With the story concluded, I am opening the blog to asks. Ask me anything about the story or even ask the characters directly about things and I will answer as soon as I can while I work on the sequel.
Have questions for anyone in Zeal Ascendancy? Ask here and they will provide answers to the best of their ability. But first some rules…
No NSFW questions. Half the cast are teenagers for goodness sake!
Absolutely no Asks/Messages containing transphobic, racist, ableist, homophobic, sexist questions or statements will be answered and are instead sent to the Darkness Beyond Time where Lavos can eat it.
I will also be occasionally posting art I made for Zeal Ascendancy.
Also, if you haven’t already, feel free to join the Discord server.
https://discord.gg/A7mhqKEJWg
Check out the Kajar's Library community on Discord - hang out with 37 other members and enjoy free voice and text chat.
Just an FYI that Zeal Ascendancy’s story is over but a sequel is in the works.
The story continues…
Tune in there for “Missing Moments” (they’re like the interludes but stuff I’ve thought of after the story ended and take place “before” the sequel (time is relative)), lore drops and art of the characters in the sequel.
Russ mysteriously appeared in the forests near Medina where he was found by Ismene. Only sure of vague inklings such as his name or that he had grown up near the sea, Russ has made the best of his circumstances.
Over the years since his arrival in Medina, Russ has made made a name for himself as a loyal friend and hard worker. He has made peace with his amnesia, forever grateful for his calm life in Medina with Ismene and his friends.
Many magic users need to trace a rune in the air and invoke the spell with a phrase. Sometimes more powerful Enlightened could cast spells without the verbal phrase or tracing the rune.
Mystics do not need to invoke incantations or trace runes but are typically limited to their innate element.
Janus
- Barrier
- Dark Bomb temnyy vzryv
- Dark Mist temnyy tuman
- Dark Matter Temnaya Materiya* (dangerous to cast)
- Black Hole (cast on instinct??) chernaya dyra?? zvezdnyy pozhiratel'
(We’re back!)
As some of you may or may not know, I have had Chrono Trigger on the brain for over a year now and I wrote an AU long-fic series that retold the entire plot as if a certain character never became a villain.
Naturally, I made the three baddies involved with him have more depth and with that, slightly better fashion sense? (Flea definitely needed a makeover from his official art outfit and Slash needed armor)
This was my second attempt at an epilogue picture. I realized I needed to show Schala too so I drew her talking to her partners (original characters Amnon and Xylia).
Janus feels left out of her life but at least he has Alfador.
I thought about showing them looking out over the mountain path like in the game but I felt like a dome/future city in the background was a better choice.
I took some inspiration from the PS cutscene for their wedding clothes but I also made sure that Marle was wearing a proper white wedding gown (there is some faint pink in there and the Guardia symbol on her dress).
Some of my old notes. I definitely went in a different direction when I decided that I didn’t want to overthink the ramifications of altering history THAT much.
Nerd Glenn is something I could visit if I made another AU.
With the story concluded, I am opening the blog to asks. Ask me anything about the story or even ask the characters directly about things and I will answer as soon as I can while I work on the sequel.
Have questions for anyone in Zeal Ascendancy? Ask here and they will provide answers to the best of their ability. But first some rules…
No NSFW questions. Half the cast are teenagers for goodness sake!
Absolutely no Asks/Messages containing transphobic, racist, ableist, homophobic, sexist questions or statements will be answered and are instead sent to the Darkness Beyond Time where Lavos can eat it.
I will also be occasionally posting art I made for Zeal Ascendancy.
Also, if you haven’t already, feel free to join the Discord server.
https://discord.gg/A7mhqKEJWg
Check out the Kajar's Library community on Discord - hang out with 37 other members and enjoy free voice and text chat.
Everyone looked in surprise as Gaspar descended the stairs towards them. He removed his hat and bowed slightly.
“I’m afraid there’s no more time for celebrations here,” Gaspar said with a frown. “The Gates have grown weak. You must hurry to your times lest you remain here…”
“Y-you mean we won’t be able to see each other again?” asked Marle, looking to her friends from the past and future.
“Not unless you have another time machine, no,” Gaspar said sadly. “The Gates always close after Lavos’s defeat… the force, Entity, call it what you may… it is a peace with Lavos’s defeat so there is no need for the Gates. Forgive me for not saying something sooner but I felt you deserved some celebration together.”
Janus immediately looked at Lucca who shared the same quiet terror in her eyes as he felt. It was too soon to say goodbye. They had barely had a day to celebrate. He wanted to be angry at Gaspar for ruining this moment but he knew it was out of the Guru’s hands.
Glenn sighed, “Then I suppose we need to return to our respective eras…”
He cast a glance towards Ayla and back at Janus. As much as it pained him to depart, he knew the three of them had to go back to their times for history to go on as it should. His gaze went to Robo who was looking at Lucca. As expressionless as Robo was, Glenn knew that Robo must have been feeling the same sense of bittersweet disappointment.
After saying their goodbyes to King Guardia, Gina, Taban and Lara, the group ascended the stairs to the upper square where the Gate that had started it all awaited them. Before Gaspar could turn to follow, Melichor approached.
“It is good to see you, Gaspar,” he said. “Where and when did you end up?”
“Then end of it all,” Gaspar replied. “The End of Time itself. It is a peaceful place and I guide any time travelers that find their way there. Still a blacksmith?”
“Ha, no, I think I’ll retire from it. Those kids have no need for weapons anymore,” Melichor chuckled. His mood turned serious. “You were right, you know… about Lord Janus. He has indeed become as powerful as his parents.”
Gaspar smiled softly. “He had the right friends.”
Bowing, Melichor wished Gaspar well. Gaspar returned the bow and wished Melichor the same. Before ascending the stairs to join the group, Gaspar looked to the king, Gina, Taban and Lara.
“Your children are exceptional people, you raised them well.”
At the top of the stairs, Gaspar approached the Gate. “I know you must be disappointed that the Gates will not last but know that the memories and bonds you built together will never fade.”
“I know you all will be well, even when separated across the river of time,” he concluded as the Gate opened and he walked through. After he left, the Gate remained open, awaiting its next traveler. Ayla and Glenn exchanged glances, silently figuring out who would go first.
“I guess this is goodbye then,” Crono sighed.
“I will miss you all,” Ayla said with a smile but everyone could hear her voice crack a little bit. “I will never forget you and I will tell my children and their children of our story.”
Before anyone could react, Ayla gave each of them a firm hug, even Robo. As she approached the Gate, Ayla stopped and turned to face the group.
Looking back to Glenn, Ayla smiled and said, “Stay strong, Glenn. Don’t let the spirits get you again, okay?”
“I’ll be okay…” Glenn assured. “Thank you for everything, Ayla.”
Satisfied, Ayla smiled and said goodbye once more before, wished her friends well and then walked into the Gate, returning to her time.
Glenn looked at the Gate and then back at the group. “I’m not very good with goodbyes…”
Crono smiled, holding out a hand for Glenn to shake and said, “It’s alright. It was great knowing you, Glenn.”
Glenn nodded and smiled, shaking Crono’s hand. Robo and Lucca wished Glenn as well. Janus pulled at his sleeves as he said goodbye as Glenn wished him luck in his own time.
Marle surprised him with a hug. “I’m sorry for yelling at you so much when we first met.”
Chuckling, Glenn said, “No, I deserved it. Be well, Princess Nadia.”
Marle smirked and said, “You too, Sir Glenn.”
Glenn walked up to the Gate, took a deep breath and turned to wave to everyone before walking into the Gate.
Janus stared at the swirling Gate and started to pull at his sleeves. He turned back and looked at everyone.
“I want to stay…” he said. “I don’t want to say goodbye.”
“But what about Schala?” asked Crono.
“That's true… She has to be worried.” Marle said softly. “You promised her you’d come back.”
“I’ll rebuild the Epoch,” Lucca said. “No matter how long it takes. I know I can do it.”
“I’m going to miss you.” Janus replied.
Lucca pulled her Gate Key out of her pocket and offered it to Janus. “Here. Just in case the Gates open again before I rebuild the Epoch.”
Janus took the Key and put it in his pocket. Quietly, he took off the charm Schala had given him from his belt and handed it to Lucca. Lucca took the silver charm into her hands and smiled.
“I love you, Lucca,” he whispered quietly, unable to speak the words louder for fear that he would cry. He kissed Lucca and promised to see her soon.
“Bye guys….” He added, smiling at Crono, Marle and Robo.
Janus walked over to the Gate and looked back at his friends once more before walking through.
Now all that remained was Robo who had barely said a word beyond wishing well to the others and saying goodbye.
“Aren’t you going to say goodbye to Robo?” Marle asked, looking back at Lucca.
“She knows.” Robo beeped.
“Knows what?” asked Crono.
Robo beeped and replied, “When you three first told me of your goal to stop the apocalypse in 1999, I considered the high probability that I would cease to exist because it would change the future from the one you found me in. However, humanity’s and your descendants’ futures are far more important than my own existence.”
“However, I am certain that I will be in the new future,” Robo added. “There is still a statistical chance.”
Lucca, already overwhelmed by Janus’s departure, started to cry. “Don’t pretend you aren’t sad about leaving or scared your calculations are wrong!”
Robo’s posture slumped. He walked over and, as gently as he could, hugged Lucca. He beeped sadly and said, “I owe this time to you and the others. You all taught me what friendship and emotions truly are. I am grateful for this.”
“Robo will be in the new future,” Marle said as Crono nodded in agreement. “I’m sure of it.”
Robo beeped and walked over to the Gate. Like the others, he turned back one more time to wave goodbye and departed.
“We should go back to the festival,” Crono said, looking at the Gate. “The others wouldn’t want us to sulk.”
Marle stretched and said, “As fun as it was at times, time-traveling was exhausting.”
Lucca nodded. She wiped her tears and said, “I’ll work on rebuilding the Epoch after we take a break. We deserve one.”
Just as the trio was about to go back down the stairs, Crono spied an orange blur scurrying up the stairs.
“Get back here!” called out Gina. She reached the top of the stairs just as Crono grabbed his cat who was not pleased about being picked up so suddenly.
Giving her son an exacerbated look, Gina panted, “I don’t know how but she got out somehow. I’d say it’s because you forgot to feed her but I can’t fault you when you’ve been busy.”
Behind the group, the Gate finally closed and vanished. Marle looked at the empty space where the Gate had been moments earlier and said, “Wow. Good thing you grabbed the cat. I can’t imagine what trouble she would have caused.”
Crono laughed and nodded. After briefly going back home to secure his cat, Crono and Gina returned to the fairgrounds so Crono could enjoy the rest of the evening with Marle and Lucca.
Tomorrow would bring a new day and a bright future for everyone.
The final night of the Millennial Fair was filled with bright lights and music, happy crowds concluding the month long celebration. The summer air was warm and the night sky was clear. Dancers and people in costume marched through the grounds. It was the perfect end to the fair.
Much to Marle’s relief, her father had granted her permission to mingle with her friends instead of having to be in the parade as Princess Nadia. She deserved to celebrate her victory with her friends.
She and Crono took Janus and Lucca around the fairgrounds. As bright and overwhelming as the fair was, Janus found that he liked the fair, especially since he could spend time with Lucca.
For Ayla, the final night of the fair was very much like a celebration in her own time. Friends drinking, dancing and singing, games being played. She felt right at home in the midst of the festivities.
Glenn found more comfort and enjoyment in relaxing on the sidelines with Gina and Robo. Robo was content to observe the others having fun. After Gina went to get some more drinks for them, Glenn noticed Robo looking towards the upper plaza. He couldn’t be sure of it, but it almost felt like Robo was being pensive despite the fact they had been victorious. Before Glenn could ask Robo what was on his mind, he was surprised by Ayla suddenly sitting beside him.
“Glenn, what does your name mean?” Ayla asked, leaning back and looking up at the stars.
Finishing the drink in his hand, Glenn raised an eyebrow and said, “I wouldn’t know. I was named after my uncle… Why do you ask?”
“Names are important, they hold a power,” Ayla replied. “My mother named me Ayla because I had the fire of life in me even when she carried me in her.”
Glenn nodded, unsure of how to respond.
“I want my child to carry your name,” Ayla suddenly declared, resting her hand on her stomach with a smile. “I know they will be as brave and strong as you are.”
“Carry my name… Wait… A-are you with child right now?” Glenn asked as Ayla’s words dawned on him. “You’ve been pregnant this whole time?!”
Ayla laughed. “Of course I’ve had a baby in me! Why do you think I was using that root? It’s great for keeping the baby from making me throw up.”
Before Glenn could respond further, Ayla placed her hand on his shoulder. She smiled and said, “You worry too much Glenn. Don’t think having life growing inside me made me less strong. You’ll see when Bea has a baby.”
“But Kino-“
“He was unsure of my choice since it is his baby too but he trusted me,” Ayla replied. Looking back up at the stars, she continued, “There were many times I was scared for the baby but I do not regret my choice to help you and the others. I’m happy we all met.”
Glenn smiled and nodded. “Me too…”
Sighing, he said, “I’m sorry I was such an asshole when we first met. I could blame the ‘spirits’ as you call them but it’s no excuse for being unkind towards you.”
Ayla smiled and gave Glenn a hug, informing him she forgave him. They looked over at Crono and Marle as they were chatting with Melichor.
“Those two will have strong children,” she remarked. “Janus and Lucca too.”
“But Janus is from Antiquity,” Glenn remarked. “He has his sister back in the past to return to.”
“The heart will seek what it desires,” Ayla replied. “Doesn’t matter what era you are from.”
Glenn looked over at Janus and Lucca. It was clear that they loved each other greatly and Janus had shown he would go to extremes to protect or even avenge someone he loved. Perhaps Ayla had a point.
After the parade had concluded, King Guardia said he had something to present to Marle. The group followed the king to the middle plaza where some castle employees were carefully taking down Leene’s Bell.
“Why are you taking down Leene’s Bell?” asked Marle.
King Guardia cleared his throat and explained that he had originally commissioned Taban to forge a new bell to start the new millennium but now the bell would also symbolize her and her friends’ victory.
Taban came up the stairs with a crate and opened it up. Inside was a new brass bell.
“Now Nadia’s Bell shall ring to celebrate peace in this new millennium,” King Guardia announce, smiling at his daughter.
Once the new bell was installed in the archway, there were several small thunderous sounds, followed by a whistle and a pop. Ayla, Glenn and Janus looked up at surprise at the colorful explosion on the sky that was followed by more, some sparkling and others brief flashes.
“I thought there was no more magic,” Janus said to Lucca, covering his ears from the sounds.
Lucca grinned and said, “Those are fireworks. I helped my dad make them before the fair.”
Janus smiled. The sounds were scary but the lights in the sky were amazing. He had wanted to learn about a world that created wonders without magic when he saw the things Lucca could make and existed in this era. Now that Dalton and Lavos were dead, he could finally have the chance. Maybe he could bring Schala to this era so she could see what the future held and see why he had been so determined to help his friends.
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