Chrono Trigger

The Cowardly hero; This chapter contains the pretend tales of an imposter while deeds of another are unaccounted for…

Hope is a wonderful thing during times of doubt and sadness. The prospect of Glenn being a hero caused Crono to think that there would be a chance of Alwyn's survival, seeing that the near future did not change as much as he thought. He made a wonderful turn-around and was laughing and joking with the group again. Although Marle was enthusiastic about his disposition, she was still fervently trying to find out what he said to Toma.

"Come on! Tell me!" She whined while tugging on his tunic sleeve.

"Oh, I don't know." Crono said with a sly grin. "I don't think you could forgive me for this one!"

"Oh Marle, don't worry about it! He's probably just teasing!" Lucca stepped in between them.

"No, he isn't! Didn't you see the look on Toma's face? He probably said something embarrassing!" Marle said with narrow slits for eyes which pointed at Crono.

"Maybe I did, maybe I didn't!" Crono said with a guffaw before Marle gave him a punch on the arm.

"Crono, come on! You're acting like a spoiled brat! I'm sure Robo and Lucca want to know too!" Marle stamped her foot.

"I already know what he said." Robo said this so politely it sounded as if he were refusing tea.

"How could you possibly know?" Marle asked, sounding disbelieving and frustrated. "Did he tell you?"

"No. My senses are incredibly sensitive and can, upon receiving, amplify diminutive sounds. Therefore I heard what he told Toma."

"Really? You honestly know what he said?" Marle asked with a tone of hope in her voice.

"Yes ma'am, I do."

"Then can you tell me-"

"Robo, I command you not to tell Marle or anyone else what I have said." Crono said this so quickly it was more a jumble of words than a coherent sentence.

"Affirmative."

Marle briefly reverted to a primitive state; she ground her teeth and clenched her fists before she stamped her foot, saying, "Robo! Come on! You can tell me."

"I can't break my promise, Marle!" Robo said with a scandalized tone. Everyone laughed except for Marle who simply pinched Crono before stalking off.

The sun set low over the mountains, but the sky still burned light red. Rays of golden light streaked past the peak of the formidable mountain and it made it seem so beautiful. However, that was the last thing on their minds. The time passed slowly and they were starting to run out of ways to entertain themselves. Now they were playing cards, using little pieces of candy for tokens, while Lucca (who became bored with the game) lay atop the covers of her bed, reading a book. The game had become interesting because the leader was someone nobody figured to be so amazing at card games.

"Women are instinctively good liars." Crono grumbled.

"You just keep telling yourself that while I eat all your candy pieces." Marle said, humming innocently while she slowly fulfilled her promise.

"I can't deny her amazing poker face." Toma said with wide eyes, "Nobody has taken me for all I had since my former wife!"

Marle smiled and tossed a piece towards Toma, "That comment deserves a nice reward!"

"Uh, you know, Marle, you look really nice today!" Crono said with a wide, begging grin.

She was flattered, but kept her straight poker face, "No freebies for you, mister."

"Oh, come on! You've been giving freebies to Toma, Lucca, and Robo!"

"Hey, Lucca gave you all her tokens when she quit, and it was out of mercy. That's a good enough freebie to hold you over. Even then, you're still broke."

"Only if I lose this hand!" Crono said with a sneer.

Marle carelessly tossed her cards into the middle, "Full house, kings and tens."

"Son of a-!" Crono realized he was in the presence of ladies and closed his mouth in the nick of time.

"Well, I fold." Toma said while rolling his eyes.

"Well played, Miss Marle." Robo said, giving light applause.

Crono leaned towards him, "How could you lose, Robo? You measure reactions! You even know the odds! I mean, you're like a walking calculator!"

Robo put his hands up, "I can't help it if Marle happens to be lady luck in disguise. Please forgive me for your lack of tokens."

"Well, can you give me some?" Crono asked hopefully.

"I suppose I-"

"Robo, I command you not to give Crono any of your spare tokens, now and forever." Marle stuck her tongue out at Crono.

Crono gave Robo a venomous look, to which he said, "Forgive me, but it would be incredibly rude of me not to fulfill a woman's request!"

Everyone laughed while Crono sulked in defeat. Suddenly, his eyes widened. It was plainly evident upon sight that he concocted a plan.

"Wait a minute; How about this?" Crono talked as if he were a slick trader, "Double or nothing: I win and get my tokens back. I lose and I tell you the secret."

"Hmm, I think I might be happier with the tokens." Marle said with her taunting smile, which hid her true desire.

"Take it or leave it. I'll tell you my secret if you win this hand. Only me against you. How about it?"

Marle thought for a moment and in a show of agreement, rapped her knuckles against the wooden floor. Crono rubbed his hands vigorously and Marle dealt the cards. They sat for a few moments, each one looking at what they had. Meanwhile, Lucca had risen from her bed as she heard several shouts fill the streets. She went to the window and peered out to see a throng of people in the road.

"How many cards?" Marle asked.

Crono sighed, "Three…I need three."

Marle handed them over and Crono looked at her incredulously, "Don't you need any new cards?"

To his horror, her response was, "Why would I want anything else besides what I have here?" She smiled wickedly.

Crono put down his cards, "Two pair." He sucked in air through his teeth, "Threes and fives…"

Marle was about to throw her cards down in triumph when she was interrupted by thunderous steps. She looked up to see Lucca standing over them with an anxious look over her face, "Hey guys! I think he's finally here! He's on the next street! Hurry! If we don't run and catch up with him he could pass by! Come on!" To her surprise, nobody stayed to see who would win. In a flash, everyone was on their feet and heading towards the door, despite Marle's protests. When she was left alone in the room she sighed in annoyance.

"Ugh. How can it be possible for me to be the winner and the loser at the same time?" She scooped up her candy and walked out the door.

It did not look so chaotic from the serenity of an inn, but down below it was utter pandemonium. People pressed against each other, forming a living blockade. They could hear chanting from further up the way; chanting that sang praises to the hero. Robo's size came in handy as he slowly, but firmly divided the sea of people, working his way to the next street. People growled angrily, even jamming their elbows into the advancer only to howl in pain.

"What is going on?" Marle asked incredulously, "I don't know Frog that well, but I don't think he would want a crowd like this!"

Crono said nothing, but silently agreed, suddenly becoming very serious and determined to reach the next street. From Robo's view he could see the street ahead which was barricaded with armed guards. Although the people behind were shoving and pushing, the people up front were not willing to risk impalement to see their salvation. Because of that, it was easier to pass through the crowd at a certain point. By that time, people had begun to climb up the walls of homes to view the small parade of horses that were about to pass their way.

"Robo, do you see him yet?"

"I profess; I do not know his appearance." He responded as his large dome of a head moved back and forth, scanning the crowd.

"Uh, he's the one that looks like a frog."

"There is no one like that in the procession."

"What?" Crono scampered up Robo's back, to which he uttered a gentle surprise. Crono had a seat on his shoulders and hunched forward, peering into the activity ahead. He peered into the group of advancing horsemen to see that they were circled about…

"A kid?" Crono sounded very dismayed.

"Yeah, didn't you hear me when I talked to that man?" Toma said while shouldering someone out of his way, "The hero is supposed to be a little kid."

"You never said anything like…" Crono suddenly remembered that he ushered everyone into a huddle and that was how he missed that fact. He sighed.

"Well, you've seen the hero. Let's go back."

Crono did not regress to his uncomfortable mood, but he was less enthusiastic about their progress. He only lay on his back, staring at the rafters of the inn. He tossed a single coin into the air repeatedly, only to catch it and toss it higher. Marle and Lucca shared the shame disbelief, only they were far more vocal with their thoughts. They were free to discuss their feelings since it seemed that Toma was asleep for the night.

"Why would the kid be the hero?" Marle asked with an air of frustration. "He looks no older than ten!"

"Toma said that he somehow got his hands on the medallion. I don't know why, but Frog must have ditched it since we changed history again."

Marle gasped in surprise before her face suddenly tightened into a fit of offensive anger, "Or he stole it! The little fibber! If only I could just set him straight!"

"Even so, what should we do next? We can't let them go to the mountains alone, can we?"

"Word is the little brat is staying put to except homage from the people here. Oh! Just realizing that makes me even angrier!" Marle stamped her foot.

Crono stopped his little game to say, "Well, since they are staying we could just visit Frog and see what happened. We can get him to confront the kid and make him tell the truth." He started the game again as Marle and Lucca looked at each other.

"Well, that actually sounds like the best thing to do. Good thinking, Crono!" Marle said with a grin.

"So, let's get ready to go tomorrow. If all goes well, Frog will be joining us!"

There were only three beds and Crono already made the promise to sleep on the floor, as did Robo. Each one climbed into their respective stations and quickly fell asleep, all three of the original adventurers being full of excitement. Since they arrived in this time they hoped to meet Glenn again, and if all went well it would happen tomorrow. Crono was even more excited than the others. He did not know why, but a part of him wanted to cross swords with Frog and show how far he had come along in his skills.

Crono woke up a little stiff that morning, but cleared it all away by doing stretches. It was surprising to him how early he began to wake up. He would constantly think to himself what his mother would think if she saw this. Meanwhile, all the others sluggishly found their things and prepared for the journey to the south. They found their way to the horses, but were stopped by Toma.

"You know what? I think I better stay at the inn and wait for you guys to come back." Toma said with a slight nod.

"What? You're not skipping out on us, are you?" Lucca said with an assessing eye.

"No, no. Of course not. I just think that maybe since you are heading south, that means you are making the delivery to Glenn first."

"Yes."

"Well, don't go to Porre. You won't find him there. Instead, there is a small community. When he was younger he moved there with his family. They have gone all the way of the world now, but he still lives there occasionally."

Marle seemed taken back, but felt it was irreverent and quickly said, "I know it sounds horrible, but I just didn't expect him to have a home."

"He is a wanderer, but news from Porre says he aided them in the battle. If there was a place he would stay in, certainly it would be there. On your way to Porre, you will see a fork in the road. Take the western route and you should find yourself in a quaint community. Ask for Glenn and everyone knows where he lives. With good luck you should be back here by afternoon."

"Okay then; I guess we should be on our way."

"God speed."

With that they galloped to the south.

They arrived sooner than they imagined. The pathway led underneath a sign and into the actual province. It was a beautiful little place. It felt so tranquil that anyone who did not worry too much would find that their cares were left at the entrance. Smoke from chimneys drifted lazily into the sky and the place smelled like fresh firewood. It was a very small community; it consisted of no more than thirty homes. Each home had a porch that would have laundry hanging from a line in the summer. Instead, each porch held axe grinders and chopped kindling. Crono, who grew up smelling freshly chopped wood, was instantly smitten with the place.

"It is kind of hard to believe that a master swordsman would live here." Crono admitted.

They searched the area, asking people for Glenn by name. They replied positively to that name, but at the same time their answers were very guarded. "Why would you want him?" they would ask. Once the answer came through they would hesitantly point in the same direction. It wasn't until they came across a certain person that they learned the exact location of his home as well as new facts. They were surprised to find out that Glenn was the owner of all this land and that he was their landlord. However, he made his home in the forest. "Even during his younger days he loved the solitude of the forest." the man replied. "There is a modest home along the path. Usually at this time of the day he practices swordsmanship or chops firewood."

They followed the pathway that led away from the commune and entered what seemed more of a thicket than a forest. There were a few acres that were barren of trees (they determined that it was a plowed field under snow). Further ahead they could see the curling smoke of a fire as well as hearing a rhythmic sound. They drew closer and saw something that was something they never expected. Crono did not know why, but he expected Glenn to be dressed completely in soldier garb. He only saw the back, but that was enough to know that he wore only a loose white shirt. He did not don his flowing cape or his shining breastplate. His condition was more striking, seeing that his strange skin did not only stop at his neck (the missing cape covered his neck then) but it continued down his back. Although he was so short the way he held himself seemed regal. Here, he was more relaxed, letting his shoulders slump. He sat on a log, chopping thick branches in half. It was odd to see the man who once saved their live in such an everyday fashion.

His head lifted, "Who art thou? Bradley, 'tis thee? The work shall not be finished until the next day."

Crono smiled and said softly, "It's been a long time, Frog."

The arms stopped moving and the head slowly turned around. For a moment there was a glare of great indignation in his bulbous eye. When the eye suddenly realized who the owner of the voice was, it vanished in an instant. It was replaced by a joyous gleam that could only be sincere and heartfelt. "Sir Crono? Hast thou truly sought me out?" Crono only smiled while Glenn rose from his spot, shaking his head in disbelief before enveloping him in a tight embrace. "Such a thing my eyes have devoutly wished! Methinks the lord has seen fit to calm my fears! I have heard neither rumor nor story concerning thee; I heard of thy only and greatest exploit that we have shared!"

"Has it really been that long?" Crono said with a gentle laugh.

"Aye. It hath been far too long." He let Crono go and looked towards Lucca. "Ah, Lady Lucca, how art thou? Art thou in good spirits?"

"It's good to see you again, Froggy." She said with a toothy grin.

He looked towards Marle, "Ah, and 'tis the former princess. It does my heart well to see thee in such great health."

Marle gave a smile that barely showed uneasiness, "Well, it's nice to see you too."

"And who art thou?" Frog leaned closer to Robo, as if he were trying to get a peak at his face from underneath the helmet.

"I am Robo. Good day, sir."

After Frog greeted each person cordially by grasping their hands, he led them to the front door. "How rude of me! Surely thou must be famished! Please! Make thy company here!"

The house seemed cozy and kempt. There were no dirty clothes or household items strewn about, but some things were slightly dusty. There was a shelf full of books on many different subjects, but only old and used scriptures lay next to his bedside. His breastplate waited neatly on an armor rack while his sword hung on the wall in its sheath. A pot bubbled over a crackling fire and it was only then that they realized that Frog was a fantastic cook.

"That smells heavenly!" Marle exclaimed.

Frog used a poker to grip the handle until it was out of the flame. He used the hem of his shirt to pull off the lid while he had Lucca get bowls. She was about to ask for silverware until she realized that such things were rare in this time. She returned to the table while Frog circled around, filling each bowl until he reached his own which he saved for last. The smell was befitting to the taste: a meaty broth that was filled with beef and potatoes with just enough salt. Since there was no silverware they drank from the bowls, and it was oddly more satisfying than using utensils.

They talked about several things during the meal. They talked about their former adventures and what they had been doing. Eventually, the talk found its way to their reason for visiting. Frog wiped his mouth clean and gave them a smile before saying, "Why wouldst thee and thy company journey such a distance to see me?" Crono told them about the battle, almost with a casual tone but as the conversation continued it suddenly took a serious turn. Questions were answered about the king (his injuries were never known to Frog since he did not die) and the battle. However, a strange part of the conversation followed after Crono's recount of Ozzie. Frog stared off into space with such a hateful glare that his visitors gave each other worried glances.

"Do you know of him?" Robo asked.

Frog looked down to his empty bowl before filling it up again, "Aye, but 'tis a matter best not spoken of, if it pleases thee."

The conversation continued without any further mention of Ozzie, but Frog only grew more upset and angry. Everyone, although frightened into awkwardness, felt that this would be a way to have Frog regain his place as hero. Crono did not have the heart, but perhaps if anything else infuriating was mentioned they could persuade him to help. That was when Marle suddenly thought, "Since the King's injury the Queen has been asking for you. She wanted us to deliver this letter to you."

"Please," Frog said with an outstretched arm, "give it to me."

Crono pulled the letter from the folds of his clothes and handed it to Frog. The group watched him intently as he looked over the letter. The anger that was in his eyes was suddenly replaced by a deep sorrowful emotion that would take pages to describe. The very room became more solemn as he finished the letter. He folded it neatly before returning it to its envelope and handing it back to Crono. They looked at him expectantly but received no answer. "What did the letter say?" Lucca asked.

"Thou may read it."

Crono opened the letter again and read aloud. The contents of the letter were this:

Dearest Glenn, who is a friend to us all,

I write this letter during a midnight hour. Much has happened and there is not nearly enough time to explain. All I can say is that your liege is well, as am I.

I pray and thank God everyday that he sent Crono, Marle, Lucca, and Robo to our aid. It was because of them that the battle was won. It was because of them

that my husband lives. Saying their names instead of your own crushes my heart. We so desperately wanted you, not only to fight for us, but to be with us again. I must admit,

I am angry as I write this. How many more times must we be put in danger before you realize that we need you? Why do you constantly run from us? Why do you feel so unworthy?

Is it because Cyrus had died? If only you had fought with us, my husband might not have suffered such a great wound. He waited for you to arrive on the battlefield, but he never saw you.

We spoke of you while he rested on his bed. He wanted to speak farewells to you, not as a king, but as a friend. But you never came, nor do you now. Why have you abandoned us?

You and Cyrus have always done what was right, so we never gave you a command. We trusted your judgment and your loyalty. It pains me to do this, but I must do what I can.

I command you to aid Sir Crono on his quest. You are to find the Masamune and defend our country. Once you have finished I command that you return. If you will deny us your love and trust,

then we will at least have your presence. You are not dishonorable. You did not leave Cyrus to die. We have thanked God that he did not take your life as well,

but now you are leaving us and it breaks my heart. Please, forgive yourself for what happened to Cyrus. It is not your fault. We love you and miss you. Please come back.

Love, Leene Nadia Guardia

Crono sighed as he tried to give Glenn the letter. He only waved it off and Crono stuck it in the fold of his clothes, "So what are you going to do."

"I cannot fulfill her command."

Crono suddenly felt very confused, "But I thought that you were willing to do anything for her majesty! You risked life and limb for her before. Why not now?"

"I wish not to speak of it. I am sorry, but I must ask that you leave. I will have nothing to do with this." He stood, went to the window, and leaned against the sill.

"I don't understand. You love them, don't you? You are willing to sacrifice yourself for them, aren't you?"

"Leave. Please."

Marle put a hand on Crono's shoulder, but he could not stop himself. He wanted an answer. He wanted to know why someone so brave was being so cowardly. "Why are you running from your…"

"The sword is broken!" Glenn turned about, his eyes glaring in annoyance. "I cannot defeat Magus without the sword! It cannot be done!"

Glenn went to a loose floorboard and scrapped his fingers along the edge. Loose granules of dust floated into the air as he let it fall to the side. Within the cavity was a bundled cloth. He held it and showed it his friends. He unwrapped it slowly. Then they saw it. It was the blade of the masamune, and true to his word, the hilt end had been missing. The break was clean, just as if it were sliced through like butter. What could have caused it to break was unknown to them. "See what is left? Do you plan to stop the war with this?"

"We will try." Crono said with a pointed tone.

Frog grunted in reply and tossed the sword away from him as if he were disgusted with its very sight, "Then do your best. I pray for you. But I cannot go with you."

The ride back to Denadoro was very solemn. They did not wish to talk for their disappointment was so great. Crono wanted Glenn to fight with them. He wanted to show him how much he had improved. He also wondered what the reason could be for Glenn's reluctance. Why would someone so strong and so vengeful of any Mystic shrink to go after Magus? They would go back and talk to Toma, divulging what had been said and heard. Then Toma would go pale and tell them more about the prophesy. He would tell them that a part of the sword would be found in the midst of him that fears death. It will be only then they can realize why Glenn refused all that he loved.

He was not ashamed as the King and Queen thought. He was scared.

Author's Note: I just want you all to know I was only kidding about killing off Crono. He is my favorite character after all. But you know what? I'll see what you guys think I should do. It could be interesting. Kill Crono for good, or bring him back? Yea or nay? Let me know! Thanks for your comments and support! Gibson, out!