...The Kingdom of Fabul has been
destroyed by Garland's search parties. Their target was Kain,
however, they
arrived before he did. Kain and Valvalis found Yang, battered and
insane within the rubble of the castle. They also
found a young girl, apparently the only survivor in the castle.
Edge arrives, brought by the refugees from Fabul. After
hearing Kain's story, he agrees to take them to the Ruins of Zot.
Meanwhile, other key events are occurring...
Akel regarded his prisoner
closely. She was not from this world, that much he knew. He
nearly had a heart attack when she
suddenly appeared in his study two months earlier. She had fallen
through a portal, her body scarred, holding a black glittering
orb in her hands. She was a powerful mage, but not nearly as
strong as Akel. He had enjoyed the fight, but now had the girl
encased in a small crystal. He had brought her with him on his
journey to the Ruins of Zot.
The wizard spoke a word of magic, causing the crystal to melt.
The tiny, inch high female began to expand back to her original
size. Akel wasted no time tying her hands. "Now. Have you
reconsidered? I would very much like to know how to control this
beast." Akel said, tapping the orb. He noticed the girl's
shocked expression. "Oh, yes. I know this is really an egg,
and I also
know the magical potential the creature within has." The
mage lifted the small orb and peered inside. He could make out
the
movements of a tiny porcupine-like creature. "While you're
at it, you can tell me who you are and where you come from."
She didn't see much alternative. If she didn't talk, he would
simply kill her and order her corpse to give him the information
he
needed. She wondered why he hadn't done so already. After a long
sigh, she began to speak. "My name is Schala Zeal. I
come from a planet called Earth. My mother, the Empress of Zeal
found a creature buried deep within the icefields of Kell.
She managed to revive it, and in return it granted her powerful
magic." Akel perked his eyebrow. Schala continued. "My
mother built a fantastic Empire, but I knew there would be a
terrible price. A great young man died fighting that beast."
Schala
choked.
Akel rolled his eyes. "Such heroic nonsense. Get to the
point."
"The creature was badly wounded in the battle, and in it's
rage opened up several portals. One of which stole my brother. I
had barely enough strength to save Crono's companions. After my
mother activated the Black Omen, she had no more use for
me. Seeing my dissension, she ordered me killed. I took that egg
hostage, hoping to save myself. Lavos tried to get rid of me
by sending me through a portal, but I had a good grip on the egg,
and took it with me. The massive power of the egg disrupted
the time-space continuum, creating a gate between all of the
worlds." Schala rubbed her sore body. "I have been
traveling
through the worlds for several years, trying to find a way home.
On my last journey I met a diabolical man named Garland. He
somehow followed me through the gate and is now somewhere in the
world. He needs me to send him home."
"Yes, I know about Garland. But he arrived almost a year
ago. How do you explain THAT?" Akel sneered.
"The location is always set, but the time is random."
Schala replied.
"Well, that explains why he landed in my den. I was
beginning to think that place was cursed." Akel smirked.
"Well, you've
told quite a tale, but you still haven't told me how to control
this thing."
"Why should I tell you? How do I know you won't go invading
some peaceful little world or something?" Schala spoke.
Akel cackled, throwing his head back. "You are so strange. I
have no intention of taking over any hamlet or village. I simply
want to acquire magic." Akel reached into his robes and
pulled out two pendants, one engraved with a water symbol, the
other
with a rock emblem. "I have actually done this world a favor
in my quest. Kainazzo and Milon are dead thanks to me. A just
need to find the other two elementals and my mission here will be
finished. You see, the power of this egg is much safer in my
hands than it is in the hands of some madman." Akel paused
for a moment, regarding the purple-haired girl. "My magic is
much
stronger than yours. Perhaps I can find the proper way to send
you home?"
"You'd do that for me?" Schala's eyes brightened.
"Give me your word..."
"Oh, I'm giving you no word to swear by. The way I see it,
you simply have no other alternative" Akel grinned. Schala
sighed
and bowed her head.
"Very well..."
"So what's your name?" Valvalis asked the little girl.
She brushed the hair from her dirty face.
"Molly." The child replied after a pause.
"Do you know what happened to your parents? Did they
escape?" Kain asked.
"They died. Those masked men hurt them." the girl
sniffed. The airship rocketed across the ocean, the waves far
below simply
a big blue blur. The crew scrambled around, keeping the ship
together. It was obvious by the racket that the machine was not
used to this speed. Edge left his post and walked down into the
captain's cabin. Wind blasted through the door as he pressed it
open. He had to exert much more effort to get it closed again.
"Anything?" he asked.
"She doesn't know much. She's just a child, you know."
Valvalis replied, holding the small girl in her arms. "She's
scared."
"I don't blame her. From what I hear, there were only twelve
soldiers." Edge said.
"Twelve?!" Kain shouted. "Twelve lousy soldiers
did that much damage?" He looked over at Molly. She nodded,
wiping the
tears from her face. "Edge, can I talk to you outside?"
Kain and Edge exited the cabin, leaving Valvalis and the child
alone.
"It's going to be okay" Valvalis said, rocking the
child. Molly stared out the porthole at Kain. Her hand went
instinctively to the
round scar on her lower back. Valvalis followed the girl's gaze
and watched Kain. "He's a good man. Despite what people
have said."
"He's good with a lance, too." Molly mumbled, rubbing
the scar.
"What do you mean you don't trust her? She's just a
kid." Edge asked, taken aback.
"She had a scar on her back, and another corresponding to it
on her stomach. It's in the same location that I hit one of
Garland's agents." Kain explained. "That agent wasn't
even fazed by the blow."
"So you expect me to believe that this 'agent' disguised
itself as a little girl?" Edge asked suspiciously.
"It would explain why she was the only survivor."
"So would her choice of hiding places. Look, Kain. I can't
just march in there and accuse her of being some assassin. What
if
your wrong? What if she's just a normal little girl?" Edge
said, placing his hand on Kain's shoulder.
"Maybe your right. I'm probably just being paranoid."
Kain sighed. Edge nodded.
"Land, Ho!" one of the crew hollered, announcing the
arrival of the coast. Soon the airship was deep into land. The
remains of
Zot could be seen in the distance.
"Finally." Kain exhaled.