Disclaimer: I do not own the following things: Peter Pan, Zelda, Crono Trigger, Pepsi or Sprite. *Sobs* I only wish I did...Many thanks to Mo-Mo for the long-awaited "soda line", which I also do not own.
A/N: Yay! Ten chapters! I apologize for the wait. I just haven't felt motivated. And sorry it's rather short this time. Hope you all like it! Thanks a bunch for the reviews!!
Chapter Ten: The Long-Awaited Unveiling of the Dark and Scary Plan
Marle ran up the stairs, away from the dark and scary dungeons. When she reached the top, she stood there, collecting herself and steadying her breathing. In the hallway in front of her, blazing torches hung in brackets along the wall, but even their continuous yellow light could not touch the darkness that leaked out of the dungeons and up the staircase. Marle took a moment to check out her crossbow and to notch an arrow.
Out of the darkness, his orange hair dancing in the flickering light, came Crono. He was panting slightly, as though he too had taken the stairs at a run. Marle looked him over casually, then proceeded to ignore him. He watched her hook the arrow in and sling her crossbow over her shoulder.
"Going the same way, aren't we?" Crono said cheerfully. Amazing that the overwhelming darkness did nothing to diminish his spirits.
"I guess."
Crono smiled happily. "Got to find Magus, eh?"
"Yes, Crono," Marle sighed in a monotone. Honestly--hadn't he even been listening to Lucca back there?
"I hope Lucca will be okay," he said after a bit. Marle glanced up to see Crono looking more serious now and frowning slightly.
"What about me?" She asked sulkily.
Crono looked up, surprised. "What about you?"
"I mean, aren't you worried about me?" Marle went on. Did she have to spell everything out for him?!
"Oh. No, not particularly."
"And why not?"
Crono shrugged. "I guess I just figured you'd be fine on your own. This whole time you've really seemed to want to be...away from the rest of us," he went on, gesturing helplessly. "So I thought you...well, you know. You know how to take care of yourself and you want to do it alone. I think," he added quickly.
"Crono, that was just because I was mad at you."
"But...Why?"
Marle sighed, exasperated suddenly. "I don't really remember, okay? It was kind of a long time ago and..."
She stopped, because they had reached the dining hall. Crono walked all the way across, orienting himself with where they had first come in. He tried to remember which door Magus had left through. There were several passages along the wall, but finally he picked one.
"Your door, madam."
"Crono, please. I don't need your help! I'm fine on my own!" Marle said, feeling angry again, although she wasn't altogether sure why.
"Fine!" Crono said back. He was also getting angry. Stupid ex-girlfriend.
Just then there was a loud crashing noise. Marle screamed and leapt towards Crono. He automatically caught her and they stood there, hugging each other and waiting for Magus to descend on them. But he didn't.
"Um...Marle? I can't breathe!" Crono gasped.
Marle quickly let go of his middle. "Oops! Just...uh...giving you a little good-bye hug, is all," she stammered, looking up at them.
"Fine on your own, eh?" Crono teased.
"Yeah," Marle said belligerently.
"You're too scared," he taunted.
"Am not!"
"Then why did you jump in my arms?"
"Shut up Crono! I told you that was just a good-bye hug."
"Yeah right," Crono snickered. He laughed and suddenly realized how close they were standing. Marle had let go of him, but neither had moved away. Marle seemed to realize it at the same time. She blinked and coughed nervously.
"I'm sorry, Crono."
"It's all right."
"No, I mean I'm sorry I called you a pig and ran away. If you hadn't gone looking for me, Glenn wouldn't have gotten captured and we'd be home safe by now," Marle said quietly.
Crono shrugged. "Don't blame yourself."
"I can't help it. I yelled at him, but I shouldn't have done that. I shouldn't have."
"And now you're sorry."
"Yeah," Marle said.
Crono's eyes lit up. "Does this mean you forgive me for whatever it was I did?"
Marle laughed. "Yes. I forgive you. Do you forgive me?"
"I don't know...it depends."
"Depends on what?!" Marle demanded indignantly.
"This," Crono said, closing in the last few inches between them and kissing her fiercely.
"O-ooh," Marle said, and kissed him back. A few minutes later, they were happily seated on one of the benches, making up...and making out.
***
The darkness rushed in, suffocating her. Navi was pinned in a very strong hand. She couldn't budge her wings an inch. She couldn't even kick her legs or breathe too deeply.
"Let me go!" Navi gasped out.
"Hast thou seen mine friends? What tidings dost thou bring me? What doth thou knowest of that knave Magus's whereabouts?! Hurry! The hour grows late and I am fast becoming desperate!"
"Can't...breathe...slowly...dying...terrible...death..."
"Please! I beg of thee-pray tell all thou dost know!" Glenn cried impatiently.
Navi squirmed and took a deep breath. Then she screamed at the top of her lungs, "LET ME GO!!" This was followed by the feeling of something sharp digging into Glenn's hands.
With a surprised howl, he began to try and shake her from his hands. Finally, she was thrown off and across the dark room. She smacked into the door with a loud thump and a burst of blinding light shone through.
Speechless, Glenn remained kneeling in the beam of light. (A/N: Insert hallelujah chorus)
The peace and beauty of this moment was quickly shattered as Navi regained consciousness. Here, in the thin sunlight, she recognized Glenn as...
"You're the...PERVERT MAN!!" With a roar, she leapt at Glenn and began trying to ferociously attack him. Glenn swatted her away, but Navi bit his ear hard and locked her little jaw.
"'twas but a misunderstanding, fairy! Off mine ear!"
When Navi refused to let go, Glenn gritted his teeth and reached for the Masamune. He wasn't going to let any stupid fairy bite his ear off. He reached for his most prized possession-the beautiful and legendary sword that had always brought justice swinging down in a sharp, precise arc. He knew it without seeing it. And he knew, without being fully able to accept, that it was gone...
***
"Can I interest you in a drink?"
"You're stalling, Magus," Lucca said, glaring at him. "I want to hear this 'Dark and Scary Plan' and I want to hear it now!"
"How about a Pepsi?" Magus went on, as if he hadn't heard.
"No!"
"Perhaps a Sprite would better suit your tastes?"
Sighing, Lucca gave in. "Fine. A Sprite would be fine. I'm more of a white soda person anyways."
Magus chuckled as he poured her soda into a glass. "I prefer dark soda. It's like my soul-dark and twisted. Oh, and lightly carbonated!"
Lucca stared. "Um, right...Well, cheers, I guess..."
"Right. So you want to know the plan, do you?"
"Of course I want to know it, you dolt!"
"Tsk, tsk...It's not in your best interests to insult me right now," Magus said calmly. Lucca sulked quietly. "Well, my plan is quite simple really: I followed you all here in order to recapture Glenn."
"You're still chasing him around? Magus-it's been ages!"
Magus sniffed dramatically. "I missed my chance to kill him twice now! I'm so ashamed!"
"Um, don't cry, Magus..."
He wiped his eyes and sat up straight. "I must finish what was started so long ago."
"You mean when you killed Cyrus?"
"That would be what I am referring to, yes. I regret I didn't kill the little pipsqueak when I had the chance."
"You'll never beat him, Magus! Glenn is much stronger now!"
Magus smiled. "Without the Masamune, Lucca dear?"
Lucca gasped. "What?! You stole the Masamune?!"
"Stole is such a harsh word. I prefer...borrow. Or perhaps, commandeer."
"But..." Suddenly Lucca's eyes lit up. "Your plan has an obvious flaw."
"Does it?" Magus asked, smirking.
"Yes," Lucca said, matching his smirk. "Perhaps you forgot that you can't touch the Masamune?"
"Who said anything about me touching it?"
"Oh. But--"
Magus cut in. "Without his precious sword, he'll be much easier to defeat. My plan was to turn him back into a frog and then you into a fly. Won't it be fun to see him eat all his friends without realizing it? Mwhahahaahahahahahaha!"
Lucca threw the rest of her drink at him. "You are disgusting!"
Smiling, Magus wiped the soda off his face. "Good thing you had already finished most of that. Otherwise, I would have a lot of soda on me. And...my plan wouldn't work!"
Lucca paled. "Was that a potion to turn my into a fly?! Ohh, I don't feel so good. I think I'm going to throw up..." With an involuntary shudder, Lucca slid off the chair to the floor.
"Not on my carpets, you aren't!" Magus said, reaching out to catch her. He draped her arm around his shoulder and slowly stood up. Lucca leaned limply against him. His voice seemed very far away to her suddenly. The room was spinning and she felt exhausted. Lucca struggled to keep her eyes open. She had to stay awake! She had to stop this madman!
Magus was watching her closely. When he spoke again, his voice was soft and calming. Lucca felt him rocking back and forth on his heels. The soothing motion was taking its toll on her. "There was nothing in there to turn you into a fly. Nothing at all...Snap twice."
Behind her glasses, Lucca's eyes had gone blank. The pupils dwindled away and her eyes were big and unfocused. Staring vacantly at Magus, Lucca's fingers suddenly snapped twice. Magus smirked.
"Now the real fun can begin!"
A/N: Oh, that evil, evil Magus. He's so cool!!!! *Huggles* Right, so don't forget to review!! We're wrapping up here--next chapter: the REAL dark and scary plan will be unveiled. Not this fake stuff that Magus is making up...that crafty magus! He's sly like a fox. hahahaha! Thanx again for reading! You guys rock my world!! ~CronoCat =^_^=
