Chrono Trigger Fanfiction
**Author's Email**mortis765@yahoo.com
**Author's Website**Click Here!!!
---All characters and events are all copyright (c) Squaresoft. All alterations to characters and plot do not represent the true intent of the designers in any way. They are artistic liberties taken my me, Joseph Blanchette. This story should not be taken as game cannon, and of course, the best way to experience Chrono Trigger is to play it.---
Ever since the beginning of time, there have been people born on Earth attuned to a ancient power greater than anyone ever imagined. Some of these people where destined to become its slave, others its messenger. Some are only tortured by its power, and for others it makes them stronger. The person might use its powers to see future events caused by it, becoming a modern day prophet - Or even greater still, a god. There are even souls chosen by destiny to do something even more powerful, and something never done in the history of our universe:
Destroy it.
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CHRONO TRIGGER
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An adaptation by Joseph Blanchette
Version 1.1
aka "Legendary Frog"
(c) 2000-01
E-mail: mortis765@yahoo.com
See the CT Novel cover art at http://elfwood.lysator.liu.se/zone/j/o/joeyblanch/ctcover_lavos.jpeg.html
Chapter I
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"Hey!" cried Crono as the figure knocked him on the ground. He was just looking at a map of the Millennial Fair when he felt somebody slam into his side. Crono slowly got up, and looked around. He didn't see anybody. He bent down to pick up his map and saw his attacker. A young girl with a blonde ponytail lay sprawled on the ground with a look of surprise on her face. "She must have bumped into me," thought Crono. He bent down and helped the girl up. He momentarily got lost in her blue eyes....
"My pendent!" cried the girl.
"Huh?" said Crono.
"My pendent! Where is it!"
"Are you okay?"
"I had it a second ago!"
Crono looked around, she obviously cared more about the pendant than her own well being. Then the noticed it a few paces away, gleaming in the bright sunlight. He walked toward the necklace but a man picked it up. He recognized him; it was Melchior the blacksmith.
"Amazing!" said Melchior. "Beautiful!"
"Hey!" Cried the girl. Crono saw her running toward them. "That's mine!"
The girl grabbed the pendant from the old man's hand. "You should be more careful, my dear. You keep good care of that, it's very special." He smiled and he started to walk away.
The girl placed the pendant around her neck. Crono saw she was very pretty, with big blue eyes and beautiful golden blonde hair. She was wearing a white tube top and matching pants.... she seemed a bit out of place though. She turned to Crono.
"Sorry about bumping into you, I wasn't looking where I was going. I'm Marle!" and stuck out her hand.
Crono grabbed it and shook. "I'm Crono...I haven't seen...."
"Wow! Look at this place!" Marle started to drift off.
"Yeah, it's great... are you new around here?" asked Crono, trying hard to get to know the girl better.
"Look at all the decorations!"
Crono sat down on the bench by Leene's Bell and listened as Marle looked around. He started to read about the play the local theater group was putting on later today from a pamphlet. It was called Battle of the Mystics. It was about the war with the wizard Magus several hundred years ago. He couldn't wait to see it. Maybe he should ask Marle to go with him?
"Hey, Crono!"
"Yeah," Crono said, looking up.
"You mind showing me around? This is my first time here, and I could use the company."
Eager to spend more time with Marle, Crono quickly agreed.
Crono and Marle walked around the Millennial Fair. They spent their time playing games and watching entertainers. The fair was to celebrate the 1000th anniversary of the founding of Truce. Crono lived in Truce is entire life, which was in the kingdom of Guardia, located a large island called Zenan. He was a only child who lived with his Mother. He never knew his father. The only thing he knew about him was he served at the castle. Maybe that's why Crono was so involved with swordplay. He would spend hours at the training ground with his homemade wooden sword. He was about to show it off to Marle when he heard a voice yell: "Hey Crono!"
Crono put the sword back in his holster to see his friend Lucca standing behind a brick wall. "Come on Crono! My new inventions ready, get your lazy butt over here!" she yelled.
Crono sighed. Lucca was always inventing stuff, most of it didn't even work right. In fact, the only thing she did invent that was somewhat useful was a big robot named Gato that sang show tunes. It wasn't that popular, needless to say, although Marle seemed to like it when they passed by it. Lucca had been Crono's friend ever sense he was little, although sometimes he didn't understand her, he almost considered her like a sister. Lucca claimed herself a scientist, but she always refused to show Crono her work, saying he wouldn't understand.
"Let's go see!" said Marle excitedly.
Crono didn't really want to. The last time he saw one of Lucca's creations in action it took weeks to grow his hair back. But Marle grabbed him by his sleeve and ran toward Lucca, despite his willingness not to.
***
A small group of people stood around Lucca and her father, Taban's, invention. Lucca was her usual self, with her safety helmet on, in case of another explosion, and her "think" glasses.
"Crono!" yelled Lucca. "Nobody want's to test my invention..."
"What is it?" replied Crono.
"It's a Teleporting Machine!" Lucca said with passion. "You enter here..." She pointed to a large pod to the right. She then ran over to another pod several feet away. "And you end up here! C'mon, Crono, try it." She looked over at her father, who was busy tinkering inside a control panel.
Crono paused. "Lucca, have you even read ‘The Fly?'"
"This is nothing like that..."
"Crono!" yelled Marle. "Try it out!"
Lucca turned to Marle. "Crono...you've made contact with another member of the female race...Your growing up..."
Crono gave Lucca a look. "Fine…" He walked up to the pod on the right and entered. He looked at the crowd, who was staring back at him.
Lucca and Taban started to shout out commands. After a minute of that, Taban said, "Cross your fingers, lad. I'm sure it will work this time. Okay, GO!"
"What do you-" said Crono started nervously, but with a flash of blue light, he was gone.
A few seconds later the appeared at the other pod with another flash of blue light.
"-mean, ‘Work this....uh." He looked around. He was in the other pod. He checked himself. "Hey...I'm all in one piece!" he said with a sigh of relief.
"It worked..." said Lucca, her eyes widened beneath her glasses. "It worked! I invented something that worked!" She rushed up to Crono. "You okay?"
Crono felt dizzy. With the help of Lucca he walked out of the pod.
"Who's next?" Lucca said to the crowd.
People started to back away. Even though it worked, they weren't too eager to try it.
"I'll do it!" said Marle, waving her hands.
"Are you sure, it wasn't really that pleasant..."
But Marle was already in the pod. Lucca and Taban started to fiddle with the controls again. But the blue flash never appeared as it did with Crono. Instead, Marle's pendant began to emit a peculiar glow.
"What?" said Marle confused. It started to glow brighter. Marle started to slowly rise from the ground into the air.
"Lucca!" Shouted Taban. "Turn it off!"
"I'm trying!"
A large bluish black hole appeared in the center of the two pods. Marle started to float to the weird hole. Within seconds, she was swallowed by the vortex that had drawn her in. The crowd was silent. Taban started to act like it meant to happen, and told every body to leave. They started to leave one by one. Crono walked toward the pod.
"What happened!" cried Taban.
"I don't know..." returned Lucca.
"Check to forward stabilizers!"
"Nothing!"
"The Energon crystals?"
"Their fine!"
Crono bent down near the pod. Marle's necklace was lying on the ground. This pendant must have had a effect on the transporter! Crono stood up.
"Beam me up, Lucca."
"Now is not the time for jokes, Crono! Who was that girl? She seems so familiar..."
"We have to get Marle back!"
"Marle? You mean that girl? Crono, we have no idea what will happen!"
"Yes I do." He showed her the pendant. "See?"
Taban spoke up. "You're a brave lad, Crono. We can get him back, Lucca, if we keep that portal open. Go for it!"
"But Dad...oh fine." Lucca began to flip switches. "I'll come for you when we find a way to bring you back..."
Crono slowly began to rise from the pod. The same black hole appeared. He made sure to hold on to the pendant. He saw Lucca looking at him he disappeared into the hole. He suddenly got the felling he was going very fast. Bright lights passed by him at incredible speeds, yet he felt no wind. Suddenly it stopped. He was back on earth. He stood up. Where was he? Lucca was gone, and so where the pods. In fact, the entire fair seemed to be missing. Yet he looked behind him. He was at the same spot. He could tell because he looked into the distance to see Guardia Castle. He stepped out of the clearing, and gasped.
Chapter II
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It was gone. Truce was nothing more than a small village. The entire fair was gone. In its place were grassy hills. What happened? Crono ventured out into the small town, which consisted of a street, with not more than a dozen buildings on each side. He looked into the distance. He saw little cabins scattered about on a hill. In fact, the only thing he recognized was the castle. It still stood near the forest, just as tall and proud as it ever had been. In fact, it looked much better than it did when he saw it last. Crono was confused. He had made it to the street. It was empty.
He continued to walk around. He hadn't seen another living soul yet.
"Hello!" Yelled Crono. Nothing. "Hello!?"
He heard heavy footsteps behind him. Crono turned around to see a man on a horseback galloping toward him. But it wasn't an ordinary man. He was wearing a full suit of armor! It was a knight! The knight galloped past him and yelled. "Get indoors! Mystics approach!" and he was off. A few seconds later, Crono heard more footsteps.
Crono had seen monsters before. They lived in Medina Village far away from Truce, but he had never seen a walking skeleton. There were at least a dozen of them. Crono found the closest door and tried to open it. But it was locked! Without warning, several knights on horseback appeared. Then the door opened and he was pulled in.
"What are ya doing outdoors at a time like this, sonny?" said an older man, panicked.
"I...uhhhh...."
"Never mind that now, just keep quiet."
Crono could hear swords clashing outside. He peered out a window. The knights were making quick work out of the skeletons. A few moments later, he heard a voice yell: "All right, it's safe." The man opened the door. Crono turned to the man.
"What's happening?" He said confused.
"What do you mean, boy? This is what happens when theirs a war. That was only a scout group. Magus is waiting or the right time to strike. If only the Grand Knight Cyrus was alive... What is your name, boy?
But Crono was out the door. He ran out into the street trying to make sense of all this. Where was Marle? He had to find her and wait for Lucca in the clearing.
"Is that him?" One of the knights, now on foot, asked another knight.
"Red, spiky hair...green shirt....let's go ask him." The knight walked over to Crono.
"You Crono?" He asked in a deep voice. Crono shook his head yes.
"Good. Queen Leene want's to talk to you."
"Queen Leene?" whispered Crono. He and the two knights started to march to the castle.
***
Crono had visited the castle before with his mother, some sort of tour. But it looked different this time. All the stones look brighter, and the vines where not as tall. He and the two knights walked up a tall flight of stairs.
"The Queen said you rescued her from the mountains. We are in your debt," said one of the knights.
"Huh?"
"King Guardia has been a nervous wreak the past two weeks, with the Queen missing and all. But he's better now, thanks to you."
"I....don't understand..."
"Queen Leene awaits," said the other knight, and opened a large door.
Crono walked inside. A girl in a green dress stood by the window.
"Leave us," said the Queen. The two knights walked away.
Queen Leene turned around. "Come closer." Crono took a step closer. The Queen looked awfully familiar.... "Closer." He took yet another step closer. The Queen also stepped forward and leaned next to him.
"Crono, it's me! Fooled you, didn't I?"
"Marle?" He said, shocked. He didn't recognize her with her hair not in a ponytail.
"They found me in the plains days ago. They said I was missing for weeks..." said Marle quickly, not knowing what to say next.
"They thought you were the Queen?"
"I know you would come for me, Crono. Somehow I knew," she said, babbling, obviously very happy.
"Let's get out of here."
"Right. Let's.... AHHHHHH!"
Marle dropped to the floor with a quick scream. She stood back up, her body glowing white. It got brighter and brighter until it was nothing but white.
"CRONO!"
Crono tried to grab Marle, but he got nothing but air. Marle exploded in a burst of bright white light. She was gone.
Chapter III
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It was night. Crono was giving a guest room in the castle. He was not held responsible for what happened to the Marle...or the Queen, as they believed her to be. The King decided that the Mystics must have used their magic to capture her again. The Chancellor disagreed, and tried to place the blame on Crono. After a long and heated argument, he decided Crono was not to blame. The Chancellor was outraged, and stormed out of the room. He lay on his bed, wondering about what was happening. He had come to the conclusion that portal was a time gate, and he was in the past. It was hard to accept, but all the facts where here. Truce was at war with the Mystics, lead by Magus. Magus has been dead for 400 years. The castle didn't look old and worn, among other things.
Crono heard voices outside his room. He went to the door and pressed his ear against it.
"But what of the Queen?" said a voice, with a heavy English accent.
"She has vanished again," said another voice of another that seemed to be annoyed.
"Where was the last place the Queen was seen?"
"That is none of you concern, outsider."
"`Tis mine duty, sir knight, to protect the Queen. I sense I'm not a guest here. I shall take leave and find the Queen, with or without thy help."
Then Crono heard a ribbit. What? Was he hearing things? He dismissed it. He thought about sneaking out to meet Lucca, but the guard wouldn't let him. He said it was too dangerous at night. A few minutes later he heard a knock on the door. "You have a guest." The door opened.
"Lucca!"
"Crono, your safe!"
"Yeah...."
"Did you find Marle?"
"Well...." he said, hesitating. "She kind of exploded..."
"What! The Princess exploded?!"
"No no, they thought she was a Queen." Corrected Crono.
"Crono! Marle is Princess Nadia of Guardia in our time. That's why they though she was the Queen!"
Crono suddenly felt embarrassed.
"I've talked to a few people. They say that the Queen disappeared several weeks ago..." She seemed to be thinking hard. "But history books say that she was rescued....Now Nadia is a descendant of Leene....so if Leene were killed by her kidnappers....Then Nadia would cease to exist...!"
"Wow, your good....what do we do?"
"We have to find Queen Leene, and fix history...." Said Lucca. "Then, we can go home."
***
"So, what year IS this, and how did we get here?" said Crono after he and Lucca tied a rope from the window and snuck out of the castle.
"About 600 AD," said Lucca, "400 years in the past."
Crono took out his new steel saber to admire it. It was given to him by the Knight Captain, as a reward for "rescuing" Queen Leene. "Okay, but how did we get here?"
"I've been thinking about that. Nadia's pendant...."
"Her name is Marle."
"Fine," She said, annoyed. "Marle's pendant seemed to trigger something in my Teleport machine. I'm not sure WHAT happened."
"Great...." said Crono, wishing he had answers. They were walking toward the cathedral. Crono had heard rumors of Mystics having a hidden base near there.
When they arrived, all they saw were a few nuns kneeling near an altar. They didn't seem to notice them as they were walking in.
"Perhaps we should wait until they're done?" suggested Lucca.
Crono didn't answer. He was looking at the front of the altar. There was a statue there.
"Lucca, look at that statue..."
The statue was about ten feet tall and made of a gray stone. It was a figure of a man with long hair, wearing a long cape and wielding a deadly scythe.
"It's Magus..." said Lucca as she remembered a painting of him in the center of Medina Village that she had once seen.
One of the nuns turned around. "Isn't it late for children like you to be wandering around?"
"Come join us, children...come praise the almighty Magus!"
"Let's get out of here," said Crono. But before he and Lucca could turn around, one the nuns grabber their shoulders. But when they did turn around, they found it wasn't a nun, but a Naga. Crono and Lucca broke free and looked at the other nuns. They were also Nagas, all of them half snake, half woman creatures. One of the Nagas leapt toward Crono, who drew his saber and knocked it back. He was surprised to see Lucca draw a dart gun from a holder at her waist. One by one, the Nagas attacked them, but they were easily warded off by a blow to the stomach or a dart in the neck.
Crono was surprised on how easily the Nagas fell. He remembered once he ran into a band of Imps in the forest once, and it resulted in a broken nose. He guessed his skills have improved a lot since then.
"Well, it's safe to assume that this is the secret Mystic hideout." Said Lucca. Both Crono and Lucca sat down to rest.
"Where'd you get that gun?"
"This? I always keep it with me." She handed it to Crono.
"Hmmmm..." said Crono as he examined the dart gun. Suddenly, he felt a blow to the stomach. He saw one of the fallen Naga in front of him. Lucca stood up, unable to do a thing. Crono was thrown the floor. He had no time to draw his saber. The Naga hit him again. The ugly snake was about hit him hard once more when he heard a yell.
"Ribbbbaaaaaah!"
A shadowy, caped figure fell from the ceiling and chopped the Naga neatly in two. Lucca ran toward Crono.
"Lower thine guard, and thou'rt allowing the enemy in," said the figure, who's back was turned to them. It was the same strong English accent he had heard in the Castle.
"Where'd you come from? Thanks," said Crono, a little startled.
The figure turned around. "I have my ways of sheathing," he said, and Lucca screamed.
"IT'S A GIANT LIZARD!" screamed Lucca, and hid behind Crono.
"I'm a frog, not a lizard, my lady. I see my guise does not incur thy trust," said the figure, while looking around him, Lucca and Crono just an afterthought.
Lucca was right! The frog creature looked quite normal head down, even if he was a head or two shorter than Crono. But his head was a frog's head! The frog kneeled down near the fallen Naga.
"Just as I thought. Mystics, the Queen must be near," said the frog.
"W-what are you?" said Crono.
"I have a name, just as you. Call me simply Frog. And you must be Crono. I heard of thee in the castle. It seems I was not notified of the Queens disappeared the first time. I thank thee for finding her. And who might ye be, my lady?" Said Frog, still searching the dead Naga.
Lucca peered out from behind Crono. "Uhhh...Lucca....Mr. Frog....."
"Ah," said Frog. "Are ye too, looking for Queen Leene?"
"Yeah." Said Crono, getting used to the fact he was talking to a frog. "Why are you looking for her?"
Frog made a chuckle, which sounded more like a chirp. "I am the Queen's Protector." He paused and added in a slightly angry tone. "Even if the title is self named."
He walked over to an open door near the back of the cathedral. "The Queen is beyond these doors! If thou wish to join mine company, you may."
Crono hesitated. "I don't know..."
"Very well." Suddenly a woman's scream could be heard from beyond the door. "Queen Leene!" Frog then began to run though the door, but the run soon became a hop.
"C`mon, Lucca! We have to follow him." Crono grabbed Lucca by the arm and ran after Frog.
"But it's a talking frog! He probably has warts or something!" cried Lucca. But Crono didn't listen, and continued down the hallway that lied behind the open door.
***
When Crono and Lucca finally caught up with Frog, he was engaged in a battle with two Mystics. Crono drew is sword to help, but before he got it out of the holster, the two monsters fell.
"Sir Crono, did ye change your mind?" said Frog, momentarily looking at him. He then began to ascend a nearby stairway.
"Yeah, I did."
"And why? Why are ye searching for the Queen?" he said, halfway up the stairs.
"I owe it to somebody," said Crono, remembering when he saw Marle disappear.
Frog was silent. No doubt he was confused by the reply. "I see."
Crono and Lucca also climbed up the stairs to meet Frog at the top. They where in what still appeared to be the Cathedral, but with stone gargoyles and gloomy painting on the walls.
"‘Tis a unholy place, this church. What a sin Magus hast committed," said Frog, while walking down on the hallways.
Lucca decided that if she was walking with a giant frog, the least she could do was get to know it better. "Uhhh...Mr. Frog?"
"Just Frog, my lady."
"Right, where did you learn sword play?"
Frog stopped. "From a old, good friend. My thoughts of him die slowly, and…" he said, sadly. Frog quickly changed the subject. A large door was in front of them. "The Queen is opposite these doors. No doubt surrounded by Mystics, the vile serpents...being without food and water...." He started to sound panicked, "...being tortured...." His large eyes widened, "I'll shall save you, my Queen!"
Frog was then a blur when he raced to the door and opened it. Crono made a small giggle. He really took his job seriously. The three entered the room to the Chancellor near the center.
"Chancellor?" said Frog. "What ye be doing in this vile sanctum? Queen Leene!"
The Queen, the real Queen, stepped from behind a curtain. "Run Frog! It's a trap!" The Chancellor the pushed the Queen away. He Chancellor eyes started to glow yellow.
"You fiend!" yelled Frog.
The Chancellor then raised his arms. "Death to the Mystic's enemies!" In a burst of light the Chancellor began to change.
Chapter IV
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The Chancellor was gone, he had turned into a large beast. I looked like a horned turtle, with insect legs. Frog didn't waste any time. He leapt on the beast's back, and his sword clashed with its shell. Sparks flew. Frog was knocked on the floor, but he quickly hoped back on his feet. Crono drew his sword and aimed for the beast head. The monster was quicker than it looked, and it scurried out of the way. Nothing was working, the shell was too hard.
"Frog!" yelled Crono.
"Aye?!"
"Aim for the belly!"
Frog jumped to avoid the beast's jaws.
"Lucca!" Crono yelled again. She was near the entrance, not knowing what to do. "Make a distraction!"
"How?" she yelled back just in time to see the shelled monster kick Frog with its front leg. The beast turned its head towards her.
"Good job!" The monster turned back to Frog, who had regained his balance. "NOW!"
Crono and Frog rammed the beast. Both swords were caught under it, and with great strength, they were able to use it as a lever to tip the monster. Its tender underbelly was now exposed. Since he was closest, Crono climbed on it and plunged his saber into the beast's heart. A moment later, it stopped moving.
Crono jumped down, and Lucca ran up to him and gave him a quick hug. Frog ran toward the Queen and helped her up. He kneeled slightly, being so short, and kissed her hand. Behind her, he saw the Chancellor tied up. The Queen hurried over there and set him free.
"Time to take ye home, Queen Leene," said Frog with relief, "Come, Crono." They then headed out the door.
***
"W-what happened," said Marle, who was laying on a bed. The guards said she appeared again right before they arrived. "I was in a dark cold place...was I dead?"
"No, not dead. Just lost," said Crono, kneeling by the bedside.
"How are you feeling, Princess Nadia?" asked Lucca.
"What? Oh...." She lowered her head. "You figured it out...I just needing a break from being a princess, I guess that's why I snuck out and went to the fair. I'm sorry I deceived you, Crono."
"You sure fooled me Nadia," said Crono, again feeling embarrassed.
"And don't call me Nadia! Call me Marle, it's my middle name. Nadia's my," she made a face. "‘Royal name.'"
Marle got out of the bed. She walked around a little bit, trying to get he bearings straight. Lucca then told her to sit back down, and she told her where they were, as Marle listened in awe.
About a half a hour later, after Lucca told her story and Marle was back to normal, they traveled downstairs. Both the King and Queen were sitting on their thrones. Frog was casually talking to Leene as Crono walked in.
"Ah, Crono, Lucca," said Frog, "and is this your lost friend? By the Masamune, the resemblance is uncanny!" He looked at Marle and then the Queen.
"Is this that frog guy?" asked Marle. Frog gave Marle a strange face. A couple a guards started laughing behind them.
"Well, I sense I am not welcome here. I shall take leave."
"No Frog, stay here," said the Queen, somewhat worried.
"My absence caused our kidnapping, my Queen. I did not live up to my title. I hath disgraced thee" He turned around, obviously upset. "Goodbye, my Queen. My King, Perhaps I shall see you in passing," and he hopped out the door.
Crono ran to catch up. Lucca and Marle followed.
"Wait, Frog!" yelled Crono outside the castle walls, and near the Zenan Bridge crossing a body of water.
Frog turned around. "I thank ye for your help, Sir Crono. I foresee you shall become a grand swordsman. I thank ye as well, Lady Lucca. Farewell, friends," and again he was off. He dove off the bridge and into the water with grace. Crono could see him swimming to the other shore.
Crono, Lucca and Marle were back in the mountains. A large black hole was suspended in mid air.
"Do we just walk in?" asked Marle, walking around it, observing it from all sides. It never seemed to change shape; it was a perfect sphere.
"I guess," said Crono, "but how do we know it will take us back?"
Lucca reached into her vest and pulled out a long, red rod with a diamond top. "With this!"
"What is it?" asked Marle.
"This," Lucca threw it in the air and caught it with he other hand, "Is a Gate Key. It was the triggering mechanism in my Teleporting Machine. We can use this to assure that we go back the way we came when we step into the Gate."
"Wow, I wish I was that smart...I would trade everything to have brains like you, Lucca!" said Marle.
Lucca blushed. She had never heard anybody say they wanted to be like her before. "Alright, whenever your ready guys."
Crono closed his eyes, and they all stepped blindly into the Gate.
Chapter V
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They reappeared right where Lucca claimed they would, back at the fair. Taban was still their waiting.
"Your back!" he yelled. He ran over to Lucca and gave her a hug. "Your all back!"
"See, I told you it would work," said Lucca, talking both to Crono and Taban.
"Well let's go home..." Taban said.
Crono looked at Marle. "I'll take you back to the castle, if you want," he said.
"Yeah, I guess I should, all this time traveling has made me sleepy..."
They all said their good byes. Marle seemed happy to have some real friends, they already had plans to go on a picnic this weekend. "IF my father let's me..." Marle had said, sadly. "He never let's be do anything outside the castle. Boy, he's gonna be mad at this!" She gave a giggle. Crono was confused, why was she laughing? She was probably going to be grounded for sneaking out. Then he wondered how princesses got grounded...
When they arrived at the Castle, a few guards instantly recognized Marle.
"Princess Nadia!" they said.
They moved out of the way, the Chancellor stepped up from behind. Crono looked at him. He looked almost exactly like the Chancellor from the year 600!
"Princess Nadia! SO this is the monster who kidnapped you! King Guardia the XXXIII has been worried sick! Guards, take this boy away!" he explained. The nearest guard grabbed Crono's arm.
"Wait! Let him go!" yelled Marle. The guard let go and bowed.
"Do as I say!" screamed the Chancellor.
"But the Princess...."
"NOW!" The Guard grabbed his arm again.
"You don't understand! Crono didn't kidnap me, I just went to the fair, he's my friend!"
"Nonsense! I had guards searching the fair for hours, you weren't there!"
Marle came up with an excuse fast. "We went to the valley, and uhhh, had some lunch..."
"So, you where alone with this boy!" He turned to Crono. "What did you do to her?"
"No! You've got it all wrong!" Marle said, panicked.
"I've heard enough. Guards, take this terrorist away. The trial will start at once!" Another guard grabbed Crono's other arm, and dragged him away to the courtroom. Marle tried to catch them, but some guards held her back. "Crono!"
***
A few hours later Crono found himself in a small room. The Chancellor was with him, as well as a judge.
"Where is Pierre?" said the Chancellor impatiently. "We can't start without him!"
At that moment, a man walked in the room and shook Crono's hand. "Hello there, Crono. I'm Pierre, your lawyer," he said in whisper. "Now just do as we planned and you'll do fine."
"But we didn't plan anything. This is the first time I've seen you!"
"Details, details, my boy! Did you get that neck brace? No? That's fine, we'll improvise. Can you throw up on demand?"
Crono gave Pierre a mean look. "Is this a joke?"
"No time for questions, here we go!"
Crono walked to the center of the room.
The Judge spoke, "Name?"
"Crono."
"Last name?"
"Objection!" yelled Pierre.
"Overruled. Do you swear to tell the whole truth, nothing but the truth so help you God?"
"I do," said Crono. Pierre slapped his face. "Drat," he said.
The Chancellor stepped forward. "Now Crono, is it true you and the Princess were at the fair."
"Yes."
"Now is it true you and the Princess were at the fair...TOGETHER!"
"Uh, yes."
"Is it true that you and the Princess disappeared soon there after?"
"Yes." It was the truth.
"I rest my case," said the Chancellor.
Crono was confused. That didn't prove anything!
"Anything to add, Pierre?"
"Crono, did you kidnap the Princess?"
"No."
"Really? Wow," he said happily. He came back to his senses. "So, what really happened?"
Crono thought fast. "Mar....Nadia got lost. Me and Lucca had to find her."
"So was that before or after the lunch Princess Nadia mentioned."
"After..."
"Now further questions, your honor."
Crono bowed his head. This was a joke. The King wasn't even here! The Chancellor was up to something.
The judge spoke. "I've heard enough. There is no proof that Crono kidnapped Princess Nadia. In fact, the Princess says Crono here rescued her. This trial should have never taken place. But the fact remains that Crono ran off with her, and put her at risk. One night solitary confinement!" He pounded his gravel.
Crono sighed. What was he going to tell his mom?
Chapter VI
-------------
It was cold in the cell. Cold and damp. He had been there for at least an hour without any food or drink. He waited for his mom to come and yell at him, but she never showed. Another hour passed. He was alone, and he didn't like it.
What time was it? He was really hungry and he yelled for the guards to get him some food. A moment later, two knights came to the cell. "Time for your execution, terrorist," one of them said.
"What!?!" Gasped Crono in surprise? They were going to kill him?! He backed into the corner
of the cell but the guards advanced on him and grabbed his arms. Crono tried to brake free, but they
where far to strong.
Crono tried to convince them that he was just to have one night solitary confinement, but the
guards ignored him. Crono's mind was a panic. What would he do? They had his sword and he didn't
know how he could overpower the guards without it. Then he saw it: the guillotine. Its blade was
stained red with the blood of it's past victims. The guards placed Crono's head at the bottom and he saw
the Chancellor at the base of the guillotine. "Remember me, Crono? You killed my grandfather, and now
you will pay!"
Crono didn 't know what to think. What was he talking about?! He began to sweat as he waited for the blade to come down. He closed his eyes.
"Ready..." said the Chancellor. "One....Two....Umph!"
Crono heard a sound bang, then another. He opened his eyes. "Lucca?!"
"C`mon Crono, we have to get out of here!" said Lucca.
"How did you..."
"Never mind that, lets go!"
Crono and Lucca ran out of the prison walls onto a long bridge that led to the Guardia Castle,
grabbing a sword from one of the knights Lucca knocked out with her blast gun.
"How did you know I was here?" Said Crono, dying to know the answer even though he was running for his life.
"I *huff* heard a rumor that... that a boy got *wheeze* arrested at the castle...Now run!"
The reached the end of the bridge only to find the Chancellor was blocking the entrance.
"You shall pay for my family's disgrace!" screamed the Chancellor. "Dragon Tank! Attack!"
A large object was rolled onto the bridge. It looked like a mechanical dragon head attached to a
carriage. Crono recognized it as a prop from a play he saw once. The tank's head lowered and a cannon
came from it's mouth. The Chancellor had punched the tank's body and a fireball spewed from the
mouth, just missing Crono and Lucca. The beast fired again, and again missing the pair.
"Blast!" yelled the Chancellor as he fired the tank once more. But Crono leapt onto the back of
the tank and cut its fuel source. The chancellor, worried more about the tank than Crono, hurried to fix it.
Crono and Lucca seized the opportunity and ran out the exit. They heard a loud explosion as the tank
blew up, but they didn't turn back.
***
They were almost at the exit of the Castle when several guards appeared to stop them. Crono drew his sword and Lucca raised her gun, but a voice stopped them.
"Leave them alone! They're my friends, show them your respect!" a girl's voice boomed. Everybody turned around to see Princess Nadia standing at the top of a stairway. Crono blushed... she looked pretty in that green dress...
"Let them go! Can't you take orders?" Marle commanded. The guards backed away.
"What are you doing?" another voice said. The Chancellor appeared behind the Princess. How did he get here? Did Marle know about him? But this Chancellor was wearing different clothes....
"Let this boy go." he said.
"Thank you, Chancellor," said Marle.
"Wait!" yet another voice boomed.
"Father?!"
King Guardia appeared behind Marle, his eyes sad and frowning under his thick, white beard.
"Nadia, all I wanted is for you to be a normal daughter and fulfill you duties as princess. But you insist on disobeying me and causing trouble every chance you get."
"But Father, I HATE being a Princess! I want to go out and have fun once and awhile, not be stuck in the gloomy castle for the rest of my life! I...!"
"Enough! Come back upstairs Nadia. We shall discuss this in private."
"No! I'm tired of it!" Marle ripped of her dress to reveal the same outfit she was wearing when she ran into Crono earlier that day.
"Come on Crono, Lucca! Let's get out of here," and she ran out the door.
"Guards! Bring her back!"
As the guards started running, so did Crono and Lucca. The quickly caught up with Marle at the entrance of the forest.
"This way!" Marle cried. And she ran down a narrow path. Crono didn't have time to tell her it was a dead end; he knew the forest all too well. When he and Lucca caught up with Marle, she was already at the clearing.
"What do we do now?!" she cried, realizing her mistake.
"What were do doing running away like that?" asked Crono.
"I don't know, I'm just tired of being a Princess!" she said, trying to find a way out. They could hear the voices of the guards behind them.
"Crono," said Lucca standing near the middle of the clearing.
"You don't just run away from your problems, Marle!" Crono said.
"I know, it's just that..."
"You have to stop acting like a spoiled rich kid all the time..."
"Crono!" Lucca said louder.
"SPOILED!" snapped Marle and she put her hands on her hips and gave Crono a stare that would freeze fire.
"Uhhh..."
"CRONO!" yelled Lucca.
"What!"
"A Gate!!!"
Sure enough, in the middle of the clearing a small blueish black hole floated about a foot of the ground. None of them noticed it when they first entered. Suddenly, the guards burst out of the bushes. "There they are, get them!"
"C`mon Crono! Enter the Gate," said Marle quickly
"We don't know where it goes..." said Lucca.
"Who cares, this place stinks anyway! Let go!" and she pushed Crono into the Gate. It opened up and Crono fell it. Marle then jumped in after him. Lucca, having no choice, walked in as well crying, "Wait a minute...!" The Gate shrunk behind them leaving the guards standing there, dumbfounded.
On to Chapter 2