Disclaimer: A final time I DON'T OWN CHRONO TRIGGER!
A/N: The wonderful end to The Amazon Girl! I hope you like it, I went through about three versions of the ending until I finally got one I liked.
ENJOY!
Chapter Twelve: War (Part Three - With Amazons)
Schala screamed and covered her head with her arms. She practically felt the spider breathing down her neck when arrows thudded into the creature's back. It shrieked as it was made into a hairy eight-legged porcuipine. Schala scrambled to her feet and ran to Crono and Marle as the spider nearly collapsed on her. Marle had Crono off the tree but he was still covered with goopy strands of the silver-white web. He went to pick up his sword off the ground near the tarantula. Their rescueres came up to them with crossbows in hand. A knight spoke to them, "We thought you needed some help so we took a detour. Are you all right, young lady?" he asked Schala, who looked pretty shook up. "Y-yes, i'm fine. Thank you." She said pushing her hair behind her ears. "Are more Guardians at the camp?" Marle wanted to know. "Yes, m'lady. We launched a full scale attack. Some of your friends were captured earlier but one escaped and warned us. We better go see what's happening." he explained. Lily, Lightning, and Beauty galloped into the clearing with Lucca riding her black and white speckled mare, Pepper. "C'mon!" Lucca urged. "Gabrielle was right. These Amazons were completely prepared and we're in battle." She kicked her mare into a gallop as the others mounted up. They thundered into the clearing and saw the rest immediately. Gabrielle saw them and reared Rebel, letting him kick anyone foolish enough to get in range of the gelding's flying hooves. She galloped to them. "Some show, huh?" she inquired. A slash ran from her temple to her cheek and was bleeding liberally. Her hair was tousled and dirt smudged her face.
"We'll see." Crono shouted over the din of the fighting. "Let's show these Amazons who's boss!" he drew his sword and let out a war cry. He slashed at an incoming foe and swerved his horse to avoid a flying arrow. He pushed through to Magus and Glenn, who were fighting in a similar fashion. "Watch out for arrows, there's archers all over this damn camp." Magus warned. "Ayla and Robo are trying to pick off the archers to lessen their numbers." Glenn told them. "Where's Gabrielle?" he asked. He cut down an Amazon who was trying to unseat him. Magus snatched an arrow out of the air and rammed it into a foe's shoulder. "I hate it when you do that." Schala muttered from behind them. She looked very distrought by the gore and violence. "I saw Gabrielle just a minute ago." "Where?" Glenn demanded. "Over there." Schala pointed to the entrance to the camp; Gabrielle was not there. "There she is." Magus pointed to Gabrielle who was in the south west corner of the clearing and was slashing at an opponent. A glint of metal caught Glenn's eye in a tree. An archer was taking aim in a maple tree. His target was clear: Gabrielle. Crono and Magus saw it too. "Gabrielle!" Glenn shouted. Gabrielle was completely unaware of the archer and continued to fight her opponents. Glenn kicked his horse into a hard gallop and nearly plowed into everyone who was in his way, even Guardians. The archer loosed when Glenn was about fifteen feet from Gabrielle. "NO!" Glenn screamed. "Gabrielle! Watch out!" Gabrielle looked up at him like, "What?! I'm kind of busy!" She cried out and jerked; the arrow had hit her all right. In the shoulder near her collarbone, it came out. She slid from her saddle just as Glenn thundered to her. An Amazon was there immediately to finish her off. Glenn flew off his horse and ran the man through before he could stop himself. Gabrielle's tunic was soaked with blood already and would need treatment immediately. Ayla saw the archer hit Gabrielle and went to take him out. She tapped him on the shoulder and rammed the heel of her hand into his nose and kneed him in the stomach then slammed her hand in his chest. He fell out of the tree and landed with a thud. She took his bow and quiver and began to shoot at the Amazons. "When do these guys give up?" Crono yelled as he sliced at an incoming foe.
"Never, I guess." Magus grunted and he kicked an Amazon down. "I'll never get used to this." "Used to what?" "Fighting on horseback." Magus replied. "I don't see how some people can't fight on their own two feet." "AMAZONS!" Raoul emerged in full armor on a black stallion. "GET THAT AMAZON WENCH!" He jabbed his broadsword at Glenn who was carrying Gabrielle to a place in the trees. Most of the Amazons lay dead and more Guardians kept trickling into the camp, the end of the battle was near and the winner was clear. Still there were some Amazons to defeat. Marle, who was also picking off archers with Ayla, Robo, and Schala, saw what was happening and leaped onto Beauty's back. She galloped to Glenn to block the Amazons path to him and Gabrielle. Little did she know, the Amazons were readying their crossbows. "What the hell does Marle think she's doing?" Magus wanted to know. Crono was busy fighting another Amazon and didn't hear. "What?" "Marle. Look what she's doing." Magus pointed to Marle pointing Glenn to a save spot behind a large tree. After that she trotted forward and readied her own crossbow. Crono looked to the Amazons and saw their crossbows ready to spear Marle until she was a pin cushion. Crono cursed under his breath and tried to make his way to Marle. Marle saw the number of crossbows against her and decided she had made a bad choice. An Amazon shouted a word and three or four arrows shot in the air. Fortunately, they didn't hit her. Unfortunantely, they hit Beauty; the mare panicked and reared nearly throwing Marle off her horse. She tried to turn the pain-filled mare around to flee but the horse was still bucking and whining loudly. "Whoa, girl! Whoa!" she clutched the reigns and tried to steer the mare but nothing worked. "Hold on, Marle!" Crono bellowed as he made his way to her. "Crono!" Marle screamed as her mare finally did what she wanted to, but the horse's timing was horrible. More arrows flew and one struck Marle right in the back. She screamed and nearly fainted onto her horse's mane. "Marle!" Crono yelled. Arrows flew from a nearby maple killing most of the Amazons with crossbows. Ayla leaped out of the tree and picked up a fallen quiver of arrows and began to shoot some more. Crono slid off his horse and caught the princess right as she fell out of her saddle. He carried her off to a part of the clearing where there was no fighting going on. Most of it had moved to the center of the camp. Marle had passed out and the arrow was still in her back. Meanwhile, Glenn was examining Gabrielle's arrow wound. She lay beside him with one knee up, one knee down. She jerked when he pulled on it. "Hey!" she shouted. "Stop!" "It has to come out, Gabrielle." Glenn told her. The Amazon had not told Glenn that she had never been hit with an arrow. "You'll bleed to death if you don't." "Oh, great..." Gabrielle muttered. Glenn snapped off the shaft and took a deep breath for the next step. "Gabrielle, this is going to hurt a lot." Glenn informed her. "It's the only way, just - brace yourself." Gabrielle nodded and tried to be brave but deep down she was scared to death. Glenn pushed the arrow through until it came out the other side on her back. Gabrielle screamed and tried to stay still even though she wanted to jump up and make Glenn stop. The arrow finally came out; Glenn threw it aside and took off his tunic and reduced it to strips for a bandage. Gabrielle leaned against Glenn's chest as he placed the bandage around her arm to cover both sides of her shoulder. When he was done he wrapped his arms around her, sharing the first tender moment they had had in days. Gabrielle lifted her head to recieve his kiss. They were interupted by someone clearing their throat. Magus stood holding the leaves of the tree up so he could see with one hand and held the reigns of both Shadow and Valient. Rebel stood next to Valient by himself. He grinned wryly and said, "Hate to break it up, but we have a battle to finish, if you don't mind." Glenn and Gabrielle smiled and got up. Right when Gabrielle stepped out from behind the tree, she saw what was the matter and ran to where Marle was lying. "What happened?" Gabrielle cried. Despite the pain in her shoulder she reached out and touched Crono's shoulder. "Crono...? Crono, what happened?" she whispered. "Marle!" Schala ran to them with Robo and Lucca in tow. The Guardians were taking care of the rest of the fight as they cornered the Amazons. "Oh my gosh!" "What happened to Marle?" Robo inquired. His eyes appeared to be scanning to girl lying on her side with an arrow in her back. "Crono, she is still alive. But we need to get her some healing quick." he told him. "Does our magic work?" Crono wanted to know. "For little things. I'm afraid for something like this, it would only do a little bit." Robo replied. "RETREAT!" Someone shrieked. The Amazons began to flee the camp. "We got to get her to Guardia Castle." Lucca said. "It her only chance!" "Crono, I think I can get the arrow out, but then we have to treat the wound quickly after." Robo said. Crono gave a quick nod and Robo set to work. After ten to fifteen minutes, the arrow was out and Crono had a bandage from his shirt ready. Magus put two fingers in his mouth and let out an ear piercing whistle. The horses came to them at a gallop. They mounted up and Crono put Marle in front of him and they rode off. After a few minutes of hard riding, Gabrielle suddenly shrieked, "WATCH OUT!!!" Three trees on the edge of the road started to fall. "Go Crono, before they fall!" When Crono hesitated Gabrielle bellowed, "GO!!" She slapped Lightning's rump sending the horse galloping. Crono kept going and finally he saw Guardia Castle in view. Meanwhile, the rest raced to get out of the way of the falling trees. Magus made the first one but kicked his horse to jump over the second one that had fallen. Gabrielle wasn't so lucky and nearly got squashed by the second tree. The tree was huge like it had a good hundred years on it and was nearly almost as tall as Gabrielle on its side. She had to leap onto the first tree to dodge the incoming branches. Rebel was nearly smashed but the horse had enough brains to trot to the end of the trunk where no branches were. "Gabrielle!" Glenn shouted. "Rebel's gotten through where the stump is. If that fat thing can, you can." Rebel voiced his contempt by blowing a wad of spit on Glenn's shirt. "Oh, why thank you." Glenn said dryly. Gabrielle chuckled and jumped down from the tree and strolled down the lane made by the trees and nearly made it to the stump when the ground beneath her gave way. Unlike the pit traps that are full of spears, spiky things, or are just empty, this one was full of something else; Mud, lot of it. Enough to drown in. It actually looked like someone filled it with water and the dirt walls of the pit mixed with the water. Gabrielle went under and came up spitting, coughing, and gagging. "Help!" she shouted but when it came out she coughed again. "I'm serious - help!" Gabrielle couldn't stay above the surface much longer and was sinking ever so slowly. "Gabrielle?" Glenn inquired. "Where'd you go?" "I'm here!" her voice couldn't carry out of the pit it was so deep. "In this pit! I'm going to drown!" she screamed and went under, a swift kick got her up again. She could hear footsteps on the dirt and twigs snapping. "Where'd she go?" Gabrielle heard Magus ask. "Gabrielle, this is no time to be playing games, get out here now!" "I would if I wasn't stuck in this pit!" Gabrielle snapped. "Gabrielle?" he asked. "Guys, I hear her." "Keep talking Gabrielle!" Glenn shouted. "Can't you see this big gaping hole in the ground?" Gabrielle demanded. She was beggining to tire from treading around in the thick water and screaming at the same time. Gabrielle swam to one of the walls but before she reached it she went under again. She leaped out and grabbed the wall with her mud soaked hands. "Hel - lo?!" Gabrielle screamed. "I'm in this huge hole, can't you see it?" "Whoa!" Glenn yelped when he almost fell in the pit. "Gabrielle! She's in here!" Suddenly, the water shuddered near the center. Gabrielle felt something in the water moved jerkily. Her hands slipped off the dirt wall and she was dunked in the water. "Gabrielle!" Glenn yelled. "Someone get some rope!" Lucca leaped on the tree and climbed over and yanked some rope out of her saddlebag and leaped back on the tree to slid over the other side. Gabrielle came up gagging and coughing again. When she rubbed her eyes and her vision cleared, she saw what was in the water. "I'm not the only one in here!" Gabrielle hissed. Gabrielle leaped at the wall and dug her soaked fingers into the dirt and tried to start climbing but her boots would not stick to the wall. Soon they were so caked with mud that they could do anything. She tried once more but a scaly tenticle shot out of the water and wrapped around Gabrielle's ankle like tourniquent and yanks her into the water. Lucca threw the rope down to Gabrielle but she was under the water. The pit was only about nine feet in diameter but the creature inside made it like home and did not like Gabrielle intruding in it. Gabrielle came up again and lunged for the rope. She missed and went under again. Lucca tried to dip it into the water but the creature inside had other ideas. It yanked on the rope and Lucca nearly toppled in if it not been for Robo and his iron grip. "C'mon Gabrielle." Lucca murmured. "Grab the rope." Gabrielle burst from the churning water and seized the rope. "Pull!" Lucca ordered. Magus and Glenn took grip of the rope and pulled as hard as they could. Gabrielle rose out of the water to the anger of the creature. Gabrielle lunged for the edge and pulled herself up. She fell to the ground exhausted and shooken. She was soaked and covered with mud. "Let's get out of here." Magus said. Gabrielle was more than happy to let Rebel do the walking, or in this case, running. They rode hard for the castle.
* * *
"Almost there, Marle. Hang in there." Crono whispered, stroking Marle's hair as he rode. He was nearly to the gates to the castle and was quickening his pace. Suddenly, there were clanks and the sounds of swords being unsheathed. "Who goes there?" someone bellowed. Crono stopped his horse, who was eager for a rest. "I'm just a rider coming to get help from Guardia Castle. My friends here was wounded, she needs help right now." Crono said in a rush. "Ah, I see. Go on, I hope your friend gets that help." he said. "Thank you." Crono breathed and went into a gallop again. Little did Crono know that the man was smirking and muttering, "Oh she'll get that help...but will your other friends get help?" he cackled and kept watching Crono ride off. Crono finally got to the gates and got help immediately when he entered the castle. One reason was the guards knew casualties would be coming in and another reason was Crono knees buckled and he nearly fell. The guards came to his aid and led him and Marle to the healer's hall. There Marle's wound was treated and Crono could sit down. When he refused a drink given to him by a healer, the healer said, "Drink, boy. It'll keep you from passing out on us." Crono drink one sip and nearly threw up. "What'd I do to you?" he demanded. The healer laughed and ordered him to drink it a second time. Crono plugged his nose and gulped it down. Right after he finished drinking the potion, he knew he had been tricked; it was to help him sleep. He nearly fell off the stool he was sitting on. A maid showed him to a cot and he collapsed on it and was asleep instantly despite his fights against it.
* * *
"Finally!" Schala cried as they came in sight of Guardia Castle. "I hope Crono got here." Ayla whispered. "Marle had big hurt." They went in the gates and were attended to once they entered the door. They walked into the healer's hall and saw Crono and Marle on cots sleeping. A female healer was mixing together a poultice when they entered. She took one look at Gabrielle, who was still covered head to toe in mud, and gasped. "You're going to catch your death like this." the healer told her sternly. "Change your clothes, there's a room to your left." Gabrielle blushed and went into the next room. She came out five minutes later in dry clothes. "Any injuries on you?" the healer asked. "No." Gabrielle lied. Her shoulder was throbbing and when she was changing, she peeled back the makeshift bandage and saw the wound was black and blue.
"Actually-" Gabrielle interrupted Glenn by stamping on his foot. "I'm fine." Gabrielle hissed. "Well, I don't care if you don't even have a scratch on you; you've just been in battle, you're going to rest." The healer ordered. The ended up drinking the same potion Crono did and fell asleep immediately. It was the next evening when they woke up. Gabrielle's arm could barely move and was throbbing so badly she had to bite her lip. "You beat everyone. You're the first one to wake up. Here, let me examine you one last time." The healer began with Gabrielle's head, making sure there were no wounds there; Next her shoulders. "Ow!" Gabrielle cried when the healer squeezed her shoulders. "You lied to me, girl." The healer told her angrily. She peeled back her shirt and saw the wound. "Gods, girl. Why'd you lie about this?" she demanded, getting ingredients for a poultice. "It'll take fair longer to heal now." Once the poultice was ready, she soaked a linen cloth in it and using clean bandage to bandage the wound. "There. Now if it still is sore by the end of the week, come back to me." She said. "All right." Gabrielle murmured. "Gabrielle, you're awake." Glenn said dumbly, rubbing his eyes. Gabrielle walked to the knight's cot and sat next to him. "How you doin'?" Gabrielle asked him. "All right." He murmured. "You?" "Fine." The healer left the room. "What happened to the Amazons?" he asked quickly, sitting up. "Relax." Gabrielle ordered easing him back down. "I know as much as you do. I just hope Marle's going to be ok." She said looking at Marle on her cot. "She'll be fine." Glenn assured her. "Crono got her here as fast as he could." "I know. He loves her very much." Gabrielle said. "They both love each other very much." She smiled. Glenn lifted his head and kissed her mouth. "I love you very much." He told her. Gabrielle returned the kiss, "I love you very much, too." They kissed again, but then the healer returned. The darted away from each other and held in their laughs until she left. Then they burst out laughing; they went to kiss again but were interrupted again by someone clearing their throat. Crono had woken up and was grinning wryly. He threw the blankets off of himself and walked to Marle's cot. The healer walked in. "She'll be fine. Just another day of rest and she'll be up and about again." She told Crono. "Thank you." He said. "And once you all wake up, you may leave." She said. Gabrielle resisted the urge to yank Midnight's tail to make the Gryphon screech and wake up everyone. But the healer mistook Midnight for a pile of cloth and tried to pick him up. He screeched and flew into Gabrielle's lap. "Is that yours?" the healer demanded her hand clutching her heart. "Yes. He's a Gryphon." Gabrielle told her. "I see." The healer replied trying to catch her breath. Lucca jerked up and lunged for her glasses. She put them on and saw what woke her up. "Thank you, Midnight." She muttered. "He could have woken the dead." Magus complained. "Oh, shut up!" Gabrielle retorted. "Now that you're awake we can leave!" Soon everyone, except Marle, was awake and the healer said they could go. Marle needed some more rest and healing before she could leave. They ran to the Great Hall. "Your Majesty!" Glenn cried. "How - what - when.?" He asked trying to ask too many questions at once. "Sir Glenn, Sir Gabrielle, uh.Ladies and Lords.everything is fine. We lost a few men but we won and we have some Amazons in custody." The King explained. "Except they will only speak Amazon to us. We thought you, Sir Gabrielle, would assist us." "Ok, Your Majesty. Where're they at?" she asked. "I'll have a few soldiers escort you. Sir Glenn I have some things for you to do. Doubtless, your friends can help you." He gestured to the group. Three soldiers lead Gabrielle down to the dungeon while the rest went with the King. "This man you should already know." The King informed them. "Jameson." Magus had to grab Glenn's tunic from attacking the traitor. "Oh, come on, Sir Glenn!" Jameson urged. "Why bother with this? Just kill me now! I admit it, I've been helping the renegade Amazons for the past four months. Giving them secrets, maps, supplies, troop locations, you name it." He told them. "Why?" Lucca inquired. "Why d'you think, lady?" Jameson barked. "Money. They offered me a half million G if I did this for them." "You'd desert your country for money?" Schala wanted to know. "Yes, I would." Jameson retorted. "They also said they'd give me title of chief and have my name in their history forever." He shifted, "Always, I've been in the shadows of great knights, like you Sir Glenn. But finally, I found a way to get my name down in the books." "But you're going to be in them as a traitor." Glenn informed him. "Take him to the dungeon." He ordered. Two soldiers led him to the dungeon. "Well, that takes care of him." Magus murmured. "Want to see how Gabrielle's dealing with the other Amazons?" They had just reached the stairwell when they heard Gabrielle's scream. Glenn leaped down the stairs three at a time and spun around the corner and threw open the door. "Gabrielle?" Glenn shouted. "I'm all right." She called. "Just a traitor trying to get in a last minute attack." Glenn jogged to Gabrielle; she only had a slash on her sleeve but the blade didn't go deep enough to draw blood. "Wench!" Jameson snarled. "Oh, yeah. Like that's something I haven't heard." Gabrielle muttered. Glenn laughed as everyone else joined them. "Let's get out of here." Schala said. "The King wants to speak with us in the Great Hall."
* * * Once they entered the Great Hall, everyone stood up from their seats and started clapping. The group looked shocked at the recognition and gingerly went to the King as he beckoned them. The Great Hall had been set up like a banquet hall and there were nine seats at the high table, where the King and Queen and high nobles ate. "I commend you on your bravery, courage, and strength. I present you with these medals." Nine knights stepped forward with medals in their hands. "What about Marle?" Gabrielle asked. "What about me?" a familiar voice inquired. "Here I am!" Crono rushed to hug Marle. The medals were presented and the feast began. "I have a toast." Queen Leene announced. "To the courage of our heroes." "Here, here." Rippled through the tables. "I'd like to say something." A voice said. It was Marian. "Gab-Sir Gabrielle. I'm sorry.I did all those things. You're not a savage. Maybe I was jealous that you're strong, brave, and you're a warrior." She said fumbling for the words to say. Gabrielle nodded deeply, accepting the apology. Everyone clapped as Marian sat down. The feast continued and when it was in full swing a note came for Crono. He excused himself to go into the hall and read it. A few seconds later, he was running into the hall and gesturing for the group to follow him. "What is it, Crono?" Marle asked. "It's from Gasper and Spekkio." He told them. "Read it." He ordered. Dear Crono, Marle, Lucca, Ayla, Glenn, Robo, Schala, Magus, and Gabrielle, I trust your mission of the terrorists went well. I see you have made a new friend as well. Now that you are done, you have another mission to complete: Lavos must be defeated soon. Come to the End of Time; we will equip the girl. Hurry! Lavos is beginning to awaken in A.D. 1999. Gasper and Spekkio. "Who're they?" Gabrielle wanted to know. "We're going to fight Lavos?" "Evidently. Well, I'm ready!" Lucca said. "Me too!" Glenn announced. "Let's go!" Marle exclaimed.
* * * "Oh, couldn't you stay a little longer?" Queen Leene begged. "Sorry, Your Majesty. Duty calls." Marle said with a smile. "Well. Take care and come back sometime!" King Guardia told them. They hopped into Epoch and zoomed into the End of Time. Gabrielle was curious about what it was. The first thing Gasper said to the gang was, "Are you ready for Lavos?"
A/N: The wonderful end to The Amazon Girl! I hope you like it, I went through about three versions of the ending until I finally got one I liked.
ENJOY!
Chapter Twelve: War (Part Three - With Amazons)
Schala screamed and covered her head with her arms. She practically felt the spider breathing down her neck when arrows thudded into the creature's back. It shrieked as it was made into a hairy eight-legged porcuipine. Schala scrambled to her feet and ran to Crono and Marle as the spider nearly collapsed on her. Marle had Crono off the tree but he was still covered with goopy strands of the silver-white web. He went to pick up his sword off the ground near the tarantula. Their rescueres came up to them with crossbows in hand. A knight spoke to them, "We thought you needed some help so we took a detour. Are you all right, young lady?" he asked Schala, who looked pretty shook up. "Y-yes, i'm fine. Thank you." She said pushing her hair behind her ears. "Are more Guardians at the camp?" Marle wanted to know. "Yes, m'lady. We launched a full scale attack. Some of your friends were captured earlier but one escaped and warned us. We better go see what's happening." he explained. Lily, Lightning, and Beauty galloped into the clearing with Lucca riding her black and white speckled mare, Pepper. "C'mon!" Lucca urged. "Gabrielle was right. These Amazons were completely prepared and we're in battle." She kicked her mare into a gallop as the others mounted up. They thundered into the clearing and saw the rest immediately. Gabrielle saw them and reared Rebel, letting him kick anyone foolish enough to get in range of the gelding's flying hooves. She galloped to them. "Some show, huh?" she inquired. A slash ran from her temple to her cheek and was bleeding liberally. Her hair was tousled and dirt smudged her face.
"We'll see." Crono shouted over the din of the fighting. "Let's show these Amazons who's boss!" he drew his sword and let out a war cry. He slashed at an incoming foe and swerved his horse to avoid a flying arrow. He pushed through to Magus and Glenn, who were fighting in a similar fashion. "Watch out for arrows, there's archers all over this damn camp." Magus warned. "Ayla and Robo are trying to pick off the archers to lessen their numbers." Glenn told them. "Where's Gabrielle?" he asked. He cut down an Amazon who was trying to unseat him. Magus snatched an arrow out of the air and rammed it into a foe's shoulder. "I hate it when you do that." Schala muttered from behind them. She looked very distrought by the gore and violence. "I saw Gabrielle just a minute ago." "Where?" Glenn demanded. "Over there." Schala pointed to the entrance to the camp; Gabrielle was not there. "There she is." Magus pointed to Gabrielle who was in the south west corner of the clearing and was slashing at an opponent. A glint of metal caught Glenn's eye in a tree. An archer was taking aim in a maple tree. His target was clear: Gabrielle. Crono and Magus saw it too. "Gabrielle!" Glenn shouted. Gabrielle was completely unaware of the archer and continued to fight her opponents. Glenn kicked his horse into a hard gallop and nearly plowed into everyone who was in his way, even Guardians. The archer loosed when Glenn was about fifteen feet from Gabrielle. "NO!" Glenn screamed. "Gabrielle! Watch out!" Gabrielle looked up at him like, "What?! I'm kind of busy!" She cried out and jerked; the arrow had hit her all right. In the shoulder near her collarbone, it came out. She slid from her saddle just as Glenn thundered to her. An Amazon was there immediately to finish her off. Glenn flew off his horse and ran the man through before he could stop himself. Gabrielle's tunic was soaked with blood already and would need treatment immediately. Ayla saw the archer hit Gabrielle and went to take him out. She tapped him on the shoulder and rammed the heel of her hand into his nose and kneed him in the stomach then slammed her hand in his chest. He fell out of the tree and landed with a thud. She took his bow and quiver and began to shoot at the Amazons. "When do these guys give up?" Crono yelled as he sliced at an incoming foe.
"Never, I guess." Magus grunted and he kicked an Amazon down. "I'll never get used to this." "Used to what?" "Fighting on horseback." Magus replied. "I don't see how some people can't fight on their own two feet." "AMAZONS!" Raoul emerged in full armor on a black stallion. "GET THAT AMAZON WENCH!" He jabbed his broadsword at Glenn who was carrying Gabrielle to a place in the trees. Most of the Amazons lay dead and more Guardians kept trickling into the camp, the end of the battle was near and the winner was clear. Still there were some Amazons to defeat. Marle, who was also picking off archers with Ayla, Robo, and Schala, saw what was happening and leaped onto Beauty's back. She galloped to Glenn to block the Amazons path to him and Gabrielle. Little did she know, the Amazons were readying their crossbows. "What the hell does Marle think she's doing?" Magus wanted to know. Crono was busy fighting another Amazon and didn't hear. "What?" "Marle. Look what she's doing." Magus pointed to Marle pointing Glenn to a save spot behind a large tree. After that she trotted forward and readied her own crossbow. Crono looked to the Amazons and saw their crossbows ready to spear Marle until she was a pin cushion. Crono cursed under his breath and tried to make his way to Marle. Marle saw the number of crossbows against her and decided she had made a bad choice. An Amazon shouted a word and three or four arrows shot in the air. Fortunately, they didn't hit her. Unfortunantely, they hit Beauty; the mare panicked and reared nearly throwing Marle off her horse. She tried to turn the pain-filled mare around to flee but the horse was still bucking and whining loudly. "Whoa, girl! Whoa!" she clutched the reigns and tried to steer the mare but nothing worked. "Hold on, Marle!" Crono bellowed as he made his way to her. "Crono!" Marle screamed as her mare finally did what she wanted to, but the horse's timing was horrible. More arrows flew and one struck Marle right in the back. She screamed and nearly fainted onto her horse's mane. "Marle!" Crono yelled. Arrows flew from a nearby maple killing most of the Amazons with crossbows. Ayla leaped out of the tree and picked up a fallen quiver of arrows and began to shoot some more. Crono slid off his horse and caught the princess right as she fell out of her saddle. He carried her off to a part of the clearing where there was no fighting going on. Most of it had moved to the center of the camp. Marle had passed out and the arrow was still in her back. Meanwhile, Glenn was examining Gabrielle's arrow wound. She lay beside him with one knee up, one knee down. She jerked when he pulled on it. "Hey!" she shouted. "Stop!" "It has to come out, Gabrielle." Glenn told her. The Amazon had not told Glenn that she had never been hit with an arrow. "You'll bleed to death if you don't." "Oh, great..." Gabrielle muttered. Glenn snapped off the shaft and took a deep breath for the next step. "Gabrielle, this is going to hurt a lot." Glenn informed her. "It's the only way, just - brace yourself." Gabrielle nodded and tried to be brave but deep down she was scared to death. Glenn pushed the arrow through until it came out the other side on her back. Gabrielle screamed and tried to stay still even though she wanted to jump up and make Glenn stop. The arrow finally came out; Glenn threw it aside and took off his tunic and reduced it to strips for a bandage. Gabrielle leaned against Glenn's chest as he placed the bandage around her arm to cover both sides of her shoulder. When he was done he wrapped his arms around her, sharing the first tender moment they had had in days. Gabrielle lifted her head to recieve his kiss. They were interupted by someone clearing their throat. Magus stood holding the leaves of the tree up so he could see with one hand and held the reigns of both Shadow and Valient. Rebel stood next to Valient by himself. He grinned wryly and said, "Hate to break it up, but we have a battle to finish, if you don't mind." Glenn and Gabrielle smiled and got up. Right when Gabrielle stepped out from behind the tree, she saw what was the matter and ran to where Marle was lying. "What happened?" Gabrielle cried. Despite the pain in her shoulder she reached out and touched Crono's shoulder. "Crono...? Crono, what happened?" she whispered. "Marle!" Schala ran to them with Robo and Lucca in tow. The Guardians were taking care of the rest of the fight as they cornered the Amazons. "Oh my gosh!" "What happened to Marle?" Robo inquired. His eyes appeared to be scanning to girl lying on her side with an arrow in her back. "Crono, she is still alive. But we need to get her some healing quick." he told him. "Does our magic work?" Crono wanted to know. "For little things. I'm afraid for something like this, it would only do a little bit." Robo replied. "RETREAT!" Someone shrieked. The Amazons began to flee the camp. "We got to get her to Guardia Castle." Lucca said. "It her only chance!" "Crono, I think I can get the arrow out, but then we have to treat the wound quickly after." Robo said. Crono gave a quick nod and Robo set to work. After ten to fifteen minutes, the arrow was out and Crono had a bandage from his shirt ready. Magus put two fingers in his mouth and let out an ear piercing whistle. The horses came to them at a gallop. They mounted up and Crono put Marle in front of him and they rode off. After a few minutes of hard riding, Gabrielle suddenly shrieked, "WATCH OUT!!!" Three trees on the edge of the road started to fall. "Go Crono, before they fall!" When Crono hesitated Gabrielle bellowed, "GO!!" She slapped Lightning's rump sending the horse galloping. Crono kept going and finally he saw Guardia Castle in view. Meanwhile, the rest raced to get out of the way of the falling trees. Magus made the first one but kicked his horse to jump over the second one that had fallen. Gabrielle wasn't so lucky and nearly got squashed by the second tree. The tree was huge like it had a good hundred years on it and was nearly almost as tall as Gabrielle on its side. She had to leap onto the first tree to dodge the incoming branches. Rebel was nearly smashed but the horse had enough brains to trot to the end of the trunk where no branches were. "Gabrielle!" Glenn shouted. "Rebel's gotten through where the stump is. If that fat thing can, you can." Rebel voiced his contempt by blowing a wad of spit on Glenn's shirt. "Oh, why thank you." Glenn said dryly. Gabrielle chuckled and jumped down from the tree and strolled down the lane made by the trees and nearly made it to the stump when the ground beneath her gave way. Unlike the pit traps that are full of spears, spiky things, or are just empty, this one was full of something else; Mud, lot of it. Enough to drown in. It actually looked like someone filled it with water and the dirt walls of the pit mixed with the water. Gabrielle went under and came up spitting, coughing, and gagging. "Help!" she shouted but when it came out she coughed again. "I'm serious - help!" Gabrielle couldn't stay above the surface much longer and was sinking ever so slowly. "Gabrielle?" Glenn inquired. "Where'd you go?" "I'm here!" her voice couldn't carry out of the pit it was so deep. "In this pit! I'm going to drown!" she screamed and went under, a swift kick got her up again. She could hear footsteps on the dirt and twigs snapping. "Where'd she go?" Gabrielle heard Magus ask. "Gabrielle, this is no time to be playing games, get out here now!" "I would if I wasn't stuck in this pit!" Gabrielle snapped. "Gabrielle?" he asked. "Guys, I hear her." "Keep talking Gabrielle!" Glenn shouted. "Can't you see this big gaping hole in the ground?" Gabrielle demanded. She was beggining to tire from treading around in the thick water and screaming at the same time. Gabrielle swam to one of the walls but before she reached it she went under again. She leaped out and grabbed the wall with her mud soaked hands. "Hel - lo?!" Gabrielle screamed. "I'm in this huge hole, can't you see it?" "Whoa!" Glenn yelped when he almost fell in the pit. "Gabrielle! She's in here!" Suddenly, the water shuddered near the center. Gabrielle felt something in the water moved jerkily. Her hands slipped off the dirt wall and she was dunked in the water. "Gabrielle!" Glenn yelled. "Someone get some rope!" Lucca leaped on the tree and climbed over and yanked some rope out of her saddlebag and leaped back on the tree to slid over the other side. Gabrielle came up gagging and coughing again. When she rubbed her eyes and her vision cleared, she saw what was in the water. "I'm not the only one in here!" Gabrielle hissed. Gabrielle leaped at the wall and dug her soaked fingers into the dirt and tried to start climbing but her boots would not stick to the wall. Soon they were so caked with mud that they could do anything. She tried once more but a scaly tenticle shot out of the water and wrapped around Gabrielle's ankle like tourniquent and yanks her into the water. Lucca threw the rope down to Gabrielle but she was under the water. The pit was only about nine feet in diameter but the creature inside made it like home and did not like Gabrielle intruding in it. Gabrielle came up again and lunged for the rope. She missed and went under again. Lucca tried to dip it into the water but the creature inside had other ideas. It yanked on the rope and Lucca nearly toppled in if it not been for Robo and his iron grip. "C'mon Gabrielle." Lucca murmured. "Grab the rope." Gabrielle burst from the churning water and seized the rope. "Pull!" Lucca ordered. Magus and Glenn took grip of the rope and pulled as hard as they could. Gabrielle rose out of the water to the anger of the creature. Gabrielle lunged for the edge and pulled herself up. She fell to the ground exhausted and shooken. She was soaked and covered with mud. "Let's get out of here." Magus said. Gabrielle was more than happy to let Rebel do the walking, or in this case, running. They rode hard for the castle.
* * *
"Almost there, Marle. Hang in there." Crono whispered, stroking Marle's hair as he rode. He was nearly to the gates to the castle and was quickening his pace. Suddenly, there were clanks and the sounds of swords being unsheathed. "Who goes there?" someone bellowed. Crono stopped his horse, who was eager for a rest. "I'm just a rider coming to get help from Guardia Castle. My friends here was wounded, she needs help right now." Crono said in a rush. "Ah, I see. Go on, I hope your friend gets that help." he said. "Thank you." Crono breathed and went into a gallop again. Little did Crono know that the man was smirking and muttering, "Oh she'll get that help...but will your other friends get help?" he cackled and kept watching Crono ride off. Crono finally got to the gates and got help immediately when he entered the castle. One reason was the guards knew casualties would be coming in and another reason was Crono knees buckled and he nearly fell. The guards came to his aid and led him and Marle to the healer's hall. There Marle's wound was treated and Crono could sit down. When he refused a drink given to him by a healer, the healer said, "Drink, boy. It'll keep you from passing out on us." Crono drink one sip and nearly threw up. "What'd I do to you?" he demanded. The healer laughed and ordered him to drink it a second time. Crono plugged his nose and gulped it down. Right after he finished drinking the potion, he knew he had been tricked; it was to help him sleep. He nearly fell off the stool he was sitting on. A maid showed him to a cot and he collapsed on it and was asleep instantly despite his fights against it.
* * *
"Finally!" Schala cried as they came in sight of Guardia Castle. "I hope Crono got here." Ayla whispered. "Marle had big hurt." They went in the gates and were attended to once they entered the door. They walked into the healer's hall and saw Crono and Marle on cots sleeping. A female healer was mixing together a poultice when they entered. She took one look at Gabrielle, who was still covered head to toe in mud, and gasped. "You're going to catch your death like this." the healer told her sternly. "Change your clothes, there's a room to your left." Gabrielle blushed and went into the next room. She came out five minutes later in dry clothes. "Any injuries on you?" the healer asked. "No." Gabrielle lied. Her shoulder was throbbing and when she was changing, she peeled back the makeshift bandage and saw the wound was black and blue.
"Actually-" Gabrielle interrupted Glenn by stamping on his foot. "I'm fine." Gabrielle hissed. "Well, I don't care if you don't even have a scratch on you; you've just been in battle, you're going to rest." The healer ordered. The ended up drinking the same potion Crono did and fell asleep immediately. It was the next evening when they woke up. Gabrielle's arm could barely move and was throbbing so badly she had to bite her lip. "You beat everyone. You're the first one to wake up. Here, let me examine you one last time." The healer began with Gabrielle's head, making sure there were no wounds there; Next her shoulders. "Ow!" Gabrielle cried when the healer squeezed her shoulders. "You lied to me, girl." The healer told her angrily. She peeled back her shirt and saw the wound. "Gods, girl. Why'd you lie about this?" she demanded, getting ingredients for a poultice. "It'll take fair longer to heal now." Once the poultice was ready, she soaked a linen cloth in it and using clean bandage to bandage the wound. "There. Now if it still is sore by the end of the week, come back to me." She said. "All right." Gabrielle murmured. "Gabrielle, you're awake." Glenn said dumbly, rubbing his eyes. Gabrielle walked to the knight's cot and sat next to him. "How you doin'?" Gabrielle asked him. "All right." He murmured. "You?" "Fine." The healer left the room. "What happened to the Amazons?" he asked quickly, sitting up. "Relax." Gabrielle ordered easing him back down. "I know as much as you do. I just hope Marle's going to be ok." She said looking at Marle on her cot. "She'll be fine." Glenn assured her. "Crono got her here as fast as he could." "I know. He loves her very much." Gabrielle said. "They both love each other very much." She smiled. Glenn lifted his head and kissed her mouth. "I love you very much." He told her. Gabrielle returned the kiss, "I love you very much, too." They kissed again, but then the healer returned. The darted away from each other and held in their laughs until she left. Then they burst out laughing; they went to kiss again but were interrupted again by someone clearing their throat. Crono had woken up and was grinning wryly. He threw the blankets off of himself and walked to Marle's cot. The healer walked in. "She'll be fine. Just another day of rest and she'll be up and about again." She told Crono. "Thank you." He said. "And once you all wake up, you may leave." She said. Gabrielle resisted the urge to yank Midnight's tail to make the Gryphon screech and wake up everyone. But the healer mistook Midnight for a pile of cloth and tried to pick him up. He screeched and flew into Gabrielle's lap. "Is that yours?" the healer demanded her hand clutching her heart. "Yes. He's a Gryphon." Gabrielle told her. "I see." The healer replied trying to catch her breath. Lucca jerked up and lunged for her glasses. She put them on and saw what woke her up. "Thank you, Midnight." She muttered. "He could have woken the dead." Magus complained. "Oh, shut up!" Gabrielle retorted. "Now that you're awake we can leave!" Soon everyone, except Marle, was awake and the healer said they could go. Marle needed some more rest and healing before she could leave. They ran to the Great Hall. "Your Majesty!" Glenn cried. "How - what - when.?" He asked trying to ask too many questions at once. "Sir Glenn, Sir Gabrielle, uh.Ladies and Lords.everything is fine. We lost a few men but we won and we have some Amazons in custody." The King explained. "Except they will only speak Amazon to us. We thought you, Sir Gabrielle, would assist us." "Ok, Your Majesty. Where're they at?" she asked. "I'll have a few soldiers escort you. Sir Glenn I have some things for you to do. Doubtless, your friends can help you." He gestured to the group. Three soldiers lead Gabrielle down to the dungeon while the rest went with the King. "This man you should already know." The King informed them. "Jameson." Magus had to grab Glenn's tunic from attacking the traitor. "Oh, come on, Sir Glenn!" Jameson urged. "Why bother with this? Just kill me now! I admit it, I've been helping the renegade Amazons for the past four months. Giving them secrets, maps, supplies, troop locations, you name it." He told them. "Why?" Lucca inquired. "Why d'you think, lady?" Jameson barked. "Money. They offered me a half million G if I did this for them." "You'd desert your country for money?" Schala wanted to know. "Yes, I would." Jameson retorted. "They also said they'd give me title of chief and have my name in their history forever." He shifted, "Always, I've been in the shadows of great knights, like you Sir Glenn. But finally, I found a way to get my name down in the books." "But you're going to be in them as a traitor." Glenn informed him. "Take him to the dungeon." He ordered. Two soldiers led him to the dungeon. "Well, that takes care of him." Magus murmured. "Want to see how Gabrielle's dealing with the other Amazons?" They had just reached the stairwell when they heard Gabrielle's scream. Glenn leaped down the stairs three at a time and spun around the corner and threw open the door. "Gabrielle?" Glenn shouted. "I'm all right." She called. "Just a traitor trying to get in a last minute attack." Glenn jogged to Gabrielle; she only had a slash on her sleeve but the blade didn't go deep enough to draw blood. "Wench!" Jameson snarled. "Oh, yeah. Like that's something I haven't heard." Gabrielle muttered. Glenn laughed as everyone else joined them. "Let's get out of here." Schala said. "The King wants to speak with us in the Great Hall."
* * * Once they entered the Great Hall, everyone stood up from their seats and started clapping. The group looked shocked at the recognition and gingerly went to the King as he beckoned them. The Great Hall had been set up like a banquet hall and there were nine seats at the high table, where the King and Queen and high nobles ate. "I commend you on your bravery, courage, and strength. I present you with these medals." Nine knights stepped forward with medals in their hands. "What about Marle?" Gabrielle asked. "What about me?" a familiar voice inquired. "Here I am!" Crono rushed to hug Marle. The medals were presented and the feast began. "I have a toast." Queen Leene announced. "To the courage of our heroes." "Here, here." Rippled through the tables. "I'd like to say something." A voice said. It was Marian. "Gab-Sir Gabrielle. I'm sorry.I did all those things. You're not a savage. Maybe I was jealous that you're strong, brave, and you're a warrior." She said fumbling for the words to say. Gabrielle nodded deeply, accepting the apology. Everyone clapped as Marian sat down. The feast continued and when it was in full swing a note came for Crono. He excused himself to go into the hall and read it. A few seconds later, he was running into the hall and gesturing for the group to follow him. "What is it, Crono?" Marle asked. "It's from Gasper and Spekkio." He told them. "Read it." He ordered. Dear Crono, Marle, Lucca, Ayla, Glenn, Robo, Schala, Magus, and Gabrielle, I trust your mission of the terrorists went well. I see you have made a new friend as well. Now that you are done, you have another mission to complete: Lavos must be defeated soon. Come to the End of Time; we will equip the girl. Hurry! Lavos is beginning to awaken in A.D. 1999. Gasper and Spekkio. "Who're they?" Gabrielle wanted to know. "We're going to fight Lavos?" "Evidently. Well, I'm ready!" Lucca said. "Me too!" Glenn announced. "Let's go!" Marle exclaimed.
* * * "Oh, couldn't you stay a little longer?" Queen Leene begged. "Sorry, Your Majesty. Duty calls." Marle said with a smile. "Well. Take care and come back sometime!" King Guardia told them. They hopped into Epoch and zoomed into the End of Time. Gabrielle was curious about what it was. The first thing Gasper said to the gang was, "Are you ready for Lavos?"