"The world is not just a single entity.
Another world similar to ours exists in another dimension."
Here are a few things you must know to understand the game easily. This is translated from Ultimania Translation. The analysis is good, plus interview with the Story Director, Masato Kato. These glossary seems good enough to satisfy you.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
FATE
------------------------------------------------------------------------
"FATE has been watching over and guiding the descendants of the staff who
left this research center." – Chronopolis Staff
................................................................
Degeneration of a Protector
................................................................
"FATE itself was actually the protector of humanity!" – Belthasar
Originally, FATE, "the protector of humanity" so to speak, was a machine that
was built with the purpose watch over humanity. But, as time passed, while
continuously watching over the humans, FATE began to dream. A dream that
assimilating with humans to evolved into a new breed of species. Was that
dream, a desire that was naturally born while staring into the Frozen Flame?
The dreaming, and yet slightly corrupted FATE, began its action of unlocking
the Flame, for it's own use rather than for the humans.
................................................................
The Love and Hate of a Machine that Dreams of Evolution
................................................................
"I love you so much... That is why I sometimes desire to smash you to
bits!!!" – Voice in the Dead Sea (= FATE)
While continuously protecting humanity, there was deep love and ??on top
that??, deep envy and hatred. The feelings FATE had for the humans was
complicated. After it acquired an incarnation [not sure?] that possesses a
human body, the feelings of the person of the original body held, inter-mixes
with the feeling of the already complicated FATE, as a result, the disorder
further intensifies, gradually leading to corruption. After that, the
destruction activities were manifestations of this complicated feeling. The
statement above [the "I love you so much..." statement], was said by FATE
when she had the Dead Sea destroyed, and it was directed to the entire human
race more than Serge.
................................................................
LINK TO TRIGGER: Motherbrain
................................................................
FATE's prototype with the same name "Motherbrain", appeared in the previous
work in 2300AD in the ruins of the future. That was a mad machine that dreams
of eliminating the humans and building a world that contained only its fellow
species [of robots]. FATE existed in another future after history was changed,
a future different from the one Motherbrain existed. It was built originally
from Motherbrain, and as expected, it dreams of evolving into another
species, ???and was seized by madness???.
................................................................
LINK TO TRIGGER: Prometheus
................................................................
"Prometheus," the name of the circuit that was set up inside of FATE, came
from the true name of a member of the party from the previous work [Chrono
Trigger], Robo. But this circuit, was not the system used by Robo. At the end
of previous work, after Robo returned to the future, Lucca thought of him
[missed him?] and had this completed. It was a safety program that prevented
the corruption of machines. This was not built with a specific motive. But in
the future after it was invented, Belthasar who had the same thought as her,
inserted it into FATE's circuit.
................................................................
Analysis
................................................................
FATE is also another interesting point of debate. There are some people who
believed that FATE was good all the way. There are some people who believe
FATE was evil all the way. There are also others who think that FATE was good
at first, but turned bad later. CC Ultimania's explanations seem to suggest
that the last group of people has probably the most accurate interpretation.
Another point of contention was whether FATE was a God or not. Some people
believe that FATE was a god (or wanted to be). Others believed that FATE was
simply a machine that named itself a god. Unfortunately, this is something
that no one has any answer to as well.
Finally, Prometheus. Many people believe Prometheus to be Robo. Others say it
isn't. But apparently, according to this Ultimania's explanation, it doesn't
seem to be.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DRAGON GOD
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
"The seven Dragons who had been rendered almost powerless and forgotten...
traveled across the dimensions to reunite into a single entity!" – Prophet of
Time
................................................................
The 5 Phrases that Contain the Word 'Dragon' [ryuu]
................................................................
Let's explanation in simple terms, the five phrases that sound the same.
"Dinosaur People" [kyouryuujin] is the evolved species from the dinosaurs
[reptites?]. Between dinosaurs and humans, looking on the outside [???not
sure], they were in a fight with the primitive humans for existence. Their
leader was Azala. The dinosaur people [reptites], were extinct in the Chrono
Trigger time axis, but in other time axis, they survived, and achieved
evolution. This evolved dinosaur people we called "dragon people" [ryuujin],
other name for that is "nation/people of the dragon." [ryuu no min]. The
"dragon god" [ryuushin/ryuukami] in the world built by the dragon people, was
a kind of organic/living machine. Formed from the aggregation of the planet's
energy, the form of the dragon is temporary. "Dragon race/family" [ryuuzoku]
and the dragon people has the same meaning, it deals with many things [???],
it can also be said that the dinosaurs developed without evolving into
dinosaur people. The significance of that, is that, the characters like
Dragon Child [Draggy], comes under that race/family.
................................................................
The Initial Motive
................................................................
When the seal was broke, the dragons gathered in the sky above Chronopolis.
But, at this point in time, their motive was not revenge, it was snatching
away the Frozen Flame. The one who would execute that, was the one who
followed the plan, the 7th dragon who befriended the humans for this action.
After she snatched the Frozen Flame, she merged with her brothers in the sky
above.
................................................................
Analysis
................................................................
One very important point that was never addressed in the game was how there
was only one of the dragons in either world, when there was supposed to have
been a pair of each of the six in the two worlds.
Another important aspect that was never addressed, was where did Harle go? No
one know if she actually died with the Dragons, or if she left the Dragons.
Again, being the main character, she lacked the proper ending to conclude her
own life story.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
TIME DEVOURER
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
"The Devourer of Time is a new life-form... Born out of the fusion of a life-
form from this planet with Lavos, who nests on the far side of the
dimensional void." – Prophet of Time
................................................................
Time Devourer's True Shape
................................................................
"IT will awaken... Then, the Devourer of Time will begin to consume all
space-time continua..." – Prophet of Time
The Time Devourer, is a new life form that nests on the other side of the
darkness of time. In some time axis after some life-form was defeated, it
fused with ??life of this planet??/??a life from this planet?? and was born.
And it continues to fuse with ??life??/??this life?? that holds hatred, anger,
despair and all other negative feelings. When the complete fusion in
accomplished, the Time Devourer awakes, and it will begin devouring time and
space. Without a method to stop it, everything will return to nothing.
The true Dragon God's body 10,000 years ago, after defeated by FATE was also
absorbed by the Time Devourer ??that holds regret??. And, when the Magical
Kingdom of Zeal was destroyed, there also seems to be were who were absorbed.
................................................................
The Future
................................................................
"Your actions will determine whether in the future all time is devoured by
Lavos, sending the world into everlasting death." – Marle
The fusion of the Time Devourer becomes complete, when the one who can free
the Time Devourer, the body of the Arbiter is absorbed into in. Because of
this, when Serge survives and does not free the Time Devourer, the world will
welcome the time of destruction not too far away. But, even if Serge dies,
the Time Devourer nesting at the darkness of time continues its fusion, the
world will eventually destroyed. As long as Serge does not free the Time
Devourer with the Chrono Cross, there will be no future.
................................................................
Analysis
................................................................
The very big plot that didn't quite make it to the game itself: Serge merging
with the Time Devourer actually completes its fusion. So was it meant to be
like that? Or was this an after thought of the scenario-writer? Nobody knows.
Upon examining the game script, we can see that Belthasar actually says –
something- to the extent of Serge merging with the Time Devourer. He says,
"that one will gain extraordinary powers, by binding with the Time Devourer."
If binding actually means merging with the Time Devourer, then perhaps that
was the way it was actually meant to be, but for some reason, didn't make it
to the game.
Another thing that, again, wasn't explained properly, was how the Dragon Gods
were consumed by the Time Devourer. CC Ultimania merely states that the
Dragon Gods were consumed after they were defeated by the Time Devourer. What
happened in the middle, is up to anyone's guess.