Chapter 3: The Return of The Past
By: The Fallen Angel
Author's note: all info that has not been created by me belongs to Squaresoft and the makers of Chrono Cross.
1022 AD: The next day
The next morning, Crono wake up early. He walked the castle's corridors for hours thinking of what Chronos said. Marle found him in the treasury. "What's wrong, honey?" She asked him.
"I don't know." Crono was looking at his sword. "He said he could restore our magic. With what he showed us, and what he said, the man could help us get our kingdom back. He also promised that we would not get hurt." Crono stood up. "It seems that we should help him. But I just don't know. What do you think?"
"I think that it will be important for our children to grew up in a place where they don't have to hid and run away just stay alive." Marle sat down on a box next to Crono. "This Chronos person gave the impression that he could give us that. I think that we should take that chance." She laid her head on Crono's shoulder. "Don't you agree?"
"Yeah, I do," He gave his wife a hug and stood up.
"Where are you going?" Marle questioned him.
"To give him our answer." Crono turned around and faced Marle. Then, he turned back to the door and walked out of the treasury
* * * * * *
Chronos was sitting on the steps of the castle, whittling away on a piece of wood. The sun hadn't even rose yet. "The blades they make now a days are awful." Chronos was twirling the small dagger. He then continued to work on his small creation when Crono came walking down the stairs. "Hello Your Majesty."
"Don't call me that and my wife does like her title either," Crono took a sit next to him. "I came to inform you about our decision."
"You sound all formal and everything." Chronos was looking at his wooden creature. "So what is it?"
"First, I wish to ask you a question." Crono was looking at the horizon. "Why us, why my family, why me?"
Chronos looked up from his creation. "That's three. But I will answer them anyways." He returned to whittling. "You and your family have fought the good fight for so long. I have always admired the way you have done your best to the good of the world. That is why I choose you, I choose you because of your heart, your courage, your faith. Especially the last." Chronos looked at the horizon. "That had been something that I have lost many years ago. I see in you what I was once was."
"What do you mean?" Crono was puzzled. He had a confused look on his face. "I don't understand."
"You wouldn't." Chronos whittled some more. He looked at Crono. "Do you know who the Four Horsemen are?"
"No."
"They are the Knights of the Apocalypse. War, Famine, Pestilence, and Death. When the world ends, they will lead the way to the destruction of the world. I know when, where, and how the world ends, and yet, I feel no obligations to help. That is, until I meet you. I saw the light of hope in you. I saw it in your family, I seen it in others. You have brought hope to Hope himself. I think you for that." Chronos looked down at his wooden figure. "Here," and he handed it you Crono.
"What is this?" Crono looked the figure. It was Crono, in his prime, along with Marle, Frog, Robo, Lucca, Magus, and Ayla, just after they defeated Lavos.
"Now," Chronos stood up and stretched. He ignored Crono. "What is your answer?"
"My answer is that, I will help you, but I want my family to come along too."
"Sure, why not, the more the merrier." Chronos stuck out his hand for Crono to take it.
"Just one more question." Crono took his hand and shook it.
"Shoot." Chronos replied.
"You said that you would restore our magic. When will it happen and how soon?"
"What time is it?" Chronos looked at the horizon.
"About six o'clock. Why do you ask?"
"Three . two . one." A loud explosion occurred in side the castle. "Let's go inside and see what that was." Chronos stuck his hand in his pants pockets and walked into the castle. Crono got up quickly and ran after him.
* * * * * *
Inside castle, smoke filled the hallways. "This way." Crono said as he ran down some stairs.
"What ever you say captain." Chronos followed him slowly.
"We have to hurry. Marle was in the kitchen." Crono continued to run down the hazy hallways. Crono reached the kitchen only to find that Marle was using he magic to put out the fire from the explosion. Ice came form her fingertips to freeze the raging fire. When Marle finished, all that was left was frozen flames glittering from the light coming from the windows. The room was frozen top to bottom. Crono was surprised and happy at the same time. "Honey, what happen here?"
"I don't know. One moment I was cooking breakfast; the next, there was a fire. My first instinct was run but I then thought that I could put out the fire with the ice spell that I learned. I recited the spell and ice came from my fingertips."
Chronos came walking in. "Wow, I didn't expect this much fire. Nice job of putting it out." He was looking around at the icy flames. He picked up an icicle form from the ceiling, "and amazing enough the temperature didn't drop one bit."
"You know that this was going to happen," Crono yelled at him. "And you let my wife be in danger!"
"If I thought that your wife was in any danger, I would have been the first one down here to put out the fire." Chronos pulled a chair out from underneath a frozen table. "Besides, I told you would get your magic back. This was just my way of showing you."
"You couldn't just tell us." Now Marle was getting mad.
"I don't like to explain things. I prefer people to find things out on their own." Chronos was using the icicle he grabbed as a toothpick. "But if you don't want me to do that any more, I will just tell. But it won't be any fun."
The twins came running into the kitchen just as Chronos finished his sentence. "What happen here?" Kuria asked. She was staring amazed at the frozen fire.
"Nothing," Crono said. "You two all right?"
"Yeah," Derth walked into the room. "We're fine."
"Be careful Derth," Marle said. Just as she opened her mouth Derth began to fall. But he never hit the ground. He stopped in the air, hovering over the ground. "Are you okay, Derth?" Marle began to move.
"Just stay where you are. I don't want to do three things at once." Chronos said. One of his hands was pointing at Derth. With his other hand, Chronos waved in over the ice, causing it to slowly disappear. "There, now you can move to your son."
Marle ran over to her son and gave him a hug. "Are you okay, Derth?"
"I'm fine mom." He replied. "That was fun. Can I do it again?"
"No, you may not," Crono said in a firm voice. To Chronos, "Thank you."
"No problem. I'm glad to help out." Chronos stood up. "If you want breakfast before we go, I suggest that you get something to eat." Chronos walked out of the kitchen.
"Well everyone out while I finish making breakfast." Marle pushed everyone else out. Crono and the twin left the kitchen at her request. "I have a lot of work to do." Marle said as she began to get the ingredients out of the cabinets.
* * * * * *
An hour later, Marle came out of the kitchen carrying a tray filled with fruits, pancakes, sausages, and many more things. Crono was sitting against wall with his children sitting next to him. Chronos was leaning against a pillar, whittling away on a piece of wood he found. "I didn't think that there was this much food in the kitchen." She said.
"There isn't," Crono said. He looked at Chronos.
"What?" He said. "I just helped a little bit. Is that a problem?"
"Thank you again." Crono replied. Marle sat down against the wall across from her family. There were five plates on the tray. Crono, Kuria, and Derth each took one. "I made on for you too, Mr. Chronos." Marle offer him a plate.
"No thank you, Marle," Chronos said. He didn't look up from his sculpture. "I hope that I don't sound rude."
"Not at all," she replied. "I didn't know whether or not you have eaten all ready."
"Well,thank you anyways." Chronos was dropping wood shavings on the floor below him.
Kuria had finished her breakfast. "What are you making?" She asked Chronos.
"I don't know. I haven't decided yet. I just let my hands do what they want while whittling. But I will come up with something." Chronos stopped and looked up. "How 'bout I give you it when I am done, is that alright?"
"Sure," she answered,
"Would you like one too, Derth?" Chronos asked.
"Yes, please?" He replied, with his mouth full.
"Derth!" Marle said. "How many times have I said not to talk with your mouth open?"
"A lot?" He said, swallowing his food.
"Yeah, a lot. Don't do it again, okay?"
"Yes mom," Derth looked down at his food.
"There, finished," Chronos, said. His creation was a small statuette of a female warrior. "There, you go, Kuria." He handed the figurine to her. "And here is one for you, Derth." Chronos pulled out a small statuette of a male warrior and hand it to him.
"Thanks," they said.
"You're welcome," Chronos said, smiling.
They had both finished their breakfast. Kuria asked her father, "Can we go and play?"
"Yes you may," Crono said putting his plate back on the tray. As the twins left, he asked Chronos, "How did you do that?"
"Do what?" Chronos replied. He placed his dagger on his belt and sat down against the pillar.
"Get two figurines like that? You only were whittling one before."
"Oh that." He said pulling out a flask. "It was simple slight of hand, creating two dolls while you only saw one."
"But how did you do it so fast?" Marle said, standing up and gather the twins' plates.
Chronos drank from the flask. "Faster than the speed of light," He said, taking another drink.
Marle walked out of the hallway and back into the kitchen. As soon as she left, Crono asked him, "So where are we going?"
"To El Nido Archipelago." Chronos took another drink of his flask and then put it away in his coat. "That is where some of the other warriors are that I had had in mind. Speaking of other warriors, where are Lucca and The Magus?" Chronos asked him.
Crono looked down and had a depressing look on his face. "They have been missing for some time now. It was about fifteen years ago when the."
"Lucca Ashtear Orphanage burned down. I know. I take it that they when missing soon after that. What about Kid?"
"She was missing too. What are you looking for in El Nido?"
"My theory is that they are in El Nido. Hidden among one of the islands. But that may not be true. I can't feel one of their souls. It's not on this plane, but it's not gone. I would still feel it." Chronos stood up and stretched. "I don't know where she. That I am sure of."
"Then Magus is still alive." Crono jumped to his feet quickly. "But what about Lucca and Kid are still alive?"
"Both of them are, but one of them is not in this dimension. I don't know who is; so don't say anything to Marle. We all find out when we get there." Chronos turned around quickly, causing his cape to float momentary in the air.
"But I have never lied Marle before." Crono said. "How can I do that to her?"
"You don't have to lie to her," Chronos replied. "Just don't tell her at all. I don't want any false hope. That doesn't help me." He walked out of the room, just as Marle entered. The lights flickered when Chronos left
"What were you two talking about? You seemed excited, like he had great news? Marle asked her husband.
"It was nothing." Crono said. "He just told me where we are going. That's all."
"Okay, so where are we going?" She questioned him.
"To El Nido." He replied.
"Why there?"
"Chronos believes that there is other 'warriors' there. So that is where we going." Crono kissed his wife. "Let's get packed okay?"
"Okay." Crono walked out of the hallway. Marle muttered under her breath. "You're lying to Crono and I don't like it. I will find out why too." She ran to catch up with Crono and she grabbed his hand. They walked holding hands all the way to their bedroom.
* * * * * *
Chronos had a cart and horse already outside the castle when Crono and Marle walked out. He was leaning against it. "Already to go?"
"Yes I think so. But where is Kuria and Derth?" Marle asked. She was looking around holding her bags.
"They are right behind us." Crono said. He looked behind him. Kuria and Derth came running out with their bags on their back. They were carrying their figurines in their hands. "See. Here they come."
"Yeah!" Kuria said. "Where we going?"
"To El Nido," Chronos replied, placing bags on the cart. "We are first going to the ruins of the Ashtear Orphanage. I'm sorry if that bother you, but it has to be done." He said his looking start at Crono and Marle.
"It's okay." Marle said. "It will help us make peace."
"That's good then." Chronos pulled down a set of stairs. "Please take some seats in the back. There is still enough room for you there."
"Where will you be sitting?" Marle asked as she climbed the stairs to the back.
"I will be your chauffeur to the orphanage, then to the docks in Truce." Chronos helped to the twins into the back and then hoisted himself in the front. "Comfortable back there?"
"Yes, we are," Marle was holding Derth on her lap with Crono sitting right next to her, with Kuria on his lap. "Can we go soon?"
"We are leaving right now." Chronos whipped the horses and they were off.
The horses moved slowly to get out of Guardia Forest. The forest slowly livened up as they pasted each tree. The green returned to the leaves of the trees and the grass became emerald green as they pasted. Flowers sprouted from the ground. "How is all this happening?" Kuria shifted on Crono's lap to look at what was happening.
"Stop that dear," Crono said. "But did you do this?"
"The world has become so dark and empty, that I feel that there needs to be more color." Chronos whipped the horses. "So I made the forest come back to life. Life seems better with a variety of color." He turned around and faced the family. "Don't you agree?"
"I think so," Marle said. "We lived in the empty castle for so long that I was beginning to worry about there was no more flowers, no more things that gave the world a happier appearance."
"'The world is only as beautiful as we see ourselves.' " Chronos turned around and guided the horses out of the forest. "Welcome to the world that you have been absent to for the past twelve years." The world was still alive and going on as if nothing had happen. In the distant, you could see the houses' smoke rising in the air. "Which way to the Orphanage, please?" Chronos asked.
"It's on an island named after Lucca's family. It is near Truce. Do you know where that is?" Crono said.
"Yeah, it was the town I enter Guardia in." Chronos whipped the horses and sped off toward Ashtear Island.
"That was a beautiful quote you said. Who was it by?" Derth asked the driver, changing the subject. "I have never heard it before."
"Yerisad told it to me once," Chronos replied.
"Who's that?" Derth questioned him.
Chronos laughed. "Don't tell me that you don't know about the four gods?" The each passenger gave Chronos a puzzling look. Chronos stopped the horses and turned around. They stopped at the entrance to Ashtear Island. The pale blue water glittered in the sun's light. "You seriously don't know about them, do you?"
"No we don't. Who are they?" Crono asked. "You mentioned them yesterday."
"They are the ones who control the world, elements, and life itself." Chronos said. "Each element corresponds to one god: Yerisad, light; Loizkie, shadow; Odidius, flame; and Titaneon, water."
"So that's where our powers come from? But what about lightning?" Kuria asked.
"Lightning is a minor magic, major compared to the other minors. Earth, forest and wind are elements at are controlled by minor gods." Chronos answered her. "There are other gods too, though but they are not of importance right now." He turned back around and whipped the horses. They went speeding toward the ruins of the orphanage. "All the elements can be channeled and used like you magic. There are few people who can use all of them."
"Like Magus?" Marle asked.
"Exactly like him. I'm another. But unlike Magus, I can use the minor elements too." Chronos guided the horses across the bridge connecting the two islands. "And the only reason I can is because I have been using all of them for the past millennia."
"Wow, can we see some magic?" Kuria requested.
"Is it alright with your parents?" Chronos replied, turning to Crono and Marle.
"I see no reason why not to." Crono said.
"Okay then." Chronos stopped the horses in the middle of the bridge. "Here it goes." Chronos jumped off the carriage onto the bridge. He closed his eyes and began to mumble something. When Chronos opened his eyes again, all that Crono and his family could was darkness. His eyes were gone, leaving nothingness, a void, darkness.
Chronos pointed to the side of the bridge with both his hands, slowly pull his hands up to his head. The water on the side of the bridge rose up with Chronos' hands. The tunnels of water grew high in the sky, nearly reaching the sun. Crono and his family stared up cylinders of water as Chronos threw them overhead. The tunnels moved over the heads of the traveling party, landing on the opposite sides of the bridges. "How's that," Chronos said when the water finally stopped moving. He pulled out a pair of black sunglasses and put them on.
All that Marle could say was, "Wow."
"I would have to agree," Crono said.
"How did you do that?" Marle asked. "That had to be hard."
"No," Chronos said, grabbing the reins. "That was easy." Turning to the twins, "Next time, believe that I can do it, okay?"
"Okay," they said in unison.
"Now here we are," Chronos stopped the horses when they were on the island. He pulled up a stone pillar from the ground. Chronos jumped down and tied the reins to the pillar.
Crono and his family climbed out of the wagon and faced the ruins. Marle began to cry and placed her head on her husband's shoulder. Crono patted his wife and continued to stare at the ruins. "So why are we here, Chronos?" He asked.
Chronos walked over to where the door once was and kneeled down. "I needed to known where to begin."
"I thought you knew everything?"
"But when one of the persons is not even in this same dimension, it makes things kinda of hard." Chronos looked back at Crono, holding his wife. He turned back to the ruins and crouched down.
"What are you doing?" Derth asked.
"There is an aura still here from Lucca and Kid. I can feel it, see it." Chronos picked up a piece of wood and twirled it. "I think that I can follow it to where they are." He stood up and looked at the family.
With a small gesture, Chronos picked up the ruins in the air. He created a small tornado and made the ruins fly into the air, out of the atmosphere. In the place of the ruins is a statue of Lucca. There was a plaque on it. It read, "In remembrance of Lucca Ashtear, friend to all, caretaker of many."
"I hope that this is enough," Chronos said to Crono and Marle. "This statue will remain here for all of time. I hope you enjoy it." He turned around and walked back to horses.
"Do you want to get going?" Marle was close to tears.
"No, please take your time." Chronos sat down next to the horses. The horses followed his lead and sat down too. "We're in no hurry." His sunglasses reflected the sun.
Crono and Marle didn't move for another minute, looking at statue. They didn't move until Kuria spoke up, "Mom, Dad, I'm hungry. Can we get something to eat?"
Crono turned to his daughter. "Yeah, I think that we can get something like it." He looked at Chronos.
Chronos had a cowboy hat covering his face and he was leaning against one of the horses. He picked his hat off his eyes. Chronos had removed the sunglasses, showing the emptiness within his eyes. With a wave of his hand, a picnic basket appeared on the ground in front of him. "The food in there is unlimited and it will give you whatever you want. So, please, enjoy." Chronos placed the hat back over his eyes.
Marle went over and grabbed the basket. Where Crono was standing, a blanket appeared underneath his feet. Derth and Kuria walked over to blanket and sat down on it. In each hand, they carried the figures that Chronos had given them. Only now, the figures were painted and had opposable arms and legs. "How did that happen?" Marle asked her children.
"I don't know," Kuria said. "When we woke up this morning, there were like that."
"Same with mine." Derth was digging through the picnic basket.
"Stop that," Marle said. Derth moved away from the basket and sat down on the edge of blanket. "I don't want you picking out anything with too much sugar in it."
"Yes, Mom," Derth said. He picked up his figurine and began to play with it.
Marle pulled out five plates and put them down on the blanket. She then pulled out a beef roast, salads, glasses, and anything else that could be found at a royal meal. She served her family first, then looked over to Chronos. "I don't want anything and thank you," he didn't even take off his hat when spoke.
Chronos was only a few feet away from the family; he could have been miles away from them. Chronos was in a deep trance, one in which he astral projected into a realm which few have been to, the end of time.
* * * * * *
End of Time:
Gaspar was leaning against the lamp post, his head facing the ground. He was asleep, again, with out a care in the world. A sudden prod on the shoulder woke him. "Who is it?" Gaspar said, rubbing his eyes, his glasses falling off his face.
"Why it is me, Gaspar," a voice spoke.
"Chronos," Gaspar placed his glasses on his head, looking around for his friend. His eyes stopped upon a figure standing in the middle of the cobble path of this realm. He carried a sword, black as the night and as forgiving as it. He bore wings, each different from each other, one, a demonic look was given to it, the other, heaven could be felt from it. His body, through perfect in shape, was mangled with color; black and white colors swirled on it, moving about with only the confines of his body. His eyes, those were strange too, light came out of them, again different in color, one eye black as the night, the other, pearl white was the color. "Dear god."
"What," Chronos said. He looked down to his body, "Oh. I'm sorry Gaspar about the way I look. But astral projection is that way."
"What way?"
"The astral projection of the being is the way the person sees themselves," Chronos stood up straight, "and this is me."
"Interesting," Gaspar said. He walked over to his friend and just stared at him. A long period of silence followed.
"This is not the time, Gaspar." Chronos broke the silence. "We need to talk." A door swung open and out came running Spekkio. His arms were spread wide open to hug Chronos, but with a wave of his hand, Chronos stopped Spekkio dead in his tracks. Gaspar just stared at what had occurred. "Why me, Gaspar?"
"Because you are the only one with the will and power. You are the one who knows all and feels all. You are the this universe."
"But must I defend it?"
"Yes, for, you created it. You are the one who created the people within this world, you are the one who created the magic that holds this world together."
"But-" "No more, Chronos," Gaspar said. "I don't think that that was the only reason to be here."
"No it isn't," Chronos said. "No, it is about Lucca."
"I know." Gaspar walked over to his lamp post. "I was watching."
"So," Chronos replied, "what are we going to do?"
"Continue on, as if nothing was wrong. That is all that we can do. I will contact you if I figure out what to do."
"Fine," Chronos turned around quickly, his wings were like a cape on him. "Until later times," Chronos said. He waved his hand, allowing Spekkio to move again. He slowly disappeared in the darkness.
By: The Fallen Angel
Author's note: all info that has not been created by me belongs to Squaresoft and the makers of Chrono Cross.
1022 AD: The next day
The next morning, Crono wake up early. He walked the castle's corridors for hours thinking of what Chronos said. Marle found him in the treasury. "What's wrong, honey?" She asked him.
"I don't know." Crono was looking at his sword. "He said he could restore our magic. With what he showed us, and what he said, the man could help us get our kingdom back. He also promised that we would not get hurt." Crono stood up. "It seems that we should help him. But I just don't know. What do you think?"
"I think that it will be important for our children to grew up in a place where they don't have to hid and run away just stay alive." Marle sat down on a box next to Crono. "This Chronos person gave the impression that he could give us that. I think that we should take that chance." She laid her head on Crono's shoulder. "Don't you agree?"
"Yeah, I do," He gave his wife a hug and stood up.
"Where are you going?" Marle questioned him.
"To give him our answer." Crono turned around and faced Marle. Then, he turned back to the door and walked out of the treasury
* * * * * *
Chronos was sitting on the steps of the castle, whittling away on a piece of wood. The sun hadn't even rose yet. "The blades they make now a days are awful." Chronos was twirling the small dagger. He then continued to work on his small creation when Crono came walking down the stairs. "Hello Your Majesty."
"Don't call me that and my wife does like her title either," Crono took a sit next to him. "I came to inform you about our decision."
"You sound all formal and everything." Chronos was looking at his wooden creature. "So what is it?"
"First, I wish to ask you a question." Crono was looking at the horizon. "Why us, why my family, why me?"
Chronos looked up from his creation. "That's three. But I will answer them anyways." He returned to whittling. "You and your family have fought the good fight for so long. I have always admired the way you have done your best to the good of the world. That is why I choose you, I choose you because of your heart, your courage, your faith. Especially the last." Chronos looked at the horizon. "That had been something that I have lost many years ago. I see in you what I was once was."
"What do you mean?" Crono was puzzled. He had a confused look on his face. "I don't understand."
"You wouldn't." Chronos whittled some more. He looked at Crono. "Do you know who the Four Horsemen are?"
"No."
"They are the Knights of the Apocalypse. War, Famine, Pestilence, and Death. When the world ends, they will lead the way to the destruction of the world. I know when, where, and how the world ends, and yet, I feel no obligations to help. That is, until I meet you. I saw the light of hope in you. I saw it in your family, I seen it in others. You have brought hope to Hope himself. I think you for that." Chronos looked down at his wooden figure. "Here," and he handed it you Crono.
"What is this?" Crono looked the figure. It was Crono, in his prime, along with Marle, Frog, Robo, Lucca, Magus, and Ayla, just after they defeated Lavos.
"Now," Chronos stood up and stretched. He ignored Crono. "What is your answer?"
"My answer is that, I will help you, but I want my family to come along too."
"Sure, why not, the more the merrier." Chronos stuck out his hand for Crono to take it.
"Just one more question." Crono took his hand and shook it.
"Shoot." Chronos replied.
"You said that you would restore our magic. When will it happen and how soon?"
"What time is it?" Chronos looked at the horizon.
"About six o'clock. Why do you ask?"
"Three . two . one." A loud explosion occurred in side the castle. "Let's go inside and see what that was." Chronos stuck his hand in his pants pockets and walked into the castle. Crono got up quickly and ran after him.
* * * * * *
Inside castle, smoke filled the hallways. "This way." Crono said as he ran down some stairs.
"What ever you say captain." Chronos followed him slowly.
"We have to hurry. Marle was in the kitchen." Crono continued to run down the hazy hallways. Crono reached the kitchen only to find that Marle was using he magic to put out the fire from the explosion. Ice came form her fingertips to freeze the raging fire. When Marle finished, all that was left was frozen flames glittering from the light coming from the windows. The room was frozen top to bottom. Crono was surprised and happy at the same time. "Honey, what happen here?"
"I don't know. One moment I was cooking breakfast; the next, there was a fire. My first instinct was run but I then thought that I could put out the fire with the ice spell that I learned. I recited the spell and ice came from my fingertips."
Chronos came walking in. "Wow, I didn't expect this much fire. Nice job of putting it out." He was looking around at the icy flames. He picked up an icicle form from the ceiling, "and amazing enough the temperature didn't drop one bit."
"You know that this was going to happen," Crono yelled at him. "And you let my wife be in danger!"
"If I thought that your wife was in any danger, I would have been the first one down here to put out the fire." Chronos pulled a chair out from underneath a frozen table. "Besides, I told you would get your magic back. This was just my way of showing you."
"You couldn't just tell us." Now Marle was getting mad.
"I don't like to explain things. I prefer people to find things out on their own." Chronos was using the icicle he grabbed as a toothpick. "But if you don't want me to do that any more, I will just tell. But it won't be any fun."
The twins came running into the kitchen just as Chronos finished his sentence. "What happen here?" Kuria asked. She was staring amazed at the frozen fire.
"Nothing," Crono said. "You two all right?"
"Yeah," Derth walked into the room. "We're fine."
"Be careful Derth," Marle said. Just as she opened her mouth Derth began to fall. But he never hit the ground. He stopped in the air, hovering over the ground. "Are you okay, Derth?" Marle began to move.
"Just stay where you are. I don't want to do three things at once." Chronos said. One of his hands was pointing at Derth. With his other hand, Chronos waved in over the ice, causing it to slowly disappear. "There, now you can move to your son."
Marle ran over to her son and gave him a hug. "Are you okay, Derth?"
"I'm fine mom." He replied. "That was fun. Can I do it again?"
"No, you may not," Crono said in a firm voice. To Chronos, "Thank you."
"No problem. I'm glad to help out." Chronos stood up. "If you want breakfast before we go, I suggest that you get something to eat." Chronos walked out of the kitchen.
"Well everyone out while I finish making breakfast." Marle pushed everyone else out. Crono and the twin left the kitchen at her request. "I have a lot of work to do." Marle said as she began to get the ingredients out of the cabinets.
* * * * * *
An hour later, Marle came out of the kitchen carrying a tray filled with fruits, pancakes, sausages, and many more things. Crono was sitting against wall with his children sitting next to him. Chronos was leaning against a pillar, whittling away on a piece of wood he found. "I didn't think that there was this much food in the kitchen." She said.
"There isn't," Crono said. He looked at Chronos.
"What?" He said. "I just helped a little bit. Is that a problem?"
"Thank you again." Crono replied. Marle sat down against the wall across from her family. There were five plates on the tray. Crono, Kuria, and Derth each took one. "I made on for you too, Mr. Chronos." Marle offer him a plate.
"No thank you, Marle," Chronos said. He didn't look up from his sculpture. "I hope that I don't sound rude."
"Not at all," she replied. "I didn't know whether or not you have eaten all ready."
"Well,thank you anyways." Chronos was dropping wood shavings on the floor below him.
Kuria had finished her breakfast. "What are you making?" She asked Chronos.
"I don't know. I haven't decided yet. I just let my hands do what they want while whittling. But I will come up with something." Chronos stopped and looked up. "How 'bout I give you it when I am done, is that alright?"
"Sure," she answered,
"Would you like one too, Derth?" Chronos asked.
"Yes, please?" He replied, with his mouth full.
"Derth!" Marle said. "How many times have I said not to talk with your mouth open?"
"A lot?" He said, swallowing his food.
"Yeah, a lot. Don't do it again, okay?"
"Yes mom," Derth looked down at his food.
"There, finished," Chronos, said. His creation was a small statuette of a female warrior. "There, you go, Kuria." He handed the figurine to her. "And here is one for you, Derth." Chronos pulled out a small statuette of a male warrior and hand it to him.
"Thanks," they said.
"You're welcome," Chronos said, smiling.
They had both finished their breakfast. Kuria asked her father, "Can we go and play?"
"Yes you may," Crono said putting his plate back on the tray. As the twins left, he asked Chronos, "How did you do that?"
"Do what?" Chronos replied. He placed his dagger on his belt and sat down against the pillar.
"Get two figurines like that? You only were whittling one before."
"Oh that." He said pulling out a flask. "It was simple slight of hand, creating two dolls while you only saw one."
"But how did you do it so fast?" Marle said, standing up and gather the twins' plates.
Chronos drank from the flask. "Faster than the speed of light," He said, taking another drink.
Marle walked out of the hallway and back into the kitchen. As soon as she left, Crono asked him, "So where are we going?"
"To El Nido Archipelago." Chronos took another drink of his flask and then put it away in his coat. "That is where some of the other warriors are that I had had in mind. Speaking of other warriors, where are Lucca and The Magus?" Chronos asked him.
Crono looked down and had a depressing look on his face. "They have been missing for some time now. It was about fifteen years ago when the."
"Lucca Ashtear Orphanage burned down. I know. I take it that they when missing soon after that. What about Kid?"
"She was missing too. What are you looking for in El Nido?"
"My theory is that they are in El Nido. Hidden among one of the islands. But that may not be true. I can't feel one of their souls. It's not on this plane, but it's not gone. I would still feel it." Chronos stood up and stretched. "I don't know where she. That I am sure of."
"Then Magus is still alive." Crono jumped to his feet quickly. "But what about Lucca and Kid are still alive?"
"Both of them are, but one of them is not in this dimension. I don't know who is; so don't say anything to Marle. We all find out when we get there." Chronos turned around quickly, causing his cape to float momentary in the air.
"But I have never lied Marle before." Crono said. "How can I do that to her?"
"You don't have to lie to her," Chronos replied. "Just don't tell her at all. I don't want any false hope. That doesn't help me." He walked out of the room, just as Marle entered. The lights flickered when Chronos left
"What were you two talking about? You seemed excited, like he had great news? Marle asked her husband.
"It was nothing." Crono said. "He just told me where we are going. That's all."
"Okay, so where are we going?" She questioned him.
"To El Nido." He replied.
"Why there?"
"Chronos believes that there is other 'warriors' there. So that is where we going." Crono kissed his wife. "Let's get packed okay?"
"Okay." Crono walked out of the hallway. Marle muttered under her breath. "You're lying to Crono and I don't like it. I will find out why too." She ran to catch up with Crono and she grabbed his hand. They walked holding hands all the way to their bedroom.
* * * * * *
Chronos had a cart and horse already outside the castle when Crono and Marle walked out. He was leaning against it. "Already to go?"
"Yes I think so. But where is Kuria and Derth?" Marle asked. She was looking around holding her bags.
"They are right behind us." Crono said. He looked behind him. Kuria and Derth came running out with their bags on their back. They were carrying their figurines in their hands. "See. Here they come."
"Yeah!" Kuria said. "Where we going?"
"To El Nido," Chronos replied, placing bags on the cart. "We are first going to the ruins of the Ashtear Orphanage. I'm sorry if that bother you, but it has to be done." He said his looking start at Crono and Marle.
"It's okay." Marle said. "It will help us make peace."
"That's good then." Chronos pulled down a set of stairs. "Please take some seats in the back. There is still enough room for you there."
"Where will you be sitting?" Marle asked as she climbed the stairs to the back.
"I will be your chauffeur to the orphanage, then to the docks in Truce." Chronos helped to the twins into the back and then hoisted himself in the front. "Comfortable back there?"
"Yes, we are," Marle was holding Derth on her lap with Crono sitting right next to her, with Kuria on his lap. "Can we go soon?"
"We are leaving right now." Chronos whipped the horses and they were off.
The horses moved slowly to get out of Guardia Forest. The forest slowly livened up as they pasted each tree. The green returned to the leaves of the trees and the grass became emerald green as they pasted. Flowers sprouted from the ground. "How is all this happening?" Kuria shifted on Crono's lap to look at what was happening.
"Stop that dear," Crono said. "But did you do this?"
"The world has become so dark and empty, that I feel that there needs to be more color." Chronos whipped the horses. "So I made the forest come back to life. Life seems better with a variety of color." He turned around and faced the family. "Don't you agree?"
"I think so," Marle said. "We lived in the empty castle for so long that I was beginning to worry about there was no more flowers, no more things that gave the world a happier appearance."
"'The world is only as beautiful as we see ourselves.' " Chronos turned around and guided the horses out of the forest. "Welcome to the world that you have been absent to for the past twelve years." The world was still alive and going on as if nothing had happen. In the distant, you could see the houses' smoke rising in the air. "Which way to the Orphanage, please?" Chronos asked.
"It's on an island named after Lucca's family. It is near Truce. Do you know where that is?" Crono said.
"Yeah, it was the town I enter Guardia in." Chronos whipped the horses and sped off toward Ashtear Island.
"That was a beautiful quote you said. Who was it by?" Derth asked the driver, changing the subject. "I have never heard it before."
"Yerisad told it to me once," Chronos replied.
"Who's that?" Derth questioned him.
Chronos laughed. "Don't tell me that you don't know about the four gods?" The each passenger gave Chronos a puzzling look. Chronos stopped the horses and turned around. They stopped at the entrance to Ashtear Island. The pale blue water glittered in the sun's light. "You seriously don't know about them, do you?"
"No we don't. Who are they?" Crono asked. "You mentioned them yesterday."
"They are the ones who control the world, elements, and life itself." Chronos said. "Each element corresponds to one god: Yerisad, light; Loizkie, shadow; Odidius, flame; and Titaneon, water."
"So that's where our powers come from? But what about lightning?" Kuria asked.
"Lightning is a minor magic, major compared to the other minors. Earth, forest and wind are elements at are controlled by minor gods." Chronos answered her. "There are other gods too, though but they are not of importance right now." He turned back around and whipped the horses. They went speeding toward the ruins of the orphanage. "All the elements can be channeled and used like you magic. There are few people who can use all of them."
"Like Magus?" Marle asked.
"Exactly like him. I'm another. But unlike Magus, I can use the minor elements too." Chronos guided the horses across the bridge connecting the two islands. "And the only reason I can is because I have been using all of them for the past millennia."
"Wow, can we see some magic?" Kuria requested.
"Is it alright with your parents?" Chronos replied, turning to Crono and Marle.
"I see no reason why not to." Crono said.
"Okay then." Chronos stopped the horses in the middle of the bridge. "Here it goes." Chronos jumped off the carriage onto the bridge. He closed his eyes and began to mumble something. When Chronos opened his eyes again, all that Crono and his family could was darkness. His eyes were gone, leaving nothingness, a void, darkness.
Chronos pointed to the side of the bridge with both his hands, slowly pull his hands up to his head. The water on the side of the bridge rose up with Chronos' hands. The tunnels of water grew high in the sky, nearly reaching the sun. Crono and his family stared up cylinders of water as Chronos threw them overhead. The tunnels moved over the heads of the traveling party, landing on the opposite sides of the bridges. "How's that," Chronos said when the water finally stopped moving. He pulled out a pair of black sunglasses and put them on.
All that Marle could say was, "Wow."
"I would have to agree," Crono said.
"How did you do that?" Marle asked. "That had to be hard."
"No," Chronos said, grabbing the reins. "That was easy." Turning to the twins, "Next time, believe that I can do it, okay?"
"Okay," they said in unison.
"Now here we are," Chronos stopped the horses when they were on the island. He pulled up a stone pillar from the ground. Chronos jumped down and tied the reins to the pillar.
Crono and his family climbed out of the wagon and faced the ruins. Marle began to cry and placed her head on her husband's shoulder. Crono patted his wife and continued to stare at the ruins. "So why are we here, Chronos?" He asked.
Chronos walked over to where the door once was and kneeled down. "I needed to known where to begin."
"I thought you knew everything?"
"But when one of the persons is not even in this same dimension, it makes things kinda of hard." Chronos looked back at Crono, holding his wife. He turned back to the ruins and crouched down.
"What are you doing?" Derth asked.
"There is an aura still here from Lucca and Kid. I can feel it, see it." Chronos picked up a piece of wood and twirled it. "I think that I can follow it to where they are." He stood up and looked at the family.
With a small gesture, Chronos picked up the ruins in the air. He created a small tornado and made the ruins fly into the air, out of the atmosphere. In the place of the ruins is a statue of Lucca. There was a plaque on it. It read, "In remembrance of Lucca Ashtear, friend to all, caretaker of many."
"I hope that this is enough," Chronos said to Crono and Marle. "This statue will remain here for all of time. I hope you enjoy it." He turned around and walked back to horses.
"Do you want to get going?" Marle was close to tears.
"No, please take your time." Chronos sat down next to the horses. The horses followed his lead and sat down too. "We're in no hurry." His sunglasses reflected the sun.
Crono and Marle didn't move for another minute, looking at statue. They didn't move until Kuria spoke up, "Mom, Dad, I'm hungry. Can we get something to eat?"
Crono turned to his daughter. "Yeah, I think that we can get something like it." He looked at Chronos.
Chronos had a cowboy hat covering his face and he was leaning against one of the horses. He picked his hat off his eyes. Chronos had removed the sunglasses, showing the emptiness within his eyes. With a wave of his hand, a picnic basket appeared on the ground in front of him. "The food in there is unlimited and it will give you whatever you want. So, please, enjoy." Chronos placed the hat back over his eyes.
Marle went over and grabbed the basket. Where Crono was standing, a blanket appeared underneath his feet. Derth and Kuria walked over to blanket and sat down on it. In each hand, they carried the figures that Chronos had given them. Only now, the figures were painted and had opposable arms and legs. "How did that happen?" Marle asked her children.
"I don't know," Kuria said. "When we woke up this morning, there were like that."
"Same with mine." Derth was digging through the picnic basket.
"Stop that," Marle said. Derth moved away from the basket and sat down on the edge of blanket. "I don't want you picking out anything with too much sugar in it."
"Yes, Mom," Derth said. He picked up his figurine and began to play with it.
Marle pulled out five plates and put them down on the blanket. She then pulled out a beef roast, salads, glasses, and anything else that could be found at a royal meal. She served her family first, then looked over to Chronos. "I don't want anything and thank you," he didn't even take off his hat when spoke.
Chronos was only a few feet away from the family; he could have been miles away from them. Chronos was in a deep trance, one in which he astral projected into a realm which few have been to, the end of time.
* * * * * *
End of Time:
Gaspar was leaning against the lamp post, his head facing the ground. He was asleep, again, with out a care in the world. A sudden prod on the shoulder woke him. "Who is it?" Gaspar said, rubbing his eyes, his glasses falling off his face.
"Why it is me, Gaspar," a voice spoke.
"Chronos," Gaspar placed his glasses on his head, looking around for his friend. His eyes stopped upon a figure standing in the middle of the cobble path of this realm. He carried a sword, black as the night and as forgiving as it. He bore wings, each different from each other, one, a demonic look was given to it, the other, heaven could be felt from it. His body, through perfect in shape, was mangled with color; black and white colors swirled on it, moving about with only the confines of his body. His eyes, those were strange too, light came out of them, again different in color, one eye black as the night, the other, pearl white was the color. "Dear god."
"What," Chronos said. He looked down to his body, "Oh. I'm sorry Gaspar about the way I look. But astral projection is that way."
"What way?"
"The astral projection of the being is the way the person sees themselves," Chronos stood up straight, "and this is me."
"Interesting," Gaspar said. He walked over to his friend and just stared at him. A long period of silence followed.
"This is not the time, Gaspar." Chronos broke the silence. "We need to talk." A door swung open and out came running Spekkio. His arms were spread wide open to hug Chronos, but with a wave of his hand, Chronos stopped Spekkio dead in his tracks. Gaspar just stared at what had occurred. "Why me, Gaspar?"
"Because you are the only one with the will and power. You are the one who knows all and feels all. You are the this universe."
"But must I defend it?"
"Yes, for, you created it. You are the one who created the people within this world, you are the one who created the magic that holds this world together."
"But-" "No more, Chronos," Gaspar said. "I don't think that that was the only reason to be here."
"No it isn't," Chronos said. "No, it is about Lucca."
"I know." Gaspar walked over to his lamp post. "I was watching."
"So," Chronos replied, "what are we going to do?"
"Continue on, as if nothing was wrong. That is all that we can do. I will contact you if I figure out what to do."
"Fine," Chronos turned around quickly, his wings were like a cape on him. "Until later times," Chronos said. He waved his hand, allowing Spekkio to move again. He slowly disappeared in the darkness.