Chapter Thirteen

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1999 A.D.

The giant portal opened up and Epoch flew into the night sky of 1999. Chrono, Marle, Lucca, Frog, and Ayla were all on board. They looked at their surroundings. Large buildings that appeared to be miles high were on either side of them. There were lights on in each window. People were all staring up at the Epoch in shock and amazement.

Lucca cringed. "I take it that my Epoch is not the transporation method of the future after all."

Marle looked out the window. "You're right. They all look like they've never seen the thing before in their lives!"

Ayla jerked her head all around, looking out the window. "Where Magus? I kill him for destroying my village!"

Frog nodded. "Indeed. And I shall assist you. It's the least I can do to avenge Cyrus."

Chrono drew his sword. "Just tell me if you see him. I'll lead us into battle."

Then, a beeping noise was heard. Lucca stared at the energy guage and chuckled nervously. "I've gotta land this thing, or we'll crash." She looked all around until she saw a large sky scrapper with a landing platform on it. "Perfect!" She used what was left of Epoch's energy to hover above the landind platform.

They landed perfectly, but Lucca kept the glass hatch around them closed tightly until she was finished on the computer. "I can't find him..."

"Are you sure we're in the right time?" Marle asked.

Lucca nodded. "I'm posative. But somehow, he's able to avoid my scanner."

"Maybe he's hiding somewhere," Chrono pointed out.

"WELCOME TO MY KINGDOM!" Magus' voice echoed.

They all jerked their heads around, trying to find him. Then, a giant black shadow appeared above them, spreading for what seemed like miles. They all looked up at what looked like a giant mechanical... bug! It looked like the image of a giant black fly with giant TV screen eyes, long metal antenna sensors in the front, And the whole thing was blinking bright lights in all sorts of different colors.

Magus appeared out of thin air, right on the very top of it. He laughed evilly. "What do you think of my Black Omen!? Beautiful, isn't it?"

Chrono's mouth hung open. "Where did he get that thing!?"

Lucca looked down at all of the people below. They all appeared to be wearing darkpurple body suits with big a big red letter 'M' on the front. "He must have found a way to take over this whole city." Lucca looked back up at the Black Omen. "And made them build that thing."

"Then it won't be too long before the future I saw becomes reality," Marle replied.

Lucca pressed a button and the glass hatch burst open. Chrono jumped out, followed by Frog and Ayla. "Not if I can help it!" He looked back at the girls. "Marle, Lucca, stay here! We'll handle this!" The three friends took off running towards the center of the giant shadow.

Magus laughed. "Fine! Be my guest! But, you're only signing your death certificates!" With that, he dissapeared into thin air. A bright blue light appeared from the center of the Black Omen. It extended like a rod, all the way down to the group. As they ran inside the light, they were all transported upward, into the Black Omen.

Marle watched as they floated upward. "Good luck, Chrono... I love you."

o O o

The girls waited for half an hour. So far, nothing had changed above them. Marle was pacing around while Lucca was messing around with the controls to the Epoch. Marle often glanced up at the Black Omen, wondering how the others were doing. "Where are they?"

Then, Magus' evil laugh was heard again. He reapeared at the very top of the Black Omen. "Did you really think that those fools would be enough to match me? They were easily crushed like flies!"

Marle made an angry face. "What do you mean!? Where's Chrono!?"

Magus just smirked. "Well, I'd rather you came up and found out for yourself... But I'll give you a little hint." He reached into his pocket and took out a piece of cloth. He let it go, allowing the wind to carry it downward to her. With that, he dissapeared again.

Marle caught the cloth in mid air and examined it.

It was Chrono's head band... and it was covered in blood.

"No... It can't be... No..." She shook her head head in denial. Then, she threw her head back and shouted, "NNNNNOOOOOO!" She fell to her knees and cried into the headband. Chrono couldn't possibly be dead. But the proof was right here in her hands. There was no denying it. She sniffled. "Fine..." She stood up and dried her eyes, clutching the head band. "If he's going to die, then I'm going to kill Magus... or die trying." She looked up at Lucca, who was tearing up as well. "Lucca! You got any weapons?"

Lucca nodded. She pressed a button and popped open a compartment on the Epoch. Inside was a large bronze mechanical suit, it's right arm replaced by a gun. It had green eyes and a small engine built into it's back. "I call this one Robo. He's a body suite that you can wear into battle." She jumped down from the cockpit and took Robo out. She pressed a button on the back, opening up a human sized compartment in the back. "Get inside."

Marle nodded before Lucca helped her into the back of Robo. When she was secured inside, Lucca sealed her up. Marle looked all around the inside of the robot. There were switches and knobs everywhere.

"All you'll have to do is press the red button in front of you, and you're all set," Lucca explained.

Marle did as she was told. The green eyes of the machine brightened up. Marle grabbed the controlls and the machine moved along with her. "Good. I'm all set then! Get back inside the Epoch and stay in there, Lucca!" She took a deep breath as she ran over to the long blue light.

"Chrono, I'm so sorry. This is all my fault. But I'm gonna fix things. I promise..."