Chrono Trigger
The Duly Appointed Hour; Our protagonists storm the castle and find themselves at the mercy of Ozzie, Slash, and Flea…
The sun began to set in the west, casting its final rays against the approaching storm. It seemed its light was at its brightest before it sunk into the horizon, dying in spectacular colors as sunset lit its sky ablaze. As the light dimmed the storm from the east began to rage. Its wind beat the ocean into a violent frenzy and cast long dark shadows on the world as lightning struck. This was the night. And it was perfect.
"The time is near…" Pale lips curled into a ruthless smile at those words.
The pounding rain covered the Mystic general, but he paid it no heed as he stared across the ocean. He watched the world with his arms crossed, standing atop the pinnacle of an ancient castle as the winds danced around him. His muscles tensed in excitement as he envisioned the moment he waited for. The excitement was almost sating as he felt his sacrifice approaching. However, in the back of his mind he recalled a pillar of light he saw some time ago. It gave him great uneasiness at first, but it was forgotten as the storms approached. Everything had been planned and it was coming together so well it almost seemed too convenient.
With no hesitancy he leapt from the peak of the castle and began to fall toward the blackness below. He felt rain pelting his underside as he waited for the right moment. A strong gust of wind was summoned and his body lilted in the air before gliding gracefully to an open balcony.
His metallic soles clinked as they met the marble floor and he walked with his head held high. His usual gang of simpletons followed him, asking questions and respectfully demanding orders. Ozzie, Slash, and Flea still feared for the nation after Zenan Bridge, but not as much as they did for their own prosperity. Therefore, their pleas and questions were far more urgent than normal. They froze in horror as Magus stopped in mid-pace, giving a great sigh which had never been heard from him before. Without facing them, he said coolly, "The resurrection of Lavos begins tonight. Our guests will be arriving in a matter of minutes."
Even despicable creatures can feel the swelling emotions of liberation and achievement. This vindication caused them to cheer for joy within themselves as they strived to remain ever-attentive for the sake of the event. Like excited children they leaned forward, backing away in fright as Magus pushed his cape aside in one swift move. He walked past them as if they did not exist and went to a table that bore his scythe. With a swift movement he grabbed its handle violently, gripping so hard that his leather gloves stretched. His cold eyes fell upon the trio.
"You may toy with them using all the malice you possess. Use the powers I have given you and look into their hearts. Make them relive their fears. Enrage them. Discourage them. Draw out all that is painful, and bring them to me fearing and trembling."
"We will, master." They bowed as they spoke in unison.
"Now go," he said sternly, adding with glowing red eyes and a smile, "we wouldn't want to be rude to our guests and keep them waiting."
They could tell when they were walking beneath the ocean. The smell of wet dirt and rock was prevalent here and water trickled between very tight cracks. Marle did not care for the cave so much, but Crono breathed the air in deep and breathed it out as if he anticipated the next breath. It made him feel alive, making him cognizant that they were underneath tonnes of water at the moment. Meanwhile, Lucca felt very claustrophobic and involuntarily shuddered whenever the walls seemed to narrow. "I don't remember the walls being this close together when we passed through in our time." She muttered underneath her breath. Robo, who wisely held back a potential pun, walked silently.
Meanwhile, Glenn walked as if he were in a trance. Thoughts raced through his head like the underground streams of this pass. How many enemies would they fight? Would he make it past the gate? What would he say if he were to see Magus? What would old Avary suggest he do? Would it be wrong to kill Magus? If he were to die, who would look after the Queen? At that thought his eyes lingered back to Crono who walked around as if he were seeing everything for the first time. Glenn smiled and kept walking without saying a word.
After a long period of time they found themselves walking on an upward slant. The smell of wet dirt did not grow any fainter and instead of the echoic tricking of water there was the rumbling of heavy rain. A thunderclap shook the cavern walls and announced to the party that the storm had gotten worse. Glenn gave a grateful nod and said, "Aye, although it seems foreboding this is as good a boon as any. Fortresses, having been long erected, sprout settlements at their bases like weeds. This storm shall hide our faces from unwanted troubles whilst we search out the entrance."
They ascended the natural stairway and found that he had spoken the truth. They stood in a clearing, surrounded by trees on both sides with their backs towards the passageway. In front of them lay a large castle that stretched towards the heavens. Its dark silhouette was a menacing colossus that glared at them when lightning struck; the town below didn't seem as friendly either. Its filthiness and dangers were veiled by the pouring rain and distance. They could feel the sting of a lost war hang over the town as the pedestrians limped or trudged through the thick mud, heading wherever they could find rest. The lights, which would usually be brighter, were dimmed. The revelers, who usually would be enjoying riotous exuberance in the streets, were subdued into a doomed melancholy as they wondered what would become of them.
"Let us go this way. Mayhap we may stick to the alleyways."
Frog took the lead, his form being able to allay suspicions should they be crossed. His eyes would scan the streets before he beckoned his cohorts to near. It was difficult work to stay to the back alleys, where the mud seemed to gather thick around their soles and the occasionally head poked out of a window. The rain also soaked them from head to toe as runoff from the thatched roofs poured down on them. They had no incidents and they finally found a straight pathway with no windows. They dashed through the alley way, looking up to see that they were nearing the castle.
"Who is there?"
The party was shocked into silence, knowing it was not the rain that caused their fingers to suddenly become cold to the touch. Their eyes saw a sliver of light catch the end of the hall as well as a shadow cross it. They could hear the squelching footsteps of an approaching Mystic and they frantically looked for a place to hide. There was a small recess a few paces forward which they leapt into, save Glenn who barred the way. He calmed his heart as he saw the gruff-looking Mystic with a lantern approach.
"What are ye doin' out here so late in the evenin'?"
Glenn, who had covered his head with a mantle, kept his eyes from view and answered, "I needs be alone with my thoughts is all…"
The Mystic gave him an odd look, but then finally let out a long-drawn sigh, "Ain't that the truth?"
Glenn nearly sighed in relief but stopped himself and said, "I fear for what we shall do next."
"Don't worry none," said the Mystic with a wave of his giant hand, "even at this moment our beloved Magus works to create Lavos. He will slay those infidels and we shall be avenged. You may sleep easy for tonight. "
Glenn, who felt some sense of terror at that name, merely nodded. The mystic gave a heavy pat on Glenn's shoulder, walked down the hall, went around the corner and was out of sight. Glenn finally released a sigh of relief and went to the small recess where his friends hid. He offered a hand and raised the first few, telling them that Magus was already working to raise Lavos. They discussed plans, wondering what would be the best course of action. Unfortunately, fate decided to ruin their plans once again as the same Mystic rounded the corner.
"-Listen, if you want to sleep I hear the tavern is…" The Mystics eyes fell upon the horror-stricken look of the foreigners. His eyes squinted as if he could not believe what he saw and he stumbled backwards. "THE ENEMY! THE ENEMY IS HERE!"
A blinding flash burst from the alley way with a deafening boom. A charred body flew through air, limply colliding against a wall. Crono stood dumbfounded, his hand outstretched as he listened intently. He immediately regretted what he had done as he heard an uprising from the sleepy city. There was the distant sound of a clanging bell as the sound of aggressive shouting that grew nearer. His eyes went to Glenn who stammered for a moment and shouted, "Hurry! We shall use the roofs!"
Frog began to lead the way, leaping onto the thatched roof with feline grace while beckoning the others to follow. All followed suit, and although Robo landed gracefully, his metallic frame made the roof explode in a shower of splinters as the wood held but received a depression in the make of his soles. They began to run across the roof, leaping over alleyways to land on adjacent houses. It wasn't long until an astute mystic looked upward and saw a shadow dart across the sky.
"THE ROOFS! THE ASSASINS ARE USING THE ROOF!"
"THEY WISH TO SLAY MAGUS!"
"AFTER THEM!"
Amid the pitter-patter of rain there was the sound of a distant twang accompanied with a loud whistle. Marle gasped as Crono leapt back to run along her side, deflecting an arrow that would have hit her shoulder. There was the sound of more arrows as they sped toward the party. Crono's eyes peered into the darkness, every light reflected in rain resembling an arrowhead. Still, he used his ears and deflected them with a satisfying crack. The arrows began to work to their benefit as Mystics climbed the roofs, becoming the accidental recipients of attack.
Crono looked toward the castle which was still a distance away. Lightning struck, its thunder causing the roofs and rafters of the camp to shake. It illuminated their situation for the briefest of seconds, and it showed that it was ominous in its foreboding. They began to slow down their pace and found themselves surrounded, unable to go to the next roof without landing on weapons. The party instantly went back to back, each one brandishing their weapon. The hunting party edged in, occasionally thrusting their weapons, trying to frighten their targets into error. The occasional arrow headed their way, and began to fire at an alarmingly frequent rate.
"What do we do?" Crono asked, panic in his voice.
Lucca said with steely determination, "Well, we're not going down without a fight!"
"Actually," Robo said in the strangest of tones, "I think we are."
The Mystics drew in, their shouts turning into taunts and jeers. Lucca, having no time to make sense of what Robo had said, aimed to fire her weapon into the thick, advancing crowd. However, she was stopped by a loud creaking noise. All the commotion on that single rooftop ceased as well, as everyone looked skittishly about them. They all shrieked as they felt a great lurch beneath them. The swaying motion stopped and all stood with their hands out bracingly, anticipating the next sway.
It came along with a monumental structural collapse.
The termite-infested wooden frame of this particular boarding house began to crack underneath the weight of everyone atop the roof. They could hear the rafters snapping as a few tried in vain to descend, but it was too late. The house fell into a giant mess of old wooden dust and nails, pushing a cloud of dust over the crowd. Even worse, there were oil lamps lit within the home and the twisting frame jolted them to the ground. Although it did not disturb anyone at first the fire would eventually spread and engulf the majority of the camp in flames.
Meanwhile, Crono had risen to his feet, leading the party by stepping over victims and knotted wood. Using the dust as cover, they made their way into a dark alleyway, excited to see that it was a straight shot from this point to the castle. Their feet pounded against the street as they ignored the Mystic who watched them from stories above. They began to leap from the rooftops, obscuring the path for only a brief moment.
"Allow me!" Robo said, increasing his speed and taking the lead.
He bowled over the helpless Mystics, his heavy frame crunching those who were not fast enough to dive out of the way. A large mystic blocked the path ahead, forcing Robo to explode in a cloud of steam as he launched himself forward, his feet leaving cracks in stone. He was at least thirty paces in front of the party now as he confronted the behemoth. The Mystic, who smiled sardonically, went wide-eyed as Robo stopped abruptly in front of him. A fist curled back, shooting forward with a hydraulic hiss. Thankfully, it was too dark to see what the effect was, but the women could see a spray of gore as the Mystic flew to the side, slamming against the wall like a rag-doll. They forced themselves not to look as they ran by.
Their hearts pounded in joy as they burst past the last row of houses and found themselves streaking past iron gates. Behind them they could hear the curses and the hostile shouting of hundreds if not thousands of enemies. The large doors of the castle stood open across the courtyard, beckoning them to enter. If they had the time they would have commented on how eerie this seemed and would have taken the time to prepare for what lay ahead. Instead, they found that a few idle guards had shaken themselves awake and readied their weapons. Swords were unsheathed, arrow strings stretched, and javelins were held out in anticipation of a face to face confrontation.
Crono prepared his hands to summon a storm. However, something similar to the appearance of a long tentacle burst from a moat surrounding the castle. It acted quickly, cracking foes like a whip and brushing them all aside, leaving only fallen weapons to litter the pathway. Crono could feel a refined energy much like he felt whenever he cast his magic. His eyes turned to see Glenn moving his hands as his comrades have done before.
"Glenn! You can use…"
"Cast him aside, Crono!"
His head twisted forward and saw that a larger Mystic stood between them and the doorway. He sprinted past him, slicing the Mystic's side before he headed for the gate. The door was thick and appearance alone told them that it would take a long time to break though. They could also see that it seemed darker inside the castle than outside, but they paid it no mind as they turned about, trying to shut the doors as the advancing army neared. It closed with a loud boom, but a new problem arose.
"There's no barricade!" Lucca shouted, searching the adjoining walls desperately.
"Then we shall make one!" Glenn said as if he were straining under some great effort.
When the party looked at him they saw that his arms were moving swiftly as if he were a conductor. Water began to gather around them, seeping in between the cracks of the great door until it was completely covered. At this point Marle offered assistance, summoning a freezing wind to form a thick sheet of ice that tightened the hinges and sealed the door. The party huddled for warmth as the candles as of the foyer flickered in the wind, and finally the candles were still. The work had been done.
It was silent for a moment, but then a loud bang followed by many more come from the gates. Even through the ice they could hear the wails and the enraged threats of the Mystics. They fell to the ground, thankful for the moment they had to rest. As they breathed heavily, Glenn propped himself onto an elbow and faced Marle. "Aye, so it is true. I have heard that thou couldst summon the elements at thy will."
Crono looked at him weakly, "What in the world were you doing, Glenn? Since when could you do that?"
Glenn said this almost nonchalantly, twirling a single hand in the air aimlessly, "Since the day I had been cursed."
Lucca rose and looked at him, saying "Frog, I don't understand. What difference would the curse make?"
Glenn sat upright now, the other members of the party following suit. "I hath said it before, and twice will I say it now. Magus is a powerful wizard. I do not know the full extent of the change that occurred to my body, but from that pain I absorbed new knowledge, and yet it is not like knowledge. It is like a feeling, that I know I can command the elements."
Crono let out a chuckle and said, "Well, we could have used that when we fought Yarka…"
"You forget, Sir Crono, that I knew nothing of thy talents. In my mind's eye, thou wouldst be rightfully suspicious and see me as a Mystic had I used magic."
Lucca, her curiosity reverting back the first time she saw him, refrained from admitting she would like to experiment on him and see what actually happened. Instead, she rose to her feet and brushed any dirt off her skirt. Her thick glasses caught the reflection of hundreds of steady flames as she looked over the enormous entryway of the castle. The décor was much like a haunted castle: the carpets and tiles were dark, the architecture was gothic in nature, and any statues surrounding them were inspired by myths of menacing creatures whose likeness were realistically and horrendously captured. "This guy doesn't seem to entertain much, does he?"
Crono chuckled, "No, I would say that he doesn't."
"But he decided to make an exception in your case."
The familiar gravelly voice caused the remaining members of the party to jump to their feet, their hands flying for their weapons. Their eyes scanned the barely lit chamber and only Crono and Glenn knew what they were looking for.
Glenn was the first to speak in fake politeness, "Ah, 'tis Ozzie the general. It hath been far too long. Please, bring thyself forward so that we may greet and kill you."
A laugh echoed through the castle as a creature came into the light, floating through the air. He held his arms out wide in a taunting welcome, his sharp pointy teeth fixed in a smile that suggested he felt as if he were toying with them. It was the first time that the others had the misfortune to see his hideous face, but Ozzie's misplaced esteem was so dogmatic that he did not bother to introduce himself. After all, in his mind, he was a name known to all houses out of love or fear. Ozzie knew in that black heart of his that no harm could befall him and that any half-wit could match his glorious presence to his reputation. Nonetheless, once Glenn leapt forward to slash at Ozzie he flew to the distant ceiling with a yelp of surprise, which he tried to hide by changing into a taunting cackle. There, he floated in the darkness of the supports, ever-observing, his voice seeming disembodied as he spoke.
"Always so straight to the point, are you Glenn?"
"And thou art so quick to hide in the shadows, as always." Glenn spat heatedly.
"Hide? Me? Au contraire; I believe it is you that has been hiding…Hiding behind that ugly mask that you call a face! Oh-ho, but you will have your chance at me. I promise you that."
"If thou art the man who has been conjured by thy delusions, thou wouldst confront me now!" His sword, whose glimmer dimmed slightly, sliced through air.
A hand quickly gripped Glenn's shoulder. Glenn's agitated eyes shot towards Crono who forbade him, and brushed the hand away roughly with his shoulder. As soon as Crono stepped back to look at him pleadingly, Glenn's features softened and he uttered an apology through a sigh. The sword regained its luster and Glenn talked in the calm rational manner that a man of nobility would use. "Thou wilt face justice, Ozzie. To long hast thou lived, and that is a thing which must be remedied."
The voice had a tinge of disappointment, but that was hidden. "Well, I see that our heroic toad has a little control over himself after all. But I don't think that will be enough to reach my infallible master. You must face all who guard this place." Glennlooked towards the upper floors of the grand stairway. He could see several brawny Mystics step forward, all armed with heavy maces, their faces covered in executioner garb. Glenn smirked in relief, "Is that all thou hast sent for us, Ozzie?"
"You will see…" Ozzie said shrewdly. "Now, if you will excuse me, we have a God of destruction to create…Please…Enjoy yourselves."
The fiend exited with a shrill laugh, leaving the Mystics to encircle his guests. The party lined up, each one picking a target out in their heads. "Who's that jerk?" Lucca quipped while her hand conjured flame. Instead of waiting for an answer she shot her arm out, causing the flame to fly toward the stairwell. The licking fire splashed against the tapestries, bringing the flaming mess down on an intruding group. "Yeah," Marle added, summoning up a spell of her own, "is he something we are going to have to worry about?" The spell landed on the stairways underneath the horde, causing them to roll down the stairs only to land on their own weapons. They stood for a moment, Glenn smiling as he saw that he did not need to lift a finger. "No, he shall pose no grave if thou watch the shadows."
They began to walk carefully up the stairway, taking Glenn's advice to heart and watching the shadows for any sneaky ne'er-do-wells. As they walked Glenn spoke his thoughts about the three. "If that fiend hath spoken truth, then I swear by my soul that Magus shall not assist them. If Ozzie could have summoned that so-called God then he would have done so long ago."
"Does that mean that they are protecting him?" Marle asked, the visions of a dead world returning to mind. As they did, he pace quickened.
"Yes," Glenn answered, also feeling the need to hurry. "No doubt we shall find these three fiends before we find their master."
"And remember the forest," Robo offered, "one of them is a crafty illusionist and they might try to fool us. We must stay close and keep our guard up!"
A beastly statue stood before the quartet. Three from the group watched the statue with a sense of excited awe, wondering if it were a perfect replica of their deliverer. This statue was not only a tribute to this prophesied evil but to all the vain things of the world. All of mammon was caught in its temporal worldly splendor as it sat, adorned with gems and made of gold and silver. The creature was made from the visions and interpretations of devoted Mystics who spent years in scriptoriums and as such, held the appearance of a Mystic.
It had four arms, each tipped with taut hands holding aloft flame. It had horns that came to the side of its head and pointed outward. It had a set jaw, eyes that were emotionless, and it seemed to be looking towards the heavens. It had the upper-body of a man, no doubt inspired by Magus, yet the sides and the lower part of the body was modeled after coarse fur.
Once again, Ozzie, Slash and Flea stood with awe, admiring the statue lovingly, envisioning any reward they would receive for their semi-faithful service. Meanwhile, Magus stood before the statue with a smirk. He could sense the deep feeling of love his lackeys had for this creature. What would their faces look like when they actually saw him, he wondered? He almost laughed, but settled for tapping his scythe against the floor. Like obedient dogs, the trio left the room with a gleeful cheer…
That moment occurred as their guests dashed across the tops of the peasants' homes. This current moment occurred as the honored guests rested on their floor. The three Mystics tittered as they rolled dice upon the ground that was several stories above their guests. Already, like demons who thrived on causing souls misery, they wondered who would be the first to suffer and how. They knew that throughout the castle there were many trap doors and diversions they could use to separate the party, but they only had the power to reach into the soul of one at a time. "Ah, it seems we have that strange dark-haired girl first! She seems to be insecure and easily provoked…"
"Even so, keep going in case it is not enough."
"Hmm, then we have that strange man made of armor…followed by that blonde strumpet." Flea frowned in disgust as she imagined her.
"Then we have Sir Froggy himself…" Slash said with an amused smile.
"…And then that bastard from the bridge…" Ozzie seethed in between his teeth, chewing though a thick, yellow finger nail.
"I see you have a history with that one…Well, aren't you fortunate?" Flea chuckled pleasurably, enjoying the image of the man.
"You have no shame," spoke Slash, shaking his head free of this perversion. "Am I to believe you lust after this one? A human no less?"
"Mind your business!" She spat defiantly, acting as if she relished the thought despite of him. However, her guilty consciousness made her realize the Mystic part of her shivered in shame.
"Friends…friends…" Ozzie began with condescending admonishment, "We must not allow ourselves to be distracted. This shall only be a taste of what may come after tonight."
Slash gave Flea a begrudging look and spat from the corner of his mouth, "Very well; just keep your sick desires to yourself, Flea."
"Envious, are we?" Flea asked silkily, allowing a finger to trial where chivalrous eyes should not go. Slash, almost faltering, looked away and feigned disgust.
Ozzie, who was anything but chivalrous, forced himself not to be distracted and said with finality, "I will put out the bait…Flea, begin."
The party looked about themselves, half-expecting Mystics to leap from the shadows at any moment. They did not bother to keep their weapons sheathed, always holding them at the ready. It began to become uncomfortable since their palms grew sweaty and the tense feeling seemed to grow commensurately. Finally, they came to a place where there was a wide open room. They sighed in dread, seeing that there were at least seven different paths in front of them. Crono thought for a moment, smirked and then said aloud, "Nice try, Ozzie. I think we'll just stay together and just explore these hallways one by one! Does that sound good to you?"
Lucca smirked approvingly, "Good thinking…Which is surprising on your part."
"Quiet, you." Crono said with mock indignation. He smiled and led the way, seeing that hallway was too narrow and it needed to be traveled in single file.
BOOM!
Crono whipped around to see that Robo was no longer visible and that a wall suddenly appeared behind them. To his surprise he saw that Frog disappeared behind another wall followed by Lucca, Marle, and finally himself. He could hear them shouting to each other, seeing if they were well. At that point a familiar voice cackled tauntingly. "You know what, that really does sound like a good plan to me! That is good thinking…which is surprising on your part!" There was the sound of enraged shouting and curses, which Crono imagined came from Glenn. The shouting subsided as a subtle sound reached their ears, even though their feet felt it first. It was the sound of stone scraping against stone, which happened to be the floor moving out from underneath them. Crono scoffed, sheathing his weapon and pushing himself against the walls that surrounded him. Positioning his legs, he was able to use his own weight to wedge himself so that he hovered over the gaping hole which led into darkness.
Ozzie, of course, was not happy, seeing that everyone else had the same idea. "Oh, you think you all are so clever, don't you!?"
"It's not that hard," Marle said in carefree tones, "to outwit you we only need to be smarter than an idiot."
This earned a fit of giggles from the group, which enraged Ozzie even more. Crono could hear Robo's metallic foot clanging against the neighboring walls, causing Frog to complain about the dust and ask why his bulbous eyes must be subjected to so must irritation. While this was happening, Ozzie stood with his cohorts, embarrassed and searching for an excuse. Flea sighed in annoyance and said curtly, "Can't you do anything by yourself, Ozzie? Just be thankful it is dark where they are…It is so much easier to play with minds when they are in the dark…" She closed her eyes in apparent concentration, envisioning her captured.
Meanwhile, while Crono waited patiently, he thought he saw something shining faintly in the darkness. As he peered closer he thought he saw spikes beginning to slowly emerge from holes that did not exist in the walls before. As he watched these few spikes moving outward he could swear that he heard the distant clanking gears that controlled them. He even believed that he could feel the holes in the walls, his fingers brushing the spikes which began to poke at his fingertips. He listened and it seemed that the others had the same problem...
"What do we do, Lucca?" Crono shouted.
"We need to let go!" Came her muffled reply.
Crono could hear Robo trying to say something about illusions, but it was too late and he could feel himself fall a short distance only to land on a steep slope. He felt his body roll on smooth, mossy stone and he finally came to stop. The same occurred for the others, save Robo who pounded away at the wall furiously in a desperate bid to reach the others before they made a mistake. It was too late, for they all let go and they found themselves in a narrow passageway, their backs toward a dead end. However, they could still hear each other, although the sound was as faint as before.
"What's going on?" Marle asked, who was standing on her tip-toes and shouting through the hole above her.
"'Tis strange, but we may surmise that the sickening fiends mean to toy with us first, else we would have found ourselves slain or impaled upon some pike." came Glenn's distant voice.
Robo's voice was the easiest to hear since he stood above them all. By now all the walls had been demolished and he could continue down that same path as long as he treaded carefully. "You were fooled by another illusion. I believe that is not the last trick up Ozzie's sleeve. Be careful; this might be a trap."
Crono, trying to leap toward the hole in an effort to rejoin the others, sighed dejectedly as he found it to be at an odd angle. He said, "Alright. I don't think there is anything else we can do. We just have to walk our own paths and search for each other. When we meet up and see if someone is missing then we search these tunnels until we find them. Agreed?"
They all agreed at once and the last thing each person heard was departing footsteps.
Lucca, who usually thought that she was good at putting on a brave face, could not help but feel like something bad was going to happen. She fingered her gun which she kept holstered and looked about skittishly. These corridors were like the make of tombs; the walls, floors, and ceilings were made of dusty bricks and cobwebs hung in giant clumps or between cracks. The dust, which was eroded granules of brick, made the ground feel almost slippery.
There was a part of her that was interested in how old these corridors were. She wondered if they had been here before the castle itself. However, there was the part of her (which she tried to ignore) that wondered if there really was an exit from these catacombs. As there began to be the faint wailings and creaks of an old ruin, that part of her grew until she was becoming restless.
"Marle? Where are you?"
The sound was faint, but it was unmistakable. Once she heard that sound her fears began to disappear. She smiled inwardly and began to jog down the corridor toward the sound of the voice. It grew louder and louder as she grew closer. Finally, she found herself standing in an open room where there were several passages. Although most of them twisted into different parts of the catacombs, the faint glowing of candles of the lobby could be seen through one way. However, that was not was she noticed first.
Crono was standing in the middle of the room, looking confused and tense. He was tilting his head upwards, searching even the ceilings for Marle.
"Crono!" She smiled, "Are you okay?"
"Yeah, I'm fine." He said impatiently. He shot a hand out as if he gestured for her not to speak or come any closer.
Lucca's face scrunched up in a scowl. "Yeah, I'm fine too." Lucca said sarcastically.
Crono did not respond to her, but kept looking around, cupping his ears to amplify any sound that found them. Lucca felt herself wanting to punch him in the stomach, but decided to make peace with another question. She cleared her throat, which had tightened due to severe annoyance, and said as cordially as she could, "Have you seen any of the-"
"Shut up," Crono said curtly, not even giving her the courtesy of a sideways glance.
"Hey, don't you say that to me!" Lucca said, her hands on her hips, "Why in the world are you-?"
"I SAID 'SHUT UP'! ARE YOU DEAF? DON'T YOU EVER STOP TALKING?" Crono tugged at his hair, his eyes going wide with annoyance.
Lucca felt a sting of pain which cut her to the core. She had never heard such a cruel rebuttal from Crono in her life. If it had been anyone else saying that to her she would have bickered and fought, but Crono had stunned her. Her lip trembled and she suddenly felt betrayed, but dare not say anything. Why was he being this way? Before she could ask, his head whipped toward a direction. He said nothing as he began to move down a passageway, away from the exit. Lucca assumed he must have heard something, and began following him.
He said nothing to her; in fact he barely acknowledged her as they found themselves in another room. He looked around, cupping his ears and shouting out for Marle again. It was at that point that Lucca wondered why he was only searching for Marle. She hated to admit it, but jealousy began to build in her. He went off in another direction, his leather soles crunching the dirt underneath him. They found themselves in a different room and he did the exact same thing he did previously. He called for Marle, listened, and was beginning to go off into a different room.
"Wait!" Lucca called out to him.
Crono, before going down the corridor, gave her a disgustingly hostile look and said, "You can wait. My friend is in trouble and she needs me."
He disappeared as he rounded another corner and Lucca stood in the middle of the room, fighting back the hurt that was beginning to well up inside of her. She did not run after him this time, but walked slowly. Strangely enough, Crono had waited for her to emerge from the previous room and he stared at her with a frown she had never seen him wear. He asked with a voice that trembled from anger, "Don't you care about anyone else other than yourself?"
A tear rolled down her face this time and she barely whispered, "I-I do…"
"Then why the hell are you just plodding along?" At this point he acted as if he were deep in thought, "Hey, I have a good idea…how about you actually do something useful for once instead of whining all the time?"
"WHY ARE YOU BEING THIS WAY?" Lucca shouted out, her fists clenching.
Crono looked at her disdainfully, "We don't have time for another pity-party…Someone who is actually important to me is in trouble, and you are wondering why I'm not just wrapping you up in my arms right now?"
Lucca shook her head resolutely, "You don't mean that…I don't think you know what you're saying…"
"Oh?" Crono said, raising his eyebrows and gesturing wildly, "That's right, I forgot…You know everything, don't you?"
"That's right, I do!" Lucca shot back, trying her best to stay brave in this cruel adversity. "I know that right now you are being a damned, insensitive jerk!"
At that point Crono leapt forward and did the unthinkable. He grabbed her arm with a vice-like grip, opened his other hand and slapped her across the face. Her glasses flew from her, clattering upon the floor, leaving her wet eyes completely visible. Strangely enough, it was not the slap that hurt her the most, but the gesture of condemnation itself. He looked at her darkly, his hands clenching both of her arms so that they were down at her side. "What makes you think you can say that to me, hmm?" Crono asked, tilting his head. He gave her another slap and looked her with clenched teeth, "What makes you think that a person I can barely tolerate can speak to me that way?"
"Crono…" Lucca whimpered, "You're hurting me…"
"What makes you think that I care how you feel? What? Do you think I actually care for some nerdy book-worm who hides behind her studies?" Another slap graced her cheek. "Why did I even bother becoming friends with someone who doesn't even respect herself? Marle at least has an ounce of confidence!" Another slap. "What makes you think I can possibly love you?"
Another slap was coming, but the hand was stayed. Those apple-green eyes that once held such venom softened as it confronted moist brown eyes. Lucca pushed with all her might and sent Crono flying to the ground. In an instant her gun was drawn and she pointed it at Crono, sporting a confident grin on her face. Nonetheless, her cheeks were tear-stained and her lip still quivered. "You are not Crono." She said slowly and deliberately.
"Lucca…put it away…" Crono said cautiously, rising to his feet.
"Crono has always loved me…at least as a friend if nothing more…He would never treat me this way…"
Although she believed this strongly her finger had suddenly stopped feeling. She looked at the embodiment of all her memories and firsts. How strange it is that her mind was so clear, yet her body fought so hard against her judgment! All her confidence trembled as she thought of the extremely small possibility that this could be the man she had known all her life. Was her love for him so strong that a small possibility took precedence over her sound thinking? In this case, it was so, but she knew she had to deliberately make a choice.
Her head rang so much that she did not even hear the gun fire. For a moment she saw nothing but white and the next she saw the remains of a skeleton strewn about the floor. She had chosen correctly, yet the choice hurt her more than the cruel taunts she endured. She had chosen to shoot Crono, even if it had been an illusion to fool her. What sick, twisted mind would encourage such pain? She leaned against the wall, slid down to the ground, and allowed herself to sob in privacy. She hugged her knees, burying her face in them as she rocked back and forth. Finally, after she had her fill of crying she wiped her face and stood on shaky legs. She went back the way she came and found the exit she had seen before.
In the most "sacred" room of the castle Magus kept constant vigil. His eyes were closed as he tried to feel the pain that his servants were inflicting. He smiled as he felt the heavy sobs of the young woman. "Hmm…Such heavy sorrow…yet it is not enough to rouse the demon…" Magus said to himself.
Robo walked through the corridors, his heavy soles softened by a strip of carpet. The velvet path led him to another room that did not hold his friends. He closed the door and was just about to turn around when he felt (or at least his sensors detected) something tap his back. Without another thought he turned about, his heavy fists burrowing into the creature that stood behind him. He did not gasp or feel remorse as he stood over the shattered remains of Lucca.
That was because he knew it wasn't Lucca…
His systems could not sense the heat, the electric pulses, or anything that came from a living being. However, unlike the former illusion that disappeared upon death, the splattered remains of Lucca remained on the smooth carpet. Robo stood silently, his metallic fist covered in the blood of the illusion. He simply said out loud, "Your illusions will not work on me."
"Of course not…"
Robo turned to see another illusion standing before him. The image of the woman he had slain stood a distance off while the former victim still lay on the floor. The figure came closer, accompanied by several other apparitions that shared the same appearance. Already, his superior mental capabilities observed ten of these deceased dolls which began to surround him. However, they did not move to strike, but began to speak one by one. "Of course they do not work on you…for you are a lifeless doll like us."
Robo stood, saying nothing. He listened to them with the rationality of a man who would listen to an opposing viewpoint.
"Why is it that you insist on acting like one of them? Obviously you have no disposition to feel…and obviously you agree with us…"
"What would make you say that?" Robo asked.
"While we taunt the others, they grow angry and lash out at us…Instead, you listen and take into account what we say. Are you not angry?"
"Why would I be? I know that is what you want."
"Ah, so clever and quick to think…not like these foolish beings that have hearts and souls…"
Something happened within Robo at that statement. A part of him wanted to hear what the rest had to say, but another prompt came to him. That prompting was that he wanted to break them. Still, the rational side of him won and he stood, still listening to whatever they had to say. However, he could not help but say, "How would you know if I lack a heart or soul?"
The creatures laughed as they changed into those same robots that had nearly destroyed Robo so long ago. "Now we know that you are the one that had truly malfunctioned…How absurd it is to think that you have anything more to offer than your current mission. You know that your feelings are made to identify with humans…Your feelings are the illusion, not us."
A hiss of steam erupted as Robo shot forward, his fist passing through the speaker. "What I have is real!" Robo retorted.
"What you 'have' is programs that have been put there by our kind after diligent observation of the enemy. You are a malfunctioned unit if you cannot see that. Your attempts at humor, your camaraderie, and even your need to justify your feelings to us are nothing but programs to achieve a goal that you have never fulfilled…'Malfunctioned unit'."
"I may make my own choices!" Robo responded, his fist plowing into another creature.
"The illusion of choice has been brought upon by your unique programming…Animals have thoughts, feelings, and can even make choices, but not you. When your memory returns, you will fulfill your duty as you have been told. You will fulfill your single purpose." The illusion looked towards the crumpled form of Lucca on the floor. As it looked forward again, Robo smashed its head into pieces.
"Yes," said the other illusion, "I am confident that you will take our side again. You will find yourself being compelled to do the one thing you should have done all along." At that point the illusion changed into the shape of Crono. The illusion smiled impishly and said, "Now, would you please demonstrate for us what you will do when that time comes?"
Robo stopped his assault and looked at the forms that had changed into the members of his party. As they stepped closer he had no choice but to demonstrate his brutal capability. At the end of the assault he found the illusion had faded and bones had been strewn about in his wake. He looked at his hand which was no longer covered in blood. He sighed as he thought to himself, "What if I cannot make a choice? What if all this is only a malfunction?" He let himself fall on the floor and stared at his hands.
"I don't think that is the case for a single minute."
Robo turned around to find Lucca staring at him. The metal giant could sense the heat of muscle and flesh, but that only reminded him of what had been said. He sunk, turning away from the young woman who seemed tired. He looked at his hand and felt a deep sense of fear and sadness, "What if I cannot make that choice when the time comes? What if I can only do what I have been told? What if I have no heart and no soul?"
He felt a hand fall on his shoulder. He turned around and felt arms reach around him as far as they could. "I don't know for sure, but I sure hope that you do. If you don't, how do I know if I have one?"
"Thank you, Miss Lucca." Robo said quietly.
She frowned, "Hey! You know what I told you about calling me, 'Miss'."
"Well," Robo said in a voice that feigned cheerfulness, "you told me I can do whatever I want."
"In a round-about way…" Lucca complained, taking the lead.
"Interesting…These are fears and concerns I have never seen before…" Magus said this as he looked upon the symbol on the floor. "But it is still not enough."
Marle had found herself in a different part of the castle. She somehow wandered out of the tombs and was exploring the west wing, which seemed to be an educational area of the castle. There were rooms full of bookcases, each one stacked to the brim with ancient tomes and musty pages. She had to giggle just a little, thinking of Lucca and how she would react at that moment. She remembered Lucca's home with her books stacked near to the ceiling, some stained with oil. As we can surmise, Marle was the kind of person who could let her mind wander, and she found herself imagining her massive library at home…
…At least, it was her home.
She sighed as she walked into a room of the castle, where it was more furnished than other places. A large stained glass window made the whole of one wall while tall bookshelves flanked each side. She let her hand go over the spines of the books, seeing that her fingers left their traces in the dust that covered them. She sighed wistfully as she thought of home and how she would just think about what lay in the books in her library, yet never read them. As she thought of that, she also thought of her younger days when her mother and father encouraged her to study. She looked at the dusty books, thinking about what she could have been like had she been more diligent.
"What would I be like if I just did everything that was expected of me?" She wondered.
It was at that moment that a flash of lightning illuminated the night sky, causing the stained-glass window to scatter its rainbow-like hues all about the room. However, a bright light came from out of Marle's eye which did not come from the window. She turned and saw a simple floor-length mirror against the wall. She could already tell that the light from the window came from the mirror, and for some reason she wanted to look at it. Maybe it was her wistfulness that caused her to approach the mirror, or mayhaps it was the inherent vanity of her station which she tried so adamantly to cast aside, or maybe it is the nature of every woman to care about their own appearance. Whatever the reason, she stood in front of the mirror to view herself.
It could have been the wane light, or the fact that it had been a difficult journey, but she saw herself as filthy. Her clothes, which were once the purest white, were almost gray in certain spots. Her elbows, whose tone used to match the rest of her, seemed calloused and darker. Her radiant blue eyes seemed bloodshot and puffy. Her clothes seemed baggy from the weight she lost. Did she really look so haggard and soiled? She looked down at herself and saw that her clothes, although not a purely white as they once were, were nothing like the image she had seen. She looked up at the mirror to double-check and gasped at what she saw.
The world within the mirror was a much brighter one than the world she was in. The mirror seemed to emit a warm, comforting light as she viewed herself. A beautiful woman looked back at her; imperious, intelligent, and graceful were her characteristics. Her shape was healthy and her skin was creamy and soft. Her blonde hair glistened with a healthy shine while a diamond-studded tiara rested on head. The woman in the mirror wore a dress that caused Marle to lose her breath at the sight of its exquisiteness; it came down to the floor and was made from intricate lace and the softest fabrics. Even her nails were finely groomed and were nothing like the dirty nails Marle had. The woman in the mirror smiled; but it was a condescending smile. It was a smile that made Marle grimace and wish she could not be seen by this model of femininity and nobility.
"Why do you shirk, dear daughter? Are you not happy with the path you have chosen?"
Marle spun on her heels, her hand reaching for the crossbow that rested on her back. The hand instantly stopped and went to her lips. Standing before her was her father, the king of Guardia. "Father…" she whispered. She moved as if she were going to embrace him, but stopped herself as she looked at him. She could see that the man in front of her expected her to do the same, for his arms were stretched out wide. When she did not move forward, the man relaxed his arms and sighed dejectedly.
"I thought you have finally understood…but I was wrong."
Marle shook her head, "You cannot be my father…It isn't possible."
The figure walked over to an armchair and sat in it, always watching Marle with those constantly searching eyes; just like her father. Even its mannerisms were so much like her father it was frightening; it would sigh, scratch its beard, and study her intensely as if he were a lawyer looking for some weakness. It was something that Marle had never liked, and it was something her father always did. He spoke in a gentle voice that still had the tone of accusation, "In a way, that is true…You have said that I am no longer your father, nor is your mother your mother."
Not much has been spoken of concerning Marle's mother, but that was only because it was a sacred thing for her to discuss. Her mother, having died while she was at a young, tender age, was nothing short of an angel in Marle's recollection. Therefore, saying that she would denounce her own mother caused her icy blue eyes to flare. "You know I haven't said such a disrespectful thing about Mom. Don't you even begin to say such things!"
The king scoffed, "You do not have to verbally denounce someone to distance yourself from them…Look in that mirror again…"
Marle, who was biting her lip in annoyance, turned to the mirror and saw that her reflection slowly changed into what she remembered her mother to be. She was almost the exact image of the illusion of Marle from earlier, save for a few lines that showed her older age. She was a very beautiful woman, whose smile was so warm and inviting it touched Marle to the soul. Her hand instinctively reached out to the mirror, touching the image on its cheek. Her mother smiled and bowed her head as if she relished the contact and then she gradually changed into the grubby image Marle had seen earlier.
Marle turned to see that her father was standing in front of the stained-glass window, acting as if he were staring past it. "A man once said that imitation is the highest form of flattery…I wonder how your mother must feel, seeing that her daughter turned out to be nothing like her."
Marle growled, "You are sick…do you know that?"
"Why?" The king asked, sounding as if he was ignorant of any wrong committed, "Am I wrong when I say you are nothing like your mother?"
"Yes," Marle said nastily, "you are dead wrong!"
"Ah," said the king, raising a hand as if he were in the process of an epiphany, "let's examine that claim, shall we?"
"Yeah," Marle spat back, "let's go ahead and examine it!"
The king chuckled softly as if he were excited by this new game. "Your mother was very dedicated to her studies. You have heard your teachers say so, haven't you? Why, even some of the schools you went to had instructors who remembered your mother…"
"What does this have to do with anything?" Marle said impatiently.
"Don't be so naïve; you know exactly what I am talking about. What have your teachers said concerning you? Were you dedicated like your mother?"
"I did well in several…"
"You did well in the classes you favored, but in all of them, how did you fare? You did poorly, correct?" Marle said nothing as the king went on. "Also," said the king, who was amusing himself, "your mother was the epitome of obedience…Always exact in how she did things. She would never run away from her duties. She would constantly attend meetings as all nobility did, even before we were married." The king then turned and with great nastiness said, "Have you ever attended a single meeting? And if you did, was it of your own will or was it because I dragged you?"
Marle was silent.
"Although there are so many different things we can examine, I shall end it on this: pride and responsibility." It was at this point that the king seemed hesitant. He cleared his throat and said, "Your mother knew what she was and did not hide what she was from anyone. You cannot say that you have done the same. You were ashamed of were you came from…You were ashamed of the royal lineage that your own mother gave to you!"
"Liar!" Marle shouted, "I have never…" And then she stopped as she remembered one seemingly inconsequential thing. She had denied her lineage.
"That's right…" The king said sarcastically. "You lied to that peasant…But that is not all! All those times you ran away you denied everything that your mother birthed you into, you ungrateful wretch! You choose Crono's affection over where you came from: your family, your birthright, me…" There was a pause so poignant it almost made Marle forget that the man who stood before her was an imposter. "Also, your mother was very selfless," the king said, his voice beginning to break at these recollections. "She would always comfort me and hold me when I was weary. Even before she died she held me in her arms and told me that everything would be alright…And…it hurt her to even…lift herself up to me…but she did anyway." A few great tears rolled down his cheek and then he regarded Marle with an icy stare.
"And you?" He said, pointing that accusing finger at her, "What unselfish deed have you done?"
At this point, Marle straightened her back and with as much dignity she could muster she said, "I am going to save this world by destroying your master."
The king chuckled. Then it became consistent. Then it became an echoing laugh that rang throughout the wing. "Oh yes…leaving your shackles and duties behind to explore the world is very unselfish of you." He laughed again, trying his best to silence himself, "I mean, after all, it wasn't like you hated staying home and handling all those responsibilities you never accomplished! It wasn't like you had anything to gain from leaving home with that attractive young vagabond! Of course! You are a paragon of virtue! A living saint! How could I question such a giving creature?" The king bowed mockingly. "Oh, what a great and noble deed, saving the world…What greater excuse can there be to allow you to leave, fulfill all your lusts, and return as a filthy urchin and retain the throne!"
The crossbow was at the ready now and Marle's eyes narrowed, "Don't you dare say what I know you are going to say!"
"Isn't it true? You do love him, do you not?"
Marle's eyes faltered and the king grinned. "Of course you do…After all, you have chosen him over me…and let's face it…him over your mother."
"That's not true!"
"You know it is! You ran away from home before you even knew the world was in danger! You denounced your heritage to run off with that boy! Yet, you still want to say that you are your mother? You want to claim that you embody a singular characteristic inherited from her? You might as well pluck a star from the sky, for you are equally out of reach to do so!"
The crossbow twanged and the sound of metal slicing air ended with a loud thud. The arrow was only used to silence the king, seeing that it struck the bookshelves next to him. He turned to Marle with a wicked smile and said very softly that he must have touched a nerve. It was at that point that Marle said with renewed power, "I love my mother, and that is all I need to know. And although I have trouble saying it, there is something within me that still wants to love my father. My mother was a wonderful woman, but you don't know what I can be tomorrow let alone years from now! Why did I even allow myself to be tricked by you?"
"Because," the illusion said slyly, "you know it's partially true…You know that deep-down you are that selfish, weak brat that is good for nothing…and you will always be that way."
A tear stung Marle's cheek as she loaded her crossbow. "I disagree…goodbye." And with that she ended her tormentor.
She slid the crossbow over her back, letting out a whimper. Her tears were stopped as she heard the distant voices of Lucca and Robo. She looked at herself in the mirror and saw that she was not as dirty as she appeared earlier, but she still was nothing like the radiant vision which she saw. She sighed and vowed that she would fix things with her father whenever she could.
"Bah," Magus said under his breath, "a pain stronger than most men, but that barely made a difference…Regret and shame is not enough…"
Glenn stood face to face with his own demons. However, he already knew what they were and what their goal may be. That is why he wasted no time in dispatching them. His sword worked brilliantly, gracefully deflecting an arm reaching out to strike him or a heavy mace meant for his head. There was a part of him that enjoyed seeing what he was capable of; maybe even a part of him that enjoyed the power the Masamune had to offer.
"Clever devils!" Glenn gasped in sudden realization. Without a moments delay, he leapt with all his strength towards a wall. He jumped against the wall and landed on an iron chandelier, perching himself above his enemies. They all stood, wearing familiar faces from his past. In the thick crowd he could see the face of his masters, his friends, and those whom he held dear that passed away so long ago. They all looked up at him and spoke as one, "Why hast thou stayed thy hand? Enjoyest thou this vengeance?"
Glenn's hand gripped the chain which held the chandelier in the air, "'Tis foolish of thy masters to think that I would fall prey to such simplistic trickery! You know that I must stay worthy to wield the Masamune! Thou dost seek to enrage me!"
"Worthy?" They collectively asked, "How can a man be worthy if he is full of vengeance? Is vengeance naught but hate? How can a man be righteous, yet still hold evil in his heart?"
"Oh-ho!" Glenn shouted jovially, "The spawn of the wicked deride me and doth call me wicked! That is proof enough for me that I am chosen…"
"Barely a few days have past since you retained the sword, and you consider yourself above men? That thou canst be judged? That thou'rt above the law? Have you truly been so blinded by wrath?"
"I will not be lectured by the guilty!" Glenn restrained himself no longer and leapt into the fray. He leapt to the ground with so much power that it shook, causing the front line to stumble and fall over each other. Already, Glenn began to swing his blade, cutting a path through the moving barrier. As he did, the illusions continued to speak with him, finishing the words of whomever he slain. His sword cut through the form of an old knight who said, "Has it ever occurred to thee that even the chosen may become corrupted? A man who has been chosen for a pure heart can still become defiled." The illusion exploded into a cloud of white powder and another took its place. "Maybe thou dost believe that since thou hast been chosen, thou art justified in thy thirst for revenge…Or perhaps thou dost believe that thy murderous feelings are justified and you seek to murder us all… " The Masamune finally found the speaker and began hacking away at various personages again. "Only a few days ago thou wert wallowing in pity, but now thou believest that your soul is insurmountable…Even a mountain may crumble when enough time has past…Your wrath will bring us victory as you kill indiscriminately."
"Thy words mean nothing to me! You villains speak in vain!"
"Do you truly believe that we are the wicked ones? Who has come here, seeking out revenge with cold blood? Who slaughters those who are merely misled by your foe and believes himself to be innocent? What more may we do to show that thou art mad?"
"Silence!"
It was at this point that Glenn's eyes found a specter that held Robo's appearance. He let out a battle-cry and thrust his sword forward. The sword was pushed aside with surprising speed, but he could see that it scratched its surface. He focused his attack on the image, forgetting all around him. Each attack was parried and with each deflection he could hear something faint calling out to him. He ignored the voice and was about to deal another blow, but felt his arms being pulled back. He squirmed violently, trying to escape the grasp. He finally lay still when he felt something strike his face.
He opened his eyes and saw Marle, Lucca, and Robo standing over him. Their faces held a mixture of irritation and worry. Glenn shook his head and asked them what happened. He heard them mention that they saw him fighting several skeletons and while they assisted him he began to attack them. Something stung his chest deeply at that realization and he sat upright. He massaged his temple and retrieved his sword while breathing heavily. "I am sorry…it was an illusion…"
"Did I seem like a skeleton to you?" Robo asked, suspicion in his voice.
Glenn hung his head and looked at his sword. "I was carried away in the fight…I cannot adequately express my dismay for any injuries I have caused…"
Lucca spoke slowly and said, "Listen, Glenn…We are here to stop something Magus from doing something horrible and nothing more…You said that killing for revenge would be the death of us…If you can't control yourself, you must stay here."
Glenn sheathed his weapon, "I-I know…Forgive me…'Tis the rage of battle…I just forgot myself…"
"Can you go on?" Lucca asked.
"Yes…I can." Glenn said lamely.
"Good…Wrath has always been the prelude to destruction…But is it enough to wake you, I wonder?" Magus looked at the beastly statue and snarled. He could feel something dark stir within his chest and he smiled triumphantly. "Ah, I am close…"
It was very quiet where Crono trespassed. Even the howling gale and the pounding rain did little to disrupt the peaceful silence that surrounded him. He stood in a place that seemed to be an abandoned and neglected part of the castle. It almost seemed like an old church, except the doddering pews were shoved up against the walls and not line up in rows. There was even the occasional hymnal lying on the ground, which somewhat intrigued Crono. He would look at the pages which had come loose from the binding long ago and saw that several of the hymns were sung in war-faring tones. As he looked up at the rafters he asked himself how in the world he found himself in such a place.
And then he heard something…
His sword was out immediately. His muscles tensed and his brow crinkled as he peered into the darkest areas of the chapel. When he saw nothing he strained his ears further, hearing only the pitter-patter of the rain outside. He sighed and sheathed his sword. He began to walk toward an exit and was about to leave when he thought he saw something glow out of the corner of his eye. His eyebrow arched and his hand gripped the hilt again. He turned about-face and saw a door a few paces from him. It was slightly open, but not enough to see what was inside. All he could see was a healthy glow from behind the door that looked like sunlight.
"Hello? Is that you, Glenn?" When nobody responded he slowly unsheathed his sword and stepped toward the door. Keeping both hands firmly on the hilt, he used the tip of his boot and wrapped it around the opposite side of the door. Steeling himself against whatever could be behind the door, he finally swung it open with a shout.
His sword dropped to his side…
The grim décor of the castle had given way to warm woods and soft curtains. Night was no longer prevalent, and the sun shined through an open window. Crono, not even realizing it himself, tested to see how real this place seemed. A hand graced the breakfast table, the table holding indentions from forks. Crono smiled to himself as he saw a young boy pounding the handle of the eating utensils into the table while demanding breakfast. He also remembered a sweet woman opening curtains just like those so that she may better see the ocean. Already he could smell the salt of the ocean and the engrained stench of fresh bacon in the house. Suddenly, he shook his head vigorously and said to himself.
"This can't be home…" He uttered to himself.
"What was that, dear?"
Crono spun on his heels, forgetting to hold his sword at the ready. If this had been real it would have been a good thing, for his mother greeting him with one of her warm smiles. He stammered, fell back and gaped at her. When he did the illusion looked at him and caught him gently by the arm, "Honey, what's wrong? Are you okay?"
"Let go!" Crono said, jerking his arm away from her grip.
His heart instantly melted, for his mother looked at him with the deepest hurt. "Crono, what is wrong?" She asked, stretching out a hand toward him. "Did you have a bad dream?"
"What? How could I be dreaming?" He looked around, very confused. He swore that a door was there a few moments ago.
"You fell asleep at the table again," his mother continued, looking very reassured. "Don't scare me like that! I just saw you jump up for no reason!"
He could not shake this feeling and he knew that something was wrong. However, as he looked at his mother he found himself making excuses. "I guess I just had a nightmare…"
She smirked, tapping a wooden spoon against the table. "Well, that's what you get for going to that haunted house at the fair! Yeesh…I knew it would give you the creeps."
"The fair?" Crono blinked, feeling completely bewildered.
His mother's eyes went wide again and she leaned forward, taking his pulse and touching his forehead. Crono laughed, "Mom, what are you doing?"
"I am checking to see if you are delirious! What do you mean, 'the fair'? You have been looking forward to it for so long! Not to mention the fact that Lucca nearly beat you to death for showing up late at her unveiling! I am checking to see if you are delirious!"
Crono, thinking somewhere in his mind, felt that this seemed so familiar. He looked at his mother and gently put her hands at her side. "Hey, it's okay. I'm fine."
"Are you really?"
"Really…I'm okay…" He laughed and let out a sigh. "I guess I just had a really, really…really intense dream."
"It must be some dream." His mother said, her hand falling on her hips. "Well, I woke you up because you're going to be late! Lucca told me that they are waiting at the beach."
"They?" Crono asked.
She rolled her eyes and said with a diminutive smile, "Okay…Now I know that you are just messing with me! Hurry up! I'm not going to hold myself responsible if you get slapped with a wrench!"
As he walked out the door (which led to the outside world and not to that grimy, twisted world) he could not shake what this strange feeling was. He looked at his surroundings, patting his chest to make sure that he was, in fact, real. He passed the test, but did the surroundings? He went up to a tree and touched the face of it, feeling its bark on his fingertips. Even still, that did not assuage his mind. There was far too much to that dream for it to be unreal. He could vaguely remember something about time, but that began to slip away from him and he found himself humming sweetly as he walked to the beach.
Author's note: I wanted to have the Magus battle in here, but the chapter was getting very long. Besides, Crono is my favorite insomuch that I think his history should have its own brief chapter. The chapter after that will be the battle. Even then, I know some of you might not like waiting for another month for it…I'm not as consistent as I used to be. That is why I am going to put these chapters up all at once! That also explains my very long absence!...Hopefully. :D