Chrono Trigger: ReDreamt

- VII -

Conclusione de Tempo

The travelers emerged into an area noted by it's pure silence. Above them lay no sky, simply an endless abyss of stars that shone brightly in absence of any strong sources of light… a pretty pale portal glimmered behind them as they stepped out onto dark cobblestone. Fences lined the miniscule area, and a door leading to nowhere stood down below. Marle gasped quietly as she and Crono gazed about at the nothingness surrounding them.

"Hellooooo Twilight Zone." Crono blinked in surprise.

"Oooh." Still holding the boy, Marle walked to a gate and kicked it open with a clamor. From further on, a man standing before a light post in dark clothing snapped awake with a start.

"Oh! W-who's there?"

"Oh! Scuse us!" Marle sat Crono down carefully, "Just some passerby."

Robo followed along behind Marle. "Shall I place Lucca next to Crono, Marle?"

"Uhh… why not put her in the corner? Somebody needs to sit with her while she recovers, and dig out her inhaler for her, Robo!"

"Aff, Marle." With the utmost care, Robo did as instructed.

"Ah hah!" The old man grinned, raising a shaky finger, "Time travelers!"

"Eh heh…" Crono scratched his head. "Kinda, yeah."

"Heh, this is the End of Time." The man spoke in a gravely, yet gentle voice, "More than three through a gate, and you wind up here."

"Oh now THERE'S a handy rule."

"Hey, I didn't make it up." He chuckled, "I just enforce it."

"Great. Our timeline is being watched over by some guy in a coat and tophat."

"Hehe! Yes, indeed." The man glanced around, "Now, there was an unfortunate mage waiting for you… where did he go?"

"Alphonz? That's a good question." Crono called, "Hey, Alphonz?"

The cat came through the doorway with a mew. Crono blinked, looking over the edge. "You came out of a door... that leads into…

"Ah, yes, Alphonz. How's that rascal doing today?"

"Crying like an infant since I blew him apart yet again."

"Heh heh! This is just like old times. It's great to have you back."

"I have business with these people. So I can only stay until called upon."

"Fine by me!"

"So you two know each other, huh?" Crono looked between them, "Care to introduce me to the new guy, Alphonz?"

Alphonz nodded, "This is Gaspar. Watcher of time. I reside here when I grow weary of the world."

"Well, you're just one big bundle of happy emotions, you know that?" Crono was starting to grow depressed himself.

"I became aware of time distortions while in the depths of my own misery, sitting upon Cecelia's tombstone…"

"That was an annoying mess you made!" Gaspar scolded lightly, "We had to stitch the very fabric of time back together after your first trip!"

"Oh c'mon," Crono sighed, "Give the gloom a rest, man."

"Misery distorts time. Ask anyone."

"Harhar," Gaspar chuckled, "But I heard you laughing not a minute before they came!"

Lucca made a small groaning noise as she looked around dizzily. "…where am I? Great… I died…"

"Welcome to the End of Time, Lucca." Robo made sure she was sitting upright.

"…end of time? Oh… so this is-" she coughed "-he meant."

"Aff. Chronometer currently reads both zero hour and infinity. It is very confusing."

"Don't-" Cough "-worry about it."

"You okay, young lady?" Gaspar looked at her with concern.

"I need my inhaler." Robo passed it over, which she took eagerly. "Oh, thank you! Ah.."

Marle gazed about, before opening the door and peeking in. Her head disappeared into it unnervingly, before gasping, "Oooh! Bunny!"

She wandered right in, leaving the door ajar. Crono looked freaked, as Alphonz followed. "Excuse me. I may need to shield the young maiden."

"Heheh…!" Gaspar chuckled.

"'Scuse me a moment, I don't like what that implied." Crono followed in nervously.

Lucca, Robo, and Gaspar sat in silence, until the old man smiled warmly. "So, nice weather, eh?"

"Hi, bunny bunny!" Marle waved, as Alphonz stood before her. Well, maybe not a bunny, but a furry creature with high-set, pointed ears stood before them with beady eyes and buck teeth. It was busy crying into its small paws.

"Why is there a… here at…"

"Meet the Master of War…" Alphonz smirked. "My ally, Spekkio."

"Y-you bastard!" Spekkio wiped away years, "You first come in and beat me up and then bring- I MEAN… NEWCOMERS? BAH! I didn't invite you fools in, you're breathing all my quality air!"

"Oh, so now the rabbits speak too?" Crono blinked, "Jeez, what is it with the cute furry animals and the English language?"

"I am NOT a rabbit!" The thing screamed, "I AM THE MASTER OF WAR! Watch that tongue or I'll pry it right out of your head, boy!"

"Eeek!" Marle shrieked, "Violent!"

"As for Alphonz Geoffery Gustavhus being an ally? FORGET IT. That bastard is no friend of mine and never will be in a thousand million eternities because of what he did!"

"Alphonz, what did you do to the bunny?"

"I'M NOT A BUNNY!" Spekkio frothed, "He's the only goddamn Prismatic Mage in all of time to learn his magic without consulting ANY resources! Not even ME! FORBIDDEN ARTS, I TELLS YA, YOU STUPID FLEA-BITTEN FURBAG!"

"I am one of very, very few beings who have mastered Prismatic elements," Alphonz looked proud, "And I am one of the five self-taught."

"Spiffy. I think you angered the… uh… not-a-bunny."

"Wait!" Marle smiled, "It's a Poyozo!"

"IT'S SPEKKIO YOU TWAT!"

"Can you teach us magic?" Marle smiled, "I mean I know some…"

"MAGIC? WHY OUGHT-" Spekkio paused a moment and looked her up and down reeeal close. "…For such a gorgeous maiden? Why, hey, you came to the right place, sweetie! Y'know, I always thought ice was mighty sexy. So you can be ice!"

"Oooh!"

"Woah." Crono was taken back, "You mean we can learn magic?"

"Yes. Now SSH! You can be THUNDER. BUT FIRST!" Spekkio waved at the room, "Walk around the room, three times, clockwise, against the wall. NO CHEATING. You start all over if you fail! GO!"

"…Er… 'kay." Crono and Marle did so quietly, making three slow laps around the room. Spekkio looked on, nodding now and then, until they made it back to him.

"Very good! So now I shall teach you magic!"

"Yay!" Marle cheered in delight.

Spekkio twirled around on one foot, There was a burst of frosty chill around Marle; With a second twirl a bolt of lightning was dropped 'pon Crono's head, nearly knocking him over. He shouted, in shock, "Holy mother of…!"

"So…" Marle shivered, "When do we learn magic?"

"You just DID! Wanna try it out, punks?"

"I'm very afraid to, actually…" Crono shook off the shock.

"It'll be okay!" Marle was undyingly optimistic as usual, "Trust me. Let's do this thang!"

"Right!" Spekkio instantly brought down upon everyone in the room a strong bolt of lightning. Marle yelped, and Alphonz instantly turned into a puffball. Crono flinched.

"Oh yeah? Well try THIS on for size!" Crono responded with his own lightning attack.

"Yeow!"

"Ice!" Marle cast it upon the Poyozo.

"Brr!"

Alphonz suddenly drew in power, fur bristling. Spekkio shrieked, "OH NOES!"

The feline hit the Master of War with a beam of prismatic magic. The little guy had his fluff nearly burnt off, collapsing over backwards. Crono and Marle stared in the utmost horror, as Spekkio roasted, "ACK! MOTHER OF PEARL! … ugghnh. Scary thing… he was stronger as a human."

"I'm starting to reconsider that body thing." Crono backed away a step.

"Word of advice! Don't stick around if he starts laughing!" Then, with no issue at all, Spekkio leapt back onto his feet. "Well if you get more folks who need magic, bring 'em on in!"

"I think we have two outside, actually…"

"THEN WHAT ARE YOU STANDING AROUND FOR, MR. LEADFOOT? DRAG 'EM IN ALREADY YA PISSBAG!"

Marle called out sweetly, "Robo, dear, bring Lucca here, please!"

"Aff, Marle. Come, Lucca."

"Uh…" Lucca got up and followed, stopping in the room. Spekkio looked her over with squinty eyes.

"What a stupid, unflattering-looking nerd girl! It would have been more appropriate to make you lightning! BAH, SCREW THAT! Fire's YOUR card!"

Lucca gasped, startled, as she grew uncomfortably warm…

"And you! …" Spekkio pointed at Robo, walking up to him. He looked him over, then walked around him entirely. He then screamed at the others, "What in the HELL is this suppose to be?"

"Temporal life form is unstable. Detect high levels of intense distortions in the time-space continuum."

"Uh," Lucca adjusted her glasses, "This is our robot, sir."

"BLASPHEMY!" Spekkio jumped up and down in rage, "Since he ain't alive he can't learn REAL magic... so let's call his skills... Darkness! He's kinda neutral but not verging on Alphonz territory!"

"?" Robo took a moment to respond, "Powered attacks do not have elemental nature."

"SHADDUP!"

"Aff, temporal life form."

"IT'S SPEKKIO!"

"Aff, Spekkio."

"Thank you! MAKE ME A LATTE! NOW!'

"With extra cream, Spekkio?"

"YES! I HAVE A HEADACHE."

"It's cuz you're so angry," Marle observed.

"I'LL TELLS YE WHEN I BE ANGRY!"

"This guy MUST be related to Alphonz!" She sighed.

"… Latte made." A section of Robo's armor separated, with a holder and a lovely little coffee cup inside. It steamed and smelled absolutely delicious. After Spekkio snatched it, he closed back up. The angry war god chugged it all down in one gulp.

"Wow!" Lucca was impressed, "Got any hot chocolate?"

"CAFFEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEINE!" Spekkio spun around like a hurricane.

"Aff, Lucca. But… according to chronometer, it is approximately 200 years old."

"No thanks, then."

"That's some ooold java." Crono glanced nervously over at Spekkio.

"So," Lucca glanced at him as well, "Is this guy somebody spe- GAAAH!"

Lucca was instantly alight, with Robo thus dutifully putting her out. Spekkio screamed, "'COURSE I'M SPECIAL!"

"Ahmm…" Crono inched for the door, "…well, we'll be leaving now. Thanks for the...ah...magic."

"RUN, BOY, RUN!" Spekkio cackled and dropped a lightning bolt near Crono's left foot. He leapt out with Marle and Lucca close behind. The war god bellowed with dark laughter, holding out the empty cup. Robo took it from him, glancing around.

"There is no waste container available for this refuge, Spekkio."

"Blow it out your ear!"

"Neg. I do not have ears."

"THEN WRAP IT UP IN A BOW AND GO GIVE IT TO GASPAR!"

"Aff, Spekkio." Alphonz leapt onto Robo and rode him out. Soon the robot walked up to Gaspar. "Spekkio instructed me to wrap up this refuse in a bow and give it to you."

"Why how sweet of him! Thank you, and your name was?"

"Robo."

"Robo, that's an easy name. When you get old you start forgetting!" Gaspar chuckled. "Lively bunch, Alphonz."

"Yes, quite… it's already been a whirlwind of events, so to speak."

"Come now, old friend!" Gaspar offered an arm out, upon which the kitten walked to his shoulder. "Let me hear about your adventures."

"Hey, Robo!" Lucca waved at him. The robot came over without a word. "Thanks for the fire rescue demonstration. But, I think…"

She glanced over at Crono and Marle, who were starting to look rather tired, especially without a thing in their stomachs for the longest time. The princess even let out an uncharacteristic, long yawn. Lucca looked back, "That everyone's going to need a nap. You can shut down for awhile, right?"

"Aff, Lucca."

"Alright, let's sit in the corner so we're out of the way and you do that." Lucca sat down after Robo took a seat. "Goodnight, Robo!"

"Goodnight, Lucca."

She gave a soft yawn and a stretch before leaning against him and closing her eyes. Soon the others found a place to rest as well, with Marle sleeping on the opposite side of the lamppost from Gaspar. Eventually Alphonz too retired for sleep, slipping into Lucca's bag and curling up.

Some time later, Marle sat up with a great, long yawn. When she woke up, she wasn't at least bit dismayed that the 'sky' didn't change, but shouted cheerfully, "Good morning, everybody!"

"Good morning, young lady!" Gaspar tipped his hat.

Crono snored loudly, while Lucca was slumped right next to Robo. While mostly offline, he was keeping an eye on her like a good little automation. Alphonz's tail was the only part of him visible, hanging out of the bag like a tassel. Marle whined, "Aww, everybody's asleep!"

"Easy enough to fix, hmm?"

"Yeah!" Marle crawled on her hands and knees over to Crono. She poked his nose playfully, "Wakey wakey!"

"Uhn…" He turned away, "…just a little longer, Mom…"

Marle giggled. "Time to wake up, mister, we got stuff to do today!"

Crono slowly woke up with a great stretch, "Right in the middle of my dre- … oh, right. Forgot I was here."

"Finally! Good morning!"

"I knew it. You are a perky morning person."

"Uh-oh. Does that bother you?"

"Er… no, just an observation."

Gaspar chuckled ever so quietly. A cuter pair I've yet to see!

"Okay, because if you want, I can be mean and grouchy!" She put on a playfully angry face. "Grr."

"No, that's alright." He laughed a little. "Did that with Dad. Rather not relive the experience."

"Okay then! Should we bother to wake up our scientist?"

"Ehm… let her rest just a little longer. She deserves the extra snooze. We need to plan what we're gonna do next, anyway."

"No way in HELL you're making me go home." Marle giggled sweetly.

"Eh heh. Yeah, probably best to let your dad cool of just a weee bit." Crono shuddered, "No, we need to decide what to do next in regards to Lavos."

"Figure out what started the mess, of course!"

"That's -exactly- what I was thinking. Got any clues as to where to start, because apart from a date I think we're pretty much outta hints."

"Umm…" Marle thought a moment, "Maybe we need to ask Alphy!"

"Or Old Father Time over there."

"Hehe," Gaspar shook his head, "You might have better help from the mage… My mind is still pretty grindy this early in the night."

Marle looked up at the non-sky. "How can you tell?"

"When I feel tired, it's night!"

"Hey, good theory!"

Crono muttered, "I prefer setting my biological clock by the sun, but alright."

"Okay then." Marle turned and clapped her hands together, making kissy noises, "Here, kitty kitty! Alphy!"

Alphonz's ear perked up in the bag, and his tail swished.

"Kitty, kitty, kitty!"

Alphonz lethargically dragged himself from the bag, padding over. He crawled into Marle's lap and curled back up, going straight back into deep sleep. Marle shook her head, "Somebody's a sleepy kitty!"

"You know, Marle, that really does just go for most felines."

"Huh. What do you think he's dreaming about?"

"Ten cents says Cecelia."

Marle shrugged. "Probably. Hey, Alphy, you awake?"

He mumbled, "…enough, why?"

"Crono's got a question for you!"

"Yeah. We… uh… kinda need to know where to go next to find out about Lavos."

"…need to inquire of the mage Magus… he has connections." Alphonz yawned. "If not then try prehistoric times… ZZZ…"

"Hey," Crono glanced nervously at Marle, "Isn't Magus the guy the carnival suppose to celebrate the defeat of?"

"Yeah…"

"Yeah, this rapidly fills me with trepidation. I've heard a few legends about him. He's level nine bad shit."

"Alphonz, you're a mage… do you know lots about him?"

"I speak not his name… zzz… for I fear he shall appear."

"That's a very, very bad thing that just slipped into mind." Cold sweat ran down Crono's forehead.

"What? The fact we'll all get KILLED or something worse?"

"No, I think you just about hit it on the head there, Marle."

"…in second-hand company for a long time… Zzz… wonder if Flea is still around…"

"And what's this talk of fleas?" Marle looked concerned.

"…itchy…"

"You've got fleas? Aw man, Alphonz! We're gonna have to give you a bath!" Crono groaned.

"Not FLEAS…. Zzz… mage… magician… Flea. Once in company… second hand to… Magus. Zz…"

"ACK!" Marle's eyes grew wide, "You were OWNED by that guy?"

"Hoo boy." Crono rubbed his head, with a growing headache, "This rapidly becomes more and more complicated."

"Well I 'spose we have a good guide when the time comes to find that Magus dude."

"Oh yay. A guide! Now if only we could get someone who could f- …" Crono paused, glancing away in thought. "That's something I'm going to so follow up on later."

"Huh?"

"Well, it's just that the frog... Frog... had some serious mad skills with the sword. I wonder if he'd be up for, y'know, maybe helping us if we have to fight with this Magus guy."

"Oooh, I love froggies!"

"You'll love Frog, then. He's almost as tall as you and speaks.

"AHH! COOL!" Marle squealed in delight, "So we have an enchanted cat and we're gonna meet a big Froggie! How cool! Maybe while we're at it, we can learn how to undo poor Alphonz's so-called 'curse'."

"Well, we've basically got all the time in the world. We can tackle each thing separately... assuming we don't die." Crono laughed exceedingly nervously.

"Of course we won't!"

"You now, I really wish I had your optimism some days.

She instantly hugged him and shouted, "ENERGY TRANSFER!"

"Hey!" He burst out laughing, "That's not how it works!"

She giggled, "Then how DOES it work?"

"Ask Lucca. That's her field, not mine."

"But she's asleep!"

"Heh, guess she is. We need to wake her up soon, anyway. Can't travel with a sleeping scientist, although... we also can't travel in groups of four... so that means either we have to make two groups, or someone has to stay here."

"Hey, Gaspar?" Marle glanced over.

"Hmm?"

"Does Alphonz count as an extra portal-person?"

"He makes his own, right?" Gaspar scratched his chin, "He's never used a pre-existing portal… but if you did bring him through one, it'd apply, in normal circumstances."

"In other words, yeah, he counts. So kitty'll have to wake up if he wants to go with a group of three."

Marle shook him lightly, "Wakey wakey! Wanna go see Cecelia?"

"…cannot… zzz…"

"He's bein' poopy again."

"Under normal circumstances, I -would- slap him around, but considering he can basically turn me into a dust pile... I think maybe I won't."

So Marle picked him up and shook him viciously, screaming. "WAKEY WAKEY!"

"M-M-M-MIAO!"

She then set him down. "Morning."

"FFFT!" He hissed violently with a spit.

"I think I mighta turned off his translator…"

"No, I uttered phrases unfit to be heard by a woman's ears…."

"Actually, in the time period we're from we say 'em anyway, but okay." Crono scratched his face.

"…" Alphonz sighed. "Where are we going?"

"To see a big Froggy."

"That 'tis not his proper title. But I shall excuse you from it, for I am aware in the morning I am ill tempered to the degree of fatality."

"Hmm…" Gaspar thought more, "I don't think that portal is currently active. Try backtracking. Each portal you pass through opens another."

"I suppose we need to go to Leene's Square, huh?" Marle then gasped, "We should pop by your and Lucca's houses, Crono! To make sure your families are okay!"

"I pray that the fuzz isn't out in unholy force. But considering ALL of the soldiers are MORONS, we might actually be able to get away with it."

"Probably." Marle sighed deeply.

"Then I shall wait 'pon your doorstep, Crono." Alphonz disappeared with his usual, loud 'BAMF'.

Crono and Marle both jumped, with the princess exclaiming, "I'm never gonna get used to that!"

"You and me both."

"Who should we bring with? Sleepyhead Scientist or Mister Botty?"

"The former. She's probably at least slightly worried about her family too."

"Slightly?"

"They don't get along as well as one might hope."

"…oh, I see." Marle got up and walked over, "Good morning, Robo! Are you awake?"

He gave off a small whirring noise, powering up all of his systems. "Aff, Marle. Good morning."

"Goody good. Could you wake up Lucca for us?"

"Aff. Gently or fiercely?"

"Gently first, preferably."

"Aff." Robo stood Lucca up carefully. "Lucca, your companions wish for you to awaken."

"…muh…" She rubbed her eyes, pushing her glasses up.

"Good morning, Lucca. The time is currently… the time is currently something or other."

"Thank you for the effort, Robo." She rearranged her glasses.

"Aff. Would you like coffee?"

"Only if it isn't 200 years old."

"…perhaps you'd better pass, Lucca."

"I think I will. Thank you anyway. So, good morning, everyone!"

"Goood morning!" Marle beamed.

"Mornin'!" Crono was relieved to see Lucca breathing normally again!

"Where, or rather, When are we off to?" She giggled a little.

"Well… uh… first we need to head home and check on the folks, and then, um… you know Frog?"

"Oh no…"

"Sorry, but we're really going to need him."

"Waah!"

Marle blinked. "You really don't like frogs, do you? Okay, Robo, make sure you know Lucca is afraid of frogs and is a sissy!"

"H-hey!"

"Aff, Marle. Lucca's personal data is updated. Lucca is now currently categorized as a sissy."

"No, no, no! I'm categorized as 'Genius'!"

"Aff, Lucca. You are now categorized as a sissy genius."

"No, no-" She stopped, sighing angrily, "I'll program that out later."

"Okay, sissy, let's go!" Marle giggled. Lucca stared at her, steaming.

"Am I to stay here, Marle?" Robo asked.

"I think so."

"T-the HELL I'm going with you when you call me names!" Lucca trembled slightly with tears.

"It was a joke, moron." Marle huffed.

Crono groaned, "Ladies, please, stop with the anger. Refocus it on Lavos and off each other."

"I don't think she should come because the entire kingdom will be looking for her!" Lucca sighed, "And besides! I gotta show Robo to Dad!"

"Heh. Heh heh. Okay." Marle walked to the far corner, "I'll stay. Be that way."

"Aww! But…!" Crono groaned, and Lucca shot a death glare at him. "Alright, alright. Me, Robo, and Lucca, then. Have fun with Gaspar, Marle."

"Heh. Heh. Yeeep."

Gaspar chuckled, "So, let me see… you girls like to talk about candy and boys, right?"

"CANDY? YEAH!"

"Time to leave." Crono backed away, "Very much so."

"C'mon, Robo!"

"Aff, Lucca."