This is my first Crono Trigger fic so go easy on me. I don't think it can be TOO bad…. Ummm this is a CronoxMarle fic so if you don't like, stay away. If and only if I get some reviews, will I continue. Those are important to me.

Disclaimer: I don't own Crono Trigger. Well, I do own the game, but I don't own the concept.

: : thought

*** time has passed







Crono swung his sword Rainbow at one of the practice dummies. The dummy swung around on the chain it was hooked up to and came at Crono from a different angle. At the same time, another dummy came at him. He dodged one and met the other sending it around on the chain again.

"Why do you still train so hard? Most of the Monsters and Mystics left when Lavos was destroyed." His best friend Lucca said watching him. She had come by to borrow odd bits for her new invention.

Crono jumped to the side and sliced off one of the dummy's arms.

"You never know when a crises might happen" he grunted as he hit the other dummy. Lucca raised an eyebrow.

"Of course, this has nothing to do with a certain blonde princess right?" she asked in amusement.

Crono blushed faintly and chopped off both dummy heads. He was always a little embarrassed whenever Lucca mentioned his crush on Marle. At least, Lucca called it a crush. Crono knew it went deeper than that. Far deeper.

"Trying to stay in shape to look good for her only works when Marle is here so she can see you" Lucca pointed out.

"Maybe I just don't want to get lazy and fat" Crono replied as he wiped his face with a towel. Lucca snorted.

"The day you get fat is the day I become a nun. You could be doing something much more useful with your time."

"Such as?" Crono asked as he set up his next practice course.

"Asking Marle out. Or helping me with my new invention."

Crono ignored her first suggestion and said, "Speaking of that, shouldn't you be completing that invention?" Lucca chuckled.

"Alright, I know a dismissal when I hear one." And with a wave, walked away toward her house. Crono watched her go, then went back to his training.

"She makes it sound so easy" he muttered to himself as he exercised. He wanted to go to Marle and tell her how he felt but something kept holding him back. What if she didn't feel the same way? What if he ruined their friendship? That would kill him, if he didn't have her at least as his friend. Everyday he told himself, today will be the day I tell her! But every day he just couldn't. Crono was never one who could express his feelings very well. In the day, he fantasized about all the things he would say to her. At night, he dreamed about Marle returning his love. But as the days passed, he lost more courage to say what he felt to her. She was a princess! A beautiful perfect angel. What did he have to offer her? He sighed and looked down at his sword. What was Marle doing now…..?

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Marle stifled a moan as the councilor droned on and on about the country's laws and the history of the kingdom. She hated these Council Meetings, but her father and the councilor both agreed that as the future ruler, she should start making a royal presence in the meetings.

"By the word of King Guardia III, the law of trading is strictly…"

Marle hid a yawn and blocked out the councilor's voice. It was such a nice day outside! What she really wanted to do was sneak out of the meeting and go see Crono. It had been a whole week since they had last seen each other. It was the most time they had ever spent apart, and Marle had these meetings to thank for it.

Marle smiled as she thought of Crono and her heart beat a little faster. If only he were here right now! Crono could figure out a way to sneak out, she was sure of it. Crono could do anything. He was so strong, and smart, and handsome…..

"Princess? Princess Nadia!"

Marle snapped out of her thoughts with a start, then realized that the Councilor had been calling her for quite some time. She sat up a little straighter.

"Yes, Councilor?" She asked with only a hint of expasteration in her voice.

"The King has sent for your presence in the throne room. He says it is of a matter of most importance."

Marle nodded, as she stood up. She bent in a slight curtsy than walked out of the room in a royal fashion. Once out however, she leaned against the wall, sighing in relief. Then hiked up her skirts and ran down the hall, happy to be out of that meeting!

Marle stopped just outside the throne room to catch her breath. Than she strolled out to the throne room where her Father waited in his chair. Standing besides the king was another man. He looked to be either 18 or 20 years old. He was dressed in a light blue silk tunic and tights much to rich for any of the commoners. He had on a opened jacket that was a corresponding darker blue to the lighter blue. He also had a small silver crown on his head. He had rich brown hair and a light mustache and a small beard that looked newly grown. He looked lean and muscular, like he worked out maybe every weekend or so. His eyes were dark green and he had a handsome smile that he showed to Marle when she walked in.

:He's handsome, but not has handsome as Crono…: Marle thought a little wistfully as she walked toward them.

"Ah, there you are daughter!" King Guardia exclaimed happily as he held out his hand to her. She bent down and kissed him on the cheek.

"The councilor said you wanted me?" she asked turning her gaze to the other man curiously.

"Yes, yes. This is Prince Joren from the Kingdom of Procland. You remember I went their last month for the treaty?"

"Yes Daddy. You were gone for two weeks" Marle replied. The king chuckled.

"Well, during my stay I told King Roland all about you, my dear, and he introduced his son to me." The king smiled at Prince Joren who bowed.

"Your Father had nothing but good to say about you Princess" Joren told her. His voice was deep and warm.

"But I'm afraid he failed to mention just how beautiful you really are" He gave her another kind smile, and Marle bushed inspite of herself.

The King chuckled and went on,

"So Roland and I got to talking and we knew just what to be done." He took Marle's hand and said,

"Marle, Prince Joren is a great man, and would make a kind ruler. We all agree that it would be best for our Kingdoms and for both of you if you would wed."

….if you would wed… The words hit Marle with a sudden force. She slipped her hand out of her Fathers grip and said in shock.

"WED?! I don't even know him!"

The King smiled a little forcefully and tried to catch her hand again, but Marle stepped out of reach.

"Ah, Marle, there will be plenty of time to get to known him once your married!"

Marle looked at Joren, hoping that he would reject has well, but he only smiled.

"A marriage would certainly help both the kingdoms" Prince Joren said. His eyes, traveled up and down her body, "and surly once we um, get to know each other, you will have no objections."

Marle took another step back and said, "Daddy! Don't you remember what Mother said before she died? Don't you even care?" Marle stared into her father's eyes, expecting to see compassion. But his eyes, they were cold and….distant.

"You will marry Prince Joren!" The king said starting to raise.

"NO!" Marle yelled, and flung of her dress, revealing her tank top and pants. She ran out of the throne room, grabbing her crossbow and running out the door.

"NADIA COME BACK HERE!" The king bellowed. Prince Joren smirked and watched as the Princess ran out. She would be a feisty one indeed. He licked his lips and thought with pleasure what it would take to break her. Prince Joren chuckled under his breath, than said to the king.

"You will not send guards after her. I will go and find her"

The King stared at him blankly. Then nodded. Prince Joren chuckled again as he went to get his horse.

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Marle ran through the woods, hardly looking to where she was going.

:How could Daddy do this to me?: she thought as she ran.

:I thought he knew me better. I thought that after we defeated Lavos, he would realize…: She swallowed back tears as she thought about what she had seen in her father's eyes.

:It was like, he didn't even care. Like he wasn't thinking at all:

Marle slowed to a walk and looked around at where she was. Unconsciously her feet had taken her to Crono's house. She listened and heard sounds of a sword hitting something and Crono shouting a little. She walked around the house to the backyard. There she saw Crono training. His shirt was off, it was a hot day, and she could see him practice his sword fighting. His muscles flexed as he brought his arm and sword across him in a flash, and a dummy was cut in two. Crono, feeling someone watching him, looked up to see Marle standing there. Crono smiled happily and jumped over the fence.

"Hey Marle!" he said with such honest joy, and welcome for her, that she burst into tears and fell onto Crono's chest, sobbing.







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