AS22: alright, I'm baaaaaack!

Cell: you guys didn't have to put up with her all weekend.

Katie: she had a party Saturday, but no one came.

AS22: you guys did!

Katie: as you can see, she's a bit… crazy.

Cell: so please, review and make her sane again, please?

AS22: who wants to be sane? Sane is dull… and anyway, onwards! R&R!

Chapter 34: On To War

Nothing had happened, so I opened my eyes. I was in the middle of the Rebel base again. No one noticed that I had just popped in, sitting on a Mirna. And for that, I was thankful, because that would have been very embarrassing and awkward.

Did I really just do all of that? I don't feel tired… I don't feel different at all, but here I am sitting on a Mirna. They said they gave me the power… they said I am the light… the prophecy? But how do I embrace the darkness, even if it really is my counterpart?

Besides the fact that I felt fresh and normal, my armor and Yael P'reel were clean.

"Well Yael P'reel, shall we go and tell the others what we did?" she pawed the ground and snorted in response as we moved forward.

Now people took notice of my presence. I guess riding a large, silver Mirna wasn't common. I rode up to Tien's tent and hopped off P'reel.

"You can go on to corral if you want."

"I sense battle soon. I want to stay here."

"Fine, fine." I patted her side and walked into the tent.

"Katie!" Mirai stood and hugged me.

"Hey, how'd it go?" I saw Gohan come over as well.

"They're real. I met the gods."

"When Cell came back alone-"

"Cell, how is he?"

"He's in better shape than when he arrived here yesterday."

"I should have known… we've already been here 10 days. I hope Codie is doing okay."

"He's your son. I'm sure he's doing fine." Gohan said.

"So, tell us happened." Tien said.

"I want Cell here. Where is he?"

"He's with the Ayokii. He really likes those beasts." Gohan said.

"So do I, or didn't you notice my Mirna?"

"You've tamed a Mirna?" Tien asked.

"Well, she didn't start off as a Mirna. I'll explain once I return with Cell." I turned and went back out again.

"Come on, P'reel. I'll walk you back to the corral. I won't leave you behind when its time to go to battle."

She snorted and moved easily with me as we headed back to the corral. Cell's familiar green form sitting up on the fence.

"Hey, met any all powerful beings lately?" I called as I ran and jumped on top of fence next to Cell. P'reel ran and leaped over the fence, running to meet with her friends.

"Katie, you're back already? And is that a Mirna?"

"It was Biress P'reel, but now she's Yael P'reel. Mirean changed her into a Mirna."

"So you really met the gods? All four of them?" Cell's eyes lit up again.

"Yeah. I bet you wish you could have been there, huh?" I asked, elbowing him in the arm. He blinked in confusion.

"What makes you say that?" he replied, looking out toward the open red sky, looking serious.

"Every time the gods come up your eyes light up."

"Well… it's complicated." Cell said, looking over at me, "But if anyone can understand, I bet you could."

"Sure, try me." I said.

"Well… I was created in a lab. My creator was a man, playing god was his life. But it took him many years just to create a single android, and it took him many years just to create my first cell. If there are beings in the universe that can create life in mere moments… well, that's astonishing to me."

"I see…"

"I knew you would." He responded.

"When I learned of the Tri-dimensional Council, my thoughts lingered on them. They transformed me into a human, sent me to another dimension to live, then returned me as a Sayjin. But once I met them, I started to loathe them. They only used me when I was needed, then I was useless and meaningless to them. They were even going to kill me because they feared I was too powerful. The Vegetian gods may have granted me my power, but the Council was in charge."

"Perhaps without a planet the gods ceased to be." Cell said.

"Whatever the case… I think maybe it would be better if you never meet the Vegetian gods. You'd lose your curiosity and enthusiasm about them."

"Perhaps…"

"Let's go back to the base. I'll tell you and the others all about the gods." I slipped off the fence and hopped over it.

"Fine." Cell nodded and hopped over the fence, landing gracefully.

XxX

"…And then I was sitting on Yael P'reel's back in the middle of camp." I concluded.

"Amazing…" Cell was in awe from the very first word.

"So… do you feel any different?" Gohan asked.

"No, I don't. I don't know if I have the power or not. All I do know is that it won't reveal itself sitting around here talking."

"Then let's set off first thing tomorrow-"

"No. I'm sick of waiting. Let's go right now." I said, standing up.

"Are you sure? Katie, you just got back-"

"I'm ready and willing. If you guys aren't up to it, then stay here, but I'm ready to fight and go home."

"Well, even if you don't have the Angel power, your zest could defiantly knock the Empress down a notch or two." Tien said.

"Right, then lets get the Ayokii and get out of here." Mirai said.

We headed out to the corral to get our Ayokii to go. Mirai, Gohan, and Cell were the only ones going with me.

I was in awe as I hopped onto Yael P'reel's back over my friends. Gohan, who I first met at the age of 4, was now a grown man, and my better for years in many ways. When we first started to train together, he couldn't do anything. After Piccolo was killed, Gohan changed. He became a powerful warrior, a warrior that was nearly unstoppable.

We started off toward the castle. Tien and his men bid us farewell and let us leave. I came up beside Mirai.

"Mirai."

"What is it, Katie?"

"Do you ever miss the days before we Bonded?"

"Huh?"

"Well, its just… we were always blushing and laughing. As soon as we Bonded… everything changed."

"How's that? I still love you, you know."

"Yeah, yeah, it isn't that… but back then… most people have that kind of feeling for years before they get married. Most people have that innocent love for a long time."

"Love is love, Katie. It doesn't matter exactly how we show it. I've always loved you." Mirai said.

"And I've always loved you."

Even though I said it, I couldn't help remembering how we acted in those early days.

XxX

"…And then there was Ginyu himself, switching bodies with me and dying instead of becoming stuck as a frog-" Trunks had started to laugh. "What?"

"I'm sorry, but your accent-" he was laughing again.

"My accent?"

"Your accent from the country. Where was it? America? It isn't really bad, but some things you say sound funny."

When we had our first real talk.

"Well excuse me!" I said, exaggerating my accent. We both laughed then. Since I had been living here for the past five years my accent has faded, but Trunks was right, I still said some things with an accent. But the good news is I have learned some Japanese while I've been here.

"Sorry about the interruption. Please, go on." Trunks said.

"Well, it doesn't matter. I was rambling…"

XxX

"…I'm rambling again, aren't I?"

Telling Mirai about his father.

"Yes, but you answered my question perfectly." Trunks smiled, the first time I had really seen him smile sincerely. Sure, he laughed with me about my accent, but this smile was different.

XxX

"Whoa!" I heard Trunks call out. I turned to see Goku facing Trunks.

Right after I first fought Cell.

"Sorry about that, but I focused on you Ki to find you. I didn't think the two of you would be together." Trunks and I both blushed, and after noticing that we both turned an even darker shade of red.

XxX

"Katie, aren't you coming?" Trunks said as he turned back to face me.

"Yeah, I'm just trying to memorize the feeling so I can transform again later." I replied.

The first time I became a SSJ.

"Well, since dad's gone, there was something else I have been wanting to say to you."

"Yes?" I let go the transformation and powered down as I replied.

"Well, Katie, I like you. No, that's not it, its -damn- I think I'm in love with you." Trunks said that and made me blush, as it did to him.

"Trunks, I like you, too. But it won't work. Believe me, I love you as you love me. Hell, I loved you since I saw you back home on television."

"That's kind of creepy. Oh, sorry, I didn't mean-"

"I know." I interrupted.

"I don't care if it won't work, can't we at least try? Dammit, I love you!" Trunks nearly screamed.

"Trunks! Vegeta will hear us!"

When we admitted our love.

"I don't care! You're the only woman I've ever felt this strongly for."

Well, I lost it. I admit it, I lost it then. I ran over to Trunks and squeezed him tight, and he did me as well. And damn, it felt good.

"Trunks, if you're willing to try, then I'm willing to try."

XxX

Those days were great. And now, once more, we were going to battle. But this time, I swore to myself, I wouldn't let anything happen to my family. They would not get hurt if I could help it.