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Jun 30, 2022 8:48:58 GMT -5

Post by Ayu on Jun 30, 2022 8:48:58 GMT -5

Despite her whole world starting to tremble in its very foundations, Ayu was trying to live her regular life. The normality that became her routine was now mostly gone, but she was trying hard to stick to the pattern. It gave her a sense of safety when she didn't know what to do - or where to go. Staying home seemed the most obvious way but after two accidents of messing up her garden, she started to doubt that. She never considered herself a normal person, but now it was like the whole universe was trying to prove her suspicion right. In the most creative ways to that. Between her growing powers and her inability to keep her energy in check, Ayu found it harder to control her Ki. Once it slipped away, the flora around her was soaking it like a sponge. Thus, it made the vegetation grow and become more dangerous than regular daises or oak trees... It was easy to undone, but such things should take place in the first place. Is she, of all people, not being able to take care of plants? Now that was embarrassing.

Ayu grabbed the wicker basket stuffed with jars, herb clippers, and her herbarium and went out in the forest for some very needed downtime. The plants she was drying out and collecting were now in full growth, so it was the right moment for a walk. Woods welcomed her again, but this time the soothing aura wasn't able to lift the worries from Ayu's shoulders. What she has heard from others and Mr. Popo was ringing in the back of her head, but at the same, she wasn't convinced what to do. And the worst thing... Something happened in the south. Ayu sensed it in the middle of a quiet night in her house - dozens of life signatures were disappearing one by one amidst the chaos that took place in a faraway city. Despite the distance, mass of land and wast see, Ayu felt everything with painful accuracy. She has sensed the fear and panic. The pain that accompanied the tragedy, and the dreadful silence after, when the dust settled after the attack... It left her shaking and with tears forming in the corners of her eyes - now, how would she feel experiencing this firsthand? She dared not to know. News traveled fast and in the morning it appeared that everyone had only one thing to talk about. Even her barely working old-fashioned radio in the kitchen was nonstop narrating people discussing that attack. They said that the Saiyans destroyed Orange City. That they were maybe aiming to shake the Earth's balance because of... Of... The version changed each time Ayu listened to the news.

She couldn't help but wonder - if there was something she could have done to prevent that? Maybe there was a chance for that or she would have only gotten in the way of people trying to help. And why, why among the attackers she was able to sense two familiar presences? Ayu didn't know why Athren and Jorey were there, but she felt the uneasy, stabbing sensation in her core. She has never put enough trust in them to say that she felt betrayed now, but the realization that the two people that helped her were behind this tragedy, hurt.

Why everything in life was so complicated?

With her basket half-filled with sweet-smelling herbs, she decided to have a break. Her mind needed it too. It's not that Ayu wanted to cut herself out from thinking about difficult subjects, it just wasn't easy to keep her focus on those things. She felt everything too much, too vividly in her soul, and was quick to cry... The exhaustion that followed was delicately speaking, harsh. Just in time has the young woman wandered toward the small lea with a big pond - she knew this place, sometimes she saw villagers fishing in the clear water. The cool air around was perfect for this time of the day, and the pond welcomed her to take off her shoes and walk around on smooth pebbles... But maybe some other time. Worry made her head heavy, and she wanted nothing more than rest.

Ayu stood quietly under the tree growing next to the forest pond, comfortably hidden in the seat of grass and roots. She washed her face in the cold water... And after a moment took off her shoes to dip both feet in the pond. The chill was pleasant and made her smile. The basket and sandals were placed next to the tree and refreshed Ayu sat on the soft moss. She smoothed her clothes, tucking her legs closer to her chest. If she would only outstretch her hand, she could touch the flower batons growing near. Ayu's gaze looked up, at the speckles of sunlight dancing between the leaves. The branches made a perfect curtain against the heat and gave her a pleasant shade. Glancing at the calm mirror of water, she admired in silence the light reflecting and dancing on the surface. Between the soft calls of frogs and flutters of dragonflies' wings, the air was quiet. Serene. Nature's lullaby...

With a soft smile, feeling that finally, her spirit was at ease. With a deep breath, she rested her head against the tree bark, her green bangs tickling her temples. Any worry that was previously present on her face, faded away. Her eyelids closed heavy, and soon enough her breathing became even when she was embraced by sleep.

Super Weighted Clothing Equipped
Power Level - 63,731
PL with SWC - 15,932
Word Count - 921

177

POSTS

Quash

POWER LEVEL

169,132

Tech Points

17/38

Forms

Super Saiyan: [x16]

Zeni

4,692

Archived

Jun 30, 2022 10:14:11 GMT -5

Post by Quash on Jun 30, 2022 10:14:11 GMT -5

PL with Superheavy Weights: 9,747

Quash found himself in the forest taking a walk, with admittedly a lot on his mind. He hadn't been on Earth for very long and it felt like so much had happened. He fought one of his own, got tricked into attacking the city, was taught how to wield a weapon by a particularly peculiar saiyan martial artist, and even fought a blue bubblegum lady whose powers could essentially be boiled down to a living cheat code. Throughout each of those encounters, there was a hint of doubt that had been planted into his mind that had been growing for a while now. He tried to ignore it at first, telling himself the same old "you can do it!" speech. However, at some point he had begun to slowly give in.

While physically his body had finally healed from the wounds that he had sustained from the battles he had been through already, there were plenty of mental scars left behind. Quash's willpower was starting to waver and he had come to the harsh realization that he was a lot farther behind than he wanted to believe. Continuing to look back on those fights stated earlier, he didn't stand much of a chance in either of them. With Liari, he dealt with powers that he hadn't even come across before. Copying moves, complete control over one's body mass and size, controlling amputated limbs, and next level regeneration. With Athren, he dealt with superior combat experience, better offensive techniques, and just... whatever power it was that he used to allow himself to reach new levels of power.

Quash... was just an ordinary saiyan. There was nothing particularly unique about him. Perhaps that was the worst part of it, though. Calling him ordinary was practically a compliment at this point. Everyone else that was beneath him on Planet Vegeta was sub-par when compared to the rest of the universe. Hell, it was only after he got to Earth that the Captain of the saiyan army learned how to get used to his own tail and conceal his energy. He still hadn't even gotten to controlling his own Oozaru yet. He was supposed to free his home from the USD and even the King, but was he even strong enough to do that? In the beginning he thought it may have been possible, but maybe not...

All in all, Quash was just upset with his own weakness. He felt like he was failing himself and failing his people. The more he climbed the more he realized just how much there was to go and, with so many already ahead of him, could he really catch up? There was no way to truly tell, but he'd be lying if he said it was starting to feel like he couldn't. It was very uncharacteristic for him to think this way, but today it was all getting a bit much. There was a lot that was stressing him out, and he just needed to sit on this for a while.

As he continued to walk through the forest, he sensed an energy nearby. This one was unknown to him, but it was higher than the average Earthling. He thought it might be USD initially, but if they were really going to attack him here, they would've brought WAY more than one person. Still, if it wasn't them, then who might it be? The last time he randomly approached a stranger, he found Callion. Maybe this would lead to an interesting encounter as well? Quash walked through the trees and the vegetation that surrounded him, following the energy he sensed directly to the source.

He saw a pond up ahead, and the closer he got to it he could make out someone was there. That must've been where the energy was coming from. Quash stepped into the lea, now making out the person to be a young lady who seemed to just be relaxing at the pond. She was green, but definitely not a namekian. She didn't seem like an earthling either, at least not one that he's seen before. He wondered where she was from. Maybe she was kind of like Liari in the sense that he wasn't familiar with her alien species?

In any case, she sure chose a great place to hang out. Even a battle-hungry saiyan like him could tell that this whole scenery was very peaceful. The flowers had a color that seemed to just blend well with the greenery around him and the silence was somehow more comforting than frightening. After spending so much time on Mount Paozu for training purposes, silence usually meant that there was some kind of predator lurking around, and that it wouldn't be long until he'd have a fight on his hands. This was a nice change of pace.

Quash had been through so much combat in his life that he had forgotten what it was like to just take a moment to breathe for a second. His kind didn't really get to do that often. In fact, most of them didn't even think about that kind of thing. However, since leaving Vegeta on this little mission of his to round up his rebellion forced him to have time to think about this kind of thing. Maybe seeing her was a sign that he just needed to sit down and think everything over again.

Admittedly, it'd definitely be awkward if he just sat in the same area without saying a word to her. Maybe he'd make another ally in some way? Part of him wished it was another Saiyan, but he didn't think too much of it this time. Not being able to tell she was sleeping from where he was, he called out to her to get her attention so that he could break the ice.

"Hey there! Uh, I know you were here first, but do you mind if I sit here for a while?" Quash asked with a smile as he approached her, though it was weaker than usual. In fact, everything today seemed to have a hint of sadness, didn't it?

WC: 1019

342

POSTS

Ayu

POWER LEVEL

356,511

Tech Points

47/88

Forms

Enhanced Being [x39]

Zeni

92,117

Bio-Android

Jun 30, 2022 14:36:55 GMT -5

Post by Ayu on Jun 30, 2022 14:36:55 GMT -5

Dreams weren't something that Ayu experienced often. The ones she had from time to time were pushed into oblivion soon after appearing in her head. Maybe that was for the better - she could only remember that some of them were unpleasant. When the young woman was asleep her mind was usually covered in a blank, dark state, devoid of any images or sounds. It was the only type of darkness that she wasn't afraid of... Perhaps that's why she was able to fall asleep so quickly each time she has lied down to rest. She recharged quickly. The sound of an alarm clock wasn't needed to bring her back, the morning sun was enough.

This time an unknown voice woke her up.

The sound sank into her head, sweeping away the dreams and pulling her mind to the present. The voice wasn't hostile, nor was the presence nearby, so she still had the benefit of being clueless as to who tried to talk to her. Brought back to reality, Ayu needed a moment to wake up completely. She tilted her head in a drowsy manner, slowly blinking and not completely opening her eyes. Her vision was used to the darkness, not to the mosaic of light and greenery. Warmed up by the sun moss was a perfect bed, the scent of woods was so strong and calming so no wonder that her unplanned nap quickly turned into a stone-hard sleep. Some leaves got tangled in her braid, but who would have noticed them between thick, green locks? Running fingers through her hair to brush them away from her face with fingers, Ayu turned her head toward the direction of the voice. She blinked again. There was a silhouette next to the pond, wasn't it?

"Ah, y-yes..?" Ayu lifted the upper part of her body, leaning on the tree and rubbing her cheek sleepily. The murmur of her voice and her gestures betrayed that she was just awoken from her nap. But the somnolence and clueless giddy state after the deep sleep lasted less than a second. Ayu's eyes snapped open when she realized that she felt this signature before. Not face to face, but from a safe distance, sensing it from her home and being concerned about the size of the raw, wild energy going on a rampage... A dose of adrenaline made her wide awake now because she knew who that was. Or rather knew one very important detail about this man. It was the Saiyan that destroyed Orange City alongside Athren and Jorey not so long ago - smiling while approaching her. That startled her so much that she first went pale and right after that a nervous blush bloomed on her face.

It might have been a confusing view to the stranger - Ayu jumped in the air from her napping spot like a toy on the spring. With two leaps she hopped around the tree and hid there away from his sight, pressing her back against the rough bark. She couldn't conceal her presence, but at least the wide trunk could help her avoid the meeting with a curious set of eyes. What to do, what to do?

The power she felt in the south was overwhelming, she felt it in her core... And now a part of the force she felt back then was here. The stranger was smiling now, but this made her only warier. Ayu didn't want to be so cautious, but it appeared that the majority of the Saiyans she knew weren't as friendly as she thought. Was it alright to be so suspicious..? In her eyes, it was justified. After all, the warriors that met before were kind and offered Ayu their help - only to destroy the town in a frenzy and send countless lives into the afterlife later. She couldn't say she was betrayed because none of them made a promise to not behave this way - but it still was bitter. Maybe it was a normal thing for them, to treat lives like something minor and disposable, but Ayu felt deeply wounded by what has happened. Her hands started fidgeting in worry. How could she know that this person was honest or didn't mean any harm, after what he has done..? Were all Sayinas so fickle with their nature, once amicable and a moment later battle-hungry? Pressing her joined hands against her lips Ayu was frantically trying to figure out what to do. She was afraid. This situation only proved to her again, that people around were not only making her uneasy, but some of them could scare her easily too.

Following her anxious state, the flora around the pond moved. It didn't actually show any sign of an unnatural motion, but the grass and water batons, amply growing nearby, now rocked gently - though there was no breeze. The tree branches weaved lazily, akin to a stretching cat. The weed growing underwater in the pond became more green and vivid right under the surface... Ayu's energy was leaking again, although this time she barely gave off any Ki to her surroundings. Nothing abnormal was happening around, and yet it was strange.

Ayu had to do something nonetheless. Ask. Leave. Maybe talk with him? There was a long moment of awkward silence and a green-haired head finally peeked from behind the tree. Cautious to a fault she opened her mouth to say something but closed them suddenly again. Typical. Ayu's face was covered with an anxious flush. His Ki wasn't making her too anxious right now, but... She couldn't shake the feeling that was reminding her over and over of the frightening power of the stranger's race. There was always something steady and tensed about Saiyans in their signatures, sharp like predators ready to strike. This warrior wasn't different, but his energy was exerting less pressure than expected. What she should understand by that..? Ayu wasn't sure.

"Y-you can sit..." She answered his question out of reflex, even if it sounded silly to give permission to a person she was hiding from. Did she mess up already..? There were more important things to question him about. "W-Who are y-you..?" she asked from behind the tree with a soft, trembling voice. Well... Let's hope for the best, but Ayu couldn't say that her expectations were high. She felt too much already to not be worried about this encounter.

Super Weighted Clothing Equipped
Power Level - 63,731
PL with SWC - 15,932
Word Count - 1,064
Total Word Count - 2,002

177

POSTS

Quash

POWER LEVEL

169,132

Tech Points

17/38

Forms

Super Saiyan: [x16]

Zeni

4,692

Archived

Jun 30, 2022 15:57:56 GMT -5

Post by Quash on Jun 30, 2022 15:57:56 GMT -5

"Oop- Sorry! I didn't mean to startle you!"

Quash saw the green lady initially sound kind of groggy but suddenly jump into the air as he got closer to her. He could only guess was fear was what she was feeling, especially after seeing her hide behind a tree. It looked like she was taking a nap of some kind, which somehow made things more awkward. If he had known she was sleeping, she would've just left her alone. He stopped walking, standing still where he was. He figured pressing on would only make her feel more uncomfortable, so he figured he'd just until he was given some kind of all-clear.

He didn't really notice the leaves and water near him moving on their own, as Quash was way too focused on what was going on in front of him. As of right now, he couldn't tell whether or not he should leave or not. For the split second he saw her face, he could easily tell she looked absolutely horrified. It was like she had seen a monster. Was she normally this frightened of everyone who came by her, or maybe she was scared of him because he was Saiyan. He hated to consider that as a possibility, but at this point, he had no choice but to consider the option that maybe he was just feared everywhere on Earth now. He couldn't blame them either, especially not after all the bloodshed.

Even so, while some Saiyans might've been happy that they were feared on this planet already, Quash wasn't exactly in the mood for that kind of thing in his current state of mind. He was about to turn around and leave. This was a mistake, maybe he was better off finding some other place to sit down and rest. After all, there had to be other quiet, soothing pond areas around here right? It was a big forest. Either way, it was better than needlessly frightening an innocent-

Quash was a little caught off guard when she allowed him to stay. Was she just being nice, or did she secretly want him to go? He couldn't tell, but at this point, he figured it didn't make much sense to make a whole stink about it. The saiyan simply told himself not to fuck it up, and just be cool about it. Being gentle wasn't exactly something he was used to considering his background, but he figured he'd have to learn somehow. This was already a shaky situation and the last thing he wanted to do was make it worse.

"Thanks." He replied, slowly walking over and sitting down right in front of the pond. He was close enough to the tree this stranger was hiding behind to be within earshot, but still kept a distance so as not to startle her further. He sighed as he stared at his reflection in the water in front of him, not exactly having happy thoughts about everything. Quash was trying to figure out what to talk about with this stranger, or if they should sit in silence. Before he could come to a decision, it seemed like she made up her mind way before he did.

Quash kept his gaze at the reflection in front of him as he answered her question. "My name's Captain Quash, but it's probably better that you just call me Quash now." He said sadly, not feeling like he was worthy of the title at all now. Word had probably made it to Vegeta at this point, and they probably had stripped his rank by now. He didn't know for certain, but he could make a guess. His tone showed that he was not in a good mood, and was even a little depressed. There was no passion in his face or in his demeanor, as it was very relaxed. His knees were to his chest, with his arms resting crisscrossed on them.

"So, what's your name?

Quash was already fearing the worst, and that was that she'd bring up Orange City at some point in the conversation. That kind of fear that he saw was primal, like if you thought you were about to face death itself. That had to be what she was afraid of. After all, the entire USD was currently after him, Earth as a whole definitely didn't like the saiyans right now, and even that weird guy in Mount Paozu heard of what happened. In fact, he had to fight an entire squadron of dinosaurs and wolves just to make it out of that situation alive. He even had to fight some kind of a lizard-man type guy named Dino Man. He still thought that that was a weird name for someone to call himself. In any case, the whole situation was bizarre. Hopefully, he wouldn't have to deal with something like that again.

Sure, when he met Callion he didn't seem afraid of him, but that was different. That guy was a saiyan, obviously he knew that not every saiyan was some evil-doer who wanted all the humans dead. To an outside bystander, they probably all looked the same to them. Quash was currently trying to figure out if he could try and explain that it wasn't his fault at all. Was it even worth it doing something like that? He'd doubt anyone would believe him. It was just like that lizard told him in Mount Paozu, Saiyans lived for this kind of stuff and performed acts of violence on a regular basis. To say that they didn't mean any harm this time was quite a claim.

He figured he might as well try anyway. It was getting increasingly harder to find Saiyans that could help him in his cause, and he could use a friend. Any friend, at this point. He'd lift his hand and run his fingers through his air. After all this time, he still couldn't believe that any of this was actually happening to him. All because he trusted the first saiyan he saw.

WC: 1009
TWC: 2028

342

POSTS

Ayu

POWER LEVEL

356,511

Tech Points

47/88

Forms

Enhanced Being [x39]

Zeni

92,117

Bio-Android

Jul 2, 2022 6:01:33 GMT -5

Post by Ayu on Jul 2, 2022 6:01:33 GMT -5

She wasn't going to move away from her spot that easily... But hearing a short thanks for allowing him to stay nearby wasn't something she'd predicted. Ayu blinked, a little puzzled. He said he didn't mean to startle her when she woke up abruptly from her nap too. She found herself feeling some guilt for reacting like that, but then again, she didn't know what to expect. People proved to be deceiving, so it seemed, and right now there were two contradicting points she knew about and had to make a sense of them. Was he a dangerous person - or not? Or rather, did he mean to be a threat here...

"Ayu," she introduced herself shortly from behind the tree, glancing cautiously at the Saiyan. There was no hostility coming from him, only a very faint sense of bitterness... She could tell that he didn't like her reaction, but it didn't anger him in the slightest. The young woman leaned back to her hiding spot, and only a flicker of green hair flashed next to the tree. Ayu felt better in her hideout, even if her safe place was obvious to the other person. It was something about staying out of the eyes of people... In Callion's case she was just too abashed to look at him straight, but today she was keeping her distance from another reason. Suspicion mixed with apprehension wasn't the best feeling to accompany her while meeting someone new. And while Ayu was trying to collect her thoughts, Quash sat near the pond, not interested in causing any harm at all - which she felt with relief. Yet, his energy dropped. In fact... Not like it was suppressed to appear smaller, but the hue turned into an impression of sadness and grief. His voice wasn't oozing energy nor confidence like in the case of other Sayinans she met and it made her peek carefully from behind the trunk. The man was sitting quietly, his eyes apathetically fixed on the surface of the pond, where light reflections danced.

Ayu took a step to the side. Her back slowly slid against the trunk until she was sitting on the moss on the opposite side of the tree. Wrapping her arms around her knees, she closed her eyes again. What was going on? What she once felt was a burning, scaring fire of Ki, now felt like a torch tormented by a cold, persistent wind. Quash wasn't a person that she would accuse of doing such a horrible deed - but she felt it and she was aware that he was behind it. Contrary to that, what she could discern by his Ki was telling her one thing. That he was tormented by something - and that was enough for her wariness to decrease.

Maybe she wasn't being cautious at all right now, but she wanted to know. To understand.

"Quash? Can I a-ask you about something?" Ayu requested with a mellow tone, her voice devoid of anger or grudge. Resting her head on her joined arms, she glanced at the grass near her feet. She was concerned. Sad by what has happened, but not trying to push the guilt more onto the stranger, no... Yet, there was something that made her question Quash's behavior, mostly because of his energy. It did give her the impression that he was a harmless, sympathetic person... But to be fair, the other two Saiyans she met gave her a similar feeling - until she sensed them destroying the city. Was she to blame for being careful now..? "Y-you-" Ayu hesitated, feeling how her tongue refused to obey her. She closed her mouth, gathering the resolve to speak up. This matter stopped being personal when Orange City disappeared from the surface of the planet. "You're... You're not happy about what has happened... Are you?"

Slowly, she closed her eyes again. There was a moment of silence, full of the croaking of frogs and distant cries of cicadas that were all over the lea. The breeze rustled the reed and the tree leaves. Somewhere in the world, people were fighting - some of them were born, some were taking their last breath. It was the order of things... The survival of the fittest claimed that the strongest would thrive. But that wasn't necessary. They all were powerful enough to not be bothered by Earthlings, that aggression wasn't necessary - so why? Why?

"I know that the three of you have attacked the city in the south," she said quietly, her voice mellow, to the brim filled with melancholy. The thought of that was heavy on her chest, but Ayu couldn't... Let's say she had enough trying to avoid painful and unpleasant things. It wasn't good for her consciousness. She didn't want to be a coward, even if she still was hiding behind the tree, afraid to ask Quash directly, face to face. Her hand gently caressed the cool blades of grass. "I've met Athren a-and Jorey before," she mentioned, looking up at the sky. "They've seemed nice," Ayu smiled sadly, sitting still on her side of the tree. Her head rested on the tree bark for a moment, while she narrowed her eyes. Athren offered to give her a lesson on controlling her Ki after she would take care of his daughter, she was really looking forward to that... Cress was so cute, she wanted to meet her again. What Ayu is going to say now to them? That she won't play with her because of what her father did? Of course not, Athren deeds should never affect how she would treat that little, headstrong girl. She felt her eyes tearing up and wiped them down anxiously. And Jorey, a distant, tepid person, despite all odds went out of his way to aid her when she was followed by people with bad intentions in the East City. If it wasn't for him, gods know what would have happened to her... "They both helped me," she murmured, her voice starting to tremble with unease. "But th-then later I've sensed y-you three in Orange City..." There was no disappointment in Ayu's voice.

Merely sadness to the point of tears.

"W-Was I... D-Deceived, thinking that they were nice people..?" One, two, three drops rolled down her face while Ayu was wiping them out, trying in vain to keep her tone composed. When she thought about that sickening sensation of dozens of life's signatures vanishing while overwhelmed by the primal rage of the warriors there, she couldn't help by tremble. It was awful. What they did was awful. How could anyone even think of wiping out the whole city with its population like it was nothing? "Was there an a-another reason for that happening..? Is it a Saiyan thing t-to appear friendly, but kill others later?" Ayu helplessly hid her face in her arms. "O-or is it just my luck..?" she finished with a soundless whisper.

Super Weighted Clothing Equipped
Power Level - 63,731
PL with SWC - 15,932
Word Count - 1,152
Total Word Count - 3,154

177

POSTS

Quash

POWER LEVEL

169,132

Tech Points

17/38

Forms

Super Saiyan: [x16]

Zeni

4,692

Archived

Jul 2, 2022 16:34:22 GMT -5

Post by Quash on Jul 2, 2022 16:34:22 GMT -5

The green-colored girl, who introduced herself as Ayu, brought the topic directly to Orange City. Quash's expression, while not aggressive, obviously showed some annoyance. Great, just great. Not only did she have the whole incident in mind as soon as he arrived, but she knew specifically that it was him. He didn't really know how to respond to it. He sure as hell wasn't going to attack or kill her over it, that was for sure. He may have done some bad things in the name of the Saiyan Army, but he wasn't a psychopath. Though he was supposed to appear nonthreatening, which was kind of hard to do when the person you're dealing with knows you slaughtered hundreds of people in one night like it was nothing.

However, Quash had to admit he didn't see that kind of a question coming.

Did he...? Feel bad about what happened?

The saiyan was initially silent, not sure how to answer that question exactly. Sure, he felt bad about being betrayed and used. He felt that his entire home was now thrown into a conflict over... whatever it was that Athren was trying to achieve. But that's not really what she meant, was it? She was talking about the lives lost. The corpses of soldiers just trying to defend their homes and the numerous civilians that tried to get to safety. The fact that he wiped an entire city off the map, and now it would cost a lot of Earth's resources to rebuild. What she was really asking was if he felt guilty.

Quash continued to listen to Ayu as she went on.

The more she spoke, the stranger Quash felt. His facial expression began to slowly go from annoyed, to concern. She went on about how she knew Athren and Jorey, the same saiyans that were with him on their rampage across the city, and talked about how they were nice to her and treated her with nothing but kindness. She even brought up how they helped her out with something that she was dealing with, which was a little weird to hear. He only met Jorey for about a couple of seconds before everything went to hell, so he couldn't speak about his character. But Athren? From what he saw, Athren was nothing but a pretentious prick. He didn't think he was up for helping anyone at all.

Suddenly, Quash's eyes widened as he could hear Ayu's tone change. It shook like someone experiencing a lot of emotion. Could she be…

His gaze finally left the water in front of him as he turned to where Ayu was. He couldn't see her face from where he was sitting, but he did see her wiping her tears away? Crying? She was crying? That was certainly something he hadn’t seen in a while. Even when he had invaded other worlds in the past, he only saw anger, hatred, and a willingness to survive. He never saw any sadness. How well did Ayu know Athren and Jorey exactly? Did she really know them enough to have this much of a reaction?

Quash raised his right hand, running his fingers through his hair. It was almost like he was trying to wipe away any clouding of his judgment. Now was certainly not the time for more doubts to plague his mind. He assumed the position that he was in moments ago, arms crossed and on his knees and staring at the water once more. It was odd, the way she spoke of the saiyans.

Quash figured it wouldn’t hurt to give her an explanation. It seemed like she had a lot of doubts as well, but there was still room there for open-mindedness. He gathered his thoughts together, trying to answer all of her questions in one go.

"No, it's not a saiyan thing. Or, at least, it's not supposed to be. You'd find that kind of character from those lizards in the Planet Trade Organization. We're supposed to be upfront about who we are and own it. Hiding behind a mask is a coward's play.

The truth is, I had no plans for Orange City. In fact, I had no plans for Earth at all. I was originally here because of something entirely different. I, and, looking back, I think Jorey as well, were deceived by Athren. As you already know, the saiyans are able to undergo a very powerful transformation under a full moon. The Great Ape. Our transformation is naturally an out-of-control, rampaging monster. It takes a lot of training and discipline to be able to control yourself in such a wrathful state. I figure that Athren probably mastered his, but unfortunately, due to a few reasons, I haven't yet gone through that training. I don't know if Athren knew that already or if he was banking on it, but either way he took advantage of that. You put a couple of building-sized wild animals in a city, and that's what you get.

I don't know why he did what he did, it certainly makes no sense to me. When I first met him, he seemed very protective of this planet. It was to the point where it was annoying. We even fought over his attitude."

Quash took a big sigh.

"I don't even remember what happened. One minute everything was fine and the next I was in the middle of nothing but ruin."

The more he spoke, the more frustrated he sounded. The ground began to subtlely rumble as his energy began to rise. It was clear he was getting angry, annoyed at his own carelessness.

"Now, everything's a mess. The USD is not only hunting me but all who are like me. I can only imagine what's going on back on Planet Vegeta with the USD already stationed there. They've probably heard the news already and there's no telling what they'll do. Things there are already bad, and it's only going to get worse from there. I want to head back, but I can't yet. I need to find Jorey to see if he knows anything, but most importantly I need to find Athren. I need to make sure he pays for what he's done."

The vibrations began to slow to a stop as Quash began to calm down. Reminding himself about appearing non-threatening.

"I won't lie to you. I'm not a saint. None of us are. The saiyans live to fight, to push our limits so we can reach greater and greater heights. The never-ending desire for combat and to become stronger is what drives us. That's what our invasions are really about. We even send our children to these worlds. Finding the strongest in the universe, and testing our metal against them. I've killed many who were deserving, and many who were not.

In this universe, it's survival of the fittest. There are only the strong and the weak. If you don't eat, you end up getting eaten. Still, there is at least some honor in our actions. We only seek the strong, leaving the weak to just kind of fend for themselves. If they want to remain that way, then that's on them.

So, to answer your question, do I feel bad? I feel bad that I was used as a tool to drive my people into further darkness, I feel bad for myself slacking on my training and not taming the beast within, I feel bad that I can't even remember how badly I got screwed over, and I feel bad that I was dumb enough to fall for Athren's schemes. But do I feel bad for the deaths of those people?

Not at all, and if I had to guess Jorey and Athren probably don't either.

Weakness is a choice. Earth made theirs and you reap what you sew. That being said, what happened at Orange City was all Athren's idea and, if it wasn't for him, those people would still be alive."

Quash then got really quiet, waiting for Ayu's response. He had long come to terms with the nature of himself and his race, would she be able to?

WC: 1358
TWC: 3386

342

POSTS

Ayu

POWER LEVEL

356,511

Tech Points

47/88

Forms

Enhanced Being [x39]

Zeni

92,117

Bio-Android

Jul 3, 2022 14:17:08 GMT -5

Post by Ayu on Jul 3, 2022 14:17:08 GMT -5

Although Ayu was sitting still, speaking quietly about what was heavy on her mind, emotions inside her head were running wild. The spiraled around with the growing concern. Thoughts, ideas, suspicions... Was it only compassion behind her voice? Her mellow tone was gentle, without any anger or implications of placing guilt on anyone. She solely and genuinely wanted to know what was Quash's point of view on this mess. Why he did what he did, what made them even consider it... Was that Ayu's only motive behind her questions? Yes. Yes, it was. Because having more opinions heard was better than hearing none. It was easy to judge others without letting them speak and Ayu would hate to do that... As someone who often felt unpleasant gazes, she knew how it felt when people were only considering one side of the story, not bothering to reach out to hear the other side.

She was silently grieving for the lives lost. For the somebody now in pain. For the ones who have lost their families and the place, they used to call home. How many lives vanished that day... That nauseous feeling gave her nightmares when she was sensing how dozens of signatures were trampled over primordial rage. It might have been ridiculous from others' point of view - Ayu never knew anyone from the South, she never saw those people, never met them, and yet... There was no rule saying that she couldn't feel what she felt. With her hands joined like in a prayer, she was silently giving herself a moment to think about what has happened. Any stranger was a living, feeling being too. Casualties happen, and nature was unpredictable too... But one thing was knowing that the hurricane didn't mean to be deadly, it simply was created like that, and another thing was hearing about someone with a choice. Who picked that path of creating a tragedy over everything else... A creature with a conscience wasn't a brutal force of nature, there were always choices and consequences for them. But was there really any choice to make? Listening to what Quash was saying, Ayu heard that the whole thing was staged. No choice, only the unfavorable outcome that he has to deal with alone.

She wasn't holding a grudge against the Saiyans. She wasn't able to. The apprehension was not to be mistaken for fear or hatred... Ayu was melancholic, sad, and disappointed in herself that perhaps she too has trusted her instincts too easily. That was it. She was hurt about the whole ordeal, no strings attached, no underlying reproaches. Tears slowly rolled down her cheeks, while Ayu was growing somber with each word she heard from the opposite side of the tree.

"It m-must be difficult..." when she finally spoke, Ayu rested the back of her head against the tree bark. The sun shining through the leaves created a spectacle of dots of light and shadow, and her green self was blending pretty easily in the background, on the seat of green moss. "I'm sorry you're going through this," she closed her eyes. Since he walked here, Quash didn't seem to be so confident about himself, and when he finally talked about what she asked, there were many things to consider. His spirit was low because of dissatisfaction over the recent event. The Orange City circumstances, his unplanned participation, consequences, and problems... The attack wasn't intentional, not from his side. It was clear that he wasn't proud of what has been done, yet the lives of people didn't mean much in his eyes. They were victims to him falling for a scheme, the victims that he barely even cared to think of... But Ayu's features softened slightly.

She felt how he was calming his energy while speaking. And she noticed that despite his tepid approach to this problem, Quash didn't sound like a person eager to start a rampage on a whim. Although he might have not thought highly of this planet and its inhabitants, there were no intentions behind his words to be a threat. At least not without a certain reason, but that was enough. That's why Ayu asked. Because she wanted to understand.

Yet Ayu's stomach was sinking the more she heard. Was there no conscience, no common sense stopping anyone from planning to kill off a whole city? Then again, she couldn't say she knew anyone well enough to have a clear understanding of their situation. When she first meet Athren, she wasn't able to pinpoint anything suspicious about him. There was no foreboding that would make her stay on her guard, he was friendly and cared for his children... But that shouldn't automatically mean that he was a good person, right? Ayu felt sympathy towards the rough-looking, hardy Saiyan that offered her a lesson in energy control when he noticed she was struggling with it. Maybe she got off easy because Cress took a liking to her..? That... Was unsettling. If Quash and Jorey were deceived by Athren... No, she didn't know what would that mean in the slightest. All she knew was that one of the Saiyans used the lack of knowledge and experience of others for his own reasons - at least that was what she heard from Quash. The transformation into The Great Ape was something she never learned about before, but the description matched what she felt - uncontrolled rampage, primal rage, and instinct to destroy and kill... That's why it was so scary. The Saiyans were puzzling but terrifying creatures sometimes, were they not?

"That's... That's not survival of the fittest," Ayu said softly after pondering a moment about Quash's last words. She was only stating her thoughts with a peaceful tone but was careful to not come off as someone trying to mock or lecture him. They said that pointing out the cultural or racial differences was indecorous, but the contrast between Earth and Vegeta was making things difficult for both Saiyans and Earthlings. The young woman blinked slowly, looking at her hands. A white butterfly mistook her fingers for grass and Ayu was watching how the insect was spreading its delicate wings. "That's greed," she added, lowering her voice. "The predators never t-take more than they need. They kill to eat. To protect themselves and those they care about. That's only natural." ... Because she knew better than anyone how nature works. She was a part of it, observed the cycle every time she ventured into the woods... She saw the contrast between what was happening in the green fields and the depth of the jungle of steel. "Survival of the fittest..." Ayu's voice now was sweet and sad. "People here turned that phrase into the justification of competitive killing... They can strip other beings from their lives for sport or a whim without a second thought. For the greater good or for a mission. It's the same on the other planets... Is it not?" She could feel her shoulders growing heavy again and tears gathering in her eyes again. "The only difference here is that Saiyans' prowess is greater than our own."

The butterfly flew away and Ayu rested her cheek on her arm. It felt like the problems and concerns of the whole universe decided to burn their weight into her back. The stronger were able to rule easily over those weaker than them with brutality, but they rarely were using their force for the good of many. Ayu didn't want to blame Saiyans for their nature, but she could certainly feel how mixed feelings she got about their approach to life. And look where it leads them all right now... Was that all there was? Athren was nowhere to be sensed, and Ayu was more confused than before. She wanted to ask what he did, to try and understand the reasoning behind his actions... But she couldn't. Were Cress and her brother okay? What's happening with Athren after he turned Orange City into ruins? Quash was now deeply troubled by what he had to face because of the blue-eyed Saiyan... And his guilt was stretching back to his home planet and his people. Ayu hoped that at least Jorey was in better condition. His energy flickered somewhere around the north, but he seemed to be safe and sound.

"I know that what h-has happened wasn't easy for you... I'm sorry," Ayu felt a faint sense of guilt for prying with that question, but at least now she felt better, not left in the dark with suspicions and doubts. Even if it all wasn't pleasant to hear and gave her more concerns, she was glad to know that at least someone shared his thoughts with her... "I understand your point... But I don't agree." An apologetic smile bloomed on her face when Ayu carefully started to wipe the traces of tears from her cheeks. Quash was already under a pressure, and a majority of the events that lead to his state happened on Earth, without his intentions. He might have no second thoughts or sense of guilt about the lives lost, she was aware, but she didn't approve of that. Seeing someone like that made her sad and each time her heart hurt. "You can't kill those weaker than yourself and call it a survival when they weren't a threat to you in the first place." But it was probably only her thought. Too soft. Too compassionate. Like she isn't aware of how the world works, that was what most people were thinking about her... Still, Ayu's face became less clouded.

"Thank you for being honest with me," she smiled gently on the other side of the tree - Quash couldn't see it, but most likely could hear it in a gentle shift of her tone.

Super Weighted Clothing Equipped
Power Level - 63,731
PL with SWC - 15,932
Word Count - 1,630
Total Word Count - 4,784

177

POSTS

Quash

POWER LEVEL

169,132

Tech Points

17/38

Forms

Super Saiyan: [x16]

Zeni

4,692

Archived

Jul 4, 2022 8:59:39 GMT -5

Post by Quash on Jul 4, 2022 8:59:39 GMT -5

Quash quietly listened to Ayu's points and thought them over in his head. He was glad that she sounded like she was in a better mood at least. That was good. She wasn't entirely wrong anyways. The way of the saiyans wasn't exactly full proof. He didn't doubt their philosophy had some holes in it, but oddly enough he was okay with that. He had not only come to terms with but had fully embraced the saiyan way of life. He didn't have any love interests or kids. Fighting and getting stronger was pretty much all he lived for. The adrenaline and excitement were almost like an addiction for him, and he knew that was something that would always be a part of him.

That being said, Quash couldn't help but feel like Ayu's perspective was a little naive. He stifled a laugh, not being able to take seriously those that are insistent on sticking to the moral high ground. She'll learn eventually, everybody does. He thought, almost feeling bad for her. When reality hit her, it was going to hit her like a truck. With the Planet Trade Organization constantly adding more and more planets to their collection and the USD forcing their way of life on other civilizations, there was no room for neutral parties that minded their business. The Namekians tried that, and look where it got them.

"I don't expect you to understand, I'm just telling you how it is."

Quash continued to sit in silence, his doubts still egging him on incessantly. The power and the ferocity of the people he was beginning to face as he began to travel were approaching a level he wasn't really aware of until recently. He had never seen that much power in a person. He desperately wanted to be able to surpass him, but could he? He had gotten stronger since his last real battle, but hadn't his opponents as well? Besides, this newer breed of fighters were starting to show some real potential. Did Quash really have what it took?

After a few moments that seemed to stretch for an eternity, he couldn't help but begin to speak out. "Tch, this is bullshit!" He exclaimed, stretching all of his arms and legs as he did so. He let himself fall to his back, letting his feet hit the water in front of him with a splash as he stared into space. "I can't believe how bad its gotten! I don't know how to catch up to the kind of power I'm dealing with here! I've never experienced such strength before! It's exciting, exhilarating even, but like, UGH. You know?" Quash was more venting than anything else, so he wasn't exactly making sure that Ayu understood what he was talking about.

He took a deep breath, calming his nerves and getting himself together. It's not like Quash didn't know the answer to what he had to do. He had to train not only harder, but better. He had to step his game up and adjust to this new league of power he was introduced to. Whining and complaining weren't going to get him anywhere. Quash needed to new training equipment, new techniques, new... well new everything. He had to essentially transform his entire training style into something different. That sounded like a good plan, right? It's not like he didn't have the resources to do so. He could find a disguise to conceal his saiyan identity and he knew Ki Suppression to hide from Ki Users, he could definitely go into the city and buy the things he needed to put his plan into action! Who was going to stop him?

And yet...

"Man, what is wrong with me. It's like I don't even recognize myself anymore. I've never doubted myself like this. Every time I've come across something I couldn't get over initially, I just worked at it until I was able to overcome whatever obstacle was in front of me. After all, that's the only thing to do at that point. Nothing's really changed, so why is it do I feel this way?"

Quash took another sigh as he sat up.

"I don't know why I'm telling you this, you're just a kid. You couldn't possibly understand." He added, figuring it was best not to waste his breath any further.

He decided that he might as well get to know Ayu. She mentioned Jorey and Athren helping her before, right? He was curious about the specifics. If that was the case, did she know anything about them? Maybe she knew where Quash could find Athren, or at least Jorey. With the latter, he could maybe recruit into the squad he'd soon be forming anyways. Maybe Jorey knew where Athren was. Ayu seemed friendly enough, maybe he could just ask her.

"You said you encountered Athren and Jorey before, right? That they helped you? What exactly were they helping you with?"

Quash wanted to get into the details about what exactly she was and where she came from, but he had to remember his priorities. He needed to get some much-needed payback, then go back to his original plan to restore Vegeta to its former glory.

He hoped Ayu could provide something of substance that he'd be able to use to make any kind of progress at all. The more he thought about it, the more he considered himself lucky that he managed to stumble into just the kind of person who might be able to help him find who he was looking for. Considering how Ayu appeared to be not as "bold" as most of the people he's come from across, Quash figured it was a pretty good chance that whatever problem she needed help with was probably pretty mundane. To be honest, he was kind of expecting her to say something like "Uh... I lost a pet." or "I stubbed my toe.". Still, information was information. You never knew what kind of details would eventually become relevant in the future.

WC: 1005
TWC: 4391

342

POSTS

Ayu

POWER LEVEL

356,511

Tech Points

47/88

Forms

Enhanced Being [x39]

Zeni

92,117

Bio-Android

Jul 6, 2022 13:14:17 GMT -5

Post by Ayu on Jul 6, 2022 13:14:17 GMT -5

If it wasn't only for a few of her concerns, Ayu would be more troubled with this conversation. Right now Earth was getting into a high alert and a state of wariness caused by the most recent attack. From now on Saiyans are going to be greeted with suspicion even greater than before and the attitude towards aliens on the blue planet is only getting worse... It might have been farfetched a bit, but that was only a pensive reflection on her side. Ayu was pondering about the order here - or lack of it to be honest. How the future is going to look was always a mystery. The USD and officials here were already making their claims... Yet, there were many differences between Vegeta and Earth, not to mention that each race had various values and cultures. How many planets and species there was? Reaching a point of understanding will always be difficult. What was normal for one wasn't ethical for another. Finding a common ground at first appeared to be quite the ordeal here... How could a universe create a regulation that would be respected and accepted by all the living beings that occupied this space? That was the question. She felt herself frowning. In a moment like this, what should the Guardian of Earth do? Maybe if she would come there, she would be able to learn more and understand. Ah, there were so many issues and problems fluctuating around, how was she supposed to keep track of them?

But there were things that Ayu could relate to... Right here and right now. And that was the concern and the weight of the world on her shoulders... Weight of her own world of course, with all the second thoughts, not being good enough, and feeling helpless when seeing obstacles growing at every possible path. It seemed that Quash was able to say what was weighing on his soul, venting his bitter anger and grief. Maybe it was just her, but his energy became a little clearer. A small smile appeared on Ayu's face after hearing him blurting his rant and falling on his back. There was even a soundless chuckle when she covered her mouth, not, of course, mocking him, but finding some comfort in awareness that he was relaxed enough to speak his mind like that. By any means, she didn't need to hear that - but she felt that he was the one who needed to get it off his chest. Ayu herself wasn't too good at sharing her thoughts or doubts with others, but she was listening to Saiyan, noticing the tones of irritation and reproof of having been deceived. But one thing stuck with her, something as people like to say - agree to disagree.

"I understood what you mean," Ayu corrected her previous statement gently, referring back to Quash's comment. She placed her cheek on the rough bark, glancing at the tree crown. A very pensive tone slid into her voice. Her thoughts again flew into this state when she was expressing her mind freely, so lost in her reflections and completely forgetting that a second ago she was feeling abashed or afraid. "Understanding is one thing. Agreeing is a second thing and accepting another one," she narrowed her eyes while looking at the sunspot above her, closing her eyelids to enjoy the warmth of the rays. "I'm... Acquainted with that. I know that even if I don't want to accept things I don't like or agree with, they won't disappear from this world." There was sadness, but also a silent conviction and awareness in her voice. Oh, there were so many issues and curses around and if she only could, she would get rid of them all... Yet, she was only one girl, a young woman that not so long ago started maturing and was still far from finding her purpose. She was a kid, but a kid that had to grow up too quickly which in return turned her into a pensive and sensitive lady. Sometimes feeling too much was a misfortune on its own. Ayu knew that there were things that she could only label as vain hopes. She wasn't likely to be able to fix the world in the way she wished for... Because that wasn't a task for one person. It all had to start with people being a little more eager to understand each other, but here was laying the same issue that Ayu pointed out. That understanding and agreeing weren't always coming in one package.

"... But people tend to forget that it's possible to disagree and still respect and be kind to one another."

It was simple, but at the same time so difficult to comprehend. Ayu opened her eyes. Was it too much to expect people to try? To understand each other and look past what they can't accept to find a common ground? Then again, how could some work on getting along with others when they were still trying to figure themselves out? Ayu wasn't an exception... But first and foremost, more than anything, she never wanted to cause any harm or pain to another living being. She needed to overcome this horrible sensation of being helpless, learn more... Yes, what he said. Ayu felt her expression softening... It again struck a familiar chord, who would have thought?

"It's because you're still growing," Ayu said and there was a soft chuckle right after her words. There was something absurdly humorous in telling a man that called her a kid that he's still developing. "We're still growing. I m-mean, figuratively speaking," she explained with a genuine kind voice, to make sure she won't come off as a rude person. She learned it hard way, too... No matter how hard was she meditating or trying to be in control, her energy was still unstable. People around started to point it out too... At first, it was just Ayu, unable to assess herself properly, but the stronger she was becoming, the harder it was for others to tell what was going on with her Ki. Thanks, goddess it was calm now and obstructed because of the weighted clothing, otherwise, she wouldn't know what to do. She needed to find a new way to keep her energy occupied, otherwise - it could end badly for her. "At one point the old ways stop working," Ayu said warmly, joining her hands together. The reflection in her tone hinted that she was speaking from experience. "I think, that when we outgrew our old selves, the world gives u-us a bigger challenge - and then our old habits don't work. So we have to prove how much we have changed, by learning something new." It wasn't easy. Or pleasant. But it was very much needed... Fighting or training was never her thing and Ayu hated the idea of a conflict, but with each passing day, this awful awareness was sinking in. That perhaps, one time she won't have a choice... "I can tell that you're a very strong person Quash... You could have changed already but haven't noticed it yet," maybe amidst all his words this reflection came out as an anxious compliment, but Ayu was being honest. "And if your path is more difficult now, that means that your calling is greater."

There was a moment of silence when Ayu tucked her knees under her chin, embracing her legs with both hands. There was a shift in the air from the sunny warmth to a cooler, summer breeze. Athren and Jorey... She met them both quite a while ago and a lot has changed in the meantime. At this point, she wasn't sure that any of them would be eager to see her. A deep breath raised her chest. Despite his help, Jorey might have not been remembering their meeting as a pleasant event, and Athren - right now that Saiyan was an enigma. Ayu wasn't even sure what she was supposed to think, given all the information from Quash and doubts in her head. She quietly rested her chin or her arm.

"I met Athren when I was gathering herbs in the mountains," she started her tale after a short while. "His daughter approached me and we talked... He offered to teach me how to conceal my Ki. I h-have trouble controlling my energy and he noticed that," maybe it shouldn't be counted as help if the lesson never took place, but the sole offer and his intention to help was enough for Ayu. Mentioning things she was lacking made her face flush nervously and her voice stuttered. What would she say to Athren now if they meet? How should she behave? It wasn't Cress's fault that he did what he did and she wasn't going to blame the little girl for her father's sins... But Ayu would be upset and anxious if she'd have to talk to Athren again. "And Jorey..." Ayu shifted her focus to another Saiyan recalling their quite eventful encounter. Now she got quiet for a moment, with a mix of uneasiness, abashment, and sadness piling up inside her. "H-He helped me when I was followed and almost attacked by a group of... Not exactly friendly people. He fended them off and walked me to the place I needed to visit," well, walked wasn't the right word, but let's say that carrying Ayu in his arms atop of city buildings, while they were running away from police didn't sound so harmless. "I know that he's a former soldier and I think that right now he's in the north... At least I can sense his Ki somewhere there. I c-can't say anything about Athren though, because he can suppress his energy," Ayu's eyes were closing slowly.

Her next heartbeats felt heavy as lead.

"It's going to rain soon."

Super Weighted Clothing Equipped
Power Level - 63,731
PL with SWC - 15,932
Word Count - 1,638
Total Word Count - 6,422

177

POSTS

Quash

POWER LEVEL

169,132

Tech Points

17/38

Forms

Super Saiyan: [x16]

Zeni

4,692

Archived

Jul 7, 2022 9:19:32 GMT -5

Post by Quash on Jul 7, 2022 9:19:32 GMT -5

The Captain simply made an audible grunt in response to her opinion of him. While Ayu's perspective was unique, and he respected it, Quash took it with a grain of salt. After all, what could she possibly know about him? They had just met today, so the thought of her knowing him better than he knew himself was pretty far-fetched to say the least. She was right about one thing though, the world liked to challenge them. It never let them stay comfortable, always throwing bigger and bigger threats at him. It was why Quash constantly trained as much as he could. The last thing he wanted to experience was getting left in the dust.

At the same time though, that's what made it fun. The constant cycle of breaking limits only to find new ones that you had to confront. Some may call it exhausting, or even pointless. Back home, he's seen plenty of Saiyans give up and look toward the USD's way of life that they were trying to force upon us. He looked down on them. So much so that he might have even gone as far as saying they're not "real saiyans". For Quash on the other hand, not only was it exciting, but addicting. The feeling of reaching new heights in his power was extremely rewarding.

He began to listen closely as Ayu went into detail about how Athren and Jorey helped her. There were a few things that caught his attention, but probably the biggest one was that Athren... had a daughter?! To be honest, Quash felt bad for the child. Having that as a father had to be one hell of an experience. Not only that, but that also means that somebody had taken a liking to tall, dark, and edgy! Quash was almost a little offended that he wasn't able to find anyone yet, meanwhile, this guy had an entire family!

Pfft, whatever. I don't need anybody anyway. I got so much self-love that I don't need another person. Take that, you goddamn edge lord. Quash said to himself, admittedly a little jealous. So, apparently, Jorey had saved her from some goons. Not only that, but he was a former soldier. Quash could only assume that he used to be a member of the Saiyan Army like Athren was. If that was true, that might work well in Quash's favor. If Jorey was dissatisfied with how things were going on Vegeta, he might be willing to work with him in order to bring it back to what it used to be. North, right? Maybe I'll head over there...

As for Athren, he had taught her to control her power, which was a little odd. It sounded awfully nice for a guy who was not much more than an asshole. He would say that it was odd for someone to help somebody out one minute and then wipe away a city the next, but it's not like Quash hadn't done similar things before during the invasions of other worlds that he was a part of. Maybe Ayu had done him a favor in return? That was about the only thing he could think of.

There was one more thing that had gotten his attention. Going off of what Quash could sense from Ayu at the moment, he was a little perplexed as to what kind of power Ayu needed help containing. It was no offense to her, but it wasn't exactly impressive. He wondered if it was a little rude to ask a personal question like that. Things had been going well enough so far, if he had to guess she'd probably be okay with it.

Suddenly, Ayu brought up that it was going to rain soon. Quash looked up to the sky, and what do you know, the clouds were starting to form. She was pretty sharp with that observation, he wondered if she spent time outside often. "Huh, I guess so." He replied, calmly getting up onto his feet and beginning to stretch. He figured he'd ask her about this "uncontrollable" power another time. Right now, it was probably a good idea to get some shelter somewhere. There was something that was slightly bugging him though. It was something she said. "Hey about what you said earlier, with the whole "I could've changed"? What did you mean by that?" He asked.

Did she mean a different purpose? A greater power? While he was a little skeptical about how much truth there was to her words already, he was naturally curious. Plus, it did feed his ego a little bit. It was very comforting to act like he was "destined" for greatness, even though he didn't believe in that kind of "the universe is trying to tell you something" stuff at all.

After Ayu would answer, Quash would once again begin thinking about that shelter he was after before. He figured this was probably where they would part ways for now. "Well, I think I'm gonna head out so uh, I guess this is goodbye for now. Even though we don't see completely eye to eye, it was nice to get another pair of eyes on the situation at least." He was still unsure himself, but maybe Ayu was right. In the past, especially when growing up, whenever Quash got into a rough area it meant that he was reaching a wall and that he had to make some kind of change in order to keep going. Mentally and physically. Maybe this really was one of those times. What kind of change did he have to make this time, he wasn't sure. Maybe it was something he was going to have to figure out in his own way.

Quash looked in the North direction, preparing to take off in that direction. He figured that he might as well head over there now to look for Jorey. He might know something else about Athren that Ayu didn't. Plus, he might end up buying some interesting things while he was in one of Earth's cities. "Thanks for helping me vent and figure things out. Let's talk again!" He replied with a smile. He'd then take off into the sky, leaving with a slightly different mindset than he had when he arrived.

WC: 1047
TWC: 5438

-EXIT-

342

POSTS

Ayu

POWER LEVEL

356,511

Tech Points

47/88

Forms

Enhanced Being [x39]

Zeni

92,117

Bio-Android

Jul 8, 2022 2:30:29 GMT -5

Post by Ayu on Jul 8, 2022 2:30:29 GMT -5

How many unexpected turns and twists did this conversation get? Maybe one too many, but in the end, the atmosphere became lighter. Ayu couldn't help but softly chuckle when she heard annoyed groaning from another side of the tree. Normally she'd be worried and anxious about making someone uneasy, but this time it wasn't the case. It seemed that Quash was either a type that disliked reflecting on others and himself, or he found her pensive contemplating of the universe boring. It couldn't be helped. Ayu was too easy to get lost in her thoughts, but she trusted her instincts and what they were telling her... So she was speaking her mind. Her outlook was a bit unique to others. People didn't often like her train of thoughts, and she never blamed them, but she never tried to be superstitious or eulogize her manner of thinking either. After all, she was lacking in too many things, and judging others never felt right...

There were so many enigmas in this world she didn't understand but wished to. She could know the reasoning behind people's actions. Ayu wished for that genuinely. So she might have a chance to comprehend the complicated twists and turns of the relationships and factors that were pushing others to take certain measures. Even if they were all over the place and it wasn't full of benevolent intentions, she simply wanted to hear another side of the stories... What was Athren's reasoning behind the Orange City attack? Was Ayu naive for hoping to understand him or it was the right thing to do? She didn't know. But she wasn't able to figure anything out without the full picture here.

Life wasn't easy... Intelligent creatures, all the races that dwelt in the universe were fickle, quick to change their minds basing their reason on logic or feelings. Not like she could blame them, Ayu was a person full of emotions, and acting against them wasn't in her nature. Maybe that was something that she needed to change about herself too? She felt herself growing, but in the mirror, all she saw was the same powder green face with messy hair and pale yellow eyes. Was it a positive change or not..? There wasn't a person in her daily life that would be able to tell her, because she didn't have anyone so close to her to help her realize all the small things, in the end, will turn into one bigger change. Quash asked what she meant by saying that perhaps he have changed already. Ayu felt herself smiling a little. She wished to know how she was different from her old self, but without others pointing it out, it was a hard task to fulfill. Yet, one thing was adamant. The one constant thing in this world was that-

"Everything changes," she tilted her head, stroking her cheek slightly embarrassed, and glanced at the sky above. The firmament was always the same, wasn't it? Yet each day it looked different, the weather could paint a cloudy evening or a sunny morning out there, but undeniably, it will remain as the only sky the Earth had. "You want to grow stronger, right? We cannot become what we want to be by remaining the same forever, so... Maybe you already changed, even if you weren't able to spot the difference? I do t-think that's how it works." Ayu's voice sounded a little abashed and she felt a blush on her face. Did she sound silly while showing her inner thoughts to Quash? One thing was sounding weird, the other one was being childish. "We can't see the difference by ourselves, but it didn't mean that it's not there," she joined her hands together, her voice getting warmer. ".... I wish you the best," she added kindly at the end. There was a lot on the Saiyan's plate. The things that he had to struggle with, all the consequences he never asked for - it was troubling, to say the least, but in the end, she could only wish for his safety and good luck.

It was time to say goodbye. Ayu nodded silently.

"I know I m-might have not made much sense with my thoughts. I'm sorry about t-that... But I'm glad I was able to help, even if a little," an abashed mumble was all she could mutter from the back of the tree. Looking back at the conversation, she must have been a little rude, by hiding behind the trunk, and not talking to him face to face. She stroked her cheeks while pondering about it. She was scared at first, but now..? There was unease underlying the Saiyan's presence, but there were a lot of people out there making Ayu more anxious than this person venting and talking on the other side. "Goodbye Quash. Please take care," she said, sensing how the Saiyan's signature soared into the sky and out of the forest. I all grew quiet now. She was alone again.

Ayu closed her eyes and she didn't open them even when the rain started to pour. The sound of raindrops hitting the thick leaves above her and singing on the surface of the pound was calming. The air grew colder. The scent of wet soil, the soft rustle of grass and breeze... She wanted to stay here for a little longer.

Thread Finished

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Jul 8, 2022 14:28:28 GMT -5