Chrono Trigger: Redreamt

- II -

Andare Indietro

Alphonz growled and spat as from the bushes leapt three imps. Short little guys, but they were obviously not here to greet anybody- they all gazed eagerly at the young man and the cat, with an energetic sparkle in their eyes. The lead one let off a loud, excited gasp, crying, "Wow! A free picnic for us!"

"I call the fat fluffy thing." The second drooled.

"I want the manbeast's legs!"

"Excuse -me-," Crono interrupted, "But I ain't a buffet!"

"You will be!"

"That is... when we're done with you!"

"ATTACK!"

As soon as they charged, Alphonz leapt right onto one of their faces, slashing deep with his claws. After making shredded meat of the imp's features, he leapt back beside Crono, hissing and spitting violently. Crono readied his training sword and smirked, "Dare ya. C'mon. Which one of you feels lucky today?"

Imps, as it is known far and wide, are not the brightest of creatures. Especially the kind that think something still moving is a free picnic. So the uninjured two, completely ignoring the shredded and dying companion, glanced at each other, until one finally shrugged. "Guess I do!"

The imp charged, only to be hit rather violently with the wood 'blade', having his forehead nearly knocked in. Alphonz leapt upon the downed creature and slashed it up for good glory! The third finally realized, left alone, what mortal danger there lay before him.

"Next up?" Crono shouted, riding a wave of adrenaline.

The imp started to back away. Alphonz arched his back, fur bristling, before the monster was caught up in a sparkling, rainbow-colored spell. It literally burst apart into multicolored dust that fizzled into an ashen gray as soon as it settled. With that, the cat simply took to cleaning its dirtied paws carefully. Crono was taken back, gasping. "Holy bajeebus, Batman."

Alphonz mewed and leapt onto his shoulder. Crono glanced at the cat, "How in the name of my mother did you DO that, Alphonz?"

"?" The cat tilted it's head.

"..nevermind. No use in asking a cat questions when I don't speak Miao-ese..." Crono shook his head. "Let's just start looking for Marle, Alphonz."

They started out of the clearing, walking across a bridge over a waterfall. Alphonz gazed down as they passed, with Crono shouting for Marle. The feline leapt off his shoulder, then down onto the lower level, looking back up at Crono. "... I think the cat is smarter than me..."

He followed obligingly, but down below approached more imps. Before they could gang up, Alphonz leapt upon one claws first. Crono immediately drew the wooden sword and managed to beat the rest absolutely senseless, punting them into the stream to avoid any more issues. He spat in disgust, "There's no way this many monsters could be near Guardia..."

Alphonz simply prowled off through the exit, the young man following...

They emerged into an area that was quite familiar... the air was rather wet and damp as if it were early fall, feeling cool but heavy in the lungs. The familiar arrangement of Guardia lay before them, but for some reason, many of the buildings looked quite different. There didn't seem to be anybody about, which was quite opposite what was expected of the fair... Alphonz gazed about the scenery, almost looking nostalgic. The cat finally returned his quiet gaze up at the dazed young man.

"I am freaked out now. I don't -think- I ate any funny 'shrooms, but..." Crono shook his head, laughing to try and dispel the feeling, "Let's just ask one of the natives! I'm sure they'll clear this all up. Heh..."

Alphonz started off into the town, miao-ing at Crono to follow and stopping now and then to make double sure he was keeping up. Collar jingling, he hurried to one particular house - that would be, right in the place of Crono's, and started yowling pitifully at the door. Someone within stirred, and soon enough the heavy door opened ever so slightly. A pretty brown-haired woman peered out, "Oh! Alphonz! There you are, you silly kitty!"

Crono tilted his head and walked over. "Hello, miss."

"Oh, hello!" The woman pushed the door open the rest of the way. Her hair was let down but covered in a wrap, wearing a deep-shouldered dress of red and lace. An agate-beaded necklace hung about her pale neck, and her clothes were made of rather fine material... with a billowy skirt, and a small hand-fan, she looked right out of the yearly Renaissance Faire in Guardia. She smiled sweetly as she picked up Alphonz and petted him affectionately, "Did you find Alphonz?"

Crono stared a moment before shaking his head. "Er, uh, yeah, um, I mean, yes ma'am! He was at the carnival."

"Carnival? What carnival?"

"Uh... -the- carnival?" Crono blinked, "The one in Guardia? That's been advertised just about everywhere?"

"...huh?" The woman blinked back. Alphonz mewed. "...do you wish to come in and sit, good sir?"

"I'm starting to think so... Where am I?"

"Guardia, of course, sir." She cleared the door and allowed him entry. "Please, do come in."

Tha fuck? Crono dazedly entered. The room was filled with fine hand-carved furniture, candles sitting in wall fixtures all about. There was definitely a great helping of chairs to be sat upon, however. "Er... t-thanks."

"Sit anywhere you please, sir."

"Um... thanks, miss." Crono sat down in a regal chair adjacent to a loveseat graced by silken pillows. "I can't stay long, however, I'm looking for someone."

"Mayhaps I can help you!" the woman sat Alphonz down on a table, "My name is Cecelia."

"I'm Crono."

"Crono, quite an interesting name!" She laughed a little, "If you did not know, this is Alphonz, my cat."

Alphonz purred, causing the woman to pause, "...Well, not mine, but circumstances would have it..."

"Circumstances? So he's been shifting ownership?"

"Well, I -think- his name was Hearth before I became his owner." Cecelia grew a hurt look, "He belonged to my fiancé, as you see..."

The cat sort of sunk down, lying on the table. "Whose name was Alphonz. When he disappeared... he left upon me his cat."

Crono nodded a little. "I gotcha. Don't see why he got up and left, though. Er! I mean, uh... You being such a nice person and all! Heh!"

"... why thank you." Cecelia nodded, smiling once more. "He was... very quite shy... oh, I ought not burden you with my troubles."

"Ehh," Crono dismissed it with a wave of his hand, "Don't worry about it. I hear Lucca's stories too."

"Of whom do you speak, sir?"

"Oh, a friend of mine. She got stuck with more than her share of rotten luck."

"Oh, well then, do give her my regards. Well, let's see." Cecelia sat down upon the loveseat, getting lost in the opportunity, "Anyhow, dear Alphonz was a great mage... Learned all sorts of magic without lessons from a master. So my father got in contact with him and sold to the man my hand in marriage..."

"Whoa." Crono was surprised. "You had an arranged marriage? Almost nobody does that anymore."

"It's... common practice, is it not?" Cecelia looked just as surprised.

"Maybe a few centuries ago." Crono blinked.

"...would you care for a cold drink, sir?"

"Er, no... why?"

"You speak some very odd things." She looked very concerned for him. "Have you hit your head or some such...?"

"Well... kinda..." He rubbed at his head, "I got ejected from that funky portal thing pretty hard..."

"...would you care to lie down?"

"No." Crono stared. Alphonz rolled his eyes.

"...well... alright then... Now... where was I?"

"Your marriage was arranged?"

"Oh, yes. Anyhow... he came, met with me... began acting quite peculiar. He would not utter a single noise to me. Upon the day I begged him to speak to me, even to say my name - he did, the sweet dear - he fled as I was about to... He was gone in a matter of seconds, really. Not a soul has seen him since."

"...Sounds like he had some issues, if you don't mind me saying."

"I think he was very bashful. Never much company had he, a drifter, as it were..." Cecelia fiddled quietly with a ring on her finger. "I miss him so... but it is time to let him go and move on. It would be as he wished, I know..."

She pulled off the ring and laid it upon the table next to the cat, who now was almost flat and listless. Crono felt a wave of sadness himself at such the somber sight. "Well, don't give up hope yet! I'm sure he'd come back. I mean, I would."

"It's been two years, but..." She sighed, then perked up, "Oh, come now, I am being silly. What is it you needed to find?"

"Oh! Ahm... A girl by the name of Marle." Crono nodded, "Blonde hair, pretty face, dazzling green eyes, f... er, well, she's pretty. Let me put it that way."

"Hmm! Sounds quite a bit like dear Queen Leene." Cecelia nodded. "She disappeared and gave us all quite the scare, but they recovered her recently... We were all worried."

"Queen... Leene?" Crono blinked. Cecelia nodded, and he could only think to himself, with a strong twitch of the eye: BUT SHE'S OVER 400 YEARS OLD DEAD! Noticing this, Cecelia nervously petted Alphonz.

"...any more questions, sir?"

"Nooo, I think that'll about do me for life."

"Are you SURE you're quite alright? Travis would not mind if you rested in his bed awhile...!"

"No," Crono shook his head firmly, "I -really- do need to find Marle. Thanks for the offer, though."

"Come back then any time, sir. Thank you for returning dear Alphonz." However, the cat hopped right off the table and ran to the door, mewing. Cecelia looked a little startled, "Alphonz?"

"Miao, miao!" He pressed against the door and looked back pleadingly.

"I think you might have a cat with a bit of the wanderlust."

"...he is free to go where he pleases. He is not mine, after all." Cecelia rose and opened the door, "Take care, dear kitty..."

He miaoed at Crono loudly. The young man shrugged a bit and followed. As per usual, Alphonz leapt onto his shoulder. Cecelia giggled a tach at the sight, adding, "Please do take care of him for me, alright? Also... a bit of a trifle... if you meet anybody named Alphonz please tell him I do miss him dearly."

"Consider it done, miss." Crono smiled reassuringly.

"Thank you! Feel free to stop by any time you wish, sir. I'll assist in any means possible."

"I'll keep it in mind." Crono gave a wave, "Catch you later!"

"Catch... you later?" She giggled into a hand, as she closed the door, "How quaint!"

"Quaint...? Meh, whatever." He gave a wink to the cat, "You, Alphonz, just missed out on something. That lady could've kept you in candy forever! Both candy of the eye -and- mouth."

The cat drooped his ears.

"? Hey, you buck up, alright?" Crono scratched his ears, "We'll probably see her again. You'll have another chance."

Alphonz almost let out a sigh, before looking up again, ears perked. Crono nodded and smiled, "Thatta boy! Well, we got a lead on Marle... I just hope the castle guards let us -in-. And that I know where said castle is... bleh."

Crono took the well-beaten path to the castle, through the woods. More imps and other odd creatures crossed his path, but nothing was too much of a threat. Alphonz assisted, but always returned to his shoulder afterwards, very content to ride and have a lookout perch at the same time. Soon it broke away into view of the castle Crono knew quite well. He was a little surprised, mumbling. "Whoa. Did somebody just copy the whole world or something?"

"...hey, look at that guy." A guard muttered to another as Crono walked inside.

"Suspicious looking hair if you ask me." The other nodded.

Crono shrugged a little and tried to pass. The two guards immediately got in his way, one shouting, "Whoa, whoa, whoa! Young sir, where is it you come from?"

"He must be one of Magus's soldiers! GET HIM!"

Alphonz let off a sharp hiss, before they were all brought to a stop by a halting command: "That is enough!"

The guards instantly turned and dropped onto their knees. The vision of the young queen was rather breathtaking, wearing a great green dress no doubt made of pure silk, adorned with jewelry, gloves, and her hair set into place with golden pins adorned with emeralds. She narrowed her eyes sharply at the two guards, speaking harshly. "This is a friend of mine. Show him some respect."

"Yes, your majesty!" The two shouted.

"Heh!" The queen giggled obnoxiously. "Traveler, when you are ready, I wish to speak with you in my chambers."

She flashed a particular mint-flavored lollypop and started off. Alphonz leapt after excitedly. Crono was shocked, as she spoke back to the guards, "I better not hear any complaints!"

"Yes, your majesty!"

"Thanks for the vigilance though, guys. Keep it up, okay?" Crono patted their shoulders as he passed. He followed up the stairs to the Queen's room, filled with finery, Queen, and attendants. The woman nodded to the helpers.

"Would you excuse us? I have need to speak privately with this individual."

"Yes'm." The attendants bowed their heads and quietly left.

"... YO YO WASSUP, CRONO, MAH HOMIE!" Marle shot into a pose, Alphonz happily licking at his lolly that was set in a silver dish on a table.

"What the HECK are you doing impersonating a Queen?" Crono fumed, "And for that matter, a long DEAD one?"

Marle giggled with a shrug. "I dunno."

"What do you mean 'I dunno?'!"

"They found me and insisted I was Leene. So I'm kinda role-playing! It's really fun!" She let off a bemused giggle.

"It's really kind of ILLEGAL."

"Well! I'm sorry bu-..." Marle paused a moment. Alphonz looked up, startled, and began to back away. "Ungh... my stomach..."

Marle curled her arms tightly around her waist, growing pale. "And my head..."

"Woah... hey, you alright?" Crono moved a step closer, "Easy there, that lollypop must not have agreed with your belly."

"It... it feels like..." She stumbled back a little, starting to glow in a most unhealthy way, "Like I'm being torn apart..."

Alphonz let off a loud hiss! Crono gasped and went to help her, "Hey, easy! No glowing!"

Before he could touch her, she threw her hands to her head and let out an awful scream. She literally exploded into light, which dispersed very quickly. Both Alphonz and Crono looked absolutely shocked to hell, the room growing quiet. Not a sign of Marle was left, save for a cherry lollypop that now lay on the floor. Crono shouted, "Mother fucker! Marle?"

Alphonz eased, staring at the empty space. Crono shouted, "Alright, that's it, no more freaky stuff; Lucca better get here STAT and fix all of this."

"Da da... do do do!"

Lucca shot up the stairs, humming aloud a heroic theme song for herself. She broke out into singing loudly, "Here comes Lucca to save th- EEK!"

Missing a step, she landed and slid down a few steps. Sorely she rose to her feet, coming up at a slower pace... "...here comes Lucca, a little bit sorer and a little bit wiser...!"

She leapt dramatically into the doorway, panting, and shouted, "Ahah! There you are! Ooo... wait."

Digging into her bag, Lucca pulled out an inhaler and took a dose.

"Oh now THAT is convenient timing." Crono stared, numb.

"That's me!" She stuffed the medical appliance away, "Er, so, found her yet?"

"Found her. Found her and watched her EXPLODE."

"Explode...?" Lucca gazed around. Finding no bodily debris, she asked, "Er, more like disappeared?"

"Disappearing involves nothing dealing with exploding into light." Crono spoke firmly.

"... it is as I feared." Lucca adjusted her glasses. "That girl, I knew I'd seen her before... It's Princess Nadia!"

"Wha?" Crono was shocked, "You gotta be kidding me!"

Lucca shook her head. "And it seems my machine spewed us into the past. Apparently, they came across Nadia and mistook her for the current Queen, Leene."

"Woah, back up there. The past? As in, not the present?"

"Yes. The past... Take about 400 years from our usual time..."

"Well that tops last Tuesday's episode of Star Wreck." Crono groaned. "How the heck did we get tossed into the past?"

"Uh!" Lucca laughed weakly, "I'm still working on finding something that's not too technical to make your head asplode!"

"Good. Because the last time I heard one of your explanations I could swear you were speaking in tongues." Crono held his head a moment. "Alright, so for whatever the heck reason, the people here thought Marle was Leene. And... the exploding part would be because of...?"

"Well, during this time, Leene was kidnapped. But they mistook Nadia for Leene. Thus... there's no reason to find the Queen anymore. Nadia is a direct descendant from Leene, obviously, so if the Queen is to die... the whole timeline gets wrecked and there's no Nadia anymore." Lucca explained as calmly as she could.

"...Which means someone's going to kill the Queen. More excellent timing."

"But if we go and find the Queen, the timeline should be restored and Nadia will appear again. So I suggest we get to the bottom of this mess and take names!" Lucca shouted with an energetic tone.

"Yeah, the only difficult part is finding the Queen when the -professionals- can't. Guess we get to do the sleuthing bit."

"Which I don't mind in the least." Lucca grinned, then looked at Alphonz. "Now, where'd you get THAT feline?"

"Won it for Marle at the fair. She said she couldn't have cats at her 'house.' Now I know why." Crono sighed.

"Wait... the one that..." Lucca got down on her knees and looked him over. "Wow! It changed breeds! That's very intriguing... how did you do that, kitty?"

"..." Alphonz didn't mind being looked over, but kept quiet.

"Forget the breed change. This kitty blew up a blue guy with MAGIC."

"..." Lucca suddenly jumped up, "ASTOUNDING!"

"Woah! Calm down now!" Crono got between cat and scientist, "No dissecting the Alphonz!"

"WE MUST RE-CREATE THE SCENARIO." Lucca nearly foamed, "SO I CAN SEE!"

Alphonz and Crono both looked terrified. "How about we NOT start scouring the countryside for monsters, eh?"

"I bet we'll run across some when looking for Leene- THIS IS GREAT! I haven't had a field study for a LONG TIME!" Lucca rubbed her hands together with a menacing laugh, "Before history becomes such that it cannot be undone, let's go!"

She snatched the cat and started down. Crono followed, shouting, "Whoa. Down, Lucca. Bad scientist, no Physics set."

"Hmhm!" Lucca looked the cat all over, who let out a 'miao'! "Miao? You must be a little French kitty, yes you are!"

"Actually, he's from around -here-." Crono stated.

"But Miao is French." Lucca paused... "... WAIT, WHAT?"

"Here. His owner used to live here until he ran away. Yes, that means his lived both here and NOW." Crono pointed. "Please, explain Quantum Leap kitty."

"...and he didn't use the machine to get here... " Alphonz let off a miao at her. "...further examination is needed. In an appropriate setting."

"Yeah, like a padded room somewhere so we don't injure ourselves while we're INSANE."

"Insane? Who?" Lucca looked around.

"Forget it. Let's... let's just find Leene."

Outside, they inevitably came upon more imps in the woods. Lucca sat Alphonz down on the ground and pointed, commanding, "Sic 'em!"

Alphonz did as told, kicking his back feet up. There was a rainbow-colored sparkle that obliterated the attacking imp, causing others to run away. The cat then daintily hopped onto Crono's shoulders, leaving Lucca staring and drooling. Crono was terrified. "That's just WRONG on eight levels."

"THAT'S SO COOL!" Lucca shrieked. "I'm slowly beginning to solidify a theory. As soon as I know more about those time gates, I may be able to explain how he passes through time- in order to change forms, he would have to displace his own timeline elsewhere- oh my god- could be he able to split...?"

She stopped into silent pondering. Crono shouted, "Whoa, Lucca. Down girl. I know you can speak English. Please, talk in terms that MY IQ can comprehend."

"... I need more information on the cat."

"He was... owned by a mage, according to Cecelia."

"But what -kind- of mage?" Lucca thought, "What did he do? If he knew Puppetmastery... no, that'd be... even in this time it had become impossible. Hmm... could it be that... but then that would mean..."

She started walking blindly, locked in thought, out of the woods.

"Are we in imminent danger of getting lost here?" Crono chirped, but Lucca didn't listen. After awhile she came to a halt in a different clearing before a great chapel, with stained glass windows. She kept muttering to herself, finally concluding, "We need to ask someone about his previous owner when we get the chance..."

She paused and looked up at the building. "God, I AM brilliant!"

"And how do you know that? It's a church." Crono scoffed. "Other than directions, I don't think we're finding much."

"A good place to start. And if that cat's owner was a mage, he would have been known by the religious leaders!" Obviously the thought of rescuing Marle was long dead in Lucca's mind. Alphonz tensed as Crono followed.

"Yay." He said, flatly, looking around.

"Instant creepy factor." Lucca shivered. "Something about this place..."

"... it's kind of spooky in that 'We're gonna die' way..."

Inside were rows of pews, candles, beautiful red carpeting and a great altar. An organ stood against a wall, the stained glass windows glowing beautifully from the sunlight. A handful of nuns and a priest stood at the altar, though it appeared there was something amiss with them, since they all stared fascinated with the approaching teenagers. Lucca shuddered. "Em, excuse me?"

"What is it, dear?" A nun wiped her face quickly as if she was drooling.

"We're looking for..." She shook off the feeling of dread, "Somebody."

Crono hesitantly approached, scratching the back of his head with a laugh. "Yeah, and we were wondering, you know, if you had seen them around."

"W...we'll try to help... b-but..." The priest swallowed hard, "OH, THEY LOOK SO TASTY. JUMP THEM!"

They all warped into their true forms: monsters, of course! Naga-ettes to be exact, with thick, muscley, hard scaled tails and upper bodies of beautiful women. However their hands ended in sharp claws and they had rows of sharp teeth in their mouths. Crono drew his wood sword and exclaimed, "Now you see, this is why I never go to Church anymore!"

Lucca swallowed hard and drew out a gun. Alphonz leapt to the floor, arching his back and hissing. Crono smirked, "Alright, who wants a taste of lumber first, huh?"

"You need a better weapon ASA- EEK!" Lucca shot at a charging Naga-ette, giving it a sharp hit of air in the face. It let out its own yelp and slapped its hands over its face.

"Hah!" Crono whacked it hard across the head, knocking her clear over. Alphonz leapt upon the femme demon and slashed the foul creature's throat deeply with his claws. Four more were left, ready to attack. He commented, "One piggy down, four more to put to bed."

Lucca frantically kept them at bay with blasts of air. She cursed mentally. Dad was right when he said this was just a toy!

Alphonz kicked up his rear feet again, obviously preparing some magic... Crono lunged at one, preparing a spin. "Batter up! Here comes the swing!"

The cat connected his spell to Crono's weapon, and as he spun it flung off violently in a rainbow-colored wave at the group. Lucca shrieked and hit the deck, the enemies being torn apart with the attack. They fell harshly to the ground, with Lucca barely looking up and warbling, "Is it safe?"

"What the HELL did I just do?" Crono staggered to a halt. "When did I start firing off beams?"

"I... it's the cat!" Lucca pointed at Alphonz who let out a cheery miao.

"He fired a spell at my sword?"

"Effective scattershot if you ask me!"

"Effective until I get -splattered-!"

"I wouldn't doubt his aim." Lucca got up and dusted herself off, starting past the altar. "There's got to be more to this place than- AUGH!"

A hidden Nagaette had lurched up from behind the altar, raking the girl with claws hard enough to knock her back. The creature let off a terrible laugh and swung up it's hands for another attack, before a shadow dropped from the rafters, plunging a sword through the demon. It let off a blood-curdling wail and perished immediately. Lucca held her bleeding arm, gasping. "Ow... hey, thanks, f- !"

"Lower thine guard and thou'rt allowing the enemy in." A great caped frog rose to his feet and sheathed his sword carefully...