Bebi's ship is leaving the Tsfuru-jin planet (episode 39), and the Super Saiya-jin 4 Goku fires a Kamehameha at it. It strikes the ship pushing Bebi into the sun. The narrator tells us that Bebi's plan was to destroy the Saiya-jins and conquer the world... But thanks to Goku, he was wiped out of existance.
Flashing foward to episode 40, where Pan sees President Trunks, and a fixed Gill, the narrator tells us that peace has returned to the world again and everyone is happy (while showing us the reunited friends from DB/Z).
Now flashing forward 100 years into the future, there is a cemetary out in a flowery meadow... No one is still alive from that event except one... A young Pan prays by a headstone, then she turns old... A kid is nearby trying to catch butterflies... He's a spitting image of Goku, and even wears a shirt with the name "Goku" on it.
Little Goku goes up beside Pan and prays to his ancestor as well... It is the tombstone of Son Goku (the original). Pan gets up and tells "Goku" that it's time for training, and the little one responds by calling her "Grandma Pan". The screen pans, and we see the meadow overlooks a city... (title shot was inserted here now)
Pan tells Goku to jump as far as he can... Goku runs... He jumps... Screams... Then crashes upside-down into a cliffside. Pan looks... disappointed. Next, Pan is up on a large round log, and tries to teach Goku about balance and form. She starts rolling down a hill with it. Later, it's Goku's turn. Goku climbs up on to the log and it starts rolling with him on it... Out of control of course... Eventually he falls off, and the log flattens him and rolls off... Pan again looks disappointed... Pan now has a baseball and glove, and wants Goku to catch the ball she throws... It hits him on the head. Pan gets a little upset that he can't even catch a ball... Goku tells her that the ball spinned in his glove...
Pan begins to tell him that his ancestor Goku was really strong, and that no one can beat him. (while showing various Goku scenes in early GT: Amiga, Zuunama, Lude) She continues telling him that there was no force that could stop him, and that he was awesome... Pan tells Goku that since he's his decendant, he must also have great power within him. Goku tells Pan that he's hungry, and starts pulling her to go home. Pan tells him that at least he has Grandpa Goku's appetite, and Goku tells her that he loves her hamburgers.
At a school (the badge looks like it could be Orange Star), a teacher tries to teach, while some fat kid is being rowdy. Goku admires his pen, then the bell rings and school is over. Kids now flood the hallway and stairs, and Goku walks along until someone trips him down the stairs, spilling his things on to the ground (including that pen).
Goku looks back to see that it was the fat kid, or Pakku, and his gang (a short kid and a tall kid with glasses). They laugh, and Goku cowers back in fear... Pakku picks up Goku's special pen and tells him it looks nice, so he'll take it. Goku complies... Pakku gets a little angry asking Goku why he isn't angry... The tall kid tells him that they know he's been training with Pan. Goku tells him it is exercise not training. The short kid (only has one tooth) says that they know he secretly wants to be strong. Goku denies that. Pakku tells him that he could always fight him, but if he wins, he won't be proud of it. They leave, taking the pen, asking if he's embarressed, calling him a coward. Goku then picks up the rest of his things, while forcing a smile out.
Back home, Pan wants to know why Goku didn't fight back. Or at least tell him to give the pen back... Goku, while digging into the fridge, tells her that the 3 of them were stronger, so if he said anything he would have been beaten up. Pan, while holding a plate, tells him that it doesn't matter if he was beaten up... It doesn't matter if he loses... Real strength is... Then Pan has a look of pain in her face, she drops the plate, clutching her chest, she falls to the ground. Goku wonders what's wrong and tries to wake her...
At the Satan City Hospital, Pan is now checked into a room and has a doctor and a couple of nurses surrounding her. Goku tells her to hang in there, to not worry about him, and that he will start training real hard. Then he can get real strong and beat Pakku easily, and wants Grandma to continue being well... Pan tells him that's not right... His real strength is bravery.
Pan continues saying that it is bravery, the courage you feel when you do not fear everything that is around you. She tells him that's what real strength is. Pan tells Goku that he is special, not just because he's "his" decendant, but he is exactly like "him", everything... Little Goku starts crying asking her what's she's talking about... She explains that's why she had him named "Son Goku" when he was born... Goku grabs her hands, and tells her that he's not strong, and won't be if she's not with him. Pan tells him to be brave, then no one can beat him.
Pan goes into pain again, and the doctor calls for some oxygen. One of the nurses gets Goku out of the room. Goku turns to the nurse and asks if his Grandma is going to die... She is speechless... Goku asks if Pan is going to be okay... The nurse looks sadder, and only says "Goku..." Goku then starts shaking her hands asking her to say "yes" and to promise him... Then he starts wailing and runs out of the hospital into the rain.
(Note to self: Stop signs are rounded squares, pointy ends run along pole)
Back at home, Goku is on the couch holding on to a pillow... A picture of the young Pan with Gill and a Dragon Ball is up on the wall... Goku walks up to it, and remembers the Dragon Ball. He remembers Pan telling him that it was a magical ball that can make your dreams come true. Goku is vaguely paying attention while trying to play a video game. Pan tells him that she used to have one too, but it was different. They had to travel to other planets to save their world, but that was a long time ago. When Pan looks back at Goku, he's playing the video game again, but with headphones on.
Goku thinks that the Dragon Ball will make Pan well again (we now get to see a pic of Goku, Pan, Gill, and Trunks on the cabinet too), and he drops his pillow (space themed, also has Goku written on it). In the early morning, Goku, with a big pack with tons of food, and wearing a red bandana, walks down the street... He thinks to himself that his Great Grandpa Goku had a house on Mt. Paozu. He will find it and help Pan, and hopes she doesn't die before then.
Up ahead, he is stopped by Pakku and his gang. They ask where's he's going and he responds with the truth. The tall kid tells him that place is famous for all the monsters... The short kid tells him he can't go because he's a coward... Goku clenches his fist... Lighting sparks start appearing around his face, and he tells him to get out of his way, sending a force of ki out pushing them back a little. They stand shocked at what happened, then Pakku steps in front of Goku. He walks right by him to Pakku's surprise, and Goku continues down the road.
Walking down a sparcely used road (a few trunks here and there), Goku stops to rest (sign says route 59). Goku lies down saying it's too far away... Then, a truck drives by blowing dust and soot on him... Later (Goku is cleaner), a truck stops and the driver (fat, slob type) asks him what he's doing. Goku tells him that he's resting, then the driver asks where's he's going, and Goku tells him Mt. Paozu, then asks if he can get a ride.
On a "Moo MaS" truck now, Goku is happy cause of the comfort... Looking around, Goku sees garbage (basically of food wrappers, cans and that sort of stuff) everywhere. The driver offers him some food, but Goku declines saying he has his own. Later on, the driver seems to have run out of food, then eyes Goku's pack. He stops the truck and suggests Goku to go "out the the bathroom", since it is going to be a long trip.
Goku thinks it's a good idea and steps out. The driver empties Goku's pack, then throws it at him and drives off. Goku makes his way to the Star Mark Service Station, and his stomach starts to growl. Something hits him, and he looks to see Pakku telling him he looks terrible. Goku tells him "the nice man took his food", and Pakku goes "you can't trust nice people".
Goku then asks why Pakku is here... Pakku tells him he was bored, so he thought going to Mt. Paozu with him was a good idea. Then to cover himself, he tells him that he wants to be there when a monster eats him. Pakku asks if he's going home now, but Goku is determined to go. Pakku asks if he has no supplies, then looks at the Heaven Thank convenient store.
Goku waits outside, and Pakku comes rushing out in a yellow capsule like cart filled with food... He runs down Goku, throwing on and the ride off together... Goku apologizes as the ride down the hill of route 50... They dodge a bus... Catch up to some cars and passes them... Then they go off a bend and go sliding down a hill having fun. Pakku asks if he likes his secret machine, and Goku thinks it's awesome, then lies back down.
Goku looks up, and Pakku drops a fat caterpillar on his face making Goku panic. Then, on top of a wrecked car, under a bridge, they pee into the river... As Pakku zips up, Goku noticed that he got some on himself, so Pakku starts running at him with his hands up. Then Goku stops running, and Pakku crashes into him. The look over a cliff, and Mt. Paozu is in their sights.
At night by a fire, Pakku munches down on a hot dog on a stick. Goku is barely eating his... Pakku then asks him what the purpose of their journey is. Goku asks him if he knows anything about the Dragon Ball. Pakku doesn't, so Goku explains that it is a magic ball that can grant wishes. Pakku thinks it's stupid, and Goku tells him he wants to use it to save Pan. Pakku asks if she's sick...
Flashing back, Pakku and his gang are about to face off against another trio. Pakku is armed with a bat, and attacks. But a hand grabs the bat back knocking Pakku down. Pan tells him that if he wants to fight fairly, don't use a weapon. Pakku thinks she's nice but scary. Goku starts crying saying she's going to die... Some wolves appear in the distance, and Pakku tells Goku not to cry, and to eat or it'll go bad. The red eyes of the wolves move closer to the campsite.
Pakku then reaches into his pocket and hands Goku his pen back. He tells him he doesn't need it, and it's not cool. Goku takes it and thanks him. Then Pakku notices all the red eyes around them, and the wolves start stepping out into the light. He tells Goku to quickly run away and the wolves lunge to attack.
Pakku grabs a flaming stick and waves it around at them. Goku runs, but the wolves are close behind. Eventually the trap him, and Goku swings his hot dog around... Pakku notices Goku is in trouble... A wolf jumps at him and bits off the hot dog, and Goku panics some more. The wolves jump at him but we then see a streak jump straight up making the wolves hit a tree and each other.
Pakku is knocked down by the wolves, and a gunshot is fired. A woman armed with a rifle scares them off. She tells Pakku he's safe now, then Pakku remembers Goku. By a tree with the unconscienous wolves, they find Goku hanging on at the very top of the tree... Goku screams in fear not knowing how he got there, and that he can't get down.
At a cottage in the woods, the woman is serving the two plenty of food. She steps into a dark hallway, shuts the door, and changes to a female monster. She goes on saying there's going to be a special dinner for us... Two humans. Another voice says that it's not good to be mean to weak kids, and a lamp morphs into another creature. From the floor bubbles a blob that wants her to give the kids to him, then morphs into a monster head... The woman tells them that she's disgusted to have them as friends...
Goku and Pakku now try to sleep in a room. Goku asks if "she" is too nice... The woman walks down the hallway asking which one will be first... She opens the door to the room, armed with a giant knife, she stabs into the bed. She then uncovers the sheets to find them both gone. Outside the window, Pakku asks Goku how he knew... Goku tells him because he told him not to trust nic people...
The woman opens the window and finds them. Goku and Pakku slip into another room and start running. The woman chases them, but stops by a lamp and pulls it. That opens a trapdoor dropping Goku and Pakku in it. They land in a room with a giant pot with a flame under it. The woman appears and tells them that they are to be cooked here. Goku and Pakku watch her in fear...
The soup boils, and the woman tells them that she'll chop them up and boil them in the pot, and claims they are going to taste good... She makes her way closer, and Goku starts telling her to not make a scary face, and that she has such a beautiful face. The woman blushes, tells Goku that he's such a nice kid, turns back into her human form, and looks at herself using a mirror.
But in the mirror, she sees Goku trying to get away, and a giant knife embeded into a wall stops him. It slices some hair, stops both of them in their tracks, and Goku wets his pants. The woman (back in monster form) tells them such a trick won't work on her, and her hair starts growing long and grabs hold of Goku by the neck. Pakku picks up a barrel, but some bones fell out which spooked him. The woman continues to choke Goku, and tells Pakku to just wait... He's next.
The woman materializes a small sickle in her hand, and brings Goku closer... Goku stops struggling... The woman prepares to slice... Goku's arm energize with sparks... His eyes open again and turns green... He raises his hand and fires a force that shoves the woman to the back wall. Then Goku collapses too. Pakku then tips over the pot pouring the boiling water over her. She jumps and hangs onto a hook for safety. Pakku goes and cuts the hair of the woman to free Goku, and they break out and escape. The woman screams to them that she will eat them...
Goku and Pakku run down a dark path until they reach a wooden/rope bridge. Pakku thinks that woman was the monster of Mt. Paozu, and tells Goku that they have to be strong and keep going. Goku is scared to cross the bridge, and Pakku tells him that they have no choice; it's too dangerous to stay here. Goku is still scared so Pakku goes first.
Near the middle Pakku trips, a little shaken, but stays on and keeps going. He reaches the other side and yells for Goku to follow. Goku slowly begins to walk across the bridge... Then he decides to stop and look down, and sees nothing but blackness. Pakku yells at him not to look down, but to look at him. Goku goes down on his knees, terrified, but whispers to himself "I am not scared, I am not scared..."
Pakku starts looking worried, and Goku starts walking across again. A breeze starts to blow shaking the bridge... Goku hangs on to it tightly now yelling "I'm scared!" The bridge shakes move violently and some of the rope starts to break... Then one of the ropes snaps throwing Goku over the side... Goku continues to hang on to a part of the rope though, and Pakku rushes out to save him.
Pakku reaches for Goku's hand, but he refuses to reach for his because he fears he will fall. Pakku tells him not be a coward and asks if he wants to save Pan... He reaches down further, but Goku slips down further too. Then the other rope snaps as well taking the bridge down... Goku still hanging on, is swung to a cliff wall and lands on a ledge. Pakku however falls, disappearing into the darkness below... Goku calls for Pakku, but there is no answer...
By daytime, Goku has climbed up the cliff using what's left of the bridge. Later on, he sprays a scrap on his elbow with something (disinfectant or some other medicine probably). He's by a campfire now, boiling a pot of noodles. Now he eats, but is saddened by the loss of Pakku... Even imagines his image on the other side of the fire... He continues on his journey and reaches a fallen tree he could use as a bridge. He sees Pakku on the other side telling him to hurry up, but that image fades away making Goku cry again...
Walking along, Goku is now playing with his pen (apparently has a little spaceship in it that floats, so if you tip it, the ship moves), and remembering Pakku. He resents that he wasn't brave... He then says "Grandma, I'm really a coward..." Then, a yell is heard.
Out from some tall grass, runs a little bear cub. It runs behind Goku and stops by a tree. From the brush comes a monster now (we saw him before in the woman's house, frog-looking humanoid with swords), and he wants to eat the cub. The cub looks at Goku... With sad eyes... Goku looks at him, but sees the monsters, then back at the sad eyes of the cub, and he takes off screaming in fear.
Goku runs and runs and runs, but then he stops. He thinks to himself that he's not scared anymore, that he must be brave. Goku turns around, and runs back. The frog monster opens his mouth really wide about to eat the cub, but a big stick hits him in the head. He turns around and sees Goku holding it. The frog monster remembers him as the kid who just ran away, and then tells him he looks more tastier anyways... Goku stands his ground...
The frog monster tells him he won't escape, and Goku attacks, but the monster breaks the stick. Then the monster punches him in the face. The monster jumps and chomps on Goku's head, but then the monster's head expands for a bit and is lauched off. Goku was yelling, and the monster flies off into the distance. Goku then collapses and breathes heavily.
Goku has brought out the first aid kit and is bandaging the cub's arm. He tells him that he's out here looking for the Dragon Ball. He also tells him that he was too much of a coward, which caused a friend to fall off a cliff. A tear starts running down Goku's cheek, and the cub licks it. Goku takes it that the cub is trying to console him, and thanks him.
Then, a large roar is heard, and a big bear stands ready to attack Goku. The cub gets in the way and stops him, then explains (in bear talk) what happened. The big bear is now grateful to Goku, and Goku figures he's his father. The cub says more things to Papa, and he goes and lifts Goku on to his back. Goku thinks they'll take him to the Dragon Ball, and the cub answers positvely.
Papa bear takes Goku along until they see a small house in the distance. Goku thinks that could be Grandpa Goku's house; the one Pan told him about. He gets off and starts running down the path towards it. But then 3 monsters stand in his path, the woman, the frog, and now a rooster monster. The woman is angry, she now has short hair, and tells him long hair is the soul of a woman... The rooster tells her she looks better this way. She starts blushing, and the frog notices Goku is running away.
Goku runs with the bears as the 3 monsters chase him down. Suddenly, Goku and the bears drop out of sight, and the monsters wonder if he had magic powers. They admit that he isn't a normal kid... The truth is, they've fallen off a cliff, and the monsters have caught up. Goku moons them though, and slaps his ass at them saying "kiss my ass".
They get angry and the rooster flies down to chase him. Goku and the bears run again. Then, and big black ball comes along and hits Goku. The bears stop in fear as a giant monster now stands in front of them. A warthog-like monster armed with a cannon. He introduces himself as Demon Lord Yao, King of Mt. Paozu. He calls the other monsters pathetic for not be able to catch a little kid... They bow in fear and apologizes to him.
Goku has pushed the cannonball off of him, surprising Yao, so he spits something out of his nose which cause a great explosion blowing all of them away (Goku, bears, monsters). Goku is stopped by a cliff wall, and Yao goes to step on the scared little Goku. Papa bear jumps on Yao's back, but Yao morphs one of his arms into a spikey mace and whacks him off. While that happened, the cub goes to Goku and the run off together.
Yao chases them saying he'll step on them. When the cub trips, Yao prepares to step on them, but Papa bear attacks again, now hanging onto his arm. He punches him off, and he falls off a small cliff. Goku and the cub run to him, but Yao catches up; he vows to eat them. Papa bear gets up to face Yao again, and yells at Goku to get him and the cub away.
Papa bear stands up now growling at Yao. Yao tells him he's in his way and whacks him, then knees him into the air and grabs him by the throat. The hand holding the bear morphs into wood crushing the bear. Goku apologizes to Papa bear, clenches his fist, which causes some energy to spark, then grabs the cub and starts running. Papa bear sees them going and starts to relax. Yao morphs his other arm into a sword blade...
The cub sees this and struggles against Goku to go back. He eventually escapes and runs back... Goku goes back and yells "STOP IT!" powering him up to Super Saiyan... 2. (could be since he has the periodic sparks of electricity dancing in his aura). He takes off his bandana and tells Yao he won't let him hurt anyone anymore... "I'll save everyone!" Then he starts yelling and disappears from sight.
Goku re-appears punching Yao in the chest, which makes him drop Papa bear. Then Goku quickly strikes at the top of his head, the knee, the back of his head, then an uppercut to the chin knocking Yao back... Goku re-appears on the cliff above him, and Yao thinks it's impossible for a kid to have such power... Goku lauches again punching Yao in the face, which sends him flying into a cliff wall, also causes a little rockslide to partially bury Yao.
Goku appears in front of Yao, who, with only one eye open, asks Goku who he is, then closes his eye... The other monsters run away terrified at what they saw... Goku powers down to normal and faints. Later, the cub licks him til he wakes up. Goku sees the half-buried Yao, and thinks the Papa bear defeated him and thanks him. The bear looks at him funny...
Goku runs up to that house they saw on Mt. Paozu. He opens the door causing mounds of dust to stir about... After it settles, Goku sees the old home of his grandpa. Now in shambles... He begins to search for the Dragon Ball. After a while, he notices an orange glow on the wall... He finds what's been reflecting the sunlight, and uncovers the four star Dragon Ball.
Goku takes it outside and puts it on the ground. He puts his hand together, closes his eyes, and starts praying to the ball. He wishes to god to cure his grandma... The bears look at him... He opens his eyes for a moment, then asks for it to help Pakku because he tried to help him... Goku looks at the ball, and wonders why nothing is happening... He yells that a big dragon named Shenlon is supposed to appear... He again wishes to god, to the Dragon Ball, to listen his wish. Goku gets upset asking why it won't grant his wish and throws it while cursing...
It lands and stops by someone's feet (black shoes, yellow pants)... Goku is now pounding the ground wondering why he came... A very familiar voice tells him he has to collect all 7 Dragon Balls, and picks up the four star ball. Then asks if Pan told him that. Goku looks and we see Goku! The big one, the original one! Big Goku says "hi" and Little Goku asks who he is...
Goku then goes and says he's his great, great, great (while counting on his fingers), then asks how many "greats" that should be, and tells him to just call him Grandpa Goku. Grandpa Goku tells him that he's really strong, and that he himself wasn't excited until now. He walks over to Little Goku and Little Goku tells him that he's always too weak. Grandpa Goku hand the Dragon Ball to him, and tells him that he is strong.
Little Goku asks if he's also brave, and Grandpa Goku tells him "of course", and that he is his grandchildren's grandchildren's (counting on fingers again)... Then tells Little Goku he is Son Goku. Little Goku smiles, but then talks about his friend... But an aircraft flies over head.
It's a police aircraft, and Pakku is inside waving at Little Goku. Little Goku is happy to see him, then Pan pushes Pakku aside to greet Little Goku. Goku is even more happy to see her ok. Pan tells him she can't die that easily, and Little Goku thinks the Dragon Ball must have granted his wishes, and looks back to see no one there. Grandpa Goku tells him that it was not the Dragon Ball, but it was his bravery that helped them.... Grandpa Goku then tells him "Good Luck! Son Goku"
The aircraft lands, and Little Goku hugs Pakku and Pan. The narrator tells us that this short story of Goku's search for the Dragon Ball has come to an end... Goku gets in the aircraft with the Dragon Ball and says "I will always do my best. Just watch me. Grandpa!". He looks back and sees a "ghost" of Goku giving him the thumbs up.
The Dragon Ball is in Goku's hands now. It will be the keepsake of his descendants just as it was the keepsake of his grandfather, when he was a kid. (now shows a scene of the original Goku as a kid praying to the ball) The police aircraft flies off into the sunset, as Goku watches everything from the sky...