Chapter 13: A Boy Named Dalton
"A long time ago, while I was staying here in Truce, I was heading home from the square after summoning a golem when I heard something crying. So I went to look, and I looked in some bushes. There I found a tiny baby, without even any teeth just left there. I pulled him out, but noone seemed to know him. I took him in, and tried all kinds of names, but he hated them all. He'd just.. Cry. Finally, something told me to try 'Dalton'. He loved it, so that became his name. I couldn't help it, but I somehow felt as if I learned his name. But I've taken care of him since." Serra said softly. "I know I have to tell him someday he's adopted... But he's always seen me as "Mother". Perhaps, when he's older, I'll tell him..." Serra sighed. The group collectively blinked at Serra's story when Dalton came barging in, and crawled into Serra's lap, shaking. "Dalton?! What's wrong?!" Serra asked. The boy sniffled. "There's something scary outside!" Dalton whimpered. Serra held him tightly. "It'll be ok, sweetie..." She said, gently. Lucca, Crono, and Frog exchanged looks and immediately went outside. Rei got up as did Serra, putting Dalton down, and they followed. Dalton skittered after his mother, worried. Outside was a boy, blad in black, with purple hair and blue tips. His eyes glowed a red color, like blood, as he scowled at the group. "One of you has the book." The boy growled. His eyes narrowed. "But which? Looks like I'll have to kill you all to find out. I shan't be hard. For what are you? Nothing more than a punk-haired little brat, a woman in a tin-can, a child, a frog who thinks he can weild a sword, a cat, and a silver-haired freak while I, I have the power to corrupt time, and the magic of the shadows." "Who art thou, to speaketh with such a brash tounge!?" Frog demanded. The boy scoffed. "My name? You may call me... Akumu." He scoffed. Now, where shall I start? Ah yes, how about you, girl?" Akumu turned on Lucca, and suddenly sent a blast of magic energy at her. Lucca attempted to dodge. Lucca succeeded in getting slammed into a tree. "Curr! What gentleman doth attack a woman!?" Frog growled, pointing Masamune. "Oh, I'm no gentleman. But, since your so eager to be struck down next, allow me to oblige, you disgusting thing." Akumu said. Frog too, was slammed backward, despite his best efforts. Akumu turned to see Dalton lash out with his Katana. Akumu proceeded to repeat the energy blast into him, slamming him away. He turned to Serra, Rei, and Dalton. "Ah, this will be too easy. As I thought." Akumu smirked. Calmly, he sent a blast of energy at Serra, knocking her back. Dalton's eye went wide. "Motheeeerrr!" He cried. Suddenly he turned to Akumu, eye glinting. "You'll pay for that!" The boy snarled. Suddenly he raised a hand. "Come forth! Golem!" The boy yelled. A portal opened behind the child as the massive golem came out, looking around. Then it spied Akumu. Dalton pointed. "Golem! Take care of him!" Dalton cried. The Golem grunted and went over, preparing to strike. Akumu snarled and tried to blast it. The golem was hit, but leered down. And reflected a weaker version of the blast. It was enough to catch Akumu by suprise. He snarled. "Meddlesome..." Quietly he prepared to blast the lot into oblivion. He did NOT need this. Suddenly a massive gust of wind hit him, and in it, were particles of ice. Looking down, he snarled. His feet were frozen to the ground. Then he glanced at his hands. Frozen together! He growled as Rei piped up. "How do you like my "Blizzard" spell?" She asked. Akumu snarled. "I'll be back-don't you forget it!" He growled. Immediately, he teleported away.
Rei walked over to Dalton and Serra in concern, and knelt down. A complete change from when he siced the golem on Akumu, Dalton was trying to wake Serra up. "Mother? Wake up, mother!" Dalton whimpered. Rei reached out, and checked her pulse. It was there. "She's knocked out, Dalton. Apparently Akumu hasn't mastered the art of killing. Yet." She frowned. Dalton sniffed. "Will my mother be OK?" He asked. Rei nodded. "I think so." Rei said. Dalton sniffled, still scared. "Let me give your mother a Mid Tonic." Rei said. She pulled out a vile of a strange liquid. Dalton snatched it. "I wanna help Mother." He said. Carefully, he poured it in her mouth, and make her swallow. Serra groaned and opened one eye. "Am I dead?" She asked. "Mother!" Dalton squealed, and wrapped his arms around Serra happily. Serra returned the embrace. "Goodness! Are you alright?" Serra asked. Dalton nodded. Rei watched the two hug with a pained look, then went to start using a Mid Tonic on the others.
The golem, haven not gone back to it's own dimention, watched the group slowly come around, then levelled it's eyes on the boy. Apparently, Serra hadn't summoned it, like it thought. The golem, although not usually bright, sighed. It knew it had to tell the truth to Serra sometime. Now might be the best time.
Rei finally pulled Frog's head into her lap, and pulled out the mid tonic, and got the unconcious swordsfrog to drink it. When he didn't wake up right away, Rei grumbled. "Sure, you have to be difficult." Rei grumbled. Leaning forward, she touched her lips to his to attempt artificial resperation in case some had gone down the wrong tube. Apparently, it hadn't, because he suddenly kissed her, quite nerviously. "I thank thee, m'lady." Frog said. Rei acked. "You scared me!" She scolded. Frog blinked. "I apologize, then, m'lady." Frog said, getting up. Serra meanwhile looked at the golem. "How did a golem get here??" She asked. Rei pointed at Dalton. "Your son." She said. Everyone looked at Dalton. He blinked innocently. "I was scared you'd be hurt, Mother! I don't even know how I did it, I swear!" The boy whimpered. Serra looked confused. "I know. I never summoned a golem in your presence... So how...?" Serra blinked. The golem finally spoke up.
"G'uh... I can 'splain, Muss Sora." The golem said nervously. Everyone looked at the golem again. Serra nodded for it to go ahead. "Long time ago.... Muster Dalton try to take over world. Golum Boss get beat up, and is scared of height, refused to come when summoned. Muster Dalton get pulled to Golem wurld... No can survive, Golems have to use spell, make him tiny hoomun. No can handle tiny hoomun, tiny hoomun no can stay in golem wurld. Then Muss Sora summon ten years ago. Golem bring Muster Dalton to Muss Sora. Muss Sora take care of Muster Dalton. Muster Dalton no remumbur past." The golem said. It panted heavily. The creatures weren't used to talking so much outside of grunting. Everyone looked at Dalton again, who trembled and clung to Serra. "Mother, what's he talking about? I don't understand!" Dalton sniffled. Serra sighed, sitting, and pulled Dalton into her lap as she slowly started to tell Dalton how she found him. The little boy quivered, but clung close. "I still don't know what I did in the past.." The boy sniffled. Serra patted his head gently. Dalton wriggled and faced everyone else. "I don't even remember a thing. I don't know what's going on. But I'm sorry if I did something really bad." Dalton said, sniffling. Lucca, Crono and Frog seemed to look at each other, but then Frog spoke first. "...'Tis alright Lad. Strange as the tale is, it does maketh sense. Perhaps thou doth be a changed lad." Frog said warily. Dalton gave a weak smile. Serra looked at the golem. "Oh, your waiting to go home. I'm sorry." She said. Gesturing, she opened a gate. The golem grunted aprreciatively, and went in. Rei leaned against a tree in silence, looking at the spot Akumu had been in. "Looks like I'm not the only one alive. Also looks like I'm the only sane one, though." Rei mused. "We're so damn screwed."
"A long time ago, while I was staying here in Truce, I was heading home from the square after summoning a golem when I heard something crying. So I went to look, and I looked in some bushes. There I found a tiny baby, without even any teeth just left there. I pulled him out, but noone seemed to know him. I took him in, and tried all kinds of names, but he hated them all. He'd just.. Cry. Finally, something told me to try 'Dalton'. He loved it, so that became his name. I couldn't help it, but I somehow felt as if I learned his name. But I've taken care of him since." Serra said softly. "I know I have to tell him someday he's adopted... But he's always seen me as "Mother". Perhaps, when he's older, I'll tell him..." Serra sighed. The group collectively blinked at Serra's story when Dalton came barging in, and crawled into Serra's lap, shaking. "Dalton?! What's wrong?!" Serra asked. The boy sniffled. "There's something scary outside!" Dalton whimpered. Serra held him tightly. "It'll be ok, sweetie..." She said, gently. Lucca, Crono, and Frog exchanged looks and immediately went outside. Rei got up as did Serra, putting Dalton down, and they followed. Dalton skittered after his mother, worried. Outside was a boy, blad in black, with purple hair and blue tips. His eyes glowed a red color, like blood, as he scowled at the group. "One of you has the book." The boy growled. His eyes narrowed. "But which? Looks like I'll have to kill you all to find out. I shan't be hard. For what are you? Nothing more than a punk-haired little brat, a woman in a tin-can, a child, a frog who thinks he can weild a sword, a cat, and a silver-haired freak while I, I have the power to corrupt time, and the magic of the shadows." "Who art thou, to speaketh with such a brash tounge!?" Frog demanded. The boy scoffed. "My name? You may call me... Akumu." He scoffed. Now, where shall I start? Ah yes, how about you, girl?" Akumu turned on Lucca, and suddenly sent a blast of magic energy at her. Lucca attempted to dodge. Lucca succeeded in getting slammed into a tree. "Curr! What gentleman doth attack a woman!?" Frog growled, pointing Masamune. "Oh, I'm no gentleman. But, since your so eager to be struck down next, allow me to oblige, you disgusting thing." Akumu said. Frog too, was slammed backward, despite his best efforts. Akumu turned to see Dalton lash out with his Katana. Akumu proceeded to repeat the energy blast into him, slamming him away. He turned to Serra, Rei, and Dalton. "Ah, this will be too easy. As I thought." Akumu smirked. Calmly, he sent a blast of energy at Serra, knocking her back. Dalton's eye went wide. "Motheeeerrr!" He cried. Suddenly he turned to Akumu, eye glinting. "You'll pay for that!" The boy snarled. Suddenly he raised a hand. "Come forth! Golem!" The boy yelled. A portal opened behind the child as the massive golem came out, looking around. Then it spied Akumu. Dalton pointed. "Golem! Take care of him!" Dalton cried. The Golem grunted and went over, preparing to strike. Akumu snarled and tried to blast it. The golem was hit, but leered down. And reflected a weaker version of the blast. It was enough to catch Akumu by suprise. He snarled. "Meddlesome..." Quietly he prepared to blast the lot into oblivion. He did NOT need this. Suddenly a massive gust of wind hit him, and in it, were particles of ice. Looking down, he snarled. His feet were frozen to the ground. Then he glanced at his hands. Frozen together! He growled as Rei piped up. "How do you like my "Blizzard" spell?" She asked. Akumu snarled. "I'll be back-don't you forget it!" He growled. Immediately, he teleported away.
Rei walked over to Dalton and Serra in concern, and knelt down. A complete change from when he siced the golem on Akumu, Dalton was trying to wake Serra up. "Mother? Wake up, mother!" Dalton whimpered. Rei reached out, and checked her pulse. It was there. "She's knocked out, Dalton. Apparently Akumu hasn't mastered the art of killing. Yet." She frowned. Dalton sniffed. "Will my mother be OK?" He asked. Rei nodded. "I think so." Rei said. Dalton sniffled, still scared. "Let me give your mother a Mid Tonic." Rei said. She pulled out a vile of a strange liquid. Dalton snatched it. "I wanna help Mother." He said. Carefully, he poured it in her mouth, and make her swallow. Serra groaned and opened one eye. "Am I dead?" She asked. "Mother!" Dalton squealed, and wrapped his arms around Serra happily. Serra returned the embrace. "Goodness! Are you alright?" Serra asked. Dalton nodded. Rei watched the two hug with a pained look, then went to start using a Mid Tonic on the others.
The golem, haven not gone back to it's own dimention, watched the group slowly come around, then levelled it's eyes on the boy. Apparently, Serra hadn't summoned it, like it thought. The golem, although not usually bright, sighed. It knew it had to tell the truth to Serra sometime. Now might be the best time.
Rei finally pulled Frog's head into her lap, and pulled out the mid tonic, and got the unconcious swordsfrog to drink it. When he didn't wake up right away, Rei grumbled. "Sure, you have to be difficult." Rei grumbled. Leaning forward, she touched her lips to his to attempt artificial resperation in case some had gone down the wrong tube. Apparently, it hadn't, because he suddenly kissed her, quite nerviously. "I thank thee, m'lady." Frog said. Rei acked. "You scared me!" She scolded. Frog blinked. "I apologize, then, m'lady." Frog said, getting up. Serra meanwhile looked at the golem. "How did a golem get here??" She asked. Rei pointed at Dalton. "Your son." She said. Everyone looked at Dalton. He blinked innocently. "I was scared you'd be hurt, Mother! I don't even know how I did it, I swear!" The boy whimpered. Serra looked confused. "I know. I never summoned a golem in your presence... So how...?" Serra blinked. The golem finally spoke up.
"G'uh... I can 'splain, Muss Sora." The golem said nervously. Everyone looked at the golem again. Serra nodded for it to go ahead. "Long time ago.... Muster Dalton try to take over world. Golum Boss get beat up, and is scared of height, refused to come when summoned. Muster Dalton get pulled to Golem wurld... No can survive, Golems have to use spell, make him tiny hoomun. No can handle tiny hoomun, tiny hoomun no can stay in golem wurld. Then Muss Sora summon ten years ago. Golem bring Muster Dalton to Muss Sora. Muss Sora take care of Muster Dalton. Muster Dalton no remumbur past." The golem said. It panted heavily. The creatures weren't used to talking so much outside of grunting. Everyone looked at Dalton again, who trembled and clung to Serra. "Mother, what's he talking about? I don't understand!" Dalton sniffled. Serra sighed, sitting, and pulled Dalton into her lap as she slowly started to tell Dalton how she found him. The little boy quivered, but clung close. "I still don't know what I did in the past.." The boy sniffled. Serra patted his head gently. Dalton wriggled and faced everyone else. "I don't even remember a thing. I don't know what's going on. But I'm sorry if I did something really bad." Dalton said, sniffling. Lucca, Crono and Frog seemed to look at each other, but then Frog spoke first. "...'Tis alright Lad. Strange as the tale is, it does maketh sense. Perhaps thou doth be a changed lad." Frog said warily. Dalton gave a weak smile. Serra looked at the golem. "Oh, your waiting to go home. I'm sorry." She said. Gesturing, she opened a gate. The golem grunted aprreciatively, and went in. Rei leaned against a tree in silence, looking at the spot Akumu had been in. "Looks like I'm not the only one alive. Also looks like I'm the only sane one, though." Rei mused. "We're so damn screwed."