It's been almost three years, but I finally continued this story. Some days there was just nothing to do in Spain but lie on the beach and write fanfiction.

All characters herein are the property of Square-Enix, with which I am not affiliated in any way.

The Wind, the Stars, and the Waves

Frog rested on the Ashtear couch and gazed upward out the window. It was Crono's birthday, and Frog had once again traveled through time to visit his friends. Several months had passed since the meteor shower, so tonight the stars remained stationary. He was not interested in stargazing anyhow. He had other things on his mind.

Not a night passed that he did not think on Magus. They had not heard word from the wizard since parting ways at the Moonlight Parade. Whether he'd found Schala, none could say. Neither did they know in which time period he'd landed. Sometimes Frog did not know whether he cared.

That is what he thought about at night. When Frog spared his life on the Northern Cape, Magus joined their party and stood by them when they fought Lavos. Though he was no longer hostile to them, he never made good on his promise to let them die in battle. Indeed, one time when Frog was at the point of collapsing, Magus gave him a tonic (though he rationalized that it had only been to keep Frog alive long enough to Frog Squash the enemy to death.)

Further, there were a great many things Frog could not have done were it not for his amphibious form. He'd already declared on a number of occasions that it was a blessing in disguise. Frog had come to terms with Cyrus' death. Had the wizard earned redemption for Cyrus' murder? Frog could never quite reach a conclusion.

He still thought about the day Cyrus died. Every night. But he no longer though about how he'd failed his friend, and he had finally moved past all contrition. Nowadays, he wondered what it would be like to have dry skin or fully separated digits or hair. He wondered how the world would look if his eyes were on the front of his face. He wondered what he would do if no one looked at him like a freak anymore. All he wondered about at night was whether his own curse would ever be lifted.

No, he never wondered whether his curse would be lifted. He barely dared to wish for that, even. It was such an impossibility that Frog preferred not to torture himself thinking about it. But he did dream, oh yes. He dreamed of letting sand slip between fully-formed fingers, of wind flying through hair. He dreamed of looking down at children, of leaning on a table top. He dreamed of strolling through town square and up to the door of his house, of being greeted by a woman who loved him.

But it would always be a dream, even if his friends thought it possible to break the curse….

He dreamed of a woman who loved him. He dreamed of telling a woman that he loved her, a woman who wasn't afraid to kiss him and tell him that she loved him. He dreamed of kissing her back. If he were human, he would kiss her back….

But he was an anthropomorphic frog, and, as long as he was, she would be a friend. 'A friend who was willing to kiss me to make me human again,' he though, reaching up to touch his lips where she'd pressed hers. 'Because that's what friends are for, she said,' he answered his thought harshly.

"Man, I thought we got past this self-pity thing."

Frog sat up sharply on the couch. He looked about the messy living room workshop, seeing nobody.

"I know! I guess we could be even stronger still."

Now he stood up to search the room. "Hello?" he called out.

"Jeez, what kind of swordsman goes to search for intruders and doesn't take his blade?" Frog wheeled about to face his possessions. Instead of seeing armor and sword, however, he spotted two imp-like creatures in collars and smocks.

"The Masamune?" he asked, staring at the two of them. "What are you doing here?"

"Don't you mean, 'what dost here?'" Masa asked.

"Yeah, what happened to the accent?" Mune posed.

"My friends helped heal me of it," frog answered.

"A friend, I bet," Masa corrected.

"A special friend," Mune added.

"They were smooching," Masa told his brother.

When he began to make kissing noises, Mune replied with an "Ew!" while Frog protested quickly, "We were not smooching! She kissed me once, and that was the end of it."

"But she is a special friend. You didn't deny that part!"" Masa pointed out triumphantly.

"If you love her, why don't you marry her?" Mune teased.

"Or, at the very least, kiss her back?" Masa added.

"Don't be so immature," Frog frowned. "I won't talk about this with children."

"We're older than you!" Mune retorted.

"…Be that as it may, I don't love her any more than I love the rest of my friends," Frog declared.

"Don't lie to us. We know you dream of telling her you love her and kissing her back," Masa said.

"I… don't… what?" Frog couldn't find the words to contradict them because that's exactly what he'd dreamed. "How…?"

"We are born from the stuff that dreams are made of," Mune told him. "Remember?"

Frog thought a moment and sat back down as he remembered. "Dreamstone. The Masamune was forged out of Melchior's dreams."

"And I don't guess you noticed, but we dreams talk," Masa added, making a yapping gesture with his hand.

"You've talked with my dreams?" Frog asked, vaguely horrified.

"A lot for a while, but then they started getting all mushy after that meteor shower," Mune said. "Now they're boring."

"Well, I can't help it," Frog said, defensively.

"Sure, you can!" Masa said, leaping up onto the couch. "Just man up and make a move!"

Ignoring the implications of Masa's statement, Frog pressed on, "Even if through some impossible means I managed to convince her to have me, wouldn't I still be in love and have 'boring' dreams?"

"People dream about things that aren't so. If they were reality, people wouldn't dream them," Mune explained.

"That can't be true. What about the dream where you get up and get ready only to later wake up and realize you were dreaming?" Frog responded.

"Exactly! You weren't really awake. It wasn't real," Mune said.

"And you?" Frog pointed out. "You're dreams, but you're real."

"We're special, but not unique. We're dreams made reality," Mune replied. "Melchior dreamt of us often, so he toiled away until the ruby knife was complete. Then we were real!"

"You just have to put some effort into it," Masa added.

"Like Lucca said when she was talking about wishing," Mune continued. "You shouldn't put all your money on your wish, but you can work to make it come true if you want it that badly. The same is true of dreams."

"And here is where we run into trouble," Frog stated. "My dream can't come true unless my wish comes true first, and that's not possible."

"Lucca didn't think so," Mune pointed out.

Frog considered this a moment, but he was interrupted by Masa pointing out the window. "That's interesting. I thought the Entity had finally gone to rest."

Frog and Mune looked about curiously to see the point of Masa's interest. To their surprise, out on the lawn was a red time gate.

"What's it doing here?" Frog asked. "And why is it red and not blue?"

"I think it's for you," Masa said.

"Me? Why?" Frog posed.

"You saw it first," Masa answered. Frog thought a moment.

"Gates have always held answers before…. This should be no different." He hopped to his feet and threw on his clothes.

"Let's go, Mune," Masa said, glowing white.

"All right!" Mune exclaimed as they converged into a sword and were grabbed up by Frog on his way out the door. Outside he could hear the humming of the gate. On reaching the gate, Frog hesitated only momentarily before entering the time stream. When he'd reached his destination, the gate reopened and he stepped out into the different time period.

This place was new to Frog. He had seen prehistoric mountains, floating magic palaces, futuristic domes, and the End of Time itself. This place held none of those things. It held nothing. All that Frog could see in any direction was fields of tall green-yellow grass and a lonely leaf-bare tree. He could hear wind as it rippled the grass and, in the distance, beyond the tree, waves breaking serenely on the beach. Clouds covered the entire sky.

"What is this place…?" Frog wondered aloud, looking about for anything. Since the tree was the only visible landmark, he started in its direction. He glanced back once of twice to be sure he could still see the gate. Tranquil though it was, this was not a place in which Frog wanted to be stranded forever.

As he got nearer to the tree, however, he realized that there was a figure at its base. Frog quickened his pace, and the figure came into clearer focus as a person. Frog had nearly reached the tree when he realized that he knew the person. Though it was clear that age had taken a great toll on the wizard, there was no mistaking him.

"Magus…," Frog said.

Magus cocked his head slightly in Frog's direction. "Heh, I think I knew it would be you," he said.

"What are you doing here?" Frog asked.

"Waiting for you, I think," Magus replied. They were silent for a moment. "You haven't drawn your sword yet. I want to believe that's a good sign. Come. Sit." The wizard patted the ground next to him.

Frog was wary, but he crossed to the spot Magus had indicated. He didn't sit down yet, though. "What is this place?" Frog asked.

"The End of Days," Magus replied. "That's what I call it, at least. I think I'm the only one who's been here long enough to call it anything."

"The End of Days. Is that like the End of Time?" Frog inquired.

"Yes and no. We're on the other side of the time stream," Magus explained. "The End of Time is on the, shall we say, general side of the time stream. It counts all time, days, months, years, eons, millennia. But this side of the time stream is more… personal."

"How so?" Frog posed.

"When a person dies, time continues on in general until the End of Time, but to that person, time has stopped. He has reached the end of his timeline: the End of Days." He pointed out across the field. "All these people are passing right through Time's Grasslands. They won't realized they're even at the End of Days until they reach the Shore Bordering Time," he pointed out past the tree in the direction of the sound of waves. "When the waves overtake them, they'll cease to exist in time. And they don't even know it until it's happened."

Frog shook his head. "I don't see anyone."

Magus sighed, "I suppose that's to be expected. They can't see us either. You're the first to take notice of me. It's unusual for a person to even be able to see the grasslands."

"What makes us so special?"

"Probably that we've traveled through time. Belthasar, Melchior, Gaspar if he ever dies, probably would see it, too. Crono, Marle, and the rest will, too, I'd wager." A pause. "How are they, by the way?"

Frog was taken aback by the question and stared, stunned, at the wizard for a moment. "I assumed you all kept in touch through time, didn't you?" Magus pushed.

"We did," Frog answered finally. "I was in Crono's time when I was brought here, in fact."

"And?"

"Crono and Marle are going to be married in a few weeks. I'll be the best man," Frog said slowly, hesitantly.

"Really?" Magus smiled for the first time. "I am sorry I missed it. And Ayla? What is she doing now that there are no Reptites to fight? Is she keeping Kino in line?"

"Well," and Frog had to smile, too, "Her eldest daughter is two years old already and quite the spitting image of her mother. But Ayla is big pregnant with her second child, so she and Kino have their hands full. They couldn't make it to Lucca's house tonight. It was Crono's birthday."

"I see. So Porre hasn't…?"

Frog looked at him curiously. "Porre hasn't what?"

Magus looked away and paused before replying, "I shouldn't say too much, but… remember what Dalton said in the dimensional vortex?" Frog thought back and recalled that Dalton planned to raise an army in Porre. "Just tell them to keep their guard up."

Frog finally voiced the thought that had been on his mind for several minutes, "I'm surprised that you care."

"So am I."

"I always got the impression that you held nothing but disdain for us."

"I had a reputation to maintain. But the longer I went by myself afterwards, the more I wished I hadn't. It took me a long time to atone for my sins, and I still haven't quite finished, which is why I'm here now, I think. But I feel it would have been sooner if I had been kinder to that group. After we parted ways I was always quite lonely." He paused a moment. "I never did thank you for sparing my life on that Cape." Frog was surprised again. "I'm wise enough now to know that you would have killed me that day. I was not truly as all-powerful as I thought I was. And I did not deserve your mercy. But I'm glad that, for even a short time, I was part of that group, and you afforded me that opportunity."

Frog looked down at Magus and finally took in his appearance. His physique had deteriorated greatly, though he was likely still capable of fighting. He maintained his purple cape, but he'd swapped his leather armor for a brown robe. His hair was now a blue-gray color and collected in a ponytail at his back. And his face held all the wear of the years he'd seen since parting ways with them: sunken red eyes, hollow pasty cheeks. It was gaunt and lined deeply and scarred, heavily scarred.

"…For every scar a story, am I right?" Frog said.

"I have more. The time stream is not always as yielding as we knew it. The gates were no more, so I had to will myself across time."

The roots about the tree were wide and comfortable, and finally Frog found it in himself to sit down. "Did you ever find Schala?"

Magus shook his head. "No. I heard whispers about some strange occurrence in El Nido that may have concerned her, but I could never find the people involved."

"I'm sorry."

"I am too," Magus nodded. "But I get the feeling it won't matter if I ever make it to that shore."

"What happens when you reach the shore?"

"I don't know. I don't even know if I'll make it there."

"Doesn't everyone?"

"Not all."

"Are there more people that aren't moving?" Frog looked around, though he wouldn't see them.

"No, I'm the only one stuck here right now," Magus shook his head. "But I saw a few others. Some of them went to the Shore, but a couple of them went the other way to the Drowning Valley…."

"The 'Drowning Valley?'" Frog asked.

Magus sighed. "Some people were so terrible in life that they lost the privilege to exist beyond time. They wait at these trees until they move on. Mostly they don't see the ones walking to the shore, so they don't realize they're going anywhere different until… well…."

Frog looked at him curiously, perturbed. "Why do you call it 'Drowning Valley?'"

Magus leaned around the tree and pointed in the direction Frog had come. "Out that way, the grasslands eventually give way to a valley. That's where they go. The screams… are… horrific. I don't know what happens to them, but it is not something I would wish on my worst enemies…. And they're the only ones I've seen go."

Several seconds passed before Frog fully comprehended this statement. "Lavos?"

"Among others…." Frog suddenly thought of Queen Zeal and realized Magus had probably heard his own mother go.

"Millions pass to the shore before the wind finally drowns out the screams again," Magus said. "That's why I call it 'Drowning Valley.' That's why I don't know whether I'll ever make it to that shore."

"…Have you even tried?"

"I can't move from this tree. I have to wait."

"For what?"

"Like I said: for you, I think."

"Why?"

"Probably all the atrocities I committed toward you," Magus said.

"Then change me back," Frog responded.

"I can't," Magus replied.

Frog shook his head. "Of course you can," he said.

"I promise you, I can't," Magus answered.

"Why not?" Frog demanded, anger rising.

"I don't know why, but I can't," Magus returned.

Frog leapt to his feet, his hand itching toward the Masamune. "You turned me into this! You put this curse on me! You made me into this… freak! You must be able to turn be back! You're the only one who can turn me back!".

"I can't! I already tried!" Magus shouted. A sharp breeze blew through them suddenly, rattling the dead branches above their heads.

Frog stared at him, barely comprehending Magus' statement. Finally he dropped to his seat again and repeated the words, "You… tried?"

"Before I left. I thought it was the least I could do, but it didn't work," Magus whispered wearily, leaning back against the tree. "I don't know how you can change back, but it's not through me."

Frog croaked a low groan. "Then why am I here?"

"I think you're my judge."

"Why me?"

Magus breathed a half-chuckle. "Because in a strange way, you know me better than anyone else."

"If that's true, then it's a very sad thing, because I don't know you very well at all," Frog replied. "I don't know how you became the Fiendlord who killed Cyrus or the wizard who helped defeat Lavos or the old man I see before me now."

"Well, it all started with my mother," Magus said, stopping with a laugh.

"No, keep going," Frog told him.

"I'm ancient, Frog. My life's story is years long. I'm not even sure how old I am," Magus responded.

"How can I judge you if I don't know you?" Frog asked. "And even if I weren't judging you, I have to admit I'm curious."

Magus paused, thinking for a moment. "Your accent's gone; I've just noticed."

"Don't try to change the subject. We're talking about you," Frog told him sternly.

Magus nodded, smiling slightly, "Very well…."

Because time did not move at the End of Days, in no time at all, Magus reached the day he met his judge. He had described the first few moments of the encounter when he broke off. "You know the rest," he said.

"I do not. I only know what I saw up until I fell off that cliff," Frog responded.

"That's all you need to know," Magus said.

"That's not true. I need to hear your side of the story," Frog persisted.

Magus was silent for a moment. "I do not mean to excuse my actions, but… we were in a war."

Frog exhaled slowly. "I know."

"Cyrus would have killed me first."

"…."

"I had to use every advantage I saw."

"…."

Magus looked away darkly, "I knew you didn't want to hear this."

"I do," Frog protested. "It's just… hard…. Cyrus…."

Magus glanced back at him. "…If it's any consolation, I do know how you feel."

"…."

"Schala…." Frog looked up when Magus spoke. "Schala was my Cyrus. She was strong enough for the both of us when I was scared to be. I didn't see her die, but knowing what Lavos did to her enraged me so that I would do anything to avenge her! …If I'd realized then that I'd done that to you, I would have been at least a little afraid of you."

"…If you weren't so haughty, that is," Frog said.

"If I did not underestimate you, yes," Magus chuckled.

"…Cyrus would have killed you first," Frog conceded. "We were doing what we had to for Guardia, just like you were doing what you had to for the Mystics…. But…."

Magus grimaced. "No, there was no excuse for what I did to you. I was a powerful wizard, and you were barely a man."

"I was sixteen."

"There was no reason. It was just cruel."

"…."

"If there is one thing I am truly sorry for, it is that."

Silence fell between them for a few moments.

"…Continue…."

After that, unnoticed by both of them, Magus gradually became more animated in his story, and Frog had become quite invested. There were even parts where they smiled or laughed. Sunlight had broken through the clouds, but they didn't notice because leaves had begun to cover the tree. But another change was also taking them over slowly, a change which they did not notice until after Magus had said, "I closed my eyes, and when I opened them again, I was here."

Frog nodded, commenting, "You lived a long life."

"I did indeed," Magus said, standing and stretching. A few seconds later, he realized his movement and laughed. "Well, whaddaya know." Frog looked up and finally noticed the change that had slowly come over his companion.

No longer did he bear the appearance of an old man, but neither was he the fearsome Mystic king who had terrorized the Middle Ages. Frog guessed that this was how he would have looked had Queen Zeal not gone mad with Lavos' power, had he been granted a normal, happy childhood and life. His skin had color, and his hair was a kinder color of blue. And his eyes were no longer the fearsome red they'd appeared the day Cyrus died, but the amber they'd been when he was a boy in Zeal. One could call him handsome, even. A woman might have fallen in love with him. Surely, he could be called Magus no longer.

"Janus," frog smiled. Janus looked down at him and offered a hand to help his companion stand.

"Glenn," he said. The swordsman was surprised to see his own hand as Janus grasped it.

"Well, I'll be," he said. His hand was formed of full digits and lacked scales. When he stood, he found helooked at Janus, not up to him. The wind blew, and green-blonde hair rustled atop his head. He had a man's build. He, too, was handsome. He was no Frog.

"I don't believe it," he said in a voice that didn't croak.

"It's beyond explanation, for sure," Janus replied, smiling without fangs. They looked each other up and down, taking in their new appearances. Janus laughed, "Just look at us. Under different circumstances, we might even have been friends." He offered his hand to shake.

"We are friends," Glenn corrected, taking the hand. After a brief moment, they each reached around the other's back and embraced.

"Thank you," Janus said.

"When they parted, Glenn said, "It's only a shame it took your death for us to realize it."

"It's all right. Once we pass that shore, we are beyond time," Janus answered. With that, he took his first step away from the tree and started for the Shore Bordering Time.

"Take care, my friend," Glenn called.

"Give my best to everybody. And when you join me, be ready to tell me your story, too," Janus answered. As Janus disappeared from sight, Glenn decided it was time to return. He turned away from the sound of waves and started back across Time's Grasslands until he found the gate once again.

This was heavily influenced by the Chrono Cross soundtrack. This addition to the story was also the reason I had to make that revision on the first part. I've been playing Chrono Trigger on the DS, and I've been letting Magus live. He's grown on me a little, at least to the point where I can tolerate him. That's why this developed. Also because, as I said, sometimes I had nothing to do but lay on the beach and write. Lucky me and lucky you, I suppose. So, R&R and KIT&KIR. Hasta for now, folks.