Very good points, BROJ. It was terribly careless of me to confuse energy and plasma. However, to my knowledge, plasma inherently can't be biological (unless we are referring to plasma as in blood plasma or cytoplasma). The ionized/unbound electrons of it would prevent it from forming complex molecules required for biological life as we understand it, wouldn't it?
Curiously, Plasma is a wonderful conductor and the Dragon God was created to conduct and control the planet's energy.
Still, Lavos and the Dragon God, from what we know of them, appear to be fundamentally different states of matter (Lavos being biological as we know it and rather solid looking, appearing only as he appears/ the dragon god being living plasma that seems to preclude biology as we know it and is able to appear at will in a disguise)
I do agree that Belthasar was off his rocker, and your curious turn about (life making death, time being timeless, reason being unreasonable) is very interesting. However, for Melchior and Gaspar, the tables could be turned as well.
Ayla tells us that one must fight to live (old man no fight, dead inside). Melchior is promoting life, then, by providing tools that allow individuals to fight (and it is in the construction of the Mammon Machine that he created something with the intent of reducing conflict but it turned out so poorly).
Gaspar was sent to the end of time, but that is also were a different sort of time flows (Time Error) and from where he is able to more objectively view time. While he was removed from normal time, he was put somewhere where he was better able to understand it.
Even Belthasar was sent to an era where technology and computers reign supreme. And what are computers if not logical (logic itself being often synonymous with reason)?
However, to note; the frozen flame can corrupt those who touch it. At some point in the construction and running of Chronopolis, it is likely that people had to touch the frozen flame. Such individuals might have been corrupted. Belthasar may have been one such individual.
As for the nature of magic, after reading the article I must still disagree with CT magic being Lavos in nature; Magic in Chrono Trigger is not primarily manipulating Lavos' energy. The entire point of Zeal creating the Mammon machine was so that the civilization would not have to rely on the energy of the planet. The sun stone, for example, was once a power source (and the elemental weapons of the pyramid palace thingy were supposed to represent the planet's power as well, if I recall correctly).
The weapons and armors brought forth from the
planet's powers of sky, dark, fire, and water were
since sealed in the northern shrine on the Queen's
orders.
What you can see on the northern continent is
its entrance, but nobody can approach it any more.
I've heard that if you were to combine
Rainbow-Colored Shell said to have existed in
the primeval era with the Sun Stone, you could
make magnificent weapons and items.
But now, for one thing, the only one with such skill
is the Philosopher of Life...
Besides, there's also Queen Zeal's order to
abandon the planet's power...
What you can see on the small southern
continent is the former Sun Temple.
We had enshrined the Sun Stone that stored up
the planet's power there, but......
Ever since the new energy came to be
used, it's been completely shut off.
Just like the northern shrine.
They say we don't need such a thing as the
energy of the old planet any more.
It seems rather clear that Zeal used to use the Planet's energy. However, this also disspells my hypothesis that CT magic might have been fundamental elements of the universe, rather than the planet.
Still, the article does provide one good point. With further development, Earth Magic in CT might have developed into a similar form as the Earth Magic of CC. However, the fact that robots have innate elemental attributes seems to indicate that innate colors are, well, not really innate (and indeed, it is rather strange that monsters use elements so often; one would wonder how they can even understand how to use them).
A few other minor points regarding that article: while Chrono and Co's magic is similar, it is noted by Zealeans as being different from their own. Also, Mystics are capable of using magic (zealeans weren't the only ones to have this ability), and Magic predates the use of the Mammon machine (and thus, the conscious direct use of Lavos' power) The loss of Zealean magic after the fall of Zeal may merely be a result of the source of what was then their power being "destroyed;" they didn't know how to use natural magic anymore and with the loss of Zeal, even Lavos' power was denied them. Note, the article claims that Sprigg is a Demi-Human; her status as a Mystic was confirmed by concept art. Additionally, Spekkio gave Frog water powers because he was a frog, not because of some innate ability.
What a weird fellow.
Being a frog, let's give him «Water!»
This's another weird one you've brought.
As you might guess since this guy's frog, he's
got "Water" power.
Side note #1: Yes, chloroplasts, to my knowledge, are also thought to have originated through endosymbioticism (I think I might have just made that particular form of the word up).
Side note #2: A good place to start watching Dr. Who is with the
"new" series. The franchise was started back in the day, but it took a decade or so hiatus and restarted in 2005. Thus, that link will take you to the "complete first season." (I'd highly recommend renting it before buying, or seeing if it is on youtube or the BBC website; that is a good bit of change to punk down until you know it is worth it). The learning curve isn't very steep. Episodes #1 and #2 (Rose and The End of the World, respectively) are good, but not great (certainly not a waste of time). However, I am fairly convinced that anyone who watched to episode #3 (Unquiet Dead) will quickly be hooked.
Though, it is British so some phrasing might throw you (I still have no idea why anyone would eat beans and toast, or how such could be called lovely).
Side note #3: For the Lavos mimicking bosses, if the images weren't displayed on the screen, would many people have realized that these were supposed to be the bosses they had fought before?
Side note #4: Cell was an android, but if I am recalling correctly, it was also a biological creature (as opposed to the other androids, which were clearly mechanical). It is indeed a good example of machine and flesh being combined in one being. The only real difference I am attempting to state is that while Cell had a pre-defined goal and was created by an outside entity, Lavos created itself and does not have a predefined goal.
Side note #5: Yes, I'd agree that human evolution was "accelerated" (see the evolution thread for specifics), but this was caused by the Frozen Flame and may not have been... deliberate.
