A gentle breeze engulfed a single figure, standing on the neatly tiled platform of the Dark Palace. At this height, the blowing wind was always constant. It picked up his black cape, ruffled his brown, unkept hair. Emperor Doale stood gazing at the sight before him. Hundreds of people smeared with blackened dirt, wearing torn rags for clothes, looked up at him with shiny faces, greasy from the years of labor they have endured. Their Emperor had called them for an assembly. Upon hearing the announcement, they flooded to the congregation area in the palace courtyard in fear for their lives. Every single one of them stared at the Emperor with wide, fearful eyes, uncertain of what to expect.

These were the people from various dimensions and worlds, all enslaved and united to work as servants to Doale. They were responsible for building his empire, researching his technology, and they were all afraid of him. They were trapped in a courtyard with twenty foot thick brick walls enclosing the compound. They were open, vulnerable for attack. And they knew their Emperor didn't give two shits about their lives. Doale opened his mouth to speak and the slaves winced, preparing themselves for the torture that was about to befall them. Whether it was a random draw of the lottery to see who would be killed, or a public execution of a fellow slave who broke the rules, they didn't know.

"I'm sorry." There was no response, only the sound of the dry wind racing across the barren desert sand. Doale drew in a deep breath, and spoke again. "My whole life, I've done terrible things." Now the congregation seemed to be listening, instead of curling back in fear. "I've taken every one of you from your homes. I've destroyed your lives and your families. I have humiliated, tortured, and killed many of you. I was a person who was filled with greed. Everytime I got what I wanted, I wanted more. No matter how much you've offered to me as a people, you were never able to fully satisfy my greed. That is because it was impossible to satisfy. And I took my frustrations out on you." Doale paused, trying to put his feelings into words. Regret? Sorrow? Shame? Every one of those words, and more. "I've experienced more. In the last few days we've been here, I've experienced frustration, grief, confusion, friendship, love, life, and even ... death. Words cannot express my shame at this point, and I can't expect a few words to earn me your forgiveness. But I can start by doing this. Doale waved his arm into the open air in front of him, and the huge oak doors that led into freedom opened up as a sharp gust entered, cutting the congregation into two. But nobody stepped out the doors. "I understand if you think this is some cruel trick," Doale said. "But I can assure you, it's not. This is your chance at freedom. And if it were some trick, all of you were gathered here just a few moments ago, ready to die. You have nothing to lose." Slowly, one by one, the people began heading out the gates. At first in small groups, but later grew in masses. Doale stood watching them, letting warm tears flow freely down his cheeks. He may have taken many lives, but today, he was giving life, hope and freedom to whoever remained. "The Dark Empire, from here on, is considered dissolved," he said quietly to himself. Nobody was listening, but he needed to say that much. He needed closure.

* * *

Doale paced through the now empty halls of his palace, hearing his footsteps echo through the empty hallway. Just moments ago, they were filled with the sounds of his palace guards, the servants, and soldiers alike. Now they were empty and bound to be like this forever. Soon, Doale himself was to abandon this palace, the symbol of power his parents had began. He didn't feel sad. In fact, he felt proud; proud that he was able to see the wrong doings of his family, proud that he was able to do something about it.

"Sir," out of nowhere, a voice addressed Doale. The young Emperor turned around to see the General standing there, the man that had raised him since he was a child, the man that had betrayed him when Buu took over his rule. "I just wanted to say that I owe you an apology too."

"Please, General," Doale said, "I don't want to hear it. From here on, I expect everyone to make a fresh start."

"I insist. I can't get onto a fresh start without apologizing for betraying you. I mean, since you were young, you were like a son to me. And what I've done …"

Doale walked up to the General and wrapping his arms around the General's waist, gave him a brief hug. "Thanks for being there for me."

The General smiled. "I'm going home," he said. "I'm going back to my family."

"Well you better hurry up," Doale replied, slapping him on the back. "The ships are leaving the planet now."

"What about you, sir? Are you going to be staying on this world?"

Doale thought about it for a moment. "Yes, I think I will. I don't know why but this world … it's like home to me. Weird explanation, I know. But I don't know what else to say. I like it here."

"Good luck," the General said. "I better get going now. With the T3 technology, we'll be sure to drop by for a visit sometime."

"You're always welcome," Doale replied, waving to his adoptive father as he left the halls of the palace forever.