Chrono Trigger
The Battle at Zenan Bridge; A chapter in which our protagonists find themselves in the midst of a harrowing situation…
The blue light disappeared and they found themselves standing in a clearing. By this time they had become used to the portal and had no trouble keeping their balance as they emerged. When they appeared the first thing they noticed about the world around them was that it was covered in snow. They remembered what Lucca had explained to them; there were instances where the portal was unstable and would send them to random parts of time in that era. The last time they were in this place it was just near the beginning of autumn. It seemed that they were gone from this time for a few months.
"Wow," Lucca whistled, "it's a good thing that none of us came here during the winter last time. We would have never found the path. Much like Crono here."
Marle giggled as Crono rolled his eyes, "You guys live in the past too much."
"Hello?" Marle began, "We are in the past!" Lucca howled with laughter and suddenly Crono was not as fond of their camaraderie.
It was not as fast as it had been before, but they still made their way down the mountain quickly. Once they got to the edge of the farmland Crono saw the very house he stayed at the start of his journey. It was a strange thing to him, seeing that it was less than a week or two since he stayed there, but it seemed nearly months since that time. When you are traveling through time, time evidently is lost on you. They made their way through winding paths until they came to the straight, brick-laid streets they traveled before. The city was beautiful, because roofs were covered in frost (not snow; it was still too early for snow in the lower lands) and smoke rose in curls from the chimneys. However, they suddenly felt a strange tension in the air. They also realized that hardly a soul occupied the streets at the moment.
"You there! What are you doing in the middle of the street?"
They turned about and were looking into the face of an angry soldier. This soldier was different in his appearance than the others. The other soldiers tend to have their armor shined to a mirror-like sheen and the accessorial parts of their uniform (such as the cape and helmet) were nearly perfect in placement. This soldier seemed more laid-back because his clothes stuck out from underneath the armor, and his armor had definitely seen some days of neglect. The soldiers were generally clean shave, but this one had a bushy mustache, and instead of wearing a helmet he wore a bandana that held up messy brown hair.
"What's going on? Why does it matter if we are in the street?" Crono asked as courteously as he could.
"Fool!" the soldier bellowed, "How could you possible not know? Magus' army is on the move!"
"What? Already?" Marle asked. She regretted saying that last part, but thankfully the soldier didn't seem to notice.
Crono looked around and saw that what the soldier said was true. There were some houses that were boarded up and if there was a person who passed them by on the street, they did it with haste and caution like a hunted deer. Suddenly, he began to feel a little at-ease as well. They had all expected to come back to a part of time where it was peaceful, not in the preceding hours of a war. This means they had no time to think; they had to act quickly if they wanted to prevent the creation of Lavos.
The soldier continued, "All able bodied men are ordered to fight. You, sir, you must come with me. We must get you decorated for battle as quickly as possible. As for you, ladies, you must go to an inn and tell the innkeeper to take you in. Everyone must remain indoors in case the fighting reaches the city."
"No!" Marle stamped her foot; a princess, although not proud of the title, still does not like to be ordered, "We are staying with Crono."
The guard's eyes went wide, "Crono? Sir Crono? The one who rescued the queen when she was kidnapped?"
"Yes," Lucca said, her chest swelling, "and I'm lady Lucca, so why don't you show a little bit more respect?"
The soldier spat to the ground as if he were revolted, "Respect? Respect? Show respect to a knight and two dames, staying hidden like cowards for these many months; a knight and two dames who have not even reported to his majesty? A knight and two dames who allow themselves the pleasure of enjoying a fine midday breeze while our majesty bleeds to death in his chambers?"
Fear struck them at that point, "The king is hurt?" Marle's eyes shot open.
"Aye," the soldier said looking at them despairingly, "and the wound is deep. He fought as bravely as a lion on the front lines. The defense on the Zenan Bridge nearly buckled, but he rallied our troops and charged head forward. Our majesty should not even be on the battle field, but at least you, sir Crono, should be."
They had a perfect reason for not participating earlier, but even this cold admonition caused them to feel the deepest remorse. They did not hang their heads for long. They agreed to fight on the condition they visit the king first. The guard tried to protest against the women coming along, but in the end he was far too rushed to escort them to the inn. He shook their hands and briefly told them that he was an explorer that volunteered for the knights. He informed them that his name was Toma and he began to run in the direction of the castle. Along the way they passed groups of soldiers helping people into their homes. They saw some other soldiers that were deathly pale with fear, their poor hands shaking from nervousness and cold. It was not long until they were at the castle and charging into the throne room.
There is a difference between a bad king, a good king, and a great king. The bad king would have his army defend his castle. The good king would send his soldiers out to defend his people and have his most skilled warriors by his side. This great king had neither, save for a few unseasoned men who were still as loyal as dogs no matter their inexperience. Although there was the sound of war not far from the forest that surrounded the castle, they did not appear frightened, but determined. "No Mystic shall pass by this place without my dead body and several of theirs blocking the way." They said this with grim truth and a nod before they stood aside.
There were several doctors that came out of a certain room that had large double doors. They were shaking their heads in a pitiful way as they passed by Crono and the others. Marle began to whimper and she walked faster. They reached the doors and pushed them open. There was the king, no longer looking glorious or merry, but was lying in a bed with blood soaked blankets. His queen sat by his side, holding his cold hand against her warm cheek. A tear would occasionally drop from her eyes and she would brush it away irritably.
"Your majesty!" Surprisingly it was Crono who rushed to his side first.
The king's head lay on a pillow, and it turned slowly and weakly towards Crono, "Ah, it is you. I had hoped you would arrive again." He choked on his words.
"King Guardia, you can't die!" Crono grasped his hand firmly. He was saying this for the king, and for Marle.
The king smiled almost as if he were trying to lighten the mood by being humorous, "Yes I can…I don't want too, but I can, and I might. There is nothing the doctors can do…" He was cut short as he hacked up another stream of blood. His wife gripped his hand even tighter.
"What about children?" Crono began, for in his despair he had forgotten that the future heir had already been conceived.
At this point the king turned towards Leene and said in the most heartbreaking waver of a voice, "Leene, forgive me. I think I had made you a widow…"
It was not his intention, but that utterly destroyed any control his wife had. She burst out into tears and wrenching sobs so heavy that it would hurt your chest to have them.
"Do not cry," the king shushed her while he rose slowly and painfully. Despite his blood, he embraced his wife, "after this life there is something far more glorious so much that if we were to be there we would never want to return to this place. I will wait for you there, but I want you to live on, do you hear me?"
"Don't say such things." This came from Marle, but it was an inaudible whisper.
"No, I want to go with you. Not now, but when we are older and meant to meet our end. Not now." She shook her head vehemently.
"I am sorry," he began to sob as well, "it just hurts. I just want it to go away."
"No," the queen shook her head, "stay awake." Her hand went to his cheek.
"I want you to raise our child. Please, tell our child that I'm sorry I never got the chance to meet…" He winced as he began to hack violently. His hand went to his mouth and when it came back it was covered in watery blood.
The wife threw herself on his bed and wrapped her arms around him, "Please, if there is a god, spare him! If this is a dream, please let me wake!"
While this horribly dramatic scene unfolded between them they were fighting back their own tears. It wasn't until that point when an idea suddenly struck Marle. Perhaps it was because she was meant to do this that the idea came to her first before the others. She suddenly had a mental image of their defeat at the hands of Spekkio and how he healed them. She was suddenly enraged by the product of such irrational hatred from the Mystics. Although she did not know how, when the queen uttered her prayer she felt very strongly that she should give it a try. She politely pushed the queen away from the king, and the queen gave the most severe look of indignation. She was about to say words that a queen should never say until she saw that Marle closed her eyes as if she was in the midst of intense concentration.
She looked at her husband and saw that his muscles began to tense and a dim glowing light graced the edges of his wound. Blood began to dry; some even began to seep back into the skin as Marle began to perspire and quake in her effort. The light grew more and more intense until the wound had closed in and Marle fell from exhaustion. Crono quickly grabbed Marle before she hit the floor. He was suddenly feeling the very same fear that the queen had earlier. He shook her gently, encouraging her to open up her eyes. When she did he sighed in great relief as did Lucca.
Marle rose to her feet. When they turned to the king they were extremely happy to see that he was sitting upright without difficulty. He looked about, as if he was very confused, and he saw his wife beaming at him with tears still streaming down her cheeks. Crono and Lucca looked at Marle in amazement, and saw that she was still a little weak from the ordeal. "How did you do that?" They asked in a way that children would after seeing a miraculous magic trick, and perhaps it was.
"I don't know." She said quietly, "It was like I could see inside him; where he was cut, what was hurting him, and I fixed it…"
By this time others in the court came up to the king. They stared with the same amazement and wonder that Crono and Lucca shared. "It is a miracle." They whispered.
The king was still pale, having lost so much blood, but he was able to put a determined look on his face, "Chancellor! Order a soldier to ride towards Zenan Bridge and have him bring back the knight captain! Gather our counselors and prepare the map room!" He gave Crono, Marle, Lucca, and Robo a strange smile, "I think we might have a change in strategy…"
There was a gentle murmuring in the counsel room. There were nearly thirty people there, including the strange visitors. While Crono and his friends were nonplused as to the reason why they were there, everyone was just as clueless judging by how they spoke. Some were unpleased, wanting to get back to their duties while some were optimistic. While Marle was used to being looked at in such situations, Crono and Lucca shrank to the back while Robo just stood in place like he was a statue. (He was too much like a statue, seeing that a member of the counsel jumped when he saw Robo suddenly move and talk). The murmuring began to intensify and it suddenly died so much you could ear a pin drop on the carpet. All members stood and saluted to the doorway, some doing so with joyful tears in their eyes. Crono rose with the room and was nearly tearful himself when he saw the king hobbling in with the help of his wife. He was no longer dressed in bloody clothes or gauze, but was wearing battle armor with a flowing red cape. He sat in his chair, and everybody followed suit.
He spoke slowly and hoarsely, but throughout the speech it was evident he was rapidly improving in health, "Thank you all for gathering together. I know that the invasion requires every moment of your time, but I feel that we have received a gift. We can still win this war and I am no longer fearful."
"Why is that, o' king?" A counselor asked.
"These four strange visitors; three of them you remember, came to us in a time of trouble and they do so again. These people are gifted in the art of magic."
The room suddenly erupted in a surge of voices, quite of few of them hostile. There were cries that shouted that the visitors were Mystic spies who tried to carry favor with the king. Others were even as audacious to say that the king was still unwell from his wound. When that came the king suddenly became enraged and yelled out, "Then see for yourselves the miracle which has been wrought! You have seen me injured; now you shall see me whole! All women look away while the men examine what miracle has come upon me! Remember the image of my wound and see that it is no longer there!" The king unlatched his breastplate and let it fall to the ground. Underneath the breastplate was a white shirt carrying the symbol of Guardia. He lifted the shirt and the counselors gasped when they saw that not even a scar remained. Even the women, despite the king's command, were curious as to what caused such surprise. They gasped and turned away in shocked embarrassment when they saw the lack of injury. Some members of the cabinet rose and approached him, feeling where the wound should have been. All sat down and were amazed.
"Majesty," one of the more opposing counselors began, "we believe, but how do we know that these travelers aren't leading us into a trap?"
The king looked the counselor right in the eyes and said, "I do not know for certain. It is true that no human to our knowledge has ever used magic. It is also known that mystics are the only ones who have not lost this skill. However," the king faced the travelers, smiling affectionately, "when I met them for the first time I could feel that they bare no evil within them. I can see it in their eyes; evil has no place in their souls. However, my word is not enough. Look inside yourselves; search their eyes until you see the same kindness that I do. I will not put forward my suggestion until you see what I see."
The members of the counsel all turned towards Crono, Marle, Lucca, and Robo. Even Marle felt slightly uncomfortable now, hoping that they found them worthy. Finally, the knight captain raised his hand and said, "Sir, I shall not lie; I do not see what you see." The king lowered his head in defeat. "But," said the captain, and just like that the king looked up hopefully, "I know that you are a king who loves his people more than himself. Even if I do not fully trust these visitors, I trust you and your judgment with my life! Hail to the king of Guardia!" The knight captain saluted.
The knight captain stood still and slowly the other members of the counsel followed suit until all were at full attention. With each member that stood there was the hallowed refrain of, "Hail to the king!"
Finally the king, who had misty eyes, said, "Very well. Knight Captain, we shall draw up a new strategy dealing with the invasion. Members of the counsel, gather the things we will need. Guardia will triumph as it had always done before!"
While an optimistic spirit was present in the chambers of the counselors, there was another place where maddening determination and obsession ruled. This place was beyond the forests that surrounded the castle and a short distance from a massive bridge. Standing on a little rise that overlooked the battle field were two beings. One being was smiling as if he were a devilish imp while the other was seemingly stoic, almost as if he were only calculating the deaths as they happened.
"Master Magus, we almost beat them back to the bridge!" The creature that spoke was the one that grinned like the devil himself. He was a mystic that was unlike most of the others. He had the build of a lazy lay about; a large stomach and a large double chin. His skin was green and scaly and his teeth were pearly white, but deathly sharp. He wore a white tunic that was held by a waistband, but it was stained in the blood of any enemies that made it past the defensive line. "Victory shall be ours!"
The other figure was the most interesting one to describe. He was human-like in his appearance, except his ears were pointed and his eyes held a strange red glow. It has been said that those who carry extraordinary magic powers sometimes have strange characteristics in their features; especially in their hair. And this man has flowing hair as thick as a horse's mane. It was a silvery blue, and although it was evident he was gifted in magic he was no weakling when it came to physical battles. He barely wore armor; a simple leather breastplate protected his torso. His muscles were befitting that of a well-defined athlete. At his side was a long scythe which he held comfortably as if he were the grim reaper himself; and perhaps he was. While his comrade was covered in the blood of his enemies, this man was not. He had participated in battle, but so powerful and swift was he that the spurting of blood from the wounds of enemies would never land on him; thus were the precision of his strikes and the speed of his departure. While the other spoke in a gleeful voice befitting that of a little squealing monster, this man spoke with solemnity and coldness, "Fool. The battle shall never cease until I create Lavos. We shall not pass the bridge."
"Master, what need have we for Lavos if we topple the kingdom now?" the green creature began.
"Do you question my judgment, Ozzie?" Magus asked, looking at him from the corner of his eye. Suddenly there was a whizzing sound that buzzed in both their ears. There was a flap of clothing and Ozzie stood dumbstruck in horror. In the blink of an eye, an arrow appeared in front of Ozzie's face which had been fired from the opposite side of the battle field. Magus had caught the arrow only inches away from Ozzie's face. If it were not for Magus, the arrow would have passed through Ozzie's skull.
The creature shrank and trembled, "No sir, but what do you want? Why hasn't Lavos been born?"
"He demands more blood. Shed more blood and he shall be roused into existence." Magus began to walk away from the battlefield, "I am returning to the castle. I will begin the ceremony."
As he walked away he raised his scythe into the air.Lightning stuck the scythe and over thousands of eyes turned towards the bright light. Although many gazed at the sight, it was a signal meant for only two mystics. Within moments there were two beings, covered in blood, kneeling before Magus. One was a beautiful woman while the other was a stern looking mystic armed with a bloody sword. They rose to their feet and began walking away while Ozzie stared after them.
"That man…" he shuddered, "No matter; now I will hunt down that fool that shot at me!" Ozzie's humility had left with Magus and wicked imp returned.
It was noon by this time. The strange meeting had occurred the morning when Crono and his friend arrived through the portal and by now the strange warlock was in his chambers. However, there were many things accomplished for Guardia as well. The knight captain had returned and at his side were Crono, Lucca, Marle, and Robo. Upon their return they singled for all ranking officers to return while their troops held the embankment.
The topography of the land made for an interesting battle and gave good viewpoints from each side. The river was in a valley with a low and gradually descending slope that formed hills at both sides. When Crono had reached the peak of the hill he could see the entire battle below and it nearly took his breath away. He had read of the glory and excitement of war heroes, but that day he discovered that such glory and excitement is only achieved after the dreadfulness of the battle field itself. He walked into a camp filled with men who suffered from great wounds and loss of blood. They moaned and groaned as they lay on the grass, which was thankfully no longer wet from dew. There were medics that went about attending to them, but more and more limped towards the back lines. It was here that Marle left the group, having received her orders from the knight captain to heal anybody who was injured. Crono felt his heart thump in his chest and he felt as if he was going to be sick, but he felt an eagerness to help in the effort.
The enemies were strange and he could not help but look closer. His eyesight, which had improved drastically, saw several creatures that looked like skeletons. He gasped, realizing that they were moving about and fighting as if they were alive. The knight captain noticed and said, "Yes, that is how they gained their numbers. We had no difficulty keeping them back, because we have always been more numerous then they have been. Damn that Magus; he used our very own dead against us and he refuses to let their souls sleep until they or he dies or his will is accomplished. Had he never come along the Mystics would have never attacked us en masse. They must have been gathering the souls of the dead for years, waiting for the perfect moment to strike."
"How does he resurrect the souls of the dead?" Lucca gaped as anyone would when seeing an abomination against nature.
"Resurrection? No; resurrection is when a soul and body are reunited and are made perfect; these souls are trapped by his dark arts and are forced to do his bidding. It is enslavement."
"How do we defeat them?" Crono asked.
"It is strange. They react to a stab as if they were human, regardless if you smash bone or not. Attack them as if they were real living beings."
By this time all the ranking soldiers reported and they quickly went over the new strategy. Many were taken aback by the strategy, causing Crono and Marle to demonstrate their abilities before they continued. Finally they consented and the new strategy had been instantly carried out. A man who was in charge of the wounded ordered them to move back to the upper parts of the hills. Soldiers from a different brigade were ordered to assist them and it was done faster than they imagined. It was also amazing to the soldiers that those who were wounded before were already heading back down to the battle field, some slightly dizzy, but others gleaming and eager to assist in the battle. ("This was Marle's work." Crono thought with a smile).
The positions of the armies were important to the strategy. They were on the enemy bank, trying their hardest to hold the bridge. Although the bridge was thirty feet above the river, there were little paths that winded down to the water side and some places were shallow enough to cross this time of the year. It was possible for the enemy to cross the water if needs be, and that was why Guardia tried their hardest to hold the bank. That was also why they disagreed with the strategy at first, because their strategy consisted of them pulling back their entire force to their embankment. Before they pulled back, they poured lamp oil all over the ground in front of the bridge on the enemy's side.
Crono, Lucca, Robo, and the knight captain saw an officer run towards them and saluted, "Sir! The preparations are complete! We will commence at your command!"
"Very well, sound the trumpet and feint retreat." The officer retreated and the captain looked towards those whom he called visitors, "Crono, Lucca, you two are key to this strategy. I do not wish to make you nervous, but understand that the lives of my men are in your hands. Do you understand?"
They both nodded.
All fear had left with Magus and Ozzie had become his degraded self again. The instance when we first saw him; that was an inaccurate first impression of sorts. It is true that he was a coward, but he was a cruel coward and there is a big difference between the two. A coward will shrink from anything fearful, but a cruel coward is egotistical and vindictive as long as he knows his opponents are weaker than himself. There was a time he held Magus under his thumb, but those times were gone and he was fearful of retribution if he ever stepped out of line. However, he viewed all other humans as weak vermin and he feared them not. He was gifted in magic as well, and he used it to burn all that stood in his way. He laughed maniacally as foe after foe fell to the dust, for unlike his master, he thrilled in feeling bloodshed and desired much of it. That was why when the sound of retreat came he was suddenly furious.
All Guardian soldiers, even if they were about to strike down an opponent, sheathed their weapons and ran towards the bridge. There are times when one is confused on what to do next when in a group, because Mystics soldiers rushed forward in pursuit, but stopped when they realized that the skeletons did not budge past the bridge. It was then they remembered that Magus ordered them to stay away from the bridge. That was unexpected for Guardia, and it was convenient for they had saved almost every life in the retreat because of that command. For the Mystics however, it was a wasted opportunity and Ozzie began to growl and fume. "What are you doing?" He yelled so loud that his throat felt scratchy.
"Sir Magus told us that we are not to take the bridge, but to kill as many Guardians as we can." A nearby officer replied.
"Fools!" Ozzie began, forgetting his fear of Magus and what he had said, "Onward! Crush them! Show them the might of the Mystics!"
There was silence for a moment as if they were not certain what the outcome would be if they disobeyed Magus. Another yell for advancement sounded and the entire army began to catch the spirit of true mayhem, raising their weapons and yelling as one. They began to charge forward, their thundering footsteps changing tone as they stepped onto the trestle while others began to descend the cliffs in hopes to create a pincer position against their enemies. If the Guardians had not planned so carefully this would have been a frightening sight to see. Ozzie had just run over the bridge with a hungry look in his eyes when suddenly he heard something that did not bode well for any opposition to hear.
The word was simple, yet it struck terror and uncertainty in his mind: "NOW!"
The bridge was massive; it was over two hundred yards in length and it was very wide. The Guardian army waited until the majority of the Mystic army was on the bridge before the command was sounded. As soon as the command was issued a deafening boom like a cannon blast filled the air. Had they seen Lucca they might have realized exactly what had happened. She had fired her gun and the bullet sped towards the area soaked in oil. The oil sprung to life in burning flames and all the mystics on the bridge saw that they were trapped. They looked about skittishly while Crono begun his part of the plan. He closed his eyes in deep concentration and the sound of thunder rumbled throughout the valley.
The Mystics crossing the river had barely heard the thunder amidst the churning water. They were too focused on reaching the other side to even notice a blinding thunderbolt charging towards the water. As it met the water they all shook violently until their bodies went limp. It was a sad thing to reflect on later, that all their bodies were swept out to sea for their grave, but it solved the threat of a pincer attack. Crono, while he knelt to the ground momentarily exhausted, realized what he had done. He did not feel prideful nor did he feel ashamed, but he was somewhere in the middle as he said, "What have I just done? How have I altered the future?" A realization came upon him then, but it is something that cannot be touched upon now.
There was no time for remorse as Robo pointed out. He stood behind Crono as soldiers streamed forward towards the unorganized hordes that sat on the bridge. The bulk of the army came across the bridge, so the majority was still alive to face, but the spirit of the Guardian soldiers had changed. They were no longer tense, but were becoming braver and surer of their victory. Lucca was taking aim at any mystic soldiers as she shouted towards Crono, "Come on! Get down there! Help out!"
Crono broke free from his thoughts and jumped to his feet. The strength he lost while calling the lighting was beginning to return and he found himself drawing his sword. He charged onto the bridge with Robo at his side. He yelled and found himself in the middle of the enemy. His sword instantly swung and connected with bone and flesh. Robo swung his fists and the bodies of skeletons and Mystics alike crushed underneath the blow. The soldiers took little notice at first, but slowly began to stare in astonishment as these two warriors began to beat back the entire army. They were not the only ones that noticed. Ozzie had looked up from his handiwork to see that a strange red haired boy and a man clad in armor were make quick work of his troops.
Ozzie grinned and he charged forward, setting his sights on the boy first. His sharp claws arched and prepared to slash out his opponents eyes, but he was noticed. Crono stretched out his hand in Ozzie's direction and Ozzie saw and felt nothing at first. A bright light was all he could see as a bolt of electricity surged through his head. He rubbed his eyes in pain while Crono turned his attention away. The pain had subsided and Ozzie growled in anger and confusion, "He knows how to control the elements! How is that possible? Humans cannot do such a thing!" He appeased his anger by slashing the abdomens of a few soldiers and was already heading towards Crono again.
Crono could barely hear Lucca's warning, "Behind you!"
Crono had spun around just in time to dodge claws that would have pierced the back of his head. Crono had begun to lose his balance, and he stumbled backwards while Ozzie slashed at him in an annoyed and hate driven frenzy. With each swing that missed, Ozzie began to curse and yell. Just as Crono had finally regained is footing, several other Mystics have noticed the red haired knight was vulnerable. They fell upon him as a group, most carrying maces and swords. A large creature that looked very much like a troll brought his mace down over Crono's head. With a yelp of surprise, he brought his sword up, and the result was quite surprising. The mace was heavy and the troll was barely able to wield it, but Crono withstood the blow against his sword easily with a single hand. The sword did not even break or bend, and it coursed through Crono's mind that if he had the other sword his head would have caved in from the mace. He slid the sword from underneath the mace, twisting his wrist as you would using a rapier, and thrust into the stomach of the troll. He was a whirlwind of activity as the soldiers fell upon him one after another. He did not even merely stab the skeletons, but brought his sword down with such speed and strength that their bones would crack in twain, exploding into earthy white powder. Slowly the mystic soldiers began to back down, but were shocked to see that Robo had joined in the fight which had slowly worked its way into the center of the bridge.
"What manner of men are these?" Ozzie gnashed his teeth in frustration.
The battle was nearly over and all mystics had begun to retreat, even if it did mean dashing through fire. However, the skeletons refused to back down since they mindlessly obeyed their master. It wasn't until Crono realized something that he began to slow down his pace. When the majority of the mystics retreated he was able to hear the groaning of the undead. He had thought they were groaning underneath the weight of their weapons, but for the whole length of the battle they were whispering, "Release me" "Kill me" or "let me rest." That was when Crono understood the words that the knight captain said regarding their slavery.
Suddenly, a rage built inside Crono and he glared at the Mystic general. "You! You must have brought them back and make them suffer! I going to kill you and let them sleep!" Their eyes had met once again and the general began to shake. Crono began to charge, but then a wall of soldiers appeared before them. Crono spun and leapt over the walls of soldiers, but he was beginning to be pushed back by the advancing wall. Then, just as a coward does, Ozzie fled to the rear so that he could call for a retreat. Although he denied it, something was very fearsome about that boy and he wanted a head start on the retreat, knowing that those on the front lines are first to die when their backs are turned.
"Retreat! Return to the castle! Seal the caverns when we arrive! Retreat! Retreat!"
The Guardian army could scarcely believe it when they saw the dwindling opposition running away from the bridge. Some leapt from the bridge while other braved the fire, but the skeletons remained. True to their enslavement, they continued to charge forward, but were met with a quick end. Lucca had continued to fire with such precise aim hardly any of them reached Crono and Robo, let alone the soldiers. The noise of battle began to become a thunderous celebration. Men cheered the names of these visitors who had turned the tide of the war and some were spirited enough to hoist others on their shoulders. The wounded were found on the field and carried back to Marle who still smiled despite her exhaustion.
Crono, Lucca, Robo, and Marle were finally gathered together and they were escorted back to the castle. While they walked they celebrated with the soldiers while Crono was oddly silent. Lucca, hoping lighten his mood, squeezed his shoulder affectionately. He patted her hand, smiled at her politely, and hung his head and he walked. Marle also noticed this, but felt it would be too much for her to try and comfort him where his best friend would be more effective. (Although she hated to admit it). Robo, who noticed the more physical things of the body, knew that a strange complexity had befallen Crono as well, but said nothing.
The battle had been won, and for now that was good enough. They would worry about Magus tomorrow.
Author's Note: Hey, I hope you all enjoyed the battle scene and I hope I pulled it off well enough. Sometimes I worry that I might draw out the action for too long. I would like to point out the review that Cleansocks left me. I felt it was a very valid opinion, because it seems I change perspective a lot. I hope that my perspective was constant throughout this chapter. Tell me what you think in comparison and I'll see if I can make it permanent. It was probably another swift moving chapter, but I want to get to Magus too, you know. Also, to Nova Flame, thank you for your comments as well. I haven't read Lemony Snicket's (even though I really want to) but I have seen the movie and I love how he uses his perspective. I've read a few things lately that influenced me some; Oliver Twist (for archaic speak or at least the good ol' English tone), Chronicles of Narnia, and Harry Potter. (Say what you want, but J.K does a great job with characters reacting realistically towards each other). Oh, and HGGB, thank you, you may not realize it, but your review gave me an idea for the next chapter. Kit and Lenarta, I always enjoy your reviews:) I hope that was enough Magus to tide you over for a bit. I imagine you might have expected more, but I'm going to try and make it so only one chapter is in the way of the battle with Magus. Thanks for reading!