Chrono Trigger Chapter XIX: The Master of War

Chapter XIX: The Master of War

Crono and Lucca and Robo stood before a high arched door.
'Well, what are you waiting for?' asked The Old Man, 'Open it up already.'
'Come on Crono.' nudged Lucca.
'All four of you need to see what's back there.' recommended The Old Man.
'What?' asked Crono.
'Marle, is that what you said your name is? You need to join them.'
She had a bewildered look on her face. 'Oh, Okay.'
Crono opened the door, and the Company crossed into the next room. In the center of the room stood a slyvan creature of sorts. It was a type creature they had seen in the glades countless times, the stark light shone off of it's streaky fur coat. It was about five feet tall, a square frame, with short stubby limbs, at the end of which sharp long claws like heavy carpentry nails. It's ears were pointed small triangles, and it had a small round nose flanked by a set of wiry whiskers. It's eyes were high and tall and sat upon it's face like portaits on a wall. Some refer to this creature as a Kiwala.
'What are yall lookin at?' asked the Kiwala in an obitquious tone.
Crono didn't know what to think.
'Uh, Hi.' greeted Marle.
'In case you're wondering,' stated the Kiwala, 'I'm Spekkio, the Master of War! Not just a master of war, THE Master of War!' he clarified. His voice sounded firm and resolute
The rest of the Party introduced themselves.
'Well now that we've got the formalities out of the way, I know there's a reason the Old Guy sent yall back here. Being the Master of War, I have seen countless battles from here, almost every battle that has been fought, and not just by humans, and not just on earth and not just on battlefields' Crono still had no idea what to make of him. 'Let me ask you,' began Spekkio, 'How do I look to you? Would you say I look strong or weak?'
Crono looked him over, and though he had seen many kiwalas in the Gaurdian groves, something about this one seemed different somehow. 'Strong.' He answered.
'I see.' mused Spekkio. 'Let me put it this way, if I look strong to you, that means that you are strong. Same can be said if I look weak. You guys are of very strong constitution, that's why the Old Fella let yall through. Anyways, I've got something you need.' he enticed
'Really?' intrigued Lucca.
'Oh yeah.'
'So what is it?' Lucca grew more curious.
'Well, first a little history, well a lot of history, and I being the Master of War, have seen history unfold. Long before you were born....I mean before the bodies of land that you live on were even above the seas... There was a kingdom where magic flourished. This kingdom had everything, untold wealth and unimaginable riches. This kingdom had wonders that you could only read about, there were inventors who built islands in the clouds and cities under the waves. Their world has never seen any kingdom as spelndorous, or powerful, or magnficent as this one. And the one thing driving this kingdom, causing it to flourish, was magic! Everyone there could use it, from the lowliest of peasants to the royalty. Magic was infused in their very blood But in time and as history flows lessons learned become swiftly forgotten, and people began to abuse their powers. It got so bad that no one was allowed to use magic except mages and gurus.'
Spekkio told his tale with such enthusisasim, Marle could picture every word he spoke with vivid colors and images. Lucca stood absorbing every word Spekkio said like he was weaving a hypnotic spell. Crono did know what to make of his story-teller. Robo scanned the creature and analyzed his audio waves and body signals to determine what exactly this creature was. Something about him, told Robo that there was more to this Spekkio than appeared from the outset.
HIs tale continued. 'Even with it's limited use, the kingdom collapsed, as all kingdoms will some day do. Some say it was though the Heavens themselves came down and struck the kingdom out of the sky, and the seas arose and swallowed it. Sure there were survivors, but no one could use magic anymore and it was as if magic itself died in the blood of the human race. And as the chronicles of magic use became nothing more than fading lines in forgotten unfinished pages, all magic seemed to disappear as well.'
'So where do we fit into this picture?' queried Marle.
'Magic requires a certain dertemination in order for it to be used by humans. A steely, undefatigable determination. And somewhere deep inside of yall, lies that determiniation. Magic needs inner character, strength of the heart in order to be properly used.'
Robo spoke up. 'I have no record of the existance of either magic or this kingdom which have just told us about.'
'Of course you don't. Both the kingdom and magic existed in a history long forgotten by the men of your time. They can't tell you about something they know nothing of.'
'SO how do we know you're not just telling us some bedtime stories?' asked Crono.
'Ah, there's always a skeptic in every group. Or are you just cautious? EIther way, it's good to question your cirumstances. But I can see that only way to prove to you what I say exsists, is to just give it to you.'
'Give it to us?'
'Oh yes.' Spekkio looked at each of them sizing them up, he scratched his chin as his eyes roved back and forth. The party remained silent, not sure of what Spekkio was scheming. 'Alright, I've got it now!'
the party looked at each other and back at Spekkio.
'First, I have a little bit of more explanation to give yall.' Crono didn't know if he could stand anymore explanation. Spekkio continued 'Magic is based on four elements, whenever the engineers first framed the tennants of magic, they selected four of the fundemental elements that compose everything we call reality to be present in magic. Those are Water, the power of life, fire, the power of inginuity, thunder, the power of the heavens, and finally shadow. Shadow is a combination of the three prior elements, and it represents chaos and death.'
'Okay so what does all that have to with us?' Crono inquired.
'I'm getting that. Magic useres, must use the element that best corresponds to who they are as people. You with punk hair-do!' he addressed Crono, 'You're element is lightning.' He turned then to Lucca 'You with those big, thick glasses, your element is fire.' Then he addressed Marle, 'Those two are fire and lightning, so I'll give you water.' Spekkio finally went over to Robo. He looked him up and down and circled about him. 'And you. I have no idea what to make of you. You're the biggest toy I've ever seen! Are you alive?'
'"Alive" All of my functions and circuits are operating without any glitches or set backs, or terminal errors.'
'I can see that you are 'functioning,' but are you alive? Are you breathing? Does your heart beat?'
'My central power core generates 12045 macrowatts of energy and my internal ventilation system revolves at 657 revolutions per second. My central processing unit can analyze and generate 190435 macrobites of information per milisecond.'
'Spekkio, sir' addressed Lucca. 'I can tell you that Robo's alive, I've fixed him when he was not functioning, and got him up and running again. Robo's alive. If he wasn't he would not have decided to join us.'
'I suppose you're right, but I magic must have flesh and blood and spirit in order to exisist. You've got great strength, but I cannot measure your inner strength, so I cant give you magic. However, your use of technology and machinery is magic of itself, but not the kind that I know. I can tell you this that yor capablilites will become the equivilent of shadow magic. So while you cannot use magic per se, you will still be able to use a form of magic.'
'Understood.'
'Now, I need you three, you three humans, to take three laps around this balcony. Start at the door, and walk clockwise. Think "Magic" and don't cut any corners.'

Crono looked down at his hands with a bit of disbelief.
'How about you all flex your newly fortified magic muscles? Crono's ears perked up and his eyes brightened. 'Okay.'
'Alright! Hit me with all you got!!!!'
'Wait!' shouted Lucca, 'How do we use our magic?!'
'Just focus, and think magic. Then focus on your target. Are you ready?'
'Let's do this.'
Robo acquired a target lock and fired a searing volley at Spekkio. Their teacher endured it, but staggered back unsure of how to handle Robo's assault. Robo kept pouring fire upon Spekkio to give his party some time.
Marle and Lucca began to focus on thier elements. Marle clasped her hands together, closed her eyes and pictured Spekkio with her mind's vision. Lucca did the same. Marle felt her hands become suddenly frigid like she held Boreas in her palms.
Lucca felt her hands radiate with heat, as though had just ignited. BOth her and Marle released their elements simlutaniously. A searing blast, like a meteor came from Lucca, and an icy barrage like a savage flurry came from Marle. Both watched as their energies sailed towards their teacher. Neither both hoped their new abilities would work, and they both suspended their breaths.
Spekkio took the full force of the blast. Both attacks crashed upon Spekkio like an avalanche. It knocked him to the ground, and snatched his breath from his lungs.
'Did we just do that?' inquired Marle.
'I think so!' Answered Lucca.
'Wow!' exulted Crono. 'That was unreal!'
A voice interupted their conversation like a sour note in a melody. 'Don't think I'm out of this yet!'
Spekkio raised his arms as mystic energies pooled about his fists. All four stood silent as magic swirled upon his fists, and the air in the room became still. Robo fired away, spraying his blasts erraticaly. Crono Marle and Lucca began to desperately focus in efforts to launch another barrage. Spekkio seemed entranced as he chanted. An arcing branch of lightning snaked out from Crono. When it was only a span away from Spekkio, the Master of War unleashed a deluge of dark magic that surged towards the party like a gale. it overwhelmed their attacks, struck all three. Crono took the onslaught full force and was sent flying against the wall. Lucca launched her incantation, then dove behind Robo, who wethered the storm, but edured a brutal pounding. He trembled and flagged, but did not fall. Marle leapt back and shieled her face, trying to get as small as possible, only to get blown into the wall. She might have broke a rib, had Crono not absorbed her impact.
Robo, still standing launched another barrage. Lucca crouched behind him, summoning another spell. Spekkio and Robo traded blows like two heavyweights in a championship bout. Niether one knew which of their attacks would be effective, as Spekkio had never encountered Robo's advanced technology, and Robo had never encountered magic. Lucca wanted to be taking notes over their bout, but instead she sprang out from the bulwark that was Robo, and launched a fireburst. It Spekkio just before another blast from Robo hit. Spekkio recoiled then retailiated. From his fists sped bolts of thunder. ONe hit Lucca, knocking her out of the fray. Robo reeled back and recovered just in time to absorb a hail of ice. Robo leaned foreward and unleashed another blast, just as Spekkio freed stream of flames. THere was a blinding flash like a solar flare as the energies pooled, and reacted to each other. The forces collided with a immense explosion strong enough to rend time itself. Robo was out, but Spekkio still stood.
'Had enough?!' asked Spekkio. 'I shouldn't've hit yall so hard, but that blast from you girls really hurt!'
Lucca and Robo came around. 'Do you do this to all your students?' queried Lucca.
'Only the real good ones!'
Crono had a mouthful of Marle's hair. He turned his head to cough as the fluids in his head swirled violently. Crono also felt Marle's stoccotto breath cause her frame to rise and fall against his own. His chest hurt from where they collided. Marle wasn't in too much pain. Her arms were a little sore from casting the spell though.
'Are you okay?' he asked.
'I, I think so. But geez, what did he hit us with?'
'No telling.'
They arose, and regrouped.
'Ready for round two?' Asked Spekkio.
'Are you kidding me?!' replied Crono.
'You guys did great for your first time. Any time you want to spar, I'll be right here! And when yall meet new friends, bring em to me! As much as I'd love to continue our little bout, you all got a quest to fulfill.' 'Is everybody okay?' Crono asked.
'My ankle hurts.' Lucca stated.
'Running diagnostic now.' Robo declared, and all eyes turned to him. 'All systems functioning at 100%.'
'I'm fine, what about you?' Marle turned to Crono.
'Um, yeah. What about you Spekkio?'
'Me? I'm touched! I really am, But I am the Master of War afterall!.'
'So I take it you're fine.'
It nodded. They bade each other farewell, and exited for the main balcony.
'Ah, so you all have met my roomate.' commented The Old Man.
'How long have you two been here?' Lucca wanted to know.
'Well I have been here since time began, and he has been here since the first conflict. He's been here a bit longer than I.'
'What is he anyways?' Marle asked.
'He is the Master of War. And as I'm sure he told you there was once a time when nearly all people enjoyed the powers that you have just been given. be very careful in its usage. You have been granted a power that cannot be taken for granted.' He paused. 'Now I just know that you all are itching to go tesseracting through the wrinkles in time, but first, you must return to your own era. And you must leave now, for the longer you all tarry, the more arduous it will be to effect that which needs to be changed.'
'Alright, thank you very much!' saluted Lucca.
'Stop by whenever youre in the area. think of me as your guide. Any time you have a question that you just cant seem to answer, just ask.
Crono turned to Marle. 'Are you sure you'll be alright?'
'I'll be fine. I have no desire to return to our own time. Just don't stay gone too long.'
She bade them good luck and a swift return, then Crono, Robo and Lucca headed through the door and to the pillars of light. In glancing into them, they could see what their destination would be.
'Looks like this one here takes us back to our home time.' observed Lucca. 'Just wait till your mother finds out you're not dead.'
Crono groaned, 'I forgot all about that.'
They stepped into the light, and off they went.

End Chapter

Not knowing how to react, or even to react, Crono led Marle and Lucca about the room, then assembled before Spekkio.
'Good. Now it's showtime!! Ipso facto meenee moe, MAGICO!!!!!'
From out of nowhere a bolt of lightning crashed upon Crono and every cell in his body resonated with a bizzare energy like some odd baptism. At the same time, Lucca became enveloped in a pocket of fire that covered her like the Burning bush.
An eerie aura surrounded Marle like a localized aurora. The North Wind rushed upon her teasing her ponytail up like stalks waving in the autuum wind.
'Well do you two feel any different?' Asked Spekkio.
'Yeah. I do. I can't explain it but I think I do feel something.' Answered Lucca.
'You are the first that I have bestowed with Magic power. If anyone else joins your party, bring them to me.'
'So what did you just do to us?' inquired Marle
'I simply gave you magic.'
'Oh is that all?' she wanted to confirm
'That was all.'