(Kit Thespian walks on stage, holding a sheet of paper that contains the list of all of the Chrono Trigger characters. Unbeknownst to her, the three Gurus have followed her onstage as well.)
Kit Thespian (to herself): Now, let's see... Who has not given the Disclaimer yet?
Belthasar: Ahem...
Kit Thespian (misses him entirely): I could ask Spekkio...
Gasper: Er...Kit Thespian?
Kit Thespian (turns and waves): Hey, guys! (goes back to list) Don't think I should get Yakra. He might 'needle' everybody... Lavos is definitely out...
Melchior (stamps his foot): Kit Thespian!
Kit Thespian: Yes?
Melchior: You haven't let us give a Disclaimer yet! Eleven chapters you've been giving Disclaimers, and you've ignored us!
Kit Thespian (feigning shock): Ignored you? But I've given each of you prominent roles in the story. Gaspar, you're the one who helps Magus and Lucca get together. (to Melchior) You marry them, (to Belthasar) and you...How could it be a story without you? Why, if it weren't for you in this story, Magus would not exist! You three are the backbone of this story!
Gaspar: ...Gee, I hadn't thought of it that way.
Melchior: Sorry, Kit Thespian.
Kit Thespian: No problem. Hey, guys, if you want to give the Disclaimer that bad, this chapter's free. Go ahead!
(The three Gurus stand in the front and all grin proudly)
Melchior: Kit Thespian does not own the video game Chrono Trigger...
Gaspar: Or the characters therein...
Belthasar: And she is not...
(Queen Zeal (the sane one) walks onto the stage)
Zeal (to Belthasar): Sugar pie!
Belthasar: Honey bunch!
(They run to each other and start kissing. Melchior and Gaspar look at each other.)
Gaspar: Sugar pie?
Melchior: Honey bunch?
Kit Thespian: Sounds like a song...
(Magus pops his head in and says to the couple)
Magus: Get a room, you two, you're embarrassing me.
Belthasar: Don't make me put you in a corner, young man!
Melchior: Guess it's up to us...
Gaspar (faces audience): And Kit Thespian is not making money from this. (to couple) Cut it out, you two!
Chapter Thirteen- The Threat
Six years later...
"Papa! Papa!" little Belthasar rushed to his father, who was returning home from work. His sister Kaleste, two years younger than he (and a miniature version of Lucca with Janus' eyes), followed closely behind.
Janus knelt down on the ground and spread his arms to receive his children, "Is your mother home?" he asked.
"She and Aunt Schala are talking with Mr. Glenn," Belthasar replied.
"Really?" Janus had wondered why Glenn left the field early. He picked up both children and they held onto his neck. He said, "Do you know why?"
"Mr. Glenn said he's waited long enough to ask you," Kaleste said.
Janus raised an eyebrow, "Ask me what, Kaleste?"
"I dunno..."
But Janus knew immediately what Glenn was going to ask. The only question hanging in his mind now was what had taken the knight so long. It was obvious from anyone who watched Glenn and Schala what had been going on between them. When it first started, Janus felt a little resentful and wished to object to their growing attachment to each other. But then he was reminded of how their match was probably more "suitable" than his and Lucca's.
In contrast to Janus, Glenn was a slow mover, and Janus was surprised that Schala hadn't given up on him by now. But it seemed that today was the day.
After sending the two children inside the tent, Janus and Glenn walked down the road. Janus crossed his arms, putting on his most intimidating look, stretching himself to his full height, while at the same time biting his tongue to keep from laughing. He liked torturing Glenn, and this seemed to be the best way to do it.
He said nothing, giving Glenn the first opportunity to speak. Needless to say, they strode in silence for about five minutes.
Glenn finally spoke, "Janus, there's something I wish to ask of thee."
"And I am most anxious to hear it."
"Thou knowest I am very fond of thy sister."
Janus resisted the urge to smirk. Even after several years Glenn could not give up his dialect.
"I know it," he answered.
"I wish to ask for...for..."
"For?"
"For...Thy sister's hand in marriage."
"Oh, really?" Janus wasn't done with torturing Glenn. He looked Glenn straight in the eye, "And give me one good reason for letting you marry her."
Glenn may have wavered underneath Janus' piercing eye, but only for a moment. He replied, "I love her."
"You love her...Well," Janus smiled and patted Glenn on the shoulder, "that's good enough for me."
Glenn's jaw dropped, "Why, thou..."
"My blessings to you both. In fact, I'll perform the ceremony, if you wish."
"I...doth not know what to say."
"Don't say anything, then."
A cry of alarm sounded from the other side of the village, then several people began to scream in panic. Forgetting their discussion, Janus and Glenn ran as fast as they could towards the source. Several women holding their children were running away, while the men, with their pitchforks and scythes, were rushing towards the commotion. Janus and Glenn found two scythes leaning against a shelter nearby and went to join the fray, whatever it was.
By now, Janus was considered, generally if not officially, the leader of the village, probably because he had the most brains and sense, and fighting ability. The only one who could be considered his equal with a weapon was Glenn. And they were the only men in the village who still had the use of magic. And their skills were needed at this moment.
A vile creature, twenty feet tall, had entered their midsts. It was a sickly, yellow color, walking on four legs, each leg two feet in diameter. There were several horns on its head and its largest claw was six inches long, and each talon dug into the ground as it stepped. It let out a roar that sent their ears ringing. But Janus and Glenn had heard worse in the battle with Lavos.
"I shall divert it while thou takest it from its right and left flank. Scratch its tendons," Glenn said to Janus, dashing towards the creature.
Janus was about to object, wanting to say that he did not wish his sister become a widow before she was even married, but the quickness of the situation required his immediate action. Glenn stopped in front of the creature and waved his scythe,
"Foul beast!" he shouted, "Come and face me!"
The dragon hissed at Glenn. The hot spittle that fell from its mouth caused little clouds of steam to emerge from the snow. Janus ran around it and sliced the backs of its legs. It groaned and tripped on the ground. But then it looked at Glenn and began to inhale sharply.
"Glenn!" one of the men shouted, "look out!"
The monster spewed a great stream of fire towards the knight, before anyone could react to it.
Glenn, without really thinking about it, held up his hand and a burst of water flowed forth and met with the fire, instantly extinguishing it. Glenn went further as to send the water spell into the dragon's throat. The hulk choked and spat, and Janus ran onto its back, reached its head, and embedded his scythe into its nape.
The creature died instantly. It fell to the ground and Janus held onto one of its horns so not to be tossed aside.
He jumped down and one of the men, named Arrandon, walked up to him and said, "I've never seen a beast like this before. Not even in the days before the Fall."
Ha, ha, ha...Very good...
Janus grimaced while everyone else, except Glenn, cringed. He knew that voice.
"I thought you said he was dead..." he spoke.
"Who? Who is it?" Glenn asked.
"Don't you remember?"
Yes, don't you remember, froggy boy?
Glenn looked up into the air and said, indignantly, "'Froggy boy'? Who art thou?"
A figure emerged, levitating over the ground. He was dressed in a red cloak with golden armor. He had honey-colored hair, and a patch over one eye. He was smiling, showing his comeliness, but at the same time revealed his cruelty.
One woman screamed and ran when she saw him and the others put up their guards. The figure was undaunted by them as he slowly lowered to the earth.
"You've no idea how long I have dreamed of this moment," he said, "Janus, son of Belthasar..."
"Dalton..." Glenn spoke, "how didst thou?"
"Save your breath," Dalton hissed at the knight, "I have no words for you. I wish to speak with your master."
"I am no one's master," Janus said.
"Oh, really? Why not? It is your right as the son of Queen Zeal, however...coarse your paternity was," Dalton sneered.
Janus did his best to ignore that statement, and he said, "These are all freemen, and we all work together to survive. Now, state your business, or be gone from here."
"My business..." Dalton put his fingertips together, "is my Master's business."
"Your...Master?" As far as Janus remembered, the only real loyalties that Dalton ever had were to himself alone, "Who is your Master?"
"Lavos spoke of him to you."
"What are you talking about?"
Dalton laughed, "You will know...soon enough. Until then, farewell, Janus..."
And with that, Dalton disappeared as quickly as he came, without even a sound or a puff of smoke.
Later that night, at Janus and Lucca's house...
"Think," Janus addressed his wife and friend, "what did Lavos say to us? We questioned his motives, and he gave us an answer."
"He spoke of Another," Lucca said, holding a sleeping Kaleste, "a...Being of Destruction. It had another name, but it was in a strange language. Lavos was sent by this Thing to destroy our world, in exchange for a breeding place for Lavos."
"It did command Lavos," Glenn spoke, "and now it commandeth Dalton. What sort of enemy is this?"
"The Enemy of the Entity; there is no other explanation," Janus settled onto a chair beside Belthasar's cot, where the boy lay sleeping. He brushed his son's hair gently with his fingers and said, "What evil does It have in store for our world now?"
"And why us?" Schala said, "Why attack us here and now?"
Janus answered, "If we knew that, our problems would be considerably fewer. We would know when exactly the attack would come, and how and where. But as it is, we can only watch and pray. Lucca, I don't want Belthasar and Kaleste to leave your sight for one moment when I am gone tommorrow, all right?"
Lucca nodded, holding her daughter closer to her.
"...I shall walk thee to thy house," Glenn said to Schala, as she headed for the exit.
"Thank you, Glenn," she turned to her brother and sister-in-law, "Goodnight, Janus. Goodnight, Lucca."
When they were outside of the hut, Schala whispered to Glenn, "Well, what did he say? Did you get a chance to ask him before everything happened?"
"Yes..."
"And?"
Glenn took Schala's hands in his and said, "He did consent."
"He did? Oh!" Schala wrapped her arms around Glenn's neck and hugged him fiercely, "He did! He did!"
"Schala, hush, the neighbors..." Glenn was looking around.
"Oh, forget the neighbors! What's wrong with them knowing that I love you, and that I will be your wife?" And then she kissed him.
Glenn replied, grinning and a little flustered, "Nothing at all, really, nothing at all..."