Chapter 10: To Akoi Lair – A Mother's Agenda
The Dactyl raced at high speed to the ancient cave. The wind almost knocked Lucca's glasses off. Crono started sweating as the Dactyl flew over the scorching lava fields. He looked down to take a look at them and saw several types of monsters feeding on the flesh of some recently killed animal. He looked up so he would throw up at the site of it. He looked up to see Ayla's Dactyl right beside his. He looked at Ayla, who appeared to have an angry, but determined look in her eyes.
Lucca's Dactyl flew up to Crono.
"How do you think
we will beat the Akoi Tribe, Crono?" Lucca asked.
"We'll
just use our magic to take care of 'em." Crono answered.
"But you saw how little effect it had last time. There's a high chance that there are more Akoi tribesmen at their cave. We barely managed last time against a number of them what chance do we have against more of them?" Lucca explained.
"Ayla know how to
beat Akoi." Ayla said.
"How?" Crono and Lucca asked
in unison.
Ayla reached in her fur boot. She pulled out a pouch that appeared to be made out of Nu Skin. She held up the pouch in the light so Crono could see.
"This pouch has Nu Powder." Ayla started. "Nu powder comes from skin of Nu, but has special power.
"What does this Nu
powder do?" Crono asked.
"Nu Powder is what Ioka use for
sick, but it hurts the Akoi." Ayla said.
"Crono must-"
She started.
"Look!" Lucca exclaimed.
Crono and Ayla looked at Lucca. Her glasses amplified the expression of her eyes, which were wide open. Crono and Ayla looked straight ahead. Crono's mouth dropped at the sight he saw. Between 2 volcanoes, towered a long structure. At the bottom was the effect of Molten Lava that oozed across the ground. As it went up, the tower became crystallized and while at the same time, there were openings that waterfalls of lava rushed out. At the top was a crystal building with mixed colors of a sapphire and a ruby. The sunset reflected off of it to create what looked like hundreds of rainbow bridges. The bridges connected themselves with the surrounding volcanoes to create a network of dangerous tunnels. Crono looked at the Crystal at the top and saw that there was something inside. He couldn't make out what. It was moving. He thought back to last years adventure to this area where Tyrano Lair stood. At the very top was a giant dinosaur, the Tyrano. He hoped that the figure he saw inside wasn't it.
"Follow Ayla." Ayla said.
Crono and Lucca followed Ayla on the Dactyl. Ayla swooped down and onto the only landform that wasn't oozing with lava or cracking open. She then got off of her Dactyl and stood looking at the tower.
"We wait until Sun
leaves." Ayla said.
"Oh I get it now!" Lucca said.
"We wait until they're asleep then we attack."
"No.
Cave no open until sun leaves" Ayla said.
Lucca looked up. She new they wouldn't have to wait more than a half hour since the sun was already setting. She sat down and took out her water bottle. She was upset to see that she left the top off and it was sticking halfway out of her backpack. The sun had evaporated most of it. Whatever was left was scorching hot. She planned to use it for later somehow.
Crono looked out at the glowing crystal building on top of the fortress. He wondered if he was right about it being a Tyrano on top of the fortress. He walked carefully over to Ayla, paranoid that the ground would break from under him.
"Ayla, what's with this fortress? It seems awfully dangerous for anyone to be hiding out inside, it seems like a maze, how the tower is built inside a volcano." Crono asked.
"Akoi tower is actually huge volcano. Ayla call it cave because it is filled with many caves. At the top is big shiny stone. Ayla no know what is inside." Ayla said.
"How do you know all of this Ayla? Have you been inside before?" Lucca asked.
"No. Ayla brother followed Akoi back here. He went inside and hid from Akoi. Ayla brother was found and fought hard to make it back to Ioka. Before Ayla brother die, he tell about cave." Ayla told them.
"Ayla. I'm really sorry about your brother." Lucca said. "What was his name?"
"Ayla brother called Red Stone, after the Red Rock. He was a sign of power." Ayla started. "He left Ioka on journey. He returned many suns ago. Before Akoi appeared. Ayla fight for Red Stone... and for daughter."
The sun disappeared behind the far off horizon. Crono and Lucca looked at each other, and then at Ayla.
"Daughter!?" They said at the same time.
"Ayla and Kino daughter, captured by Akoi. Ayla main reason for come here." Ayla said.
Crono stepped forward with a serious look on his face.
"Ayla. We'll get your daughter back. And avenge the death of your brother!" he said.
Ayla smiled. She was about to say something when they felt a huge rumble. They all fell to the ground. Crono panicked and thought the ground was going to break and he would fall into the Lava. Ayla grabbed him and Lucca, who was right beside her. On their knees, they looked at the biggest volcano, directly across from them. A cave was opening. The wall of the volcano slid open near its top. When it finished, the ground stopped rumbling and a solitary rainbow path appeared. It lead straight to the platform that Crono, Ayla, and Lucca were standing on.
They all looked at each other. Ayla walked over to the 3 Dactyl and made a gesture for them to fly. The Dactly flew up, but instead of going away, they circled over the area that the fortress spanned. Crono and Lucca watched them, but then Ayla tapped them on the shoulders. Crono and Lucca followed Ayla and walked up the Rainbow path... into the Akoi Lair.