Disclaimer: I do not owe Threads of Fate or Chrono Cross. Only the world, Cytherea and my characters. Enjoy the crossover
Chapter One
The Forgotten Dream
The First Epic...
Eyes of the deep blue ocean, he has,
Strongest among all, he shall be,
Assassin of Time, he is;
Another, eyes of the upcoming dawn,
Heart of pure crystal, she holds,
Wielder of Fate's sword, she is;
Light of pure they clinch, darkness grasps the comet's tail,
Distance afar, call of the sea winds they listen,
Dreams dwelling in oceans are unforgettable to them;
No older than sixteen, a girl sat silently on a large stone on a sandy beach, which was where existing dead coral reefs blossomed. She gazed at the infinite ocean. Her long cerulean hair flourished with the gentle sea breeze along with a white thick ribbon wrapped around her forehead. Dangling over her back, a two-handed blade enclosed by a clothed sheath was strapped by a belt on the back of her short kimono. The blade gleamed under the sunshine.
Flashes disturbed the vision, showing images that would unexpectedly happen in the midst of the future. However, the vision came steadily, her glance still to the sea.
A reflection they are, a hidden friendship they held before,
Together they shall remain under the eternal skies,
In spite of their different worlds, of their destinies;
In the past they met, again they shall meet,
Friends shall meet friends, enemies shall meet enemies,
History shall repeat again, in a twist of both Time and Fate;
Knights shall cross swords in battle, in the pride of the sun,
A beast's apostasy will anger a summoner, under the full moon,
Guardians shall witness the land's choices, without the Dragons' watchful vision.
'...Who is she?' a whisper cried.
She gazed over her shoulder, as if hearing the whisper, and smiled friendly. Innocence reflected upon the light within her cerulean eyes. Her carefree face glowed with familiarity. She stood up on the rock and reached out her hand as if to grasp hold on someone's reaching hand. She smiled so cheerily, so naïve but her strength and spirit reflected upon that smile.
But a price shall be paid, to meet again,
All shall be shown to his eyes, no matter how hard he tries to look away,
The towers of fire, water and earth, he shall see them fall;
The keeper of pure water shall wither away, her tears fallen,
The lion of fire blazes into ashes, the witness of earth will tremble into dust,
Death brings upon one soul, a thread of life to be cut by its scythe;
To exterminate the claws of evil, the Death it is,
His soul mate must betray him...
...In her own blood.
............................................................Whispers of the Spirits
A flash exploded. The vision of the beach faded away. Trepidation followed behind as emerging over the beach was within a dark fortress, with six statues of stone dragons encircling around a large symbol on the floor.
Lying on the floor was the girl, bathed in thick red liquid. Blood tinkled down from a wound in her chest and spilled onto the floor, flowing to her cerulean hair. Her pure white clothes stained with the redness of blood. The colors of her face and the carefree grin have washed away.
Nearby, a boy stood at her side, holding an orb in one grasp and a scythe in the other. Blood trickled from the curved blade and dropped to the stone-cold floor. The boy looked down at the bleeding girl with a grin of iniquity. His sapphire hair hid under a helmet. His red feline eyes shimmered from the sparkles of the orb. He wore the clothes of a killer, of a foe and a traitor.
The orb gleamed crystal clear and crimson red, the girl's own blood. A heartbeat echoed within the orb weakly and slowly. The girl lay on the cold stoned floor, lifelessly, painted with an innocent face and blood in her hair.
In a flash, the vision was disrupted once again. The face of a young small dragon appeared, looking up with bloodstains on his furry cheeks. Tears trickled from its violet hollow eyes, pleading one cry.
"Can you save her...?"
Serge woke up with a sudden jolt and gasped the evening breeze. He looked at his hands and found no weapon or orb present. He looked around him carefully. He saw his companions: Glenn, Kid, and Fargo all resting peacefully in their sleeping bags around the now dwindled fire. He checked the contents of his bag and found the Chrono Cross, the lost seventh element, packaged safely away.
Serge released a small sigh. For a dream that looked so real yet looked so familiar, it was enough to make him wonder. It was not the first he had such a dream notifying death. He had dreamt of someone's casualty before and that was Kid's. This was the second time.
The boy, known as the Chrono Trigger was seventeen years of age. His sapphire hair was wrapped with a scarlet, golden-streaked bandana. His indigo eyes glistened. He wore a heavy silver-chained vest over a black tank top, embraced by a thick black belt, baggy navy-blue shorts, loosely red socks, a pair of auburn gloves and armor-plated black shoes. Around his neck was a string necklace.
Again, he looked at his companions sleeping.
Kid, nothing more but a sixteen-year-old thief, slept sloppily in a twisted position on her sleeping bag, her blue eyes shut away. Her messy blond hair was tied up in a ponytail. She wore a crimson red chemise over a tore white cotton shirt, a short crimson red skirt and thick gloves. White tiger stripes painted over her fair skin. Her dagger lay by her side.
Glenn's pieces of armor and two swords, the Einlanzers, were put aside. He, a twenty-year-old noble Knight, son of Garai and brother of Dario, slept serenely less tidily than Kid. He wore a mauve ribbon around his head, under his light greenish-gray hair.
And lastly, Fargo, the Pirate Captain of the S.S. Invincible, in his forties, that was sailing in the midst of the vast ocean, lounged on the roots of a tree. Lying around him were burnt cigars. His black hair was lengthened long, enough to be tied into a ponytail. He also had a moustache. Secured around his neck was a red scarf and he wore a black suit with sleeves tore away, gloves and boots.
"Couldn't sleep?" a soft voice said behind him. He turned around to see a fourth companion, one he had left out in his count. A tall and slender woman around the age of twenty-four with white hair stared at him with awoken blue eyes. Her light violet clothing and the emerald tiara resembled of that wore by a Shrine Maiden at the Shrine in Guldove.
"Did I wake you up, Steena?" Serge asked. The Shrine Maiden shook her head.
"But you did wake me up," groaned Glenn. "You have been doing this for these past few nights."
"Is something wrong, Serge?" Steena asked.
"I had a bad dream... That's all," Serge replied quietly, hoping that they would leave it at that. Steena led herself against a log and looked Serge calmly in the eye.
"Serge, you know I can tell when someone is lying. That dream of yours has gotten you unpleasant. Would you like to share it? Maybe we can help."
Serge gave a quiet sigh as he propped up onto both elbows and looked at the black sky. He took a deep breath and began, "I keep having this dream of a girl on a beach looking over the ocean."
Glenn quickly interrupted. "Oh, you must be having THOSE kind of dreams... Well, let me assure you that what you are going through is perfectly normal and-"
Serge quickly raised his voice at Glenn defensively, his face beet red. "I'm not having THOSE kind of dreams! Do you want me to tell you or not?"
Glenn grinned and motioned with his hand to let Serge continue.
"As I was saying, I saw this girl on the beach. She turned around and offered me her hand... Then we somehow shifted to this stormy night at Fort Dragonia. The next thing I knew...I saw myself holding a weapon and an orb covered in blood. She was on the floor...dead." The last word was harsh yet nervously said. "That was when I woke up."
Glenn blinked a couple times looking at Serge. "It must be Kid. We all know Kid is annoying, so we have declared it a safe zone to torment Kid in our dreams-"
"No. This girl wasn't Kid. She had..." Serge stopped and looked away, fiddling with his sapphire bangs. "She had blue hair...like mine."
"...Maybe you are dreaming of that night at Fort Dragonia," Steena suggested. Glenn however shook his head in disagreement.
"But that was not how things turned out there. I was there, Miss Steena. There wasn't a girl with blue hair," the noble knight said confidently.
"Maybe it is a premonition. You had them before, I believe. So maybe you are having another one, Serge," Steena offered.
"Maybe..." Serge said doubtfully.
"Get some sleep. We've got a big day tomorrow."
Serge nodded as he crawled back under his sleeping bag. Soon, everyone who was awake crept under their sleeping bag and slept under the quiet starry sky.
In a void of endless obscurity, a creature rested limply. Its life force drained away from the fight it had failed a short time ago. Broken wings and scars from the past were all that reflected its defeat. Before its death, it cursed at its failure and vowed to eliminate the people who overcame it in this pervious combat if it ever lived again. But it was now a lifeless corpse, slowly disintegrating. No harm it could bring on anyone else again.
Or could it?
Not far, a black hole swirled, swallowing common asteroids. But by unbelievable force, a small black comet darted from the engulfing black hole and neared the dead carcass. A spark of a dark aura darkened from a crystal formed by the comet as the comet's tail died.
One yellow eye fired opened. Color flushed through the veins. Its wings flapped as strength empowered the creature. It roared from its eternal blackout and gazed around the void of outer space.
With one eye, it spotted the crystal. Laughter exited its mouth as it grasped hold to the tiny crystal.
"So...a crack in the gateways has been revealed..." it scorned. "Hee-hee-hee... It seemed Fate has denied all of them... Dragon Guardian, you will join me soon enough... And the Chrono Trigger... you will fall along with the humans and races!"
It laughed ominously in the silent space as the crystal in its claw glittered its evil gleams.
Its unheard roar of laughter resounded to the blue planet many light-years away. The winds caught it and brought it across the oceans, to three islands that stood in a circle. In another realm that lay in the center of the islands, the wind was captured and drew to the ears of a creature that lied asleep within for many centuries. Its eye, that was within the center of its forehead shot open, a deep-blue light shimmering from it. In a deep voice that had lost its youth, it spoke with alarm.
"It has begun..."
He couldn't sleep. He just couldn't sleep. Every time Serge closed his eyes, he would see the cerulean-haired girl's smile. And every time he saw her smile, he would remember her gory death.
Serge sat up, wide-awake. Was Steena right? That it was just an omen, he wondered. Wasn't this girl in danger? Serge wished he had the answers but that wouldn't happen. And why did she look so familiar?
'Just where have I met her? I feel like I have. But where?' he asked himself.
Serge stared up at the stars. He was starting to feel uneasy. He wondered if this was a repeat of someone's death. Kid was nearly killed before, in which he did not want to remember that day in Fort Dragonia. Yet, he shouldn't feel worried. He remembered clearly of the unusual weapon the girl carried. A long blade in a cloth sheath he recalled. For such a girl, she looked as if she could wield the heavy blade with no trouble.
And yet dwelling in his heart, he knew he should worry. But why? For someone who he saw in a dream and for someone who he barely remembered.
Or could he remember her? That was impossible.
Ding!
In the bushes, a pair of blue and green eyes watched Serge carefully as he sighed deeply. Under the moonlight, flickering blue scales glittered. It had two large flippers and a silky mermaid tail where tattooed was a symbol of a teardrop falling, resembling "water". Its ears were the likeness of the fins of a fish.
On one ear was clicked with a small bell by a chain. It had clear transparent wings, waving like fins. For a moment, it watched silently at Serge but in a while, it would change its pattern. The creature stole up slowly without his suspicion.
Ding!
Serge heard the bell shake behind him. He looked back and before he knew it, the creature leapt and dove towards the bag, taking it around its neck and hovered away in midair, its wings taking flight.
"Hey! That's my bag!" Serge shouted, getting to his feet. He was soon giving chase but the creature was swift, hovering through the air like a jet. The rattling of its bell woke his companions up. Fargo snorted from his sleep while Glenn woke up, still drowsy.
"What the hell are you shouting about!?" Kid groaned. Still weary from sleep, she did not notice the creature coming. The creature jumped up over her head and landed on her stomach, giving her a sharp pain. "Omph!"
The creature dashed away, leaving Kid clenching her stomach and soared to a lake not far away.
"Bloody hell...! Let me after that thin'!" Soon, dwelling in anger, Kid got up followed after the creature. As she and Serge sprinted after the creature, they reached out to grab the swift creature but it just slipped out of their hands and hovered in rapid speed. It then stopped at the lake and turned around. Seeing the advantages, Kid charged faster than Serge, wanting to make fish stew out of it.
"Now I got you!" Kid yelled, plunging to grab it. The creature, however, suddenly smiled, waved with its flipper, sharply turned to the lake and hovered over the water.
"Huh?" Kid uttered, heading straight into the waters.
Sploosh!
The thief splashed into the cold icy waters. The creature was halfway flying over the lake, when it halted in midair. It turned and gazed at Serge. He gasped softly, his eyes meeting its glowing blue eyes.
"Chrono Trigger..."
A clear, soft voice resounded in his ears. He took a step back in shock and stared around, then back to the creature.
"Come to Water Dragon Isle. Make harsh. For there, I shall await you..."
The creature was talking to him. He stared at it for a mere second before Kid got to her knees, looking fuming mad. Since the creature's element would be Blue by just looking at its skin color, she knew its weakness should be the element, Red, the blazing fire of magic. "Time to burn! Fireball!"
From her hands, a ball of red-hot fire ignited and charged towards the creature. However, the creature did not fling, did not flee. Only raised a flipper and pointed its tip to the charging fireball. Instantly, a stream of liquid swiftly flowed up in the air and swirled around the fireball, wrapping it. Steam hissed and passed by the smiling creature.
"What the hell-?!" Kid was nearly speechless.
"Now, lassie, that isn't the way to defeat an enemy," Fargo exclaimed as he arrived to the scene, seizing something from his pocket. Quickly, he took out an element, Yellow, his hands charging with electricity. "This is how! Thunda Storm!"
Series of thunderbolts were released from Fargo's hands. It headed towards the creature. As the energy shot towards the floating menace, the creature pointed down its flippers, the tips touching the water surface. Streams of dewdrops emerged from the lake and encircled around the creature. Ripples drifted over the water surface.
The blast of energy shot to the rushing waters but was deflected away. Sparks of electricity dissolved away in a blink of an eye.
"Blimey! How did it-!?" Fargo yelled, disbelieving of what had happened.
As the rushing streams of water subsided and fell back into the lake, the creature was gone, leaving no trace.
"I shall wait for you, Chrono Trigger..."
Again the voice resounded in the air.
"And you shall open the door..."
"What do you mean?" Serge asked.
"You shall see..."
The last word echoed in the night and the hastening waters settled to calm ripples. All was quiet again.
All was quiet.
"WHAT!?" The scream could have been heard from miles away. "WHAT DO YOU MEAN THAT FISH STOLE THE CHRONO CROSS!!!?" Kid screamed her voice out.
"So it was after the Chrono Cross," Steena exclaimed. "But why would it want it?"
"It appeared to be a lizard of some sort," Glenn stated matter-of-factly.
"Maybe we should have Luccia figure this thing out for us," Fargo chipped in, lighting up another cigar.
"Oi, you old git. We're halfway across this continent and it'll take days to reach back to Viper Manor!" Kid snapped.
The conversion went on. None realized Serge was quiet. He turned to the lake where the creature was last seen. He could still remember the motherly eyes and the smile the creature gave.
"...Somehow that creature knew I was the Chrono Trigger," Serge said in his usual quiet tone. Most of the camp became silent, surprised.
Steena sat on a rock and began to think awhile. When she came up with her idea she told everyone, "This creature must be a Shadow. One of FATE's last minute ideas to kill us. Seems strong enough."
Most in the camp nodded dumbly. Serge however, shook his head in disagreement.
"No... It seems somehow, different..." Serge said, trailing off. "It just couldn't be a Shadow."
"Well, if it is a Shadow, it must be a new and improved one. Cause I've never seen one use water to deflect electricity like it did," Fargo added.
"Well, what should we do? Follow it?" Glenn asked.
"...I want to go to Water Dragon Isle," Serge said, standing up. "It said to go to there quickly."
"Now how would you know that fish talk, matey?" Fargo shouted.
"Why not?" Steena said off handedly, grasping everyone's attention. "We might get our answers there."
"If that's where the Chrono Cross is gonna be, so be it," Kid muttered as she tapped her foot impatiently. An agreement was made and soon the whole troop began packing.
Tossing his weapon and now his only belonging, the MasterMune, over his shoulder, Serge took one look at the lake where the creature vanished. As he turned to follow his friends, Glenn spoke out.
"If we are going to Water Dragon Isle, how are we going to get a boat? We are weeks away from the nearest town."
Everyone stopped, realizing that Water Dragon Isle was only accessible by boat. How would they get a boat when they are far from Arni Village, Serge's village, and far from Termina, a port facing the east winds, they wondered.
"Ah, don't get yourself in a pickle jar," Fargo declared. "You got yourself a captain here. I've got a perfect plan."
"Then why do I feel unsure 'bout this?" Kid muttered, feeling butterflies fluttering down in the pit of her stomach.
"Bloody hell...I still think that plan Fargo cooked up is a total washout. Why couldn't we just walk to Termina and get a boat?"
"Because it would take two week to get back. This is the only option we got," Serge answered to Kid's question. That was a reasonable answer but truthfully, he wanted to go to Water Dragon Isle immediately. His thoughts ran wonderingly, recalling of the creature that somewhat attacked their camp.
Materials were needed to accomplish the success of the plan and gratefully, the Hydra Marshes were not too far. As a natural preserve, life thrived wildly. Lakes of green liquid flourished over the autumn-painted landscape. Flowering over the rocky paths were swamp plants, giant ballooned spores and growths of fungus. Webbed across the murky ground were silky threads of white mucky life.
They approached a mysterious path inside the Hydra Marshes. Leading upwards to the canopy of the marshes were enormous branches. Each branch would led one astray but some to the depth of the Hydra Marshes. Along the branches, creatures were in hiding. Leading up to a break in the large branches, the group caught sight of a kindly old man.
"Be wary of the toxins," he called out.
"Toxins? No toxins here, matey," Fargo bellowed.
"You'd be surprised on how much you don't know," the old man laughed.
"Sorry ol' man," Kid turned to the sickly man. "We better get goin'. We've got better things ta do,"
"Be sure not to walk over the cracks, ya hear?" The snow-haired man laughed as he galloped away.
"What do you think he meant by 'cracks?'" Glenn utterly inquired. The group was surely about to find out. Along the snake-like road, came a serene resting spot.
"Arg, are those what he was talkin' about?" Fargo pointed to the creases in the soggy earth.
"Maybe..." Serge called out, unsure of himself.
"Only one way ta find out!" Kid jumped onto the middle crack, spontaneously stomping on the ground around her. A few seconds later, she stopped. "See, there ain't nothing wrong with-"
SNAP!
Instinct kicking in, Kid tried to grab the nearest thing she could reach as the nimble ground around her fell beneath. That nearest thing was Serge's hand and they both plunged together.
"Help...!" Serge meekly cried as Kid gasped, seeing he hadn't grabbed anything in time.
A loud crash resounded above the breaking of twigs and small roots that were bedding their fall. What was more, Kid had landed on top of Serge so the only one with physical pain was he.
"Are you alright!?" Glenn called from above.
"Damn! That hurt," Kid complained.
"Tell me about it," Serge grumbled, unsure if he could feel his spine.
"What'd you see down there?" Fargo yelled.
Serge and Kid got up and peered around the dimness. What they apparently landed was on a small island of roots surrounded by a shallow moat of greenish water. Light streamed down from the opening above them. Smooth-polished stones climbed towards the opening, too steep to climb out. But not far, a stairway to an aperture meant a way out. Not far, across the moat, a small crate was dry on a piece of land.
"There's something here," Kid shouted and walked cautiously to the crate. He peeked inside and then shut it, saying calmly, "Only a fairy that looks dehydrated or sick."
"What?" Serge cried, rushing over.
Kid, realizing the content was a living thing, quickly opened the crate and pulled out the fragile Forest Fairy. The fairy was small enough to be carry like a child. She wore bright green clothes and a pointed green hat. Her hair was sparkling violet. Despite she was unconscious, a rod in the form of a violet and white flower, which was seemingly to be her weapon, was still gripped in her hand.
"Hey! What did you find!?" Glenn yelled to get some attention.
"Bloody hell... Serge, she doesn't look in good shape!" Kid cried out. "Better use some Blue elements."
"Alright," Serge agreed and reached into his pocket. He suddenly blinked, realizing something amiss.
"What's wrong, mate?"
Serge's jaws hung slightly as he realized his mistake. "...I left my elements in my bag... That thing took those away too..."
"You WHAT!? How the hell can you be so stupid to put those in your bag!? Now how are we supposed ta help her!?"
A moan disturbed Kid from trying to punch the Chrono Trigger. The faerie was coming around. She slowly opened her jade eyes.
"Hey, are you okay?" Serge asked, seeing she was still hanging on.
Suddenly, the fairy's eyes shot wide and she struggled to try to escape from Kid's grasp.
"Hey, what's wrong with ya!? Is this how ya treat those who helped ya?" Kid snapped.
"Get out of here!" the faerie yelled, fear dwelling in her eyes.
"Why?"
"I'M WHY!" A thundering feminine voice nearly shook the cavern. It sounded from above. Glenn and Fargo looked up and dotting high in the sky, something deep blue with traces of purple and orange was heading their way.
"Watch out!" Fargo yelled, grabbing Glenn by the shirt and moving away as it crashed into the cavern. Serge and Kid had noticed the incoming invader. Quickly they rushed off to the far edge of the shallow, just missing the small but dangerous impact that hit the small island.
Clearing the dust and spores that disrupted into the atmosphere, Serge looked up at the invader and wished he hadn't.
Six tentacles waved about, connecting to a giant blue creature. Its mouth was a large slit across its long face, bearing jagged jaws like a shark. It had huge eyes; its pupils sharp like a snake's. It fluttered extremely long eyelashes and gazed at its intruders.
"How DARE you evade MY beautiful home and try to take MY dinner!" she erupted, waving her tentacles furiously.
"This is your home? Excuse us, but maybe you should add some decorations to call it home, mate," Kid joked, trying to keep her bravery intact.
The creature ignored her. "But then again, two more will make an excellent gourmet. I, Madame Pentapus, will have human chops de luxe and fairy cutlet tonight!" she cried out, giving an utterly laughter.
Serge and Kid looked at her uneasily as the shadow of a raising tentacle darkened over them.
"Somehow, this does not look good," Serge muttered.
Kid moved to the left, holding the Forest Fairy in her arms while Serge moved to the right crashing into the moat. Both dodged the powerful tentacle.
"We have to help them, Fargo!" Glenn shouted.
"Actually what I was thinking, mate!" Fargo exclaimed. Unexpectedly, the Captain Pirate shoved the noble knight off his feet. "You go first."
Fargo watched Glenn plunge into the shallow moat and a mighty shallow splash was heard below. Glenn shook the water out of his white hair and glared up. "You did that on purpose, did you not!?"
Fargo jumped in to join the battle, taking his sword. He landed into the moat, which caught Pentapus' attention.
"Two more to add to my dish!" she screamed happily, flashing her shark-like teeth. She fired a tentacle at him.
Fargo shifted his sword back, gathering his energy to bring one forbidden deathblow. "Invincible!" With a swift sway of his sword, the deathblow was unleashed. It sliced off Pentapus' discharging tentacle. The chopped tentacle fell and slithered about until it stopped moving.
Pentapus screamed with pain and then looked down with antagonism. "You will REGRET doing that to my beautiful tentacle!"
"OH SHUT UP, YOU UGLY SQUID!!!" Kid screamed, getting sick and tired of the monster's self-centeredness. Red element, blazing hot, built up within her free hand. "FIREBALL!"
The scorching fireball shot at her will and towards their enemy. Marvelously, Pentapus dodged the attack and the flare hit the wall of the cavern. Kid cursed under her breath but avoided a firing tentacle.
"Sonic Sword!" Glenn cried out courageously, sprinting towards Pentapus in rapid speed. He raised his sword and effectively, sliced off three tentacles. Pentapus screamed and in fury, attacked with her remaining tentacles.
Everyone quickly and desperately tried to evade the attacks. Serge, who had already seized the MasterMune, swirled it into position and wedged it at another tentacle.
One tentacle left. Pentapus was soon defenseless.
"Now for the finishing touch!" Serge yelled as all the men dashed in with their weapons held high.
"Fools!" Pentapus screamed. Without warning, she fired her last tentacle at all three. Serge, Glenn and Fargo crashed to the rocky wall and collapsed into the watery moat. Weapons scattered afar.
"Now it's MY finishing touch!" Pentapus yelled, raising her tentacle.
Everyone clenched their teeth in shock as the tentacle was shot, ready to give a deadly blow.
"Everyone, watch out!" Kid yelled desperately, for she couldn't step in for she had the Forest Fairy in her hands. It would endanger the fairy.
Her yell woke the fairy. The fairy stared up widely, seeing her rescuers in trouble. Bravery gathered within her heart. She seized up her floral wand and poked to Pentapus.
"Raz-Flower!" the fairy yelled and magic in unexplained detail injured from her floral wand in an instant. Pentapus, distracted, turned to see the sparkling sphere of enchantment firing towards and before Serge, Glenn and Fargo.
A burst of colorful light ignited and giant flowers bloomed before the monster. Like shields, it was protection for Serge and the others but for Pentapus, it was something that made her flat nose wiggle. A strong scent from the flowers swept across the cavern. Pentapus backed away, her tentacle covering her face.
"Ugh! I hate flowers! Disgusting smell! Ugh! Get it away!" Pentapus yelled dreadfully.
She couldn't stand the smell of flowers. There was a chance. Serge twirled around, seeing the MasterMune digging into the moat. He grabbed it and dashed towards the sidetracked monster.
"Dash and Slash!" he shouted boldly and with a powerful blade strike, he sliced the monster right down in the middle, Pentapus' guts not exploding everywhere. Everyone observed as the split-pieces of Pentapus fell down into the moat and a wave of bitter water burst out.
Serge turned around after catching his breath. Pentapus lay dead, her eyes white while everyone was saved, completely soaked. The fairy groaned weakly and once again fainted in Kid's arms.
"Lucky Glenn carries Medicine, otherwise, this lassie wouldn't make it," Fargo said as he squeezed out the water from his scarf.
The group had climbed out of the cavern through the steep stairway, however, leading in another area of the Hydra Marshes. Everyone dried out as much water as possible while Glenn, who elegantly carried Medicine for emergency, gave some to the scrawny, fragile Forest Fairy.
The group stared down at the fairy, waiting to see movement of life. Sure enough, the Forest Fairy coughed frequently before opening her eyes. At first, she closed them again because the sunlight was burning slightly. But then, she slowly opened them again to see the faces of her rescuers.
Kid smiled. "Good. You're alright, mate. For a moment there, I'd you were a goner."
For a short moment, the fairy remained silent. Then as if snapping from a daydream, she quickly got up and hovered in the air, gasping, "Where's that monster!? Is she still around!? Where-"
"Calm down. It's okay," Serge assured. "Thanks to you, we wouldn't be able to defeat Pentapus."
The fairy stared at them as she remembered what she had done before.
"Well, enough of the silent treatment. Let's have an introduction, shall we? Call me Captain or Fargo, lassie," Fargo told her with a smirk.
"My name is Glenn," Glenn kindly introduced out his name.
"Name's Kid. Nice to meet ya," Kid voiced out.
"And I'm Serge. What's your name?" Serge asked.
"Razzly," the fairy replied with a smile. "Thank you so much for rescuing me."
"Now that you're free, where ya're heading now?" Kid inquired.
Razzly steadily looked around her surroundings, then turned back to the group. "I think I wanna get out of here. Thanks again for saving me. I hope maybe we can see each other again."
"Wait. Will you be alright alone?" Glenn requested, seeing that Razzly was attempting to leave a dangerous place alone.
She nodded. "It's okay. Now that Pentapus is gone, it won't be any trouble getting out of here."
"Well, we'd better get what we need for the boat, mateys," Fargo instructed. All of the comrades agreed and soon, they said their goodbyes to the Forest Fairy.
Razzly watched her saviors leave to find the materials they need. She smiled, feeling the sun's rays hit her skin. It had been a long time since she saw daylight. Just as she turned, her pointed ears perked out. She wheeled around, eyes widely. For a sound was echoing into the Hydra Marshes.
It was a soft echo that rippled within the waters from far and near. It sounded partly like a whale and partly like a dolphin and yet it sounded like it did not come from this world. But rather it came from another. It was diplomatic and serene.
Distant the song stretched across the islands and the oceans. It captured the hearts of many who heard it. All the monsters heard its cry of harmony. The slumbering creature the lie within the realm of time woke up and listened to the echoing song, one eye opened. A few people heard it as well. Even some children heard and smiled happily at the lullaby.
Like the wind, it was spreading far and wide. Its harmless cry echoed in a soft tone but resonated powerfully.
As the group was walking further into the Hydra Marshes, Serge looked up, hearing the unfamiliar call. When it entered his ears, his heart sank into the ocean of tranquility. It was as if his soul was being taken far away from the marshes, across the ocean and finally into the isle known as the Water Dragon Isle. Within there, a pair of blue eyes, the eyes he had seen before, the eyes that belonged to the blue creature, gazed at him with motherly tenderness.
"I shall wait you, Chrono Trigger... Beckon upon trust, friendship and courage to reach me... Beckon upon your strength and wisdom... Listen..."
For long, he listened to the peaceful tone. Then, the memory of his dream came to his mind. He recalled the mysterious girl's smile. And soon after that, another vision came to him. One that showed of a small three-and-a-half-year-old girl. Her cerulean hair was short but covered her eyes. She was holding a sheath that contained two swords.
With a raise of her head, she looked up and smiled childishly, revealing one cerulean eye.
"SERGE!"
That snapped him out of the calming trance. He turned to his friends, all wondering why he had stopped and stared into space.
"Are you coming or not?" Kid asked irritably.
"Uh, yeah!" he yelled and soon caught up with them around the bend of a branch.
Far away in the marshes, the Forest Fairy's eyes stayed wide with surprise as she listened to the prolonged song. "Can it be? The Water Dragoness...Undine is back?"
The song went on, not answering her question until it quieted and faded with the stinky breeze.
"Fargo, I know you said you got a 'perfect plan' but," Steena hesitated. Kid's blond eyebrow twitched with disbelief.
Since the group was far from civilization but near the very resourceful forest, Fargo's 'perfect plan' was taken into action. However that 'perfect plan' was now seemingly not safe.
"HOW WILL THIS PLANK OF WOOD TAKE US TO THAT ISLE!?" the Shrine Maiden screamed.
The 'boat' was no more than logs tied together with strong vines and a pole struck in the centre. Cloth made from the giant leaves of the forest was hung up as a sail. Glenn and Serge panted for air, resting their aching bones after a long day of work. Following the captain's instructions, they were to build a boat that would support them across the oceans.
"Don't think of it as a plank of wood," Fargo encouraged. "Think of it as a tiny little version of the S. S. Invincible."
"Are you crazy!?" Kid shouted. "This thing will sink by the time we're halfway there!"
"Don't be such a banshee," Fargo said, ignoring her comment. "Now, all abroad, mateys!"
"I just know we're gonna drown."
"Look on the bright side," Glenn droned. "At least we'll be there by tomorrow."
"WHAT BRIGHT SIDE!?"
"This is going to be a long day," Serge sighed.
"Excuse me," a whisper captured everyone's attention. Turning their gaze, the spotted the fairy hovering over the ground. Razzly had followed. "But are you going to Water Dragon Isle?"
"Yes, we are," Glenn answered. "Why do you ask?"
"I want to come along!" she suddenly yelled with determination.
In silence, everyone stared at the Forest Fairy, wondering if she was joking.
"What?" Kid muttered.
"Please. You have to understand. I have to go to Water Dragon Isle!" Razzly cried.
"But why-" Serge said but was cut short by Steena.
"Do you know something that's in the Water Dragon Isle?" Steena asked.
Razzly nodded. "Undine is going to be there."
"Undine?" everyone repeated.
"Who's this Undine person?" Fargo asked.
"Oh, Undine's not a person," giggled Razzly. "She's been there for a very long time before the Water Dragon God went to the isle."
"You seem to know this Undine very much," Serge uttered seriously.
"Well, the truth is...I really don't know much about Undine," Razzly laughed as she scratched her head sheepishly, enough to bring everyone's composure down.
"Then why the hell is she so important when you don't know her!?" Kid screamed.
"Because...she has returned."
The group stared at her, confused by what she meant.
"I've heard stories that Undine would return one day to the Water Dragon Isle and meet the Forest Fairies there. My grandmamma told me that she will come back to bring a gift for us. It is an important event not to be missed, she told me, because it has been over eighty centuries since she appeared in the isle."
"Eighty!? Eighty centuries!? How old is she!?" Kid yelled in shock.
"She may be right, Kid," Steena exclaimed. "This Undine may not be human."
"But I that creature that took the Chrono Cross belong to her?" Glenn inquired.
"Could be. But why?"
"Probably..." Serge began as Fargo snatched out a damp cigar and tried to attempt to light it. "Undine might want us to meet her there."
"Are you sure, Serge?" Glenn posed
"Razzly, Undine seems like an important...being, right?"
"Yes, Sergey," Razzly replied. Serge raised an eyebrow, recalling that he had once recalled a nickname like that from a pink dog at his home village. "From what I heard, she is supposed to be kind and gentle."
"Maybe, Undine is the one who is leading us to her. Maybe to meet her?" Serge suggested.
"Or probably it's a trap!" Kid shouted. "Serge! This could be another one of Fate's bloody trap!"
"Kid is right," Steena offered. "But you are right, too. We don't know who this Undine is so we can't jump to conclusions. We might as well get our answers at Water Dragon Isle."
"Please! Let me come!" Razzly begged. "If all the stories are true, if Undine is really coming, I have to go! Please?"
"You do know it will be dangerous," Glenn stated.
"So? I have Flower Power!" Razzly cried out triumphantly, waving her floral wand. Soon she fell serious. "And besides all that, I really need to see Undine. If she's really coming...then it'll be the greatest opportunity I've ever seen."
The whole group fell silent. Razzly waited, hoping that they would agree to bring her. Hoping that she could go to Water Dragon Isle with them.
"Why not?" Serge inquired suddenly. "You saved us back at the marshes. So the least thing we can do to return the favor is to let you come along."
Razzly smiled widely, happy to hear those words. "Thank you! Thank you, Sergey!"
"Serge, are you sure about this? Bringing her along?" Glenn asked, concerning about the little fairy and the dangers they would approach in sea.
"If we said no, she would come along anyway. Besides, she did save us."
"Geez, one more to add to this group that is gonna face chaos and death in the next few hours..." Kid grumbled as she went off to get organized.
"I see we haven't met yet" Steena exclaimed. "I am Steena, a Shrine Maiden from Guldove."
"My name is Razzly," the fairy introduced. "Thank you all, so much."
Fargo was still attempting to light his cigar in frustration while everyone prepared for the voyage.
"This could be a sign to quit smoking, Captain," Steena sneered.
"For the record of all this, I DON'T LIKE WATER WHEN IT'S LIKE THIS!" Kid blast out. The clouds overhead began to swirl closer together as a soft shower began. Waves were thrashing about, trying to seize the passengers aboard the boat and take them down to watery graves.
"Always raining on my parade..." Fargo said, laughing softly.
"How sturdy is this bloody deathtrap again?" Kid asked irritably.
"I am positive this boat will hold together so long as a storm isn't too rough," Fargo said, looking at the sky smiling. Kid was starting to get annoy, raising a fist in attempt to punch him. However, Serge tried to calm her down by holding her down.
"How far are we from the land?" Steena asked.
"We're about...two miles away from Water Dragon Isle," Glenn replied, reading the map he possessed.
"Are you sure this is safe?" Serge asked worriedly. "To sail in a storm?"
"Arg, don't worry! My ship has sailed through many storms and this is nothing too serious," Fargo laughed.
"I'm worried," Serge mumbled.
Thunder bellowed in the sky rolling along the waves at a high pitch boom. Lightening struck the water creating a large wave. The small boat was thrashed around the ocean like a small toy in a bathtub. Kid and Fargo both held onto the mast as Steena, Razzly, Serge, and Glenn all held onto each other.
Glenn shielded his eyes from the beating rain as he held on, looking for their destination. But only a plague of thick mist was in their way. How it got there, he wondered.
"Fargo, do you get fogs often at sea?"
"Fogs? Of course, in my sea-going days! ...Why?"
"I think we are heading towards one now."
The group looked up and took notice of the fade cloud of water vapor.
"Fogs don't form during thunderstorms," Steena uttered with a raised eyebrow.
"This one does," Glenn said, just as the fog gulped them.
"Do you hear something?" Razzly inquired, a bit frightened.
"What?" Serge asked.
"...Lighting. It sounds close, Sergey."
"Lighting?" Kid cried out, feeling uncomfortable. "If there was lighting close by, we'd be electrocuted by now!"
Surrounded by the misty clouds, Serge cleared away a puff of mist that blocked his vision. As he did so, a glimpse of a yellow flash caught his sight.
Far away, a small childish creature furred with feathers roamed the cloudy sky. Its size was a third of a human's height, four inches smaller than the small blue creature that invaded the camp. Belts buckled around its arms and legs. A choker with a ring fastened around its neck. Bushed up, the end of his long tail blazed colorful feathers, each conducting sparks. Around its spiked-up hair was a thick band where its sharp eyebrows concealed under, hiding a fraction of its spunkiness.
It stayed in one spot, hovering over the waters and gazing up to the sky. Serge watched as it hung up one fist, a point of a claw to the firmament. Quickly as it had raised its clawed fist, it stroke down and at its silent call, lighting formed in a spark below the creature. Jolts curved around the creature and fired towards the black clouds. It watched them being swallowed within the rainstorm, corrupting the voltage. It charged every jolt more and more, causing the storm to anger.
For such a creature to exist, he could tell its powers were equal to Yellow elements, but more divine.
"Bloody hell, what the heck is that!?" Kid yelled. His friends now noticed its existence.
"Not like any kind of monsters I know of," Fargo admitted.
The misty clouds consumed the feathery creature up as flashes distorted the darkened scenery above the group. An unusual spark behind the curtains of clouds alarmed Glenn. Then, out of the blues, the creature emerged from the clouds, diving face to face towards their boat.
"What the-!!!?" the creature screamed, making everyone's hearts skip a beat to even hear the creature speak in human tongue. But what was worse was the creature was heading their way. The creature couldn't stop in time in such a short distance.
"GET OUT OF THE WAY!!!" The creature's warning was in vain.
CRASH! CRACK!
Contact to the boat was made. The impact of the electrifying creature hit the small boat, tearing it to pieces. Small sparks from its bushy tail discharged out, breaking bits of wood like daggers. The creature's back broke the small mast and was sent flying uncontrollably.
"DAMN YOU STUPID MORTALS!!!" Those words escaped from the creature's mouth as it disappeared into the mist clouds, feathers drifting behind.
"I thought the bloody freak said he'll handle it!" Kid screamed grabbing onto a piece of wood.
"HOLD ON MATEYS!" Fargo bellowed over the ocean.
A large wave swept over the people sending them off, each in different directions. Serge grabbed to the nearest broken piece of wood. Fargo grabbed Kid and Glenn while Steena swam after a small package, grabbing it.
The waves crashed against each other as the storm reached its prime peak. Serge looked into the air and was sure he saw a yellow spark where the creature had disappeared to flowing towards the black skies.
"Over 'ere, mate!" Kid shouted to Serge waving her arms. Serge swam over to Kid and they both regrouped with everyone. Fargo left everyone in a small area as he pulled ropes together. He tossed some of the rope to Serge and ordered him to tie it. Together Fargo and Serge made a tiny raft. Everyone swam along the edges of the boat as they dogpaddled to Water Dragon Isle.
"Look!" Razzly cried, the direction of her view to the sky. Glenn had hurled her out of the water and carried her on his back.
Everyone gazed up to the storm that now was furiously irritated by the sudden impact. Out of the storm slithered a serpent-like creature, clothed with static-electrified feathers. It was long enough to coil around the storm. Popping out of the end of the storm was its feathery tail. Its face was like that of a wolf as it bared its teeth and flashed out thin-armed claws where belts buckled.
Instead of a howl, it roared like a dragon, erupting thunders in the clouds at its will. Sapphire eyes widened as Serge examined the serpent, to see another dragon existing in this world.
Finishing its cry of anger, it slowly gazed down with its black eyes, eyeing at the group.
"Oh bloody hell... Please tell me it's not looking at us as food?" Kid moaned.
The serpent raised up its head and roared to the sky. Then it dove towards them, opening its jaws wide. Everyone shut their eyes, not because the expectation of the electrifying feathers that would make contact to the water surface but because of the huge mouth that would swallow them whole first.
Far off, the three islands that stood in its forever circle, were nearly insight behind the rushing waves. Within the elderly creature was now slumbering within the hidden realm. Suddenly, it shot open its eye, as if knowing what was happening outside its domain. It swiftly got onto its four legs, enfolded wings and cried a thundering roar, more frightening than the serpent's. The roar exploded out of the realm and deafened the loud thunders.
The serpent halted and raised its eyes to the islands. Serge and his companions, seeing the serpent had decided not to eat but to listen to the sudden roar, followed its gaze to the islands and then looked back, worried if it would continue on.
In time, once the exploding roar died away, the serpent turned back to the mortals. Yet it did not move, did not budge, did not attack. It just stared at them. It might be pity that made the serpent stopped, Steena thought. But she knew they had to be cautious, to be prepared for the unexpected worse.
It stared at them for one quiet moment and then rose up its bushy tail. Voltage shocked through the feathery fabric. Fargo's eyes went wide. He knew what was going to happen.
"Quickly, get on! If that furball of vigor hits the water, we could all fried!" Fargo said quickly, pushing Kid and Steena onto the boat. "Hopefully the wood will protect us from the massive electric discharge..."
Everyone climbed aboard the even smaller raft as they waited for the inevitable.
As if letting go, the creature's tail plummeted down in swift motion towards the ocean. It was soon to crash into the sea, letting out a blast of light and energy.
As the freefall bushy tail got closer to the water the energy got even more massive than it was. Steena closed her eyes, as did everyone else. The giant tail hit the water with a loud splash, followed by a massive explosion accompanied by a tidal wave that headed right at the boat.
"BRACE YOURSELVES, MATEYS!" Fargo shouted, holding Steena and Kid tightly to himself to shield them from the oncoming doom. Serge opened his eyes to the wave and all he could remember was the face of the girl from his dreams. His eyes caught something strange about the wave. Along the middle of the wave was a gigantic hole that dwelled within the three islands, swirling and swallowing everything it could grasp. He tried to see what was inside, but it was dark and empty. He closed his eyes tightly one last time.
After that, the world went blank.
Vickie: Finally...after countless sleepless nights of thinking this crossover and getting great help from great authors...I'VE FINALLY FINISHED THE FIRST CHAPTER!!! MUAHAHAHAH!!!
Aurora: Ah, shut up and get on with it.
Vickie: You have no share of pride, do you?
Aurora: WHAAAT!!!? -Tries to kill the authoress but is dragged away by Rod the Vagrant-
Vickie: Now, despite that I didn't get any reviews for a while, I hope this chapter will attract a lot. Now, I like to dedicate this chapter to two great authors who helped me finish this chapter. Pauli, a great writer who shares a Chrono Cross fanfic entitled "Chrono Cross: Weaving Paths Complete!" with his brother, Witten's Hand and RikkuxStarr, authoress of a Chrono Cross fanfic entitled "Zutto". Thank you, Pauli for helping me and thanks, Rikku for helping me fill up the empty spaces! I hope you two will enjoy reading this chapter.
Now, my final declaration is that chapter two won't be coming too soon as my examinations shall come and torment in. In the meantime, I hope you readers will enjoy. Just one thing, PLEASE REVIEW IT!!! IT'LL MAKE ME SO HAPPY BEFORE I DIE IN MY EXAMS! OH, PRETTY PLEASE, SAY YOU WILL!? PLEASE!?