Chrono Trigger
The Great Escape; Crono develops a plan to escape certain death while Marle and Lucca are endeavoring to save him.
The storm raged outside as if the devil himself were in the midst of it all. Rain pounded against the stone which had seen its fair share of ferocious weather. Lightening flashed across the night sky constantly, casting shadows of hideous gargoyles that lined the posts on the tower. The cold winds whipped against the walls, seeking out small crevices, and circulating all throughout the ghastly towers that consisted of the prison. Just as the wind had wakened him at the start of his journey, it did so once again without out the comforted stirring which it had brought about before.
Crono rubbed his head gingerly, checking his fingertips for any blood. He groaned as he pushed himself off the ground and looked about his person. He was a little surprised to see that when it was dark and stormy outside, the prison was almost inviting with its warm torches that lined the corridors. However, there was an occasional hole in the ceiling which let drops of water flood the cracks in and around the stones that made up the floor. He looked towards the bars of his jail cell and was slightly stunned to see two guards leering at him.
"It's about time you woke up. Have a nice nap?"
Crono said nothing, but had a seat on his soiled cot, resting his elbows on his knees. The guards merely guffawed he tried his hardest not to pay any attention to his tormentors. It was hard to ignore them, because he had just realized that he was hungry and the guards were feasting on something that smelled delicious. He looked towards them and saw that they were greedily devouring what was left in a basket whose contents were covered in a checkered cloth. One of the guards noticed him watching as said with a taunting tone, "Ah yes, this was a present from one of your many sympathizers. They even left a note saying that they felt you were innocent, no matter how crazy your story was! Too bad you were asleep, it was the best pastries I have ever had!"
Crono scoffed as the guards broke out into a riotous laughing fit. Their armor clinked as the patted each other on the shoulder, cackling at the poor boy's expense. They began to make themselves more disgusting by emphasizing their noises while they ate, saying how delicious the food was. All the while, their talk did make Crono even hungrier, but his pride made him refuse the option of begging.
"He's a silent one, isn't he?" said a guard.
"Well, I would be too if I were going to die in a few days." They laughed rudely again.
If they had known that would get Crono thinking, they would have avoided saying such a thing at all costs. While they rejoiced in his misery, Crono realized that he would be executed and then his death would be used to dethrone the king. Afterwards, the chancellor would turn the rule over to a mystic and then something of disastrous proportions would occur. Therefore, what would he have to lose if he were to try to escape?
"You two are going to die, and very soon, if I get to you." Crono said in a dark, rumbling voice.
The two guards stopped talking for a moment while they looked at the battered young man with gawking faces. They then burst into a fit of laughs, slapping their knees and holding their stomachs. "You? You will kill us? How can you do that if you are behind those bars? This one has some kind of fire in him, doesn't he?" The other guard nodded, "Ah yeah, but we will see how brave he is when we get to crack his skull wide open!"
"That's right. Wait until you little bitches open these gates. Then you will see who gets their skulls cracked open."
Crono was not one for profanity. His mother sent that point across when she cleaned his mouth out with soap one day. She informed him that profanity did not accomplish any good except being rude and angering others. Despite his disgust for foul language, he wanted to anger those guards into doing something that they had threatened to do since he got there. The guards were no longer smiling or laughing, but were glaring with all the hatred they could possess. "You better sit your ass down, or I will do it for you!" The guard yelled, pointing a finger to Crono's cot.
"I'd like to see you retards try it!" he said with a smirk.
The guards were fuming now, but made no move to get up from their sitting positions. They knew perfectly well that if they laid a finger on that boy before the execution they would have a world of trouble on their hands. If there was any abuse going on in the prisons there would be an investigation and that was the last thing they needed. They tried their best to bite their tongues as Crono continued to insult him from behind those bars. His voice carried on for a long time until he finally ceased. The guards sighed in triumph, but their peace was short lived.
A booming crash echoed throughout the corridor and they leapt from their seats to see that Crono jump kicked the bars! The noise was deafening and the sudden burst of sound angered the guards so that they were involuntarily twitching. Crono was preparing at that moment to make a second kick against the bars. Flecks of dust and rock fell from the ceiling as he did it again with a provoking laugh while the guards began to order him to stop.
"If you don't stop that, you're dead, do you hear me?" The guard yelled furiously.
"So you say, but I know that you two fags can't do anything about it! I can go all night!" To prove what he said was true, he gave another solid kick.
The bars did not bend nor would they break, and his legs would give out long before the hinges would, but the guards and their temperament were able to shatter like glass as he gave one kick after another. Finally, one guard could not stand it and he gave one final warning, justifying to himself that he had given Crono all the chances in the world. "I am warning you, if you do that one more time I will beat the living daylights out of you!"
"I think you both would rather sit and hold each other's hands. Tell me, do you both like putting from the rough?"
"Damn it! Open the gates" the guard yelled, "and keep an eye out the door and tell me if anybody's coming!"
The other guard would have wished that the roles were reversed, for he had an animalistic hunger to silence the boy with his own hand, but he was satisfied to hear his whelps. With a flip of the switch, the massive gates flew open and the guard grinned devilishly as he walked slowly towards Crono who began to retreat to the back of the wall. "Ah, not so brave now, are we?" The guard said, swinging a punch into the pit of Crono's stomach. Crono lurched forward and looked into the face of the guard, but received another punch to the side of his face. A line of spit flew from his lips and the guard began to throw a volley of assaults while Crono sat there and took it.
"Make it look worse than it is…" Crono thought to himself.
Finally, the guard seemed to have his fill. Crono lay before him, prostrate on the ground. The guard gave a sniff of satisfaction as chuckled as Crono feebly pushed himself to his knees. "Not so tough without your bars to protect you, are ya?" The guard turned his back on him and began to leave the cell, but that was a mistake that he could not remedy. Crono had prepared for this longer than you think. When he was in prison a few days ago, he had all the time in the world to explore his surroundings. One day, as he was doing his daily exercises, he found that a single brick in the floor seemed to wobble with any pressure put on it. With further inspection, he found that the brick could be dislodged. Crono felt along the grooves in the floor and pulled out a brick that he had found days before while the guard retreated from his cell.
"You're not so tough without the bars yourself, are you big guy?"
The guard turned around to administer another beating, but was more than surprised to see a heavy brick going straight for his face. The brick was more concrete than he had imagined, never crumbling under the grinding blow. The guard reeled back to reveal a face full of scratches and a broken nose. He was unconscious before he even hit the ground, his armor clanging loudly as it fell to the floor. Without another moment's hesitation, Crono dashed for the exit before the other guard could register what he had just heard.
"What the hell are you doing?" The guard hollered, reaching for his sword.
There was not an allowable room for error at this point. Thinking quickly, Crono wound up his arm and threw the brick with all his might. It seemed to move in slow motion as the guards face went from agitated to wild surprise. The brick was dead-on accurate and it met the guards face. His heavy body stumbled backwards, but lost balance and fell against the door with a loud thud. An icy chill went down Crono's spine, fearing that perhaps other sentries had heard the struggle. He waited for a few tense moments, listening for footsteps and clinking armor. His heart soared when he heard nothing.
He took a sword from the guard and searched his person for keys. He found a large group of them arranged on a ring and shoved them quickly into his pockets. He took a look through the peephole, just to make sure nobody was coming. Satisfied, he moved the heavy body out of the way and slowly opened the door so that it made no sound. The prison was less crowded then he imagined.
There was no sound except for the howling wind that seemed to intensify and the sound of echoing drops that came from the rafters. The prison was dark and some areas were not lighted. Crono reached for a nearby torch and slid the sword under his belt so that the sword hung by the hilt. Crono knew the way out, but remembered that that path would certainly be full of guards. Although these men did plan his illegal execution, he was still not one for murder. He would like to avoid a struggle if he could.
Meanwhile, as he began his flight, events were occurring elsewhere…
-
"You have humiliated me today; the kingdom questions my authority."
"They should. What you have done was despicable."
"Your actions were despicable. You defended a madman, and I suppose you are mad yourself."
"How could you say such a thing? The fact that I am your daughter bears no affection at all, does it?"
"Would I be so troubled if you weren't my daughter?"
The two had been talking amongst themselves in the grand throne room. They were the only two there at the moment, the king having dismissed all other people. They had talked a long time about things that have happened. Marle, who was hesitant to tell the truth, was inspired by Crono and his bravery, and was no longer frightened to tell her father what had happened after the fair. However, his reception of the story was very much the same way Pierre had accepted Crono and his story: with disbelief and suspicion.
"Father, why can't you just believe me? Why can't you let him go? He has done nothing wrong!"
"Did you have an affair with him?"
Marle blushed a deep crimson as he she covered her mouth. Her brow slowly began to furrow as her embarrassment turned into an offended rage. Her face was no long red with humiliation, but with indignity that came with such an accusation. "Of course not! What do you think I am?"
"You know that I do not know anymore."
"You are impossible!" Marle shouted before she stormed off.
"I will not kill the boy, but you have met his mother, correct?"
Marle froze in her spot and turned about to see her father sighing in self-loathing. He had hoped to never stoop so low, but his love for his daughter could not allow her to leave. In his heart, he felt that this was the only option. Power can make one as blind as a bat. "You both went to his house. That girl at the festival…Lucca was it? I wondered if they were involved in any way, but I was satisfied in dealing with that boy. You will force me to bring their loyalty to this country in question."
"Have you no soul?"
"Have you no shame? I have tried to be fair. I asked you, yet you give me nonsensical answers."
"It was the truth!" Marle said quietly.
"Since you refuse to answer my questions, I will let it go completely. I will release the boy if you promise to never see him again!"
Marle was stunned by such a proposition, "But he saved my life! He's my friend!"
"He is a horrible influence that makes you forget who you are. I leave no other windows of opportunity. I will force myself to act if you chose not to agree."
"But…"
"Marle, the lives of two whole families hinge on your decision. Prove your worthiness as a queen and choose what is right; for once!"
So much hypocrisy was in these words. Did he honestly believe that he was doing the right thing by uprooting the lives of these people? Was he honestly going to take an innocent woman and keep her in prison merely because he wanted to discipline his daughter? The king had a very impatient look on his face and it seemed to force Marle to choose quickly or else the offer would go to waste.
"If I promise to stay in the castle, you will let Crono go and nothing will happen to him or his friends?"
"They are of no concern to me."
"Okay…you win…your majesty…" Marle pronounced her father's title rather nastily before she stormed off to her room.
The king was once again surprised by his ability to adapt to any given situation. He would release Crono and the public would view him as merciful. He would no longer be haunted with the notion that he abused his power once that boy was released. His daughter was forced to obey his rules in exchange for the lives of the citizens he was charged to protect. Despite the fact that he had won this lengthy battle, he felt strangely cold and hollow. Everything about this felt so wrong and cruel, yet he had never felt this way in all the years of his reign. Was his daughter right? Did he bear no soul?
For the first time in his life, the king wondered if he had actually done something wrong and he hung his head in shame while his daughter cried into her pillow in the eastern chambers. And thus we see that even a powerful king can be just as ignorant as any common fool.
-
While his life was being decided, Crono was amazed at what he had accomplished. He had found another way to leave the prison without taking the crowded path, but it involved a long detour. He had looked outside the window to see if there were any visible routes for escape. He saw that the prison tower was actually three separate towers that were connected by bridges that spanned for over a hundred yards. He also noticed that there were several stories to this prison and that there were bridges for certain levels. This complicated things, seeing that most of those bridges were being patrolled and that there were bridges that connected the towers in certain spots. It was most likely done that way to prevent any escapees. Crono made the mistake of choosing the tower with no stairway.
However, there was one thing that chilled Crono to the bone. While he was lurking in the shadows to avoid the guards someone must had been informed of his escape. Each lower bridge was full of armored soldiers that marched to and fro in their vigilant efforts to prevent any clear route. However, there was one flaw and that was what had frightened Crono the most: there were no guards above the higher bridges. You might wonder why such a thing would be so terrifying, but if you wanted to avoid the guards, who stood watch on every bridge leading out of that level, what other possibly way could there be to reach the higher floors?
There was always the option of climbing…
There was a world of height between Crono and the ground and he preferred to keep it that way. It would be a very dangerous thing to go outside in this weather, let alone climb a crumbling tower wall at a perilous height. The wind blew fiercely, and it seemed to make the tower sway (or it was possibly Crono's imagination caused by his racing heart) and the rain pounded against the abrasive rock and cascaded down to the earth below like a sporadic waterfall. Another horrifying factor was the fact that moss had begun to grow in the cracks of certain rocks over the period of time. It would be uncertain if Crono would always have a firm grip…
But if he waited for the storm to finish…the guards would most likely find him before then…
He remembered seeing a cell earlier which was housed by a lonely prisoner. He did not disturb the prisoner, being unsure if he was guilty of some heinous crime or as innocent as Crono was, but circumstances would force him to cross his path once again. It was in the same area that he was in, so he merely backtracked until he stood in front of the cell that housed a prisoner that simply lay still underneath a threadworm blanket. For each cell there was a wheel and chain that lifted the massive gate and a small catch that kept any strong prisoners from lifting the gate themselves. Crono effortlessly turned the wheel and applied the catch so that it would not seal him in the jail cell.
"Hey, I don't know who you are, but I need to pass by."
No answer…
"You won't tell the soldiers you saw me, will you?"
Still no answer…
"Hey, what's wrong? Are you sleeping or what?"
There was not single stirring…
"Hey, wake up already…"
Crono went up to the sleeping form and pulled off the blanket to reveal the most horrifying thing he had seen since that poor soul in the cathedral. Crono had to clasp his hands over his mouth before yelling out in surprise. Underneath the blanket was a skeleton completely devoid of any flesh. There was no evidence of broken bones or any scratch marks, so either this person was devoured or he was starved to death. Crono suddenly realized how close his hands been to a dead body and vigorously rubbed his mouth and hands on his tunic in disgust.
"Horrible…They must have left him to die…No human could have done this…"
Crono could have wondered if the guards were mystics in human disguise just like the monsters in the old kingdom, but he wished to abandon dwelling on another problem since he still had quite a few to deal with at that moment. He looked at the window and leaned closer to inspect the cement that held the bars in place. He had noticed before that it seemed loose, but that was an understatement; one swift kick would cause the whole thing to fall apart. Crono put all his weight onto one leg and thrust his boot into the wall, causing it to explode in a cloud of dust and debris. When it had cleared he leaned out the window to see the few bars that had began to spin and twirl in the air as it careened to the ground below. It was a mistake for Crono to do such a thing, because then he noted how far the fall would be if he were to fall himself…
He shook his head vigorously as he leaned out the window so that he was balanced on his midsection. He twisted his body about and saw that there were ledges that lined the tower that were no thicker or stretched out more than the length of an index finger. If he could dig his fingers into the cracks of the bricks hard enough he could reach the ledges and it would be easier to reach the next floor. However, as the rain began to pelt his face and the wind billowed his clothes he hesitated, hoping that god and all of his inspiration could somehow in a miraculous sign show him some sort of trap door. He saw nothing, so he only muttered a quick prayer to himself as he felt for the grooves in the solid brick.
The first step to every journey is the hardest one if you cannot go back. This was more than true, because once Crono hoisted his body so that it dangled in the air, he realized with a sudden chill that he was at a very odd angle and would not be able to swing to safety. At that moment he wished with all his heart that he challenged the guards face to face. He was not afraid of heights, but he was afraid of heights when slippery steps and mossy bricks were involved. The wind whipped about his body, causing his bandana to flail wildly, and his clothes to beat against him. His feet, which tried vainly to get some friction against the wall, were impeded by his boots that could not fit into the grooves. He could only hang on by his fingers, which had already become tense and unmoving from fear. His hands might have well been articulate claws judging by the way they dug into the weathered stone.
"C'mon Crono!" he voiced to himself, "It can't be more than twenty feet to the ledges…"
Slowly, he began to move upward, his fingers not budging under the strain. Later on, his fingers would be sore for days due to their unnatural use, but at that moment his adrenaline refused to acknowledge the pain which allowed him to continue scaling the wall. His biceps and triceps began to grow sore and it felt as if his skin were burning whilst it turned red. Steam began to rise from his body as the chilly winds met his tensed body. His teeth clenched and his brow furrowed. He could no longer tell if it was rain covering his face or perspiration, the water becoming warm from his excursions.
Suddenly his world burst into color as he felt his fingers slip…
When a person suddenly feels him or herself in immense danger there is a strange phenomenon that occurs. Everything becomes incredibly vivid as if you view the world with new eyes. The colors become more intense, the vision spins, and images become sharper and have more contrast. Usually, this only occurs when there is a horrible feeling of dark surprise, very much like having a dream where you are falling into some vast canyon or a moment before a horrible accident. Just imagine how dark his world had become once he felt his very life depend solely on his fingers!
His body twisted and turned while his other hand thankfully had a strong grip. He threw his body against the wall with a dull thud as his failing hand slapped repeatedly against the stone in a frantic attempt to find the same groove. He had found it, but his heart felt as if it would burst from his chest and his vision still spun just as it had done whenever he had twirled about when he was a child. He waited until his dizzy spell disappeared and he resumed his climb far more cautiously.
"Don't slip again…Don't slip again…" Crono repeated to himself, almost as if he were pleading to his hands.
His muscles burned and longed for rest, but thankfully the time for rest was near as Crono felt a row of stones jutting out from the tower. Even though he had reached the ledge he still had to pull himself up until his feet were able to reach. The ledge was not thick enough to make it impossible, but one would be surprised at how difficult it would be to pass a jutting ledge and trying not to scrape your body against its corners. Finally, his arms relaxed and a pleasantly cool sensation course throughout his upper body. However, it would not be best to rest at that moment since he still had to slide around the bend. It was up to his feet and heels at that moment, which was considerably easier. He was still cautious, slowly shifting his weight with each step in fear that parts of the ledge had become corroded.
Finally, the moment of triumph had come as he felt his fingers curl (with difficulty and stiffness) around the rim of a window! Even being so close to the finish, he finished with the same caution that seemed to keep him from slipping. He slid his midsection through the window and collapsed on the other side, facing upwards and breathing deeply, never imagining that he would be so thankful to be back in prison.
-
He had managed to choose a window that led into a hallway. It was a little different from the other parts of the prison, this part being without jail cells or heavy wooden doors. In fact, this seemed more like a place that was not ventured into as often. As Crono cautiously peered into a room he could understand why: he had wandered into the part of the tower that was used for execution or torture. Various devices with evil purposes cluttered the room. One that caught his eye in particular was a guillotine and an iron maiden. There was a table that was used to stretch poor men until their bones popped and separated the sinews of their appendages. Crono could only imagine how horribly sick anyone could become if they were sentenced to such barbarianism.
"Please…Don't kill me…I have a dad…a sister…"
Crono was stunned. The voice was very small and despairing, but it was audible nonetheless. His sword immediately became unsheathed and he glanced around himself nervously. There were no dim outlines of armor or wicked grins, but he could see a messy head of hair that was held in stocks. Stocks were horrific torture devices, causing a person to stand in an unnatural way, causing soreness to the knees, lower back and neck. From the looks of it, this poor soul had been there the most of the day. Suddenly, Crono seemed to realize something and he was happy, yet sorrowful to see that his suspicions were true.
"Fritz?"
"Who are you? Have you come to execute me?" The voice said sadly as if he had already resigned to his fate.
"It is you!" Crono gasped.
The head turned upward to reveal a face drained of color and cheeks stained by tears, "What do you mean? What a moment…"
The youth in the stocks suddenly realized something that caused a glimmer of hope in his eyes as he looked at that familiar smiling face and shining apple green irises. That had been the same youth that had delivered goods to their store, who had chopped wood for them in the winters, and who become the sole affection of his sister, Claire. The youth in the stocks was indeed the one that Claire had been waiting for, and he had been in this ghastly prison all this time.
Without another thought, Crono used his sword and destroyed the lock with one swing. The stocks shot up from its springs and Fritz slowly rose to his full height which was equal with Crono. His back was evidently sore, but it quickly faded as he twisted and turned about, enjoying each and every stretch in his muscles. Of course, when he was through, he gave Crono the tightest embrace that his weakened frame could afford.
"You've come to save me! Oh, Crono! From this day on you and your family will be well paid for all your endeavors!"
"Wait. Why are you here, Fritz?" Crono asked, stopping him with his hand.
It was a rather brief story, but one that raised more suspicious questions. It seemed that the chancellor had been more devious than rumors had led Crono to believe, because Fritz was on a ferry that ran to various ports on the continents. However, a band of pirates had ransacked his ship and held his crew hostage in the assumption that a ransom could be made. When the pirates reached port, they were immediately caught along with their hostages. The chancellor had confiscated all the goods and threw all these men into prison without as much as a minute in court. Fritz did not know what had become of the goods, but Crono was able to think of a possible answer.
"…That happened weeks ago, and they have done this to me many times. I don't know what happened to everyone else."
"We can help them later. We can tell the king and then he can fix everything. The chancellor is a traitor…"
"You don't say!" Fritz exclaimed.
"That's why we need to get to him! We need to warn him, but it seems like all the guards in these towers are his pawns!"
"I can't believe I haven't seen it sooner! I could feel something strange about that monster!"
"We'll talk on that later! We need to escape!" Crono said with unintentional impatience.
"I know a private way out!"
"You do?" Crono asked happily.
"Yes! It goes straight to the entrance where the jail records are kept!"
"Since they gave you no trial, we can destroy any information on you and they won't find you if you lay low until all this blows over!"
"Brilliant, Crono! You might as well be a scholar with mind like yours!"
"If I were so smart, I wouldn't be here at the moment." Crono said with a smirk.
Fritz chuckled as he stopped rubbing his sore wrists and neck. He began to take the lead as they made their way from the torture room and further down the hall. True to Crono and his thoughts, all the guards were frantically searching the lower floors for him leaving all the hallways were clear of sentries which made for quicker evacuation. They no longer crept down the halls but continued on in a slight jog, cautiously peering around the corners. Finally, there was a tinge of blue light further down the corridor.
"That must lead to a bridge outside. Let's go Fritz!" Crono said, motioning for their advance.
It felt much better to be outside on different terms. The height from which they stood above the earth was not nearly as horrifying when there was a sturdy platform underneath your feet. However, it was still not a pleasant experience with how the wind and rain which chilled them both. Also, they could see that the wind was stronger than they thought as they saw the upper towers of the prison sway slightly in the gale. Crono focused his eyes towards the main castle, looking for the single bridge that led to their freedom.
"Look at that Fritz," Crono said, pointing excitedly, "we just need to get two floors higher and then we can sneak through the castle!"
"We have trouble, Crono!"
Crono spun on his heels as he saw a large group of men gathered together at the doorway from whence they came. Their swords were drawn and pointed towards the escapees and they cautiously drew closer. The leader of the group sneered from under his helm and said, "Ah, here are the rats. You! Boy! Either you lay down your sword and you and your friend will follow us back to your cells for a sound beating, or we can simply execute you both right now!"
Crono and Fritz allowed their flight to answer their question, which took a few brief moments to register with the guards. The two had an advantage over the guards in running, seeing that no thick armor weighed them down. However, they knew that they must have been armed with crossbows, thus being the reason they constantly looked over their shoulders.
"Crono! In front of us!"
The situation grew dim and Crono saw a trio of guards standing at their front. Their swords were also unsheathed and they also became giddy at the thought of administering death. They advanced at a slow pace while those opposite of them tried to make up the distance with a run. It seemed at if Crono could not keep his promise to himself and would have to defend his life, at the cost of another if necessary. He was no murderer, but by his soul he would not let himself be butchered without taking some traitors with him first. He unsheathed his sword and charged forward with a yell, catching the sentries off guard with his sudden bravado.
Crono indeed was a quick swordsman, but the guard's sword did not match his style and it showed in the way he dueled. He swung the large broadsword and it connected with the first blade with a loud clang. The second, who was side by side with the other, jabbed his sword towards Crono's stomach, but was surprised to see Crono twist his torso so that it passed his frame by a small length. Crono quickly came in with a sideways slash which connected with the villain, but it only made a painful dent in his armor. Crono pulled back his arm, scraping the armor in a show of smoking sparks, and quickly jabbed it into the guard's side, lightly piercing his plates and drawing a good amount of blood from the blow.
The guard drew back with a painful gasp as his gloved hand banged against him armor, which desired to nurse the wound in some way. His teeth clenched while continuing to thrust while the other guard swung for the escapee's head. Crono leaned back, twirling around, coming back in time to parry the second thrust and follow it up with sword to the first guard's head. It connected with a loud bang, once again failing to penetrate the armor or the helm, but being enough of a blunt blow to render him unconscious. His body fell against the railing and slunk to the ground.
"Damned little nuisance!" The guard yelled furiously before throwing a punch with his free hand.
The guard's arm was fast, but Crono prided himself on reflexes and grabbed the man by the wrist, using the flow of movement to twist his arm at an incredibly painful angle. The guard howled as Crono dropped his sword, allowing his other hand to push forcefully against the guard's shoulder. Crono felt his stomach lurch and hesitated for only a moment, but acted more on instinct than sympathy as he yanked the guard's arm so that it popped and caused the arm to become useless and limp. The guard screamed while Crono let him go to gave him a spinning kick with his heel. The kick connected with the guard's face, causing a messy spray of blood to cover his heel and he fell to the opposite railing unconscious.
Fritz almost seemed as if he wanted to praise Crono at that moment, but words failed him when Crono quickly stooped to pick up his sword and continue running. He followed suit, but could not help but look behind him. The guards were nearly upon them by now, and despite his comrade's prowess with the sword he could not possible overpower such a throng. Their flight had been greatly delayed and their flashing swords were nearly upon them. Even Crono would not be able to outrun the guards with the start they had now…
"Get down!"
Crono's eyes flew wide open as he looked ahead of him and saw a figure winding up for a throw. The figure's face was covered by a mantle that was used for protection against the rain. Crono could not see what was in the person's hand, but somewhere inside of him he recognized that person before he could fully identify with her and he fell to the ground. Fritz followed his example, more by accident, as he tripped over Crono's prostate form. The figure hurled a round object in the air, falling to the ground herself.
The ball-like shape spun in the air, finally failing to the ground in front of the sentries with a loud clink. It bounced against the railings and stopped in the middle of the platform. Crono turned about to see that smoke began to billow from the strange object and all at once he realized what it was. It seemed like the guards who were in pursuit simultaneously understood what it was and why the prisoners laid prostate on the ground…
"GRENADE!"
The sentries skidded to a halt, turning about to flee to get as much distance as possible. They did not have long until the small, metallic ball become a large explosion that shook the entire connecting bridge. The guards shouted out in surprise and pain as their bodies flew into the air, crashing down upon each other and on the railing. Debris flew in all directions, even pelting the castle's main wall that was quite a distance away. As the smoke was cleared by the unceasing wind both parties could see that the explosion had destroyed the middle section of the bridge, separating the prisoners from the pursuers.
Both parties sluggishly rose to their feet. Crono, Fritz, and the newcomer were undamaged while the guards seemed to sustain some heavy injuries. If they had not been wearing armor there could have been another murder trial underway. Crono smiled broadly as the figure removed her hood to reveal her identity.
"Lucca!" Crono shouted out happily.
"Honestly, Crono, what would you do without me?" Said Lucca with a wide smile.
"Probably die." Crono answered back with a casual smile of his own.
"RUN!" Fritz shouted out.
You could imagine that Crono and Lucca were caught off guard by such an outrageous greeting, but the reason for his impatient scream was quickly evident as they saw a dozen soldiers arming their crossbows. They spun around and followed Fritz who had a commanding lead over them. A shouted order sounded among the sentries and the twangs of heavy strings droned while arrows flew over the damaged bridge and towards the trio. Thankfully they were close to the door and threw themselves inside, closing the door behind them. They landed against the door with a loud noise, making all three of them incredibly thankful that it was the door and not their hide.
Crono, who had been panting for breath, instantly forgot himself and gave Lucca a bear tight hug, "Oh man! You saved our lives!"
Lucca pushed him away gently and said with a wry smile, "Save it for later! We have to get out of here!"
"Why did you come here? Did you know that I was going to be executed?" Crono asked frantically.
"I only found out just now!" Lucca said quickly, "I'll tell you later! Let's go!"
They had worked their way up the two flights of stairs that went to the main connecting bridge. Along their way, Crono was pleasantly surprised to see a group of full grown men sprawled unconscious on the floor (evidently a part of Lucca's handiwork) and a mess of papers. They realized that they were in the room where executions and arrests were processed. After Crono briefly described the situation, they began to search for any incriminating papers against Fritz and Crono. There were none, save for a record that listed their residency and imaginary crimes. Lucca was more than pleased to put them into the torch that hung from the wall, smiling as they were reduced to cinders.
"Fritz, I think you're in the clear, but Crono we are going to have to take you away from this until it's all straightened out." Lucca said with some sadness.
"Do you have any plans?" Crono asked.
His head spun as he realized that his whole life was going to change in an unpleasant manner, yet on the positive side he would have a life to live. Meanwhile, they took a moment to rest while Lucca quickly rattled off her plan. It was your typical plan for any escapist: go to another country and lay low until everything would be settled. South of Guardia was a fairly prosperous kingdom called Porre. There was no possible way for Guardian soldiers to pursue him into foreign soil and they would not consider him enough of a threat to deliver him to the kingdom. Once he could get on a ferry and a few miles out to sea, there was nothing in the world that could stop him. As for Fritz, after hearing his part of the story Lucca deemed that no misfortune would befall him as long as he remained unseen once he returned home.
"So, once we leave the forest we are going to separate. Crono, I can take Fritz home and then you can go to the port."
"Right, I can wait."
"Fritz, can you lend us some money so we can aid in his escape?"
"Of course! The man saved my life!"
"What about you, Lucca? They are going to be looking for you!" Crono said, pointing to her face.
"Why do you think I wore this mantle? As long as I keep my face covered in this hood, there will be no problem." Lucca said assuredly.
With that they began to move upwards, no longer peering around the corners. The entrance to the prison seemed palatial compared to Crono and Fritz's poor lodgings, yet still seemed dismal to Lucca's eyes. Ahead was a bridge that was wider than the others and they were satisfied to see that that there was not a single soul wandering about. However, a loud voice rang throughout the rainstorm and sounded in their ears.
"Do not think that you can escape so easily, Crono!"
Across the bridge was the entrance to the castle whose entrance was obscured by dark shadows that also engulfed the owner of the voice. However, it was plainly obvious who it the voice was and it caused a burning desire for revenge to surge into Crono's chest. He glared as he gripped the hilt of his sword, "You best keep your distance, chancellor, wherever you are! I can't promise you that I can control this arm of mine! It longs to see you dead!"
Perhaps it was Crono's imagination, but something glowed in the darkness that seemed very much like burning red eyes. It did not last for long as they faded into the darkness. Slowly, the chancellor walked out from obscurity and into the storm. He was grinned in a very taunting manner while Crono seethed in between his teeth. The chancellor raised an arm, "Return to your cell, and your friends can go free. Your death at the right time means a lot to me, Crono! I am willing to see to it that your friends can go free! They will also depart with a hefty sum, but only if you surrender now!"
"You are a traitor!" Lucca shouted out vehemently, "I heard your subordinates! We would rather die with him than give in to your demands!"
"Besides," Fritz added, "how can we trust the word of some vile traitor?"
The chancellor smiled sardonically, "I suppose you are correct! I would have disposed of you all, sooner or later."
Crono pointed his sword towards the chancellor and glared angrily. His sore muscles tensed and Crono seemed formidable indeed as his chest rose and fell with each inhalation. "Move or die!" There was a moment of silence that was occupied only by the thundering rain that surrounded them. The chancellor appeared vividly perturbed as he merely growled in reply. Suddenly, the folds of his robes flew as he spun about to return into the darkness. The trio looked at each other, unsure what to make from his leave. Shrugging in reply, they began to walk down the bridge towards the castle.
Suddenly, there was a slight tremor that could be confused for the wind shaking the towers, but it steadily became more dominant and unyielding. There was an odd sound of squeaking gears, hissing steam, and whirling parts. Suddenly, a giant form exited from the shadows of the gate and it became apparent to Crono to whom those eyes belonged.
A dragon rolled onto the bridge, its skin barely illuminated in the dim light only to shine with every clash of lightning. Great clouds of steam left its metallic body as it dissipated just as quickly as it had appeared with the bellowing wind. Its great head twisted and turned, occasionally the jaw opening slightly to allow a great ball of flame to fly from its angular lips. A tail laced with horrendous spikes crashed against the railing, crumbling a portion of the walls into a fine powder.
"Those thieving bastards!" Lucca shouted out with astounding rage.
"What is it, Lucca?" Crono asked, his curiosity aroused.
"That invention belongs to me and my father! They denied our grant saying that it was unfeasible!" Lucca hissed under her breath to protect her animosity.
The chancellor reappeared with a stern yet pleased look upon his face, "Ah, behold the ingenuity of the Guardian Research and Development department!" His hand rubbed across the smooth, yet wet surface of the machine as if he were petting a dog. "We had trouble finding a suitable name for it, understandably. We felt that it deserved a name that could strike fear into the hearts of anyone that dare oppose us!"
"Let me guess, you called it Dragon Tank." Crono said with a sarcastic scoff.
The chancellor said nothing but only looked at his feet, his teeth gnashing. Lucca chuckled under her hand while Crono shook his head disbelievingly. It seemed that he had hit the mark right on the head and it seemed to belittle the chancellor who was already admittedly afraid of Crono and his advances. The chancellor pointed a finger towards Crono, "You just wait and see if that idiotic grin can hold itself! I'll send you to see your father in hell soon enough!"
"You're asking for a slit throat, chancellor! Meet me face to face and say that!" Crono yelled, losing his composer at such a heartless insult.
Unexpectedly, the machine sprung to life as the whirring of the device began to intensify. A horrendous screech caused the hull of the beast to shudder as it began to roll forward, flames flying from its jaws. The chancellor merely stood behind the beast, joyfully watching the trio shrink backwards as it unceasingly advanced forward. Crono held his sword at the ready, and was pleased to see that Lucca had acquired a weapon that would be useful in this battle: a single shot revolver with a refined handle.
"Lucca," he whispered towards her, "do you know if the thing runs on fuel?"
"No," Lucca said apprehensively, "it runs on UGEE, making malfunctions or power surges impossible!"
"What about any loose gears or weaknesses?" Crono asked again.
"No! We designed it so that it would be stopped by nothing short of a mountain!" Lucca growled impatiently.
"Come on, Lucca!" Crono said, uncomfortable with how close the monstrosity had become, "You designed it! You should know if there's a weakness!"
Lucca glowed as she said, "Wait! The fire operates on napalm and there are bombs inside its body! If we could find a way to ignite the explosives inside it…"
Without as much as another word, Crono dashed forward to everyone's surprise and leapt onto the dragon's back. Twisting the sword so that it pointed straight down, he jabbed it into the back only to have it make a small dent into its exterior. The machine lurched backward, causing Crono to careen against the neck of the beast. He hit his head against the metal and felt his world spin around before turning back to Lucca, "You could have told me that its skin is impenetrable!"
"You didn't give me the time!" Lucca shouted.
"Crono! Look out!" Fritz shouted.
The head of the dragon turned about so that it was facing Crono. He gasped as he realized that the head began to make a clicking sound and he quickly rolled off to the side. A burst of flame graced the back of the beast, leaving only a spot that had been lightly darkened while Crono stumbled to his feet, taking another swing at its body. It yielded the same results, bouncing of the metal and causing the sword to quiver in his hands. Suddenly, he heard another clicking noise coming from behind him as a large tail rose into the air. He rolled towards Lucca and Fritz, narrowly dodging the tail that was powerful enough to crack the brick in the bridge. As that happened, there was a sudden revelation that came to Lucca.
"Crono! We need to destroy the head!"
Lucca aimed her weapon and fired, causing a loud boom to echo across the rooftops and steeples of the castle. A cloud of smoke dissipated while she frantically, yet nimbly reloaded her sidearm. Another shot after another landed on the jaw of the demon and suddenly it seemed to take notice, abandoning its attack on Crono. The wheels of the machine began to whirl and advance towards her, the jaw opening and closing. "Crono! Try smash the bearings on its neck! It should cause it to break apart!"
The youth quickly obliged and found himself steadying his momentum on the slick back of this steely devil. His sword clanged against the neck, bearing no results, but that did not stop him from taking repeated swings. The dragon seemed to change its choice in targets once again as it turned to face him. Crono blanched in horror as he also heard a clicking noise from his rear. It seemed as if the tail expected him to roll off to the side again, only waiting for the chance to squash him like a fly. Thinking quickly, he did something that would forever reappear in his memories whenever he would confront heights.
He had no choice but to drop his sword as he wrapped his arms and legs around the neck of the beast. The creature seemed to scream as the gears in its neck began to spin in all sorts of places. Crono felt a sinking feeling in his heart as a dark premonition came over him, but it was too late at that point. He felt his stomach rise to his throat as the neck lurched violently in a rounded arc. The dragon was trying his best to shake him off, but Crono wanted nothing more than to hang on at that moment. The neck continued to flail about while Crono held on for dear life.
Then, the most nerve-wreaking event occurred at that moment…
Crono yelled while Lucca and Fritz gasped as the side of the neck slammed against the railing. Crono's grip had loosened and he felt his body slid down the neck so that he was actually hanging onto the head of the demon. The head swung upward in a wide arc, crashing against the opposite side. All the while, Lucca did not cease to shoot at the body of the machine, yet she could not help but stare worriedly at Crono's relentless effort to keep his grip.
"Lucca! Get me the hell off this thing!" Crono shouted.
The head rolled back and forth, the smooth movements becoming more and more rickety with each and every crash against the railing. Crono could not help but look down below at the trees that seemed the size grape and felt faint at the thought of falling such a distance. Just as the head was about to make another swing, it stopped and began to vibrate and shudder. Luckily for Crono, he was able to let go and found that he could land on solid ground. Meanwhile, the machine made an ear-splitting sound as if it were metal grinding against metal, gears began to fly from the neck. The neck collapsed completely and fell to the ground in a mass of springs, cogs, and parts.
"Crono! You did it!" Fritz shouted.
"That's not all! The body can still launch bombs! You need to pierce the body!"
"Well how the hell can I do that?" Crono shouted back, obviously annoyed.
"The tail! Use the tail!" Lucca shouted.
The machine had completely spun around, seeing that it could no longer use its flame to combat its foes. Instead, its tail swung in gaping arcs that cleared the railing from the bridge. Crono waited for an opening and leapt onto the back of the beast once more. The creature spun around in a circle as if it were trying to shake its intruder off its back. Crono did not budge an inch and the machine ceased to spin and its tail pointed precariously in the air. He bid his time, his eyes not leaving the tail for a second. Suddenly, it lurched forward and Crono rolled out of the way. The sounds of gears intensified as they had become uncovered. The spikes of the tail had punctured the frame of the device, leaving the gears exposed as well as a few bombs.
"Crono! Catch!" Lucca shouted.
A small, round object flew through the air and landed into his hand. Crono thanked any divine intervention for Lucca and her wondrous aim. He pulled a small pin from the device and hastily shoved it into a hole. He leapt from the back and began to sprint towards Lucca and Fritz. Just as the creature turned about to give them pursuit, it froze as if something had suddenly stuck it. The body began to jitter violently as sparks and smoke began to eek from any orifices in its sleek, metal body. The chancellor appeared dumbfounded as he rushed forward; not realizing what had been done.
The machine exploded in a cloud of fire and smoke. The trio winced as the frame of the chancellor flew against the railing, leaving cracks in its wake. It almost seemed as if fireworks flew all about as bombs and missiles exploded all about them. It would evident that the entire castle must have been stirred by the ruckus and it seemed as if their chances for escape began to decrease dramatically. As soon as the smoke cleared there was no more beast obscuring their path save for a few gizmos that were strewed about. They dashed forward, Crono retrieving the sword that he had dropped before.
"You…you really think that…ugh…you can get…away…"
The group was stunned to see the chancellor struggling to speak between breaths that seemed to feel like needles to his lungs. He winced with each breath and he held his arm as if it were in great pain, "Just you wait! I will…get…you! Don't think you can…get away with this…" Crono merely scoffed and they began to put the prison behind them once and for all…
-
They ran as fast as they could down the stairs. In fact, you could even say that they flew down the stairs; allowing gravity to propel themselves further and faster than their own feet could carry them. The entire castle was now awake and it would be a matter of time until the guards would begin to search for the reason of their disturbance. Having explored the castle in ancient times had prepared them for their speedy departure, realizing that there were familiar twists, turns, and shortcuts. Within moments, they had found themselves at the first floor and face to face with the exit.
"We made it!" Crono shouted happily.
His hands began to push the doors open, but he froze as a single arrow landed right next to his hand. A sudden yell for him to desist sent a melancholy feel among the party and they hung their heads in defeat. They looked over their shoulders to see a group that had no less than thirty men, all armed with swords and crossbows. An order came for them to turn about, which they did very slowly. When they had, they saw the very man responsible for all their pain and tribulation.
The king of Guardia frowned in contempt, "Ah, now I see that your intentions were impure. You are indeed a traitor to this realm!"
"Sire, listen! You don't understand! The chancellor…" Crono started quickly.
"SILENCE! I will not listen to your lies! You will be executed for your impudence!"
Almost as if they had been practicing for such a situation, all guards with crossbows raised them to eye level and aimed towards the youth. Lucca, who threw herself in front of Crono with stretched out arms, quaked in her shoes, but stood unflinching. The king looked at her as if she were mad, "Leave his side, or I will have no choice but to execute you both…"
"Do it then! I will not leave my friend after all he did for me!"
Crono stood silent as his eyes began to swell with tears. His arms wrapped around Lucca while her back faced him and he felt a love for her that could only exist between those who were willing to sacrifice themselves for one another, "Don't do this, Lucca," he whispered pleadingly into her ear, "you can't die. You can get away. Please, I don't want you to die because of me…"
"I'm not moving!" She said sternly, "You have done so much for me! Please, let me be the friend that you were always for me!"
They closed their eyes tightly and expected a twang of strings and the whistling of arrows before they would embed their sharp points into their soft bodies. They expected to be filled with searing pain and they held each other as if they would never see each other again if they let go. There was a moment of hesitation, the guards having an attack of conscious. The king glared about them and yelled, "What are you waiting for! Execute them!" He shouted.
"Stop this at once!"
A voice boomed throughout the lobby and Crono and Lucca slowly opened their eyes, their grip over each other loosening as well. They searched for the voice and saw its owner standing on the steps that led towards the throne room. It was Marle Nadia Guardia, and she stood poised as if she were ready to burst at the seams. Her gaze was full of indignation and anger as she violently pushed the guards and their weapons away from their target. She even went as far as to rip a crossbow from a soldier's hands along with his quiver. She held the weapons up to her father whilst saying, "What is the meaning of this, Father? What treachery is this?"
"Silence, girl! This man attempted to escape! By his attempts at escape, we see that he is guilty and that he has fooled you! Guards, fire!"
"If any of you so much as load your weapons, you will be beheaded!" Marle shouted just as stubbornly.
The guards looked at each other as if they were at an impasse. They had two people of royal blood, giving very different orders. Even though the word of the king was the law, the word of his offspring was law as well. When she said that they would be executed, it was a certainty. According to tradition and law, the person that fired a fatal shot would be executed by the princess' order as soon as it was done. Marle took advantage of their fear and began to ask her father profusely what he was thinking and reminding him of his promise.
"You promised me that if I were to act the part, Crono would be released! I was going to give away my freedom and you were going to kill him anyway? Have you no honor? What the hell is wrong with you?"
"Do not talk to your father and king in such a manner! You live in this house, you live in this kingdom, and therefore you will adhere to my rules!"
"Your rules are biased and lunacy! This man and this woman are my friends! I will not stand by and watch you kill the people that are most important to me!"
"NEED I REMIND YOU THAT YOU ARE MY HEIR?" the king thundered, "YOU WILL OBEY ME!"
"I WILL NOT!" Marle returned hot-headedly.
"You are the future queen of Guardia! You hold the power to control millions!"
"If it means becoming like you, I refuse it! I hate you! I hate everything about you! I want you to burn in hell!" Marle yelled, her veins bulging from her clenched fists.
For the first time in ages, the king stood in silence, words failing him. It almost seemed as if he had become like a stone statue. It appeared pleasing to Marle who only began to smile as she removed a ring from her finger and threw it to the floor in front of her father, "I refuse to be like you! I refuse the throne! I renounce my royal lineage, and I renounce you! I can't bear you any longer! I love my friends more than my own father! I never want to see you again!"
The king looked at the floor where he saw the ring that had been engraved with the symbol of their kingdom. For a brief moment, the human in him began to manifest itself as a single tear rolled down his cheek. However, the self-proclaimed immaculate leader began to surface in his characteristics as he stooped to pick up the ring. He glared at Marle and hissed, "Never return! Never come back! I don't want to see you face ever again!"
Marle glared in reply, shouting at the top of her lungs, "Good riddance!"
In that moment, Lucca had observed Marle in a new light. It was mentioned earlier in this story that she had despised her for being everything that she wasn't. However, as she watched her defend their very lives by giving up her royal birthright it was very difficult not to think of her as an amazing person. Her anger and bitterness melted away and she felt nothing but companionship and faith all in a single moment. After all, how would anyone feel after seeing such a show of devotion towards friendship?
Marle ran towards the three and nodded in reply and they all followed suit as they ran out the door. The lobby was deathly silent as the heavy doors closed behind them. The guards looked about each other, still confused on what could possibly be done next.
"What are you waiting for?" The king shouted, "Follow them and incarcerate them!"
"But your majesty, the princess said…"
"Are you deaf? She is no longer the princess! She had renounced her throne! Pursue!"
The guards immediately obeyed and pushed the door open so that it banged against the wall. After a few moments the lobby was deserted, leaving only the king whose stern demeanor gave way to a sorrowful wailing as he sat on the stairs, burying his face in his quivering hands. Had he really taught his daughter to hate him? Did she really dread becoming like him? The king began to sob violently as he let the ring fall once again on the steps. Not only was his only heir gone…
His daughter was gone…
-
The rain still continued on as they dashed madly through the forest. Suddenly, they heard yelling and the crunching of leather boots among the bushes. That had caused them to press forward just as vigorously as they had done before. "Fritz!" Crono yelled between his huffs, "This is your chance! They are after us and only us! Run ahead and we will go this way! Make your way back home and say hello to Claire for me!"
Fritz gratefully obeyed and went down the opposite road. True to his words, the guards did not take note of his opposite course, but continued to pursue them through the forest. The bushes and trees began to grow thick and dense, grabbing their clothes and scratching their arms as they forced their way onward. Suddenly, they realized that this section of the forest was covered in a strange blue light that was all too familiar…
"No way! It's a gate!"
It was indeed a gate and it was identical to the same gate that had started this whole fiasco. They stared in amazement, but their concentration was broken by the sound of distant voices that were growing closer and closer. Marle looked down the path, back at the gate, and then at her companions, "We should take it! Let's go inside it!" She suggested.
"What? That's crazy! We don't even know where it will take us!" Lucca said nervously.
Marle shrugged, "Well it certainly is a lot better than here!"
Crono nodded, "I concur…Lucca, I think we better leave while we still have the chance!"
"Alright…You guys are going to be the death of me! Let's hurry!"
Lucca pulled out a familiar device from the folds of her clothes and waved it in front of the gate. It suddenly gaped wide open, causing the trio to jump back in alarm. Once they overcame the initial shock, they quickly leapt into the swirling vortex. As their world faded, the light slowly disappeared and the forest became dark once again. Just then the soldiers passed by, continuing further down the path, certain that they had continued onward…