Chrono Trigger

Forget me Naught; wherein Glenn and company encounter obstacles…

One would assume that the governor's mansion would be a very private place and in most other cities that would be true. Here, it was as bustling as the rest of the city. Eliza would curtsy to the occasional person that addressed them. However, Glenn could feel their eyes follow him as they walked further in. He had to fight to retain the feeling of love and happiness he experienced earlier in the ship's cabin. He had almost forgotten that he was not like any other human being and it showed in the stares of passersby. Although he would he would have received looks in Guardia or Porre, there would be respect. After all, his reputation preceded him. Here, in this city, he looked like any other Mystic and not everyone knew him as the hero Glenn.

"They must think you are a dignitary here to represent the Mystics...The city has been talking about the possible trade route."

Glenn smiled wryly, pursing his lips to point to the ceiling, "Well, thy father must have earned their respect, else I wouldst be strung upon that rafter there."

She stifled a giggle and put her hand on his shoulder, squeezing it slightly, "I love you."

Glenn smiled and missed a dirty glance from someone who passed them.

As they drew closer they could hear more frantic conversation. Glenn and Eliza looked at each other before they entered the study. He noticed their closeness, and saw the hesitancy in her face. He smiled and nodded reassuringly, giving her hand a final squeeze before they put space in between each other. They pushed open the door and could hear the conversation clearly.

"This is a breach of contract! You know this is! We have agreed to the terms!"

"Aye, that we did. And that was done before ye bothered to tell us who the destination was."

The governor stood on one side of a large conference table, flanked by Crono and the others. Glenn noticed that Magus wore a mantle here and it mostly covered his face. There were five other men in the room, dressed in very fine clothes. The governor banged his fist on the table, "You shame our city, backing out on an agreement like this! What makes you think that Guardia will be willing to cooperate with us in the future if you do this? Do you not realize the effect this would have on our relationship with them?"

"We wouldn't want to do business with those Mystic lovers anyway."

"Don't be foolish! That is pure stupidity to say such a thing." one of the five hissed this to the other.

"Listen to yourselves! If you would just stop-" the mayor's eyes found Eliza as he spoke. He saw Glenn at her side and his eyes softened and shined. "Glenn, is that you?"

The five men turned around. Upon seeing Glenn they recoiled in surprise. One carried a knife on his person; he unsheathed it and exclaimed, "You let those scale skins into our city? What is your game, gov'nor? Are you trying to kill us?" It was the man who was rebuked earlier by his fellow. He started to advance toward Glenn, his knuckles white from clenching the knife.

Glenn tapped the hilt of his sword warningly, "I suggest that we keep to our respective areas and encroach not upon each other."

"Take your own advice, you filthy slime lizard." The man spat on Glenn's face.

"That is enough, you fool!" The governor shouted so loudly and angrily that it caught the attention of the room. "Don't you know who that is? You spat upon the queen's retainer! The hero of Porre!"

The room went deathly quiet. Evidently, his reputation did precede him. It was not entirely surprising. All the outlining territories must have scrambled for information after the Mystics stopped attacking them. They must have heard about the Porrean who fought alongside Crono. They have heard of the Knight Captain Cyrus and his faithful commandant. They knew of his horrible curse. But what were the chances that they would ever meet him? How would they have been able to discern him from any other Mystic? The men looked at each other awkwardly, each one nudging the man who spat upon Glenn. After a few moments he stepped forward, sheathing his knife in a sign of contrition and bowing his head. "I am so sorry, sir. I did not know."

Glenn walked past him and approached the table. "What is the issue here?" He wiped the spit away, trying to hide the anger in his voice.

Lucca spoke up, "They found out that we are sending relief to the Mystics. They are raising taxes on the goods Guardia ships."

"No," started one of the men, "no, that is incorrect. We are raising the taxes on Guardian ships bound for the Mystic nation. As long as they sign a contract with a manifest stating that all goods will be sold within the allied territories, there will be no tax increase."

"We have already signed a contract for housing goods here. There would be no need for us to use your warehouses otherwise."

They were civil now, but still firm and disagreeable, "No, you were not honest about your intentions. Surely you must have realized that there would be grievances? How presumptuous must you be to think that we would allow our warehouses to store the food that shall feed their bellies! We don't care how much you buy from us. If you intend to feed our enemy, you will pay for it."

"Enemy? The war is over." Glenn said curtly.

"With all due respect, sir, for some of us it will never be over."

"Gentlemen," the governor interceded, "surely we can arrive to an agreement of some sort. This is a fortuitous trade. There is much to be gained here."

The man who spat upon Glenn spoke, "Sir, there are some things that are not worth selling your soul. Two of my brothers and my son died in the war against the Mystics. My wife's hometown was burnt down to the ground years past and she was lucky to get out with her life. There is not a man in this room who has not had their lives affected negatively by those scum. And you want us to aid in rebuilding their country? What about rebuilding my wife's hometown? What about aiding the families of my brothers and my son? Did the Mystic nation show any interest in our welfare? No. They did not. Let those scale skins eat each other."

Magus' jaw was tight as he heard those words, but he knew better than to say anything. Instead, it was the mayor who spoke. "I have also lost family. We all have. Glenn has suffered more than any of us, yet he has been able to put aside his feelings of hostility and looked at the larger picture. We will only drive them to desperation if we allow them to suffer. This will not just benefit them; it will be benefit us."

The man shook his head, "I know of Glenn's suffering. Indeed, he must also know of my suffering. Therefore, he can understand why I would not want to help them."

"But sir-!" the mayor begged

"That is enough. Please understand that we value your affiliation. We all hold great regard for the hero of Porre," the man turned and bowed his head toward Glenn. Glenn saw the act for what it was; a deeper apology for his rudeness. Glenn returned the gesture with a nod. "But what you ask of us is to strengthen those we still see as our enemies. You must know that requires a tremendous amount of faith; not in you, but in them. I do not have that faith, sir. I never will."

"Will you not have faith in us? What of your faith in the hero of Porre?"

The man stood silently. He sighed and turned to leave, "Thank you for your patronage sir, but the taxes still stand. They shall be removed if you ship to an allied territory."

The men began to leave. The mayor began to call out to them but was stopped as Chrono put his hand on his shoulder and shook his head. The offender stopped in front of Glenn and extended his hand, "You are the only reason I still have a son left. He was in your and Cyrus' command. He told me of the time you carried him after a Mystic broke his leg with a mace. He would have died had you not gone back for him."

Glenn's eyes widened, "I remember him. You speak of Ethan."

"Aye." The man smiled at the fact Glenn remembered.

Glenn took his hand, "It was an honour to fight at his side. He was a good soldier and an even better man."

The man nodded and then stopped and stood for a moment as if he were in deep thought. The mayor was about to say something in the brief moment, but was stopped again by a gentle touch on his shoulder from Crono. Finally, the man said, "He speaks of you very fondly. I only wish that you had time to visit, but I am sure you have other callings and must be a busy man."

"I am never too busy to visit one of my brothers." Glenn stated matter-of-factly.

The man was surprised, but smiled. "He isn't on the council...so don't expect to change my mind through him."

"That is not why I desire to speak with him."

"I know." The man thought a moment longer and said, "I shall send one of my men to find you and another to notify my son. I regret that I must say no to you, but at least you may find joy in speaking with an old friend." He patted Glenn on the shoulder as he passed and left.

They waited in silence, the only noise being the creaking of the wooden eaves and the general hustle and bustle of the world past the polished window panes. "Well, that was taxing." Robo stated.

Lucca shook her head in disbelief, "I don't think a pun at this moment is appropriate." Despite what she said, she chuckled.

"How severe are the taxes?" asked Glenn.

"They are purposefully severe," Lucca responded. "It would be economic suicide to agree to them; you would be more charitable to the port authority than you would be to the Mystics."

"What does that mean?" Ayla asked, not following the idea behind taxes.

"I'll explain the process later,," Lucca said, "but what it means is that the Mystics won't be getting help any time soon. This whole thing was a bust."

The mood grew even more somber and everyone fell quiet again. However, not everyone was reacting dismally. Glenn was in the midst of drawing revelation. He noticed during the meeting that Crono stopped the mayor from speaking. He had noticed his hesitancy of going to the meeting prior and in doing so had the moment of peace he needed to speak with his beloved. And suddenly, out of nowhere, a man who was on the council had a son whom Glenn fought alongside with in the past. Not only that, a son that he wanted him to speak with.

While Glenn had thought of these things and in the midst of putting together the pieces, he had looked up by chance and saw that Crono was staring at him. That, in of itself wasn't strange, but his countenance was. He was smiling.

It was so slight that it could have been mistaken for ponderance, but it was definitely a smile and it was aimed at him. Glenn could not put his finger on it, but it seemed so odd to him. Why did this seem out of place to him now? Had Chrono not always greeted him so? But why would he look at him right at this moment? Was he trying to tell him something?

As Glenn thought this last question, he felt his blood go cold.

Chrono nodded.

At the dock, Glenn remembered how Chrono beckoned him to join him. He had his suspicions just as everyone else had. Chrono had indeed changed, yet still somehow seemed the same. In the End of Time he had overheard Robo and Marle speaking about the changes they had noticed.

"It's as if he is putting us at ease."

"Or guiding us."


Was it true? Could he read our thoughts? Could he see what was going to happen? How else did he know that Eliza would be here? Did he know that I was going to refuse and return to the ship? Did Chrono know that Eliza was going to be waiting for me there? These questions rushed into him and Glenn felt as if his insides were plunged into cold water. Shivers went up his spine and he felt his heartbeat quicken. What would this mean? Why hasn't he said anything? Is it true? Can he read our minds? Is that as far as it can go? What else can he do? Was this all planned? How did he know this was going to happen? Did he know this was going to happen?

"Glenn, are you okay?"

He hadn't noticed, but everyone in the room was staring at him. Eliza gripped his shoulder. He had been staring back at Chrono, but so preoccupied was he with his own thoughts that he didn't notice that Chrono had the same countenance as everyone else by this point; concern. Glenn chuckled. All his worries vanished at once when he saw that Chrono was just as worried as everyone else. Glenn sighed; he must have imagined it. He squeezed Eliza's hand, "Aye, forgive me; mayhaps I am tired from the journey."

"I think we all are." Ayla said with a nod.

Everyone murmured their agreement and the mayor stepped in at this point. "Well, accommodations have been made for you at the city inn. It may not be as luxurious as the Guardian castle, but I think you'll be surprised at how accommodating we can be."

"Well, I might say I am inn-terested."

Lucca groaned.

Chrono pushed off from the wall he was leaning on, "Well, I think it would be best if Glenn met up with his old war buddy first. I know he said that he wasn't on the council, but who knows what we could get from this. Do you think that is a good idea, Glenn?"

Glenn nodded, "T'would be pleasant nonetheless; I have many fond memories of Ethan."

"Alright, in that case we will catch up with you later."

"Aye."

"Eliza, why don't you come with us? It would be nice to hear some embarrassing stories about Glenn if you have them." Marle smirked mischievously.

Lucca, Ayla, and Marle flanked Eliza who blushed but happily went with them. Everyone else followed, leaving Glenn to walk out separately. Remembering the stares he got from entering the mansion with an escort, he could only imagine the reception he would get outside by himself. He donned his mantle and pulled his gloves over any skin that showed. Nobody would be able to hurt him, but his heart was still full from his moments earlier with Eliza and preferred his mood not to be soured by those who didn't know any better.

He set out and waited out front for the messenger. The man finally approached and beckoned Glenn to follow. As he walked toward Ethan's home, his thoughts kept wandering to his previous ponderings. Yes. He would need to ask Chrono about his supposed abilities but perhaps only when Glenn was ready to hear the answers.

Author's note: This chapter is shorter than usual, but I felt it has been so long I should put up at least something. I still think of this story quite a bit. I hope you all enjoy this latest chapter. I came across the Tropes website where my story was listed as a recommendation (I greatly appreciate the kind words as well as the sound criticism) and plan to take it into account whenever I do any edits. We all might be seniors by then, but who knows. Anyway, I saw the status listed as "Dormant" and I was pretty much all like, "Uh, I gotta change that." I look forward to the day when the status is listed as "complete", but we'll get there bit by bit. Anyway, thank you all for reading. And if anyone is interested, we got that house. :)