Chrono Trigger/The Village of Magic

Chrono Trigger > Chapter 9: The Village of Magic(1000 A.D. third time)

The Village of Magic
The End of Time is actually a short chapter if you think about it since as soon as you head into 1000 A.D., Medina Village your save file changes to The Village of Magic. Anyway, you'll come out of the closet (eep) and arrive in a village of monsters who happen to hold a grudge against humans for losing a war against them 400 years ago. Think of it as the Millenial Fair in reverse.

Check out the elder's house to the north of town to meet Ozzie the VIIIth, current ruler of the mystic tribe. You'll learn a bit more about the mystics, but make sure you search the countertop downstairs at the bottom left corner upstairs to pick up a magic and a speed tab.

You'll have to fight a few easy monsters to stay at the inn or buy anything in the market, but you can always restore your health at the end of time anyway. The market's prices are ridiculous, and they actually have some very good equipment, but you'll be able to come back later in the game. Head into the square to find a group of mystics worshipping a statue of Magus, and really, who wouldn't? You'll learn that Magus apparently summoned Lavos and created him to wreak war upon the humans. Go to the southwest to visit Melchior, the one other human in this place, and head into the Heckran cave when you want to move on.

The Heckran Cave
A lot of the enemies here can only be damaged well by magic. Robo's laser spin is the best multi-enemy attack I had at this point, and the rocket roll packs even more punch, as well as the fire whirl with Lucca. Just use magic almost exclusively and stock up on ethers. The cave is fairly linear, although where it branches you can head down another path to pick up a magic scarf, then backtrack to get on the main path. When you hit a save point, you can save as usual because a boss is coming up. You'll probably want to use a shelter too if you've been spending your MP.

Only magic attacks will do much against this guy as usual. Heckran will occasionally say "go ahead, try to attack" and clench himself up. It's a classic square boss manuever, where you're not supposed to attack while he's defending himself or he'll counterattack with a nasty spell. Take the time to aura whirl with marle if you have her or have Robo cure beam everyone, and resume attacking when he stops defending, the battle text will say "brief counterattack break". When you finally beat him your party will conclude Magus brought forth Lavos in the middle ages and you need to deal with him.

Hop into the whirlpool up top to be transported back near Lucca's house on your own continent in 1000 A.D. Note that you can use the patch of two trees to the right of the bridge labelled "Vortex Pt." to transport back to Heckran cave by the same way. Talk to Taban in Lucca's house and you'll get the Taban Vest, which increases Lucca's speed and guards against fire as well as being the best armor so far.

Make sure you head to the market, assuming you saved Fritz back in prison. He'll be very grateful for you saving him, and give you 10 mid ethers, and his girlfriend Elaine will thank you too. If you wandered around Poore earlier in the game you might have run into Elaine. Talk to Crono's mom if you want to introduce everyone to her, and head back to the fair and the time gate when you're ready to move on. If you haven't already done so you can also go through the time gate in Guardia forest to open it up for future use, it'll be closed off later. When you're ready go through the gate in the millenial fair, and wind up back at the end of time. Take the new gate to 600 A.D. and you're on to the next chapter.

Challenging Lavos
I believe you can challenge Lavos by the same means as the previous chapter, the bucket at the end of time and receive the same ending, The Nu Ending. Still need to confirm this however. It also may depend on whether you've beaten Heckran yet or not.

Continue to Chapter 10: The Hero Appears(600 A.D. second time)