And life goes on. Chrono Trigger isn't mine, still. We begin moving into the final section of the fic now, though there are still quite a few chapters left. Hope you enjoy!
Flea was back in a couple more days, which was just as well for Lyn, as she had eaten everything she'd gathered, and didn't really want to risk another conversation with her mother. Lyn used the new spell in the next sparing session, which caused a green aura to surround her and leeched about a third of the power from Flea's spells. It proved very nice, especially when Flea started attacking with stronger spells.
With the land firmly under the grip of winter, nobody was really doing much of anything. Flea stayed in the castle for the full season, and Lyn found no time to worry about her mother's accusations. Spells were easier now, and Lyn had learned spells to protect from physical attacks as well as magical. The group cure spell the healer-mages used was now hers as well.
When spring broke winter's chokehold, Flea took Lyn on a new path through the castle. Lyn followed silently, fingering the short cloak her Mistress had tossed at her that morning. It seemed they were going somewhere; that Lyn was finally being allowed to join Flea on one of Flea's political missions. She couldn't really say she was surprised when they reached the large double doors, or when she noticed Janus beside them, waiting.
Something about Janus was different, and Lyn looked again. He had indeed changed, in much the same manner she had. Red eyes replaced the soft aqua, and pale pointed ears poked out from behind the cerulean curtain of hair. "Good look on you," she murmured, gaining a sneer from the boy.
It was cold outside, though the dark-barked trees had never lost their pointed leaves. Lyn shivered slightly, glad of her half-cloak, though she noticed with a little envy that Janus wore a full-length cloak. They went to a town on the eastern side of the continent, where a ship was already waiting.
Lyn and Janus were left to their own devices on the ship. They spent most of their time staying out of everyone's way and trying to figure out where they were going. They landed at a rocky shoreline, a few of the amorphous Shadows and gray-green Groupies with them, then carefully followed a switchback path up the cliffs. There was a forest at the top, with trees just beginning their new growth with the spring, and a few rather run-down looking houses dotted about.
"She's here! The envoy is here!" a croaking voice called, and suddenly the place was swarmed with large frogs. Lyn repressed a shudder.
The excited cries brought forth an even larger frog. "Wow," Janus said to Lyn in a low voice. "He's even larger than Maou Ozzie… I didn't think that was physically possible."
"Shut up, boy," Flea hissed. "This isn't the time for your comments."
With a surprised look on his face, Janus nodded at the Mazoku woman, keeping his mouth closed. Flea wasn't as easy going as Slash, but she didn't usually care if he muttered to himself. For her to shut him up meant something was certainly up.
"General Flea, a pleasure," the large frog said, inclining his head and nearly dropping the overly large crown he wore.
"Frog's King," Flea responded, likewise inclining her head. "You requested a meeting?"
"Yes, yes. To discuss an alliance," the King said, now nodding so hard that Lyn didn't know how the crown stayed on.
"An alliance?" Flea echoed the word skeptically. "You, Frog's King, finally look beyond your borders to see what is happening to the rest of the races?" If she hadn't been looking, if she hadn't been Flea, she might have missed the way the amphibian's eyes darted to the side, looking beyond her, into the swamp.
"Don't speak like that, General Flea," the frog protested. "I have to care for my own people first, you know that."
Flea didn't get a chance to respond. There was a quiet zip of an arrow, and one of the Shadows rose from the ground, letting itself get hit in Flea's place. Chaos erupted, Humans in Porre's green and blue entering the clearing from two sides. Janus yanked Lyn backwards and looked around. Flea was retreating back towards the coast, and as she did so a squad of men moved between Flea and the slaves. Unsurprisingly, the Frog King had vanished.
"Shit, get Protect up, girl!" Janus snapped at Lyn, using the spell's proper name, as was his wont. He wasn't surprised that she was blanking in the face of an attack, but it wasn't something he could afford to have her do.
The direct order penetrated Lyn's confusion, and she began her chant while Janus drug her over to one of the shacks. A soft yellow glow surrounded them, which would cut any physical attacks they were unlucky enough to take.
"Use fire, men! Burn them out!" the Human captain yelled, waving his men forward.
Flea looked back, searching for her girl and the Maou's boy. She thought she had seen them hiding by the frog's pathetic shacks, but looking now there was only fire. She sighed slightly, knowing the slaves were beyond her reach. She had brought a diplomatic force, not a strike force, after all. Well, if it was Magician's will, the slaves would find some way back, but ultimately they weren't important.
Janus didn't wait for the fire to reach the hut he was hiding behind. He heard the human's order, and looked towards the swampy forest, measuring distance. "Get ready to run," he hissed to Lyn. She nodded wordlessly.
Smoke began to cloud the air, exactly the thing Janus was waiting for. He gave no warning when he began to run, trusting Lyn to know enough to follow. Vaguely he realized that they were running inland, away from the ocean and the ship, but there was nothing he could do about that. The first priority was staying alive.
He heard someone crashing through the forest and bit back another curse. Lyn wasn't that loud, she was running beside him and was quieter than he was. Someone armored was following them, and that meant someone from Porre's army.
"Keep running, I won't be long," Janus ordered, voice clipped from lack of air. Lyn gave a nod, and Janus stepped behind a tree, letting her past him. A few moments later, two soldiers ran past. He didn't give them time to realize that one of their prey was behind them.
Lyn stopped running when the heard Janus' Dark Bomb exploding. She didn't want to get too far ahead of him and risk the chance that he might not find her. She hadn't been waiting for long when Janus came into view, still running.
"Come on, there might be more," he said as he passed her. Lyn had no choice but to give chase.
Janus finally stopped when neither of them could run any more. Holding up a hand for silence, he tried to listen to the forest while catching his breath. Finally deciding they were safe, at least for the time being, the blue-haired youth launched into a fluid stream of Zealian curses. "I hope you know where we are, girl," he added, looking at Lyn.
Lyn looked around a little, finally making a guess. "I think… we're a little south and west of Dorino…."
Rolling his eyes, Janus snapped, "Do you know how to get back to Mazoku lands?"
"Oh. Due east, though we might want to go a little further north to avoid the desert."
"Great," Janus said calmly. "Now if you'll stop being an idiot and start walking, we can be going."
Lyn looked at Janus in confusion before realizing that he was lost. Glancing around once more, she picked a direction and started walking. Before long, the sun began setting, stretching her shadow before her. "Do you have anything to eat?" she asked Janus curiously.
"Of course I do. Haven't you learned by now to keep some food? Really, you're clueless."
"It's a little hard to hide anything when you're sharing Mistress Flea's bed," Lyn shot back, used to Janus' insulting nature.
"That is rather what pockets are for, silly."
"Oh, yes, pockets, now why didn't I think of that?" Lyn mocked, trying to keep back a smile.
Janus smirked. "Maybe because you have the brain power of a retarded Hench?"
"A Hench, that smart? Last time you called me a Gnasher."
"Retarded Hench, Lyn, it's hardly a step up, really, it's not that difficult," Janus drawled.
"Oho, retarded Hench, I see… Well it might interest you to know, Sir Janus, that I do indeed have pockets. And food, even," Lyn said triumphantly.
Janus gave a chuckle at the mocking title Lyn used. "Okay, I guess that means you're as smart as an average Hench."
"So we have a little food at least…" Lyn stopped suddenly, realizing the forest had ended. "Do we try crossing the desert tonight, in the morning, or wait until tomorrow night?" she asked seriously, dropping her joking tone.
Looking at the wide expanse of sand, Janus let out a low whistle. "Not during the day, the sun would be too harsh," he murmured, half talking to himself.
"I really do have the brainpower of a Hench," Lyn said, hanging her head. "I should have remembered the sun on my own…."
"I think… we need to wait. I'm low on magic, you probably are too, and we're both tired," Janus said slowly. "If we stay awake tonight, we can sleep during the day, and then try crossing that at night."
Shading her eyes, Lyn peered to the north for a little while, then nodded. "Or I could take a nap now, and go to Dorino when I wake up. I could get us some supplies there, I think."
"Lyn…" Janus warned softly, something like concern in his eyes, "Dorino is our enemy. And we have no money. You can't just buy supplies there, you know."
At first it seemed like the girl hadn't heard him, but then Lyn nodded slowly. "I know, Janus. I'll have to get them another way. But Dorino is big. I'm good at hiding. I won't be noticed."
Janus was silent, measuring Lyn's words. She did have a point; water and more food would be a blessing. If one of them went to the Human town, it would have to be her, since she was the only one who spoke the Human language and knew how to blend. But he doubted that Dorino was large enough to hide a young woman who looked like a Mazoku, and he knew she wasn't even thinking about her appearance. Finally he sighed, "Fine. I guess it's a risk you'll have to take. Sleep, then."
Lyn lay on the ground, curling up under her short cloak. Now that she was still, the spring chill assaulted her again, and she began shivering. When the sun went down, the cold attacked her in earnest, until finally Janus gave a sigh and draped his cloak over her as well. It was still warm from his body, and it smelt like him. She didn't stop shivering, but sleep finally claimed Lyn.
Aaah, how cute... So, what will happen when Lyn goes to Dorino? Any guesses? Review and tell me!