Start Date: December 3, 2021
Windwillow
Chrono Trigger
Chapter Twenty-Four
Having left the legendary Sun Stone with the smith Melchior, Crono, Ayla, and Marle have set out to find the explorer Toma. This legendarily drunk explorer apparently knew where to find the "Rainbow Shell," another ancient artifact.
And thus, they went to the bar at Choras.
Scene One
"Welcome, friends!"
Crono smiled.
"Good to see you. I ain't buying you a drink."
Toma shrugged.
"Guess it's on me. Want some ale?"
Ayla raised her hand.
"Ayla want rock smash!"
Toma cocked his head.
"And where'd you find this lass?"
Marle shook her head.
"Sorry, but we're looking for the Rainbow Shell. Do you know where it is?"
Ayla hung her head.
"Ayla not drink then. Only want rock smash."
Toma laughed.
"Even I've yet to find the Rainbow Shell! I mean, I DO have a few leads, but it'll be a while before I find it. Mind you, I WILL find it!"
Marle smiled.
"Want some help?"
Toma laughed again, and shook his head. He paused, and held up his saké bottle.
"Tell you what... take my saké. It's an old custom to pour liquor on a man's grave, back where I come from. Mark my grave with it and I'll come right back and tell you."
Crono frowned.
"That's one of the stupidest things I've ever heard."
Toma shook his head.
"When I find it I'll be legendary! By the time I'm dead I'll be rich beyond imagination... Can't let you steal my thunder. Now, this is my hometown, so I'll certainly be buried here. Come see me and I'll tell ya."
Crono groaned.
"Tell us now and we'll help."
Marle shook her head, and leaned in to whisper.
"We can go back to our time and do it. Why not humor him?"
Crono sighed.
"It's a deal."
Toma laughed.
"I'll outlive ya! See you in a few decades!"
Scene Two
Here Lies Toma, the Great Explorer
Date of Death: December 19, 600 C.E.
May He Rest in Peace
Crono sighed.
"He made it a week. Great."
Marle chuckled.
"He tried his best, I bet!"
Ayla nodded.
"Odd guy brave. Ayla proud even though dead."
Crono stepped forward with the saké bottle.
"Let's see if he's just full of crap..."
He poured the drink over Toma's headstone. As the final drop hit the ground, a spectre of Toma peeked out from behind the grave. Marle screamed.
"Easy lass!" he chortled. "No need to be scared!"
Marle growled.
"You're a ghost and you just played peek-a-boo with me. It's natural."
Toma sighed.
"I suppose you've got a point. Well, whatever. It's good to see you again, my friends! Though I've no idea how we meet all these years later..."
Crono nodded.
"It's complicated. Anyway, can you tell us about the Rainbow Shell?"
Toma smiled. He pointed over his shoulder.
"A promise is a promise. Can you see over there, where there's a reef? Back when I was alive it was a full-blown island with a cave. I never made it through, but I bet the Rainbow Shell's there."
Marle nodded.
"Then we'll go get it."
Toma cocked his head.
"And how are you going to... Wait. It's been four centuries! How the hell have you even... Bah, whatever. I guess you can pull it off. Take care, friends! And if you come back to MY time and see me, I'd appreciate a drink."
Crono nodded.
"I'll buy you whatever you want. Promise."
Another Angle
"Back at the End of Time: The Tale of Toma"
"Sir Frog, you are from Toma's era. Have you ever heard of him?"
Frog nodded.
"He and I both came from Choras. I never met him, but he was supposedly a great explorer."
Lucca cocked her head.
"Supposedly?"
Frog shrugged.
"No one ever said if he actually found anything. But he was charming."
Scene Three
To the northwest of Choras in 600, a large island was found, called the Giant's Claw. Crono and the others piloted the Epoch there and landed, entering the cave therein.
The environment was tattered and rocky, making it a typical cave. However, as they continued on, strange pieces of architecture became clear. Marle cocked her head.
"Is it just me or is this looking... artificial?"
Crono narrowed his eyes.
"Artificial? Yeah. Ayla, do you see what I do?"
Ayla nodded.
"Reptite style."
Marle gasped.
"Reptite?! You mean, those lizards?"
Crono nodded.
"I see a door over there. Let's see if I'm right..."
The party entered, finding themselves in a familiar room. Bones and stone stitched together the walls, etched with scratches identical to the Tyranno Lair. More poignantly, Azala's throne lay before them. Crono sighed.
"Yeah, it's Azala's place."
Ayla placed a hand to the floor.
"Lavos. When Lavos fall, push down deep."
Crono held his chin.
"Let's review. This place has the Rainbow Shell, and it's also the Tyranno Lair. Apparently Azala and her men were holding out on us. What I don't get is why they didn't use the Rainbow Shell against the Iokans."
Marle nodded.
"Gaspar said that it was 'compressed'... so I think it was made after Lavos fell. They couldn't use it because it wasn't there; it was created when Lavos hit."
Ayla growled.
"Ayla no like being here."
Crono sighed.
"Let's keep going."
Scene Four
As they continued, the party found more remains of the Tyranno Lair. They currently seemed to be in one of the towers. Marle spotted something.
"It's Toma's bandana! This must be where he died!"
She paused.
"Uh... how did he die?"
A shriek sounded, as a pterodactyl swooped into the room. Crono drew his sword and charged it.
"I think we have the answer!"
The dactyl moved swiftly, one of its wings knocking Ayla to the ground. Marle quickly froze the beast and Crono shattered it. Crono rushed to Ayla and crouched beside her.
"Ayla! Why didn't you hit first?"
Ayla paused.
"Ayla no like being here. Ayla remember fight... Ayla... angry. No can focus."
Marle tapped her on the shoulder.
"You aren't alone, though! We've got your back!"
Ayla smiled.
"Ayla have good friends."
They moved onward, finding more and more of what they'd passed through in the distant past. Eventually, they worked their way down to a large, open area, where they found a set of rexes and dactyls, two of each.
Ayla took point, smacking a dactyl and, after another kick, downing it. Marle drew her dagger and changed it to a sword, holding back another dactyl until Crono caught and slew it.
As the rexes charged, Crono zoomed forward at lightning speed. He deftly struck twice, each cutting a dinosaur in half. But as they fell, a larger stegosaurus entered. Ayla howled.
"Ayla not see that before!"
The stegosaurus charged, and Marle launched a bolt that knocked it off course. Crono and Ayla both rushed forward and, with one slice and one kick, killed it instantly. As it fell, Crono sighed.
"God only knows what else is down here. All we can do is keep moving!"
Scene Five
After clearing a few more caves - mostly dactyls and rexes, but with the odd fat type appearing - the final room came into view. It was a large, rocky area that seemed to lack Reptite architecture. What carried over from back then was the large, angry uber-rex resembling Azala's trump card. Crono shouted.
"Not that thing!"
The Rust Tyranno charged, and Ayla threw a kick to strike it, but was repelled by its tail. She rebounded and dashed up the wall; Crono joined her from the opposite side and they readied to attack.
Flames licked the jowls of the beast, which it launched at Marle. Demonstrating amazing speed, she dodged, and quickly froze the dinosaur's head. Two strikes - one punch and one slash - ended the Tyranno's life. Or after-life, whatever.
As it fell, Marle spotted a large, shimmering object ahead. She yelled out.
"That must be it!"
They hurried to the relic, and found a beautiful, rainbow-colored nautilus shell. Its many colors delighted their eyes. Crono smirked.
"Now we take it!"
He rushed over and took grip of it. He quickly fell backwards.
"Damn that thing's heavy!"
Ayla hurried over. Nodding, she moved to lift it, but also failed. Following several losing attempts, she plopped down.
"Ayla no can lift!"
Crono groaned.
"We found it but can't lift it. We'd need a dozen big dudes to hoist it!"
Marle paused, then grinned.
"The Guardians! We can go ask the King to retrieve it, then take it back in our era!"
Crono cocked his head.
"Why can't we just take it now?"
Marle sighed.
"We'd need Melchior to make anything from it, right?"
Scene Six
King Guardia nodded.
"I see. I shall send my men to retrieve the Shell... And you want me to keep it? Are you certain?"
Marle nodded.
"It's for the best if you hang on to it."
He cocked his head.
"Why do I feel... like you're not telling the whole story?"
Crono sighed.
"I'm getting tired of saying this, but it's complicated. We'll be able to use it later on. That's the best I can tell you."
The King paused, sighed, and nodded.
"You all saved my nation once... I'll trust you've good reason for this. The Shell will be kept as a royal treasure. I've no idea how you can 'use it later,' but I will trust your word."
Marle giggled.
"Thanks!"
She leaned in by Crono and whispered.
"Now we go back and take it in our time!"
Crono paused.
"Don't they still want to kill me?"
Marle groaned.
"Ugh, I forgot... It'll be alright. I'll come up with something."
Scene Seven
"And you really think this will work?"
Marle nodded, to a cloaked and robed Crono.
"I've got this."
The two walked into the castle, being greeted by the Chancellor almost immediately. He yelled out.
"Princess?! Where is that rogue, Crono?!"
Marle smiled.
"My friend, Onorc, took him out. He's right here, next to me."
She nudged Crono. He sighed, and nodded.
"You won't be seeing that guy again. He's, uh, sorta... dead."
Honestly, Marle... This is stupid.
The Chancellor bought it.
"Ah, excellent! Now that the brigand is dealt with, we can now address the bigger problem."
Marle cocked her head.
"What's wrong?"
With a sigh, the Chancellor threw up his hands.
"His Majesty is on trial for selling the Rainbow Shell. Such a shame he'd act so criminal..."
Marle shook her head.
"That's stupid! My father would never-"
The Chancellor shushed her.
"He's on trial as we speak, Milady."
Marle shoved him aside, with Crono following after. The two ran past the guards to find the King in the courtroom, behind the same pedestal Crono had been before. Marle yelped.
"Father?!"
The King turned and shook his head.
"Marle, the Chancellor is framing me!"
From behind the Chancellor entered.
"Your slander offends me, Your Majesty! Why, testimony shall soon be offered to prove your guilt."
Marle grabbed the Chancellor by the shoulders and shook him.
"You're lying, you old bastard!"
The Chancellor brushed her aside.
"Please remove Her Majesty from the courtroom... and do not allow her to return."
One of the guards reached to grab Marle, but Crono clutched his arm and twisted it.
"Don't touch her!"
Another set of guards pushed the duo out, and refused to move back. Marle shook with anger.
"That prick! He's trying to frame him!"
Crono held her by the shoulders.
"Calm down!"
She brushed him aside.
"If we find the Rainbow Shell, we'll prove it! Come on!"
Another Angle
"Damning Testimony"
"Yes, your honor. I bought the Rainbow Shell from the King."
King Guardia slammed his hand on the counter.
"Liar! I did no such thing!"
The judge banged his gavel.
"Order! Your Majesty, you must refrain from such outbursts!"
As the King fumed, the Chancellor dismissed the witness. He smiled as the merchant passed, winking.
"Good work!"
The "merchant" slipped a forked tongue through his mouth with a smile.
Scene Eight
Marle and Crono dashed down the staircase to the basement. Few people ever bothered going there, so why not look there? Two strange-looking soldiers chortled at its entrance.
"Spectacular, indeed is the Master's plan."
The other guard nodded.
"The fools don't realize their own treasure's been down here all along!"
Marle rushed forward and aimed her crossbow.
"What was that?!"
The guard chuckled.
"We Mystics need not say anything to human worms!"
Crono paused and cocked his head.
"Number one, you just did. Number two..."
He drew his sword and severed the guards' head, which broke open to reveal Nagas. The Mystics were easily dispatched as Marle turned towards the basement.
"Let's go!" she yelled. "I'll be damned if I let that weasel railroad my father!"
Another Angle
"Before Deliberations"
"Now, members of the jury, I instruct you to deliberate. You are to consider only the evidence presented."
The King slammed his hand on his podium.
"Dammit, they're lying!"
The Judge banged his gavel.
"Your Majesty, even you must follow the law. The jury shall take into account all the evidence presented... of which you've offered nothing."
In the corner, the Chancellor smiled menacingly.
It's almost time, dead ancestor!
Scene Nine
After cutting through a number of Mystics, Marle and Crono arrived to find the Rainbow Shell. Marle growled.
"I knew he was lying!"
Crono stepped forward and drove his sword into the Shell, tearing off a small piece of it. He handed it to Marle, and the two headed back up. At the courtroom doors, two soldiers barred their path.
"I am afraid," said one, "that you are not allowed inside."
Angrily, Crono's hand moved to his sword. Marle shook her head.
"I've got another idea. Wait here until I come inside!"
Scene Ten
"And the verdict is guilty!"
The King bowed his head.
"Forgive me, Nadia..."
The Chancellor cackled.
"Now the kingdom is mine!"
From behind the stain glass wall behind, Marle's voice echoed.
"The hell it is!"
She broke through the glass and landed next to the King. Her eyes turned from him to the Chancellor.
"I'm here to end this fraud."
The Chancellor laughed.
"Too late! His Majesty has been found guilty of stealing..."
Marle lifted up the prism shard.
"... the thing you hid in the basement?!"
The courtroom became abuzz. As disorder mounted, the King turned to Marle with tears in his eyes.
"Oh, Nadia...!"
Crono broke through the guards and unsheathed his blade.
"Game's over, Chancellor!"
Laughing, the Chancellor shook his head.
"The rules just changed! If I can't take the kingdom legally, I'll do it by force!"
Crono menacingly brandished his sword.
"With what weapon, you little punk?"
The Chancellor laughed. A crack of light sounded, as a new creature emerged from the Chancellor's shell. It was the beast from the middle ages: Yakra. Crono groaned.
"Didn't I kill you already?"
"I'm of the thirteenth generation! Now, feel my fury!"
As Crono moved to attack, Marle stopped him.
"Let me deal with him!"
Crono stepped back as a brilliant blue aura surrounded Marle. He gasped.
"What the hell?"
Marle stepped up and aimed her crossbow. Yakra laughed, and launched a giant metal ball, which Marle nimbly dodged as she launched two bolts that struck Yakra in the side. It roared.
"You bitch!"
Marle grinned.
"I'll take that as a compliment, slimeball!"
She threw her hands to her side as her aura expanded.
"Now, I'm gonna wipe that slime off my father's path!"
Marle emitted an aura that turned to solid ice. As Yakra launched spires at her, she nimbly dodged by sliding through the attack with her ice path. She stopped and threw out her hands, encasing Yakra in a glacier of ice.
Crono stepped back again, and grinned.
"Checkmate!"