Ch. 2 - Conton City
Lyra's boots touched down lightly on the familiar tiles of the Time Nest as the portal closed behind her. The faint hum of temporal energy faded, leaving her standing before the Supreme Kai of Time, who was practically bouncing in place.
"Excellent work out there, Lyra! You've made a wonderful start." The Supreme Kai's voice was as chirpy as ever.
Elder Kai grumbled from the side. "Wonderful? Hmph. I'd hardly call belly-flopping into battle wonderful. At least her fighting skills aren't as embarrassing as her entrances."
Lyra rubbed the back of her neck, her cheeks heating. "I got the job done, didn't I?"
"Barely," Elder Kai huffed. "You'd better improve your form before your next mission."
The Supreme Kai of Time waved him off. "Oh, lighten up, Elder Kai. She'll get plenty of practice soon enough. But before that, I think it's time we gave Lyra a proper tour of Conton City! After all, you've been so busy lately that you haven't had a chance to appreciate the place."
Lyra sighed. She just wanted go home and relax. A tour seemed unnecessary. Especially since she lived in said city for years now. But before she could reply, the Supreme Kai of Time clapped her hands, and a wave of shimmering magic enveloped them both.
They reappeared on a raised walkway overlooking the sprawling city. Lyra squinted as her eyes adjusted to the bright sunlight. From their vantage point, she could see the bustling streets below, with patrollers of all shapes and sizes darting between shops, training grounds, and transportation portals.
"Let's start here," the Supreme Kai of Time said, gesturing to the panoramic view. "Conton City is the heart of the Time Patrol! Patrollers from all over gather here to train, shop, and prepare for missions. You're part of something much bigger than yourself, Lyra."
Lyra nodded absently, her eyes scanning the crowd. The city was as lively as ever, but there was something about it that didn't sit well with her, though she couldn't quite figure out what. In the end, she just chalked it up to being more tired than she thought.
As they descended the stairs into the marketplace, Lyra noticed a few familiar patrollers mingling near the Item Shop. A Namekian and a Majin were chatting animatedly.
"You've got to check out the new supplies at the Item Shop! They've got just what you need to power up your next battle!" the Namekian said enthusiastically.
The Majin nodded. "Oh yeah, I've already stocked up. You never know when you'll need a boost in battle!"
While she started thinking that stocking up wasn't a bad idea, Lentik, a Namekian patroller she'd worked with briefly, jogged up to her.
"Hey, Lyra! Back from your big mission?" he said with his usual grin.
"Hi, Lentik!" She replied with her usual cheery tone. "Yeah I am, though I'm now stuck on a tour of the city for some reason," she was nearly grumbling at the end, but no one seemed to notice. Or if they did, they didn't pay it any mind, which frustrated her just a tiny little bit more.
"That's cool. You've got to check out the new supplies at the Item Shop! They've got just what you need to power up your next battle!"
The words were eerily familiar, and it sent a faint prickle of unease through her. "Uh, yeah. Sure thing. I'll check it out later," she replied cautiously.
Lentik nodded, his grin unwavering, and walked off towards the main square. She noticed him approaching another patroller there. The Saiyan nodded enthusiastically and headed straight for the Item Shop.
The Supreme Kai of Time later led her toward the training grounds, pausing by one droid near the reception desk.
"Ah, here we are! This is the Parallel Quest terminal." She gestured toward the droid, which was already surrounded by a few Time Patrol members in various stages of gearing up. Some were adjusting their combat armor, others were checking their scouters worked properly, and one was even meticulously polishing his bald head with a towel. "Parallel Quests are a great way to hone your skills between missions. Think of them as simulations, but with no real consequences for failure, yet real rewards for success. You can go solo, testing your limits against challenging odds, or team up with other patrollers—or sometimes even familiar faces from history—to take on scenarios outside the normal timeline."
Lyra tilted her head, evidently curious. "Outside the normal timeline? I've heard about these Parallel Quests before, but… I've never actually tried one. How do they work?" She imagined the possibilities: battling alongside a younger Goku against Frieza, or perhaps even fighting against Majin Buu. Just thinking about the fights made her giddy with anticipation.
The Supreme Kai of Time laughed lightly, a tinkling sound like wind chimes. "Oh, don't think too hard about that! You'll give yourself a headache. They're more for training and recreation than anything else. You know, to keep everyone sharp. It's all about improving your skills and having a bit of fun while you're at it."
Lyra was pouting at the non-answer, but the Supreme Kai of Time had already turned and continued walking, as if the explanation was sufficient. Lyra's eyes lingered on the terminal for a moment before running after the Supreme Kai of Time.
The tour ended at the plaza's center, where a raised platform dominated the space. A faint hum of energy vibrated beneath their feet, and Lyra noticed the small orbs of light drifting lazily around the area, casting faint glimmers of rainbow hues across the stones.
"Now, before we wrap up this little tour, I have something special to show you," the Supreme Kai said with a knowing smile. "A bit of history. I think you'll like this."
Lyra, now curious, stepped onto the glowing platform alongside the Kai. "What kind of history?"
"You'll see," the Supreme Kai replied, and as she raised her hand, a slight humming buzz echoed through the air. A glowing projection began to materialize above the platform, and as it formed, Lyra's eyes widened.
The hologram was colossal, towering above them like a monument. It depicted a human male clad in battle-worn armor, his stance powerful and unyielding. A faint glow surrounded him, accentuating the intensity of his gaze as he stared out over the plaza as if surveying a battlefield. One hand rested on the hilt of a blade slung at his side, while the other was clenched in a fist at his hip. A deep crimson cape billowed behind him, giving him the appearance of a legend pulled straight from a heroic saga.
"Wait… that's—!" Lyra's voice came out in a rare stammer as recognition struck her like a bolt of lightning. She stepped closer, her heart pounding in her chest. "That's Sarion! The legendary hero of Toki Toki City! He's in all the academy textbooks!"
The Supreme Kai of Time beamed at her reaction. "Correct. This is the very Sarion who saved the fabric of time itself and paved the way for the Time Patrol to exist as it does today."
Lyra couldn't stop herself from gawking. "I read about him all the time in school. He's the reason the Time Academy exists in the first place! They say he single-handedly corrected a dozen timeline-breaking anomalies and saved the Time Nest when it was under siege." She tilted her head, her gaze fixated on the hologram. "Though, uh… the textbooks didn't say he had such a dramatic cape."
The Supreme Kai chuckled. "Well, the cape is a little embellishment for the projection. I wanted to make sure he looked appropriately heroic for new patrollers. But everything else you've read is true. Sarion was a hero unlike any other. He fought for balance, for peace, and for the safety of every living being across time. Thanks to him, Conton City—our city—was rebuilt from the ruins of Toki Toki City."
Lyra's tail, which she'd carefully kept hidden beneath her clothes, flicked involuntarily in excitement. "It's… incredible to see him like this. The textbooks always described him as this unstoppable force, but seeing him in person—well, a projection of him—it's…" She struggled for the right word before settling on one that made her feel just a little vulnerable. "Inspiring."
The Supreme Kai of Time stepped to Lyra's side, her voice growing softer but carrying an undeniable conviction. "Sarion was proof that greatness can come from anywhere, Lyra. He wasn't born a warrior or raised to be a hero. He was just someone who wanted to protect others, and he worked tirelessly to make it happen."
Lyra glanced sideways at the Kai, her expression softening. "You think I could become like him someday?"
"I know so," the Kai replied with an honest smile. "As I said, Sarion wasn't born a hero. He became one through hard work and an unshakable desire to protect others. And you've already proven you have the same qualities."
Lyra's heart swelled at the words. For the first time since the tour started, she felt something warm and grounding—a sense of purpose. Staring at Sarion's projection, she could almost see herself standing beside him, fighting to preserve the delicate balance of time.
Her earlier doubts—about the city, the people, the strange scenes when facing Raditz—faded entirely. How could she question anything when the Supreme Kai of Time herself was showing her this? Sarion had believed in the Time Patrol, and so would she.
The hologram shifted, displaying moments from Sarion's legendary battles. Lyra's admiration deepened as she watched him lead a team of patrollers through a crumbling cityscape, his calm unwavering even in the face of chaos. Another scene depicted him standing alone against an overwhelming enemy force, his energy surging like a beacon in the dark.
As the final image of Sarion faded, leaving only the hum of energy and the soft glow of the platform, the Supreme Kai placed a hand on Lyra's shoulder. "One day, you might have your own hologram here, inspiring a new generation of patrollers. Remember that."
Lyra blinked, feeling the weight of the moment settle over her. She gave a small nod, her voice steady but quieter than usual. "Yeah. I'll… keep that in mind."
A few moments later, the Supreme Kai of Time let out a content sigh as she stepped off the platform. "Well, that about wraps it up! That wasn't so bad, was it?"
Lyra, still coming down from the excitement of seeing her idol, nodded absentmindedly. "Yeah… actually, that last part was pretty great."
The Supreme Kai of Time giggled. "Knew it! Every patroller tries to act all grumpy about the tour, but once they see Sarion's hologram, they're hooked."
Lyra crossed her arms, raising a skeptical brow. "Wait… you knew I'd find the tour annoying?"
"Of course I did." The Supreme Kai of Time waved a hand dismissively. "Everyone does. It's a tradition for every confirmed Time Patroller to go through the tour after their first big mission. A proof that you aren't a rookie anymore. You didn't think I just did this for fun, did you?"
Lyra opened her mouth, then closed it. Now that she thought about it, the idea of the Supreme Kai of Time personally giving a sightseeing tour to every single patrollerdidseem a little excessive.
The Supreme Kai of Time gave her a knowing grin. "And you should be grateful, really. It was either me or Elder Kai."
Lyra immediately felt a shiver run down her spine. "Oh, thank whatever divine force saved me from that."
The Supreme Kai of Time laughed. "See? It could've been much worse!"
Lyra sighed. "Alright, fair enough." She stretched her arms above her head. "So, am I free to go now?"
The Supreme Kai of Time waved her off. "Go home, get some rest. You've had a big day. We'll call you when your next mission is ready. In the meantime, make good use of the facilities, okay? I'm sure they'll help you plenty."
"Finally~" She groaned in relief, much to the Supreme Kai of Time's amusement. "Well, thanks for the tour, I guess. Bye!" And with that, she powered up and flew back home.
Lyra stepped through the door of her small apartment, exhaling as she tossed her gloves onto the counter. The space was compact, but not sterile—it was hers.While she hadn't spent much time in Conton City proper thanks to an almost constant stream of training and assignments, this little home had still becomeher own haven.
The walls were lined with posters of legendary warriors: Sarion, Goku, Vegeta, Gohan—the badass kid from the Cell games, not the bespectacled nerd in the ugly green jumpsuit—and even a stylized sketch of Bardock. Small figurines of various fighters, collected over time, were scattered across her shelves, alongside stacks of books on battle strategies and Time Patrol regulations. A pink mug with a tiny bear face sat half-full on her table, next to an open mission log she had left unfinished that morning.
Her bed, pushed up against the wall beneath a window with cutesy star-patterned curtains, was covered in a heap of unmade sheets. A pillow lay on the floor from where she had kicked it off the night before.
She swears it wasn't messy, just…lived-in. And those who would claim otherwise needed to be ready for a ki blast in the face.
She kicked off her boots, grabbed a ration bar from the kitchen, and collapsed onto the couch. Her tail finally unwrapped itself from around her waist, lazily flicking over the armrest. Despite the excitement of the day, her stomach didn't feel up for anything too heavy.
She let her scouter rest on her lap, staring up at the ceiling. The tingle in her muscles reminded her of the fight with Raditz—not from the battle itself, but from the sheer effort it took to hold back. That kind of restraint felt unnatural. 'Maybe I should train more on controlled combat…'
Her gaze drifted to the largest poster in her room—the one of Sarion, the legendary Time Patroller, standing in a dramatic pose against the backdrop of the former Toki Toki City, minus the admittedly glorious cape from the earlier projection. Her admiration for him had been slowly buried under years of training and routine, but today had reignited something.
A slow smirk spread across her lips. If she wanted to be like Sarion, she needed to get stronger. 'No more distractions. Training starts now… or tomorrow. I need my beauty sleep, after all.'