Author's note.

Thank you for making room in your schedule to spend time reading my first fic. I really do appreciate it. This is going to be quite an ambitious project as I am planning on there being around 16 "books" at the time of completion. Since I hold down two jobs, updates are going to be a little on the slow side. Therefore, I believe that a description of this series is in order. Feel free to skip and go right into the story if you wish, I'll wait here incase you get confused.

There will be a book written for each of the main characters from Chrono Trigger as well as a book for Surge and Kid from Chrono Cross. The first seven books will only tell a complete story if read together, the remaining plot holes are to be filled in with the middle series of books. Two books in the middle Ð starting with book 8 - will deal with the defeat of Lavos and the later quests in the game. These two books are going to focus on the whole team and story instead of just bits. It will fill in the blanks and plot holes left by telling only part of the story in the first seven and will make sure that they are all tied together well.

The next four or five books will deal with the twenty years between Chrono Trigger and Chrono Cross. They will be similar to the first seven, but written with a focus on separate groups of the heroes instead of each one individually. I think I have some neat ideas for this segment. The final two books are going to be just like the first seven, but focused on Surge and Kid from Chrono Cross.

As I said, I think it is a bit of an ambitious project, but one that I have really wanted to do for a while. I wanted to do a written version of the game, but saw that this has pretty much been done to death. I'm hoping that while this is yet-another-Chrono-Trigger-game-novel, it will prove to be a unique aspect. In that vein, I work well if I have input from more than just myself and excel at taking a raw idea and polishing it quite nicely. Sometimes originality comes from a team effort.

So, have an idea about where you think the plot should go? Could a scene use a better rewrite and you think you have a great way to do it? Wonderful! I set up an extra email account just for you! Seriously, if you have an idea that you think would benefit the story, I'm a very receptive person. Drop me a line and I will take a look. NO FLAMING!!! If you do not like the story, then give me a bad review. It's more productive that way, I'll know you hate it and so will the other 10 people that read this ;)

I started this project to help brush up on my writing skills. It has been years since I've written anything and have noticed a significant drop in my writing skills, especially grammar and spelling. As such, be brutal. Let me know if my grammar sucks and if you find spelling errors. I do take care to proofread, spell-check, and grammar check my writing, but something is bound to slip through.

I hope that you enjoy it.

Sincerely,

Rob Lyons

moldingofdestinies@insightbb.com

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Chapter 1

A Hero's Start

It was the middle of June and even for two a.m. the night was chill, but comfortable. A gibbous moon shone overhead giving out a fair amount of light to the land. It highlighted the trees, and cast the ground surrounding them into shadow. Only the occasional whoosh of wings against the treetops broke the eerie silence in the city of Truce. Throughout history, many a summer night had existed exactly like this. Mother nature at peace as the world sleeps...

Suddenly, a scream rent through the air shattering the delicate balance throwing birds, bats, and any other number of winged creatures into the air. Surrounding one small two-story house, the veil of night lifted as light spewed out onto the street from a number of its windows. The moonlight seemed to retreat into the shadows as if it was angry that its beautiful influence was replaced by this harsh yellow glow.

An auburn haired man in his mid-twenties, wearing nothing but a light jacket, sweatpants, and sandals, bolted out the front door. Another scream from inside the house followed him out into the night air. He ran two blocks down the street towards the middle of town and proceeded to bang at the front door of a doctor's office as if his very being was in peril. Within a few minutes a fully clothed, grey haired man appeared at the door and beckoned the distraught younger into his house.

"I assume that it has started," stated the older man, "or are you just seeing to it that I don't get any sleep tonight?"

"Edward, how can you joke like that during a time like this?!" replied the younger man, a hint of worry in his voice. He could not understand why Edward was taking so long. How much stuff was he going to put into that black bag of his?

Shrugging off the somewhat distraught man he replied, "Simple, Michael. I will not have anything to do for at least another half hour, and let me tell you from experience that giving birth to a child rarely ever takes the minimum amount of time. Babies just are not that good with time management so we don't have to rush everything. Go back to Gina and make sure that she is comfortable. I'll be along in a few minutes as soon as I have everything that I need packed up."

Michael nodded his head in agreement and ran out the door. Edward stood in the doorway and watched his retreating silhouette for a few moments before turning back to his bag. He made one last check on the items that he would need and headed out the door.

Even if Edward had not known where Michael and Gina's house was, he wouldn't have had much trouble finding it; all he needed to do was follow the screams that were destroying the night calm. He gave a small sigh as he realized that if the yelling was any indication, this was going to be a very hard, very long, night.

"Poor Gina." He thought to himself, a thin smile creeping across his face. "Although, I think I should be more worried about Michael, after this is over with, he'll be lucky if she ever lets him near her again."

He was right; twelve hours later; Michael was completely befuddled. He never knew that his beautiful wife could use such words, or threaten his continued existence with such skill. He made a vow to himself to never get on his wife's bad side, seeing her like that once was more than enough in one lifetime. Therefore, he simply sat there, a silent observer as Gina slowly fell asleep with their newborn child in her arms. The child was very quiet, barely a whimper escaped from him during the whole ordeal. Despite that fact, Edward pronounced him a perfectly healthy, if somewhat stoical, baby boy.

"Hmmm, Michael, you want to know a little bit of trivia?" Edward asked.

"What's that?"

"It was this exact time 8 months ago when I diagnosed Gina as pregnant. Your child came out exactly on time. I'm talking about to the hour, minute, second, on time."

Disinterested in what he had to say, he replied, "Really? Talk about coincidences, eh." He was still in awe of the little bundle that had nestled itself into his life.

"I would certainly say so. I don't think I've ever seen such timeliness in my forty years as a physician... Have you two decided on a name yet?"

Sighing, as he stared at his son, "No, neither of us could really come up with one. I suppose that we both needed to see him before we could make up our minds."

"Well, if you need some help I've got this book of-"

"Wait! You said he came out exactly on time, right?"

"-Huh..Uh...Yea." Getting his last thought cut off, Edward took a moment to catch up. "Yes, right on the minute. Why?

"ChronoÉ" Michael softly said to himself then turned to Edward. "Since he was right on time, we'll name him after timeÉChrono."

"It does seem rather fitting. You should probably ask Gina first though. It's a big decision and I don't think you'll want to anger her any further." He added with a smirk.

Slowly Michael got up, went to his now sleeping wife and brushed a sweaty blonde-brunette strand of hair to the side. He slightly shook her shoulder, "Gina...Gina...Wake up for a second."

She sleepily opened her eyes and looked at her husband. "Gina, I think I have a good name for our son. What do you think of Chrono?"

"Chrono? Chrono, I like it. Yes, our little Chrono...C...r...o...n...o" She spelled out the name to herself, playing it over her tongue as sleep once again took hold of her worn out body.

Michael smiled as he lifted the baby from her arms and held him. "Since she agrees, Chrono, no Crono, it is."

He looked into the boy's vivid green eyes for a few moments. "Hello Crono. It's a big world, I'll have a lot to show you."