Nakabuto
Book Three of the Vortex Chronicles
A Chrono Trigger fanfic by Majin Magus
Magus floated high above the earth. Cold air whipped against his cape and stung his face, but he paid it no mind. He was thinking about Vortex's honorable death. He clutched the icy medallion in his hand. Then he slipped the relic over her head and hid it deep inside his cape.
"What do I feel for this mage?" Magus said aloud. He flew down to the planet's surface. He landed and walked around Medina. Right now he didn't care what any of the Mystics would say.
A passing Blue Imp stopped and stared. Magus turned his head and locked eyes with the confused and terrified imp. Of course, the 1000 AD Mystics had heard of Magus's evil and ruthlessness.
"Uh…I gotta go!" The imp cried. He ran into a house and Magus could hear him shouting. He took off into the air and hovered inside a cloud out of sight. Magus looked down and saw the imp leading out several skeptical Mystics.
"I bet they think he's a liar. Well, I haven't given anyone a heart attack lately…" Magus flew down and landed in the middle of the bundle of Mystics.
"MAGUS!" one of the Mystic yelled. They all looked at him in awe. Magus raised his hand and flung a Dark Bomb into a tree.
Magus snorted as they all whispered about his power. He then took off and flew away.
Crono and Marle were walking around Leene Square. It had a few merchants and people, but nothing near the occupants it had had during the Millennial Fair.
"I hope another fair comes soon…" a young boy moaned while buying some candy from a merchant. Marle giggled but Crono looked skyward. Seconds later Magus came spiraling from the clouds. He landed next to Crono.
"Like to make an entrance, huh?" Marle asked cheerfully. Magus kept his somber look and Crono smiled.
"So, um, we're having a little get together tonight…you know, Ayla, Robo, Glenn…" Magus showed no response to Glenn's name. Marle continued. "Would you like to come?" Magus again did not answer. Instead, he took off into the air again.
Magus gripped in medallion in the air and tried with all his might to activate the time warp. He simply thought to the icy eye that he wished to go to 25,000,000 BC. In a flash the dark mage was gone.
Kino ran towards Ayla's hut. He gasped for air and Ayla waited patiently for him to catch his breath.
"Odd…man in…Dactyl Nest." Kino gasped. Ayla jumped.
"Odd man? What he look like?" Ayla questioned quickly. Kino shook his head.
"Not see. Kino only see for second, then he gone." Ayla didn't stop to respond. She dashed out of the hut and leaped onto the Dactyl.
"NEST!" Ayla yelled. The Dactyl took off into the air and within minutes he had arrived at the nest. Ayla jumped off the Dactyl and ran into the trees.
Magus leaped down from the tree and reflexively blasted a Dark Bomb at Ayla. She nimbly dodged and was about to attack when she saw who it was.
"Magus! What you do here?" Ayla asked, preparing an attack. Magus looked at her then turned away.
"There's danger here. It threatens our planet." Magus said softly. He had thought ten times ahead of the other warriors. Ayla nodded, and jumped onto her Dactyl.
"You stronger than I. Ayla leave it to you!" Ayla called while she flew away on the Dactyl. Magus scoffed quietly. He walked out to the cliff. The water was shimmering because of the setting sun.
"Lavos." Magus uttered with contempt. "This is where you descended, wasn't it? In front of the eyes of these primitive people…you destroyed my family and my life. Now, with my experience aiding greatly, I reached a conclusion the others have not."
Magus brushed back his blood red cape and pulled out Vortex's icy eye medallion. He stared at it, then at the sky. "The Nakabuto are going to come to this age, incarnated as children. I know they will avenge Storm." Magus thought for second. "Perhaps, if they posses resurrecting powers, Storm or Vortex could be born here. I'll wait for you, Nakabuto warriors!"
Two weeks or so later, several children were born in the Ioka village. Magus had been keeping vigilant watch on the village populous, but it wasn't necessary to be secretive. He could walk straight into the village and ask anyone if anyone had been born that day.
"Any children born today?" he asked Kino. Kino nodded his head vigorously. He pointed towards the center of the village.
"Seven, all born at once! Same time born! Party tonight! You come?" Kino asked in his primitive dialect.
Magus turned away. He scowled darkly and then an intense look of fear came over his face. Then he shot a glance towards Kino.
"Perhaps." Magus was just about to fly off when Kino said something that fitted the final suspicion that these children were Nakabuto warriors.
"Also," Kino said happily, "Seven children growing quick! Already…already thirteen years old!"
Magus halted in his tracks. Then he whirled around and grabbed Kino. He then flew into the air with Kino in his grasp.
High above the clouds Magus stopped. Magus pulled Kino up so he was inches from his face. Magus had a look of fury on his face that scared Kino out of his wits.
"Those…are not children, you primitive idiot! They are seven alien warriors of a race called Nakabuto. And tell Ayla this: They are the same or even stronger than Vortex. Remember that name, imbecile, VORTEX!" Magus threw Kino down but slowed his death drop when he was feet from the ground.
Magus floated there, fear on his face, arms crossed, sweat running down his face.
"No! They are very powerful…I don't think we could defeat them without Vortex…" Magus decided to
"Play pretty song again!"
"Yes, again!"
Noipat sighed heavily. These Ioka fools wanted to hear his flute song again. Noipat raised his head and put his flute to his mouth. Then he began to play the haunting melody.
The flute in Noipat's mouth was pitch black but had a small purple vine twisting around it, and tiny gems were embedded in it. It seemed as if there were no holes, but Noipat found them, and played an echoing song.
"Love attention, don't you Noipat?" A voice asked. Noipat finished playing then turned. It was Draco, a female and a Nakabuto warrior.
"No, it's just these people like my flute." Noipat stood up and scowled.
Magus looked down, invisible. Two of the Nakabuto stood in the village center, and one had just played a flute. He had overheard his name from one of the Ioka villagers.
His name was Noipat. His face bore striking resemblance to the knight Cyrus, except his hair was dark brown and stood up in three spikes, like Vortex. He wore a pitch-black tunic, brown boots, navy gloves, and green headband.
The female that had just joined him, her name was Draco. Her hair was pitch black and stood up in two spikes, then cascaded to her knees. She had a purple tunic, white boots and gloves, and blue headband.
Magus left and flew to find the other five. He had overheard the names of them while invisible. The names were Gama, Ellock, Spekter, Era, and Neo. Gama, Era, and Neo were female and Ellock and Spekter were male.
Magus could spot the Nakabuto warriors easily. First he saw Spekter. The boy wore long green robes. His hair was dark brown and was not spiked but had two tiny strands standing up. He seemed distant and faint.
Next Magus looked for Gama. He found her by herself at the Dactyl nest. She looked remarkably like Vortex, wearing the same clothing, except her hair was red.
The dark mage spent a while staring at Gama, for if her hair was blonde she could be an exact copy of Vortex. Magus then shook off the odd feeling and concentrated on looking for Ellock.
Ellock carried a huge broadsword and had light blonde hair. It stuck up in every direction. His tunic was white and he wore white boots and gloves.
Magus stared at Ellock and searched for his power, but couldn't find a tiny surge of energy running though him. Though invisible, when Ellock turned around and looked straight at Magus, he knew Ellock knew he was there. Ellock smiled a little and turned.
"They are all so strong… I hope Gama really is Vortex, or we're all dead." Magus muttered. He still had yet to see Era and Neo.
Magus found Era and Neo were by the Reptite fortress ruins, examining the spot where Lavos had fallen.
"So…a Lavos has been here…" Era whispered. Magus heard her voice and it sounded cold as ice. Neo nodded slightly.
"I'll use my sight to behold if it lives in the future." Neo sighed. She lifted up her arms and her white hair swirled around. She gasped and fell back surprised. Her black robes flared wildly as she fell. Era ran to her side.
"What happened?" Era asked. Era had purple hair and a white face. She too wore robes; only their color was white. She looked puzzled as Neo laughed.
"Three warriors will destroy Lavos in 65,001,999 years. I saw some of their pasts…" Neo halted for a second.
Magus jerked in surprise. That girl had seen his past? If she blurted anything out...Magus began to surge with energy.
"Two reside in 1000 AD and one here." Neo stood up. "What should we do? I heard that that traitor Vortex fought the mightiest warrior on the planet." Magus practically fell out of the air. Vortex was a traitor to her race? Yes…when she had the Cysta Staff in Melchior's Hut so long ago…
"We shall meet this warrior, and his cohorts." Era said hoarsely. Magus flew over to the Dactyl Nest. He pondered this turn of events. During his thinking, he accidentally let his invisibility shield down.
"So, you are the ones Neo and Era told us about." A voice said. Magus whirled around and charged a Dark Bomb. Then he halted.
It was Gama. She smiled at him, but there was certain coldness to that face which looked like Vortex's. Magus flinched and Gama came closer.
"The masters of our race sent us here, incarnated into human bodies, shells if you like, but our true power within. You didn't meet her but here was one of our kind, Vortex, that came here." Magus blinked. They didn't know he had seen Vortex. And this girl, the way she talked, she couldn't be Vortex.
"I heard she was a traitor. Why?" Magus asked slowly.
Gama scowled. "We can't keep exact tabs on every Nakabuto, but we can still read their emotions. We are unsure, but we believe Vortex loved a human. That is against our beliefs and considered betraying our race." Then Gama smiled. "She died…that's a good thing…she had incredible potential.
Magus was just about to ask Gama something else when another Nakabuto appeared. It was Ellock.
"Gama! What are you doing with that human?" Ellock called, eyeing Magus suspiciously. Gama sighed and walked over to the warrior.
"Nothing, nothing. What should we do now? We've been incarnated and accelerated our aging process, Ellock you're the captain of this mission."
Ellock looked confused for a second. "I thought Noipat and Draco were sharing the control of the mission!" Gama grinned maliciously.
"Oh, I have the feeling Draco will be out of…commission soon enough. And as for Noipat, he deserves to be demoted. All he ever does is play that stupid flute." Gama sighed.
Ellock looked over to where Magus was. "You! Who are you?" Gama flung a shock at Magus.
"Not that strong, we'll take him with us and see what we can get out of him." Gama levitated Magus and began to walk away.
Ellock stayed a few minutes longer, looking out upon the water. He spoke in barely a whisper.
"Yami haruka tooku…" he said, and then went back to Ioka.
"Look! Come here Noipat!" Neo cried. The boy ran over to the startled mage.
"What?" Noipat asked as Neo held the orb that she had been gazing in. Neo turned her head to look at Noipat. She was pale and shaking.
"Within this man…are traces of Nakabuto DNA!" Neo cried. Noipat suddenly turned serious. He jumped over and darted his eyes to and fro to see inside the orb.
"Yes…but the true power is gone." Noipat realized something at that moment. "VORTEX! She had to do with this! She gave the Nakabuto energy then ripped it back out of him…"
"What's going on?" Noipat and Neo whirled their heads around to see Ellock standing in the doorway. He was watching them apprehensively.
"This warrior has Nakabuto essence in him. We know it was that foul traitor Vortex that bestowed such noble power on him." Noipat flinched as Magus stirred. He turned his head at Ellock.
"You are the Technology Chief. Is there any way Vortex could become reincarnated?" Noipat shook as he waited for Ellock's answer.
"No." Ellock said slowly. "No, there is no way Vortex could become reincarnated." Noipat projected a look of relief on his face. Neo dissolved the orb and glanced at Magus, who was waking up.
"And this one…?" she asked.
"I'll handle him." Ellock offered. Noipat bowed respectfully and walked with Neo out the door. Ellock pulled his broadsword out of its sheath and raised it above his head. He saw Magus's eyes flash open and a look of fury on his face.
Ellock brought the sword and embedded it in the dirt inches beside Magus's head. Then Ellock bent his face low to Magus.
"Go, warrior. I shall not slay you when you are injured." Ellock turned and left. Then he turned and used a small knife to cut through his tunic and then he collected a small amount of blood. Ellock walked over and sprinkled it beside Magus.
Ellock walked out of the door and Magus flew out, invisible.
Magus was hovering above Ellock many hours later. He was confused at the Nakabuto. Why did he spare him? Why not just kill him while he was sleeping?
"I wonder…" Magus turned and went to find Gama, who looked so much like Vortex.
Magus found her over by the Dactyl Nest. It seemed as if she never left that spot.
Magus landed beside her, and, all common sense and experience gone, he uncloaked himself. Gama gave a start at the sight of Magus, suddenly appearing beside her.
"Who are you?" She asked suspiciously. Magus was a little surprised. He had thought this girl to be Vortex. Perhaps she was not…
"I am Magus, destroyer of Lavos!" Magus proclaimed. Gama didn't look impressed.
"If you destroyed Lavos you should be able to take me on!" Gama yelled, she flew up into the air and formed a mass of energy. She shot the giant ball of energy at Magus. Magus was not expecting the girl to attack, so he was hit with the full blast.
"Ha haa haaa! Pathetic!" Gama laughed. She formed another energy ball and threw it at Magus. Seconds before impact though…
KABOOM! Ellock had thrown himself in front of the ball and reflected it away. Gama blasted down to the ground. She glared, enraged, at Ellock who was standing over Magus, healing his wounds from the last blast.
"What are you doing?" Gama cried. Ellock chuckled and turned. Magus opened his eyes and stood.
Ellock did not answer Gama's question. Instead he stood, crossed his arms, and smirked.
"Who am I?" He asked. Gama scoffed.
"You are Ellock, Nakabuto warrior! You can to this planet with us to succeed where Storm had failed." Gama stated. Then Ellock shook his head with mocking superiority.
"Wrong, wrong, wrong, my dear Gama. I am not Ellock. I bet this sorcerer can take a guess." Ellock gestured to Magus. He mouthed something inaudible.
"You…you…you are VORTEX!" Gama screamed. Ellock raised his hands up and charged his power. Then his form exploded into pieces. Standing there, surrounded in coursing black energies, Vortex's icy eyes burned with unmistakable rage.
"DIE TRAITOR!" Gama ran forward and disappeared. Vortex jumped up into the air and kicked the materializing Gama in the face. The evil warrior fell to the ground.
"Traitor? Traitor is such a mean word, Gama. On the other hand, 'go to hell' isn't all that nice either?" Vortex jumped up and shot Deadly Crystal Barrage at the fallen Nakabuto.
"Noooooooo!!!" Gama screamed as a sharp black crystal pierced her heart. Vortex landed gracefully on the ground a few feet away.
Vortex stood up, paying no mind to the corpse behind her. She looked straight into Magus's eyes.
"I thought you couldn't be brought back." Magus breathed, walking forward. Vortex smirked.
"That's right. I channeled myself into Ellock and took over, then corrupted his body and mind from within." Vortex said. Then her eyes flashed southward. "Company." Vortex closed her eyes.
"Neo…Era…and Noipat. And Spekter and Draco think they're coming from behind us unobserved. They'll have to go through me to destroy this planet." Vortex hissed. She stood battle-ready, surging with power.
Magus was just about to say something when the five remaining Nakabuto incarnates appeared. All seemed to be expecting Vortex to be there.
"Vortex…I see you've dispensed with Ellock and Gama." Noipat said softly.
Vortex tossed her head back and laughed. "Of course, fool. They were no match for my power…and neither are you!" Vortex saw Noipat put his flute to his mouth. Quickly, she shot a small ball of energy, which knocked the flute out of his hands and off the cliff.
"You shall not enchant me with your flute, Noipat!" Vortex howled. She casually tossed a gigantic icy energy ball over he shoulder, pass Magus, and directly at Draco and Spekter. The blast caught them by surprise and they tumbled off the cliff.
"Why did you betray us, Vortex?" Neo asked mistily. Her white hair glistened and was ruffled by a passing gust of wind.
Vortex didn't answer. She crossed her arms and closed her eyes. A wide grin spread across her face and she snickered.
"I did not betray you, not by my standards, anyway. I will fight you to the last. I may be Nakabuto by birth, but I am humanoid in spirit. Never shall I allow you to take this planet. If you'd stop and look for once…" Vortex tossed her head back. "But the time has passed for that. Die."
Vortex flipped back and charged her energy. Neo brought up an orb and read the powering warrior's fighting level.
"Noipat! This cannot be, her power is great! Look at my reading!!" Neo cried, and Noipat shot a worried glance into the misty orb. He materialized a sword out of thin air and leaped forward.
"Not today, scum!" Vortex shouted. She raised her arm up and parried the blade with her hands. Noipat pressed harder on the sword and tried to force it to wound Vortex.
"Yaah!" Vortex flung him backwards crashing into Neo. Magus leapt up and he shot a small vine of twisting black energy towards the two Nakabuto. Vortex jumped over and added an icy energy strand, which increased the force of the blow.
"Nooooo!" Neo cried as the power surged through her. Noipat had jumped clear and was watching, but also preparing a back attack. Vortex began blasting wild energy at the other three warriors. Beams and blasts collided with the Nakabuto and sent them reeling off the cliff.
Noipat shot Vortex in the back with most of his energy. She yelled in pain and fell to her knees. Noipat appeared in front her, her teeth clenched as she tried to heal herself.
"So, the mighty Vortex will fall to a back blow." Noipat chuckled. He raised a hand over his head and summoned his remaining energy.
Magus flashed in front of Vortex and punched Noipat hard. He fell back and wiped a trickled of blood from his mouth. Magus shot Dark Mists and Dark Bombs at Noipat and the blazing display of dark energy paralyzed him.
"Die, you coward!" Magus roared. He threw a tiny line of energy straight through Noipat's head. The Nakabuto fell down, dead.
Magus stood over the corpse then walked back over to Vortex who had just healed herself.
"Why'd you save me?" she asked suspiciously. Magus waved the question away with his hand and stood over on the cliff edge. The bodies of the remaining aliens lay sprawled out on the rocks, but one form was moving slightly.
"VORTEX! I'LL GET YOU FOR THIS!!" Era yelled. She tore off her gentle robes and underneath was a battle suit identical to Vortex's.
Vortex casually looked over the ledge. "You wear the rebel colors, as I do." She mused, grinning slightly.
"You KILLED Spekter!" Era screamed shrilly. She pulled a blood-red sword from a scabbard on her back. She swung it menacingly over her head in fury.
"And? What was soooo special about that weird eyed idiot?" Vortex called back. Era blasted up and stared Vortex straight in the face.
"I…I…" Era fumed. She fell back onto a ledge jutting out of the cliff a few feet down. Her power was completely drained and she had fainted. Vortex looked up and waved her hands over her head in a gesture of confusion.
"Probably liked him or something…" Vortex mumbled as she and Magus trudged out of the Dactyl Nest.
It had been a few weeks since the Dactyl Nest encounter and Magus and Vortex were enjoying a bit of relaxation at the Ioka village. The locals were so primitive they forgot all about their fast-growing children. Magus was usually by the outskirts and Vortex was being constantly asked to sing in Japanese.
Vortex walked towards the village center. "All right, but this is the last time today!" she cried, frustrated.
"Yami yo…ame yo…ima, oshiete. Tsuki yo…kaze yo…ima, kotaete. Tori yo…kumo yo…ima, oshiete. Nami yo…kage yo…ima, kotaete." She sang hurriedly. All the villagers marveled at the voice and the strange sounds.
Ayla stood by the outskirts of the village with Crono, Glenn, and Marle. Vortex quickly summoned the form of Ellock, for she had learned a bit of metamorphic techniques while in Ellock's body.
Uninterestedly, Vortex turned her head the other way from Crono and the others. She gripped the sword at her waist. Marle curiously walked over to her, and tapped her shoulder.
Vortex turned her head and looked at Marle. She hid smile while thinking of how Marle had no clue that it was she under the male covering.
"Hi, I'm Marle. You probably aren't from this village, are you?" Marle asked nervously. Glenn walked over to join Marle. He noticed the sword that Vortex had.
"Greetings. Thou hast a fine blade. Canst I see it?" Glenn asked. Vortex pulled the sword from its holster and handed it to Glenn. It was a black blade that more of the design of the Rainbow. It shocked Glenn softly and jumped back into Vortex's hand.
"Do you know Vortex? You remind me of her. I wish she hadn't died…I think Magus liked her. You should have seen him when she died the second time…I think he was almost crying." Marle murmured softly. Vortex leaned her head a bit closer, hiding a smile.
"Yasashisa namida o shirazu ni katarenai." She muttered. Marle whipped her head up quickly.
"What did you say? Was that Japanese…" Marle blinked slowly as the fact of the matter sunk in. "You can't be…you're dead…you're Vortex!" Vortex grinned and raised her arms and hands skyward. The form of Ellock exploded and Vortex stood, a smirk playing across her face.
Vortex simply stood there while Marle and Glenn backed away in surprise. She raised her head and looked directly into Marle's eyes.
"I'd stay here, but ima o ikirunoni o osugiruna…there is too much to live today." Vortex took off and used her power to travel to Zeal, 12050 BC, three days after her banishment.
The breeze ruffled Vortex's hair as she landed on the main Zeal isle. There was only a few people milling about, but one young girl broke away from the moving crowds and came over to Vortex.
"Hello." The girl said, her eyes shining with intelligence. She had dark blue hair and wore gray robes. The girl looked into Vortex's eyes. "Who are you?"
Vortex scoffed and gave the girl a look as cold as the winds of the continent below. The girl quickly stepped out of her Zealen robes and Vortex saw she was wearing a blood-red outfit. Everything, from boots to gloves, was a bloody red color.
"Who are you?" The girl asked again, a little more testily. Vortex gave her a strange look but responded.
"I am Vortex, Dark Sorceress." Vortex said, waiting to hear the young girl's response.
The girl nodded slightly. "You were banished three days ago, but I sense a cloud of age about you. So you can time travel…I see your experience has left you battle hardened and practically soulless." She pulled out a short sword; identical to the one Vortex had had as Ellock.
"My name is Kokoro." The girl said, waving the glistening blade over her head. Vortex stepped back to avoid being sliced by the weapon.
"Kokoro…that means 'heart' doesn't it?" Vortex asked her.
Kokoro was taken aback. "You…you know Japanese?" she asked chokingly.
Vortex nodded curtly. "Yes. And are you just going to hold that blade, or are you going to kill me?" She crossed her arms and glared at Kokoro. Kokoro shook out a gaze and raised her sword at battle ready position.
The small girl rushed forward and swung the sword in a great arch. Vortex did a back-flip and quickly summoned her weapon, the whip Striker.
"Hyah!" Vortex shouted, cracking the whip above Kokoro's head. She dropped her sword and threw a great blast of red energy at Vortex. Vortex punched the energy and it flew off into the sky.
Kokoro ran towards Vortex and punched her forcefully in the stomach. Vortex fell back but shot a spear-shaped beam at the young girl. She dodged nimbly, but Vortex appeared behind her and brought her elbow onto Kokoro's head.
"Argh!" Kokoro fell the ground and Vortex dropped down a few feet away.
"Ah ha hah!" Vortex grinned. "Did you really think you could defeat me? I have experience of training in over two thousand times normal gravity! And…I am of the race called Nakabuto." She stepped towards the wheezing Kokoro and gently placed her foot on top of the girl's head.
Vortex leaned close to Kokoro. "You shall come with me, and aid me in destroying a being called Era. Otherwise, you shall die." She whispered viciously.
Kokoro took a ragged breath. "I'll never help you…" she gasped.
Vortex grew enraged and pressed her foot down harder. She leaned her face inches from Kokoro's. "I'm not going to take any of this trash. This is not a vengeful quest. She means to destroy this world or take all the humans as slaves to my race, the Nakabuto." Vortex pressed her foot harder. "Now, would you rather tolerate me or see your entire race be enslaved?" she heard Kokoro whimper slightly.
"Good." Vortex let the young girl up. "Now, I'll help you get what supplies you need then I'll take you on as my Nakabuto apprentice. If you pass the trials and survive, I will bless you with the essence of my race." Vortex turned her head and looked from Enhasa to Kajar, to the palace.
"Where do you live, girl?" Vortex snapped. Kokoro gently wove a strand of her dark blue hair around her finger and pointed to the palace.
Vortex raised an eyebrow. "Royalty, eh? Well, you'll soon find it is the warrior's spirit which is higher. Now, can you fly?" Kokoro nodded. "Good. Let's go."
Kokoro and Vortex flew up to the last Cave teleporter. Vortex made a cloak with a hood and drew it over her head. In this guise, there was no way to tell she was female or that she was Vortex, the banished one. That and she looked just Magus when he was the Prophet.
"I really don't feel like killing hundreds of people now." Vortex walked with Kokoro into the palace. The cloaked mage got strange looks from some Zealen people, but was not stopped.
Kokoro and Vortex walked into a bedroom. The young girl made a chest materialize. Inside was a pitch black outfit with white gloves, boots, and a gray cape.
"This provides much more protection." Kokoro mumbled as she exchanged her blood-red headband for a light sky blue one. She placed her thin blade inside the box and slowly lifted out a thinner sword.
The sword was a prismatic color, its hue kept shifting from light to dark, dark to light. She placed the blade inside her garb, making it seem like it was not even there. Kokoro turned to the cloaked Vortex.
"The real problem is getting away from my mother, Queen Yor. Only the royal family knows of your banishment. All others think you were killed or imprisoned." Vortex waved her hand impatiently.
"I have dealt with Yor before. I'll reveal myself, and she shove inside the banishment portal. You jump in and I will alter it to a time gate. We will warp to 65,000,000 BC to destroy Era." Vortex explained. Kokoro and Vortex walked quickly towards the throne room, the elder mage explaining a plan along the way.
Kokoro, now with Zealen robes over her warrior outfit, walked toward her mother, leaving Vortex standing in the middle of the throne room. "Mother, this is a traveler from a far away land. This traveler seeks shelter for a period of time." Kokoro said to her mother.
Yor barked a laugh. "And is this person male or female my young princess?" Kokoro chewed her lip for a second and looked at Vortex.
Male. Vortex said in telepathic connection with Kokoro. It will be less conspicuous. Kokoro turned to her mother and responded male.
The queen looked somewhat relieved. "Oh. You may stay then." Vortex nodded slowly to the Zeal Princess. She flicked her cape back a bit.
"I am sorry, but I need to leave. I require your daughter." Vortex said low and gruffly. Yor rocked back in her golden throne.
"MY DAUGHTER?" she howled. "Why would you, a lowly traveler, need my daughter." Vortex responded, but in her normal voice.
"Her potential is great." Vortex lowered the hood that was over her head. "I am taking her as my apprentice. She will become one of my species, if she lives. I have great faith that she will."
Kokoro tore off her Zealen robes and leapt back to Vortex's side. She pulled out her glistening blade and swung it at the queen.
"Do not tarry us, mother, or my friend shall destroy you." Kokoro growled, her sword shining in the dim room. Yor choked and opened the banishment portal.
Vortex and Kokoro jumped backwards into the portal. Vortex quickly turned it to a time gate. The two warriors were sent hurtling through time.
As the waves and fabric of time blew past them, the two made conversation.
"I believe you will be a great warrior." Vortex said.
"Do you really think so?" Kokoro responded.
Vortex nodded. "Yes, you have great determination, and the creativity of youth."
"Thank you."
There was silence for a few moments as they time traveled. Then Kokoro voiced something she had been wondering.
"How strong is the foe we go to fight?" she asked. Vortex scowled and brushed a bit of her bright blonde hair out of her face.
"Very. She is of my race and if she transforms, her strength will be multiplied greatly." Vortex muttered.
Kokoro looked confused. "Transforms?" Vortex sighed slightly.
"I shall show you soon enough."
And then they arrived.
Era was attacking! Most of the Ioka Village was destroyed, and a few of the villagers were throwing spears at Era. Vortex turned her head and searched the land for Ayla, Glenn, Crono, Marle, or Magus.
"There!" Vortex cried. She shot off with Kokoro close behind. Vortex flew to the Mystic Mountains where the warriors were getting ready to attack.