Chrono Trigger

Revelations and Actions; a chapter in which the party prepares for their attempt to dismantle the Mammon machine and to address their inner struggles…

They were no longer the focus of inquisitive eyes; instead they were like a priority that had momentarily been cast aside. Although the great hall was no longer full like it was earlier, it was still bustling with activity as the spies and informers for the gurus moved about with a hurried pace. Evidently, the plan that could possibly free Zeal Kingdom has caused quite a stir and everyone acted with great purpose. The heavy dread that hung in the air, the rising fear that had to be pushed down like vomit, the utter importance to detail; they all reminded Crono of the wait before the battle at Zenan Bridge. Evidently, the rest of the party must have felt the same sensation because they began suggesting things to do to kill the time. They began to ask questions and wondered why some things were the way they were in this place.

"How is it that the gurus know who we are, but then have never met us when we have met them before?" Marle wondered.

Robo thought for a second and said, "I suppose that the only logical conclusion we can draw upon is that we have met their future selves."

"If that is true, I wonder how they get to the time where (or when) we have met them." Crono said, his head bowed.

Lucca's palpable silence continued as she sat with chin in hand, her eyes glazing over. A light touch on the shoulder caused her to slightly jump in place. Crono whispered something to her, but she shook her head in reply. Robo, with his astounding powers of observation, could see that he asked if Lucca were upset about anything. He also could tell that she was lying.

Marle fiddled with her pendant, her eyes darting toward Crono and Lucca. "Well, perhaps we should make good on the advice that Balthazar gave us."

Crono noticed Marle's lingering eyes and felt a sense of jealousy from her. He put a little distance between himself and Lucca before he spoke further. "I think you are right. We should all go our separate ways and see what we can find out."

Glenn wandered the halls of the underground bunker, looking for anyone who wasn't busy with preparations. Now that he had time to rest, his heart began to be troubled. He recalled the prophesy that the young boy had made earlier and it sent a shiver down his spine. He quickly began restless as he recalled the stories about how the boy had predicted death before. After some thought he wished to discover all he could about this boy. And after all, who would know him better than his own sister?

However, that was not the only reason why he wished to talk to the young woman. There was something familiar about her or at least something captivating about her beauty. His heart beat a little faster as he pictured her and he realized that it was in his youth that he felt these stirrings. It was, of course, faint in comparison to what he had felt in his youth but knowing that he could still feel such things was a comfort in its self. He shook his head and sighed a requiem for that love which had been extinguished so long ago. After all, the man who had cost him his chance at normal life was dead and there was no more reason to bemoan his fate.

"Sir Glenn?"

Glenn spun about, his eyes widened in surprise despite the fact that Schala had called him so gently. He bowed his head in respect, noting with some nostalgia that it was not the first time he paid respects to royalty that did not lord over him. "Lady Schala, 'tis a fine coincidence that thou hast sought me out. If it pleaseth thee, I have many inquiries that doth cause my mind unrest."

She giggled at his manner and soft speech, "Yes. The men here have told me as much. Shall we walk?"

They strolled down the corridor, with Glenn stealing an occasional glance at her. There were so many things that she did that his first love had done. She even walked like a refined lady with her hands clasped in front of her, her back straight and her head held aloft. There was a certain poise that she held which came from being raised in nobility. It was unlike Marle who cast it aside; there was a certain pride and regard for her mannerisms that made it so endearing. It brought back bittersweet memories of his childhood and he had to shake them loose whenever they came into view. After all, this was not Eliza and that opportunity was long gone. "So, what do you need to know?" Her soft voice called Glenn back into the present.

Thankful for an invitation to speak, Glenn began. "Forgive my doubt if it strikes thee as a suspicious tone, but why art thou against thy mother? It strikes me as odd that you risk so much."

Schala thought his words over in her head and nodded slowly as if she signaled understanding and not offense. "It is strange, I know."

"So...?" Glenn beckoned.

"I do not know any other way to say it better than this: it was my brother." Schala looked up as if she were searching fond memories.

She took a seat and beckoned for Glenn to rest next to her. She began her story, her eyes never deviating from Glenn's out of repulsion or fear. If only Eliza had been able to do so. Unfortunately, to be so accepting of such a horrible deformity were gifts that only this woman and Crono had shown. "There is no easy way to say this, but my brother is a great threat to the work of immortality that my mother wishes to carry out. It was my brother before the gurus who began to prophesy. My mother and father were excited at first, but that was to be short-lived. It took no time at all for Janus to see visions of the judgment that will befall our kingdom. I was only a little girl then who begged him to stop. I cried myself to sleep during that time, not knowing what would happen to my brother. There was a sense of relief when the gurus heeded his warnings, and I thought that he would be safe. However, with the coming of this new prophet my mother was able to replace the three gurus and cast them out. They loved my brother and protected him. He loved them as well. He told me that it almost felt as if he had three fathers. When they were driven into hiding he cried for days. When Melchior was captured and taken away I thought he would die from sadness. I wanted to bring him down here so many times and show him that the other two were well, but the gurus told me that would only endanger us all."

Glenn took a guess at what she meant, "So, thou doth revolt against thy mother for the sake of thy brother? Thou knowest naught what will befall him if the kingdom continues on this road..."

Schala nodded. "It started out so small; the punishments were so slight at first. My mother thought to put him away privily. Now she threatens him and I do not know how capable she is of doing such things."

"Miss Schala, pardon my abrupt change in conversation, but I must speak unto thee about his ability to prophesy...Be he accurate?"

She looked at him, her eyes searching for any trace of why he would ask such a thing. Her eyes fell from his and looked down at her lap as if she had seen the reason, "Yes...they are."

A sinking feeling hit Glenn and he almost staggered even as he sat. He shook his head clear and said, more to himself than to Schala, "Then what am I to do?"

Glenn nearly jumped out of his skin as Schala put a dainty hand on his shoulder. She smiled and said, "Death is nothing to fear as long as you are spiritually prepared."

"I believe thy words for they are mine as well...but it is not my own death I fear..." Glenn stood at this point and bowed respectfully. "I thank thee for the time thou hast given me. I must make other preparations."

"Very well. I only hope I have not troubled you."

Glenn looked at her face and thought of Eliza once again and he felt that same longing from years ago. "No, thou hast troubled me none."

Glenn walked away, surprised at how easily that lie came out.

The people of this kingdom were fairly perceptive. As he inquired further, Robo discovered that people in this kingdom had been taught to sense inner-strength and were thereby able to determine those who could use magic and those who could not. However, one thing that confused him was that no person had realized that he was a machine. People passed him by without as much as a second glance, almost as if they suspected him to be an ordinary man within a suit of armor. There was something pleasing about that to him, but it confused him all the same. Why were these people unable to see what he was? That was not the answer he actively sought, but it would be the one he would learn.

After inquiring of all the people who made their homes here, Robo stood and watched the people roam about the hall. It was interesting for him to watch people interact with each other, using emotions that he could never truly experience. "After all" he would say to himself, "they are only programs that enable me to simulate human behavior so that I may better interact with them." However, there was something distressing to him in that logic and he did not wish to think of it.

"You are not human, are you?"

Robo did not need to turn and face Doreen to know it was her. He could already sense her nearby without looking. However, the question was odd to him. He turned to face her and said in a tone that implied humor, "Isn't it obvious, Madam Doreen?"

Her answer was surprising, "No. It is not."

Robo was intrigued, but more than that he felt a bit of pride within himself. Maybe it was because it seemed like progress to him or maybe he felt pride in his programming. No matter the case, he wanted to know why. "I know that elementals are observant by nature. They sense things so deeply that it is beyond human comprehension. Why would you think that I was human?"

"Because you act like they do and think like they do...you are more like one of us...but you are human as well."

"I am made to act like they do. It doesn't mean that I am like them."

"Odd...you even lie to yourself like they do."

Robo felt a strange surge and responded heatedly, "I don't understand what is so difficult about this. I act like them and that is all. I am only a copy of a man. If I can't even be them, so how can I be at all like an elemental?"

Doreen raised her eyebrow, "Do you mean to imply that elementals are more advanced than humans?"

"Of course you are. You survive for centuries, you control the elements, and you are wiser and stronger."

Doreen giggled and Robo suddenly felt like he remembered this behavior before as she floated upside down in the air, circling around him. "You even hold the same misconceptions as they do!"

"Ah, you are like that bothersome Nu or those two strange wind creatures..."

Doreen paused, her head tilting as she inquired "wind creatures?"

"They called themselves Masa and Mune..."

Doreen laughed, "It was Masa who greeted you when you came here! They are my brothers!"

Robo would have smiled if he had the jaws or teeth to do so, "Surely you must be joking...How is that even possible? That would mean that you have...no, that couldn't be the answer..."

"You are even clueless like them!" Doreen said, breaking out in loud guffaws.

"You see that?" Robo said with a pointed finger, "How can you call them such things and then say that you are not above them?"

At this Doreen grew somber. She put her hands behind her back and righted herself on the ground. "We are merely manifestations of the elements...yes, we have great power, but we are not free like humans. We obey the laws of the world and we are subject to them and to Him that created us. We only know so much because we have existed since the creation of the world and we fully comprehend our place in it. Humanity's greatest gift is that they may choose what they wish and shape their own destiny. While I cannot defy the natural laws of the world, man can live as they wish. They can fulfill their own whims and even more so, they have a destiny that I can only dream of...and I hope that one day I may have a chance to be human or even a mystic so that I may receive that destiny...but it won't be in this world or in its life. You see, we are not here to lord over them...we are here to serve them...We are gifts given to them so that we are to be used as they see fit..."

"I don't understand..." Robo said simply.

"Of course not...it is not your place to understand my role. Your place is to live and do what is right and realize your destiny...just like the rest of humanity."

"But I am not human." Robo said. "The fact that I cannot use magic is proof enough."

"Is that all?" Doreen asked, her smile returning once again. She stretched out a hand and conjured a gust of wind that moved about the palm of her hand. "All it takes is knowledge and faith in what you learned to do anything...What makes you think that humans are any different from you? Because you are made from metal? Do you really think that just because you see things differently or experience them differently means that you have no soul?"

Robo said nothing.

"You cannot use magic because you have no faith in yourself. If you believe you never can, you never will. I'm surprised you didn't know that..."

Robo laughed, "If I had a brain it would be hurting right now..."

Doreen laughed as well. She smiled warmly and said, "If you honestly do not see yourself as human, at least believe that you are an elemental and protect them...All things have a purpose and a knowledge of their roles: the birds in the sky, the grass of the field, even the dust of the earth...find yours and I promise that you will find your soul...or at least realize that it had been there all along."

As Doreen floated away Robo tapped himself on his helm. "Now I can see why humans don't like talking to elementals..." Even then, he felt something very much like hope and happiness swell inside him.

Lucca had been very distraught since the Mammon machine had been mentioned. Actually, what had caused her mind so much unrest was the explanation of how it was powered. It made her think very carefully about a discovery that made her ecstatic at the idea of scientific progress: UGEE.

Did all UGEE come from Lavos? Was that his power she had been using?

The thought of it horrified her. What if the very things she had developed, the very inventions that she would make, were in fact powered by that evil...thing? How many nights had she spent working on its properties with child-like glee? How often did she gaze at that cackling source of power and grin with a head full of dreams? More and more thoughts streamed into her head and each one was more crushing than the last. Had she relished in the power of that demon who would destroy their world? How much of an impact did she have on military development in her time and in the future? After all, they stole her design for the dragon tank. What if she had made more and more advances in technology until the Guardian research department had no choice but to employ their family? What if the inventions that stormed Lavos during his attack all failed because they were powered by him? What if instead of being the greatest inventor of all time, she was responsible for the death of millions or even billions?

That last thought did it. She did not cry nor did she react in a strange manner, other than collapsing on a nearby chair. She had never felt so drained, or so worthless. She wanted to do nothing at that point. All of her dreams, her expectations, her loves, her ambitions, all that was not flesh and bone which she held dear, came from that monster. She shook her head and tried to deny it, but it kept coming back to her and it all made sense. What had she done?

"Madam? Does something trouble you?"

Lucca looked up and her eyes narrowed. It was that loony fool, Balthazar. "The name is Lucca..." She shot back angrily, "I'm not an old lady, you know. I'm not an old decrepit fart like you, anyway."

His eyes widened in surprise. He stammered for a moment before becoming quiet. Had Lucca taken a moment to think about it, this was not the man who endangered the life of her friend. This was not the man who forced mundane labor on them. Instead, this was a man who had not yet been exposed to a world devoid of light and hope. This was a man who was revered and loved for his kindness and gentleness. We may rest assured knowing that these qualities did not fail him even now as he shook off these words and took a seat next to Lucca who groaned within herself. He rested his hands atop his cane and looked toward Lucca while nodding encouragingly with his head, "There is nothing wrong with being old. You'll get there too, someday." He gave Lucca a smile, which she refused harshly by turning away.

"Just go away." Lucca said, her cheeks blushing as she could feel tears build around her eyelids.

Balthazar wordlessly obeyed. Lucca could hear the tapping of his cane against the floor, but it stopped as he turned about and said, "You bear the weight of someone who feels regret..."

Lucca said nothing as she successfully steeled herself against a sob. She mentally wished Balthazar away, but he did not budge.

Balthazar bowed his head in shame, "I have known much regret in my life...But I remember the words that the prince told me once: 'With time, work and faith you may work away all your sins and regrets.'"

Lucca brushed her eye and looked down at her wringing hands. She did not look him in the eye and motioned for him to sit down. He wordlessly obeyed and took a seat next her, his hands resting atop his cane again. Lucca's lips opened once or twice until she found the words she wanted to say, "I think I always knew what I had been doing was wrong. It's just that I wanted it to be nothing but a nagging doubt. But it is true...what I have been doing all this time was creating a monster." Lucca shook her head and brushed her eye again. "I have wasted so much of my life dedicated to one thing and it turns out to be..." Lucca choked on her words and stopped for a moment to get a hold of her feelings. "...a waste."

"Experience gained is never a waste." Balthazar said.

Lucca felt annoyed at such a lackadaisical comment. "Is that the best advice you have for me? I mean, aren't you some kind of prophet or something? Why can't you just tell me the right thing to do?"

Balthazar nodded sympathetically and his right hand stroked his chin as he thought. "Nobody was there to tell me the right thing to do. The day Janus prophesied to us I felt horror like I have never felt before. I felt the weight of the entire world bearing down on me and the weight of my decisions. Perhaps I knew what I was doing was wrong. Maybe I didn't know completely. The point is, I learned to admit that I was wrong. It took the prophesy of a young boy to bring it to fruition, but my soul could bear it no longer and it humbled me...just like it has done for you."

"Ugh...this is the same thing I go through every single time with any of you...'blah, blah, vague suggestion here...blah, blah, vague suggestion there..."

Balthazar laughed, "It seems like you could use a little more humility. Perhaps I think myself wise and I show it by philosophizing...perhaps I need to humble myself on that front..." Lucca chuckled and looked down at her knees. Balthazar spoke again, saying, "Old farts like us like to sound intelligent, but if you want my straight advice it is this: I can feel it in your heart that you are a good person. You feel true sorrow over whatever it is that you have done. Let that guilt guide you in making things right. Work to erase that guilt and work for your repentance...and above all, forgive yourself and let that pain go when the time comes."

Lucca thought on that for a second and nodded. "You know what? I can't believe I am saying this, but you are right! There must be better of sources of power that UGEE out there and I'll find it!"

"UGEE?" Balthazar said, his eyebrow raising.

"Oh," Lucca said with a wave of her hand whilst laughing, "it's a long story. But, thank you for your advice. I really do feel a bit better."

"Good." Balthazar said while rising to his feet with a grunt. He went a short distance before he stopped and said, "Lucca?"

She raised her head. "Yes?"

It seemed as if he hesitated before saying, "The things I have said concerning forgiveness to yourself?"

"Yes...what about it?" Lucca said, her head tilting.

"That applies to the situation with your mother as well...let it go."

Lucca felt a chill run down her spine as Balthazar gave her a wry smile. He looked down the hall and walked away, leaving Lucca alone with her thoughts. Memories of the past filled her mind and she felt that same feeling of hopelessness and shame once more. She would have cursed Balthazar for mentioning it had she not realized that she never mentioned the situation regarding her mother to anyone save for Crono. He had given her the same advice many times, but something about this was unsettling and frightening. It would take some time to get that out of her mind and when she did it was a blissful reprieve. Yes, it was contrary to what she had just learned but perhaps she was not ready to face that problem yet. However, she was ready to face this one. Already her mind recalled different technologies that she had read about in her scientific journals. Oh yes, she would still be the mad genius she always wanted to be.

Ayla was intrigued by this strange and wonderful world she was in. After wondering the halls of this secret place she realized that she did not have the time before to appreciate and examine the world in which she found herself. Perhaps upon first glance she seemed to be the impulsive type, which was true, but that did not mean she had no ponderous nature. She let her fingers glide across the smooth marble walls and she wondered how these things were made. As she did, a feeling of uselessness bit at her. She scoffed at herself and knew full well that she was in no way useless, but then realized that it was more of a homesickness she felt.

She looked at something as simple as a stone wall that had been fashioned by human hands and she felt lost. The worlds she had seen since she joined this party seemed so strange and foreign. Everything here was a wonder to her and she almost felt stupid for not even knowing the function of some of the more basic things she saw. Even though these things were beautiful, she longed for the simplicity of her village. She longed for that position where she felt as if she knew everything and everyone counted on her. In full truth, she did not even know what she should ask about or discover for behalf of her traveling companions. Chances are she wouldn't be able to understand it.

"Hello Ayla."

Ayla turned about and was face to face with Crono who greeted her with a broad smile. She smiled back and twirled her golden locks around her finger. "Crono, where you going?" She asked.

Crono hummed in thought but took a seat as he said, "Actually, I have been looking for one of the gurus but I think I'll rest a moment."

Ayla joined him without another word and found that she had sat right next him. She blushed as she realized the closeness and put a little space between them. There was a moment of silence that was strangely awkward to Ayla, yet it did not affect Crono in any way. She twiddled her thumbs and found her mind racing for things to say to end the silence that for some reason made her nervous. She forced a smile to her lips and said, "So, are you scared about what we are to do?"

Crono's shoulders slumped as he said, "Yeah...I won't lie. I'm a little worried. Especially with what that kid said. That was what I wanted to talk to the gurus about."

Ayla suddenly felt a glow of importance within her and she said with conviction, "There is no need to worry, Crono. I am strong! Nothing can happen to you. I would never let anything happen to you. I will protect you and fight for you!"

She finished that with such rambunctiousness that she had not realized what she had said. She shrunk into herself and those words kept recalling themselves in her mind. Not to mention that she butchered the translation of what she wanted to say through her speech. She mentally kicked herself for saying something so ridiculously inane and promised that she would not let her emotions get the best of her again. But when Crono smiled broadly at her, and not forcefully like she expected, she felt something warm and fluttery in her chest. She sucked on her bottom lip as the awkwardness which had never plagued her before returned again. Crono had noticed this and took it as a sign that she was almost done talking. He gave her a squeeze on the shoulder and excused himself. She watched him as he walked away, her hand gingerly brushing where he had gripped her.

She never felt this way when she proposed marriage to him before. Why in the world did she feel this way now?

Was this how she made Kino feel?

"Grabe, bugoy ako..." Ayla muttered to herself as she rose and went down the opposing corridor.

Marle had been keeping herself busy. Unlike the others, she found that not focusing on her problems helped her forget about them. She could feel the slight sting of a rejection that was not even there. All she would have to do to feel it was stop and imagine Crono putting a hand to Lucca's back. Marle scoffed at herself for being so petty and jealous, but the worry stuck with her relentlessly. It harassed her every thought and it seemed like busying herself was the only antidote for her troubles. However, perhaps it was the wisdom from something greater that pushed her along, for she had done enough questioning and thinking that she was confident she knew what to do in any situation should the plan fail.

"Marle?"

Marle looked up from a map that she had obtained of the palace. She could feel a certain hostility fill her breast as she saw the plaintive form of Crono. However, her eyes did soften as she realized that something did not seem right. They narrowed for a brief moment once again as she shook off her concern. She waved a hand in the air dismissively and said, "I'm sorry, but I'm a little stressed out right now and I have a lot to commit to memory. Just come back later."

Crono thrust his hands into his pockets and looked to the floor. He wordlessly nodded and began to turn about to leave. Marle gave out an exasperated sigh and said, "Alright, you are already making feel guilty. What is it?"

"Can I talk to you about something?" Crono began gently.

"We already are." Marle said with an impatient smile that hid the nervousness and indignation inside her.

Crono raised an eyebrow as he realized, "You are mad at me, aren't you?"

Marle moved her lips to say something, but what came out first was, "What makes you think I'm mad at you? What would I be mad at you about?"

Crono looked to the ground, his hands still in his pockets, "I'm not sure what I have done to upset you, but I know that something isn't right between us at the moment."

Marle pursed her lips as if she were thinking and said flippantly, "No, can't think of a single thing. Why don't you go check up on Lucca and see how she's feeling?"

Crono had seen it correctly. He could feel the menace in her last statement and deduced what had clouded her mind. However, this was the perfect moment and he said calmly, "This is something I've been meaning to talk to you about for a long time. I just couldn't find the right moment to do it."

Marle looked up from her work and observed Crono. He looked hopeful, his body learning toward her as if all he needed was her word to get closer. Instead, she asked "What's so secret that you can't even talk to your best friend about it? Why talk about it to me?"

Crono looked at her as if he were pleading, "Marle, please, this isn't easy for me."

Marle sighed, scooted over on her chair and gestured to the seat next to her. Crono took it slowly, his eyes fixed on Marle in an almost disconcerting way. Those eyes did not fix on her the same way they did in the snowy wastelands in the world below, but gazed at her as if there was a well of fear behind them. Anxiety quickly replaced her anger as she looked at him and said, "Crono, what is wrong? Why do you seem so upset?"

Crono began immediately, almost as if he couldn't think of anything else to start it with. There was no bracing her and this seemed very unlike Crono. His hands clenched his knees and he did not look at Marle as he spoke. "I remember I was eight at the time. I was so happy to hear that I was going to have a younger brother or sister." Marle could feel the blood leave her face as she realized what she was about to hear. Crono smiled despite his voice which already began to tremble. "It was the first time in a long time that my dad stopped drinking and yelling at my mom. He was still horrible and thoughtless, but things were getting better. He used to hit me sometimes when he was angry, but he suddenly did it less and less. I think the idea that he was about to have another kid sobered him for a while." Crono chuckled mirthlessly at that and continued. "I would walk with Lucca and talk to her about what the name for the baby would be and we were so excited. Just like back then, I still wonder what she would have looked like."

Crono put his face into his hands as if he were exhausted and about to break down. Marle felt the pangs of guilt for having pressured him to say these things before as she saw what an effect the story had on him. She put a hand on his shoulder and said, "Crono, you can stop. Please, you don't need to tell me this."

"No." Crono said resolutely. "I do need to tell you this and you will understand why. Please. Let me finish." Marle took her hand off his shoulder and nodded encouragingly. Crono shivered as if he were taking a bitter swig of medicine and went on, "My father was very unfaithful. It wasn't a secret to anyone except those who needed to know it. He was truly the worst sort of man who did whatever he wanted. One day my mother found out and she threatened to leave him. I think that was when he tried to do better. I think that was the reason why they decided to have another child. Maybe he wanted to prove himself and start over. For awhile, it worked. He never paid attention to me, but he was good to my mother and that was all I wanted. Also, I was so happy that I was going to be a brother that I didn't care if my father didn't pay attention to me. Even before the baby was born I knew it was going to be a girl. I had dreamt about it." Crono brushed a tear away from his cheek and gave a trembly smile, "I was so excited I even dreamt about it. That had never happened to me since...then." His face grew somber as his mind raced against his emotions so that he could finish his story. He wringed his hands as he spoke, "I was worried, as was everyone else, that my dad would go back to what he had done before. But I knew him...I knew people like him...I knew he would go back to what he did before. It started off slow...he would come home late, start being rude to my mother...but then he started drinking in the open and would threaten to hit my mother if she said anything. Then he started hitting me again."

"Then what happened?" Marle asked, her knees pointing toward Crono, her shoulders hunched as she leaned forward.

"I'll never forget that night...It was only that morning that she was able to act like she was happy for my sake. Elly was very close to being born...mom was about eight months along at the time. We had been talking about what to name my sister for weeks and I had finally talked her into choosing 'Elly'. I knew she liked the name, but she still played with me a little bit." Crono laughed weakly, "She would give out ridiculous sounding names like they were threats and I pleaded with her every time not to give that name to my little sister. She told me that Elly would be a fine name if I tended to the garden while she went to the market. I did what she asked and it was about dusk when she came back home. I still remember the look on her face when she came back...It was like stone. I could see there was something wrong but she wouldn't tell me what bothered her. She only told me to go inside the house and pack whatever I could and that we were going to stay at Lucca's for a while. I was confused and I didn't understand what was going on, but I did what she said. Later on, when I was older, she told me that she had been walking around the market and people had been talking about what my dad had been doing. He had been cheating on her again. It broke my mother's heart. That was what I felt when I saw her. That night she was going to leave him, and for good this time."

Crono breathed in deep as if he were steeling himself against something insurmountable. "We were packed and ready to go, but as we were about to leave the house, that damned son of a bitch came back." Crono seethed this with so much venom that Marle felt her heart sink. "She didn't count on him being home so soon. He must've heard that she knew about what he had done. He tried to talk to her, but she kept trying to go past him. I remember he didn't hit her at first. He grabbed her arm so tightly she would wince, and he would shake mom by her arms as he yelled at her to stay. She yelled back and tried to leave, but she got tired of getting grabbed. I don't think she realized what she was doing. She was so scared and angry. She slapped him, and that was when he lost it." Crono tried to continue as his throat tightened and his eyes brimmed with tears. "He pushed her down and started throwing everything around the house. He threw the dinner table over and started breaking glasses. He told my mom to stay but she still said that she was leaving. Then he began to hit her. I was screaming at him to stop and I threw myself on him. I could smell the alcohol on his breath when he turned to face me. He threw me against the wall and then turned back to my mother. He kept hitting her until she was on her side. I began to panic when I saw my mother covering her belly. It was like I knew even then what would happen. He began kicking her in the stomach..." Crono stopped and rubbed his eyes, allowing a single sob to leave him. Marle put her hand on his shoulder, her own eyes filling with tears.

Crono continued, his head hung low. "It was a miscarriage. Elly passed away the next day."

"Oh Crono..."

He stopped her. "That is not all. There is more too it. My father knew what he done once he did it. He stopped and stumbled back like the damnable drunkard he was. He ran away and I did not see him again until the day he was executed. I remember that day, seeing the look in his eyes as he recognized me. He was not charged for beating me or my mother. Nobody knew at that time about his involvement with us. He was hunted down because he became a murderer and a thief. The reason why he was executed for treason was because he killed a knight who tried to apprehend him. I was thirteen when I heard the news. My mother tried to keep me from going, but I managed to sneak out. I remember the crowd of people who gathered there to witness his hanging. Nobody said a word as they eyed him with disgust. I looked at him and he was nothing like I remembered. He looked wild, dark, crazy, and disheveled. However, I know that he saw me in the crowd. His eyes went and his mouth opened almost as if he wanted to call out to me. He said nothing and then turned away when I began to scream for his hanging. The crowd began to join me and they got their wish. My father was hung and I will never forget the strange feelings I felt at that moment."

"What did you feel?" Marle asked, almost too scared to want to know the answer.

Crono sighed, "I wish that I could say that I didn't feel some happiness. When I saw his eyes go wide with fright I felt a great vindication. I thought of the look in my mother's eyes when he killed Elly and I knew he was feeling the same horrifying thing. I felt as if everything was right with the world...but then I remembered as I walked home that he had that same look of horror on his face when he killed Elly. He only realized it too late. And then I realized that I let her die too..."

"Crono!" Marle almost yelled in shock. She gripped his shoulder tight. "You are not at all responsible for what happened!"

"But I am." Crono said, his eyes briefly looking at Marle's. He said this with a disturbing certainty, as if nothing would ever convince him otherwise. "That night when my dad began hitting my mom, I knew that he would start kicking her. That is what he did to me whenever I fell to the ground. I remember that he had his back to me. I saw a knife on the floor and remembered all those times I watched cadets practice on dummies with their swords. I remembered how they would stab just a little above the hip and talk about how the pain kept you from moving as you died. Something in me kept on screaming to pick up the knife and do something...but I just couldn't do it. The window of opportunity was gone and then my dad began to kick my mom." Crono scoffed at himself, "Can you imagine how much of a coward I must be to not do anything to protect my mother and sister? But I have no problem watching my father while screaming for his death when he is bound...and...I'm so disgusting. Honestly, what do you see in me?"

Marle was taken aback. "What do you mean?"

"I am no better than my father...How could anyone like you care for me?"

"No!" Marle shouted. "Crono, you are the kindest and most wonderful man I have ever met! You are nothing like your father!"

"I hope so." Crono said softly. "I really do hope so, because what if I someday become like him? I can't bear the thought of doing anything like that to any of you."

Marle's hand rested on Crono's. "You never will, Crono. Please, don't ever think that of yourself. I love you."

There was a moment as if they had both felt a great shock go through them. Crono wondered if he had heard correctly and Marle blushed a deep crimson.

"I love you too."

Crono found that those words left his lips on their own.

Marle's eyes darted from Crono's apple green eyes to his lips. Her hand slowly trailed from Crono's hand and up his arm. She slowly closed her eyes and leaned forward while Crono sat, almost in a daze, as their lips touched. At first Crono's kiss was stiff, but the shackles of an imposed friendship and the cares of maintaining others drifted away. As Marle pulled away, Crono returned it gently. Marle almost didn't feel it until he pressed into it, causing her to sigh in contentment. His hand graced her cheek while the other held and messaged the back of her head. Marle found herself embracing him as they kissed and she could feel her own and his heart beat rapidly. After they pulled apart, they both smiled at each other.

"I'm glad to see that I was able to help in some way." Marle said with a breathy giggle as she toyed with a loose strand of his hair.

"Why did we wait so long to just say it?" Crono asked, returning her gesture.

She shrugged and asked, "I don't know, but I can't tell you just how happy I am right now."

"I know." Crono grinned. "So am I..."

"But why did you tell me this? Why did you feel the need to tell me now?"

Crono was silent for a moment; an oddly poignant silence that was too long to be without purpose, before he said. "I didn't do anything to protect Elly and it was the worst thing I had ever experienced. I just want you to know that I won't hesitate again to protect what I love. I won't hesitate to do what I have to do to keep you and everyone else safe."

"Crono," Marle began slowly, "I'm glad that you didn't do what you think you should have done. I don't think you are a coward at all."

Crono hugged her tightly and said, "I wish I had...I'm sorry, but I don't think anything will ever take away that regret...but don't you ever leave me..."

"As long as you don't leave me." Marle said with a smile.

Crono was oddly silent and did not say anything. Marle's face, which hung over his shoulder, contorted in suspicion as something felt out of place. She continued to embrace him and tried to shake off the nagging doubt that he was hiding something.

Crono spent a great deal of time with Marle before he left her room. The day came to a close and everyone gathered together in the sleeping chambers. They discussed their plans before they turned in for the night. Marle gave Crono a peck on the cheek before he turned in. Although there was no outward influence to cause their dreams disturbance, Crono knew he would not sleep well that night. He was troubled as he lay upon his bed while the others somehow found comfortability. He kept reflecting on the words of the gurus who met with him privately before he spoke with Marle. He remembered the dread certainty he felt when he asked them about the prophesy that Janus uttered.

"Crono...Janus is a child of vision. He has seen what will be, and I am sorry to say that it is true. One of you shall perish."

"No, I refuse to believe that."

"It has been prophesied. 'One will die in similitude of a prophet that had come before us, so that through him others may be saved'. Not only has he had this vision, it has been kept in scriptures for many generations. A man of great power and wisdom who had suffered the sins of others will offer himself up so that others may live. It is foretold, and so it must be."

"I will not allow my friends to die!"

"Crono...it is so. Your friends shall not die, for they are not the ones who have been mentioned in the prophesy. It is you."

"What?"

"There is no such thing as fate...things are ordained to happen, but the choice is always opened to you. You will face a choice, Crono. You will either save your own life or you will sacrifice yourself for those you love and care about."

"I cannot be this man that you are talking about! How could I be? How could I possibly be that important?"

"You are filled with humility and love, Crono. Within you are the seeds of greatness. Many believe they are capable of such selfishness, but most shrink beneath the pains of death. Crono, my friend, your choice is not easy, but you know it is true. You have the gift of prophesy growing within you. You can feel the truth of what is to come. You will face a soul racking pain that will tear your body asunder...you will feel pain like no other has felt before...or you shall be spared and your friends will be lost forever to Lavos...but we know your soul and the love you hold for those dear to you. You will not fail them."

"Crono, for the sake of those you love, you must be the one to perish..."

Crono tossed and turned in his bed that night. It was a long while until he was taken in by the soothing sensations of rest. But before he rested he groggily said to himself, "I will not make that mistake again."

Author's Notes: Thanks for the wait. I'm moving into a house, so a lot of other stuff is going on. Anyway, "Grabe, bugoy ako" roughly translates into, "Man, I'm such a punk."