dragonballs were in use. Seeing the huge black Shenron floating right above him, he flew over to the place of the Dragonballs.
"Now, Shenron," began Pilaf. "My wish is for you to---"
"Emperor Pilaf!" yelled Shu and Mai in unison. "Someone is here! It looks like...it is! It's Son Goku!"
"Son Goku!" roared Pilaf in disbelief. "No! How could he find us? Is he magnetically attracted to our presence or something!"
Goku stared. "What the...is that Pilaf? How did you get all the way up here?"
"SPEAK YOUR WISH," rumbled Shenron.
"In a minute, in a minute!" yelled Pilaf distractedly. "How did I get here? That's none of your business, boy! Shu, Mai, kill him! How much stronger could he have gotten?"
Shu and Mai both shot rockets out of their robot suits. Goku easily caught two of them under his arms, stopping another with his foot, and just letting the rest bounce off his body. Pilaf stared.
"N...no!" he sobbed. "No, we were so close! You...you're too strong! Grrr, I wish you'd stop interfering with our plans!"
Shenron's eyes flashed. "YOUR WISH IS GRANTED."
Pilaf blinked as he registered what he had just heard. "WHAT!" he shrieked. "No! That's not what I meant!" But it was no use.
"FAREWELL," said the black dragon as he shrank back into the Black Star Dragonballs. There was a flash, and suddenly Pilaf, Mai, and Shu disappeared from the lookout. They had been transported to a new secret lair, impenetrable by any human or Saiyan. Even thousands of miles away, Goku thought he could hear a high voice crying "NOOOOOO!"
The Dragonballs flew up into the sky and scattered at lightning speed. It was at this moment that Dende, Popo, and Uub emerged from the Room of Spirit and Time. In a few seconds, Dende was able to figure out what had happened.
"No, this is very bad!" he said. "I created the Black Star Dragonballs to be used only in situations where the normal Shenron didn't have enough power! The wish has been wasted, and now we have to find them!"
"Well, what's the big deal?" asked Goku. "It's easy to find the Dragonballs, I've done it a million times."
"But these Dragonballs aren't scattered all over the Earth! They're scattered all over the galaxy! I tried to work around it, but that was the only way I could make them as powerful as they are! And what's worse is that if they aren't brought back to Earth in one year, the planet will explode!"
Goku and Uub stared. Then Goku smiled. "All right, an adventure! I'll get those Dragonballs for you, Dende! Bulma's a genius, I'm sure she can whip me up a ship and a new Dragon Radar!"
"That's nice, Goku, but I don't think you should go alone. Some of the other planets in the Milky Way contain very dangerous creatures."
"C'mon, even more dangerous than Majin Buu? I won't have any trouble! Heck, maybe Uub can come along!"
"Perhaps," said Uub. "I would like to visit with my family first, though. I'll let you know, Goku." He flew off.
"I...I can't believe you're taking this so lightly!" exclaimed Dende.
Goku laughed. "Dende, I'm excited about this! I'll find the Dragonballs in under a year, no problem!" He flew off.
Dende sighed. "I guess I shouldn't be worrying," he said.
"Not unless that small creature manages to take over the Earth, anyway," said Mr. Popo. "Then Goku wouldn't be able to stop him!"