Chrono Trigger

The Destruction of Mount Woe; in which we read of the battle against the Giga Gaia, the fall of Mount Woe, what occurred…

A few tense moments passed. Unlike before, there was no splintering or crackling of falling timber, nor the sound of fleeing birds and their frightened cries. Crono could only guess if they had fled completely or if the Giga moved with such grace that he barely disturbed them. He had wished with every ounce of his heart that it were not the latter. Everyone's eyes darted from the foliage to the sky, unknowing of where their foe could attack them from.

"There it is!" Lucca shouted as a pillar of fire flew from her fingertips.

Their eyes followed the billowing column of fire toward a dark blot that had blocked out the sun. As the fire collided it had negated the blinding effect of the sun; for a brief moment the titan's appearance could be seen. Then, it suddenly disappeared behind the trees again without a sound. Glenn looked to Crono and said with surprise, "It is fast. It is the size of a mountain and it is fast." Glenn swallowed hard, grit his teeth and tried for cynical humor as he said, "Mayhap we me even be sore after this battle…"

Everyone looked about nervously with apprehension, but for this battle Ayla was enthusiastic. How strange it was that she almost shirked from her battle with the Reptiles and felt some pangs of sorrow as she killed the queen's conscripts. However, a primitive thrill had filled her and she could not put a finger on it even if she wished to try. However, the reason was nothing more than the fact that she finally had a guilt-free challenge. Just as the beasts she had hunted, it was kill or be killed. This was not a fight that could be avoided by rational conversation. This was not a battle that held the lives of innocent bystanders in the balance. This was a being of pure instinct that hunted them. She was in the jungle again, being stalked by a predator who wanted nothing more than to beat their bodies into the ground to protect its domain. There were no ethical dilemmas. There was only strength against strength.

She stood firm. "It is clever…" Ayla began. "Do not be afraid that you do not have weapons. You have great weapons."

She noticed that everyone stood more resolutely and did not bounce nervously on their toes. Their scanning gaze was not frenzied, but became slower and more methodical. Ayla could feel the warm glow of familiarity as she thought back to the hunting grounds: a sacred place of ritual where young tribe members grew through tribulation and became recognized as adults. She had led groups of them many times on their hunts. They were frightened children who could not see the dangers of the forest, not knowing from whence the next fearsome thing would strike. However, just as she had done many times before, she would call them to their senses. She had guided them well and never lost a single soul. She did not plan on doing so now.

However, a realization struck her and she realized with great fear that her group and her groups of old had experience before hand. She looked at Schala who trembled exceedingly. "Of course she is frightened. She never had to fight for her life before." Ayla began to plan fervently, knowing that Schala would need more time to muster up the courage necessary to act. She looked to the group and shouted loud enough to be heard, her unnatural language not bothering to correct itself as she spoke through adrenaline, "Make circle! Keep Schala in the middle!" Just like the children who had the courage but succumbed to the fear of the unknown, they obeyed the only confident voice without another thought.

Scala's cheeks flushed and she began to protest, "But I can handle myself!"

"You are guest in our party. It is honorable to keep you safe." Ayla answered quickly. Ayla knew that Schala could see through her lie, but she did not mind. Ayla accomplished what she wished: to make Schala compliant. Ayla listened to the random noises that came from the woods, her calm ears hearing what the others could not. She could hear the speed of the footsteps, how heavy they fell, and the wind moving through the trees that were created by its wake. The roles of the party came to her, just as it had done all those many times in the sacred jungle.

It was fast. "Glenn, the Giga Gaia will break our circle. When happens, carry Schala to safe place. Both of you attack from the distance."

The Giga Gaia was strong. "Crono, you and I keep it busy. If attack anyone beside us, you hurt it. Make it attack you."

It would hit hard. "Marle, stay close and heal any who get hurt."

It would be resilient. "Lucca. If it is hard, we must find way to make it break! Make a plan! Find a way to break it!"

"Fine," Lucca said with a certain grim humor, "give me the hardest job."

"I know you can do it." Ayla said, a fiercely determined smile crossing her face. Lucca grinned back and waited for the creature to appear for analysis.

The distant sounds of the forest stopped. There was utter silence, just as there always had been before the first strike. "This is another beast. This is another beast." Ayla thought to herself, preparing her mind to become instinctual. Ayla tensed, waiting for the blow to come. Her intuition came to her in full force as she turned to the predicted entry of the foe. The party had face the same direction, and sure enough, there was an earth shattered cracking of pine and stone. Trees flew from the forest and headed for them. "Break the circle!" Ayla shouted.

The party dashed in opposite direction. Glenn scooped up Schala in his arms while hastily and instinctively apologizing with a "Forgive me, milady!" He made great speed toward a rocky crag, his body moving with an agility he never knew he had. After all, it was a rare thing for him to run away from a battle once he was in it. However, he was experienced enough to know that the thundering footsteps behind him meant that he was being followed. He also knew that a blinding light flashing behind him meant that Crono had done his part.

"Come over here, you ugly hunk of rock!" Crono said with a taunting smile, his fingers still crackling with the electricity that flowed from his fingers.

"I don't think he can understand you, Crono." Lucca said sarcastically. However, she quickly corrected herself as the Giga Gaia spun about and dashed for Crono.

The formidable fortress towered over him even from a distance. Its body was leaned forward, its armored head rushing toward him. Crono was calm enough now to notice the features of the being: its color was a dull gray that had most likely been a light red at one point but had changed due to years of dust, green moss hung from its body, sharp spikes protruded from its shoulders and helmet, and its eyes were soulless white lights. The Giga Gaia flew into the air again, its foot preparing to stop the ground. It landed, the smooth stone underneath its foot rising up in jagged heaps, while Crono danced away like a fly. However, the Giga Gaia anticipated this and swung a massive arm down to where Crono was about to land.

A great shower of fire and sparks exploded just underneath the Giga Gaia's fist, causing Crono to change trajectory. His body flew limply until he had shaken off the pain. He righted himself and landed safely as a white light came over him. His battered and bloody arm that took the brunt of the blast suddenly healed in an instant. "Not so close next time!" He shouted angrily.

The Giga noticed where the flame had come from and saw the woman with glasses. He charged toward her and she prepared another blast, but she did not need to put forth the effort. A great boulder whizzed through the air and struck the Giga Gaia on the back of its head. Lucca moved to avoid the onslaught of failing rocks successfully while the Giga Gaia focused its hatred on a new target. It charged toward Ayla who did not move, but steadied herself for its approach. The creature swung downward, missing her as she leapt to the side so that she was underneath its leg. The Giga Gaia swung again, its arm brushing the ground and sending rocks flying off to the distance. Ayla, with a grin, struck its leg with her fist.

There was the sound of something loud cracking and she smiled in triumph. But it quickly disappeared. Then, she howled in pain.

"Watch out!"

Ayla felt her body tumble on the ground as she felt something slam into her. It was not the Giga Gaia, but Crono who threw himself toward her in the nick of time. He rolled on the ground with her in his arms, leaping to his feet while Ayla seethed as she nursed her broken fist. "It is very hard! I cannot break it! I can break stone, but I cannot break it! We must think of something!" Ayla felt the pain disappear as glowing light emanated from her fist.

"Still working on that!" Lucca said, desperately firing another pillar of fire at the Giga to test its effectiveness.

The Giga had focused on Glenn and Schala again, its grinding gears of clay and earth whirling within its body. Glenn grabbed Schala again with another apology and began to run. But then he suddenly had an idea. He stopped running and began to concentrate, yelling something at Schala who seemed confused and frightened, but then suddenly seemed to understand and showed genuine enthusiasm. The others called out to them to run, but began to see what they were doing. As the Giga Gaia neared, they noticed that the mist of the forest and the water from the lake drew near in serpentine forms. The Giga Gaia noticed too late as the water lassoed about its legs, freezing as Schala summoned the power within her. The Giga moved its feet to no avail and began to frantically beat upon the ice that encased its legs.

"Hit it now, with everything you got!" Lucca shouted.

The valley came alive with the forces of nature. Water sprung from hidden reservoirs and hit with the force of a riptide. Flames erupted with the strength and violence of an inferno, causing the Giga to glow red with the intensity of its flames. Ice began to snake around its body and turn it white with frost. Great streams of lighting flew from the earth and sky, causing the mountain peak to rumble with thunder. Great stones crumbled against the mighty body of the titan, melting into magma, dashing against the body with water, or freezing against the body.

Ayla watched Schala with glee. When it came down to that moment, Schala summoned her strength and acted on instinct, pelting the monster with earth. She nodded in approval.

The dust cleared as the Giga Gaia stood encased in a freakish mold of ice, steaming rock, and charred earth. The party cheered, but it was short lived. There was a deafening roar of gears as force fought against resistance. The arms fought mightily and burst from its prison. The legs wished to come next as they fought against the mound of elements that bound its legs. A feeling of despair fell upon the party and Lucca shook her head in disbelief, "Damn that Dalton…I did not give him enough credit."

"Again!" Ayla shouted.

The valley came alive again with fierceness, but it did not seem to slow the monster down. Great boulders of ice and stone heaved into the sky as it burst free, its arms rising in the air, almost as if it had proved its triumph. The light subsided and it began its onslaught again. The party had begun to grow tired and worried. Would they be able to flee? Would the Giga Gaia, knowing now what matter of threat they posed, allow them to leave? The situation grew dim.

The battle had carried out as it had before; it was almost as if it were a game of cat and mouse and it was only a matter of time until one of them was in a corner or tired enough to allow the cat to take them. The blows came more often and the healing grew less and less effective as Marle grew weary and began to lose her concentration. Ayla even began to wonder what should be done next. Even so, she continued to shout encouragement but began to lose her confidence.

Then, the course of the battle changed.

The Giga Gaia focused on Lucca once again. Lucca, in an effort to blind the monster long enough for an escape, threw fire at its eyes. It did little to slow it down, and in fact, it seemed to focus its attention on her even more vigorously. It was about to thrust its fist into where she stood when Ayla appeared before the Giga, heaving another rock at its head. It reacted quickly. It swung for Ayla and caught her on her side. She flew into the air, landing roughly on the ground, tumbling over and over again.

"Ayla!" Marle screamed. She began to focus, but was dismayed as the Giga did not pursue a different attacker this time. Even as everyone tried to catch its attention, it dashed toward Ayla with a sudden realization: It would be far easier to kill one at a time rather than attack the one that moved at that moment. It raised its hand, ready to strike a blow. The hand came falling down as everyone screamed.

Suddenly, everything grew silent.

The Giga Gaia stood with its hand only ten feet away from the ground. The prone body of Ayla was on the dusty earth, looking up weakly at Crono. His hands were outstretched, his feet planted firmly in the ground, his back was to her, and his body was trembling with incredible force. Slowly, rocks all around them began to levitate. Ayla realized that the massive hand over them quivered with effort but could not move down any further as if some unknown force pushed it back. Suddenly, the sound around them slowly began to return and increase in intensity. A great gale kicked up clouds of dust as a dome of light began to surround Crono. The force of the wind, slowly at first, began to push Ayla away from harm. However, the gale suddenly threw her body roughly from the scene. Finally, she felt a soothing sensation as her body was healed.

She watched in awe and the Giga Gaia and Crono stood in a showdown against each other. The cackling, brilliant light around Crono grew and grew until it touched and bent around the Giga Gaia's arm, but it went no further. Jolts of electricity flew from the collision of opposing magnetism, striking the distant trees and hills of the valley with a catastrophic boom. Even worse, the jolts became more violent, striking the world around them.

"No! Stop, Crono!" Schala screamed.

"What's wrong?" Lucca shouted above the din. "What's going on?"

"He's going to kill himself!" Schala shouted. "You have to do something! If he keeps this up his body will give out!"

They did not understand the situation, but upon hearing that news they sprang into action. All members of the party dashed out toward the frightening scene, dodging the explosive bolts of energy that detonated around them. They planted their feet and summoned their elements. However, as Ayla went to intervene, a bolt of lightning erupted from the strange exchange between Crono and the Giga Gaia. She felt something inside her body explode as the bolt struck her. Her body buzzed as if she felt her body thrown backwards. She landed roughly on the ground, rolling as if she were unconscious.

"Ayla!" Schala called out in terror.

To her surprise, Ayla leaped to her feet without another word. In fact, she seemed different somehow. She pounded into the ground in front of her, her fists causing bolts of lighting to pierce the ground. She grunted with effort as she unearthed a boulder and lobbed it at the Giga Gaia. With their combined force it was enough: the Giga Gaia lost focus of the force he opposed in an instant. The arm he aimed down toward Crono rebounded and hit his own body as hard as he was trying to hit Crono. A loud crack echoed throughout the valley. Suddenly, cracks appeared all over its body as it stumbled backwards clumsily. Crono grinned weakly in triumph before he fell to the ground.

"No!" Lucca shouted in annoyance, "How could I be so stupid! I've seen Crono do it before with that Dragon Tank!" She turned to everyone else, "The only thing that can break it is itself! Try to position yourself on its body and get it to strike itself!"

Ayla grinned with the prospect of the plan and dashed forward, her feet moving faster than she ever remembered. She leapt into the air, her fingers digging into the cracks in the armor while her feet stamped against it. True to Lucca's idea, the Giga swung for Ayla. She moved with unprecedented speed, avoiding the blow nimbly. The Giga feel back with a thud, but still continued to swat its own body as it continued to miss Ayla. When it was enough, Ayla made her way to its head. She stood on the creature's faceplate, waiting for the opportune moment. A hardened fist swung for the annoying fly before it, but instead, received a cracking cuff to its own head. Now was her chance to finish it; Ayla began to pound away at what remained of the head with great ferocity. Jolts of electricity flew from her punches and broke apart the layers of heat-treated clay. Even after the machine stopped moving, she pounded away at the head until every last gear shattered while the others decimated its body.

She rose and looked about. She glanced down to where the chest had been. A giant, black stone, which slowly began to crack, lay in the midst of what remained of the Giga Gaia. She looked Lucca, who gasped for air. She smiled with pride and said, "I told you that you could do it."

Everything seemed to move in strange blurs. A great throbbing sensation filled his body and everything he heard sounded so distant and far away.

"Crono! Crono! Are you okay?"

"We can attend to him later! You did enough, Marle! He will be fine! He stopped just before he broke!"

"We have nary a second to lose! Quickly, maiden! Free the prisoners! The lodestone doth be damaged and there is not much time until it breaks!"

"Alright. As I free the prisoners from their confinement, gather them close to me. I cannot use my spell to get us out of here until the magnetism from the lodestone is destroyed. The closer everyone is, the faster I can cast the spell."

"Marle! Listen to Schala! Leave Crono and help!"

"A-Alright."

Silence. There was no telling if it was because nobody spoke or if he simply lost consciousness. Or even both.

"-close by. When the lodestone breaks we'll feel like we are falling. Hold on tight!"

For a moment, it felt as if he were flying in the air. All sound was drowned out as a great rumbling sounded in his ears and then like magic it was gone.

"-to see if everyone made it."

"-ryone is here. –just can't believe it. It's incredible."

"Hurry! Get him to a bed!"

"He'll be okay. What did he do?"

"Don't worry. He's safe now."

He felt something affectionately touch his face.

"I can't believe it…Crono, you are so brave."

"I love you."

There was nothing more.

It is no mystery that Crono had changed dramatically during his adventures, but it was still an amazing thing to him that he was able to raise at a certain time consistently.

It was a strange thing since he should have no idea what time it could be. After all, he was lying on and underneath comfortable furs on a bed made of wooden slats. He was in a cave where no sunlight entered. And at the moment, there was nobody around that he could ask. However, he somehow knew it was early in the morning and that the sun was about to rise. He could also feel, without hearing or knowing for sure, that the area outside of his room was very lively indeed.

He did not let that concern him. He only continued to lie on the bed, knowing that sitting up would only invite pain. Even as he breathed he could feel the tightness in his abdominal muscles, his chest, and even his arms that moved only slightly. It felt as if every muscle in his body had been torn and was rebuilding itself, yet he also felt more in tune with the world. It was a bizarre feeling. He could even guess with close certainty how long it would take for him to be able to sit up without any trouble, and it would be at least another day. He sighed; he somehow felt more relaxed than he had in some time. Breathing felt good. The blood flowing through his body felt good. Everything seemed more profound and enjoyable. Even the stillness of an empty room was peaceful instead of increasingly maddening.

The door opened.

"Ugh…I knew we should have put oil on the doors." A voice whispered.

"It's alright. I doubt anything is going to wake him up. He's going to be out cold for a while."

"Marle? Lucca?" Crono called out, his voice hoarse.

He could hear something rattle on the ground as three pairs of footsteps ran to his bedside. Three eager and smiling faces stared down at him, their eyes shining with excitement. He had heard Marle and Lucca, but saw that Glenn came with them. He could see in their eyes that they wanted to engage in silly acts of affection, like ruffling his hair, giving him a slight jab on the shoulder or even embrace him from the bedside; but they wisely refrained. Instead, they looked down at him and grinned. He looked up at them and asked, "W-what happened?"

The looked at each other and then Lucca replied, "That is probably something that you should talk to Schala about. She explained it to us, but I don't think I can explain it the way she did."

"Yeah," Marle said with a giggle, "and I thought that only Lucca gets ridiculously technical and longwinded with her weird scientific terms."

"I should introduce you something called a dictionary. Remind me to do that sometime." Lucca added, playfully sticking her tongue out at her.

Crono laughed a truly pitiable laugh, "Hee-hee-ho-Ow…Ah, please, don't be funny. I'm not strong enough to be entertained just yet."

The girls grinned while Glenn asked, "Art you thirsty? The medicine men here gave thee water whilst thou slept. We asked for the privilege. Even if thou were rested, we wanted to see thee."

"Was I out long?" Crono asked.

"Only two days, which is going to surprise everyone when we tell them you are awake."

"What does that mean?" Crono asked.

"Once again, ask Schala. Anyway, should we just pour it down your throat or…?"

Crono grunted and groaned, his muscles protesting as he rose to sit upright. "No, no, it's okay. It hurts, but I can still sit up."

Glenn put a hand to his back and slowly lifted him upwards. As he rose he noticed that Marle and Lucca were blushing. He looked toward Lucca who looked away, but furtively glanced over to him. Marle was far more direct, but still fought to keep her eyes focused on his. He took notice of this but was still too tired to compute what was in their minds. He took the water from them that was in an urn of sorts and took a long drink from it with Glenn's help. When he had his fill, Glenn helped lower him back down to the bed. Then, as if something suddenly registered in his mind, Glenn looked to the girls with a sort of curiosity. He saw that their eyes lingered and he scoffed in disbelief while hastily covering Crono torso with the furs that had slid down as he rose.

"How unladylike! Honestly! Show some damned restraint!" Glenn squawked.

The girls blushed, "Hey! I was looking away! If you are going to rag on somebody, rag on Marle!"

"W-what?" Marle exclaimed, blushing even more violently, "I saw you looking too!"

"Out! Out!" Glenn said, pushing them toward the exit, "I cannot believe thy indecency! Give the poor lad his rest! Forgive them, Crono, for their perverseness."

As the door shut behind them Crono could hear one of them say, "Ugh…you're no fun…"

Crono, confused at the strange outburst, lay back down. He yawned and felt an itch on his chest and went to scratch it and then realized he was not robed. He painfully lifted the covers to see that he was not dressed underneath. He looked toward the door and slapped his forehead with the base of his palm while blushing.

"And here I was thinking I was totally aware…"

Everyone was gathered in the room where Crono stayed. Although it had not been a full day, the pain had mostly subsided. By his request, any bandages he wore were removed and his clothes were returned. Having become more tactful since his journey began, he said nothing to the others. Even if he hadn't he still would not wish to say anything. If he had, one could cut the awkwardness with a knife. Instead, he smiled as if nothing happened while the girls took a seat in crudely made chairs.

Schala, who had entered the room before the others, bade him to be examined as she looked over him with a physician's care. Crono wondered with a slight bit of embarrassment and fear if she had been in the room when he was unrobed and bandaged because she pressed against spots where the bandages had been. However, tact was again his ally and he held his tongue. After all, that was another question that would raise unwanted awkwardness. She had pressed a thumb into his trapezium on the left hand, nodded with surprise and had a seat next to his bed. "You have healed very quickly. It is rare for anyone to undergo and survive what you have done, and even rarer for someone to heal so quickly."

"But what happened?" Crono asked, his voice no longer hoarse with his injuries.

"It will take a while to explain and I want to make sure that you understand all of this. I do not want you to be clueless on this like the last time I answered your questions, understand. If something is not clear, you ask me to clarify. Understand?" Schala asked with surprising frankness. Crono looked at her as if he were a toddler who had just been scolded by his parent. He nodded. "Good. Remember when I explained that it was important to rest before switching elements?"

"Yes. You said that too much elemental power in your body could cause it to work beyond its limits. But I only created lightning."

"Summoning too much elemental power is still possible, even if you use only one element." Schala answered.

Robo, who had been listening, interrupted, "It all makes sense now." Everyone turned to face him and he explained. "While everyone climbed Mount Woe, I practiced my new abilities. Whenever I began doing too much I would receive a warning on my interface."

"Your what?" Marle asked, tilting her head.

"His 'interface' is like the little voice in your head telling you not to do the things you shouldn't be doing. You just don't listen to yours. Like earlier today." Lucca said, with childish glee.

"Shut up!" Marle growled, picking up a stone from the ground and throwing it at Lucca who giggled.

Robo cleared his non-existent throat and continued, "I would try to lift heavier and heavier objects, believing that I would not restrained as you all are because of what I am. However, I still have limitations that I cannot pass. Yes, I can do more and more each time, but the risk is always there. If my sensors were not false, I could have brought about my own destruction if I continued."

"Yes. That is true. Everyone is born with a certain element that they use better than any other. It is known as an innate element. There are reasons why it is referred to as 'innate': first, it is the first element that works best with you and the first you learn to control. Second, it is innate because your body instinctively knows your limits. On a subconscious level, your body will refuse to push itself beyond what it is able."

"I have a question."

"Go ahead." Schala said encouragingly.

"How is that even possible? Are you saying that the body has power over the mind as well?"

"For most of us, yes. But for others, such as you, no. That is why you were able to summon so much power. Deep down every one of us has the primal instinct for survival. You throw someone in a lake and jump in to save him or her, but they are frantic and drag down their would-be savior in desperation. There is only one other thing stronger than that desire: the desire not to destroy yourself."

"But there are people who let themselves die all the time…" Crono answered, feeling uncomfortable with where the conversation seemed to be going.

"Yes, they may put their plans into action at the height of their despair. However, I believe that there is an instance right before the death itself that the desire to survive returns. People who allow such horrible things to happen to themselves are in despair. They lose clarity of thought and in some cases, control of their actions. It is only too late they realize what they had done and fight to avoid it. That is why the suicidal are preponderous towards their deaths. They will put themselves in situations where once they act the choice to save themselves is removed from them. It is a truly sad thing, for a brief moment of uncertainty obscures reason and in some cases that is as long as needed. Although a body altered by rampant emotions can overcome the mind, the mind upon its imminent death will call out to the body the wonder and value of their life; even if they fooled themselves into thinking they had none. However, it is different in your case."

"How so?"

"You valued your life. You wanted to live. Yet, you believed you were going to die, even more so, your body knew you were going to die. But you continued."

Crono felt an icy chill engulf him. "But, I wouldn't do that." He looked toward Glenn and Ayla with a feeling of guilt. "Please, don't think that I-"

"It is nothing to be ashamed of," Schala continued gently. "I told them these things before and they do not bare you any ill will. The fact that this occurred shows that you truly value the lives of your friends more than your own and that is never something to be angry about. I only wish that I had a friend like you."

"Well, you do." Crono offered clumsily while scratching his head. Schala smiled. "I'm still confused though."

"It is a psychological state that few can reach. You, of your true free will, and of a sound and able mind unaltered and untainted by despair, voluntarily offered your life up to save another. Your body and mind, uninhibited by fear, broke free of their restraints. No fear called you back; no hesitation ceased your hand. Therefore, you were able to go beyond your limits and summon a power that your body should have made inaccessible to you. You have overcome a force stronger than the primal urge of survival. And frankly, you should be dead for it."

"But, evidently, I'm not." Crono said with a grin.

"Yes, which is very surprising." Schala said with her own grin.

"So…" Crono began slowly, "what does this mean?"

"Just as Robo said earlier, you find yourself handling more and more elemental power at a time. You get stronger every time you use its power. However, what you did was like trying to fly before you could walk. But, amazingly enough, you were able to do it. Your power has grown exponentially…"

"It means, 'by a lot'." Lucca jibbed.

"Quiet, you." Said Crono with a sideways grin.

"…and you will feel more in tune with the world than you ever have before. You will be able to summon that power easier and easier every time. I hope none of you take offense when I say this, but if you all decided to fight him I would probably want to be on his side."

"I do take offense to that." Glenn said, feigning anger but failing miserably. "It is hard to believe, but perhaps thou shall have no more need for our training exercises together…"

"Don't say that," Crono said with smile, "what use is power if I don't know how to control it? You can help me with that."

Ayla beamed and said, "He may be strong soon, but right now I can take him!" Everyone laughed.

Schala looked toward Ayla and laughed while saying, "I really wish you told me that you could use magic too. Do you realize how scared I was when that lightning struck you?"

Ayla looked at her with bemusement, as did the rest of the party, "I can not use magic."

Schala returned their look with confusion of her own, "What are you talking about? Of course you can. Don't you think its odd that lightning struck you and you didn't die?"

Ayla twirled a lock of her hair around her finger, "I am just really strong. I can survive anything…right?"

"No," Schala said with a giggle, "you just don't 'survive' what came from Crono. And judging by the way you moved, you never felt stronger in your life as that lightning struck you, right?"

"How did you know?" Ayla asked.

"There are magic users who cannot control or summon the elements, but they can absorb it and carry its properties within them. Its characteristics are a strong life force, which you seem to have. You may not be able to control the elements, but if done correctly, they can empower your physical abilities. In a way, your innate ability is physical strength and absorbing the elements is a way you can use it."

"I-I have the same power they do?" Ayla asked with incredulity.

"Yes. While some say that it is typically a lower level of magical skill, it is just as useful and powerful in a body such as yours."

"We must give it a try!" Ayla said with giggly excitement, "Lucca! Set me on fire!"

Lucca recoiled, "Wh-what? No! I'm not going to set you on fire!"

Ayla whimpered and said with a pout, "I thought you loved experiments."

Everyone laughed and followed Schala's example as she rose from her chair, "Well, if that is all, we should let you rest now." Schala said with a gentle pat to his shoulder.

"If it's okay, I think I will stay just for a bit longer." Marle said rather than asked, her hands clasping each other behind her back.

Schala shrugged and said, "Just as long as you don't keep him up too long. The sooner he rests the sooner he can walk and talk with the gurus."

"I'll keep that in mind. Thank you." Marle said with a smile.

As the group left, Ayla found herself lingering at the end of the line and peeking over her shoulder. She also found herself giving a quick and final peak at the pair before she reluctantly closed the door behind her. As she did she muttered to herself, "Anong akong problema? Sigi na! Padako ka!"

Author's note: Been a while since I wrote so much in so little time. I hope I did it well. It just seemed like I couldn't really stop writing at some points. As a result, I hadn't had much chance to go over it. I did a little of course, but probably not enough. It's been a while since I did a battle scene. Were they always this long? I enjoyed visualizing it, don't get me wrong, but this battle seemed almost freakishly long to me this time. Once again, felt like it was a good enough length for a chapter.

The whole thing about overcoming the primal urge to survive? (With slight references to suicide). Hope I didn't step on any toes. Sorry if I did. That was the only way I could come up with Crono putting himself in a situation to grow exponentially in strength which will

***SPOILER! WATCH OUT!***

make the Ocean Palace scene a lot more probable in my view. I mean, what makes him stand and fend off Lavos when the others can't? Especially Magus.

***End Spoilers***

Anyway, thanks for reading and I'll try to get the rest up soon! I'm excited to get to the more dramatic parts. :D

Translation: Anong akong problema? – What is my problem? Sigi na! – Come on! Padako ka! – Grow up!