Chrono and Rosette's final moments in the manga. I also realized that another similar song seemed like something that Rosette would sing. So I decided that I would write a little something basically showcasing the music, in a way. Here it is
PS: I use the spelling Chrono, because it seems more fitting for a demon who can freeze time…and it sounds better in English. The purists of you can deal.
Disclaimer: If I could draw and write as good as the people who do/did Chrono Crusade, I would make more Chrono Crusade. Since that doesn't seem to be up and coming, its safe to assume that I do not have any legal right to any part of the story, and I am doing this purely for my love of the characters.
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The soul diving machine felt heavy on her head. The machine, emblazoned with crosses and other emblems of the faith, was able to let someone actually dive into another's soul and memories, and that is exactly what she needed to do right now. Chrono, her demon partner, had frozen himself in a state of semi-freeze as atonement for his berserk rampage over San Francisco, which had eaten away much of the remaining life force she possessed. In order to stop his consumption of her soul, he had frozen his body, and refused to come out. She was going in to get him to do exactly that.
"Rosette, are you sure about this? It's very dangerous, and no one has ever attempted a dive into a demon's soul before. You don't know what you might encounter" said a visibly worried father Remington
Although slightly miffed at his belief that diving into the soul of a demon would be somehow different from diving into the soul of any other living, breathing, sentient creature, all she said in response was "yes, I want to do this"
"Then there's no stopping you…ok Elder, you can release the soul shield"
With a soft whirr, the barrier set up around the bound form of the broken sinner shut down, and allowed the humming diving machine a change to roar up to its crescendo. Over the whining machine, Remington yelled one last time "It isn't too late to go back, Rosette! Leave him!"
Little did he know, it was far too late for her to go late for her to go back. Far too late for her heart or her soul. Rosette slowly shook her head, and then donned the metal eyepiece. She gave a thumbs-up in the direction which she perceived Elder to be, and then a nova of blue light spiraled in front of her eyes, and she blacked out
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When she came to, she was in what looked like the deserts of the southwest. The stars were bright overhead, and the canyons were more majestic than even the pictures in Joshua's books could convey. Off in the distance, a coyote howled at the moon. To Rosette, this howl sounded eerily like a lament. As her thoughts drifted off to the haunting pitch of the coyote's cry, she noticed a campfire off in the distance. She started walking towards it, making sure to make as little noise as possible, even though elder had said she probably wouldn't be able to be seen. As she tiptoed even closer to the campfire, she soon managed to pick out two figures sitting idly by. One was a woman who looked slightly older than rosette, and the other was a tall man with long, dark hair, a bandana tied around his head, and shaggy clothing. As she got closer and closer, she recognized the man. This was Chrono, except in his adult form. And he was laughing. Not the halfway reserved laugh he used most of the time, but a serious, full-bodied laugh, a laugh of life and vigor that she had rarely seen in him. He was cooking over an open fire, and it smelled almost good enough for Rosette to go and get up, and grab some herself, until she heard him talking to the lady:
"Its almost done Magdalene. Soon we'll have some real dinner. Thank God I went and grabbed some supplies from the general store earlier today, or it would be grass soup again…that would be pretty bad."
The lady sitting next to him on the other side of the fire giggled and poked Chrono in the ribs.
"Aww, but Chrono, you make such an exquisite grass soup, and I was looking forward to it!"
"Har har har Mary. I don't know what I'd do without you and your flawless sense of humor" Said an obviously sarcastic Chrono, as he poured the lumpy stew into a tin bowl for the girl
Rosette was very envious of her. She had not known Mary Magdalene except from some random excepts from records she had been read at the order. And these excepts had never mentioned Chrono was in the picture. She was actually very sad that he had never told her about these things. Could it mean that he was still in love with her? Some part of Rosette hoped that that wasn't the case. As she sat silently watching the couple, she had started to cry a bit. She had never had any special moments with Chrono like this before, and with her lifespan as short as it was, it didn't look like she would ever get the chance. When she roused herself from her internal monologue, she realized that it had gotten quite late. The campfire was merely a smoldering pile of embers, and the couple had lain down together under the starry sky. As Rosette crawled closer, she could hear Mary talking, even though it seemed that Chrono was fast asleep:
"I feel sorry for you Chrono. You, a demon with a heart and soul. Most of your kind gave up on those things long ago, as they induced pity…and love. Love is a destructive emotion isn't it, sinner? Your love of the idea of freedom banished you from your home, and forced you to kill millions of your kin. And then…your love for me forced you to abandon those with whom your love of freedom had been nurtured. And soon…your love will kill me. Your willingness to try and fight Aion, and the loss of your horns…you don't know it, but you're killing me slowly. Although…its not me that I think you're going to me most devastated about Chrono…"
The blond paused in her monologue long enough to sit up and sigh dejectedly. An unbearable sadness seemed to accompany this simple motion, as if this woman knew all to well what future was in store for the quietly sleeping demon next to her. She then began to speak again
"No, Chrono, it is not me who you will remember forever. What we have is merely a shadow…a mutual partnership, if one may call it. This is a trial period for you, you who has never shown any deeper emotion than hate and longing. No, the one for you is yet to come…in fact, she is watching us right now, but you wouldn't know that, would you?"
At this, Rosette gasped. HOW could she know she was here…because, technically, she wasn't. Apparently there was more to this woman than met the eye. Rosette had half a mind to go over there and have a little chat with miss know-it-all, when she heard her start speaking again.
"No, Chrono, the woman you love…as with me, you will kill her. Then, in agony, you will kill yourself. But do not fear, child of darkness…you two shall be together ad eterniam. Your love will transcend mortality in a way ours will not and cannot do. This woman will be your all, and just as much as she will rely on you for everything, so you will rely on her. You will love her like none of your species has ever, and will ever be able to love. I envy her. But for now, rest…I am still with you, and there are still many years before you meet her. So sleep child…and do not be afraid"
Right as Rosette started pondering what Mary Magdalene had meant by that speech, she heard the most melodious song. She didn't know what the words meant, but she recognized them, and the tune, from church when she was younger. As she looked back at the couple, she saw Mary lovingly looking down at the sleeping Chrono, and was gently stroking his ear and singing:
"Huna blentyn yn fy mynwes
Clyd a chynnes ydyw hon;
Breichaiu mamsy'n dynn amdanat
Cariad mam sy dan fy mron
Ni cha'dim amharu'th gyntun
Ni wna undyn a thi gam;
Huna'n dawel, annwyl blentyn,
Huna'n fwyn ar fron dy fam"
Although Rosette had no idea what the woman in front of her was singing, it was the most haunting melody she had ever heard. Mary alone seemed to be lighting up the night sky as her angelic voice resonated with the stars, making them seem to shine brighter. It was one of the most moving things Rosette had, ever witnessed, and soon, she was starting to cry
"Huna'n dawel, heno, huna,
Huna'n fwyn, y tlws ei lun;
Pam yr wyt yn awr yn gwenu,
Gwenu'n dirion yn dy hun?
Ai angylion fry sy'n gwenu,
Arnat ti yn gwenu'n llon,
Tithau'n gwenu'n ôl dan huno,
Huno'n dawel ar fy mron?"
As the angelic song wore on, Rosette felt as though she could understand the song, if only on an emotional level. It was a mother or a lover singing to her loved one, telling him to not fear the noises, and to sleep peacefully. It conveyed the ultimate message of love, and Rosette was soon openly weeping, because she had never had a moment quite like that with Chrono…she wanted to be the one singing him lullabies, she wanted to be the one holding him close under the cover of stars…she wanted to be his all. As Rosette's tears continued to trickle down her face, Mary continued to sing
"Paid ag ofni, dim ond deilen
Gura, gura ar y ddôr;
Paid ag ofni, ton fach unig
Sua, sua ar lan y môr;
Huna blentyn, nid oes yma
Ddim i roddi iti fraw;
Gwena'n dawel yn fy mynwes
Ar yr engyl gwynion draw."
As the heavenly aria drew to a close, Rosette saw Mary lean down and give Chrono a kiss. After that, she lay down, snuggled up to the sleeping demon, and fell asleep herself. As Rosette quietly sat bawling at the love that she thought she would never have, she was transported to other memories, and would keep on crying as she saw the tragic past that had plagued the one who she loved so much.
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After convincing Chrono to come out of his self-induced freeze, Rosette didn't know what to do. She couldn't talk to the demon about what had happened, because some of the things she had seen looked to be some of the most emotionally painful things that could happen to anyone. But, at the same time, she wanted to help him. She wanted to take away some of the hurt, some of the pain that had plagued him for 54 years. She didn't know what to do, though. How does one ease the pain that those events must've caused inside the demon's soul? How would she, a mere girl of 20, be able to console a being who had probably been alive for hundreds, if not thousands of years? She had no idea, but what she did know was that she loved Chrono. She loved him more than she actually thought possible. The demon who had slowly eaten away her life, the demon who had done so much for her, who had been her best friend, her closest confidant, and now, the person who she loved. She didn't think that words would be able to express with words how much he meant to her. She didn't know what to do, but she knew she had to do something for him.
A few days later, an opportunity presented itself. She snuck into his room one night when the guard was absent doing other things, because she wanted to see Chrono. When she walked in, the demon was already asleep in his bed. She didn't really know what she was going to do or say, but she walked quietly over to his small bed, and sat down on the side, making sure not to wake him as he gently slept. When she sat down, she softly grabbed his hand, and began to talk
"Chrono…I don't know what to say here. When I went into your soul to try and get you out of your little self-pitying funk, I saw something…I saw one night, when you were with that Mary woman. You two looked so…happy together. Everything you did…it was just perfect, meant to be. She said some things that I couldn't really understand, and she sang to you before you went to bed under the stars together."
As Rosette continued to talk, she started to cry, and the sobbing got heavier the more she talked. It was as if she would never get to say these things again, and wanted to get them all out before there wasn't any time left, and before she wouldn't be able to speak with him any more
"And then I saw some of your other memories. Memories of what Aion did to you and Mary, memories of things that you probably want to forget. Things that I don't think I could bear myself. Is that why you were in that tomb, Chrono? Atoning for the sins of the past? Atoning for losing her? Your life has been filled with so much pain…I just wish there was some way I could help…some way I could do something to make it easier for you to bear it. I…I…I love you Chrono. I think I have all along…from the first moments we met up until now. You've always been there for me, you've always held me when I'm feeling my worst…you've always been there to save me…and I don't feel like I've done anything for you. I know you cant hear me right now, but I just wish there was something, ANYTHING I could do, to make up for you all that you mean to me…but…as it stands, I have nothing to offer except my heart. Take it as you will"
With that, Rosette looked down at Chrono, and started stroking his face. He really did look peaceful in his sleep. She wondered what he was dreaming about. Was it about Mary, and the time they had spent together? Was it about his friendship with the other sinners before the catastrophic battles that left him broken and battered? Or was it something else? On a whim, Rosette started to sing the song she had heard Mary Magdalene sing to Chrono in the memory from long ago
Huna blentyn yn fy mynwes
Clyd a chynnes ydyw hon;
Breichiau mam sy'n dynn amdanat,
Cariad mam sy dan fy mron;
Ni cha' dim amharu'th gyntun,
Ni wna undyn â thi gam;
Huna'n dawel, annwyl blentyn,
Huna'n fwyn ar fron dy fam.
Huna'n dawel, heno, huna,
Huna'n fwyn, y tlws ei lun;
Pam yr wyt yn awr yn gwenu,
Gwenu'n dirion yn dy hun?Ai angylion fry sy'n gwenu,
Arnat ti yn gwenu'n llon,
Tithau'n gwenu'n ôl dan huno,
Huno'n dawel ar fy mron?
Paid ag ofni, dim ond deilen
Gura, gura ar y ddôr;
Paid ag ofni, ton fach unig
Sua, sua ar lan y môr;
Huna blentyn, nid oes yma
Ddim i roddi iti fraw;
Gwena'n dawel yn fy mynwes
Ar yr engyl gwynion draw.
At the end of the song, Rosette was openly sobbing. She could no longer control her emotions, or her thoughts. Temporarily, even Joshua was pushed out of her mind. All she could think of was the demon still sleeping peacefully under her sobbing form
"I love you Chrono" she managed to choke out as her tears poured forth like so much baptismal water onto Chrono's nightshirt "I love you so much…I don't know what Mary said to you, or even what that song means, but if I could live forever, I would spend it all with you. You're all I want now…I just want to stay with you forever…I don't want to die, because you're with me!"
Rosette could no longer talk; her sniffling, crying, and weeping made it an impossible task. Instead, she grabbed hold of Chrono as tight as she could, as if he were the only remaining bastion of sanity and love in a world gone black with madness and hate. She didn't know what to do. The demon lying under her meant so much to her. She didn't want to die, she wanted to live with him, to do all the things those hopelessly in love are supposed to do. She felt constrained, and she felt scared. Scared of a future without Chrono. Scared of what his reaction would be. Suddenly, she felt a pair of arms wrap around her, and hold her tight. As Rosette kept on sobbing into his chest, she heard Chrono say
"You know, you're as good a singer as Mary was. I'm impressed"
Through tear-blurred vision, Rosette saw Chrono smiling down at her from his pillow. She burst into more tears at the thought of all those painful memories she had forced into Chrono's head
"Ssh…ssh Rosette…its ok, im here now…you don't need to be scared…sssh"
As Chrono softly cooed into her ear, all Rosette could do was cling more tightly to his chest and sob more, and stutter out
"Why? Why didn't you ever tell me about Magdalene? About all those things that happened in the past? I would have helped you…I would have helped you carry the burden. I've never done anything for you! I would have…"
"ROSETTE!"
Shocked by the fierce outburst, Rosette quieted down her sniffling. Although she was still crying against his chest, she only occasionally made a hiccup of breath as she sobbed
"How can you say that Rosette? How can you say that you've never done anything for me? How can you say that you've never helped me? I spent 54 years in utter darkness. I thought I would never be happy again when Mary died. I was wrong. A long time ago, I thought that my love with Mary was never going to end. Apparently, she knew otherwise. She told me I'd find someone else, someone who would lead me out of the darkness. Someone I would love with all my heart…someone who I would be willing to die for, and willing to do anything possible for a human or demon, to keep alive. She was right. Rosette…I love you…how could you say that you've done nothing. You light up my existence…from the very first day I met you…whenever I've been with you, I've been happy. I always wanted to keep you safe…keep you with me. The times I've spent with you have been the happiest years of my life. I hardly remember the other times, because there are so many memories of us…of fun times, bad times, just…any time. Your laugh, your smile…Rosette, everything you do makes me love you more…you've helped me more than anyone I've ever known. In all of my life, I've tried to find a meaning. And I've finally found her…her name is Rosette Christopher, and I love her with all my heart"
With this, Rosette couldn't bear it any longer. She put her arms around Chrono's head, and started sobbing into her shoulder. She couldn't contain the emotions inside of her anymore. The demon with her meant more than anything right now. She didn't know what to say, so she started babbling
"Oh Chrono…sniff…you…have no idea how ha…happy this makes me…"
"yes I do Rosette…I know…sssh…im here…and I always will be"
He then reached down, and kissed her on the lips. She slowly returned the kiss, and soon Chrono tasted both the salt of her tears and the sweetness of her lips. He then started crying too. He cried for many reasons. He cried from joy, and he cried from sadness. Once again, it seemed that he was fated to kill the one he loved…except this time, he had no intention of outliving his partner. As he came back, he noticed that Rosette was still crying. He turned to her, tucked her under the covers and said
"Ssh darling…ssh Rosette…I'm here…and I always will be. Ar yr engyl gwynion draw"
"I love you…and I always will"
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Holy Hell!
It's done!
Chapter 1 of an intended 2 is out!
The second chapter will be based around the last scene inside the Chapel. I decided to use the manga because, personally, the latter half was much better in my opinion…although it was nice to see the characters move :p
Please Review! Cause that's what keeps me truckin! Oh, and flames are welcome too…summertime is here, and I want a barbeque
Next Chapter:
Fare you well, my dear, I must be gone, and leave you for a while
If I roam away ll come back again
Though I roam 10,000 miles, my dear
Though I roam 10,000 miles