Author's Note: WOW! Everyone I am SO sorry for not updating in two months! Things came up and with college finals, I really couldn't work on the chapter. However, it's up now. So I hope you guys enjoy reading. I've decided to make this chpater a 2 parter, just to drag this fic out a teeny bit longer, no not really lol, I just feel this chapter deserves to have a two parter title. Well enjoy reading :D
Chapter 21: The Fated Hour Part 1
Epoch arrived in the year 12,000 BC. The familiar snowy setting seemed peaceful and quiet. Even though this world caused a great disaster to the Kingdom of Zeal, the once magic bound kingdom also abused the power of a powerful entity which was now destined to destroy the future. The heroes of time would fix what fate had intentionally written. They would not allow Lavos to destroy their future, even though none of them would be alive to see the peaceful future, except for Robo.
Crono felt his hand shake while steering the marvelous flying time machine, but he kept a straight face demeanor as he flew through the dark clouds and icy surroundings. Was defeating Lavos finally getting to the energetic boy? Was he afraid of dying at the hands of the parasite again? Crono took a breath and exhaled nervously. Marle glanced towards the boy and saw that his hand was trembling as he steered the Wings of Time. The princess smiled softly placing her hand on top of his giving it a firm, but affectionate squeeze. "We'll stop this…all of this." The Guardian princess said to him.
Crono's green eyes gazed towards Marle. He nodded smiling with a brave reply, "Yeah then we can go home. I'm sure mom's worried sick, I hope she's feeding the cat."
"Hey Crono!" Lucca called out to her best friend. "Before we head up to the Black Omen, we should definitely stock up on potions, ethers, and elixirs in the Commons.
"Right." Crono agreed descending to the snowy ground. He looked at the calm, but nervous expression on his comrades faces. They were just as anxious and also afraid of fighting of fighting Lavos again. The last time they fought the alien in the Ocean Palace, they barely escaped with their lives. Were they ready this time? Could they stop such a monster from destroying the future? Crono sighed, but then smiled to himself as he stared at his friends. This whole mess began in the Millennial Fair, when he and Jera bumped into Marle. He couldn't help but keep the cheery smile on his face as he slowly looked at his friends. There was Marle, who he never had the chance to say two words to before the Millennial Fair incident. Then there was Lucca, his best friend since he was a kid. Always thinking and saving his sorry butt whenever he got into trouble. Next was Frog no… Glenn, who was trustworthy, noble, and better with sword than he was. Crono knew very well how much Jera liked him, which brought a snicker to the boy's lips.
Jera blinked in confusion wondering why her brother was laughing. She simply shrugged it off.
"Do you find something amusing, Crono?" Robo asked.
Crono idly shook his head, but smiled at Robo. Good old Robo, who was free-willed. The distant robot from the future didn't want to see a future filled with pain and sorrow. He wanted a better one, where humans and robots co-existed happily. He then glanced at Ayla who was sitting at the edge of her seat, ready to take on Lavos. She was so primitive, yet so energetic. Finally there was Magus, who sat silently not looking at his comrades. The dark mage barely uttered a word to anyone. His only concern was to defeat Lavos
As Epoch descended upon the snowy island, Crono frowned a little. He realized once Lavos was defeated, he, Jera, Marle, and Lucca would never be able to see their time traveling friends again. Sure with Lucca's Gate Key and Epoch, they would be able to visit them, but it wouldn't be the same as being with them all the time. This was the last time they would fight together to save the world. The red headed spiky haired teen smiled again thinking of the adventure he's had with his friends, however, this was going to be their finest hour yet. They had to give everything they had and probably more to win!
Everyone disembarked out of the flying machine. They saw the survivors of the Ocean Palace disaster slowly returning to their normal lives and trying to live life again.
"Scat! Get away you mangy little flea bag!" The shop owner yelled while wielding a broom stick. He was trying to kick out a defenseless little kitten that was probably only searching for food in the shop.
The tiny purple kitten meowed sadly. It lifted its tiny head up and then perked up seeing the heroes. The kitten ecstatically ran towards them as fast as its tiny paws would allow it to.
Magus was the first to notice the small kitten running towards them. His empty red eyes slightly widened. "A-Alfador?" You're alive?"
Alfador, the small kitten who followed Magus around when he was a child in the Kingdom of Zeal, leaped into the air and latched onto the dark mage's shoulder purring affectionately against his cheek.
"Not now Alfador…" Magus commanded his pet gently dropping him to the ground.
The tiny kitten gracefully landed on its feet and remained by his master's side.
"Hey!" Crono called out to the others. "Guys its Alfador! How have you been little guy?" He kneeled down to give a gentle pat to the tiny creature, however, Alfador retaliated by hissing and slashing Crono's face with his sharp claws.
Crono fell backwards onto the icy ground with a thud. "I guess he only still likes Magus…" The boy twitched.
"Aw, I think it's sweet that Alfador is so loyal to him." Marle smiled.
A little boy in rags came running out of the make-shift shop and beamed up at Magus. "Is this your cat mister?" The boy asked eagerly. "I've been taking care of him!" The small boy picked up Alfador who affectionately twitched his nose and meowed.
"Good," Magus replied. "Keep him safe until I return."
Alfador's tiny ears flopped down to his face. He stared at Magus with his bright green eyes and meowed sadly. He wanted to go with his Master.
"Soon Alfador, once Lavos is dealt with. I will come back for you." The dark mage promised his pet.
Alfador wiggled about in the tiny boy's arms, but then reluctantly decided to stay put.
Lucca had come out of the make-shift shop, carrying a large sack filled with items. "There, these should be enough," She told her friends while dumping the sack onto the snow ground. "We've got potions, elixirs, and mega potions to keep our strength up and ethers, mega ethers, and mega elixirs to maintain our magical abilities."
"Nice work Lucca," Crono commended his friend. "You're always thinking ahead."
"We will need to replenish our strength as much as we can while infiltrating that evil sanctuary." Frog added as he and everyone else stared into the cloudy sky. The Black Omen was ominously hovering above the clouds. It was as if the massive ship was staring into the very core of the planet, wanting to destroy every living life form. Every second that passed by, the horrid ship was giving strength to revive Lavos once again.
"Let's go." Crono told his friends as he headed back to their flying time machine.
"Good luck!" The tiny boy holding Alfador cried out while waving good-bye with his tiny hand.
Epcoh raced through the clouds heading towards the Black Omen. The Black Omen was fashioned from the ruins of the Ocean Palace with the use of Lavos's energy and the most arcane magic known in existence. It sailed the sky as a dark presence and shrine to Lavos. Being able to time travel to all the eras in which the heroes were from, the Omen was filled with powerful guardians and monsters; automated defenses and robotic enemies adorned its halls, and other organic and Mutant monstrosities were lurking inside.
The Wings of Time floated near a walk way which led everyone towards the floating enmity of destruction. They disembarked their flying ship heading forward towards the dark blue steel-like doors. Everyone took out their weapons the moment they reached the door and attacked the six small tiny round robots which fired deadly lasers. This was the Omen's first defense system; they knew there was more to come once they were inside.
Ayla swiftly kicked down the door leaving a large dent in it. Everyone walked into the main hallway and saw Queen Zeal standing before them.
"Fools! Have you not learned your lesson?" Zeal taunted them.
"We won't give up until Lavos is stopped!" Crono told her.
The queen of Zeal let out a vicious cackle almost deafening anyone who was near her. Her laugh was psychotic, but also frightening. She was amused by Crono's determination. "We are made immortal!" She replied sinisterly. "We shall live forever with Lavos, who feasts upon this planet from within. Now he rests, and gathers strength. But in a mere 14,012 years, he will emerge to rain destruction upon the Earth and crown himself as King! The Black Omen is the path which leads to Lavos. It is the conduit through which our limitless power flows."
Magus rolled his eyes. "Do you actually believe that Lavos will grant you what you want?" He asked his diluted mother. "Once Lavos is reborn, it will have no use for you or this planet! You'll die along with every existing living being on this planet!"
"You can't let this go on!" Marle pleaded with Zeal. "You need to put a stop to this, please!
Zeal's already ambiguous mind was warped with the thought of immortality. She didn't care if the planet died. She didn't care if the future was in ruins. All she wanted was to live forever and rule over a world full of inferior creatures. "As long as the almighty Lavos reigns, your dreams are all for naught!" Magic pulsed through her fingers and with a wave of her hand, she created a small wormhole. The black abyss had a giant mutant-esque creature inside it. The mutant stared at the heroes with its four red eyes in the front and sides of its head. It had a long duck-like beak and its large blue slender arm and hands slowly reached out to them with dripping ooze like hands. It had a yellowish underbelly which was supported by a very slim blue stomach. There were even eyes on the bottom of the grotesque creature with gold antennas sticking out of its body. Leering at them with malice, it slowly approached them in a snail-like manner.
"Sacrifice yourself to Lavos, and fulfill the only purpose left to you!" Zeal cackled as she disappeared.
The mutant roared lunging at the heroes with its long arms. The heroes jumped and dodged out of the way and attacked the mutant with everything they had. Using their weapons and profound magic, the mutant began flailing about. Trying to overpower them, but everyone was prepared to fight back no matter what the cost. Jera held her staff emitting power from the sun stone, which was attached to the staff to absorb everyone's spells to reflect it at the mutant. The mutant let out a gurgle cry as it got hit by the attack. The mutant crashed to the ground as a large gaping hole penetrated through its body.
Crono almost fell over due to exhaustion from the fight. "That takes care of the ugly mutant…" He panted.
"We have to proceed on," Robo said. "Lavos keeps growing stronger."
"Win fight! Defeat Lavos, Crono!" Ayla told the boy.
"We will…" The spiky headed boy breathed out as he took a swig from a mega potion. He looked at everyone seeing the fatigue in their eyes. Despite their determination and spirit, they were also exhausted from this one fight. "Guys what's wrong? We've got enough potions, take them, it'll help." He advised.
"If we waste them on just this one battle, there will be none for when Lavos arrives." Frog said.
"We're trying to conserve what we have, Crono." Marle told him as she healed everyone.
After defeating the mutant, everyone made their way through the Omen, fighting various enemies along the way. After quite some time, the heroes encountered another mutant known as the Giga Mutant, which was similar to the first mutant, but much stronger than the previous one. Upon defeating the mutant, they kept proceeding through the floors of the Omen. They raced through each floor of the Omen, fighting off every fiend that was in their way. The monsters varied from the different timelines which the heroes had explored, except they were much more dangerous and lethal because of the power given to them by Lavos. With each floor the heroes had fought in, they had used up the potions and ethers to regain their strength and magic. They came into battle with the final mutant known as the Terra mutant. That didn't stop the heroes from destroying it. After defeating the Terra Mutant, the heroes stopped at the final corridor.
A gate slowly materialized in front of the heroes. They stared in shock and surprise as what emerged from the gate.
"I-It's a Lavos spawn!" Lucca cried out.
It was indeed a Lavos spawn, the same spawns which dwelled on Death Peak in the future. However, this spawn was much larger than the ones which the heroes had encountered on Death Peak.
"Let's take it down!" Crono declared. Lucca used flare on the spawn, burning the shell of the spawn so that it wouldn't attack with its deadly spikes. Robo tackled the spawn and fired his lasers. Jera used her holylight magic unleashing a tornado of light at the spawn. Frog blinded the spawn by stabbing the spawn with the blade of the Masamune. Ayla walked up to the mini demonic creature lifting it up above her head and tossed it onto the ground. Crono used his luminare, encasing the spawn in a dome of lightning. Marle barricaded the spawn with ice trapping it in a wall of ice. Magus used his dark matter spell on the creature and then opened up a black hole sending the creature into the dark depths of hell.
They advanced to the next room stunned as to what they saw in the final room of the Black Omen. There were seven figures encased in barriers which looked exactly like Crono, Marle, Lucca, Jera, Frog, Robo, and Ayla.
"T-They look like us!" Marle stammered as she walked over to the clone which looked exactly like her.
"No they're not clones…," Lucca told the princess. "They're us…but in alternate timelines…" She confirmed this by pointing the Gate key at each of the clones. The Gate key pin pointed alternate timelines of which these clones came from. Each version of the heroes was asleep, living out alternate futures which the heroes of this world would never live to see because of the choices they made in this world.
"This me?" Ayla pondered as she poked the barrier inspecting her alternate self.
"They seem happier…." Robo said as he looked at his alternate counterpart seeing the bright happy shine in his counterpart's eyes.
"It's like they're in a better future." Lucca told everyone.
"Maybe it was wrong to interfere…we would've led happier lives." Jera thought out loud.
"Everything we've done so far is for nothing." Frog added.
"We should never have agreed to stop Lavos." Marle said disheartened as she held onto her pendant.
"NO!" Crono yelled. "We can't give up now guys…" He told his friends. "We're not going to let Queen Zeal rattle us like this! There's a whole world counting on us to defeat Lavos and bring peace!"
Crono's speech seemed to bring new hope to the others. The others looked at their future counterparts. They were curious as to what lives they were leading, but they had to live in the now, and stopping Lavos was their main objective in this universe. They made their way through the hall and stopped in the final room. The Mammon Machine which was absorbing the planet's life to revive Lavos once again was ominously glowing with energy which it was recieving from the planet. Queen Zeal appeared in front of them.
"I know what you have seen," She told them. "It is your futures that slumber in this hall. Destiny, in its essential form. All the dreams that might have been. All the happiness, and sorrow, you might have known. Your tomorrow, as it has been witnessed. The Black Omen transcends time and space, drifting through all and nothing, waiting for Lavos to awaken. Destiny has led you here, and here you shall remain. Unless you can defeat me and bring down the Omen, there is no future for you!"
"We will put a stop to you!" Crono told her as he and the others held onto their weapons tightly.
Zeal laughed. "Come, children! Lavos slumbers. I will guide you into the depths of his dream," She raised her hand. The heroes were engulfed in a spirally color wave of magic. The spell didn't seem to hurt them, but they were blinded by a very strong light. "Did I say dream? I meant, of course, his eternal nightmare!" She smirked as she saw Crono, Marle, Lucca, Jera, Frog, Ayla, Robo, and Magus sink to their knees and drop their weapons. The pupils in their eyes became hollow and dead. They were all witnessing their worst nightmares.
Crono flinched as his green eyes fluttered open. He rubbed his head and sat up dumbly looking around. He saw that he was back in his room. "Huh?" He pondered.
"What am I doing back home?" Scratching his head, the boy got up from the ground. "Mom!" He called out for his mother, but he heard nothing. "Jera? Are you ok?" He called for his sister, still nothing. He looked around his room and saw everything was exactly the way he left it. His unfinished bed and an empty tiny bowl for his cat which was supposed to be filled with cat food. Crono sighed indismay, he couldn't even find his cat anywhere. He walked over towards the window and almost fell over at the sight he saw. The entire kingdom of Guardia was engulfed in flames! Every residential home, the grand castle of Guardia, the forest, everything was reduced to rubble!
For the first time, Crono didn't have the strength to muster out words. 'Did Lavos do this?' He thought to himself. 'I couldn't stop it…I let everyone down…' He sank to his knees feeling utterly lost. "Mom….Jera….Marle….Lucca…I'm so sorry," He breathed out. "…I let you guys down…" He said hoping he would get a reply from someone, but he heard nothing. Gripping his spiky head the boy let out an anguish scream and he banged his fists on the wooden floor. "EVERYTHING'S GONE!" He yelled at the top of his lungs. His entire body felt numb, it was as if some force kept knocking him back down whenever he tried to get up. He wearily stood up. He had no will to go on. Lavos had taken away everything and everyone he was fighting so hard to protect. What was the point of trying to stop such an incredible monster?
The boy's gaze fell upon his the hilt of the Rainbow sword. His hands shook as he unsheathed the magnificent sword which he and his friends fought so hardly to obtain. Now there was nothing. He stared at the shimmering sword as he held it tightly. 'Just because everyone's gone, it doesn't mean I won't stop trying! I still have a chance to stop Lavos and I will even if I have to do it on my own!' He thought to himself. "You hear me Lavos!" He yelled hoping the parasitic creature would hear his cry. "With or without my family and friends, I'll fight you until my last breath! You'll have to go through me if you want to take this planet!"
Lucca groaned as she opened her eyes. She yawned sleepily as she rubbed her eyes. She was surprised to see an assortment of mechanical equipment in pieces all splattered around in her room. 'I'm home….' She thought to herself and headed down the steps. She saw her father, Taban sitting on a chair. He seemed to be staring out the window like he was deep in thought.
"Dad?" Lucca called to her father. "Are you ok? Where's mom?" She asked curiously since she had not seen her mother anywhere in the house.
Taban glanced over at his daughter. "I wish you would stop asking me where your mother is." He told her.
"Huh?" Lucca blinked confused. "Where is she? Is she ok?"
Taban growled banging his fist on the windowsill. "Didn't I tell you not to ask me about Lara! It's your fault she's dead in the first place or have you forgotten!"
Hearing this Lucca held her breath. "W-what?" She stammered taking a few steps closer to her father. "What happened?" She asked.
"You forgot the password to my invention which not only cut off Lara's legs it took her life away!" Taban scolded his daughter.
"No…," Lucca moved back. "I-I stopped that from happening, Dad! Really I did! My friends and I we've been traveling through time! There was a Gate which brought me back to the time mom lost her legs! I stopped it from happening!" She replied shakily.
"Friends?" Taban repeated. "What friends? You don't have any friends!"
Lucca lifted her head up and wiped the tears from eyes. "Crono and Jera," She answered. "Not to mention Marle who is really Princess Nadia and all my other friends across time!"
Taban stared at his daughter like she was insane. "Lucca, I know losing your mother was hard, but stop making up these irrational stories. You're not a scientist anymore, you gave that up the moment Lara was taken from us. So stop these silly beliefs of yours."
Lucca stared at her father horrified. How could he say such harsh words to her? He always believed in her theories as crazy as they were, but he always gave her the courage to plow on forward. She turned away from her father and hurried up the steps to her room. Taban watched his daughter run up the steps and got up from his chair. He slowly began walking up the steps.
'There has to be a way to fix this!' Lucca thought to herself as she began working with all the mechanical parts that were lying on the floor. She tried to fit each piece together.
"Lucca, what are you doing?" Taban asked from behind her.
Lucca didn't face her father. She just kept on working with all the equipment that was in her room. "I'm going to fix this!" She said defiantly. "I'm going to bring mom back and make sure everything is alright again!" She wiped the tears from her eyes.
"You can't Lucca!" Taban yelled at her. "There is no way to bring your mother back! I've tried so many times and failed! That's what will happen to you!"
Lucca turned around facing her father. "Maybe you just gave up too easily, Dad!" She told him and continued working on the dismantled mechanical items splattered on her bedroom floor.
Marle groggily opened her green eyes. She lifted her head groaning slightly. She tried to move about but saw that her hands were shackled against the wall in thick chains. She looked around slightly afraid realizing that she was in the castle dungeons. The Princess of Guardia saw her crossbow lying on the ground near her.
'Why am I in here?' She wondered. Her thoughts were disrupted as she heard footsteps approaching her cell.
"Well, well, well," A smug voice said. "It seems as though Guardia's reign has finally ended."
Marle scowled instantly recognizing the voice as the Chancellor. "What am I doing in here?" The Princess demanded.
The Chancellor grinned. "Why else would a criminal be in a cell?" He asked her.
"But I haven't committed any crimes against the kingdom!" Marle spat back glaring at the old man.
The Chancellor smirked. "Oh ho ho ho," He laughed eerily. "But you have dear princess or should I say ex-princess. Scheming with that spiky headed brat and influencing an all out attack on our kingdom!"
"WHAT!" Marle exclaimed. "Crono would never do such a thing!" She yelled outraged.
The Chancellor lowered his head in mock dismay while shaking his head. "Tsk, tsk, tsk," He began. "We had such high hopes for you dear Nadia, but it seems your adventures outside the castle have led you to believe such folly stories."
Marle growled at the Chancellor. "We were trying to save our kingdom and the planet! Not planning to destroy it!"
"A likely story," The Chancellor replied. "Perhaps being executed shall waver your diluted mind, just like boy."
Marle's heart instantly dropped to the pit of her stomach. Crono dead? She shook her head. 'No Crono can't be dead!' She screamed in her mind. 'He just can't!' She glared at the Chancellor hatefully. "You will not get away with this! Where is my father?"
"His majesty does not wish to waste his time with traitors even if it is his own daughter!" The Chancellor laughed. "Your execution will begin soon." He walked away leaving the former princess of Guardia with her final thoughts.
"T-This isn't real…" Marle trembled. She struggled furiously trying to break the chains which held her captive with her ice magic, but nothing worked. "Daddy would hear me out…Crono wouldn't be dead…He'd be trying to find a way to come help me, just like he did when I first faded away from existence." The Princess of Guardia could feel tears welling up in her eyes. She couldn't bear the thought of losing everyone she cared about. Her mother, father, and most of all Crono. She closed her eyes remembering the time she nearly lost him. The moment Lavos had struck Crono when it was first summoned to the Ocean Palace. He bravely sacrificed himself to protect her and the others. "I won't…" Marle quivered. "I won't give up…even though everyone I love is gone…I'll keep fighting on…" Her tears slowly drenched her cheeks and onto the pendant which hung around her neck. She softly smiled staring at the blue orb encased around her neck. This whole mess started with her frantically trying to find it. Then she met Crono, Jera, and Lucca. The rest as they say is history. She stared at the ancient relic – it was her glimmer of hope – the one object which made all her worries and fears disappear. She kept on smiling and as she did so, the pendant around her neck reacted to this unfamiliar feeling. Marle looked up as she heard footsteps approaching her cell. It was the Chancellor, King Guardia, and the Warden. They were already to execute her.
Guardia looked at his daughter shamefully. "Do you have any last words to say, Nadia?" He asked.
"Yes, Daddy," Marle answered. "I do," She stared at her father, the Chancellor, and the Warden. She softly smiled thinking of Crono, Lucca, Jera, Frog, Robo, Ayla, and Magus. "I still and will always love you and this kingdom for what it gave me. A loving family and irreplaceable friends."
Jera was racing down the granite steps of Guardia Castle. She held her staff tightly clad in armor only worn by the knights of Guardia. She was swinging her staff left and right casting lethal elemental magic spells to fend away the strange intruders shrouded in the shadows. They were attacking the castle. She smiled with glee, enthusiastically proud of the job well done she was doing on her own. The power she was receiving from the staff made her feel like she was capable of anything. Even saving the kingdom by herself if need be.
"You freaks of nature want to mess with this castle!" Jera exclaimed to the creatures. "You're going to have to get passed me to do it!" Again she raised her staff releasing bolts of lightning which electrocuted the creatures. They howled in agony crashing against the hard floor, dead. Jera slightly smirked at the sight of the dead, motionless bodies on the ground and continued running through the halls of the empty castle enjoying being in control of the blood lust for once.
Kicking the wooden door which led to the throne room, the green haired girl gasped in shock seeing the lifeless bodies of Crono, Marle, and Lucca.
"Crono!" Jera ran towards her brother gently cradling his body in her lap. "Crono! Open your eyes!" She screamed. "Please!" She begged him.
Crono winced slightly opening his green eyes. He coughed up blood cringing against his sister's lap.
Jera smiled, slightly relieved at the fact that her brother was alright for the moment. "Y-You're alright." She stammered. "Did those creatures do this to you?" She demanded to know while tightening her grip on her staff. "I'll make them pay for ever hurting you!"
"Y-You can't…" Crono whispered.
"What?" Jera gasped stunned. "Of course I can! No one can stop me!"
"Y-You're magic ability…is fueled by your feelings…" Marle told her as she lay limp on the ground.
"I-It's because of you…you're the one who….manifested those creatures…the moment…you chose blood lust over doing the right thing." Lucca breathed out.
Hearing these words from Lucca was like ten knives piercing at her heart. She was responsible for hurting her brother, her friends, and her kingdom.
"I…," Jera began as she choked back tears. "I was responsible for this…?" She asked herself. She stared at the staff in her hands. It was gift to her from Melchior. A gift now more a curse which was abused. She abused the powers which the light had given her. Being in control of every element of magic was overwhelming to her from the start. Ever since Spekkio bestowed upon her light magic, the Master of War had even warned her of the consequences of owning such power. She didn't listen and this was the cost of not listening.
"Crono…," Jera looked down at her dying brother. "I'm sorry!" She hugged him tightly. "I'm sorry I let you down!" She cried. She swiftly threw the Sun staff aside angry at herself for getting so carried away with her light powers. She got so carried away that she was able to manifest creatures of darkness to kill her brother and closest friends.
Jera stood up slowly observing the mess she had made with her powers. The Castle of Guardia was in shambles. Her brother and friends were dead. There was nothing else to live for now. She slowly walked over towards her staff which she had thrown against the wall and stared at it. She squeezed her fist, bent down and picked up her staff. "I'll be more careful." She said hoping someone or something would hear her. "I won't rely on just myself to fight and protect the people I love! I have to count on others to fight also and I will keep on moving even if I've lost everything!" She yelled clutching onto the gold rim of the staff.
Frog groggily opened his eyes. He blinked a few of times to get adjusted to his surroundings. He sat up scratching his head as he felt strands of …hair through the fabric of his gloves. Frog jumped up and stared into the reflection of a nearby pond. He did not see his amphibian features. No, what he saw was a handsome face with piercing green eyes staring back at him. His long green hair cascaded upon his shoulders down to his back. He stood up and his squire armor shined brightly as it reflected from the sun's rays and his green cape hovering over his strong, broad shoulders and lightly touching the soft green grass of Guardia Forest. He definitely looked like the kingdom's hero.
"I-I am…human?" Glenn croaked out. "But how? Did Magus…" The former amphibian slightly shook his head. He didn't even think twice of how his rival would actually turn him back into a human without an ulterior motive. He looked down at his side and saw his scabbard where he kept the legendary Masamune in was gone! The squire stood there in surprise wondering who was responsible for stealing his weapon.
"Lose something Glenn?" A voice disrupted Glenn's thoughts.
In an instant Glenn whirled around. His heart nearly stopped as he saw the person standing before him. It was Cyrus. The noble knight looked exactly the same as when he had died by the hands of Magus. He was holding to the ruby hilt of the Masamune tightly in his gloved hand.
Cyrus looked down at his squire, tilting his head to the side worried for his comrade. "Glenn, are you alright?" He asked. "You look as if you've seen a ghost."
Glenn just stared at his former Lord with a stunned face. "Y-You're…," The noble squire began.
Cyrus chuckled softly and smiled. "What is wrong my friend? Is there a frog stuck in your throat?" He asked.
Glenn sheepishly shook his head. "Just seeing you holding the legendary sword in your hand has me stunned." He finally replied.
The noble knight held the Masamune tightly in his hands. "Yes, this sword is legendary," He smiled and then looked at his squire. "However it is not the sword that makes you unstoppable Glenn, it is the skills you are able to hone in when wielding such a magnificent weapon."
Glenn smiled as he watched Cyrus demonstrate his skills using the Masamune. The sword's blade cut through thin air and a few low branches from the trees in the forest of Guardia. It was like he was a little child playing with a new toy. Then Cyrus took out his old sword strapped to his armor and tossed it to Glenn. The squire caught the rough hilt of the sword in his hand and stared his friend in confusion.
"If you are to inherit this sword one day, Glenn, I want to see if you've improved as a swordsman." Cyrus said as he lifted the Masamune in attack range.
Glenn took a step back completely baffled by this request. "You wish for me to fight you?" He asked his mentor. "I cannot do such a thing!" He said. "I will not fight you!"
Cyrus looked at his squire slightly enraged. "You're still the spineless coward when I first met you!" The knight swung the blade at his squire.
Glenn leaped back holding to the sword which was given to him. "Cyrus, have you gone mad?" He asked in disbelief.
"Fight me you coward!" Cyrus roared at his squire as he continued swinging the Masamune at him.
Glenn continued dodge his mentor's furious sword swings. He still had a tight hold on his sword, but he never raised it. Glenn watched as Cyrus, the kingdom's most trusted knight became more enraged since his squire refused to fight back.
The Masamune began to feed off of Cyrus's malice towards his squire. Glenn slightly raised his sword to defend himself since Cyrus was becoming lethal in his swings.
"Cyrus! Stop!" Glenn screamed. "You're one of the most valued members of the royal Knights of the Square Table! King Guardia and most of all Queen Leene depend on you for protection against the kingdom's foes!"
Hearing Queen Leene's name, Cyrus abruptly stopped. The blade of the Masamune was inches from Glenn's face. The possessed knight smirked swinging his sword at his squire.
Glenn fell backwards on hitting the ground hard. There was a large gash ripped in his armor. His sword was lying a few feet away.
"If you refuse to fight back, I will just have to destroy you!" Cyrus seethed holding the Masamune high above his head. "This worthless kingdom will be no more! This blade will be sated with the blood of the royal court!" He laughed sending chills down Glenn's spine. He never saw Cyrus so full of rage before. This was neither his friend nor mentor. This was someone or something else that was feeding off of the anger inside his heart.
Glenn quickly dived for his sword as Cyrus swung the Masamune and blocked the blade in time before it took his life.
"You are NOT my mentor, friend, or Lord!" Glenn yelled holding back the blade of the Masamune.
Cyrus looked at his squire with hate in his eyes. "Glenn…kill me…" He said.
"W-what?" Glenna asked flabbergasted at this request.
"Kill me before the enmity of this sword takes hold of me again!" Cyrus ordered. "Do it or I will not regret what will happen if you don't!"
"No…," Glenn began. "I can't you are my friend and mentor, I cannot raise my sword against you!"
Cyrus gripped the hilt of the Masamune tightly. "You foolish man, I gave you a chance and you refused to take it! It will be your fault that the royal blood of the king and queen will be stained by this blade. I will enjoy hearing Queen Leene screaming for agony and her delicate body falling to the ground."
Glenn gritted his teeth. His green eyes full of anger with a hint of sadness in them. It was a knight's code to protect the royal family no matter what the cost. With all the strength he could muster, the former squire of Cyrus swung the blade into the possessed knight's chest, penetrating the armor with the blade.
Cyrus dropped the Masamune as he felt a surge of pain going through his body. He smiled at his squire and slowly fell to the ground. The anger in his eyes were no more and the smile never left his face as he took his last breath.
Glenn bowed his head for a few moments to pay respects to his friend. He then stared at the Masamune and picked it up placing it back in its scabbard. He took out the Hero's Badge from his pocket as a reminder of why he was able to wield this legendary, but terrifying weapon.
Queen Zeal smirked as the heroes of time since they were trapped in their nightmarish illusions. She turned towards the Mammon Machine and looked on estactic. As the heroes were trying their hardest to fight off their illusions, the Mammon Machine grew stronger with every second that passed by. The stronger the ancient machine became, the closer Lavos was to resurfacing again.
Author's Note (again): Well here is the chapter everyone. I hope you enjoyed it. So far it seems that Crono, Marle, Lucca, Jera, and Frog/Glenn were able to fight off their visions/illussions. However, will the others be able to do the same? Find out next time!
Yes Crono's and Glenn's illussions are of what will follow through in Chrono Cross. For those of you who have beaten Chrono Trigger know what exactly I'm talking about for Crono's illussion. As for the Masamune, being harvested through Lavos of course its going to be frigging evil! Seriously Chrono Cross talks about the Masamune being possessed/evil, but it never follow throughed in Trigger. Soooo I just wanted to give an homage to that plotline since the game NEVER really explains why! But there is a reason as to why the sword really does get corrupted! You'll find that out at the end of this fic.
Read and review and keep voting on my poll guys of what my next fanfic should be. Hopefully I'll have this story done by next month :D