Well, I'm finally starting to wrap this up... Sadly, I had some problems with the next part, so it might be a while before I can get that up and running... before you ask, yes, this chapter is based off a vital event in Chrono Cross. I tried my best to make it consistent without making it too complicated... but if you've played CC, it had a very convoluted plot, so let me know if I happened to miss something... Anyways... Thanks for supporting me! But hang in there, the journey is almost over!
-DM777
Time Crash Memorial Pt.1
Previously on Project Magus, Crono showed up to help the brotherhood conquer the demon lord, Demordikai. Thankfully, the minions also returned to their normal states after becoming a part of his hellish embodiment. Because of their master's death, they bowed before Magus, crowning him their new king, but he refused his new title, so he declared the strongest of their kind as the new ruler of the demon plane. Order returned to the cursed realm once again. After bidding their goodbyes, the four travelers entered into the Oracle's tower, where the enlightened one used her magic to create a portal through the furnace to escape this darkened land. They were off to the end of time, or so they thought.
There was someone out there, who transcended himself beyond space and time. It was the Entity, who pulled the strings within the gate, leading Magus, Piccolo, Crono and Schala to a dimension unknown to creation. Soon after, the traveling tunnel opened their doors, but instead of showing the dark, and wooden walls and Gaspar's greeting, they found themselves in broad daylight. The skies stood still from motion, as the shining sphere reflected against the luscious hilltops in the distance. When they entered into this world, a wide, dirt path, surrounded by a tall wooden fence led straight to a cracked stairway. They looked at their new place, curious to where this gate brought them too. While intrigued, Magus and Piccolo felt uneasy, but the lightning innate felt that he was once here before, as the memories of the Guardia invasion came to his thoughts. Schala, however, also felt something take grip of her heart, it was as if this mysterious realm seemed familiar to her as well.
"This… isn't the end of time." Magus uttered, noticing a strange machine to his right. It appeared like a black coffin, but large enough to fit more than one person. Out of curiosity, he approached it, he recognized the device. "It's one of those restoration machines… I've see those in the year 2300 A.D., but how come this is here? How bizarre…" while the lighting innate and the oracle noticed the health restorer, Piccolo drew his eyes towards the stairway, where something ahead shined against the setting sun.
He also noticed how quiet and peaceful this mysterious world was, in fact there was no sound of life anywhere. "It feels like we're in a portrait. I don't sense any life here." The mountain guardian carefully kept his eyes fixed on the path ahead. "I'm not too sure where we are, but I believe we'll find our answer up ahead. Let's go."
They treaded lightly through the path, and stepping through the cracked, concrete stairway, but the closer they got to the end of the road, the more Crono seemed troubled. It seemed anger came to his thoughts, for the memories of his past came to him. He kept his right arm close to his sacred sword, holding it tightly as if he would need it. 'Don't tell me that this is…'
And there they were, entering into the open sanctuary. Beyond that, was a glittering river, which showed no end into the horizon. Distant lands, showed fields of solitude, covered with the emerald colored grass, and mountains which stretched their arms to the top of the sapphire skies. The sun extended westward, hanging low just above the mountain peaks, not budging an inch. Its amber beam flashed against the golden bell that once hung tall against the concrete post, but it fell and lay tilted against the grass. Crono couldn't avert his eyes from the fallen symbol, which troubled his spirit even further. As he fixated himself from the chime that stood for many years, the rest of the group gazed into the setting sun that never moved.
Magus noticed that something bothered his sister, so he came to her in concern. "Sister… you seem troubled. Are you okay?" he asked her, wondering why might have been on her mind.
"It's nothing…" she muttered out softly, turning her eyes towards her brother. "It just feels like I've been here before. I can't put my finger on it, but I believe someone, or something brought us here through that gate."
The reaper pondered for a moment, keeping a steady gaze at Schala and Piccolo.
"Hmm, so if someone brought us here, then I wonder who that could have been, let alone what reason this entity would have us here for." The reaper uttered, interested in why they were in this place. "It wouldn't surprise me if he brought us here."
"I suppose we'll find out soon enough… I agree, it could have been him, but we don't know yet," the Namek focused his attention over the horizon. "This world looks like a paradise, but an empty one at that." While they looked ahead, they were soon interrupted by the ruby-haired hero.
"Guys, come here, I found something you need to see!" he said in a serious tone, noticing that something showed itself engraved on the fallen bell.
"It says "Nadia's Bell"." He went back to his feet, informing them about the shocking news of this realm. "That means… we are at Leene's square. I can't think of anything else. And if I remember correctly, this bell fell when Dalton invaded Guardia during 1005 A.D. But after that, everything went blank, we tried to save them but a strange force sent us away. We managed to go back in time to prevent his invasion, but that doesn't explain why we're here." Crono explained to them, trying to gather his thoughts and memories from the past events after Lavos.
"Then this is the ruins of Leene's square, while everything remains unmoved and hindered by the effects of time." The oracle of light said, figuring out the pieces to this puzzle. "That means we are at…"
But someone interrupted her before she could finish, coming forth into the portrait of Nadia's sanctuary. As if he appeared from out of nowhere, he uttered out, "1000 A.D… a moment in history, for this bell rang triumphantly for Lavos's defeat."
After hearing this, they turned back to the stairway, to discover the being who uttered these words. They crossed paths with the former universal paradox. Piccolo became tense, forever skeptical of his arrival.
"Cell…" he murmured out, while everyone else addressed him as "Lavos."
"'Lavos', 'Cell', such irrelevant titles. It still amuses me how you still refer to me by my past." As he spoke, he entered into the sanctuary, quite fascinated by the world he created.
"It was twenty years later that it happened. In another part of the world, a new team destroyed 'FATE'. It was a device with such complexity that formed its own thought process. FATE controlled all the logic, decisions, and desires of everyone. Each living creature had no idea that FATE predetermined their lives. They were just puppets that got pulled by its strings. You can thank Belthazar for his scientific genius. By creating Chronopolis, he and his people tried all their efforts to keep me dormant outside of all life, and to allow everyone to live their lives according to his artificial intelligence's will. Then they came along, Serge and kid, they destroyed FATE, and at last, they found me and released me from this universal hell." As the paradox continued his steady gaze into the open river, only Schala knew what he was talking about since these memories returned to her. Magus, Piccolo, and Crono couldn't understand these things, because the events took place beyond their experiences during their journey. However, since she was a part of the Time Devourer, Schala recalled it all. Then SuperCell turned his eyes toward the three warriors, who were either confused or showed no interest in this long story
"Well, forgive me gentlemen, I know that none of this makes any sense to you, because of where you three are from, these events did not occur, nor were you aware about this side of the Guru of Reason. Perhaps someday, you will come to grasp it all just as Schala was able too."
"You're right, we don't understand, but you should know by now that I'm not concerned about your past, Entity." Magus growled out, growing more aggravated by the moment.
"If you are free to do what you want, then how about you leave us alone." Piccolo stepped in, growing frustrated as well.
"Did you create this world, Lavos?" Crono asked.
"Have you forgotten, boy. The Kingdom of Guardia got thrown into the Dead Sea by FATE, where it spent an eternity, frozen from the effects of age, and death. Your timeline was not allowed to continue, because FATE inevitably betrayed its master Belthazar, choosing to wipe out the people of Chronopolis's memories, and sending them to the distant past, where they populated the islands they created. Serge's destiny was to become the physical form of the AI, so you and your friends blamed the Chrono Trigger for interfering in your affairs... do you recall now?" The Entity folded his arms together, grinning menacingly at Crono.
"Sorry, I'm afraid I don't, I traveled back and prevented this from happening, so I don't see how could Guardia still suffered destruction, when I know everyone is home and doing well." the swordsman demanded, still puzzled.
"Maybe I should explain something to you. Let's see if I can open your eyes a bit…" Cell turned to face the river again.
"Since only Schala is capable or knowing this, I suppose you should know that there are many realms that exist in this universe, each with its own living reality. Some are of similar worlds, with altering events. Let's say that some choose the left path, and there is another world where they have chosen the right path instead. But there are also existences with completely different interpretations of life." He stared roughly at Piccolo, where he continued. "The universe where you exist in Piccolo, while so different, but yet at the same time, your soul reflects Janus's, because you and he are the same being, but interpreted differently based on how that dimension exists. Also what you two have in common, you share the former title of demon kings, consumed by evil, but later in life, love changed you. So in other words, there are thousands of you out there, but some have perished while others still lived." Then he turned his attention to Crono, where he enlightened him with some more of his knowledge.
"The Crono you see now is the one who thwarted off Dalton's conquest against Guardia, living in a time of peace, but there also remains a parallel world, where he, Lucca and Marle disappeared, and Dalton continued his reign until FATE chose to send that timeline into the dead sea, where that world ceased to exist."
Soon enough, Magus grew sick of this endless lecture, and interrupted him.
"Hmph, That still doesn't explain why the Frozen Flame came to exist." he longed to know of its purpose.
"The Frozen Flame is a part of my shell from my old embodiment. Though I cannot recall my origins, I traveled through the universe, seeing countless civilizations self-destruct from all the negativity. I wanted to create a world that did not suffer from this; void of all mindless violence and selfishness. I chose earth because of its vast life-force I sensed from her. However, there was an obstacle that was in the way, and it was humanity's struggle against the Reptites. That barbaric species could not take part in my vision, so plunging into the depths wiped them out. Over the aeons, I waited patiently for the right time to begin the humans evolution. When they discovered the Flame, they began channeling the energy, where they learned the art of elemental magic. This is the gift I gave them, in hopes that they would use it for good, and for a perfect culture where everyone lived forever... but I was wrong."
The Entity looked away, gazing into the sun, remembering the Mother of the thriving kingdom Zeal, who chose to use his power for selfishness, and lustful desires. He changed his tone to one of anger, and disgust.
"I should have known better... their simple minds could not handle my power, and I was unable to remove the negative energy from their hearts. Zeal became a mindless animal, who abused this gift, and only used my Flame for her own lustful ambition. She blindly wanted to earn immortality. That I could not allow, so I had no choice but to destroy my vision. The Human race was nearly wiped out by my wrath, but afterwards, I was weak, so I stayed in slumber. I waited for the right time to awaken, to cleanse this world of the filth I felt. When I awakened to finish wiping out earth, I was going to reproduce and send others to the rest of the inhabitable planets. My last option was to end the universe, it was the only way to correct this problem of life... perhaps this was what my creator intended." His upset sound continued where he looked hard at the four who stood in the sanctuary.
"But then, you appeared, traveling through time to defy my plan... you resisted me, and ultimately defeated me, but I was not going to give up. Destroying me sent me to another universe, where I reformed, only to face you again, Magus, and Crono. Despite the fall of man, you choose to protect your life, even if you died trying. You gave me hope, even if it was only a little."
"So is that why you've chosen to let us live?" Janus asked him cautiously.
"I tested you Janus, I wanted to see how far you would go to save her... to see if there was anyone out there who showed selflessness. After you made that sacrifice, her death forced her into the Demon Plane, and somehow the Frozen Flame got sent there as well. Your ancestor tried to use it, but entering into my final stage severed that link. I could not feed it anymore, and it turned into the Flame Fragment, but there was enough power for him to send his clone into the ice age. Ultimately, you were born after many generations... I led him to believe that you two were a part of some prophecy. I did this as another test to prove your dedication towards her. " Super Cell hesitated but he wanted to share one last secret, of what happened to his father.
"Yeah, I get it, I'm descended from a clone; a dead god who wanted revenge. What more do I need to know?" the mage grew frustrated.
"As for your father, Janus. He did not grow ill over the years and died like they told you. He perished because he tried to come in direct contact with the Flame. It vaporized him, instantly. This drove your mother to delve so deeply into my power." The entity explained to him.
"Well, what a pity. It's too bad I don't care..." Janus snarled in response.
"That does not bother me any... I just believed you needed to know." the entity gave out a small chuckle.
"Just shut up already... how about you send us back. Just let us live our lives, you know that we've proven our determination." Janus demanded
"Please, just leave us be, you have put us through enough turmoil. All we want is to return home, so just leave us at peace." She pleaded compassionately.
"Home? This is your home. The one I made just for all of you." The entity reached his arm out towards this still picture. "Look at its beauty, so much for you, and where you can all live forever. All of us can stay here and enjoy this elegance together." Super Cell offered suspiciously.
"I still can't trust you, Cell. Regardless of what you have become. Let us go!" Piccolo stepped in, demanding strongly. "You have bothered us enough... so no more games."
"We are not staying in this illusion. This is the last time I am going to tell you… return us to the end of time," Magus furiously scowled once again.
"Enough is enough… just let us live our lives in the universe where we belong too. They freed you as you say, so what more do you want with us? It has nothing to do with us." Crono made his peace, but the entity just laughed in amusement.
"Hah! Sure it does. It was the moment I transcended beyond space and time, when I was able to restore the universe. I am now everything, and at the same time, nothing." He laughed, completely prideful of himself.
"That's enough! Send us back now!" The reaper shouted angrily.
"Very well, if you insist," Super Cell then went "SNAP!" with his fingers, and they vanished instantly from the suspended world… everyone except for Magus.
He became puzzled and enraged at the same time, trying desperately to look for his companions.
"Alright, what games do you have planned now? Where did they go?" the mage yelled out of anger, beginning to tense and build his power.
"I sent them to end of time, just as you demanded, hahahahahahahahaha!" Super Cell mocked him, laughing hysterically in his own amusement. "As for you still being here, I told you… that you are the one who interests me now. I have no further use for your sister."
"What do you want from me?" He demanded furiously, firmly gripping his hand around his blade of choice. It caused him to have that feeling that he would have to fight his way out of this world.
The Entity gave out another chuckle, gripping his hands and flexing muscles. His veins bulged from his boiling rage as the ground started to shake violently. Beginning to power up, he uttered out, "Fight me… Janus."
Magus vented his energy, surrounding himself with a dark aura. "I've been waiting for you to say that! Let's see if Immortals can feel pain!"
"That's it boy, show me your full power!" Cell yelled out, tapping into his full energy, where a golden glow encircled his perfect embodiment.
Can the mage defeat immortality? And what chance does he have of returning to the living world... find out on the next intense and exciting chapter, on Project Magus.