JT: If that chapter wasn't at least OK, I'm very bummed. Here's some more "awesomeness" from me. I think this is less lemon-y, if you catch my drift.
Caution: That last part was more mature than this chapter, I hope, but still, you don't know what's coming up. It's probably some other mature something. Because, you know, this thing is rated mature for a reason. Please, don't read it if you're too young, because I don't want some angry parents reviewing mine saying, "My kid was reading this, I can't believe you'd post such things," yadda, yadda, yadda...
Disclaimer: I don't own Chrono Trigger (or any characters within) or Squaresoft. I sure do wish I did, but all I own is this fanfic, which, by the way, I'm not making any money off of. Yay.
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Chapter 4: Surprises
"This isn't the End of Time," Robo commented, looking at his surroundings.
He and Lucca were standing on a grass plain, he with Ayla over his shoulder, and Lucca with Glenn over hers.
"No, it isn't. What did we do wrong? That was the same Gate we first used, right?" Lucca thought it over.
Robo set Ayla down on the ground, and Lucca did the same with Glenn. The pair sat down, Lucca in heavy thought, and Robo looking at Ayla, taking in her features as she was laid out before him.
"I've got it," Lucca said suddenly. "The End of Time got us here, but we can't get back because these two Gates are linked!" She gestured to the Gate they had just stepped out of.
Robo nodded, thinking it was plausible. "But how do we get back? The others are probably worrying about us by now, don't you think?"
"I don't know," Lucca said sadly. "Maybe there's another Gate in this time period. There'd better be..."
Robo shook his head slightly. "If no one had suggested this idea—"
"If no one had suggested this idea, we would be fine! We would also be back at camp, watching two happy couples make love! I prefer being stuck in the wilderness to that!" Lucca nearly shouted.
"True," Robo sighed, "but we could have settled for the monsters in 1200."
Lucca stood up abruptly, and whirled toward the robot. "We could have, we could have! We could live a boring life, you could still be broken, I could still be friends with Chrono, who never would have met the stupid princess—"
"We could have. But instead you chose to become a fighter through the ages, along with your friend and a princess who strives to live in freedom. You could have not fixed me up, and I wouldn't be here right now to help you cope with this. And we could have not gone back to prehistoric years to meet Ayla, and again now to satisfy that Ayla wanted to fight reptites. We could have done any of these things. But we didn't. We are here now, and we need to figure out how to get back. Now, what year is it, do you know?"
Lucca sat back down, facing Robo. "I think, judging by the emptiness of the whole place, we're still in prehistoric times. But I don't know where. Do you want to take the Gate back?"
"Who knows if it will even take us back?" Robo reasoned. "I say we try to find out where we are first. And if we can't, then we take the Gate to wherever it will take us."
"Sounds like a plan," Lucca said. She picked up Glenn and slung him over her shoulder again.
Just then, he stirred. "Ungh, thou hast tossed me over your shoulder, but for what reason?"
"I'm carrying you over my shoulder because you're too hurt to walk. And you got absolutely beat up by Ayla, so you need to be healed before you can say anything to me." Suddenly, she stopped, and lay Glenn out on the ground again. "Wait, what did you say?"
"Lucca, I am of good health. Good enough. Perhaps no one thought that we always carry Tonics? Please, use one now, for I will perish soon if there is any other tossing of me." Glenn smiled weakly.
"What has happened to the maiden?" Glenn asked as Lucca got out a Tonic and used it on the injured frog.
Lucca stood, gestured to the robot to carry Ayla, and began to explain to Glenn. "We don't know. You were there when she started to go insane. Then, she began to beat you up. She went for me next, and I dodged a few attacks, but was soon able to tranquilize her. So, she's still out, right now, anyway. We went through a Gate, and we ended up here instead of the End of Time. Any thoughts?"
"Hast thou thought much of the possibility that we are in no time at all? Perhaps a plain somewhere—one that is inaccessible by almost everyone. And we could get lost searching for a landmark, or another Gate, and we should simply turn back, or at least leave a trail?" Glenn questioned.
"Well, it's unlikely. But perhaps. At least, leaving a trail would be a good idea." Lucca thought about it for several seconds before adding, "And, well, maybe…maybe we shouldn't go…"
Robo, who had been standing quietly with Ayla slung over his shoulder, spoke. "Or, maybe," he said quietly, "we should stay and wait for someone to find us?"
Lucca was outwardly opposed. "Who ever got anywhere by waiting around? I'll tell you—babies! Babies and little kids! Well, we are neither! We're hardened adventurers! We should either head out or head back. If you have some opinion, maybe you should tell us—but please, don't come up with another idea, because as you can see that wasn't the best."
The robot looked down, a little dejectedly. "If you say so." He lay Ayla down once more and sat down as did the other two.
Glenn was first to state his opinion. "I think that one of us should go back through the Gate, and one of us should start searching for another one—leaving a trail, of course."
"Brilliant, Glenn," Robo stated. "But who shall do which? Will we go in pairs? Will we all head out into different directions? Please, explain your plan in detail."
"All right, here is what we must do," Glenn began. "I will go with Lucca through the Gate, because she has the key. You, however, will stay behind with Ayla, and stay here unless something attacks you. If we come back through the Gate, there will be one of two outcomes: it will be the right Gate, and we are coming back to get you, or it was the wrong Gate.
"Also, Robo, you'll be responsible for Ayla until we get back. If she wakes up, knock her out if she's still crazy, or talk her through the plan if she's not." Glenn took several breaths, causing his mouth to inflate and deflate. "Does everyone understand their role?"
Lucca, who had been listening intently, spoke. "That is a great idea. I'll go with you. But I must ask—what if we can't come back?"
"I'll go in looking for you if you're not back in two hours," the robot volunteered.
"Yes! I say it's a plan!" Lucca said enthusiastically. "By the way, Robo, want me to put another tranquilizer in her, or something? Because—"
Robo shook his head. "No, I'll be able to handle her. Trust me. Just go on, and be as quick as you can!"
"All right!"
---
Marle breathed deeply as she broke away from Magus. They joined again, Marle moaning, and then lay down beside each other. They made no move to touch one another, because although Magus wasn't tired, Marle was, and he knew doing anything more with her was out of the question.
Finally, Marle gasped out, "Magus." She moaned, reaching blindly for him, her passion still aflame. "More," she begged.
He lay down on her, going in as she pressed on his back with heated hands. "Darling," he whispered as the two lay intertwined. "Oh, yes."
The princess was not used to her passion being so forward. Usually she had to curb it. She began to writhe slightly, breathing very shallowly. "Magus," she whispered in his ear, still clutching him as though he would not stay with her, "you are incredible."
Magus smiled despite himself. "And you say it is your first? Well, I'll be damned—you're…" He paused, thinking of the right words. "You're sure better than I expected."
Marle, thankfully, didn't hear him say that. She was breathing very quickly, her heart beating faster than it had ever before in her life, and she was writhing beneath Magus, clutching him desperately, praying he would never leave her. That moment, her life seemed perfect. No worries. Just love, passion, ignorance. She didn't want to know what was going on anywhere else, she knew what was going on with her, and that was enough. At that moment, she was free.
It lasted only a second. Reality came crashing back as Magus broke away from her. "But Magus," she wailed, "you stopped!"
"If I had gone on longer you would be in deep pain right now."
"I am in deep pain right now, pain of the heart! I need you, Magus. I want you. I must have you," she begged.
He smiled slightly. "I'm that good, am I?"
"Better!" she cried, reaching for him, embracing him. "Magus, you must."
"Aren't you tired?" Magus asked. He wasn't, he was sure of that, and he wanted her so badly as well, but she must be tired.
"Does it matter?"
"Of course it does, I won't go on if you're tired."
"Then I'm not tired! Magus," she begged, "please."
He chuckled softly.
"Magus, I love you. Please, for me, you must continue. With you, I have no worries, no feelings, only blind passion, only love, only ignorance. I don't know nor care what's going on around me, because of what is happening to me. Reality has no effect on me. The real reality is there: you and I are having sex. And that's what matters to me. You make me feel so alive, so loved, so energized. Please," Marle finished.
The man reached out, embracing the princess. He pulled her toward him, entered her sacred chamber. Her secrets were his, too, now. Once again, they joined in passion, in blind love. They were now one.
---
Glenn and Lucca looked at each other rather skeptically. What was this, the ever-changing Gate? A large meadow, much like, but at the same time so much different than, the one they had been in seconds previously, stretched out before them.
Lucca sighed, unable to hide her annoyance. "Why can't it be like the other Gates? Why did we bother even going out here? Why didn't we stay back—"
"Because we didn't. You've already asked these questions," Glenn stated. He, too, was slightly annoyed. But it was because of Lucca's insistent whining, not because of the Gate.
Then, he hopped away into the distance, with Lucca looking after him somewhat sadly. "Froggie...you weren't that bad..."
---
Queen Zeal was sitting by the window of her room, facing the cave at which her daughter was.
"I knew she would meet up with that boy," she hissed to herself. "I can't believe she wouldn't tell me the truth."
"Darling," Dalton tried to console her. "Come over here. Don't worry about her. Just forget all of your troubles. You and I need some time alone, don't you think? Let's focus on that. I think you need it."
Reluctantly, Zeal stepped away from the window. Her robe slipped away to the floor. The man began to caress her, explore her as he had done with so many others.
"Dalton, do you think—"
"Shh, darling. Don't worry about them."
"Schala—"
"Please, stop talking about them." Dalton sighed, and withdrew himself momentarily from Zeal's body. "Would you like me to punish her when she returns?" he asked.
A smile flickered across Zeal's face. "Yes, yes, you should."
Dalton went back to caressing and touching the queen. I shall enjoy this immensely, he thought devilishly.
---
Schala and Crono broke apart once again. Schala continued to moan, "Crono…" for the next few moments. Then, she began running her finger around his chest again.
Crono kissed Schala's head thoughtfully. "Schala," he whispered hesitantly.
"Yes, Crono?" Schala asked, in a somewhat dreamlike state.
The teen sighed slightly. He didn't really want to say this to her, but it had to be said. "I—" He paused, trying to think of a way to phrase it. "I hadn't ever had sex before you," he confessed softly.
Schala's head fell on Crono's chest. "Oh, don't worry about it, precious. You were fantastic, no need to worry," she breathed back.
"I was okay, then?" he said hesitantly. "I mean, I wasn't bad? Was I better than Magus? How about Dalton—?"
"You were fantastic," she began. "You were better than Dalton by thousands of times."
"And Magus…?" Crono almost didn't want to know the answer.
"I've gotten used to Magus's style," she said evasively. "Yours was new and exciting."
Impatiently, Crono tried again. "But was I better than him?"
"Better? Oh, I don't know. Your styles are so different—both so pleasing…" she trailed off. She didn't want to hurt Crono's feelings, but even though he was great, Magus was better. Magus was definitely better than Crono, and she didn't know why she thought that.
Crono kissed her again, slowly, inching his tongue in and exploring her mouth with it. "Well, was that better than Magus?"
"Are you in competition, or something?" Schala asked annoyedly. "Do I have to say which one of you is better for everything? Is it okay that I don't compare you? Is it alright to like both of you? Is it okay that I just wanted sex and pleasure from the two of you? Why can't you just accept it: I don't want to compare you two!"
The boy was taken aback by this outburst. "I'm…I'm sorry, Schala," he whispered. "I just wanted to—to know, you understand?"
"I understand completely," she said softly. "What I don't understand is why you have to compare yourself to him. Why don't you accept the fact that you're both good? Just go and duel or something if you want to see who's better. I shouldn't have to compare you two in your sexual tendencies!"
"You're right, of course," Crono said. He lifted Schala's head off his chest and retrieved his clothes. He gave Schala hers, too, and helped her dress in them.
"I suppose it's time to sleep," she whispered.
Crono hugged her in his arms, laying her head on his chest. "I suppose that would be best."
---
Lucca called to Glenn, "We should go through the Gate; that's the only way to get back."
Glenn began to hop back, a little dejectedly. He had been working on a great exit and reentrance. But that off his chest, he decided to turn back at Lucca's wish. At length, he reached her. She got the Gate key out of her pocket and held it up to the sphere as she normally did.
Lucca and Glenn were absolutely mystified by what they saw as they stepped through the Gate. It was bright—almost too bright to see anything. But vaguely they could make out the outline of a fierce battle. Additionally, they heard swords clashing swords and shields and cries of pain. A mage hovered above one side, producing the light from his hands, pointed skyward. He was shouting things at the army below him, but it was hard to hear what he was saying from their vantage point.
"We aren't back where we've been." Lucca said, frustrated. Glenn was looking out at the battle, trying to figure out which side was fighting for what. It was difficult, because the light was near blinding, but eventually he decided that the side with the mage was trying for control of the country, and the disadvantaged side was defending the current rule.
"Can thou tell what time we hast landed in, Lucca?" Glenn asked her eventually.
She looked around, consulted the Gate Key, and then decided, "We actually seem to be back in your time. The 600s, that is."
"Where?"
"I can't say for sure, but it seems like we're near a forest," Lucca told him, turning around and pointing out a wide strip of forestry to him.
"Wonderful!" Glenn told her. "Come with me!" Lucca, although skeptical, followed him into the thick of the battle.
---
Robo sat looking at Ayla. She was still unconscious, laying on the grass. A daisy was entwined in her fingers.
"I hope you are okay, Ayla," the robot said. He continued to stare at her. For several seconds he believed he was experiencing the emotion of love for her. He wasn't entirely sure, though; he had never felt it before and wasn't sure he was programmed to.
At length Ayla stirred. She turned over a bit, then her eyes shot open. She withdrew her hand from the daisy, then managed to sit up straight.
"Robo here, Glenn and Lucca not," she observed.
"Yes, I'm here, but Glenn and Lucca went through the Gate again. We're supposed to be waiting for them in case they come back. But if you don't remember, you went a little crazy, so they wanted me to watch over you."
"Oh," she said. "Alya not remember this." She sighed. "Ayla hit Glenn?"
Robo nodded. "Yes, you hit him and knocked him out. Then Lucca tranquilized you so you would stop. We hoped it would have no adverse effects but we were not sure."
Ayla stood up. "Glenn and Lucca go through Gate, Ayla and Robo should go through Gate," she insisted.
"I think that is a bad idea, Ayla. They told us to wait here."
She paced back and forth restlessly.
"Go through Gate?" she asked him insistently.
"I do not think we should. Please, do not," he told her.
"What we do now?" she questioned.
He looked her over once as she paced in front of him. "We could…do something interesting."
"What?" she demanded.
Robo reached his mechanical hand to her shoulder and pulled the strap of her top down slightly.
---
Although Crono was supposed to be asleep, his mind was restless and he was unable to. Where had the others gone? Recently he had heard Marle talking with Magus, but Glenn, Lucca, Robo, and Ayla were nowhere to be seen. Before he hadn't been worrying, but now that it had gotten late and he was no longer distracted he found it a little bit odd. Lucca had the Gate key, too, so they would need it to leave Schala's time…not that he wanted to after this.
He wanted to get up and look for them, but Schala's head was still on his chest. Schala had become so important to him in the past few hours that he couldn't leave her. He feared that if he so much as left for a moment, she would leave his arms and go straight back to Magus'. Although he found this revolting, he wouldn't put it past them, since they had done it before.
Chrono sighed restlessly. Schala shifted, drawing her hand from around his right-side ribs to almost over his heart. His body tingled where she had touched him, and he felt another stirring below. It was almost shameful how easily Schala could make him happy. He started to mindlessly run his hand through her hair, feeling her shift ever so slightly each time. His mind wandered back to his other friends briefly, but when Schala let out a soft moan several seconds later, his thoughts crashed back to her. She is so amazing, he thought. His erection grew slightly and he was hit with a flashback of them intertwined before, both of them letting out intense moans.
Once again Schala made a small noise, and shifted. Her leg had crossed over his and her knee was against his erection, making it harder. Her hand dragged its way to the right side of his ribcage again, and her other had decided to run along his chest. His mind went back to sexual thoughts. After all, how could he think about his friends when he was so turned on?
---
As they passed through the battle, stopping every so often to block an attack aimed at them, Glenn and Lucca finally made it to the back of the forest. There was a hole, only large enough for one person to enter at a time, with a ladder leading into it, in the corner of the clearing. Glenn led Lucca to the hole and helped her onto the ladder. Once she was down, he simply hopped into the hole.
It was sparsely furnished, but all of the essentials were there. A bed was in the corner, a table with chairs around it was in the middle, and a dresser was not far from the bed. A doll was perched on the table, and upon Lucca's inspection, she saw a switch.
"It plays a song that I know of from when I was very young. 'Tis important to me, Lady Lucca," Glenn said, coming up behind her.
"Oh. I think it's very nice," she said, putting it back down and moving to the side a few paces. "So, why did you bring me here?" Lucca asked.
"'Tis a sanctuary of sorts," he said in response. "In truth, I dwell here. But in times such as these, when wars run rampant, it's necessary to stay protected. Rest here until the fighting ceases, and then we can continue on."
Glenn, the true chivalrous gentleman he was, despite the fact that he was a frog, offered Lucca the bed to rest in. She took the offer and was soon dozing peacefully.