A/N – YEA!!!!! ff.net is finally up! Although I'm hesitant to believe that's entirely true until I see some sort of message in the home page. But anyway, Chapters coming up, and I finally decided what I would do at the end of the story... You'll see.

Chapter 35 – The Trial; Cloudy Passage

It had been a long night for Gohan. His body felt weak and his mind was cloudy. He vaguely recalled the fight and the longer he lay there, the more he remembered the decisive battle. He sat up and looked at his right arm, where the burn had occurred. The fresh wound was still raw, and was also extremely painful.

He leaned against the wall and observed his new surroundings. It was a small cell, carved from stone just as every other room was on Pandova, with a large silver metal door. The room was void of decoration or furniture.

Gohan did, however, notice a bowl of water and some bandages in the corner next to him. He tore off the rest of the blackened sleeve and tossed it aside. The bandages seemed to have ointment already soaked in, so he cleaned the wound with the water, and tied the bandages over the burn.

"At least they care about my health," he said abstractly.

He noticed that something felt different inside of him, like there was a completely untouched side he had just opened. Gohan probed deeper into the sense, and that was when he realized it was Videl. She felt utterly calm to him, despite the fact that she had just thrown away her birthright and most likely, her life. And yet, he could feel her turmoil as she searched for her inner footing and balance.

All for him.

"I never meant for all this to happen," he said quietly, "I just wanted to help her. Why did I have to fall in love?"

Unbeknownst to Gohan, (but knownst to us) Videl was in the cell next to him. She rose quietly and began dressing. In a society of women, clothing and looks were as important as leadership and skills. (there ya go, guys, I took a hit for the women)

She pulled on the long blue skirt and fastened a longer piece of matching color over it, giving it a short train. The blue was the Pandovan royal color, representing her noble heritage, and the skirt and train stood for her tenure as princess and crown princess.

Next, she draped a side-laced tunic over her head and pulled the strings tight. It was also blue and low cut on the front and back. At last, she added her orange waist bandana. The tunic and bandana signified her skill in battle and as a warrior.

Finally, Videl combed her waist-long hair until it was smooth and untangled. She separated the length into three sections and braided it down almost to an inch. Then, she wrapped the braid into a coil and secured it with the neckerchief she had worn. It was a bold statement to show the symbolic bite mark; she was proud that she had fallen for a man, and she was not ashamed of the foretold weakness: the said controlling nature that man would take as he was bonded to her.

She finished the outfit with simple sandals, no real meaning; they were just comfortable. She sighed.

"I have seen these trials," she said to herself, "They always end badly for the couple. Celessa, Mother covered your tracks, yet I know you so wished to again be with Kody. You lacked not in courage, but your stubborn devotion to your royal duties guided you away from him."

Tears streamed down her face, "Please Celessa! Give me your courage; give me strength to stand up with Gohan. I love him."

She bowed her head and sank into a meditative position.

Gohan, I will live with you, or I will die with you.