Chrono Trigger
What Lies Beyond?; What are we capable of? What if we were ever confronted with our true selves? Would we rejoice or weep?...
Dalton was nowhere to be seen, and that made Glenn seethe in silence. His hand clenched the Masamune so that it felt as if his glove and the hilt were molded together. Crono, sensing his anger, said gently "It is alright, Glenn. He couldn't have gone far. It doesn't matter if we don't find him anyway. He'll come to us and we will be ready. He thinks he's a smart one, but how smart can he be if he doesn't even realize what he's getting himself into?" Crono's hand landed on Glenn's shoulder and it had the desired effect. Glenn's grip on the Masamune lessened and his thoughts on Schala's abduction fled his mind. "Thou'rt in the right, Crono. He is naught but a fool."
Calling Dalton an idiot was somehow very satisfying. Glenn nodded and said aloud, hoping that Dalton was listening at that moment, "Aye, he is a fool and a coward. A stone hath more insight."
"Well," Lucca said with an impatient grin as she pounded her fist into an open palm, "what are we waiting for? Let's go give them what they got coming!"
The place in which they stood was dark. It was not only from a lack of light, but the very metal and stone that made up the floor was of cold and shiny obsidian. Red lights, which seemed to serve as conduits that ran along the walls and floor, were the only things that illuminated the hall. There was the sound of constant humming from machines and the energy from the floor below. The setting somehow felt very claustrophobic despite the fact that the ceiling could not be seen. All walked down the hall, halfway expecting a trap to spring for them. Eventually, the hallways opened up and a marvelous sight greeted them.
Until this moment they had never paused to think upon the size of the palace. After all, Lucca had theorized that an overly large structure underwater would cause more problems and that grandiose proportions would be a waste of resources. It was evident that the Queen of Zeal had no reservations about resources and the cost it would take. This was not an ordinary palace; this was a temple made of the finest material and the ingenuity of gifted artisans and architects. It took Lucca's breath away to see such a thing built at the very depth of the ocean. How could she tell that the palace lay at the very depth of the world? The answer was easy enough: she could see it.
It was as if they were looking at an aquarium, only it completely engulfed them. It was like looking into the sky after the very last glowing hues of orange and red had sunk below the horizon. There was only dark blue, even darker blues, and pure blackness. The sunlight came from directly above them, passing through the water as if they were silvery curtains that shone upon the strangest ocean creatures they had ever seen. Schools of fish were caught in the minimal light that came from the Ocean Palace and crustaceans walked along the glass surface of the dome that shielded the party from the cold and crushing depths of the sea.
"This is going to be bothersome…" Crono said with some apprehension. "We can't get too desperate with our attacks. If we break that glass, then it's all over for us."
Lucca shook her head, "No. I think we'll be okay as long as we don't launch attacks right at it. It must be really thick glass to withstand this pressure."
Ayla shook her head in amazement, "It is like the water is floating in the air."
They moved on and it was at that point, while she was staring down and following the red lines in the floor, that Lucca had a thought. "I think these lights are depending on a single power source. Something tells me that if we follow this we will find the Mammon Machine."
Marle smiled and said, "I knew your brains would eventually come in handy."
"Well," Lucca said with a grin, "somebody has to do the thinking here."
Crono, however, already knew where to go. He could feel something within his chest that gripped him with a dark feeling. The only way he could describe it was a fear of the dark that plagued him in his childhood at random times. He would recall nights that he crept downstairs in the utter silence of his home. He remembered that he would be surrounded by darkness and it felt as if someone or something was at his back, inching closer and closer…waiting for the perfect moment. It is a common fear that everyone experiences at least once in their life. It can come from nowhere, but in an instant you feel as if you will be taken forever unless you turn on a light and drive darkness from you. As a child, when he felt this, he would run to his mother or to a light switch and he would feel safe. This felt very much like his adolescent fear, but with one large difference: an evil being was watching him even now, beckoning him to walk toward the darkness.
In spite of himself, Crono clenched his jaw and resolutely encouraged everyone to follow him.
The streets of Zeal were in utter disarray. Beautiful masonry, which had stood for generations, lay scattered and scorched upon the ground. That was not the only result of the battle. Bodies were strewn about the streets, all with suffering or killed by various causes. In the distance there was the yell and clashing of battle. The three hooded men, who cautiously made their way through the street, looked with sorrow upon the bodies. It was too much for one of them and he knelt before a man who was the final throws of his death. The hooded man called him by name.
The wounded man, whose hands pressed heavily against his stomach, slowly opened his eyes. "Melchoir…"
The gurus of Zeal had joined them in the midst of battle. Although it was done in hiding, the man who lay fainting had seen it in a different light. The light that filled the man's face was heart breaking to Melchoir for he could see the reason for his exquisite joy. He had imagined that he had passed out from the loss of blood and woke up just in time to see the gurus return to Zeal to lead the people into righteousness. The dying man believed they were victorious, but the prophets had seen in a vision that this was far from the truth. With a wince from Melchoir, who wished that the dying man continued to put pressure on his wound, his hands were held by the hands of the fallen devotee. "I had known you since the days of my youth…"
Melchoir nodded slowly, immediately casting out the fearful revulsion he felt at the warmth and stickiness of the man's drying blood. "You had always been a good man. You will rest well."
"I had never stopped believing…never…" the man said, smiling weakly.
Melchoir, with tears brimming at his eyes, had trouble speaking. "You may rest now. You have done well, good and faithful servant."
The man's eyes looked toward the sky and slowly closed. A breath slowly escaped his lips and his hand went limp. Melchoir, no longer fearful of the blood, let his hand go to his eyes so that they would be dried.
Gasper reached down and clenched Melchoir's shoulder. "You did not lie. After this day the enslavement of Lavos and his Queen will no longer haunt these people."
Melchoir rose to his feet, and looked down at the body. He inclined his head in a show of humility and pressed onward. As he walked with purpose he recalled the vision that the gurus received. They saw the start of the battle, the shedding of blood, a warrior, the prince in royal garb and a crown, and a swirling, billowing void. A black wind. The battle rages and the black wind howls. The prince shouts to the black wind to drown out its gale but it does not listen and casts him out. The warrior stands against the black wind, but his clothes and body were torn to shreds in the strength of it and yet he smiles in triumph.
All that was left was the howling of the black wind…
The Queen of Zeal stood before the members of the court. Dressed in ceremonial robes that boasted of the riches of world, they bowed before her. The Queen spoke praising words and promises. These men were the gifted children of Zeal, those who had remained faithful to her throughout the years through their many doubts. These were the men who stood with her at her husband's death. These were the men who trembled but did not leave her side as the gurus spoke condemnation to their souls. They had done many things to prove their loyalty to the Queen. They had committed unspeakable atrocities to those they deemed or were led to believe were beasts, all for the glory of immortality that was shortly to be given to them. Schala lay prostrate on the ground; weak from the shakings and tortures she endured. Even now, the men who were adorned in robes of glory, engaged in acts of brutality as Schala continued her refusal. And there, in the midst of it all, stood the hooded prophet, watching with anxious eyes.
The black wind bellowed.
"Where is Dalton?" Asked the prophet, his hand caressing his chin in a subtle show of worry.
The Queen took a seat upon her throne, her long dress following behind her. "It does not matter." Said the Queen without so much as a tone of concern.
The prophet looked toward Schala, his fists clenching. The Queen noticed this and said with a demure smile, "You seem to be ill-at-ease. It is so unlike you."
"Is there a need to torture the princess? She will not give power to the Mammon machine. Her soul is adamant. It cannot be broken that way."
"She needs to learn to obey her mother…" said the Queen of Zeal with a joyful condescending tone whilst throwing in a sneer.
Schala, with deep and labored breathes, spoke out. "I would rather die than bring life to that monster!"
"And so they shall!"
The men of the court turned and saw a young boy approaching them. His icy blue eyes shone defiantly and seemed to pierce into the souls of every person in the room. All seemed to shrink from his gaze, even the cloaked prophet who looked to the floor. The Queen, however, looked upon him patronizingly and laughed. She turned to the prophet of Zeal and said with approval, "It is as you have said, prophet. He has come. Here stands our little means of deliverance."
Schala's eyes grew wide with terror as she realized the Queen's implication. She turned to Janus to scream, "JANUS! RUN! RUN AWAY!"
Janus, whose face shone with determination and love, replied in a voice so calm it resonated in all who heard it. "My dear sister, Schala. I will do no such thing. I have been guided here to deliver a message and no hand shall stop me until it has been delivered." A few men stepped forward, grinning maliciously in anticipation to put his words to the test. Before the prophet could shout out a warning a man laid hands upon him and shriveled where he stood until he was a pillar of dust. The rest of the men leapt back in fright and did not go forward, even as the Queen continually barked her command. Janus looked toward the Queen and said with great courage, "You are in danger of death."
"You little pest! Even now you speak nonsense! Lavos will rise and death shall be overcome at long last."
"Then you will live an eternity alone. Father is dead, and Lavos cannot bring him back."
Such plainness was disarming, even to the hooded prophet who watched nearby, captivated at what would happen next. The Queen stammered, "HOW DARE YOU EVEN SPEAK HIS NAME! You are not worthy to even call him father you impudent child! You will see when death is conquered at long last while you lay in the dirt! Lavos is all-powerful. We cannot hope to even comprehend what he is capable of. He has whispered to me in dreams. He can do anything."
"Yes. He can do many things. Just as God, he could bring to pass miracles and even resurrect the dead after his cruel fashion. However, whatever he shall do it will always be perverted and there shall be no joy therein. It is his nature to bring misery and nothing can change his nature."
"You admitted it! Then how foolish you must be!" The Queen laughed raucously, in an attempt to drown out the words the boy tried to speak. Following suit, the members of the court joined in, causing the unhallowed halls to echo ominously.
"Silence!" Janus bellowed, his voice piercing through their façade. "Just as Lavos, you pervert all things you hear. There is a story the gurus read to me. Once there was a scorpion that wished to cross a river and he came spoke with a frog. 'Carry me across the river, I beg of you' pleaded the scorpion. 'But if I do, you will sting me and I will die' said the frog. The scorpion said in disbelief, 'but I would kill myself if I did so. Would I be so foolish'? The frog saw his reason and consented, taking the scorpion across the river. Mid-way, the frog felt a great pain on his back and knew that he had been deceived. 'Why would you do such a thing?' he said, 'you have doomed us both.' The scorpion could only say, 'It is my nature.' And they both perished."
The hall remained silent. Janus allowed the mood to settle and said resolutely, "There have been many promises made. It is true that Lavos could fulfill those promises, but his nature is derived of unhappiness. He will end himself as all evil things do. God's will be done, and if Lavos is a God as well, he is only a God of destruction. He will follow that path he has set for himself. He will end himself and all those who hinge on his promises. If you side with Lavos, you will die. You will know his sorrows and feel the futility of his nature. Let yourself be taken in by the bosom of he who creates and gives life. Repent and side with he who is the creator of many worlds and upon whom salvation depends. Can you not see that this life is but a short moment into eternity? Will you let the fears of a few unknown things cloud your reason? Will you allow fear to let you grow desperate? If you do, you are not immortal. You are an eternal slave to Lavos and will have chosen your destiny and you will never know happiness. You will be in his power, unable to live and choose, until he ends himself and you are finally free from your bonds only to be beyond saving. You will suffer an eternity of shame and regret, knowing that your chance to redeem yourself has passed. That is all I will say to you."
The council stared and dare not move, for Janus was not finished. He turned to the hooded prophet and spoke. "You. You are burdened by a hatred that consumes. Hatred has blinded you to the point where you cannot even see that all sorrow against you can be undone. Your heart and mind do not speak for you. Your hands do the speaking. They itch for the blood of those who have wronged you." The prophet's hand fingered the red knife within the folds of his coat in a compulsive motion. "Your eyes search unwaveringly for your enemy insomuch that you have become oblivious to those around you. Release your anger. Do not let it guide you. Release yourself from selfishness and do what is necessary, not what you desire. More rests in your hands than you even realize. If you fail in this, you will suffer an unending agony and wander the earth alone for the remainder of your days."
The prophet trembled where he stood, amazed by the words that the small boy had spoken. Janus looked toward Schala who had been sobbing bitterly at the words he had spoken. Unmolested, he walked over to his sister and took her face into his hands. He wiped her tears away only to be replaced with fresh ones. Janus only smiled and said with great warmth, "'Be not afraid. Doubt not, but be believing. Your trials and afflictions will be but a small moment and in the end you will emerge victorious and clothed in white'. Isn't that what you strove to teach me? I love you my sister. Do not fear for me. All will be well."
He faced his mother, the prophet, and the council. He raised his hands and said with a mighty shout, "I have delivered my message. You are no longer blameless in the matter. The choices you make from this moment further shall be a stepping-stone or a condemnation to you. No man nor woman shall be blameless. Exercise your agency, and do what you will but know that I speak the truth. I speak on behalf of he who hath created all things, he hath even created the fallen being that you foolishly worship. Know that those whom you inflict pain on shall endure and that they will receive their glory in heaven. I say these things, in the name of He who is master over all, yea, even the quick and the dead. Amen."
And with that, Schala cried no more.
Dalton had been true to his word. There were no people within this palace. There was an occasional machinist who wandered the halls, but they were not soldiers. They were dispatched of easily. Gaway and his men followed by closely, all going forward and taking no chances of a surprise attack. Deeper and deeper they descended into the Ocean Palace, and darker and darker the ocean around them grew. Suddenly, they heard it. There was the sound of distant battle and screams of anger and agony.
"What do you suppose is going on?" Robo asked.
"I don't know." Ayla wondered. "Is Dalton fighting the Queen?" They hurried their pace; following the sound of battle and realizing it led to the inner-sanctum where the Mammon Machine would be. They had broken out into a full sprint when they were suddenly stopped by an all-too familiar silhouette in their path. However, there were six other figures with him that were also very familiar.
"Dalton!" Gaway seethed, "What are you doing here?"
The man standing in front of them wore an expression of extreme happiness and satisfaction. It was a look of a man who felt that victory was assured and that there was only a simple matter of tying up loose ends. He looked at his fingernails and sighed contently, "The Queen 'as sent out a distress signal. It seems our li'l prince delivered a stirrin' speech and has inspired some of the council to revolt on the spot. Lucky me, eh? I 'ave to say, I woz glad I decided to 'ang around here for a bit. I would've let you blokes make it to the Mammon Machine otherwise."
"The Queen is dead?" Marle asked, eyes wide in relief.
"Not quite sure, but I imagine it'll be easier than pushin' over a bloke that is already a wee tipsy." He grinned eagerly, "However, it seems that you all are my biggest threat now."
"And thou hast made the mistake of bringing only six men? Thou'rt a dunce, Dalton. I shall enjoy slicing thee in twain." Glenn unsheathed his sword with a wicked grin.
"No," Crono said, feeling something very strange about these six figures before him. "these aren't ordinary soldiers."
The figures began to move forward slowly, the modest light of the ocean palace barely illuminating their features. As they realized with a dawning horror what they faced, Dalton spoke with a narcissistic tone that showed pride in what he had created. "When ye were taken captive I did more than just 'old you in that machine." The figure that strode forward and joined Dalton's side had the same face and body as Crono. "It woz spoken among the guards 'ow strong you were, all of ye. Why, they even spoke in hushed whispers of 'ow frightened the Queen was of you. I guessed that 'aving a li'l something like it wouldn't be a bad idea. It turned into a side project, you see?"
Lucca shook her head, "This is incredible. Incredible but monstrous."
Ayla ran forward and grabbed the one that looked like herself and shook it, "Why are you with this man? Don't you know what he is like?"
The creature did not reply. Instead, it reacted as if by instinct and threw her across the room. Ayla landed against a wall with a dull thud. She rubbed the back of her head, her eyes wide with surprise at the strength of her clone. The clone crouched to the ground, growling in a feral manner. The realization came to Ayla, but she could not vocalize her conclusion whereas Lucca did so succinctly. "They are not fully cognitive. You made them like wild animals. Like pets."
"I wouldn't want to make 'em exactly like ye, am I right?" Dalton said with a chuckle. "I'll leave you it then. By the way, my army will be closing in any minute now. Hope you don't mind a pincer attack. I know 'ow you've been asking me to plan a bit better, Gaway." He ran down the dark hallway, his laughter echoing through the halls.
Crono drew his sword, his clone copying his action. He began to engage. Gaway leaped in front of Crono and shouted toward him. "No! That is exactly what Dalton wants! He expects you to stay behind to help us! We will handle this for as long as we can! We can hold them off long enough for you to deal with the Queen!"
"But they will kill you!" Crono growled through his teeth.
Marle, at that moment, had pieced together the impressions she received of the men. Gaway had expected to die from the beginning. "Crono! Listen to him! We have to go!"
Crono grit his teeth, looked at his doppelganger and at Gaway. He yelled in frustration and ran ahead while the others followed him. He could hear his doppelganger follow him, but heard the footsteps cease as sword pierced through flesh. Footsteps stopped following them and sounds of battle echoed from behind and well as the inner-sanctum of the Ocean Palace.
They trotted to a stop and gawked at the spectacle. Charred bodies and pools of blood stained the once immaculate stone floors. Janus and Schala stood behind a group of scholarly men who had been injured in the scuffle. On the opposing side of the room stood the Queen with her followers who also suffered many injuries. They had not taken notice of Crono and his gang at the moment. However, the hooded prophet noticed with eyes that flashed red.
He had not moved a moment at all during the entire battle, however, upon the sight of Crono and his friends, he moved into action. The Queen gawked in surprise, figuring that perhaps the prophet was a weakling and feared battle. That was not the case. He moved swiftly, plowing through the men who guarded Janus and Schala. Spurts of blood erupted as he used a weapon that remained hidden from view. However, to Crono, his eyes managed to discern it was the work of two weapons: one that gleamed in silver and one that gleamed in red underneath the folds of his robes. He snatched Janus away from under the folds of his robes and returned just as quickly to the middle of the room.
"BASTARD!" Shouted the Queen. "You could fight! Why did you do nothing?"
"Silence." Said the prophet as he held a red knife to Janus' throat. He turned to Schala and said coldly, "Summon Lavos. Now. Or your brother dies."
The Queen had been flustered by his disregard of her and stammered as she said, "'Silence?' Fool! How dare you speak down to me! Who are you? What are you doing?"
He simply ignored her and ordered Schala again. "Summon Lavos."
Meanwhile, Schala felt her blood drain from her as she looked to the blade. "I-I can feel Doreen from that blade…"
"Doreen?" Robo said, true surprise in his tone. "One of the elemental spirits? You put her soul into that blade? But for what purpose?"
"SUMMON LAVOS!" The hooded man barked, causing Schala and all to flinch.
The Queen glared, "You traitor! You have been planning to slay Lavos all this time! What a fool you are! For a prophet you sure are unfamiliar with prophesies…"
The prophet looked toward her direction, "'And the earth shall deliver up her power to the voices of the prophets and shall lay her life down so that all may live…' I know that verse well, your majesty. I understand the implications within the verse. You may see your 'great being' before I kill him."
Crono glared in confusion, "You wish to destroy Lavos? But why are you holding onto the boy? We can kill him right now! That's why we are here!"
The prophet paid no attention and said, whilst tightening his grip on the boy. "Yes. That reminds me. Throw the dreamstone dagger into the Mammon machine."
The Queen went wide-eyed in horror and she screamed her protestation. Nonetheless, Crono unbundled the knife from the white cloth and hurled it toward the Mammon machine. It struck the glass, the blade leaving no cracks, as if it passed through effortlessly. The Queen sobbed bitterly for a brief moment and stopped as she noticed that the other blade stayed on Janus' throat. Meanwhile, a strange thing occurred and the knife stuck with the Mammon machine began to glow. The party watched in amazement as it grew, its light flashing with more intensity. When the light subsided it the knife was in the shape of a sword.
Glenn saw that it had the exact same appearance as the Masamune he held. He then quoted, from memory, as scripture that had been read many times. He recalled the continually prattling of Toma and he suddenly realized that scripture had indeed unfolded before his eyes. "'A light I shall give unto you that ye may smite those who oppose all righteousness as long as thou art worthy. The light comes in the form of a lion's fang, which pierces the strongest armor, and purifies the darkest soul. At first there was nothing but darkness, and then the lord said there shall be light. Therefore, in similitude, the lion's fang shall be created and strengthened from darkness. Just as day turns to night, so will be the fate of the lion's fang.'"
The prophet smiled, his red eyes glowing fiercely. For the space of a few moments nothing was said.
"Throw the knife into the Mammon Machine." Janus said as the knife began to press into his flesh. "If you summon Lavos now it will not be enough. You must kill him now."
"No," the prophet said with a voice that sounded far different than normal. It was raspy. Desperate. "I will kill him while he stands before me. I will feel his blood run through my fingers. I will make him suffer as much as I have suffered. I have waited too long for this. I will savor his screams and hear him beg."
"You cannot win. If you summon him he will be weakened, but he will still be too strong for you. He will recover and you will be responsible for the deaths of countless souls. He will bind them, good or wicked if he is allowed to live."
"I can beat him. I can, I can, I can, I can, I can, I can…" The prophet repeated hoarsely, his arm shaking.
"He has gone mad." Lucca said, shaking her head in frightened anticipation.
"No…" Crono said slowly, "he has let himself become possessed."
Janus stood, his eyes coming to a full realization. It was then he spoke with fear and guilt. "No…no, this cannot be. How is this possible?"
Schala leaned forward, "Janus? What is it? What is wrong?"
"All this time the gurus had told me that one day I would have to make a decision. It would be a decision that I would make when I had waxed strong and wallowed through the sins and tribulations of the world…however, I am not the one making the decision. It is this man holding me right now…how can that be? That could only be true if somehow…this man…this man was…"
The prophet shuddered as if his darkest secret had been announced to all. He said nothing as he kept the knife trained at the boy's throat.
Janus' tears began to flow as he wheeled about and stared at the prophet face-to-face, "No! NO! Please! Tell me that I stayed righteous! Tell me that I was everything the prophets said I would be! Tell me that I have earned my redemption! Please! Don't let me be the one who failed his mission! Please! Tell me, that I stayed righteous through all the trials I will have!"
Everyone stared in confusion, not knowing what Janus had meant. They looked toward the prophet. Tears began to flow from the prophet's eyes and he patted Janus' shoulder comfortingly. "I had wanted to tell you so many times. I wanted to tell both of you." His eyes went to Schala and the tears poured even harder. With one swift motion he pulled back his hood. His blue, silvery hair fell to his shoulders. It was still so much like his mother's and sister's. His pale skin shone in the wane light that came from burning fires and flashing lights. Glenn felt his body tremble as he looked upon his lifelong enemy. It was as if he had awoken to face a nightmare that he could not wake up from.
Thus spoke the prophet Magus, as his eyes flashed a fierce and piercing red, "No, Janus. You will not fail. I will not fail. You will destroy Lavos. We will earn our redemption. Be not afraid."
Janus shook his head in great dismay as Magus, or the older manifestation of Janus, said, "Schala, my dear sister. We will finally finish this."
"Summon Lavos."
Author's notes: Been a long time. I hoped you guys enjoyed the reveal. It was very hard to do these last few chapters. It's been so long I'm afraid I might have forgotten some of the nuances so my details might be off. Some references were made to chapter 63 and 36. My original idea changed a bit, I think, although I tried to keep it the same. Feel free to comment if I messed up on something having to deal with the continuum. It might be something that can only be fixed if I go back and alter chapters, which I could do once I get to editing after the story is finished. Thank you for waiting and reading. Word of advice: don't wait so long to get back into writing a story, especially if you try to make it fancy with a bunch of twists and turns. You tend to forget all those clever twists and turns after a while. XD