Start Date: December 1, 2021
Windwillow
Chrono Trigger
Chapter Twenty-Three
The great destroyer, Lavos, decimated the world. He destroyed humanity. He murdered Crono in cold blood, dissolved him to dust. Yet somehow, his friends had brought him back from the dead.
He and Marle shared a tender kiss, and they returned to the End of Time, together...
Scene One
"Oh, my! Seems you pulled it off!"
Gaspar tipped his hat. Crono grinned.
"Not alone, I didn't!"
Ayla pumped her fist.
"Cro back! Ayla happy!"
Robo stood up.
"Welcome back."
Frog shoulder the Masamune.
"So I do owe the bastard..."
Lucca smirked.
"We went through so much! You owe me some serious cash."
Marle smiled, and she and Crono kissed passionately. As they finished, they got a round of applause. Gaspar chuckled.
"And now to the business at hand..."
Crono paused, and narrowed his eyes.
"Lavos..."
Gaspar nodded.
"The ultimate enemy. However, even if you all rushed in now you'd be killed as quickly as before. Alone, you stand no chance. No amount of training can ever push you past that level."
Lucca scowled.
"Killjoy. Then how DO we kill that thing?"
Frog nodded.
"You know more than you're telling us. So, tell it!"
Ayla cracked her knuckles.
"Ayla kick old man ass."
Gaspar grinned.
"Note that I said 'alone.' If you can link your souls to a higher power, It will gift its power to you... Find strength in your hearts and that power shall give you ITS strength."
Marle cocked her head.
"What do you mean?"
Gaspar cleared his throat.
"Dedicated as you are, you still have doubts. There are certain tasks to be done that, when completed, will fulfill your greatest dreams. I've seen glimpses of these moments, which I'll now share with you..."
Crono grabbed him by the collar.
"Pony up, grandpa. Tell us everything you know. EVERYTHING."
Gaspar grabbed him by the arm, lifted him up, and slammed him into the ground. As everyone stood agape, he cracked his knuckles.
"I have my reasons, so shut your mouth and listen. I happen to have enough power to flatten the lot of you... even you, Janus."
Magus scowled.
I don't want to fight this old fossil...
As Crono staggered to his feet, Gaspar cleared his throat.
"I've seen some glimpses. Let's leave it at that. Now, then... first, a shining stone from the past can illuminate the ages. Second, a beautiful relic in the middle ages will reunite a family. Third, in the far future there is a task to be done at robots' origin. Fourth, Ozzie is causing trouble, so go get the little bugger. Fifth, the ghost of an ancient knight haunts his grave. Sixth, a desert can be reborn, as well as a couple other things."
Lucca groaned.
"Way too much text. Shorten it next time."
Gaspar sighed.
"The final task floats in the skies, unholy and unwelcome. And a certain individual there has business with one of you... I take it you all know who that is."
Magus nodded grimly.
I'll have to bury my own mother...
Gaspar bowed his head.
"I suggest finding the Sun Stone first."
Marle cocked her head.
"The Sun Stone?"
Gaspar nodded.
"Before Lavos, the Sun Stone powered Zeal. Its magic lifted its land to the skies, gave it culture, and allowed it to thrive. Find it, and you'll find some serious firepower... literally."
Lucca narrowed her eyes. Gaspar had muttered the last part.
"WITHOUT asking, if we're dealing with fire, I'm in."
Robo nodded.
"I shall provide support."
Crono bowed his head.
"I'll take a rain check. Without a sword I'm crippled, and either way I need some time to get back in the swing of things... partially because the old fart bruised my ribs."
Frog stepped forward.
"If a sword is what you need, I shall provide it."
Gaspar nodded.
"You'll find the Sun Stone in the future, in a ruined temple. Can't miss the Zealian architecture. Take the Epoch there and do your job."
Lucca sighed.
"Then, we're off to the future."
Scene Two
Travel in the Epoch was a charm. Dalton at least did one thing right in giving it wings, and with the adapted controls it was simple for Lucca to steer it to the temple ruins in the future. They disembarked and entered the ruins.
The architecture was remarkable. Looking much like the Ocean Palace, it was decked out with obsidian and bio-mechanical steel. As the party entered, they marveled at what they saw. Lucca grinned nervously.
"I don't like this deja vu... wait, what's that?"
She pointed to a large, stone sphere in the center of an altar.
"Robo, can you tell what that is?"
Robo paused.
"It is exuding a strange energy. I do not know if it is the Sun Stone, but it exhibits curious characteristics that suggests it may be."
Lucca nodded.
"Works for me."
As she approached, a shrill shriek sounded. The sphere broke open to reveal an organic-looking eye, which was quickly surrounded by eight fireballs. The team drew their weapons, but the Sun Stone made no movements. Frog paused.
"Perhaps it only responds to action?"
Lucca nodded.
"I'll off the eye and see what happens."
She fired a round at the eye, only for a fireball to deflect it. Then, the orb flew towards her; Frog extinguished it with a wave of water. Lucca fell back in shock.
"Okay, not doing that again."
Frog narrowed his eyes.
"Perhaps I can just put out the fire?"
He formed a sphere of water and tossed it, but as it approached the fire turned it all to steam... and then promptly launched several spheres of fire, which the party narrowly dodged. Lucca snarled.
"Alright, now I'm pissed! Die, sucker!"
Lucca fired shot after shot, hitting the eye and the flames continuously. The balls seemed to shriek, and launched a gigantic flame at her, which Frog sliced apart. He angrily turned to her.
"What the hell is wrong with you?! All that and we still know nothing about this thing!"
Robo stepped forward.
"That may not be correct. When Lucca's fifth shot struck one of the flames, I detected damage to the main eye in the form of recoil. My theory is that damaging a certain orb causes pain."
Lucca groaned.
"Great, but how do we tell which one?"
Robo paused.
"Each flame has a distinct heat signature. The one Lucca struck is at a temperature unique from the others. Firing at the correct orb could succeed. I can detect the differences. Lucca, think of the fireballs as a clock and fire on my command."
Lucca nodded, and aimed.
"7 o'clock."
She fired, and the eye recoiled.
"One o'clock."
Another shot, another hit.
"Nine o'clock, six o'clock, and four o'clock."
Each hit damaged the eye until, after the fifth shot the flames disappeared, and the eye dropped dead to the ground. Then, its fleshy exterior crumbled to reveal a dark, charred stone. Robo approached.
"It appears that the enemy was, itself, the Sun Stone. I suggest we return to Gaspar for further instruction."
Lucca smiled.
"Glad we brought you over Crono. Let's head out!"
Scene Three
"It looks dead to me."
Magus scowled, crossing his arms.
"Nothing but charcoal. How is this supposed to help?"
Gaspar chuckled.
"It needs to be recharged. There's a shrine in the distant past where the sun shines 24/7. Place it there, head to the future, take it, and we're in business."
Ayla nodded.
"Ayla know place. Place sacred, worships sun. Ayla show."
They took the Epoch and flew to the place Ayla detected, and indeed there was a large shrine made of rock baked in light.
"Well," said Lucca, "this looks like the place."
She placed the Sun Stone down.
"Now we go to the future and take it back! Easy as pie!"
So, they departed for the future. And found nothing.
"Oh, come ON!" Lucca groaned. "Where'd it go?!"
Scene Four
"Why the hell couldn't you tell us that first?!"
Gaspar tipped his hat.
"Part of the rules. Plus, it's fun watching you guys go back and forth."
Crono growled.
"I'd slap you, but I still hurt. Lucca, if he says it's in our time just go and get it."
Lucca paused.
"Something tells me he's holding something back, but..."
So they took the Epoch to the modern era, where the shrine was empty. Lucca slammed her fist on the controls.
"Dammit! Stupid old fart's messing with us!"
Robo shook his head.
"I believe the overwhelming light coming from Porre is a good clue."
She looked down at the nation of Porre, where indeed a brilliant light was shining from the Mayor's mansion. Lucca groaned.
"Not that greedy old rat!"
Scene Five
"Sorry, never heard of a Sun Stone."
Lucca scoffed.
"There's a GIGANTIC SPARKLING LIGHT right behind you! Take a guess what a Sun Stone looks like!"
The Mayor's mansion held the greedy Mayor and, in a chest behind him, a shining, almost blinding light hidden within. He shook his head.
"I can't help you. Please leave."
Frog dragged Lucca from the house. He slapped her face.
"It serves no purpose to provoke him. We need to speak to Gaspar."
They moved to leave, but found themselves beside the Mayor's daughter.
"He's always like this," she said dejectedly. "I'm sorry he's my dad."
And thus they returned to the End of Time. Gaspar was, predictablly, amused. Lucca fumed.
"Okay, old man, how do we get that damn thing from that damn thief?!"
Gaspar tipped his hat.
"In the middle ages his family was dirt poor. They could barely scrape by, and an act of kindness might help."
Crono crossed his arms.
"Any ideas, o silent one?"
Gaspar nodded.
"Spiced jerky."
Lucca startled.
"We give the guy jerky and he relinquishes an ancient artifact?!"
Gaspar chuckled.
"During the middle ages, spiced jerky was a delicacy, one few people could afford. Would you rather buy them a feast?"
Marle shook her head.
"We're out of money. So where do we find spiced... jerky?!"
Crono groaned.
"Not that guy again!"
Scene Six
"Ya want mah jerky?!"
Crono nodded. The Head Chef groaned.
"Fine. Five million Gil."
Lucca startled.
"For jerky?! Are you nuts?!"
The Chef crossed his arms.
"It's an old family recipe. If ye dinnae pay ye ain't gettin' no jerky from me!"
Crono got up in his face.
"Oh, come ON! We save your kingdom and you won't give us JERKY?"
The Chef pushed him away.
"Aye. Ye saved the country, but ah won't give mah jerky for free!"
Crono shoved him back.
"Ever hear of a value judgment, dude?! Give us the freakin' jerky and we'll leave!"
Angrily, the Chef pushed him back.
"Five million and ye've got your jerky!"
As they fumed, the Knight Captain entered the kitchen.
"Sir Crono? What brings you here?"
Crono pointed at the Chef.
"He wants five million Gil for jerky! Greedy sonuva..."
The Captain paused.
"Please, brother, give them the jerky."
The chef got in his face.
"You too?! So they saved the country, so what?! This's a family recipe!"
Smiling, the Captain placed a hand on his brother's shoulder.
"And they brought us back together... aren't we family?"
The Chef paused, flustered. Lucca peeked from behind the knight.
"Yeah, we saved your bacon twice!"
The Chef got in her face.
"Then ah'll give ye bacon!"
Lucca's eyes lit up.
"Ooh, deal!"
Crono stomped her foot.
"The jerky's a gift, it isn't for us. We've got a poor family that wants that jerky. Ever hear of charity?"
The Chef paused. He looked down at his feet, then to his brother, then to Crono.
"Fine... but next time it'll be TEN million."
Crono growled.
"Cheapskate..."
Scene Seven
It was a quaint cottage, unremarkable amidst the thatched homes and simple town around it. The family that lived there did so in squalor, but were destined for greatness. Greatness minus the fact that their patriarch would be a greedy, lying prick.
Crono entered quietly, drawing little notice to himself. He approached the family's mother, hands in his pockets. The woman smiled.
"Hello, sir. What can I do for you?"
Crono paused.
"It's kinda complicated, but we both have a reason for me being here."
She cocked her head.
"Beg pardon, sir?"
Crono grinned and pulled out the spiced jerky, presenting it to the matriarch.
"How 'bout a treat?"
The woman jumped, eyes wide. She eyed the jerky carefully.
"Is this a joke, sir? There's no way I could pay for this."
Crono shook his head.
"It's a gift. Take it."
She gasped.
"B-but it's worth five million Gil! How could I take this from you?!"
He nodded.
"I just wanted to brighten your day. Nice to be charitable, right?"
The woman paused.
"Charity... I'd not believed in that word till now. Are you sure, sir...?"
Crono nodded, and smiled. He placed the jerky in her hand.
"Free of charge."
Taken aback, the woman slowly smiled, a tear nearly forming in her eyes.
"I don't know what to say... but... thank you, sir! I've never dreamed of such generosity!"
Crono smiled.
"Makes you wanna raise your kids right, huh?"
I hope it does. I don't wanna deal with that jerk again.
The woman nodded, hugging him.
"I'll never forget your kindness, sir! My children shall always know of it!"
Crono grinned.
"Glad to help."
Doesn't hurt that it makes me feel warm and fuzzy. I know what it's like to go without. Not to this degree, but...
He nodded.
"I'm off. Enjoy the jerky!"
The woman paused.
"May I know your name, sir?"
Crono paused.
Would it really be bad to tell her my name?
He shook his head.
"I'm just a wanderer. My name doesn't mean much."
I don't need to take credit, I guess. I'm happy she's happy, and I get an ancient magical artifact out of it. Win-win.
Another Angle
"Back at the End of Time: Fuzzy Feelings"
"It is truly inspiring," Frog said with a grin. "I know we're doing this for our own purposes, but it does leave a pleasant feeling in my gut."
Marle nodded, and giggled.
"Crono's so sweet."
Scene Eight
"Sun Stone? Yes, in fact a trader of mine discovered it. I'd kept it 'cause it's so beautiful. Is it yours?"
Crono grinned.
"I, uh, dropped it."
The Mayor smiled.
"Then take it, if it's yours. I was raised to be that kinda guy."
Crono nodded.
"Thanks!"
He took the Sun Stone, and walked to the exit. The Mayor's daughter met him at the door and smiled.
"I'm so proud of my dad. He's the kinda guy I'm proud to call my father!"
Crono grinned.
"Yeah... I'm glad he's a good guy, too."
Scene Nine
"Is this truly the Sun Stone?! However did you get it? No, wait. I don't think my poor heart could understand it."
Crono smiled.
"I was wondering if you could make us a special something out of it."
Melchior paused, and nodded.
"It'll take a while... eh? Where's Byakko?"
Crono startled.
"I, uh, sort of lost it in a fight."
Melchior sighed.
"Such a shame, that... Well, if you're in need of a weapon, I can provide a substitute, though it won't be the quality of my White Tiger."
Crono grinned.
"I'll be more than happy to have one on my belt again. Hell, I'm glad I even HAVE a belt."
Melchior cocked his head.
"Pardon?"
Crono shook his head.
"It's complicated. Well, I guess I better split."
Scene Ten
"I'm sure he'll come up with something good," Gaspar said. "Not sure what, but I trust him."
Lucca nodded.
"And Crono has a sword again!"
Crono drew his sword and quickly sheathed it.
"Ready to go! Where next?"
Gaspar nodded.
"I'd look for the Rainbow Shell."
Frog cocked his head.
"And what is that, precisely?"
Gaspar tipped his hat.
"It was once a prehistoric animal, one that was compressed through... unusual force... into an artifact of beauty and splendor. I'm sure it'll bring you guys closer together, too!"
Marle paused.
"You said something about that last time. What do you mean?"
Gaspar startled.
Crap, I said that? That was supposed to be a secret...
"Ahem. I mean, you can probably make some cool glasses and look at the sunset together. Killer fashion."
Lucca held her chin.
"I don't buy that."
Gaspar nodded.
"You CAN'T buy it, 'cause it's so precious."
Crono paused, then shrugged.
"Whatever. Where is it, then?"
Gaspar smiled.
"There's a man who's searched his whole life for it. I'm sure he could point you in the right direction. After all, a great adventurer must pick up some nice tidbits."
Crono groaned.
"Toma? I'm sick of buying him drinks... Whatever. Let's go. Who's coming?"
Ayla raised her hand.
"Ayla want action! Sit around too much."
Marle nodded.
"I want to see this thing, so I'll go too."
Crono smiled.
"Off to meet the drunkard, then."