Chapter 16: Sky Sparkles
Rei grumbled about Akumu, and that he could so with his magic for a good five minutes. She also commented on a desir for healing magic, but she sighed, assuming it was out of the question. Silently she peered out of the window of her cell.
"......Oh good GOD...." Rei made a disgusted face. They were in Zale... Or some sick parody of it. Rei twitched, watching people mill around. They were ONLY this active before the festival. Zale was naturally a sleepy little town. Very slow paced, very quiet. But this? Rei growled again. She was disgusted. Then she glanced up. Nighttime, huh? Rei quietly thought back to the days of Zale. On festival nights, when the whole of Guardia and Porre were in attendance, they put on a show with very simple magic that created different colored sparks in the sky. Most outsiders called them sky-sparkles (Fireworks to you and me.. Only, magic ones). Granted, it was the one time of year anyone not from Zale was permitted inside. Rei smirked. Every child in Zale learned to create them at an early age. If she did it right, it could be one way to let the others know where she was. If anyone would know her trademark colors, Doreen would. Rei smirked and aimed at the sky, sending a blast in the air, scaring everyone on the ground atleast.
Frog, Serra, Crono, and two sword siblings looked up at the sudden blast of light. It had to be the most unusual thing they ever saw, save to Frog. The light had been caused by an explosion of blue sparkles of light, followed by a smaller white one. Frog blinked slowly, recalling the last time he saw the sky-sparkles.
In 588 AD, Zale was throwing it's best Festival of Magic yet. Guardia and Porre were quite fond of Zale. They were a rare group who never left their town, but they were allies, and Zale never let down Guardia or Porre. Even Dorino, although small, liked when Zale threw the Festival. It was always a memorable experiance, and this time was no different. All day was a day or lore, magic, and the like, and now the best part of every Zale festival, night time, when they put on a light show with what everyone else called sky sparkles (Although most lightening users used Lightening spells instead.)
Glenn was no different from any other boy from Guardia. His best friend Cyrus was off looking at Zale artifacts, leaving Glenn to his own devices for once. He nearly tripped onver a girl in a blue and purple dress, watching the show with her knees tight against her chest. Glenn walked up to her.
"Hi!" The boy smiled happily. The girl eyed him.
"...Hello. Are you lost?" She asked. She seemed a little suprised. Glenn shook his head.
"Trying to watch the sky-sparkles. You have to appreciate nights like these." He smiled. The girl shrugged.
"If you say so." She shifted.
"Come on, how often do you see sky sparkles?" Glenn asked.
"I see them every year. Trust me, this place isn't the paradise you think it is." She shrugged.
"That might be so, but you really need to lighten up! I take it your from the village?" Glenn smiled. She nodded, wiping away a silver strand of hair.
"My daddy's the village swordsman. He's very good." The girl said proudly. Glenn plunked down next to her. The frog in her lap, which he hadn't noticed before, gave an indignant croak, as it telling him not to take his spot.
"What's your frog's name?" Glenn asked. The girl tossed her head.
"Kaeru. He's my special froggie." The girl said proudly. "Wanna see the others?"
"Where are they?" Glenn asked.
"In a mudhole near the village. C'mon, I'll show you." She got up. Glenn got up nerviously.
"Isn't the Cursed Woods dangerious at night?" Glenn asked. The girl shrugged.
"It's not far. Besides, if any monsters show up, you'll protect us, right? You have that sword." The girl grinned. Glenn fingered the handle of his sword warily.
"I'm just in training, I'm not that good." Glenn said modestly, rubbing the back of his head. The girl shrugged, then lead him to the mudhole.
Later that night, the two walked back into Zale hand in hand, talking happily. Kaeru by now was nestled on Glenn's head, chirping contently. The two were having a discussion about swords when the village swordsman Yoarashi came up. The large man made Glenn nervious, especially since he had his sword. He'd been to see it with Cyrus earlier. He did not want to be on the business end of it. However, the swordsman didn't seem angry. He smiled at Glenn gently.
"Your friend has been looking for you." Yoarashi said calmly. The girl sighed, a bit disappointed. Yoarashi regarded them both politely.
"You may walk him over, if you like." Yoarashi said to his daughter gently. She smiled as she walked to the exit with Glenn. Kaeru jumped onto her head.
"Thank you for a nice evening." Glenn said. She nodded.
"Will you come next year?" She asked, hopeful. Glenn nodded.
"Unless I'm sick, probably." Glenn smiled. The girl smiled back and let go of his hand. Glenn ran, turned, waved, then ran to catch up with Cyrus.
Frog jolted awake to Doreen tugging Frog's cape.
"That was Rei, come on, we have to go!" Doreen was definaitely worried. Frog nodded and ran after, thinking on the past events. ....Yoarashi... He'd recalled hearing the name before. Then he blinked. Reiketsu was the girl he spent that night with? Why hadn't he remembered? Well.. It had been atleast 12 years. And he hadn't known her well. But she was less excitable now then she used to be.. More quiet. Of course he wouldn't recall. And with everything between then.. Frog sighed. Silently the trio slipped into Zale. Serra immediately wrinkled her nose.
"What stinks?" Serra asked. Frog sighed.
"I smell it as well, Lady Serra. It doth be an uncouth stench." Frog said. Crono sniffed then made a face. The smell reminded him of the rotting corpses in the Guardia dungeon before it was cleaned and aired out. Crono turned to the other two and indicated that the rank smell was corpses, half decayed, or worse, decayed. Serra and Frog made disgusted looks.
"Animated.. Corpses?" Serra flattened her ears. Frog snorted.
"Vile." Frog could only get out. Crono tugged everyone's arm, then pointed. One of the people was coming right toward them. He was rather large, and would probably win in a fist fight. Wisps of silver hair caught the air. Frog put one hand in the direction of Masamune's sheath out of habit, but instead of attacking, it looked at them sadly. A slash ran sling it's waist, and it looked badly burned. Frog blinked, recalling. He'd seen the ghost of this same person before.... But why was Yoarashi's dead body approaching them? Then he spoke.
"Help us... The boy has gone mad..." Yoarashi spoke. Frog moved his hand, although Crono and Serra were still wary.
"What doth thou mean?" Frog asked. Yoarashi shook his head.
"Tottei has succombed to... Muramasa. It is a demon that feeds upon hatred. You must stop him." Yoarashi shook his head.
"Why has the lad done this?" Frog indicated Zale. Yoarashi shook his head.
"It is merely reanimation... Muramasa wishes.. To take the magic of Zale.. To fuel itself.... To grow more powerful." Yoarashi responded.
"Why is a dead guy helping us?" Serra finally asked.
"Because you.. Who are in the world of the living.. Can stop this creature... Go to the Library.. There is more than you can really see.. Doreen... Take then... Save the boy and Reiketsu... Save Tottei... I cannot go.. I cannot hold to this... GO!" Yoarashi pointed, then dregged bvack to the village. Frog nodded thanks, and they left for the Library.
Rei grumbled about Akumu, and that he could so with his magic for a good five minutes. She also commented on a desir for healing magic, but she sighed, assuming it was out of the question. Silently she peered out of the window of her cell.
"......Oh good GOD...." Rei made a disgusted face. They were in Zale... Or some sick parody of it. Rei twitched, watching people mill around. They were ONLY this active before the festival. Zale was naturally a sleepy little town. Very slow paced, very quiet. But this? Rei growled again. She was disgusted. Then she glanced up. Nighttime, huh? Rei quietly thought back to the days of Zale. On festival nights, when the whole of Guardia and Porre were in attendance, they put on a show with very simple magic that created different colored sparks in the sky. Most outsiders called them sky-sparkles (Fireworks to you and me.. Only, magic ones). Granted, it was the one time of year anyone not from Zale was permitted inside. Rei smirked. Every child in Zale learned to create them at an early age. If she did it right, it could be one way to let the others know where she was. If anyone would know her trademark colors, Doreen would. Rei smirked and aimed at the sky, sending a blast in the air, scaring everyone on the ground atleast.
Frog, Serra, Crono, and two sword siblings looked up at the sudden blast of light. It had to be the most unusual thing they ever saw, save to Frog. The light had been caused by an explosion of blue sparkles of light, followed by a smaller white one. Frog blinked slowly, recalling the last time he saw the sky-sparkles.
In 588 AD, Zale was throwing it's best Festival of Magic yet. Guardia and Porre were quite fond of Zale. They were a rare group who never left their town, but they were allies, and Zale never let down Guardia or Porre. Even Dorino, although small, liked when Zale threw the Festival. It was always a memorable experiance, and this time was no different. All day was a day or lore, magic, and the like, and now the best part of every Zale festival, night time, when they put on a light show with what everyone else called sky sparkles (Although most lightening users used Lightening spells instead.)
Glenn was no different from any other boy from Guardia. His best friend Cyrus was off looking at Zale artifacts, leaving Glenn to his own devices for once. He nearly tripped onver a girl in a blue and purple dress, watching the show with her knees tight against her chest. Glenn walked up to her.
"Hi!" The boy smiled happily. The girl eyed him.
"...Hello. Are you lost?" She asked. She seemed a little suprised. Glenn shook his head.
"Trying to watch the sky-sparkles. You have to appreciate nights like these." He smiled. The girl shrugged.
"If you say so." She shifted.
"Come on, how often do you see sky sparkles?" Glenn asked.
"I see them every year. Trust me, this place isn't the paradise you think it is." She shrugged.
"That might be so, but you really need to lighten up! I take it your from the village?" Glenn smiled. She nodded, wiping away a silver strand of hair.
"My daddy's the village swordsman. He's very good." The girl said proudly. Glenn plunked down next to her. The frog in her lap, which he hadn't noticed before, gave an indignant croak, as it telling him not to take his spot.
"What's your frog's name?" Glenn asked. The girl tossed her head.
"Kaeru. He's my special froggie." The girl said proudly. "Wanna see the others?"
"Where are they?" Glenn asked.
"In a mudhole near the village. C'mon, I'll show you." She got up. Glenn got up nerviously.
"Isn't the Cursed Woods dangerious at night?" Glenn asked. The girl shrugged.
"It's not far. Besides, if any monsters show up, you'll protect us, right? You have that sword." The girl grinned. Glenn fingered the handle of his sword warily.
"I'm just in training, I'm not that good." Glenn said modestly, rubbing the back of his head. The girl shrugged, then lead him to the mudhole.
Later that night, the two walked back into Zale hand in hand, talking happily. Kaeru by now was nestled on Glenn's head, chirping contently. The two were having a discussion about swords when the village swordsman Yoarashi came up. The large man made Glenn nervious, especially since he had his sword. He'd been to see it with Cyrus earlier. He did not want to be on the business end of it. However, the swordsman didn't seem angry. He smiled at Glenn gently.
"Your friend has been looking for you." Yoarashi said calmly. The girl sighed, a bit disappointed. Yoarashi regarded them both politely.
"You may walk him over, if you like." Yoarashi said to his daughter gently. She smiled as she walked to the exit with Glenn. Kaeru jumped onto her head.
"Thank you for a nice evening." Glenn said. She nodded.
"Will you come next year?" She asked, hopeful. Glenn nodded.
"Unless I'm sick, probably." Glenn smiled. The girl smiled back and let go of his hand. Glenn ran, turned, waved, then ran to catch up with Cyrus.
Frog jolted awake to Doreen tugging Frog's cape.
"That was Rei, come on, we have to go!" Doreen was definaitely worried. Frog nodded and ran after, thinking on the past events. ....Yoarashi... He'd recalled hearing the name before. Then he blinked. Reiketsu was the girl he spent that night with? Why hadn't he remembered? Well.. It had been atleast 12 years. And he hadn't known her well. But she was less excitable now then she used to be.. More quiet. Of course he wouldn't recall. And with everything between then.. Frog sighed. Silently the trio slipped into Zale. Serra immediately wrinkled her nose.
"What stinks?" Serra asked. Frog sighed.
"I smell it as well, Lady Serra. It doth be an uncouth stench." Frog said. Crono sniffed then made a face. The smell reminded him of the rotting corpses in the Guardia dungeon before it was cleaned and aired out. Crono turned to the other two and indicated that the rank smell was corpses, half decayed, or worse, decayed. Serra and Frog made disgusted looks.
"Animated.. Corpses?" Serra flattened her ears. Frog snorted.
"Vile." Frog could only get out. Crono tugged everyone's arm, then pointed. One of the people was coming right toward them. He was rather large, and would probably win in a fist fight. Wisps of silver hair caught the air. Frog put one hand in the direction of Masamune's sheath out of habit, but instead of attacking, it looked at them sadly. A slash ran sling it's waist, and it looked badly burned. Frog blinked, recalling. He'd seen the ghost of this same person before.... But why was Yoarashi's dead body approaching them? Then he spoke.
"Help us... The boy has gone mad..." Yoarashi spoke. Frog moved his hand, although Crono and Serra were still wary.
"What doth thou mean?" Frog asked. Yoarashi shook his head.
"Tottei has succombed to... Muramasa. It is a demon that feeds upon hatred. You must stop him." Yoarashi shook his head.
"Why has the lad done this?" Frog indicated Zale. Yoarashi shook his head.
"It is merely reanimation... Muramasa wishes.. To take the magic of Zale.. To fuel itself.... To grow more powerful." Yoarashi responded.
"Why is a dead guy helping us?" Serra finally asked.
"Because you.. Who are in the world of the living.. Can stop this creature... Go to the Library.. There is more than you can really see.. Doreen... Take then... Save the boy and Reiketsu... Save Tottei... I cannot go.. I cannot hold to this... GO!" Yoarashi pointed, then dregged bvack to the village. Frog nodded thanks, and they left for the Library.