Chapter 9: The Village of Magic
Act One
August 7, 1000
The Gate opened, and Crono, Marle, and Lucca stepped onto the wooden floor. The technology seemed primitive, but, upon looking out the window, they noticed that the atmosphere was much more uplifting.
There were two imps sitting at the table a few feet away. One was blue and the other was brown. It took them less than a second to notice the intruders.
"Hey!" exclaimed the blue imp. "Did you people just come out of the closet? Get outta here!"
"I'm terribly sorry," Crono apologized.
"We kind of expected to end up outdoors," Marle added.
"I'll make it up to you," Lucca offered.
With that, she raised her finger. A fireball shot from it, went straight to the fireplace, and lit it.
"You can use magic?!" exclaimed the blue imp. "Magic-using humans supposedly perished long ago."
"It's a long story," Crono said. "But we'll be on our way."
"Wait a second," warned the blue imp. "Medina village was founded by the ancestors of the Mystics, who lost a war to human beings. Most Mystics hold a grudge against humans. Be careful."
"Thanks!" Marle said. "Why are you being so nice? Mystics aren't supposed to get along with humans."
"Humans fought the Mystics over four hundred years ago," the blue imp explained. "My motto is 'forgive and forget' but not many seem to agree with me."
Suddenly, the Gate opened again, and Robo suddenly appeared.
"I just realized we can simply take turns entering the Gate!" he announced. "And anyone in the past will simply think I'm a knight in armor."
"I never thought of that!" Lucca exclaimed as she adjusted her glasses.
Not everyone was impressed.
"Who do you think you are?" demanded the brown imp. "Coming and going out of our closet at all hours. Scram!"
OUTSIDE...
"I had a feeling we'd pop up in Medina," Lucca lamented.
"Is that a bad thing?" Robo asked.
"It's a bad thing," Lucca confirmed.
Robo scanned the town. There were Mystics giving unfriendly looks at Crono, Marle, and Lucca. There was a weapons shop with a big sign next to the door that read: "We will only serve Mystics. NO EXCEPTIONS!" At the inn, there was a sign on the door that read "Mystics Only." There was also a sign pointing to a soiled pile of hay that read: "OBLIGATORY FOR HUMANS."
The worst of all was seen at the town square. Mystics were circling in a counter-clockwise fashion, singing a strange hymn.
"Crono, what's that weird chanting?" Marle asked.
"It's pretty creepy!" Lucca added. "What do you make of it?"
"They seem engaged in some sort of religious service," Robo suggested. He then pointed to the stature the Mystics were surrounding. "Presumably, their deity."
"Magus," Marle gasped as she recognized the statue.
"Are you sure that's Magus?" Lucca asked.
"I'm quite sure," Marle insisted.
"I'm sorry," Robo began, but who is Magus?"
"He led the Mystic war in 600," Lucca explained. "Then, suddenly, his castle exploded, killing him. The Mystics lost their will to fight after that. But they've been resentful ever since."
"I think I've had enough of this place," Marle admitted.
"Agreed," Crono concurred.
LATER...
A mile away from Medina, the four time travelers came upon a lone house. Outside stood a familiar face.
"Crono!" called Melchior. "I knew it!"
"Knew what?" Crono asked.
"You were too good to get yourself executed," Melchior clarified. "I knew you'd escape the dungeon!"
"Well," Lucca added as she folded her arms, "I helped."
"Say," Melchior began, "you're not planning on going through the cave, are you?"
"Should we not?" asked Crono.
"If you don't want to deal with Heckran, I wouldn't," Melchior warned. "He's one of the most dangerous Mystics around."
Crono then noticed the swords lined up by the door.
"Okay," he said. "You win. How much?"
"This one's on me," Melchior insisted as he handed Crono one of the slightly larger swords. "That Heckran's going to make a meal out of me if he comes by my house again."
IN THE CAVE
Heckran was waiting for them as soon as they entered. He was blue with yellow spikes and claws. Curiously, unlike other Mystics, he did not wear clothes.
"Death to the Mystics' enemies!" he snarled.
"We're not your enemies," Lucca insisted. "No humans are your enemies."
"All humans are my enemies!" Heckran snarled. "Die!"
With that, he charged for Marle.
Crono quickly drew his sword and jumped in front of Marle. He lowered it until it was pointed at Heckran.
Heckran attempted to stop-too late.
The sword drove right through his body.
"If only the great Magus, who brought forth Lavos four hundred years ago, had destroyed the human race!" Heckran managed to gag. "The world would've belonged to us Mystics!"
With that, the Heckran fell down dead.
Crono withdrew his sword from the corpse, staring at it for a few moments.
"In the Middle Ages," Lucca observed, "Magus created Lavos, the destroyer of this planet's future!"
"If we go to the Middle Ages and destroy Magus," Robo suggested, "can we change history?"
"Hey, wait a minute!" Lucca exclaimed. "I thought a robot couldn't harm a human being!"
"Since I would be harming many more human beings by not destroying him, it would be a reasonable loophole," Robo explained.
"This is getting complicated," Lucca muttered as she adjusted her glasses.
"Hey, Crono," Marle added, "we could use the Gate at the Fairgrounds!"
"And how are we going to get to the Fairgrounds?" Lucca asked with her arms folded. "We're kind of fugitives there. They probably have soldiers stationed all around Crono's house right now, waiting for him to come back."
"Far from the truth!" Marle assured her. "You learn a lot about how things work when you're a princess. They only take a census of all male property owners. They probably have no idea where he lives!"
At that moment, something dawned on Crono.
"I probably should let my mom know I'm alright," he admitted.
Act Two
Upon entering Crono's house, Crono, Marle, Lucca, and Robo could see Gina sitting at the kitchen table.
She had her head lowered, with her hands folded in her lap. Her eyes were red, with bags underneath. Her skin was pale, and it appeared as if she had not eaten in days.
And then, she noticed her guests.
"Crono!" she exclaimed as she jumped up with such force that she knocked both the chair and table over. She ran to Crono and threw her arms around him. "Crono you had me so worried! I heard you were to be executed, dear. Stop scaring me like that!"
"Sorry," he sheepishly apologized.
Gina broke the hug and have Crono an annoyed but loving look. She then saw the other three visitors.
"Hi, Aunt Gina," Lucca greeted.
"Lucca!" greeted Gina. "We hardly see you these days!"
"I've been kinda busy," Lucca replied.
"Don't let life pass you by, dear!" Gina advised. "And say hi to your parents!"
She then spotted Robo.
"Goodness!" she exclaimed. "Lucca, is this one of your inventions?"
"Greetings," Robo introduced. "I am Robo. Crono is my friend."
"My, how polite!" Gina complimented. "Strange looking, but well behaved! Crono, you could learn a thing or two." She then turned to her son again. "So where have you been all this time?" she asked.
"It's a long story," Crono replied.
THAT EVENING...
Everyone was seated at the kitchen table after finishing a dinner that Gina had made. They had decided to tell her, and she was now sitting baffled.
"So," Gina continued, "you've been traveling through time. That's kind of hard to believe."
"It's the truth," Crono insisted. "We met Robo in the future. You won't find anything like him here in 1000."
"It's also where I got my glasses from," Lucca added. "As long as I wear them, I'll keep my eyesight."
"And you're planning on saving the world from a giant hedgehog?" Gina asked.
"That's the plan," Crono replied.
"It won't be that hard," Lucca added. "All we have to do is stop him from being created."
Suddenly, Marle nudged Crono with her elbow. She had a big smile on her face, and Crono took the hint.
"Well," he began, "we have more news to tell you."
"More news?" Gina asked.
"We're together," Marle announced as she rested her hand on his.
"How nice!" Gina exclaimed. "When did this happen?"
"Not until the End of Time," Crono replied honestly.
LATER...
The sun was down now, and Gina had gone to bed. Lucca and Marle had two sofas in the parlor to sleep on. Robo, meanwhile, did not require sleep, so he simply cleaned up after them all.
Crono stared out the back window.
Tomorrow, they would return to the year 600.
Tomorrow, they would defeat Magus and prevent Lavos' creation.
And then...
He hadn't reached that point. There was a lot to think about.
Suddenly, he felt Marle's gentle hand on his shoulder.
"Does your mom know I'm Princess Nadia?" she asked.
"Probably," Crono replied. "She was at the trial."
"And she doesn't care?"
"Of course she cares," Crono said, "but it doesn't bother her."
Marle smiled, and put her other hand on his shoulder as well.
"She did a good job raising you," she said.
"Thanks," replied Crono.
"You're nodding," Marle observed. "You need to get some rest. Besides, when was the last time you slept in your own bed?"
"Right before I met you," Crono replied honestly.
"Good night, then," Marle giggled. She then kissed him and lay down on the couch.
Crono then mounted the stairs to his bedroom. He felt beyond lucky to have met Marle.
He never wanted the adventure to end.
August 8, 1000
Crono awoke the next morning to smell a pleasant aroma coming from the kitchen. He quickly went downstairs to see an unusual sight: Marle was at the stove.
"You're up early," Crono observed.
"I made you breakfast," Marle replied with a smile. "Eggs and bacon. It'll give us all the energy to fight Magus."
Lucca awoke at that moment.
"And for Lucca," she added with a smile.
""Marle, you didn't have to," Lucca insisted as she put her glasses on.
"You both deserve it," Marle insisted. "After all you've done for me."
An hour later, Crono, Marle, and Lucca were sitting on the sofa.
"So where do we find Magus, anyway?" asked Marle.
"He had a castle on the southern island," Lucca replied. "We'll use the Gate at the Fairgrounds to go back to Guardia in 600. We'll then cross the Zenan bridge to the southern island. We'll take it from there."
Crono then looked up at the ceiling.
"My mom's still asleep," he pointed out. "This isn't like her."
"She was worried about you for days." Marle replied. "I'd be devastated if something happened to you."
The apparent peace of the house was about to be shattered.
Outdoors, two men approached the residence. The stopped at the front door, and one turned to the other.
"This is where our troublemaker, Crono, lives," Ogulus announced.
"Well done," Chancellor Vanim complimented. "Well done."
"I think we need to include single women in our censuses," Ogulus suggested.
"I'll bring it up in Parliament," Vanim assured him.
On cue, two soldiers approached the front door and drew their swords.
Chancellor Vanim stood back, and signaled for Ogulus to do the same.
"Watch the magic," he commanded.
The two soldiers kicked the door down. They stormed into the house, to find the first floor deserted.
"He's upstairs!" Chancellor Vanim announced. "Now, we've got him cornered!"
The four men charged up the stairs. They opened the door to the first bedroom, which was Crono's. There was nobody in there. The soldiers inspected every corner and under the bed, but found nothing.
They then stormed into the other bedroom, which was Gina's.
Gina immediately sprang up in bed with a scream, covering herself with her blanket; her bare shoulders implied to the intruders that she had slept naked.
"Where is he?!" Chancellor Vanim demanded.
"I don't know!" Gina replied. "Can't you guys knock?!"
Chancellor Vanim inspected the room as Gina tightened the blanket around her.
"You're making a big mistake hiding him!" he warned.
"He's not here!" Gina insisted. "You checked!"
Defeated, the four men descended the stairs and exited the house.
None of them noticed the kitchen window open, having been left that way by the four escapees.
LATER...
After they escaped, Crono and his friends actually paid me a visit at the shop.
"Come on in, Crono!" I greeted. "I owe you one! You saved my skin back there."
"Don't mention it," Crono assured me.
"Man, was I up the creek!" I continued. "I went off on a buying trip, and ended up getting jailed with a bunch of thieves! The officials planned to execute me without a trial! What has gotten into them?"
"Good question," Marle chimed in. "Chancellor Vanim hasn't been acting himself lately. I just hope he doesn't do anything funny in Parliament."
"We're forever in your debt!" said my sister, Elaine. "Thank you, again!"
I then gave them ten eithers without telling my dad. He wouldn't be too happy.
Marle didn't seem too happy, either.
"What's on your mind?" I asked her.
"Chancellor Vanim just came to Crono's house," she replied. "There may be more soldiers along the way." She suddenly turned to Crono. "Crono, I think I need to try and talk to my father again. I need this manhunt against you called off."
"Are you sure that would work?" I asked skeptically.
"There's only one way to find out," Marle replied.
Act Three
Crono, Marle, Lucca, and Robo stood in the forest at the foot of the stairs that led to the castle.
"Wait here," Marle commanded. "If this goes the way I think it should, you'll be in the clear."
"Are you sure?" asked Lucca skeptically.
"My dad's worried sick," Marle insisted. "He'll be so happy to see me that he'll call off the hunt. He does have the power to commute sentences and issue pardons, you know."
Marle then began to climb the stairs. She felt a sense of satisfaction as she did so, knowing that, after all Crono had done for her, she was finally able to do something for him. Knowing exactly what to expect, she duly stepped inside the castle.
"Princess Nadia!" a familiar voice called as soon as she set foot in the castle's interior.
Marle immediately saw Chancellor Vanim approaching.
"I've been worried, Princess!" he announced.
"I had to leave," Marle informed him. "My father's treating me like I'm not even a person."
"I understand your pain," Vanim said. "But the king really only cares about his realm."
That's weird, thought Marle. The chancellor's the one who had Crono prosecuted. Why is he so sympathetic to me all of a sudden?
"I don't know if that's the case," she dismissed skeptically.
"Yes," Vanim insisted, "even when your mother, Queen Aliza passed away, he worked all day!"
"No one could do that!" Marle exclaimed. "It's inhuman!"
"Oh, child," sighed the chancellor, "it's ancient history now."
"Tell me more!" Marle pleaded.
"This may be difficult," Vanim warned her. "Well, Queen Aliza's condition suddenly changed for the worst. She desperately wanted to see the king one last time, but he couldn't find the time to drop by. He said he had some work to do, but, knowing nothing about death, you waited faithfully by your mother's side. Aliza passed away in sorrow. It's as if the king indirectly killed her. Such a shame."
"What?!" exclaimed Marle. "Father killed my mother?!"
"But what do I know?" continued the chancellor. "There are reasons for everything, right dear?"
"I guess," Marle replied sadly.
"Now," Vanim said, "so glad to see you back again. Please go and visit the king."
Marle climbed the stairs to the throne room. On the way up, she spotted someone she had seen at the trial.
"I'm the lawyer, Pierre," he greeted. "The King has been so gloomy since your disappearance. Listening to my story, he has concluded that it was not a kidnapping. It's taken time, but I think he understands. Still, the chancellor's acting weird. He may give us some trouble."
"But Crono's okay from now on?" Marle asked.
"For now, yes," Pierre replied. "You might want to see your father."
Marle nodded and finished her trip up the stairs.
King Guardia XXXIII was sitting on her throne.
"Oh! Nadia!" he exclaimed.
Marle folded her arms; this needed to be dealt with.
"We need to talk, father," she informed him.
"What do you want?" the king demanded. "I'm not giving in to your demands!"
"This is important," Marle insisted.
"It's your fault for leaving the castle!" the king snapped. "And letting these hoodlums in here. You might as well beg for bread on the street corner!"
"Stop it!" she retorted. "They're my friends!"
"They're a disgrace to this family!" the king insisted.
"Father," she responded, you care more about your country than me...or mother!"
"What?!" the appalled king exclaimed.
"You..you killed mother!" Marle shouted.
King Guardia XXXIII stood silently for a moment.
Then, he pointed his finger.
"GET OUT OF HERE THIS INSTANT!" he bellowed. "I never want to see your face again! We're no longer family! Do as you wish!"
As he finished, two guards grabbed Marle by the arms.
"GOOD RIDDANCE!" shouted Marle, loud enough for the entire castle to hear.
The two guards then escorted Marle out of the castle.
"Oh," muttered Chancellor Vanim as Marle disappeared out the castle door. "Woe is me.
LATER...
Marle walked down the stairs, slowly and silently, to Crono, who was waiting for her at the bottom.
"Well," she began in a melancholy tone of voice, "you're off the hook for now. Pierre got it reduced to probation. That's the good news."
Crono could tell something was wrong right away. He put his hands on her shoulders for support.
"And the bad news?" he asked gently.
Marle's lips began to quiver. Tears welled up in her eyes.
"My father disowned me!" she announced before the tears started streaming down her cheeks.
Crono immediately pulled her in and hugged her tightly.
"Crono," she sobbed, "I'm an orphan!" She then buried her head in his shoulder.
"That's not true," Crono began as he gently stroked her back.
Marle cautiously raise her head and looked Crono in the eyes.
"You're all I have," she insisted.
"And I'll never leave you," he assured her. "I'll never treat you like that. I still care about you."
Marle then smiled. The tears returned, but they were no longer sad tears. Somebody cared about her for who she was.
"You're all I need," she said.
Marle then pressed her lips against Crono's.
She felt beyond lucky to have him.
