Note: Eventually I will have the story go towards a more original line. For just a little bit I'm going to steal the real story and/or allude to it, as I feel certain events have to happen for the characters to grow to where I want them to be xx
Disclaimor: I own nothing of the below. SquareSoft does! I think it is SquareEnix now, actually. Well, anyhow. I am not a part of that. I wish I was. Alas.
The group was small and, when looking at the ragtag bunch through discerning eyes, miserable. They were young. Young in italics, young. Most kids their age were worried about trivial matters like the recent fashions and which of their peers was attractive at that moment. Instead they were more concerned with machines, guns and swords, time-travel, epic battles and the fate of their universe. It wasn't that they were mature for their age, it was that they were forced to grow. They learned it was a tough world. They were to adapt or die in the attempt.
The leader of this band was Crono, a teenager from 1000 AD, Truce. He was a previously carefree youngster with a mop of strikingly red hair. Now his face was dirty, his hands scraped up and there was more than one battle scar across his chest and back. He was quiet by nature, but deadly with the katana, his weapon of choice.
At Crono's side was Marle. That name was merely a beloved alias, for she was once called Nadia, princess of Guardia. She was a blonde, charismatic teen with a lot of spunk and energy. She wasn't the brightest, but she was wise in her own way. She knew better than anyone that the most logical argument in the world might not do as much convincing as a smile and a polite attitude would.
The self-appointed mechanical genius of the group was a purple haired youngster named Lucca. She was smart, probably too smart. She was the only one who made all of her own weapons and constantly gave their ship, the time travelling Epoch, constant repairs.
Shortest of all was Frog, aptly named for the fact he was, indeed, a frog. However, he wasn't always an amphibian. He was a knight named Glenn in the past who had been travelling with a true hero, Cyrus. Their comraderie came to a close, however, when the evil Magus, a dark wizard, brought death to Cyrus and the crude shape to Glenn. Now, the knight swore revenge against the dark mystic.
Next was Robo, a robot that Lucca had restored in their soon-to-be desolute future. He was strong and loyal. Sometimes the group forgot that he was a robot, for he was as loving and kind as any of those who had flesh instead of metal for skin.
Last, but not least, was a warrior from the past named Ayla. She didn't say much, due to her limited vocabulary, but she made up for that by the fact that she always wore a fur bikini, complete with tail. This was readily welcomed by the males, though both the other girls had tried to tell her that it wasn't exactly appropriate to run around in "unmentionables". This, however, had started a discussion about how something could be unmentionable if they were mentioning it. In despair, Lucca and Marle had given up and just let Ayla be Ayla. Considering her superhuman strength, they both figured it was probably better to just let her have her way in most cases.
The ultimate aim for this group was to defeat a being known as Lavos. He was a parasite, coming to earth in Ayla's time and slowly biding its time before it would make itself known to the earths unlucky inhabitants, effectively destroying the world.
"Does this place give anyone else the creeps?" Lucca asked, nervously darting glances around one of the lesser palaces of Zeal.
"Ayla like!" Ayla articulated as well as she could. She had a reason to like it though. The inhabitants of the world, curious about the organic magic users, had been interested in them all, but especially in Ayla. She had grabbed their attention when she started jumping about, pointing to everything that caught her eye (especially anything that was shiny) and asking, "what that?" Before some hapless resident could explain it, she lost interest and immediatly pointed to something else, repeating her question. For some reason her eagerness had won the affection of the Zealots (the name given to them by Lucca) and they followed her around, delighted.
"I doth not perceive goodness stems from such decadence," Frog said quietly, fingering his legendary blade, the masamune, at his side.
"It's almost like being back home," Marle said wistfully. She didn't like to admit it, but sometimes she missed her father, even if he was an overprotective prig. She unconsciously let her fingers brush against Crono's. When the redhead lifted his eyes to meet hers and smiled, Marle felt a little bit better. He was at her side. He was her protector and her guide. She knew she would be okay so long as he was always with her.
"I still don't like it. Everyone seems cold and mechanic. No offence, Robo," Lucca said offhand to the robot who came to stand beside her.
"None taken, Lucca. Considering your fondness for me, it stands that you would not find mechanical beings to your dislike," Robo beeped.
"I like robots, of course. I just don't like to find such qualities in people," said the purple headed girl after a moments' consideration.
"Let's remember what we're here for. It isn't to check out the locals. Lavos is making his presence known here. He's a lot stronger here than in the other ages. There must be a reason why," Crono said calmly.
"Ayla found news!" the bouncy blonde cried as she bounced over to the group. She managed to ditch her entourage of Zealots.
"What's the story?" Marle asked.
"No story. News! Shiny people say great blue man come. He see future in his head," Ayla nodded happily.
"A soothsayer?" questioned Frog. "Mere charlatans with tricks."
"Perhaps. Maybe he's somehow connected to Lavos. I think we should investigate. After all, it's the only lead we have in this place," Crono said decidedly. The others nodded or voiced their agreement.
"I'm sensing another land bridge. If we leave now we should be able to make it to the Palace of Zeal before nightfall," Robo said helpfully.
The group set out immediately. When they reached the land bridge they were lifted up by a beam of pure light into another place. They quietly trudged through the snows of the "unenlightened ones" or those who could not use magic. When they reached the other bridge, they were beamed up in the sky and found themselves in front of a magnificent castle.
"This would put Daddy to shame," Marle said with wide eyes.
They entered the grand palace. They decided to split up and try to find out as much as possible about the prophet and Lavos as they could.
Lucca ended up going off on her own. She was partnered with Robo but managed to convince him that they'd cover more ground on their own. Truthfully, she just wanted to be alone for a little bit. The genius realized that she was tired. She had been through many battles recently. From the skeleton demon to the battle of the wind gods Masa and Mune, to the great showdown between her party and Magus. That had been the worst for her. His shadow attacks didn't just hurt her physically, but emotionally. She felt terror and a vague sadness as they hit her. It was like she was falling into a dark void and nobody cared that when she hit the bottom she might stop breathing. The feeling had kept her awake at night sometimes. What bothered her the most is that it seemed like it was someone else's sadness reaching out to her. She had a touch of what she imagined it must like being Marle, wanting to care for everyone who was hurt. When she tentatively questioned the others about it she was met with blank stares. It seemed like she was the only one who had experienced it. Frog had taken her aside and warned her that Magus was the incarnate of evil, and not to be trusted. He played tricks and it wasn't worth worrying about.
Lost in her own thoughts she realized that she had wandered off without quite realizing how she had gotten there. She found herself at a hallway that separated into two different rooms. Hearing noises from the left room, she decided to head over and see if she could find someone who might know something about Lavos.
She entered to find the most beautiful woman she had ever seen. She was stunning and looked exactly like Lucca imagined a princess should look (especially compared to Marle). The woman had flowing hair that was pinned up with jewels. Two chunks of shimmering locks fell on her cheeks and below her neck. She wore a simple white dress with an adorned belt, simple silver sandals and a pendant around her neck. Upon closer inspection, Lucca realized that she had seen that pendant before. Before she could place where she had seen it, the beautiful woman spoke.
"Janus, you don't look so well. Do you want me to get you something warm to drink?" she said softly.
"I'm fine," he said. "It's you who I'm worried about. Schala! That woman isn't in her right mind. She's hurting you."
"You shouldn't speak of our mother that way," she who was called Schala answered.
"She's not my mother!" the boy spat contemptuously. "Not anymore. That . . . thing is making her crazy."
"I know it seems hard now, Janus. But you must trust me, and her. She's just doing what she thinks is right for everyone. Hopefully you won't ever have to have so many worries. She's Queen, brother. She belongs more to the people than to us."
Just than a woman slipped past Lucca without seeming to know or care that she was there. The woman's attention was only for Schala.
"Mistress, the Queen requests your presence in the Mamon room."
"Yes, certainly. Tell her I will be there soon," Schala said before turning to Janus. "Brother, promise me. If anything happens you'll go stay with the Earthbound ones. The elder will take care of you. Promise me."
Janus quietly promised. Schala nodded and turned to go. Finally she saw Lucca standing awkwardly near the door.
"Who are you?" Schala asked. Before Lucca could answer, the attendant begged the princess to follow her. Quietly they left.
"What are you doing here? You don't belong here," the boy snapped at Lucca.
"I feel the same way. Nice cat," Lucca said, pointing to a cat that was the same color as the boys flowing blue hair.
"His name is Alfador," the boy said. "He only likes me so don't bother trying to pet him."
"I wasn't going to," Lucca said, eyeing the strange cat and his even stranger owner.
"Who are you?" The boy asked.
"My name is Lucca," the girl said as she took a seat in one of the chairs.
"Why are you here? Don't you know you can't trespass in the room of the Prince of Zeal?"
Lucca felt her cheeks redden as a fire spell was coming to mind. She usually had better self control, but the stress had been slowly eating away at her patience. She was about to scare the boy with a small fire ball, but when she looked at the boys eyes she saw more than just his anger. She saw the clenched fists and his shaking legs. He was afraid. Not of her, but of something greater. The spell dissipated as she rested her head in her hands. She was tired.
"I'm sorry," she said. "I don't know where I am. This place is unfamiliar to me."
"You still shouldn't trespass," he said with a childlike impertinence. Alfador, purring, crept up to Lucca. Timidly it rested its claws on her leg. Then in one bounding leap it was on her lap, nestling against her orange overshirt.
"Alfador?" the boy looked shocked. "What are you doing?"
"The cat has good taste," Lucca said triumphantly. Catching a look at the boy, she immediatly felt guilty. "I haven't showered in awhile. Maybe I smell like fish or something."
"He's never done that before," Janus said quietly.
"Yeah. Well um, so what's the Mamon thing?" Lucca asked while giving the cat a pat.
"You shouldn't listen to other peoples conversations," the boy said with narrowed eyes.
"I know. I'm sorry. It was impolite. Unfortunately, I can't take back what I've heard. So what can you tell me about it?"
"It's a machine. Moth... the queen, says that it is connected to a God. She says she will become all powerful through it and bring out people into a golden age. It's nonsense though. She's not powerful. She needs Schala to run it," Janus said.
"A god, hm? Maybe it's Lavos," Lucca thought to herself.
Aloud, she said "you really love your sister, don't you?"
"More than anything," he said quietly. As he did, Alfador jumped from Lucca's lap to Janus'. He caressed his beloved cat.
"You should go," Janus said quietly. "I want to be alone."
"Sorry. Thanks for your help, Janus," Lucca said before she left. She knew she had to find her friends immediately to impart her newfound knowledge.
She found them all waiting in the great lobby. They were already discussing what they had found. It wasn't much. Far as they could tell the prophet had shown up a little bit before them and was causing dissension between Dalton, the Queen's right hand man and the Queen herself. It was said that she trusted the prophets judgement without question. Beyond that they had learned nothing else.
"Wait til you hear what I found out," Lucca said. She told them her theory that she thought the Queen was trying to use Lavos to raise her enlightened people and world even higher up then it was.
"The eyes of this majesty is clouded, if she doth think she can use the great beasts power for good," Frog said solemnly.
"Is it even possible?" Crono asked.
"I don't know," said Lucca. "I suppose it might be. Janus said something about the queen being crazy. Maybe Lavos is using her instead of the other way around."
"Who is this Janus?" Marle asked with a sparkle in her eye.
"A child, oh matchmaker," Lucca said with a glare.
"Doesn't hurt to ask," Marle said with a grin.
"Ayla bored! Ayla fight bad thing!"
"I agree with Ayla. I think we should head to this Mamon room. Any idea where it is, Lucca?" Crono asked.
"No. But since I've already been to the left I assume it's somewhere on the right."
"Brilliant deduction," Robo said in all seriousness.
The group traveled to the doors of the Mamon Machine.
"Wow," said Marle. "Those are some impressive doors, but how will we get past them?"
"Knocking is the most accepted method of formal visitor admittance," Robo beeped.
"Well, I guess it couldn't hurt," Crono said as he bounced up the steps to open the door.
"Wait, Crono! Let me try!" Marle said, bouncing in front of her love. She knocked in a seemingly secret code on the door. Thump, thump, thump, thump followed by two quick whacks!
"That look fun! Ayla hit door!" The busty blond said as she clamored up the stairs. She pounded away on the door in a wild manner, jumping up and down. She gave it a kick or two for good measure as well.
"Ayla, I don't think that's necessary," Lucca murmured.
"Ayla know, Ayla show. Door open for Ayla."
Just then a flash from the door caused Ayla's joyous rampage to take a time out. The door shimmered, then shined. Marle's pendant, as if taking that as a stage cue, started to shine as well.The door, almost of its own accord, spread its doors open wide. It beckoned the group with the promise of mystery and adventure, though, deep down in the pit of their stomachs, all but the robot felt uneasy.
"Did you know this could do that?" Marle said, holding up her pendant.
"I was just about to ask you that," Crono said, scratching his head.
The group took a deep breath before they went into the unknown.