AS22: Hey all, I'm back! Here we go with the next group of chapters, but R&R!

Chapter 12: Warning

1st P.O.V.

The sand whipped into my face as I flew over the desert, searching for caves. The heat was terrible, but I kept reminding myself that I was looking for Codie. If something happened to him, I'd lose my crystal.

Black clouds came over the sand as the wind picked up. I could smell the air, and it was going to rain. It was just my luck that it would rain on me now, in a desert. If I could find a scent I could track them, but if it rains now the scent will get washed away.

The rain started down softly, and the cold wetness dampened my hair quickly. I was soon soaked through my clothes, but I wasn't going to stop until I had my son back.

Soon the desert blended into forest, but still I couldn't find the caves that I knew existed near here.

The trees gave some cover from the rain as it started to thunder. I continued on, trying to find the caves. I didn't think I'd find them in the first cave I came to, but it would have been nice to have found a cave by now.

"Katie, what are you doing in this weather?" I turned to the voice, shaded by the darkness, but I knew exactly who it was.

"You're the fortune teller, you tell me." I said, walking over to Baba, "Hello, Baba. Why are you out in the storm?"

Out of everyone I knew, I was the only one who wasn't creeped-out by Baba. She respected me for that.

"I was looking for you. Your immediate future is full of darkness."

"The evil counterparts."

"Yes, but there is more. The reason why your counterpart took Codie."

"What? Tell me!"

"The message from the spirit world wasn't very clear, dear. You'll have to interpret it yourself."

"I'll deal with that, prophecy has always been in my life."

"All shadow has light, and all light has shadow, thus is the way of balance. Light and darkness always are near, always fighting for control. Only when these two embrace can unity and balance be. When one half has, the other lacks, when one lacks, the other has."

"She can't have children…" I thought aloud. Baba's face twisted in a 'you think you know? Or do you?' look.

"A light in darkness, a fallen angel, demons from the past haunt both, demons with ties to the past await in the future. Both feel damned, but damned are we all, if these two cannot meet." I thought on it a moment.

"Okay, what's next?"

"Balance is the key to victory. Only when light and dark are equal can balance be found. Only when light and darkness intertwine can they become equal. One world full of light, one world full of darkness, both exist but never meet. Only when the guardians of these worlds meet can chaos be avoided. Do you wish for me to repeat it?"

"No… no, I got it." I said.

"I wish you luck, child. I pray I don't have to escort any of your friends to the Otherworld."

"I do too." Baba faded into the darkness as easily and as suddenly as she had appeared.

I started walking through the forest, cold rainwater dripping through the trees every now and then. Baba's warning repeated through my mind over and over.

Was my guess right? Is that why she took Codie? And who has to 'meet'? Light and darkness embrace? But that can't happen.

XxX

3rd P.O.V.

Dark Cell stayed near his mate as she slept. They were alone in this part of the cave, the others gathering food. He heard the thunder, and he almost dared nature to waken his love and face his wrath.

Katrin's eyes flew open and she shot up into a sitting position.

"Someone's near." She said, getting up.

"Who? Your double?"

"I don't know. Stop them before they find us. We still need more time."

"Of course, my empress."

Dark Cell started toward the cave entrance, then decided to stop and teleport. He looked back at his mate before leaving.

1st P.O.V.

What did Baba mean by a fallen angel? And a light in darkness? How could light and darkness embrace?

"Halt there." The voice made me freeze. I knew the voice, it haunted my nightmares on and off for the last 17 years.

I turned and it was true; it was Dark Cell.

Right, not Cell, Dark Cell. The bastard that stole my son.

"Leave me alone, or you'll force me to do something I really don't want to do." I said, looking at him. He was staring at me, leaning against a tree.

XxX

"Come on, Cell! Take a picture with me!" I said, grabbing his arm. He pulled away and growled.

"Why? You know what I look like without a picture."

"Yeah, but what if something happens and I can't ever see you again?"

"As long as you teleport you can find me. Its not like I'm going anywhere, I'm already dead." He flashed an evil looked at Mirai, but he didn't notice.

"Oh, you're no fun." I replied, turning to go sit under a tree. It was really hot out.

"Oh… alright. Let's get this over with."

"Really?" I grabbed his arm and handed Bulma the camera.

"Ready?" she asked, "Say Dragonball!"

"Dragonball!" before Cell could argue, I jumped on his back and held up the 'V for victory'.

"I knew you'd do that! I knew it!" Cell growled again.

XxX

It was a day similar to today. Cell had been leaning on a tree before I dragged him to take a picture. It was right after Roxx came to earth.

"I'm your enemy, aren't I? Why wouldn't you want to attack me?" He said, walking into the light. His red eyes were a dead give away that he wasn't the Cell I had called my best friend.

"I will, if only to save my son." I jumped to SSJ4, growling at him.

Not Cell… not Cell… not Cell…

Dark Cell didn't move, he just stared at me. He was studying me.

"What is it? Haven't you seen your mate like this before?" I snapped, raising my fists higher.

"You… you really love the boy?" he asked.

"Dammit, of course! Why don't you guys understand that?"

"Because we don't love. It's hardly heard of in our universe. You act like it's a power of some kind." I relaxed my pose.

How can you live not knowing what love is?

I walked over to him. He stayed on guard just the same as I made my way closer.

"Love activated my Angel power. Love led me to my family. Love… love is something I felt… toward you. The Cell in this dimension was my best friend. He sacrificed his soul to save me."

I turned away from him before I could cry. I knew I would.

Why did I go do that? He isn't Cell! Not the Cell I knew!

"You're going to cry. I'm right, love is a weakness."

"You are right." I said, regaining my composure by wiping my eyes, then I turned toward him, "It can be a weakness. It can also be a strength. Goku told me years ago that I have an armor of love. Everyone I care about is part of that armor. My mate… my kids… Goku and Vegeta… and your double to name a few. Many people who don't even know me are built into my armor."

Maybe I can get him to turn on his friends… it didn't work with my friend Cell, but it might with him. Maybe he can understand.

"Can that armor protect you from this?" Dark Cell powered up a Special Beam Cannon, and aimed it at me.

"Go ahead." I dared.

We stood, both quiet, both still. The clouds parted as we stood. His energy beam was pointed right between my eyes, barely an inch from my head. We were in a stalemate, and he had the upper hand. The question is, would he fire at me? A creature that was defenseless, undoubtedly intriguing to him, and a look-a-like of his mate? If he did fire, I was dead.

He lowered his attack, taking the energy back inside his body.

"Looks like your armor can protect you." he said, relaxing his pose.

"You're not evil, I can see it. At least, you're not deep in your soul. You might be by now, but you weren't always evil."

"I'm evil now, don't push it." he growled.

"Here, let me show you something." I used my Ki to teleport the picture from home he inspired me to recall moments ago. It was a neat trick I used with Instant Transmission. I handed him the picture.

"What's this?" he asked, looking from the picture to me.

"Cell and me. This was taken a few years before he died."

"You and he… you look so…"

"Happy?" I finished.

"Happy… and in love."

"I loved him like a brother. He was my best friend. I wasn't in love with him, but there isn't a day that goes by that I'm not reminded of him. His son, our son, is all I have left of him, that's one reason I want my son back so much. Hell, if certain events never took place, Cell and I might have been together."

"I still don't see how my counterpart could sacrifice himself for someone else, even you. What is there to gain?" he looked at the picture, then up to me. His statement was in a low, growling tone, "You must know."

"I only know one way to answer that question…"

I can't do it… he isn't my friend… and we both have mates…

"Then tell me." he said.

"I have to show it… it's the only way."

I stepped up to him and put my hand behind his neck. I lowered him down into a kiss. He was so shocked he didn't move. I deepened the kiss, making it the same as the kiss Cell had given to me 18 years ago.

Cell began to feel the emotion. He held me closer for a moment. I broke apart the kiss before my emotions could take over.

Why did I do that? What do I think this is, The Phantom of the Opera? Did I think my kiss would set us all free?

Dark Cell looked at me for a moment. He didn't say anything, and neither did I. He just looked at me, confused and shocked. His eyes were wide. He furled his eyebrows together and turned his head, trying to think about what we just did. To tell the truth, I was confused as well.

"I hope we can keep that a secret. Our mates don't need to know about that one kiss."

"I have to go." He held the picture out to me.

"Keep it. I have many more copies of it at home."

He looked at the picture again.

"I'll take good care of our- your son. Don't follow me." then he teleported away.

Why didn't I ask about Codie? Stupid! I will get Codie back, but I have to play this right. I can't let them hurt Codie, or use him against me.

"You'd better, Cell. Just in case."

AS22: Will Katie get Codie back? Will she find out for sure her theories about Cell and Katrin? Find out next time, and R&R!