Chapter 2 - The 400-Year Trek Slowly she opened her eyes... but soon realized she wished she hadn't, for Marle found herself in a most disturbing place, if a "place" it could be called. Her first sensation was of complete calm, despite the circumstances, as if she was flying. Her surroundings then made themselves clear, and the only way to describe it would have to be that she was moving with unmeasurable speed through a tunnel of sorts. On either side of her was an endless convoluting expanse of dark-tinted who knows what and ahead, a small point of light that was growing larger by the second. But before she could get a firm grasp of what was going on, it ended. With a gasp she feels beloved terra firma leap out to catch her as the tunnel clears away in a flash of light, leaving her dazed in a middle of a forest clearing. The calming sensation was long gone as Marle stood up unsteadily, taking in her surroundings. "Boy oh boy... what happened? Where am I?!", she protests angrily to the indifferent trees. Much too her surprise, there came an answer: "There she is!!". Turning in the direction of the voice, Marle stares wide-eyed at a group of men clad in armor chopping their way through the brush straight towards her... * * * * * "Wow umm... that wasn't supposed to happen.", Taban, Lucca's father, scratched his head as he blinked at the spot where Marle once stood. Lucca herself was fidgeting with the scientific gear on her head, deep in thought of the implications of what just occurred. The only one that seemed capable of action was Crono. Slowly he bends down and picks up Marle's pendant, turning to Lucca. "I...I have to go after her." He frowns and glances down, feeling this was all his fault and Marle was his reponsibility. Lucca at first didn't seem to hear, but she suddenly shakes her head and turns to her friend, shaking her head. "You really want to go through with that too? I suppose I can't stop you, but I believe whatever that was goes somewhere." Stepping up behind Crono and patting him heartily on the back, Taban grins broadly. "I salute your bravery Crono, go on, and be careful! Me and Lucca will stay here and analyze that thing, maybe find a way to bring you back." "All set...", Crono nods to Lucca, placing the pendant around his neck. "Let's do it.". Lucca throws the switch, starting up the machine. In just the same way as before, the pendant reacts strangely, springing energy around the area like a thunder-storm Crono jumps in surprise as the hole erupts from behind him, sucking him into the void... the image of the Square and his friends disappearing without a trace. Flying....he was flying through a tunnel...then suddenly a light -- and WHOOSH Crono found himself planted like a sack of potatoes on firm, grass- covered earth. He frowns and glances down, pinching his arm, "Well I feel alright...". Climbing to his feet, Crono glances about to get his bearings when out of the blue something hard glances off his right temple. "OWW!" He holds a hand to the already throbbing bruise as he turns quickly to see a small impish looking blue creature scramble out from underneath a bush, sling in hand. "Wha? A Mystic?!" Crono takes a step back just as a second rustling produces two more imps brandishing dirks behind him. The 3 creatures let out a high-pitched growl and lunge towards him, weapons bared. "GAH!" Not willing to take any chances with a trio of disgruntled Mystics, Crono sprints through an opening, immediately heading towards what seemed like a path through the brush. Running with all his might he tears down the path, leading downwards, the cries of the angry creatures slowly dieing away. Crono leans on his knees, gasping for breath, "Whoo...w-what is...going on?" Glancing up, he realized the trees parted just ahead, giving way to open fields, and to his great relief, a town off in the distance. And not just any town, his town, Truce! The familiar circle of buildings in the distance was unmistakable. With a relieved sigh he makes his way down the hill. Perhaps Marle had found her way back to town too. But if those Mystics got her...no. With a shake of his head he dismisses the horrible thoughts and moves on. "Where AM I?!", Crono gasps in dismay. For the town now before him wasn't Truce at all. The strange thing was, now that he had a closer look, it was a completely new place. As Crono walked into the outskirts of the village he noticed several very odd things. The place seemed like a picture out of the olden days; everyone was dressed strangely, and the few people he saw gave him wary looks. With a sudden, astonishing revelation, was it possible that...Crono tapped the shoulder of a woman, hunched over a wash bin and a pile of dirty clothes. "Umm, excuse me. But what year is it?". The woman, obviously annoyed turned on him, taking a moment to eye his different apparel, "Did'ye just climb up out from under a rock!? Why, it's the year 600. Now leave me be!". Crono lurched away, catching himself on the nearby well. "600?!", he gapes into the deep recesses. "That thing...sent me to another time? So, this IS Truce..." - "Make way for the Queen!" a man shouted, just as a squad of armor clad, sword bearing soldiers, marched into view, accompanied by a horse drawn carriage. Crono, now distracted from his reverie, watched with interest as the carriage passed. But as he peered into the window, he caught a glimpse of...yes, Marle! It had to be! What would she be doing in there, with the Queen? It didn't make sense, but he had to follow, after all, he had a girl to rescue. Crono stopped, ducking behind a bush. Peering over the top, he sees the carriage, quite a bit away, disappear into a forest. Just beyond, castle towers peered over the trees back at him. Gripping the hilt of his sword, he heads out and starts down the twisting path. He had lost sight of Marle, but he was sure if he could just make it to the castle there, he could find her. After some silent marching through the woods, Crono took a nervous glance behind him. There, several feet away, were 2 oddly shaped mushrooms. Very large mushrooms at that, sitting right there in the middle of the path. Crono, not remembering seeing them prior, raises his eyebrows and turns around, walking just a bit quicker. Just ahead he could see the end of the path, if only - "REEAAARR!!" Something tackled Crono from behind, planting him face first to the ground. "Ahhh!", twisting violently he whips his arm back, throwing off the attacker. He rolls away and jumps to his feet just in time to see the second mushroom, now standing on it's now apparent four legs, and gnashing it's set of sharp teeth. "What in the world...", Crono takes a step away as the creature leaps right at him. In one quick movement, more from instinct than experience, Crono unsheathes his weapon and thrusts it out at his attacker. The creature then conveniently skewers itself in mid-flight, the sword piercing its underbelly. Crono stumbles back, pulling his stained weapon out in a sudden excited thrill. But it was a short-lived victory, as the first monster, now recovered, leaps forward and sinks its teeth into the boy's shoulder. Crono cries in pain, swinging his free arm with an open fist for the thing's side. CRUNCH! The impact knocks it away, to now lay still again in the forest brush. "Whew, glad that's over - ow!", Crono gingerly glances at his wound, starting towards the castle, the prospects of having this little adventure over with looking good right about now.