Such was a thing with life, that it hardly was following any plans. Ayu had been keeping vague ideas in the back of her mind about what she wanted to do in her future, but it all felt so... Meaningless right now. What was the purpose of attending University while people were disappearing? What would she get from it anyway? It won't bring the dead back, it won't aid others, and it won't be of any use to her anyway. It's not like she wanted to be of service like that was the only meaning behind her actions... Ayu rubbed her temples, confused and hurt. She simply didn't want to harm others and let them be abused by someone else. It sounded so easy, but it wasn't. What kind of power she would need to do that..? Never in her dreams would Ayu think that she'd be thinking about seeking strength, but if it was for the sake of others it was way easier to accept. She knew she tended to be too soft. Too weak. Too emotional. Ayu has never hurt anyone, she dreaded the thought of causing harm to others willingly or not. She couldn't control her energy, let alone talk about using it for the sake of anyone. Her Ki wasn't getting stable and the amount of pressure on her shoulders was increasing with every day, and... How could someone like her make any difference in this cold universe?

Ayu sighed heavily while she walked through the forest. It barely was two hours after she was able to talk things out with Liari... Ayu's soul was still trembling when she thought about the child's state and the distress that her mind was put through. Even if she was able to wipe out towns with a flick of her finger, even if she was twice as tall as her, deep inside she still was a little girl craving affection. And that's what led to someone cruelly taking advantage of her. Ayu's face frowned and more tears gathered in her eyes, even if she should have run out of them days ago. The worry and horror that were eating away at her heart have been growing only stronger with time - or rather it finally started sinking in. It wasn't a bad dream, it was reality. She was hurting the whole time she listened to the Bluebell's tale, but it was different now. The whole gravity of the somber that befallen her little sister, the burden, the inability to do anything... People never think much about disasters until they happen to them or the one close to them, don't they? How could she be so foolish, so irresponsible? Against Liari's best wishes, Ayu was still blaming herself, even if deep down the awareness of not being able to make a difference was making the most sense. Because what would have she done? Nothing. Ayu promised to be back soon and she left for a walk to clear her head, yet it only ended with the guilt twisting and turning inside her stomach.

Something new appeared. There was one of the feelings Ayu never felt before that started to creep inside her head, toying with her heart and reasoning. It knocked on her skull, mocking her mind... And perhaps it had every right to do so.

Ayu was walking slowly through the forest... But her steps quickly started to grow hasty with each move - until she found herself trotting and then running as her life depended on it. Like something was trying to catch her... Most likely the sense of guilt, she thought bitterly. The young woman wiped her face messily, got rid of the tears, and ran. Her feet were heavily stomping on the ground. All around her, the forest was turning into a hectic, thick mess of greenery. Every time she made a step, tree trunks bend and grew, brunches sprouting through every possible spot. Flowers bloomed all around, even if they weren't supposed to bloom on this type of flora anyway. Blades of grass became longer, sharper, creating a path of emerald needles behind her. Her sole presence affected the area so much, that the dense leaves that she left behind here wouldn't be harmed by any action of a regular human. Roots expand and tangled, swirling in the air like snakes, and carpets of moss were covering every stone and pebble with a viscous layer of green. She was a mess and so was her chlorokinesis. Woods rustled and creaked, wary, uneasy... Animals in fear scattered around, and birds flew away flapping their wings in terror. Ayu was aware of that, but she couldn't do anything to stop it. The more distressed she was, the more her Ki was overflowing, and the forest was soaking it like a dried-up sponge. For now, she had to run to reach the place, so she could hide and think... And calm down.

She was frustrated to the point of tears.

Greenery moved away from her path. Ferns and leaves bowed, uncovering the entrance to the cave and when she ran through it, the curtain of moss and vines closed the place away from others. The secluded spot was perfect to train and meditate - and for keeping her head under control. The lichens lit up with a luminescent glow that shone on the metallic surface of the ship, which was tucked in safely in the grotto. A root pressed the button on the side and when the door to the vehicle opened, Ayu jumped inside. With tears running down her face, she ran straight to the cockpit, reminding herself what Tabu said about Namekian's ship. The operating system wasn't so hard and Ayu was getting a hand of it, but it still was complicated... Ruffling her and brushing away messy locks from her face, Ayu was trying to remember what to press. Her hand trembled above the screen, a pale yellow aura flaring up without her consent around her body. Somewhere outside she heard a dull noise - overgrowing roots started to dig into the walls of the caves and stones started falling from the ceiling. At this point, it was a race with time against her own Ki. She slammed the controls and the hatch closed, the display on the holographic screen started counting down the time for Gravity Chamber to activate.

She was starting to panic. Ayu grabbed the shirt on her chest, feeling, hearing how her startled heartbeat was getting louder. At first, exhaustion was like a pin prickling her lungs with each breath, and now it felt like her chest was cut with a blade from inside. She started frantically shooting glances all around the room, trembling like a leaf. The automatic voice of the ship was still counting, not even half as fast as she wished it would. The cave was filling with overgrowing plants outside, she could sense them feeding on her ragged energy. The vines started to softly slip between the mechanism of the door, tendrils painting swirls on the walls and the floor. If it continues like this, she just might destroy this place...

Gravity finally pushed her to her knees. Ayu could only let out a surprised gasp when she was forced to the floor, putting her arms around and placing her whole strength into trying to keep her back straight... But she ended up leaning down and curling into a ball. The force was nothing like she expected, but her now overwhelmed Ki calmed down. The tendrils trying to wrap around the ship retreated and she was able to return things to normal. Nothing in the cave was going to randomly blow up and sprout destructive roots... Hopefully. She was in control again - for now. Ayu closed her eyes. Breathing became more difficult but for a completely different reason than before. It took her more time than she liked to admit, to make the flora turn back to the way it was before... It might have been connected to the fact that she was squished to the ground by the tremendously high gravity. Every inch of her being was pressed to the floor, muscles were paralyzed by the sheer amount of force that she placed on herself, without maybe thinking it through. It felt like with every breath she could hear her ribs cracking and the slightest move was causing her bones to ache. It really hurt... But the pain was keeping her awake and told her, that at least, despite everything shaking in its foundations - she was still alive.

Wasn't it funny in this bitter way, that a lone girl in her late teens wasn't able to keep up with her energy? Ayu has met so many warriors lately, people that trained their whole lives and experienced so many different adversities only to remain victorious and survive... And here she was, unable to read her twitching energy, with her fluctuating Ki slowly stealing away the strength. The power wasn't matching her physical capacities, it's like it wasn't meant for her. Maybe it wasn't what she needed to become..?

She just graduated from school, she didn't know much about life. For what reason were all those things occurring around her now? Ayu was thinking about attending University, trying to figure out which path to take in her boring life. Compared to others, nothing about her was special or intimidating, so why was everything getting so wild right now..? Earth was threatened by the unknown powers, people needed help - and where was she standing in all this mess? What was going on with her body and Ki? She didn't know and she was just so frustrated with this hopelessness that was slowly swallowing her resolve. Two fresh tears rolled down Ayu's cheeks as she slowly wiped them down, staring for a moment at her wet fingers. Nothing good would come over crying too much... But she was going to get through it.

Because Ayu was sure about one thing. Power wasn't something that was easily obtained on her own - just look at what was happening to her. She never asked, yet she did receive it. It wasn't something that Ayu possessed because she wanted to... It was an enigma that maybe somebody else gave to her. Something that she wished to give to others. Maybe there was a reason for this rapidly growing energy, like her instinct telling her that she might need it in near future... Perhaps even sooner than she could expect.

Her loosely laying arms tensed and started to resist the gravity. Hands curled into fists, knuckles whitened from the pressure as the muscles started to tremble under the unhuman strain. Ayu moved her body to the kneeling position, sweat wetting her scalp. She could hear her bones crunch as her body moved, not adjusted to the environment she just placed herself in. On her face, a determined grimace appeared as she clenched her lips into a thin line. It hurt. Like an invisible, raw force pushing her down, gravity was doing everything to make her lay down on the ground, helpless and unable to move. Straightening her back felt like breaking through from an iron ring placed around her ribs. Ayu could finally take a deep breath again... But moving her torso was just the beginning. Shifting the gravity of her own body so she could get up made her falter and again she ended up on the floor, laying heavily on her side. Ah, great... Hitting her cheek with cold tiles under her wasn't so pleasant, but she got up once, she will do it again. It wasn't something that would lessen her spirit. Ayu's fist trembled. One move at a time she pulled herself up, focused to keep her muscles tensed and fighting against gravity. First, on all fours, then she sat on her knees as if ready for meditation. So far so good. Using her arms to elevate herself, she let out a muffled gasp and finally was able to get up from a crouching position. With the greatest difficulty, she stood up lifting her arms as if she was walking on the curb and needed to maintain her balance. Then slowly Ayu dropped her hands.

She was standing still in the Gravity Chamber. All on her own. Gasping for air and wet from sweat... It was a tiny achievement, but an achievement nonetheless. Her breathing hurt, like her lungs were set on fire. Wiping her brow, she felt her eyes filling with tears again... Her emotions were running wild. Maybe it was the relief she felt that she did something, or maybe the vastness of the new path that was unraveling in front of her was shaking her to the very core. Nothing has changed, the exerted pressure was still trying to push her down. There was so much to be done. And she was just one girl... No. Not anymore. She did tell someone that the difference wasn't always visible to the one who changed the most. Maybe it was time to take her own advice. Ayu closed her eyes again. The energy swirled, her hair started floating, and her clothing fluttered. Her pale aura flared like a torch, tiny discharges in the form of gleaming dots of Ki danced around creating a lustrous effect in the air. The warm pattern on her skin appeared there, creating a symmetrical mosaic of dots and lines. Her Ki was growing. Perhaps her heart was overflowing with emotions once more and that started again to pour out of the edges, like a waterfall washing her with feelings and leaden thoughts.

Ayu took a deep, shaky breath, barely keeping her voice in her throat. The tears gathering in her eyes dropped heavy on the tiles. Without anyone in sight, it was easier to let it all out. She was trembling, on an edge of breaking down, and almost falling to the floor again...

Yet she clenched her fists and stood her ground... And screamed. She never as much as raised her tone at anyone, and now Ayu lifted her head and cried at the top of her lungs. She shouted with all the force she could mutter from her body while her compressed by clothing and gravity energy was raging on. The sound vibrated deep in her chest while Ki flickered in her aura. Every emotion she ever felt was lurching violently in her conscience. The loud noise echoed inside the Chamber, and the floor and walls started to crack here and there. She had to shout it out or else she would go crazy - Ayu cried out all the pain, worry, confusion, guilt, and shame. Tears that were gathering in her eyes were snatched by the wind caused by the flaring aura. The frustrating helplessness, the sensation of being too weak, too pathetic... She was letting it all go, but she had to say goodbye to those feelings with all she got. Ayu was cleansing herself from the burden that was weighing on her chest, leaving only resolve and determination behind. The more she yelled out her pain, the less she felt it in her soul. But she couldn't keep it for long. The calmness started to shine through the range of intense emotions... And she was losing strength, exhausted after this fit of frustration took over.

Ayu's voice quieted down after a long while and when her throat finally dried out she fell to her knees again. Her aura died out, returning to the silently fluctuating energy that was occupying her body. That was enough, she was aching now all over. Curling into the ball Ayu patted her collarbone, trying to ease her sore throat, feeling that for the rest of the day her voice might not be the same. She coughed, supporting herself on one arm and fighting with the exhaustion that was trying to knock her out. Was it sweat or tears that were dripping down? She shouted until it hurt, but she felt better. Nothing had changed. Those emotions were still in her - she wasn't able to cut herself from feeling too much, she won't ever be even if she tried. But her thoughts were a little clearer now, like some kind of veil that was obstructing her mind vanished without a trace. And doesn't matter how absurd it sounded, it gave her some comfort. Ayu decided to rest her tired eyes and focused on her breathing. It took a lot of strength to turn her body and lay down on her back under this hellish gravity, but she did it. With her head on straightway into getting a headache from exhaustion, that was the best thing she could do. Shift her concentration to something natural, ease her mind a little and help herself keep calm.

"Think," she mumbled. "I need to think."

Inhaling proved quite demanding now. Ayu filled her lungs with oxygen, counting to five and exhaling slowly. Inhale and exhale, inhale and exhale, over and over again... Following that simple motion, her chest moved back and forth as it filled up with air. The oxygen traveled to the lungs and further into the bloodstream - and from there, throughout the whole body. Usually, that kind of motion is as natural as it gets, as one breath purely by instinct, and no force or control is needed for this process... But things weren't exactly as easy when Ayu was deeply exhausted and tormented by the enormous pressure of gravity. Perhaps she didn't notice it at first when she was in a state of panic and under influence of her emotion, but the air itself here was denser, heavier. Could gravity make it so? Seemed unlikely, but it didn't change the fact that the gasp of air didn't resemble a light breeze but rather a thick dollop of cream. Silly parallel. Ayu felt herself chuckle soundlessly. She couldn't leave her breathing to the organic autopilot of her mind, instead, some focus needed to be sacrificed so she could concentrate on something else... And there was a lot to think through.

Yet, the walls of her Namekian ship and Gravitation Chamber proved quite an obstacle. Of course, it was all because of gravity, but then again it was the young woman who turned the program on. The pressure wasn't faltering even the slightest and while lying still on the floor Ayu was constantly tensing up, fighting against the gravity that clearly wanted to smash her into the ground. It did hinder her efforts to keep her thoughts in one place, on one specific subject - but because of the attention to her every breath, she was reaching a new element of control. Maybe it wouldn't be so bad. Measuring intake and emission of air, being considerate about every breath, and simultaneously thinking back to the events of the last days... Ayu needed to anchor herself in this. Mumbling slightly to herself she moved - slowly of course and carefully - and sat on the floor in a diamond position, ready for meditation. It... It was even worse. Gravity was pressuring her spine and it felt again like an iron ring was clutching her chest. Sweat made her clothes stick to her like glue, but Ayu needed to keep up this repetitive action, to make it a habit, to learn again how to breathe. Before her thoughts could wander where she wanted them to, she had to master this new obstacle.

It was worth it. If it was going to help her control her power and get just strong enough to help those she wanted to, it will be worth it. Even if it was unpleasant and Ayu wanted nothing more than to get out of this Chamber and throw herself into the stream to wash away the sweat and cool off her steaming head... No. She wasn't going to think about it this way. Ayu took a deep breath. It wasn't an unwanted chore, it was something she eagerly was aiming to do. She was aware it will be a path full of trials and errors, but she got all the time she needed.

So she sat there for hours, hidden from others' curious eyes in the thick forest, secret cave, and the walls of an old ship, embracing her gravitational training grounds. With each breath, her sixth sense was able to reach out from the barriers around her a little further. Ayu knew what was out there, she had that knowledge, but couldn't exactly sense it properly. It was a little ironic... Despite the issue with her Ki, her senses were quite sharp. Under normal circumstances, while meditating, it would be the perfect occasion to stretch out her mind and let it wander off, feel and gain awareness of everything. Ayu could sense the plants, the lives of the trees that were filled with Ki from the longest root to the furthest twig. She could recognize animals wandering around the forest, the smallest bugs, and the most complex energies of people casually strolling the area. That was if that would be a normal case. Of course, those weren't circumstances like those – now she had to adjust every breath, and her concentration was split between the two actions, making it hard to fully master both. Now every move outside of the minimum felt like too much effort under the pressure and weight she felt. She needed to save her energy after she shout out her stamina not so long ago. With time that should change, Ayu should have much more freedom of movement when she would have finally adapted to the higher force of pressure. But it wasn't the time yet nor the level of acclimation to the environment.

Perhaps the impulse to scream out her feelings wasn't going to pay off in any way. Ayu only made herself tired... Huh, but her heart was lighter, wasn't it? She never was the type that would confide with someone else or try to vent her emotions in any way, keeping them quietly in her soul until they would either die out or cause her a migraine. Now, the situation was a little different. She could feel a quiet flame of determination that started to grow - and although she wasn't completely sure what it meant, there was something in her core soundlessly murmuring, that it was worth embracing.

She used to think that without anything or anyone by her side, there was her and her alone. She never minded too much a lack of people around - at least she thought so. It wasn't easy to accept that Zhang won't ever pay her attention, and people's eyes, full of suspicion and prejudice were stabbing her in the back. The fight with the sense of loneliness was the hardest and longest battle Ayu ever felt inside her, but at one point she was ready to give up. At least she could always count on the company of her plants, some little critter skittering along the ground, a few words exchanged with a kind stranger, right? But then people appeared in her life. Maybe they weren't there for long, snatched away by death or their own circumstances, but Ayu was more grateful than ever for having someone with her. Even if it was only for a short while... But her little sister did say that she won't die or leave her alone, and as much as it thought was warming her heart, it was also hurting Ayu. They never made a promise like that, but she knew that she was just a mortal being. Her fate was sealed already, one way or another... Liari wasn't a creature she would know anything about or could understand her biology or her lifespan. She couldn't stand the thought of Bluebell being devastated after her death or beating herself because for some reason she would have to be the first one to leave the mortal plane.

After that thought her throat started feeling dry again, as progressively more moisture started collecting on her skin from the strain on her muscles. Even though she did not move much beyond the pure minimum, the pressure of the unwavering gravity was enough to start breaking sweat after sweat, and bursting into tears earlier did not help her situation. It shouldn't be surprising, as the force that she set in the chamber was quite high. She should have been more careful, shouldn't she? Ayu might have very well set the gravity program on a level too high for her to handle, and she could have ended up with a crushed skull. The sole thought of that sent cold shivers down her spine. Brr... Luckily it didn't end that bad, she could feel her muscles already getting sore - and she was only sitting on the floor and breathing, how unfair was that? Well, it seems this type of training was all about that.

At that level, if she were to move around as she does normally, it would be no different than wearing an adult elephant as a backpack... And even if she would be strong enough to lift it, the comparison still stood. Getting acclimated to that kind of condition wasn't easy, especially without much prior experience and prep work. Ah, she shouldn't have rushed here from outside to slam the buttons and activate the Gravity Chamber without thinking. But then again, Ayu was getting a little desperate with her Ki slipping away from her control. Weighted Clothing was one thing and she was grateful that they were able to compress her Ki... But with each passing day, their weight was a little less noticeable. Ayu was getting used to them and she feared the moment when they won't have any effect on her body anymore. The Gravity Chamber worked in a similar way, but with different intensity... Yeah, in that end, she probably could've made more beforehand and visited this place more often to get used to the gravity.

Though it's not as if she was crushed under the force of pressure. That of course wasn't the case - she should be more careful. However, the longer she sat there alone, just with her thoughts, the deeper her reflection became. Fighting. What does Ayu know about fighting? She frowned a little at that thought. She didn't have a clue, she usually associated fighting with some old martial arts movies or the tournaments that were happening every year on the south side of the world. That was it. Ayu felt a strong detest towards harming each other, feeling dread at the idea that she hurt someone - intentionally or not. She didn't mind people sparring and honing their skills, but the thought of some taking away the lives of others so easily was creating a sense of opposition in her soul. The young woman respected any type of life, believing in the natural order of things and the cycle that was keeping it going. Yet more and more people proved that they didn't care, that they openly were causing mayhem and killing others. And she didn't even know what she could do about them. Ayu didn't want to attack anyone, but to protect others... Though one could debate that the attack was the best form of defense. It was complicated. After all, her experience was close to none, she was never properly trained and the only thing she was able to do was sense energy and grow plants.

Yet, the fact that she believed in respecting life and order didn't automatically mean that the others could fathom this kind of consideration.

Ayu stood up. Pressure tried to pull her down, clutching her legs and lungs, but she stubbornly stood her ground. Her body was tired, and her soul was aching but her resolve, on the other hand, was focused and sharp. She only needed to draw power from what she had an abundance of - from her emotions. It was a very sudden and random thought, or rather a conviction. When Ayu closed her pale eyes, she saw Liari's tearful face and remembered her voice that echoed inside her head. This blue and towering woman, her little sister, who would be by any other means able to bring mayhem to the world, was hurting. And yet the emotions, the ones that were worth all the pain were keeping her grounded... They made her come back to Ayu when in distress, even if she feared being rejected and hated. Would she be able to do that..? Ayu looked down at her hands and felt a sad smile blooming on her face. She would love this lively Bluebell even if she would have only hate and loathing for her to give back.

It was going to be okay. Ayu sensed too many things at once, she felt for others too strongly and too intensely... But perhaps this was her way to go. If she didn't want to cause harm to anyone, so be it. Perhaps the defense would be her weapon of choice... There were abilities that she could utilize like that, creating a barrier using her energy or creating a faltering afterimage of her movement. Yet, aside from random situations when she used those techniques on instinct, how could she learn more about them? It wouldn't be a bad idea to polish them and be prepared just in case, but Ayu never learned something like that. Everything else she was able to do, she studied from books... And chlorokinesis? It came naturally. Maybe even too easily when she thought about it, she learned it almost effortlessly and it developed naturally into a stronger ability, evolving on its own. That thought was scary. Ayu didn't want to suspect that it could be the reason for her inability to control fully her power... And her Ki control was still a mess, her energy cluttered and uneven, confusing now others too.

There were so many issues and things that she needed to solve... It would be better to tackle them one at a time. Ayu closed her eyes. She let her concentration fade away from the outside world and return to her fully, so she could focus her whole being on something else. She still needed to mind her breathing but as her movement increased, the pressure of omnipresent gravity reminded her that not only exhaling and inhaling could be so straining. It felt like even the tiniest twitch of her muscles needed to be backed up by tension and focus to even take place. One step set her veins on fire - she couldn't believe that there were people who willingly were putting themselves under this kind of ordeal to get stronger... No, she could believe it. She was one of them now. Ayu crossed her arms on her chest, placing her hands softly on her shoulders as she gently lit up her aura. Perhaps it would be a little easier this way, it didn't matter how draining it would be to move. Gradually, the uneasy tension created by gravity melted away, replaced by the warming sensation of burning energy. Ayu took a deep breath, feeling how now it was much more comfortable to breathe. And move. Maybe her regeneration should be praised for that, but the pain in her body - as well as sore from screaming sore - faded away quickly. As if she was checking if everything is alright, Ayu twirled around, glancing at her legs and shoulder, checking if each of her limbs feels equally light and warm. She clenched and relaxed her fists, looked at her fingers, and didn't spot any issue. Was she good to go?

With Callion gone now, the matter of training was laying in her own hands. She wished she could have met the Saiyan one last time, to hear his advice and guidance in the ordeals she wanted to tackle... But the only thing that was left, was her resolve. Ayu could not sit around and wait for someone to appear and offer her their experience - well, there was something like that, but she didn't feel particularly good about it. She was still pondering about Mr. Popo's words and the idea of meeting the Guardian of Earth... There was something that perhaps, she could help her with? But for now, she was here, inside the ship, training her lone self. With another deep breath, Ayu calmed her heart, as the soft aura shrouded her body with a gentle gleam. If she was going to expand her experience, she might as well get used to using her Ki more often... In another way than growing plants that is.

She stretched her arms, taking deep breaths and standing on the tips of her toes. This ungodly amount of gravity was going to make her sick later, wasn't it? No matter. Raising her arms and legs, the young woman started warming up. Maybe it wasn't the best, well, at school physical education wasn't her best subject... Rubbing her wrists, to make sure that the heavy wrapping stays in place, for a solemn moment she gazed at the strap. What was under them... No matter. Ayu inhaled lungs worth of air and let it go out slowly, joining her hands together as if she was going to pray. She was concentrating, and when her eyes snapped open, a soft, warm glow lit them from inside.

It was time to train.

---

Super Weighted Clothing Equipped
Gravitron 3.0 - In Use, 100x Earth's Gravity
Power Level - 105,176
Word Count - 5,567