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Topics - skylark

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1
Fan Fiction / Chrono Origins: The TV Tropes version. (And other oddities.)
« on: December 13, 2022, 01:16:03 pm »
Hello again all. It's me. Welcome to another unorthodox attempt at me making notes for my next story... since I don't have a reliable way of keeping notes. *cough*

With my last story, Sea of Dreams, it was a full-blown story synopsis. This time, it's the wonderful life-ruining magic of TV Tropes! :D

Disclaimer: Due to the nature of TV Tropes, there will be SPOILERS for a story that hasn't been written yet. Yes, it is madness. No, I don't give a crap.

Edit: Also, because there is no 'spoiler' type font or html that I know of around here, things that can be considered spoilers will be put in parenthesis.

Disclaimer 2: Because said story has not been written, I don't want to actually put this on TV Tropes quite yet. Not until I can find a way to get off my duff and start writing.

*record scratches*

…….

……wait a second. This spiel seems awfully familiar…

……Ehh. I'll figure it out later.

Edit: Due to recent interviews from Masato Kato and the resulting broken pedestals in their wake, I have been pensively reconsidering the direction I want this story to go. In light of this, I will be making some heavy changes to the plot and excising some unneeded elements.

I will also include an official story synopsis so this topic doesn't look solely like a notes page.

Hope you all enjoy the changes… when I get around to them.

2
Fan Fiction / Continuing Conversation with Boo...
« on: May 12, 2020, 01:39:01 pm »
Okay, you were asking who this guy I thought up was?

His name is Cain Cray, and technically he's been the go-to guy I make in games with character creation for years. It was only natural he would be my first choice for a fanfic protagonist.

For the two fic projects I've done, he's played different roles (hell, even different species), but the one constant was that he always hooked up with Schala at the end. (I guess that childhood crush from when Trigger first came out never went away. Who knew?)

Anyway, this version borrows heavily from his Children of Zeal version, with a couple of differences.

You know, this might be a story worth telling over a campfire. But this would be a story of tragedy, one that would last past the end of Chrono Cross.

That is, if anyone wants to stop by and listen...

3
Fan Fiction / Chrono Reflections - Chrono Break (TV Tropes version)
« on: December 21, 2018, 07:27:55 pm »
The final of the new tropes topics, focusing on the third and final chapter of the Reflections Project, Chrono Break. As with the others, this is for dealing with post clutter from the original Tropes topic.

This is also where I wildly diverge from my original idea for the endgame. If this is gonna be a Grand Finale to the Chrono series, I should damn well make it a Grand Finale.

4
Fan Fiction / Chrono Reflections - Before the Fall (TV Tropes version)
« on: December 21, 2018, 06:12:44 pm »
As with the previous topic for Children of Zeal, This will be the dedicated Tropes topic for the second 'volume' of the Reflections Project, Before the Fall. And like the previous topic, this is an attempt to hopefully avoid post-clutter.

There's going to be one more of these, then I can start importing tropes from the original topic.

5
Fan Fiction / Chrono Reflections - Children of Zeal (TV Tropes version)
« on: December 21, 2018, 04:24:05 pm »
A bit of a rebranding of my Reflections "project". I've decided to separate this saga into three stories in order to better organize the tropes and get rid of post clutter (hopefully).

This topic is dedicated to tropes of the first story, Children of Zeal (formerly known as Before the Fall).

As with the original topic, I'll be adding stuff sporadically, as well as moving tropes from the original topic to here.

The things you learn in hindsight.

6
Fan Fiction / Chrono Reflections Soundtrack
« on: May 29, 2018, 02:44:03 pm »
Figured I'd make a separate topic since a soundtrack list doesn't quite fit in a Tropes page.

Song Name - (Original song and medium it was borrowed from)

------
Awakening Arc
------

1. Premonition - (Elysium in the Dream - Xenoblade Chronicles 2)

2. City of Truce - (Peaceful Days - Chrono Trigger)

3. Reika's Theme - (Jump Towards the Morning Sun - Xenoblade Chronicles 2)

4. Zenan Plains -

5. Suspicious Person -

6. Pretext for War -

7. Porrean War Machine (Porre Boss Theme) - (Invidia - Final Fantasy XV)

8. Mourning -

9. Those In Our Way (Battle Theme 1) - (Confrontation - Sailing to the World)

10. Glenn's Theme - (Zaveid's Theme - Tales of Berseria)

11. Guardia Castle: Courage and Pride - (Guardia Castle: Courage and Pride - Chrono Trigger)

12. Imperial Porre - (The Aggressors - Final Fantasy XV)

13. Dalton's Theme - (The Niflheim Empire - Final Fantasy XV)

14. Masked Man of Porre (Daere's Theme 1) - (Gongora's Plot - Lost Odyssey)

15. Treasured Memories - (The Treasure Which Cannot Be Stolen - Xenogears)

16. Across the Sea - (Home Voyage - Chrono Cross)

17. Choras - (The Market in Volfinor - Kirite)

18. Behold! The Mystic Trio Appear - (Eye of Shining Justice - Xenoblade Chronicles 2)

19. Fight! The Mystic Trio (Ozzie/Slash/Flea Boss Theme) - (Bringer of Chaos! Ultimate - Xenoblade Chronicles 2)

20. The Anti-Human League -

21. Lockdown - (Crisis - Xenoblade Chronicles)

22. Tarvos' Theme - (Dazil: City of Burning Sands - Xenogears)

23. Escape -

24. Zero's Awakening - (Crossing Swords - Xenoblade Chronicles 2)

25. Zero's Theme - (Musique pour la Tristesse de Xion - Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 ReMIX)

----------
Fall of Guardia Arc
----------

1. Complicated Feelings - (Shattering Egg of Dreams - Xenogears)

2. Medina - (The Valley Where Wind Is Born - Xenogears)

3. Demon's Blood (Anti-Human League Boss Theme) - (Death Match of Torna - Xenoblade Chronicles 2)

4. Homeward Bound -

5. Nuumamonja! - (A Nopon's Life - Xenoblade Chronicles 2)

6. Zero's Memories - (Song of the Stars - Final Fantasy XV)

7. Journey to El Nido - (Dreams of the Shore Near Another World - Chrono Cross)

8. Guldove - (Home Guldove - Chrono Cross)

9. The Shaman's Insight - (Earth Dragon Island - Chrono Cross)

10. The Viper Clan - (Dragon Knight - Chrono Cross)

11. Terra Tower - (Garden of the Gods - Chrono Cross)

12. Matriarch - (Dragon's Wish - Chrono Cross)

13. Lavenda's Theme - (Wanted Nia - Xenoblade Chronicles 2)

14. The S. S. Invincible - (Thames: The Man of the Sea - Xenogears)

15. The Contract -

16. Trepidation -

17. Porre: Behind Enemy Lines - (Invasion - Xenogears)

18. Nemesis (Dalton Boss Theme) - (A Formidable Enemy Appears - Lost Odyssey)

19. Tactical Withdrawal - (Breaking Space Ship Pursuit - Xenosaga)

20. Fear and Uncertainty -

21. The War Begins -

22. The Viper's Fangs (Tarvos vs Viper) - (Edge of Death - Chrono Cross)

23. Desperate Gambit - (The Impending Crisis - Xenoblade Chronicles 2)

24. One-Man Army - (Fire Above the Battle - Lost Odyssey)

25. Daere Unmasked - (The Door - Sailing to the World)

26. Awful Truth - (Prisoners of Fate - Chrono Cross)

27. Disillusionment - (Regret - Xenoblade Chronicles)

28. Guardia's Fall - (Panic - Xenosaga)

29. Cain's Theme - (Walking With You - Xenoblade Chronicles 2)

30. Casting Off the Insincere Peace - (The Miracle - Xenosaga)

31. Unforgivable (Schala vs Dalton) - (Ravus Aeterna - Final Fantasy XV)

32. Destruction Rains from the Heavens - (The Beginning of Darkness - Xenoblade Chronicles 2)

--------
Ruination Arc
--------

1. And Then There Were Five... - (Sorrow - Xenoblade Chronicles)

2. Guardia: Picking Up the Pieces - (Melancholia - Final Fantasy XV)

3. Melchior's Request - (Sealed Door - Chrono Trigger)

4. Schala's Theme - (Schala's Theme - Chrono Trigger)

5. Father and Daughter - (Star-Stealing Girl - Chrono Cross)

6. Resolution and Determination (Battle Theme 2) -

7. Opportunism -

8. Fallen Porre -

9. Crono's Theme (Chrono Trigger Theme - Chrono Trigger)

10. A Father to His Men (Glenn vs Shald) - (Zaveid the Exile - Tales of Zestiria)

11. Madness of Those Left Behind (Daere's Theme 2) - (The Man Possessed by the Demons - Lost Odyssey)

12. Evacuating Choras - (Life or Death - Xenosaga)

13. Blackened Mirror (Sigma Boss Theme 1) - ()

14. The End of Time - (The End of Time - Chrono Trigger)

15. Lost and Found - (Where We Used to Be (Title Screen) - Xenoblade Chronicles 2)

16. The Pariah's Past - (Desolation - Xenoblade Chronicles 2)

17. Schala's Promise - (Nocturne - Kirite)

18. Fires of El Nido -

19. All Humans Must Die (Reika vs Valkor) - (Orphanage of Flame - Chrono Cross)

20. Beholding Woe - (Face - Xenoblade Chronicles)

21. The Martyr (Sigma Boss Theme 2) - (Immortal Valkyria ~Death Testement~ - Valkyria: Azure Revolution)

22. Welcome Back -

23. Tower Fading In and Out of Time -

24. Recognition -

25. United Front - (A United Front - Final Fantasy XV: Episode Ignis)

26. Malovia's Trial -

27. Mutual Hatred (Cain vs Magus) - (Battle With Magus - Chrono Trigger)

28. The Value of Mercy -

29. He Who Dreams of Destruction (Daere Boss Theme) - (Dark Saint - Lost Odyssey)

30. Sigma's Last Stand - (VALKRIA: The Power of Destruction - Valkyria: Azure Revolution)

31. Creed of Devotion (Cain vs Sigma) - (Apocalypsis Magnatus - Final Fantasy XV: Episode Ignis)

32. Reconciliation - (Ravus' Theme - Final Fantasy XV: Episode Ignis)

-------
Omen Arc
-------

1. The Ruins Rise - (One Who Bares Fangs at God - Xenogears)

2. Terra Tower: The Last Bastion - (Leftovers from the Dreams of the Strong - Xenogears)

3. Reborn Wings - (Wings - Xenogears)

4. A Place to Belong - (Friendship - Xenoblade Chronicles 2)

5. Welcome Home - (Reminiscence - Xenoblad Chronicles)

6. Moonlight's Embrace - (Thoughts of a Friend - Xenoblade Chronicles)

7. Final Preparations - (Dreamwatch of Time - Chrono Cross)

8. The Fated Hour - (Resolution - Guilty Gear Xrd ~SIGN~)

9. Humanity's Last Stand - (Fighting Bravely - Guilty Gear Xrd Revelator)

10. Breaking Through - (Flight - Xenogears)

11. Prodigal Children - (Scorning Blade - Kirite)

12. The Black Omen - (With People and Darkness - Xenoblade Chronicles)

13. Shadows of Lavos (Battle Theme 3) - (Battle in the Skies Above - Xenoblade Chronicles)

14. Corrupted Memories - (Past From Far Distance - Xenoblade Chronicles 2)

15. Ascension: Zeal Palace - (Disappearing World - Xenoblade Chronicles 2)

16. A Man Denied Purpose (Daere's Theme 3) - (Distorted Space - Lost Odyssey)

17. He Who Would Have Been King (Final Battle Phase 1) - (The Power of Jin - Xenoblade Chronicles 2)

18. Unshackled Hatred (Final Battle Phase 2) - (Howl of the Departed - Lost Odyssey)

19. Broken Spite - (The Awakening - Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood)

20. Assassin of Time (Final Battle Phase 3) - (Praetor Amalthus - The Acting God - Xenoblade Chronicles 2)

21. Mankind's Potential - (The Tomorrow With You - Xenoblade Chronicles 2)

22. Aftermath -

23. A World Reborn - (Shulk and Fiora - Xenoblade Chronicles)

24. Parting Ways -

25. Our Past, Present, and Future -

26. An Epilogue - (Reminiscence (Music Box) - Xenoblade Chronicles)

(Will be updated periodically.)

7
Alright, this is my first entry to this Dream Splash (hopefully not the last, barring procrastination issues). This is a companion peice to my new Reflections project. Set though they eyes of a young boy in Zeal, he is dragged by a certain girl to a spot precious to her, in which he sees a glimpse of her father's dream through her eyes, and for the first time, understands what kindness is.

Edit: (Unfortunately, I have no way to check if I was able to make this under 500 words without losing count or going mad. If anyone can help out with that, I would appreciate it.) Thanks Mauron.

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

Another festival in the city square. The adults talk about Bekkler a lot. They say he was in an accident which is why he looks the way he does. I'd rather sleep, but since it's Foundation Day, Enhasa is closed until night.

Oh well. It's not like I have anything else to do.

The adults take one look at me in the crowd and promptly turn their noses away, as usual.

People are jerks.

Before I can turn to leave, a feel a hand grab on mine. For a moment I begin to panic, thinking that the old man is pulling me away to lock me in my room again.

Except the hand seems even smaller than mine, and I calm down.

For a second, all I can see is a cascade of purple and blue before she turns around, and I am assaulted by the greenest eyes I've ever seen.

She puts a finger to her lips before dragging me out of the crowd. They still don't see me. They don't care.

We make our way out of the festival grounds until we reach a large walled-off clearing. Part of me could have sworn I saw a guard yawning before the girl drages me through the entrance.

There are yellow flowers everywhere.

She plops down on the ground and pats the spot next to her. Dumbfounded, I sit next to her.

That's when the fireworks start.

It is literal fire, taking the shape of the girl depicted on those statues in the palace. It is a journey of someone starting life at the bottom of society, and through magic, determination, and ingenuity, raised a kingdom from the earth into the sky.

Seing the origin of our kingdom in this light, I finally see why the adults do as they do. Why they think as they do. For a brief moment, a fire I never knew existed lit up within me.

"It's Daddy's dream," I hear her say.

My attention is now focused soley on this girl who went out of her way to show me this gift. Her clothes look far fancier than anything in Kajar or Enhasa. Could she be an upper noble from the palace?

Almost as if to answer my question, I hear cries of "Lady Schala" in the distance.

Schala.

Schala.

I've never heard of a name so pretty before.

Looking to the source of the cries and pouting, Schala turns back to me, once more putting a finger to her lips before taking my hand again and pulling me towards what seems like another adventure.

For the first time that I can remember, my lips curl into a smile.

If people like her exist, then maybe they aren't so bad after all.

8
Fan Fiction / Chrono Reflections Tarot Project (for funsies)
« on: April 24, 2018, 01:32:08 pm »
Inspired by the revival of our Tarot project. God, I have so many ideas it's not funny...

Anyway, let's get started. These will depict both Before the Fall and Reflections. Spoilers ahead, as this post assumes you've read the Tropes topic.

-------

The Fool - Cain (Depicting the last act of Before the Fall, looking up at the kingdom of Zeal from a cliff's edge, a wolf at his side.)

The Magician - Abel

The High Priestess - Lavenda (Matriarch of Dragonians, with Rosemary and Thyme kneeling in their humanoid forms as spirits of their dragon forms rise up above them.)

The Empress - Reika (Depicted wearing a crown of flowers, playing with one of Crono's cats.)

The Emperor - Dalton

The Heirophant - King Crono and Queen Marle (Depicted sitting at a feast table with Cain, Glenn, Reika, Tarvos, Lavenda, and Zero. King Zeal with a younger Cain, Schala, and Janus is also an option.)

The Chariot - Glenn Zweibreicht (Depicted leaning against a Porrean-made 'horseless carriage'. Half of the car is shadowed to give the illusion of the black wheel.)

Strength - Tarvos (With his daughter playfully holding his mouth shut. Remember that Tarvos is a tiger Demi-human.)

The Lovers - Cain and Schala (Depicted as they are near the end of Reflections, staring at each other in front of a lake. A memory of when they first met as children replaces the angel.)

Wheel of Fortune - The Frozen Flame

The Tower - Yarlen Shald (With the city of Porre crumbling around him.)

Temperance - Melchior

The Hermit - Cain (The older Cain depicted in Reflections, sporting a cloak and using his spear as a walking stick.)

Death - Valkor and the Anti-Human League

The Devil - Daere (Unmasked, holding the Frozen Flame. A couple of his doppledoll Schala clone soldiers are chained to his throne.)

The Hanged Man - Zero (Depicted as the party first meets her, coming out of her stasis chamber.)

The Star - Doreen

The Moon - Bishop Unit: Sigma

The Sun - Lucca

Judgement - Schala

The World - Cain, Schala, and the Time Egg (Depicting the final battle of Reflections. Cain and Schala are somewhat battle-damaged, holding the Time Egg at the center where it is gathering the energy of the collective will of all life from the past, present, future, and all realities; which is why Crono, Marle, Lucca, Serge, Kid, Magil/Guile, and King Alphard are also depicted.)

*phew*

9
Fan Fiction / Chrono Reflections - The TV Tropes version.
« on: April 05, 2018, 11:08:05 pm »
Hello again all. It's me. Welcome to another unorthodox attempt at me making notes for my next story... since I don't have a reliable way of keeping notes. *cough*

With my last story, Sea of Dreams, it was a full-blown story synopsis. This time, it's the wonderful life-ruining magic of TV Tropes! :D

Disclaimer: Due to the nature of TV Tropes, there will be SPOILERS for a story that hasn't been written yet. Yes, it is madness. No, I don't give a crap.

Edit: Also, because there is no 'spoiler' type font or html that I know of around here, things that can be considered spoilers will be put in parenthesis.

Disclaimer 2: Because said story has not been written, I don't want to actually put this on TV Tropes quite yet. Not until I can find a way to get off my duff and start writing.

Disclaimer 3: If characters seem familiar to those who actually read my Sea of Dreams synopsis, that's because they are. Not because I'm lazy...

...okay, partly because I'm lazy. Partly because I had so much fun thinking up these characters that I don't want to put them on the shelf yet.

Alright, that should be everything. Enjoy the Tropes for Chrono Reflections and its prequel, Reflections: Before the Fall.

10
Fan Art / Before the Fall (WIP)
« on: April 05, 2018, 04:43:53 am »
http://fav.me/dc7xzip

Edit: Finally. It wouldn't show the thumbnail, but the link works.

So, this is still a work in progress. Hopefully it'll be finished in time for a possible Dream Splash?

I don't know how far I'll get in this new 'fic' project, but I finally have a name for it.

Chrono Reflections. Yes, I stole it from Kato. No, I'm not sorry. :P

This particular piece is a prequel of sorts, about a young princess, her bodyguard, and the tragedy that awaits them both. Join me as I attempt to harness the Springtime of Youth once more.

11
Fan Fiction / Original Characters and the Chronoverse.
« on: March 01, 2018, 12:27:51 am »
Okay, so most of us love a good Chrono fic. Some of us love the way they present the canon characters. Others might love the retelling of the story or love new and unique scenarios. Others might take interest in new characters introduced in fanfics. The latter is what I wish to discuss a bit.

While the Chrono series is somewhat lacking in the amount of fanfiction written (as opposed to, say, Final Fantasy), but what's there usually has a lot more thought put into them than other fics, including OCs.

So my question to you all is: What are the original characters or interperetations of unknown background canon characters that have made an impression on you? Keep in mind, personal bias is allowed for those who are making or have made projects. (Case in point...)

1. Cain Cray (Chono Saga: To the Sea of Dreams/Future projects made by me.) - Yes, I admit it, I'm a shill. This guy has been the go-to character I make when I do a new project/play a new game for nearly twenty years. He's an ineffectual-loner type who always manages to find friends along the way, always with a somewhat tragic past no matter the incarnation. I've spent so many years shipping this character with Schala in different projects that he is headcanon-locked in my mind as her significant other, no matter what Kato says. This guy has been a part of my creative process for over half my life, and for better or worse, he will be sticking around for a long time.

2. King Alphard Zeal (Chrono Trigger: Crimson Echoes) - I, like probably a lot of you, said to myself, 'Okay, we know about the Queen. What the hell is up with the King?' Zeality and many others gave us an answer in the main villain of the most infamous Chrono fangame of all time. Janus and Schala's father was crafty, he was cool, and he made one hell of a devil's advocate, bridging the admittedly wide gap between Chrono Trigger and Chrono Cross in the process. While many would try to bring forth their own interperetation of the man (including myself), there's something to be said about the original. Hail to the King, baby.

(I may update this list as I think of or discover other characters.)

12
Fan Fiction / New fanfic preview (currently untitled)
« on: March 20, 2016, 06:49:48 pm »
Alrighty. This is another Sea of Dreams related project that has been left on the back burner and I forgot existed. It was planned to be a multi-chapter viginette on the dynamic and relationship between Lark and Schala in a way the main project wouldn't be able to do.

Little to no action sequences, just straight drama, romance, humor, and fluff. Since it was somewhat inspired by On the Road to Bliss, I was going to find a way to stick a cleaned-up (narrative-wise, anyway) version as its own chapter.

Edit: First chapter complete. Finally.

-------

0-0-0-0-0-^-0-0-0-0-0

Chapter 1: In the Beginning...

0-0-0-0-0-^-0-0-0-0-0

12,002 BC...

"Do you have any idea what you've done, young lady?"

The young lady in question shrank back at the accusation, unwilling to look her admonisher in the eye. It was hard to do so when one's accuser was Queen Samele of Zeal. Even more so when the woman was one's own mother.

"I'm not apologizing."

The queen's eye began twitching at the blatant flippancy of her daughter's actions. "Not apologizing for what? For tossing the young Lord of House Dairen into the royal fountains?" Feeling a headache forming, Samele rubbed her temples, fighting hard not to raise her voice. "Schala, you are a princess of the Royal House of Zeal. You are expected to act with conduct appropriate to your station."

Schala could only huff in annoyance. "For your information Mother, it was the Lord Dairen who engaged in inappropriate conduct first. In no way did I give him leave to lay his hands upon me." Though she muttered as an aside, "Potential betrothed or no."

Before the queen could retort, a third voice broke the stalemate between mother and daughter. "Schala has a point, Samele. Being the second family in line for the throne is no excuse for his actions. Besides all that, she's still only fifteen. Give her time to properly come of age before taking stock in these arrangements."

The queen merely gave an annoyed glance to the man she called her husband. "Why am I not surprised that you condone this behavior, Alphard?" Looking from the king of Zeal back to Schala, she stood from her desk. "Regardless, your reaction was unacceptable. You know full well that there are more subtle ways to deal with such complications. As such, you are to come with me tomorrow to the Dairen estate. Zurvan forbid we can salvage this situation..."

Clearly, Schala wanted nothing to do with such an obvious farce. If her mother were as honest as she used to be when she was younger, there was no doubt she would agree. Unfortunately, politics seemed to come first nowadays, and she knew the queen would make it a royal decree if she had to. "As you wish, Mother..."

Before she left the study, Samele leveled a glare at her husband. "Before I forget, you and I need to have a long chat about how our children should behave."

Letting out a long-suffering sigh that wasn't half as fake as he intended, Alphard shrugged his shoulders. "I suppose we'll go for the usual? Argue over our parenting styles and Janus' introversion until the topic degenerates back into politics, finishing off with you cursing me into the jaws of Angra Mainyu?" If Alphard noticed Samele's glare deepen, he didn't show it.

"So help me, I wish it were that simple..."

Schala, seemingly forgotten during the last exchange, let out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding as her mother stormed out of the study. Hesitantly, she gave a glance at her father who had the decency to sheepishly rub the back of his head.

"Sorry for that. How many times have I needed to apologize for your mother lately?"

"I lost count at twenty-three, Father."

"Figures. I suppose it's all just her filial piety talking, really. That's what I get for marrying into the Magi..."

While a literal paradise on the surface, the Kingdom of Zeal was host to two very different trains of thought. The first being the Magi. The Magi were of the thought that magic and power were the cornerstones of their society. It had been through them that the Dreamscape, a realm composed of the collective unconsciousness of humanity, had been discovered, leading to the research of dreams and the abstract such as Time. However, the Magi were often very exclusionist and conservative, sometimes to extremes, having tried for years to force the kingdom to adopt a caste system. If one had no power, be it military, political, or magical, then one was worth less than nothing to them.

It was in these beliefs that Samele Creojeanne had been raised before marrying Alphard.

On the other side of the fence were the Progressives, of which Alphard had grown up among. The Progressives, true to their name, had brought many advancements to Zealian culture, be it technology or the arts. One only needed to see the majestic Blackbird as their greatest triumph to date. Like the Magi however, many Progressives were willing to go to their own extremes: Progress, no matter the price. They feared stagnation above all else, believed that those who contributed nothing to their vision of society were less than garbage, and that to be forgotten was a fate worse than death.

The ironic thing however, was that neither side would have gone as far as it had without the other. Yet many on both would be more than willing to tear each other down if it meant they would remain on top. Such was the folly of human nature.

As such, while both of them were as compromising and moderate as their beliefs would allow, Alphard and Samele's union was laced by the inherent prejudice from both sides. There were enemies all around the royal family, and Alphard knew that Samele would be damned to Angra Mainyu if she didn't make sure Schala had every opportunity possible to nip these potential problems in the bud. What Alphard didn't always agree with was the rather authoritative way she went about it.

For as long as he had known her, Samele was the type of person to bear the heaviest burdens. As such, Alphard always feared that the pressure would eventually break her.

"Father?"

Schala's voice brought Alphard out of his musings. "Forgive me, Schala. There are too many things on my mind these days." Heading out of the study, he motioned for her to follow. "Walk with me."

As the two left the study, servants bowed as they passed, while security forces snapped to attention to salute the king and princess of Zeal.

"Were my actions truly so out out of line, Father?" Schala found herself asking. "One would think that many of the noble houses could afford to be humbled."

"Normally, I would agree," Alphard replied with a slight chuckle, "However, every action holds consequences, and despite appearances to the contrary, we have few actual friends in power, save for the Gurus." At Schala's confused glance, he clarified, "Your mother and I ended up stepping on quite a few toes when we came to power. We've ended up having to make so many deals and concessions to keep the nobility pacified, it's a wonder we're still able to get anything done. Then there's the fact that the Sun Stone threatens to burn out on us. The times are becoming uncertain..."

Schala lowered her head in thought as she digested her father's words. She had heard the rumors of the Sun Stone, but this was the first she had heard of the politics. Was the Royal Court really that dangerous?

"Your mother, bless her heart, truly has been working day and night to keep the kingdom from panicking," Alphard continued, "but the problem lies in the fact that even though I'm there to help her, she stubbornly insists on doing everything herself. Hells, she's always had that problem, even when we first met..." The King then turned to his daughter, a serious expression on his face. "That's why I want you to promise that you'll help me look after her."

This was the first time in her life that Schala had seen her father look so solemn. He must truly be worried if he was willing to tell her this. "Janus too?"

"Janus is still a little to young for such a responsibility. Until he gets older, it will have to be up to us."

"Okay. I promise, Father," Schala agreed with a nod, although a pout formed as another thought came to her, "but if I have to get engaged early, I want to be able to choose my fiancé. I don't want to have to go through another Dairen."

That brought a hearty laugh out of her father, something that had been in short supply in her family for months.

-------

1220 AD...

The desert sands reached out as far as the eye could see over the walls of the city of Medina, the unfortunate consequence of attempting to use ancient technology found beneath the northern ruins without trying to understand it just a century prior. He had heard the stories of how green the continent had once been, and seeing all of the man-made oasis set up over the years, he could almost imagine it.

Still, there was a long way to go. The desert would probably not become verdant again for many years, and certainly not in his lifetime. Then there was the issue of them. The war advisors did not know how Porre had managed to set up a base camp so close, but as long as Medina's walls held, the Mystics would repel them again and again.

But for now, such esoteric thoughts were the farthest from the mind of Cain Cray, Medina's prince, son of the 5th Fiendlord. No, his current thoughts were a bit more practical, particularly concerning his very pretty companion.

"...and that's when he found the scorpion in his pack. You should've seen him, jumping around like a madman!"

Long, silky black hair swaying in the breeze, the girl attempted to stifle a giggle at the prince's anecdote of his first journey ever taken to the northern ruins. "Was the Lord Chancellor able to regain his dignity after that?"

Cain could only sheepishly rub the back of his head. "For a... given value of dignity. His legs were swollen for a week afterwards." That had brought another laugh out of her, and if there was anything Cain found most appealing about the opposite sex, it was a genuine smile.

It was difficult to believe that merely two years ago, Ana would come into his life in such a way. For so long, he had been at the mercy of an arranged partnership with a girl he had known practically his entire life. It wasn't that he didn't like the Sage of Marbule's daughter. Hells, she was practically his little sister in all but blood...

...and therein was the problem, compounded by the fact that she clearly didn't see him as a sibling like he did her.

As he debated what he should do or out to get out of said arrangement, one of his father's scouting parties had found Ana, unconscious and alone in the sands. A refugee of Porre's recent expansion attempt, she had been given asylum within Medina's walls, to the grumbling of some of the more hard-lined Mystics.

Ana had taken a shine to Cain immediately, and although he was hesitant to accept this stranger into his heart at first, in the face of her energy and enthusiasm despite the tragedies that had befallen her, he soon found his heart soaring whenever she was nearby. From there, infatuation blossomed into something more, and in two short years, he had found the girl he wanted to spend the rest of his life with.

Political consequences be damned.

"Your Highness!"

Speaking of political consequences...

"Your timing is impeccable as always, Master Tamlen," Cain remarked with a slightly exaggerated bow to the the squid-like Mystic emerging from the stairway below. Ana, in contrast, settled on a simple smile and wave. "What can I do for the Lord Chancellor?"

The short tentacles grown out from his neck quivering in slight annoyance, Chancellor Tamlen shook his head. "His Majesty wishes words about your recent... conduct."

Almost all of the good humor left Cain's face. This could only mean his father had gotten word of his plans to elope with Ana. His next words were a quite elegant summation of his current situation.

"Well, shit."

He turned to his hopefully soon-to-be significant other. "Wonder who tattled?"

"It'll be alright," she said, giving Cain a reassuring squeeze of the arm, "it's probably better this way. We won't have to hide it."

"I hope you're right..."

With that, Cain leaped over the railing to land next to the startled chancellor. Giving a final salute to Ana, he and Tamlen headed over to the palace. "Well, this is a fine mess...," the prince muttered as the two began passing the central market stalls.

Tamlen sighed with a slight annoyance. "You're the one who is threatening to undermine tradition, Young Master. Day after day, Porre is one step closer to breathing down our doorstep. We can't afford to alienate what few allies we have."

A scowl crossed Cain's face at that. "It's not right, Tamlen. A relationship should be based on trust, getting to know someone and understanding both their virtues and their flaws, and then caring for them regardless. Not by some half-hearted political maneuvering or some Hells-damned red string."

Gods, did Cain hate the very idea of the Red String of Fate. To have your 'chosen love' decided for you, connected by a red string, seemed nice and romantic on the surface... but what happens when that love is one-sided, like his situation with Reika? What happens if one party or both utterly despises the other?

Never mind the fact that having a partner decided for you disgusted him to no end, but as far as Cain was concerned, the whole red string belief was little more than a disaster waiting to happen.

"Come to think of it," Cain began again, on a roll with his tirade, "isn't it a bit hypocritical for the old man to give me crap considering how he met Mom?"

The gates to the palace opened just as Tamlen broke into a grin. "Considering the trouble both he and your mother went through, not least of all the for the fact that she was a human..."

Cain opened his mouth to retort, but the words died in his throat as he was forced to at least concede to that. He remembered many of his fellow Mystics giving him shifty-eyed looks as he was growing up. Still, he needed to stand firm.

"His Majesty is the one you need to convince, not me," Tamlen claimed as the two found their way to the double-doors of the throne room, as if anticipating the prince's next words.

Cain found himself agreeing with the sentiment. As the two were waiting to be announced, his bravado began to give way to nervousness. He never really had reason to butt heads with his father until now, but he knew damn well that the man could be intimidating... and so he began snapping his fingers, a nervous tick he had picked up a few years back, the tempo increasing the more nervous he became.

The problem with being the son of a fire demon was that sparks tended to fly.

"Young Master."

"Huh? Woah!"

Cain shook his hand vigorously until the flames that were unwittingly conjured fizzled out. He gave out a slight cough of embarrassment before the doors opened. He had to stop himself from flinching when his father stood up from the throne and leveled a glare at him... And the man wasn't alone either.

'Oh, lovely. Mom's here too.'

Cain shook the cobwebs out of his head. He was going to make his voice heard. No matter what happened today, he would not be bound to a promise he did not make.

-----------

12,002 BC...

It had been two weeks since they found it.

That strange glowing red fragment.

None of the scholars or scientists could tell where it had come from, only that it had been discovered in a nearby seabed.

Its appearance was almost otherworldly. Unnatural. Each person saw it as something else.

Some saw it as a pointed crystal. For others, it was a winged fire.

To Schala's eyes, it was pure evil given the form of a frozen flame.

Nobody knew where it came from...

...until one day, it happened.

A single word, uttered from her mother's lips.

Lavos.

The power it offered...

More and more people flocked to the Flame, not caring about the possibility of being singed... and her mother at the center of it all.

Schala did not notice little Janus cringing from its light. She did not see her father give her a worried glance. All she could see was the danger that this... invader posed...

No. She could not let this thing destroy her family. She would not.

--------

1220 AD...

She loved the view from the walls. Yes, it was endless desert, but there was beauty in devastation.

But more than the view of the sands, it was the view of the guards on watch that interested Ana the most. It had taken two years to learn the ins and outs of the city, and now was the time...

Making sure the sun hit the jewel pinned to her blouse at just the right angle, she sent a prayer to the sands beyond.

In a matter of minutes, a bright light shone in the far distance, over and over, almost as if sending a message. Her prayers had been answered.

We're ready on this end. Awaiting your signal.

Ana's smile grew wider. The timing would have to be perfect, but she knew they would come through.

And once her beloved saw Medina engulfed in flames, the beautiful sounds of screaming filling the air, he would finally see the world the way she did, and their joyous union would be complete.

Ana let out a coy giggle at the thought.

The next few days were going to be so much fun.

13
Fan Fiction / On the Road to Bliss.
« on: March 06, 2016, 01:26:05 pm »
A small little fic taking place in my Sea of Dreams story, written while I was still on a roll with the project. It takes place during Act 3 and follows Schala's POV after a major event. It's an introspective on how far she's come, her regrets along the way, and a realization of the possibility that she could still love and be loved in turn even after everything went south with Serge.

https://www.fanfiction.net/s/9337547/1/On-the-Road-to-Bliss

Yeah, I'm putting in the link due to the fact that there's bit of citrus near the end. I suppose I could always go back and hammer out some of the rough spots sometime later on as well.

Still, this was my first serious fic attempt in years. Any feedback would be appreciated.

14
Oww...

Back from the brink again. I don't know why I'm always so easily distracted by everything.

At least it wasn't two years this time. I'm kind of sad that this place has gotten emptier since I was here last, but I guess that's only to be expected.

Here's hoping that the series gets some more exposure in the coming years.

As for my Sea of Dreams project... well...

Certain inspirations have struck recently which have changed how I wish it would go, but I'll speak on that more in the appropriate topic, when I'm free enough of distractions to do so.

I'll be seeing you all later.

15
........I have no excuse.

I will just say that even now, my Sea of Dreams story still lives inside my head and will only die when I do. It is a story I still want told, but I now realize that my mannerisms and idiosyncrasies, as well as real life and other previous engagements prevent it from being completed the way I would like.

Even still, I will continue to add to my old topic. Maybe I can even hold out hope that someone might take up the challenge of trying to make it into a game.

Still... I have no excuse for my long absence, and that alone is worthy of a Picard.

 :picardno

I have returned. For how long, I cannot say. But I have.

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