A/N:

Hello everyone still sticking around to read!

It's been quite some time since I last got around to updating any of my stories. The only reason being is my job. It's getting closer to Christmas so shifts have been opening up and I need the money. Got to get that daily grind. Those of you who have/had jobs know what I'm talking about. I almost wish I was sixteen or fifteen again when I didn't have to work, haha.

That being said, since I'm working more, updates will probably come even slower than before. I'll be real here. I have bills to pay and health to take care of, so my job, as much as I hate it, takes full priority. A couple of you guys and even some of my friends recommended I start Pat re on (I have to space out the words to even be allowed to say it? What the fuck fanfiction?), in order to do this full time. The legality of it isn't really an issue because people would be donating to me to support my passion for writing, not 'what' I write, per-say.

However, as much as I would LOVE to dedicate all my time to writing and cranking out entertaining stories for you guys, I don't think that right now, writing full-time whilst having a is realistic (wouldn't generate enough income to sustain myself). Besides, given my current skill level, It doesn't really feel right. Not until I start releasing my original content. I don't even know how many of you would even consider me good enough to donate money to.

Regardless, Pat re on is awhile down the road, alongside a plethora of other content I have planned out for the years to come. I've been exploring other fandoms as well as developing my own original story, which is inspired by RWBY.

That's all to really say at the moment, and I hope you guys enjoy this update.

Chapter Twenty Five: Those we Cherish

Most of the day had come and gone in the blink of an eye.

Cinder, Weiss, Pyrrha, Ruby, and Blake all sat quietly as they waited for Raven and Qrow to exit the chamber. Piccolo meditated near the edge of the Lookout while Kami and Mr. Popo oversaw the beginning stages of Jaune, Nora, and Ren's training. While they completely understood that they would not be going to fight Cell with their comrades, they were determined not to be left too far behind by their friends in terms of power. Pyrrha watched them with a proud smile on her face.

Ruby and Weiss decided to make up for lost time and catch up, exchanging stories about what had happened to them since the fall of Beacon. Weiss was fascinated with what awaited them in the afterlife. It sounded like some kind of fever dream that a child would come up with on some heavy drugs. Giant multi-colored ogres in suits and yellow clouds that tasted like chocolate chip cookies? It was hard to believe. Ruby, on the other hand, was astounded by all that Weiss had gone through. Magical Fall Maiden powers and training with her uncle? Under normal circumstances, the younger girl would have been jealous, and the fact that she wasn't showed exactly how ridiculous things had gotten recently.

So much had happened since the days of simply going to classes and doing school work. They chuckled at how insane their lives had become over the past year. Ruby died and came back to life! Not many people could claim that had happened to them.

Cinder just sat in silence, rarely meeting the eyes of anyone aside from Pyrrha. It didn't take a genius to figure out why she was still so wary of everyone and vice-versa, so she mainly tried to keep to herself.

Blake opted to meditate in order to organize her newly acquired knowledge. She still had years of new memories and information to sort out and examine, and it was definitely going to take her awhile. Since she still had the Ring of Creation on her finger, she opted to try and sort through the memories that detailed exactly what this Relic was capable of doing. She would experiment further with its potential inside the Room of Spirit and Time. Whatever it could do, no matter how small, could be beneficial in the upcoming battle with Cell.

Suddenly, two familiar power levels appeared on the Lookout, causing everyone present to gaze toward the entrance to the temple. Wordlessly, Cinder stood up, followed by Piccolo, Pyrrha, and Blake. Their eyes widened when they realized who the powers belonged to. Such a drastic increase in energy was ludicrous! Just how much was it? Fiftyfold? A hundred? Whatever the Branwen siblings had managed to do inside that chamber produced some serious results.

"I don't believe it," Cinder murmured in disbelief. Piccolo smirked.

"Well, I'll be… I guess those two really did give it their all. It seems these Humans from Remnant truly are natural born fighters," the Namekian quipped in amusement.

Walking out into the open, both Raven and Qrow stood tall, their battle suits torn and their features more defined. Qrow was sporting a small beard, while Raven's hair had defied logic and gotten even longer. Raven carried her sword and sheath in her left hand, the Dust cartridges all but spent, leaving her with only her Crimson blade. Qrow's weapon had scorch marks and scratches all over it. The two looked healthier than ever before.

"I wasn't expecting you guys to be here when we got out," Qrow chuckled lightly. "I guess it really has only been a day. How surreal..."

"Uncle Qrow!" Ruby shot toward him and enveloped the older man in a hug. He chuckled and wrapped his arms around his recently resurrected niece. Things had been so hectic lately that no one had really gotten the chance to relax. Granted, now was probably not the time to relax given that they were on the clock to train and make nearly incomprehensible gains in power before going back to face Cell. However, the past year had been tough on everyone present, and no one would complain should they want to rest awhile and forget about all the danger.

"Hey, kid. How's it going?" Qrow smirked. Ruby separated from him and gave him a beaming smile.

"Good! I guess? We were all just waiting for you guys to come out of the chamber," Ruby explained as she gestured to everyone staring at the two Branwen siblings. "How was it? What was it like? You guys feel so much stronger! It's almost like you're totally different people!" she finished with amazement shining through her silver eyes. Raven scoffed slightly and turned away. She couldn't sense Yang anywhere close by. It was a shame. She did have the slight desire to request a rematch with her daughter after the beating she received not too long ago.

"It hasn't been a full day yet," Cinder spoke up, drawing everyone's attention to her. "Why did you not use the whole year?" she questioned. Qrow sighed as he ran a hand through his hair. He opened his mouth to respond to the half-Maiden but was cut off quickly by his older sister.

"That chamber takes its toll after a while," Raven started. "It gets to you, makes you see things that aren't really there, and to top it off, the conditions change more rapidly and are far more brutal than you could ever imagine. I won't lie, there were moments Qrow and I almost died in there. If we didn't have each other, we wouldn't be talking to you now. That place is dangerous, but it produces the results we desired," she explained, a hint of warning to her tone. Cinder scowled, refusing to believe that a magic room could be so dangerous.

She would just have to see this chamber for herself.

"Raven is correct," the voice of Kami confirmed from a few paces behind the Branwen siblings. Walking out of the temple followed closely by Mr. Popo was the green guardian himself. Piccolo regarded the man briefly before returning to his meditation. "You'd be wise to listen to her warnings. If you are not prepared, the Room of Spirit and Time will overwhelm you, and you'll be lost for all eternity. If at any point you feel in over your head, I'd advise that you exit the chamber."

"Thanks for warning us, again," Blake said sincerely. "I'm not trying to sound inconsiderate, but if we don't get stronger then everything we know and love will be destroyed. We can't afford to show weakness or submit to it. There's nowhere to run or hide from someone like Cell," the faunus guardian stated seriously. Kami turned to her, a small look of understanding crossing his features. He closed his eyes, before allowing a smile to grace his face.

"You are all strong. I can sense that. It is because of that strength that I allow you to even use the Chamber at all. If you were too weak, I would have been vehemently against the idea," Kami stated, causing a few frowns to break out among the group. Pyrrha noted that Cinder was starting to get impatient. It was a good thing that Mr. Popo decided to step forward.

"The Chamber has been prepared for the next pair. It is up to you who will go next."

Once again, there was a small silence as the group exchanged looks. Finally, after a few moments, Cinder stepped forward, a look of determination spread across her features. Pyrrha swallowed slightly and followed cautiously behind her. While the crimson-headed huntress knew she wasn't really in any danger going into the chamber with Cinder, there was a part of her that just couldn't fathom what she was about to do.

Their trip to Mistral had been infuriating enough and that had only been a few days.

How was she supposed to tolerate this girl for an entire year?

"We will go," Cinder declared, taking a small glance back at Pyrrha. The emerald eyed teen nodded confidently in response. There was a moment of silent acknowledgment as Mr. Popo gestured to the two girls to follow him. Pyrrha spared a look at her friends and team. Jaune, Ren, and Nora had all taken the time out of their training to wave as she walked into the temple. Weiss and Blake gave Pyrrha a friendly nod of encouragement while Ruby also waved, sporting a beaming smile.

As the two girls approached the Room of Spirit and Time, they began to feel a sense of dread forming in the pit of their stomachs. They walked in silence until they got to the wooden door that separated the two dimensions. They could sense that something was off about this door. Something completely magical and unknown. It was chilling, Pyrrha even noted that Cinder had started to sweat a little.

"I needn't repeat what you already know," Mr. Popo stated as he reached for the knob and slowly opened the door. The two girls were greeted by a blinding white light before it faded away to reveal a white void. "Once you are inside and the door is closed, your time begins. I wish you the best of luck."

For a few seconds, Pyrrha and Cinder stood outside the door, peering inside at what could only be described as some form of blank Hell. There were no signs of life. Nothing at all.

Just a blank… white… void.

The truth of Raven's words echoed in their minds.

Surprisingly, Pyrrha was the first one to take a step forward into the Chamber. Pushing down her fear, Cinder followed, and before they knew it the door had shut behind them. It took them a few moments to realize what just transpired. The moment the door clicked shut, the air became thick, and a weight pushed down on them, of which they had never experienced.

"I-I can barely breath," Cinder said clutching her chest. Pyrrha grunted as she stood tall, allowing her energy to aid her. She powered up slightly, the burden of the Chamber easing off. Cinder quickly saw what her partner was doing and followed her example. Instantly the weight became more bearable, but the air didn't get any less thick. Raven and Qrow had spent almost an entire year in this place. Surely their bodies must have adjusted to the conditions after a while.

The two explored their living quarters. Mr. Popo had been kind enough to place multiple spare battle suits in one of the rooms, should their clothes become ruined while they trained. They had enough food to last them a year and maybe a few extra weeks. Thankfully there were two beds, but they were situated close to each other. The two weren't exactly happy about that, but it certainly wasn't something to fuss over. Not when they had work to do.

They walked out in front of the temple and were greeted by an incredible sight.

"What kind of place is this?" Cinder all but breathed. "There's… nothing here!"

"It's endless…" Pyrrha gasped lightly. "I can't see where it ends, or even where it begins! We're in the middle of a… a… void!"

Cinder made the unfortunate mistake of stepping off the temple and onto the white ground that spread all around them. She gasped, drawing Pyrrha's attention as she folded, falling to her knees as the gravitational forces intensified. Sweat poured off her face and she groaned as her muscles screamed at her.

"Cinder!" Pyrrha called out in concern. Following her friend off the temple steps, Pyrrha too felt the gravity increase and almost lost her balance, knees bent as she struggled against the force. Cinder powered up even more, pushing herself to her feet. After a few moments of using their ki to reinforce themselves, the gravity once again became bearable.

The fruits of training here against each other, while also fighting against these tremendous forces would prove to be quite the challenge. No wonder Raven and Qrow had exited with such a stunning increase in energy.

While still nowhere close to what Cell had attained, it gave everyone hope that this might give them a chance to beat the godlike Android.

"This gravity…" Pyrrha murmured. "Even at this level of strength, It's going to make fighting difficult."

"Our bodies will adjust, given time," Cinder retorted quickly, straightening herself out and cracking her neck for good measure. "And we have plenty of it. Based on the results we saw from Qrow and Raven, our power can skyrocket here. Just think of the potential! I can discover more secrets about the Maiden powers intertwined with that of Ki," the older woman said with a hungry tone.

Pyrrha eyed her carefully. The ember-dressed girl did not miss the redhead's careful gaze.

"Of course," the scarlet-haired teen replied. "An opportunity like this cannot be squandered. With a foe like Cell threatening everyone on Remnant, we can't let this advantage go to waste," Pyrrha stated with conviction. Cinder resisted the urge to roll her eyes. The girl and her heroic bleeding heart. Always going on about the defenseless ignorant populace. It made her stomach churn.

"I don't much care for the people of Remnant. I'd sooner watch them burn than stick my neck out for them," Cinder quipped back arrogantly. Pyrrha raised her eyebrows while crossing her arms. Actions spoke louder than words, and if what Pyrrha saw was true, which it was, then Cinder was merely trying to convince herself of that reality.

"You say that, but you sped to Yang's aid when she almost fell into lava after fighting with Freeza. Not only that, but you protected both her and Weiss when we saw that Freeza hadn't died," Pyrrha challenged. The corner of Cinder's mouth twitched as the memory replayed through her mind. "It may be small, but you've changed more than you'd like to admit."

"You don't know anything about me."

"No, but I'm starting to," Pyrrha shot back quickly, a smirk on her face. Cinder growled at the greek-themed warrior's smug look. "If I'm going to be stuck with you for an entire year in this place, I'd at least like you to open up a bit so we could get to know each other. Otherwise, things are going to get dismal around here fast."

"This is training, not a… a… a date!" Cinder hissed back furiously. "I will do no such thing. Now, are we going to start, or what? We have a year and I want to make good use of it."

"Sure, we can start. We might as well begin by catching you up on what you don't know."

"What's that?"

"You know what I'm referring to," Pyrrha stated plainly. "I only taught you the basics of energy manipulation. You can fly, discharge energy blasts and increase your base level of strength. I only did what Raven asked me to do because my team was being threatened by her," Pyrrha explained. Cinder wasn't quite sure where she was going with this. What else was there to this power? While the means of achieving it was bizarre, it was rather easy to bring out after receiving the right direction and pointers.

"So? What's your point?"

"There's a lot more to this power than just brute strength. When I trained with Gohan, there was a certain amount of discipline and mental strengthening we did. Techniques and other abilities that you can use to bolster your power and increase your overall strength as a fighter. On the surface, it might just seem like we've only increased our raw destructive power, but it goes beyond that," the redhead once again explained. Cinder narrowed her eyes at arguably, the only person she could call a friend.

"So there are things you've deliberately neglected to teach me. Why exactly are we going to be doing this now?" Cinder questioned. Pyrrha rolled her eyes.

"The stakes have changed. If we are going to get stronger… no offense, but I need to bring you up to my level of power. What you have now… it's barely enough to survive. Trust me I've been there," Pyrrha swallowed nervously as Cinder's glare intensified. "But, that shouldn't take too long in a place like this! That is, if you're willing to cooperate and lighten up. There is an element of calmness and peace to this sort of training. But I'll be frank; as it is now, your attitude won't help. It's why I asked you to open up."

"Your methods sound sickening," Cinder snarled. "If you're going to waste my time, I'll be doing my own training."

"We have an entire year to get stronger!" Pyrrha stated angrily, causing Cinder to flinch slightly. "I wouldn't be suggesting it, if it was going to be a waste of time! You may not have people you care about on Remnant, but I do! So are we going to stand around arguing, or are we going to come to some kind of agreement here?" The half-Maiden had to admit, it was rather amusing to see the famed Pyrrha Nikos lose her cool like that, but the girl had a point.

They had an entire year to get stronger, and despite their astounding progress in the past, Cell might as well be on another plane of existence to them. His 'Perfect Evolution' had set the bar impossibly high, and it was going to take an exceptional amount of effort to even get within sight of that challenge. That was a task no normal human being could achieve alone. Begrudgingly, Cinder sighed in defeat.

"Alright, Pyrrha," Cinder mumbled, a softer, more vulnerable tone to her voice. "What exactly do you have in mind?"

The redhead smiled happily in response.

"Thank you. I know just where to start."

=/=

=/=

There wasn't a single cloud in sight.

Nothing but the warm rays of the sun shone down on her face as she quietly lay on the edge of the Lookout. She had since slipped away from her friends after constant talking and catching up. She needed some time to gather her thoughts and to reflect on the past, present, and future.

Ruby Rose lay with her eyes closed, allowing the gentle breeze to mess with her hair and the loose bits of clothing she had on.

She tried to relax her face into a smile, something she was very familiar with doing for so many years, but alas… she could not seem to remember how. Instead, her expression was resting passively, without a smile or frown as her mind wandered the fields of her subconscious. The warmth of the sun and the quietness of her environment allowed her to reach a state of mind that Piccolo had taught her how to achieve.

To master one's emotions and remain completely contained at every moment.

There was a figure in her mind, a bright silhouette with a familiar outline. Soft fabric fluttered in an invisible breeze, the stark white of its cloak, calm and endless. Ruby knew who was occupying her mind. She was well aware of the consequences of her failure… if she could even call it that. Did she fail when she hadn't even been given the chance to try? It had all happened so quickly, just like the last year of her life.

Despite being trained in the afterlife, nothing about her had changed all the much. She had still looked and talked the same. It seemed being dead didn't age your body at all. It was only now, in the Room of Spirit and Time, that her body started to grow and truly reflect the results of her intense training.

While she was sixteen years old mentally, her body still functioned like a fifteen-year-old. From the outside looking in, it was as if Ruby Rose had been forgotten by the tides of time. It was so unnerving how everything had changed around her. She looked at her team and couldn't help but feel pride and happiness for how far they had come and how much they had grown. While they almost seemed like different people on the outside, despite the ordeals they had been through, they were still the same people she went to Beacon with almost a year ago.

"Times change." Ruby thought somberly. "And with it, people change too…"

It was a fact of life. Always moving forward was guaranteed to take her to new places… experience new things.

Ironically, having died was now a major part of her life. The lessons she had learned and the skills she had picked up were things she never could have imagined… yet, despite all the power she had acquired, she still couldn't save one of the people she cared most about in this life.

Summer Rose… her presumed dead mother.

In all honesty, Ruby had well and truly believed that the woman had died years ago. It still hurt to think about, but she had liked to think she had moved on and learned from the lessons left behind. She didn't have many memories of Summer at all. She remembered her love and warmth, almost like the sun. Ruby remembered her face and her voice… but any specific moments were lost to time. The real tragedy of losing one's mother at such a young age.

"I had you back… despite all the odds, you were there," Ruby thought. A flash of green and maniacal laughter had the girl cringing. Her fists tightened as she let out a depressed sigh. "Then you were gone again."

The woman in her subconscious faded into a breeze of white rose petals, only to be replaced by a storm of violent energy as Cell appeared before her. She gazed at the monster without a shred of fear in her eyes. He wasn't really here, just a mirage inside of her head. A reminder of the bigger picture, the obstacle she had yet to overcome. This was a foe she could not triumph over without the aid of her team and friends. Even then, it seemed like a stretch.

"Jeez…" Ruby chuckled quietly to herself. "To think that a year ago, I was so worried about Roman Torchwick and the White Fang," the last part she finished, barely louder than a whisper. She shook her head in amusement, as if to scold herself for worrying about such small problems in the world. When people like Cell and Salem had existed. When every single life that breathed Remnant's air was in danger of being eradicated… and she was worried about some thief and a group of desperate terrorists. While still dangerous, they did not hold a candle to the real threats.

Ruby opened her eyes to stare at the sapphire-colored sky, her silver eyes gleaming in the sunlight.

"Things were so much simpler when our job was to just kill some Grimm and kick bad guy butt," Ruby chuckled lightly. Memories of happier times flowed through her head like a peaceful river. Meeting Weiss and Blake, her first couple of classes at Beacon Academy. She remembered the struggles of her team fondly in those earlier days and it brought a smile to her face. She almost couldn't believe she was lamenting about all this like it happened an eternity ago. All of this stuff was only a year old at best.

Even so… life had changed so much, it might as well be a distant memory.

"I wish things could be normal again," Ruby thought somberly. "I wish I could be back in that bunk bedroom arguing with Weiss about homework, playing video games with Yang, and trying to figure out what Blake was reading," she finished closing her eyes again. For the moment, she was lost in her own memories, a somber smile on her face as she lamented the better times when the stakes of the entire world never rested on their shoulders.

"Ruby?" a voice called out to her. The scarlet-caped girl angled her head to the side to see Weiss and Blake approaching. The voice had come from Weiss obviously, given that she was the one walking in front of Blake.

"Oh hey, Weiss. Blake." Ruby smiled warmly. "What's up?"

"Looking for you, dolt," the snow-themed girl chided. "You've been over here a while. Is there something bothering you?"

"No," Ruby denied. "Not really. Just thought I'd… you know, take some time for myself and let my mind wander. It's rather easy to do that up here. This place is kinda awesome."

"Yeah," Blake responded with a small grin. "Gohan made a place similar to this back on Remnant. I get what you mean when you say it's peaceful up here. Easy to get your thoughts in line."

"Come on, Ruby," Weiss crossed her arms in a huff. "I'm your partner. You can tell us when something's bothering you. We both lived with you long enough to know when something is wrong," the maiden Schnee stated, gesturing to both her and Blake. The cat-faunus gave a slight nod in agreement. Ruby just groaned lightly to herself. She was never the greatest at hiding her displeasure around Weiss. Yang had older sister cheat codes and could see right through her, and Blake always picked up on it pretty quickly as well.

"I don't know guys," Ruby replied depressively. "It's…" she didn't really even know how to explain what she was feeling.

"That woman," Blake started, causing both Weiss and Ruby to turn to her. "Sorry…" she paused for a moment, looking down at Ruby apologetically. "She was your mother. I heard you call out to her when Cell had her. Are you… I never thought to ask. Everything happened so fast. Are you… okay?"

Ruby was silent for a few moments, allowing Weiss and Blake to share concerned looks. After a few more seconds of silence, Ruby let out an exasperated exhale.

"No, Blake. Truthfully I'm not okay," Ruby started. "I lived most of my life believing my mother had died on some important mission. I followed in her footsteps, determined to be better and not make the same mistakes. Then… when I finally find her after being told that she isn't dead, I lose her. Again."

It was like some kind of omnipresent being was dangling her happiness on a thread right in front of her, then when she reached for it, knowing that she could grab it, it would be yanked away from her at the last second. If she wasn't so composed and trained to keep her cool, she would have lost her mind when Cell absorbed her mother. All she was doing now was holding onto the hope that if they could kill Cell, then maybe there would be a chance they could save her mother.

"I always wanted to save the world, be the hero from those fairy tales… but I'm not sure if that's even possible now," Ruby admitted.

"Can't say any of us saw this coming after we dealt with Roman Torchwick at the docks. Everything just seemed to get out of hand very quickly… too much for my liking," Weiss stated with a small sigh. Blake cracked a weak smile as the memories flew by in her head, as if they were ancient now. It felt like a lifetime had passed since she had met Gohan and fought with Cell for the first time.

"No point stressing over the hand fate has dealt us," Blake chided light-heartedly. "We still have one more obstacle to overcome, and if we fail… well, I shouldn't need to spell it out for us now. We all know what's on the line," she finished, idly fidgeting with the ring on her finger. She had almost forgotten about it after having taken it from Salem. The Relic of Creation still hummed with power as it sat comfortably, wrapped around her ring finger.

Unfortunately, her idle musings didn't go unnoticed by her friends.

"I wasn't aware you got married while you were away, Blake," Weiss commented with a small grin. Blake turned and stared at her, as Ruby sat up, leaning over to look at her faunus teammate's hands. Sure enough, there was a ring there.

"Who's the lucky guy, Blake!?" Ruby giggled. The charcoal haired girl rolled her eyes.

"Wow, you guys are sooooo funny," Blake retorted dryly. "It's the ring of Creation; one of the relics Salem had. I haven't quite figured out how to use it yet," she explained, lifting up her hand, allowing her friends to get a better look at it. It was gold with obsidian jewels adorning it, but upon closer inspection, they could see a soft golden glow around it. There was an element of magic there that Weiss could feel subtly. Was there some kind of connection between the Maidens and the Relics?

"How did Salem use it?" Ruby asked. Blake shrugged nonchalantly.

"I don't know. I didn't arrive in time to see her use it," Blake turned to Weiss once again. "Did you see?"

"I did, though, I don't know if anything I say will help you figure out how it works," Weiss replied. The snow-themed girl then lifted one of her hands to her chin in thought. "But, if it's worth anything, she used it in conjunction with the Relic of Knowledge. From what it looked like, I guess she… um… channeled it? I'm not sure how to describe it?" the Schnee finished, shrugging. Blake turned back to the empty skies before the three of them and gazed out over the horizon in thought.

"Well, Salem didn't seem to have all that much time with it, so it can't be that difficult to figure out. Then again, she had lived for hundreds of years. Probably studied it or something," Blake sighed. Weiss and Ruby looked rather shocked at that revelation but choose to keep their thoughts to themselves. Salem was dead and gone now. No point stressing over unimportant facts.

Despite all the knowledge the guardian had gifted her, she still wasn't quite sure how she was supposed to use this Relic… wait.

She had done something to the Sword of Destruction, hadn't she? The memory flashed through her mind. The events were very recent so it was rather easy to recall. All she had done was raise her hand and will the relic away. She had been aiming to destroy it with her energy, but stopped when the sword vanished on its own… or did it?

Raising her hand slightly, Blake decided to test something. If it was this simple then…

Suddenly, materializing in her hand, was the latest copy of Ninjas of Love. Weiss and Ruby gasped at the feat Blake had just performed.

"Woah! You did it! That was easy," Ruby commented with a laugh. Weiss seemed to agree. "Wait, hold on… I recognize that book!" the younger girl exclaimed, predatory eyes looking like she was about to pounce.

"ABSOLUTELY NOT!" Blake thought and violently launched it off the side of the Lookout in a panic, disintegrating it with a ki blast before her teammates had a chance to embarrass her further. Blake swallowed hard, a heavy blush crossing her face. "Okay, note to self: NEVER try using this thing with people around until I can control it better…"

"Hey!" Ruby complained, clearly miffed that she'd missed her opportunity. "No fair, I wanted to see!"

Weiss simply raised an eyebrow, staring dubiously at her teammate for a moment, but ultimately shrugging her shoulders and letting it go. Blake's business was hers alone, and judging from how embarrassed she seemed, whatever that book contained wasn't something the heiress was interested in.

Ruby, on the other hand, was still very interested, much to Blake's dismay.

"What was it, I wanna know, tell me Blake, pleaseeeeee!" she implored the cat faunus, who honestly couldn't tell if she was doing this innocently or not.

"Not in a million years, Ruby!" she retorted, turning heel and practically bolting in the opposite direction. Unfortunately for Blake, the Lookout was a circle, and there was nowhere to hide. Ruby instantly followed, either very curious or very mischievous, which left Weiss on her own, staring amusedly at the chase now playing out before her.

"These are my teammates…"

=/=

=/=

Later into the next day, Gohan and Yang said their goodbyes.

Taking to the sky, Yang made sure to follow Gohan as they headed south-east toward a mountainous forest district. Once again she was greeted by luscious landscapes and wildlife as they flew overhead. She couldn't help the bubbling sadness that formed inside her chest as they passed over a few abandoned towns along the way, showing the scars left by the Androids. How could a world endure such torment for so long? Her people lived in fear of the Grimm, these people lived in fear of mechanical gods capable of erasing them without a second thought. It was hardly a fair comparison.

As they flew over a mountain, Gohan slowed down as a small house came into view, surrounded by forestry and sat comfortably next to a peaceful river. It looked unharmed and untouched by the haunted chaos that plagued this land. It was circular in shape, akin to a dome. It shared similar characteristics to the other buildings Yang had seen with her time on this planet. Gohan slowed even further, coming to a stop in the air. He looked down at the house with a sad expression.

"This… this is your home, isn't it?" Yang voiced softly. Gohan merely nodded. The blonde floated closer to him and intertwined her hand with his. She could sense the energy of two individuals down there. She didn't know who they were, but she could guess that at least one of them was Gohan's mother. He didn't talk much about her during the time they'd known each other, but from what he did say, she knew he loved his mother deeply.

"Is everything okay?" she asked. Gohan let out a sigh as he looked down at the house with an expression of concern plastered across his features. If anything, he looked worried and unsure of himself, something that Yang wasn't used to seeing from him. He was a pillar of strength for her, he kept her afloat when Ruby had died. She had unwittingly anchored herself to him without really realizing it. Being around him made her feel… whole. As bizarre as it was to admit, she couldn't find anything but truth in that silent admission.

"It may not feel like it to me, but for my mother, it's been fourteen years since she last saw me. She didn't take father's passing very well. I can't imagine what she must have gone through when I never came home," Gohan explained sadly. That piece of information caused Yang to grimace, immediately understanding what he meant. She knew what it felt like to lose someone, the grief that you experience. However, what she couldn't imagine is dealing with that for almost fourteen years, even more than that considering when Gohan's father had originally died.

That being said, words were lost on Yang. She wasn't exactly sure how she could help remove the uneasiness Gohan was feeling.

"Well… it may not seem like much, but I am here for you if you need me," she said in passionate reassurance. To seal her commitment, she gave Gohan a small kiss on the cheek. He barely reacted to it, other than a small smile that managed to breakthrough onto his face. Yang's heart fluttered, seeing as that's all she was really trying to do.

"Thanks, Yang."

As he said that, he gently started to float down to the entrance of the house. The setting sun cast shadows of the two across the front lawn as they landed. A breeze flowed through the clearing, ruffing the trees along with the couple's clothes and hair. Gohan took a deep breath as he walked up to the door, while Yang hung back to watch. He lifted his hand to knock but hesitated slightly. He exhaled again as he forced his features to lighten. Without another moment wasted, he gently knocked on the wooden door.

After a few moments, the door opened to reveal a much older looking woman. She wore a pink and purple traditional dress and had her black hair down, almost to her hips. She had bags under her eyes and looked exhausted. However, the moment her eyes landed on the boy in front of her, her arms dropped loosely to her side, and a glassy expression came over her face. Gohan swallowed as he opened his mouth to talk, but found that no words came out.

"Is that you?" Her voice was barely above a whisper. "Is it really true? My baby boy is alive?" Chi-Chi slowly walked out of the house and embraced Gohan tightly. The teen returned the gesture without a second thought, his powerful embrace shocking the older, more fragile woman. It may not have been long for him, but at that moment, he reminded himself once more that his mother had been without him for a decade and a half. He couldn't imagine the kind of agony that she had been put through.

Both her husband and her son, gone from her life. I wasn't fair to her. It had never been fair to any of them.

"I'm home, Mom… I'm home," Gohan choked out. He could feel the wetness of his mother's tears stain his clothes as she buried her head into his shoulder.

"I knew it… I knew Goku wasn't lying. I always knew you were alive… somehow. I never believed you were truly gone. I couldn't let myself believe it," Chi-Chi sobbed uncontrollably into Gohan's shoulder. Gohan recalled his father mentioning that he had spent time with his mother before saving him and his friends from Cell. Still, a part of him detested his father for not finishing Cell while he had the chance, but Gohan knew why Goku had done it. This was not a fight his father was supposed to save him from. This was his problem… he'd be damned if he let yet another enemy win because he was too weak.

With Cell, it was personal. Just like it was for Yang and everyone else that had risked life and limb to fight him back on Remnant.

After a few moments of silence, Chi-Chi finally broke away from Gohan and wiped her tears. The son of Goku smiled when he saw Chi-Chi's unmistakeable expression of happiness. It was like years of grief had finally lifted off her shoulders. She was practically glowing!

"Why don't you come inside? I'm sure you have a lot to tell me about what you've been up to," Chi-Chi stated in her all-to-familiar motherly tone. She paused slightly as she looked over Gohan once again. "And also why you haven't aged a day since I last saw you. I swear… you Saiyans… you should be at least thirty by now!" she finished with a look of confusion on her face. It was at this moment, when she noticed the blonde girl standing a few paces behind Gohan. "Who are you?"

"O-Oh!" Yang stuttered, slightly flustered. She had been so lost in her own thoughts that Chi-Chi addressing her came slightly out of left field. "I'm Yang! I'm… uh," the blonde slowly trailed off as the mother of Gohan walked up to her and looked over her, clearly sizing her up. Yang wasn't going to lie, she felt slightly intimidated by this woman's presence, despite sensing and knowing that she was stronger.

"You know," Chi-Chi started, a slight smirk appearing on her face. "I had dreamed of the moment when my son brought a girl home. I had so many things lined up to say, but as the years went on I forgot, with all the chaos going on," she said with an absent tone. It was almost like she was reflecting on the better years. The days before the world was thrown into a state of constant fear. "But right now, I'm just happy that my son is finally home. Come inside you two."

Gohan and Yang followed without a second thought. The house was warm and welcoming, contrary to what Gohan was expecting. Spending so many years alone with just her father to keep her company must have been difficult. He was expecting the house to be a mess, reflecting what her emotions should have been, but everything seemed rather collected. The house was freshly cleaned and tidy, as if he hadn't left it at all. It seemed Goku's impromptu visit had perked her up quite significantly.

They sat down and recounted events to allow Chi-Chi to put the pieces together. Gohan recalled his fight with the Androids, leading him to find himself on Remnant in a stasis pod. Naturally, she was surprised by the fact that he had been inside of that for thirteen years, thus explaining his current age. For all intents and purposes, he was still seventeen, but in reality, he was around his thirties. Yang tried her best to shut that part out of her mind.

Chi-Chi was quite interested in Yang's side of the story, especially containing the parts about her being in some kind of romantic relationship with her son. The mother didn't exactly seem that surprised, given how they had arrived here together. She had mostly put two and two together quite quickly. Gohan always knew his mother was a sharp one. Growing up, she was always the voice of reason, thinking about his future. As harsh as she was, she wanted Gohan to have a place in the modern world. It was unfortunate that the circumstances of their time called for Gohan's strength.

Chi-Chi was astounded that Gohan worked as a librarian at Beacon Academy. At least he had some kind of job that required his academics!

"Gosh… I hope everyone on your world is alright," Chi-Chi said sympathetically. Yang merely sighed, the grip around her tea tightening. She was careful not to break the cup, though. "Those Androids ravaged Earth. If it wasn't for them, most of my husband's friends would still be alive…"

"We're going back to fight him," Yang replied somberly. "Though, our chances aren't looking too hot. I hope these days won't be our last, but we can't let him destroy Remnant. My dad still lives there, and millions of other people are in danger."

"How do you plan to fight him?" Chi-Chi asked with a curious gaze.

"We're using the Room of Spirit and Time to try and close the gap in power," the half-Saiyan explained. "I sensed that Yang's mother and Qrow exited earlier this morning. Their power has multiplied several times over, but it's still nowhere close to the kind of energy Cell is packing." Chi-Chi grimaced at the mention of the Time Chamber.

"Goku had told me about that place briefly before he got sick. He told me how dangerous it was. I begged him never to use it, but you know how stubborn he is. Anything to get stronger. I used to believe nothing could kill that man, but I've been wrong on a few accounts," Chi-Chi sighed depressively. "If you need to use that room, promise me you will take care of each other. Goku was always fighting on his own, with his own strength… and look where that got him."

"Mom…"

"No!" Chi-Chi snapped, causing Yang to feel anxious. "I've already accepted that… that this world needs you. I wanted a different life for you, but I guess you can't have everything you want. At least promise me, that you won't fight this monster alone. I don't want to lose my son again," Chi-Chi finished, sounding absolutely miserable. Gohan remained silent, knowing that he was probably going to go against his mother's wishes. He didn't want Yang and the others to be involved in this fight. However, they were determined to fight alongside him.

"Don't worry," Yang retorted softly, a smile gracing her features. "Gohan won't be fighting alone. I and all my friends will be at his side. There's no way we are going to let Cell win. I promise," she finished seriously. Chi-Chi hadn't known this blonde girl long, but there was something about her that allowed the mother to trust her words. The compassion Yang spoke with. She could tell there was no way Yang was going to leave Gohan's side. Not until her very last breath.

"Thank you," the mother replied, relieved that her son wouldn't be alone in this battle. "Anyway, it's getting late. These years haven't been kind to me, so I need my rest. I will see you two in the morning," Chi-Chi stated, getting up and exiting the room. The moment she left the room, Gohan exhaled deeply, something he had been clearly holding in for quite some time. His head dropped into his hands, running his fingers through his onyx black hair.

"She's changed more than I realized. She was so against me fighting before… it's kind of strange to hear her accepting that I need to follow in my father's footsteps," Gohan mumbled to himself. Yang gave him a pat on the back, reassuring him that everything was okay. He lifted his head and gave her a small smile before standing up and heading outside. She followed behind him rather closely, wondering where he was going. He didn't fly or run anywhere, he just walked through the forest until he came upon a small clearing, a few hundred meters away from his home.

The more Yang walked, the more she came to realize that his home was so much like hers back in Patch. They both lived in very rural areas, preferring the quiet countryside to the loud lifestyle of a city or a town. Maybe she and Gohan shared more in common than they realized. She so desperately wanted to move her relationship with him forward. She wanted to… go on dates… do things that normal couples would do. However the word 'normal' didn't exactly exist in her current life. If anything, all of this, was normal. Saving the world and being the last hope against an unstoppable force.

When she had applied for Beacon Academy, she never would have guessed she would end up in a situation like this.

Gohan had laid down on a grassy bank surrounded by trees and soothed by the sweet sound of a river rushing behind him. Yang joined him under the light from the stars. It was a beautiful night sky, millions of blinking lights slowly dulling her senses and making her drowsy. Her lilac eyes glanced towards Gohan, his expression was peaceful and calm. Once again, she hadn't often gotten to see this side of him. He was a strong, unmoving force. He was her rock, the anchor that kept her grounded.

"Hey, Gohan?"

"Yeah?"

"Do you like me?"

The question threw him for a loop.

"I thought you said I was your boyfriend?"

"Yeah, I know. I said that… but how do you actually feel about me?"

Gohan took a few moments to think about her words. Romance, it was never something even remotely on his mind. Yang had sort of brought it forward when she kissed him back at her house. He had been fighting his whole life and barely had any experience with romance. Fighting and learning how to survive against murderous machines had been his life.

That had been his romance.

To dance daily with devils.

It hadn't been until he had met Yang that these feelings even started to surface. What was he supposed to say to her? She had been straightforward with her words, but she was a headstrong kind of person. She didn't really hold anything back, and that included her feelings. He'd like to think he was the same… but… was he?

"I… don't know, Yang," Gohan stated honestly. He could feel her ki fluctuate, but she remained still and allowed him to continue. "You know what I've been through. You've seen the kind of people I've had to fight for almost my entire life. I just… I don't know what these feelings are. I care about you… perhaps more than the others. Is that what it means to be in love? I don't know what it is, but I can't afford to let it get in the way of facing Cell."

So there was something there.

She just had to be patient.

Gohan was for all intents and purposes, a tortured soul. He was so far out of the ordinary, he might as well be the definition of whatever the opposite was. She didn't know why she was even remotely surprised that he didn't know what these feelings were. His life had just been one fight after another, and yet here he was, struggling to really understand what these feelings were when his fiercest challenge was waiting for him just over the horizon.

"You don't have to," Yang said suddenly, sitting up. She maneuvered her body and placed herself overtop of Gohan. She leaned her head down, allowing her golden hair to fall and surround both their faces. Gohan opened his mouth to question her actions, however, was quickly cut off as Yang shushed him with nothing but a finger. Her eyes held passion, while Gohan's held confusion, yet intrigue at the same time. If he couldn't understand his feelings… then she'd help him understand.

"Gohan… this entire situation is just…" Yang sighed, allowing her voice to trail off. "I don't know if we can beat Cell. I'm sorry for having doubts, but I sensed his power. So I don't want to walk towards my potential death with regrets. So… I wanted to tell you, that I love you," Yang said. Gohan's stunned silence allowed her to take a deep breath. It was… easier than she had thought. The words had been lost on her for a time, hidden by her fear. "You were there for me when I wanted to sink into an abyss of my own despair. When Ruby died, I lost hope… I wanted the world to burn so I could be with her again, but you pulled me out of it. You showed me that no matter how hopeless things seem, you have to remain strong, for the people that still count on you."

"Yang, I-"

"Please, let me finish. I have things to say. If I don't say them now. I don't think I'll ever have the courage to be able to say them again."

Silence covered the area like a fog. The only sound the young Saiyan could make out was the gentle rhythmic beating of her heart. She seemed to have calmed down after her confession. Gohan stared deeply into her lilac irises. For some reason, he couldn't find his voice. He was captivated by her natural beauty. The blonde tresses that caressed their faces were scented with an ocean breeze. Gohan couldn't find any other word to describe Yang at the moment aside from breathtaking.

"I know you have suffered for almost all of your life. I-I don't know if I can heal the damage that's already been done. But I do know this. I want to be here for you now. You've been there for me from the start from when I was struggling to find the will to live. I don't know if I'd have been able to come back without your help. Your kindness. Your resolve. Your love."

Gohan found it becoming increasingly difficult to breathe. He'd never heard the blonde speak so sincerely about her feelings for him. It truly moved him. Something inside of him was rising up within his chest. This girl thought the world of him. Deep down he was beginning to realize he felt the same for her. His eyes widened significantly when he noticed a clear liquid begin to trace down her face. Yang wasn't a crier… it didn't suit her.

Yet, right now… it seemed like she was more vulnerable than she had ever been.

"You don't have to return my feelings. I'll still love you to the very end of my life. I just...had to make sure you knew how I truly felt. No more regrets and everything laid out on the table. I love you, Gohan. I can't imagine anyone else I'd rather spend my remaining days with," she finished with a radiant smile. Gohan slowly reached his hand out to gently wipe away the tears that adorned her face. It startled the blonde at first, but she quickly leaned her head into the welcoming palm that now rested against her cheek.

This night under the stars, giving them both peace of mind. Despite neither saying anything more, they both knew what they wanted.

For this moment to never end.

=/=

=/=

A fire roared around them with a ferocity unlike anything the girls from Remnant had ever seen.

Facing off in the middle of the white void, Cinder and Pyrrha were bleeding heavily. Cuts, bruises, and burn marks littered their body like a chaotic collage of violence. Both had long since abandoned their usual attire and had donned the battle suits they were given. However, the armor had been long since been worn down, leaving them with only the comfort of a skin-tight suit. Neither of them particularly cared about their modesty at this moment. This was life and death now. Fighting to push each other beyond their very limits.

It had been so long since they had started fighting. Hours? Days? They couldn't exactly keep track anymore. The place had done a number on them within the first few weeks, but the girls forced themselves to adjust to the brutal conditions of the Time Chamber.

Pyrrha's fiery hair was not in her usual ponytail, instead, flowing loosely down her back. It had come undone at some point in the fight. As for Cinder, her hair had grown to the point where was almost down to her lower back. Her obsidian strands were just as straight and luscious as Pyrrha's rose-colored tresses. Both of their bodies had undergone a vast physical transformation. No longer did either girl have an ounce of fat on them. Pure, lean, cut muscle was visible on their arms, hips, abdomen, and legs.

The intense gravity had tuned their bodies into marvels, unlike any kind of training they had done before. It was something they hadn't quite been expecting but were grateful for nonetheless.

"Don't you think we should break? You look tired," Pyrrha asked with a slight smirk. Cinder scoffed, her own grin stretching across her features.

"Tired? No way. I think you've got it wrong. Are you scared of me, Pyrrha?" the Red Queen shot back. The Mistral Champion chuckled as she launched forward and threw a lightning fast punch. Cinder arched her body backward, avoiding the attack with ease. With a swipe of her leg, she forced Pyrrha to retreat into the air, which Cinder had no problem following. The two burst into the sky with renewed energy, blowing away the wild inferno that surrounded them. As they took to the air, the temperature dropped to below freezing in seconds. Their breath became frosty mists, and their sweat froze on their faces.

All it took was a burst of their Ki to break through any side effects of the temperature. Their energy protected them from virtually anything, be it fire or ice.

Cinder charged an energy blast in her hand and laced it with maiden energy. The energy took on an element, the outer shell of the energy in her hands becoming a raging blue fire. With a scream, she launched it towards Pyrrha. The redhead's eyes narrowed as she slipped into her semblance evolved, trying to take control of Cinder's energy attack. She managed to override and throw it straight back at her. However, Cinder had been anticipating that move.

The older girl was quick to flash forward, closing the distance between her and Pyrrha. She left an afterimage to take on her previously conjured attack. Pyrrha had been slightly stunned and reacted too slowly. Cinder tackled her back to the ground. The two plummeted down, crashing hard enough to cause a violent storm of ice to erupt around them.

Pyrrha rolled, throwing her opponent off of her. She quickly cupped her hands and charged a Kamehameha, not hesitating to let it explode toward her enemy. Cinder growled as she charged her own energy attack in her hands. It was a variation to Pyrrha's technique. Her energy blast was a dark crimson with violet tints to it. She laced it with maiden magic and fired. The beams clashed and formed a small dome in the middle. Both girls struggled for control and pushed their energy beyond what they were capable of.

The force of their energy clashing forced the two female fighters to skid backward, but retain their balance and output of energy. Neither of them were willing to give up this little duel, and neither would lie and say they weren't having fun fighting each other with this kind of power. Over the months they had been in here, they had grown closer to each other. Cinder had begun to open up to Pyrrha, albeit only in small amounts here and there. Pyrrha began to see a different side to the once selfish, power-hungry woman.

They had formed a bond, as much as Cinder would refuse to admit it. It had grown since their time here in the chamber. They trusted each other with their lives. When one of them got hurt, the other would carry them back to the temple and tend to their wounds. It happened quite often. It was slow to start but had become second nature after the first few months.

"You can do better than that!" Pyrrha roared over the commotion of their energy clash. Cinder grunted as she poured more of her Ki and magic into her attack.

"So can you!" she screamed back at her redheaded friend. The dome in the middle started to grow as each fighter continued to equalize their power output. The clash looked like it could go on forever, but the Mistral prodigy allowed her energy to surge once more, overwhelming Cinder in seconds. The wave of Ki swallowed Cinder, sending her off into the distance. Her body felt like it had been engulfed in an inferno. Searing heat ate away at her body, before ultimately detonating and sending her tumbling.

She landed eventually, after what seemed like an eternity of falling. Cinder lost feeling in her body, numbness overtaking the pain. Her adrenaline was starting to kick in, dulling her nerves. She knew it would hurt tomorrow, and maybe for the next week or so until her enhanced aura had healed all the damage. Her physical form was still smoking from the explosion, her battle suit almost in tatters. The corners of her mouth trailed rivers of crimson. One of her eyes was sealed shut in an attempt to stop the agonizing pain.

The sound of feet landing next to her forced her to turn her head.

"You always win these battles, despite my additional power as the Fall Maiden," Cinder hissed, coughing in pain. Pyrrha regarded her with a roll of her eyes. Picking the girl up bridal style, she took to the air and headed back to the temple. "Why can I never seem to get a satisfying victory over you?"

"You're too focused on your own pride," Pyrrha replied calmly. "You think that because you have power, that you should win. Power isn't everything, like I've been telling you."

"Tell that to Cell," Cinder retorted angrily. Pyrrha sighed once more.

"He's… different. I like to think I win because I know who I'm fighting for. My team… Ruby, Yang, Weiss, Blake, Gohan and all the others. I always tell myself that I can't fall, because if I do, one of my friends will only have to endanger themselves in my place, and I won't allow that." Pyrrha explained as they reached the temple. She carried Cinder through to a different room and placed her on one of the beds.

The older girl managed to push herself up and aid Pyrrha in the removal of her clothes so she could get at her injuries better. It had become routine. So much so that Cinder wasn't even bothered by the fact that Pyrrha had seen her naked, vice versa. For months in this place, and with only each other as company. Modesty and private time tended to be spent together. The risks of going insane in this place due to isolation were too great. Besides, they didn't want to lose each other. This white void seemed to have no end to it.

"You're so philosophical. It makes me want to vomit."

"You love being dramatic," Pyrrha countered as she walked over to a nearby cupboard, opening it to reveal stacks of first aid supplies. She returned to Cinder's side with bandages, bottles of medicine, and other things to help speed up physical recovery. "We all have our differences. It's what makes us special," the invincible girl said with a small smile. Cinder grumbled but winced as Pyrrha started tending to her wounds. Cinder had done this once or twice for Pyrrha, on the rare occasion that she did manage to one-up the girl. However, in the time they had been here, it was mostly her on the bed with the redhead mending her back to health.

"Yeah," Cinder thought bitterly. "Special. Because that's such a good thing."

There was silence for the next few minutes as Pyrrha cleaned each wound Cinder had, before wrapping it tightly. She was no doctor or nurse, but the basics were taught to her when she first attended Sanctum academy. The older female refused to meet the prodigy's eyes, but eventually the silence became too awkward for both of them, and strangely enough, Cinder was the one to break it.

"Do you think we can kill Cell?"

"We don't have a choice. We have to," Pyrrha responded simply. "If we don't everyone will die."

"Pyrrha," Cinder replied softly, but the seriousness in her tone forced Pyrrha to slow her movements. "We both watched him get blasted by an attack so powerful it carved a scar into the very earth itself, which spanned as far as our eyes could see. Both of us saw his body, split in half. He… he regrew himself when someone had blasted his fucking top half into dust…" she trailed off in disbelief. Pyrrha's gaze fell to the floor, knowing where Cinder's doubts where coming from. How were they supposed to kill something that could regenerate that kind of damage when they weren't even capable of making him bleed?

"We can't just do nothing, Cinder. We… have to fight."

"I'm aware of that," the injured woman responded. Her body shivered as a light translucent color shimmered across her form, signifying her aura having returned. Instantly the pain she had been feeling had dulled even more, and the lesser wounds started to heal quickly. Cinder exhaled a breath of relief. "It's just… aren't you scared?"

"Of course I am," Pyrrha replied softly, a frown crossing her face. "I've fought Cell on a few occasions now. He's even more powerful than he ever was before. Not to mention how much skill he has with fighting. It outshines anything we were ever capable of achieving back on Remnant. Maidens or huntresses combined. Are… you scared?"

"Terrified," Cinder responded somberly. "I don't say that without reason. I worked under Salem for a very long time. I experienced horrors, the full extents of her mind-twisting powers," she explained as she ran a hand through her messy black hair. "She was convincing and manipulative. I was desperate and she used that. I thought Salem was the worst I would ever experience, let alone the strange Grimm I saw wandering the wastes around her domain. Cell though, he's… something out of a nightmare you can't wake up from."

"I have described him in a similar way before. His first form is something I'll never forget until the day I die. That hungry look in his eyes… we looked more like food to him than challengers," Pyrrha said as she turned and sat down on the bed. She removed her boots and pulled her legs up to her chest. Cinder watched her, an almost sympathetic look on her features. Cell's strength was like the summit of the mountain, and they had barely managed to get up the base of it. They weren't even close to the halfway point. This entire venture seemed pointless, but they had to try.

"I won't lie, the thought of running away has occurred to me on a few occasions," Cinder admitted. Pyrrha didn't even look her way, a look of guilt washing over the redhead's expression. It was obvious to the ex-criminal that the same thought had also struck her as well. "Doesn't help that there isn't really anywhere to run. He's not something you can really run away from."

"That's the worst part about this," Pyrrha agreed. "Nowhere to run. Our backs are against the wall."

Another moment of silence passed between the two, causing the older woman to eventually sigh.

"Well, we are here now. So let's try to make the most of it," Cinder stated with a small smile. Pyrrha looked at her as if she had grown a second head. "What are you looking at?"

"I've never heard you sound so positive before."

"I guess you've been rubbing off on me, Nikos."

The two stared at each other for a few seconds before breaking out into small chuckles.

It seemed that in the darkest of times, unlikely friendships blossomed.

A/N:

Another chapter with some very warm moments and a bit more Yang and Gohan. I'm trying to push this romance forward in a more understanding, realistic kind of way. I hope I'm doing okay, once again, never said I was good at romance. I had Ruby reflecting on her failure to save her mother from Cell while also being comforted by Blake and Weiss, while Cinder and Pyrrha get their training on in the Time Chamber.

Not much to say about this chapter, but I hoped you enjoyed it.

On a side note, RWBY Volume 6 (so far).

So far… Wowzers. I'm not even going to mince my words, this Volume is leagues better than anything we've gotten before. I dare say, these first three episodes (at the time of posting this) have been the best RWBY has produced so far. Suffice to say that Volume 5, in my opinion, was a trainwreck and very nearly ruined the series for me. However, Volume 6 so far as honestly hooked me and got me excited again.

I won't spoil anything for those of you who aren't First Members but be prepared for episode three. It fully changed my perspective on RWBY. I literally came out of the episode wondering if I was still watching the SAME show. That's all I'll say.

Until next time folks.