Start Date: November 10, 2021

Windwillow

Chrono Trigger

Chapter Fifteen

The final hour in the war against Magus dawned. Now bearing the holy Masamune, Crono and Frog set out to kill the warlock and save the world from Lavos. For them it was business, for Frog it was personal.

What actually happened was nothing they could have anticipated.

Scene One

Cutting down rats and bats doesn't make for very titilating reading, and thus we'll skip the Magic Cave. Call it a writer's contrivance. Thus we come to the big boss dungeon: Magus's Castle.

It was a titanic construction, jet black and decked out with gargoyles, bats, and other demonic figures etched on the structure. Naturally they won Mystic Monthly's award for 'Gloomiest Lair' in Medina. Very prestigious, got them a free Satan plushie.

Crono, Frog, and Robo entered the demon's domain, finding a giant entrance hall complete with a giant staircase and two diverging paths - left marked with a blue star, right with a red heart. Above the main door was a black spade.

"Welcome, friends!" echoed Ozzie's voice as he appeared floating in the center.

At least he's not hitting us up for a drink... thought Crono.

"I see we have two... unique... guests here. Dunno what the funky knight is, but I recognize the toad. Heh... Tired of croaking in your well?"

Frog brandished the Masamune.

"We'll see for whom the bell tolls, Ozzie."

Ozzie growled.

"Dammit, I wanted to make that joke! Fine, whatever! Welcome to your final resting place! Look around you."

To the left door a series of Henches and Imps appeared. To the right, a host of Nagaettes and Gargoyles. The party readied for battle.

"If you wanna get to Lord Magus," Ozzie chortled, "you'll need to take out the hundred Mystics in this castle. Have fun, losers!"

As Ozzie vanished the fiends attacked. Dispatching the Henches and Nagaettes was the quickest solution, so the three heroes launched themselves into battle. Crono's blade rent through a host of Nagaettes as Robo thrashed through the Henches with fists of steel.

The Imps and Gargoyles attacked in unison. While fending off the normal foes, Crono and Frog interspersed blade with spell, blasting and eradicating them in lockstep. Robo's gatling knuckles dented them, and a follow up from his companions slew the Imps.

In short order, the battle was over. Sheathing their weapons, the group paused to recover.

"It is my hypothesis," said Robo, "that to advance each door must be cleared separately. Given that dividing our strength makes little sense, we ought to clear one after the other."

Crono nodded.

"Let's start with the right, the red star."

Another Angle

"Preparations"

Magus carefully set down a series of candles in a circle, standing before a statue of a four-armed demon.

"Finally," he murmured. "I'll finally fulfill my dream..."

"Lord Magus!"

Turning, Magus watched as a spectral Ozzie appeared behind him.

"We've got company," he said. "A human, a knight, and that detestable frog you kicked out ten years ago."

Magus sighed.

"Slash and Flea can deal with them. If necessary, you're also expendable, so if they fail, kill the intruders."

Ozzie saluted.

"Yes, sir! As you... wait, expendable?"

Scene Two

The hall was oddly empty, no guards and no defenses. But as they entered, two figures caught their eye: Queen Leene and Crono's mother Gina. They both startled at the sight.

"Mom!?"

"Your Majesty!?"

Gina nodded.

"You need to rest, Crono. There's terrible danger ahead."

Frog kneeled.

"Your Majesty, it is not safe here!"

Leene giggled.

"I cannot allow my champion to fight in my stead. I shall assist you!"

Robo, confused, watched as Lucca entered the room as well.

"C'mon, Robo," she said. "I've gotta do some maintenance before you start the fight."

Robo raised his left arm and blasted Lucca's head off. Crono rose in shock.

"The hell?!" he yelled. "You just blew up my friend!"

Shaking his head, Robo pointed at Lucca's body.

"Lucca is still at the End of Time. It is a trick."

Indeed, the corpse burst into flames to reveal a Nagaette. Similarly, Gina and Leene were set flame and replaced by more of them. Crono grit his teeth and unsheathed Byakko, as did Frog with the Masamune, his hand trembling in rage.

"You'd dare imitate Her Majesty!?"

He swiftly decapitated the Mystic, just as Crono did for his attacker. Sighing, he bowed his head.

"Never thought I'd cut Ma's head off..."

A roar sounded as a series of Henches, Nagaettes, and strange cloaked figures appeared. The gang rushed to battle; slicing the Nagaettes and bashing through the Henches, the other Mystic launched a series of fireballs.

Crono deflected them and slashed it, and slashed it again only to have it become intangible.

"What?!"

Frog skidded backwards, slamming his hand to the ground.

"If not blade, then magic!"

Indeed, it wounded the demon, but a follow up proved equally unsuccessful. The two devils hurled flame and thunder at the two, which they narrowly dodged. Robo, however, was unfazed.

"Frog, cut one, and then Crono, blast it."

They did, and the Mystic was felled. Crono pivoted to look at Robo.

"How'd you know it'd work?"

Robo nodded.

"Two strikes of similar composition were ineffective. Thus, alternating attack types meant that their defenses became useless."

What none of them noticed, however, was a small black bat evading their sight. No one sensed it, nor saw it.

Another Angle

"The First Lieutenant"

An intangible Ozzie appeared before a brilliant red throne, the one that lay at the end of the right hand path.

"Flea!" he shouted. "Get ready to dispose of-"

No one was there. Ozzie, furious, pounded his foot.

"Dammit!"

One of the Jugglers appeared on the throne and bowed. Ozzie chuckled.

"So it's that tactic! Brilliant!"

Scene Three

The heroes ran into the throne room, finding the Juggler. Crono, impatient, lunged and cut it then blasted its head off.

"That's it?" he grinned.

But then, he fell to his knees. All the energy he had was drained from him.

"Graggh..."

He quickly withdrew a Tonic and downed it, restoring his strength. Furious, he rose and unsheathed his sword.

"Okay, punk! What the hell was that about?!"

There was no response.

Frog shook his head, staring carefully at the throne.

"Something is amiss..."

A soft laugh echoed.

"Fooled you!" it cackled. "Humans are so easy to trick!"

The bat that had heretofore gone unnoticed zoomed past the three, whereupon it burst open to reveal a new figure. It was a gorgeous woman, lavender hair and dressed to kill.

"Hah!" she laughed. "Well, that was amusing."

Frog unsheathed his weapon.

"Do not falter," he said as he tightened his grip. "Flea the Magician is a woman not to be trifled with."

Flea paused, laughed, and then cackled.

"Hah! Fooled you twice!"

With a flourish she cast open her robe to reveal a clearly... male anatomy, much to the shock of our heroes. He wore a push-up bra and a thong.

"I'm a guy!" he laughed. "But beauty is power, and since I'm beautiful, I'm powerful!"

Crono shook his head.

"I'd keep the robe on, dude. Not much of a package."

Flea fumed.

"H-how DARE you! Fight time!"

A gaseous pink fog rolled through the room, smelling of cheap perfume. Before Crono could react Flea lunged at him with a broadsword. He parried, countered, and skidded back in shock.

Frog also clashed with Flea, repelling his katana with skill. The fighters clashed wildly, leaving the real Flea to recline on his seat.

"Humans are so easy!" he chuckled. "One illusion, and that's all it-"

Robo's fist slamming into his chin canned the optimism, sending him flying back and breaking the illusion. Crono and Frog disengaged, looking at Flea in stunned silence.

"Dammit!" shouted Flea. "My illusions are perfect!"

Robo shook his head.

"No, madam. I am artificial. I saw through the spell immediately."

Flea fumed, flying up to the top of his throne.

"Tricks are out, fight's on for real!"

He snapped his fingers, engulfing the room into darkness before revealing a cosmic space: twinkling stars with a dark void, a scene from outer space. Flea threw back his hands and flung them forward, releasing several columns of fire that twisted and turned.

"They call me the Vermillion Sparrow!" he yelled. "My fire's more potent than my flair!"

Crono quickly dodged the flames, only for them to double back at him. Then, they split into more waves, and then more still.

"Crap," he grumbled. "Guess we made him angry..."

Flea lifted his hands and created a gigantic, sun-like fireball.

"Get lost, punks!"

As he threw it, however, all the flames were extinguished by a massive wave of water from Frog that also drenched Flea. He grumbled.

"I liked this cloak! Wait, how'd you use magic?!"

Crono lunged and swung Byakko, scarring Flea and cutting through his bra. Fuming, he fell back, covering his chest.

"That's my only set! Dammit, I'm outta here!"

He cast down his hand and created a smokescreen, which when cleared revealed his absence. Frog shook his head in disbelief.

"What just happened...?!"

Robo shook his head.

"We destroyed his bra and, in indignation, he retreated. We have won."

Another Angle

"Preparations: 2"

Drawing a magic circle on the ground, Magus had painted a satanic mark decorated by dragons and demons. Satisfied, he wiped his brow.

"Lord Magus!"

He turned to find a frantic Ozzie. Narrowing his eyes, no words were needed: he was pissed.

"F-Flea lost!" stammered Ozzie. "We're down a general!"

Magus sighed.

"Let me guess... they took out his bra. Stupid fool...!"

Ozzie gulped.

"We've still got Slash! He'll cut 'em down!"

Magus narrowed his eyes and created a fireball.

"He had better."

He flung the fireball, destroying Ozzie's illusion.

Scene Four

The lefthand path was much simpler. A series of armed skeletons manned the defenses, guarding the blue throne.

Robo cracked his knuckles and began to fire.

"Straightforward enough."

While the bullets riddled the undead, they simply whirled about and reattached. Subsequent swings and bullets led to the same conclusion, as did Crono and Frog cutting through the Mystic flunkies. Crono grinned.

"Back at the bridge we took 'em out with magic."

Frog and Crono launched their spells, some of the skeletons blasted apart by lightning, others compressed by water and crushed. It didn't take long to wipe the army out.

Crono sighed.

"That's the lackeys, but where's the boss?"

A blue streak of light pierced the room, knocking everyone back. From it a figure emerged, the one from Denadoro. He was a blue-skinned demon, dressed ornately yet oddly unarmed. The sword he had back then hung above the throne.

"The Blue Dragon," he spoke in a whisper. "is what they call me. Slash."

Frog readied the Masamune.

"This one's stronger than Flea. Less vain, to boot."

Slash crossed his arms and sighed.

"Worthless fool. Fine, let's cut the introduction."

With nearly imperceptible speed, Slash kicked Frog away. Robo readied but recieved three punches and a kick that launched him into the wall. Crono drew Byakko, but was unable to swing it before Slash blew him back. He caught himself, skidded, and readied himself.

"Fast son of a bitch," he muttered. "Time to get serious!"

Crono launched at full speed, only to be parried by Slash's forearm. He swung again and again to no avail, then was knocked away by Slash's backhand. Still he caught himself.

"Pitiful!" Slash laughed. "You could become a bolt of lightning and never catch me!"

Pausing, an idea came into Crono's mind.

"Wanna try me?"

Slash scoffed and charged but was easily slashed by Crono, with several follow-ups only narrowly evaded. He skidded back in shock.

"How did you become so fast...?!"

He saw a flicker of lightning, one that grew into a brilliant golden aura around Crono. Slash smiled nervously.

"You're stimulating your nerves with magic, giving you greater speed than normal. Cunning. However-!"

Slash flipped backwards and, gripping his sword's hilt, drew it in a reverse grip.

"I, too can use such a technique! With my blade, Seiryu!"

Crono grinned, lightning crackling around him.

"Then show me!"

At that the two disappeared. The sound of blades clashing echoed, with flashes of light being the only indication. Both swordsmen seemed evenly matched, until they reappeared again - with a crack on Byakko's blade.

Crono looked at his sword and growled. Slash, meanwhile, simply looked at him. With a grin, Crono lunged. Even at breakneck speeds neither Frog nor Robo could perceive him; all they saw was Byakko shattering and Crono's hands gripped firmly on Slash's face.

Running through all the energy he could, Crono zapped his enemy until he fell back, dropping his sword. Slash dropped to his knees, doubled over in pain, just as the shattered remnants of Byakko fell to the floor.

"To think," Slash gasped, coughing up blood, "that I should have to retreat... Lord Magus... I beg your forgiveness!"

He quickly disappeared in a blue flash, leaving Crono to drop down on his rear. Frog approached him.

"Sir Crono, are you alright?"

Crono coughed and, eyeing Byakko, spat on the ground.

"Been better."

Robo kneeled down.

"Are you certain you can continue?"

"Duh," snapped Crono. "I'm not giving up because some blue freak snapped my sword!"

Frog cocked his head.

"But, how will you fight unarmed?"

Crono eyed the blue-edged sword Slash had left behind: the Blue Dragon, Seiryu. He grinned.

"That'd be a problem if I was."

Another Angle

"Preparations 3"

Magus carefully examined his Tome. Here was all the knowledge necessary to bring his plan to fruition. He studied, memorized the incantation, and smiled devilishly.

"Lord Magus!"

He threw a bolt of lightning at Ozzie's spectral form.

"Figure it out!" he shouted. "One more disturbance and I'll gut you!"

Ozzie gulped as his illusion vanished.

"O-Ozzie... might be screwed..."

Scene Five

Now armed with Seiryu to replace the destroyed Byakko, Crono and the group continued on. There were several small battles, none of which make much interesting reading. Eventually, they came upon a chamber filled with guillotines, crashing down in sequence. At the peak stood Ozzie, turning the crank that controlled them.

"Try and get past these!" he cackled. "You can't cut this steel! You'd have to be able to-"

Robo promply blasted through the blades with his arm cannon. Ozzie flushed.

"O-Ozzie's... stumped!"

And at that he ran.

"Dammit," yelled Crono, "get back here!"

The chase continued into a wider room, several chains edging the chamber with Ozzie once again manning the crank. He laughed again, wildly.

Crono sighed and shouldered Seiryu.

"That laugh is irritating. Can I cut you yet?"

Ozzie gave a nervous smile as he turned the crank. From each of the chains came an army of Mystics: Henches, Gargoyles, Jugglers, and the bird-nonja Raiders from Denadoro. There were at least thirty in all.

The battle began with Crono taking point. He drew his weapon and, in a blue streak of lightning, cleaved apart a set of Henches. A group of Gargoyles lunged only to be beaten by a mixture of magics from Frog and Crono. One of the Raiders clashed each with the swordsmen, as the Jugglers loomed.

Robo aimed and blasted a set of Raiders, breaking their swords and sending them flying, and followed up with a series of gatlings to the Jugglers. As they became intangible, his friends took the opportunity to dispatch them in lightning and water before turning and slicing apart the Raiders.

"Checkmate," grinned Crono as he pointed his blade at Ozzie. "Next?"

Ozzie nearly had a fit.

"Ozzie's... uh, I ran out of things to say! Later!"

The next chamber had a gimmick: each turn of the crank opened a pit that dropped the party below, where a series of foes awaited. Problem being, they just kept fighting and returning until there were no more holes to open. Ozzie's cheeks flushed.

"Ozzie's in trouble!"

Chasing after him, Crono and his companions cornered Ozzie in a chamber with four chains between them and Ozzie.

"Ozzie's outta luck," Crono smirked.

"Not yet!" shouted Ozzie. "Final round! Barrier, go!"

A giant, icy barrier surrounded Ozzie. Crono being Crono he leapt forward, but was repelled by a sharp jolt of energy. Robo gave it a shot and was also deflected, and a counter from Frog gave similar results.

"They call me Genbu, the Green Tortoise! You can't beat my defense!"

Crono paused.

"Isn't Genbu the Black Tortoise?"

Ozzie growled.

"Green's cooler!"

Frog gritted his teeth.

"How can we kill this thing?!"

Robo paused.

"If we cannot defeat Ozzie, perhaps we can defeat his defenses."

He fired at the chains. One opened a pit beside Crono, another by Frog, the third opened a chasm in the center of the room, and the fourth dropped Ozzie several floors down. Everyone fell to their knees in exhaustion, only for a Power Spot to appear.

Frog breathed a sigh of relief. The group touched the Spot and were restored, when a voice echoed.

"Take me with you!" called Lucca. "I can take over!"

Crono nodded, and Robo was replaced by Lucca.

Lucca drew her gun.

"Showtime, folks!"

Scene Six

"Neuga... ziega... zimber... zom..."

Footsteps, advancing steadily.

"Now the chosen time has come..."

A bum rush.

"Exchange this world for...!"

The door burst open, or rather split in four after being cut by the swordsmen. Now revealing Magus's back to them, Frog brandished his blade.

"Magus!"

Magus lowered his hands. He put his hands on his hips and sighed.

"Ozzie was as useless as I expected."

Frog pointed the Masamune at his mortal enemy. Magus's head snapped up.

"The Masamune? Bet you're dying to use it, eh?"

A sharp, bone-chilling wind swept through the room. The party winced, cried out at the cold, and as the wind blew Magus's cape around he slowly dropped his arms to the side.

"Can you feel the Black Wind? It's chilly, isn't it...?" he said cooly. "If you want to see the reaper..."

From nowhere he brandished a giant, curved scythe.

"Let me introduce you!"

Crono gave a nervous smile.

"I can take you."

At that and in an instant his katana clashed with Magus's scythe, pushing him back several yards. As he parried Frog joined the fray; the result was a series of blows with both of them being overwhelmed at once. One swung, the other was parried, and steadily Magus overwhelmed the both of them.

Lucca aimed her pistol.

"Eat this, sucker!"

She fired, only for a small black hole to swallow her blast whole. Magus didn't even bother turning around.

"Guns won't help you."

Lucca snarled, but quickly stopped.

"How the hell does he know what a gun is?!"

Another Angle

"Beat Feet"

"The treasure," croaked Ozzie, "get it outta here NOW!"

A group of Imps rushed down the castle corridors, carrying all the wealth they could carry. Slash and Flea also ran with the rest.

"What of Lord Magus?!" shouted Slash.

Ozzie squealed like a stuck pig.

"Save yourselves, fools! Screw him!"

Scene Seven

The clash continued into a stalemate. Even two on one the pair couldn't best Magus, and it seemed he was only toying with them.

"Mach one does nothing," growled Crono, "so let's see mach two!"

He activated his lightning mode and swiftly slashed Magus away. Continuing, he threw blow after blow that Magus could barely parry. In fury, he threw a fireball and flipped backwards, adjusting his glove angrily.

"If you want to attack," Magus growled, "then attack!"

"Then I will!"

Crono threw a bolt of lightning at the warlock, only for it to fizzle. His shock was quickly replaced by action as a black wave shattered his guard and threw him back. Frog quickly slammed his hand to the ground, but as the water wave hit a jolt of lightning forced him to dodge.

"Take three!" yelled Lucca, firing a fireball. Again it was repelled by a wave of water, which she narrowly dodged.

"Dammit," Crono cursed, "he's just throwing everything back at us!"

Lucca thought for a moment and smiled.

"Crono, zap 'im in three seconds!"

"Eh?"

At that she hurled a giant wall of fire at Magus, and as his counterattack began Crono got the hint. While Lucca jumped out of the way of his tsunami, Crono blasted him with a wave of lightning that sent Magus reeling.

"Problem solved!" chuckled Lucca. "If he counters with one element, counter him with its opposite!"

Frog smiled, holding up the Masamune.

"We've got him!"

Another Angle

"A Premonition"

Ayla snored, dreaming of many fun parties and thrashes of Reptites. All of a sudden, though, the image of the Mystic Mountains pierced her view and woke her in a panic.

She held her head, as further images of a wounded Crono began to rattle her.

"Cro?!"

Scene Eight

"You've got nothing!"

Magus swung his arm and blew them all back. He dropped the scythe and clasped his hands in front of him.

"You ARE nothing!"

Slowly he withdrew his grip, revealing what looked like a crack in the air. More cracks broke before him, until a gigantic explosion rocked the three and sent them flying into the walls.

"You can DO nothing!" he snarled.

"Not quite!"

To his shock, Frog leaped from the aftermath with sword outstretched. He screamed, gripped the Masamune so hard his hands bled, and sliced a huge gap in Magus's chest. He staggered, retreated, and fell to one knee.

"Impossible!" he cursed, coughing up blood. "You can use the Masamune this well?!"

Frog landed and placed the Masamune at Magus's neck.

"Now it IS over."

A violent rumbling dropped Frog to his knees, the ground cracking and the walls shattering. Crono and Lucca rushed to his aid, as Magus rose, cursed, and screamed in fury.

"Bad timing! Don't wake up now, you bastard!"

Through the chaos, Crono stopped cold.

"Wake up? You created Lavos, didn't you?!"

"Create death incarnate?! I'm evil, not insane! Lavos fell to the planet untold ages ago! I had nothing to do with it!"

Suddenly a blue vortex enveloped the entire room, unbalancing them all, as cracks opened in the ground.

"A GATE?!" gasped Lucca.

Magus hacked up blood.

"You bloody fools!"

The Gate fluctuated and twisted, throwing them all into its emptiness as Magus's statue blew apart, along with the rest of the castle. Lavos's abrupt arrival stopped, and he retreated back underground.

There was no one left to kill.