Chapter 2

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An Unwelcome Welcome

The young man sitting at the old, wooden bar slammed his empty mug on the surface. "Get me another," he shouted, as the rest of the peasants continued with their small talk and gossip, as if he weren't there. Although the bar was small, and his yell seemed like a thunderous roar from a lion, he did not bother any of the other customers, as they were already used to his sudden outbursts.

"I think you've had enough," said the female bartender, snatching the dirty glass from in front of him and quickly wiping it clean with an already filthy cloth. The woman's burgundy hair shimmered underneath the candlelight, protruding from the miniscule chandelier hanging on the ceiling, overlooking the bar. She donned wristbands that traveled up to her elbows and leather gloves that fit tightly around her hands. Along with her large, loose-fitting pants, which were tucked into her boots at the ends, the bartender wore a large belt, which hung a pouch filled with gold coins, collected from her customers. The woman peered at the man through her half-moon spectacles, as he tried vigorously to stay on his stool. As the bartender sauntered over to the sink to rinse the glass, her boots moving steadily, she glanced back at the, now rather intoxicated individual. After rinsing the mug, the woman adjusted her eyeglasses on her face. "My how you've changed, Tata." she whispered under her breath. "Some hero you turned out to be."

Tata, the drunk who was still trying to balance himself on his barstool, glanced up. "Hey," he called, "I thought I asked for another one." The bartender strode over, and placed her elbows on the bar in front of him, resting her head on her hands.

"Do you even have the money for another drink?" she asked, a smirk swiftly forming on her face.

Tata overturned his pockets, patted himself down, and checked under the leather cap he was wearing, which hid his violet tinted hair, searching for the smallest trace of gold. He seemed dumbfounded when he realized he had already wasted all of his money, and soon rose to his feet, hardly able to stand. The woman behind the bar laughed. "Maybe you should go home, Tata. I'm sure your father's looking for you."

"Don't patronize me!" he bellowed, slamming his fist down upon the bar. "I'm an adult, now. I don't listen to that hack's orders anymore! He can worry all he wants. I'm doing what I want to do. And I want another drink!"

"But you have no more money," sighed the bartender. "Come back when you do."

Realization, once again, struck Tata like a hammer. Once more grasping the fact that he had no more gold, Tata turned his back to the bartender, shook his fist at her, and started for the door. At that moment, a ruby red light flashed throughout the pub, and the conversation in the undersized tavern halted. All those sitting at the bar and the nearby tables looked around, searching for where the light came from, and what exactly it was. However, the bartender knew exactly what the light was, and jumped over the bar and rushed out the door, pushing the inebriated Tata out of her way. As she reached the exterior of the bar, she gazed over at the now unoccupied Leene's Square. "It can't be."

The bartender, who was know thinking of her tavern being overrun by all those she left it with, made her way into Leene's Square, forcing open the rusted, oversized gates. She glanced around at the gloomy atmosphere of the once exuberant plaza. Noticing the ruined shops and stalls, the damaged stone sculptures, and the fountain, which was reduced to ruins, the bartender continued forward, towards the hefty steps that led up to Leene's Bell. She shrieked when a pack of rats scurried past her feet, yet regained her composure and continued up the set of pebbled steps.

When she reached the top of the flight of steps, she clasped her hand over her mouth, as to hold back her gasp. Leene's Bell was resting, soullessly, on the ground, with a vast crack upon it. The pillars, which once so majestically held this magnificent instrument in the air, were cracked as well, fallen into much disrepair. The rubble that was now Leene's Bell brought back a wealth of nostalgia to the bartender, yet she couldn't stop now. She knew something was not right, and so she continued north, to the smaller, more sentimental part of the square.

There it was. The Telepod. The machine that started it all. The contraption that once consumed three teenagers and threw them into the depths of time, changing all that was today. Those three teenagers who fought thousands of beasts, confronted hundreds of different individuals, and even destroyed Lavos itself. This mechanism changed their lives, and brought the chaos, which is today. And it was the bartender's entire fault.

"Lucca."

The bartender, Lucca, quickly turned her back on the Telepod and faced whoever it was that whispered her name. It was none other than Janus and the woman who accompanied him. Janus, who was wearing a diamond colored robe with dark blue trim, thrown over a sky blue shirt and pair of pants, stepped forward, looking Lucca up and down. He was also dressed in navy blue boots, and he had a large, steel blade thrown over his shoulder, resting in a scabbard, which was secure on his back by a large strap that traveled around his chest. He spoke once more, "I see you haven't changed at all."

Lucca, without delay, grabbed her lightweight, yet deadly sledgehammer, which hung from her belt along with her pouch of gold coins. She outstretched her arm, pointing the hammer in Janus' direction, as a warning to stay back. "Who are you?" she asked, taking a step forward, "How'd you get here? I see by your garb that you're not from around here."

Janus, unconcerned about Lucca's threat, took another step forward. He glanced at the hammer, then into Lucca's eyes once more. "I see you don't remember me," he said calmly, taking another step forward. "It's me, Janus."

Lucca, as if someone had just punched her in the face, stood motionless, staring blankly at Janus. After a little while, Lucca shook her head, and resumed her defensive stance. "Bullshit," she stammered, clasping her hammer more tightly. "You're not Janus. He died in the destruction of Zeal. Janus is no more. There is only Magus."

Janus chuckled, as he glanced back at the woman, who was still shrouded in her hooded, lavender cloak. He gazed back at Lucca, who still had her hammer waving in his direction. "That is true. I was transported into the future, ultimately becoming Magus," he stopped, as if the memories were too hard for him. "I'm sure if we take some time and talk in a rational manner, I can explain to you what exactly --"

"Don't count on it," Lucca cut him off. "You're not Janus. I don't know who you are, but I know that you don't belong here. I'm not sure how you got here, but allow me to make your visit short." Lucca clasped her hammer in both hands, and dashed towards Janus, soon raising her weapon in the air, ready to bring it down upon Janus' head. However, when she did so, Janus quickly sidestepped in here in the nick of time, causing her to miss. Janus took this opportunity to slam his fist upon her back, sending her toppling to the ground.

Lucca's weapon went hurtling out of her hands, leaving her physically defenseless. She remained on the ground, her back in a terrible amount of pain. She couldn't let them win. Lucca hastily turned her head in Janus' direction, pointed her finger at him, and chanted, "Flame Toss." Soon, a string of fire erupted from her forefinger, and raced Janus' way. However, the woman he was with jumped in front of him, and outstretched her arms. The fire was ricocheted by an invisible barrier, and went spinning into the atmosphere.

Lucca lay on the ground, stunned. She slowly rose to her feet, brushing off dirt from her pants. She glared at Janus and his companion. "Well," she began, "I hope you like ale."