Chapter 4: We're Back!

For all three of them, getting up was very hard. Crono, Lucca, and Marle tried several times to get their footing, but fell each time.

Crono was the first to stand and stay up. Marle was next. Lucca was just struggling.

"Here," Crono said, and took Lucca's glasses off. Despite her now blurry vision, she could now stand up.

After all three recovered, Lucca put her glasses back on.

They sat in silence thinking about what had just taken place. Marle had disappeared in a gate, Crono and Lucca went back to save them, met a humanoid frog, were nearly killed by a giant beetle, and were to be forever honored by a castle in 600 AD. This would take a very long time to sink in.

"Thanks again for saving me," Marle finally said.

"It was an honor, Princess Nadia," Lucca bowed.

"Please, call me Marle. I hate formal titles. And if you bow to me again, I will pull out my crossbow."

"Okay," Lucca apologized, "I won't do it again."

"Lucca," Marle started, "Why don't you and Crono come for a dinner at the castle? We'd be honored to have you."

"Thanks," Lucca said, "but I need to get back to my house so I can rest. I haven't fully recovered yet." She put her hand on her side. "Crono, would you be so kind as to escort Marle home?"

"Huh?" Crono was startled. He was still dazed and had had no part in the conversation until now. "Oh, sure. No problem. I'd be glad to."

"I'll be going now," Lucca called as she walked off, "See ya, Crono! Bye Marle!"

Crono and Marle said goodbye.

"Shall we be off, Crono?" Marle asked.

"Yeah," Crono replied, "Let's go."

Little did Crono know that there was a nasty little surprise awaiting him at the castle.

Marle stayed close to Crono as they walked through Guardia Forest. She always was very cautious when she went through. Now, she didn't mind as much, considering all that she had been through, but it still brought comfort that she was going through with Crono.

They saw some sleeping hetakes, but Crono decided it would be better if he and Marle got to the castle as quickly as possible. He and Marle had seen enough fighting for the last… how many days had they been gone. An even worse thought followed. How am I going to explain this to the castle?

Marle saw the worried look on Crono's face.

"Is something wrong?" she asked.

"I was wondering how I'm ever going to explain all of this to the castle," Crono answered.

"We should be fine," Marle reassured him, but then added, "If we avoid the chancellor."

"What's wrong with the chancellor?" Crono asked.

"He's very strict," Marle answered, "If we had a court system, I'm sure he'd be responsible for many people being beheaded."

"Well, I suppose we'll be just fine," Crono said.

Crono and Marle entered the castle one second too early. The chancellor was just closing the door throne room when Crono and Marle came in. They both gasped as the chancellor came back out of the throne room.

"Princess Nadia!" he exclaimed, "We were looking everywhere for you!" He turned to Crono. "YOU! I bet you are responsible for this! You abducted the princess so that you could overtake the throne and take command of Guardia!"

"I d-" Crono just started when the chancellor interrupted him.

"Silence!" He yelled, "Save it for the court!"

Crono and Marle looked at each other. The same thought went through both of their heads. What court?

"Detain him at once!" the chancellor commanded the guards.

"Chancellor!" Marle yelled, "Give us a chance to explain!"

"Worry not, Princess Nadia!" the chancellor said in a false reassuring voice, "You are safe now!"

The guards were cuffing Crono.

"H-" Crono began to talk, but was cut off again.

"I said SILENCE!" the chancellor yelled in a voice that could shatter windows.

"STOP IT!" Marle shrieked.

The guards let go of Crono and bowed down.

"What are you doing, you bumbling idiots?" The chancellor demanded, "I said detain him!"

"But," a guard tried, "Princess Nadia said-"

"To HELL with what Princess Nadia said!" The chancellor interrupted, "ARREST HIM BEFORE I THROW YOUR ASSES IN PRISON WITH HIM FOR DEFYING MY ORDERS!"

"Yes, sir!" The guards said in frightened voices and began dragging Crono away.

Marle tried to silence them, but the chancellor silenced her.

"Come Princess Nadia," he said in a calm voice, "Let us explain what happened to you to your father. He has been worried sick about you, my dear."

Marle slowly followed the chancellor into the thrown room.