Chapter 36: Clash of the Angels

We sat there and watched, but she didn't make a move.

"Why isn't she attacking?" Gohan asked.

"She wants me to come to her." I said, nudging Yael P'reel forward. She didn't want to go forward, and I didn't blame her.

The others followed as I made way toward the castle. The closer I got, the lower Empress Katrin came to the ground. Every now and then her wings would flap, helping her descent. Like I said before, flying with Ki is limited and it uses up your Ki reserves, but flying with wings is about the same as running.

We got to the boundaries of the castle grounds Katrin started walking toward us. I could finally see what my other looked like as an evil Angel.

Her wings were black like raven feathers, and the whole aura about her was dark. Her clothing, which with me was like light wrapped around me skin tight, was the same for her with darkness. Even her hair seemed darker than normal.

"So, my other has finally come. I knew you would once I found out about your breakout." She whipped her head over toward Cell, "I should have known. I'll deal with you once I've dealt with her." She looked back over at me as I hopped off Yael P'reel, "You tamed a Mirna. Oh, before we start this little suicide by Angel, I have a gift for you. Two, actually."

First she threw me my sword.

My sword of hope, Shikara…

"It won't do me much good against an Angel." I replied.

"For luck, then. You'll need all the luck you can get when you're trying to fight me. Here is your other gift." She turned as Kakorot, Raditz, and the other darklings we faced on earth came out of the castle. Kakorot had someone with him and pushed him to the ground. When he got up I felt my heart skip a beat.

"Codie?"

"Mom!" Codie ran over and we hugged.

"I knew he wasn't under my control, what I don't know is how this happened. You might as well take him, once I kill you I'll kill your family as well."

"I won't let that happen. This is between us, and it will not go past that." I said, taking a fighting stance. I knew it was useless, but I put a hand on my sword instinctually.

"You can't possibly defend or offend against me! You can't even hope to hurt me!"

"I'll try, gods help me."

"The gods are dead." She sneered. She slapped me, drawing blood with four distinct claw marks across my cheek. I held my face as I straightened up to answer her.

"They seemed fine when I met with them."

"Oh, I see." She smirked, "You did go see them. You tried to get you Angel abilities. Then transform and we can have a real battle of equals!"

I can't transform now… I just can't period. I don't know how at will.

"What's the matter? Why don't you transform?"

"Perhaps she can't, my lady." King Vegeta said. Darkling Trunks, Gohan, and Goten laughed.

"You can't, huh? Well maybe I can beat it out of you!"

"I never learned to do it at will. I was only able to transform fully twice." I admitted.

Katrin laughed, and believe me, it wasn't with me, it was at me.

"I'll admit, I haven't transformed many times myself, but at least I can!"

"I would have learned, but I had to give them up to stay with my family. Surly you can understand that." I replied.

Then Katrin's foot connected with my chin, sending me back hundreds of yards. There was no comeback, no warning, just the fight.

To tell the truth, if I had been prepared, I would normally have preferred it this way. But I wasn't prepared, so when I got up I growled, hissing in pain and tasting blood in my mouth.

I didn't make a comeback either, I just flew at her, but she disappeared and I felt searing pain running through my spine as I hit the ground again.

I got up and wiped blood from my mouth onto my arm. So far I hadn't been seriously hurt, but at this rate it wouldn't take long. I locked eyes with her as she disappeared again.

I tried to feel her out, but she hit me before I knew where she had come from. I feel to my knees, holding my stomach.

"You were much more fun on earth. Why aren't you fighting back?" she was mocking me, so I bit through the pain and stood to face her again.

"I could… ask you the… same."

She smirked, and then disappeared.

She twitched her tail-

I was hit again with her fist to my left arm, and I heard a snapping sound. I didn't feel much pain, but I knew my arm was broken.

This time I watched, and her tail twitched again before she disappeared. Gohan told me that I twitched my tail when I teleported, so I closed my eyes and waited.

She's to my left!

I jumped into the air and spun around, and once her face was back in my sight I kicked hard. I flipped back and landed, gasping for air already.

When I looked I saw that she didn't even stumble back from my hit. She didn't look hurt at all, not even a scuff mark.

"Shit…" I hissed.

Before I could react, I was hit with a Ki attack. My skin burned as I hit the ground, a perfect circle cut through my clothes and into my torso.

I looked over to Mirai, Gohan, Codie, and Cell. They knew not to try to help me, but the look in their eyes was enough of a motivator for me.

I don't know what to do… I can't transform… I don't remember how. The key was love, but how to use that love?

Cell was right all along… love is weak… her hate makes her transform… or does it?

"Katrin…" I was so out of breath, it was hard to talk, "What makes you transform?"

"What?" she was in the middle of preparing another attack, but she stopped.

"I know love was part of my transformation… what's yours?"

"You're stalling-"

"If I'm stalling, why am I still sitting in the mud? Tell me, what makes you transform?"

"Hate! Hate makes me transform!" she screamed.

"That can't be… the Angel power is given to the most worthy mortal. I'm not sure how that's me… but love is part of that."

"Shut up!" she finished her blast and threw it. I had to time to dodge, no energy to block, and if it hit, I'd die no doubt.

XxX

I closed my eyes as the blast got close, but nothing happened. I opened my eyes, and the blast was right there, only inches away, just stuck. I blinked, making sure I was seeing what I was really seeing. I looked back behind me, and my family was just sitting there, shocked and unmoving.

Then a familiar shape took form beside me. It was my reflection, and if it wasn't for the light I would have mistaken her for Empress Katrin.

"Katie."

"Inner light… but how?"

"You have the power again. Use it. Use me. Fight, don't just sit there." She said, giving me a hand up. Then she vanished.

I have to fight… to love. I love Codie, Mirai, Gohan, Goku, Vegeta, Cell… I love them all! I have to fight, I have to save my family!

Time started moving again, and the blast was right there in my face. I raised my hands and pushed back hard, holding it in place. I powered up to SSJ and threw it over my head, up and away from the battle site. The Empress wasn't pleased.

"How-what- how did you do that!" she screamed.

"With this…" I used my love as I powered up, and I felt the changes. A new set of bones grew in near my shoulder blades and burst out of my back. White feathers grew on these new bones. Light seemed to flood out of pores as it wrapped tightly around me like a sheet. My hair became golden and my eyes blue, as last time. I was becoming the Angel once more.

"What! This is impossible! Its not- how dare you face me like this!" my counterpart was angry, so mad she wasn't thinking straight.

"It's about time someone challenges you, Katrin. You're hurting people, innocent people! I can not stand by and then just leave this universe without fighting you!"

"Then you'll die at my feet. I'll stare you straight in the eye as I crush your still beating heart." She sneered.

The image of 18 in the alternate timeline holding Piccolo's heart popped into my head. That's all my double was now, an android. She felt no love, no joy, but plenty of hate.

I charged, not wasting a moment, and she met me head on. We began exchanging attacks, punches and kicks. She had me at a disadvantage as I did my best to avoid hits. She was attacking so fast and so hard it was all I could do.

Goku… Vegeta… shit, I need help! But I can do this… I can do this, I have to… I can't wait for two people who aren't coming… I can't give up just because she's beating me… I have to be my own fighter. Right now, I have to be like Goku and Vegeta, not the little girl they left behind.

I jumped back and as my feet hit the ground I pushed off and tackled my counterpart. She hit the ground, and I powered up a Ki blast, threw it, but she dodged just in time. She flew past me and then heat hit my back, my legs went numb and I fell to the ground.

"Katie! Get up!" Mirai cried.

"I'm trying!"

"She can't. Electricity, remember? One of the abilities we possess. Your legs are numb. You can't escape!" she started up another attack, the Armageddon Strike.

Damn! I can't move! But… no, I can't teleport out of the way, either. If I move the blast will destroy the planet.

"Katrin, stop! At this power that attack could destroy the planet! I know you couldn't destroy your home!"

"You're right, but it would only destroy the planet if you move. If you stay there the only one to die will be you. Which will it be, just you or the planet as well?" she threw the purple oval-shaped attack, and I saw her eyes flash in confusion.

She just heard something… something from the inside…

I felt pain in my legs, and that was a good thing because that meant they weren't numb anymore. I couldn't move as well as I normally could have, but I was able to stand. The attack came at me, and I grabbed it, pushed it back. In a surge of power I was able to toss it back, but it only hovered.

If I don't do something the attack will be used like a giant beach ball until it explodes.

I powered up a Kamehameha Wave and hit the attack, pushing it toward the sky, into orbit was the idea. Katrin got that as well.

"Clever, but not clever enough!" she flew into the air and started a different attack to push the Armageddon Strike back down.

"Riot Javelin!"

Bardock's attack?

The larger blast was contained between my Kamehameha Wave and her Riot Javelin. Ki and light hit the more powerful blast and shot off to the sides like water hitting a ball.

"Katie!"

What am I going to do? I can't let this planet die, I refuse to let anyone die! I refuse to lose!

I tried something totally new, but it didn't occur to me that it was strange or a long shot. I knew I could do it.

I started turning my Kamehameha Wave into a Super Gatlik Wave. I knew it could be done, and I knew if anyone could do it, an Angel could, so I tried, and the increase in power was just what I needed. Katrin broke off and fell to the ground to avoid the attack. I beat her in this round.

XxX

Back in our universe:

3rd P.O.V.

Vegeta was training in the Gravity Room with Trunks and Goten. Vegeta was about to deliver an attack, but he stopped short. Trunks and Goten froze in confusion, Vegeta never just stopped in the middle of a fight.

Vegeta powered down and headed to the door of the Gravity Room.

"Dad, where are you going?"

"To the sight of the Vortex. I just sensed Katrin."

"Wait up Vegeta, we'll go with you!"

"I bet she'd be glad to see us there." Trunks said. Vegeta just smirked as he kicked off.

AS22: god vs god… angel vs angel… who will win?

Cell: tune in next time to find out!

Katie: and R&R! if you don't, you won't get a cookie!