Knights of Guardia

Chrono had expected a more spectacular transformation upon entering this new underworld – but they really looked like the tunnels he had just left. Not that he would complain. It's just that he expected this monster's lair to have a little more dramatic power.

If there was any noticeable difference, it was that the tunnels were somewhat larger and brighter. They were still made of the same boring rock, and there were no intricate designs like that of the great Cathedral. Oh – yes – and the noise. There was plenty of noise. Judging from the sounds, somebody was hosting a brash party in the underworld.

No later had the trio walked in and heard the noise did the frog begin scampering off down one of the halls. "You know where we're going, right?" Lucca called, getting a hush! – from Chrono.

"Nay. I have never been here."

"Then why are we following you – " she turned to Chrono " – why are we following this guy?"

"We have some time – Leene's down here somewhere, and common sense says that we will eventually find her."

By now the frog stopped and glared at Lucca. Then he glared at her friend. "I have more than enough skill to save the Queen on my own, if you please." Smartly he whirled around and bounded down the hall again.

The other two didn't move. "Where is he taking us?" Lucca repeated.

"I think he's investigating the weird party noises."

"Oh, that's real smart," she burst, and reluctantly followed after the frog. Chrono stood an extra moment, seemingly lost in thought, and then joined his companions.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

No one was surprised to find out that the party noises were indeed from a party. Immediately the scene reminded Chrono of the celebration feast at Guardia – minus the people. In their place were the most bizarre of creatures. "A feast of mystics," groaned the frog.

"Hello!"

All three jumped seven feet at the call. "Hello!" One of the Mystics, a short, gargoyle-shaped white creature with purple wings. "What are you wearing the disguises for?" After a few seconds the trio realized the creature was expecting an answer, but nobody was itching to talk to the mystic. "Never mind, then. It's about time you showed up, then. Sit down."

Only Chrono had the bravery, or the stupidity, to sit. Instantly, he wished he hadn't. Just my luck I get sandwiched between the two big ones. But I can't get up now – that would look suspicious. He did his best to look appreciative of the two hulking tortoise-like mystics on either side.

Lucca turned to the frog. "What are we celebrating?" She got no answer, save a hush! ­– and the frog gripped his sword at his side. "All right, then…" she sauntered up to one of the gargoyles in her best mystic step. "What are we celebrating?"

"The return of the Queen!" the gargoyle chuckled before letting out a satisfied belch.

"Ah." Lucca stepped back quickly. Quietly she made her way to Chrono's seat, which seemed to be getting narrower with each passing second. "Um… ahemChronoahem… we should get moving. We have to… um…" she faltered.

"You going to see the prisoners?" the drunk gargoyle finished for her.

"Right. The prisoners."

"I'll come, too. See, it's my turn to inspect."

Chrono jabbed his elbow into Lucca's side. "Good one," he grunted. "Now we have a tagalong."

Lucca returned the jab. "Let me handle this," she whispered. "Now come on and get up."

"I can't get out of the chair!"

"You're hopeless. I always have to rescue you."

"This is not the time for jokes, Lucca."

"Just get up!"

Chrono gave Lucca a cold, friendly stare. With a groan, he started wiggling down underneath the table. A few seconds later he emerged under his chair, grinning clumsily.

"Now what did you do?"

"One of those fat mystics let his shoes off under the table, so I stuffed them with that turkey stuff and pudding."

Lucca did her best not to smile. "Was that supposed to be clever? Come on, now."

"Where's the frog?"

"He's…" she looked around the room and noticed for the first time he was not present. "Never mind. We have prisoners to inspect."

"Sure, sure."

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

It was a long fifteen minutes before Chrono, Lucca, and their gargoyle "escort" entered the prisoner's room. At first Chrono and Lucca pretended to take the lead until they realized they were getting nowhere on their own. The gargoyle periodically gave directions but seemed to assume that the two strangers knew their way, and let them take the lead – getting everyone that much more lost. So of course, they traveled in circles as the creature led them in countless circles due to convenient memory lapses. Chrono thought the least anyone could do would be to make some sort of map of the lair, as even the inveterate cave-dweller would lose his way through the winding and twisting corridors.

Once they found the prisoners' room, Chrono and Lucca wasted no time in ridding themselves of their escort. "You can go first," Lucca suggested innocently. "Those ugly prisoners scare me."

"You scare me," the gargoyle laughed. "You wouldn't make it ten feet in that disguise."

"Eleven, actually."

"Congratulations. Let's go in, then."

"You go first."

"If you're that shy…" the creature staggered through the narrow entryway. The two humans were about to make their getaway when they heard a crack! – behind them and a ghoulish shriek. It didn't take them long to realize who had been in the prisoner's room first.

"Boy, am I glad I let him go first!" Lucca sighed.

"Dost thou have this trouble often?" the frog commented from the shadows behind the door.

"I can't understand a word he's saying – hey, I can't understand a word you're saying!"

The frog stepped out of the door, wiping the end of his sword with some kind of rag. Following him were two strange men – Chrono jumped at the sight until he saw they were humans. "Prisoners of the beast Yakra. Fortunately for me, you are here to escort them to the surface." He turned to the prisoners. "Follow the lady."

"What?" Lucca burst. "I don't know my way back!"

"Hold thy tongue! You will find the path."

"I have to go alone?"

"True. The road ahead is too much for you."

"Excuse me?"

"Sir Chrono, does the lady complain such at all times?"

Chrono blinked a few times. "What?"

"Then, never mind. Sir Chrono, come with me."

With that, the frog hopped away. Chrono took one last look at Lucca to say sorry, but there's nothing I can do. Then he took off after the frog.

- - - - - - - - - - - - -

Captain Roland sat at the front pew, head resting on both arms, which rested on both legs. His eyes scanned meticulously at nothing. There must be some secret passage here – it's too much of a coincidence… until we saw the dead mystics, I would have guessed we had it wrong again. "Yakra… the legendary beast," he mumbled. "How did I not see that?"

"Sir?" one of the knights behind him spoke up.

"What!" Roland whirled around in his seat. "Er – ahem – what?"

The knight suppressed a smile. "Yakra?" At that, some of the braver ones ventured to chuckle aloud.

Roland opened his mouth wide – but didn't shout one syllable before a deep groan resounded from the walls. Suddenly tight-lipped, he gazed, fixated with one eyebrow several inches above the other, at the wall behind him.

To everyone's surprise, the wall opened up and three strange figures burst out. All the knights instantly whipped out swords and stood, ready for battle.

"Put those down!" barked the captain. "Those are ours! Now," he continued, "who are you?"

Lucca stepped forward. "These two are… or were… prisoners down there." She pointed to the elevator. "And I'm – Lucca."

Roland eyed her, the prisoners, and then his own men. "Is Queen Leene down there?"

"Yes, of course."

"Where is she?"

"In there. Somewhere."

Roland gritted his teeth in frustration. "Knights! You know what that means! - - I said, move!"

- - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Meanwhile, Chrono and the frog continued their trek through the cavern. Or, rather, the frog did the trekking, and Chrono followed as best he could, eyeing the surroundings for any threatening shadows.

He didn't notice the frog had now stopped, and blindly he bowled him over. "Sorry." The frog got up and dusted himself, contemptuously eyeing the boy (with as much contempt as a frog can display). "So, I'll guess we're here." Chrono was referring to the large iron door before the two of them. "Wherever here is…" he grabbed the handle and gave a good yank.

The door didn't budge. "What the…" Chrono muttered, and pulled harder.

"Stand aside," the frog croaked. With one motion he stepped up to the door and easily pushed it open. "Thine strength eludes thee," he said, obviously hiding a laugh, and leapt into the new room.

"Where are we?" asked Chrono, stepping hesitantly in.

"Under the graveyard – this is the undertaker's office. But I gather no undertaker has been here for some time."

"Why is that?"

"He is dead."

Chrono jumped. "Is that all?"

"hush!"

As if on cue, the two were interrupted by something coming out of the shadows. Instinctively they withdrew their swords.

"Put those down!"

Chrono and the frog paused, and looked at each other. "The chancellor."

"If you're here for Leene, you're too late. She's dead and buried – I buried her myself."

The frog motioned to Chrono. "Do not let him fool thee," he whispered, then lunged at the chancellor, swinging his sword. But it never made contact – there was no one in from of him. The chancellor was surprisingly agile for his age.

"Fine then. Fight me if you will – and die. You are too late to stop Magus." The frog whirled in circles, sword at the ready. "Prepare yourself."

Suddenly the wall beside the frog opened up and swallowed him under a pile of rubble. Chrono instantly jumped back to the other wall. Something was coming out of the new hole.

One look was good enough for Chrono to see that this beast was Yakra. The beast resembled a great lump of hay – a yellow hump of hair about seven feet long – with gigantic, flashing dark eyes. It was the creature's mouth that really made Chrono's skin crawl – a gaping hole with shining off-white teeth resembling an inside-out dog collar. The mouth bugled out and indented with every breath, giving Chrono the impression the mouth was a separate living organism. The beast had only two appendages resembling feet – paws, where a normal beast's feet should go. In the place of arms were two great spikes.

Of course, Chrono froze at the sight. He'd just wait until the beast made the first move. Then he could just counter every attack – like his swordsmanship classes. Except… his training wasn't in preparation for a fight against a haystack from hell. What is it doing?

Chrono took a hesitant step forward. Yakra followed with a step toward Chrono – who jumped back and gripped his sword tighter. The beast growled – a bone-chilling Grrooo! – and with a huff, tore after the boy. Chrono sidestepped the monster – but nearly losing his legs in the process – and swung his sword in a great arc down on the creature's back.

Crack! – that was not the sound of a breaking back. In fact, there wasn't any kind of mark on the creature at all. Chrono checked – whew! – his sword didn't seem to have suffered from the blow. But neither had the monster.

Grrrooo! Again the monster charged – and Chrono barely avoided a painful trampling. The wall behind him crumbled as Yakra slammed into it.

His underbelly! He must have a weakness under there! But how do I get him on his back? The creature rode so low to the ground that hardly anything would fit beneath it. Next time the creature charged - - he'd have something ready. Something?

But Yakra didn't charge. For now he had another enemy to face. The frog – who seemed none the worse after being pinned under a pile of rubble, except for the torn cape.

The creature seemed confused as to whom to attack first – but it soon made up its mind. Grrooo! It tore after the frog, who nimbly avoided it (Chrono would remember to ask for swordsmanship skills sometime). The frog swung his sword – but he had the same success as Chrono – zero. Bam! – another section of wall crumbled under the impact of the beast.

Once again the monster charged – Grrooo! – this time at Chrono. Instead of dodging to the side, he leapt onto the creature's back, grasping its hair with all his might.

The trick worked – Yakra began to buck and bounce, and Chrono spent all his effort in just staying on the monster's back. Eventually Yakra would have to stand on his paws to rid itself of its rider, exposing his underbelly in the process.

It took a long time to actually get to that point. First Chrono had to endure the bucking and bouncing – and then he had to hold on as the creature tore after the frog. He tired of this rather fast, and so formulated a new plan. After some hesitation, he loosed his grip with one hand – and began banging away at the monster's eyes.

Finally – something that had any effect on the monster. Yakra roared again and, desperate to rid itself of its rider, stood – exposing the underbelly.

The frog took the opportunity and silently leapt at the beast. But nothing came of the attack – the frog suddenly buckled in midair as if hit by an invisible hammer. Yakra also seemed struck by the same hammer, and it staggered backward. Chrono dismounted just in time – the monster tumbled over onto its back.

Now was the opportunity to strike! Chrono felt his sword swing high in the air – felt his arms above him, then in front of him – felt the blade pierce the belly of the beast. Immediately he pulled it out. He gaped – at the blood on his sword – the gash on the beast – and sat down hard.

But the beast was not dead. It clawed at the air for a moment – trying to right itself through its pain.

Much as Chrono tried, he could not bring himself to strike the final blow – after all, the beast may not have been dead, but it could not survive with that kind of wound… he could just let the beast die on its own.

He never had to worry. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the frog crawling up to the beast. The frog was injured – several long needles sticking out of his midsection. But he dragged himself regardless, all the way to the fallen monster. In the sickest silence, he pulled out his sword and dug it into the monster – and then collapsed.

It seemed no time had passed before the great iron door burst open – the knights of Guardia! – too late for the action, but not too late to help the injured frog. Chrono lay, numb, until the captain finally shook him. "Are you all right… oh – you!" The captain's shock didn't last long, though. "Is the Queen here?"

Chrono shook his head.

"You don't know where she is?"

Now Chrono nodded.

"Yes?"

"She's dead."

"Yakra had her buried? – then, we still have some time. She may still be alive…"

Chrono started, his eyes wide. "What?"

"The legend of Yakra. True – and dead. His victims – either the main course of a mystic meal, or buried alive." The captain seemed to be talking to himself. "Our only hope is she was, in fact, buried – that would make more sense. If the king were to see her grave and think her truly dead, it would kill him." He snapped back to reality. "Sir… er… sir…"

"Chrono – "

"Yes. Sir Chrono, you need a rest at the palace. – Virgil! Take this boy along with the frog. He needs his rest!"

- - - - - - - - - - - - - -

AUTHOR'S NOTE: Sorry this update took so long. They're going to come every once in a while for now - after all, school's starting. So we'll make this brief.

About this chapter: I felt kind of... weird... writing this. Because the characters themselves are in a hurry to save Leene, the writing consequently had to rush from one location to the next, and I felt I was rushing the entire chapter. Not to mention I creeped myself out thinking about Leene being buried underground in a coffin... heh heh. (That's why I'm rating this "T." I have no clue how creepy this could get, especially around Magus's Lair or the Ocean Palace.)

On that note, you'll notice I really (and I mean really) changed things around for this chapter. I fear I may have overdone it this time - though the changes work in my mind. Tell me if I'm ruining the story for you, though I may already have an answer. (World's smallest violin playing "My Heart Bleeds For You.") If I change it, there's a chance I have a good reason - just let me know if you were confused. I know I am.

Oh! And what do you think of Frog's character? I didn't expect him to turn out the way he did - it just kinda came out that way. I may have inconsistencies with the Olde English - but please no comments on "Thee vs. You." I can tell you that in Olde English, sometimes people used "you" instead of "thee, thou, or thine," depending on the context and who they were talking to. So don't tell me I was inconsistent because I used both words. I already know...

I'll update whenever!