Chapter 9

Chapter 9

Torn between love and honor

As the gate closed behind them they landed in what appeared to be Fiona's Forest in 1000 AD.

"Wasn't this destroyed?" Crono inquired.

"Negative, no temporal shock detected." Robo responded.

"Hey, why look a gift horse in the mouth?" Kain asked slumping down on the ground under a nearby tree.

"What do you mean?" Crono asked.

"Maybe the powers that be decided we needed a break. So they sent us here too take said break." Kain said removing his helmet and letting his brown hair flow out.

"Maybe your right, but still. Robo scan for anything out of the ordinary other then the obvious." Crono ordered removing his hand from the hilt of the lance.

"Acknowledged." Robo said setting to the task. He looked around scanning in a complete arc around the forest. Something caught his attention and his gunarm was activated.

"Battle alert, we are surrounded." He stated as he fired into the woods. Crono called upon his lance but could not see what Robo was firing at. His question was answer when he saw an explosion. A robot fell to the ground and then a whole brigade appeared out of nowhere and started to fire. Kain jump up and forced his helmet back on. Crono spun around and sliced up some of those that were behind them. Kain thrust his at some that were approaching him. Even with all the ones they were defeating, more and more just kept coming.

"We've got a problem here." Kain stated kicking some of the robots that got too close.

"Affirmative, I detect at least ahh......." Robo fell to ground as a round disk was fired at his back. Crono looked around just to see the same fate be fall him. At this Kain jumped but was also struck down.

"Check that one's condition." One of Robots ordered.

"Condition stable, we can transport him." Another responded.

"Good, her Excellency will want to deal with these organics personally." The leader said as Crono and Kain were drug behind the group.

"What of this one?" Another of the robots asked.

"It is not registered in my datalinks, which means it is not by the creator. Both the creator and her Excellency will be pleased with today's quandary. Bring it." The leader said moving out.

"By your word field marshal." The other said in unison.

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Crono came to as they reached what looked to be the location of Truce Village, but this was something much different.

"What is this?" He asked.

"Field marshal, this one is awake. Should we stun him again?" Crono's captor asked.

"Negative, energy cuff him." With that, manacles were placed around his hands and an energy field activated over them.

"What is this!?" He said more forcefully this time.

"By her excellency's word, this is where all organics end up. Truce slave camp." The leader informed him. Crono looked around and saw a sight that almost made him sick. Humans looking much like they did in the future when Marle, Lucca, and he had been sent there. This time, however, robot slave drivers were controlling them. However, he couldn't see what if anything they were doing. It just appeared as if they were doing useless busy work such moving dirt from one place to another and then moving all of it back. He wondered to himself what was the point.

"Why, why do you have them doing such ridiculous things?" Crono yelled.

"Because, it keeps them working until we can find some purpose for them." The leader responded.

"As if there was ever any reason for organics." Another retorted.

"Silence fool,' the leader barked 'Her excellency and at least some of the creator are organics, if they heard you say that, they would have you melted down and turned into wind chimes." The leader finished. Crono looked away and saw Gaurdia forest in the distance.

"Who are these people you call her Excellency and the creator." Crono asked.

"They are our leaders. They are the ones who control this whole planet, us and everything on it. You will meet them soon enough." The leader said as they crossed into the forest. The forest was a familiar path but there something alien about it this time. No monsters, no birds, not even the sound of wind blowing. What could have happen to this place and who were these two who seemed to be the absolute monarchy? The castle gates were now in sight and there was not much time before he would meet his captors. Kain and Robo were still out, so this would be a problem he would have to face on his

In the castle hall the candles that once made this a bright place of welcome were now extinguished making it a dreary, dark, and all together foreboding room.

"Hold them here, I will make my report to the masters." The leader said as the others waited.

"By your word, Field Marshall." The others said in unison. As the leader left the room Crono noticed a strange glowing. He looked down and sure enough the pendent was going nuts.

"She's here!" He thought to himself.

"Could these mechanized maniacs be using her as a handmaiden or something like that?" He asked himself. Then he thought deeper and came to a startling revelation.

"No...." Was all he could think about this one. These robots keep calling their leader "her" excellency, could it be that she has...; he couldn't even imagine why she would be so cruel or how. He felt a gun in his back as the robot yelled at him to be quite. Meanwhile, in the throne room the leader was ready to make a report.

"Speak, Field Marshall. This better be good." This order came from a shrouded figure sitting on the throne.

"You don't want what happen to your predecessor happening to you now do you?" Another figure standing off to the side added. The leader recalled the image of the last field marshal being rip apart by ravenous slaves bent on revenge; disarmed and at low power.

"No, ma'am. We have found two organics in the southern forest area." He said wryly.

"And I am supposed to care for what reason?" The figure on the throne asked.

"Because they and their companion destroy fifty-seven of my battle units milady." The leader responded. The two figures just looked at each other.

"Wait,' The side figure returned, 'you said they and their companion and yet you only reported two organics. Who or what is this companion?" She asked.

"It is a type of battle unit we have never seen before." He responded.

"Hum, perhaps this was worth our time your excellency." The side figure returned.

"Hum, bring them in. I want to see the organics that can rip apart your units." Said the one on the throne.

"Yes and this battle unit that I did not create." Said the one to the side.

"By your words, miladies!" He saluted and turned around. The light went dim and the figures stood there.

"What do you think?" The one to the side asked.

"Hum..." Was the only response from the one on the throne.

The leader stepped back into the hall and bid the rest forward. Crono was force forward by a gun in his back. As they entered he noticed that what was once the brightest room in castle now was as dark as night. With the exception of a few spotlights near the throne, blackness covered the room. Crono saw the two figures at the throne and hoped what he thought wasn't true.

"Remove his helmet field marshal." The figure on the throne said. Crono cringed, as he knew the voice. The robot ripped off his helmet; it was the first time in a long time that it had been removed. The figure on the throne just stood and gawked at the sight before her. Crono wondered what was so interesting to her.

"Lights!" She ordered. Instantly the blackness of the room was chased away and for the first time Crono saw his captors. Marle stood before him in a black dress and the once emerald eyes turned a dark purple almost black color. Her attendant was Lucca, or at least part of it was. What stood before him was a combination of woman and machine.

"Well, it looks like we both have gone through a few changes ehh lover?" Marle said stepping down from the throne. He didn't understand what she meant. Marle seeing his confusion beckoned one of her human slaves to bring her a mirror.

"Perhaps you didn't know." She said showing him his own reflection. Gone was the sixteen-year-old complexion and spiky red hair, It was replaced by the face of a mature warrior, his hair long and now silver. He didn't know any of this had happened and wondered why.

"Forget me, what are you doing? Especially you Lucca; I thought you had been killed!" He yelled standing up from his forced kneeling position. A few of the robots drew their guns but Marle waved them down.

"Well, you see, that was the interesting part. I was dead until Lady Tempest went back and teleported me away before she shattered me. The pieces you saw were of a glass statue. Lady Tempest realized the potential I had to her. So she set me up here and I went to work. Little did I know the effect she would have on precious Marle." Lucca stated.

"Yes; hey lover, you like the new me?" Marle said laughing.

"No,' Crono retorted, 'what is the meaning of this? You seemed to be in control here and yet you use robots to perform your security and you have humans doing mindless things! Who are you!?" Crono screamed. Though he knew the answer, for the pendent could not be wrong.

"I think your or should I say my pendent is answering that question." Marle said noticing the pendants reaction.

"This isn't right, what did Tempest do to you?!" Crono asked.

"Simple, she opened my eyes. We never got anything for defeating Lavos and saving all time! At least here I have a reward for what we did." She said turning her back.

"We never asked for a reward, nor did we ever want one… all we ever wanted was each other." Crono retorted. Marle was stunned at these words. Crono looked up just in time to see the emerald color of her eyes return and then disappear.

"It is not too late,' Marle said changing the subject, 'Join me and be my king, all this power can be yours!" She called out.

"And let Tempest ravage both time and dimension, no thank you." Crono returned.

"Fool, Lady Tempest is the greatest thing that will happen to the universal pantheon. She will unify us all, we will be one." Marle returned.

"Compression of the universal pantheon will destroy every living being in every universe unless they are out of sync with all universes just as we and Tempest are!" Robo stated waking up.

"Restrain him, he could very well be the key to my greatest dream." Lucca ordered as a few of the robots moved to place energy cuffs on him.

"Lucca, by my analysis, your body is only twenty-two percent organic material. What have you done to yourself?" Robo asked his once greatest friend.

"Simple, my dream is to live forever in my own body, but to do that I need to improve that body. Flesh is weak, it decays but steel lasts forever. I will make my body completely robotic but my mind will be intact. My brilliance will live forever as will I!" She screamed.

"This isn't right. Lucca changing herself into a machine and you Marle, the woman I love turned into a power hungry matriarch. This has to stop, I will put an end to this tyranny,' He said breaking the cuffs that bound his hands,' One way or another." He finished as he sliced the cuffs off of Robo. Robo started laying down a barrage of shots into his captors. Crono slashed his way through the robots until his lance lay on the neck of Marle.

"You wouldn't want to kill the woman you love now would you?" She said confidently.

"If I have to, yield." Crono said bringing the lance to striking point.

"Idiot!" Lucca said blasting him from the side. He was thrown back against the near wall.

"Run, we will handle them." Lucca ordered as Marle disappeared.

"You've deserved this for a long time." Lucca said as she aimed her gun. Kain came too just in time to see these events take place. He stood and then jumped.

"Not in this lifetime." Kain said thrusting his lance. It ripped through her arm and the gun dropped to the floor with a scream of pain from it wielder.

"That hurt! Luckily I am always prepared for just such an event." She said ripping the lance from her. Somehow the arm grew back and she picked up the gun and aimed at Kain. She was about to fire when she felt pain scorch her back. Five slashes from Crono's lance and she was on the floor.

"Fools, I am almost perfection, you cannot harm me!" Lucca screamed as the gashes disappeared.

"We've heard that before, ehh Kain." Crono said as both of them jumped to the ready. However this time was different. This time they were fighting his best friend. He wondered whether he could make the finishing blow when the time came. He sat there and waited for something to break. Then he got an idea and signaled Robo to come up behind them and he sat at the ready. Kain and Crono launched attacks that were both easily recovered from.

"What do I have to do to get it through your thick skull that I cannot be harmed by brute force? But; then again, thinking was never your strong suit now was it?" Lucca said laughing.

"Nope, but I do have my moments, Robo... fire." He ordered. Robo sat at the ready, target locked but he couldn't fire. This was Lucca, his best friend. Or maybe, even, if it were possible for a robot; the woman he loved. Could he actually fire? Could he destroy her? But then another thought struck his CPU. Maybe it was his mistake that allow Gato to be created and the entire human population to be wiped out of existence? With this in his head, he let a full charge blast from his gunarm. The impact sent Lucca flying back towards the throne. She stood and faced them. Then, a look of sheer terror could be seen as Crono was flying towards her. His lance blade was buried deep into her midsection. He ripped it free and then prepared for another blow when she dropped to her knees. By this time robots had filled the room but with their creator taking her last breaths they all fell. Crono knelt down and caught the now defeated machine queen as she fell from her knees. She looked up at him and for the first time in a long time, the glimmer had returned to her eyes.

"Nice hair." She whispered and then coughed.

"Don't speak." He returned.

"It was enough to restore me to my ...(cough)... original personality. ...(cough)... Tempest changed... me, ...made me.... her slave... She made me... recre...ate Gato... and ... then turned me ...(cough).... into this." Lucca struggled to say.

"This isn't... over yet. Marle... holds the key ...(cough)... to these peoples freedom." She continued.

"Please stop, it will hurt less." Crono said trying to calm her.

"You know... I wish... just once ...(cough)... you felt about me the.... same way you... feel for ...(cough)... Marle." She said as the breath began to leave her. This struck Crono like one of his old lightning bolts. Never did he ever see her having these feeling for him, but why? He knew that they were always together, they had been best friends since they were born. They had fought together to save the world and yet all he could ever think about was this girl who had lied to him about who she was and where she was from. Not only that, he had just met her; Lucca he had known for fourteen years. His thoughts were broken by Lucca's hand on his face.

"Never... let what... I just ...(cough)... said break you two apart. You were made.. for each...other. But can you... do one last... thing for me?"

"Anything."

"Can you... kiss me... just LIKE you ...(cough)... you did Marle?" Lucca asked and Crono bent down and placed his lips on hers. The whole seen looked like something out of a fairy tail; a silver haired prince kissing the sleeping purple haired princess, however this time there would be no "happily ever-after".

"Thus, with a kiss... I ... die......." Her head fell limp. The machines in her body shut down and slowly he could feel her heart stop. She died in his arms, killed by his lance. He laid her down on the floor and fire flashed in his eyes.

"Stay here, there will be no more innocent losses this day. I will finish this, right here, right now." Crono said charging for the queen's room. Kain moved to join him but was blocked by the arm of Robo.

"This is something he must deal with on his own. We would just get in the way." Robo said looking over Lucca's remains. He felt something he had never felt before. All emotions were new to him but this one was something more. He felt an incredible emptiness as he looked over her destroy and withered form. He dropped to his knees and put his head to hers.

"Why, why did this have to happen to her… WHY!" He screamed as loud as his voice processors would allow. Kain knelt down beside him and place his arm on Robo's shoulder.

"What is this that I am feeling?" Robo asked.

"It is called loss, I myself have had to endure its pain. But I can honestly say that my pain was nothing compared to what you must be feeling. This was the woman that inspired you to have feelings in the first place. You loved her deeply… and to not have her, must be the greatest anguish that has ever been experienced. I can only have this to offer… she would not want you to sit around here and lose yourself and your goal just because she is lost. If anything, this should clarify why you are fighting. You are fighting not for vengeance, but to prevent this from happening again. Remember, we have been told at the end of this all of your friends will be restored; she is no exception. Kain said sitting down beside him.

"I don't know what to do though. How can humans live with emotions?" Robo asked.

"It is what makes us who we are. How we coup with things, what makes us happy, sad, afraid, you name it. You will get used to them, I guess it just takes time." Kain answered, not really knowing how to explain emotion. It is something that he took for granted to often. He never knew what it was like not having them. He could only imagine what Robo was going through.

"I wondered lately what would have become of us after this was all over. I knew she deeply loved Crono, but I was hoping that I could show her something else… wait a second, what is happening to me?" Robo asked looking at what he was doing. Kain came to the startling realization as well. Robo was starting act like a human, with thoughts, feelings, the whole works.

"What… what has happened to you?" Kain asked dumbfounded.

"She has given me one final gift, full emotions. I could not have asked for anything greater from you… except to have you back." Robo said as he bowed his head to hers. Had he had the ability to cry, tears would have been streaming down his face. Kain just sat and looked on. He wondered why his valor wasn't being tested. Each time he had received some form of test to match Robo and Crono's but now… nothing. He had fought the robots but never really was put to the test. Robo had to ask himself; which was more important, his heart or the people of this world. Crono would soon have to make the same decision, but he had faced nothing. He let the thoughts pass as he looked up the tower Crono had just ran up.

"Good luck my friend; what ever the final result be, my friendship pledge to you. Now and forever." He said as he became lost in thought.

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Crono reached the final level of the tower. He walked through the arch of the hallway and then came to the doors of the room. The woman he once loved was now his greatest enemy and was behind this door. He didn't think of Lucca or Tempest or anything like that. Strangely, he thought of the slaves in his old home village. He was going to put an end to this. He cut the doors open and walked through to see Marle sitting there at the table, waiting for him.

"It's been a long time since we were together up here, ehh lover?" Marle said standing.

"Free those people out there and you may walk out of this room alive." Crono ordered standing at ready.

"Why do we have to start this conversation like this? Sit down and drink some tea with me." She said to him. He did as she asked thinking he might be able to bring her back just as he did in throne room.

"Why are you doing this?" He asked her.

"Because, I have no choice. I finally had the chance to reap some benefit from our battles… even if I had to lose myself." She said taking a sip for her cup.

"The Marle I knew… the one I loved would never keep those people enslaved. Why are you doing this?" He asked again, this time with more force.

"Because she will take all this power from me and return me to the scared little girl I was so long ago. Is that what you want? A scared little girl is was too afraid to face who she was?" Marle said as her eyes began to flash.

"You were never afraid to face who you were. When I was gone you took over as leader. You would have been able to defeat Lavos without me, I know you would have. That is why I love you Marle, because you are strong and you fear nothing." Crono said placing his hand on her arm. The color returned to her eyes.

"I am afraid of a world without you." She said quietly.

"Then free these people and return home with me. You needn't be here." Crono said placing his hand on her face.

"I wish it were that simple, but there is nothing I can do. I can't go home, I don't have a home." Marle said as tears streamed from her now green eyes.

"Your home… is with me. Our hearts are one, here, now, and forever. You went to brink of death and back to return me to life because you knew that. Let us stop this and go back to lives we had." Crono answered her.

"I wish I could… but I am… I can't do…" Marle could not think of what to say.

"You can't what? I am here to save you from Tempest; if she comes, then we shall fight her together. There is one thing that she can't destroy… something that has guided me to you. This a bond that goes deeper then love. We are one, two halves of the same whole. You complete me. I wouldn't want to live without you." Crono said as he stood and hugged her.

"I love you so much…" Marle said as she returned his embrace.

"It is time we leave this place. Free these people and then we can go home." Crono said quietly. Marle just stood there for a second and then broke their embrace. Crono saw that the dark color had returned to her eyes

"You see, I can't do that. These meaningless lives were in Lady Tempest's way and had to be removed. Seeing I couldn't bring myself to slaughter that many people I called for Lucca to create those robots and the camp, for all the good they did. Now that those robots are gone I guess I have no choice but to be rid of all of it; too bad." Marle said as she reached for the pendent around her neck.

"NO!" Crono screamed. He knew had to stop her and could not think of anything else he could in time to save those people other then end her. His thoughts were clouded by his love and his need to save those people. He spun his balde and slashed.. At the moment the blade came in contact with her neck, the entire world slowed down and shattered. Crono stood there on his knees after finishing his slash. He stood and looked around him.

"What was this!? Why did you make me kill both my best friend and the woman I loved?!" Crono screamed into the nothingness. Tears of anger and anguish streamed down his face as he came to terms that he had just not only ended her life but his as well. He couldn't live without her; let alone the fact that HE was the one that killed her. The lance shimmered and flew from his hand. Before him now stood Lucca, Frog, Melchior, Ayla, and Schala. Schala was the first to speak.

"Because, it showed that you could sacrifice your greatest treasures in life for the greater good. You have shown true valor this day." Schala finished as Lucca stepped forward.

"Of all the skills, valor was something that you had to show that you had without the help of that lance or us. When you thought of only the freedom of the people that was true valor."

Ayla was the next to speak. "You now true hero, you now crush Tempest like me crush reptite."

Melchior stepped forward. "You have the necessary skill and equipment to accomplish said task. I wish you luck."

Frog was the last to speak. "Aye my friend. Thouest have what is necessary in thy equipment; however, thouest missing one crucial component. And now to your reward for thine battles. We restore to thee thine greatest love. I return thee Marle." Frog said as the five started glowing and then Marle lie before him. He dropped down to his knees to greet her. He looked at her, gone was the black dress and black eyes. He saw the woman he had fallen in love with so long ago. She opened her eyes and looked deep inside him.

"My knight in shinning armor." She said as their lips met. He now understood what she had meant all that time ago. The pendent imbedded in Crono's armor started to shine and power flowed through them. The power enveloped Marle and Crono was thrown back. A column of light blasted from the dark floor of the shattered world and levitated her. Her clothes disappeared and waves of light started shooting through the column and flooding over her nude form. Crono could only watch as the light reshaped her. On her feet, boots of emerald; her hands, gloves of emerald as well. Her body was covered in an armor made completely from her emerald crystals. A tear fell from Crono's pendent forming a new pendent in her armor as well. Angelic wings formed behind her and then came together to form an alabaster cape. Her helmet formed, an emerald green mask with wing shaped side panels. Her hair flew out of the ponytail it had been in for so long. From it flowed waves and waves of golden blond hair. It fell and covered her back as her eyes blasted open and her transformation was complete. The light dissipated and Crono was right there to catch her as it let her go with a fall. Crono looked at her and for the first time in long time remember why he had fallen in love with her. She lifted her mask and their lips met in the longest recorded kiss in history. Nothing else mattered but the two of them. This was what they both had hoped for. Now they were united, there was nothing in the world that could break them apart. Not even Tempest could shatter the love they had forged.

"Crono, you were right when you said were two parts of the same whole. When you are around, I know I can do anything. What I said before about being afraid of who I am… I was. I didn't want the responsibility of running the entire kingdom by myself one day. But now, now that I know you will be there by my side… I know I can do it. I love you so much." Marle said as he yes shinned in the dim light that had now formed in the void.

Kain and Robo shimmered in on the scene and immediately turned away.

"Um... I didn't mean to interrupt anything." Kain said blushing.

"Robo? Is that you?" Marle asked her renewed metal friend.

"I believe so, though I see we both have changed. " Robo said as he saw her. She ran over and hugged him seeming to forget that it used to mean nothing to him. Now, however, he had gained a lot of human emotions and returned the hug with just enough pressure as to not hurt her.

"There is one other thing that we were able to find in that timeline." Lucca's voice returned. They all looked around and saw two others shimmer into the world.

"Mom! Kitty, where, when, how?" Crono said dumbfounded. Marle sat and thought and then finally found what she was looking for.

"I remember, Tempest planned all this. That gate that absorbed them, she opened. Our trip to 998, that was all part of her plan, however she didn't expect you to be such a thorn in her side. So she decided to kidnap me and turn me into that thing you defeated in that world. Your mother and cat were being held in that internment camp. Apparently the powers that be felt that they didn't want you to have too many loose ends before we go up against Tempest." Marle finished as Crono ran over to his mother and helped her up. She looked up at him and jumped to hug her now much taller son.

"My how you have grown son." She said.

"I promised I would find you and I have." He said meeting her hug.

"Yes, you did, and you have. Apparently, I was in that hellish camp for longer then I thought." She said looking her boy over.

"No mom, a lot has happened to me since you disappeared. I will tell you when I am done with my mission, for now, return home. Our home still exists in another time." Crono said forming a gate.

"I will see you when you return from this new mission my son." She said as the gate closed behind her.

"Now, weren't we going to go to 12,000 bc for real?" Kain said as he placed his lance in its holster.

"I afraid Dragoon Man can't go with Crono anymore." Ayla appeared and said.

"She's right, only three can travel through a gate at one time." Crono said as Kain just stood in shock.

"Then what?" Kain asked.

"You go home, back to your world." Ayla said opening a gate.

"But, I want to stay with you." He whispered to her.

"Me know, me also know we will meet again. But you need to go home. Regain honor, and friends." Ayla said pushing him towards the gate.

"You're right. Well my friends, it has been an adventure. According to this fair damsel, we will meet again. If fate allows it so be it, if not, farewell. Crono, take care of her; you've found a real winner there." He said as he kissed Ayla. He jumped through and the gate closed behind him. Ayla's image blushed and dispersed.

"Now weren't we going to go to 12,000 bc?" Marle said opening a gate with her pendent.

"Let's go my love, coming Robo?" Crono returned putting his helmet back on.

"Wouldn't miss it." Robo said jumping through the gate. As Crono flew through the Vortex; hand in hand with Marle he weighed what he had accomplished and knew there was now nothing that could stop them. Tempest be warned, for his coming will signal your defeat.