Author's notes: So... this is the second chapter. I originally wanted to make this one chapter, just to keep with the tradition of Chrono Trigger fic-chapters that never seem to end. But, the computer crashed, and I almost lost the whole thing, so I decided that I would rather lose three or four pages of typing, rather that the original thirteen. Oh, and a few interesting theological tidbits. Janus happens to be the Roman god of doors. He has two faces, on looking forward, the other looking back. (hmmm....) And Mammon is the personfication of riches as an evuil spirit or demon (depending on your source.)
"I don't think you
Trust
In my
Self-righteous suicide.
I cry
When angels deserve to
DIIIIEEEEEE!!!"
-System of a Down, "Chop Suey"
~*~*~*~
"So, this is the time-wind. Gaspar, what does it mean?" Mother sits upon her throne, the gurus form a triangle around her and Dalton and I kneel before them.
Gaspar speaks; "there has been a disturbance in the fabric of reality. Simply stated, something from another time is now in our time."
"Perhaps it is myself, coming to congratulate myself on having invented time travel." Belthasar says. It's scary, but he is serious.
"No, see if you did that then there would be two of you, creating a temporal paradox, which is a very destructive force, which you would not do." Gaspar's right. Whatever it is cannot exist now, or the results would be disastrous.
"It may try to attack. We must be ready." Melchior says.
"What of my wedding?" Dalton, selfish as usual. The entire kingdom is in danger and all he cares about is the stupid wedding he's only having so he can get more power.
"Wedding? My kingdom could be invaded by who-knows-what and you're worried about the wedding?" Dalton bows his head.
"Lavos. The time-wind woke up Lavos." I say softly.
"Lavos is awake?" The gurus' eyes all open in horror.
"No time for that now! Shut down all the Earthbound Skyways! Post guards at every one! Now!"
"Yes, your highness." Dalton bows and leaves.
"Lavos is awake?" Mother directs her inquiry at me.
"Yes, Mother. I was at the Mammon Machine when the wind started to blow. I felt it stir." I speak softly to the floor.
"This is perfect! Now, can I count on your help?"
"I am your eternally loyal daughter. You can always trust in me." My heart sinks. I want to be free. I want to be free. I want to be free. I want to be free.
~*~*~*~
A strange man came to court today. Janus does not trust him, but I am uncertain. He is so familiar. I know this man. I haven't felt such power since... Impossible.
~*~*~*~
"You have asked for an audience with us. You say you have news of the utmost importance." Mother speaks coldly, proudly.
He answers in equally proud and cold voice, as if he has had training. "Queen Zeal, great ruler of this realm. Princess Schala, whose beauty and power surpasses all others. Melchior, Guru of Life, creator of the Masamune." Melchior gasps. No one knows about the sword except for the others of the court. "Belthasar, guru of wisdom, how goes your "wings of time" I believe you called it?" Belthasar gasped. What are the wings of time? "Gaspar, Guru of Time, I believe you should want to check your study now." What?
"What do you mean by that, stranger?"
"Well, if you don't want a certain prince knocking your notes on the theory of temporal distortions out the window..."
Gaspar runs out of the throne room "MY NOTES!" Gaspar shrieks, from his study. "You little..."
There is stream of words describing Janus I didn't even know a guru knew. I blush, hiding a smile. This is too funny.
I hear Janus's apology. "Sorry, Alfador did it. Honest." I don't have to worry. Gaspar won't do anything to him.
The prophet, for it is obvious what he is, says, "Too late."
That does it. I giggle, holding my hand over my mouth but then I can't hold it in anymore and I let out a whoop of laughter. There are so few chances for me to laugh. I take every opportunity I can get. Tears stream out my eyes and my tiara slips off.
"Schala, you are acting very undignified," Mother hisses in my ear. I laugh even louder at that. Undignified? Laughter in the face of pain? That I can suffer so and still laugh? Does that say nothing of my dignity?
My laughter infects Melchior and Belthasar. "Hahaha, can you see the look on his face?" "Hoohooho, do you thing he's having a rough TIME?" "Not exactly the TIME for mistakes, eh, Belthasar?" "No, no TIME at all. Hoohooho!" I laugh harder at each bad pun. I fall of the my throne and lay convulsing in laughter.
Gaspar walks in. "Now is not the time to be laughing." Everyone except Gasper and the prophet laugh at that. Even Mother lets a chuckle slip. "Do you find my misfortune amusing?"
"YES! HEEHEE!" I squeak. My stomach hurts from laughing so much. "NO TIME LIKE THE PRESENT!" I hear a strangely deep, and oddly familiar, chuckle.
"It appears my warning did not arrive in TIME." The prophet states solemnly. Gaspar joins us. We're a pack of laughing fools. If anyone sees us, they'll think we're insane.
"Order in the court! SILENCE!" My mother shouts, ripping our laughter in half. I stand up, half-giggling. I pick up my tiara and place it back on my head. I sit down, dignified and miserable once more.
"What do you seek?" Mother gets down to business.
"I seek to assist you." His voice is deep and unfamiliar, but the inflections are unmistakably familiar.
"We need no assistance." Mother says coldly.
"Once, there was a Queen who sought to build a palace under the sea to be closer to the source of her powers. Alas, it overpowered her and her kingdom fell. I know Lavos. I am powerful, and can control him so you can build your palace, your highness." He bows.
"How do you know these things?" Mother asked, shocked that someone knew of the Ocean Palace. I can hear the thoughts running through her head, hear her wondering who leaked and how to punish them, wondering if she should kill this "prophet" or bring him closer.
"I have seen them. I can change them." He bows, ignoring or immune to the hostility around him.
"What do want in return for helping us?"
"Why must I ask anything?"
"There is no such thing as something for nothing."
The prophet stands silent. He looks at me and I am afraid of what is to come. "There is nothing."
"I will not trust a man who will not accept reward."
"I was hurt by Lavos. I wish to end my pain. That is reason enough. Those are the terms. Accept them or not. Live or die. I force you to do nothing." He lifts up his head and I look into his ruby eyes. I see such pain as even I could only imagine.
"He speaks truth, Mother. Trust him." Mother nods. She accepts my judgment, because I am more powerful than she is. The gurus nod. He was brought by the time-wind.
"Tell me, prophet, what is your name?"
"I have such human trappings far behind."
"Surely you must have one?"
"Once, they call me Magus." The Latin word for magic. Clever. Mother does not actually know Latin; she just fakes it. This prophet seems to know everything, even the tiny details, like a children, my baby brother especially, have a knack for doing.
"Magus, you welcomed into the service of the Kingdom of Zeal." Magus bows, once more, and leaves the room. I want to cry. More work means less time with Janus. And what if it doesn't work? I will save Janus. Let them all rot and die, I don't care. But my brother shall not die. Not at any cost. If the whole world must fall; if I must cast down the heavens and bring eternal damnation on all that is, then so be it.
~*~*~*~
Today is the day before the wedding. Dalton shall wed me before we start on the Ocean Palace. Everyone is in high excitement, except for Janus, Magus, and myself.
Magus seems beyond feelings, beyond emotions. He terrifies me, but at the same time I am comforted by the strength and familiarity of him. I know him from somewhere. But where?
I curl up on my bed and cry. I wish I could freeze time so the wedding will never happen. I feel the dagger under my dress. I can stop it. I can make it...
But Janus. I cry, once more. I can never be free. I care about my brother too much to escape. My hands make a few quick slashes on my arms to put myself at ease. I hide the dagger under my dress. If Dalton... touches me... my hand will... stab him... and... kill him. But if I do that they'll hurt Janus. I go to my big French window and prepare my hands to throw the dagger out. It is too tempting to be selfish. I must rid myself.
I stand at the window, transfixed by the desire within me. My feet climb up on the windowsill and my hands grip the edges of the window. My whole body leans forward. All I have to do is let go...
A knock at the door pulls me from my reverie. "The prophet wishes an audience with the Princess Schala. Is it granted?" I sigh and close the window.
"Yes." I close the window and open the door. "Why does... oh, hello." Magus walks in like he's already been invited. "Excuse me, just..."
"You may leave now." Magus speaks to the page.
"Yes, sir!" The page closes the door and leaves.
Magus turns to me. "You're hurt." He reaches out to my injured arm. I forgot to heal up! I pull back.
"The cat... you shouldn't be here... I am to be wed... please go." I stammer. There is a familiar energy in his touch.
"He never scratched you before... Schala." His deliberate use of the familiar infuriates me. "Is that what the knife was really for?" The knife! Did I leave it out? How could I be so forgetful? I clutch my thigh instinctively and immediately feel the empty sheath under the thin silk of my dress. I look at the windowsill were my bare, ivory dagger lays. I immediately cover it with my hand.
"I am Princess Schala, heir to the throne of Zeal, and most powerful mage in the world. I am she who speaks to Lavos, without which the kingdom would fall. I shall let no man speak to me so coarsely." I stand tall, mimicking Mother's fierce pride in my voice. I feel as if he can see how scared I really am, but I am too afraid to let the facade fall.
"Not even her own brother?" My little Janus? And this cold-blooded man? Impossible.
"You lie. Prince Janus has no magic."
"Prince Janus hid his magic under the instruction of his beloved elder sister. When Prince Janus is pulled out of Zeal, there is no need for him to hide his magic. He then spends all his time trying to find a way to destroy the Lavos who brought his sister into eternal suffering as its unwilling slave. When Janus summoned Lavos to slay him for its deeds, he lost and was brought back to Zeal, where he seeks a way to defeat Lavos before it takes his sister. That is why I am here, helping Mother. We can't stop her. It's too late to stop Lavos from arising. All we can do is raise it up before it is ready and slay it." I stare at Magus. It can't be. It can't be. Janus will grow up strong, brave, and kind and will slay Mother and rule Zeal with wisdom and love. "You don't believe me." He turns away, and looks at me over his shoulder. "The knife is engraved with the rune for freedom." I look down at my hands. He could have looked when I was cutting myself. It proves nothing. "You said if anyone ever tried to hurt me, you'd run it through them and blast them so hard they'd kiss the moon."
"Anyone could have told you that." Magus is lying. He has to be. Janus is such a sweet little boy. He could not come to be so full of hatred.
"Tomorrow, at your wedding, the groom will be attacked by a cat during the vows. Believe me then." He walks over to the door and turns around, hand on the knob. "It's been a long and difficult road... Sis."
"You lie." My voice wavers and tears well in my eyes. "Liar"
"I am willing to die for you this time around." He opens the door the glides away, his feet never touching the ground. Janus... Magus? Impossible. Yet why am so uncertain?
~*~*~*~
My attendants bustle around me. Magus... Janus... Magus Janus Magus-Janus MagusJanus Magnus Jagus faster and faster, their names blurring in my mind. I reach for my dagger, but it is not there. I close my hand around my pendant and cling to it for safety.
"Close your eyes, highness." I close my eyes and the attendant brushes something over my eyelids. I open my eyes and watch them swirl around me. They fasten on earrings and brush my hair, styling it into an elaborate array of braids and curls and heavily scented white flowers. They drape me in white silk and lace, and ornament me with pearls and diamonds and gems of places unknown. In the center of the fury, I despair. From this day on, I shall be the wife of Dalton. I must listen to him and if he wishes to bed me, I can't refuse. I will be his slave. Tears come out my eyes, spoiling the make-up they were so careful with.
"Oh, look what you've done." I cry even more, closing my eyes.
"Now, calm down, Agnes. This is the greatest day of her life. The bride always cries. Now, dear," she says, wiping my tears, "Wait 'till the ceremony, then cry all you want."
Greatest day of my life? This is worst day my life. I don't want to marry Dalton. I hate him. But I must, for Janus, to protect him. We can always kill Dalton later. My lip curl back as envision Dalton burning from a spell cast by brother.
He will die screaming.
"That's it, smile. Everyone loves a beaming bride." I continue to smile, slaying my husband-to-be a thousand gruesome ways. When Janus is king, I will have my petty revenge. Until then, I must survive best I can and stay hidden, for his sake.
"All set." The kindly attendants smile at me. I look straight ahead as they guide me to the place of the wedding. We stand at the edge of the floating island, in an open field full of flowers.
All the kingdom is here, or so it seems. Everyone turns to stare as I am led up the aisle by Gaspar and Melchior. I will not let myself think about what is going to happen. I force a smile, but my tears are real. Through twin veils of tears and gossamer, I can see Dalton leering at me. Please let this be over soon.
I stand by the altar, tuning out Belthasar as he drones on about the sanctity of our vows. I feel dizzy, like a bee is flying around inside my head. "Do you, Schala, take Dalton as your lawfully wedded husband, in sickness and in health, until death parts you?" I look up at Belthasar. The words freeze on my tongue. Oh, how easy it would be to say no! No No No No No No No! It rolls around in my head, squishing the bee.
"I... I..." No words can express how I feel inside. "I... do."
"You may now kiss the bride." Dalton lifts the veil over my head and his leering face gets closer and closer. I smell his breath. It reeks.
"MRROOOOEEEEW!" Janus's wonderful little cat chooses this exact moment to leap out of his arms and claw Dalton in the face. I leap back in shock. Janus runs up to Dalton and tries to pry Alfador off Dalton's face. I turn to Gaspar and he gives me a gentle smile. Mother is furious. She storms on up to the altar and proceeds to holler at everyone. I manage to somehow suppress the urge to giggle.
Janus succeeds in prying the fluffball off Dalton's face. I cast a cure spell on him, then turn to the crowd and see the prophet's eyes glimmering.
Everyone takes their places once more and Belthasar picks up where he left off. "You may NOW kiss the bride." I go limp, letting myself be acted upon rather acting myself. I taste blood. His? Mine? He tastes horrible. I hate him so. I am dragged back down the aisle. No No No No No no and the people all cheer.
~*~*~*~
We are escorted to Dalton's quarters and the manservant leaves, telling us with a wink that he knows what is to be done in this room. I clutch my sunstone pendant and retreat to the back of my mind as Dalton pushes me under.
~*~*~*~
After he is done with me, I dress and leave. Safe in my own quarters, I lock the door and take a bath. I try and wash his filth off me, but it remains. I shall never be clean again. He has befouled me, stripped me of my purity, and now I can never have it back. Once more I cry. Once more I am helpless.
~*~*~*~
I am so sorry, Janus. I'm so sorry. Please, try to understand. Please, don't cry.