Disclaimer:

I should quit saying this: Chrono Trigger is not mine, nor will be.

Chapter four:

Around Death Peak

A panel was shut close. Ro cleaned the sweat on his face, climbed down the ladder and met Ilia and Belthasar at the floor.

"Told you we were fast." Ro said. He then sat on the floor, tired from all the work, and looked at Epoch. The machine, now clean and shimmering with light, looked magnificent. The small size didn't compare to its true power.

"It's a real beauty, and my last work." Belthasar said, starring at the machine, he then turned to both teens, looking at them with a calm and thankful smile. "I thank you for all your help. My last task is almost finished; and you both know I'm dying. It is for the best that you return to your love ones."

The sudden words that came from Belthasar were both true and shocking for them, as if he knew what was coming for him. Ilia unable to talk, glanced at Ro.

"We can't for the moment. If we want to return we have to find someone first." Ilia said, with a grin of doubtfulness.

"How come?"

"We have to search for Sir Krawlie's underlings; it's the only way we can cross unharmed." Ro answered.

Belthasar was lost in thought, until a familiar voice answered.

"I saw them." The Nu, now walking toward them, spoke. His face not changing much.

"Where'd you saw them!" Ro said.

"They went to Death Peak." The Nu answered. Belthasar looked at the Nu a bit surprised, and afraid; for he knew that they were not the ones to climb it. But for a way back, they had to.

"We have to climb Death Peak?" Ilia complained. "That thing is to steep for us!"

"Squeak! It's not a problem with me. I can lead you through." Pookey said as he jumped on Ilia's shoulder.

Everyone kept silent, thinking of a way to climb it; or a reason to not climb it at all. After a few seconds, Ilia broke the silence.

"The best thing we can do right now is to plan ahead."

Ro looked at her with surprised, and agreed.

CTR

Melanie walked to Doan, with a device to download information. "I'm ready."

"You're truly going?"

"Yes. I know ….."

"Then…I wish you the best of luck." Doan said.

"I'll make it back safely." Without worry, she walked out of the Dome. Outside the outskirts of the wasteland, the storm continued its rage and slow destruction. Melanie put on her goggles and stepped on the cold ground. She started walking to her next destination; Lab 16.

CTR

"You know, we should spend this night here." Ilia said, as she was emptying a small metal crate.

"Why are you saying that? We don't need much, and I don't expect them to have climbed all the way to the top."

I know that! I checked outside and it doesn't look that good. I mean it's worse than other days! The wind could take me away!"

Ro got up from where he was sitting and walked around. If it is as you say, then there's gonna be a lot of snow tomorrow."

"When we return, what do you think Melanie will tell us?"

Ro flinched at the thought of having with the woman who was in care of them. "I don't want to think about it."

Ilia smile a bit. "You thought you could get away." She then looked at the Epoch. "Still, we haven't found anything."

"I thought that the old man could tell us something. But I do hope to find out about that video around here. Do you think we can find something else beside that?"

"That I don't know. But at least we came here." Ilia turned to leave. "I'm gonna check outside again."

"Sure." Ro answered as Ilia walked away. He then returned to sit on the floor, only to find Pookey standing in front if him. "I though you were asleep!"

"Squeak! Ilia wouldn't let me with all her racquet." Pookey sat by Ro's side, watching him sort out the materials needed at Arris Dome. "I heard what you two were talking about. The only thing I'll tell you is to be patient. Many like you lost their lives rushing things."

The door opened quickly, and Ilia came rushing in, gasping for air. "There are some strange people inside the building."

Ro and Pookey looked at each other, then got up and rushed behind Ilia out the room. They followed the messy hallway and stopped at the last door. Beside the exit, a small ladder led to the catwalk above. Ro was the first to climb, followed by Ilia. When they reached the top, they crouched near the limit, watching the main room from below. Belthasar was working on the computer and three teens approached him. The first one, a boy with red spiky hair; the second one, with a blonde ponytail, with not enough clothes to protect her from the cold; and the third one another girl with short purple hair, and a weird helm.

"Have you ever seen people like them?" Ilia whispered.

"No, but…" Ro whispered back. The three watched how Belthasar hadn't noticed the kids, and was murmuring alone.

"Schala…I've missed you so…" Belthasar spoke aloud before speaking to the teens.

"Who's Schala?" Ilia whispered again. She turned to Ro, who answered raising his shoulders. They both looked down again, and they saw the team with the red haired making their way to the exit. Ilia and Ro shared glances, and then they slowly got back to the hangar.

"Now that was weird." Ro said.

"Squeak! I've never seen guys like them." Pookey commented.

Ilia starred at them. "Did they pass through the sewer? Can we cross now, without looking for Krawlie's underlings?"

I don't know. But we can't rely on the idea that they did cross through the sewer and encountered him." The door behind them hissed open, letting pass Belthasar and his Nu He came in with a combination of emotions. Excited, scared, they were all caused by the sudden appereances of the people who came in. Belthasar approached them both.

"It's a good time that you go to Death Peak now. The winds have come to a small rest today."

"Finally!" Ilia ran to one of the crates, where their made backpack laid on the floor. She began sorting out the needed items.

"Who were those people?" Ro asked, turning to Belthasar. He, on the looked surprised.

"What people?"

"The three that came in here a while ago. Were they looking for you?"

Belthasar chuckled. "They were looking for me at the wrong time. They are…the ones who are going to change the future."

"Change the future?" Ro repeated in a low voice, that only Pookey would hear. Ilia came back back with her small backpack ready.

"You ready?" She asked happily. She then turned to Belthasar. "Thanks for everything. And for letting us tinker with your machine."

"We'll head straight for the sewer after Death Peak." Ro said.

"No, no. I should be thanking you. Now be on your way before the storm gets worse again."

Ilia and Ro nodded and walk off. Belthasar watched them disappear from the room. He was already feeling too sick to continue living. Belthasar fell to his knees, holding himself up with the help of the Nu.

"Master, are you ok?"

"Belthasar struggled to get back up. "Not for long. There is still something else I must do before I die."

CTR

Melanie was halfway through the snowy desert. She wondered why the winds stopped blowing so harshly and was now the weakest she has ever seen. "(Is the storm finally stopping? Or is it taking a small rest.)"

Suddenly she could hear a distant engine working. Melanie turned her view to the right and she saw a line of blowing snow coming from the ground. As the line changed direction her, she could see something like a 'car'. It was then that she realized that the object was coming straight at her at incredible speed. Melanie covered her eyes as the vehicle ran past, showering her in snow. Melanie peeked back to see who or what it was. She encountered a humanoid machine with a purple Mohawk and black shades.

"Hey, Mel!"

"J, Johnny!" Melanie exclaimed. She dusted the snow off her and walked to him. "What are you doing!"

"I was trying out my new snow wheels, and that's when I saw you." He said.

"And you showered me with snow!"

"Sorry, the breaks need a little work."

"Don't be a liar! Tell me the real reason! You told me you didn't need them when I gave them to you!" She pointed at him.

"I need new running places!" He answered in defense. Seeing that Melanie was still waiting for his true answer, he gave up. "Some red-head beat me at my own racetrack! With the old man's car!"

"Glad you lost." She smiled. "Hey can you take me to Lab 16?"

"What for! There's no track there!" He said, as she climbed on him. "Hey what are you doing?"

"Just get me there! Besides I gave you those wheels!" Melanie said.

"…I'll give you the ride, but don't get me in any of your problems!" Johnny started his engines and headed straight to the city ruins.

CTR

Ilia gazed up at the mountain and sighed. "This place is so steep, and we just walked the foot of it…I hate walking up mountains. It was easier just watching them from afar."

"This road isn't as steep as the others nearby."

"Squeak! At least you're complaining less. Finding Krawlie's underling isn't going to take long."

Ro took leadership, and started walking up the snowy mountain with Ilia behind him. Each step that he took was a slow one. The snow had accumulated over the centuries, making their steps fall down a little.

The way they were taking was clean through. Rocks and spiky formations stood to the sides, covered with snow and debris the wind carried there.

"This mountain feels a lot different. Squeak!"

"It looks the same for me." Ro answered back. He found himself without a comment from Ilia, which made him uneasy. "What's the mater?"

"Nothing. I was just thinking." She said. "Do you think Doan had already told Melanie we went away?"

"With so many days gone by, I hope he did. I don't want her thinking we're dead or something." Ro answered.

Halfway through the path, the environment around them changed with cliffs and caves. The wind was already picking up. Ro looked back at Ilia and pointed to a cave nearby. Understanding his signal, both of them walked into the closest cave.

Inside the cave, the air was cold, but not as freezing as it is outside. The winds blew with more rage, passing by the entrance. Ro and Ilia walked further inside, the light having no reach into that abyss.

"I guess this is it for today."

"Those underlings better be alive." Ilia said, sitting down.

"They're monsters. Squeak! They're used to this stuff."

Pookey sat on Ilia's lap, where he happily went to sleep. Ro gazed at the white wind blowing outside. "Something's weird here."

"Is it good or bad?"

"I don't know." He said. Ro sat beside Ilia. He reached for a few wood inside the cave and started a fire. "We better rest here for a while."

CTR

"Are you gonna tell me what you're searching for!"

"Ok, ok! I went down Arris Dome the other day and found a satellite video. I think there might be some info here."

Melanie and Johnny had long ago reached Lab 16 and were now walking to, what seems a building that survived the deterioration halfway.

"What about that computer leader of yours, (what was its name?) Mother Brain is it? Does she…it…whatever it is, know something?"

"That thing isn't my boss! And even if it does know, I couldn't tell you from here."

Both of them stopped at the entrance the building. Looking further beyond, gutters, cables, and the tiles from the floors above hung from the broken ceiling. Melanie stepped inside, followed by Johnny who had to crouch at some parts.

After a while of walking, they reached a part of the building that looked like a control room of sorts.

"This is what you've been searching for!"

"Well this is a computers center, or rather was. What did you expect?"

"I expected nothing!" Johnny replied. Melanie walked to a terminal. Most of the computers in the room were destroyed, only leaving some of use. Melanie hoped for at least one of them to be connected to the main computer of the building. She opened her small pc, which with the help of Pookey managed to fix and understand, and linked it. Melanie searched for all the files, but found nothing that had to do with what she saw at Arris, 'Zeal' or 'Lavos'.

"There's nothing here! What kind of center is this!"

"Are you finished! If there's nothing here, why are you wasting your time searching anyway!"

"I'm not finished yet." Melanie said as she continued searching until she found one of interest. "'Tempo projects'? Well this is interesting."

"What is?" Johnny asked scavenging for parts.

"This file. I'm going to take it with me."

"Aren't you gonna tell me?"

"Let's get outta here before you get stuck in the snow!"

CTR

"I think they're dead."

"Of course they're dead! They're humans."

Ro slowly opened his eyes at the noise that started in front of him. Two yellow frogs were now screaming at each other. He jumped at the sudden realization, throwing the two frogs near the fire.

"What are you trying to do, Cook us?"

"I told you they weren't dead!"

"Shut up!"

"Who are you two?" Ro asked. Ilium was standing up after Pookey jumped off her lap.

"We are Sir Krawlie's underlings."

Ilia looked down at them. "So they found us. Our ticket outta here."

"What do you mean by your ticket!"

"Krawlie sent us to search for you if we wanted to return." Ro stared at them for a second. "What are you doing here?"

"None of your business!"

"We were hiding from Sir Krawlie!"

"You were hiding from your own boss?" Ilia asked amused.

"He was gonna shred us!"

"Shut up!"

"We returned, but then some intruders beat up Sir Krawlie and we ran away."

"We didn't run away! We were just making sure they didn't cross the sewer."

Ro looked at the frogs, blinking a few times. He though that maybe the 'intruders' the frog said were the people they saw at keeper's Dome.

"So, why are you here now?" Ilia asked.

"We followed you when we saw you climbing."

"We thought you could have made a great snack for Sir Krawlie."

"Well, then he can forget it!" She said. Ro smiled at her, and then walked to the entrance.

"Hey, where do you think your going!" The bossy frog said.

"We're heading back, now that we found you." Pookey said as he climbed on Ro. The two frogs jumped at the voice, looking at his shoulder.

"You're alive?"

"Didn't Sir Krawlie shred ya!"

'Squeak! He missed." Ro and Ilia both walked to the entrance of the cave. The frogs, having no other option, followed them. Ro watched the area beyond.

"Ready to go down?" He asked to Ilia, and she nodded. Both walked outside, through the thick snow. The wind was blowing strong, half-blocked by the many cliffs and rock pillars. They were now stepping in a small clearing, with the slope that would guide them down across.

Ro stopped in the middle of the clearing as Ilia walked past him. Just then, an eerie roar came from behind them, making both of them turn around. A reddish, spiky boulder was slowly creeping toward them. Scared, the two frogs ran away screaming in panic, leaving the others confused.

Ro turned back to Ilia. "Run! Go on ahead!" He yelled as he followed behind her. The creature stops its advancement making another eerie sound. The creature slightly crouched, as some of its shell was bulging. Ro stopped, looking back at the creature; it shot out bright lights in the air.

"Ro! Hurry up!" Ilia said. As soon as she talked she looked up as a rain of the same bright lights came pouring down in front of her, at the clearing. "Ro get out of there!" she yelled as it pummeled, it lifted a cloud of snow that moved with the winds. "RO!"

Ro managed to not get hit, as he made his way trough an untouchable white wall that kept rising and disappearing from the ground. He covered his eyes as another light plummeted right in front of him, one of the last ones to make it to the ground, covering him in a light white coat. The snow cleared, revealing Ilia at a fair distance waiting for him. Ro sprinted toward her, until he felt the ground beneath him slowly crumbling. He stopped, looking down to his feet, as the snow, the ice and the rock beneath broke apart.

He took one last moment to look at her. "Get away!" He yelled. Ilia was standing there, staring scared as part of the clearing was breaking apart, and as Ro disappeared. Rocks and snow lifted and turned over, falling inside a dark cave, and hiding any evidence of him ever standing there. Then, after the wind cleared, and the sounds of heavy boulders being shut quiet, only a dark bottomless pit stood in the middle of what was once

Ilia continued to watch, shocked. The wind still blowing and the same howling sound it made. The place felt the same as when they both arrived. And yet, she kept waiting for something, as the creature stopped to a rest on the other side. "Ro…" She whispered, only hearing the howling wind now and then.

Pookey jumped on her shoulder, with his head looking down. "We have to return now. Squeak!"

"That can't be! He must be hiding somewhere!" Ilia quickly said after hearing Pookey.

"He wanted you to be safe…We can wait for him, it's your decision." The rat said with concern. Ilia stood there a minute, until she finally spoke.

"Yeah. Let's go back."

CTR

"This is it. Arris Dome."

"Thanks for the Ride." Melanie said as she hoped off. "What are you going to do now?"

"Me? I have to get to Lab 32. Those kids want to race again. And that's what I live for!"

"Good Luck then. I don't think you're gonna win though."

"Why you!" Johnny was about to complain again, but rather left.

"Where could those kids be?" Melanie said to herself as she closed the small door that led inside the Dome.

Sorry I took so long. Life isn't as easy as I thought. Well R&R please!