Chapter 7: The Path In Life Begins It's Twist
Why did they laugh? I didn't do anything to them. So why did they laugh? Rei thought sullenly in her corner. Her knees were pulled up to her chin, and her face was buried in her arms. She refused to acknowledge anyone's coaxing to talk to them. But THEY couldn't understand. Not at all. Rei, don't be so upset. They weren't laughing at you. A reassuring voice whispered in Reiketsu's ear, unheard to the people around. Rei shifted slightly. Rune, which was strapped to her back, hummed reassuringly. Rei quirked an eyebrow at it. Your awake? Rei inquired. Yes. Falling on a hard surface would do that, I suppose. The voice whispered back. Or it would knock you out. Rei added. Yes, I did notice that. Are you alright? Yes, I'm fine. Are you? I am well. Where are we? Some place called the End of Time. I never heard of such a place... Hmn. Rune? How come they laughed? Rei finally returned the topic to what it had been origionally. Rune gave a mental sigh gently. Rei and Rune went way back, before the girl ever touched the sword. I think the theory is that you and Frog seemed to be flirting. Rune replied carefully. Rei sweatdropped. I was only saying thank you and returning his cape! Rei protested slightly. Rune didn't get a chance to reply.
"This is odd..." Gaspar mumbled. Crono and Frog glanced at the Guru of Time. Crono quirked an eyebrow while Frog blinked. "There's something-or someone - disrupting the time stream. There's disturbances in several places.... Hmmm..." Crono and Frog exchanged looks. They knew what they had to do. "Where shouldst we begin?" Frog looked at Gaspar. Gaspar closed his eyes, cycling, then opened them. "There's trouble in 600AD that should be addressed." Gaspar said. Frog nodded, and Gaspar opened the Gate to the era. Crono jumped in immediately. Frog glanced over her shoulder breifly. Gaspar nodded. "She will be fine." Gaspar chuckled. Frog nodded, then followed Crono. When the two had left, Gaspar watched Rei in her corner. She was finally getting up, very slowly. She then warily approached Gaspar. "Can I do anything?" Rei asked warily. Gaspar looked at her. He closed his eyes. "There's a disturbance in 588AD... That perhaps you ought to investigate." Gaspar said carefully. Rei looked Gaspar in the eyes when he opened them. He stared back. There was a mutual understanding between the two that didn't need to have words to define them with. Gaspar opened the Gate, and Rei walked through with a heavy heart.
Frog and Crono slew the last of the Mystics that attacked them. They were back in the Cursed Woods, but it was riddled with Mystics. Frog was leading the way, cutting through with Masamune. He had a bad feeling about this, but they had been able to locate the source of it all. Frog didn't understand, however, why it came from that specific source. That wasn't important. Suddenly Frog felt as if they breached something, and glanced around. Then, of course, he had the worst shock of them. It was as if Zale had never been destroyed. People walked around freely, talking, laughing, doing business. Frog twitched slightly. There was something strange here. He couldn't place it. He then felt a tap on his shoulder. Turning to see what had Crono distressed, he looked up at what the lad was pointing at. A gigantic, black scaled dragon leered down, ready to bite both of their heads off. First the timestream was being screwed with, now fantasy creatures were coming alive. This was not a good day.
Rei walked through the debris and death warily. She felt terrified. She had a nasty phobia of battle fields--this took the cake. Suddenly she spotted someone very familiar. Someone she hadn't seen in 10 years. Slowly, things began to click as she touched Rune's hilt, and softly began to cast her first spell. After a minute, the blade was covered in ice, and she approached.
Yoarashi glanced around, then looked at the woman approaching him. The blade on he back was covered in ice. He wondered if she was a Mystic, or an ally. He glanced once again at the frog at his feet. He hadn't known Kaeru had followed him, and he had a feeling his daughter hadn't sent the animal. He supposed Kaeru had his own agenda. But when the frog gave a happy ribbit and bounded over to the strange woman, he knew he had nothing to fear. The woman scooped Kaeru up gently and stroked his head. Yoarashi decided to speak. ".....Who are you?" He asked. He still kept one hand on Rune. The woman looked at him. "My name is Koori. My sword is the Ice Blade." She said calmly. Yoarashi shuddered slightly. He could sense a great loss in the woman's past, but she concealed it well. Koori glanced north. "The Mystics approach..." She said, carefully putting Kaeru down. Yoarashi followed her gaze. Sure enough, the Mystic Generals Ozzie, Flea, and Slash were emerging. Ozzie waddled forward. Yoarashi could've sworn he heard Koori growl under her breath. "WELL! What do we have here!?" The Mystic laughed. He motioned to Slash and Flea. Yoarashi unsheathed Rune, and glared at Ozzie. Ozzie leered back with his small piggy eyes, and the two lunged to do battle.
Reiketsu jumped at Slash before he had a chance to react, drawing 'Ice Blade' and slashing. The Mystic swordsman clashed his sword against hers, the they began to duel. Rei's sword crashed against Slash's Slasher in a cacophony of angry metal. At the same time, Flea prepared to cast an offensive spell. Rei spun, chanting, and suddenly pointed at Flea. Clear blue ice surrounded Flea temporarily as the effects of 'Ice' kicked in. Slash's Slasher sliced Rei across the arm, and she rapidly returned the favor. Red blood trickled down her arm as she brought her blade diagonally across his chest, and across his waist. Slash jumped back. It wasn't deep, but it hurt. "What the....!?" Slash snarled in suprised. Rei smirked. "Did you like my Cross Slash manuver? I've got plenty more where that came from." Rei snorted. Flea just then got loose and muttered a spell, and directed it at Rei. Rei yelped slightly and blinked. It stung for a minute, but faded. Immediately she turned and cast Ice 2 on the magician. Slash got in another slice before they heard Ozzie yelp.
Yoarashi held Ozzie to the tree, pinned by Rune at his throat. Yoarashi got in the general's face, eyes flashing. "If you try to take Zale, we will fight you. Now go, and tell Magus." Yoarashi removed Rune, and Ozzie retreated, soon followed by Slash and Flea. Ozzie glared over his shoulder. "YOU WILL PAY FOR THIS!!"
When the trio left, Yoarashi turned to Koori. She wiped some sweat off her forehead and sheathed her blade. Blood trickled down her arm from a slice, and she had a slice across the front of the right side of her chest, but she seemed otherwise fine. Kaeru hopped out of hiding and up to Koori. Koori gently picked up the frog and stroked his head softly. Yoarashi sheathed Rune sadly. "I fear this may be the end of Zale..." Yoarashi said remorsefully. Koori looked at him and said nothing. Yoarashi shook his head. "Koori, would you like to join my family for dinner?" Yoarashi inquired. Koori looked away distantly. "I would be honored, but I cannot. I am sorry." Koori said quietly. Yoarashi nodded, then looked at Kaeru and Koori. Koori seemed content there in her hands. Koori too, held the frog gently, carefully to avoid hurting him. Yoarashi looked her in the face. "It is good to see someone who loves frogs as much as my daughter does. She would be heartbroken if he became involved in this. Please take care of him." Yoarashi said softly. Koori looked at the frog in her hands. Her ribbited gently, as if urgingly. Koori looked at Yoarashi. "I will." Koori finally said. Yoarashi smiled, and turned to return to Zale. Koori turned and walked the opposite direction. Finally, she fell to her knees as Kaeru hopped to her head. Reiketsu stayed on her hands and knees, and cried.
The dragon snapped at Frog, hissing. It had been fighting Crono and Frog for atleast a half hour, and neither side showed signs of tiring. The creature suddenly lifted it's head. Muramasa, we have no time for this now. Return at once! Muramasa snorted. Impudent brat. He leered down at the two fighters and hissed. "Do not thhhink thhhhisssss is over yet." Muramasa hissed. It's voice sounded serpentine, and human. "We shhhhall meet again. Until next time...." Muramasa suddenly vanished, as if he had never been there. Frog snorted and glanced around. It was peculiar. During the fight, it had been as if Zale were still a graveyard. But now, it was alive again, as if nothing happened. Frog looked at Crono. "Methinks t'would be best if we return to the End of Time." Frog stated. Crono nodded, and the two warriors left the village.
Why did they laugh? I didn't do anything to them. So why did they laugh? Rei thought sullenly in her corner. Her knees were pulled up to her chin, and her face was buried in her arms. She refused to acknowledge anyone's coaxing to talk to them. But THEY couldn't understand. Not at all. Rei, don't be so upset. They weren't laughing at you. A reassuring voice whispered in Reiketsu's ear, unheard to the people around. Rei shifted slightly. Rune, which was strapped to her back, hummed reassuringly. Rei quirked an eyebrow at it. Your awake? Rei inquired. Yes. Falling on a hard surface would do that, I suppose. The voice whispered back. Or it would knock you out. Rei added. Yes, I did notice that. Are you alright? Yes, I'm fine. Are you? I am well. Where are we? Some place called the End of Time. I never heard of such a place... Hmn. Rune? How come they laughed? Rei finally returned the topic to what it had been origionally. Rune gave a mental sigh gently. Rei and Rune went way back, before the girl ever touched the sword. I think the theory is that you and Frog seemed to be flirting. Rune replied carefully. Rei sweatdropped. I was only saying thank you and returning his cape! Rei protested slightly. Rune didn't get a chance to reply.
"This is odd..." Gaspar mumbled. Crono and Frog glanced at the Guru of Time. Crono quirked an eyebrow while Frog blinked. "There's something-or someone - disrupting the time stream. There's disturbances in several places.... Hmmm..." Crono and Frog exchanged looks. They knew what they had to do. "Where shouldst we begin?" Frog looked at Gaspar. Gaspar closed his eyes, cycling, then opened them. "There's trouble in 600AD that should be addressed." Gaspar said. Frog nodded, and Gaspar opened the Gate to the era. Crono jumped in immediately. Frog glanced over her shoulder breifly. Gaspar nodded. "She will be fine." Gaspar chuckled. Frog nodded, then followed Crono. When the two had left, Gaspar watched Rei in her corner. She was finally getting up, very slowly. She then warily approached Gaspar. "Can I do anything?" Rei asked warily. Gaspar looked at her. He closed his eyes. "There's a disturbance in 588AD... That perhaps you ought to investigate." Gaspar said carefully. Rei looked Gaspar in the eyes when he opened them. He stared back. There was a mutual understanding between the two that didn't need to have words to define them with. Gaspar opened the Gate, and Rei walked through with a heavy heart.
Frog and Crono slew the last of the Mystics that attacked them. They were back in the Cursed Woods, but it was riddled with Mystics. Frog was leading the way, cutting through with Masamune. He had a bad feeling about this, but they had been able to locate the source of it all. Frog didn't understand, however, why it came from that specific source. That wasn't important. Suddenly Frog felt as if they breached something, and glanced around. Then, of course, he had the worst shock of them. It was as if Zale had never been destroyed. People walked around freely, talking, laughing, doing business. Frog twitched slightly. There was something strange here. He couldn't place it. He then felt a tap on his shoulder. Turning to see what had Crono distressed, he looked up at what the lad was pointing at. A gigantic, black scaled dragon leered down, ready to bite both of their heads off. First the timestream was being screwed with, now fantasy creatures were coming alive. This was not a good day.
Rei walked through the debris and death warily. She felt terrified. She had a nasty phobia of battle fields--this took the cake. Suddenly she spotted someone very familiar. Someone she hadn't seen in 10 years. Slowly, things began to click as she touched Rune's hilt, and softly began to cast her first spell. After a minute, the blade was covered in ice, and she approached.
Yoarashi glanced around, then looked at the woman approaching him. The blade on he back was covered in ice. He wondered if she was a Mystic, or an ally. He glanced once again at the frog at his feet. He hadn't known Kaeru had followed him, and he had a feeling his daughter hadn't sent the animal. He supposed Kaeru had his own agenda. But when the frog gave a happy ribbit and bounded over to the strange woman, he knew he had nothing to fear. The woman scooped Kaeru up gently and stroked his head. Yoarashi decided to speak. ".....Who are you?" He asked. He still kept one hand on Rune. The woman looked at him. "My name is Koori. My sword is the Ice Blade." She said calmly. Yoarashi shuddered slightly. He could sense a great loss in the woman's past, but she concealed it well. Koori glanced north. "The Mystics approach..." She said, carefully putting Kaeru down. Yoarashi followed her gaze. Sure enough, the Mystic Generals Ozzie, Flea, and Slash were emerging. Ozzie waddled forward. Yoarashi could've sworn he heard Koori growl under her breath. "WELL! What do we have here!?" The Mystic laughed. He motioned to Slash and Flea. Yoarashi unsheathed Rune, and glared at Ozzie. Ozzie leered back with his small piggy eyes, and the two lunged to do battle.
Reiketsu jumped at Slash before he had a chance to react, drawing 'Ice Blade' and slashing. The Mystic swordsman clashed his sword against hers, the they began to duel. Rei's sword crashed against Slash's Slasher in a cacophony of angry metal. At the same time, Flea prepared to cast an offensive spell. Rei spun, chanting, and suddenly pointed at Flea. Clear blue ice surrounded Flea temporarily as the effects of 'Ice' kicked in. Slash's Slasher sliced Rei across the arm, and she rapidly returned the favor. Red blood trickled down her arm as she brought her blade diagonally across his chest, and across his waist. Slash jumped back. It wasn't deep, but it hurt. "What the....!?" Slash snarled in suprised. Rei smirked. "Did you like my Cross Slash manuver? I've got plenty more where that came from." Rei snorted. Flea just then got loose and muttered a spell, and directed it at Rei. Rei yelped slightly and blinked. It stung for a minute, but faded. Immediately she turned and cast Ice 2 on the magician. Slash got in another slice before they heard Ozzie yelp.
Yoarashi held Ozzie to the tree, pinned by Rune at his throat. Yoarashi got in the general's face, eyes flashing. "If you try to take Zale, we will fight you. Now go, and tell Magus." Yoarashi removed Rune, and Ozzie retreated, soon followed by Slash and Flea. Ozzie glared over his shoulder. "YOU WILL PAY FOR THIS!!"
When the trio left, Yoarashi turned to Koori. She wiped some sweat off her forehead and sheathed her blade. Blood trickled down her arm from a slice, and she had a slice across the front of the right side of her chest, but she seemed otherwise fine. Kaeru hopped out of hiding and up to Koori. Koori gently picked up the frog and stroked his head softly. Yoarashi sheathed Rune sadly. "I fear this may be the end of Zale..." Yoarashi said remorsefully. Koori looked at him and said nothing. Yoarashi shook his head. "Koori, would you like to join my family for dinner?" Yoarashi inquired. Koori looked away distantly. "I would be honored, but I cannot. I am sorry." Koori said quietly. Yoarashi nodded, then looked at Kaeru and Koori. Koori seemed content there in her hands. Koori too, held the frog gently, carefully to avoid hurting him. Yoarashi looked her in the face. "It is good to see someone who loves frogs as much as my daughter does. She would be heartbroken if he became involved in this. Please take care of him." Yoarashi said softly. Koori looked at the frog in her hands. Her ribbited gently, as if urgingly. Koori looked at Yoarashi. "I will." Koori finally said. Yoarashi smiled, and turned to return to Zale. Koori turned and walked the opposite direction. Finally, she fell to her knees as Kaeru hopped to her head. Reiketsu stayed on her hands and knees, and cried.
The dragon snapped at Frog, hissing. It had been fighting Crono and Frog for atleast a half hour, and neither side showed signs of tiring. The creature suddenly lifted it's head. Muramasa, we have no time for this now. Return at once! Muramasa snorted. Impudent brat. He leered down at the two fighters and hissed. "Do not thhhink thhhhisssss is over yet." Muramasa hissed. It's voice sounded serpentine, and human. "We shhhhall meet again. Until next time...." Muramasa suddenly vanished, as if he had never been there. Frog snorted and glanced around. It was peculiar. During the fight, it had been as if Zale were still a graveyard. But now, it was alive again, as if nothing happened. Frog looked at Crono. "Methinks t'would be best if we return to the End of Time." Frog stated. Crono nodded, and the two warriors left the village.