Chapter V: Redemption

'Exactly how large is this Cathedral?' inquired Lucca
'This be Far more massive than I had imagined.' answered Frog
'This place dosen't exist where we come from. Is there anything else strange about this catherdral that we should know?' Lucca asked.
'Let me ponder.' Frog took in a couple of breaths. 'Ah. This Catherdral was built near the Yakra's lair. Twas a hideous creature. Shortly after the erection of this edifice, the beast ceased it's meanacing behavour to us, and simply vanished.'
Lucca looked between the two. 'Think there's a connection?'
'Aye. A sentiment I hath had likewise.'
'Do you think we'll get attacked beyond this door?' asked Lucca
'It's almost for certian.' Crono replied 'But we're gonna do it anyways. I think this could be the most trouble you've ever gotten me into'
'You could be right.'
'Aren't I always?'
Crono didn't answer, but opened the door. The party found another large room, as was nearly every room in the catherdral

'Ah your majesty, I do hope you are quite prepared.' warned the chancellor, his scratchy gravely voice, rung with energy.' The Chancellor stood behind a dest, running his fingers through his long willowy whispy beard.
Frog drew his sword and dashed foreward. His steps pounded with conviction. 'Highness, step aside and allow us the honor!'
Leene let free a startled gasp. 'Frog?! I had no idea! Please take care of this fiend!'
'With pleasure! Crono! Lucca!'
They ran forward as quickly as they could, weapons drawn.
'Meddling fools! You have no idea with whom you are dealing!' He let free a laugh that trembled like an earthquake. 'It is futile to fight me! Stupid Frog, it is high timefor you to exit this mortal coil' He came out from around the counter.
'Foolish old man! Thy treachery ends now!' Frog crouched into his stance. He sat haunched on all fours, loaded like the arm of a catapault
The Chancellor laughed again. Crono and Lucca felt a chill run down their spines. 'Is that so! Well you have no idea with whom you are dealing!' he threw aside his cane, and stood upright. 'True-form change!'
An aura of darkness shrouded him. It surrounded his small frame and expanded and contracted rapidly about him, pulsating. THey looked at him, unsure of what to do. Colors shifted about like some mad confetti tossed around. The mass of darkness became larger and larger, nearly 5 times the size of what it began with. Slowly the darkness peeled away, and a form stood within
'Did you think I was some feeble old man! I am the true terror of Gaurdia! I am Yakra!' It stood upright and was as large as moving van. It's hyde was like old leather, rough and coarse. It's snout throbbed, mucus leaking out. IT's jagged fangs glistened, slick with saliva, like a polished saw. Drops fell upon the floor Yakra's contemptous eyes pulsated with a vengeful, muderous rage that burned as intense as a pyre. It brandished it's claws in the torchlight, meanacingly like a bully cracking his knuckles. Yakra lowered crouched onto all fours and snorted as it shot out the Party like a blitzing linebacker. It's claws created creavaces in the stone floor as it ran.

Frog came bounding at it. With each leap, his fingers clasped tighter about the hilt. As they drew nearer, his sword grew thirstier. Crono ran out as well, but was unable to keep pace with Frog (which may have been a good thing). He did wonder why it was he was charging headfirst towards a monster ten times larger than himself. He ignored the sharp pain in his lower back, and the tightness in his arms.
Yakra and Frog were within a step of each other. Yakra pounced, Frog sprang clear over it. He landed like a dart, sword square it's back. Yakra shrieked an ear piercing cry. It flailed it's limbs wildly, knocking an incoming Crono against a wall. It bucked Frog off, but not before he landed another strike. As soon as it stood up, Lucca shot it. It bellowed again, and turned towards Lucca. She frantically tried to reload as it came rushing at her. Sweat coated her hands making reloading more difficlut. Yakra took to flight again. Lucca dove out of the way, and as soon as she hit the ground, she aimed and fired. This hit caused even more rage to well to the surface. It turned towards her again as she was sliding along the floor.
Lucca arose, and began to run. Yakra followed suit. Frog and Crono came streaking in, each from opposite ends flanking Yakra. Frog sailed like an arrow, striking it's side. Crono hit a few seconds later, running his sword across the other side. This gave Lucca time to fire off another shot.
Yakra erupted in berserker rage. It grabbed Crono and Frog, and flung them at Lucca. The three collided and crashed into a wall. Yakra sat haunched on all fours. It took in a deep breath, swelling it's body up. It exhaled sharply, sending a volley of spear sized quills at them like some insane porcupine. Crono grabbed Lucca and darted to the side. Frog leapt high to his right, As the javelins flew into the wall.

Frog jumped right up to Yakra. It took a wild swipe at Frog, which he leapt over, and struck it's arm. It lashed out with a foreward kick. Frog ducked,and cut the back of it's leg. He rolled beneath it, sprang up, and slashed it's back. Lucca fired another shot, and Crono came charging in. He got in one strike before he was batted away. It fired another volley at Lucca. She jumped behind the counter, but not before one grazed her leg. While it was still focused on Lucca Frog bound in again. Yakra cought him in mid bounce and slammed it's massive forearm into Frog's chest. Just as soon as he struck the floor, Yakra kicked him across it.
Yakra lowered his shoulders and charged at Crono. He could feel the floor tremble beneath his feet as the distance between the two decreased. Crono ran at it. Just as it left it's feet, Crono rolled to the side. As soon as it hit the ground, Crono dove at it. Yakra took a step back, and trapped Crono's sword benath it's claws. His eyes grew wide as Yakra's thirsty claws drew back.
It's arm jolted back as Lucca planted bullet in it. Nonetheless, it still landed a few hits to Crono, rocking his head between two fists. It finished by punting him into a wall again.
All combatants grew a bit weary. Yakra stood among all three, eyeing them wearily. It walked about in a small circle regaurding Crono, Frog and Lucca. Lucca fired, hitting it in the back. It charged towards her. Crono and Frog took off as well. They came in at different angles, Crono pushed himself harder with each step, managing to keep pace with Frog.
Lucca blasted it with another shot. Yakra reeled back stunned. With a single bound Frog took to flight. Crono took a couple more steps, and dove as well. They struck Yakra simultaniously swords crossing. Frog struck high across it's shoulders and back, Crono hit low flying through. They landed at about the same time, just past Yakra their respective trails froming an X. This gave Lucca adequate time to fire another shot.
Yakra shrieked so loud, the stained glass behind them cracked. The ground beneath quaked as it fell upon the floor like a meteor crashing upon the earth.
Crono felt his ribs ache with each breath he took. Lucca felt a sharp vise constricting her lower back. Frog was fine, although a bit winded. Crono leaned upon a chest.

'Majesty' called Frog 'The fiend hath been vanquished.'
Crono felt the chest he leaned upon begin to shake. It was subtle at first, not enough for him to notice, but it augmented with each passing interval. A startled Crono arose, bewildered as to why the chest was behaving so oddly.
'Thank you Frog!' acknowledged the Queen. 'Who are the two companions of yours to whom I also owe my life?'
Lucca knealt, 'I am Lucca'
'Thank you Lucca. You all came not a moment too soon.'
'Crono, Lucca, I must thank thee as well. Twould've been a nigh impossible task without thy aide'
'It was kinda fun!' replied Lucca.
Crono popped open the chest, sword drawn.
A figure sprang out, bound, and screaming. A surprised collective gasp sounded from the party.
'Majesty I see you are safe!' He was an old man, short in stature, with a long wispy, white, willowy beard.
'Chancellor?!' cried Lucca
'That monster locked up in here! I must strenghten the criminal justice system to punish such scum!' They all looked at him. 'I am glad to see you are safe Queen Leene. Thank you all.'
'Come let us return to the Castle.' requested Queen Leene.
'The King doth await.'

End Chapter