Crono came in holding a necklace almost identical to Marle's. Lucca and Marle's eyes widened. "That's Schala's pendant!" Marle exclaimed.
"Where'd you find it?" Lucca asked excited.
"On Death Peak near the tree," he said.
"I wonder how it got there!" Lucca was starting to get excited, "She may have left it as a clue, the Black Omen exists in all time periods, somehow she managed to escape," the possibility that Schala may be still alive was amazing.
"Then let's go, if we defeated Lavos then that means the future changed. So Schala could be stuck in time somewhere," Marle was bouncing up and down on the bed again, "C'mon Crono please, let's go find her! She saved our lives!"
Crono thought about it for a moment. That meant doing something that all of their parents had told them not to do, travel through time again. All though he wanted to his mom seemed so happy with him home. Still if Schala was out there that meant that she needed their help to get back. "All right let's do it! But one of us is going to have to stay behind or travel through a time gate somehow. Even though I hate to say this, Magus, err, Janus is going to have to come to. He's her brother and he deserves to help find her," when he said this both Lucca and Marle looked at each other. This was not what they were planning on; they had hoped that it would be the three of them together.
"Then who's going to stay?" Marle asked sadly knowing that it was probably going to be her. She would be the most useless one to take along. Lucca knew more about how to go about finding Schala then she did, obviously Crono and Magus had too go.
"I will," Lucca said softly, surprising everyone including her self. "I'll find a different way somehow, who knows maybe I can find an open gate somewhere," she knew the likelihood of that was pretty slim; all the gates they knew of had closed up.
"No, I mean come on, compared to you I'm totally useless!" Marle said slumping down.
"Marle, that's not true and you know it!" Lucca exclaimed surprised. "I mean there are plenty of things that you did!"
"Like what? You were the one always fixing things and figuring things out while I just tagged along!" she could not help but feel miserable for herself.
Suddenly Crono spoke. "No! You did so much more than that. Remember when your father was in trouble? You wouldn't give up when they wouldn't let us back in, you jumped through that stained glass window! And after I, I, well you know, you didn't give up, you brought me back," he stood up and sat down next to her, she had begun to cry softly. "C'mon Marle you can help us," he put an arm around her and she looked up at him smiling.
"Thanks Crono. Wow, I've never heard you talk that much," she grinned as his face began to turn as red as his hair.
"Okay, so that's decided. Tomorrow morning both of you come over to my house while my dad's poking around at the epoch. Then Crono and Marle you guys find a way to get him to ask you to go in and check on the interior or something. I'll distract him while you guys make your escape! Or all three of us could go and you could drop me off in Magus's time since your probably going to bring Schala back there or I could try to find a portal,"
"I'm not sure about the first one, there are too many dangers in that era that you may have to face," Crono said. He had apparently accepted the role of leader once again it appeared and he did not want anyone to get hurt. This was hopefully going to be a quick in and out just long enough to find Schala and see some of their old friends.
After they had decided Crono looked at the clock hanging on the wall. "Umm, should I escort you home before your dad gets mad?" he asked Marle.
"Hey you can just sleep over here!" Lucca said excitedly, it had been years and years since she had ever had someone sleep over.
Marle started bouncing up and down once more, "I've never spent the night anywhere, well except I guess at the inn's and stuff but never just for fun," she had not really had any friends before meeting them since her father had never let her out of the castle and it would be fun to spend the night.
"Okay, uh, hold on let me make sure with my parents," Lucca ran down and a few seconds later returned, "Yep, its okay with them."
"Well I guess I'll have to go too the castle to ask my dad," Marle said. "Will you take me?" she asked Crono. He nodded, "Of course, besides if I didn't your dad would throw me back in prison!" They all laughed and Crono took Marle's hand and led her out of the house.
"Dad, please, please, please, can I?" Marle had been begging for almost ten minutes and her dad still refused. "Oh come on dad, I've traveled through time and came home alive, now all I'm asking is to spend the night at a friend's house!"
Crono stood by slightly embarrassed to be hearing them arguing. Her dad turned to look at him. "You can't spend the night at a guys house Nadia, it simply is not right!"
Marle looked at Crono's shocked face then burst out laughing, "Dad I'm talking about Lucca, and she's a girl! Don't worry Crono's not going to be spending the night," too bad, popped into her mind and she started to turn red without meaning too. Her father thankfully did not notice.
"Oh, that makes things a lot different; you had me worried there for a minute. Yes you may spend the night. As long as you're back here by this time tomorrow," he hugged her then kissed her cheek, "Love you honey, hope you have fun," she smiled then threw her arms around him, "Love you to dad!" she ran out of the room dragging Crono behind her. She threw some clothes in her bag along with her hair brush and other accessories. Then she and Crono made their way back to Lucca's.
Crono dropped her off at the door, "I'll see you tomorrow," he said and turned to go but she grabbed his arm. "Wait," she said then hugged him, "Okay now you can go," he smiled as he left. Marle watched him for a moment then raised her hand to knock but before her hand reached the door Lucca opened it grinning, "That was so sweet!" she exclaimed and Marle blushed. "Okay, come on in!"
Marle lay in bed smiling, she had, had so much fun last night. First they had played some games then they had eaten dinner which was delicious. She loved the food the cook made at the castle but the food Lucca's mom made was plain and simple but it tasted good. After they had eaten Lucca took her up to her room and they had talked until her dad came in grumbling about how they were being to loud. She rolled over to look at the other bed. Lucca was still asleep, Marle sighed wondering when Crono was coming. She quietly got up and opened the curtains just enough so that she could see out. She squinted against the brightness and looked towards the town. It was to far away to see Crono's house, knowing him he was probably still asleep anyways. She sat on the bed wondering how they were supposed to find Schala. They had no idea where she was. Since the future had changed it did not mean that she was still there, she could be anywhere! Marle sighed frustrated; Crono probably knew by now where to start looking. That was the thing with Crono, no matter what the problem was he seemed to always have a solution.
Crono knocked on the door to Lucca's room not wanting to walk in on them changing. "Come in" came Lucca's voice. Crono opened the door, Marle was sprawled out on the floor and Lucca was crawling around hands and knees. Marle started to inch forward towards the bed and her hands darted underneath it and she pulled out a tiny ball of fur. "I got 'em!" Lucca came over and took it holding it out to Crono. He took it and instinctively started to pet it when it started squirming to get away. "Umm, what exactly is it?" he asked. It looked like a cross between a cat and a hamster. "Well I'm not sure exactly, I think it's one of my dad's new things, we'e going to ask him about it," as soon as Lucca said that he quickly dropped it into Lucca's hand. "That little fluff ball could be one of his inventions?"
"Oh Crono it's not going to blow up!" Lucca knew what Crono was talking about and why he was so hasty to get rid of it. Once Crono and Lucca had found a toy bird and were playing with it until suddenly turned into a small fireball and burnt Crono's hand rather badly. "Well I guess it's time!" Lucca led them all down to the basement where the epoch was sitting idly. Her dad was already down there. "Hey dad what's this?" Lucca asked, holding out the small animal. He glanced over at it, "Oh that, it's a Camster," everyone looked puzzled except for Crono, "A cat, hamster," he said.
"That's right Crono, very interesting that you figured that out. Don't worry, it's not one of my crazy inventions, I found it," everyone stared at him in disbelieve and he scowled, "Alright, alright so it is but don't worry it won't explode or anything," he said grinning at Crono handing it to him.
"Err, thanks," Crono said glancing at Lucca. She did not notice as she was too occupied by trying to find the controller that opened the wall in order for them to escape. She grabbed it signaling to Crono to do something. He nudged Marle's hand and "accidentally" let go of the Camster onto the epoch, it scurried up the side and into the interior perching on the top of the seat. "Crono!" Marle exclaimed and scrambled up after it, Crono made a grab for her but missed and he too climbed in and she slid over him into the back pretending to be searching for it while he made a pretended lunge landing in the pilots seat. Lucca watched them smiling grimly, it looked real, and her dad was falling for it. While Crono was making his pretend lunge he made sure to whack the control panel to start it up. Marle sprawled across the seat in the back making sure that Taban could not see that the startled animal was clutched safely in her hands. "Go!" she hissed to Crono. He motioned to Lucca and she pressed the button, the dull roar of the Epoch filled the room and Crono twisted the dial launching them selves back into time. He had however not realized that Marle was not sitting up in the seat and safely strapped in, she screamed as the jolt threw her backwards. She grabbed the top of the seat as she was swept off onto smooth metal of the exterior. She felt tiny claws hook onto the back of her shirt.
Crono looked back and his heart nearly stopped, Marle was hanging on for dear life and he could not figure out what to do, they were nearing their destination but she could not hold on until then. He took off his bandanna and tied it to his belt loop then to the base of the steering mechanism. Crono pulled himself towards the back and reached out his hand, "Marle, c'mon you've got to let go, I promise I'll grab you!" he knew that Marle was unsure of what to do. "Come on Marle I promise I won't let you go!" He hoped that he would be able to keep it. She looked at him with wide scared eyes and then she nodded, "Crono, please," her voice was strained and scared. He nodded, "don't worry, I've got you," she let go of the seat and prepared to fly back into what would undoubtedly lead to death when she felt strong hands grab her wrist then pull her slowly in. She tumbled onto him and the little animal leapt off so as not to be squished. Crono held her tightly. Her whole body was cold and her face was deathly pale, cautiously she opened her eyes and smiled timidly. "Crono remind me to always strap myself in," she managed to say in what she hoped was a light tone. He smiled; at least she was able to joke about it. He found himself shaking slightly and tried to calm his nerves, she had to be at least ten times more frightened then he was. "You okay?" he asked and she nodded. "Yeah, I'm okay, well I'm alive at least," she relaxed slightly as the Epoch began to slow down. "Thanks, how many times have you saved me now?" she asked her voice still shaky. Crono pretended to count then said, "About fifty or so." Marle grinned and sighed with relief when they came to a halt. Crono helped her out and the little fur ball jumped onto her back, Crono leapt out after her.
"We need to name him something," she said indicating the little creature clinging to her shoulder. Crono nodded, "How about-"
"What are you doing here?" came a cold hissing voice from behind them; they whirled around and found themselves face to face with Janus.
"Trying to find you," Crono said as Janus fingered his weapon as if longing to use it.
"What happened to you, you're nearly as white as I am," Janus asked Marle his voice mocking.
She stepped back, "I fell out of the Epoch on the way here," she tried to keep her voice steady.
Janus sneered at her, "And why would you come here looking for me?" his voice was dangerously smooth.
Crono answered, "Schala's alive and we knew you would want to know.
"Janus's jaw dropped and his eyes softened at the mention of his sister. "Are you sure?" he sounded excited and Crono hesitated a moment. The thing was they were not sure. It was just a guess; Schala could be dead by now and then what?
"Yes, we're sure. The only thing is she was on death peak and now the future is changed, she could be anywhere, maybe on an alternate time line," he flinched when Janus grabbed him around his neck hand twitching but he restrained himself. "Crono you came here to tell me that my sister could be lost in time! You had better find her or else fate will catch up to you and this time there won't be a time egg to save you!" he snarled.
Marle pried his hand away from Crono's neck, "Uh, Janus, err Magus, umm, Janus right?" he nodded, "Okay, can you please try at least to be somewhat nice and not kill someone who's trying to help you?" Janus looked at her then surprised them both by smiling. "All right I suppose I have to listen to you since you're a princess."
"How do you propose to find her exactly?" Janus asked once they were settled down in the Epoch. Crono frowned, he had not exactly thought about that. Usually it was Lucca who figured that stuff out and he was starting to wish that he had brought her instead.
"Well, I think that what we should do is check out the future now and see what it's like. Then maybe we can find some clues. After that depending on what we find we could keep searching for her or go to the end of time and see what the guru of time has to say," Marle said timidly looking from Crono to Janus. Crono stared at her in surprise. Maybe they did not need Lucca on this trip after all. "Oh and I thought of a name for this little guy. How about Sammy," she smiled holding him up.
Crono and Janus stared at her. "Sammy?" Crono asked, "How did you come up with Sammy?"
Marle's smile faded slightly, "I dunno, I just thought it was cute," she shrugged.
Janus coughed, "Now that you guys have decided on a name for that, err, thing can we get out of this miserable place and find my sister?!" Neither Crono nor Marle wanted to make Janus angry, he was not exactly the most pleasant company and he seemed rather irritated. Crono nodded and turned the dial to the future.
~Let me know what you think of my fanfic so far, please review!!~