[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.
Summary - More revelations are made as the warriors find themselves in front of the Water Palace. Read and Review, please.
Revival of the Legend
Part 7
A softly glowing ball of light gently settled down on the ground, and six figures stumbled out as the light began to dissipate. The figures fell in a heap on the ground except for one, who floated in the air slightly above the others.
"Where are we now," Crono asked, picking himself off the ground, and untangling his limbs from the group. He heard the sound of water, and looking around his surroundings, realized where they were. "Isn't this near the Water Palace? How did we end up here?"
"It must have been Leiliah," Charis commented.
"I don't like this," Serin stated, a frown set upon his face. "Why would she just send us away like that?"
"Whatever her reason, I'm sure it's what she had to do," Marle said. "We'd better go and talk to Luka."
"Thou'rt right," Glenn added. "'Tis nary a thing we canst do 'til we speak'th with Luka."
"Then let's go," Serin exclaimed. The group walked towards Luka's place, and soon they were in front of the Water Palace.
"Come," Luka's voice carried in the wind, as the doors of the palace opened on their own. "We have much to discuss." Serin led the way, and the others followed.
"Thank you, Crono," Marle stated, grasping his hand as they walked along.
"For what, Marle," Crono asked.
"For being so supportive," she replied, leaning into him. "I don't know what's going to happen from here, but it's a comfort to know you're here for me."
"There's no need to thank me, Marle," Crono stated, giving her hand a reassuring squeeze. The group finally made it to the highest level of the palace, and saw Luka standing, facing the Mana seed.
"Luka," Serin said uncertainly.
"There's something you do need to know, Serin," she stated. "I'm not the true Luka."
"What are you talking about," Serin asked.
"I trust you know where your sister truly comes from," she asked. "And Crono and Glenn as well?"
"I do, but what does that have to do with anything," Serin demanded.
"I came here, to this world, in a similar fashion," she continued quietly. "The true guardian Luka ... I came upon her when she was terribly weak. She taught me all that I needed to know in order to take her place as guardian of this palace."
"What are you saying," Serin asked again. He watched her quietly as she reached up towards her head and removed the golden hairpiece, and then pulled her hair into a ponytail high upon her head.
"Marle, Crono, and Glenn know me as a different person," she stated as she slowly turned around. "My true name is ..." Her voice trailed off as she saw a man with his back turned towards the group. "Janus," she stated quietly. The man visibly stiffened at the mention of that name.
"You have no right calling me by that name," Magus declared darkly. He turned around, and whatever else he was going to say was lost.
"Janus," she repeated, emotion thick in her voice.
"Schala," Magus whispered, shaking his head. "No, this is a cruel trick. You are not her." She lowered her head, tears spilling down her face.
"You don't believe it's truly me, Janus," Schala asked. She looked back up towards him. "You wear my pendant now, don't you? Let that be your judge." Magus narrowed his eyes as he reached for the pendant around his neck. He walked towards her, and she met him halfway. He unclasped the pendant from around his neck, and held it out towards her. When it began to react to her presence, tears that he had been fighting to hold back welled up in his eyes.
"After all this searching, I have finally found you, dear sister," Magus stated, taking her into his arms. She buried her face into his chest and sobbed. The two stood holding each other until finally Schala stepped away from him.
"My dear baby brother," she stated, looking up at him and brushing away the remaining tears that fell down his face. "The torment you must have felt that day. You have suffered so much through the years."
"Do not blame yourself for what happened that day," Magus stated, frowning slightly. The orphaned cat rubbed past their legs, and he looked down, grateful for the interruption. "Alfador," he asked, bending to pick the cat up.
"So it would seem," Schala said. She sighed, and then looked towards the other warriors. "I know I have much to explain, however that must wait. I know you feel the power of Mana surging in the land, however someone wishes to control that power."
"Luka ... Schala," Serin began. "Schala, do you know who it is we have to defeat?"
"A woman known as Calisto, and her flunkies Auka and Ikoa," Schala replied. "You know them better as the Scorpion Army."
"Is this a joke," Charis exclaimed. "They're relatively harmless. How can they possibly pose any threat to the peace of the land?" Schala turned towards her and frowned.
"You underestimate them, Charis," she stated. "They hold the power of the three guardian dragons."
"Guardian dragons," Serin asked.
"Yes," Schala replied. "They are the dragons that guard the way to the Mana Tree. Combined, their power is great, and the one who holds the artifact with their stones holds power over them."
"What should we do," Serin asked, growing serious.
"They seek a confrontation with you as we speak," Schala stated. "Revenge clouds their minds. Before you can met them, you must go to each of the temples, and seal the power of the Mana seeds." Just then, a tiny water fairy flew into the room. She landed on Schala's shoulder, whispering in her ear. She frowned as the fairy finished her story, and then flew away.
"Schala, what is it," Charis asked.
"The kingdom of Pandora is under attack," Schala stated. "But first you must ... Charis, wait!" She sighed in frustration, as Charis didn't heed her words. "Serin, Crono, Marle, and Sir Glenn. Follow Charis. She'll need your help. Then return here." The four nodded wordlessly, and then left after Charis.
"Schala," Magus began.
"Janus," she replied. "I'm sure you're wondering how I ended up here. I'm wondering the same about you. Come, and we will talk."
~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~
Charis ran down the path leading back towards Pandora, ignoring the shouts and pleas of Serin and the others as they ran behind her. As she entered the domain of the kingdom, tears welled up in her eyes. Several of the houses and shops were set ablaze and the guards were working frantically to put the fires out. She made her way towards the castle, only stopping to ask where the King was. She entered the castle, making a beeline towards the throne room.
"Princess, thank goodness you're alright," a guard said to Charis as she ran into the throne room.
"Itoki," Charis exclaimed. "What happened here? Where are my father and the King?" Itoki pulled Charis behind him as the doors to the throne room opened once again however relaxed as he recognized Serin.
"Princess," Itoki stated, turning towards Charis. "Your father and his highness are in the basement. The Queen, as well as many of the citizens, are there as well." Charis sighed and then gripped onto his arm.
"What happened here, Itoki," she asked again.
"A monster attacked," Itoki replied. "It was being controlled by a blonde person and two beings with a strange appearance. To me, they looked like ... plants."
"The Scorpion Army," Serin concluded.
"Where did they go," Charis asked.
"They retreated towards the Pandoran Ruins," Itoki replied. He took Charis by the arm gently. "Now come, Princess. I'll take you to the basement, to be with your father and their Royal Highnesses."
"No, Itoki," she exclaimed, pulling free from his grasp. "Go and tell my father and King Edward that I'm safe."
"But, Princess," Itoki began.
"That's an order, Itoki," Charis stated, cutting him off. She put a hand on his arm. "Please."
"Of course, your Highness," Itoki replied, standing straighter. He clicked his boots together, and then turned on his heel and rushed off in the direction of the basement.
"Charis," Serin began. "You shouldn't have run off like that. They could have still been in the town, and you could have been in danger."
"I'm trying to protect my family, Serin," Charis snapped. "What would you have me do?"
"Hold thy temper, m'lady," Glenn stated calmly. "Sir Serin 'tis only worried about thee, as we all are."
"And I appreciate it," Charis retorted. "But I don't need a lecture right now." She turned back towards the double doors and headed out the throne room.
"Charis, where are you going," Marle asked.
"To the ruins south of Pandora," she replied. "That's where Itoki said the Scorpion Army went. If you want to help me, no one's stopping you." She gave a small smile and then left.
"We'll defeat them as a team, then," Serin stated as he and the others rushed after her. The quintet left the castle and headed south, towards the ruins. They reached the ancient temple, however no one was there.
"I guess they left," Serin stated with a frown.
"On the contrary, Mana Knight, we have not gone anywhere," a voice rang out. Laughter followed the voice as the warriors searched the area.
"Show yourselves, cowards," Charis shouted angrily. She clenched her fist shut as laughter rang out once again.
"All in due time, Princess, though you won't be happy once we do," the voice repeated. "Isn't that right, boys?"
"Right, Boss," two voices exclaimed in unison.
"We, the Scorpion Army, shall take our leave," Calisto stated as the warriors looked around once again, trying to find the source of the voice. "C'mon, boys."
"Aye aye! But Ikoa, shouldn't we leave them with a gift, first," Auka asked.
"Sounds good to me, Auka," Ikoa replied.
"Take this," they shouted in unison. "Go Super-Deluxe Robot Scorpio!"
"Come on, you idiots," Calisto shouted.
"Aye aye, Boss," they stated. Their laughter began to fade as the trio left.
"Keep your guard up," Serin warned the others, as his hand went to the hilt of the Mana Sword. The warriors turned towards the sound of gears turning, and found a robotic scorpion no bigger than a rabite.
"This is their Super-Deluxe Robot Scorpio," Charis asked. It snapped its' claws at her and spit out acid from its' stinger, and she kicked it away from her, annoyed. "Why would they even waste their time building it?"
"Something's not right," Serin stated, a frown on his face. He looked to where Charis had kicked the tiny robotic scorpion. It struggled to get off of its' back, and when it couldn't, it let out a high screeching noise.
"What is it doing," Marle exclaimed as she and the others covered their ears. Suddenly, the ground began to shake, and everyone lost their balance as they fell to the ground. "What's going on?"
"Hath thee eyes in thine head," Glenn asked as he picked himself off the ground and brushed away the dirt from his armor. As Crono helped Marle stand, she gave Glenn a dirty look.
"What's that supposed to mean," she demanded angrily, putting her hands on her hips. Her question was answered as a large shadow fell over the group. She swallowed nervously and then looked towards whatever was casting the shadow. "Oh my," she whispered.
"That's the Super-Deluxe Robot Scorpio," Charis asked, staring at the much larger version of the smaller robot. The robotic scorpion towered over the warriors, and was big enough for them to stand underneath it. The warriors readied their weapons as the scorpion clamped its' claws shut repeatedly, and swished its' tail violently.
"I don't like the looks of this," Crono muttered. "Not at all."
To Be Continued . . .