Chrono Trigger
The Time Egg; a chapter in which a shocking development occurs and a perilous journey must be made…
They had not left the flow of time. All around them were the fires of the time stream. While the Epoch idled between timespace they spoke over their next course of action. While it had already been decided that they would speak to Balthazar first and foremost, it was a point of great fear for them that Gaspar seemed so sure that their unknown desires would interfere with the process. While Magus sat separate from the group, he listened while watching the fiery beams of timespace bounce off the hull of the Epoch. Everyone else sat on the carpeted floor of the Epoch in a circle, their legs crossed or either huddled against their chests.
"It just worries me that he thinks we wouldn't be united in this." Lucca said as she held her chin ponderously.
"He may be a prophet, and yea, he may know a great many things, but he doth be a man only." Glenn answered, reassuringly.
"A man who knows everything about us." Ayla answered back, her tone less sure.
"So, what do we do?" Marle began, earnestly wanting to hear their opinions, "Of course we want to try, but should we do it right now? Or 'prepare' ourselves like he said."
"What does he even mean by that?" Lucca asked. Her old sarcastic self was showing as she grew frustrated by the thought of it. "Some of our problems we can't just fix. Where can we even begin?"
It was at this point that Magus spoke. Everyone turned as he said, "He is right. Within the castle I was able to sense the minds of everyone save for the girl there," he gestured with a nod toward Ayla, "and through Lavos' dark gift I was able to see the things that torment you. I won't go into the business of revealing your desires or the skeletons in your closet…but they are real. And unfortunately, I would not know how to fix them."
"Why would it matter that we fix them?" Ayla started, her voice annoyed. "We still want Crono back!"
"Of course," Magus scoffed, "but if you address the problems you have, not only will you become stronger, you will also have a stronger will power. You may not realize it now, and you may think I was a wicked little thing who could not control myself, but that is far from the truth. Lavos will twist your souls as much as he can."
"What do you mean we will 'become stronger'?"
Magus raised an eyebrow, "You haven't noticed? There are many factors in being able to control the elements. Physical strength is definitely important as well as mental capability, but emotional strength is the most important of all. There are a few ways to achieve that emotional strength. Either you care only for your goal which was my method," Magus averted his eyes guiltily for a fraction of a second before continuing, "or everything else in your life is perfectly balanced. The more at peace you are with everything else, the more you are able to relax and tap deeper into your skill."
"It seems to make sense," Marle acknowledged. "Whenever we fought, we always had a goal or something to focus on."
"Ah," Lucca began, her voice highlighting her dawning comprehension. "Our crusade against Lavos has been the thing that was honing our skills this entire time. Our focus had been on Lavos…but that has changed."
Magus shook his head, "Not exactly what I meant…but it is a passable interpretation. You are not at peace with yourselves for one reason or another. Until you are, you will not be at your fullest strength, which would mean that you will not be in the highest control of your emotions, which means that you will not have a solid will and you might fail to revive Crono."
"Well," Marle began slowly, "what things do we need to do to get ready?"
Magus stiffened and avoided their eyes as they stared at him. He sighed and shook his head, "I know only the issues that haunt you, not how to solve them."
"Well," Lucca began with a shrug of her shoulders, "it's great to know that a homicidal maniac knows our greatest weaknesses and fears. It's a real good thing that you shared that with us while pointing out that you have no idea how we can fix the problem, Magus. Thanks. I really appreciate it."
Magus did not react to her sarcasm and it somehow made her feel guilty. Instead she half-chuckled to herself and said, "Well, there is no other option, is there? We should go talk to the Nu that took care of ol' Bal before he passed on."
The fires of the time stream gave way to thick gray clouds that occasionally shone brilliantly with lightning. Droplets of water cascaded across the dome as they slowly descended below the cloud cover. The devastation of the future was even more breathtaking from the air. There was nothing but reddened or blackened earth below them. Vast cities were slabs of scattered concrete and mountains were mounds of rock and dirt devoid of forests and life. Magus looked with an expression that hid his guilt and horror. It was evident to him now, as he looked over the world, that Lavos had hid things from him when he saw inside Robo's mind.
Suddenly, his eyes widened in terror.
Lucca saw it too, "What is that?" Her eyes squinted as she leaned into the glass.
"It is the Ocean Palace."
Clouds swarmed around the peak of it and it could have been confused for a mountain had they not looked toward the base. It floated in the sky, amidst the clouds, as if it had always been there. "What the hell?" Lucca grumbled silently to herself. She took a seat in the pilot chair and told the group to strap into their harnesses. "I'm not going to fly into it. I just want to see something really quick." The others obeyed and Lucca pressed a few buttons that caused the machine to lurch forward violently. The air around them erupted into flame again and it quickly gave way to billowing white clouds. The world below them was beautiful and green. However, the Ocean Palace was still there, its oily black surface shining in the sun. The distance toward it was the same as it had been in the future. With another few button presses the world around them ignited in flame again and now they found themselves in a world covered in white and the dark blues of abysmal oceans. The Ocean Palace stood menacingly in the sky.
"How could this have happened?" Marle gasped. "Are we under attack? Has anything gone wrong?"
Lucca pressed buttons again and they found themselves in their time. They flew above the clouds and headed west. Sure enough, the kingdom of Guardia lay below them, virtually unchanged. Lucca shook her head, "I don't understand it…is the Queen of Zeal still alive? Why hasn't she done anything?"
"Take us to Balthazar," Magus said between clenched teeth. "He'll have studied this in his time. Maybe he'll have answers."
The metallic sanctuary was just as lonely as it had been since they left it. Lucca, as a testament to how she saw artificial intelligence in a different light, felt a pang of sympathy for the single creature who inhabited this desolate place. The greenhouse plants had completely withered by this point and fine red sand began to accumulate within the corners of the corridors.
"You have returned." The Nu said, coolly.
"We have more questions. We hope that Balthazar prepared you to answer them." Marle began.
The creature began to walk toward the inner sanctum of the dome, which was large and spacious. Panels that had been torn away by the gales of a barren world allowed muted rays of light to shine through. It was only in the light that they had noticed something different. Perhaps it was only because they had grown so discernible due to their elemental abilities, but they could sense a great change in the creature that stood before them.
"You wish to know about the Ocean Palace that now soars through the sky."
"Was it not destroyed? How could it exist even still?" Glenn gestured, his arms open.
The Nu turned to them and gestured skyward. "The structure you know as the Ocean Palace has been called throughout the generations as 'The Black Omen.' Although you know the world existed otherwise, the Black Omen has been since the fall of Zeal Kingdom. In those days the men and women knew it was the Ocean Palace, risen again by the power of Lavos as a gift to his loyal pawn. Because of this knowledge, they have dubbed it the Black Omen. Throughout the space of time, people have forgotten to significance of its history and it had become as constant as the sun and moon. They pay it no more heed than they would a mountain or a lake. However, within its halls the Queen of Zeal awaits the day where Lavos will rise from the ground and destroy this world."
"Why would Lavos care about the Queen?" Magus said, his teeth clenched, "I know that he sees all beings as tools to be used. Why raise the Ocean Palace at all?"
The Nu spoke in quieter tones, as if he dreaded speaking the next few lines. "It is a strange thing. It is as if he is beckoning any who dare to challenge him. From that fortress the Queen guards the Mammon machine, the very device that draws Lavos' power from the earth. If you could reach the Mammon machine, you could use it to draw Lavos out of wherever or whenever he bides his time. He could have hidden that portal in the most distant and isolated reaches of the world, never to be found. Instead, he perches himself over the world, his ego slaked as the world knows him from a distance. He wants his enemies to know where he is. He wants YOU to know where he is."
"In other words, he thinks he has won and he is trying to draw us out into the open." Ayla frowned.
"Yes."
There was a moment of silence. It was deep, uncomfortable. It felt as if the Nu wanted to address something that was not pleasant. As it spoke, it did so in a matter-of-fact tone. "He has won, hasn't he?"
"What makes you say that?" Marle started, indignation present in her tone.
"I can sense it in your blood, in your eyes, and in your souls. Although some of you have the determination to go forward, part of you doubt whether it is even worth it."
Lucca looked to her feet, almost embarrassed. Robo stepped forward, "That is not true."
The Nu began again, his voice apologetic. "Please, do not take offense. I know you want to do it. However, the toll has been heavy. You have lost a valued friend. You feel as if you are trying to move a mountain with your bare hands and there is not much time left. What I meant to say is that you are not even sure it is worth the effort, worth the gamble to move that mountain. You wonder if it is foolish to even try."
Marle did not look up, but mumbled unconvincingly, "It is worth it."
"Do you really think it is worth risking death to revive Crono, when it could be for nothing?"
Their reaction astonished the Nu. All, save for Magus, rose their heads and stared him in the eye. "Yes." They muttered in unison, surprising even themselves.
The Nu chuckled, "Well, then perhaps there is hope even yet. Although is sorrows me that you doubt the world can be saved, it is a joy to see that you all sincerely love and care for this man. I believe it might even be possible if your conviction is this strong."
"How do we do it?" Lucca asked.
"The specifics are very difficult to explain. The Time Egg itself must be in a place where Lavos' power manifests itself strongly. That is where the danger lies, for that is where he breeds his young."
"His young?" Lucca asked, horror in her voice.
"That is what I imagine they must be, for they are creatures in his image. That is why Balthazar had lived here these many years. Death Peak is where Lavos rests now and where his breed wait."
"Wait for what?"
"I do not know." The Nu continued. "The Time Egg relies on the will of the users, the importance of the person or thing in relation to the time stream, and where points of time converge. If it works, the Time Egg will see the will of your hearts, alter the very fabric of time itself, and will allow you to shape a person's destiny with your own hands. However, to call to him you need something of great importance to him. An object that will 'call' to him."
Lucca felt her brow furrow, "Could you be any more vague?"
The Nu frowned and said, "I wish I could help more. What I will say is this: it is not only your will that brings him back, but his. You must stir his will to remembrance. You must use his memories to stir his soul to awakening. In other words, even if the Time Egg gives you the opportunity to bring him back, will he want to come back? Perhaps from his death he is truly at peace. Perhaps his life was one full of sorrow and perhaps the knowledge that all is doomed to end would prevent him from returning. Perhaps he prefers the land of the dead, be it paradise or purgatory."
"He is better than that." Lucca said, crossing her arms over her chest.
"You all feel the world is going to end no matter what. Is Crono that different? Although you may live out your lives, you are resigned to die."
"That is not true!" Marle shouted, stamping her foot on the ground. "Glenn, Robo, and I are going after Lavos!"
"...Out of respect for your friend...but I can see the hesitancy in your eyes. You do not expect victory. You expect defeat. The only difference between you and the others is that you prefer to face your death head on and not to wait for it to come to you."
"That is enough!" Glenn nearly shouted. His voice echoed throughout the dome, bouncing off the walls, past the broken panels and into the endless sky. He looked about himself and then at the Nu. "We will not be judged. Thou hast placed a heavy burden upon us. We may try our best even though our hearts may be heavy; but dost thou profess to be so certain of victory? Is thy vision of the future any brighter than ours?"
The Nu shook his head. "It is not."
Everyone sighed, the heftiness of the message weighing down on them all. "I am sorry. It is wrong of me to allow my sorrows to tear at you. I only ask because I have a decision to make."
"And what is that?" Marle asked.
"Balthazar has told me that this is the last time you will need my guidance. He did not tell me if he saw your success in a vision or what would happen. All I know is that I will be left alone at the foot of this unspeakable demon. If there truly is no hope, if you prefer to live your lives in peace (and I wouldn't hold it against you if you did), then the future will not change and I will be left here."
A bit of fear entered into their hearts, "What are you asking us to do?" Robo ventured.
"Balthazar saw this coming and gave even me, a machine, a chance to choose. I could wait out an eternity for this world to turn into a dark ball. I could be awake to watch all of mankind wither like a dry reed and die. I could stay and watch the the sun itself dwindle into darkness. But I do not want that. I want to rest. I want to sleep the eternity away so that I may not witness another moment of death. He had programed me pass on in silence, but it can only be done with the pendent that you carry, Marle."
All eyes looked at Marle. "What? But how?"
"It is a safeword. You must press the pendent to my head and speak the words, 'Tulog ka sa pagtulog sang mga anghel.' Once you speak those words, I will drift to sleep, never to wake again."
"But why? You can't expect me to do such a thing!"
Marle did not move as the Nu lifted the pendent from her neck and placed it in the palm of her hand. He folded her fingers around the pendent and placed it to his head. "I have told you how to bring back your loved one. It is the least you can do for me. How awful was it for you to witness his death? Can you imagine how it would be for me? To finally be gifted with the ability to feel, to emote, to sense, and then be left in a world where all perishes? To be left alone?"
"You can't expect me to do this."
"You must!" The Nu said fiercely. As Marle tensed, the Nu softened his voice. "Either you change time and I wake up to a beautiful, green world or you live out your lives and I sleep through death. Please do not deny me a chance at peace. Just say the words...just repeat after me..."
Tears began to stream down her face although her eyes were clenched shut, "No! No! I won't say them!" Her ponytail whipped back and forth as she shook her head.
"'Tulog ka...'"
"No...NO!"
The grip on her hand softened and the voice grew softer and more pleading. "'Tulog ka...'"
She spoke in between sobs, "'T-t-tulog ka...'"
The Nu smiled, "'...sa pagtulog...'"
"'...s-sa pagtulog...'"
"'sang mga anghel.'"
She was crying now and she was not the only one. Lucca's hands were clasped together while Ayla made no effort to dry her moist eyes. Glenn stood, silent as stone as did Magus and Robo. Finally, after what seemed like several minutes, Marle whispered "'sang mga anghel.'" The hand that gripped hers tightened lightly before it smoothly slid off. The creature's bulbous frame almost drifted down to the ground. Its face was held in a blissful smile as its eyes closed for the last time. There was no doubt that whenever its consciousness had gone, the creature, what remained of Balthazar, was at peace.
"Let's go."
Marle's command was hollow. There was no true emotion to her voice. Lucca put a hand to her shoulder. Marle gripped her hand affectionately before she let it slide back down to her side. At that moment, they had both wished they never came to this place. As they boarded the Epoch to head back to their time, they noted that all the machines that had stopped functioning. The dome that had once been the domicile of a brilliant scientist and loyal servant had become a sepulchre.
"Where are we going?" Magus asked, the mood all too familiar with him.
"It is obvious, isn't it?" Marle began, biting her lip in trepidation. "We are going to Crono's house."
Author's Note: More coming really soon. I've been excited to get to the last bit of this story. I've been brainstorming a bunch of good stuff, so I am excited to get these ideas on paper...or computer...whatever. :P
Translation: Tulog ka sa pagtulog sang mga anghel - Sleep the sleep of angels.