Ollen70: This is one of the stranger stories I've written. It takes place roughly two and a half years after the game ends. Hope you enjoy it. Suggestions and comments are always appreciated.

Disclaimer: Chrono Trigger does not belong to me. I mean no offense to its creators by writing this story.

The Fourth Guru

Chapter One - - How the world doth change


The monstrosity that hung in the sky before him defied every law of the universe. It simply shouldn't have existed, and Magus couldn't explain why it did. Standing aghast on the snowy turf of the north cape, he watched the behemoth float high above the world, only it's stalactite-like protrusions of earth visible through the clouds. Magus had a sinking feeling he knew what was built on its surface, though he couldn't even begin to fathom who had created it. Something was horribly wrong.

Casting the levitation spell he knew he'd need to approach the...whatever it was, was more taxing than he first would have assumed. Something seemed to be affecting the way his magic produced. His heart beat faster and faster, but he finally managed to make his way upward, getting a much better look at the thing in the clouds. The closer he drew, the more trouble he had believing that he hadn't lost his mind.

Though the island he saw drew many memories of the ruined continent of Zeal from his mind, it was obviously different. Zeal had been mainly a land mass with cities on the upper most surface, but this... The architecture was similar to that of Zeal, and yet familiar to that of the Ocean palace. The bulk of the thing was made of earth, like a levitated island, but all through it ran structures that emerged from its base and top, while the palaces and cities on the surface were far grander, most topped with lofty domes of crystal, brass, and solid bronze.

Magus checked his speed as he passed through the final cloud covers and made to land on the island. As he did so, he felt a pulsing tingle pass through him, prickling his skin like faint electricity. The emanations were strong enough to make his teeth hurt. He'd felt that before, around the reincarnation of the undersea palace that had been called the Black Omen. The Omen had been able to transcend time, existing unchanged in every era and granting those who dwelt within it complete immortality. As long as the structure remained intact, they could never die.

A quick glance at the ground below confirmed his suspicion. The air shimmered, reminding him of the waves of heat from a fire. If he stepped back through, he would once again be in 12,000 B.C., but anyone else from any other era that passed through would arrive in the same timelessness as he, and when they left, they would also be returned to their own present.

Deciding that standing in one place wasn't helping anything, he walked as casually as he could along the avenue before him, every step forced and reluctant. Part of him didn't want to know what was going on here. Something told him that, whatever it was, it meant trouble beyond his imagination.

Though the sun shone brightly on the pinnacles around him, jutting up into the air to spear the cirrus that hung high above, they remained as cold and forbidding as if they had been formed out of ice. He passed more than one citizen of this impossible nation on his way, though they paid him no mind. Concealed in a black cloak with a hood, he was able to move alongside the men in white and blue or purple and red robes, or the women, many of whom were garbed in yellows and oranges. Even the children, of whom there were several, were dressed in bright colors yet wore somber expressions, as if carrying all joy in their garments alone. To him, this wasn't as peculiar as it might have been. Having grown up in surroundings much like these, he was used to stoic faces. What was surprising to him was that the people weren't startled by his presence. He wasn't expecting to find people here at all, aside from maybe one or two. Even in the Black Omen, there were no common folk, only soldiers and scientists.

Magus drew closer to one of the palace-like buildings, the largest and most impressive he'd seen so far. If there was any sort of capital to this strange place, he couldn't imagine where else it would be.

The steps up toward the gates of the palace (or at least he assumed that it was a palace) were nothing to him as he redoubled his pace. He was forced to go on foot, his levitation spell abandoned. Using magic was becoming difficult here, and he wasn't sure why. There was something nearby, familiar and dangerous, that interfered with his normal methods of casting, and it was remarkably unsettling for him to be anywhere without the use of his powers. His renown as a sorcerer came from the endurance and strength of his magic, which had proven to be both strength and weakness. His spells lasted as long as they chose to last, whether he meant for their effects to linger or not. Still, it was his skill, and he was proud of it. His magic had come at a very high price.

Shrugging off his unease, he continued the climb. Part of him was aware of the rashness of bursting into the palace above, not certain of what he'd find there. Without his magic, he might not be a match for the creator of this...thing...on which he stood. Calling his scythe to his hand, he continued. Magic was not his only means of defense.


Not one soul stood in the palace. Not a guard, not even a Nu stirred under the ceiling of bronze and gold and glass that hung above, an ominous thing that filled Magus with dread. He was being watched, he was certain of it, but he could not ascertain as to who his watcher might be. The shadows were not friendly to him. Without full control of his magic, they wouldn't open up and accept him as they generally did, and so he crossed the large common area of the palace painfully on his guard.

Though the palace still carried with it the general idea of Zeal, it was obviously a very different place. The technology seen on tables, standing in corners, and on bookcases or shelves was more advanced and more intricate than anything he remembered seeing in his old home. Several large, post-like structures bearing large orbs were decorated with feathers and sapphires stood to his left. These were identical to the many that had stood in Zeal, though he had no idea what they did. Even as a child, he couldn't fathom their use. The other technology was built in a similar fashion - intricate, large, and almost statuesque - but not at all forgiving. He slipped by as quickly as he could, eyes on the largest door that opened to the north.

Having passed through one antechamber, he found himself before a doorway that was identical to the door before Queen Zeal's chamber, except that it wasn't closed. Perhaps it had just been opened by whoever waited on the other side. With a sudden sense of dread, it donned on him that whoever waited there might have opened it for him on purpose.

His steps were now very deliberate, wary beyond what would be considered normal caution. When the veil of darkness around the doorway broke, his gaze passed over and caught on a large...well, he wasn't actually sure how to describe it to himself. Four of the statues he'd seen were set at the corners of a metal dias. What interested him was a round, relatively large object that roughly resembled a golden globe, save that the markings which lined it were as black as jet and...moving? The orb itself seemed to be pulsing, almost like a human heart. Around it rose the same whisper in the air like what surrounded this entire hovering island.

An amazing thing, is it not? The sudden sound of a female voice brought Magus spinning around, scythe at the ready. A brilliant flash threw him to the ground. He reached for the blade, astonished when it didn't respond to his mental call like it always did when he prompted it with magic. It was then that he looked upward into the cultured face of a woman as she stood over him. His gasp was swallowed by her laughter, which was not at all kind.

Do you remember me, dear child? Have you not forgotten my face? I could never forget yours.

What's happened here? Magus demanded. What have you done?

Why don't you stay awhile, precious Janus? All of these things will be made clear to you in time. She moved closer to him, leaning slightly. A tall woman, her stately robes of light blues blended with patterned whites, and the extravagant veils in her long, blonde hair giving her an even grander presence. I have missed you. Even nearer she came, the scent of her perfume galvanizing him into action.

Throwing out his hands, he tore at the latent power within him, determined to exercise his magic to its fullest extent. The pain coursing through his body reminded him oddly of the pain he'd suffered when he had first faced Crono and his allies from 1000 A.D. The memories of that time fresh in his mind, he redoubled his attempt.

He noted the concern in the woman's voice and turned his gaze with her. The strange orb glowed with a golden light, pulsing very rapidly. The shimmer around it expanded all at once. It happened so quickly that, though the woman was able to stand clear, he was barely to his feet when it wrapped suffocatingly about him. With that, his vision failed.

Ollen70: To be continued shortly.