The Epoch zoomed past the triple star system of Syfus at speeds of over mach 800, blazing through the realm of hyperspace. “Should be coming up on Altara soon.” Max Triggara eased back on the throttle and brought the ship down to mach 80. “Hope they’ve got a welcome wagon ready, cause where I come.” He brought the Epoch out of mach and into real space, Altara looming in the infinite void of space, surrounded by it’s twinmoons. The Epoch slowed down to entry speed and decended on to the planet.

As Max landed the Epoch and got out, he looked around, taking in the lush green forests. “Just like Earth...except for the two moons...” He walked towards a large castle with fans on some of the towers. That’s a weird castle, he thought. Oh well, maybe they can tell me where to find Illumina. Max snapped the belt that carried the Sun Sword on it around his waist and walked up to the castle doors, knocking hard to make sure they heard him. “Hello, is anyone there?”

A guard opened the door, an annoyed look on his face. “What do you want?”

“I was wondering. Would anyone here happen to know where I can find Illumina?”

"Illumina?! Are you nuts?!"

"No, but any help I can get would be nice."

The guard led Max into the castle and took him to the throne room. “Your Highness, someone here to see you about Illumina.”

King Edger’s heart skipped a beat. Illumina? Who would... “Alright, I’ll speak to him.”

Max walked in. He was amazed by the architecture of thecastle. Incredible. Nothing like this exists on Altara in my time. I wonder why. Max walked in to the throne room, and saw man, about in his mid-thirties, sitting in the throne. Max guessed that he was the keeper of the castle. “Your highness, I presume?” he said with a bit if joking sarcasim in his voice

Edger smiled. “Someone with spunk. I like that. What is your name, my young warrior?”

“Max Triggara, of Earth,” Max answered calmly. “And I’m not a warrior. Well, not yet anyway.”

Edger nodded. “I am King Edger Figaro, ruler of the kingdom of the same name. I understand that you seek Illumina. Is this true?”

Max nodded his head and flashed his eyes in the light of the chandelier. “Yes. I seek to find Illumina. Can you tell me where I can find it?”

Edger sighed. “I’m afraid it’s impossible. Many have tried, all have failed. What makes you think you’ll do any different?”

Max smiled as he answered. “I have an advantage they didn’t. Immortality.”

Edger stood up, shocked at what the boy had just said. “You’re immortal? How?”

Max walked up to the throne. “I come, not of this world, but of a planet called Terra. On my world, there are humans who cannot die, unless you take their head. They are called immortals. I'm one of them, as was my father, before he died.”

Edger nodded; the boy had a point. “That would give you a better chance, but Illumina is heavily guarded. Only a person without fear of death can wield the mighty sword. That is the prophecy.”

Max frowned, undaunted by Edger’s words. “I didn’t come here to be told it’s impossible. You yourself said that it can be wielded by one without fear of dying. That would be me.”

Edger sighed solemly. “Every being fears death. One way, or another. Be it their own, or the death of a friend. I suggest... That you see a man named Locke Cole. He lives in North Baron, he should be able to help you.”

“I’ll take your advice,” Max replied. “Just remember this. Not everyone fears the result of death. Some people look forward to it.”

Max turned to leave, Edger standing behind him. “Wait.”

Max paused, and turned. “What?”

“You have a fire like I’ve never seen before. You’re not after the sword for personal glory, are you?”

Max shook his head. “No, I seek the sword to save my world from the Silcon.”

“You battle Lavos?!” Edgar gasped.

Max frowned at the name. “No, Lavos is dead. I fight his master.”

Edger stared at him. “You really don’t fear anything, do you.”

“No, I don’t.” Max answered simply. He turned and left Edger to himself. This boy is incredible. Nothing will stand in his way and survive the encounter.,/i>

Max walked to the Epoch, ready to climb back in when one of the guards came up to him. “Hold on. King Edger told me to give you this.” He gave Max a scroll. “You’ll need it to navigate this world.” He ran back to the castle, and Max unraveled the paper. It was a map of Altara. "Thanks again." He rolled it back up and climbed into the cockpit, strapping in and powering up the engines. The ship took off, and flew towards the north, fading from sight of the palace.

Everything was going crazy. Dinosaurs were appearing in the castle basement, mystics popping up in the towers. The guards were going nuts trying to handle them all. Crono was helping trap some of the mystics and send them back through the gate. “What the hell is going on?!!”

The Epoch shot over the sea and flew over a small city. According to the map, this should be it.

Max landed the Epoch, and climbed out. He walked in to the town and went into what looked like the local tavern. People were at the bar, talking about local business. Max walked over to the bartender, and sighed. “Excuse me. Do you know where I can find....”

A glass almost hit Max in the head as a man went flying over a table. Max turned around, and was greeted by a mug’s worth of beer in the face. He wiped it off, and stared at the man who had thrown it. “What the hell do you think you’re doing?!!” Max yelled.

The man who had thrown the beer turned, and stared at Max. “Better watch it boy. We’re wanted men.” He gestured to his companions. “I’ve got the death sentence in twelve cities.”

“I’ll be careful then.”

The man grabbed Max by his jacket. “You’ll be dead!!!”

A man came up and smiled. “This young one’s not worth it. Now let me buy you a drink.”

The man snarled, and threw Max across the room, pulling out a crude pistol.

“No guns!! No guns!! Not in my place!!”

Max whipped out his sword, and slashed the man’s arm, slicing it off. The man screamed in pain, and his companions pulled out their own guns, Max disarming them as well, literally. The blade of the Sun Sword glowed a dark yellow, only stopping when Max resheathed the sword.

The man who had tried helped Max out smirked at him. “Gott’a say, I ain’t never seen a kid swing a sword like that.”

Max looked at the man. “You ain’t never met a kid like me.” He wiped the blood off of his jacket, no stains on the fabric, looking to the bartender. “Now, as I was saying...” He stopped and turned to the man who had helped him. “Change that. Do you know where I can find a guy named Locke Cole?”

The man smiled. “Why do you want the treasure hunter?”

Max groaned. “Great. I came looking for a thief.”

The man frowned as he sipped his drink. “Treasure hunter.”

“Same thing.”

The man looked at Max with an evil eye. “No, they’re not. See, a treasure hunter claims things that don’t belong to anyone, a thief takes what is someone else's. There’s a big difference, aAnd with that attitude, I don’t know if he’s going to be very willing to help you. Why do you want him anyways?”

Max looked at the wall. “I was told he could help me find Illumina.”

A dead silence filled the tavern as Max spoke those words. It was so quiet, that you could hear a flea drop.

“What, was it something I said?”

The man looked at Max like he was looking at a mad man. “Yeah. Illumina.” The man got out of his seat and walked off. Max grabbed him by the shoulder, and stared him in the eyes.

“Look, you don’t want to make me mad. It’s not wise to upset an immortal.”

The man shook off Max’s hand and stared at him. “Kid, I lost my first girlfriend because of a legendary treasure, I'm not going to get some kid killed because of another, do you understand me?”

Max nodded at the man. “I got you. Now where can I find Locke Cole?”

The man gave him an angry look. “You're looking at him, kid.”

Max smirked. “It figures. Edger sends me to find the guy, and he brushes me....”

The man cut Max off. “Edger? Edger Figaro? Why didn’t you say he sent you in the first place. Let me guess. Want the sword for your hometown?”

Max nodded. “In a way, yes. I need the sword to save my planet. I come from Earth.”

The man smirked. “Well this changes everything. Come on, I got someone you’ll want to meet if you’re going over the oceans.”

Max stopped him. “I’ve already got an aircraft, if that’s what you mean. I’ll show it to you.”

The two walked out to the Epoch, and Locke was amazed. “How did you build this?”

Max shrugged. “I didn’t. It was built by Beleshar, the Guru of Reason. He gave it to my ancestor, as a means of time travel.”

Locke looked at Max. “You mean this thing can travel through time? Incredible. How fast can it go?”

Max smiled. “Four thousand times the speed of light. Very handy for an escape. Now, where can we find Illumina?”

“First, you meet my friends. We’re going to need their help.”

To be Continued......