Trouble in the Time Nest - Erina

	Blurry eyes stared at the dark ceiling above, as a figure covered in books shifted. Slowly sitting up, the small woman suppressed a yawn as she surveyed her surroundings. Books covered the floor around her, a chaotic mess of literature with the woman at the heart of it. Rising to her feet, she stretched again and yawned loudly. A line of drool stained one side of her lips, which she wiped away with a section of her sleeve. Then the woman began the tedious task of gathering all the books into organized stacks, sorted according to contents.

	“I really need to take Pink's offer for more help. Having someone to pick up the books I scatter on the regular would be pleasant, and make my life a bit easier.” Hefting up a large stack of books, the woman dropped them with a boom onto the nearby desk. Dust was scattered into the air by the action, causing the woman to sneeze twice loudly. Rubbing her irritated nose, the young Saiyan pulled out the chair and sat down. Sitting on the table was a stack of scrolls, the contents of which were perplexing. A timeline where Broly had actually befriended Kakarot, and had brought about Universal Peace with their combined might. A ridiculous reality that was all but impossible, but the scrolls sitting in front of her were proof of that impossibility. Picking up her pen and scooping a blank book from the table, the young woman began writing down the events as she'd been told, down to the smallest details. Her expression was happy; despite the lonely nature of her position, the young woman was happiest when surrounded by books. She was so wrapped up in the task at hand, she didn't ponder why the Supreme Kai of Time hadn't come in to bother her yet today.

----

	“It's the only chance we'll have! While the Kais are throwing their festival, we break into the Time Nest and change history!” The Arcosian named Frost spoke to his two partners in crime, a Saiyan warrior and Majin fighter. All three were ready for a battle to the death for their cause, but this fortunate turn of events had been everything the trio could hope for. All of the major Time Patrollers had been accounted for, and the leaders of the Time Patrol were able to be seen enjoying the festival far below in Conton. The trio hovered thousands of feet above the entrance to the Time Nest, ensuring their power level remained undetectable.

	“It's a good plan, Frost. Just ensure we get the right timeline; otherwise it will be all for naught.” The Saiyan warrior spoke softly, a young female named Radis. Her thick black hair hung in spikes that ran to her shoulders, dark brown gaze staring at the ground far below.

	“Chaos will be fun.” Shemha grinned, his pink frame belying the evil heart that lurked within. A huge grin filled his face, as the Majin resisted the urge to let loose right there.

	“Let's go.” The trio descended, landing alongside one another in front of the door. The only person on guard, a human girl, glanced up from her hamburger as the three began walking forward.

	“Missions are closed for the day, guys. The Supreme Kai is throwing a festival for the successful defeat of some 'evil' foe. Its stupid we need a guard on this frigging doorway. Um, guys?”

	The girl realized the trio weren't slowing in their march, and began rising from her position against the wall. The Saiyan reached into a pouch on her armor, before pulling out a small pistol. The human girl started to sprint forward, when the gun fired three times, sending beams of energy that pierced her small frame. Slamming against the wall, the human girl coughed in shock. Slowly sliding to a seated position, lines of blood traced the wall where she had passed across. Blood was already seeping through the holes in her clothing, as the girl struggled to pull a capsule from her pocket. The Majin strode forward, lovingly brushing a palm against her cheek.

	“Don't worry, cutie. The pain will be over soon.” His voice was soft, gentle, which incited a different reaction from the Patroller. Tears streaked her face, as she opened her mouth to scream. Pink flesh shot out, completely engulfing the girl and shutting off her scream. Thrusting his hand out, Shemha absorbed the pink blob with a chorus of terrifying cracks and pops. Smirking softly, the Majin turned towards his companions. “Let's continue?”

	“You disgust me.” Radis tossed the pistol to one side, as the Majin strolled back to his spot in the group. Frost shook his head, before looking up at the large, shimmering gateway.

	“We have about five minutes before the Supreme Kai realizes what's happening, and another four minutes before the first Patrollers reach us. We're going to be on a time-crunch the instant we set foot in there; but our victory is final, if we find our scroll.” Frost's simple reiteration of the conditions received a nod from the Saiyan and a laugh from the Majin. Strolling forward, the trio disappeared in a flash of light.

------

	“Now...where should this scroll go?” The young scholar stared at the shelves of scrolls, while holding the irregularity in her hand. She was debating between the alternate realities shelf and the Broly shelf, before settling on the alternate realities shelf. Broly was meant to be a destroyer of universes and wrecker of people's shit; not a peace-keeping sentinel training with 'Kakarot'. Sighing happily, the woman turned back to the stacks of history books, penned by her own hand. To understand the actual order of the books was hard; it never actually occurred to the woman that labeling books 'Volume Something-or-Other' would actually throw people off on the contents. She didn't need the labels, after all. For her, the sea of books written by her were a never-changing constant. Opening a book was unnecessary; simply touching a cover would invoke precise memories of the exact words penned within. That was the source of her unique ability, that made her such an invaluable asset for the Supreme Kai. Reality changing wouldn't alter her memory, even if it undid events that would then never be written about. She simply couldn't forget anything she had pinned down. Touching the lower corner of the book still fresh on her mind, the young woman read the name penned there. 'Erina Cross'. Not her original name, of course, but a name she'd picked up after becoming the sole scholar and historian within the Time Nest. Snatching the book off the desk, the young Saiyan tossed the book onto a large, unorganized stack of books near the staircase.

	“With that...I think I've earned a stroll and a drink.” Walking towards the stairs, Erina stretched and yawned again. She wasn't ready to face the light of the floor upstairs, but still mentally braced herself for the shock.

	It was this way that Erina came in contact with the villainous trio. Stepping into the light of the Time Nest with a can of coffee in one hand, the young scholar saw the trio walking towards the temple. After a long sip of coffee, the woman sighed. “They do realize the Kai's not home right now, right?”

	“Who's there!?” The Arcosian whirled in his step, as his two companions jumped away to either side. All three brought their fists up, as the young scholar took another long sip of her can. His gaze was panicked, as if the scholar's presence was something unexpected.

	“New tourist. Just stopping by for coffee and the sights.” Erina adjusted her glasses with her free hand, before taking another sip of the coffee. The can was almost empty, so she swirled the last bit of the contents in the can gently. Her gaze met all three beings, instantly identifying all three by their races. She didn't like the three-to-one odds, but had dealt with worse on a few terrifying occasions. Smiling softly, the woman began walking down the sidewalk. “Though, if you all are here for nefarious purposes, I can guarantee that it won't work, you will all be beaten, and there's no choice but to give up now or face the consequences.”

	The trio were struggling to hide their emotions at the sudden development, that much the scholar could tell clearly. The Arcosian who appeared to be the leader was trying to develop a plan for her appearance, and the panic and confusion written on his face did wonders for Erina's nerve. The Saiyan was calculating Erina's strength, trying to feel the woman out the same way Erina was doing to her. The Majin was the easiest to read; his visage was wroth with rage, steam pouring from vents in his head and arms. When she finished her ultimatum, the trio seemed to come to a conclusion. From the sad expression that crossed the Arcosian's face, the scholar knew exactly what was coming next.

	“That's a shame. We can't give up our mission so soon, 'tourist'. Kill her.” Thrusting his hand out, the Arcosian waved towards her dismissively. Erina instantly reacted, as the Majin vanished and closed the distance between them. His pink palm cut through the air her head had just occupied, before a blurring combo forced the woman to toss her drink into the air. Using both of her hands to redirect the strikes, Erina was barely able to repel the brunt of his attacks. The Majin cackled in delight, before thrusting a hand coated with pink aura towards the woman. Her coffee can was falling slowly through the air, as the woman narrowed her gaze in anticipation. Thrusting one finger forward, the woman slammed it into the Majin's palm. His ki vanished, as his arm collapsed in on itself from the force behind the 'poke'. Bringing her other palm forward, the woman slammed it into the side of the can. The can didn't move, as the Majin's face folded in on itself. His cackling laugh turned into a pained croak, as an invisible force sent him careening backwards and smashed his head into itself. Flicking her palm to one side, the woman caught the can of coffee, untouched by her powerful strike just moments prior. Her gaze caught the Saiyan, hands gathered together by one side.

	“HA!” The Saiyan shouted, thrusting her hands forward. A beam of blue ki shot forward, a line of destruction racing towards the short scholar. Slamming her foot into the ground, a circle of dust and air shot outwards from Erina. When the invisible wall slammed into the beam of energy, there was a crack and the energy vanished, negated by the unseen force. The Saiyan warrior's eyes widened in shock, as the Arcosian thrust one finger towards Erina.

	“Dodge this!” Seven lines of purple energy erupted from his fingertip, burning towards the Saiyan scholar. Her hand blurred, as she caught the beams on her palm. Each beam was canceled as it collided with her palm, nullified by the unique force she'd displayed before.

	“Why dodge when I don't need to? It's clear I outclass all of you, so let's just talk this out, okay?” The scholar lifted her hands innocently, offering the trio a way out with a smile.

	“Don't hold anything back, you two!” Sliding his feet apart, the Arcosian roared with rage as his energy soared in strength. Erina's hands fell to her sides, as the Majin and Saiyan followed their leader's example. The Arcosian began changing, body growing in size as his face transformed into a mask with red eyes and a visor covering his mouth. Muscles bulged around his huge frame, as his energy climbed to mirror his new image. Dirt began spiraling upwards around the Saiyan warrior, as sparks of energy danced through the air around her. Radis' hair shifted to yellow, then a rich blonde as ki surrounded her body in a glowing gold aura. Her gaze sharpened, as she shifted her stance into something more aggressive. The pink fighter roared in rage, smoke pouring out into a pink cloud that covered his body. His energy soared above the other two, easily eclipsing the strength both his transformed comrades had combined. When the smoke cleared, Shemha was just shorter than Erina, and a sinister smirk crossed his face. Thrusting one huge hand forward, the Arcosian shouted. “Destroy her now! The Time Patrol will have detected our presence and are headed here now!”

	Trying to erect her guard, Erina's gaze flitted between all three opponents; before, she had been able to handle all three in unison. Now each was a handful on their own, and it appeared their attack would be in sync. A sudden shift in air made the scholar shift her stance, thrusting one hand out. A small palm smacked her guard aside, before a fist slammed into her stomach. Her lungs expelled their life-giving air in a pained gasp, as the Majin grabbed her wrist and dug his fist further into her stomach. Pulling his hand back, he spun and yanked the woman off her feet. Swinging her over his head using her arm, Shemha slammed her into the ground with a resounding boom. Dust shot into the air, as pain shot through her entire body. Twisting her hand, the woman yanked free of the glove the Majin held and rolled into a kneeling position. The fighter didn't relent, stepping forward and slamming his foot into her head. Her entire body snapped backwards, spinning into the air from the force of the impact. Halting herself in mid-air, the scholar tried to clear her blurry vision. Her glasses had cracked on impact, and she could feel her entire body rejecting her commands to remain mobile.

	“You shouldn't relax your guard, 'tourist'.” Erina's gaze shot over her shoulder in shock, as the Arcosian crossed his arms behind her. His tail slammed into her back, eliciting another gasp from the woman as she sailed towards the ground below. Radis had both of her hands together again, an even stronger attack than the beam before charging in her palms.

	“Crusher Beam, HA!” Thrusting her hands forward, the warrior fired a beam that hit Erina in the center of her chest. The beam sent the woman flying backwards into the ceiling of the Time Nest. She slammed into the green glass, sending cracks splintering outwards from the point of impact. The energy dispersed, leaving Erina lying there immobile. Slowly falling forward, the small scholar fell towards the ground below. A loud boom crossed the area from where she had impacted, causing the Arcosian and Saiyan to lower their guard.

	“Let's go, Shemha, Radis. We need to hurry.” The Arcosian turned away, when the Majin shook his head angrily.

	“I'm going to eat that filthy monkey! It's my right!”

	“Do what you want, monster.” Radis' distaste for the Majin and his actions were clear in her tone, as she fell in behind the Arcosian. The two headed towards the Time Nest, as the Majin walked towards the corner of the large courtyard and his reward.

-----

	'Body...is severely injured. Senzus are in my pocket. I can still feel their presences...one is getting closer. Its the Majin. I've got an accurate read on his aura; the other two are heading towards the Nest. If I can beat him in the next twenty seconds, pop a Senzu, and use that energy to fight the other two...I might have a chance. Let's do this.'

	As Shemha stretched his hand out towards the Saiyan, the woman slowly rose to her feet. His eyes shifted from confidence to rage, as the woman resumed her fighting stance. Thrusting his fist forward, the Majin tried to strike her guard and break it. She whispered something under her breath, words he couldn't catch, as his fist shot forward. Her palm slammed into his fist...and the limb exploded. His eyes widened in shock, as his entire arm exploded from the unknown technique. He clenched his other hand into a fist, muscles bulging as he poured all of his rage and energy into his next attack. The woman shifted her stance, slipping past his powerful strike. His eyes widened in shock, as she thrust one hand forward and tapped his chest. He didn't understand what she was doing, until the center of his chest stretched backwards and snapped clean of his body from the sudden, powerful impact that slammed into his chest. Drool ran from his open mouth, as he tried to roar in rage, something to warn his battle-companions. Before he could, the woman's hand shot forward and slammed into his throat, dealing the same damage as before. Before he could run or raise his guard, the scholar stepped forward and started into a flurry of blows that ripped him apart, shredding his entire body into pink chunks that littered the ground on all sides. The pieces began rolling inwards, as the powerful ki that made up Shemha's soul tried to rebuild from the remains. Slamming her boot down, the scholar used the same attack she had before to disperse the beam; instead, it erased the ki the Majin was trying to use to rebuild his body. Without a scream, Shemha perished, erased in moments.

	As the Majin's signature vanished, Erina let her energy disperse. The fatigue and pain returned, almost forcing her to one knee. Using the Gentle Climax technique at full power was taxing at her best; using it in her current state was almost enough for the woman to faint. The Arcosian and Saiyan had probably felt their friend's disappearance, and would be coming any moment to finish her off. Reaching into her tattered jacket, the short woman grabbed a capsule she held there. Popping it open, the woman caught the small brown bag it released. Undoing the tie, she plucked out a single bean from the pile. Chewing the bland bean, she could feel energy and warmth flowing through her body. Swallowing it, she could feel the full effects of the Senzu setting in. Adjusting her dirty and battered clothing, the young woman walked towards the Time Nest and the remaining two threats.

---------------

	“Shemha lost.” The Saiyan's voice was soft but firm, reaching the Arcosian as he reached for the doorway leading to the basement. His gaze narrowed, as his fist closed around the metal handle. The warrior turned away from the taller Arcosian, looking towards the entrance to the large building. A fire burned in her voice, passion springing up from somewhere the Arcosian couldn't fathom. “She's one of my kin. I'll fight her here, Frost. Go on ahead, secure our victory.”

	“You're not the one whose dream lies behind this door! I can't let you sacrifice yourself to slow down that woman!”

	“Shh.” Before the Arcosian could turn to face the woman, he felt her arms wrap around his back. Despite the difference in their heights, the male Arcosian could feel the firm muscle and soft curves of the woman as she hugged him from behind. Her voice was soft but firm, as the Arcosian stood silently. “I know its your dream...but I would follow you to hell and back to ensure that dream was accomplished. Don't let a servant like me keep you from your destiny, Frost.”

	The Arcosian hated himself for his choice, despised the fact that he couldn't voice the pain he felt deep within. This woman, a detestable monkey, was the sole warrior that remained in his entourage. The only Saiyan that had chosen, despite her losses and the evils he'd committed, to remain a faithful companion every step of his journey. And now, as their combined dream was moments away, the woman was willing to give her own life to ensure he could grasp that impossible reality.

	“Don't die, Radis. Beat that bitch and return to my side. It's an order.”

	Her arms left his waist, as the woman turned away. The cold resolve had returned to the Saiyan's voice, as she began walking away from the Arcosian warrior.

	“Of course, Frost.”

-----------------

	“I'm going to give you one chance to give up! I don't like fighting women, even though I'm one myself!” The scholar leaned next to the doorway, trying to identify exactly where the Saiyan fighter was hiding. She could sense the energy of a Super Saiyan from within, but couldn't pinpoint the exact spot.

	'The Supreme Kai of Time is going to be so pissed if I accidentally mess up the interior of the Time Nest. Not my fault she left a wimp guarding the doorway...wait, am I the back-up guard?'

	Shaking her head in disbelief, the scholar glanced through the open doorway. A blast of golden energy filled the air in front of her face, which the scholar had to roll backwards to dodge. The blast shot across the small landscape, before slamming into the ceiling overhead with a boom. Finishing her roll on her feet, the scholar pushed her shatter glasses up and glared into the large, dim room.

	“Fine; kid gloves are coming off, stupid monkey.”

	Sprinting into the large room, the woman tried to ensure her sprint down the stairs didn't throw her off-balance. Numerous golden blasts came flying from the base of the stairs, where the Saiyan fighter stood with her hands thrust out. Not halting her sprint, the scholar began parrying and smashing the ki orbs as they came. They hadn't been focused or reinforced; each blast had enough strength to stagger the woman if they landed, but with no semblance of aim they were a nuisance and nothing more. Planting her feet firmly halfway down the staircase, the scholar launched herself into a spinning flip over the head of the Saiyan. More blasts followed the woman, but were too slow to catch her off-balance. Landing on the table behind the fighter, Erina dropped into a crouch and spun into a sideways kick to knock the opposing woman off-center.

	“Too slow!” As her foot slammed into a raised guard, the Saiyan woman angled one palm backwards and Erina instantly knew she'd messed up her approach.

	'The reason this bitch was only using ordinary ki blasts was to make me drop my guard! Shit!'

	Raising her arms in an attempt to guard, the woman jumped backwards into a slide across the table. A glowing orb of yellow formed on the fighter's palm, right before she shouted.

	“Mystic Flash!” A blast of yellow energy shot backwards, slamming into the woman and tearing past her into the table and floor beyond. The energy buffeted the woman from all sides, instantly breaking her guard and sending her sailing backwards into the wall. The stone crumbled around her body as she slammed into it, but the wall remained intact throughout. The Saiyan woman dropped her palm, as Erina yanked herself out of the wall. Rubbles and dust followed the scholar as she struggled to raise her guard, while the Saiyan woman took a fighting stance.

	“That was...a clever move.”

	“My job is simple. To hold you here until Frost accomplishes his goal.”

	“Nothing good comes from messing with Time; your Lord Frost should already be aware of that!” Erina's voice rose to a shout, before the scholar began coughing. The Saiyan warrior didn't lower her guard, as the scholar began walking forward. “You're willing to risk being erased from existence for your stupid Lord to somehow change the past?!”

	“My life is inconsequential when compared to his dream. He'll change this world for the better.”

	“You're fucking with me!” Erina's anger was rising, as the scholar halted her march five strides from the Saiyan. Her glare met the Saiyan's cold gaze, her clothing more tattered than the Saiyan's own battle armor. The scholar thrust one finger out towards the woman, before shouting. “I can tell you this! Changing time, altering reality, has never ended happily for anyone in existence! Your Frost will reap the repercussions of ripping open a hole in his reality, in ways he might not anticipate! Are you sure you can handle that!?”

	“Shut up!” The Saiyan's scream halted the scholar's harsh rebuttal, as the Saiyan thrust both of her hands to one side. Energy was building rapidly, as the Saiyan shook her head angrily. “I know that changing reality won't make anyone happy! I know that better than you! But Frost...Frost can't abandon his past, even if it kills him! The only way to overcome his nightmares is a second chance, a chance he'll only get here!”

	Erina's eyes widened in understanding and shock, as her opponent's tears began falling. The scholar had spoken the truth, and discovered something shocking. This wasn't the typical 'break into the Time Nest to summon a Villain' break-in.

	' This Saiyan...and the Arcosian...both have something in their past they have to face. Something that will never go away without a second chance. I could step down, let them face that hurdle themselves.'

	“KAME!”

	'I don't need to keep fighting. Defending the Time Scrolls isn't in my job description; I'm only here to document and recall history when changed, as per the Supreme Kai's request.'

	“HAME!”

	'But to do that, would require me letting someone do something I swore I'd never let occur again. Sorry, woman. Your tears aren't going to stop what happens next.'

	“HA!” As her shout reached its peak, the warrior thrust her hands forward. The blue ball of energy forming between her palms shot forward, a beam of destructive energy heading for the scholar who was standing with her guard down. Right before it slammed into the woman's chest, the scholar thrust one palm forward. The energy split like a river, slamming into either side of the wall behind her. Planting her feet, the scholar slammed her palm forward and dispersed the energy attack completely. The warrior's eyes widened in shock, as the scholar took one step forward.

	“Gentle Rush.” Her body blurred, as the scholar 'stepped' across the space between them. As the warrior tried thrusting her hands forward to strike, the scholar slammed one palm into her stomach. Rotating her palm sideways and shoving, a furrow cut through the ground behind the Saiyan. As the invisible force slammed into the staircase, the rock exploded.

	“Rotating Gentle Palm.” Removing her hand and stepping past the Saiyan woman, Erina let her hand fall. The golden aura dispersed around the warrior, as the woman struggled to draw in a breath. Her eyes were already glazed, as she suddenly doubled over. Her hair returned to black, as the woman began vomiting dark red blood onto the floor. She slipped and fell onto the ground, blood running from the edge of her mouth, as the scholar began walking towards the door to the basement.

	“I'm sorry, stranger. I can't let your Frost alter history, even if its your only goal in life.”