Start Date: October 31, 2021

Windwillow

Chrono Trigger

Chapter Twelve

In textbooks, Zenan Bridge marked the turning point in the Mystic War. Thrashed by the Guardians, Magus's forces withdrew from Zenan altogether. In time the war would end by surrender: when their leader, Magus, died in a mysterious cataclysm, the Mystics sued for peace.

Medina was established, Guardia consolidated, and the status quo put in place. Guardia entered an era of good feelings, where around the world friendly adminstrations worked together with the royals to create a Pax Guardia.

But what remained unknown was the reason WHY Magus died. Was it a force beyond his control? Or was it at the hand of a legendary hero? History as it was now unfolded very differently than what it originally had.

Scene One

Our heroes were met with, ironically enough, a hero's welcome upon their return to the Castle. Cheers erupted from all corners, huzzahs from here to there, and a grateful King Guardia - still bandaged - met them in the throne room with a smile on his face.

"Friends," he bellowed, "you've saved us once again! The kingdom owes a debt to you unrepayable by any gold or silver!"

Robo nodded.

"Your gratitude is welcome. However, we do require travel permission to the south Zenan continent."

The King beamed.

"Go anywhere you wish! I hear the Mystics have withdrawn from the majority of Zenan, so they will offer little resistance to you. Even Porre has been liberated... but their threat remains so long as Magus breathes."

Crono smiled, gritting his teeth.

"Let's fix that for you."

Shaking his head, the King frowned.

"No, friends, only the legendary Hero can defeat him. Even now he ascends the Denadoro Mountains to find the Masamune. If you wish, feel free to assist our young savior; but he alone can save us."

Marle smiled.

"Well, let's help him! To Denadoro!"

The King nodded.

"The village of Dorino lays between here and Denadoro. Seek their guidance as you travel."

Crono nodded back.

"Will do."

Marle leaned in and whispered.

"But first, let's check on Lucca."

Another Angle

"Brothers"

The Knight Captain took a swig of ale. His duty completed, he now sat with his men in the kitchens. All their favorites were there: roast beef, rack of lamb, and omelettes potent enough to make a scientist squeal. The bacon was nice too.

Sir Crono saved us again he thought as he reclined. Such an extraordinary young man...

A bottle of ale slammed down on the table. Startled, the Captain's head jolted up to see his brother. A nervous smile crossed each man's face.

"Ah see ye came back," the cook growled. "Ye've a lot of nerve ta show yer face before me!"

The Knight Captain narrowed his eyes.

"And why is that?"

The Cook smiled.

"Because we've both been makin' Mother cry from up there."

The two clasped hands and embraced.

Scene Two

"Aaaaaaaand...!"

Crono and Marle were thrown back by Lucca, a very excited Lucca, not physically but by her disturbing... pep.

"I give to you my newest invention: Lucca Tonic, or just Tonic. One drink will fill you with energy! One drink will soothe torn joints and knit broken bones! Well, sorta, it just sets 'em... but it works! I... am... such... a...!"

Crono slapped her.

"Genius, we know, get ahold of yourself."

Lucca nursed her cheek.

"Y'don't need to get VIOLENT!"

Taban stepped up, lifting a bag of tools much like Lucca always used.

"My daughter and I came up with a ton of stuff! These capsules hold a ton of things, all sorts of tools and even labs!"

Holding her shoulder, Marle piped up.

"I'm sorry, but I'm tired... I got hit by that big bony thing."

Surprisingly, Lucca got excited.

"Lucca Tonic! Lucca Tonic! It'll fix ya right up!"

Crono slapped her again. But he still took a Tonic and gave it to Marle, who drank it and sat down in Taban's recliner.

"Well, it does feel better... but I'm still tired. You guys can go on ahead."

Lucca nodded.

"Leave it to us. We'll find the sword, kick Magus's sorry keister, and save the world! Oh, and then I can bottle the Tonic. Gonna make a fortune! And STOP slapping me!"

Scene Three

After a quick jaunt back to the End of Time, our gang headed to Dorino. There they hoped to find valuable intel. Guess who they found.

"Hello, friends!"

"Buy your own damn booze!" Crono yelled. "Just tell us about the Masamune and I'll give you a drink."

For the sake of brevity, we shall skip the discussion. Toma explained the legend of the Masamune, that it laid in the Denadoro Mountains - famous for their stone exports - and that the legendary hero had headed there. Like all good protagonists, they followed.

The Mountains were beautiful: verdant green and laced by shimmering blue rivers, the place looked like a spa resort. It was no wonder stonework was done here, with all the mountains, crags, and boulders lying around.

"Holy-crap-I'm-gonna-die!"

Our heroes were brushed aside by a young boy, wearing armor and holding a shield. Some hero. As he continued running he shouted, "I'm outta here! You'd be nuts to climb this place!"

Lucca sighed.

"Our hero, ladies and gentlemen. Guess we gotta step up after all."

They began to ascend the mountain. It was truly beautiful, wildlife abounding like rabbits and squirrels, birds chirping...

And Mystic ninjas falling from the trees.

One of them drew its katana, which Robo narrowly caught in his hand. Though it struggled, Robo overpowered it and shattered the sword.

"It does appear that we have been followed," he said. "Guerillas."

Crono drew his blade, met by another bird-headed Mystic's own. Another descended from the trees and he parried them both at once. They were pretty good, but with sloppy teamwork.

Meanwhile, another snuck up behind Lucca. Without looking she rustled through her bag and, pulling out a mallet, whacked it unconscious. More surrounded her, but she simply grinned.

"Test #1: explosives."

She threw several grenades, and as each touched the Mystics they exploded, dissolving them. The aftershock sent Crono to the ground as well.

"The hell?!" he yelled. "Friendly fire, dummy!"

Robo had been surrounded by now. A total of seven Mystic ninjas drew their katana menacingly. He was unconcerned, held up his left knuckle and a click sounded. His knuckle snapped down to his fingers, revealing a gatling gun that blew them all to pieces. Another was struck down from behind by a backhand.

A large, brutish Mystic appeared from behind Crono. He parried, but was not able to cut its massive mallet. Several subsequent strikes proved useless, until Lucca burned the hammer to ash and allowed Crono to slay the beast. Another thought better and retreated.

Victorious, they continued on. After a while they reached a huge waterfall.

"It seems," Robo said, "that we must climb."

Lucca cackled, and withdrew a capsule.

"Test #2: the elevator!"

With a boom the capsule opened, two spikes driving into the mountainside as two more whipped to the top and attached. A small platform was laid out.

Crono groaned.

"This... is a bit much."

Another Angle

"Report"

"Our advance forces have been obliterated! And one of the Ogans didn't even bother fighting!"

One of the bird-ninja Mystics appeared before another, head bowed and sword sheathed.

"Orders, sir?"

A strange man leaned against a tree. He was blue-skinned, thin and robed in elegant garb. At his side was a sleek, ornate katana in a blue scabbard.

"Fine," he murmured. "Withdraw for now. Our orders are to disengage."

Scene Four

Finally, the gang arrived at the mountain's peak, where they found a small cave. They entered and found, to their surprise, a young boy dancing and spinning around.

"I'm the wind!" he chanted. "I'm the wind!"

Crono's hand went for Byakko, but held back. It was just a kid, right?

"Uh, look... we're here for a certain sword, kid. Do you know where to find-"

"-the Masamune?"

Lucca jumped, as another lad stepped forward. It didn't take long to recognize him as the other's twin and to see the gleaming broadsword plunged into a stone above the stairway.

"Humans are so shallow; all they think about is power."

The 'wind' kid cartwheeled over to his brother.

"So, what should we do?"

"The usual," the other replied. "Test them. If you would, Masa."

Laughing, the other kid hopped up.

"Right, Mune!"

"Uh, what's going on?" whispered Lucca to Crono's ear.

Crono shook his head. He couldn't believe it, but he broke into a cold sweat as the boys changed form entirely. They became leather-skinned... beasts, for lack of a better term. This time he didn't hesitate to unsheathe Byakko.

"Lucca, Robo! On your guard!"

He'd scarcely spoke before one of them - Mune - palm-thrusted him back. He swung, missed, and was knocked back by a kick from Masa. Lucca brandished her pistol and fired, only for the shots to miss.

"Good GOD! What are they?!"

Robo lunged, swinging punches and launching bullets to no avail. The both of them evaded and countered with enough force to blow Robo into the wall. Crono leered from behind and struck air again, followed by two more kicks that left him reeling.

"They're pretty good," Mune said. "Only Cyrus has made it this far. Should we amp it up a bit?"

Crono's face contorted in horror. They couldn't land a single blow and they were EVEN MORE powerful?!

Masa nodded. The two flipped backwards and faced each other. Placing one hand on the other's they closed their eyes and faded into each other. What followed was terrifying: the two children were replaced with a hulking, golden brute twice the size of a gorilla.

"Oh, sh-" Crono started, but was slammed to the ground with one punch. This time Robo and Lucca unloaded: bullets and fireballs flew forward and, this time, it actually damaged the thing. However, it lifted its right arm and swung it at Lucca. By instinct she evaded, as the swipe ripped a chunk from the wall.

"You can't cut wind," it boomed. Again it launched a blade, only for another to deflect it - Crono had slung his own sword forward like the creature had, matching it and dispersing it.

He grinned.

"But wind can stop wind! Lucca, give me some power!"

Nodding, Lucca threw her hand forward and engulfed Byakko in violet flames. Crono twisted the sword, skewered Masamune, and dragged his blade upwards, finally causing it to explode. From the wreckage Masa and Mune emerged, kneeling.

"Impressive," they both said at once. "You might be able to fix us."

FIX them? wondered Crono. The hell...?

The two creatures nodded and disappeared, leaving the embedded blade behind them to crumble into a shattered wreck. Robo moved forward and examined it.

"It is damaged, but the edge is fully intact. It as if it has been cut in two. Thus..."

Crono fell back.

"... someone else has the handle."

A sharp wind emerged behind the group.

"I'll let you ride the wind to the bottom! Hold on tight!"

Another Angle

"A Conversation"

Masa faced Mune.

"We were right," he said with a smile. "These guys have some connections!"

Mune nodded.

"The die is cast and the pieces are in play. Let's see if they can match the old man's moves."

Masa cocked his head.

"Which one?"

Scene Five

Tata's father bonked him on the head.

"You made it all up!? Do you realize how much damage you've done?!"

Tata patted his bruised head.

"You were the one you bragged all about town!"

"Ahem."

The two of them turned to face Lucca, who along with Crono had arrived to visit the 'hero.'

"So that explains why you ran," she muttered. "But why did they call you a hero in the first place?"

Tata rummaged through his cloak and withdrew a gold medal, blue ribbon and red tassel and all.

"Some weird frog dropped this in the cafe. I was gonna sell it, but everyone started calling me a hero... I sort of stopped saying 'no' after a couple minutes."

Crono held his chin, as Lucca nodded at him.

"Do you know where the frog went?"

Scene Six

It was a filthy hovel, crude lodgings with a bed, table, and bookcase.

As they descended a blade stopped at Crono's neck, attached to Frog. Once Crono composed himself, Frog addressed them.

"Forgive me," he murmured. "I cannot lower my guard to defend my home. What brings you all here?"

Crono cleared his throat and explained everything: the Masamune, the battle at the big bridge, and the King's wounds. At that he startled.

"His Majesty is wounded!? I failed to protect the royal family again!? I ought to slit my belly here and-"

Lucca handed him the Hero's Badge. A look of mixed shock and horror crossed his face.

"I think this belongs to you," she said. "But I wanna know why you had this thing, and why they called that kid a hero for having it. Care to explain?"

Frog sighed, nodded, and leaned back on the wall.

"The Hero's Badge marks the man chosen by Heaven to save Guardia. He who holds it has earned the right to carry the Masamune, the right to slay Magus."

Crono cocked his head.

"So, if you had it, why didn't you?"

Frog paused.

"A great man left me the Badge, a man named Cyrus the Great. I've... but held onto it for him... though he no longer lives to retake it. I apologize, but there are no heroes here."

Robo picked up a broken sword handle.

"Is this part of the Masamune?"

A look of terror passed Frog's face. He stood, shook his head, and sat back down.

"Take it if you like. It's not mine to keep. But, I do ask that you leave me."

Scene Seven

"So," recapped Crono, "Frog has the Hero's Badge and half the Masamune. He's a great swordsman and a fine guy. Why the hell didn't HE try for the sword?"

Lucca shook her head.

"Roihclem"

Both of them turned to face Robo, who held the hilt.

"Ah, I have made an error. The name here is Melchior. Perhaps if we find this person we could learn more."

Lucca stopped dead.

"Melchior made the Masamune...? How is that possible!?"

Another Angle

"Lament"

Frog laid in bed, staring at the ceiling. He couldn't speak, but words echoed in his head.

What is the meaning of this...? Are you trying to tell me something, Cyrus...? No, wait... I've no name left, not one worth speaking. Could I... speak it again...?