Lavoid Trigger Chapter 2
Initial Encounters
By Nanaki & Paul Nathans
She ran.
Dagger clutched in her hand, she scanned the streets for someplace, anyplace, to hide. Behind her came two nondescript figures in the blue garbs of the Guardian Special Service. One brandished a silvery-black 'something' that looked like a crossbow; but without the bow. It was a device that had probably fired the metal projectile that would have gone clean through her head if she hadnt stumbled on a loose cobblestone, and almost tripped forwards. It had shot over her head, though, and stung her hair.
"Lunari Elea, this is your final warning!!"
The blue-haired girl spun and glared daggers at the two figures behind
her. Theyd paused their pursuit for a moment. The few people who were
in surrounds were watching with a mixture of fear and curiosity. None, however,
was foolish enough to intervene in the confrontation going on amidst their
run-down shacks, and cardboard dwellings.
She stood in the Porre slums, her strength beginning to wear down
on her. Shed been dodging pursuit ever since the Guardian Special Forces
had intercepted her on her way home from the marketplace, and pulling off
all the tricks she knew to attempt to evade those who were after her. Yet
they had not been shaken, and she knew she was beginning to run out of
options.
She wore a pair of tight-fitting light purple shorts and a red shirt,
her blue hair hanging behind her head in a shimmering curtain, one which
fell slightly below her shoulders. An opal pendant, crescent in shape, with
a multifaceted red stone embedded in the center was strung about her neck
from a light golden chain. Her slender form was tensed, ready to move at
a moments notice.
"Warning for what!?" she hissed, brown eyes flashing. You fire
some weird thing at me, you try to corner me, then when I bolt, you chase!
Now you're warning me to stop doing something, whatever it is! What the heck
are you all talking about!? What did I ever do to anyone other than simply
try to live the life all commoners are granted!!??
One of the humans; she still couldn't decipher whether it was a male
or female, due to its robed garments, laughed, and held out a badge.
Were Guardian Special Force, Elite Class. You dont question
us, you just come with us!
After you fired on me!!?? She gaped at them incredulously.
Theyd chased her through the
city and only now were stopping
to question her!!?? If you think youre going to sweet talk
me into coming with you now your brains must be in your feet! No way am I
coming with you two; no utter darned way!
Her exotic looks had gotten her in plenty of trouble before.
With the Guardian Special Forces
Ones that had been looking for a kick
by taking down supposed Native Porrian rebels.
Typical humans. Theyll go after
me because Im different. Since humans fear anything different
so often to the point where they often lash out against it, these thrill
seekers can use that as justification for whatever they wish to do to me.
Never before, though, had anyone opened fire on her
Not until now.
How many times had she been accused of conspiring against the throne
by hotshot Government Forces? How many times had she had to move
house because she was placed under quarantine for no utter reason? If that
had been what had led to this
She had her suspicions, though. How many
times had she had to report being stalked due to her pendant.
She sighed, backing up slowly.
The figures stepped forward, keeping in pace with her.
She fought the urge to scream. This was insane!! The Mayor couldnt
do anything about these people because they were outside his jurisdiction,
and there were too many situations like these for all of them to reach the
Kings eye.
She backed up further.
They can arrest me and come
up with justification for it
Now this too. Whats next? Burn my
home
? Darn all Nobles!!!!
She continued to back up through the alleyway steadily, the two people
facing her keeping her trapped between their gazes. She wondered why they
hadnt yet attempted to fire upon her
Enjoying her being trapped
by their steady forward movement, most likely. They could lunge at any moment
and take her out now.
They were just waiting for her to lower her guard and then theyd
do so, she was almost certain of it.
An idea clicked in her mind. She dropped and scooped up a sharp of
glass, hurling it at one of the figures, and rolling to her left, reaching
her feet, and throwing herself forwards into another alley. A shot sounded
just behind her, but she kept going, resuming her run; ducking and leaping
clotheslines and cardboard dwellings, heading towards what looked a ten foot
wall at the end of the alley. It quite obviously separated the alley, and
what was most likely another alley, on the other side. She emerged in front
of it and turned to regard her pursuers, keeping her form partially concealed
behind one of the cardboard shacks.
The two Special Force members approached her wearily.
You're worried that this is a trap so you're
trying to lure me out! she spoke, grinning, and reaching behind a crate
to her right, pretending to search for something.
The 'Special Forces' doubled back reflexively.
Almost quicker than the eye could follow, she stretched her hands
behind her so their palms were pressing against the stone wall, and kicked
forwards with her feet, using the cardboard box as a boost. She flipped through
the air, twisting around in mid-flip, landing on the top of the wall, and
beginning to move to the side.
Shed expected her adversaries would count on her flipping over
the wall and fire at where her head would be. Thus, when she landed, she
was counting on moving to the side giving her a decent advantage. Then, if
she could drop down to the alley, and be on her way, she might make it.
Only she was too slow.
The projectile that had been aimed for the presumed position of her
head shot outwards and ripped through her right thigh. Searing pain lanced
up and down it as she crashed forwards, dangling over the wall with her legs
on the side the figures were on, the rest of her body dangling over the other
side.
We'll take your Dreamstone Pendant
now!
What? She struggled to conceal
her annoyance. Theyre after me
for my pendant!? That made these people no more than common thieves,
then!
The physical pain that tore through her right leg was nothing compared
to her emotional pain and anger.
Forced to relocate off and on
All because Im different! Now this too!?
These freaks sought to deprive her of all that she had left of her
family!!?? All that was left for her in the wretched life she had!! She had
no friends, shed had few friends, and far between
After all,
no one wanted to associate with a freak. Her mother and father
had passed away five years ago, victims of a sickness, and left her to fend
for herself. And, by herself, the Guardian Special Forces could risk using
her. How the heck many times had she had to relocate in those five years!?
Now they dared to take away all she had left that was precious to
her!!!!????
She was aware one of the Elites was standing over her.
How'd he/she get here in these
few seconds? Darn theyre fast!
The figure withdrew a katana. "Its mine now, woman!"
Lunari twisted her head, ignoring the wave of vertigo she got from
hanging upside down, and looking up, and backwards, until she was glaring
up at the blue-robed figure. Anger flashed in her eyes. Over
My
Decaying
Form!! she hissed in response, before she spat
in the figures eyes.
So be it then.
The person plunged the dagger down, and she kicked
it from his hand with his good leg. The figure spun, whipping out a dagger
from his boot, and lashing at her. She flung up the pendant to use as a bracer,
grabbed the person's hand, and hooked it with that good leg, while twisting,
and shoving forwards with that foot, throwing herself up the wall, while
moving into a roll.
Both collapsed down the wall, and she thrust her opponent under
her.
As soon as they landed, she drove her knee into his neck as hard as
she could, then grabbed the dagger, lifting up the half-conscious man/woman,
and drove the hilt into his head with as much force as she could muster.
The figure slumped to the ground, unconscious.
Briefly she wondered why the other figure hadnt fired. Then
she realized that it wouldve been too risky for both of them to take
such a narrow wall at once. The other assassin would be coming soon, though,
most likely.
She tensed again. She quite obviously couldnt
run with this leg, shed be dropped before she was a meter down the
alley. She looked around her for an enclosure, and found none.
I guess theres no choice,
then!
She clasped the dagger in her hand and looked up.
The other Special Force member had reached the top of
the wall, and leapt down before she could lunge. Eyes behind the light blue
mask took in her weapon even as she hurled it forwards. His/her own weapon
snapped forwards, firing once to her right, and again to her left, in the
case she attempted to move that way. The third projectile shot straight at
her.
Lunari screamed as the metal projectile tore through her left breast,
through her heart, and out her back, falling backwards even as the dagger
shed thrown, spinning vertically, tore into the Guardian Special Force
members right hand, gashing it deeply. The figure screamed and dropped
the weapon, landing on the ground, even as the young woman collapsed
backwards.
She couldn't breathe, she couldnt feel anything. She was aware
of the blood pooling below her, aware of its sticky wetness clinging to her
skin, and back, but couldnt register much more than that. The stones
that she lay on seemed to become smooth and welcoming, and the blue of the
sky seemed to become a blazing white. She couldnt move; she couldnt
focus on anything. An empty lassitude seemed to surround her.
It registered in her mind that shed just been fatally wounded,
but she couldnt process that information enough to react to it, even
though in the deepest part of her soul she was filled with a sudden chill.
I never had anything to live
for
But I never wanted to
To
Her adversary strode forwards smoothly, right foot rising.
The foot came down and connected with her neck,
driving into it even as she blacked out. She felt a snap; then she knew no
more.
*****
A fine job she's
done
Lunari blinked or would have if she could have. She seemed
to be sinking through some form of green matter, interconnecting threads
pooling in strange, yet beautiful shapes about her. The green matter parted
about her and a funnel of light seemed to form about her, luminescent glowing
white orbs that moved downwards even as she floated up. The white orbs of
energy shot past her like a beautiful waterfall as she ascended towards a
curtain of gentle blue ripples.
Then she was part of those ripples, interspersed in wisps of constantly
changing color, stars, and galaxies floating about her everywhere. She attempted
to register where she was, but couldnt focus enough. Light white substance
hovered below and above her, extending outwards endlessly in all directions
beyond where her eyesight could take her. She felt more than heard a multitude
of voices about her, but couldnt comprehend what they were at all.
She was no shrouded in gray wisps, hearing voices speaking.
The one shed heard when shed first ascended here spoke
again.
This is her first reincarnation
and she does absolutely nothing at all with her life
Are you sure that
she was worth the effort to be brought here?
He seemed to think
so. We can always check the timestream and observe for ourselves if you
wish.
Why bother? She
shouldnt have been sent anywhere in the first place. You shouldnt
have given her the chance
Sending us trash, of all the nerve
If I find out its one of the lives hes going to live in the future
hell get it from me very
badly.
Common events
can interfere...she was supposed to aid those others in destroying that Class
C, III Lavoid
Not everyone we send out always hooks on to the destiny
Rofellos wishes us to have. My life as Vigo should prove that. Id probably
never have encountered that Lavoid.
This is her first
reincarnation, Vigo. That outranks poor Rylos' fate...fifth
reincarnation and the guy ends up hooked up to one of those Sraphite
superweapons. He couldve used those powers to free himself, if necessary
he couldve compressed reality, and taken out a whole planetary system.
And what happens? A Class E decides to use the weapon hes latched onto
for energy. Since the device hes hooked up to runs by his spirit, the
Lavoid actually absorbed his spirit as if it was normal energy, and thus
obliterated him from existence.
This concerns
her how?
If were
going to take his trash, we ought to see something. She gets taken out by
a gunshot and her throat gets snapped. From a human, at that.
Ha!
Lunari couldnt register the first thing about where she was;
her senses seemed to be adjusting to this strange, surreal reality at a very
slow place. She could begin to comprehend that this Vigo and
the other voice she could hear the most were talking about her, though.
So? You should be thankful she
was given a second chance to live
Besides, he was a bit sketchy on
the details
He never did say straight out that shed done nothing
at all
Shes trash
unless she redeems herself.
Call her that again and Ill tell him you called someone he
personally chose to send here trash. Well see how he likes that, eh,
my friend?
What on Eolsia is going on here!!!!!?????
she screamed.
Or rather, tried to. The voice came out from what seemed to be her
mind.
All of a sudden, the white energies swirled about her, and her perception,
almost fully focused to the point where she could register what was going
on about her, was consumed in a madly-glowing ruby-colored storm.
*****
"What in-!?"
The Elite Guardian Special Service Member drew back in astonishment.
The Dreamstone had been removed from the pendant efficiently and easily,
but as theyd made the mistake of resting the pendant upon the body,
near the wound, as they took it out, the Dreamstone had fallen into the
wound.
Oh, great! his female companion swore.
Couldnt you have been a bit less clumsy!!?? I am
not searching a wound that goes
this deep!!
No, thats not it, the man stammered.
Look.
The woman shoved him aside and looked down into the wound, which was
pulsating with ruby-colored energies. What in the name of-!?
As they watched, the artifact they knew as Dreamstone shot out of
the young ladys body, and hovered in the air, slowly rotating. A corona
of red light was being emitted from the stone, as well as occasional rays
of light. Then suddenly the Dreamstone pulsed at a greater intensity, and
seemed to remove itself from itself.
The second Dreamstone fell neatly into the womans pendant, which
closed itself back up, sealing in its treasure once again.
The wounds closed, and all the blood was
erased, evidence that they'd ever been there gone. The replica and the original
of the Dreamstone formed a current of energy as the two got to their feet
and stepped back. Energies of a deeper red crackled along the inside of the
funnel that had been formed between the two Dreamstones.
The heck with this! the man snapped. Lets
take the stone and scram! He grabbed the Dreamstone floating in the
air, then shrieked, consumed completely as a ray of ruby energy shot out
of the Dreamstone, expanding to become the size of the man touching it, and
vaporized him, leaving nothing but ashes behind.
What the-!? the woman cried. The shock of seeing her comrade
lose his life was quickly replaced by her own survival instincts as more
and more rays began to emit from the Dreamstone floating in the air. She
fled down the alleyway, not even bothering to look back behind her.
The merge went on.
The Dreamstone, responding to instincts older
than time, and the universe itself, hovered in the air. Upon coming in contact
with the girls life-giving systems, it had responded as it had done
uncountable billions of years when encountering such an instability. It had
repaired all aspects of the womans wounds and restored her to how she
had been before she had received what the beyond ancient hive mind could
only register as an anomaly needing its repair.
As well as its presence.
What it did not need was an alien presence, one that it took steps
to remove as swiftly, and efficiently as possible.
The physical manifestation of what was beyond all comprehension crackled
madly, channeling down through its twin, and below that twin, into the
girls body, observing her as it had once observed the ancient anomaly
itself. It became knowledgeable of every aspect of her form, her aura, and
her spirit, and then was ready.
The girl lifted into the air and interposed
about the Dreamstone itself, floating vertically, eyes closed as if in sleep.
A column of ruby energies shot to the ground below it, vaporizing the ashes
of the unfortunate agent who had just passed into the afterlife, fully clearing
the area of other presences. The transformation then began to take effect.
The Dreamstone reverted to its basic state, in
the presence of an aspect where it could not exist as a solid, and became
one with the young ladys aura. Doing so resulted in a corona of ruby
light forming about the woman. Strands of her hair changed from blue to ruby,
the transformation beginning at the follicles, and moving up to the ends
of those strands claimed by a side effect of the Dreamstones aura.
With one last flash of ruby light; the corona erupting in a tiny,
yet ultracompressed eruption, and a brief thunderclap of air being forced
outwards, the process was complete.
The young womans eyes, now green, another
side effect of the Dreamstones merge, snapped open, and she alighted
on the ground below. Lunari blinked confusedly, trying to gather her bearings
as she took a deep, rasping breath.
Then she screamed as the thoughts and the knowledge of billions upon
billions of years rushed into her like an onrushing torrent. What the all
had seen, the emotions theyd gathered, and shared with the rest of
their race; emotions of quadrodectillions cencillions
of living beings, and the knowledge of immense powers beyond anything
her race should know, made itself aware to her mind. Joy, pain, confidence,
horror, agony, ecstasy, comfort, torment infinities upon infinities
of such experiences crashed into the young womans mind.
It was far more than she could handle.
The living Dreamstone screamed...
And screamed...
And screamed.
*****
Three black-brown lids slowly folded open.
Where am I?
The Lavoid could feel earth beneath it, and could see clearly what
looked like mountain formations about it. It shook itself blearily, forcing
reality to register
And sat stunned upon the soft dirt.
It was alive!
It had survived the descent by some miracle of fate. It didnt
even feel any pain, or damage, to its structure
Which was a miracle
in itself as well. Too many Class Fs built up too much momentum upon attempting
to make a landing upon anything bigger than a meteor. They would crash into
the meteor and sail through it, in the process being torn apart by the hard
matter.
That, then
Of course
Was it.
Despair descended upon the Lavoid as it realized it didnt have
the skill to absorb anything from a planet even while upon it. And it would
never be able to get the boost to clear the planets gravity field and
find something it could feed on.
The inevitable had only been postponed.
Then the Lavoid felt it.
The Planet howled in pain, a mass of voices rising up in indescribable
agony, carried upon a dark wind that circled around the podlike creature
as fast as a tornado, merging with its being and speaking of sorrows
unimaginable, as well as fear. It could almost see the reddish lines of energy,
some Lavoid, some planet, some completely different, as they were sucked
into one point somewhere far, far south of the place that it was at. The
screaming went on for a cavalcade of long, torturous seconds, before finally
abating in one last piercing moan.
So the Black Wind howls even
here
Yet it definitely isnt directed at me.
The Lavoid was beginning to feel very afraid. It was stranded somewhere
that it had rather not be, upon a place which could possibly have sent out
something that had possibly been home to someone that had slain a Class C,
Type I, Lavoid, and with something skilled enough to tear away the residual
energies of Lavoids...
HUH!!!!!?????
Curiosity momentarily replaced fear, which was also quickly replaced
by an impulsive desire to know why it had sensed the energies of a Lavoid
here, when there was clearly no Lavoid on this Planet.
Regardless of the reason.
It slowly extended its senses as far as possible, until it could perceive
the general layout of this mountain range. Salt water to the north and the
east, snowcapped mountains northwest and directly east, a forest southwest
of the area, and a
Oh, galaxies
A human population to the
south.
The pod let its eyelids close until it could see out of
the center pinpoint only. That gave a several second wait until its sight
readjusted, but it would offer more protection in case humans had people
skilled with sensing mental wavelengths. Again it reached out, this time
drawing in an air bubble, and forming it under itself, then shoving against
it, while reinforcing the sides, and finally releasing the top. It allowed
the column of winds to lift it into the air, where it quickly latched onto
an electromagnetic line, one of the many that crisscrossed the poles of the
globe, and began heading towards where it could observe.
Basically, in a generally south direction.
*****
Crono sat on a chair on the porch front porch, staring out at the
quiet surroundings of the relatively open neighborhood he lived in.
The soft feel of twilight was about him, yet he didnt notice
it
Or the gentle breeze that swept about him. His mind was far away,
thousands of years in the past.
As it had been since the previous morning, save for the sleep of last
night
One he was still surprised hed actually gotten. Crono had
simply not been able to fall back to sleep. The nightmare had brought back
all of the memories of what he had experienced so many years ago. He could
remember every detail of the sullen young lady who had been Princess of the
Magic Kingdom of Zeal. From the pale sickness of her skin to her haunted
eyes. Theyd burned with a resignation and a determination at times
that had amazed him each time hed seen it, especially towards the end,
when shed spoken with them in Algetty before Dalton had taken her
away.
Those eyes reminded him of himself, of the look he was sure he wore
so many times when the memories of
He shuddered and forced the past
to stay where it belonged
Came out. Of the look he had to wear a thousand
times as his eyes rested on his mother. Again he forced the memories away.
Hed thought that time of his life past.
He still wasnt sure how hed managed to stand it. At times
he thought of himself as two separate people
One, the silent, simple
young man who lived a pointless life, treading from one day into the next.
Hed had Lucca, but that hadnt been enough. When he was alone
with his family all he had was chilling emptiness
Nothing could replace
it, nothing could remove it. He was all but lifeless to the world. Yet when
Marle had gotten herself in danger
When hed seen the reason for
the cause of the devastation the planet had undergone
Hed found
the strength to become someone else, if only for a point. He still wasnt
sure how, though. When Marle had gotten lost hed found that strength
and focus by himself, and had managed to maintain that focus until hed
returned her home. Hed maintained that focus, similarly, when hed
had to fight for his survival
Him and then Lucca and then Marle again.
And when hed found out about Lavos, Marle had served as a guiding beacon
to give him the focus to use the anomalies they had stumbled upon to confront
the gargantuan creature. Hed hated the misery hed seen in the
far future era, but he hadnt been the one to come up with the idea
of trying to change that fate. At times, hed taken head of the situations
theyd wound up in, but after all had been said, and done, hed
just
Reverted.
Had he only done what he did because he plain didnt have a life?
For focus?
Unless youve got something
to occupy your attention, or youve got friends around you, youre
nothing. Thats not living.
What had it been like for Schala? Hed never truly compare himself
to others, but hed have to say she was probably a lot worse off.
Yet life wasnt so depressing anymore. At least, not for him.
He had Marle as well as Lucca, and Marle was someone very special. The dreams,
and the memories they brought back, though
Hed needed Marles
presence more than anything; and yet he hadnt been able to go to her
then. It had been late summer cleaning time, and he knew better than to leave
his mother alone during any big house projects like those.
He forced the memories away again.
The isolation was becoming unbearable.
He took comfort in that hed have the next day free. Hed
go see her and most likely Lucca as well then, and by the end of the day
the dream would be nothing more than yet another in a series of others hed
had that had revolved around the people whom he had encountered four years
ago.
Yet none were this
vivid.
He forced himself to focus on the present, to try to once more immerse
himself in the gentle breezes theyd been getting for the past two weeks.
Yet somehow he knew that he most likely wasnt going to succeed.
He saw her then, appearing over the horizon, clad in her usual traveling
gear
White shirt and white lower garments
In this case shorts,
due to the fair climate. He squinted, to make sure his mind wasnt playing
tricks on him, and watched as she crossed the distance towards his house
at a hurried pace.
Somethings wrong,
he realized in an instant.
She picked up her pace when she noticed him, and was on the porch
before he realized it, heading over to him, the same hurried stride in her
step as when hed seen her appear over the horizon to the south, before
shed sped up.
All of that vanished when she came close. Her gaze, which he hadnt
been able to decipher, changed to one of concern, and she knelt down beside
him, taking his right hand in hers. Crono? she asked softly.
Whats wrong?
Marles voice startled him out of the half-stupor hed gotten
himself into. He gripped her hand with his left and pressed it down harder
on his own, drawing as much comfort as he could from her gentle touch. Why
are you here? he responded, her sudden appearance leaving him feeling
almost ashamed to have been found so distressed.
I was coming to get you to ask you to come with me to meet Lucca
at the plains north of Truce, she answered him. I went to get
her first, shes waiting by the southeast bluffs. She brought
her other hand up and rested it on the one he had on top. Now tell
me whats wrong.
Why?
Marles eyes flickered with emotions he couldnt read.
Ill explain once were as far away from civilization as
possible. This is something I cant risk others overhearing. Crono
at last took note of the sack of quivers strapped to her back, her bow resting
inside as well. Yes, thats why Im armed. We all know not
to travel to far outside human civilization without a weapon.
Crono nodded.
Now please tell me whats wrong.
He sighed and closed his eyes. She squeezed his hands reassuringly,
and he opened them to meet her concerned gaze once more.
This is stupid! Just tell her!
I
Had a dream
he began slowly. The night before
last. A very bad one.
Marle mentally kicked herself, regretting that shed been kept
so occupied despite that there was really no way she couldve known.
She couldnt be with him all the time.
Crono closed his eyes and took a deep breath, mustering the strength
to continue. Marle moved her right hand up to give him a gentle squeeze on
his shoulder, then dropped it back down on top of his left hand. He opened
his eyes. I dont know what it was, but
It had to do with
Schala.
Marles eyes flickered again, her concerned gaze becoming a lot
more concerned. She knew as well as he did how much the blue-haired woman
of Zeal had affected them all. She slipped her left hand out from between
his and brought it up to stroke his cheek. He grabbed the hand and held it
there. What was it about? the blonde-haired girl questioned,
keeping her hands where they were, but moving around the chair to settle
gently in his lap. She brought her other hand around to his left shoulder
and squeezed it as well. He smiled briefly, thankful for the attempts at
comfort.
I was being crushed and burnt at the same time by a huge hand
made of lava. He tried to keep his composure at the memory of the
all-consuming pain. The pressure of the hand on his shoulder increased slightly,
and he didnt bother to keep his composure anymore. He didnt need
to around her; he never needed to with her. He let the shivers from the nightmare
run through him. Marle fell forward against him and wrapped her arms around
him tightly, resting her cheek against his. She brought one hand up and ran
it down the back of his hair, all the way down to the middle of his back.
It was just a dream, she whispered. Dont worry
about it.
Just like they both knew that the pain would eventually go away. That
didnt mean the Princess was going to be any less caring about it.
And
He stopped momentarily, and Marle gave him a
nod to continue. I was remembering
Or dreamed I was
remembering
What Schala mustve been like before her mother was
Taken
He blinked, surprised to feel tears form. Marle
ran her hand down his hair to his back again, sending a soothing wave of
comfort through him. It was incredibly vivid, like I was actually living
the whole thing, though. And what was worse was how I viewed her then
Could you imagine a life without anyone in it to ever care for you, to ever
lift your spirits?
Marle winced, and Crono brought his hand up to run it down her own
cheek. She shook her head. Its okay. Imaginable, yeah, but definitely
not something Id like to experience. She brought her head back
and looked him right in the eyes. You had to see something that real
as if you were there?
Crono nodded.
Marle nestled her head back against his and held him more tightly.
Oh, Crono, thats horrible! She twisted her head to give
him a light kiss on the cheek, in an attempt to give off more comfort. She
rested her head against his own once more, biting her lip as she found herself
at a loss for anything to say to give meaning to that gesture of comfort.
She settled for a simple, although cliché ,Its over now.
Youre not alone. You have me and Lucca, and you have a mother who loves
you as well. If youre hurt or in pain, you know you can always come
to us. The rest flowed in easily. Whoever you dreamed you were
That wont happen. If I have to, Ill personally ensure it
doesnt happen.
I know. Its just
Frigtening to even consider.
Dont consider it, then. Dont worry so much about
what you might not have that you lose sight of what you do have.
She didnt want to tell him now. Right now, the last thing he
needed was the knowledge that the world might have just become a lot less
safer place. She remembered how deeply the devastation of the far future
era had cut into her, and how shattered her own world had been when the destiny
that they were all to meet stood revealed. Her own dislike of the bounds
her station in life had given her had paled in comparison to what shed
felt then
Even now the thought of something so awful happening and
everyone powerless to change it chilled her soul.
Crono picked up on her distress and returned her embrace, running
his hand down her back as well. Memories? he asked understandingly.
Marle nodded. He brought her head around and kissed her on the forehead.
Dont worry about it. The past is just what it is. The past.
Thats all behind us now.
I know, the blonde-haired girl responded. Its
just
Hard.
Crono ran one of his hands across her forehead comfortingly.
Thats something I know as well. He moved his hand around
to her back again, her presence enough to lift his spirits as it always did.
Distraction
That new doubt flitted away. The happiness accessible in
the present wasnt just as distraction; it was one of the things that
made being alive worthwhile. The happiness and love possible to experience
in life
It was real
It existed; it wasnt just a blockade.
And even if he hadnt had a life before
With someone as gentle
and caring as Marle was, he certainly had one now.
He smiled, a
genuine one this time. Come on. Lets go talk with Lucca and figure
out what to do with whats troubling you.
Marle swore inwardly. If she backed out now it would only worry him.
Better to just tell him, and then work through this together. She nodded.
Very well.
*****
Are you quite sure of this?
Lucca gazed at her blonde-haired friend inquiringly. Crono Triggara
stood off to her side, his Rainbow Sword was sheathed at his side; it was
always safer to carry a weapon when traveling long distances. The wind swept
through the grassy plains, ruffling the young mans hair. He pushed
a stray lock out of his eyes, and crossed his arms, mind reeling from what
hed just heard.
The bubble hed just formed around his life had shattered into
a million pieces.
It had been one thing to not know of the existence of Lavos. Once
he had, though, he doubted he couldve gone through his life without
having done something about the being. Not when he knew that their fates
were sealed in devastation, that their world was destined to be laid waste
to. To go through life and to know everything you did was all for nothing,
that no matter what you accomplished in your lifetime it was all doomed to
end in misery
He hadnt been able to take that now.
To take even the possibility again
He shuddered.
Even if it was a false alert, he knew he couldnt just go through
life as if nothing was wrong. If the Lavos hadnt burrowed below ground
yet then they could stand back and let the people who knew what they were
doing handle it. Still
Knowing that they had at their access skills
that might make a critical difference in such an encounter
Might aid
in keeping the casualty rate low, or dealing with wounds
Darn it, he
didnt want to go through something like this again! It shouldve
ended with the eradication of the parasite itself, but thered been
a good deal of mopping up to do. After that, it really shouldve been
over. Now, though.
Yet the situation was possibly worse. Chances
were, though, the Lavos was already below ground, and so far below they could
do nothing about it. What did that leave then? No choice but to take the
Epoch, go talk to Gaspar, and find out when this one was going to emerge
from hibernation
Presuming that no one else dealt with the beast
And take it out.
When did the world become our
burden, though? This isnt fair!
Then again, since when did he ever have any life anyway?
Or could he take another choice? Attempt to live out his life and
leave the possibility of a danger in the far distant future or in the present
if this Lavos was somehow different up to others to handle. Things couldve
been different if people had actually paid attention to Lavos
Maybe
if the warning was passed down through the generations and wasnt lost
in history, a warning to watch for dangers from without, and within
Maybe that would work. Yet could he leave something like this up to chance,
knowing he couldve made a difference? What was the best thing to do?
Since when did you have to worry
about the world? Let others handle it
You dont have to be some
savior or martyr to the rest of humanity.
Yet if he didnt then
Darn it, dont do this
to me!!!! Please!!!!!
Marle squeezed his hand softly shed obviously been watching
him for his reaction. He met her eyes, and the silent apology there.
Dont worry about it, he said softly. You did what
you thought was right. He gave her a smile he didnt feel, and
he knew Marle recognized as a façade as well. She gave a tentative
attempt at giving one back, then dropped the effort, dropped Cronos
hand, and turned to Lucca.
Im pretty sure, she replied. What else would
provoke such a violent reaction from my pendant?
Lucca sighed. Her loose green shorts and red-purple shirt fluttered
in the breeze. She pushed her glasses up below her bicycle helmet, letting
them drop back to her eyes, and settled into a thinking pose. Okay,
she spoke, running her hand through her deep brown bangs. Okay. How
does that involve us anyway? I hope youre not suggesting we go out
on a Lavos hunt or something.
Thats why Im bringing this to you, Marle answered.
We need to figure out what were going to do.
Hold it, hold it, Lucca responded, forming a T
with her hands. First of all, who says were going
to do anything? Last time we couldnt exactly go to the King and warn
him. Yeah, we had an advantage
Magic
But whos to say that
a couple hundred of the armys best couldnt have Triple Teched
that thing to oblivion?
Without herbs or ointments like Megalixirs and the like? We
have them. Plus Ive got healing magic, as does Crono. What wouldve
been the chances of any army against something that powerful without a decent
way to heal?
I dont know. Lucca was not too amused with the fact
that someone was asking her to turn her life upside down already. Once was
enough
She suddenly saw her friend as expecting that they would go
after every type of potential threat that large. And that was something she
didnt want to do. Our lives
We cant let a possibility
govern our lives.
Dont be so selfish! Marle snapped, the similarity
of Luccas words to her own doubts, and fears as to what Crono could
have been worried about, ignited by those words and with no other
channel to unleash them. She realized what shed done and took a deep
breath. Im sorry. Thats not what I meant.
Lucca didnt even hear the apology. Marle noticed Crono had paled,
and bristled inwardly, kicking herself mentally as hard as she could. Its
not selfish, the inventor retorted. Its human. Since when did
anyone ever say we needed to be some symbol of self-sacrifice? No one should
have to do that.
So we should just let another of those monsters pulverize all
life on this world?
That is not what I meant! Lucca was bristling herself now. They
didnt even know if this was real
If itd been a Lavos the
whole entire mountain wouldve been destroyed, and theyd have
been dealing with an enormous crater. Maybe it was something similar
Or a smaller one, true. They didnt know how restricted Lavoses were
to size. That didnt matter though. She forced herself to calm down.
Marle, youre implying that each time something like this pops
up we should drop everything in our lives and risk them to dispatch it. Do
you want to live a life like that?
No! Nadia snapped, apalled at what Lucca seemed to be
suggesting. Thats not what I meant in the slightest!
If youll sit back and look at it, youll see where
Im coming from. Lucca brushed back another lock of hair. If
this is so important, why didnt you come see us earlier today, instead
of this late? she queried, in an attempt to lighten the tension.
Senator Endrolson and his complaints about the situation with
the Guardian Special Forces in Porre, Marle answered. This has
been happening way too much lately. Im about ready to march down there
and drag both the current Native Porrian head and and the current Special
Forces Commander up here by the hairs on their heads. I dont know why
these situations are springing up all of a sudden, or whether we really are
just dealing with a bunch of hotshots, but Ive about had it with them.
I want to get to the bottom of this and now!
I spent the whole morning composing a delegation to send to
them both, then debating with my father whether, or not I could handle it.
As it is, I finally got the time arranged for a meeting a month from now
If they accept, that should end this.
Marle took a deep breath, obviously composing herself. And Im
sorry, Lucca, but I really cant see where youre coming from.
I cant just stand aside and let billions of lives suffer because you
dont want to have your life disrupted.
Thats not it! Lucca snapped back. We cant
go chasing around something without proof anyway. And even if we do, and
take this one out, what if another shows up? What do we do then? We cant
fight them all
I dont even want to fight now. Maybe we could
do some analysis on their structure
If they have some sort of weakness
and we can find it, then we give it to the people in charge, and let them
deal with the possibility.
And what about if they dont? What about that they burrow
underground?
Lucca shook her head in despair. She didnt know whether she
really just was being selfish, and refused to accept that their lives were
shattered. Yet at the same time the appearance of what could possibly be
another provided her with the knowledge that Lavoses might turn out to be
a standard danger to any planet. Something had to be put in effect. Yet if
nothing was
She couldnt devote her life to a cause she didnt
want.
Crono couldnt take it anymore.
Yes
Lavos. Planetary menace
Nothing to stop it but him
and his comrades, they were the only ones skilled enough to do so. The ruined
futures of a thousand different possibilities stretched out before him and
the meteor showers that were not meteors laughed him as they fell in his
minds eye. The monster that had given him something out of whatever
wretched life hed had. Empty
Pointless
Walk through one
day just to get to the next with nothing to do or to bother with and no reason
to continue on doing so
Looking forward to things he could enjoy, like
the Millenial Fair, but knowing they would just fly away into the breeze,
and hed be left with a house with a pointless life, and a mother he
could share nothing with. His life was cursed, impossible to change, a reality
of anguish that could never be altered. What was the point of that?
Yes
Hed spend his entire life hunting down Lavos after
Lavos and ignore the trash world that he lived in and the empty houses filled
with people that he could never talk to and a world that had nothing and
hunt down those monsters and the heck with anything else and hed spend
his life and waste everything and throw away family and become a lousy fool
with a farce existence and sleep in the dirt and wear himself down traveling
the world and the timestream and take out every last one of those monsters
in the universe and starve and waste into a soulless husk with no purpose
and nothing which hed never had in this insane world and never had
anything after all and become half-sane like his mother and go through life
detached and barely relevant of the world and lose all the memories of his
friends and family and lose everything dear to him by knowing nothing and
letting everything slip his mind and fall through his grasp and never feel
the warmth and comfort and friendship and love and soothing vioce Marle gave
to him or his mothers gentle gaze and hed go through life a near
blank living in wastelands of nothing that was around him because he
couldnt comprehend it wastelands wastelands
The grassy fields around him vanished to be replaced
with a rickety old house, a staircase he was staggering up, his sword colored
by the blood of thousands of Lavoses. He reached the door and knocked on
it only to find it crash open before him. His mother was sitting in the chair,
eyes half open, desperately staring at the door.
Cr
o
no
she wheezed. Wanted
to see
y-ou one last
t
ime
Her eyes closed and
the knitting shed had in her hand vanished. Crono crossed the distance
to reach her, holding her softly, tears in his eyes from seeing her like
this.
Mother? he asked her. Mother, what
happened?
She took a shallow breath, smiling behind her closed eyes.
Im
sorry
You didnt show up for so long
Gone for so many years
Had to find you. Couldnt let you wander
off alone
What if
? She lapsed into a hacking cough.
Cronos eyes brimmed with tears. Couldnt let you
She went. I grew careless. I didnt
pay attention
to the food in this house. The bills
Everything. I didnt have
time
I just bought what little I could as time went on
Couldnt
give up.
Too weak to move now
All I could do was try to walk to
the food storage, and back here. Ive spent every last moment here
Save getting my food and drink
Hoping youd arrive. Sleeping
I tried to keep from sleeping. I refused to give up hope youd never
Come
back
Crono was already carrying his mother down the stairs, preparing a
Life Spell. Her aura manifested and he saw it wouldnt do much good,
shed wasted away too much. Hed picked up his pace. Mother,
no
he breathed. Hold on, please, hold on, Ill get
you to the hospital
Please hold on
Tears were falling down his cheeks openly now.
Cant open my eyes anymore
his mother went
on. Thank you
Ive been afraid of falling asleep before
for fear Id never wake up
Can rest now at last
Dont
know if I couldve held out any longer anyway
Its so peaceful
here, Crono. So soothing
Why dont you come here with
me?
Then her breathing stopped.
Crono bent down and immediately tried to feed her air. The time flew
by as he desperately but controlledly forced air into her lungs, pressing
down on her chest, willing her to breathe breathe breathe breathe breathe!!!!!
The twilight was casting its shadows about him by the time he looked up and
realized it wasnt doing any good.
Chills claimed his heart. Mother
? he asked tentatively.
The chills became an icestorm as every pore of his being was suddenly swept
through by a biting cold. He collapsed over his mothers lifeless form,
sobbing uncontrollably, cursing himself for ever leaving her. Mother,
answer me
motherrrrrrrr!!!!!!!
He looked up and found himself kneeling before another of those monsters.
He cried out and instinctively gathered together all eight lines of Lightning
Magic. Yet he didnt unleash them; he continued to compress them and
compress them until the very air was pulsating with so much lightning energies
it was affecting the air and burning his arms and legs and linking his blackened
form to them and he still kept building it and building it and compressing
the lines not even fully aware of what he was doing or of anything
other than the insanity whirling about him as the electricity was ripping
throughout reality compressing the lines compressing the lines until
they could go no farther and then unleashed them, a tornado of lightning
tearing out through the hole, and into the monster, blasting back into him,
and punching a hole in his chest. He collapsed to find himself looking into
Nadias face, much older
Arms extended, carrying a child for him
to hold. He reached for it and a Lavos needle fell through them both, spraying
him with their blood. He cried out and appeared in Marles lap; when
he didnt know, and he couldnt turn his head to see. He was looking
up at the stars, the gentle feel of his hands on her face, her legs beneath
his head.
Its pointless, Crono, she whispered. Theres
no end to this. When will this ever end
So we can actually have a life?
Wed hoepd for so much
How long until the next landing? Lucca
sighted over a thousand this time around. Im so sick of this
Everytime we think we can make a life for ourselves we have to go out and
face another of those beasts. Im weary of it
Weary of this
neverending struggle. Fathers sick again, he may not recover this
time
I cant even walk around my own hallways without expecting
it all to end again. What happened to our hopes and dreams?
Did we confine ourselves to this fate to save others from it?
Is there another way? Please
Im so tired
So tired
Yet I cant give up. Everytime I think of possibly doing so
Choose
for me, Crono, please. Im so tired I dont know if I can go on
thinking. I dont want our dreams to vanish
Please
Can we
ever have anything?
Then he was standing on a hilltop, overlooking flowery fields. Lucca
was standing there with a hang glider, Marle had her arms outstretched, a
huge picnic table had been set out for a party. The view shifted and he saw
himself walking through the streets, hand in hand with Marle, his other hand
held by his mother. Two toddlers, blonde-haired with bangs flopping over
their heads, trailed along behind him, scampering in front of his mother,
and laughing. And then weve got to buy some short-sleeves for
little Else and Estan wants a new ball. Crono, you promised youd be
the one to play volleyball with him this time, remember? Marle turned
and smiled at him, a vibrant smile filled with life. He found himself drowing
in that smile, in the warmth, and family, and happiness, and love around
him, the grass suddenly filled with sparkling dewdrops, and new life. He
laughed, not one of amusement, or happiness like he might feel in a game,
but of a joy so incredible he had no words to describe it. His throat tightened
and his eyes brimmed. Marle went on. And then we finally get to take
the kids to see the playhouse Lucca erected in Leene Square
Weve
all been looking forwards to it, but me especially. Maybe well have
a clear night and can watch the stars together then.
At those words, the sky darkened.
The stars were all red.
Reality shattered in front of him like a lightning bolt. He screamed
in agony and collapsed to the ground, unable to take anymore, too exhausted
to even cry. He pressed his face against something and tried to immerse himself
within it.
He could stand no more.
A soft footstep caused him to look up, and rest his gaze on Schala.
Her face was haggard and her blue hair was a mess. Her skin was even more
sickly than hed seen before, and she looked absolutely emaciated. Her
face was sunken, there were dark circles under her eyes. She looked as if
she barely had the strength to move.
A ruby dagger was clutched weakly in her right hand.
I guess this is the end, huh? she asked weakly.
He suddenly realized they seemed to be standing on a wasteland. He
looked around to find himself floating on an island in the middle of the
blue timestream, drifting endlessly. There was no one there but him and Schala.
Where
are we? he asked.
This is all thats left for anyone in a life where youre
helpless to ever change it for the better. No matter how hard you fight,
no matter what you do, you simply end up completely alone. Theres nothing
left to it anymore. Fight however you want
Theres no purpose
for it.
She turned the ruby dagger around, pointing it towards her heart,
and with a start, Crono realized what she was about to do. He grabbed her
hands. No, you cant! he cried. Whether it was from fear
of being totally alone or to prevent her from doing this to herself he
didnt know and didnt care. He couldnt let her take her
life; he just couldnt!!
Why not? Her words came slowly. Alone here or alone
in oblivion
Theres no difference. Why cling to a life that has
nothing in it? Why bother with a world that will only come back and slap
you in the face time and again? Give me a reason why.
Crono found himself at a loss for words.
Schala closed her eyes for a moment, opening them, and let tears brim.
Pain-filled green eyes stared out at the world that spoke of a misery so
deep and cutting that it stabbed into his heart like a hot knife just to
see its surface. There is no reason. No reason save to walk through
life with nothing to comfort you and nothing to love you. To look around
you and see others happy and as free as birds and to never manage to achieve
what they have. To never feel the warmth and comfort coming from just knowing
someone loves you, to never walk through the flowey fields with your parents,
and your children. To never just rest in someones arms and let the
cares of the world washed away. To never experience the simply joy that comes
from helping someone else, or the happiness that comes from having a meaning
in your life. Why bother with those?
You cant just give up, though! he
cried.
I lived on an island where it was as if I was flying,
she responded weakly. Life shattered everything I had, and left me
with nothing. I tried to spread my wings and fight back at life countless
times. I failed every last one of them. She took her hand out of his
and stepped back, suddenly at the edge of the island. He broke into a sprint,
heart pounding as he attempted to reach her. The blue-haired young woman
closed her eyes; a wistful, peaceful smile settling on her face. Its
time for this broken bird to spread her wings one last time.
She plunged the dagger into her heart and spread
her arms, closing her eyes; that same wistful, peaceful smile never leaving
her face as she toppled backwards, over the precipice just as he reached
out for her. She fell down into the bottomless emptiness as he stretched
out his hands to grab her, his mouth open in a silent scream, her blue hair
falling about her like a shimmering, luminous curtain.
It was only when she disappeared from his sight that Crono found the
strength to scream again, his throat torn hoarse by its force. He screamed
for the womans loss and for his own pain, a total aloneness that was
fully manifest. He screamed for the futility of his life and the utter emptiness
around him and the broken spirit hed just witnessed before him. He
screamed and screamed, each cry building upon the last, not caring if anyone
heard him, not caring if someone was to come up behind him, and slit his
throat then, and there. He wrenched his sight away from where Schala had
vanished and pressed his face back against the ground, wrapping his arms
around himself, and holding himself tightly, trying to will away the feel
of the stone; of all of reality.
He couldnt bear it anymore.
He just wanted it to all vanish.
He snapped out of the dreamlike state hed gotten himself into
with such instinctive force for a moment he felt as if his mind had erupted
into, and been consumed by fire. He was looking into Marles eyes, and
she was shaking him gently, but forcefully, worry in her eyes. Crono!!
Crono!! she was calling over, and over again.
He collapsed into her arms, wrapping his own arms around her body,
unable to do anything but sob quietly into her chest. The blonde-haired young
woman was filled with a mixture fear and concern, stronger than anything
shed felt in a long time. Shed never seen him like this before,
and his breakdown gripped her heart in a sudden dread that she could not
describe, but could only experience. She wrapped her arms around the young
man and held him gently, not sure what else she could do.
Lucca walked over to him, concern showing in her eyes as well. She
rested a hand on her friends back, fixing Marle with a scared look.
Whats wrong with him? she asked, all thoughts of Lavoses,
or selfishness gone from her mind, just as it was from Marles.
I dont know, Marle whispered, her own voice just
as frightened, if not moreso, as Luccas voice. Guilt plunged into her
heart like a dagger.
It was her fault he was like this, that much was obvious.
Why is it that its often the
ones you love the most you hurt the most?
All threads of thought vanished as impossible pain erupted within
her.
Crono was jolted out of his depression by the
sound of Marle screaming. His head snapped up even as she released him and
collapsed to the ground, eyes wide as she gazed at some unseen terror. Her
pendant was glowing with supercondensed energies, shaking and pulsating as
if it was about to explode. All the while she was still screaming.
Crono was kneeling on the grass at her side in an instant, Lucca on
her other side. All thoughts of his dream-vision vanished from his mind;
his sole concern the agony that the Princess was in. Marle, whats
wrong!? he asked softly, although sharply. She didnt answer,
just gazed up at him with wide, unseeing eyes. Marle! he shouted,
a desperate plea in his voice. Answer me!
She screamed again and brought her hands away, as if they had been
burnt. Crono noticed the pendant glowing a dangerous red and snatched it
away, flinging it across the plains as far, and as hard as he could before
it could burn her further.
She collapsed in a heap, sobbing.
He instantly gathered her in his arms, and she clung to him fiercely,
stroking her hair, and her back soothingly. Lucca immediately took off her
tan jacket and spread it across the girls shoulders, burnt by the pain
of the pendant. Crono continued to stroke her hair and her back, but she
didnt stop sobbing.
Wind
Howling
Energy... she murmured into his
ear. It was
Oh, Crono, help me, please!!!!! She collapsed
into another sobbing fit.
His chest felt like it was being twisted and torn at the same time.
He couldnt stand seeing her in so much pain, and that he could do
practically nothing to ease it only increased that feeling.
Once again he heard a scream, one that chilled his bones to the
core.
But it wasnt Marle this time.
It wasnt even a human scream.
Several meters to the north of them, a thing resembling the shape
of Lavos Shells pod-face slammed into the ground, actually falling
the last few feet with a speed typical of someone performing a polevault.
It had apparently used a cushion of air, as the wind forced outwards nearly
bowled him over.
Marles gaze was now locked on the thing, eyes chips of flint,
hatred clearly engraved upon them. She slipped out of his arms, standing
so fluidly he wasnt aware hed let her go.
Lavos, she hissed in a feral undertone.
*****
The Lavoid began to descend as soon as it had felt the presence of
the blue-haired human that it finally decided to term
Huntress.
Only it wasnt the Huntress, but a group of three humans, one
with deep brown hair, one red-haired, and the final, the one that had attracted
its attention, blonde-haired. The red-haired one held an aura akin to that
of the Huntress, but in a completely different way than the blonde-haired
one. Blonde-hair seemed almost exactly like the Huntress, it was her who
had been sensed, while red-hair held an aura akin to that of the Huntress
that was infamous among the Lavoids. With such similarities, memories of
its brief encounter with the woman came back, and it was surprised it
hadnt noticed that aura in the Huntress until just know.
The red-haired young man was one of those pesky
so-called Heroes of the Ages. It snorted, the term still not
ceasing to amuse it. More like Barbarians or Butchers.
They appeared out of some high-level plane as yet not pinpointed in a way
through which it could be accessed by any of its kind and attacked Lavoids
with intent to slay them; looking upon them as monsters and evil freaks for
no other reason than they wished to live. So far none had succeeded in slaying
a Lavoid, but the fact that there was one here, no, two, brown-hair carried
a much fainter aura, plus the fact that there was no Lavoid on this Planet,
like there should be, and blonde-hair knew its name, told it that at least
one had lost its life to the attempts of these freaks.
Two females, one male, two Heroes.
It couldnt avenge Jenora, but it would avenge whatever Lavoid
these things had brought their evil to.
It opened its eyes and channeled a tripartite blast of elements out
of the three lids; forming into a raging pyramid of shifting energies known
as a Delta Storm and exploding amidst the trio, scattering them amongst the
grasses. The Lavoid landed on the grass and began to gather together the
threads necessary to form another Delta Storm, one that ought to finish off
the humans. One of them, the red-haired one, cried out Darn it!
The young man hissed, standing up. The Lavoids translators wobbled
a bit as they kicked in, but the words registered. Not now!!
Before it could get off its follow-up attack, its world became a
yellow-golden dome of light as the red-haired Hero gathered the eight lines
of Lightning Magic together, and unleashed a Luminaire. It quickly hooked
onto an electromagnetic current and shot up before the eruption of pure energies
entrapped it and vaporized it. The Spell compensated and moved upwards and
outwards until it exceeded its limits and exploded. Havent you
done enough, Lavos freak!? the blonde-haired female growled. Its
your fault that Crono
She clenched her fists in rage. Darn
you!!
The Lavoid growled. That was just like humans! Blaming someone else
for something that had most likely been a fault of theirs because they were
too cowardly to take responsibility for their own actions. The Class F decided
it had had it with the monsters known as humans bashing its kind around.
The Lavoid quickly sent out a mental probe wavelength, and found the
frequency of speech she used for her thoughts. It wasnt enough to actually
speak in her language, but it was enough to communicate with her in a decent
method.
[I never did anything to you!] it hissed angrily. [I dont know
what youre talking about! But since youre in a conversational
mood, perhaps you can tell me what happened to the Lavoid that occupied this
planet prior to my arrival.]
The blonde-haired woman was at first startled, but then regained her
composure. Youll join it soon enough!! she snarled, reaching
over her back, and taking out an ivory bow, stringing an arrow to it.
Brown-hair had reached the side of the angry
blonde-haired female, curiosity shining in her eyes. Did I just hear
that thing speak?
It made sure to broadcast its voice clearer so
all three, no, four of them, red-haired Hero had a visitor, could
hear it more clearly this time. [Yes, I spoke. Does it surprise
you that an nonhuman can speak? Are you humans really that stuck-up
and arrogant as to think youre the only beings capable of communicating
on such a level?]
What? The brown-haired Hero took a step back.
Stuck-up? Arrogant? What do you mean by that?
[Why dont you figure it out for yourself. You took out the Class
C, Type III on this planet, didnt you? You did so and you expect me
to answer your questions. You dont deserve to know it if you cant
comprehend it. Figure it out yourself. It seems you humans arent only
selfish monsters, but nieve fools as well.]
The brown-haired woman took another step back.
The Lavoid ignored her, focusing on blonde-hair again. [Ill
ask you again. Were you one of the ones responsible for the eradication of
the Lavoid that should be living right now on this planet?]
Darned right I am! She had her bow pointed at him.
Marle, wait! brown-hair shouted, running in front of her.
This appears to be a lot more than it seems! Lucca tried to make
some sense out of her racing thoughts. Not only were these Lavoses
No, Lavoids
It had used the term Lavoid beings that simply
wished to survive, but the way it had spoken of humans.
Dont stop me, Lucca!! Marle snapped in response.
The Lavoids momentary surprise at the brown-haired ladys
actions was replaced by annoyance as it realized that the other lady was
most likely not going to listen. The red-haired young man had gotten to his
feet and had rejoined his companions, but seemed to be unsure of what to
do.
Using a simple levitation grasp, it wrenched the sack of arrows off
of the blondes shoulder, its strap snapping. It also grabbed up the
bow she had in her and, as well as the red-haired ones katana. It removed
the brown-haired ladys gun from her holster, and brought all of the
weapons up to hover above it, out of reach of the humans.
Give those back!! the one named Marle cried
indignantly.
[Shut up and cease your whining. Youre all going to pay for
your actions. I already failed to avenge Jenora, I wont let anothers
loss go unavenged!]
I think that ends the conversation,
Marle snapped to the brown-haired woman, Lucca, shoving her aside, and forming
an enormous glistening shard of Ice above its head. That was quickly recognized
as an Ice 2, and was just as quickly evaded by quickly darting backwards.
Having no shell to weigh itself down, the Class F, Type III discovered with
delight, definitely had its advantages.
Please stop!! the one who went by the name Lucca
shouted.
Its just trying to get inside our minds! Marle cried.
Dont let it, it can do worse. Remember what happened to Queen
Zeal!?
Lucca stepped back; doubt and uncertainty in her eyes.
[You think Ill stop!] the Lavoid retorted. [Not until I have
my revenge.]
It snapped its eyes shut, then open, for emphasis; and launched a
small, yet intense, beam of firey enegies from the center of its eye. It
smashed into the blonde-haired young lady, knocking her backwards, and the
Lavoid again began to gather its auras together into a Delta Storm.
Darn you!! the red-haired young man cried. Just
leave us alone!!
The young man clenched its hands into a two-handed
fist, as if he was holding something and built up his speed. The motion was
so fast the thing didnt have time to react, nor ride the current higher
into the sky. Red-hair leapt straight up, pummeling it in the eye. It responded
by snapping the lids shut, forming a mental picture of the surroundings while
launching a white beam out of its eye. At the last second it released, allowing
the energy to flow through the boys two-handed fist, and straight into
its body. He screamed and fell to the ground as the electricity coursed through
his body, hopefully charring it beyond repair.
CRONO!!!!!
Blonde-hair had gotten back up. Eyes blazing with rage, she tackled the Lavoid,
which realized it had lost connection with the electromagnetic spectrum when
it had focused its energies upon electrocuting the male hero. Blow after
blow landed in its face. The thing hissed and quickly formed an air barrier
between them, then inversed it, and attempted to blow her backwards.
She wasnt moved, but it used that moment to find the low-hanging
electromagnetic line. It opened its eyes and launched a small orb of shadow-star
energy, a brilliant cosmic detonation that hurled her away, although wasnt
really ferocious enough to do much else. Then it found the electromagnetic
line it had losses and latched onto it once more, whisked back up into the
air in an instant.
It had forgotten about the weapons that it
had held in levitation, now on
the ground. A crossbow bolt headed straight towards its eye moments after
it stopped ascending, slamming into the inside of the eyelid. Although it
barely penetrated, it did sting.
The Lavoid vaporized it with a simple Fire, and swore. It noticed the kinetic
energy from the impact of the arrow had cast it to the ground once more,
and pulled together a small celestial wavelength. The Lavoid snapped it above
their heads and contracted it a shower of meteor-size comets descended
towards the two women, forcing them to move away. The brown-haired one,
whod been hesitating, sighed, and began to walk towards her fallen
gun, seeming almost
reluctant.
The Class F forced all thoughts of why
pertaining to her actions out of his mind, and began to pool together a higher
concentration of celestial magic, forming a tear in reality that, when opened,
would bombard the humans with hundreds of meteors.
The wavelength dispersed as the Class Fs concentration snapped,
the red-haired boy shoulder tackling into it, and forcing them both backwards.
For a moment it was surprised. This human must have been through a lot to
have developed enough resistance to take such heavy electrocution.
The red-haired boy had its hands around its sword, clenched together
as if before, and brought it around in the beginnings of what looked like
a whirling slash. The Class F latched onto the electromagnetic fields, but
instead of using them to move away, used them like a swing, crashing forwards
into the boy with the force of a freight train, and sending him flying backwards
once more, to collapse a safer distance away.
The blonde-haired woman had been in the process of channeling together
another Ice 2 wavelength together, and suddenly found the Lavoid whirling
around her, using its three-pronged eyelids like knives, gashing into her
sides, chest, abdomen, and back, altering height ever so slightly to continue
to add gashes. The Lavoid couldnt get too close or it would risk a
collision, and thus couldnt do much more than superficial damage, but
the pain she had to be feeling would hopefully distract her long enough for
it to finish channeling together the wavelengths necessary. The young woman
screamed and threw herself to the ground, somehow managing to gather together
an Ice, and mentally throw it upwards. The Lavoid was sent tumbling back,
its eye stinging once again from the impact. It spun, sensing the Lightning
2 wavelengths being gathered behind it, and overlapped them with a pooling
of water auras, which it left to disperse. The Lightning 2 activated
then caught onto the pooling of water and became a storm of electricity that
resulted in the red-haired Hero throwing himself forwards
reflexively.
The young man noticed he was a bit too close to the monster, and
didnt have its weapon ready. A triangle of white energies with cosmic
auras in the center collapsed around the boy and inversed inwards, simultaneously
releasing a conical blast of starry energies. Or rather, collapsed around
where the boy would have been had he not rolled to the side. A quick invisible
slap of air hurled him backwards in midroll, and another snap stunned him.
The Lavoid pulled itself up into the air and moved above the stunned young
man, gathering together the wavelengths necessary for a Dark Matter.
At this range it could pinpoint the things
occupant, and grinned as it remembered one of the Lavoids tales of
the Hero matching this particular aura having been thoroughly humiliated
and then impaled by a bunch of Lavoid Needles.
[Nice knowing youre still around, Raled!] This time the thought
was directed solely at the Crono persons occupant. [I thought when
Cintor punched holes in you ole Rofelly might decide to teach you a
lesson in humiliation.]
[Actually, hed just been seeing how well I could perform beginning
another life seconds after another, as a test for credibility against a Class
A,] came the response. [I got a bit of a rest and redirected to a weaker
one than had been originally planned, but still a Class A. Sorry to
disappoint.]
The boy was in the air before it, three quick slashes of its blade
cutting into its thick armor, the fourth driving right into the center of
its eye, a rainbow katana cutting deeply. It shrieked in agony and unleashed
a quick series of yellow plasma orbs, hurling the boy backwards yet again,
but then throwing him backwards farther, and farther before he could
hit the ground with each successive impact. When he finally crashed
to the grass, he was a large distance away.
Already in mental contact with the Hero of the Ages, the
Lavoid decided to continue its conversation.
[And what are you doing here?]
[Why does it matter? Im in transferral now,
but I had an opportunity here that I couldnt in good conscience pass
up. Thats all youll find out from me.]
[Since when did you butchers ever have a conscience?]
The vision of the spirit in its minds eye stiffened, obviously angered
at the audacity of the accusation that had just been placed before him. [I
hope the Class A properly showed you what true pain was like.]
Raled definitely winced, or would have, if that was possible. [Yeah,
you could say that.]
[Painful failing your master twice in a row, eh?]
It decided to end the conversation there, latching onto a current
that moved right through the head of the boy who was in the process
of getting up groggily and would carry it down and through him at
such a speed it wouldnt have a chance in the world of surviving.
Scratch one human; two to
go.
Lucca had her Wonder Shot in her hands.
She supposed she could have cast something, but was reluctant to even
open fire. This all seemed like some type of misunderstanding
Stepping
into a situation like the type shed wandered into when she, Marle,
and Robo had confronted Atropos-XR. She still had some doubts about arming
herself, but having almost been directly nailed told her she should at least
try to defend herself.
She saw the Lavoid cyclone about Marle, and heard the
womans screams as she collapsed to the ground. The Lavoid was hurled
up and away by an Ice, and out of her line of sight. She ignored the thing
and raced over to her friend, crouching at her side, looking upon her many
wounds, and pushing aside the sudden fear that came.
Marle struggled to her feet. It looks worse than it is, most
likely, she panted. Weve built up quite a resistance to
situations that would damage a less skilled person. Nevermind this ones
only superficial. Then she looked Lucca right in the eyes.
Arent you going to help?
Lucca opened her mouth to respond
Only to realize she didnt know what to say.
Lucca, this isnt the time to worry about motives!
Marle shouted. Besides, Im not going to trust one of of
them!! Not after what weve
all seen their manipulations do!! Cronos lucky to even be here now;
nevermind the whole world! What about Zeal!!?? And the Earthbound ones!?
And Queen Zeal and Schala and Janus and Gaspar and Melchior and Balthasar
and all the lives that have suffered due to what they went through and the
repercussions of what happened to various of them!!?? Lavos took out the
worlds of the Zealians and the Earthbound Ones alike with its actions, and
would have laid waste to the planet, for real, nine hundred ninety-five years
from now if we hadnt stopped it!
Nevermind all the damage its done throughout the uncountable
millennia itself by manipulating the process of evolution itself
By
altering genetic codes, or whatever you called them
To suit its
needs!
And how did it destroy two respective worlds? How did it set
off a chain reaction that consumed so many more thousands of lives!? Through
its mental manipulations! Dont even
try to emphasize with it, or try
to look at its side!
Luccas initial reaction to Marles accusation of its mind
control had been of indignance. The Guardian Princess was one to be prejudiced
against Lavos kind. Yet now
With all the evidence piled up against
her
She suddenly began to question her thought patterns. Still, it
was with reluctance that she began to turn, pressing her finger to the trigger
of her Wonder Shot.
Marles cry of ,Crono, watch out!! cut through her
awareness, and seeing the battered state her closest friend was in
as well as the path that the Lavoid was sailing down upon washed all
her doubts from her mind and replaced them with a forced determination.
The Heros voice was dry; amused.
[Twice, yeah, but not in a row. Cintors still alive, and I
didnt do much good against Lavos
I was assigned to the Lavoid
on this planet
But the Class A I confronted is a whole different
story.]
That had not been the response it had been expecting. Its shriek of
surprise turned into one of pain as the shard of an Ice 2 slammed into its
head, rocketing it into the ground with enough force to nearly send a slim
crack through its pod.
Three Lavoids gone? A victory for a Hero was usually a
Lavoid deprived of a shell and an Inner Self, with the Cores stranded, and
in hiding on whatever planet/star theyd been stuck on until they were
rescued. It swore again as it realized that that couldnt be true. If
the Cores were intact they couldve repaired the armors
and/or the shell, or at least found some methods of surviving, and
reproducing.
Which meant
The sudden sense of superiority that the Class F had felt towards
its kind smashed into shards as it realized just how many casualties had
been exacted among their kind. Shock and horror permeated its mind in a vast
scope.
The Heros tone was smug, he obviously had sensed
that thought through the mental connection the Lavoid had established.
[Nice doing business with one of the Class Fs. If you live, youll
find me with the blue-haired woman who sliced your girlfriend in two.] Then
the connection snapped shut.
The Lavoid bristled at the figures words, moreso that he would
dare to insinuate a Lavoid would sink so low as to Its reality became
pure energy and it snapped its eyelids shut as a Luminaire erupted about
it, the insides of the storm of ultra-powerful lightning magic ripping into
its armor, and leaving deep scars. The energies continued to build and build
as the dome increased, while its senses were flooded with incredible pain
both from its podlike armor-flesh, and from its clenched eyelids. The Lightning
aura at last erupted, chipping away at the sides of the pod. An eruption
of widly pulsating ellipses of roaring red fire a Flare smashed
more chunks of armor-flesh out of it, its eyelids shrieking in agony. That
Flare was followed up by a second, the second Flare coalescing about the
Lavoid in the place of the first. The pulsations of reddish-orange energies
almost fracturing its eyelids. The Lavoid forced the pain away and focused
upon the electromagnetic currents, rocketing out of the remainders of the
firestorm, and far enough out of the way of the humans that they wouldnt
be able to touch it with spell, or weapon.
It also forced away its shock.
This battle was no longer just for vengeance, although that vengeance
had become ever more important. It had suddenly become one, moreso evident
to it than the simple knowledge that it could lose, and had to watch out
That took on new meaning. A manifest symbolic of the very
survival of its kind.
Its focus now much more than it had been before, it could suddenly
see in ways that it never had before. Its very determination to make these
three humans into that symbol
Two Heroes of the Ages brought
to justice at the hands of a Class F who had no use to its race, as well
as another human who had been involved in their demise... Everything about
the struggle it was engaged in took on new meaning in that way, feeding the
Lavoid a focus, and a determination that gave it new strength.
And with that strength of will came the inner reserves to mold wavelengths
in ways it had never before been able to touch.
It shot downwards and ripped forwards in a descending swoop.
Auras that had been prepared for attack, and had been held firm
the humans obviously hadnt been sure whether it was retreating or was
renewing its attack angle, emerged, but the Lavoid was in tune with the reality
about him to the point he could sense their respective pathways, and stopped
short, leaping over their point of emergence, and sailing onwards towards
the humans with Ice 2, Luminaire, and Flare behind it. A burst of energy
came out of the brown-haired ones gun, and vanished, decomposing into
the air as a slim cone of antimatter sliced through it.
[This is for every last
one of my race you freaks of nature have slain!!]
The Lavoids eyelids snapped back open, its line of sight opening
up fully again, and a tornado of spinning blue-white orbs ripped out of the
eye cavity within, smashing into the three monsters, and tossing
them backwards like ragdolls before they could respond with another wave
of wavelengths.
The Lavoid had already taken notice of where their momentum would
take them. It shot forwards, rocketing into their midst, and came down amidst
them, its auras already merged together by the strength of its drive. As
it descended it formed a corona-sphere of blue-white flames about it that
shot down into the ground, dissipating above it, and fading into the rest
of the sphere as it vanished, giving more energy to the circular blast that
erupted from the ground below the humans, tossing them through the air, and
back to the ground in a heap.
It snagged a lower-hanging line, and rocketed upwards, curving around
to descend towards both, forming a horizontal discus of supercompressed
energies,with itself at the centerpoint. Blue-white concentration roaring
about it, it shot towards them, a living discus that around it that would
cut through them as if they were nothing, and vaporize their heads as they
fell on the discus. It flipped up again, but was caught in mid-movement by
red-hair, its sword glowing with ice auras, obviously supplied by blonde-hair,
descending towards it.
The discus was flipped to one that was vertical. The sword cut through
most of the Magic, icicle energies halving through the discus, but the smash
of the sword against the top of its shell didnt do more than throw
it to the ground yet another time. The Lavoid landed, stunned by the blow,
but its newfound focus enabled it to bring together the wavelengths necessary
for a Delta Force faster than it had when it had held the clarity of surprise
aiding it. It erupted among the two ladies, throwing them both back. The
blonde-haired woman, already bruised badly, and cut by many wounds, sank
to her knees, while the other woman managed to stagger back to her feet.
It sensed the Hero of the Ages charging behind it, its
aura reacting with its sharper focus before it even neared.
It lurched forwards and grabbed ahold of an electromagnetic field,
swinging backwards, and smashing down with the full force of its body on
the Hero. It spun, saw the young man clutching his chest in pain,
and hurled him backwards through the air with an invisible slap of air. He
tumbled backwards through the air and collapsed face-first into the ground.
He did not get up. A burst of energy smashed into one of its wounds, and
the Class F, Type III Lavoid shriek-roared in indignation. It spun on the
brown-haired lady, the only one still standing, and channeled out a quick
green plasma burst from its eye cavity. The woman whipped out a grenade and
whirled its knob, the equator sliding open, and a spurt of flame erupting
outwards from it, meeting the plasma, and causing it to react. The Class
F activated another, sending it arcing somewhat. Again the toss of flames
met it and it detonated. The third arced low and was met with the flames,
detonating; the fourth went to the left, meeting a fourth flame spurt,
detonating; the fifth to the right at the same time as a secondary
plasma burst emitted behind the fifth, shooting straightforwards. The spurt
of flames consumed the greenish plasma burst but the woman could not whirl
the grenade to take out the sixth blast. It met her and hurled her backwards
in a thunderclap.
She did not get up, badly burned, lying on her back.
It noticed the positions they were in through its aura senses
Three points of a triangle. If it could have smirked, it would have.
It began to gather together energies for a Delta Storm, making sure
to forcus them so the trigonal column would erupt with the bodies at its
centerpoint. Already badly burnt, the blonde-haired woman bleeding from countless
wounds, as well as the others possibly bleeding in points, all three bruised
beyond belief
They could not get up, they were too weak to muster the
strength to rise.
The Delta Storm would rip their forms to ashes if it connected, and
the humans, provided any were conscious, were too weak to dodge.
You freaks wipe out living things by the billions! the
one known as Marle cried, forcing herself to her hands and knees. I
wont
Let you
Hurt
Anyone!! She began to gather
together her wavelengths, and the Lavoid idly praised the strength that was
keeping her from losing focus entirely.
It didnt matter. It was too late for them.
The wavelengths finished forming into what the Lavoid intended for
them.
[And this is for the innocent Lavoid you freaks assassinated!]
It ignited the Delta Storm.
Nothing happened.
The Delta Storm simply ceased to exist, as if it hadnt been
there, washed away by the appearance of the presence of something else.
Something that defied literally every law
of the universe.
*****
Crono cracked open an eye. Just the strain of trying to get back up
off of the ground had caused him to collapse; the world spinning around him.
The sudden appearance of the unfathomable aura had sent him into a brief
state of unconsciousness, he realized.
He waited again, slower, until he was sure his senses were gathered,
and forced himself to his feet just as slowly, keeping his magical senses
on the Lavoid, while letting his eyes trail up the bluffs to meet the figure
that stood at the top of the precipice before them.
The woman who stood on the precipice was captivating. Unbound blue
hair, offset in a way he couldnt comprehend from this distance, cascaded
down the back of her slender form, blowing off to the side in the wind kicked
up by the energies about her. A corona of ruby energies roared about her
in a storm that spoke of such enormous power his mind shrank from it
reflexively.
Elan
Lavoid
Who are you
Why have you
come?
Her voice was amplified somehow, obviously through wavelength
manipulation.
His mind seemed to open up in some fashion that he couldnt
understand, and snippets of experiences he couldnt even begin to comprehend
flooded his mind, gone before he could grasp them. He moaned and held his
head, and behind him he heard Lucca cry out, yet he didnt register
it. The brief moment in which those memories lanced through him was like
a current, detaching him from reality, and leaving him feeling adrift even
as he settled back into it.
He was aware there was something he ought to be paying attention to,
but couldnt focus his thoughts long enough to think what it might
be.
Who are you? Lucca breathed, stepping up beside him.
The figure seemed to stagger. I
I
Lunari began to breathe heavily, the sudden overwhelming chaotic emptiness
crashing back down around her. Her comprehension was so chaotic she could
make nothing out of it
The presence of Elan had become a beacon that
she had responded to instinctively, seeking solace from the blazing screaming
starkness of insanity that whirled about her. With the question the brown-haired
Hero of the Ages phrased to her, the calmness shed grasped about her
like a bubble from that beacon snapped.
She screamed and fell to the ground, the nothingness everythingscreaming
blasting back into her and immersing her in an insanity so vast that she
plummeted into another depth of madness simply from the featherlight brush
against her. Colors so infinite and there and not there that description
was impossible expanded outwards in all directions yet were not there and
were there and were all colors and hues and once and werent and they
writhed about her and the sensations and th emotions writhed about her in
a mad dance and crackled in whip currents crackling screeching at
incomprehensible speeds whirling roaring about her at an impossible velocity
everything and nothing all screamed about her roaring shrieking not there
there sensations flooding black and white planes flowed about her shimmering
words voices all so incomprehensible she couldnt describe them seared
her tore her she was ripping to pieces and cycloning in a twister of that
insanity wildly uncontrolled screaming screaming vast shards agony
screamingwhirlingscreaming whirling shrieking colors merged flowed about
her and roared about her at faster than light the world everything all combined
collapsed imploded colors absence of all fly to pieces shatter scatter to
bits fly to pieces fly to pieces fly to shards fly to shards fly to shards
fly to shards fly to pieces fly to pieces everything everywhere nowhere all
at one infinity so vast it was beyond incomprehensible whirling roaring about
her at past impossible speeds lightheaded agonized ecstasy infinitely beyond
infinitely vast consuming her utterly
everythingnothinginfinityallconsumingagonyness.
The woman collapsed to the precipice, clutching her head, scream upon
scream oscillating into the air at pitches he would have thought impossible.
She ripped into the air and gyrating insanly; spasming and shaking and jerking
about wildly and screaming shrieking continuously.
His heart twisted with pity.
The Lavoid fought to control its racing consciousness.
The human woman that stood before them was something that was an
impossibility, something that simply
could not;
should not exist. Not within any of the laws of the universe.
What it was
The Lavoid was filled with a fear more overpowering than anything
that it had ever encountered before.
*JARIA!!!!!!!!!!!!* it shrieked
in the silence of its, mind, hurling the name over, and over out of its mind,
silently begging the Lavoid Queen to hear, while latching onto an electromagnetic
field, and ripping up, and away from where it was as fast as possible.
It wouldnt do much good though.
If the insane woman lost control of her powers she could annihilate
the entire planet with one simple mental command. There was really nowhere
to hide if the woman unleashed even that tiny pit of her true potential,
but if she didnt unleash anything of that power it was determined
to be anywhere but where it was now. All thoughts of vengeance, of its kind,
of the humans
All vanished from its mind, to be replaced by a single
focus:
Survival.
The woman continued in her insane spasming.
No
Youre not
Getting away!! Crono spun
back to see Marle, on her feet, although obviously still unsteady, running
forwards to try to tackle the Lavoid even as it rocketed upwards.
Crono shivered, the knowledge that that was what hed forgotten
about slamming into him, as well as the knowledge that the Lavoid could have
wiped them out easily if it had so wished.
Why didnt it
then?
The Lavoid swooped upwards, flying blindly into the skies until it
had vanished from his sight.
Crono could think of only one reason, and that chilled him even more.
He turned around, his gaze drifting back to the blue-haired lady that had
so frightened the Lavoid, still in her insane shrieking, and writhing.
Suddenly, she stopped for a single moment, her
eyes brimming with tears that she could not see; trembling weakly.
Help
me
please
So
alone
Then she vanished in a sharp, thunderclap ruby-red concussive detonation
that destroyed an enormous portion of the bluffs upon which she had been
standing.
There will
always be a hunter, my son. And there will always be the
hunted.-Duncan
GARGOYLES:
CITY OF STONE, PART II
.