Chapter 6 - Time Waits For No Woman
She emerged into an open area. Looking around her, she saw two mechanical contraptions, one either side of her. So these must be Lucca's telepods, the catalyst for the whole mess. Stepping forward, Destiny took in a deep breath and sighed contentedly. "I'm home at last..." A smile almost rose to her lips but she shook it off.
Destiny strode off through the Millennial Fair, taking in all the colours around her, people laughing and having fun, dancing, singing and joking. Destiny could feel the tears welling up in her eyes, it's been so long since I could be a part of this, too many years have passed since those bastards took me and stole my life...
She jumped as she felt a hand on her shoulder. Whirling around she stared into the black-cloaked figures face, or at least, what she could see of it that wasn't obscured by a large black mask.
"They're not here anymore; they fled from the castle and are now in 2300AD," was all he uttered before turning and walking away.
"Th... thank you!" she called out as the stranger merged into the crowds. Destiny turned round and started back to the telepods, but paused. Maybe I should just wait for them here? Or should I go after them and meet them in 2300AD? No, it's too dangerous for me on my own; I have to wait...but where?
Making up her mind, Destiny strode off through the crowd of people milling about. They're all unaware; none of them have a clue what's going on, how a small group of individuals will save this world they live in, not for themselves but for the people yet to be born, for the future generations...
She stood there staring at the building, a small unassuming house built with tender, loving care. How could the home of someone so important be so... so quaint? She just stood there trying to pluck up the courage as the front door opened.
"Can I help you dear? You seem to be a little bit lost."
"N--, no, I'm not lost. Th-- this is just where I was heading actually," Destiny stammered. I'm talking to the woman who gave birth to him and I'm talking like an idiot! Goddammit! "I was looking for Crono. Is he in? I looked for him at the fair but I couldn't find him."
"Haven't you heard dear? He was arrested for 'attempted kidnap of royalty', but he escaped earlier today. No-one has seen him since."
"Is it alright if I wait for him here? I'm sure he'll be back soon."
"I guess not," Crono's mother replied, turning to go back into the house, but she stopped and whirled around. "Were you sent by the Chancellor to arrest my son when he comes back? Coz' if so, I'll never let you near him!"
There's something so familiar about her, like I've known her all my life... "You have nothing to fear from me, I mean you or your son no harm."
"Hmm... I guess you're a little young to be working for them. But how do you know Crono? As far as I knew, his only friends were Lucca and Fritz. I'm sure he would have told me about you."
Thinking fast, Destiny replied, "We only met a few days ago at the Millennial Fair... I'm new in town and Crono was showing me around."
The two of them walked in and Crono's mother offered Destiny a seat. Planting herself down, Destiny took in her surroundings. Wood panelling covering the walls, carefully polished wood-stain floors with an old rug lying over it. A portrait of a man hanging over the fireplace: Destiny guessed it was Crono's father. Strangely, he looked familiar to her as well. The frame had been exquisitely carved, embellished with roses that seemed almost real... it reminded her of work her father had done. Destiny drifted back in time to those days... Destiny sat on a stool, swinging her legs back and forth, watching her father slaving over the furniture he was working on. Sweat running down his bare back, occasional grunts of exertion as he painstakingly etched out the detailing...
"Are you OK dear?"
Destiny shook out of her memories. "Pardon? Oh, I'm fine, just remembering my old home. It was quite similar to this. My father spent months at a time working on new pieces of furniture for the house."
"My husband was like that. Just about everything in this house was made by him. He took such pride in his work, especially when he was called up to work for the King, but those days are over. There... was an incident and he's been struggling to find work, taking jobs wherever he can. He's away right now, trying to find a new job. It gets so lonely with only Crono and me here. We've struggled to support him, but without a regular income, it's been so to-- oh, what am I thinking of! Twittering on like this, you don't need to be burdened down with our problems!"
"Don't worry about it, everyone needs to talk to someone. You can't let everything bottle up inside, it has to come out somewhere and it's better for it to be controlled than to just explode."
"How does one so young as you get so wise?"
"I've... had a lot of experience. My life may have been short, but it's been full of grief. I know about problems and dealing with them: I've found my way, so maybe you can find yours. Me, I sing. It's my only release. Everyone has one, it's just a matter of looking inside of yourself to find it and bring it forth. I mean, what are you good at?"
"What, apart from fussing, worrying and cleaning?" she snorted. "That seems to be all I do these days... I don't know really... I used to enjoy painting when I was younger but that seems so long ago now. And where can I find the time to paint anymore?"
"Don't find the time to paint, make it. It's your life, you have to remember to look out for yourself as well as Crono." Destiny paused as Crono's mother laughed.
"Oh, don't mind me, I just find it amusing I'm getting all of this advice from someone less than half my age. You kids grow up so fast these days, it's scary!" Crono's mother shook her head, before looking up directly into Destiny's eyes. "I don't seem to remember catching your name dear."
"Oh, how rude of me, I'm Destiny," she said as she extended her hand.
Crono's mother took it and shook it warmly. "It's such a pleasure to meet someone so mature as yourself. Please feel free to drop by whenever you want to!"
"I think I might take you up on that offer," Destiny replied, smiling for the first time in years. "However, I've got the feeling it might be a while before Crono comes back. Do you mind if I go now and look for him somewhere else?"
"No problem at all, I might just go and paint something!"
"It was very nice meeting you and I hope to do so again in the future." With a bow, Destiny left the house and strode back to the Millennial Fair. Where the hell do I recognise them from? I know them somehow... if only I could remember... Arriving at the telepods, Destiny made up her mind where she was going next.
