Availability: Any time after reviving Crono. This is the primary ending to the game. There are many variations depending on what else has happened, most notably whether or not you crashed the Sylbird into Lavos...
Everything is dark. The sound of a bell (a large one like in a bell tower, not an alarm) is heard.
クロノ！
クロノ！！！
: Crono...
Crono!
Crono!!!
Crono!
Crono!!!
Fade in to reveal a bedroom. A soldier stands next to Crono's bed, where Crono is sleeping. "Morning Sunlight" starts to play, but quickly fades out.
いいかげんに起きろ！！
Soldier: How long do you expect to sleep!
Get up already!!
SOLDIER: It's time to rise and shine!
We have a little surprise for you!
The soldier walks over to the window and opens the curtains. Crono squirms in bed.
せいしきに刑をしっこうする。
城へ同行しろ。
Soldier: Your suspended sentence is up.
We will formally enforce your sentence.
Come with me to the castle.
SOLDIER: Your stay of execution has
been cancelled.
We must now carry out your
sentence.
Crono walks into the throne room and kneels before the king. "Magus Castle" plays.
私の娘を引っぱり回して。
King: I've been looking for you, Crono.
You've been dragging my daughter all over.
KING: We've been looking for you,
Crono.
Where did you take my daughter?
Marle runs into the room.
Prismatic Shell sidequest not cleared:
Marle: Father!
Stop this!
Prismatic Shell sidequest clear (meaning Yakra XIII is beaten and Marle has made up with the king):
Marle: Crono hasn't done a
thing!
娘は言っておるが……
King: My daughter says Crono
hasn't done anything, but...
KING: She says Crono has been a
perfect gentleman, but...
Ow, you're missing the point. When he says "hasn't done anything," he means exactly that. The "perfect gentleman" bit is simply wrong here.
Prismatic Shell sidequest not cleared:
The king gets up and walks over to Pierre, who stands nearby.
クロノ達は国の一大事に
かかわる事をしました。
Pierre: No.
Crono and the others have done things
that gravely affect the kingdom.
PIERRE: I think Crono's been
keeping himself...rather busy!
Marle: And just WHAT are you
saying, Pierre!
Prismatic Shell sidequest cleared, even if the party never freed the real chancellor:
The king gets up and walks over to the chancellor, who stands nearby.
クロノ達は国の一大事に
かかわる事をしました。
Chancellor: No.
Crono and the others have done things
that gravely affect the kingdom.
CHANCELLOR: Crono's deeds have
had an enormous impact on the
kingdom!
How did such nearly identical sets of lines come out so different in the NA version?
私が今まで城を出ていたのには
わけがあるの……
実は……
Marle: You'll understand if we talk!
There's a reason why I've been away
from the castle up to now...
As a matter of fact...
Marle: Please!
Just listen to me!
We had to...
"Fanfare 1" plays, and Don walks down the stairs.
教えてくれた……。
Don: They saved the future and taught
us what it means to be healthy...
DOAN: You saved the future, and gave
us hope.
King Guardia of the Middle Ages walks down the other stairs.
倒してくれた。
王国歴６００年の世界にふたたび
平和がおとずれた。
Guardia XXI: They defeated
the Magus's army.
Peace once again came upon
the world of Royal Year 600.
KING GUARDIA: You fought Magus's
troops, and brought peace to the
kingdom in the year 600.
Kino walks down the stairs.
Lucca steps out from behind the throne and lifts the Gate Holder.
連れて来たのね？
Marle: Lucca...
you brought them, didn't you?
Marle: Lucca!
You brought them here, didn't you?
大きな使命をせおっていたこと……。
歴代のガルディア王家の血を引く者達が
すべて話して下さった。
Guardia XXXIII: About the great mission
you were burdened with...
Generations of the Guardia royal
bloodline have told me everything.
KING GUARDIA: Our kinsmen told me all
about your incredible mission.
みんな、私の先祖や子孫なの？
Marle: Guardia's bloodline... so they're
all my ancestors and descendants?
Marle: Kinsmen?!
You mean these're MY ancestors...and
descendants?
いなかった自分が情けない。
国のため……、この星のためを
考えなくてはならない時に。
King: I'm ashamed that I was so blinded
by peace that I thought only of myself.
In a time when I must consider the good
of the kingdom... the good of our planet.
KING: Here I was fussing about my
kingdom, and my daughter, and you
were saving past, present and
future!
"Peace-senile" is perhaps a more literal translation.
The king lifts Crono to his feet.
世界を救ったヒーローを
しゅくふくじゃ！
King: Now! A victory parade!
Congratulations to the hero who
saved the world!
KING: Now, for a true victory parade!
Tonight we celebrate...you!
I've never gotten the following lines to appear. Maybe they were meant for an alternate ending or a variation, but they just seem to have been cut.
我々は戦などなにも……
Chancellor: B-but, your majesty, victory?
We had no war or any such...
CHANCELLOR: B, but your majesty, what
victory?
We have never fought anyone!
KING GUARDIA: Do you have any
children, Chancellor?
お前の子供の子供の……
そのまたうにゃむにゃ……
……の子供が、きっとしあわせに
なれるだろうからな！
Guardia XXXIII: Then you celebrate too.
Your children's children's...
and so on and so on...
...their children will surely
have good fortune!
KING GUARDIA: Then our victory is their
freedom!
Your children, and theirs as well, now
live in a world that knows hope.
Presumably Guardia XXI was pinching him, or something, to check whether he was an impostor. Either way, that's the end of these unused lines.
思いっきり千年祭最後の夜を
楽しんで来い！
Guardia XXXIII: Now, Marle.
Go enjoy the last night of the Millennial
Festival with all your might!
KING GUARDIA: Now Marle, go out
and enjoy the last night of the fair!
Change scene to the festival grounds, at night. A goblin enters, followed by two dancers, then there's some lighting effects and Marle and Crono arrive.
そしてガルディアのますますのはってんを
願って……
returned to the castle, and for Guardia's
continued growth, best wishes...
At last, Guardia is back to normal!
3-15 星の祝祭 (Planet's Blessing) starts playing.
More special effects. Adoring little girls pop out of nowhere, balloons fly off, and lights light up everywhere. Marle and Crono make a full circuit of the track before the player regains control, with Marle leading Crono around. And since it's the ending and I'm feeling like it, here's what everyone around to talk to says:
や、当然君もだよ。
Oh, but you are too, of course.
me wrong, of course you are
too.
Apparently Marle's paper-thin disguise still works, somehow.
信じられないわ。 でもね。
お母さんはお前にもっと家にいて
はしいよ。
Gina: To think you saved the future...
I can't believe it. But, you know,
I want you to spend more time at home.
MOM: YOU saved us all?!
That's nice, dear, but I wish you
spent more time around the house.
いなくて大変なんだから。
looks after the cat isn't around.
who's in charge of the cat is gone!
来たかもしれんな。
刀かじボッシュとしての役目は終わって
しまうが、この星空を見ていると
そんな事はどうでもよくなって
しまうわい。
Bosch: An era may have come that
needs no such things as katanas.
My duty as the swordsmith Bosch may
be ending, but as I look at this starry sky,
such things no longer bother me.
MELCHIOR: Not much business in
weapons anymore.
But I like it that way.
祭りで飲む酒はうめーぜ！
Taban: Aah, the sake's great
when you drink at a festival!
TABAN: Yum!
Lemonade sure tastes great
outdoors!
お前もいっぱいやりなよ。
今日はヒーローなんだからよ！
Taban: Crono.
You have a drink too.
'Cause today, you're the hero!
TABAN: Crono, have a sip!
You're the Hero today.
Forest sidequest incomplete or Lara's legs not saved:
すごせるなんて……。
あなた、ありがとう。
Lara: I never thought we could spend
such a dreamy night together...
Thank you, honey.
LARA: What a dreamy night...
Thank you darling.
Forest sidequest complete and Lara's legs saved:
すわって飲んでばかりいないで。
私達もいっしょに踊りましょう！
Lara: Honey.
Don't just sit and drink.
Let's dance together too!
LARA: Honey, don't just be a sack of
potatoes!
Dance with me!
王様から聞いたわよ。未来を救った事。
ルッカのおさななじみが
そんなすごい事をする人だったなんて。
なんかじまんしちゃいたい気分だわ。
Lara: Ah! Crono.
I heard from the king. You saved the future.
I'd never have guessed Lucca's childhood
friend would do such an amazing thing.
I kind of feel like bragging.
LARA: Crono, the King says YOU
saved the future!
Wait 'till I tell my friends!
In the northern part of the square, Lucca beckons, then runs off toward the Gate. The rest of the party is gathered there.
The music fades out.
ゲートの力が弱まってイマス。
Robo: Lavos is dead, and the power
of the Gates IS weakened.
さよならを言わなきゃ。
Lucca: We have to say goodbye
before the Gates close.
Lucca: We've got to say our
goodbyes before the Gate closes.
3-16 エピローグ～親しき仲間へ～ (Epilog ~To Close Companions~), an extended version of "Crono and Marle ~Distant Promise~", plays.
Kino arrives, and Ayla steps up.
マールも 強かった！
エイラ 楽しかった！！
Ayla: Cro was strong!
Marle was strong too!
Ayla had fun!!
Ayla: Crono was strong!
Marle too!
Ayla have fun!!
Marle walks up to Kino.
おじいちゃま。
元気な子供を生んでね。
じゃないと私がこまっちゃうから
Marle: You're my distant
distant grandpa.
Have healthy kids.
I'll be in trouble if you don't.
Marle: You're my distant ancestor.
So you'd better have tough kids or I'll
be in trouble!
～ちゃま (-chama) is a childish cross between the familiar -chan and the respectful -sama.
だいじょうぶ！ エイラ 元気！！
Kino: Heh heh...
No problem! Ayla healthy!!
KINO: Heh, heh!
No worry.
Ayla VERY strong!
Then, perhaps realizing exactly what he said and what it implies, she stops and blinks a few times.
何それ？？ どういう事？
Marle: ...huh?
What?? What do you mean?
Marle: Hey...what do you mean by
that?
さ エイラ達 行く！
Ayla: Kino dummy!!
Aylas go now!
Ayla: Kino dummie! We go now!
Ayla shoves Kino into the Gate, turns around to fluff her hair and blow a kiss, and jumps in herself. Next, Frog steps forth and King Guardia XXI walks up.
自分の先祖かもしれないと思うと
ほっといてもいられないがな……。
さあ王様、リーネ様がお待ちです。
私達も帰りましょう。
Frog: They're a lively bunch.
But they may be your own ancestors,
so you can't just be rid of them...
Come, your majesty, lady Leene awaits.
Let us also return.
Frog: 'Tis a feisty crowd!
But they are thine kin, and 'tis of
consequence.
Queen Leene awaits.
Your Majesty, we too shall take our
leave.
Frog's line made a lot more sense to me once I realized he was talking about Kino and Ayla.
The king leaves through the Gate. Frog starts to follow, but Marle stops him at the last second.
別れに多くの言葉はいらないさ。
Frog: ......
I don't need many words as farewell.
Frog: ...
Long farewells ne'er were
necessary.
言葉とはかぎらないわ。
Marle: Right.
It doesn't have to be words.
Marle: Right!
Besides, actions speak louder than
words!
She leans in and kisses his cheek. Frog is shocked. Lucca cracks up.
王女様のキッスで姿がもとにもどるって
いうのがハッピーエンドの定番よ。
Lucca: Good for you.
It's happy ending standard fare for your form
to go back to normal from a princess's kiss.
Lucca: Yeah. Don't these things end
with the princess kissing the frog?
Frog recovers from his amazement, chuckles briefly, and hops through the Gate. Marle giggles.
The Magus approaches the Gate next. Of course, this only happens if the party recruited him earlier.
Marle: So...you're going to search
for Schala?
The Magus passes through the Gate without saying a word.
Next, Robo steps up and Don arrives.
ワタシも未来で元気にやっていきマス。
Robo: Lucca,
I too WILL live healthily in the future.
ロボにお別れは……
Marle: What's wrong, Lucca?
You haven't said goodbye to Robo...
Marle: What's wrong Lucca?
Aren't you going to say goodbye to
Robo?
ロボは廃墟となった未来で
生まれたわ……。
でも私達がラヴォスを倒した事に
よって未来は明るくなるはず。
つまり新しい未来では
ロボの存在は……
Lucca: ......
Robo was born in the ruined Future...
But the Future ought to be bright
now that we defeated Lavos.
In other words, in the new Future,
Robo's existence...
Lucca: ......
Robo was born in a bleak future.
When we defeated Lavos, we
changed history.
Robo...may not exist in the
future.
きっと新しい未来でもワタシは……
Robo: Ha ha, DO NOT be silly.
Surely even in the new Future, I...
Robo: Ha ha.
Please relax.
The new future has a place for me!
悲しい時はすなおに悲しむのよ！！
こっちがよけい悲しく
なっちゃうじゃない！！
Lucca: Robo, you big dummy!
When you're sad, let it show!!
This way just makes it even sadder!!
Lucca: Darn it, Robo!
Don't pretend you don't care when
you're really sad!
It just makes things worse!
そんな思いやりの気持ちを
教えてくれたのもルッカデス。
とてもカンシャしてイマス。
Robo: ......
It IS you who taught me such
feelings of consideration.
I AM very GRATEFUL.
Robo: ......
Lucca, YOU have taught me these
emotions.
Thank you.
ルッカ……！
新しい未来でも、ロボはきっと
生まれて来るわ。
Marle: Tears don't suit you.
Lucca...!
I'm sure Robo will have been
born even in the new Future.
Marle: Tears don't become you,
Lucca!
Robo'll be there in the new
future!
Don walks through the Gate. Robo gets up and prepares to leave.
Robo walks toward the Gate, but his heading is off and he bumps into the Telepod.
オイルでアイセンサーがかすんで……
Robo: Oops, my eye sensors
ARE blurry with oil...
Robo: Caution!
Oil has washed over my sight
sensors.
Sight diminished...
Marle giggles, then goes to comfort Lucca. Robo makes it through the Gate this time.
I thought this next line might appear if you skipped the forest sidequest, but it seems to be unused.
The music fades out.
...conclusion with Sylbird...conclusion without Sylbird
All the travelers have returned to their own times, but the Gate remains open.
Forest sidequest cleared (meaning the "Entity Talk" happened).
おぼえてる？
Lucca: Do you remember the talk
we had that one time?
Lucca: Do you remember that talk
we had?
死ぬ時に見る思い出の話……。
Marle: Yeah, about how you see your
memories when you're dying...
Marle: You mean about whether
our lives flash by before we die?
助かったみたいね。
Lucca: It looks as though that person
is saved now.
Lucca: Yeah. I get the feeling that
the "Entity" is finally at rest.
私も感じる。 その人のいぶきを……。
Marle: Yeah.
I feel it too. That person's breath...
Forest sidequest not cleared (didn't have the "Entity Talk").
生まれたものと思っていたけど……
今思うと違ってたのかもね。
Lucca: We thought the Gates were
born from Lavos's power... but now
I think maybe we were wrong.
Lucca: I thought Lavos made the
Gates...
But I guess I was wrong.
あたたかく大きな存在が
いろんな時代を私達に
見せたかったんじゃないかな。
Lucca: I wonder if some other...
some vast, warm being
didn't want to show us
the various eras.
Lucca: I think a greater force
wanted us to experience those
events.
にが重すぎるね。
Marle: Traveling time...
It's too much of a burden.
Marle: Time travel...how
exhausting!
良さそうね。
もう、みんなと会えなくなるけど……。
Lucca: I suppose we'd better
break down the Sylbird too.
Though we won't be able to
see everyone anymore...
Lucca: We should dismantle the
Epoch.
Its job is finished.
Just then, a cat (or cats—as many as eleven—if Crono won any extras) runs by. "Merry Specchio" starts playing as Gina shows up chasing them.
MOM: You naughty thing, come back
here!
あなたがエサをきらしたもんだから
みんな逃げ出しちゃって……。
Gina: Crono, look.
You let the food run out, so
now they're all running away...
MOM: Look, Crono!
Your cat's running away because
you haven't been feeding it!
Before anyone can respond, the cat(s) jump(s) into the Gate. Stupid cat(s).
Gina follows the cat(s) into the Gate, and to make things worse, it closes and disappears before Crono can stop her!
クロノ！！
もうゲートは一生開かないわよ！！
どうする？
Marle: O-oh no!!
Crono!!
The Gate's never gonna open again!!
What'll we do?
Marle: Oh, great!
Crono, that Gate will never open
again!
Crono blinks a few times as if thinking, then does his "Awww, yeah" pose...
追いかけるしかないわね！
Lucca: Right!
There's no choice but to chase after her!
Lucca: Well it looks like we have no
choice but to go after them!
ゲートはもう……
Marle: Chase after?
But the Gate's already...
Marle: Lucca, don't turn off
your brain, yet!
![[heart]](ctheart.png){kind=small}
があるじゃない！
オーッホッホッホ！
Lucca: Haven't we got a
Time Machiiine!
O, ho, ho, ho!
Lucca: I forgot!
We have a Time Machine!
Nya ha ha!
No, she didn't forget. If anything, Marle did.
A soldier approaches.
こんな所に。 王様がお呼びです。
Soldier: Oh, lady Marledia.
Here you are. The king calls.
SOLDIER: Oh, Princess, the King asks for
your presence.
The soldier leaves, and Marle follows with Crono and Lucca behind her. The king is waiting by the bell hanger, which is currently empty.
もうお前が遠くに行くことも
ないじゃろうからな。
King: I'm so glad.
I don't expect you'll be going
far away any more.
KING: I'm so happy!
Now there's no reason for you to go
away anymore.
私からのプレゼントじゃ。
King: Marledia. A present from me
to commemorate this day.
KING: I have a gift for you,
to commemorate this day,
Princess Nadia.
The King leaves down the stairs, then comes back carrying a large silver bell with a lot of balloons attached to it.
マールディアの鐘じゃ
いい音がするぞ。
King: Behold. Isn't it lovely?
This is Marledia's Bell.
It makes a fine sound.
KING: This is Nadia's Bell.
It will ring out across the land.
The king pushes the bell to the mounting and lifts it into place. Crono and Lucca leave down the stairs, and the music fades.
ほれ……誰か……手伝ってくれ。
King: Hey, Marle... where did you go?
Hey... someone... give me a hand.
KING: Marle...where did you go?
Could someone please lend me a
hand?
でも私。
じっとしていられないの！
Marle: Thanks...
But I...
I can't sit around doing nothing!
Marle: Daddy...
I hate to say this but...
I can't sit around doing nothing!
Marle giggles and runs after Crono and Lucca. The sound of the Sylbird blasting off is heard. 3-17 遥かなる時の彼方へ (To Beyond Times Far Distant) starts playing. Taban walks up with the Solar Stone, or at least something that looks like it.
間に合いましたぜ！
一発ドカンと行きますかい！！
Taban: Your majesty!
I've made it in time!
Should I fire off a shot!?!
TABAN: Phew!
Made it just in time!
Shall I fire one off?
悪いが今はそれどころじゃ……
King: Uh, Taban.
Sorry, but now's no time to...
KING: Uh, no Taban.
Actually, I could really use your help...
Taban hits the stone with his hammer, sending off a blast of energy that becomes fireworks. The credits start to roll as the fireworks continue. In a semi-3D night view of the Truce region, the Sylbird takes off from Leene Square and flies away. It continues over a vast land speckled with houses, lakes, forests, and mountains, with the camera angle shifting around.
The scene changes to show Robo and Atropos sitting together on a mountain, with the Sylbird flying by in the distance. The scene changes to show Ayla and Kino flying around on the Pterans, with the Sylbird flying by in the distance. The Pterans change course to fly by it.
If the Magus joined the party:
The scene changes to show King Guardia XXI and Queen Leene crossing Zenan Bridge, flanked by Frog and an escort of soldiers. Frog notices the Sylbird flying by in the distance and stops the troops so he can go the bridge's edge and watch. Queen Leene walks over to him as if to ask what's he's looking at.
The scene changes to show Magus hovering over a landscape that looks like mostly frigid mountains and ocean. He flies off. The Sylbird, flying by in the background, suddenly jumps into high speed, presumably for a time jump.
If the Magus was slain:
The scene changes to show Frog standing at the base of a waterfall, looking thoughtful. Suddenly he begins to glow, and raises his arms... Next we see King Guardia XXI and Queen Leene approaching their chancellor, who appears to be overseeing several workers building the prison wing of the castle, with the Sylbird flying past in the background. After a few moments, Leene turns to look at it, and its jump to high speed seems to startle the chancellor. However, the most interesting part happens when the screen pans to the left, showing someone else watching it fly past. This never-before-seen, yet strangely familiar, green-haired man wears blue gloves, a forest green cape, and a broadsword slung across his back. Now, who could that be...?
The scene changes to show the Sylbird cruising over the vast land again, with similar camera tricks. It gets darker until all that's visible on the ground are house lights.
The scene changes, with the camera flying around a starfield for a little while before drifting backwards past the planet where the game takes place. It stops far enough away to see the whole near side, but close enough to make out the major landmasses. As the credits and music wrap up, a shooting star flies by, and "The End" appears in large gold letters. Wait for a while and "Crono and Marle ~Distant Promise~" starts playing.
The Gate closes and disappears once Robo has left.
Forest sidequest cleared (meaning the "Entity Talk" happened).
おぼえてる？
Lucca: Do you remember the talk
we had that one time?
Lucca: Do you remember that talk
we had?
死ぬ時に見る思い出の話……。
Marle: Yeah, about how you see your
memories when you're dying...
Marle: You mean about whether
our lives flash by before we die?
助かったみたいね。
Lucca: It looks as though that person
is saved now.
Lucca: Yeah. I get the feeling that
the "Entity" is finally at rest.
私も感じる。 その人のいぶきを……。
Marle: Yeah.
I feel it too. That person's breath...
Forest sidequest not cleared (didn't have the "Entity Talk").
生まれたものと思っていたけど……
今思うと違ってたのかもね。
Lucca: We thought the Gates were
born from Lavos's power... but now
I think maybe we were wrong.
Lucca: I thought Lavos made the
Gates...
But I guess I was wrong.
あたたかく大きな存在が
いろんな時代を私達に
見せたかったんじゃないかな。
Lucca: I wonder if some other...
some vast, warm being
didn't want to show us
the various eras.
Lucca: I think a greater force
wanted us to experience those
events.
A soldier approaches.
こんな所に。 王様がお呼びです。
Soldier: Oh, lady Marledia.
Here you are. The king calls.
SOLDIER: Oh, Princess, the King asks for
your presence.
The soldier leaves, and Marle follows with Crono and Lucca behind her. The king is waiting by the bell hanger, which is currently empty.
私からのプレゼントじゃ。
King: Marledia. A present from me
to commemorate this day.
KING: I have a gift for you,
to commemorate this day,
Princess Nadia.
A soldier comes up the stairs carrying a large silver bell with a lot of balloons attached to it.
４００年間この国を見守り続けて来た
リーネの鐘にかわって、これからは
マールディアの鐘が歌をうたう……。
King: This is Marledia's Bell.
From now on, Marledia's Bell will sing in
place of Leene's Bell, which has watched
over this country for four hundred years.
KING: It's Nadia's Bell, which will
replace the 400 year old Leene Bell.
Henceforth, Nadia's Bell will
proudly ring for lasting peace.
Marle pushes the bell to the mounting, and with Crono giving her a boost, lifts it into place. With the bell secured, Marle grabs the balloons and hops off.
The bell begins to ring... but the balloons start to lift Marle into the air. Too surprised to react, she floats off before Lucca can grab her.
ちょ ちょっとクロノ！
助けて！！
Marle: !?
H-hey, Crono!
Help me!!
Marle: Huh?!
H, hey Crono, help me!
Crono climbs the bell mounting and jumps for her. He makes it, but unfortunately the balloons aren't ready to give up that easily, and both of them drift away together. 3-17 遥かなる時の彼方へ (To Beyond Times Far Distant) starts playing.
The balloons will later be found guilty of kidnapping and sentenced to death in a hostile court.
The credits start to roll with fireworks bursting in a semi-3D night view of the Truce region. The balloons float into view, Crono hanging on one-handed with Marle clinging to him in what at least looks like a more comfortable position than before.
The view shifts to a top-down angle, with the balloons continuing to drift around the Truce area, still gaining altitude.
The view shifts again to show the moon high in the sky, with Crono and Marle seen at an angle from below, the balloons continuing to carry them higher.
The view shifts again, now more or less horizontal, but above the clouds, with the moon visible higher in the sky. After a few seconds, the balloons rise into sight, Crono and Marle still in tow. Their rise finally tapers off, and they may even be starting to descend slowly by the time the screen pans up and takes them out of view.
The scene changes, with the camera flying around a starfield for a little while before drifting backwards past the planet where the game takes place. It stops far enough away to see the whole near side, but close enough to make out the major landmasses. As the credits and music wrap up, a shooting star flies by, and "The End" appears in large gold letters. Wait for a while and "Crono and Marle ~Distant Promise~" starts playing.
Doesn't Crono's arm ever get tired? On the other hand, going by his magic type, they're in his element, so maybe that helps.
As this point, there's nothing to do but reset. If the Black Dream was completed, a new option, つよくてニューゲーム (tsuyokute NYUU GEEMU, roughly "New Game Strongly"), or "New Game+", will appear on the load screen. Choosing it and selecting a save will start a new game, but keep the levels, attributes, techniques, and most items from the save selected. Money and certain items, mostly plot-related ones (the Grandleon being particularly noteworthy), do not carry over.
Since you keep items but not money, feel free to go on a shopping spree. Additionally, note that the items and other data are taken from the saved game itself, not from the post-clear state. Use all the items you like in the final battle; it won't affect New Game+ in any way. Just make sure you actually do save.
Other than that, it's essentially the same as starting from the beginning, except for one thing... a glint that appears on the right pad of Lucca's Telepod. Examining it opens a Gate (tinted oddly green) that jumps straight to the battle with Lavos's shell. Combined with the added strength and equipment from a previous playthrough, this makes it possible to beat Lavos at all kinds of strange times, and reach a vast multitude of bizarre alternate endings...
I have confirmed the following cases with Crono alive:
- Beating Lavos prior to clearing the Black Dream will not unlock New Game+.
- Beating Lavos immediately after clearing the Black Dream will unlock New Game+.
- Leaving the inside of Lavos after clearing the Black Dream and then returning through the bucket to beat Lavos will unlock New Game+.
- Crashing the Sylbird into Lavos, and going on win, after clearing the Black Dream will unlock New Game+.
- Whether you save inside Lavos has no effect on unlocking New Game+. Having a saved game in the At the End of the Planet's Dream chapter (after beating the Black Dream) is not required either.
- Clearing the Black Dream, saving, then loading a pre-Black Dream save and beating Lavos will not unlock New Game+.
Additionally:
- Clearing the Black Dream without reviving Crono, or doing any of the sidequests for that matter, will unlock New Game+, even though clearing the game with Crono dead leads to an alternate ending (see next section).
It appears that the requirement to unlock New Game+ is to beat Lavos with the Black Dream cleared. No more, no less.