Squaresoft/Back to the Future Chapter 1
Crono's Curse
By Fred Delles
Tick, tick, tick. The clocks all around Bugenhagens observatory kept on ticking through the stream of time, despite hardships thirty years ago, where people just kept on looking toward the future. There were all sorts of clocks clocks with hands and digital clocks, clocks showing the cycle of life, others showing death, some nondescript, and others that seem to tell a story by each passing hour. Their eternal ticking kept on going until 7:30 AM, when the constant sound was interrupted by a small robotic arm moving and the Alan Parsons Project song If I Could Change Your Mind.
Even the song seemed to go in sync with the ticking of the clocks, but not
for long. Another interruption, the television, asserted its presence after
about one minute. A young woman cheerfully told the news to the audience
around the Planet.
the Senator will vote on it today. In other news, the scientists
in the Midgar Research Facility No. 24 denied that their Mako reactor rods
were stolen. A group of ex-Turks claimed responsibility, but it was just
a momentary miscalculation
The news droned on.
A third interruption came when a red-haired teenager entered the observatory.
Crono, as he was called for the past seventeen years, looked around for one
of his pals, Bugenhagen.
Bugenhagen? Are you there? Nanaki?
Crono took a quick look at the large Ultimate Weapon Bugenhagen was given
by Cloud after they destroyed Meteor thirty years ago. He picked it up, feeling
its immense power.
Hmmm
what power
Crono swung it once, and it smashed a post, knocking tons of papers, books,
and other junk on top of him.
Wow
heavy metal, Crono replied as he surveyed the damage.
His curiosity caused him to be silent, hearing nothing but the clocks. The
phone then rang, breaking the clocks ticking.
Crono picked up the phone.
Yo!
It was Bugenhagen.
Hello? he replied.
Bugenhagen? Is that you? Crono replied, feeling a bit surprised.
Ho Ho Hooo. Yes, its me.
Where have you been all week?
Dont worry about that. Ill need your assistance. Meet me
at the Cosmo Valley Twin Railway Mall at 1:36 A.M. tonight.
The Corel Valley Mall?
Ho Ho Hooo. Yes, there. Lucca just had a special breakthrough, and
its too important for you to miss. Nanakis way too excited for
this.
And hows Nanaki?
Hes fine. Nanaki spoke into the phone. Good morning,
Crono. Its a fascinating time at the lab, working with Bugenhagen,
Lucca, and Cid.
All of the clocks suddenly chimed the time, shocking Crono. It seemed that
despite the conversation, Bugenhagen heard.
Arent the clocks bothering you? he said in a nonchalant
voice.
Well
not really. According to these clocks, its eight o
clock! Crono replied.
Eight oclock! Ho Ho Hooo! This means that Luccas experiment
worked! All of the clocks are twenty-seven minutes slow!
Bugenhagen!? Are you telling me that its 8:27 now!?
Yes! That means
that Im late for school! Crono slammed down the
phone without so much more than a see ya. He left the observatory,
shut the door, and ran off to school.
About sixteen minutes later, Crono made it to Cosmo Canyon High. He passed the many buildings and other spectacles of technology that were created in the thirty short years after AVALANCHEs victory against Sephiroth and Meteor. There were many more buildings, many homes, and a population explosion that was well supported by the Planets various resources. Mako power and magic were things of the past; now, coal, steel, and the information age are taking their place.
Crono looked around for an entrance to the school, to avoid seeing the guy everyone called Rude. They all say that he was part of Shinras secret service agency thirty years ago, and he still is tough with everyone he meets; thats still his job despite being in a time of peace. He was part of discipline; he checked on everyone to make sure they were in their place during the long hours of school. Those who were causing trouble were punished. Those who were late were punished even more.
Crono heard a familiar voice.
Dont go that way, Crono! Rudes looking for you! It
was Marle.
Crono looked around and saw her running toward him. The next second, she
was escorting him to another entrance to the school. Marle tried to calm
down and tell Crono the bad news.
Good old Marle, Crono thought. I could always rely on her to avoid trouble.
If he catches you, that will be four tardies in a row! Marle
wanted to make sure her boyfriend wont get in even more trouble, especially
after he was nearly found guilty of treason back in the country of Truce,
where Marle was from.
Why are you late AGAIN? Marle said.
Well, Bugenhagen is still working on an experiment with Lucca,
Crono replied.
The hallway was quiet, as the first class started about a half an hour ago.
Crono and Marle were sneaking across the hall, looking around to make sure
Rude wasnt around.
Crono continued. Anyway, with Nanaki, and Cid-
He was interrupted as a hand grabbed their shoulders. It was Rude.
Dont tell me that youre hanging out with those spoony morons
again! Its starting to become a syndrome or something!
He wrote something on two slips of paper.
Heres a tardy slip for you, Miss Guardia, Rude said as
he gave a slip to Marle, and a tardy slip for you, Mr. Strife.
Rude handed another slip to Crono. He said in a chidingly voice And
I believe that makes four tardies in a row
Rude continued in a more serious tone. You know, youre one
freakin slacker. You old man Cloud was one too. Indirectly killed his
love Aeris, I heard.
Crono started to reply. You know, me and Lucca-
Rude interrupted. Lucca. That is one dangerous woman. If you hang out
with her any longer, you will get in even deeper trouble.
Crono smiled and almost started to laugh. Yes sir! He started
to leave.
Rude tried another reply. I also hear that your band is auditioning
for the homecoming. Why even bother!? You are such a slacker, just like that
moron Cait Sith! Sophie and Robo too!
Ignore him, Crono. Youll do just fine. Marle said as she
tried to protect Crono from Rudes words of weakening. The two turned
and went down the hallway.
Rude yelled, You will never fit in your old mans shoes! And if
you slack off and avoid detention, Ill see to it that you are
expelled!
Crono and Marle chuckled about the seemingly serious incident. Watch,
Ill really be a part of history, Crono replied. Rude did not
seem to hear.
By 2:00 PM, school was out, and Crono was trying out his science-fiction themed band in the schools homecoming dance. The group started as a garage band about six months ago, when Yuffies daughter Sophie believed that there is more to music than just rap and alternate. Crono tended to concur, and the two rounded up Robo and Cait Sith, and started to get pretty good, mostly singing songs like Led Zeppelin and Pink Floyd, with a bit of Alan Parsons thrown in. Many other people think of them as mere total weirdness, but they took Luccas advice: If you put your mind to it, you can accomplish anything.
Crono was testing the right amp. Sophie made sure the keyboard was all set up. Sophie Kisaragi was a young, beautiful woman at seventeen, Crono and Marles age. While she was one of Yuffies three children (also the youngest), she was far different than her mother or her siblings. For starters, she looked more like Aeris than Yuffie, especially with her long brown hair that reached her hips. Also, she is more of a student than a Materia hunter or ninja. She has the ability to cast certain spells, and is still a fairly good fighter, though not like Yuffie at her age.
Last month, Sophie was asked by Lucca to help out at Cosmo Canyon, where she resides with some of the Planet Life elders. However, she was more interested in magic and Planet protection than technology, thinking that technology was the main reason for the problems thirty years ago. Now she tries to explain her beliefs through song in Cronos Cetra Lightning band, although they have very few original compositions.
About five minutes later, they got everything set up. The principal raised
his megaphone and yelled, Well, are we ready about now? The other
dozen bands were waiting for their turn at stardom through the steel and
plastic breeze.
Alllllll righty then! Cait Sith yelled through the megaphone.
Cait was still his normal self after the thirty-year-old victory, with a
clone of Reeves mind embedded in the cat.
Crono set up the microphone and everyone took his or her positions.
Were the Cetra Lightning, he said in a nondescript voice.
The place was totally silent. Sophie played the first notes.
The band started to play something similar to Enigmas Return
to Innocence. Crono added some of his psychedelic Pink Floyd-ish guitar
to the main music while Sophie played an enchanting melody on the keyboard,
Robo added the bass, and Cait Sith fired off the percussion and drum set.
Sophie started to sing in her pleasing, lucid tone. Dont be afraid
to be brave
About three seconds later, the principal yelled through the microphone. Someone
else, thinking that the music was way too lame for their alternate-instilled
minds, pulled the plug to the speakers and microphone.
Im sorry. Im afraid the music is just too darn deviate.
Next please. The principal spoke politely, yet impatiently, as if he
wanted their crap off the stage. With all the number one hits in totally
different categories, from rap to alternate, the other bands would feel the
same way.
Crono looked toward Marle as if to say Dammit! But he didnt
say anything. Marle didnt need to say anything else as she stared at
him. They didnt need to; they knew their answer: He just fell into
an another abyss of failure.
End of Chapter 1
Watch for Chapter 2 The Successful Failure, coming soon!
Nitpickings:
Crono, Locke, and Faris are related just for the purpose of the story.
Who the heck is Alan Parsons? Well, he composed science fiction related songs during the 70s and was Pink Floyds sound engineer for the album Dark Side Of The Moon. The Alan Parsons Projects most famous album was I Robot, based on Isaac Asimovs book of the same name (Yes, I have this album.)
No, Sophie Kisaragis father isnt important, but it will be mentioned later. Sophie also isnt from any RPG I know of. Just a random name, I guess. While I could have used Terra, Rydia, or Celes (she sang in the opera), remember that there are still two more stories to write.
Enigmas Return To Innocence was just a random new age song I chose for this story. Nothing special. Im not really a new age song lover.
What would Robo and Cait Sith do in school? Well, they could be used as programming experiments in artificial intelligence classes or something
The phrase stardom through the steel [and plastic] breeze was derived from the lyrics of the Pink Floyd song Shine On You Crazy Diamond (parts 1-5) in the album Wish You Were Here. (The songs lyrics are by Roger Waters.)
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