Chrono Trigger Omega
Episode Zero Zero One
Character Interlude Three – "The Shadow & The Darkness"

Despite how I feel about this, I cannot fall victim to my person feelings. The mission comes first.

However, as I witnessed history in the making, it's hard to fight the urge to not make myself a part of these exciting times. Even more difficult is watching a treasured friend begin a journey towards a nightmarish fate, only to not be able to save him from it.

After being told so much about this world, I almost didn't believe such a strange place existed. For starters, there are those strange thorn-less roses that populate this entire valley, while floating above me, are three moons casting their light upon the spectacle I'm currently consumed with. And then there's a matter of the trees…

The forest I've hidden myself within is perfect camouflage during the day, as it is comprised of trees with pitch black leaves. As I've recently discovered though, as soon as night begins to fall, the sunlight the trees absorb is released and each leaf glows, very much like a burning candle. It's truly a remarkable sight, but not very convenient for someone trying to stay concealed from wandering eyes.

Lucky enough to find a spot in a towering tree near the forest's edge, I perched myself on a thick branch, yet close to the trunk of the tree itself and remaining still while attempting to blend in with it. If I was close to the nearby courtyard, there is a good chance I could be spotted, but with my position standing over a football field's length from the fight in progress, the odds of remaining undiscovered play very much in my favor.

"Hiding, are we?" an all-too familiar voice asked from my right. Immediately, I reach for the sword strapped to my back as I turn to face the speaker as she stands weightlessly on the end of the branch I was crouching on, "I only came to watch, Katana…if you remember, if we fight one another, our time here is over," her appearance completely distracted me from the flashes of light emanating from the conflict in the courtyard.

Just being in this woman's company made me want to wretch. My employer refuses me to kill this nuisance – Isis – although there is nothing more I'd rather do right now. I can't blame the Mistress on her reasons for wanting to spare Isis from the justice of my blade, but I wait for the day when the last of those sentimental ties finally break.

On agreement for traveling back to this point in time, we were warned that if we engaged in battle with one another, we would be instantly transported back to the present. If I'm to finish my assignment, dispatching this meddling sorceress will have to wait.

"What do you want?" I ask, regrettably returning sword to sheath. She however floats to a spot on the branch near me, as if to coax my intolerance towards her as her face clearly showed annoyance towards my harsh words.

"I've already told you. Apparently that mask you wear makes you hard of hearing," Isis remarked, "and why do you have to imitate my voice every time we converse. Can't you speak for yourself?"

Ever since our first encounter, this dark sorceress has been hell-bent about discovering my true identity. Another reason why the bitch much go. It did bring me pleasure however that she misinterpreted the device that disguises my voice as an act of mockery – when in truth, it only reflects the duplicated sound of the listener's voice with my words. She doesn't know that though…

"Of all the trees to watch from, you went and picked mine," I pointed out, displeased with her close proximity.

"But this one had the best view," her smirk was enough to entice anyone to slug her, "if there is anything I have to commend you on is how well you eavesdrop, Katana."

"That's a shame," I continued to be ruthless, "there's nothing about you I find admirab-"

Thanks to this annoyance, I had almost missed it. The fountain at the center of the courtyard exploded into flames of white, raining water as well as concrete bits all over the cobblestone. At the center of the explosion, I spotted a figure that was unfortunately caught by the oncoming blast, falling into the pool below as the flames quickly died.

"That fool got exactly what he deserved," Isis smirked in that cold manner that I oh-so-despise, referring to the recipient of assault. I didn't appreciate the remark, but I was too concerned with what was going on to respond.

Another figure walked up to the remains of the fountain to inspect the body. What catches my eyes however is his sword, radiating in the darkness with mystical energy as he positions it downward. It's clear that he has it in mind to finish off his opponent, sprawled on the ground, with a thrust to the heart, an act I never thought I'd witness between these two.

I couldn't bear to stand back and watch any longer, but to interfere would mean losing to this witch and failing my mission. As Isis cheers the swordsman on, the urge to impale her with my own weapon becomes equally tempting.

Much to my surprise and her disdain, the light from the sword flashed vibrantly and blinded us both momentarily. Our eyesight returned seconds later, only to find that the swordsman was being swept up into a column of light that manifested from where he stood and stretched skyward. We watch him quickly ascend into the stratosphere as the column disappears, hearing him scream in terror as he is transported.

As my nemesis is more attuned to witchcraft than I, she is the first to sense a powerful force behind us before it materializes. I turn around just as there is another flash of bright light, this time farther away than the previous and not nearly as blinding. In it's wake, another column magically appeared and within it, the silhouette of a figure descending into the center of the forest.

"Well, I have to run, my dear Katana," Isis rose to her feet, standing on the branch, "some of us have to work," and with her tease as her queue, the sorceress instantly vanished. Good riddance.

She wasn't the only one that had obligations, and quickly I exit the tree to tend to them. Despite the long distance, I dash across the plain and into the courtyard in under ten seconds. I break from my sprint of cyber-enhanced speed near the cracked pool where the fountain had once stood. The exposed pluming continues to spout water into the air and upon the person that laid unconsciously near the piping.

'How did this happen?' I thought, absolutely disappointed in his loss, 'How could you lose?...'

A few yards away, a peculiar sight caught my attention. Red arcs of electricity sparked erratically from a hidden source concealed by scarlet roses, as if an exposed power line laid somewhere in that particular patch of flowers. I cautiously approached when the strange spiritual energy faded into the darkness, already knowing what the source of it was.

A sport coat lay across the chest of another unconscious person, covering her exposed chest from any peeping eyes. From what I vividly recall, her tunic was viciously shredded in the assault that defeated her. I pulled the collar down slightly, exposing her neck and removing an item from a small packet strapped to my leg. In hopes to avoid the next involuntary emission of electric "rei-ki", I quickly placed the item around her neck and concealed it again with the jacket.

"Complete the circle, Demona…" I said, mainly to myself while replicating the voice the woman I bestowed the gift to, "We're all depending on you."

With the gust of the next strong wind, I disappear into the fallen darkness. At long last, the game begins…

To Be Continued...

Next Chapter - "Night Wind"