This story has been in the works for years. Literally, you can still find the old version on my profile. This is the complete, remastered, and much improved version. I hope you enjoy, but please note it's rated for a reason. I try to keep it down, but this is about war and slavery (and Janus, later.) Flame if you want, I'll have fun.
Disclaimer: I don't own Chrono Trigger. If you recognize it, it's not mine.
Somewhere just north and a little west of the Magic Cave a group of Mazoku gathered. Diablos and Hench surrounded an Outlaw, and a pair of Freelancers lurked near the back. The Outlaw hunched over a small map, a Diablos and a Hench looking over his shoulder. "It's a small town, poorly defended. We shouldn't have any problems," the light-colored Outlaw squawked, pointing at a mark on the map with a talon. "You, Ethrurrion, lead the attack from the forest. It's small enough, you'll be able to hear our war cry and know when to strike."
The white-furred feline Mazoku offered a brief nod, confirming, "Tomorrow dawn? We have to leave now, then, if we're to be rested for the attack." He looked over the small force, then motioned to the other twenty or so Diablos. Their light coloring would hide them in the desert, though they would have to move slowly to remain unnoticed, and no other species of Mazoku was as adept at hiding in woods.
With the Diablos departing, the bird-man sized up what was left. Two dark-clad Freelancers, come from the near-by Denadoro Mountains, and about ten of the fat, red-skinned Hench from Ozzie's castle. The mercenary Freelancers had come merely for the recognition they could garner, and so required no pay, but would fight whole-heartedly to earn such recognition. It would raise their price in the future, he knew, but that didn't matter now. The Hench, on the other hand, were quite frankly stupid, but they were to be the anchor fighters, drawing the Humans' defenders away from the forest.
"Blanim, you'll attack from here, where the town meets the desert," the Outlaw ordered the leader of the Hench, pointing out another mark. To maximize the spoils of this raid, he added, "Remember, only kill those who attack you with weapons. We aren't here for mindless slaughter."
"Yah, Esaku, we know dat. We here to catch da Humans, not ta kill dem. We kin have fun wit dem later." The fat Hench gave a nasty leer, his protruding features loaning themselves to the expression easily.
Esaku nodded, satisfied that the Hench saw the wisdom, or at least the interest, in keeping the deaths to a minimum. For their part, the Hench ambled away; off to amuse themselves in any unobtrusive way they cared. That left only his kin, the Freelancers, to deal with. Casually, the white-robed Outlaw drew out his blade, a lovely little scimitar taken from his oldest uncle when he'd ascended to family leader. Checking it over for flaws, he cawed at the mercenaries. "So, brothers, you have chosen to fight with me?"
The elder of the Freelancers, a young male by the name of Ichigin, barely able to command a price, stepped forward. "We wish to join this noble cause. We even fight without price." To his credit, he remained calm in the face of Esaku's blade, recognizing the gestures as part of an idle power play, and not currently a threat to him.
"Hum, yes..." Esaku murmured, sheathing the scimitar. "And that does indeed speak highly of your belief in our cause." Flattering, empty words flowed from the Outlaw's beak with ease; he was used to speaking them. Esaku would be very surprised if Ichigin's fervor continued past this one raid. A mercenary required pay, but to get good pay they needed a reputation first. Ichigin wanted that reputation, so he fought for free, and with his brother; it was that simple. "I will trust you to attack when and where you wish. As you fight with no pay, you cannot claim any of the spoils, you know this?"
"I do not agree to a thing until I know it," Ichigin squawked, hand resting on the hilt of his sword. He would no longer stand to be questioned. "I believe my brother and I shall fight from the desert, and keep the Humans locked within their town. Is that acceptable, Esaku?"
The white bird-man nodded, marking the map with his claw. "Most acceptable, Ichigin." He barely noticed as the Freelancers departed, too busy staring at his map, and the town trapped between three marks. The only side that wasn't to be attacked was that of the sea. The Humans were welcome to run there. "Soon..." Esaku muttered, finally turning away. Under the markings and Mazoku writing, a short Guardian word identified the doomed town as 'Algetty'.
Expect the next chapter in about a week. Please review!