Frog Fan Fiction
Frog awoke early one morning to the sound of rain pattering against the leaves in the forest where he lived. "It doth appear that the skies pour forth their sorrows yet another day…" he sighed to himself. The rain had been falling gently, but steadily for two weeks now and Frog was beginning to get sick of it. True, his physical appearance was, as his name suggested, of the amphibian persuasion; therefore, he was inclined to like rain. But his "real" self wished it would stop soon.
Two years had passed since Frog and his comrades had defeated the monster Lavos that was trying to consume their world. Frog had long since given up seeing any of his company again, even the magus called Janus. Even after being allied with Janus, Frog could never bring himself to refer to the wizard by his real name. He had caused Frog too much pain for that. Frog wondered to himself if he would ever completely be able to forgive Magus for making him the freak of nature that he was.
As Frog made himself a cup of herb tea, he thought again over the possible ways that he could be reunited with his friends but then dismissed all of the ideas. None could ever work, and that was as it should be. "Friendship be among the world’s greatest joys, but alas, friends must come and depart away even as the tides flow in and out. Now that I look back upon my life, I regret not my friendships, though parting with friends be such a sweet sorrow." Frog finished his brief soliloquy and sipped his tea in silence.
His silence abruptly came to a halt when a child fell through the hole that served as Frog’s door. "Yeeoooouch!" screamed the boy, and he began to howl with pain. Frog hopped over to him, checked for broken bones, and after finding none began to scold the boy. "Attune thine ears to my words, lad. Thou art acting like a newborn babe, howling as thou art! Thy pain will fade soon. Pray, tell me why thou camest hither? Dost thou bring news, Tata? Surely thou must, or else thou wouldst not have risen so early. The sun hath barely peeked its face above the horizon."
Tata’s crying slowed to quiet sobs, then to the occasional sniffle. “Y-yeah, it’s something pretty important. My dad seems to think so anyway. He got some message from the Queen to give to you and he dragged me out of bed so I could bring it to you because I found out a while ago where you lived, and no one else seems to know…” Tata rummaged around in his pocket for a while, and then pulled out a damp, wrinkled envelope. “Here, Frog. I don’t know what’s in it, honest! …Sorry I bent it a little.”
Frog grabbed the envelope a bit more eagerly than he intended, and carefully opened it. That is, he tried to open it carefully, but considering that he had frog hands, it did not work as well as he hoped. The envelope was unrecognizable when he finished with it. He examined the contents carefully.
“Indeed, this letter be from Queen Leene herself! But what news hath she that she wouldst send her servant a message when I dwell so far away?” Frog read the contents of the letter and his eyes bulged to nearly twice their normal size. “What villainy is afoot? The king hath disappeared, and none save a simple kitchen maid hath a hint as to whither he hath been remov’d! I had thought that my days of adventure were long since past, but now it appeareth that they were a mere prelude to the shadow that befalls the royal house of Guardia. I shan’t forsake my duty!”
With his intent declared, Frog leaped over to the wall on which the Masamune hung. He sheathed his sword at his waist, and donned his hero’s medal. Tata looked on with an expression of confusion mixed with deep concern. He moved around the room, gathering things as Frog asked him to find them. After a few minutes, Frog was prepared for his journey. He even had one last piece of the special beef jerky that Crono had given him a while ago. The jerky seemed to last indefinitely.
“Waitaminnit!” Tata finally cried out. "Shouldn’t everyone know that the king is gone? What am I supposed to do, just stand here while a frog tries to save the world?”
Frog rolled his eyes, which was quite a thing to watch. “Lad, I thank thee for bearing this message to me with greatest haste. Pardon me, but it is in that same haste that I must depart from this place! Listen thee well, Tata. Should I not send thee word before the new moon cometh, tell thy father what thy message didst contain. All the ages of our world may rest upon it! If the king liveth not, I fear I may be too late and all be lost. Now, leave me to my journey, and I shall leave thee to thine.”
Tata nodded silently and stepped out of the way to let Frog climb up his ladder into the rainscape above. Then, he silently followed and wondered on the events he had just seen.
***
Frog hopped through the tenebrous forest as fast as he was able. "For the princess Marle's sake, I hope my quest be not in vain! I know it be not my business, but how long must it be until the king and queen bring forth an heir and I may cease my endless worry that should some dire fate befall one of them, the world may come to an end! Nay, I have more important things to think on. Mayhap the local tavern shelters just the right informant on this day of poor tidings. ...Or mayhap 'tis merely a haven to sorry, ignorant fools. ...How far doth this forest span?" Frog muttered to himself as the forest continued on much further than it was supposed to. Finally, Frog heard a deep, mocking laugh.
"Ha, ha, ha! Poor little Froggy! Little better than a mouse in a maze! Ah, I wonder if I should let you play here a while or see to your precious king?" The deep voice seemed to come from nowhere and everywhere at once, yet the speaker could not be seen.
Frog froze and then scowled as he recognized the voice. "Magus, thou coward, show thyself and fight me with honor if that be what thou wouldst have me do! My task be too precious to delay! Thou art playing with time itself, and time lacketh a sense of humor!"
The Magus laughed again. "Well spoken, Greeny! We are playing with time here. I know the peril the world might be in, and before you accuse me of something you might regret, let me say that I haven't a clue where the king might be. I'm as in the dark as you seem to be. But perhaps I shall show myself after all." Magus materialized a little off to Frog's left.
"If thou knoweth naught more than do I, then why art thou consulting with me? I know full well that we both loathe the other. Surely thou seekest not mine aid?" Frog asked with a sidelong glance.
Magus waved a hand in a gesture of dismissal. "Now why would I do a thing like that?" He paused. "No, perhaps now is not the right moment for pride. Let me tell you something, Frog. The sole reason I do anything is because it might potentially reunite me with my sister. I do not seek to work by your side because of any lofty ideals or a misplaced sense of loyalty to the king. What I do is my own business."
"Of course, Magus. I know all of that. Thy point be what?" Frog queried impatiently.
"My point is that if at any time this quest is no longer to my benefit, I'll not hesitate to abandon it. I trust that will not cause any problems."
"Nay, it shall not. Thou knowest I would not be greatly sorrowed to part with thee, Magus. I wonder if I shall e'er be free of this sorry state thou hast confined me to...?"
Magus grinned sardonically. "I didn't think there would be a problem. Now, you and I ought to begin by gathering information. You were headed for the local tavern before I detained you, right? Somehow, I doubt the locals will be very open to speaking to the likes of us. I suppose I'd better consult with the monsters in the area. They may have seen things that humans, oh pardon me, sentients may have missed."
"Thou art without a mere shred of mercy in thy body, Magus. Since my choices be but few though, I am compelled to side with thee, where'er the journey may lead. Do as thou thinkest best. Mine only concern be that the king be returned safely to his throne and queen. Methinks 'twould be wise to go forth to the castle and inquire after the kitchen maid who hath possible tidings about the king. Surely she might prove better company than thy monster informants, hm?"
"So there is some news after all. ...Perhaps you are a step ahead of me for a change. If you think the guards will let me pass without forcing me to take... extreme measures, for you know them better than I, then I would say that is as good a place as any to begin our little quest," Magus said. "You and I should hurry."
***
As always, Guardia castle's kitchen was a flurry of activity, though today there seemed to be a slightly more subdued feeling about the place. Although the cooks were concerned about their ruler's disappearance, the head chef gave them no time to fret and the enticing aromas of gourmet feasts wafted through the kitchen and even into the castle's main hall. The captain of the guard paid a visit to the kitchen that day.
"Ah, my dear brother, busy as always, I see. How are you this morning?" the captain asked with an overly pleasant tone of voice.
"I'd be a lot better if idiots like you would leave me to work in peace! Your place is on the battlefield and you should leave us 'simpletons' to our own business." Though the cook's words were biting, his eyes bore no ill will toward the captain. "What is it you want, since I know you know better than to come here without a good reason right before the midday meal is served?"
"You know me too well. You're right; I have a specific purpose here. It's about the girl," whispered the captain.
The chef mischievously cocked an eyebrow. "Finally seeing someone, are you? Well, as old as you are, it's about time!"
"Really, the king's abduction is nothing to make light of!" the captain spoke a bit too loudly.
"Oh, don't act like you're the only one with a clue around here. Seriously though, Selya may be a bit too shaken up to answer any questions. Who wants to know, anyway?" the chef asked his brother.
"An infamous wizard and the queen's little frog man. Quite the odd little team, wouldn't you say?"
"Magus and Frog, hm? Well, I'll get someone to go ask her if she's up to questioning. I want you to oversee the whole matter though. I don't want the poor girl any more upset than she already is."
"Understood. I was thinking the same thing, though I don't know how you get off ordering me around," the captain said with a shrug of his shoulders.
"I'm the one who decides when, where, what, and if you get fed, that's how! Now get out of my way. The last thing I need is a foolish soldier to trip over at this time of day. ...Thanks for the chat though." With that, the chef called another maid to fetch the witness and then sped off to check a stew he had been preparing and the captain strode silently back to the main hall.
***
The poor maid was terrified to be in the same room as two such powerful and renowned warriors, but she sensed the urgency of their mission and did her best to recall all that she had seen and heard the previous night**or three nights before** when the king had disappeared. The girl's details were sketchy at best since it turned out she had only seen hunched shadows and muffled voices in a hall. From what Frog managed to coax out of her though, it seemed that the most likely direction to go would be back south, though even further than Frog lived. South was the only distinct word that Selya had heard about location, though she did hear something about six weeks, and the fact that there was a definite time frame frightened her. After about an hour of gentle interrogation, Frog thanked the girl and took his leave of the castle with Magus after a brief audience with Queen Leene, who was beside herself with worry. He also sent a message to Tata not to worry—everything was under control.
As they walked/hopped away from the castle, Magus and Frog were mostly silent. Both seemed to be trying to puzzle over the few facts they had to go on, and neither enjoyed the other's company enough to engage in idle conversation. That night, they camped on the southern side of Zenan Bridge. The rain continued in drizzling sheets, so the night was spent in tents with no fire outside to warm the two questors. This state of depressed silence continued for nearly three days, until Frog could barely stand it anymore.
Finally, Frog broke the silence one evening ***[the fourth evening out of the castle] as they sat together under a canopy of leaves. "This be pointless, Magus. What be the purpose for we twain to journey together if we speaketh nary a word to the other? I think our quest might succeed better if we conferreth with each other. Be this not so?"
"I wondered how long you could stand the silence, Frog. You normally feel alienated enough as it is, I'd warrant. ...Loneliness is one of the most painful things in life." Magus grew silent and meditative for a while and his eyes clouded over darker than any storm. Frog wondered at this but thought it best not to provoke the magus. His unspoken questions were interrupted by Magus' voice.
"Though it goes against my nature to do so, I will admit you may be right. At the very least, we ought to discuss where we're actually heading. I just wish I knew whether or not the abductors are human or something else, though I don't see how monsters would benefit from a kidnapping. Monsters can certainly be found south of Guardia," Magus mused.
"Hm, be you certain that Flea, Slash, and Ozzie be beyond our consideration?"
"As far as I am aware. True, they could have escaped to another dimension for all I know, though I doubt any of them are intelligent enough to consider something like that. Such speculation is a waste of my time." Magus paused and shivered just visibly. "The Black Wind howls... It is possible... that some poor fool in another time or place may come across them." He shook off the dark sensation with practiced disinterest. "But back to the subject at hand, we ought to head for Choras as soon as we have thoroughly exhausted any leads on this continent."
Frog nodded in agreement. "I yet think we shouldst investigate the Porre tavern. Mayhap Toma will have heard something of worth, though I doubteth it strongly. Let us away at first light of morn."
***
"Hic! Naw, I ain't sheen the king. Ooh, tha' slorta rhymesh! Waitaminit... ya mean our king? Yeah, I think I mighta heard sumthin'. Wha' wuz it...? Ohh, it hurts ta think! *urp* Huh, huh, 'scuse me." Toma the Adventurer appeared exactly as Frog had feared: slobbering drunk.
"You fool!" Magus shouted at him, "Do you have any idea what the world could come to if the king dies? Have you any idea what kind of impact that might have on the future? I certainly hope you're drinking to drown your sorrows, because that's about all the world will have left if the king is not returned safely!"
Toma stared blankly at Magus, looking dumbstruck, horrified, and oblivious all at once. "But I thought Crono stopped all 'at from happening. Wha're you talkin' about the end of the world for?
Magus shook his head in disgust. "Look, I don't expect an idiot like you to understand even simple space-time theories, but take it from someone who knows 'a lot about time,' we could all be in serious danger if the king dies. Now, I don't care how much it hurts your thick skull to think, just tell us what you know!"
If Frog was surprised by Magus' sudden apparent concern for the bigger picture, he did not let on about it. Instead, he took advantage of a pause to leap into the conversation. "Toma, all we be asking thee is to try to remember anything thou mayest have heard. Our quest be vain if we cannot gather more information. Didst thou hear anything about a place? If so, whither be this place that we mayest seek it out?"
"I may have heard shomthin' about a plot near **huh?** the old castle down south. *hic* There shouldn't be a problem gettin' the localsh in Choras ta say a thing or two. Now willya leave me alone? If the world's gonna end, I wanna be right here...*hic*" With that, Toma slumped down on the table in a drunken stupor. His sixth refill, which happened merely to be strong root beer, remained untouched beside his hand.
"Poor lad, he be possessed of great abilities if only he wouldst use them... Ah well, at least he hath given us a clue, howe'er small it be. Methinks I shall pay his tab this once. What thinkest thou of his account?" Frog queried over the typical chattering conversations of the tavern.
"Ridiculous. The Choras citizens have nothing to gain from a kidnapping. There's often the possibility of ransom, but no ransom note was left. The kidnappers were either ill prepared in their act or they didn't intend for the king to be returned. I would be more inclined to believe Toma's account if I knew exactly where his information came from. Personally, I distrust anonymous informants, but as we don't have anything better to go on, we have little choice but to cross the sea."
"'Tis a pity we liveth not in Crono's time. We couldst board a ferry with naught to cause us trouble or delay. Dost thou feel like going down in history as an innovator and the inventor of the ferry, Magus?" Frog asked with a quirky grin.
"Mayhap if my busy life doth allow," Magus paused, a bit stunned and disgusted. "Confound it all, I'm starting to talk like you! Let's just get on with this, Froggy. Surely we can borrow a small skiff or something. I can be very... convincing when I wish."
***
When the two travelers arrived at Choras after a two-week voyage across the sea on little more than a raft they threw together themselves over the course of a day, they found little but rumors. The local carpenter offered them a hot meal and a roof over their heads, which they accepted. Because the carpenter occasionally frequented the bar as well as knew the working-class men, he had a bit more information, though the facts were all very mysterious.
"You know," the carpenter Nic told them, "It's funny you should ask about strangers wanderin' around lately. About two months ago, a stranger passed through town and warned us that the next time **how did he know?** two strange visitors came through town we should be polite but tell them nothin'. The reason I'm tellin' you is because I'm a man with common sense who don't trust that type of shifty character."
"Our gratitude to you be great indeed, but if I might interrupt thy tale, was this man human in form or un-humanlike? This matter be of deepest importance so I beseech thee to recall with surest accuracy," Frog urged him.
Nic scratched the stubble on his jaw and thought for a moment. "Normally a man can tell what type of character he's speaking to, but this fella was different. Odd, if you take my meaning. He sounded human and the little I could see of him looked human, but he moved funny. Rather unnatural-like he moved. It was as though he wasn't accustomed to standing upright, but I may just be imagining things. Oh, and his clothes were unlike anything I've seen before. They were an exotic fabric and of a very strange style. He also had a black ring that seemed to glow of its own will, though how black can glow is beyond me."
Magus frowned as he pondered the carpenter's words. "Whoever this man was, he sounds like he is either a person of great rank or great wealth. It could be that another underworld organization is on the rise, but it seems too soon after the previous one in this world was disrupted. Your information seems worthwhile, Nic. I would advise you to be on your guard. Being a rather dark, shady character myself, I know all too well how dangerous my type can be."
All at once, the small group heard a terrible crash coming from the direction of the staircase. Frog hopped over to investigate. He was mildly shocked to see a young woman hunched sheepishly in a corner.
The girl swiped a stray lock of flame colored hair out of her eyes. "I didn't hear anything, honest! Well, not anything really important anyway. I, that is, I had an errand to run here and I got caught in the stairs!"
Frog gave her his best scolding look as the other two men came over to the stair. "Thou becamest entangled in the stair on its underside? 'Tis very hard to descend on stairs upside down."
"Kaeri!" Nic exclaimed. "Aren't you supposed to be at the inn making beds right now? What in the world are you doing here?"
Kaeri crawled out from the broken staircase and stood up slowly, as though in a great deal of pain. "Aw, Nic. You know my imagination gets carried away sometimes. I just thought that these two guys looked like an adventure in the making—I mean, how often do you see a talking frog?—and I was on my lunch break anyway, so I slipped in the window and hid back there. Sorry about the stairs, by the way. I'm sure you can fix it before sundown though! Anyway, I think I may have a clue for you!"
"Then tell us, girl! We have no time for games!" Magus said as coldly as always.
"N-not so fast, mister." She crossed her arms more to keep from nervously trembling than anything. "I'm not telling you anything until you agree to my conditions. You can't get something for nothing, you know! Do you want to know what my price is or not?" Kaeri asked, her chin coming up in a challenge.
Frog and Magus glanced at each other and back at the girl in front of them. Frog sighed, "Very well, tell us thy price, lass. We cannot afford much, I caution thee. What canst thou possibly want that we can offer?"
Kaeri grinned eagerly and melodramatically flung her arms wide. "Adventure! You can take me along with you! All I've ever wanted is to travel to distant lands and defend the world from evil. This town is such a bore, and I hate it! How else is a girl to find her prince charming if she doesn't get away from everyday life anyway?"
"What?!" Magus growled. "Absolutely not! Are you completely out of your mind, girl? Adventuring is not all fame and glory. As a matter of fact, it's mostly blood and boredom. You're not missing much and you are not coming along with us!"
Frog interrupted Magus, "Consider carefully, Magus. We have but little choice. The king's life be in greatest peril and Kaeri appeareth to have an important clue. Be it wise to ignore her?"
"I don't really care what you do with the wench, as long as I don't have to take care of her. Do as you will Frog, but I warn you, my patience is wearing as thin as that rag you call a cloak. I don't have time to baby-sit a child on top of everything else!"
"What? I'm not a wench and I'm certainly not a child! I'll be twenty come this winter!" Kaeri protested.
"Nineteen years old, and still without a husband to keep you under control? What is the world coming to?" Magus muttered, rolling his eyes toward the ceiling.
Nic whispered back loudly, "That's because no one will have her. She's a pretty thing, but far too flighty for marriage. That's what comes from too much reading. Never needed it myself, and look where I am today," he said proudly, clapping himself on the chest where a cloud of dust promptly rose.
Kaeri's frustration grew with every word and it showed on her face. "He was asking a rhetorical question! And why do people always speak of me like I'm not in the room? I promise not to be much of a burden to you. I even know how to fight! You should see me with a dagger or short sword! Just please take me with you, I have to get away from this awful place!"
"Dost she speak the truth? Can she indeed do battle, Nic?" Frog asked.
Nic shrugged. "Well, she probably fights better than anyone else in Choras. Probably another reason she hasn't settled down. Most of the boys are afraid of her. I'd not want to cross her with a sword, but then, Choras' standards of sword fighting are a bit low in this day and age."
"Methinks 'twould be wise to bring her along. But I shall behave as thee for once, Magus, and be cautious. Kaeri, woulds't thou agree to spar with me outside 'fore I decide upon thine offer?"
Kaeri swallowed hard, but again raised her chin defiantly. "Fair enough. How does right now sound to you? I think we should go out back rather than out in the square. We needn't attract attention. Let me run and get my sword before we begin. My dagger really isn't big enough."
"Nay, if thou art to travel with us, thou must grow accustomed to using what thou hast at hand. There be no running back to thy tent for better equipment in the real world. Thou must always be ready, lass. This be thine only chance," Frog told her sternly.
"Fine, I'll use what I have with me. No magic though. You're obviously enchanted, so who knows what kind of enchantments you yourself can use. I'm going to grab my lunch pail from under the stairs though. That counts as being in my possession I think!" Kaeri snapped defensively.
***
The sparring partners faced each other in their fighting stances behind the carpenter's house. Frog was mildly surprised to see that Kaeri actually looked ready to fight. Kaeri's face bore a fierce scowl, while Frog's countenance was expressionless. Over at Frog's far left, towards the house, Magus pretended to be disinterested. "Ready thyself lass, for I shall not be gentle with thee," Frog warned the girl.
"I'm not the airhead you take me for, Frog. Don't underestimate me just because I'm female," said Kaeri. Her left hand drifted momentarily to her pocket, but she snatched it back quickly.
Frog grinned slightly, amused with the girl's cockiness, pointless though it might be. "Very well then. En garde!"
Kaeri, realizing that her weapon was far inferior, assumed defensive tactics. She dodged, retreated, and parried, but showed little aggression. Frog realized that while this tactic might work in sparring, she would have difficulty killing a monster whose only thought was "kill or be killed" so he began pushing her even harder.
Kaeri began to show definite signs of fatigue after a couple of minutes of slash-and-dodge fighting and Frog had to make a decision. He could either go easy on her or push her to her limit to see what her response would be. Frog chose the latter for he had to see how she would respond to the unexpected in combat. The next time Kaeri dodged around him, Frog flicked his sword out and gashed a narrow cut across her right forearm. Kaeri cried out and the dagger fell from her stiffened fingers. She grabbed the dagger from the ground with her left hand just in time to ward off a full-force swing of Frog's which was aimed at her head. The swing forced Frog to take a moment to recover. Kaeri angrily blinked away the tears that had sprung into her emerald eyes. **[Though Kaeri's dark grey eyes had begun to tear up, she scowled rather than sobbed.]
The opponents stared each other down across the yard, glaring at each other as they paused, gasping for breath. Kaeri's bloody right hand reached over to her left pocket and fumbled around for a moment. Frog took advantage of her pause and charged with the Masamune raised gleaming above his head. Kaeri leaped aside and hurled something powdery from her right hand as she passed him. Frog's eyes burned as the salt she had flung began to dry them out. He faltered for the briefest of moments, but it was too long. Kaeri tackled him, flipped him over, and pressed her newly chipped dagger to his throat.
"Always be ready," she snarled breathlessly. She removed the dagger, pausing only to nick his right arm with it before she rose.
Magus clapped slowly with genuine admiration. "There are few things as deadly as a woman's wrath. I think perhaps you were right, Frog. She is not strong, yet she is very resourceful. Kaeri, you are permitted to join us as far as I'm concerned."
Frog snorted in disgust and dunked his head in a rain barrel next to the house in an attempt to relieve his bulbous eyes of their pain. As much as Frog hated to admit it now, the girl had out-thought him, if only for a moment. That was the kind of edge she would need over the monsters she was likely to face with Frog and Magus. He was surprised that someone who rivaled Marle in both loveliness and apparent airheadedness was also as competent in battle as the wayward princess.
"Hmph. Mayhap thou wouldst be an asset to our duo as long as thou keepest thyself in line. We shall not look after thy every whim. At the market, make ready to travel, and return thyself to Nic's home. Thou shalt find us hither." Frog pointed*?* and winced, remembering his gash. ...Thou art a rather competent fighter, Miss Kaeri."
As Frog, Kaeri, and Nic went their separate ways, Magus remained standing where he was with a corner of his mouth turned up in a conspiratorial smirk. After a few motionless moments, he glided discreetly into the nearby forest where he stayed for the remainder of the day.
***
Preparations and replenishing of foodstuffs the next day did not take long, but because of Kaeri's goodbyes to friends and acquaintances, the group did not leave until mid-morning. The walk from Choras' square to the coast was nearly a full day's journey which involved passing across mostly fields and a strip of forest, so the group of three decided to rest for a few extra hours in a wide clearing. They had no idea when the journey might take a turn for the worse and they would have no time to spare for resting up. As it was, Frog wanted as few delays as possible. The team had less than three weeks *check!* until a still unknown event concerning the king was to take place.
Kaeri was proving to be a more stalwart companion than expected and had only really complained once the entire day. Twin glances from Frog and Magus silenced her at once, but Frog could read in her body language that her feet hurt badly and she was struggling to stay awake. She stretched her lithe frame out on a sunny patch of moss and lay still and silent.
"As degrading a task as it might be for a powerful magus such as myself, we need fresh water and the sea certainly won't provide it. I'll be back in a while. Don't burn the camp down while I'm gone," Magus said in Kaeri's direction. Then he walked out between the trees as the sun began to sink.
As soon as Magus left, Kaeri sat up painfully, her eyes sparkling with curiosity despite her fatigue. She held back her burning question for a moment and began with some small talk, hoping to loosen the frog's tongue somewhat. "Did you see the sword I bought back in Choras? It's a pretty piece of work!" She held out the blade for Frog to examine.
"Indeed, it be lovely to behold, but its worth doth lie in its temper and strength, not in its appearance. It be unwise to bring an untested blade into battle, and a nameless one withal!"
"I hope you're not asking for a rematch, because I'm saving my energy for the real bad guys. And how can I name a sword that hasn't earned a name yet? Isn't that how it works with swords?" Kaeri asked.
"At times, m'lady, though a name may describe the look or make of the sword. For example, thy sword hath a reddish tint and be finely decorated. Base thy name upon that if not on deeds. In any case, thou shouldst not shun the chance to practice whene'er thou canst. There be few cases whither an excess of practice hath done one harm," Frog said with a sidelong glance.
"Yeah, I get the picture. But I'd still rather not spar tonight. I want to rest a bit first. As far as names though, gosh I hate the naming process for anything... I used to take in all kinds of hurt animals: birds, rabbits, turtles, frogs...," she stopped, afraid she had offended Frog, but he said nothing. She thought for a while. "Well, what if I call the blade Alhambra?" Kaeri finally suggested.
"I suppose that shalt suffice. Now thou needst only to test its mettle in combat."
Neither spoke for a couple of minutes. There was no sound but that of insects and a gentle breeze rustling the long grass about them. Finally, Kaeri spoke up again. "All right, Frog, or whatever your name really is, I want to hear your story! There must be some exciting tale about how you got turned into a frog. Please tell me! From the way he talks to you, I get the feeling it had something to do with Magus, as you call him." She waited eagerly for an answer which was slow in coming.
Frog grudgingly replied at last. "Thou art very perceptive, Kaeri. Magus be deeply involved, but only my most trusted friends be privy to that sorry tale. Were we not working for a common interest, we wouldst likely be at each other's throats. I worketh with Magus out of desperation and because he manipulated me at the outset of my journey."
"Seeing as how the king is in danger of losing his life, hence his rescuers will be too, you must truly love your king to make such a great personal sacrifice for his sake."
Frog grimaced. "The king? Indeed, I give my allegiance to King Guardia, but I confess that I bear no particular favor towards my liege. My quest be for the sake of my beloved queen, Leene. 'Tis for her that I bear this torturous comradeship with Magus, for Queen Leene and for the generations that must follow my lady. The very world dependeth on me."
Kaeri looked about to snicker at the thought of Frog's last comment. Something in Frog's expression made her think better of it though and instead, she reached over to gingerly place her hand over Frog's. Frog was somewhat surprised that she did not recoil in disgust at the clamminess of his moist, green skin, but then he remembered her past experience with slimy creatures such as he and he strove inwardly against his frequent foe: self-pity.
Kaeri told him, "No one should have to have that kind of burden placed on their shoulders. I suppose it happens though. It seemed ridiculous to me as you said it just now, but I can see that you're telling the truth. I'll do my best to do my part if it will help make your journey easier. And if I remember right, I do owe you some information... Just hang in there Frog. Let me know if there's anything I can do."
Magus happened to make his re-appearance at that tender, yet awkward moment. "How sweet!" Magus crooned, "Beauty and the beast! Such a pathetically charming couple you make! Perhaps I should leave while you love birds, or amphibians, or whatever finish up?"
Frog leaped angrily to his feet. "Magus, thou hast no business interfering in a private conversation and inferring things about people! I shall thank thee to drop the matter at once!"
"Poor little froggy! You admit that you were carrying on a private conversation, doubtless about me. And in the face of such defensiveness, what am I to think but that you are falling... hopelessly in love with our feisty new companion? And I mean hopeless in every sense of the word, as we both know you are doomed to perpetual loneliness."
Frog's face turned a strange yellowish color and his eyes bulged with anger. "I need not submit myself to such childish torture! Thou walkest on dangerous ground Magus, thou foul creator of mine agony! Verily, thou hast been hurt in thy life, but that be a poor reason to inflict pain on others! And to commit thy sin all for the sake of this slab of sharpened metal!" he raged, drawing the Masamune. "I cannot stand the sight of thee, Magus!" With that, Frog hopped off in a rage.
After Frog was beyond hearing range, Kaeri demanded, "Why do you torture him so, Magus? Imagine yourself in his place! He's struggling to do the right thing, worried about all of our futures, putting up with your cruelty, and trying to deal with his intense inner pain all at once! How can you stand to live with yourself?"
Magus opened his mouth as if to retort indignantly, but slowly the staunch magus' shoulders slumped and he looked a lifetime older. "I cannot stand it. That is why I continue, to cover up my self-loathing at the expense of others. I have suffered pain my whole life, ever since I was torn from my older sister, Schala. She is the only person who ever truly loved me—even our own mother did not—and I fear she is lost to me forever. Indeed, I have read signs that suggest that she will one day be found, but not by me. Never by me. I am to be separated from her forever." Magus bowed his head and pulled his cloak tighter about him as though a chill wind was blowing, but Kaeri felt nothing.
Magus' head shot up again as he continued, "The very thought of such finality is more than I can handle and I have never known how to deal with pain besides hiding it away or lashing out at others. I am responsible for Frog's current state. I transformed him, knowing he would suffer as I have. I suppose misery loves company. It was such foolishness though."
**["Most of us don't seem to realize it when we're in the middle of the foolishness though. You've got to learn to forgive yourself. But as far as Frog's concerned, why can't you just change him back?] Kaeri looked disgusted. "It certainly was that! You're pathetic, too. ...Though I am sorry for your loss... But why can't you just change him back? Is it that much more complicated?" she asked.
"Yes, actually it is. The details of his particular enchantment are likely beyond your mere mortal comprehension. As I am currently unable to do anything right now though, I suggest another subject or dropping of conversation entirely. I've been known to kill men who knew half as much about me as you now know. Wait until Frog gets back and then tell us the information you had for us."
***
The shadows were growing longer as Frog hopped further into the sparse forest. After going for about half a league, he stopped hopping and was completely still. Frog was at a loss for words even for a soliloquy, which was a rare thing for the froggy hero. He sat and panted for a long while, then let out a croak or two before actually speaking to himself.
"Bah, all this torture be for naught if my liege dost not survive! I needest not Magus' cruel reminder of the loneliness with which he hast afflicted me. Once upon a time, I had similar false hopes. That bright and fair lass Lucca seemed not to loathe me as hath all others. Yet our ways are doomed to be ever separate if she did as she hadst resolved and took apart the Epoch. She had too much promise to pay attention to such a disgraced one as I in any case. Surely she wilt have a long and fruitful life! ...That be only if my quest be completed."
Frog held his Hero's Medal up before his eyes and gazed upon it. Memories of many events long past filled his mind and heart and he struggled with the deep-running current of his emotions.
"I be glad indeed for the mentor that Cyrus wert to me, but alas that he didst not live longer. How I long for the wisdom he might lend me on this quest. Peace about my decisions eludeth me and I know not how to proceed. Mayhap the girl shalt lend us insight. ...Ha, but let not my thoughts tarry upon her!"
Frog considered heading back to camp but as he turned to leave, he was ambushed by a swarm of Red Vermin and two Lizzards, a scaly, flying sort of scavenger. "To me, Masamune! A battle be just the thing to give me vigor!" cried Frog with anticipation.
The large rodents circled around Frog, gnashing their teeth at him. Apparently, they felt he was too close to their territory and they were prepared to defend it. One lunged at him but Frog dodged the attack and only lost a scrap of his cloak rather than a piece of flesh. Frog parried and slashed, easily downing the first attacker.
The three that remained stood their ground, chittering to one another and seemingly communicating their strategy in a primitive way. One of the Lizzards dropped from the sky in an attempt to get through Frog to the fresh Red Vermin meat behind him. The bird did not care how it got there, even if it meant attacking the huge frog before it. Frog ducked and covered his eyes which were very vulnerable to attack.
The remaining three Reds took advantage of the moment's confusion to charge Frog in a combination attack. He gasped as their razor sharp teeth cut into his flesh. Rather than using magic, Frog chose to save his strength for healing after the battle and resigned himself to a simple, though deadly attack [Leap Slash] with the Masamune. The first Lizzard and two of the Red Vermin fell at his feet.**is it a multi attack?* The remaining two creatures ran and flew away respectively, though the Lizzard remained at a reasonable enough distance to return to the carcasses as soon as Frog left the area.
Frog was happy to leave, but first searched the ground because Red Vermin tend to be pack rats of sorts and often carry their treasures around with them. He was hoping to find a shiny coin or some sort of other small trinket. Instead, he found a large, prismatic scale that looked like those the Reptites had had during ages long past and forgotten by all but a handful. Frog was unsure what to make of this, and commented such to himself, but he remembered that he was a fair distance from the camp and that his wounds needed tending.
After moving off a bit from the battle site, Frog magically healed his wounds and hurried back to camp feeling more relaxed than he had in a long while.
The sun had long since set when Frog nonchalantly hopped back into camp. Kaeri was eager to tell her news and any possible awkward silences were avoided. "The stranger who passed through Choras stopped for a single night at the inn where I work. He wanted to make sure I wouldn't talk, yet he probably figured that completely eliminating me would raise too many suspicions. He gave me a scale necklace he was wearing and then threatened death...or worse...if I ever talked. I figure I'm safe enough with you two and besides, I don't have any family for him to harm. Then he offered me more jewelry where that came from if I was willing to provide him with information periodically. Of course I declined but he let me keep the necklace anyway. He said I had probably contaminated it." Here Kaeri made an exasperated face.
"Anyway, I thought you might want to check out the necklace because the scales aren't anything like I've ever seen before. They're harder and bigger than regular lizard scales. Here, tell me what you think." Kaeri pulled a strange looking, yet beautiful necklace from her knapsack and offered it for inspection.
"Allow me, Kaeri. I possess a certain affinity for and interest in reptiles and amphibians," said Frog with a glare pointedly tossed in Magus' direction. Magus, casually leaning against a tree, ignored him entirely. Frog inhaled with mild surprise as he examined the necklace. "This be dragon scale, similar to that of the ancient Reptite race. Oddly, when on my brief hop about the woods, I found a scale such as these in the possession of a rodent of unusual size that attacked me. I know only one place in our age from whence this might have come, the rainbow cave north of here. 'Tis a perilous labyrinth, but we may yet discover previously unseen things thither if we dare to enter its caverns. What say thee, Magus?"
"Probably a good idea and it's only a few days journey by raft, assuming ours is still intact. *wait, I thought he said this wasn't possible?* Who knows what kind of underworld hierarchy could have formed in the two years since we traveled the world over? We will set out as soon as we've rested a few hours. I navigate the sea better by the stars than by anything else."
Kaeri smiled because she had been able to help out, but there was a shadow of worry on her face as though she was thinking of being cut off from sun and safety for days. She forced a wider smile though and said, "Let's get rested up then. I'll take the first watch."
***
"Where did you say you left the raft?" Kaeri asked the other two after at least a half hour search around the spot they were sure they had left it.
"Verily I tell thee that the raft wert there below yon shrubbery. I knowest not to whither a raft canst disappear. It be a somewhat uncommon occurrence," Frog said sarcastically.
"Will the two of you quit bantering and attempt to actually look?" Magus growled. "I for one do not want to have to build a new one after all the trouble we went to with the first one. Kaeri, have you ever tried to pluck splinters out of a frog? It's miserable."
Frog glared, but said nothing.
"Perhaps some local vermin dragged it off. Look, there's a spot here where the grass is flattened. The trail leads off to the east. Anyone care to join me for a look? Keep your weapons at hand," Magus threw over his shoulder as he set off down the trail.
It didn't take long to find the thieves. They turned out to be five members of what looked like the race of Mystics. There were two Trolls and three Naga-ettes, though they looked more powerful than those Frog had seen on his earlier journeys. The Trolls were sleeping, but the Naga-ettes were scampering around the raft trying to examine if there might be any good uses for the materials.
When the Nagas got wind of the three warriors, they shrieked and assumed a fighting position. The commotion woke up the Trolls as well, and they slowly roused themselves.
Magus whipped his scythe through the air and the sharp whistling sound it made caused the Mystics to back off a bit. Frog had the Masamune in hand and assessed the situation with the air of one possessing many days of battle-earned experience. Kaeri held Alhambra firmly, but she had a trace of worry in her eyes. She knew that the Nagas were extremely quick and the distraction they were likely to cause might make the Trolls become more of a threat.
"Lass, this be thy chance to test the mettle of thy blade and thy courage. Shrink not from battle, lest thou leave thy back unguarded. Magus, shall we teach these Mystics the peril of stealing?" Frog asked with a wink.
"Certainly, I've always wanted to see if I should have been a teacher rather than a powerful and deadly wizard. Take this!" Magus yelled as he lunged at the nearest Naga-ette. She was quick, but got her arm slashed as she whisked around behind Magus.
Frog's opponent had jumped over him, but he whirled to face her there. She backed off, waiting for him to make a move first. "Come at me, thou coward! Or if thou wilt not, perhaps magic will do the trick! Frothy waves, cleanse this place!" Frog yelled. A giant water bubble appeared and violently broke all over the Naga-ette; she sputtered and hacked but could not get up because the force of the water had knocked the wind out of her. Frog put his sword to her throat and held it there. He nodded towards the direction of the trees and when he moved his blade away, she fled into the forest.
Kaeri managed to deeply wound her opponent at the first pass and in so doing, took her out of the action, but both Trolls came up behind her, looking for the easiest kill. She ducked and rolled in between them, spun around behind and slashed at one. Her sword barely broke the Troll's tough hide. One swung a heavy mallet at her head, but she managed to dodge it by an inch or so. The wind from the swing blew her hair into her eyes and she desperately pushed it out of her way. With her rear advantage lost, Kaeri backed up; the Trolls were between her and her comrades.
Magus had become annoyed with his opponent and blasted the Naga-ette with a powerful bolt of lightning. She screamed a death-cry and lay still; a vile, charred stench began to drift through the air. He glanced around to see how the other two fared.
After eliminating his attacker, Frog hopped over the Trolls' heads to land in front of Kaeri. "Attend, Kaeri! These brutes be slow, but their strength more than compensateth this shortcoming," Frog warned.
"Yes, I noticed. But I can fight them too! Just give me a chance!" Kaeri said. It was more of a demand than a request.
"Ha, thy blade be no match for their thick hides. What wouldst thou do?" Frog asked, while at the same time he intently focused his attention on the Trolls.
"Oh, I have my ways. Watch this!" Kaeri stepped out from behind Frog and lowered her sword.
"Kaeri, thou fool, what art thou doing? Magus, attack!" Frog called to the wizard who calmly watched the fight from a safe distance.
"But I'm curious to see what the girl has in mind. No, I think I'll stay back here. I'd rather not have to dull my scythe on this rabble if I don't have to. Don't worry, if she seems to be in danger I'll use my magic," Magus casually replied.
Since moving much in any direction but back would put him in range of the Trolls' mallets, Frog had little choice but to watch. Kaeri posed with her weight shifted to one side and her free hand resting lightly on her hip and yelled to get the Trolls' attention. "Yoo-hoo! Hey, you big, strong, handsome Trolls! I've got something for you!" She winked and beckoned them with her index finger.
The Trolls stared stupidly, looked at each other and back at the inviting young creature before them. They slowly walked towards her. Kaeri blew them each a kiss and they continued to slowly move forward, as if in a trance. "All right, now I need you both to do something for me, can you do that?"
Both Trolls seemed to understand because they stopped coming forward and stood like statues. Frog and Magus watched in amazed silence.
"You see," Kaeri continued, "I need help moving that funny, flat, wood thing over there and I'm afraid I might get hurt if I try to move such a big thing! Would you two sweeties like to help me out?" she asked as she stepped closer to the Trolls and pointed to the raft.
Both Trolls looked over at the craft, and as soon as their heads were turned, she dashed up and grabbed their mallets. They both looked at her, their faces pained with betrayal, but they grunted, shook themselves out of their reverie, and meekly went over to the raft where they commenced to lift it and move back to where the raft had originally been stowed. Once there they would drag the raft further to the shore.
Frog could do nothing but stare at Kaeri in amazement. He self-consciously found himself having to shake his head to leave his own trance of sorts. Magus chuckled and cocked an eyebrow at the whole scene.
"Kaeri, thou hast thine own ways indeed! I humbly beg thine apology for doubting thine abilities. Thy battle prowess be more than enough for survival," Frog complimented her.
"And the Troll hide notwithstanding, my sword proved to be reliable, too! See, you don't have to baby sit me as much as you planned after all!" Kaeri said proudly and she turned to follow the Trolls.
Frog's shoulders slumped just noticeably for the briefest of moments but he quickly straightened. Magus nudged him. "Fascinating, hm?"
Frog sighed slightly. "Indeed, she be most fascinating…"
Magus grinned sardonically. "Actually, I was referring to the battle, Froggy."
Frog croaked angrily. "Nay, thou wert trying to trap me as always, but I'll have none of it, Magus! Thine energy wouldst be better spent than on taunts!" he retorted and hopped ahead of Magus, berating himself for being so gullible.
The grin remained on Magus' face all the way to the shore.
***
Once the questors were finally on the raft, the wind seemed to favor them and they arrived at Rainbow Island on the second *?* morning. Time was growing shorter and everyone seemed to sense it, but water was running low and some of the other supplies had been knocked off of the raft so much of the afternoon was spent foraging. Kaeri wanted to know all about local edible and medicinal herbs and Frog was more than happy to show and explain in great detail. At last they entered the Rainbow Cave and were a little surprised to see improved lighting since the last time Crono and his party had entered. The renovations confirmed their suspicions that the isolated cave was inhabited.
The group decided to use caution as they proceeded and crept quietly but painstakingly slowly along the damp passageways. There was a foul odor in the air as though somewhere far beyond there was a room filled with mouldering carcasses. Kaeri retched and hacked so hard that a good deal of her afternoon meal came back up. Ignoring his first warning that he would offer no aid, Frog stopped and made sure Kaeri was all right before they moved on. He had a chance to use some of the medicinal herbs he had collected and explained not long before.
Despite their stench, the caverns themselves were still a wonder to explore. Though the cave formations had little variation in color, they were spectacularly shaped and the group walked in awed silence past massive columns, sturdy stalagmites and glistening, dripping stalactites. The torches' light splashed off of the formations, causing a beautiful, otherworldly glow. Once or twice, Frog thought he saw a feathery vein of precious metal spreading itself across the cavern walls. The earthy ground beneath their feet muffled the sound of their footsteps slightly, which was reassuring to the questors. There were a few bats and cave insects, but none seemed inclined to attack or even move.
In one particularly beautiful gallery, they felt a slight breeze and the air was not quite so foul, so they agreed to stop for a brief moment. They all felt that they were nearing their destination with more time to spare than they had expected. Magus stood watch in the shadows with his cloak wrapped about him, looking for all the world like a deadly vampire. A column in the midst of the chamber had formed and folded in such a way that its base could be used as a small bench. Kaeri took it at Frog's insistence and Frog settled himself on the ground nearby. Kaeri had a puzzled expression on her face as she looked at Frog, and he asked her about it.
"I was just wondering...and if you don't want to answer you don't have to of course, but how is it that you can do so well in this chilly cave when you're, well...a frog? I thought frogs and lizards were cold blooded and needed to be in the sun? Aren't caves dangerous for your health?"
Frog let out a ribbity laugh. "Only if the ceiling shouldst fall upon me! Aye, I be a frog in form, but part of my enchantment alloweth me more freedom of environment than most frogs. In fact, I be nearly warm-blooded."
"I never would have known, just judging by your appearance. No offense, of course!"
Frog's nostrils twitched slightly. "Look ye not at mere outward appearances. They be true but rarely. Even Magus be two-faced, I wouldst warrant. His given name sayeth as much."
If Kaeri wondered about this, she did not say so. She simply nodded and sat until Magus moved and said it was time to continue.
Besides a brief encounter with some truffle-shaped Miso, the rest of the exploration went smoothly until they reached the passage before the great ruins of the Reptite throne room. Colorfully garbed sentries were posted outside the doorposts on either side and the guards looked armed to the teeth. On each man's hand was a ring that glowed a smouldering red color.
"Now what do we do?" asked Kaeri in the slightest of whispers.
"This is Frog's 'quest' so he can decide. I'm all for conjuring up something and sending them quickly to the Underworld, but perhaps you have something more subtle in mind, Frog?" Magus suggested.
"I care not how it appeareth, but my decision be to fight with honor. We shall not pit our foes 'gainst an unseen force. This be my code and I shalt not break it. Magus, Kaeri, thou art free to do as thou both desireth. As for me, I shall face them as a knight be meant to do. Come what may, I shalt not dishonor the memory of Cyrus, my mentor and inspiration. Let us rush them!"
With that, Frog unsheathed the Masamune, which immediately alerted the guards. Magus hefted his deadly scythe and Kaeri readied her newly bought rapier. The trio quickly learned that the red rings allowed the guards to use simple fire magic. This surprise might have been a real danger, but Frog used a water spell and the flames were quenched. The guards sputtered after their soaking but their fighting skills were by no means washed up. Their swordsmanship was incredible and had not the heroes been so competent, they might have been defeated and captured.
At long last, the guards were dispatched with and the trio approached the throne room. When they peeked around the doorframe, they were surprised to see no one in the room. Not a single guard was present. They cautiously entered the room with Frog leading and Magus guarding the rear. As soon as they had passed the throne, they heard a deep, cruel laugh behind them. Frog whirled about to see a man dressed in the darkest shades of violet, blue and crimson. On his hand, he wore a ring with a strangely glowing black ring in its simple setting. With horror, they realized he was a Human-Mystic half-breed of sorts. He began to clap slowly.
"I congratulate you, travelers. Who would have thought you would get this far with so little to go on? You are resourceful, if nothing else. I must say, seeing the wench with you is a bit of a surprise, but no matter." He stood slowly and paced once before the massive throne. He walked slightly hunched with an odd limp.
"Now... I suppose you're worried about your king, right little frog man? I'm so sorry to say that he's not here! He's locked up in Manoria Cathedral, dying of a slow-acting poison. It seems it is his fate to meet his end there! At the most, you have just over two weeks **check this!!** until he dies, and that is only if he is strong of mind, body, and spirit. We have diminished his first two strengths, but the other is harder to attack and predict.
"Your only chance to save him is either to kill us all and take our antidote, or to convince us to both give you the antidote and let you out of our grasp. The first is foolhardy and the second is almost as impossible as the first. I have just over two hundred fifty men under me. I will pit my two hundred fifty-five against you three any day. There is a third option, to stay here as my prisoners while the king wastes away, and to wait out the rest of your miserable lives here in the darkness. I think I will choose that one for you! What say you?" the dark man asked them.
"I say we use our magic now. Dark Matter, surround and overcome our foes! Perform your deathly task!" shouted Magus. The spell was absorbed by the dark man's ring and he sighed with pleasure and satisfaction. Then he rapidly whispered a silencing spell on Magus to prevent further spell casting.
"Do you see how pointless it is to resist me? I thank you for that added boost of energy though. I was a bit fatigued, after all. Perhaps you should know the name of your captor. I am called Shazar Lorech, leader of the Order of the Rainbow Talon. Guards!" the dark man called, "Remove these trespassers to the dungeon. ...Wait, leave the young woman here. I wish to have a word with her. Alone."
Frog flung himself against the guards' restraining arms, but could not escape. "I warn thee, Shazar Lorech, if thou layest e'en a finger upon yon lady in a dishonorable fashion, thou shalt answer to the Masamune! Consider thine actions carefully, Lorech."
"I do nothing else, Frog, and believe me, I have considered my present actions regarding the girl for quite some time now. I do not take betrayal lightly. Guards, remove this menagerie from my sight at once," Lorech ordered coldly.
Kaeri held Frog's gaze and her eyes drifted down to her left pocket momentarily. Frog remembered the salt in his eyes and sighed. He would have to trust her to take care of herself. Then she shrugged and braced herself for the raging leader's wrath at being betrayed. Frog could do nothing but let the guards drag him away with Magus, no longer all-powerful, at his side.
***
"Outwitted by a trinket, a mere piece of costume jewelry, silenced like an amateur, and bound in a prison behind magic-absorbing bars **do I contradict this later?**. What is the world coming to when I, the mighty Janus Zeal, cannot defend myself with my craft?" Magus shook his head in disgust and spat on the prison cell's floor. The stink in the air had grown worse, but the two prisoners had begun to grow accustomed to the smell.
Frog lay dejectedly on the floor where the guards had roughly deposited him the day before. He had not moved more than a foot from his original resting place. "Carest thou about nothing save thine own sorry self, Magus? My king be in his final days, and I be powerless to stop the scoundrels responsible for his peril!" Frog sighed and whispered, "Her majesty wilt ne'er forgive me... And right she wouldst be. Ha, I canst not e'en defend the proverbial 'damsel in distress.'"
"Don't let it get to you so much, Frog. That kind of emotion breeds weakness. It's not as though you could have done anything more for any of them. You certainly tried. And besides, as I've often reminded you, you know you can't really ever have a future with anyone in your present state. Who would possibly accept you? ...While we're on the subject of pouring out our pathetic regrets, which I always thought a pointless waste of time until recently, I ought to tell you I've occasionally thought better of my enchanting you. …Cursing you, rather. I can hardly believe I did something of such magnitude over that sorry relic." Magus nodded at the Masamune blade that was tantalizingly hung on the wall directly across from their cell.
"All too late, I suppose. Schala would have been deeply ashamed of me. I sometimes wonder if..." Magus was his hand in dismissal. "No, never mind. I cannot change my actions and would not in most circumstances. You probably think me a complete fool, rambling on like this. I don't know what has gotten into me."
Frog sat up and looked curiously at Magus. He had never seen the wizard act this way before and expected he never would again. He realized that this was as close as Magus would ever come to apologizing. He wrestled with himself, and at last spoke the words he had vowed never to say. "...I forgiveth thee, Magus **too soon?*. I know not why thou cursed me to this mean body but I see that it hath tormented thee and caused thee, if only for mere moments, to bear a pained conscience. Fight by me and redeem thine honor! 'Tis a noble cause and Schala wouldst be proud of thee. Mayhap thine actions here shalt indirectly cause one in another age to find thy sister, if thou canst not."
Magus turned his face toward Frog and momentarily his face looked ancient and tired, but that soon passed and Magus was his seemingly ageless, aloof self once more. "What do you suggest? We could try to capture a guard next time they come to feed us. Or we could just break the lock. The guards down here have yellow stones in their rings and it seemed like the opposite power was still effective against the rings. I'm sure one of my spells would have an effect on them 88through the bars?!** but perhaps this time you favor a subtler way?"
Frog cocked his head to the right. "Mayhap we shouldst begin using our abilities and see what happens? 'Twould be much more adventuresome, nay? Let us begin by breaking yon lock."
The lock refused to budge even with very dedicated efforts to smash it with a loose stone. The pair decided to wait on the next guard and that proved to be a much more successful escape tactic, though in the end they had to use brute force to overcome him. Magus' magic **look!** had no effect, though at least it did not heal the guard.
Unfortunately, more guards waited in the room at the top of the stair and all efforts to overwhelm these men proved futile. This time, Frog and Magus were dragged into separate cells with the hope that they would not be able to conspire together as well. They were still close enough to carry on a conversation though.
Two dull, uneventful days passed with no one besides the guards entering the odious dungeon cellar. This concerned Frog, who still worried greatly about Kaeri. All sorts of dreadful images rolled about in his mind during his waking hours and through his restless sleep.
During the late watch that third night in prison (though none underground could tell the hour), there was a noise and a bright flash coming from the staircase too off-schedule to be a meal on its way. Frog and Magus braced themselves, not sure what was coming down the steps, but suspecting that their captor was about to make an appearance. When the light faded away, Frog and Magus could make out two figures that had seemingly teleported onto the staircase. Indeed, it was Shazar Lorech, and he dragged a shackled, bloodied, and broken-spirited Kaeri behind him. He strode slowly and deliberately down the stair, making sure that everyone present recognized completely who was in charge.
Lorech stood Kaeri before him and caressed her cheek. Then he abruptly struck her face with a backhand and allowed her to collapse to the floor. "Guards, throw this prisoner in with the Frog-man. It would be a shame for the wizard to use his valuable strength casting whatever healing spells he might know on her. Of course, I see that they are both too weak to have much stamina for spell-casting anyway. Mwa ha ha haa! Less than two weeks **??**until your king is gone forever and I can take over the kingdom! Enjoy the wait!" With that, Lorech vanished in an instant, and Kaeri's presence aside, it was as though no one had ever been there.
Frog quickly hopped over to Kaeri's side and gently turned the crumpled heap of her body over so she rested on her side. She groaned in pain, and Frog decided not to place her flat on her back as he had intended. On a more careful examination, Frog noticed narrow rips in her tunic and beneath that, raw stripes on her sides and back where she had been whipped.
Frog knew he could help somewhat without using actual magic, but he hesitated. "...M'lady, there be a small thing I couldst do to help thee, but... er, modesty forbideth me. Mayhap...," he trailed off and was silent.
Kaeri laughed softly and then winced in pain. "Always the knight aren't you, Frog? Always concerned with honor. After what I've been through it doesn't make much difference to me. Her broken frame shuddered at the nightmarish memories and it was a moment before she could continue.
"...Look, why don't I lay face down and hold my tunic in place at my sides. Then you can at least get to my back and use whatever healing means you have on me. Here... go ahead, I'm ready."
Frog still hesitated a moment. "M'lady, were I but stronger I could use a curative spell, but alas, my stamina be all but gone. There be a way, but 'twould likely disgust thee."
Magus called over from the other cell, "Good thinking, Frog! Maybe being an enchanted amphibian has its benefits after all! You certainly could not do what you're planning if you were still human. Fate has dealt you a card even I did not foresee. Perhaps the Black Wind begins to fail me..."
"Amphibian benefits, cards, Black Wind? Frog, what is he talking about? Just do whatever you have to do to stop this pain!" Kaeri whimpered.
"As you wish, m'lady. Allow me to warn thee, my simpler healing practices involve my... tongue. Apparently, my saliva hath healing properties or some such thing. I called this technique 'Slurp' long ago when I first discovered it. My deepest apologies, but this be the only way."
Kaeri shuddered just visibly but her muscles tensed and she braced herself for what was to come. "I don't think I have any other choice. Go ahead Frog; it can't be all that bad."
Frog hesitated a moment longer, but he gently pushed the back of Kaeri’s tunic out of the way, shook his head at the cruelty of the wounds he saw, tried to ignore the smooth curve of her back, and went to work.
The warm sliminess aside, Kaeri discovered that 'Slurp' was actually relaxing, almost like a massage and an analgesic poultice combined. "I have a question. Doesn't the taste bother you at all? I mean, licking at people's wounds must be vile, don't you think?" Kaeri asked.
"...Believe me, Kaeri. I hath tasted far worse than that during this present existence."
Kaeri thought about that. "You mean you've eaten bugs and stuff?"
Frog gave her a final Slurp before replying. "Just because I possess a human mind and soul dost not mean all animal instincts be absent. Yes, I hath consumed... insects when desperate, though I be ashamed to admit so."
She shuddered unwittingly, making a sound of disgust, and Frog winced inwardly, knowing she would have looked away from him in revulsion, had her face not already been turned away.
He sighed, deeply pained. "In any case, the task be complete. I hope 'twas helpful."
Kaeri straightened her ruined tunic and stretched, testing to see how much pain she would feel. She was pleasantly surprised that almost no pain remained. She stood before Frog and said, "Thank you for healing me. Now at least the physical pain is gone." Then she took a deep breath and hesitatingly planted a tiny kiss above Frog's nostrils before walking over to a pile of musty straw where she promptly curled up and went to sleep.
Frog remained frozen in place for a while before Magus quietly broke the silence. "This would certainly make for an interesting story one day, wouldn't it? But try to focus now, Frog. We may already be too late to do anything and both our quests will have failed. Now, get a grip and help me think of a way out of here!"
Frog sent a glare full of serpents and daggers at Magus, but said nothing for he knew the wizard was right. Then something occurred to him. "Be it possible that those accursed rings be set with shards of the rainbow shell that cameth from this very cave? 'Tis possible, I think. Ah, if we could but have our swords. If we were not o'erwhelmed by great numbers, I think our weapons wouldst be quite effective."
"Of course, we've already seen that weapons are effective. I thought of that long ago, but dismissed the idea because they're out of reach. ...Frog, do you think your Slurp could get a hold of them?" Magus wondered.
Frog blinked a few times. "That thought didst not occur to me. Mayhap thou art correct. The idea warranteth an attempt if naught else. Thy weapon will be somewhat more facilely reached than mine because of its longer handle, but I think mayhap I canst reach both." Frog went over to the bars and pressed his face as close to them as possible and shot out his incredibly long tongue. He aimed to the side on purpose so that he could gauge his distance. His tongue just managed to graze the surface of the opposing wall, so the weapons would be well within reach.
Frog turned back to Magus. "Thou dost surely realize that once we have our blades, there be no returning them. I fear that their disappearance wilt cause the guards to attack at the next feeding time."
Magus shrugged as he casually traced a crack down his cell’s wall. "Why would that be a problem? We are on a race against time. The poison is slowly killing your king and we may not live much longer unless we escape. I say we get the weapons and ready ourselves to escape."
Frog shook his head in exasperation. "That be a problem because of Kaeri. She hath not the strength to stand, much less to battle and escape. And I’ll not leave her, so durst not suggest it. It grieveth me that we brought her to this miserable torture. She shouldst not hath had to face such pain…!"
Magus walked over to the bars that faced Frog’s cell and gripped them. "She chose to come, if you remember. We didn’t make her do anything. Kaeri must have known the risks of going up against someone whose confidence she had betrayed. And besides, you helped her all you could. There is nothing more you could have done. All that remains is for you to be true to your vow to Lorech and avenge her suffering." Magus cocked his head as if something had just occurred to him, but he did not mention his thought. "You are correct though, we should wait at least a day. I think we still have one or two to spare."
Frog looked at Kaeri. "I… thank thee, Magus. Thou hast no idea how much this means to me. Though I hath striven not to, I care deeply for her and wouldst do aught to protect her."
"I know," said Magus quietly. He stepped over a stagnant puddle of water to his own musty pile of straw, lay down, and smiled sadly to himself. Then he pulled his billowing cloak around him and gave himself over to sleep. After the next morning, only four days would remain to them.
***
Kaeri slept fitfully and her sleep was full of troubling dreams. She started awake in the dimness of the cell, but neither of the others was awake. Magus still slept with his cloak wrapped tightly about him, but Kaeri found Frog’s cloak draped over her instead. The green knight slept at a respectful distance on the other side of the cell.
Kaeri shivered, but not from the cold, as she recalled her torture. She remembered the backfists, the kicks, the vicious whip, but she also remembered the insinuations, the spiteful kisses, and the groping caresses. There were things far worse than death, she decided. There had been no point to the torture, for it was not as though Kaeri was holding back information. Shazar Lorech had just been enraged and took it out on his most vulnerable target. Kaeri began to weep softly and wondered if her life would ever be the same again.
Frog stirred over in his corner and Kaeri immediately became silent. The only sounds were an incessant drip and the scuttling of a tiny rodent somewhere on the ground. Frog sat up stiffly and peered through the gloom. He saw an un-sleeplike movement in Kaeri’s corner and hopped over.
Kaeri peeked up from beneath the cloak. "I’m sorry if I woke you, Frog."
"Nay Kaeri, worry not thyself about me. Art thou all right?" Frog whispered with deep concern.
The girl said nothing, but shook her head and began to sob quietly. Frog hesitated, unsure of what to do next, but he finally stepped closer and gently patted her on the back. Kaeri turned and flung herself into Frog’s arms. "It was just so terrible! He kept going on and on about how he could have made me rich beyond my wildest dreams if I had helped him. How I could have had unimaginable power. He kept rambling on about some rainbow-colored shell and a bunch of other things like troops, and attacks, and conspiracies, and other stuff I didn't understand."
Frog remained silent and let Kaeri get everything out. He wouldn't have known what to say anyway. Kaeri shifted in his arms so she could see his face. "Lorech also said other things… like how my beauty was wasted on someone like you when I could have someone like him. And he, he… No, I'm not ready to talk about all that yet. It still hurts too much. Frog, I want you to know that at least he didn’t do his worst, if you know what I mean… **re-word?** Still, I…" She trailed off for a moment before continuing, "Is adventuring always like this?"
Frog smiled. "Nay, normally it be dull and tiresome. I didst not expect such danger or I wouldst not hath let thee come along."
"Oh, it was my own thick-headedness that got me into this. I just wish I had listened to you and not come. Maybe then…" Kaeri's eyes began to get teary again and she could no longer speak. Frog drew her close and began slowly rocking her side to side.
"Hush now, lass. If thou hadst not come, the Trolls mightst have been much more trouble and we wouldst not hath known where to search out the king's kidnapper. Now we need only escape and Magus and I hath a plan for that. For now, try to rest easy. I shalt allow no harm to come to thee this night or e'er again, if it be in my power."
Within minutes, Kaeri fell asleep and Frog drifted off not long after, leaning against the stone wall and still holding her protectively.
Magus awoke about three hours later and found them still in the position in which they had fallen asleep. He sighed and said to himself, "My plan must work now. It is my only hope to redeem what I have done. If only there were not so many variables… Timing is of the utmost importance and for something I have never attempted… things may not go well."
He rubbed his face and stared at something beyond the cracked ceiling. "None must know my intent in case I should fail. What a loss that would prove. Well, I shall have a chance to test myself soon enough, I’ll warrant." He ceased his introspection as the guard came down to give them their gruel and water for the morning, and to collect the slop pails. The guard performed his task with practiced speed and was soon gone. He would not return until late afternoon.
Frog was the next to awaken, and he did so two hours after Magus. He was careful not to shift his position, but he whispered to Magus, "How long since the guard hast come?"
"Well over an hour if I’m not much mistaken. We still have plenty of time for the girl to rest before we make our attempt. Nevertheless, I think it would be foolhardy to wait to retrieve our weapons until we hear the guards coming back down the stair. For now, just wait and see. She may wake up on her own."
Frog sighed quietly. "I thank thee Magus." With that he went back to his silent vigil until Kaeri at last began to stir yet another two hours later.
The young woman rubbed the sleep out of her eyes and smiled sleepily up at Frog. "How close are we to being ready?" she murmured.
Frog glanced at Magus before replying. "Whene'er thou thinkest thou hast the strength and will to go on. Methinks we all must fight, though how we are to win hath not yet occurred to me."
Over in the other cell, Magus stood and stretched his muscles, stiff from inactivity. "Simple, I’ll use some of my lightning magic but rely mainly on Night Reaver; you attack and use water magic when appropriate, and Kaeri holds back as much as possible, defending when necessary. We all seem fairly resourceful; I'm sure the solution will present itself as we need it."
"And if it dost not?"
"Then it's the end of the world as we know it."
"And thou feelest fine about this? Magus, thou art more calloused than I perceived!" Frog retorted angrily.
“If I may comment, I think Magus is trying to lighten the mood a bit, which I think is very considerate of him,” Kaeri interposed. "People often try to cover up doubt or uncertainty with courage or arrogance. Sometimes it helps too. Just, don’t argue about it anymore, and let’s follow through with the plan."
"Think what you will, girl!" Magus snorted. "Frog, you'd better grab our gear before too much longer, and Kaeri, test your legs out a bit. I would hate to get free only to have you trip over your own feet as soon as we get to the stairs."
Frog helped Kaeri up and hopped over to the cell bars. He then proceeded to use Slurp to get at the weapons. It took him four attempts to get all three weapons (the Masamune was sheathed and Frog needed an extra slurp to avoid making noise), but at last the blades were in the cell before him. He carefully took the scythe by the flat of the blade and held it out toward Magus as far as he could. Magus just barely reached the handle and drew it to himself.
"Ahh, Night Reaver! How good to have you at my side again… Now, hide your weapons as best you can and let's wait for the next guard change." Magus said with a gleam of anticipation in his eyes.
***
The next guard on the roster was relatively new to the job and desperately wished to prove his worth to the more senior lackeys. Bearing the unfortunate name of Nuber, the rookie guard was ever struggling to gain respect. Well, this time he was going to prove he could handle his duty well. He was going to be on time and keep those dangerous prisoners groveling in a corner. The thought of a jailbreak would never even occur to prisoners when it was his shift. They would cower in fright before the fearsome Nuber! At least, this is what the unfortunate guard thought as he went downstairs to check on the prisoners.
When the guard arrived, Kaeri and Magus were both writhing on the floor, moaning, and appeared to be in great pain. Frog was pacing his cell looking very concerned. He bounded over to his cell door as soon as he knew the guard had taken the whole scene in.
"I prithee, lend me thine aid! These two didst eat the morning's gruel and fell deathly ill from it. Canst thou do aught to allay their suffering?"
Nuber scratched his stubbly chin and looked at Frog with suspicion. "Why aren't you rolling on the floor like them if the gruel had food poisoning?"
Frog shook his head in exasperation. "The morning guard left but two bowls of gruel, one for each cell. In the spirit of chivalry, I didst give my portion to the lass for she wert tired and malnourished. I didst not know then that the meals wert tainted! Wilt thou do naught but stare at their plight?"
"Right…, sorry. I guess I can at least take a look at them. Just don't make any sudden moves, froggy. I'm watching you. Now, which one first?" Nuber queried with a perplexed look.
"The lady of course! Hast thou no sense of honor?" Frog croaked with disgust.
The poor guard hurried over to the double-occupied cell and fumbled clumsily with his keys, but managed to get the door open anyway. Frog promptly drew his blade from where he had hidden it under his cloak, and before the hapless guard had a chance to cry out, Frog knocked him on the head with Masamune's pommel.
"Poor fool. He deserveth not death, though I fear what fate may befall him when his superiors hear of this incident. Magus, I admit I doubted thy plan, but it hath worked most admirably so far."
Magus nodded his head impatiently. "Yes, yes. We know I'm brilliant. Thankfully the guard was witless. Now will you kindly get me out of this cage?!"
Rather than aid Magus, Frog hopped up the first two steps and Kaeri hesitantly followed him with a look of confusion passing over her features. "Nay, methinks I like thee whither thou art. Fare thee well, Magus. …Or not…?" He chuckled and hopped up another five steps.
"How dare you, you insolent, bottom-dwelling creature? If I could just get my hands on your slimy little…"
Frog hopped back down to the floor in a single, well-executed leap. "'Twas merely a jest, Magus. Thou art so fond of them, after all. Come, I'll certainly free thee. Thou art vital to our escape, and though thou hast caused me great suffering, I feel no need to inflict such upon thee."
After a brief struggle with the rusty lock, the trio quietly ascended the stairs. Magus easily dispatched with the blue-ringed guards by using lightning. Besides the quiet crackling of electricity in the air and a few scuffling noises, the encounter was silent and drew no further attention.
The three passed several passages and galleries before coming again to the great throne room. As they had hoped, Lorech was there before them, making plans about projected troop movements to commence at the king’s demise. He sensed movement in the passageway on the south side of the throne room, and darted his eyes in that direction.
"Ahh, so you've escaped, have you? I commend your efforts. A pity you'll never be able to defeat me." The three warriors stepped out from the shadows, knowing their chance at a surprise assault had vanished. "Oh, yes. I know you probably have your blades as well. Don't even attempt to use them against me. I have far greater things planned than a final showdown in this dim, stuffy room. But you haven't seen what I mean yet! What a shame. Allow me to escort you there myself. Just step a bit nearer!" Lorech sneered.
"Gladly!" muttered Magus in a low, dangerous voice. Then they charged their foe. They were upon him at last! …Or so it ought to have been, but the laws of physics were not quite behaving themselves and the very world seemed to waver before their eyes as reality began to swirl and then fade to nothingness. Magus smiled slightly, as though he had expected this.
***
They rematerialized in what was to Frog an all-too-familiar place. They stood in Manoria Cathedral. "Why hast thou brought us here, Lorech? To see our king and our future die before our very eyes?"
"That's so much more eloquently put than what I had in mind, but yes, that's the general idea. Then of course, I plan to kill you gentlemen and take the wench. We left off before the real fun began." Lorech's cruel sneer vanished as his expression turned cold. "Now follow me and behold the former glory of Guardia Kingdom." Lorech turned with a swishing of his expensive brocade garments and strode towards the main sanctuary. He stopped just short of the doors and turned to face his prisoners.
"Simply put, I don’t trust you even taking the protection of my talisman into consideration so let me explain how events shall proceed. I will fling the door open and teleport the wizard and the girl to a balcony. The frog shall accompany me alone. Try to interfere and I'll slit his throat. I trust I make myself clear?"
"Unavoidably," Magus muttered.
Shazar Lorech grinned cruelly again. "In that case, prepare to watch your hopes expire! The king is nearing his end. It seems he is just hanging on long enough to see his faithful servant once more. The poison worked a bit faster than I predicted. Behold!" He flung open the doors and Magus and Kaeri vanished only to appear a floor above on a small balcony. They peered down and beheld King Guardia lying upon an altar, gasping raggedly for every painful breath. Frog rushed up and flung himself before the low altar. The Masamune clattered beside him, momentarily forgotten.
"Majesty, thy humble servant be hither! I pray thee, hang on to life a bit longer. It be not thy time to shuffle off this mortal coil! Thou still hast so much life left for the living! Abandon not our beloved queen to loneliness and despair!" Frog took the king’s hand and kissed it.
"Frog… I have not the strength. You must… make things right… yourself. May the people… forgive me for not having the strength to fight this… uhnn… poison." The king looked away in defeat and winced from the pain of even that small movement.
Frog suddenly became firm and resolute, almost angry, it seemed. "Nay, they shalt not forgive thee! For the moment that thou embraceth death, all times, past, present, and future, will lose their hope. Thy family line shalt not continue so the princess Marle, one of the saviors of time, shalt not ever be. I wilt not pretend to know the workings of time, and perhaps Lavos may not return, but other things may arise even more daunting, if thou livest not! Majesty, I beg thee, do not give in!"
Shazar Lorech strode up behind the other side of the altar and gazed condescendingly upon the king’s prostrate form. "So pathetic, you humans. I loathe the fact that your blood runs so strong in my veins. If only I had had more Mystics as ancestors! How much more powerful might I be now? Ah, they would have been proud of this moment." He glanced up at the balcony.
"How would Beauty like to join her beast down here one last time? I think she would!" With that, Lorech focused his energies and teleported Kaeri beside him, where he quickly disarmed her and bound her hands before her with a scarlet cord. "Now, you will help me deliver the king’s final moment of despair!" He pulled a vial full of a strange, cloudy liquid from beneath the folds of his cloak.
"Do you know what this is, oh king? It is your life! I hold here the antidote to your poison. But you shall never have it. Girl! Hold the vial above his parched lips, but do not try to administer it, or you shall regret the day you first drew breath!" The half-breed thrust the vial between her bound hands. "Now we wait and I will at last avenge crimes committed by the line of kings against the line of Mystics! I will at last fulfill their right to rule!" He laughed wildly.
Magus looked on with mixed feelings. He felt that his moment of truth was nearing as well, if all went as he suspected and hoped it would. There were still concerns in his mind whether or not his untold plan would succeed. The wizard had to bide his time a bit longer.
Kaeri’s gaze searched for Frog’s and met it at last. They exchanged silent thoughts and Kaeri looked down at the helpless king. His breathing was growing even more unsteady and his eyes were growing ever dimmer. At last, she made her choice. "Frog, consider this a token of my love." Frog’s mouth fell open, and he was stunned to immobility. Before Frog or anyone else could attempt to stop her, Kaeri quickly pulled out the vial’s stopper with her teeth and tilted it as best she could, letting the fluid life spill between the king’s parted lips.
"Fool, what have you done?" **would he have expected this, or can he not foresee everything?** Lorech snarled at her and struck her violently across the temple with the back of his iron-gloved fist. She lay motionless where she had fallen on the floor as golden light streamed down on her from the majestic stained glass window above. Her expression was calm and were it not for the blood trickling down her face, she would have almost appeared to be in an angelic reverie.
Frog looked upon her with unfathomable sorrow, knowing that if she were not dead as he feared, Lorech would soon see to it. His great eyes burned with rage and he grabbed up the Masamune to confront Lorech.
"Thou bile from the bottomless pit, thou must not be allowed to live, e'en if it doth mean that I must perish in the attempt. E'en if it doth mean that I must give up she whom hast become dearest to me! Prepare thyself for thine end!" With that warning, Frog leapt at Shazar Lorech.
Stepping back off the stone dais, the would-be mage wielded his ring with terrifying accuracy and power. The force of his first enchanted blow knocked Frog off his feet. But he quickly hopped back up and dodged the next onslaught of energy. The fight continued on, battle sounds echoing off the vaulted ceilings.
Off to the side, unmarked by either combatant, Magus had lowered himself from the balcony. He moved over to Kaeri's side, lifted her carefully, and moved her to the side of the room where they were partially concealed by a heavy velvet curtain. Then he worked to resuscitate her. It was not an easy task, but she at last began to stir. The battle still raged beyond them.
"Why do you oppose your doom?" demanded Lorech between frenzied breaths, his booted feet clomping on the cold stone floor. "What can it possibly be worth? You have nothing and will gain nothing!"
"Be that as it may, the world be worth it, nay even greater, she be worth it. Though I may lose all, it be worth it for her. Now, taste the wind of thy destruction! To me, Masamune!" Frog made one last desperate thrust at his foe and cleaved the ring and finger from his hand. He quickly drove Masamune in an upward thrust and amazingly met his mark. Yet before Shazar Lorech met his end, he clutched at an ebony charm about his neck and fired off one last volley of magic, the darkest and most potent he had at his command. It engulfed Frog and chilled the life within him from a blazing fire to a single smoldering ember. Lorech breathed his last and crumpled to the floor, finished.
As the blackness came about Frog, Kaeri cried out and started towards him, but Magus froze and chanted something in a language long forgotten by the Time in which he was forced to carry out his existence. The chant went on and on in an eerie melody. When the black orb faded, Magus ceased his chant. Then he went to join Kaeri.
She had thrown herself protectively over Frog’s amphibian body as her hot tears fell down upon him. "You can't die! Who will I have to watch over me? To tell me I'm being a silly, foolish girl? **awkward* To talk with me long into the nights? Frog, don't do this!"
Magus knelt beside her and tried to gently pull her away. When that didn’t work, he used more force. "See to the king and leave this place. I do not know what lingering magical effects may yet remain here. You will have time enough to mourn later. We have an eternity to mourn those lost to us… I shall follow soon after. Now go!" he said in a commanding voice that left no room whatsoever for protest.
Kaeri stumbled over to the king who was showing great signs of recovery already, and helped him from the great sanctuary. On her way out, she remembered to retrieve her sword Alhambra. Magus made sure they had gone and knelt once more by Frog's form. The green knight still clutched the Masamune in one hand and the Hero’s Medal in the other.
The great wizard took the medal in his own hands and said simply, "Now, I give thee back thyself," as he slipped the medal over Frog’s head and straightened it upon his now-still breast. Then he rose, took one last look at the unlikely hero and walked from the long room without turning back.
Epilogue
Five years had passed in the world of the living since the triumphant victory of the frog knight and the restoration of King Guardia to his throne. At long last, within a year of the victory, a child was born to the king and queen. The pieces of the Rainbow shell that had been stolen were returned to the castle and the nation prospered. Toma helped establish a permanent ferry line between the port towns of Porre and Choras, and in time, he settled down in Choras.
For her part in the event, Kaeri was granted a minor title and a small plot of land on which to live, as well as a small stipend. When Magus had chosen the spot for Frog's burial, high in the Denadoro Mountains, Kaeri chose to be as near as she could to Frog's remains, and requested a plot at the foot of the mountain. The king and queen happily granted her request.
Magus took his leave not long after Frog’s simple, private burial service. Out of respect and tradition, there was a closed coffin—Magus made sure of that. But before he left, Kaeri managed to speak with him briefly.
"Will you be going in search of your sister again?" Kaeri asked conversationally.
"Always. Though there is little or no reason to hope, I must continue anyway. Such is my life, my doom. I'll never give up my search until it is fulfilled or my life expires. I wonder if perhaps you feel the same way at this moment... The grief is still so young for you." Magus gazed off at nothing, remembering the long eons of lonely searching. His grief was deeply seasoned by the ages.
Kaeri sighed. "You're right, to some extent. Frog's love was so selfless because he committed himself completely to others. I may never find that again in anyone, and so in a way, I may always be searching for him. I don't envy the burden of guilt that you bear though…"
Magus nodded. "Yes, the memory of that guilt will remain for a long time. Yet I also hope that I will learn to forgive myself. And that, in time, I may be forgiven by others as well. I have done all that I could." He straightened his shoulders. "And now I must go."
"I understand. I hope you find your sister one day. I'm sure she misses you too. Goodbye Janus," she finished, for she had newly learned his true name.
He walked silently toward the wood, but just before entering, he turned his head and spoke over his shoulder. "Your love was selfless too, for he had seemingly nothing to offer, yet you loved in return anyway." Almost as an afterthought he added, "His love for you enabled him to achieve the impossible. Remember." Then the wizard turned and vanished into the wood.
All of this ran through Kaeri’s mind as she ascended the mountain five years from the day of the defeat. She had grown up all at once during that adventure and had spent the last five years letting it settle into her system. Her simple life kept her occupied enough, and she had taken up the art of weaving. Still, she chose to remain alone, remembering.
Each year Kaeri climbed the mountain to plant wildflowers on Frog's grave and to imagine she spoke with him there. This time was no different, and she reached the top unhindered by the creatures of the forest. As she neared the clearing, the birdsong took on a more hushed, reverent tone and even the gold-leafed trees seemed to position themselves to let the warm rays of the afternoon sun fall upon the grassy mound. The Masamune was driven into the ground and gleamed in the sun’s rays, untouched by weathering.
Kaeri knelt on the grave and ran her fingers over the inscription which read:
A hero unhindered by form.
He defeated all odds and kept his honor.
Now he is free.
Then she buried her face in her hands and wept. She wept with joy at what had been, with longing for what might have been, and with bitterness for what would never be. "Why did you leave me? Why didn’t you come back?" She continued to sob softly, but caught her breath, startled as a shadow fell upon the grave.
She drew her sword, whirled and saw a lone figure, one unfamiliar to her eyes, standing motionless before her. She looked the figure up and down, and then looked away, astonished at the boldness of her own gaze.
It was a man. Tall and handsome in form, his bare, muscular arms glistened from the exertion of climbing the mountain in the heat of the day. The man's face was wonderful to look on, but sorrowful as well. His broad shoulders rose and fell as he drew breath after breath of sweet mountain air into his lungs. A fine cloak, swept behind him, hung 'round his neck above his white tunic. Comfortable dark pants swept down to his shining black boots. His deep, obsidian eyes seemed to pierce to her very soul. Long green hair spilled down below his shoulders and onto his back.
At last, Kaeri summoned the will to speak. "My lord, these paths are not well-known and even less well-traveled."
"Indeed," he acknowledged in a resonant, baritone voice.
This non-answer frustrated Kaeri and she was determined to learn more. "What is it that you seek that I might help you find it?"
"I have found it already," he replied.
Kaeri shook her head and looked around her. "I don't understand…"
The man stepped forward slowly, as though fearing she would start and bound away like a frightened fawn at any moment, but Kaeri was riveted in place by this mysterious stranger. He held out his hand to her. "Kaeri," was all he said.
She hesitated a moment longer and then the clouds of confusion in her eyes were pierced through by a ray of hope. "It can't be… Frog?" Her sword fell to the ground, forgotten.
The man gazed at her with a bittersweet expression on his face. "I was once called that, yes. But mine name is Glenn once more, for now I am free."
Kaeri's eyes misted over as she placed her hand in his. Glenn drew her close and held her to him, gently stroking her auburn hair for what seemed like a long age, and yet no time at all. Then he searched for her gaze, seeking approval. Her eyes consented and he gently tilted her face towards his. Then each gave the other a precious gift: their first kiss.
Glenn delighted in the slight tremor that passed through Kaeri’s form as he held her close to himself. All around them was still, hushed, attentive. She was the first to break away.
"I… I don’t understand! You were dead! And as I recall, you were a bit greener last time we parted," Kaeri quipped.
"'Tis the work of the Magus. Nay, truly his name be Janus, for his actions show him to have a second face, one with a sympathy for humanity. 'Twas he who restored me to my right form. And he hath paid dearly for the sacrifice."
"But that doesn’t explain… this! What, was it really like in the fairy tales? You merely needed to love and be loved in return?" Kaeri wondered.
"Nay, 'twas deeper than that. I knoweth now why Janus couldst not act before. Timing was all. Not only had I to realize that I loved and wert loved, but also, knowing what my loss wouldst be, to sacrifice my very life protecting the one I loved. And still, 'twas not enough. Janus had to deliver the transformation spell at the fleeting moment before my soul didst depart from my body. E'en then, the transformation wert not immediate."
"But you were unconscious… no, dead! How could you possibly know all this?"
"The reports of my death wert greatly exaggerated. **too cheesy?** Janus made sure thou wert safe, then returned for me and brought me to my dwelling deep in the secret forest. He made funeral arrangements, and then forsook the paths of civilization in order to care for me for a time. Janus recounted the details to me during that time," Glenn explained.
Kaeri sat, stunned momentarily beyond words. At last, she managed to speak. "I never would have predicted that Janus would do so much! Of course, I always hoped. He seemed to soften as our travels together progressed."
Glenn smiled sadly. "I believe my restoration wert his own mission from the beginning. But the tale yet lacketh one thing to be told: the depth of Janus' sacrifice. In restoring me, he dealt a deep wound to his own power. For me to increase, he had to decrease. Such wert the depth of his loss, that I fear mayhap he shalt ne’er again have the power to seek for the one who is lost to him. Perhaps after long ages hath passed, but there be no guarantee. He atoned for his wrong, yet paid dearly in the end. After recounting all this to me, he took his leave and now nary a mortal dost know the paths he treadeth, save him alone."
"And now you are free."
"Indeed. The life taken from me hath been restored and I intend to live it." Glenn paused; uncertainty and apprehension clouded his handsome features. "Kaeri, would it be presumptuous to hope that thou still beareth love for me?"
Kaeri gave a tiny smile and glanced away coyly. "No, I don't think it would."
"Then," Glenn knelt before her and took her hands in his, "Wilt thou wed with me, and share all of thy life with me?" he asked.
"All my life and all my love. A thousand times, yes!"
***
And indeed they did marry. Over time, their union was blessed with several **seven?** children and Glenn often told them stories of adventure while Kaeri watched them contentedly from her loom. She had had her grand adventure and was ready to settle for the simpler, though no less daunting tasks of wife and motherhood.
The old captain of the guard retired with his brother to live out the rest of their days together, and Glenn assumed the position of captain of the knights of the square table. Guardia enjoyed peace like never before.
As the years went by, past deeds were attributed to myth and actual events treated as legend, but Glenn still occasionally thought back on his travels through time and the quest that restored him. He still wondered about Janus and hoped that the mage had perhaps found peace. As long as Glenn lived, an unusually long and full life, he always remembered.
~FIN~
Author's note: Thanks for suffering long through my fan fiction! This is dedicated to the One of whom it was said, "He was despised and rejected by men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not...But he was wounded for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his stripes we are healed." He is my inspiration.
