Chrono Saga: To the Sea of Dreams (script)

[skylark]

(Okay, I think I've put this off long enough. Updates may be spread out due to game backlog.)

1. 2486 AD - A future about to change...

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Trann Outskirts
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FMV: Change and Arrival

Tutorial Battle: Porrean Scout x4 (Attacking)

Roas: Persistant bastards... (turns to Mysterious Girl) .......Well, I'll be damned. What are you doing all the way out here...?

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Braugnwein Residence
-----------------------------------------

(A black screen...)

?????: Schala...

?????: No...

?????: Good Morning, Schala.

?????: I can't... I...

?????: Hey! Wake up already!

(We open to a bedroom.)

Girl: Jeez, took you long enough.

?????: Where am I?

Girl: Roas' house.

?????: Who's Roas?

Girl: The guy who brought you here. Duh. So, what's your name?

?????: I... I don't know...

Girl: What? How can you not know? Did you hit your head or something.

(The mysterious girl suddenly holds her head in pain.)

Girl: Oh crap! I was just joking around! Roas! Roas!!

(The girl leaves and comes back with Roas.)

Roas: Hey, can you hear me? Stay with us.

?????: I can't... I can't remember anything...!

Roas: Are you sure? You have to try.

?????: I... Wait...

(Naming screen: Schala)

Schala: Schala... I think that's my name...

Roas: ..............

Schala: Umm...

Roas: You need to rest. Fin here can show you around once you do.

Fin: You going somewhere?

Roas: Off on business again, I'm afraid. Just behave yourself and look after everyone.

(Roas leaves.)

Schala: Everyone...?

Fin: You're not the fist person he's taken in. But are you sure you don't need to rest?

Schala: I think I'm fine now, but thank you.

Fin: In that case, let's go.

(After wandering around the house, they come across a large room full of children.)

Schala: Oh! I see what you meant now.

Fin: Hey, is Ninya around here?

Child: She needed to take a breather, I think. She's out back.

Schala: Ninya?

Fin: Roas' wife. She helps him take care of everyone.

Schala: Everyone... Wait. Are they the only ones? Where are these children's families?

Fin: ..............

Schala: Fin?

Fin: You really don't remember anything, do you...?

Fin: These kids... They're all orphans.

Schala: What happened?

Fin: Porre happened. They just showed up one day and bombed Choras to the ground.

Schala: !!!

Fin: Anyone who didn't kneel to them was shot. So many parents... My parents...

Schala: Fin... I'm so sorry. I didn't...

Fin: If Roas hadn't been there...

Fin: Sorry. You probably didn't want to hear my sob story.

Schala: It's my fault. I shouldn't have pried.

Fin: It's alright. At least there's a group out there standing against them. I think they call themselves the Radical Dreamers or something.

Schala: .....! That name... Why does my head hurt all of a sudden...?

Fin: What I wouldn't give to meet even one of them. Oh well, no sense dwelling on it. Let's go.

Schala: Radical Dreamers... Huh.

(Speaking with the other children at this point will cause Fin to relate a story of how they became orphaned. Upon leaving the room...)

Schala: For a nation to have left all these children without families...

Schala: How cruel...

(Upon returning to the living room, we see Roas, a woman assumed to be Ninya, and two others.)

Fin: Hey. When did you get back?

Roas: It wasn't as long a trip as I thought it'd be.

Dark-skinned Man: I take it this is the girl you spoke of.

Man in Glasses: Hmmm... Doesn't look like much.

Fin: Hey! Don't be rude!

Ninya: Tactful as ever. Welcome home, dear.

Roas: Thanks. If you all don't mind, I'd like to speak to Schala in private for a bit.

Dark-skinned Man: Alright, but don't take too long. We still have a meeting to get to.

(Ninya and the two men enter another room.)

Roas: You too, Fin.

Fin: Aww, no fair.

(Fin leaves.)

Roas: I asked around in Trann to see if anyone knew you. Came up empty-handed.

Schala: You didn't have to.

Roas: I should give this back.

Schala: What is it?

Roas: It's a pendant. It was clutched in your hand when I found you.

Schala: I see... Was there anything else?

Roas: Now that you mention it, there's that sword back there.

Schala: I... I think I'd remember owning a weapon...

Roas: I don't know. That thing was practically hovering over you, almost like it was protecting you or something.

(As Schala moves towards the sword, it starts to glow.)

Roas: The hell?!

Schala: ?! The pendant's glowing too?!

(The glow fades.)

Roas: Guess that settles it. Wierd.

Schala: ........

Roas: Anyway, it wouldn't be right to send you on your way in your condition. You can stay here as for long as you need to.

(Roas turns to leave.)

Schala: Mr. Roas?

Roas: Hmm?

Schala: ......What happened with this nation of Porre two years ago?

Roas: *sigh* Figured you'd learn about that sooner or later. Guess it can't be helped.

Roas: For over a millennia, the world had practically been at peace. But that day, a man named Gerald Arkham adreesed the entire world claiming that Porre had forgotten its former glory, assimilating itself within the 'tired masses'. As an envoy of the Immortal Emperor, he would make the world remember why Porre was once feared.

Roas: Boy, did he ever. I was there during the bombings. It was outright chaos. In the end, all I could do was find as many survivors as I could. In these two years, Porre has expanded to pretty much all of the world, although there are still those willing to fight. Still... It has nothing to do with us...

Schala: So these people don't care who they hurt as long as they have their 'glory'?

Roas: Well, some people are just screwed up like that. Why? What's this about?

Schala: I... I want to get in touch with the Radical Dreamers.

Roas: .....!!!

Roas: Do you realize what you're asking...?

Schala: I do.

Roas: You'd be throwing yourself head-first into a battlefield! You'd end up leading a life of death! You'd have to kill just to survive! Have you ever known what it's like to take a person's life?!

Schala: I... Wait, how do you know that? You know something, don't you?!

Roas: !! (Shit...! Me and my big mouth...)

Schala: Please! What do I have to do? Tell me!

Roas: ...You just wake up with no memory of who you are, and all of a sudden, you want to fight. Why are you being so adamant about this? It has nothing to do with you.

Schala: Maybe it doesn't, but I can't just sit and do nothing and still be able to live with myself. You've taken in so many as it is, haven't you? Survivors, orphans... At the very least, they deserve some kind of closure. If I can help even a little, then I think it would be worth it.

Roas: ........

Roas: Guess I can't really argue with that, can I? But I still need to know...

Roas: Are you prepared to take even one life, let alone the possibility of hundreds?

Schala: ........Is anyone, when you look at it honestly?

Roas: ....Huh. Didn't expect that answer. All right. Guess there's nothing left to do but see if you've got what it takes. But are you really okay with this?

Schala: I have to be. If I stayed, I'd probably go crazy.

Roas: Fair enough.

(screen goes black)

Roas: Maybe this is Fate... but isn't fate something we make for ourselves?

Roas: Maybe this is what she's trying to do...

Roas: Alphard... I don't know if I can find an answer to this one...

[skylark]

2. Ark of the Black Lion: Prelude to Tragedy
Max Recruits: Roas (temporary), Fin (temporary)

--------------------------------------------

Caption: Six years later...

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Carrier
-------------------------------------------

(We see Schala step onto a large area. The Man in Glasses stands far off near a console.)

Man in Glasses: You know, the op is starting soon. You sure you want to do some last-minute training?

Schala: It helps to calm my nerves. You should know that by now, Techno.

Techno: I hear you. Just don't wear yourself out. We need everyone we can spare on this.

Techno: So, the usual?

Schala: From the basics.

Techno: You got it.

Tutorial Battle: Porrean Hologram (Attacking, Hit%, and Stamina)

Tutorial Battle: Porrean Hologram x2 (Elements and Recharging)

Tutorial Battle: Porrean Hologram x4 (Techs and Tech Points)

Tutorial Battle: Bit Hologram x2 (Healing and Item Use)

Tutorial Battle: Roas Hologram (Review - Unwinnable until New Game+)

----------------------------

(In a New Game+, you get an option to skip the first four battles, heading straight into battle with the Roas Hologram.)

Schala: (choosing to skip) Actually, I think I need to push myself today.

Techno: Phew. Hope you know what you're doing.

-----------------------------

~~~Losing to the Hologram

Schala: Oww... Crap.

Techno: Ha ha ha ha! I think I made that one a little too good.

---------------------------------

~~~Winning against the Hologram

Techno: What the crap?! Did I get the specs wrong?

Schala: Looks like you're getting rusty.

Techno: Bah. The real one could still kick your ass.

Schala: Oh. Thanks. Step on my big moment a bit more.

Techno: That's what I'm here for.

--------------------------

Techno: Anyway, if you really need to review, just come talk to me.

(Walking around towns and other places, one can get 'one time' unique dialog from certain NPC's.)

Dreamer: Pretty sweet ride, huh Schala?

Schala: I've been meaning to ask, but where did you get this?

Dreamer: Remember that job near El Nido? It was to secure this baby. Granted, it was kind of busted up when we got it, but Techno took care of that. I swear, the kid's a genius when it comes to tech.

Schala: It's too bad his people skills suck. Does he always have to be so touchy...?

Dreamer: You're still miffed about him getting a handful, aren't you? Can you really blame him, though?

Schala: I can, and you'll be next on my list if you keep this up.

Dreamer: Sorry, sorry. As a way of apology, drinks are on me when we make it through this.

Schala: I'll hold you to that.

(Talking to the Dark-skinned Man...)

Schala: Vathos, how long until we reach the Ark?

Vathos: We've just entered Porrean airspace. It won't be long now.

Schala: Six years...

Vathos: I have to admit, I was skeptical when Roas initiated you out of the blue, but since then, you've pulled your weight and then some.

Schala: Why did Roas agree to train me personally? He could have left it to you.

Vathos: I don't know the specifics, but I think you remind him of someone. Perhaps someone lost in the conflict.

Schala: Like a child?

Vathos: Maybe.

Schala: .........

Schala: Then I just have to work that much harder to repay him.

(Talking to Fin...)

Schala: So, you finally made it.

Fin: It was a bitch-and-a-half, but yeah.

Schala: What? Don't look at me like that! It's your fault for not seeing it sooner.

Fin: I know, I know. All those years and Roas ends up being the leader of the Radical Dreamers... But still...!

Schala: Okay, I'll stroke your wounded ego. I'm sorry I kept Roas and the Radical Dreamers from you.

Fin: .......and?

Schala: .........

Schala: Oh come on! Are you really going to make me say it?

Fin: .........

Schala: *sigh* Fine. And I'm sorry I ended up being a late bloomer... I'm sorry I have a bigger bust and am just that downright sexier than you.

Fin: Hey! What kind of ego-stroking is that?!

Schala: You love it.

Fin: Hmph! Fine then! I'll just have to take down more Porreans than you, that's all.

Schala: Heh. You're on.

(After talking with Fin and Vathos, Roas appears at the entrance to the cockpit area.)

Roas: This is it. You nervous?

Schala: Storming the villain's main HQ? No, of course not.

Roas: Heh.

Schala: Seriously though. Is this finally it?

Roas: Should be. Why? You have any regrets?

Schala: Not regrets, but...

Schala: It's been six years and I still don't know who I was.

Roas: Schala...

Schala: But to be honest, I'm okay with that now. The more I think on it, the more I realize the possibility that I might not like who I used to be.

Schala: And for all this time, you have all been like family to me. I wouldn't trade all this for the world.

Roas: I see. Thanks.

Roas: (Maybe it's for the best, then.)

(Vathos, Techno, and Fin enter.)

Techno: We've got five minutes till we reach the Ark. What's the plan, Chief?

Roas: Since these carriers were stolen from Porre, we'll have the element of surprise when we open fire. From there, our infantry will drop down and take care of the ground troops. I'll take the lead in infiltrating the Ark. Schala. Fin. You two are with me.

Fin: Finally, after all this time...

Schala: Just keep your head straight. Recklessness will only get you killed. Nobody here wants to lose you.

Fin: I got it.

Roas: Techno, Vathos. You two are with Ninya on lookout. Last thing we need is to be interrupted by reinforcements.

Pilot: Boss, we're in the vicinity of the Ark! Your orders.

Roas: Begin operations! All units stand by!

Roas: All right everyone, look alive! It's showtime.

FMV: Assault on the Ark.

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Ark of the Black Lion: Entrance
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Tutorial Battle: Porrean Warmech (Multiple Party Members)

Fin: Holy crap!

Schala: Fin! Stay with us!

Fin: That was... This is... What am I...?!

Schala: Roas!

Roas: Keep your wits Fin, or we'll leave you behind!

(Fin regains her composure.)

Fin: Sorry... I-I just lost it for a second...

Schala: Come on. We have to move.

Roas: Schala, take point.

Schala: Got it.

(Once the party gets to the front door...)

Combat: Porrean Warmech x2

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Ark of the Black Lion: Interior 1st Floor
-------------------------------

Tutorial: Save Points

Tutorial: Skits

(Upon reaching the central elevator...)

Roas: (into headset) What's the situation?

Ninya: High Command has already requested reinforcements, but we've got them pinned, and the Ark is already surrounded. Looks like all our hard work is finally paying off.

Roas: Good. Keep me posted.

Schala: So is this it? We're actually going to win?

Roas: Let's not get ahead of ourselves. We've still got Arkham and this 'Immortal Emperor' to deal with.

Fin: What are we waiting for, then? Let's finish this!

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Ark of the Black Lion: Top Floor
-----------------------

(The party comes across an old man in a wheelchair on life support.)

Schala: What?! This is the Immortal Emperor?!

Fin: But he's just a decrepit old fart!

Roas: He's just a figurehead. Which means Arkham's the real power behind Porre.

?????: Very astute, my friend!

(Arkham, flanked by Black Wind Troopers, steps out of the shadows.)

Arkham: How does the saying go? "Cut off the head, and the body dies with it." A sound strategy. However, it seems both you and I share the same line of thinking.

(Two Warmechs burst through the large window, while another enters through the entrance.)

Roas: Tch! Should have known it was too easy.

Arkham: Of course. Everyone played their parts perfectly.

Schala: So it's not enough you have to kill innocent people? You send your own men through the grinder as well?!

Arkham: One cannot build a perfect world without sacrifice, my dear. Such we're the words of our ancient founder.

Arkham: Ahhh, Dalton. It was only one short year after liberating Guardia from its idealism that he disappeared. And then 200 years later, that fool Ishito ruins everything.

Fin: Sounds like sour grapes to me. Scum like you are the worst!

Arkham: Scum, you say? Perhaps. But history has shown that those who embrace conflict emerge the stronger. In fact, were it not for me, would you have been able to display the strength you have shown?

Arkham: You worms should be grateful!

Schala: Bastard! You're gonna pay!!

Arkham: I think not.

Boss Fight: Arkham, Black Wind Trooper x2, Porrean Warmech x3

Arkham: Gah! I-Impossible!

Roas: Why do they always use that line?

Arkham: This isn't over!!

(Arkham raises his gun, but Schala slashes at him, sending him flying into the previous room. Schala follows him.)

Arkham: Gh..! No... I'm not... Done...!

(Arkham reveals a hidden gun from his sleeve, taking Schala by surprise. Before he can fire...)

Fin: Schala!!

(Fin fires at Arkham, sending him over the railing and onto the lower area.)

Arkham: *Ghhhkk!!!* (Was I too weak...?! Am I... unworthy...?)

(Schala, Roas, and Fin head downstairs as Arkham meets his end.)

Fin: I... I...

Schala: Fin?

Fin: I did it... Mom... Dad... I did it...

Roas: Yes you did.

Schala: So it's over?

(Many members of the Radical Dreamers show up.)

Dreamer: Chief! Are you alright?! Wait... Is that...?!

Roas: Sound the victory, my friends! We've won!!

(The Dreamers begin cheering in victory.)

Schala: It's all over. Maybe now we can-

(The screen flashes white as a heartbeat sounds.)

Schala: Ghhh!

(Schala holds her head in pain.)

Roas: Schala! What is i- Gaaaah!

(Another flash and heartbeat. The Dreamers and Fin start falling over in pain.)

Fin: I don't... feel so good...

Dreamer: Can't... Can't hold it...!

(One by one, the Dreamers begin disappearing into light, as if being torn apart.)

Schala: Fin! Fin! Hold on!

Fin: H-help me...

(Fin vanishes the same way.)

Schala: FIIIIN!!!!

Roas: No... NO!!! (Through headset) Anyone who can hear me, respond!

Schala: What's going on...? Why is this happening...?!

Roas: Respond! Techno! Vathos?! Ninya!!

Vathos: You made it! Thank God!

Roas: What happened down there?!

Ninya: They're gone, Roas... Everyone just vanished... Are you alright? Where are the others?

Roas: ...Fin's gone. So's everyone else... Schala and I were the only ones left.

Techno: Roas, you and Schala need to get your asses out of there now. If this phenomenon is what I think it is, then- *static*

Roas: Techno? Techno!

Arkham: Hehehehehehehehehe...

Schala: You're-!

Arkham: He... did it... I never thought... he'd succeed...

Roas: You!! What's going on here?!

Arkham: All of us... have our roles to play... I simply... played mine to... to the end...

Schala: What?! You never intended to-?!

Arkham: My... sacrifice... is but a trifle... compared to the... New... World... Hahahahahahahahaha...

Arkham: HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!

(Arkham disappears like all the others.)

FMV: Temporal Recurrence

(The interior of the Ark has changed completely. Two Shock Troopers burst from the ceiling.)

Combat: Porrean Shock Trooper x2

Roas: Damn! What kind of tech was that?!

(The alarm sounds as more Shock Troopers appear.)

Trooper: Insurgents sighted!

Roas: Come on! We have to get out of here!

Schala: Fin...

Roas: Schala!! Stay focused! We have no time to mourn! Go!!

Schala: !!!

(Schala regains her composure and follows Roas.)

[skylark]

Author's Note: Sorry this took so long. Like I said. Game backlog. FFXII is gonna be a pain, and I still haven't touched The Last Story.

I'm typing all this on my iPad, so I can't really do all the cool choice formats alfadorredeux did for Chrono Helix... at least not without going insane, anyway.

I'll be adding an FMV Description section on my sounding board soon, so keep an eye out.

Sorry if everything seems clunky.

[alfadorredux]

The choice formatting for Helix often came close to driving me insane, even though I was doing it in the crudest possible way, using a fixed-width font and the PRE tag. So don't feel bad about not pushing yourself. (And I wasn't trying to note down all the combats as they happened, either—just the ones that interrupted the dialogue.)

In general, keep up the good work. In specific, are you sure you meant arc, as in a curved shape, and not ark, as in a certain legendary boat built of gopher wood?

[skylark]

Alrighty then, I think I will.

Yeah, I used arc instead of ark because ark is too overused, so arc was a themantic choice... Which probably won't work, so I might change it later.

Yeah the difference between this and Chrono Helix is that nobody's played my version at least 50 times like they've done with Chrono Cross. Hell, this is my first time bringing the game idea aspect to some sort of life.

So yeah, I'll occasionally do NPC dialog with character reactions and insert combat situations not only concerning dialog, but forced encounters in between, too.

Just in case some brave soul would want to take this up. I heard someone was trying to make a Chrono Engine.

[idioticidioms]

FFXII isn't too much of a pain in the ass. I found it a lot easier to go through and get a lot of the side quests done in it than in other final fantasy games. My suggestion to you would be to keep a strategy guide handy like the official Brady Games one; as it will let you know what side quests to watch out for where you're at in the game instead of going back later in the FAQ and saying something after the fact that you already screwed it up.

Lot's of fun with the bounty hunter sidequest and you'll find harder enemies there than the end boss; so if you feel unconfident about proceeding in the game, do as many of the quests for that as you can at the time and then proceed.

Everything else on your grid is really unimportant and can be gotten at any time; focus on finding where on the grid the special attacks are for each person and get them for each of them; because the sooner you get those rolling and learn how to chain them together, the faster you'll take out bosses with barely any damage to yourself.

Espers are good, too; especially when fighting elemental bosses; and the boss fights for some of the espers; to be able to use them; are also good indicators of where you are in the game and where you should be.

When you're first starting out, hook Vaan up with a rudimentary bow as soon as possible. Makes it so much easier to solo grind before getting other people in your party because you can then turn enemies into kites and hardly ever get touched.

Honestly, I really loved the real time fighting system they implemented and the gambit system is pretty involved (I personally like to do everything by hand when I'm really pressed because I can snap out commands faster than gambits can get activated, but that takes some practice.) I was really impressed with the story and everything else.

On a side note and back on topic; I like the fact that you used 'Arc' instead of 'Ark'; because instead of just imagining a vessel similar to a ship, people look at it and also imagine that it goes beyond that. People see the foreshadowing of a story arc centralized around it and it's really a type of foreshadowing that you can't achieve while being 'in-character' and has to be done from outside of the game during design. Very nice.

[alfadorredux]

Personally, I disliked FFXII because a) I don't like real-time combat and b) I get motion-sick playing 3D games with non-fixed cameras (if the camera motion is smooth enough, I can last around an hour, no more, and the pseudo-realistic "swinging" first-person motion you see in a lot of FPSs makes me nauseous almost instantly). But I did finish it, and didn't find it all that hard (and the characters didn't piss me off the way the ones from FFVIII did). If all else fails, take control of a character with a ranged weapon and circle the enemy at a distance. Oh, and don't take the early-game hunting job in the mine until you've finished the story-segment in the mine, or you could get hung up for hours like I did. ;P

The problem with "arc" is that it brought me up short with a "Whoa, what? Is that a typo? No, he's using it consistently..." Granted, in an actual game, if we got an exterior visual of an arc-shaped building, or whatever, before we were flung inside, it would clear up a lot of that problem.

I've heard of more than one engine project—there's been at least two in the past year, even. It remains to be seen which one will be finished first. <Shifty-eyed back-and-forth glance>

[skylark]

On a side note and back on topic; I like the fact that you used 'Arc' instead of 'Ark'; because instead of just imagining a vessel similar to a ship, people look at it and also imagine that it goes beyond that. People see the foreshadowing of a story arc centralized around it and it's really a type of foreshadowing that you can't achieve while being 'in-character' and has to be done from outside of the game during design. Very nice.

Well, you're apparently reading more into it than I did, then. I never even looked at a possible 'vessel' angle to it. It's just the central HQ of Porre High Command and home of Emperor... You-Know-Who. Let's not beat around the bush, there.

However, there is a story arc surrounding it. It's actually the last one before the final dungeons. Think of it as Chronopolis before Terra Tower, only with a lot less infodumps and a lot more war sequences. 

Actually, if this discussion's going to continue, we should probably move it to my sounding board topic. In-depth discussions are what it's there for. 

[idioticidioms]

Well, a lot of the 'Arks' in video games and historical references do refer to a vessel; though there is also definition pertaining to the cabinet that holds the Torah scrolls.

1.
bible Noah's ship: in the Bible, the ship that Noah was instructed to build by God to save his family and the animals from the Flood
2.
judaism cabinet containing Torah scrolls: in a synagogue, a cupboard in a synagogue in which the scrolls of the Torah are kept
3.
judeo-christian
Same as  Ark of the Covenant

I lot of people get 'Arc' and 'Ark' confused because of the similarities in the words.

curve: a curved or semicircular line, direction of movement, or arrangement of items
"swung in a high arc overhead"
"an arc of children around their teacher"
2.
mathematics section of circle: a section of a circle, ellipse, or other curved figure
3.
astronomy visible part of astronomical object's path: a section of the path that a planet or other astronomical object appears to follow, especially that seen above the horizon
4.
electrical engineering electric discharge: a luminous discharge caused by an electric current flowing across a gap in an electrical circuit
5.
geology
Same as  island arc

What's interesting to note is both words use in video games in the past 20 years. 'Ark' has made it's way into Terranigma for the SNES, Final Fantasy IX for the PSX and probably a few others that I either haven't played or have forgotten. 'Arc' on the other hand comes into play in the 'Arc the Lad' series for PSX (pretty good series, imo) and more recently 'Luminous Arc' for the DS.

I am curious as to what definition of Arc/Ark you were thinking of when naming the Porre High Command HQ, though.

[skylark]

....Alright, you caught me. I wasn't thinking of either definition when I thought it up. I just thought it sounded cool.

*dodges tomatoes*

I know, I know. Common fanfiction trap. So anticlimactic.

Though... Now you've given me a bit of an idea. Dalton is enough of a blowhard to always see himself as invincible. The first definition of 'Ark' would probably fit perfectly considering him. An ark saving him from the responsibilities of actual ruling so he can play tyrant. The dirty work is what High Command is for.

Thanks, idioms. I'll work on fixing the chapter later.

[utunnels]

tessaract

I suppose it is tesseract?

Because my dictionary failed that. 

[skylark]

3. Chronopolis: Forward into the Past
Max Recruits: None

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Ark of the Black Lion: Central Walkway
-------------------------------------

(Schala and Roas are forced to climb down from the outside, chased by a humongous Warmech known as the Colossus. After making it to the entrance...)

Techno: You made it! Come on! We have to move!

(However, our heroes are stopped by another, more advanced Warmech.)

Ninya: Dammit! Of all the times!!

Combat: Alpha Squall Warmech Mk.III (Scripted. Must survive for 5 turns.)

(Suddenly, the screen flashes white again.)

Vathos: Now what?!

Techno: Another Recurrence?!

(The Warmech suddenly takes visible damage from an unknown source before vanishing like so many others earlier.)

Schala: What just happened?!

Roas: Doesn't matter! Now's our chance!

(With that, our heroes manage to escape.)

-------------------------------------
Braugnwein Residence: Ruins
-------------------------------------

Schala: It's... Gone... It's all gone.... Everyone...

Techno: ...........

Vathos: Just what the hell is going on here? What happened back there?!

Roas: You mentioned the word 'Recurrence'. Were you suggesting what I think you were?

Techno: I won't mince words here. History has been changed.

Ninya: Changed? Explain yourself!

Techno: I mean that somebody time-traveled into the past and messed up history.

Roas: That can't be right. Doesn't Chronopolis have laws preventing recurrences?

Techno: I don't think those laws are valid anymore. According to my historical Codex, Porre succeeded in conquering the world in 1227 AD. It was said that they did so by developing weapons far beyond what should have been available at the time. But the truth...

Vathos: Are you saying that...?

Techno: In truth, whoever is responsible for the Recurrence smuggled weapons from our time into the past, giving Porre the power needed to break the military stalemate of 1227.

Vathos: And this is the result? Our resistance ended before it began?

Roas: And if Porre truly has been in charge for a millennia, then those anti-recurrence laws...

Techno: Are most likely no longer valid. Any threat they perceive to their rule, they can just snuff out of existance by killing off their ancestors.

Schala: But why did we survive...? Shouldn't we have been affected by this too?

Roas: ...........

Techno: It's because we're immune to changes in the timeline.

Schala: Really?! How?!

Techno: ........For Roas, Vathos, Ninya, and myself, we all used to work in Chronopolis.

Schala: Chronopolis...?

Ninya: It's a facility in El Nido used to research space-time and temporal disturbances.

Techno: The place is surrounded by a temporal displacement field. Prolonged exposure to the field can make one immune to timeline changes, in the case the unthinkable should occur.

Schala: But I've never been to this place...

Techno: Which means the only other way for one to be immune is if they were from another era entirely.

..........

Schala: What....?

Vathos: You mean...?

Ninya: Of course...

Schala: N-No! That's ridiculous! I can't be...!

Schala: Roas! That can't be true, right?!

Roas: ...........

Schala: Roas! Say something!!

Roas: ........... I was scouting for possible recruits that day, when I saw a light emitting from a nearby glade.

Schala: !!!

Roas: I found this kid unconscious, not a memory in her heart but her name. I think I always knew, but I wanted to be sure. I just never thought my suspicions would be proven like this.

Schala: ...........

Roas: You wouldn't be the first, actually. All throughout history, certain events had caused time to become unstable. Quite a few people had ended up thrown through time, many ending up in Chronopolis.

Ninya: ...........

Vathos: .............

Roas: But are you really going to let this bother you? Didn't you say earlier that you didn't care what your past was?

Schala: I... I'm sorry... It's just...

Techno: We get it. It's a tough pill to swallow, but we need to focus. Maybe we might be able to fix all this.

Schala: How?

Techno: The only way I can think of is to go into the past, find whoever screwed things up, and stop whatever they're planning.

Vathos: Wouldn't that just make things worse?

Techno: Which is why we'll need eyes in this era, though if you ask me, it past too late to worry about all that at this point. All we can do is hope to mitigate the damage.

Roas: So what's the plan?

Techno: Well, everything went to hell around 1227 AD. We start there. But who to send...?

Roas: .......

Ninya: .........

Vathos: .........

Schala: I'll go.

Roas: Are you sure?

Schala: No, I'm not. But if there's a way to save Fin and the others...

Roas: Alright then. So what next?

Techno: Well, we'll have to go under cover of darkness. We can't just waltz into Chronopolis and ask if we can make a time gate. Besides, those Porre bastards are probably crawling all over the place. But I think it's time for that old fart to pay us back.

Schala: Excuse me?

Vathos: He's the curator and founder of Chronopolis. At least he still should be.

Techno: We got him out of a spot years back. He owes us one. Plus, he's a sympathizer. If anyone will help us out with this, it's him.

Roas: So we're settled then?

Techno: Well... there's one more thing.

Techno: Schala. Not to take a dump on your fashion sense, but something tells me you'll turn the wrong kind of heads if you drop into the thirteenth century dressed like that. You're gonna need to blend in.

Vathos: Wait, has anyone seen Ninya?

Ninya: Already ahead of you. The basement's still intact, and I found something Schala can use.

(Screen turns black.)

Ninya: This has been in my family for years, but I've never found a use for it. I've only worn it once.

Schala: It's a little tight...

Ninya: Well, you're bigger than I am in that area. Stop complaining.

Schala: Oh God, is that a corset...?

Ninya: Hold still.

............

Ninya: You're taking everything rather well. I thought you'd be more freaked out about everything.

Schala: I'm trying not to think about it. I need to focus. I won't be able to save Fin and the others if I don't.

Ninya: Good. As long as you don't forget why you're doing this, I think you'll be fine.

............

Schala: Ninya?

Ninya: Hmm?

Schala: Thanks.

(Back to the foundations, Ninya reappears with Schala, who has changed into a more period-appropriate attire.)

Techno: Wow. Who knew Ninya had something like that in her effects? Very nice.

Ninya: Well, it looks better on her than it ever did me, so I'm not complaining.

Techno: Oh right! Here.

Schala: What are you...?

(A glowing orb appears in Techno's hand, and disappears in Schala's bracelet. Suddenly, a holographic screen pops out of it.)

Techno: Like I said earlier, we need eyes in this era. You'll be able to access my personal Codex and keep in touch with me. Anything you need to know about people, places, or whatever, just give me a ring.

Tutorial: Codex

Vathos: Wait, that works through time?

Techno: Tested it myself back in the day.

Roas: Alright then. If we're all set, let's move out.

------------------------------------
Chronopolis: Gate Chamber
------------------------------------

(Black screen.)

Techno: So, the original facility disappeared due to unlawful time experimentation.

Schala: What happened then?

Techno: Well, somebody put up the funds for a new facility. Right in the same place as the old one. Since that first incident, security has been beefed up. It's almost like its own fortress in a way.

Schala: It's pretty unnerving...

Techno: Okay, so the old man's code... Ha! Got it! Come on, this way!

Roas: Vathos, Ninya. You two keep watch. There's no telling what might happen.

Vathos: Got it.

Ninya: Hurry back...

(Screen brightens into a large chamber. A Gate is being formed on the lower area. Roas and Schala are on the upper balcony.)

Roas: So this is it.

Schala: ............

Roas: Don't take any unnecessary risks. Considering the nature of all this, it may take you years before you get an opportunity to change things.

Schala: Will it really take that long?

Roas: Don't worry about it. Once we things squared away on our end, I'll join up with you as soon as I can.

Techno: Alright, Gate's ready! Waiting on you, Schala.

Schala: Right.

(Suddenly, alarms sound.)

Roas: What the hell?!

Ninya: Roas, they were waiting for us! They brought some kind of- *static*

Roas: Ninya!! Answer me!!

Vathos: Dammit! They must've been prepared! We can't hold- *static*

Roas: Vathos!!!

Schala: No...

(A platoon of Shock Troopers enters the balcony area. With them is another modified Warmech.)

Roas: Techno, get out of there! Schala, go!!

Schala: What about you?!

Roas: Don't argue with me! GO!!!

(Schala turns to run.)

Commander: Don't let them escape!!

FMV: Through the Time Gate - Death of a Mentor

(End of Schala's prologue.)

(Last of the Dreamers Trophy acquired.)

[idioticidioms]

....Alright, you caught me. I wasn't thinking of either definition when I thought it up. I just thought it sounded cool.

Well, that's cool, too. I mean, how much of Chrono Trigger was on purpose and how much did the fanbase read into things? We may never really know.

[Blackbird]

woow this is cool!!

 is chrono and the gang,also serge kid will appear in this story??

[Mr Bekkler]

I really enjoyed how the TTI isn't exclusive to time travelers.