A Step Onto Chronos Epilogue 1
Aftermath
Shadic the Hedgehog
"Mmmm," I moaned as I stretched. I had had the most interesting dream, involving magic and dragons and adventure. Of course, it paled in comparison to the adventure I had just finished with Crono and the gang. As I sat up and looked around, I recognized the couch I was sleeping on as the couch Crono had slept on the night the two of us discussed the Invincibles. I swung my legs over the edge of the couch and stood up, sighing in appreciation as my back popped several times.
"That had to feel good," commented a voice over my shoulder.
"Oh, it did," I replied, turning to find Lucca already dressed for the day. I had, apparently, slept in my clothes, so I had little need to get dressed in order to be ready. "Have any interesting dreams?"
"Oh, a few. You?"
"One, really, but it was more interestingly odd than anything else."
"Any idea what we should do now?"
"I propose we speak with King Guardia about Crono's deeds across time. I thought you had already seen the ending?"
"I did, but that doesn't mean there aren't other things to be done." She blushed suddenly and I laughed at her inadvertent statement. She retaliated by slapping me on the arm.
"Hey, you thought it, not me." We headed out the door, and the Epoch was sitting there, waiting for us. "So, who should we get first?"
"I'd say Doan, since we don't know how long it will take for Lavos' death to change things, and go back from there."
"Alright. But remember, first we must tell the king about our plans."
"Right." The two of us left the house and found the Epoch conveniently parked outside. We hopped in and sped to Castle Guardia, where we spoke to the King.
"Oh, hello, you two. And what are you doing here?"
"We wanted to get your permission for a plan," I replied.
"Indeed?"
"Yes, sire. You see, we have defeated Lavos recently, and everyone has been transplanted back to their original times. We had a thought about a festival to celebrate saving the world, as well as a surprise for Marle, er, Princess Nadia, and Crono. We plan on travelling through time and collecting everyone, plus the leaders of the different eras, which includes your distant ancestors and descendents."
"This is... a monumental undertaking. Arranging a festival may take a few days, but it could be done." He turned to one of the soldiers by the throne. "You there, check the princess's room and see if she's there. If she's asleep, don't wake her. If she isn't there, don't panic. We're dealing with time travel, so she may have arrived after they did."
I blinked as the soldier saluted and made for the stairs. "You're quite knowledgeable of time travel, sire. I'm somewhat surprised."
"I had a visitor the other day." He turned to the stairs to his room. "You may come out now." And down the stairs walked Robo-Belthasar. "He came to me in a vehicle similar to yours, informing me of your victory. The Starlight Festival is already being set up, and you won't need to visit the far future: Guru Belthasar has already brought Doan and Sir Robo with him. You two can get my royal and other ancestors and come back here."
Robo-Belthasar raised his hand, "I came back earlier than you because I 'felt' the time line change as Lavos died. Everything in AD 2300 as it was is gone, and -" He glanced over to the opposite stairwell before ducking behind the King's throne. The soldier had returned. He saluted and informed us that Nadia, that is Marle, had indeed returned and was asleep.
The King turned to us and nodded. "Now, what was the rest of your plan?"
"Ahem. Right. After collecting the other heroes and your distant relatives, we would send a guard to Crono's house to wake him and bring him here, using his trial as a reason." I said.
"Wait," Lucca interrupted, "I told Crono about this back in Zeal. It's not going to work that way. We'll need something else to bring him in."
The King smiled. "How about an engagement?" We blinked and looked up at him. "I may be old, but I know love when I see it, and that young man and my daughter are most definitely in love. You two go collect our guests. I will make arrangements for Crono to join us in the castle."
We saluted and left, hurrying into the Epoch and took off for the past. We collected King Guardia and directed Glenn to the Time Gate. Glenn made sure that Magus was told, and the King knew, but couldn't believe, that the "Enemy of All That Lives" was now a Hero of Time. We took the King with us back to 65,000,000 BC to meet Kino and Ayla, taking Kino in the Epoch while Ayla headed for the Gate at Tyrano Palace.
We returned to Castle Guardia, AD 1000, and led the previous leaders into the throne room. We left the dignitaries and Lucca to their scheming and headed for Leene Square to pick up Glenn, Magus, and Ayla from the Gate, and to keep the Epoch out of view of Crono. After picking them up, we hovered above and behind Crono's house until he was picked up by the guards (the journey was made by horse and carriage, so it was much faster than by foot), then followed a ways behind the cart. After Crono made it into the castle, we landed outside and followed after.
We met Robo-Balthasar and Robo at the entrance as we heard Marle squeal in delight. We approached the big doors and started listening in.
"Yes, yes. We're very happy for you both. But that isn't the only reason I have called you here, Sir Crono. Congratulations on saving the future of our world," said the King, smile evident in his voice.
"...What?" Marle suddenly went quiet.
"You saved the future, and taught us how to have hope," said Doan.
"You defeated Magus's troops," Magus snorted," and restored peace to the year 600," said King Guardia XXI.
"Crono beat Reptites!" cheered Kino, Ayla nodding in agreement with us.
"Wh-what's going on?" asked the bewildered princess. "Why are you all here?" Lucca came out and laughed. "Lucca! Did you bring them all here?" Lucca apparently nodded in response, because the next person to talk was King Guardia XXXIII.
"You undertook quite the daunting mission. These past and future members of our line told me much about it."
"Members of our line? You mean...?"
"Yes. Here I was fussing about rules and worried you would never come back, when you were saving the past, present, and future of our world! Everyone, could you please come in?" We entered, single file, in order of era, with Magus leading before Glenn, and Robo-Balthasar before Robo. We stood alongside Lucca, Crono, except Robo-Belthasar who moved beside Doan. "Now, before these rulers of the world, we dub the eight of you the Heros of Time, and grant you the titles of Dukes and Duchesses in all of our kingdoms. May your legend transcend the ages we rule."
After a while of rejoicing and signing papers and things to make our titles official, King Guardia XXXIII clapped his hands to get our attention. "Now, I do believe that a celebration is in order. Tonight, we celebrate the death of Lavos, and the life of the world!" We were led off by various servants to get dressed in attire befitting our new titles, which none of us particularly enjoyed.
The man doing the outfits turned out to be the very same man that made my adventuring outfit. He greeted me with a smile and discussed my outfit. Turns out that my worries of over-done frills and other unnecessary details was mostly unfounded. I still had to wear a cape, but it was otherwise like a business suit. And it was black and red, which made me happy, the red covering more than the black, unlike my usual outfit.
As I returned to the entrance hall, I saw the others, dressed in colours related to their elements: Marle was in her usual dress, only in a light blue, as she stood next to Crono in a white outfit. Ayla's fur bikini was exchanged for a green suit similar to Crono's (apparently she steadfastly refused to be in something that would hamper her movements), and she stood beside Robo, who remained wearing nothing but Atropos's ribbon, though he was much shinier than usual. Glenn wore a yellow suit fitted to his froggy form, while Magus leaned against the wall in a pitch-black outfit similar to his original suit. Finally, I saw Lucca, who was looking radiant in a bright red, sparkly gown. Kino and Doan were wearing brown versions of the formal suit.
We all travelled in style to Leene Square, where we joined in a parade around the fairgrounds before we were introduced to the populace under our titles, along with Robo showing a video of Lavos and the battle against him. He simulated the voice of Lavos, translating the psychic voice into an audio one. We then joined in the festivities reminiscent of the Millenial Fair of three months previous, with the prehistoric music now actually being played by people from then, namely Ayla and Kino.
At midnight, the visitors from out of time travelled with the party to the Telepods, which were shining with technicolour lights like the rest of the fairgrounds.
"Well, everyone," Lucca said. "This is it."
"The time to depart is upon us," Glenn lamented.
"Now that Lavos is gone, the Progress is sealing the eras from each other," agreed Magus.
"So we have to say goodbye while they're still open," I added. "Gaspar will meet you guys on the other side and direct you to your own times. But don't worry. We'll still be able to visit every once in a while with the Epoch."
Kino and Ayla moved beside the Gate first.
"Crono, Marle, everyone, strong! Ayla... I... had... fun!" said Ayla, stumbling over the use of proper grammar.
Marle giggled, "You guys are my distant ancestors, so you guys better have strong kids!"
Kino laughed, "No worry! Ayla have big energy!"
"She does at that!" Marle blinked. "Wait, what?"
Ayla shoved Kino into the Gate. "Kino dumb! Ayla go now!" She ran in after him. Lucca and I laughed as Glenn and King Guardia XXI approached the Gate.
"Quite the exuberant lot, hm?" Glenn chuckled. "And to think, we are their descendents."
"The queen awaits us, Duke MacDougal. Shall we be off?" replied the 21st King.
"Of course, Your Majesty. But, please, call me Glenn." They walked through the Gate themselves, Magus moving up.
"I must say," he started. "That despite our initial meeting, I have grown... used to you. Don't die."
"Going to look for Schala?" I asked.
"Perhaps. I shall return to my original time, and if I find a way to look about the time stream for her, I shall. Otherwise, I will look over the Last Village and help them grow."
"See you."
"Indeed." And with that, he was gone. Finally, Doan and Robo approached the Gate.
"The future is different. I can tell from here," said Robo.
"Do you think... There's a place there for you?" asked Lucca.
"Yes. I started this journey with naught but my original programming, but travelling alongside you, and farming that forest for four hundred years has changed me enough that I can feel things. And I feel that there is a place for Doan and myself in that future."
"I'll miss you, you know that, right?"
"And I shall miss you, as well. But you are not alone here, you know this. And you can visit whenever you want. We worked hard for that future. I shall enjoy it, especially since I know how it could have turned out."
I turned to Robo-Belthasar, who stood back, away from the Gate. "And what about you?"
He turned from side to side, clearly shaking his head no. "Unlike them, I have no place there. There is another me who I has his own life to live without my interference. I shall stay here, and help your people." I nodded sadly, then turned back to Lucca and Robo as they hugged before Robo went into the Gate himself.
As Crono's cat ran in, I caught him and started petting him, letting before passing him off to Crono as Mrs. Trigaru came in. Crono talked to his mom, introducing her personally to Marle, as we had all been introduced to the populace earlier (including the engagement of Princess Nadia Guardia to Duke Crono Trigaru). As he did so, I watched the Gate close.
"And that's the end of that chapter of our story," I commented. "Now a new one begins."
"We've become heroes. Now, let's be people," said Marle.
"I wonder how our story will end?" asked Crono.
"Hopefully, peacefully," Lucca said.
And we walked off to main fairgrounds, for the hanging of Nadia's Bell.
May our prayers for peace ring on for eternity.
"Best friends can be inseparable even when they're apart."
-Axel, the Flurry of Dancing Flames, Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days
---
A/N: And here's the first epilogue. One more chapter and I'll be done. I've spent five years on this story and I'll be kinda sad to see it be done. At least there will be a sequel to look forward to, right?
I hope for some reviews! I didn't get any last chapter, and my TV Tropes page has only been updated by me! Please, let me know there are people reading this!