**/**

The Present

     The sun burned through the early morning clouds and the sun’s rays opened up the flowers in the exquisite garden of Guardia Castle. The night guards bid farewell to those coming for the morning shift. The air was crisp and the trees were changing colours from the vibrant green of the summer to the exquisite orange and reds of autumn. In the tall towers, the sun reached across the floor of the princess Nadia, Marle to her friends, until it’s rays finally stopped on the bed. A figure moved beneath the sheets and his red hair poked out. The owner of the red hair brought his head above and shot a venomous glare at the ball of light that hung in the sky. He groaned and hid his head again. It was of no use and muttering under his breath, he got up out of bed. He walked over to the mirror and checked himself over. His turquoise green eyes were blood shot and his normally spiked hair was a mess. In total he looked and felt hung over.

     “What happened last night?” he thought. His head was swarming with fuzzy images and it slowly began to get put together. “Oh right,” he remembered. “The engagement party.” The night before was Crono and Marle’s engagement party, put on by the king of course. “Amazing,” Crono thought. “Two years ago, the king wanted me executed for allegedly kidnapping his daughter and now he is calling me son,” thought Crono humorously “Oh how people change.” He grabbed a towel and went into the adjoining room for a shower. He let the water run hot and steam filled the room. He stepped into the skin searing water and sighed again. One thing he learned from his travels was that nothing beat a hot shower.

     Outside the room, a second figure moved. This time however it was not on the bed, but on a couch against the wall. “I am never…ever drinking again,” moaned the girl. She brought her head up and her lavender locks were glued to her head. “I feel like crap,” she moaned as she rolled over and off of the couch. She landed with a soft thump. “Oww,” she moaned. She wanted to stay in her current position but decided against it. She sat up, still tangled in the sheets, looked out at the sun and glared hatefully. “Oh curse you floating ball of hydrogen gas for awakening Lucca the great, Lucca the wise, Lucca the…”

     “Loud and annoying,” said a voice from the bed. “Lucca, could you please quiet it down a few dozen decibels? I have a pounding headache,” moaned the voice.

     “Oh so sorry Marle,” responded the young lavender haired scientist sarcastically. Lucca removed herself from the tangles and sat on the couch, burying her face in her hands, hiding from the painful sunlight. “Oh gods. Just what happened last night?”

     “Well,” began Marle not moving from her warm bed. “My father threw me an engagement party. All the dignitaries were there. And you made a fool of yourself in front of the Mayor of Porre by asking him to do the Samba.”

     At that comment, Lucca’s head was brought up with a look of embarrassment. “I did what?”

     A laugh came from the bed. “I’m kidding. The only thing you did was empty several bottles of brandy.” Lucca chuckled nervously as Marle sat up. “I haven’t that much fun since the Millennial festival two years ago,” spoke the princess as she wiped her messy strawberry hair from her face.

     “You’re telling me,” asked Lucca. Upon the mention of the fair, Lucca’s thoughts turned to her former comrades. “I wonder how well everyone is doing?”

     “Well, Ayla and Leene must have done fine because I’m still here?” chuckled the princess as she lied back on the soft down mattress.

    “Oh hardy har har. I was more thinking about Robo. And if Magus ever found Schala? Also, I am kinda curious how Froggy did. We never here anything about him in the history books,” said Lucca, letting her mind wander.

     The sound of running water stopped. “Here comes my fiancé now,” smiled Marle as she rolled over to face the bathroom.

     Lucca smiled as she stood up. She looked down and finally noticed that she was wearing a pair of
silk pyjamas. “Hey, when’d I get these?”

     “Last night. You were worried that you were going to get sick on your new dress, so I gave you a pair of my pyjama’s,” responded Marle as she sat up again and sat in the edge of her bed. From the adjoining room walked in Crono with a blue towel wrapped around his waist. “Morning my sexy fiancé.”

     “G’mornin’ Marle’s sexy fiancé,” said Lucca looking at Crono. He signed back a response and quickly went into the closet and shut the door so he could get changed in private, as at the moment it seemed that Lucca was not leaving. “A bit bashful isn’t he?” asked Lucca chuckling as she got up and gathered her clothes.

     “As always,” smiled Marle. “But that’s why I love him.”

     “The radio said it is supposed to be nice today. A good thing cause I want to try and finish that project today,” noted Lucca, changing the subject.

     “Oh what’s that?” asked the princess as she went to her mirror and attempted to comb her messy hair.

     “I am trying to replicate the Epoch believe it or not,” answered the young scientist as she changed into a pair of clothes that she kept in her overnight bag.

     “Jeez. That is a pretty hefty project,” responded Marle as she finished tying her hair into a messy ponytail.

     “Not so much. When we were in 2300, I found some files on the Epoch,” answered Lucca as she finished dressing.

     “Excuse me?” responded Marle, turning around suddenly. “When was this?”

     “When you and Robo went to the factory and I stayed behind. I found an old computer and discovered some files. I recorded a couple of them in my Palm Pal. Turns out technology between now and 1300 years from now will be compatible,” Lucca said smiled. Marle looked skeptical. “Okay fine, so I modded a bit so I could read it without blowing my circuits. I never really did get around to reading that stuff for a few weeks after our adventure.”

     “Its not that,” said Marle. “I mean if you have the blueprints now, won’t that mess up the time line?”

     “How do you know that I wasn’t the original creator?” smiled Lucca again. She could see that Marle was beginning to get upset on the apparent misconduct of the rules of time travel so she moved on with her story. “The technology isn’t all that different. I am guessing Belthasar used our era technology. I mean he was from Zeal and from what I could guess from the technology, there is only a few years in between.”

     “Pardon me?” Asked Marle. “I don’t mean to sound like an airhead princess, but I don’t understand what you’re saying.”

     Lucca laughed out loud. “It’s okay. I get that confused look all the time. What we saw in Zeal was Magic Infused Technology or as I came to call it, Magitek. Using said technology; those who lived up on the floating Island lived a prosperous life as you saw. But the technology was not all that new to me. Several things I noticed mirrored our own, if only advanced by a few years. When the Mammon Machine went ballistic and sent everyone away, Balthesar must have used his own technology to create the Epoch. That is why we could understand it. If he had used the more advanced technology, even I, the Great Lucca wouldn’t have been able to understand it.”

     It took a moment for Marle to get her head cleared of all the techno-babble she heard. “So why have you been so quiet on this?”

     “I wanted a surprise for you two,” smiled Lucca boisterously. “Unfortunately, I couldn’t replicate the time travel technology. After the Epoch crashed, I couldn’t salvage anything useful.”

     Marle smiled warmly to her friend. “It’s okay Lucca. But think of it this way, you have created the world first flying machine.”

     Another sly smile crossed Lucca’s face. “Technically second. But the Blackbird doesn’t count.”

     Marle laughed. “Yeah true.”

     At that moment, Crono stepped out of the closet wearing a simple light blue sleeveless shirt and white pants. “What were you girls talking about?” he signed.

     “Just the new project Lucca is finishing up today,” responded Marle.

     “What is it an electric toaster to use underwater?” Crono signed again. The girls gave him an odd look. “Oh right, sarcasm doesn’t work when you’re using sign.”

     Marle and Lucca both laughed. “Well I am outta here,” said Lucca. “I’ll see you two later.”

     “Bye,” said Marle as the sarcastic scientist stepped out and closed the door. The princess turned and faced Crono. She smiled and gave him a passionate kiss. Crono wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close. “I love you Crono.”

     “I love you Marle,” he said with his raspy voice.

     “Save your voice my love,” said Marle. For as long as she had known him, she was aware that he was a partial mute. At first she though he was rude. But after a proper explanation though the use of a pad of paper, a pencil and Lucca, she understood Crono’s problem.

     “I don’t think it would be suitable to use sign in a moment like this,” he said as he kissed her again. The two moved toward the bed but were interrupted by a knock at the door.

     “It’s probably just Lucca. Ignore it,” replied Marle as the two lovers fell to her bed. However outside, it was a gruff voice speaking.

     “Nadia, are you there? I need to speak with Sir Crono.”

     Marle sighed. “It’s dad.” Crono frowned a bit and stood up. “Just a second,” she called. Crono pulled her up and she went to the door. Marle opened it slightly and saw the bearded face of her father looking down at her, a smile on his age worn face.

    “Ahh Nadia, I was wondering if Crono is in?” asked the patriarch of Guardia.

     With the mention of his name, Crono opened the door to show himself. Marle stood at his side and wrapped one of her slender arms around his waist.

     “Ahh my boy, how are you on this fine day?” the king asked

     Crono signed and Marle translated. “He says he is doing good and is asking how you are.”

     “In a fine state m’boy. I am here on important news. At four tomorrow morning, you and I will be Grouse hunting near the old Cathedral. It is a fine Guardia Tradition.”

     “There’s a four in the morning,” thought Crono as he signed his response.

     “Crono says he will be ready for four, Dad,” mistranslated Marle when he really had said if there was a four in the morning.

     “Ahh wonderful. I’ll see you at Crono. We’ll meet at the front gates.”

     Before Crono could say anything, Marle responded. “He’ll be ready. I hope you guys have fun.”

     The king smiled again and spoke, “I shall see you at four.” With a spin, he walked away while humming some old tune. Marle closed the door and smiled.

     “Why’d you have to do that?” signed Crono. “If I go hunting with your dad, I know I am going to get shot. Or worse, shoot myself.”

     “Aww Muffin,” smiled Marle. “You know my Dad likes you…somewhat. I don’t think he would shoot you…intentionally.”

     “Yeah right,” thought Crono. “Remember two years ago?” asked Crono is sign. “He wanted me executed.”

     “But that was just a misunderstanding. Besides it was Yakra impersonating the Chancellor who ordered it. Remember?” replied Marle. Crono looked sheepish as he nodded in agreement.

     “Yeah I guess,” Crono signed. “Besides your dad could be a terrible shot for all I know.”

     “Actually, he is the best shot in the castle. Trained the rifle men himself when grandpa was alive.”

     A sudden sweat formed on Crono’s brow. “I think this a bad idea,” he spoke quickly. “Besides, I use katana’s, not guns.”

     “Stop it Crono,” ordered Marle impatiently. “If you’re worried, go to the range and practice for a while. I am going to go have a shower.” Marle said as she opened the door to outside her room.

     Crono began to sign a protest but it was of no avail. Instead he had a sheepish smile. "Mind if I join you?" he asked in sign. Marle smiled and shook her head. He looked down and sulked to the door. “Do I get a good luck kiss at least?” he asked as he stood in the doorway.

     “Tomorrow,” responded Marle with a sly smile as she closed the door on Crono.

**/**

Middle Ages

     A man sat alone in a dank, dark basement, illuminated by a single candle. To his left was a stack of scrolls and books and to his right was an ever-increasing pile of ash. The man heaved a deep sigh and stood up. His long silver blue hair cascaded down his back like a shimmering waterfall. He stretched his long, slightly muscular arms and worked his gloved hand to remove the cramp that had formed. He had been sitting for far too long and needed to stretch. He left the candle to die out and ascended the stone stairs that led out of his dungeon. He climbed for several minutes and his sharp eyes quickly adjusted to the moonlight that poured into his castle. He approached a door and threw it open.

     “Ozzie,” he demanded to a short fat green troll who had appeared to be berating some guards.

     The person in question was dressed in white robes that accented his fat nature turned and saw the origin of the voice. “Lord Magus,” the creature shrieked. “What is it that you need?” he continued in a shrieking voice.

     “Do you remember where the Black Omen fell?” Magus demanded. All his loyal servants knew of the rising of the Ocean Palace and after it had crashed, he had ordered that no one was to approach the ruins. He did not want people such as Ozzie taking valuable Zeal treasure and technology to use it against him.

     “Yessir,” stammered the fat troll. “Why? I haven’t been there at all Lord Magus. No way. I refuse to go in fear of being set ablaze or be torn asunder from within with Dark Matter.”

     “Silence,” Magus ordered. “Take Flea and Slash to the ruins. You are to find something known as the Mammon Machine.”

     “The Mammoth Machine?” questioned Ozzie.

     “No you fat fool. The Mammon Machine,” growled Magus as he crossed his arms over his deep blue sleeveless tunic. “You are to take Slash and Flea and you must find something for me.”

     “What?” snapped Ozzie unintentionally.
“A pendant. It will be oval shaped with gold surrounding a blue opal. You must bring it back. It should be there,” replied the mage, ignoring the apparent insubordination.

     “Yessir. I’ll go right away,” said Ozzie who just stood there.

     “Now,” Magus demanded. Gathering his dark energies, he flew out of the window.

     “By gods what a crank,” Ozzie screeched. The response from Magus was a bolt of lightning that flew through the window and shocked him. “Ouch,” he mumbled as he waddled out the door. “Slash, Flea, get ready,” he screeched again.

     All the while Magus soared across the sky like an eagle. His dark magic’s fuelled his power as he focused on the place. It was located in the Kingdom of Guardia. The Cathedral of the Saints as it was known, the be exact. That was before however his forces took it over in attempt to destroy the kingdom in the war. Although it was only once that they attempted to take the cathedral, he had failed twice. Once when the miserable amphibian named Glenn rescued the queen, and the second time when the boy from the future named Crono assisted the frog.

     Suddenly, Magus stopped in mid air. Standing before him were two transparent figures. One was a blue haired women dressed in a shimmering silver and gold gown. The other had spiky platinum blonde hair with a thin gold band that wrapped around his head. He to was dressed in silver and gold robe. The two figures hung in mid-air in front of Magus until he realized who one was.

     “Schala,” he cried and dashed towards her. Unfortunately as he neared her, the image dissipated. He turned around and the only thing he saw were clouds shimmering in the moonlight. He shook with anger but waved it off. “I must be close. This must be a sign,” he thought as he calmed himself. Channeling all his dark energies, he was fuelled with a newfound strength and streaked across the sky to the cathedral.

     He soon found himself in the Kingdom of Guardia. To the north was the castle and to the west was the cathedral. He turned slightly and in minutes found himself standing before its gates. It had long been abandoned by both forces as the Mystics didn’t want it and the humans thought that it was cursed. Magus shrugged and stepped forwards to push open the doors but they were sealed. “No barrier, be it Magical or Physical can prevent me access to anything,” smirked Magus. He extended his arm and focused his magic. “Dark Bomb,” he chanted and a sphere of darkness extended from his palm and flew towards the door. The door exploded on impact and blew inward. Magus waited for the dust to clear and when it did, he walked into the abandoned cathedral. His thoughts turned to the pendant. Surely no one found it. It has been lost in the seas since the days of the Dark Age. He was there when the boy Crono and the blonde Ice Queen known as Marle assailed the Black Omen. He knew that they never found it. As soon as Zeal was destroyed, the pendant fell into the ruins with her. The ruins had been untouched for more then 12 000 years and it should still be there.

     The blue haired mage’s hard metal boots echoed loudly in the abandoned cathedral. The moon’s light filtered in through the broken windows and Magus was illuminated as he walked towards the organ. He approached in and placed one of his gloved hands on the ivory white keys and played a simple song. “Many years since I had last heard Schala play that song,” he thought as he continued to play the soft, melodious tune. He stopped and heard a click. Magus turned his head and saw a piece of the floor in the middle shift and move. He grabbed his scythe and got into a battle stance. It had been some years and he thought that an unsavory creature had made that hole its home. However nothing came from the opening hole. Magus marched over and gazed down the hole. Upwards blew a cold wind and Magus could swear her heard a voice crying out. He shook it off and deemed that it was stress getting to him.

     “Magus,” croaked a voice from the doorway. “What art thou doing in this place?” Magus looked up and saw the person who was speaking with him. It was a large frog wrapped in a dirty green cloak. Hanging off his back was a weapon that caused Magus great fear.

     “What do you want Frog?” he asked callously. He hated the frog. He loathed his every being. And yet, he could never bring himself to kill him. Was it out of pity? Or did he want to keep alive his rival?

     “I heard thou destroyth thee doors of this place of holiness of which ye had already defiled. What is your business here?” Frog demanded as he walked forward.

     “Leave now and I will not destroy you,” growled Magus as he attempted to keep his calm.

     “Like I destroyed thou two years ago. Thou art lucky I let you live. After what thou had done to my mentor and friend Cyrus,” hissed Frog as he opened his cape to reveal his silver and blue armor. His blue gloved hands immediately reached for the sword and withdrew the mighty weapon. With relative ease, Frog leaped towards Magus and stood on the edge of the hole

     “I have grown stronger since then Frog!” snarled Magus.

     “Why dost thou have so much anger Magus?” Asked Frog hoping to diffuse a hostile situation.

     “If you think because we fought Lavos together makes us friends, you are sadly mistaken,” answered Magus. “I have nothing to tell you.”

     But Frog wouldn’t accept that. He knew Magus was hiding something. “It’s Schala isn’t it?” Magus was silent. But Frog could see the strain in his body at the mention of the name. “Is that why thou art here Magus?”

     “There is an old Zeal saying Frog,” began Magus. “To quote; none of your damn business.” With lightning reflexes, Magus leaped over the pit and swung his scythe. Frog was anticipating this and brought the Masamune up block the assault. However, he wasn’t prepared for the kick that followed and was sent sprawling down the hole. Magus quickly followed his target and went down the hole. He only fell for a short while and landed on a hard stone ground. The real reason he was here lie before him. He looked to his side and saw that Frog was knocked out.

     When the Mammon Machine became corrupted and sent Magus to the current time, Ozzie took him in and raised him to be a great mage. Before the war with the humans, while his Mystics were adding to the Cathedral, he ordered them to place an old relic beneath the building. The relic was from Zeal and it contained much power. He had meant to use it during the war, but after Lavos was summoned and he was sent to his original time period, he had no use for it. Until now. Magus walked in the gloom until he reached the door. He opened it and there it was. Lying on top of a marble pedestal was a shard of Dreamstone. Magus had kept it locked away for years. It was to be his coup de gras against the humans after he had summoned Lavos. However that never happened. So the Dreamstone waited in darkness. Waited for Magus to return.

     “Magus,” a voice said. The mage turned around and saw that it was Frog who had come to his senses far faster then what Magus had hoped. “Wh-what art thou doing? We might be enemies yet thou hast never attacked me like that.” Frog looked on and saw the shard of Dreamstone. “Is that Dreamstone?”

     “Yes. I am going to use it to find Schala,” answered Magus.

     “How art thou to do that?”

     “Secrets are best hidden from the enemy,” answered Magus coldly. He looked again at the Dreamstone but got a chill down his spine. He fought it off and reached for the ruby red jewel. However as soon as his hand enclosed around it, Magus received several visions and became paralyzed. His body shook and trembled and he fell to the ground. The last thing Magus remembered before slipping into unconscious was Frog calling his name.