Heroes Return

The next week everyone gathered at Lucca's place – more specifically, in a shed outside of the house. After all, she still wanted her parents' support without them knowing what was going on. So, a few months earlier, she had built this shack which everyone admitted was rather poorly designed but had kept the curious away.

Lucca herself was over in one corner maintaining the fire. Without tools. Nadia and Robo seated themselves at the other end of the shed, on an old sofa. Chrono stood, stroking his new sword from Melchior and examining the Telepod, which filled the center of the room. "I never thought you'd be using this thing again," he mused.

"Would you rather I said some magic words and created another time gate?" Lucca replied without looking up. "Nadia brought the pendant, I hope."

"Yes," came the answer.

"Give it to me, then. Let's get this over with." Lucca stood and approached Nadia, glaring at her clothes. "I thought we were all going to… uh, dress down for this."

"I'm sorry," Nadia said, fingering her bright green blouse. "This was the rattiest thing I had. What do you expect? You're not concerned about taking a robot behind anyway – I don't think anyone will bother with the dress."

"You could have told me so we didn't have to wear these filthy rags." Lucca rubbed her forehead. "Forget it. Pendant." Nadia carefully removed it from around her neck. "Don't worry," Lucca said, reading the princess's expression. "The worst that'll happen is the chain will break." She took the pendant and inserted it into a panel on the side of the Telepod.

"Hey, that's new," Chrono remarked.

Lucca started the machine. "Well, you could wear it around your neck and get fried like last time."

"Besides," Robo butted in, "this way the pendant is sure to accompany us wherever we go." The other three just looked at him. "Miss Lucca said so."

"You still haven't beaten the old manners out of him," Chrono muttered.

"But I am learning," Robo stood. "Miss Lucca says that in within another year I should be cursing like 'the rest of them' – you look surprised. See, I am learning to read facial expressions as well."

"Tell me again why we're bringing him along."

"I follow Miss Lucca wherever she goes."

"And," Lucca interjected, "he's a walking dictionary, man-at-arms, and housewife… all in one." She bent over as if inspecting something very small. "It should be working now. Everybody in... we're going to make history."

"Provided we go back in time and not forward," Robo added.

"We will."

"Wait!" Nadia almost screeched. "Aren't you going to put out the fire?"

For a minute there was no reply. Lucca stroked her chin for a moment before speaking.

"No."

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Chrono had almost forgotten the rush of time traveling – the way he felt like going five hundred miles an hour without moving at all. But he didn't have much time to appreciate the thrill. Almost before the portal closed again, he felt himself thrown to the ground by someone heavy. He and the other man rolled over a few times, down a hill, before hitting the side of a very solid tree. Fortunately for him there was no real injury. After shaking his head a few times, he noticed the "man" who had tackled him was actually a large, turtle-like creature wearing shiny blue armor.

Mystic! Chrono jumped back and whipped out his sword. It's ring echoed in a mild breeze, as if to say "prepare, for I have come for a visit to your heart!" At least, that's what Chrono thought it said. The mystic probably heard something more like Shwing! And it didn't look impressed with the bright red color, either.

With a primal yell, Chrono thrust himself at the creature. In all his dreams he imagined mystics freezing in terror, opening their bodies wide to his sword. This one wasn't so. Apparently it counted on its 300-pound frame and body armor to provide all the protection it could possibly need. Not only that, but it didn't even appear to register the crazed red-headed boy's anger at all. It neatly side stepped the thrust and with a thunk! Chrono's sword rested about six inches in the tree trunk.

The creature used this time to bring its arms down with full force on the boy's back. Chrono dropped to the earth, and out of the corner of his eye he saw the turtle easily slip the sword out of the tree.

But in doing so, the creature ignored Chrono long enough for the boy to reach out weakly and touch its coated armor. For a moment the turtle remained expressionless – then it began to shudder. Its grip tightened on the sword for a moment, and Chrono got a good look at the yellow sparks dancing off the reddish hilt. Who needed a sword when one's own body was a weapon?

Moments later the creature had fallen to the ground, never to rise again. Chrono took the sword from its hand – he could feel the lifelessness. For just an instant, he lingered to look at the body, then rushed back to the top of the forested hill.

The others were there, looking a bit tired but otherwise normal. The explanation lay at their feet: three mystic imps whose last sight had been a gigantic log falling on their heads. Robo still held the log. "I do what I must to protect you," he apologized.

"Okay…" Lucca tried to appear in-control. "So, where… I mean, when exactly are we? If this place is where my house used to be… will be once this grove is gone… then this is Truce. So what's with the mystics?"

"Why shouldn't they be here again?" Nadia asked, doing her best not to stare at the dead bodies and their wide eyes.

"Last time we came, in the year 600, there were no mystics – they shouldn't be here. Didn't you study history?" Everyone nodded, but Lucca took no notice. "After the Queen was rescued, Guardia went on the offensive and drove the mystics out of the south. This should be the lull…"

"Well maybe they missed a few."

"Robo!" Lucca barked. "Can you tell me what year it is?"

"No, ma'am. That is impossible to determine with no sources. If we wait until night I can possibly map our position with the stars - "

They were interrupted by a rustling in the bushes. Chrono readied his sword again. Robo picked up another log.

But these new creatures weren't mystics. These new humans were just as surprised as Chrono. They were covered in leather, though the air was warm and a little moist. Armor, he realized… though he figured leather wouldn't stop much more than small rocks and such. Only two men came through the brush – one who was hardly more than a child, perhaps younger than Chrono – and one tall, dark, bearded man. The second one had the face of a leader and the poise of a drunkard.

"What in – " he started to say, then switched tactics. "I mean…" he cleared his throat. "What be kids like you doin' out here?" He never gave any time to answer, but leapt up to the girls. "Women folk were instructed to take flight a week past. Boy!" Now he was shouting to the other leather-clad man. "Take these women and this… man… to the lodge and keep them there! This be no place for children."

"Certainly, Toma."

"And where shall I go?" Robo asked. Toma and the boy stopped in their tracks. "I have promised not to leave Miss Lucca's side."

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Fifteen minutes later everyone was seated comfortably in the lodge, or, in Chrono's words, a filthy log cabin. There was only one other person in the room – a doorman – and while he looked friendly enough, he also wasn't going to be letting anyone leave anytime soon. Everyone took a seat on either of the two beds. The beds were hard.

"I think I figured it out," Lucca said after a few minutes.

"Yeah, I was beginning to get the same impression," Chrono added.

"We did go to the wrong time period."

"But not very wrong."

"Pardon?" Nadia furrowed her brow, as if on the verge of understanding. She relaxed her face after a moment, apparently too tired of thinking.

"Please enlighten me." Robo bowed slightly. "I have studied history as you said, but I am still learning. I do not remember what I was supposed to know."

Lucca stood. "Last time we were here, it was the year 600 – exactly. Queen Leene was kidnapped according to history, she was rescued somewhat according to history, and the humans pushed the mystics out of Guardia. For the next year or so the war dwindled to a skirmish. No one knew what the mystics wanted, whether they were defeated. They seemed to give up – until about 602, when they returned in force. They all but destroyed the southern cities of Guardia and made their push to the north – where we are. But there was only one sure route to Truce and the Castle."

"Right…" Nadia looked bored. "That part I remember. Why is this important?"

Robo simply asked "what route?"

Lucca chose to answer Robo. "Zenan bridge. That's what the humans expected. But… in the first few months of 603, mystics began appearing by boat in Truce. That's here – now. We're almost to the end of the war."

"Isn't that a good thing?" Now Nadia was frustrated.

"No," Chrono cut in. "Once the war was over, the mystic general disappeared forever."

The pieces were coming together for Nadia. "Magus… who supposedly created Lavos."

"I'm sorry, but that is impossible," Robo objected. "From what you say, Lavos is a supremely powerful being – how could a mere man create such a thing?"

"That is true… we don't know if Magus really was the creator." Lucca sat down again. "But this is the first time Lavos shows up in history. Something happened… we have time to find out."

"Not much," Chrono added.

"And besides, now I'd believe anything."

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Ten minutes later Toma returned with the young boy. "The others have agreed that you are too stupid to be spies. You are free to go, though the ladies may need protection." He leered at the girls. Nadia and Lucca tried to smile.

"We're not going anywhere." Chrono stood, prepared to use his only round of ammunition. "We're here to fight. Surely you recognize Sir Chrono when you see him."

Toma did not appear impressed. And that was my best hand, too. "Oh, right, sir. Your carriage is waiting." The man bowed and gestured to the door. Suddenly he perked up and grasped Chrono's wrist. "There are going to be some dead mystics in here by the end of tonight. If this house still stands. I'm taking the ladies," he hissed.

"And I say," Chrono swiped Toma's hand away, "they can handle themselves."

"This be your first war? You take care of it. See that these ladies arrive at the canyon in safety. And take your... thing, too."

Robo took his cue. "No hurry. I would follow – "

"Shut up." Lucca stepped close to Toma, until their noses almost touched. (Toma had to look up a bit.) "We're not leaving. You'll have to force us out."

"We're here to help." Nadia tried to intercede. "Honestly."

Toma looked from one girl to the other, then back again. "Fine," he grumbled, raising a hand. "Such waste of flesh."

Lucca looked about ready to fry the man when another leather clad boy burst in. "Get the spears! The devils are at the door!" Suddenly all the arguing really didn't matter. Toma and the other men hurried out, leaving Chrono, Robo, and the girls.

"What's going on here, Lucca?" Chrono grasped his sword.

"My guess? My house is the site of an old traveler's lodge. Explorers and trappers would stay here. They were just lucky enough to get caught here when… you know. But the worst part comes later."

"Zenan bridge."

"Right."

"You sure dropped us at a great time, Lucca."

"Yes, I'm quite talented that way."

Chrono pulled his sword out again. "Let's go down."

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

To Chrono's relief, the "devils" downstairs were small in both number and stature. And so far the resident explorers and trappers were holding their own pretty well. At least, as far as he could see, there were no human bodies littering the floor.

Brandishing his sword, Chrono jumped into the fray. Immediately he realized he'd lost track of the enemy. From above, on the stairs, he could easily see the force of the opposition and its weak points and such. In the split second before jumping, Chrono had devised a surefire method of driving back every last mystic scum and saving the day. Now he couldn't remember his own name, let alone what to do with his sword. The only thought now was to charge anything that didn't look human.

The first imp he saw would get a taste of metal – that's what Chrono thought to himself. However, it wasn't until the third one until he scored a hit. The other two were deceptively fast and scurried away before their heads were cleaved right open. Chrono never experienced any fancy moves from his wooden training dummies, so what could he expect? The third one, though, took a blow to the arm – with the flat of the blade, Chrono noted with frustration. Cleaner than a pulsing, bloody wound. The imp fell to the floor – probably never to get up again. He hoped.

Next thing he knew he was hit in the back, and he sprawled to the floor. But this was one part of training easily replicated. Fast as lightning, Chrono was on his feet and facing the enemy – a goblinesque purple-winged creature. Its pathetic frame almost made Chrono smirk. The only reason the skinny goblin could do any damage was the four foot club in its left hand. The four foot club with a six inch nail coming out of the end – a nail bright red with blood. Chrono could only hope it wasn't his blood (though he realized later he'd have been dead already if it was).

That was his only hesitation. Without a second glance, he thrust his sword out, straight into the belly of the gargoyle. Unthinking. Just like in training. But unlike in training, this opponent gasped, dropped the weapon, and looked at him wide-eyed. Its beak opened part way as if to cry out or say something, but it just stared at the sword – opened-mouthed, silent. Even though the battle around Chrono raged at high volume, he managed to hear the soft squish of his sword piercing through the enemy's back. It was the same sound he heard when slicing melons at home, only this melon had a thicker, darker juice. The goblin looked just as disgusted as he did to see the blood. His sword was painted black with it. Slowly the goblin fell back, and Chrono could feel the pressure on his sword as the mystic slid away, until the blade reappeared. The force almost knocked him back as the sword freed itself of its burden.

The battle returned to Chrono – a rush of sound and fury. He couldn't remember anything else he did, and the only part he remembered he found himself trying to forget. But before he knew it, the battle was finished. The mystics had apparently fled. No winner, no loser, just dead bodies on the ground.

It took a moment for Chrono to realize he was still alive. He began touching himself all over, just to make sure he still had all the important body parts. His hands came back bloody after touching his left shoulder. He forced himself to look, bracing himself for a writhing mass of tissue.

But it was just a scratch. A blow that got just a little too close and drew blood. No worse than falling down the stairs at home. Or getting scratched by the cat. It was more annoying than painful, though Chrono considered it his first omen.

A moment later he realized Lucca was in his face. How long she had been there, he couldn't say. But she looked angry. Or intimidated. Or scared. Or jealous. Chrono didn't care.

"Hello! Toma's taking all the wounded upstairs with Nadia, and Robo. He saved you, you know. Are you coming or are you just going to sit here?"

"What? Oh." Chrono scratched his head. "Sorry. Be right there."

Lucca started up the stairs, but before she disappeared at the top, she shouted "you can leave your sword down there until you clean it. It's just plain nasty. Chrono took one last look. The tip was crusty and black, and reeked of stomach acid and digested remains. He dropped the weapon without a moment's hesitation.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

His first thought when entering the "sick room" upstairs was that there weren't a whole lot of wounded people. There was a lot of blood – on the beds especially. But only two or three of the men had any marks whatsoever. Then he noticed that everyone was staring at Nadia.

At the moment, she was leaning over one of the younger boys. The boy had a deep gash running the length of his left arm. Chrono watched as Nadia rubbed her hands together, catching the sweat and keeping it from dripping on the wounded man. She then took her hands and held them over the wound, one at each end. Her hands were two feet apart. Slowly, she moved her right toward her left, as if tracing the gash – and as her fingers waved over the wounded area, the gash closed. Chrono blinked a few times. He felt he was watching a reverse attack. A few second later Nadia had finished, and she stood up to reveal a perfectly healthy young boy, who lay staring at her as if she were deity.

She moved on to the next wounded man, apparently without much thought. Like before, she closed the man's wounds – without ever touching him or saying a word – as if sewing with invisible thread. It took only a few minutes for her to finish with all the wounded. Then she made a beeline for Chrono. Everyone parted to make way for her, and they watched as she whispered.

"Chrono. You're still here. I thought I might have to do you too."

"No," Chrono whispered back. "Not a scratch." Liar.

"I don't know what's going on. What's happening to me…"

"What do you mean?" Tell her.

"I never knew I could do… but… I saw the… and I just wanted it to… go away. So I did. Now I feel like I need to sleep. Are you sure you're all right?"

"Fine." Liar. Tell her. What, you think she won't help you because… you're her friend?

"I just can't believe any of this. I can't believe I listened to Lucca… things will only get worse from here…"

"Then just lie down for a while." Chrono signaled to an empty (and clean) bed. Nadia turned to go, but he stopped her. "Wait. There is one thing. You were asking if I was hurt… I did get a little… um, wound." He rolled up his sleeve to show the scratch.

Nadia gave it a once-over. "Deal with it." She flopped into the bed, instantly asleep.

It was then Chrono noticed Robo – sitting on a chair at the foot of Nadia's bed. He must have been there since the end of the battle. By all appearances he hadn't moved. He just sat there, completely still, looking aware but not conscious.

"I had forgotten," he said – his voice monotone.

Chrono took the bait. "What."

Robo turned to stare at him, blue "eyes" hollow. Were they hollow all the time, or just now? "I am a killer."

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

AUTHOR'S NOTE: Amazing! An update before March! I figured if I really worked at it, I could get this in before I fly to Boston for a week.

Anyway, please please please let me know what you think - especially on the parts of the story different from the original. I promise I put these in for a reason, but it's still nerve-racking for me to update. It's easier for the other segments, like the Yakra battle or the Escape from Jail, where I'm at least tweaking what was originally in the script. This chapter is all new, and if you want a detailed explanation, I might comply. But I won't know if you don't put two cents in.

The basic explanation is that this half of the chapter is a prelude to the battle of Zenan bridge. I just changed the timeline so that the war could have semblance of strategy - something you never get in the game. I wanted to have moves and counter-moves from both sides so the stakes were high. Plus, I can't believe the bridge would be the only attack point. It's like chess - you never attack with just one piece (unless you want to lose). Works in the game, not in the story...

So let me know if these changes are believable, for one. Or if you're angry because I defiled the script or something. It's good to know who's on my side (because I am insecure).

Next update should be soon (within 1 year). Not sure if it will actually get up to the battle at the bridge, but it will get close.