[Disclaimer]: I don't own the rights to any of the characters, nor do I claim them. The idea, however, is mine.
AN - I'd like to thank Cola Addict and Charred Mouse for leaving a review! ^_^ I was beginning to wonder if anyone liked this, so thank you very much. And to everyone else, please, one or two of you, leave me a review! I think you'll like the revelation towards the end of this part ... Onto the fic!
Revival of the Legend
Part 5
"What's going on here," Crono demanded, his hand on the hilt of his sword. He took a step closer, eyeing the mysterious figure. She was wearing a white silky gown, that trailed down to the ground. Her golden-colored hair was pulled back into a braid that went down the middle of her back, and two curled tendrils of hair framed her face. "Who are you?"
"Don't talk to my mother like that," Serin growled, putting his hand on his hilt as well.
"Serin, your fight is not with your newfound friends," his mother stated. He was surprised that they made physical contact, as she put a hand gently over the hand he had on his sword. She turned her eyes up towards the other warrior. "I assure you, Crono, I won't harm any of you."
"How do you know my name," Crono asked.
"I know much about you, Crono," she replied. "I know a lot about Glenn, Marle, Lucca, and the rest of your friends."
"But who are you," Marle asked, taking a step closer to the entity in front of her.
"You may all call me Leiliah," she stated. "But, I would prefer it if you called me mother, Marle."
"What are you talking about," Serin and Marle asked in unison. Leiliah smiled.
"I know it's hard for you to believe, but the two of you are twins, separated at birth," she explained. "And by some miracle, you both have found each other again. I'm standing in front of you now because you touched the tree, my sweet daughter."
"Hold thy tongue, my Lady," Glenn said. "Princess Nadia is a descendant to her royal majesty, Queen Leene!"
"Perhaps I have some explaining to do," Leiliah began. "Long ago, before my children were born, a legend was passed down through the generations of the Tribe of Mana. It spoke of the time when twins would be born, and destruction would be upon the world. A great evil would rise, and the Mana Beast would be revived. Many were skeptical, but I was not. And when you two were born, we all knew the prophecy had been realized."
"I believe you, Mother, but how did we get separated," Serin asked.
"Another part of the prophecy was that when the twins were born, one would be a boy, and the other a girl," Leiliah continued. "Together, the pair would bring down the Mana Beast." She paused, and a look of sorrow passed her face.
"Please, continue," Marle stated. Leiliah smiled at her.
"But there was a great price to pay," Leiliah said quietly. "In order for the Mana Beast to be destroyed, the girl would have to forfeit her life, and become the Mana Tree." Marle gasped quietly, and gripped Serin's hand. "You can imagine my grief when I discovered that my children were the twins spoken of in the prophecy. In an act of desperation, I took you, Marle, and took you far away, to a land known as Guardia. I went to the King, whose wife and child had been lost to him while she was in labor. When he saw me, he thought I was an angel sent to him. He told me how much I resembled his wife. I gave you to him, Marle, and told him to take you, and that you were a very special child."
"Is ... is that why my father is so overprotective of me," Marle asked. "Because I was given to him by someone he thought resembled my Mother?" A hurt look passed over Leiliah's face, however she nodded her head. Tears began to form in Marle's eyes, and she balled her fists angrily. "So, I was just a replacement to him? He didn't even really love me! I was just a replacement!" She burst out into tears, and Leiliah took her into her arms.
"No, Marle, you misunderstand me," she said, rubbing her back. "Your father loves you very much. I have watched you both over the years, and that much is evident. He loves you as if you were his own child because he knows the truth of your origin. I explained it to him."
"Thank you, for telling me the truth," Marle said as her sobs subsided. "It must have been hard on him, for me to treat him the way I did, and for him to know the truth about me." She stepped away from Leiliah, and looked at her. "Is there anything else?"
"Yes," Leiliah stated. "When I returned, I had to take your place and become the Mana Tree, but it was a sacrifice I was willing to make. I was also punished, in my own way. My husband died, and my children grew up without knowing their real mother. I will never forgive myself for that."
"Don't feel bad, Mother," Serin exclaimed. "You did what you needed to do. You did it for us!"
"I can't speak for Serin, but I have had a good life," Marle added. "Although now I see where I get my stubbornness from." At this statement, Leiliah laughed.
"Well, you certainly have given your father a hard time," she commented.
"There's still one thing I don't understand," Crono said quietly. "Why were we sent here to find answers? What are we supposed to find the answer to?"
"Crono has a point," Serin added. "Why did Luka say the answer was here?" A frown crossed Leiliah's face, and she disappeared. "Mother!"
"I'm still here, child," she stated. "The answer you seek is here, but first, you must help your friend. Return to me once you do." To illustrate her point, a bright flash of light burst in the sky. It was then that everyone noticed Charis and Joch were missing.
"Oh no, Charis," Serin exclaimed. He ran in the direction the light came from, and the others followed him quickly.
~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~
"Here it comes again," Joch warned Charis, as the flying creature swooped down at them. It was a gigantic griffin. It had three heads, each with a sharp beak, and sharp talons. It swooped down towards Joch, who seemed to be the only one fighting it.
"Joch," Charis screamed as it knocked him over from the force of the wind as it passed. She ran over to where he had fallen as the griffin circled around them in the air. "Joch, are you okay?" He stood up and reached up, unbuttoning his cloak and tossing it aside.
"Heal me," he stated, turning towards her slightly.
"Wh-what," she stammered, staring at him. He had extremely long hair, which she hadn't noticed before, and a strange red cape covered his body. "Why did he need the cloak," she wondered inwardly.
"Heal me," he repeated, raising his voice slightly. "You're of no use to me, except to heal me." She numbly nodded her head.
"Undine, come forth," she exclaimed. "Grant me the powers of water!" A woman resembling a mermaid appeared, and Charis turned towards Joch, casting cure water on him. He grunted his thanks, and then turned towards the creature.
"So, you want to challenge me," he exclaimed. "I wouldn't suggest that." He waved his hands in a set motion, and then cast lightning on the griffin. However, as it hit it, one of the three heads absorbed the attack. He narrowed his eyes, and then he smirked.
"Joch," Charis began, uncertainly.
"Just stay back, Princess," he stated. The griffin landed on the ground, and its' middle head threw fire towards him. Joch looked back quickly, and gasped involuntarily as the fire stopped right in front of him. He looked towards Charis, who was glowing a faint green. The griffin screeched, and then flapped its' wings towards Charis, sending a spray of sharp feathers towards her.
"Oh no," she screamed. She stood there, paralyzed with fear, as the feathers drew closer to her and squeezed her eyes shut. Joch floated in front of her, and brought up his cape.
"Charis," Serin yelled as he and the others ran out into the clearing where the battle was taking place. She slowly opened her eyes and saw that Joch was standing in front of her.
"Joch," she asked hesitantly.
"I'm fine," he replied. "Back away from me." As she did what she was told, he threw back the fold of his cape over his shoulder, sending the feathers flying.
"Whither did Joch go," Glenn asked Charis.
"He's right there," she replied, pointing to the man who had his back to them. They watched as he sent an attack towards the griffin.
"His fighting style, 'tis familiar," Glenn thought inwardly. The entire area glowed in a black aura, and then in a flurry of feathers, the griffin was gone. Joch lowered his hand, and stood, watching as the feathers floated to the ground.
"Joch, are you all right," Charis asked, stepping forward. He turned around, with a smirk on his face, however it disappeared as he noticed the others were there.
"Thou'rt that fiend, Magus," Glenn exclaimed.
"Who's Magus," Charis asked, confused.
"That's his real name," Crono replied, shock on his face. "Joch is just an alias." Charis looked towards Magus, and he confirmed it with a nod.
"My green friend," Magus stated, glaring slightly and ignoring the look of shock on Charis' face. "We were allies in the past. What has changed that?"
"'Twas only an alliance, 'til we parted ways," Glenn replied, unsheathing his sword. "Thou art up to thine trickery again!" Magus smirked, and his scythe appeared in his hands.
"Are you challenging me," he challenged, readying his battle stance. Charis got in between them.
"I don't know how you seem to know each other, but I demand you to stop this at once," she exclaimed. Magus pulled his cape back around his body, and remained silent, while Glenn slowly replaced his sword in its' sheath.
"Well, you can at least tell us how you ended up here, Magus," Marle stated, raising an eyebrow. "Are you following us?"
"He doesn't owe anyone any kind of explanation," Charis interjected. "My father has decreed him as my protector, and that's all you need to know."
"Charis, are you okay," Serin asked. She looked at him, and a shadow passed her face.
"I'm fine," she replied. She continued quickly as he was about to say something else. "How is your mother?"
"She's alive," he stated. "We need to go back and talk with her some more." Charis nodded her head, and then Serin looked at Magus before turning back around. Glenn, Crono, and Marle gave him a wary glance, and then followed Serin. As Magus and Charis were about to follow, she turned towards him.
"Why didn't you tell me the truth about yourself," she asked. "Are they the reason you wore the cloak?"
"Yes," Magus replied. "There are some things you must come to understand about us all, but that will wait."
"What do you mean," she asked.
"It will wait," he repeated. She nodded her head in silence, and they followed the others quietly.
~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~
Not far from where the battle had taken place, two figures stood before a third. The third person, who was obviously in charge, stood in front of an artifact of some sort.
"Boss," the first figure spoke. "We sent the griffin."
"And," the boss prompted.
"It was defeated," the second figure said. They both cowered, waiting to be yelled at.
"No matter," the boss said nonchalantly.
"A-are you okay, Boss" the first figure asked.
"Auka, Ikoa ... for all the power you have, you both are idiots," the boss stated.
"Thanks, Boss," the second figure, Ikoa exclaimed, causing the boss to sigh.
"Silence," the boss snapped, holding up the artifact. "With this, no one will ever laugh at us again. We will no longer be thieves, but the rulers of the world! Now come, we must awake the dragons!" As the trio walked off, their laughter echoed off the trees.
To Be Continued . . .