Chrono Trigger

The Eye of the Storm; wherein our heroes find themselves within the very stillest moments of time...

Magus watched, the startling surprise causing his heart to race for just a moment. However, the first emotion that he felt after surprise wasn't disbelief, anger, confusion, or sadness. It was guilt. He felt as if he were as guilty as Lavos, beckoning those who grieved to go on a mission to change fate. It never occurred to him the possible disappointment he set upon them when he told them about the Chrono Trigger. At least, it never occurred to him until that moment. As the Chrono Trigger shattered, its remains falling out of sight, he felt the whole weight of their sorrow and disappointment because he had once felt the same thing.

"I am so sorry." he whispered, but none heard him.

Marle fought against Glenn while screaming, trying her hardest to hopelessly reach the falling pieces. She began to pull him along and Glenn fought frantically to keep her away from the edge, "No Marle! Still thyself! It is lost!"

"No! We didn't do anything! We were leaving! Why? It doesn't make sense! It's a trick! We have to get it!"

"IT IS GONE, MARLE! HE IS GONE! BE STILL!"

Marle fought less and became limp. Her legs wobbled for she realized what she had almost done to herself and what had just happened. The words "he is gone" rang in her ears and it sunk it. There were no hiding tears anymore. They rolled down her cheeks, larger than any tears she had cried before. She gasped painfully as if she had been shot, the sudden surge of her body causing her to choke on her sobs. She feared for a moment that she couldn't breathe but then felt it didn't matter. The wails came naturally and they were loud. She was still being held by Glenn who cried now, making no effort to hide his tears either.

"Why!" He asked, looking toward the sky as if he were expecting an answer. Even in his sorrow he felt silly in his futility. Instead, he only wept as he held Marle.

Ayla and Lucca fell to their knees, their heads buried in the snow. It covered their faces and muffled their wails while Robo looked on, deadly silent.

It was only Magus and Robo who noticed when the sky began to turn dark.

"What's going on?" Robo asked, trying to make himself heard to the others.

It wasn't until the light become very dim that the others stilled themselves enough to look. It took them only a fraction of the time to find the source that it did for Robo and Magus for the sun was nearly covered by that point. A great dread filled them as the sun turned into a waning crescent, blanketing the whole world in darkness. Magus, fearing the worst urged everyone on their feet and to stand at the ready. Just as they did the world went black and for a time they saw nothing.

The world was different when it came back to them. The place in which they stood was very familiar, but there was a strange feeling in the air. It felt very stuffy, as if the air was incapable of moving and pressed down upon them. While they could move, they found that it was harder than usual, and it was even harder to breathe. "Where are we?"

Suddenly, the great, giant form of Lavos filled their view. All jumped at the ready, their weapons out in a moment. However, the being did not move.

"What is this? It is like a statue..." Glenn said, marveling.

It was at that point they realized that the world was slowly illuminating itself, growing brighter yet it remained a dull gray. As the world lightened they saw figures sprawled on the ground. With a gasp they recognized themselves. For a moment they could not tell if it was fake or real. They were so still, so silent that they appeared to be wax figures; soft yet still lifeless. It was at that point where Robo spoke and said, "I understand now...we are back at that moment. The moment where Crono sacrificed himself inside the Ocean Palace!"

All eyes instantly began to search for Crono but he could not be seen. Instead, a beam of light that originated from Lavos eye removed any trace that remained of Crono. A sudden horror filled Marle as she realized that at this point his body had already been disintegrated. "Why would the Chrono Trigger bring us here when he is dead already!?"

"Wait..." Lucca said, grabbing Marle by the shoulder. "Look there!"

In the spot where Crono had stood earlier was the Chrono Trigger, whole and unbroken. While the party drew closer, Robo had looked around and noted a few things. "It makes sense. Time is stopped here, but not completely. That explains the slowly growing light; it took that long for light particles reach my receptors, and as you would say, your eyes. That also explains why the air feels so stiff and why it is harder to move. The very particles around us are rigid due to the slowness of time. Had it been our former selves standing here, we would most likely not be able to even breathe."

"I'm already feeling light-headed." Ayla replied.

"Yes, we must not tarry for long, lest we give up the ghost as well." Glenn said wryly.

"Amazing," Magus said, feeling it was worthy enough to point out with what little breath he had, "all the power we had and the innovations we made and we still could never stop time."

They stood before the Chrono Trigger as it hovered where their fallen friend once stood. Lucca put her hand toward the Crono Trigger but pulled it back as she already felt the blazing heat of Lavos' beam a short distance away. "We can't reach it without burning ourselves...I think even you would disintegrate in that, Robo."

"So, what do we do?"

Already they were growing weaker. As they did a sensation filled them. It was as if the Chrono Trigger placed in their minds a way to leave. All felt it at once and all knew that their time here was indeed short, but they did not know how to activate the Chrono Trigger. They thought frantically, thinking of ways to summon it forth. They tried calling his name, pleading, and begging, but nothing seemed to have any effect. At this point, Magus fell to his knees, his body quaking with the effort he used to draw his breath. "I cannot take any more. I must go." As he uttered these words he vanished.

It is worth it to mention that Magus had no driving force to bring Crono back other than to ease his conscious. Had it been Schala he would have stayed until all energy left him. However, this was not his battle and he did not wish to handle it any further and left it to the others. Even still, they all began to fall to their knees as well, as great beads of sweat stayed on their faces. The very fabric of time held their sweat against their skin so that it did not trickle, but clung to them uncomfortably. "Think!" Marle began frantically, "We have come this far! We can't give up now!"

Robo could feel the pressure welling up inside his system as abnormalities surfaced. This was different than the biological needs of the others. He could feel gears straining, lubricants ceasing, and electricity pulsing erratically. It was only a matter of time before his systems would fail him. It was a matter of scorn to him that even though he did not need air to breath like the others, his metal body did nothing to help. Finally, with defeat in his tone, he said, "I must go...I'm so sorry."

The remaining few panted with labored breaths. Their skin began to turn red by the mere act of existing in this strange space. Glenn's eyes began to bother him as the enormous pressure caused them to strain. He could feel it in his head and closed them tight in an effort to ease the pain. He even used his own magic to help his cause, but it only served to weaken him. Even so, he held on, his hands pressing the ground as if he were making his mark. Ayla, however, not gifted with the ability to heal herself, cried with tears that hung about her lids and obscured her vision. She had said nothing and vanished in that same moment.

"We can think of something! Come on, guys! Don't give up! Work, dammit! WORK!" Lucca groaned.

Glenn's head was upon the floor now, his legs pressing against the ground upward so that his torso contorted in the air. It was all he could do to take the pain off of his eyes. He muttered to himself, cursing to himself that Crono would never cease if he were in his position. He would refuse to give up. This was not just about him. This was about a debt. The mutterings grew more and more delirious but he still did not leave. Lucca looked toward him and gasped. Whenever Glenn did open his eyes they almost appeared as if they were about to burst. "Glenn! You have to go! Now!"

"Damn you, woman! Burn in hell! I shall not leave!" It was the pain that made him cross, that made him spew such venom. "I will not! I WILL NOT!" He writhed in agony, the pain growing stronger and stronger. He uttered a curse that Lucca and Marle never thought they'd hear him say and he was gone.

Only Lucca and Marle remained. It is a strange act of human nature that in our moments of pain we reach out for others. As the pressure of a still time continued to crush them, they clenched each others' hands as if to support each other. "What can we do, Marle?" Lucca asked as frantically as she could.

"I don't know!" Marle answered, her voice breaking with fear.

"I'm not leaving!" Lucca shouted.

They clasped each other tighter. Each moment was pain agony and they were no longer thinking of plans. It was almost by sheer hope and longing that they stayed. At this point Marle had begun to pray frantically for anything to happen. It had been so long since she uttered any sort of prayer. Now, in this moment of desperation there was no other resort in her mind. Lucca, while she prayed also, did it shortly before she gave out and started to repeat Crono's name over and over. They were now prostrate on the ground, their hands still clasped. They could feel their consciousness fading as their lungs began to reach their limit.

Marle looked into Lucca's eyes, past the cracked lenses of her glasses. Without saying a word they both knew what the other was thinking: "Yes, I am with you until the end."

And suddenly the pressure was gone.

The sweet sensation that filled them was heavenly. It was pure, easy-to-breath oxygen that filled their lungs. The unmoving sweat that clung to their skin literally splashed the ground with its abundance once it was free from the bond of unmoving atoms and molecules. They were drenched from the effort, and now they could feel its sweet cooling sensation. Marle and Lucca looked upward. Evidently, the Chrono Trigger could not bear the stress of time either. It had cracked. However, a great light shined from within. As Marle and Lucca rose to their feet, they noticed bits of fragments flowing through the air. It was a moment later that Lucca realized that the Chrono Trigger was gathering the very pieces of Crono into the space in which it stood.

"Is it...is it rebuilding him?" Marle asked in hopeful amazement.

Lucca's smile grew so broad that it made her cheeks sting. Tears fell down her face unbidden and she almost dared not to hope for fear that it was too good to be true. "It is! It is!"

The speed in which the fragments flew to the Chrono Trigger grew. Soon, it was as if a great cloud flowed toward the Chrono Trigger, entering within the cracks of the egg. Just as the world turned dark once again, they saw the egg begin to crack further as if something were about to emerge...

They were upon Death Peak again. The sky was still dark, yet they could make out the gasping forms of their prostrate friends. They were in the act of great sorrow, for only just a moment ago, or it had seemed to be only a moment ago, they had given in to weakness. If only they had known that in the stillness of time they had endured that torture for several hours. In the speed of time from stillness to movement, it appeared to them that Lucca and Marle had stopped just as soon as they did. However, it caught their attention when Marle and Lucca did not weep. In fact, they cast their eyes about and called for Crono by name.

"Doth mine ears deceive?" His strength returned in an instant and Glenn was on his feet.

Everyone else rose, trying their best to peer into the darkness that surrounded them, yet they could still see nothing. Finally, the strange source that blocked the sun began to move away, illuminating the peak once again. The dismal world gave way to life and color. The light bounced off the twinkling ice and the frost of the frozen tree. The clouds in the distance, although still dark and threatening, were a rich purple-gray. It was almost as if the feeling of hope allowed them to see the world for what it truly was: a marvelous creation unto itself.

And there he was.

He sat, his back against the trunk of the tree. His eyes glinted as he peered about, his legs sprawled out in front of him. He breathed deep as if he savored the very flavor of the air and exhaled with a certain satisfaction. It was Magus who saw him first and gasped, as if he had seen an apparition. All others turned and saw him sitting, watching them with the same smile he had greeted them with. His apple green eyes flashed as Marle slowly began to approach him. She did so almost as if she were approaching a bird, afraid that she would frighten it off and it would flee from her. "I knew this day would come."

And without warning she threw herself upon him and wrapped her arms around his neck and embraced him deeply. She buried her head into the nook of his shoulder and shouted into him, "Never, never, ever do anything like that again, you stupid idiot! Do you know how worried we were!?" Crono soothed her hair lovingly, his voice saying apologies softly. It made her cry even harder, reminding her again that this was not a dream. All the others had gained their senses and approached Crono and followed Marle's actions. They gathered around while Magus watched on silently. For a brief moment he allowed himself the most diminutive of smiles while he left them alone in this, their most sacred of moments.

They hurriedly spoke over each other, recounting their adventures and all things of note that happened while Crono returned their affections with a touch here or a hug there.

"Crono! Aren't you listening? There's still so much you need to know!"

And so, we leave our heroes for a moment as they gather around their fallen friend who had risen from the dead. The very foundations of reality and time had split apart, allowing one to pass beyond the veil and back into the realm of possibility and living. Here he sat, the man who had faced Lavos and gave his life in the process. The son of Thunder, the very man who had faced death and conquered it had come again. Yet, at the time, this did not matter. The greatest of miracles was only a backdrop to the very simple fact that their friend who had been gone was now returned to them. All thoughts, theories, and motives could wait until tomorrow. For now, they had Crono.

And all was right with the world.

Author's note: I HAD to get this up. It wouldn't have been right to leave you guys on such a cliff hanger for so long. But, I feel like I can start the final quests now. There's probably a pretty good bit of story left, but we are approaching the end. I usually give a shout out to those who reviewed and thank them, but I have to go and do a few things. I just wanted to get this up. I hope you enjoyed this and I thank you for your patience. I hope you enjoy the rest that is to come. Have a great weekend! :D