Chrono Trigger Omega
Episode Zero Zero One - "Nightrunner"
Character Interlude One - "Midnight Marauder"

I love this.

The rain that showers from above has completely drenched my clothes. But I'm so happy I don't care.

I've walked in the rain for so many years that I look forward to it now. One of the few constants I've had in my long life.

The women prostrated before me aren't so excited to be caught in the weather. Their circumstances might have something to do with it, however.

My back is to the shore of the ocean behind me. The waves crash angrily against my heels as the sky roars overhead us, with a vicious wind whipping anything it can that dares to be in the alfresco, including my platinum-blonde locks. Despite not wearing it for years, my pearl white uniform still holds up well under this soaked-situation, unlike the tattered medieval dresses of my current opposition.

One of the women, a platinum-blonde maven, sat on her rear, glaring at me in disbelief. Another, raven haired-one, was on her hands and knees shivering from exhaustion and fear. And at the center, one adorned a mop of shock-white hair and found herself positioned on one knee, looking up at me with a look of defeat in her eyes. Save for their varying hair colors, each woman looked perfectly identical to the next.

Not that I take pleasure in accosting anyone, but these enchanted ladies tried to be forceful with ejecting me from their precious island. After looking for this place for so long, you would think they would congratulate me for finally arriving.

I really owe those two for guiding me here, whoever they are. My premonitions tell me that these women know where those two are, and now defeated, they're in no position to deny me anything.

"Do you submit?" I asked, but with a smile. I don't take their magical assault minutes earlier, personally. Matter of fact, it was actually fun playing around with them for awhile. The last time I engaged in a fight of that caliber was back in my ACT-Raiser days. Feels like an eternity ago.

If anyone poses a potential threat to your home, you'd want to exile them too, right? I guess fighting back won't help me convince them that I mean them and 'Avalon' no harm, but you take what you can, I guess.

"What do you wish of us, stranger?" the Snow-white crowned one asked.

"What business do you have here?" the Raven snapped.

"Do you plan to wage war with Oberon's children?" also chimed the blonde, "If so-"

"Please, I honestly don't mean to be a threat to you and your home," I sighed, a little embarrassed that they were so frightened. Walking up to Snow-White, I kneeled down, taking her hand, "Actually, I've been looking for a place to call my home for a long time. I'd like it to be here, but it looks like your people aren't too keen on new neighbors." I send a pulse of my aura to the woman that says more than my words can prove. She pulls her hands away in shock of what she feels.

My hopes. My dreams. My fears. My loneliness. My despair. All felt within an instant to the very core of her soul. Her eyes widen and then narrow with a gaze of sympathy.

"Who...are...you?" her voice shook in reverence, "You've walked the Earth for THAT long?" her compatriots were catching on also.

"You can't possibly be human..." stated the Raven, who crawled closer to Snow. The Blonde did likewise. I pulled back the drenched locks that covered my ears to show them their pointed "uniqueness".

"The magic you defeated us with did feel 'elvan', but I would have never believed any of your kind still existed," the blonde one responded.

"Speaking truthfully, my origin is not of this world. And to answer the first question, I would like it if you called me 'Jade'. It's not my real name, but I abandoned that along with my old life a great while ago."

"Our master and father, Oberon, decreed that no other beings, especially of our caliber, could take up residence on Avalon. It's bad enough that those 'mortals' refuse to leave," explained the oh-so-cheerful Raven.

"You must be talking about the humans and gargoyles that live here too. I sensed them as I stepped foot on Avalon. Being a student of time, I'd like to meet them too. There's so much I'd like to learn from them."

"First we must take you to Master Oberon before anything else," Snow-white spoke again, standing with the others. I rose as well.

"I have one request before we do," I asked, "I was guided here by two people that you have in enchanted sleep."

"What are you talking-"

"Please, I've been honest with you so far and, following our fight, as reasonable as possible. All I ask is that you be straight with me about this."

"How much do you know?" Snow-white's tone changed to a serious one again.

"When I took your hand, you weren't the only one to receive something, Luna," I spoke her name to her surprise, "and these are your siblings, Phoebe," my hand motioned to the raven, "and Selene." and in turn, the blonde one as well, "I never thought I'd meet the 'Weird Sisters' that Shakespeare wrote about, but stranger things have happened," I said with a subdued giggle.

"Not even our master knows about them, and we've kept them hidden from everyone here," Selene spoke, her voice tingling with panic.

"I could help you with that situation if you'd let me. Besides I owe those two a debt of gratitude since it was their dreams that guided me here," my explanation intrigued them, "if you take me to them, I'll explain my idea there. Otherwise, you wouldn't want father-dearest to find out what you've been keeping under his nose."

"Blackmail? And just when we were starting to look up to you..." Phoebe smirked.

"I just hate to see two free-spirits locked away unjustly. My plan not only will be doing you a favor, but for them as well.

"I'll only ask this nicely once more; will you take me to them?"

To Be Continued...

Next Chapter - "Midnight"