Chrono Trigger: ReDreamt
-XIII -
Prima di Storia
Reiz was brought with the others to the End of Time, and as soon as she stepped out of the portal she let off a gasp and stared up at the nothingness… Her eyes sparkled, gazing at all of the stars that wrapped completely around the solemn platform… Marle giggled at this, but Crono couldn't figure out what the big deal was. Reiz finally wandered down to the gates, still gazing about in wonder.
"Hey!" Lucca waved, "Welcome to the end of time. What are you so excited about?"
"Look at all of the stars! This is gorgeous!"
Lucca laughed. Robo glanced over, "Greetings, Madam."
"Oh, hello, sir." Reiz bowed slightly. "I am Reiz."
"This is Robo!" Lucca proudly showed him off.
"At your service, Miss Reiz." Robo bowed back.
"Thank you, but I shall ask nothing of you."
Marle snuck over to Robo and whispered, "Monitor her health for us, please. I'm really afraid she's going to drop dead on us."
"Aff, Marle." Robo began watching her. About the same time, Gaspar stirred from the voices. But one in particular… He spoke almost as if in a dream.
"I hear a voice…"
Reiz stood up straight in surprise, then carefully made her way around in front of Gaspar. The two stared at each other for a moment, both of their faces lighting up with a smile. Gaspar let off a loud laugh, "Your Majesty! What are you doing here of all places?!?"
"Gaspar!" She squealed, "…though… I have been stripped of my royal title. I am a Blood Muse these days…"
"Damn Queen," he shook his head, "I told 'er once or twice but nooo… Nobody listens to the sane ones."
Crono was surprised. "You two sound exactly like Melchoir. You two exchange numbers or something?"
"Ehh…" Reiz thought a moment, "Gaspar is somewhat of an old friend."
"Heh!" He nodded, "That's me. Mister Sociable."
Reiz laughed, "Very good then!"
"And this 'majesty' business would be… what again?"
"Oh." Reiz sweated. "He's just joking…"
Gaspar nodded, "Lady Reiz is so breathtaking that the nickname automatically applied, haha!"
"Spiffy!" Marle flopped into a corner, humming loudly. "Who's going where next?"
"Dear," Reiz smiled softly, "I believe we could all use a bit of sleep. Right? I mean, after that great adventure you had, and if you did truly take to the bottle you must be drowsy! Can't save the world on a clouded mind."
"Yeeeeah! Hey, you're so smart!" She laughed. "I'm gonna catch a snoozer."
Reiz nodded, then looked back to Gaspar. "Well how ARE you doing?"
"Fine, fine! Been quiet mostly, occasionally I see Alphonz and Megumi about, but luck would have it, Alphonz brought in a whole gaggle of interesting people! Heehee, it really gets me excited. But, more importantly, mi'lady! How are you?"
"I'm alright…"
"You were vomiting blood. How does that classify as alright?" Crono was bewildered at the fact she could ignore it that easily.
"Oh my… mi'lady…" Gaspar shook his head sadly. "Damn that Queen…!"
Crono sighed. Somebody knows something they aren't sharing…
"I just need a rest." Reiz walked to the fence, carefully sitting and tucking her cloak in around herself. She let off a long yawn, before bowing her head forward and suddenly becoming encased in blood-red crystal.
"Well!" Gaspar chuckled, "One thing I always agree with is a nap. Now where did I leave off with that dream…? Oh, oh yes…"
Crono merely sat down near Marle and took the chance for rest. Quite oddly, though it was common for him, he had absolutely no dreams…
After a good rest, though, Crono was woken up when he heard a certain type of digging that was unmistakable… the cluttery, muffled sounds of someone rummaging through Lucca's bag of stuff. He squinted over to see Marle furiously burrowing through it and blinked. She grabbed out a small bottle with a squeal, opening it up and taking out a couple of asprin, popping them immediately. She let off a sigh, putting it back.
"…Hey, Marle! Got permission to go through that?" Crono looked nervous, because Lucca would kill anybody who did so without.
"Hey," Lucca waved, sitting by Reiz. "Yeah, she got it."
"I'm not THAT stupid," Marle blinked. "I'm offended!"
"No, Marle, you have NO idea. She'd kill an army if someone dove in there willy-nilly!"
"There could be someone in here!" Marle closed it up. "You'd need a search party! I swear I saw the kitchen sink too."
"Hah hah." Lucca laughed flatly, though obviously she thought it was funny too.
"Never laugh at the contents of a woman's purse," Reiz commented with a grin, "It's what you don't know that's in there that'll take the smile right off."
"Oh snap." Marle laughed! "That's bad!"
"Heh…" Crono stretched and got up, "Okay, now back to business. Alright, now when to go to... hey Gaspar, you know any time periods that have Dreamstone?
"Hmm!" Gaspar thought a moment. "I believe the gate to the prehistoric era is open, a guaranteed place to find some!"
"Prehistoric, huh? Hope there aren't many dinosaurs. Remind me too much of dragons."
"Hehe," the old man chuckled, "…better keep a sword handy, then."
"Always do… heh…"
"Who's coming with this time?" Marle got up, smiling.
"Um... I'd kinda like you to come along with me, Marle. In case we need the healing backup."
"Okay!"
"Reiz is staying here, because she's bled enough already. So that leaves Lucca and Robo… How you feeling, Lucca?"
"Well…" She scratched the side of her face some. She didn't need to say anything more than that, really; Crono could see she was tired. Not a surprise, considering what Lucca's lungs had been through in the past week.
"No worries then. Robo, you're coming with us."
"Aff, Crono." He walked on over.
"Groovy. Alright, folks, let's head back in time…"
"Yay! Adventure!" Marle skipped along, "Woo!"
Robo followed right behind the princess, as perky as a robot could be.
As soon as they stepped foot out of the portal, the travelers were introduced to the concept of gravity, landing onto one another after a decently frightening fall. After the dust settled and the groans rose, Robo looked down at the two. "Ooops."
He removed himself promptly, with Marle getting up after with a groan.
"My spleen…"
"Oh, poor baby!" Marle got Crono upright and dusted him off properly. But they all froze as they heard deep, nasal breathing- without knowing they apparently had landed straight into the middle of a pack of lizard men. One of the creatures let off a roar, all of them clad in armor and bearing weapons. Marle screamed and hit behind Crono.
"Aw DAMNIT! PEOPLE DRAGONS!" He whipped out his sword, The leader of the pack came forward, swinging a stone club- Robo threw his arms up and caught it, giving Crono the chance to basically disembowel the creature. With this the others basically swarmed the group - Marle swallowed her fear and drew her crossbow, fighting alongside the other two as best she could. But fight as they might, they were hopelessly outnumbered and the lizards were strong and full of stamina. Winded, the party hopelessly backed up against the stone wall.
"T-t-there's a hole army of them!" Marle cried in fear.
"Shit…!" Crono stood one step in front of Marle, but even his nerve was beginning to fade. Then, from the extreme corner of his vision he saw a blur of grey. The object suddenly leapt up right into the center of the group, standing upright - a woman! Immediately the creatures focused on her, but the team watched in stunned silence as she began to soundly beat the snot out of several of the lizards. Finally she shot out of the group on all fours, letting of a taunting whistle. One of the lizards distinctly commanded 'After her!', which the rest obeyed. Suddenly, the group was alone and saved!
"W…what the?" Marle shook all over.
"Well, welcome to the past. It's even freakier than the future…"
Robo surveyed the area in silence. Such strange fauna and flora all over the place. Just as the group got a chance to wind down, the woman from before was abruptly in Crono's face. Marle jumped with a start, Crono doing the same. "Hell-o!"
He backed up a few paces, only to have the woman pin him against the rock wall. Marle backed away slowly, "I think she l-likes you…"
"Oh great, I'm freaking attracting the cave lady. This is NOT what I signed up for!"
The woman burst into laughter, dropping him. Her blonde hair bounced. "Funny man! Strong, too! Tell, what name?"
"Um…" Crono was shocked she could speak, "I'm Crono."
"I'm Marle…" Marle sweated nervously, pointing at Robo, "And this is our friend Robo."
The woman was taken back at the sight of Robo. She crept up real close and looked at him carefully, ready to spring out of the way if she had to. Robo looked back at her and eventually said, "…Greetings, madam."
She walked around him a few times, peering into his joints and such, before standing up and knocking rather hard on his head. The ringing sound was rather odd. She waited until it disappeared, then asked, "What this?"
"It's a robot. Er… he's… kinda made of metal." Crono tried to explain. "Think of something a bit stronger than stone, if you don't know what metal is."
"Raw-boot? Metal?!?"
"Aff, madam. R-Y Series robot."
"Enough!" She nearly tore at her golden curls, "Make Ayla's head go boom!"
"Good thing we didn't bring Lucca."
"Where from?" Ayla asked.
"The future…" Marle nodded. Ayla looked completely lost.
What would Lucca say… Crono thought, "Um.. We're from way after the day after tomorrow."
Ayla shook her head with a laugh. "Funny."
"Actually, I'd call it damn confusing, but meh." Crono leapt out of his skin at a sudden loud 'BAMF' and the appearance of Alphonz right next to Crono in the grass. However, he was now bearing a shaggy coat and two long fangs. Ayla jumped, then gasped.
"AH! Sabertooth kitten! Good eating!!!"
Alphonz, with a start, hopped onto Crono's shoulder and bristled. Crono hurried to explain, "Er, this here is Alphonz, Ayla. He's our… er… pet."
"…pet? Funny names!"
Robo could not stop -staring- at Alphonz's new fangs.
"He's not for eating." Marle giggled.
"…" The woman let off a deep sigh. "Well! Eat. You like?"
"Well, we like to eat, sure…" Marle nodded.
"Who doesn't?" Please don't have an answer…
"And drink?" Ayla smiled.
"Eh heh… on occasion… when Dad isn't…"
Crono glanced at Marle, "I don't think she was talking about the brewski."
Marle giggled, "Then yes, I do."
"Then come! Have party, big feast! Food! Drink! Dance! FUN!"
"A party?!?" Marle gasped.
"Hey, I'm always down for parties!"
Robo glanced at the team. "A festivity? But are we not searching for the Dreamstone, Crono?"
"You know, I was hoping you'd forget for just one moment… yeah, alright. Um, we'd love to join your party, Ayla, but we're looking for something called Dreamstone. It's a bit of a rare rock."
"Rock? Ayla has rock!" She dove her hands into her bosom and produced a large, blue, glittering stone. Ayla beamed with pride, obviously showing it off, "Ayla's treasure!"
Marle and Crono were taken by surprise. "Okay, so that's where our luck went."
She tucked it back away in the same place she pulled it from. "If want see, must come to party!"
"Er…" Crono blinked, "Just don't show anything else. Alright, I think we can do the party. What do you say, Marle?"
"YEAH!"
"Great!" Ayla looked extremely excited, "Come with Ayla, this way!"
Crono and Marle followed eagerly. Robo stood a moment longer, shaking his head, before following. Alphonz, however, sitting upon Crono's shoulder, kept glancing skyward as if expecting to see something. He felt riddled with anxious energy. Crono glanced at him, "What's up there, Alphonz? Birds? Pterodactyls? Please don't answer the second one."
"Ah," He stammered, looking back ahead, "Birds, of course. I would make everyone aware if there was imminent danger…"
"So you are like a real cat," Marle giggled, ruffling his shaggy fluff, "Chasing after birds! What would you do if you caught one?"
"Mmm… stew, perhaps?" He grinned.
"He's got the right idea!" She nodded in return.
They were brought to a very interesting little settlement of people! The homes were completely portable huts and obviously a lot of importance was placed on the social area created outside of them. Everyone wore skins of various furred creatures and it was obvious they used every resource they had; handmade was the make of everything, and it was just like walking through a museum.
"Wow, look at this!" Marle gasped, smiling wide, "Isn't this amazing?"
"Yeah, it… it really is!" Crono nodded.
"This is Ayla's home! All friends live here too. Meet friends!" Ayla nodded to the other villagers who looked curious and naturally apprehensive of the new visitors. The children were the first to come over, looking the group over in astonishment. "This Crono, Marle, Robo. Fought with Reptites!"
"Wow!" The children gasped, eyes wide.
"Very strong," Ayla nodded as the adults finally came to see, "So, party for new friends!"
"Party!" Everyone lit up at that, except for one lanky person in the back.
"Must prepare, yes! New friends rest at Ayla's?" Ayla waved them into the biggest hut.
"Wow, your house is fantastic!!!" Marle was, at least, contained enough to not touch anything.
"Processing… it would appear Ayla is of a very high rank. Possibly leader."
Ayla nodded. "Ayla chief, keep village safe, lead big hunts! Sit, rest well! Tonight, big party!"
Ayla left, allowing the group to find a spot to sit and marvel over everything inside. After doing so, it was decided that they ought to follow Ayla's advice and indeed get a good nap in. However, poor Alphonz couldn't get comfortable and spent his time wandering about the tent instead.
A great bonfire blazed in the center of the festivities, and tribal music filled the night air; above the stars glistened beautifully in absence of artificial light. Soup and drink was available by the literal gallon, and the party found themselves with big wooden bowls filled with possibly edible substances. Alphonz had a big bowl of some murky looking drink, enough for the cat to swim in if he so pleased. Robo stared curiously at his since he was clearly unable to eat any of it; Marle watched hers a moment, then muttered to Crono, "My soup… has bugs in it."
"Just think of it as protein… that moves."
Marle bravely, yet hesitantly, raised the bowl to her lips and took a silent sip. Then she exclaimed, "Oh wow!"
As she began to guzzle it, Crono looked at his. "Hm."
He took a sip and found it to actually be pretty delicious. Robo quietly analyzed it as Alphonz took to sipping from his bowl of 'Sweet Water'; the cat apparently liked it enough to nearly dunk his head in it and drink vigorously. "This soup contains components which are highly toxic…"
Marle ignored this and took a sip of her own Sweet Water and screamed. "WOOHOO! I am so getting smashed!"
She emptied her soup bowl into her stomach and refilled the entire thing with Sweet Water and began to guzzle. Crono stared at her in disbelief, "You mean they're seriously serving alcohol?"
Marle's look of glee while drinking spoke volumes. Crono took a small sip of his… a smooth, indeed sweet taste to it with a strong alcoholic zing. He grinned, "Holy crap! Now this is what I call Sweet Water!"
Marle hiccupped, "Here comes missy Cavelady. Look nice!"
Ayla wandered over with a big smile, "Fun?"
Marle nodded enthusiastically about seventeen times. Crono nodded as well, but added, "Yeah, although I can't help but be reminded that I'm under the legal age."
Ayla scratched her face, unable to understand. Marle laughed, "I don't think the legal age EXISTS here!"
"…So! Crono, Marle, Robo, want see stone?" Ayla began fishing around for it in her bosom.
"Your card, Crono!" Marle hiccupped and refilled her bowl.
"Monitor system set up." Robo stared at Marle. "Marle's vital signs now being watched. Will warn when status reaches very not good."
"Marle GOOD drinker, heh!" Ayla pulled out the stone which glittered fantastically in the light of the bonfire."
"Thanks guy. That helps." Crono looked back at Ayla, "So this is a dreamstone. Ahm… any chance we could buy that off you? Competition, maybe?"
"Sure! Ayla enjoys eating, but like drink much better!"
"…"
Soon in the center of all the villagers sat Crono and Ayla with great bowls filled with Sweet Water before them, and assistants to refill the bowls. Everyone was cheering and excited to see the competition, and Marle hopelessly kept nursing her own bowl. Crono glanced around anxiously, "Nobody tells Mom, got it?"
"Got it!" Marle gave him a wink and thumbs up.
"Winner is one who drink most, not pass out! Ready?" Ayla took her bowl, as did Crono, "Go!"
They both chugged the bowl with loud gasps. Crono laughed, "Gahah! Next!"
At first it was incredibly easy and quite fun; the alcohol was continuously provided as soon as the combatants bowls were empty. When they got to the range of ten bowls both had slowed down considerably, while Marle was lying around on the ground in the sidelines. Ayla had developed a horrible tremor as she finished her fifteenth bowl, while Crono smoothly finished his.
"Goddd, I never thought I'dda be proud ma paps wuz a drunk. D-done."
"Moore…" Ayla held her bowl out, getting the refill. She slowly raised it to her lips but caught sight of her wavery and sick looking reflection. She finally gagged and spat up into her bowl fairly violently.
The crowd was stunned, cheering, "Oh! Ayla loose!"
Crono swore he could hear a theme song, "Oooh yeahz! Whossa masssta? Issa masta!"
"A…ayla… very… very sick…"
"Laaadeedeedaaa…" Marle crawled her way to Crono, dragging her legs.
"C-crono win." Ayla handed her dreamstone over to him and continued to be sick.
"Grooooove. Ay! It's Marle! Hiya Marle!"
"Hiya HEEEEERO." She collapsed in his lap, hiccupping, "Wooo, you got bling now!"
Crono could simply not remember what happened afterwards as he woke up, groaning, deep within a hangover, lying on the ground. He winced violently, slowly sitting up. "Ungh… well there's a gene I didn't get. Jesus, my head…"
Marle lay on the ground nearby. She looked like she was going to feel worse than Crono when she inevitably woke up. Alphonz's tail was barely visible from under a bowl, and Robo was shut down in a corner. Crono gingerly held his forehead, "One step closer to Dad, ugh…"
Robo promptly started up at the sound of his voice. He glanced over, "… Good morning, Crono."
Alphonz stirred at the noise and hit his head with a thunk against the inside of the bowl. He slumped back down instantly, "…not… worth it… zzz."
"Advise Alphonz no longer imbibe alcoholic products."
"Yeah, yeah. When is it?"
"Current time is 7:28 AM. Current date is 65,000,000 BC. Shall I discontinue monitoring vital signs?"
"You were watching us?"
"Aff. During the course of the night, both you and Marle reached very not good status. From there you proceeded to get further and further drunk until you reached the status of 'just really fucked up, now, aren't we?'"
"Proof that even in the future, everyone's a comedian." He glanced over at Marle, "Guess I better wake Marle up. Rough morning for her…"
He wobbled onto his feet and walked over, but paused. Though she reeked of Sweet Water, she somehow looked like a perfect angel as she slept. Lips lightly pursed and eyes closed softly under the morning sunlight… Her hair and skin glowed as well, giving her a very pretty looking aura. Crono couldn't help but smile and whisper, "You know, you really are a thing of beauty, Marle…"
He glanced back, "Hey Robo… do you think…"
"Aff. Benefit would be gained by allowing her to slumber for longer. Estimate status on waking will still be very not good, however."
"That makes two of us."
"Perhaps in the future it would be a wise decision to not consume enough alcohol to turn your liver into a destroyed area, then."
"No need to rub it in." He groaned, then dug around in his pockets. "At least we got what we needed… assuming my memory is still working."
Without much issue he located the Dreamstone, but something else seemed to be missing. He couldn't figure out what it was… his house keys, money, wallet which the money never made it into, a small rubber mousey for Dog… He then realized what was gone - the gate key lent over by Lucca. "Robo… while you were monitoring us… were you sleeping?"
"Aff. Is there a problem?"
"Yeah. I kinda don't have the only way to get back home."
"…that would be bad." Alphonz suddenly ran into Robo's leg, still under the bowl, with a clank. The robot carefully lifted the bowl off of the hungover cat.
"Thank you." Alphonz muttered.
"Welcome, Alphonz. You may wish to return to sleep, however. Our current status is very not good-" He looked at Crono, "-And rapidly declining."
The young man freaked, "But… it was there just last night. I had it right… we must've been robbed."
"Heh… for you, maybe." Alphonz smirked a little.
"Aff." Robo got up and looked around. "Perhaps the thief left a trail as they fled."
It didn't take long for him to locate footprints in the soft dirt around the party site. However there were so many… "There are tracks here, although I'm not sure if they belong to the thief, the break dancing troupe, or last night's ten person orgy."
"…I think I'm glad I passed out when I did. Uh oh." He looked at Marle and nudged her, "Hey, Marle, we need you to wake up."
"Uhnn…" She swept her hand over her head in an attempt to bat whatever it was that was bugging her away.
"Do you wish me to wake her?" Robo came over.
"Er… no, that's alright." Crono nudged her some more. "Wakey wakey, Marle."
She grumbled, pushing herself upright with a yawn. The look of pain swept over her face, causing her to hold her forehead and grumble more.
"Yeah, I know the feeling."
"Maaan…. I don't think I've ever thrown up that much…"
"Or maybe I don't know it."
"Approximately," Robo added, "Two gallons of material."
"Yep. I don't know. You gonna be alright, Marle?"
"Somebody kill me plz kthnx…"
"Not just yet. We've got a problem."
"What kinda problem?"
"Er… first off, don't do any panicking, alright?"
"… Kay!"
"Groovy. The Gate Key's been stolen."
Marle paused. She slowly rose to her feet, glanced around, and then screamed with the might of an angry god, "IT'S SUPERCALIFRAGILISTICEXPEALIDOCIOUS!!!"
She bounced around angrily, causing Alphonz and Crono to back away. Finally she came to a halt with a sigh. "I'm better."
"Perhaps it would be wise to contact Ayla and report the seizure of the key." Robo advised.
"Maybe she has some cure for hangovers too…" Marle prayed silently.
"Lots of water." Crono sighed.
"Yeah. Kay. Shoot me now, please."
"Sorry, no gun. That's Lucca's field."
"Processing… cure complete." Robo popped open a section of armor, revealing a vial. Marle carefully took and looked at it gingerly.
"It ain't two-hundred years old, is it?"
"No, this is new. The components are old, but the final product is not. It will be bitter tasting, but should achieve the desired effect."
Crono was surprised, "They have a cure for hangovers in the future?"
"We had politicians. It was necessary."
Marle shrugged. "Campus motto: Bottoms up, Mac!"
She took it all in one swig, and paused. Before long her eyes grew painfully wide and she threw her hands over her mouth to quell screaming. Finally she removed her hands and started fanning her tongue, gagging.
"You alright?"
"Eeeeeew!"
Alphonz quietly crawled over to the vial, now on the ground and took a lick of it. "…funny, I cannot taste it."
"Well, it was designed for human use. Specifically for Marle. The effect would not register with you." Robo explained. "Assuming, of course, that it is not deadly poisonous to you."
"I would not worry. I cannot achieve my mortality, but if I did, I would bless you as a God."
"…that process would be extremely complicated. Let us move on."
"ALPHONZ," Marle shrieked, "You're freaking me out!"
"I hate quitters," He shot at Robo.
"If you hate quitters, then why are you among their ranks?" Crono glanced down at him.
"Hmm… I have not quit at anything yet."
Robo thought a moment. "But you are attempting to quit at life. Logic would state that would then be very nearly the same thing."
"But then if you try anything," Alphonz snapped back, "Technically you're quitting at trying too. Do not push the topic."
"You are right. Technically. Thus you would then still be a hypocrite. Technically. This is why I dislike such a term."
Crono got between them, "Okay, guys, put the measuring sticks away for a moment. I'm gonna go find Ayla. Maybe she can help us sort things out."