That evening Gohan found himself staring at a different pair of eyes.

"General! What a delight to see you safe and sound, and here in the palace as well."

The voice speaking was that of the dreaded princess. Gohan forced a smile and bowed in response. In front of him stood Princess Braeni, daughter of king Vegeta and queen Bulmara.

"I heard about your victory over the Tasshikians. Congratulations."

"Thank you, Milady." Gohan said through clenched teeth.

"I'm sure it wasn't very difficult. They're nothing but a bunch of savages with wooden sticks. Or were, I should say. And on top of that, how could they gain victory over you, the Saiyan who is rumored to be the strongest ever lived."

Gohan growled inaudible. This was exactly why he wasn't very fond of her. Princess Braeni was commonly known as being very beautiful, but also cocky and foolish. She had no idea what happened on Tasshik, though she acted like she had been there with him. And saying it wasn't very difficult, as if she could have done what three generals, predecessors of Gohan, couldn't do.

Also, she acted like everyone was different from her, and as if almost everyone was less than her (if not every being). The Tasshikian warriors were fierce, the fiercest kind Gohan ever fought. It was an honor to fight them, how twisted and ridiculous it might sounded. It was all about earning respect, and those warriors definitely earned it. How dare she call them "savages with wooden sticks." She had no honor.

And on top of that, she always flattered him, probably to make a good impression and to get him fall for her. But he didn't like flatteries, especially not false ones. He wanted to scowl at her, for saying words that had no value, for being spoiled and conceited, for her lack of character. But instead, he had to be polite and courteous. This was a princess and she stood above him. It would disgrace him and his family had he really scowled at her.

"I doubt I am the strongest Saiyan ever lived." He replied, trying to sound polite and to hide his irritation.

"Oh, stop general. You are always being so modest. It's very unlike a Saiyan." The princess laughed. "Does it hurt to be proud every once in a while?"

"Of course I have pride, but I find it not necessary to show it to my superiors, nor to those I dear."

With this he unconsciously gave princess Braeri a hint, having her believe that she belonged to the last group.

"Pride is not a fault." She said with a seductive tone.

"Nor is modesty. And the idea of acting superior to people who deserve to be treated with dignity, sickens me greatly. In that way, I do consider pride to be a fault."

"But that also applies to people below your rank?"

"Only for those I respect. When they do not earn that, then yes, I do let my rank justify my pride."

"Which means that you are considered to be a proud man by probably 99 percent of all beings, if not more."

"So why show pride to that other percent? Eventually I would make a fool of myself"

"How could you make a fool of yourself?" By now, the princess had come closer to him, close enough for him to tell what kind of perfume she wore. A lovely scent, only not suitable for a woman like her.

"Look around you. Everyone admires you. They adore heroes…I adore heroes."

Gohan grew both extremely uncomfortable and irritated. He could not just brush her off, but listening more to her illogic words only made him want to throw her out of the window.

"But let us talk about this no more." The princess decided and for the next fifteen minutes Gohan listened to her stories about her "study", the city she lived in, being back in the palace, the incompetence of her slaves, the local gossips, the political situation on planet Alderyn and, of course, her own self.

Gohan prayed that someone would save him from this incredibly annoying and conceited person, but luck did not seem to be on his side. Everyone in the room seemed to have an animated, intelligent conversation. Politicians were talking to counselors, scientists to philosophers, professors to militants. Gohan reminded himself that after only a few minutes, dinner would be announced and that all of them would be making their way to the dining room. The problem was that a few minutes with this woman accounted for a few days, a few very uninteresting days.

Suddenly Gohan heard someone call his name from the other side of the room. He turned around to see who it was. A smirk covered his face when he saw the person calling him. It was a man, a few years younger than himself, with lilac hair and blue eyes. It was prince Trunks, the youngest of two children of King Vegeta and queen Bulmara.

The prince made his way through the crowds, also carrying a smirk on his face. He greeted Gohan with a friendly and firm handshake. Reading the gratitude on the general's face, his smirk widened.

"Gohan, my long lost friend. Haven't seen you in a while, have I?"

Gohan squeezed the prince's hand a little, before replying.

"Must have been 7, 8 months, in Huath Sair, if I remember correctly."

"Oh yes, at the Midsummer Night's Ball. Terrific evening, if you ask me."

"Indeed, most entertaining. But it's been too long since."

"Too long."

"Tell me, my friend, what have you been up to these last couple of months we had the misfortune of not seeing eachother?"

"The usual. Studying philosophy, diplomacy and swordsmanship in the beautiful city of Adain on planet Naemron."

"Naemron?"

"Yes, it's a magnificent planet, you should go there when life, or my father, decides to be friendly on you and gives you a few days off."

Gohan laughed hearty at this. His friend, being a whole lot different than his sister, had not changed a bit. Still as cheerful and humorous as always. He appreciated people who had a good sense of humor, which was one of the many reasons why they were such friendly terms. Their mothers being very well acquainted, they had been friends since childhood, making them almost brothers.

"Well, I'd like to believe that life continues to withhold me from my miracle, until I'll be in a state in which I can no longer enjoy it."

"You pessimist, what a shame! Life is so much friendlier if you are friendly in return."

"Spoken like a true optimist."

"Which I always am."

"I'll remember your words when life is so unfriendly and cruel that I have no choice but to think that optimists are merely pessimists in denial."

Princess Braeri followed the conversation between the two friends with feigned poise, but she felt her anger rising to her boiling point. That brother of hers! SHE was talking to Gohan and now her stupid brother had to interfere. She and the general, she thought, started getting along so well before he came, and Trunks had to ruin the moment. He never allowed her to have a good conversation with Gohan. Always he had to center the attention on himself. But what bothered her the most, was that Gohan was conversing really enthusiastic with her brother and seemed to prefer him over her. It hurt her, but then again, Gohan was a gentleman, which would explain why he acted so composed around her. Some people would consider it rude to act towards a lady like Gohan acted towards Trunks. But how she wished that he talked to her as freely as to her brother.

Braeri watched Gohan converse with Trunks. He was so handsome! His perfect, tall, broad body, his rough appearance, his hair and eyes, black as the winternight, his handsome features, the characteristic scar on his cheek, the low and masculine voice; she dreamed of all this things each and every night, agonized by the thought of not having him next to her. And it was useless. Every attempt to make him hers had been in vain. She always pretended to be intelligent and humorous around him, knowing that he adored people who had those treats. But somehow, she wasn't intelligent enough, not humorous enough…and her brother knew it and made her ridiculous every time the subject Gohan would come up in a conversation.

Gohan, however, stayed polite and remained a gentleman, but that was not what she wanted. She wanted some sign, any sign of affection, something which indicated that he not only saw her as a princess but as someone more than just that.

She woke up from her daydreams when someone called her.

"Sister, did you not hear me? I asked if you would mind if I would steel Gohan away for a little while. I have to talk to him about business, which I am sure won't interest you." Trunks stated.

"No, business doesn't interest me at all." She replied without thinking. It was the truth, she really couldn't care less about it. But as soon as the words came out of her mouth, the she realized that her brother again took Gohan away from her. Her anger rose again, along with a bitterness.

"Good, then we shall see you at dinner, my dear sister." Trunks replied happily.

Gohan bowed to the princess and left, followed by the prince and leaving Braeri all by herself.

The princess wanted to say she didn't mind if they'd talk about business in her presence, that she wouldn't consider it rude, but it was already too late. Gohan and Trunks had already turned around, leaving her alone with her anger and bitterness.

She watched them leave, before crossing her arms over her chest, where the hate against her brother increased. She promised herself that one day, she would avenge herself and get her brother for humiliating her and stealing Gohan away from her. But first she had to survive talking to the utterly stupid and boring people who were in the room and who would doubtlessly approach her when they saw she was alone.

The prince and the general talked in the by torches enlightened garden, like they always talked after not seeing each other for a while. About nothing in particular really, mostly about what happened the last few months.

"Gohan, tell me about Tasshik." The prince asked out of the blue.

The dark-haired Saiyan thought back at his brief time on Tasshik. He could still remember the horrors clearly, and it would take a while before he would forget them.

"Well, we conquered the planet." Gohan eventually sighed.

Trunks rolled his eyes. "Yes, I know. Everyone knows. But I would like the more specific details."

"Forgive me, I'd rather not talk about it." Because who would understand? Who would possibly understand what soldiers (because no matter how high he was in rank, he remained a soldier) went through during wars. The screams, the blood, the limbs, it all hunted him in his dreams. But what hunted him the most, was the lifeless expression on the faces of the deaths. It was like they pointed an accusing finger at him, as to say he was the one responsible for the war, he was the one that caused families to cry over their lost father, or husband, or brother, or lover, or friend, he was the one who enslaved entire worlds, as if to say he was the devil.

He remembered the day, which would now be 4 years ago, he was promoted to the highest rank in the militia: the general. How proud his father was, how his mother cried tears of joy, how his friends celebrated the promotion. Gohan, however, had long expected to become the general. How could they not choose him? He was strong, brave, cunning, strategic, loyal and, not to forget, very ambitious. Of course the fact that the king and queen were his god-parents also helped significantly, since it was the king who would decide who would be the new general.

And there was no serious competition. An old Saiyan, wise and very experienced, but whose controversial ideas made him loose the competition. And a Saiyan in his mid-thirties, strong an vicious, but who proved to be loyal to his own self, instead of the king. And what about a Saiyan a few years older than Gohan, who would debate endlessly with himself before taking a course of action.

No he had been the right person to become the general. And he had proven to be the right choice. Under his leadership, the army had conquered many planets, and they never lost one battle. No longer was Gohan seen as the rookie, who got promoted because of his friendly contacts with the royal family. He finally got the respect he had wanted all his life.

But at what cost?

Somewhere during those four years of being a general something happened within. He didn't know when, but he had…changed.

The prince saw his friend struggle with his emotions. He could ask to tell him what was wrong, and why he refused to tell him about Tasshik. But he decided to respect his request and privacy and not to pry.

They silently walked next to each other, in the clear, mild spring night.

"Now tell me, my friend, why have you settled on planet Naemron and did you not choose to live on a planet under dominion of you own empire?" Gohan asked trying to keep the conversation going.

Trunks' face lit up when he heard Gohan mention Naemron.

"It is difficult to express why I made that choice, since you've never seen what it's like. Naemron is like one of those world that only exist in books. The earth is rich, the skies are always clear, the water is clean, the air is natural, the cities are small and remote and the people are friendly. It's like time stood still. It's at peace. Here everything goes by so fast, and if you don't watch it, you too start to run yourself out of your shoes. But on Naemron, you can still see the small things and cherish it. On Neamron you learn to value life, love life. It's my utopia. And, well, you know how I feel about court and my father."

Gohan watched his friend as he spoke his speech. Trunks did look better than he did in ages. Not too long ago, when Trunks still lived in court, his face was pale and his eyes were dull, because of the continuous pressure that weighted on his shoulders.

Though Trunks would never admit to anyone, the young man has had a hard life. Because Braeri, who was the eldest of the both, could not rule over the empire, because of her sex, the queen had to bear a son to provide a male heir to the throne. A few years after Braeri's birth Trunks was born and everything seemed to be alright for the empire. But it was not for the king. Since the day the small infant Trunks could speak, his father noticed that his son wasn't acting like a young prince should. He didn't take his training seriously, he spoke his mind about his fathers decisions, he was always into joking and tricking everyone, in short, he loved fun too much and was not interested in the duties of a prince. When he also became friends with people outside the royal and elite circle and with people with very unpatriotic views, it was enough for the king. He started ignoring his son and belittle him. Instead, he worshiped his daughter, of whom he thought that she had the right attitude to rule.

"It sounds like fairytale land, no wonder you're an optimist." Gohan eventually replied. "It seems that living on that world will automatically make you one."

Trunks laughed at that remark, before a comfortable silence fell.

"What is it like?" The older Saiyan asked. "To be here again, in the palace."

Trunks thought for a moment before answering, while Gohan watched his reaction on the question intently. He didn't want to ruin the conversation by a question, which might cause painful feelings and emotions. But fortunately, Trunks didn't seem to be distressed by Gohan's question.

"It is very…strange and, in some kind of way, awkward." Answered Trunks while he sought words to describe his feelings. "Nothing has changed in these few months that I have been on Naemron. The golden chandeliers are still blindingly shiny, the silverware is, as always, polished, the porcelain has still never been touched, the same slaves are still walking these alleys. It's like I've never been away."

Gohan listened to Trunks as he answered him. It was true, the palace and everything that belonged in it had never changed in all the years he came her, whether it was to play when he was a little boy or to receive a distinction when he was a strong young man.

"You remember when I told you what feeling I get in the palace when we where young and foolish? In our wildest days?" Trunks asked. Gohan nodded in reply.

"Well," the prince continued, "I still get the chills when I come here. It is so cold and this palace, that I used to call home, stands so far away from my heart. Even if it will be destroyed by fire, wind, earthquakes or simple by time, I couldn't care less."

Gohan nodded at the Prince's answer and realized how difficult it must have been to not have been treated warmly and feeling secure in a childhood. Of course Bulmara was always a warm and loving mother, as she was a uncommonly kind woman, but Gohan imagined that even she couldn't protect her youngest child against the disapproval of the king.

As they walked across a small brook, almost hidden behind a great diversity of plants and bushes, Gohan noticed the pondering face of his friend.

"What is it?" He asked, while Trunks seemed lost in his thoughts.

"No, there's nothing." The other replied, while he feigned a expressionless face. Unfortunately Gohan knew the prince better than that.

"You might as well tell me, because I know you can't keep a secret, even if it's yours." Gohan remarked with a cocky grin on his face.

Trunks hesitated before he answered.

"Yeah, I guess you're right". He shrugged his shoulders, before he became serious again.

"I don't know how to say it," He began, "but I have the feeling my father is up to something."

This caught Gohan's attention. With a cocked eyebrow, he turned his face to his friend and looked at him indignantly.

"The king?" He asked with disbelief evident in his tone.

"Yes." The other replied while rolling his eyes.

"And you mean 'up to something' in a negative way, or…"

"Oh, come on Gohan, you don't have to act like he is a saint or something." Trunks replied, now for the first time this evening being irritated by his friend. "I don't know…he's just being…vague. He whispers things to Braeri when he thinks nobody's watching, he gives hints, perhaps unconscious, while he's talking to someone. You know, those innocent remarks, by which you are unsure if they have more than one meaning or not."

Trunks sighed deeply, while his friend doubted the negative meaning of these things. He withheld himself from stating his opinion, because he saw Trunks took this quite seriously. So instead, he just waited for Trunks to continue.

"I don't know", Trunks continued, while his irritation subdued, "maybe I'm just seeing things. I've been away from court for such a long time. I might have forgotten how things work here, and finding things strange which have absolutely no meaning. I should stop here with these conspiracy theories."

He gave a pull to his purpure cloak and made himself ready to go back to the warm light of the candles and the noise of the conversing guests in the palace.

"We should go back inside. I promised my mother I would bring you to her. She hasn't spoken to you in ages and likes to before you're occupied by my sister again."

Gohan laughed heartily and he followed Trunks inside the palace, secretly being thankful for not having to speak his mind about the prince's conspiracy theory.