— Schala
Originating in the forums of Chrono Compendium before eventually making its way to fanfiction.net, Rise of the Fiendlordis a Chrono Trigger fanfiction detailing the origins of Magus, with a heavy emphasis on both his development as a powerful magic user as well as his obsession with revenge against Lavos.
The primary plot involves Janus learning just enough magic from Ozzie in order to survive, before setting out on his own into the world to seek more knowledge. As he does, he becomes more and more self-centered, to the point that he is willing to resort to some incredibly Machiavellian tactics in order to get what - or who - he wants. Eventually he returns to Ozzie and forms a potent military force, all to further his own desire of summoning Lavos and eliminating it.
In the story's B-plot however, Schala and Queen Zeal have survived the original version of the Ocean Palace disaster and are being sheltered by Belthasar in the ruined future. When he casually mentions an incident regarding Lavos and a certain wizard in the middle ages, Schala begins to suspect this "Magus" may be what became of her brother, and plots to intercept his summoning ceremony.
Despite the work's sideplot, it is still an origins story, leading straight up to the events of 600 AD at the very beginning of the game. For that reason, among others, the story has fairly dark and gruesome moments, peppered with humor here and there.
It can be read here
Chrono Trigger spoilers unmarked ahead
Examples of tropes found within the fanfic include:
- "Arabian Nights" Days: The city of Alucinatio, to which Janus travels to cast light and shadow magic.
- The Atoner: Queen Zeal repeatedly blames herself for the destruction of her kingdom, despite Schala's insistence otherwise. Right or wrong, she refuses to leave the future, feeling she deserves to stay.
- And the Adventure Continues: A dark spin on the trope. When Magus' chance to abandon everything evaporates before him, the story ends on him quietly returning his ceremony rehearsal...
- Axe-Crazy: Slash. When he doesn't get to kill something, he becomes irritably bored.
- Cain and Abel: Schala and Magus, in the story's climax. Don't worry, they don't kill each other. someone else takes care of that.
- Call-Forward: At different points during the Journey Into The Mind's Eye, Janus has to battle against himself as both Magus and even Guile from Chrono Cross. At one point in the story, Magus even uses Guile's "Wanda In" spell on a mook.
- The end of the story reveals how the Guardia royal family came into possession of the pendant, and what led to the abduction of Queen Leene in the first place.
- Also how the desert south of San Dorino came to be.
- The Chessmaster: Belthasar tries to be this, but is so senile that both Zeal and Schala suspect even he doesn't know what he's planning.
- Crossing the Desert: Janus's journey to Alucinatio. Implied to have been relatively easy for him, by way of casting ice magic.
- Enfant Terrible: Flea, when Janus first meets him. Although Janus would eventually outclass him, Flea gets all the attention early on and tries to have Janus killed a few times, eager to prevent him from learning magic of his own.
- Also important to note that when Janus and Ozzie first meet him, Flea's mind is lost amidst a laughing fit of pyromania
- False Crucible: Janus's Journey Into The Mind's Eye. Although it isn't clear at first, he quickly begins to suspect that the entire test is contained within his own head. That doesn't make it much easier for him, but it does help.
- Fling a Light into the Future: Magus, entirely by accident. By insisting his statue seen in Manolia Cathedral carry a likeness of his amulet, Schala is able to find an image of it in the future, confirming her suspicions.
- Foregone Conclusion: It's an origins story, after all. Despite all appearances otherwise, the ending is not happy.
- Needless to say, Glenn and Cyrus don't fare too well either.
- God Save Us from the Queen!: Notably averted. Queen Zeal has come to her senses, but is burdened with depressive guilt over what she has done to both her kingdom and her daughter.
- Groin Attack: Not that Janus was ever the most patient child, but Flea learned hard not to push him too far.
- Hate Sink: Axl, by the end of the story. Although he distrusts Magus and isn't afraid to lash out at him, its because he at least cares more about the war than his king does. All of that goes out the window though when he kills Schala.
- Hope Spot: Near the end, it seems Schala has succeeded in her mission to save Janus. Then she suddenly gets offed by Axl.
- "I Know You're in There Somewhere" Fight: Magus had already long since proven there was still good in him before Schala resorted to violence. Schala simply refused to believe that he had since killed it off.
- "Leave Your Quest" Test: At one point during the Journey Into The Mind's Eye, Janus crosses paths with apparitions of Doreen, Alfador and Schala, all begging him to stop, warning that he was crossing a point of no return. He presumes this type of trial is in effect however, and presses onward.
- Man, I Feel Like a Woman: It is said that when Flea transformed himself into a female form, the process was at first painful, but quickly became euphoric as he.. "got to know himself".
- Master of Illusion: The Prophet of Alucinatio. The word itself is Latin for "Hallucination".
- Something Only They Would Say: Belthasar casually mentions to Zeal and Schala that Magus was known for saying "The Black Wind Howls". Zeal argues that only their own royal line was affected by that curse, and Schala begins to suspect Magus is in fact Janus.
- Vision Quest: Janus's trippy Journey Into The Mind's Eye is what ultimately allows him to tap into a vast wealth of light and dark spells, previously locked deep within his head.
