A/N: We're ready for round... 23! Hurrah! Why you all read this is beyond my realm of comprehension. ^^; But I'm glad ya like it!
BIG thanks to Dark Creation for plugging the 'fic! o.o THANKYOOOUUU! So, yeah, we'll be wrapping it up in a couple chapters.. (*Crowd pulls our bricks and rotten tomatoes*) Yeah, I know, everyone's wondering why this is a 'fic with Frog with a girl without becoming Glenn... I wasn't gonna do a sequel, but I'm getting the ideas for one! YAAY! I think. Anyhow, time to reply to reviews. There's sure an awful lot of them. (10? Geeze... o.O)
Whining Lunatic Kidd Fan- Hey, Serra aims to please. She's just a psycho sorceress, she is. ^_^ Again... You'll have to ask the Magus fandom and Lucca for Maggie. ^_~
Turtlerad17- I'm not killing Lucca. End of story. :P
Now! GO READ STRUGGLE FOR HAPPINESS BY DARK CREATION! Read it and like it, it's a better Lu/Ma then I'd ever write... I'm too much of a Frog fangirl. :P
Oh, and the thing about dragons in this chapter... Well, don't Dactyls just LOOK like them? I mean, c'mon! o_O (No, I'm not ripping off Chrono Cross. I never even PLAYED Chrono Cross.) Oh, and the land Magus is talking about... Well... Anyone notice where the Black Omen hovered in 600 AD? Magus' castle area? And isn't it COINCIDENCE Mt. Denadoro is in that area? Hmmm? HMMM? Just an observation.
Chapter 23: The Legend of the Black Dragon
After the group successfully stuck a (clean) sock in Serra's mouth, they resumed their discussion, although everyone stifled giggles when, after Magus sat down, Lucca sat down on his cape next to him. Finally, Lucca spoke.
"What would Muramasa want with the Sealed Book then?" Lucca asked. Rei was able to answer before Magus, which scared the entire group.
"He needs it to ressurect his body." Rei said calmly. Magus glared, but said nothing, leaving Rei to explain.
"Several Millenia ago, there was, not only the human and Mystic races, but a race of creatures with wide leathery wings and long snapping jaws called dragons. The reptiles ancestors had been allies with humans, and often carried them on their backs in exchange for humans watching their young." Rei said.
"Dactyls..." Lucca said. Rei blinked, but Lucca indicated for her to go on.
"Anyhow, finally, the two races had seperated, and dragons reigned in their own continent, away from humans, masking it from human and Mystic sight with their own magic. There were several types, Lightening, Fire, Ice, and even the varients of Shadow, such as acid. But there finally came to be a Shadow dragon with a heart that matched the blackness of his scales, who strove for nothing but the power to enslave humans and Mystics alike under his power. The dragons failed to stop him, and, he soon emerged on the human continents, alarming many. Noone dared challenge him except the most powerful magic users, and the swordsmen of the time. Fighting side by side, they destroyed his body, but his spirit lived on... Noone could find it, and soon the other dragons came to find their brother, hoping to stop him as well. But they were too late, and the people wanted no more to do with dragons, refusing to trust them. It was a dark time, and dragonslayers soon emerged. Several dragons were killed in trying to reason with the humans, but finally, they fled, and haven't been seen since." Rei concluded quietly. The group looked thoughtful, but Lucca was finally the first one to ask.
"How do you know all of that?" The scientist asked.
"History, mainly. Zale was founded in 12,000BC. And this is even several millenia before that." Rei responded.
"12,000BC? And yet your history recorded before that? ....Does that mean you know of the Kingdom of Zeal?" Lucca decided to probe. Rei nodded slowly, picking up Rune.
"Yeah. Magus here mentioned the swordsmen, right? Rune here was kept in the family since Melchior presented it to the Swordsman that was loyal to the Gurus. The ancestors of Zale.. Are the Zealians, and several of the Earthbound." Rei said. There was a silence as the group stared. Rei took the oppertunity to elaborate.
"After what was known as in Zale as "The Great Collapse", several of our ancestors, who maintained magic, left and built their own village founded on the principles of studying magic, and dreams, like Zeal. However, attitudes naturally changed, and Earthbound too were permitted to live there. But soon, the put a barrier on the village to keep out anyone not of the village out. Zale kept it's existance a secret until the Council of Elders, who led the village, decided to share the gift of Magic with the world again. That's what began the Festival of Magic, when the barrier was removed and neighboring villages and towns were invited to enjoy the festivities."
".......How did they keep their magic? Hadn't magic been wiped out?" Lucca asked. Rei shook her head.
"For many who had poor character, yes. But there were a few who didn't lose it. Magic is founded on character, not blood." Rei responded. The group turned this over in their minds.
"Where wouldst the beast Muramasa attempt to ressurect himselt? T'would be a most difficult task, wouldst it not?" Frog asked. Rei leaned back.
"If he charged his magic ability high enough, and tried in the proper place, he could do it." Rei said.
"Where would that be?" Serra finally spoke up after nailing Lucca in the head with the sock she spit out.
".....The land in the general area of my castle, terrain-wise." Magus growled. "The ground always maintained a strange quality I could not place. Probably because the land shifted and rose where the Ocean Palace once sat."
Crono rose, and nodded, indicating they should go now. The group rose, and grabbed their supplies. After a 'quick' trip to the market, they soon boarded the Epoch.
Epoch was cramped, not designed for more then 3 people. This resulted in the women sitting in the men's laps (Or in this case, Dalton in Serra's, who was seated on Crono's knee and the swordsman hurt his throat explaining nicely to her that only ONE person had the pleasure of his lap, and she wasn't there.). Despite cramped conditions, they were able to talk quietly without the others hearing.
Magus held Lucca sturdy in his lap, quietly smug. The scientist was leaning forward, much to the wizard's chagrin. Finally, he pulled an excuse from his mind to press her against his body (Serra had explained how humans flirted without him having much say outside the store. Amazingly, she wasn't sarcastic a bit about it. He'd smacked her when she finished, but, kept it in mind). Calmly the wizard grabbed her and crushed her to his body. Lucca immediately protested.
"Quiet down and relax, geek. It's that or go flying out the glass when we enter the timestream." Magus growled. Lucca harumphed.
"Just what are you up to this time, Magus?" Lucca grumped. Magus leaned forward, attempting his best equation of human charm he could (and doing quite... roughly at it.).
"What does it seem like?" He growled softly in her ear, using one hand to squeeze her shoulder. It produced a seemingly relaxing effect breifly before she tensed up again.
"You pervert!" Lucca growled. Magus snorted.
"Please, I'm not even that disgusting. Ozzie however..." Magus seemed disgusted, then kept Lucca pressed tightly. Pretty soon, he looked down as Lucca's body relaxed again. ...She'd fallen asleep. Magus grumbled to himself, but leaned back, somewhat enjoying it.
Rei initially hadn't been able get comfortable in Frog's lap, primarily because the amphibian was shorter than she was. She settled for scooting to one side, and leaning back when she'd sat down, and Frog had an arm around her waist. Rei had an arm draped across his shoulders. Frog was leaned back against it as if it were the most comfortable pillow in the world. Rei quetly pondered how, in just under a week, she'd been able to find someone to love, especially someone she barely knew. She was even more amazed he was a frog. But... She was happy with it, and it made her feel warm. Granted, the time that passed could have been longer-- She didn't know how long they'd been in the End of Time if time even DID pass there, but still.. Did it matter? Probably not. Rei gave a small sigh, thinking about how they would finally destroy Muramasa when they reached in. Frog interrupted her train of thought.
"M'lady?" Frog asked.
"Yeah?" Rei asked. Frog shifted nerviously.
"What art thy plans after we defeat the beast Muramasa?" Frog asked. Rei shrugged.
"...I don't have any. Probably go back to wandering, I guess." Rei sighed, squeezing Frog's shoulders.
"....Doth that be what thou doth desire in thine heart?" Frog asked quietly.
"...No. I don't want to be alone again." Rei sighed. Frog shifted enough to look rei in the face, and put his free hand on hers.
"M'lady... Thou shallt not be alone again. I swear this upon mine honor and the honor of mine acestors, I shallt stand by thy side forevermore." Frog said softly. Rei blinked, blushing, as Frog touched his lips to her hand tenderly, placing as kiss on it. Rei smiled weakly, as Doreen watched on from Rune, a proud expression on her face. She could sense Masa and Mune were as proud as she was.
BIG thanks to Dark Creation for plugging the 'fic! o.o THANKYOOOUUU! So, yeah, we'll be wrapping it up in a couple chapters.. (*Crowd pulls our bricks and rotten tomatoes*) Yeah, I know, everyone's wondering why this is a 'fic with Frog with a girl without becoming Glenn... I wasn't gonna do a sequel, but I'm getting the ideas for one! YAAY! I think. Anyhow, time to reply to reviews. There's sure an awful lot of them. (10? Geeze... o.O)
Whining Lunatic Kidd Fan- Hey, Serra aims to please. She's just a psycho sorceress, she is. ^_^ Again... You'll have to ask the Magus fandom and Lucca for Maggie. ^_~
Turtlerad17- I'm not killing Lucca. End of story. :P
Now! GO READ STRUGGLE FOR HAPPINESS BY DARK CREATION! Read it and like it, it's a better Lu/Ma then I'd ever write... I'm too much of a Frog fangirl. :P
Oh, and the thing about dragons in this chapter... Well, don't Dactyls just LOOK like them? I mean, c'mon! o_O (No, I'm not ripping off Chrono Cross. I never even PLAYED Chrono Cross.) Oh, and the land Magus is talking about... Well... Anyone notice where the Black Omen hovered in 600 AD? Magus' castle area? And isn't it COINCIDENCE Mt. Denadoro is in that area? Hmmm? HMMM? Just an observation.
Chapter 23: The Legend of the Black Dragon
After the group successfully stuck a (clean) sock in Serra's mouth, they resumed their discussion, although everyone stifled giggles when, after Magus sat down, Lucca sat down on his cape next to him. Finally, Lucca spoke.
"What would Muramasa want with the Sealed Book then?" Lucca asked. Rei was able to answer before Magus, which scared the entire group.
"He needs it to ressurect his body." Rei said calmly. Magus glared, but said nothing, leaving Rei to explain.
"Several Millenia ago, there was, not only the human and Mystic races, but a race of creatures with wide leathery wings and long snapping jaws called dragons. The reptiles ancestors had been allies with humans, and often carried them on their backs in exchange for humans watching their young." Rei said.
"Dactyls..." Lucca said. Rei blinked, but Lucca indicated for her to go on.
"Anyhow, finally, the two races had seperated, and dragons reigned in their own continent, away from humans, masking it from human and Mystic sight with their own magic. There were several types, Lightening, Fire, Ice, and even the varients of Shadow, such as acid. But there finally came to be a Shadow dragon with a heart that matched the blackness of his scales, who strove for nothing but the power to enslave humans and Mystics alike under his power. The dragons failed to stop him, and, he soon emerged on the human continents, alarming many. Noone dared challenge him except the most powerful magic users, and the swordsmen of the time. Fighting side by side, they destroyed his body, but his spirit lived on... Noone could find it, and soon the other dragons came to find their brother, hoping to stop him as well. But they were too late, and the people wanted no more to do with dragons, refusing to trust them. It was a dark time, and dragonslayers soon emerged. Several dragons were killed in trying to reason with the humans, but finally, they fled, and haven't been seen since." Rei concluded quietly. The group looked thoughtful, but Lucca was finally the first one to ask.
"How do you know all of that?" The scientist asked.
"History, mainly. Zale was founded in 12,000BC. And this is even several millenia before that." Rei responded.
"12,000BC? And yet your history recorded before that? ....Does that mean you know of the Kingdom of Zeal?" Lucca decided to probe. Rei nodded slowly, picking up Rune.
"Yeah. Magus here mentioned the swordsmen, right? Rune here was kept in the family since Melchior presented it to the Swordsman that was loyal to the Gurus. The ancestors of Zale.. Are the Zealians, and several of the Earthbound." Rei said. There was a silence as the group stared. Rei took the oppertunity to elaborate.
"After what was known as in Zale as "The Great Collapse", several of our ancestors, who maintained magic, left and built their own village founded on the principles of studying magic, and dreams, like Zeal. However, attitudes naturally changed, and Earthbound too were permitted to live there. But soon, the put a barrier on the village to keep out anyone not of the village out. Zale kept it's existance a secret until the Council of Elders, who led the village, decided to share the gift of Magic with the world again. That's what began the Festival of Magic, when the barrier was removed and neighboring villages and towns were invited to enjoy the festivities."
".......How did they keep their magic? Hadn't magic been wiped out?" Lucca asked. Rei shook her head.
"For many who had poor character, yes. But there were a few who didn't lose it. Magic is founded on character, not blood." Rei responded. The group turned this over in their minds.
"Where wouldst the beast Muramasa attempt to ressurect himselt? T'would be a most difficult task, wouldst it not?" Frog asked. Rei leaned back.
"If he charged his magic ability high enough, and tried in the proper place, he could do it." Rei said.
"Where would that be?" Serra finally spoke up after nailing Lucca in the head with the sock she spit out.
".....The land in the general area of my castle, terrain-wise." Magus growled. "The ground always maintained a strange quality I could not place. Probably because the land shifted and rose where the Ocean Palace once sat."
Crono rose, and nodded, indicating they should go now. The group rose, and grabbed their supplies. After a 'quick' trip to the market, they soon boarded the Epoch.
Epoch was cramped, not designed for more then 3 people. This resulted in the women sitting in the men's laps (Or in this case, Dalton in Serra's, who was seated on Crono's knee and the swordsman hurt his throat explaining nicely to her that only ONE person had the pleasure of his lap, and she wasn't there.). Despite cramped conditions, they were able to talk quietly without the others hearing.
Magus held Lucca sturdy in his lap, quietly smug. The scientist was leaning forward, much to the wizard's chagrin. Finally, he pulled an excuse from his mind to press her against his body (Serra had explained how humans flirted without him having much say outside the store. Amazingly, she wasn't sarcastic a bit about it. He'd smacked her when she finished, but, kept it in mind). Calmly the wizard grabbed her and crushed her to his body. Lucca immediately protested.
"Quiet down and relax, geek. It's that or go flying out the glass when we enter the timestream." Magus growled. Lucca harumphed.
"Just what are you up to this time, Magus?" Lucca grumped. Magus leaned forward, attempting his best equation of human charm he could (and doing quite... roughly at it.).
"What does it seem like?" He growled softly in her ear, using one hand to squeeze her shoulder. It produced a seemingly relaxing effect breifly before she tensed up again.
"You pervert!" Lucca growled. Magus snorted.
"Please, I'm not even that disgusting. Ozzie however..." Magus seemed disgusted, then kept Lucca pressed tightly. Pretty soon, he looked down as Lucca's body relaxed again. ...She'd fallen asleep. Magus grumbled to himself, but leaned back, somewhat enjoying it.
Rei initially hadn't been able get comfortable in Frog's lap, primarily because the amphibian was shorter than she was. She settled for scooting to one side, and leaning back when she'd sat down, and Frog had an arm around her waist. Rei had an arm draped across his shoulders. Frog was leaned back against it as if it were the most comfortable pillow in the world. Rei quetly pondered how, in just under a week, she'd been able to find someone to love, especially someone she barely knew. She was even more amazed he was a frog. But... She was happy with it, and it made her feel warm. Granted, the time that passed could have been longer-- She didn't know how long they'd been in the End of Time if time even DID pass there, but still.. Did it matter? Probably not. Rei gave a small sigh, thinking about how they would finally destroy Muramasa when they reached in. Frog interrupted her train of thought.
"M'lady?" Frog asked.
"Yeah?" Rei asked. Frog shifted nerviously.
"What art thy plans after we defeat the beast Muramasa?" Frog asked. Rei shrugged.
"...I don't have any. Probably go back to wandering, I guess." Rei sighed, squeezing Frog's shoulders.
"....Doth that be what thou doth desire in thine heart?" Frog asked quietly.
"...No. I don't want to be alone again." Rei sighed. Frog shifted enough to look rei in the face, and put his free hand on hers.
"M'lady... Thou shallt not be alone again. I swear this upon mine honor and the honor of mine acestors, I shallt stand by thy side forevermore." Frog said softly. Rei blinked, blushing, as Frog touched his lips to her hand tenderly, placing as kiss on it. Rei smiled weakly, as Doreen watched on from Rune, a proud expression on her face. She could sense Masa and Mune were as proud as she was.