[Disclaimer]: I do not own the rights to any of the characters in this fanfic, nor do I claim them. The idea, however, is mine ... Enjoy!
Revival of the Legend
Part 1
"Greetings, Charis," the barkeeper greeted a young, blonde girl as she entered the café. The patrons momentarily stopped what they were doing, however went back to their conversations as the girl offered a smile in their direction.
"Hello, Jonathan," Charis replied with a smile, approaching the counter. She wore her golden hair in a ponytail high upon her head. Her bangs covered her forehead, and two locks of hair curved around the sides of her face. She was wearing a ceremonial gown, symbolizing her social status.
"What brings you here," the barkeeper asked, drying a glass. "Should you be out and about, dressed as you are?" Charis looked down at the cream-colored gown she wore and wrinkled her nose.
"I just needed to get out of the castle before the ceremony began," she replied, settling on a stool. "Can I have my usual?"
"Coming right up," Jonathan replied, preparing the drink. He slid it towards her, and she smiled her thanks.
"This is good, as usual," she stated, after drinking some of the contents of the glass. Jonathan returned to his duties as a girl with blue hair approached the counter.
"Charis," the blue-haired girl asked uncertainly. Charis turned towards the voice, and a smile appeared on her face.
"Phanna," Charis exclaimed, standing and giving the other girl a hug.
"Charis, what are you doing here," Phanna asked.
"Your father asked me the same thing," Charis replied. "You both were always worried about me! I'm just relaxing before the ceremony this evening. You will be there, right?"
"Of course, Charis," Phanna replied. "I'm your best friend." A shadow quickly passed over her face, however it didn't go unnoticed by Charis.
"Phanna, you are my best friend," Charis stated, taking the other girl's hands in her own. "Leave the past in the past. I've long since forgotten about it." Phanna smiled, and turned towards the direction of the tables.
"Well, I'd better get back to work," Phanna stated. "Ever since I returned from Northtown, I've been working here with my father. The patrons are getting restless. I'll see you later, Charis."
"Okay, Phanna," Charis replied as she watched her long-time friend walk away. She returned to her seat, deep in thought. As she finished her drink, she heard the hushed whispers of the other customers. She looked up as Jonathan approached her. His eyes shifted towards the door, and Charis followed his gaze, where three people were standing.
"Who are they," she asked Jonathan as she looked back towards him.
"I don't know, Charis," he stated. "I've never seen them around here before." The three figures approached the counter, and Jonathan stood up straighter.
"Good day, barkeep," one of the three, a girl, greeted. The one with the wild hair, and the third, hooded figure nodded their heads.
"Good day," Jonathan replied, narrowing his eyes as he noticed the two men had swords, and the girl had a crossbow. He watched them uneasily as the three stopped directly behind Charis. "What can I get for you?"
"Might you tell us where we are," the hooded figure asked. "What land is this?" Jonathan raised an eyebrow.
"Why, today is one of the most important days to this kingdom, and you don't know where you are," he asked suspiciously.
"Jonathan, obviously, they're just lost," Charis stated. She turned around towards the three strangers. "I am Charis. What are your names?"
"My name is Marle," the girl replied. "And these two are my companions, Crono and Glenn."
"To answer your question, this is the Kingdom of Pandora," Charis stated. "What land are you from, that you don't know of this kingdom?"
"We hail from Guardia, and knowest not of this land," the hooded figure, Glenn, said. As Charis was about to say something, another person entered the café. He was dressed in the armor fit for the highest rank for a Pandoran soldier.
"Charis," he exclaimed, walking to where she was. "You have to return to the castle, now. Your father is looking all over the place for you. The coronation will begin soon."
"Alright, Serin," Charis stated, rolling her eyes slightly. She turned back towards the trio. "You can be my guests for tonight, and we'll talk after that, about how I can help you out."
"'Tis an honor, Charis," Glenn stated while Marle smiled and Crono listened intently.
"Is that wise," Jonathan interjected. "You don't know their intentions. They could be rogues from the Empire!"
"My father has a point," Phanna stated, joining the assembled group. She hugged the empty tray she was carrying to her chest. "You know first hand what the Empire was capable of, Charis."
"I don't think they're from the Empire," Charis stated, looking at the three again. "They don't seem like they would be."
"Then we'd better get going," Serin urged. "You're still not ready, Charis." She nodded her head, and Serin led her out the door by the arm, followed by Crono, Marle, and Glenn.
"Oh, Serin, I meant to introduce you," Charis said. "This is Glenn, Crono, and Marle. They're from the land of ..."
"Guardia," Marle stated as Charis' voice trailed off. Serin looked at each person as introduced to him, and his gaze lingered on Marle.
"Serin," Charis snapped, crossing her arms. He shook his head, and looked over at her. "Are you going to answer my question?"
"I didn't hear what you asked," Serin replied. He was slightly surprised that they were already standing in front of castle. It didn't seem like they had been walking for that long.
"Obviously," she muttered. "I asked you where my father was."
"In the throne room, with the King," he stated. She nodded her thanks, and then entered the castle. Serin turned towards the remaining three. "Well, allow me to show you to your quarters, so you can get ready as well."
~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~
At dusk, the guests began to arrive for the coronation. Crono, Marle, and Glenn stood towards the back of the room, catching pieces of the conversations around them, and watching people walk to-and-fro. Many of the guests were citizens of Pandora, however the monarchs from different kingdoms were there, as well as important figureheads of smaller villages.
"'Twould seem my precaution over my appearance wasn't necessary," Glenn stated as he watched someone that looked like a mushroom walk past. "'Tis a strange land, this Pandora."
"I think it was nice that Charis extended an invitation to us," Marle stated. "She even had clothes for us!" She looked down at the evening gown she was wearing, which was red in color. Both Crono and Glenn were wearing a red tunic over dark blue pantaloons. "The primary colors representing this kingdom," she thought inwardly, absently looking at the flag and crest hanging over the throne.
"We still need to find some sort of shop with the supplies necessary to fix Epoch," Crono stated. "And if we can't find one, we're in big trouble." Before anything else was said, the sound of the trumpeters were heard, signaling the arrival of the King and Queen.
"Announcing his and her royal highnesses, King Edward and Queen Cecelia," the royal herald announced. The guests watched in silence as the King and Queen took their places at the throne, with the Royal Advisor and Charis following. King Edward stood, addressing the crowd.
"Thank you all for attending tonight's momentous occasion," he began, looking over everyone. "As written by Pandoran law, tonight, twenty long years after my own coronation, I must name my heir. I have chosen my niece, Charis." Hushed murmurs went throughout the crowd, and the King held up his hand for silence. "Your Queen now carries the direct heir, however I grow old, and my offspring will not have reached the maturity level my niece has, now. Under the guidance of her father, my current Royal Advisor, Charis will be an excellent ruler." Charis walked towards the King as he motioned for her to come forward. She knelt down in front of him, as her father watched with pride. Queen Cecelia took the jeweled tiara, which had the Royal Crest of Pandora on it, off of the pillow and raised it in front of her.
"This crown is to symbolize my acceptance of my husband's choice for successor," the Queen stated. She placed the tiara upon Charis' head, and the audience erupted into cheers. "Now rise, heir to the Pandoran throne." Charis stood, and looked out at the crowd, a smile on her face. She noticed Phanna and her father, as well as many other familiar people that she had met during her quest. As the crowd quieted down, the King stepped forward.
"My announcement is not the only cause for celebration tonight," he stated. "Tonight, is also to honor the courage and strength of one individual; to manifest this kingdom's appreciation towards this young man. This young man epitomizes the true spirit of Mana. Please, come forward, Sir Serin." Serin approached the dais, and knelt before the King and Queen.
"Your Highness," he began, speaking clearly so that his voice resonated off every wall. "Please, do not call me by my father's title. I am simply a Mana Knight, and I was fulfilling my destiny. I would never gave succeeded, had it not been for Charis and our departed friend, Kikuo." King Edward nodded his head in understanding.
"Whatever the case may be, Serin, you still deserve recognition," the King insisted. He took an object, and placed it around Serin's neck. "This ribbon and emblem expresses my eternal gratitude from your efforts to save this kingdom, as well as the world. Now rise, Serin, and know that you forever have a place in this kingdom!" As Serin did as he was instructed to, the crowd once again erupted into a loud cheer.
~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~
Not far from the kingdom of Pandora, was a tiny shrine surrounded by water, known as the Water Palace. Inside of the shrine, Luka, the Water Palace guardian, smiled as the water fairies brought her news from Pandora. A tiny fairy sat on her shoulder, retelling the events that had taken place at the castle. "Yes," Luka said aloud. "Truly Serin is worthy of his father's title. But he won't accept that until he realizes that fact."
Gathering her gown, Luka left the pedestal where one of the eight dormant Mana seeds lay. She made her way to the front of the shrine, walking down the steps to stand in the shallow pond that surrounded the Water Palace. Releasing her gown, she reached up and adjusted the golden headpiece that held her long, sky blue hair back. The silky, purple gown that she wore contrasted with her hair nicely. It was a floor length gown, and the long sleeves went well past her hands. A smile lit her face as she noticed something stranded out on one of the lily pads that adorned the pond. Walking to the spot, she picked up the small thing.
"How did you end up here, poor little kitten," she asked the drenched cat. "You don't look like one of Neko's children," she continued, noticing the cat would most likely have a light purple coat of fur if it hadn't been wet. As she cradled the cat in her arms, a wind blew over the shrine and the waters, sending a chill and a feeling of familiarity up Luka's spine. With a mental shudder, she headed back towards the shrine.
~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~
"Thou'rt a warrior," Glenn asked Serin, as he and Charis joined Glenn, Crono, and Marle.
"Yes," Serin replied. "Both Charis and I are. As I'm sure you both know, this land thrives on the power of Mana. I am the last remaining member of the Tribe of Mana, and I'm destined to protect all of the land."
"So, who's this Kikuo," Marle asked. A shadow passed over both Serin and Charis' faces, and she regretted asking the question. "I'm sorry. It must be a sensitive subject."
"There's no need to apologize," Charis stated. "Kikuo ... He helped save this land from the Mana Beast. But he was a sprite, and when the Mana Beast was destroyed, he, along with all aspects of Mana, disappeared."
"After he was gone, I put my sword back in its' resting place," Serin continued. "Since we destroyed the Mana Beast, I had no use for the Mana Sword." A silence settled in the group, and Charis cleared her throat.
"What was it that you were looking for," she asked, turning towards Crono. "If it's within my power, I'd be glad to help you."
"We need supplies for our machine," Crono stated carefully. "Your kingdom seems to have similar technology as the place we come from."
"This isn't the most industrialist kingdom in the land," Charis replied thoughtfully.
"Is there somewhere that would be a better place to look for a shop," Marle asked, directing her questions towards Charis.
"You can try Tasnica," Serin stated, earning an annoyed look from Charis. "And maybe even Northtown."
"I can answer for myself, you know," Charis stated, snapping at Serin. She crossed her arms in annoyance.
"Charis," Serin began, "I ..."
"Serin," a man with white hair stated, placing a hand on Serin's shoulder. The warrior turned towards the voice.
"Sir Jema," he exclaimed. "It's good to see you. I'm glad you could make it."
"Serin, don't you sense it," Jema asked, looking at Serin intently. "Can't you feel the uneasiness of the land?" Serin shook his head, and Jema clasped a hand over his shoulder once again. "Keep alert, young Serin." With that, he turned and left.
"That was strange," Serin mumbled.
"Serin," a voice rang in his head. He looked around, and then realized it was Luka.
"Luka," he asked, drawing the attention of the others to himself. "Is something wrong?"
"Serin, you must come to the Water Palace," Luka continued, speaking to him telepathically. "But it can wait until morning. I don't want to disrupt your celebration."
"Are you sure, Luka," he asked. "I can be there in no time."
"It's alright, Serin," she assured him. "Just come in the morning. Give my regards to Charis." As the link broke, Serin crossed his arms.
"What is it," Charis asked, concern in her voice.
"It was Luka," Serin replied. "She says hi."
"That's not what I meant, Serin," Charis stated, smiling slightly. "Is something wrong?"
"I don't know," Serin said, shaking his head. "She didn't say."
"How do ye know'est Lucca," Glenn asked. "I know not of this ability she possesses."
"Maybe it's someone else, Glenn," Crono said to him quietly. "It might not be the Lucca we know."
"So you have heard of Luka, the Guardian of the Water Palace," Charis stated. "It's amazing you've never heard of Pandora. Her shrine isn't far from here."
"'Tis a case of mistaken identity, lass," Glenn said. "'Twas not the same person I spoke of." Charis nodded her head in understanding.
"Well, I'll just go see what she wants in the morning," Serin concluded. "For now, let's just enjoy the rest of the night."
To Be Continued . . .
Well, now you know that this is a Chrono Trigger/Secret of Mana crossover. ^_^ Stay tuned for the next part, and as always, don't forget to leave your comments. Thanks!