Chapter 21: What Lies Beyond?

Act One

Schala, the doomed princess of Zeal, entered the bedroom she had visited so many times before.

Janus was there, sitting on his bed. Tears were streaming down his face.

Feeling her brother's heartbreak, she sat down on the bed next to him, and put her arm around him, holding him close.

"Please don't go tomorrow!" he pleaded.

"Janus," she replied sadly, "I have to. Mother cast a spell on me to make sure I can't escape. And if I don't cooperate tomorrow, she will torture me." She paused. "And she might hurt you."

Janus could do nothing, except bury his head in his sister's shoulder. He was slowly realizing that she would die the next day.

"Can I spend one more day with you?" he begged.

"Of course," she replied.

Unknown to either sibling, Queen Zeal was looking on from the entrance to the chamber.

And her heart was far from breaking.

LATER...

Schala had kept her promise; brother and sister had spent the entire day together. They sat outside under their favorite tree. They played with Alfador. They didn't want the day to end.

Late that afternoon, they spotted Crono, Marle, Lucca, Frog, Robo, and Ayla at Kajar. Knowing their intentions, the princess decided to invite them to the dining hall in the palace that evening. Her mother never dined there anymore; it would be a safe place to discuss anything.

So they met there late in the evening for dinner. Schala was treated as the guest of honor; she was certain it was her last evening. While everyone else disagreed with that, her good deeds caused everyone to feel she deserved to be treated like the princess she was.

They spent the first two hours getting to know each other, taking extra care not to reveal that they were from the future; Janus would most certainly give that away, spoil the mission, and possibly ruin the timeline.

But, as luck would have it, Janus blurted out his rudeness later on.

"So why do you have and extra pair of eyes?" he suddenly asked Lucca, referring to her glasses. "Is something wrong with your eyesight? Or are you afraid of getting snow in your eyes? What a wuss."

"Janus," Schala began, "please excuse us. I'll come to tuck you in."

Janus got up and quickly trotted out of the room; he seemed relieved to go.

Schala immediately turned to Lucca.

"I apologize for by brother," she said.

"No worries," Lucca assured her.

"Has he been rude to you before?" Schala asked.

"He told us one of us will die soon," Lucca replied.

"Typical Janus," Schala sighed. "Please forgive him. He's really upset now. I'm being taken to the Ocean Palace tomorrow morning. And it will be a one-way trip."

"Can't you escape?" Crono inquired.

"Mother cast a spell on me," Schala replied. "If I take one step on the snowy surface, I'll turn to stone forever."

"Is there a way to take it off?" Marle asked.

"It wears off after a day or two," Schala answered. "But that doesn't matter. She's having me executed tomorrow when she no longer needs me."

Lucca suddenly scanned the other guests at the table. She realized that Schala could keep a secret.

"All in favor of telling Schala the truth?" Lucca suddenly polled.

Everyone raised their hand in unison.

"That settles it," Lucca announced.

"What truth?" Schala asked.

"You might find this hard to believe," Lucca warned her.

"I'm listening," Schala assured her.

"We're time travelers," Crono began.

"Time travelers?" Schala asked. "You mean, you're from another time?"

"Marle, Lucca, and I are from 13,000 years from now," Crono replied. "Robo here is from 14,300 years from now. Ayla here is from millions of years on the past."

"How do you understand our language?" Schala inquired.

"We don't," Crono answered. "Robo here has a universal translator in his system. It makes us think we're speaking each other's languages."

"What brought you here?" Schala asked.

"Lavos," Marle replied. "This time travel adventure ran away with itself, but we eventually discovered Lavos along the way."

"What do you know about it?" Schala asked. "Mother believes it can make us all immortal."

"Lavos crashed into the earth sixty-five million years ago, destroying most of the life on the planet," Lucca began.

"It's that destructive?!" Schala asked.

"Extremely destructive," Crono confirmed.

"Eventually," Lucca continued, "Lavos erupted, and ruined the world. When we met Robo, civilization was decaying away."

"We also met Belthasar," Marle added. "He was stuck in the bleak future as well."

"The Guru of Reason?" Schala asked. "I haven't seen him in a while. How's he doing?"

"He isn't," Marle replied sadly. "Not too many people can survive the bleak future. He died from malnutrition and despair. But he did copy his memory into his strange purple creature."

"Strange purple creature?" Schala asked. "Oh! You mean the Nu!"

"The Nu?" asked Crono.

"We have lots of those here in Zeal," Schala informed them. "But I'm really sad to hear about Belthasar. Listen...has anyone else tried to seek out Lavos? Besides my mother?"

"Magus," Frog replied in a somewhat resentful voice.

"Magus?" asked Schala.

"Magus," Frog continued, "a fiendish wizard from my time."

"He already had magic powers," Crono said. "But he never explained what he wanted with Lavos. When we tried to confront him, Lavos sent us all to prehistory. We didn't see Magus when we awoke. He wandered off and was either killed by a dinosaur, or, more likely, when Lavos fell."

"I refuse to believe that," Frog stated. "I shall find him, and slay him mineself!"

"Come on!" Lucca suddenly exclaimed. "How long can you possibly keep pursuing him? If he wasn't sent to prehistory, he could be anywhere. You'd be looking for a needle in a haystack! Sooner or later..."

"I lost Cyrus!" Frog exclaimed. "I lost mine humanity! I lost mine parents! I lost mine dreams of becoming a chancellor!" He then paused to catch his breath. "But Magus...I shan't lose him!"

"You're crazy!" Lucca snapped. "All you think about is Magus this and Magus that. Are you actually with us to stop Lavos? Or are you just here to find Magus and go on your merry way?"

Frog was silent.

"I knew it!" Lucca hissed as she sprang to her feet and slammed her plate. "I'll be going to my room if anyone needs me!" she grunted as she marched out of the dining hall. "Why'd we have to invite a stupid frog along anyway?"

An aura of silence filled the room for a few moments.

"Ayla full," said the prehistoric woman. "Need to lay down."

She got up and pushed her chair in, and walked out of the room.

A few more silent moments followed.

"I'm starting to get tired, too," Crono added. "We'll take care of everything tomorrow. I promise."

He then stood up, and pushed his chair in.

"Hey!" exclaimed Marle as she sprang up. "Don't leave your girlfriend behind!"

She then darted out of the dining hall without pushing her chair in.

More silence followed.

"I am sorry," Robo said to Frog as he rose to his feet. "If it can't be more obvious, Lucca suffers from a severe case of ranidaphobia."

"'Tis quite all right," Frog insisted.

"That being said," Robo continued, "Captain Ahab needs to stop hunting his whale before he gets killed."

Robo then left the room.

Being from the seventh century, Frog had never heard of Moby Dick, but he was aware of what he had meant.

He sat in his spot in silence, reassessing his own motives for the journey.

And realized that Schala was still sitting at the table.

"I understand you must want this Magus dead," she observed.

"Aye," he sighed. "With all passion."

"Is he the one who turned you into a frog?" Schala asked.

"Aye," Frog replied. "And he slayed mine friend Cyrus. He was liketh the a father to me."

"And if you do kill him," Schala continued, "will that break the curse on you?"

"I have nary a clue," Frog replied. "He tooketh all from me."

"And if he summoned Lavos," Schala continued, "he must have had an excellent reason. He doesn't sound like he wants his power."

"Magus is an unusual, empty soul," Frog answered.

"That reminds me of my brother," Schala admitted. "I really hope he never turns out like that. It would break my heart." She then stood up. "You must be frustrated. Why don't we have some wine together?"

"'Tis an important day tomorrow," Frog replied. "I shall be ready."

"I suppose you're right," Schala agreed sadly.

She scanned her green companion. He might be unusual, but his eyes displayed a strong sense of nobility. Or so they would, had it not been for his lust for vengeance.

"You talk differently than the rest," Schala observed.

"I don't have to," Frog replied in a normal voice, unheard to anyone else. "But so many people are afraid of frogs, especially Lucca. So I talk very chivalrous. It works, most of the time."

"I only look into someone's soul," Schala assured him. "And so do your friends. They won't judge you. They all like you, even, deep down I think, Lucca."

Frog was silent. There was a lot he needed to rethink.

Both about Magus and himself.

Act Two

Marle sat alone at what could only be described as a bar. She was somewhat disappointed that Crono had retired for the night; there was something she had wanted to discuss with him.

Tomorrow they would descend into the Ocean Palace and destroy Lavos. They would also destroy Queen Zeal, put Schala on the throne, and...

And...

And then what? Marle thought to herself.

It was a good question. She definitely didn't want to return to her own time; her father had used up all his chances, plus five.

But where else could I go? And what would be come of Crono and I?

"Is the seat next to you taken?" asked a familiar voice.

Marle turned to see Schala standing behind her.

"Not at all!" replied Marle. "I do feel bad dinner ended on a sour note. Lucca and Frog...they really don't get along."

"I noticed," Schala said as she sat down. "But it's okay. If that's the worst thing I'm about to deal with, I'd be rather lucky."

Marle looked at Schala with empathy. Just her presence was uplifting. She would try to save her tomorrow. But if she failed...

"Two wines, please," Schala requested.

"Thanks!" replied Marle with a smile as she received her wine glass.

"I'm glad I don't have to drink alone," Schala said. "So many people are afraid to be themselves around me. I guess that's the price of being a princess."

"I used to be a princess where I came from," Marle said, realizing that she had never informed Schala of that fact.

"Used to be?" asked Schala.

"My full name is Mary Nadia Aliza Guardia," Marle replied. "Everyone called me Princess Nadia. But I like to be called Marle."

"But you're not a princess anymore?" Schala asked.

"My father, King Guardia XXXIII, disowned me," Marle answered sadly. "I haven't spoken to him since."

"What happened?" asked Schala. "If you don't mind me asking."

"Our head of government, Chancellor Vanim, tried to put Crono in jail for kidnapping me," Marle replied. "When Crono was acquitted, he was put in jail anyway for running off with me. Chancellor Vanim lied and said he was to be executed. His cousin Lucca saved him at the last minute. We escaped to the future and...that was where we learned about Lavos."

"I see," Schala observed. "But...don't you miss your father?"

"I miss my mother," Marle sadly admitted. "She died when I was four."

"I'm so sorry!" Schala said.

"I didn't even get to see her one last time," Marle sighed. "They just took her body away and buried her in the royal crypt that evening. And the worst thing about it was that my father didn't see my mother when she was sick. He was so immersed in his royal duties that my mother lost her will to live. He more or less killed her."

"How awful!" Schala exclaimed. "When did he admit to that?"

"Actually," Marle continued. "It's what Chancellor Vanim told me."

Schala's expression suddenly changed. She began to rub her chin.

"You think differently?" Marle asked. "It's okay if you do."

"Maybe it's not your father," Schala suggested. "Nobody can actually die from despair. Look at me; if people died from sadness, I'd be long dead. It sounds to me like the chancellor is lying. He did lie about Crono, didn't he?"

"That's true," Marle agreed.

"Marle," continued Schala, "what would happen if the king died without an heir?"

Marle briefly hesitated.

Suddenly, her heart began to slightly race. It was something that she had failed to consider.

"The chancellor...would get the throne," she slowly answered.

"Marle," warned Schala, "I could be wrong, but it sounds like the chancellor wants to take the throne. And now that you're gone, he'll plot against your father."

Marle suddenly began to tremble. It was all starting to make sense now. There was no way of proving what the chancellor had said about her mother; she automatically believed him after what had happened with Crono.

Her father wasn't the villain; the chancellor was.

"I knew my father had his head on backwards sometimes," Marle said, "but I didn't think he was a bad person."

"He lost your mother," Schala pointed out. "If I lost Janus, who knows what I'd be capable of."

Marle stared forward. It was a brand new realization.

"Maybe I should make up with my father," Marle whispered to herself.

LATER...

Crono reached his hand behind the curtain and knocked on the wall.

"Come in!" Marle replied.

Crono let himself through the curtain in into the chamber.

Marle was sitting on her purple bed. She was dressed in a beautiful pink, sleeveless nightgown that shimmered in the light.

"I just wanted to say I was sorry for leaving dinner so suddenly," he apologized.

"That's okay," she replied with a smile as he patted the spot next to her, signaling for him to sit down. "It did get a little too dramatic."

Crono sat down.

Marle affectionately put her hand on his shoulder. Now that he was here, it was time to ask him about the future.

Both of the mission, and of them.

"I never thought we'd ever come to a place like this," she began. "But..what lies beyond?"

"I think that if we do find Lavos down there tomorrow," Crono began, "we can destroy it. And that will be that."

Marle then removed her hand from his shoulder, and took his own with it.

"I meant what lies beyond for us?" she asked.

"It's a good question," Crono replied.

"What if we lived here?" Marle suggested.

"Schala will be a just queen," Crono agreed. "And she would be grateful for us saving her. We would be safe from all our troubles."

Marle lowered her head. It was a nice thought, but she also realized that she needed to address the elephant in the room.

"Well," she continued, "that's what I'd like to say."

"But?" Crono asked.

"But, once we take care of Lavos, I need to go home," she finished.

"You need to go home?" Crono inquired.

Marle nodded.

"My father's in trouble," she continued. "I-I really don't think he's the villain in all this. I think the chancellor's trying to take the throne. He did lie about your execution."

"That is true," Crono admitted.

"And if something happens to my father without an heir, Vanim will take over the kingdom," she said. "He'll dissolve parliament and rule with a fist."

She then placed Crono's hand in both of hers.

"Crono," she declared, "I need to become a princess again. For the sake of everything and everyone in the kingdom."

"I understand," Crono said sadly. "I will miss you."

Marle's eyes widened.

"Miss me?!" she exclaimed. "Aren't you coming with me?"

"I am," he replied. "But thing will change for us. It will be hard being my girlfriend when you're a princess again."

"I know," Marle admitted.

She then placed her hand on his cheek. She could not believe what she was about to say.

"Then...maybe...we can have a different arrangement for us," she nervously suggested.

"A different arrangement?" Crono asked.

Marle closed her beautiful eyes and nodded. She then kissed him softly on the mouth.

"I would never leave you behind," she assured him. "I really like you. And I'm starting to...more than like you."

"I'll never leave you, either," he replied. "I feel the same way."

She hugged him more tightly before kissing him again. She continued to kiss him until Crono finally did retire for the night. Afterwards, she almost wanted to kick herself. Part of her had wanted to say the three words to him, but another part of her wasn't sure she was ready.

"Next time," she said to herself. "Next time."

She then put out the light.

And she sat up wide awake.

MEANWHILE...

Crono was halfway to his own chamber when he spotted Lucca sitting on the floor.

"Can't sleep?" he asked as he sat down.

Lucca shook her head.

"Neither can I," replied Crono. "We have a big day tomorrow. I'm hoping to finish Lavos off so we can go home."

"Me, too," Lucca agreed. "I'm looking forward to being home again. And to be rid of that frog. I swear, I can't stand him!"

"We'll probably have to say good-bye to Ayla and Kino," Crono pointed out. "They would do good to settle here."

Lucca was silent. Something had crossed her mind from the start. But she didn't dare voice it until she was alone with Crono. He was the one she trusted the most.

"You do know this place is going to be destroyed tomorrow, right?" she suddenly blurted out.

"What?" asked Crono skeptically.

"Think about it," Lucca continued. "We don't have Zeal in our time. The sky is clear, so we should be able to see it. But we can't. It's not up there. Hence, Zeal gets destroyed. Only Lavos would be powerful enough to do it."

"I hope nobody's listening," Crono said. "Maybe we should switch off our universal translators."

They was one thing I forgot to mention; Robo gave each of them universal translators to fit into their ears, just in case they ever got separated.

It's not any different than me transcribing this story for you. When Crono and Marle are speaking, we can assume that they are actually speaking Gaelic, as it was, and still is, the native language of their area. On the other hand, it is possible that, during most intimate discussions, they really are speaking English to prevent their other friends from eavesdropping.

Anyways, back to the story.

"I could be wrong," Lucca admitted.

"Who knows," Crono said as he stood up. "It is getting late."

Lucca raised her hand toward him.

Crono helped his cousin to her feet.

"Agreed," she said. "How are things with Marle."

"Good," he replied. "She said she would never leave me."

"Crono," Lucca replied, "that's great! I was always hoping you would find someone so sincere." She paused. "But if I ever hear of her hurting you, I will kick her butt in a second."

"I don't think that would happen," said another female voice.

Crono and Lucca turned to spot its origins.

Schala was standing there.

"This girl is crazy about you," Schala said. "She would never hurt you."

"I believe it," Crono admitted. "I've just...never fallen for somebody that fast."

"Sometimes," Schala replied, "that's just how it happens."

"I know," Crono said. "I don't mean to be rude, but I need to turn in. We have a big day tomorrow."

"Agreed," Schala replied. "We're all counting on you."

Crono took off, leaving the other two alone in the hall.

"Lucca," began Schala, "I don't mean to pry, but...do you...love Crono?"

"I love him to the moon and back," Lucca replied. "He's my cousin."

"Oh!" Schala realized. "I didn't know you were related."

"He's my cousin on my mom's side," Lucca continued. "Our mothers are twins." She paused. "And on my dad's side...he's my half brother."

"He's both your cousin and your brother?!" Schala inquired.

"He is," Lucca confirmed. "But I only consider him my cousin."

"May I ask why?" asked Schala.

"My mother forgave my father, and my aunt," Lucca replied. "But she never forgave Crono. And all he did was be born. I've watched him grow ever since I was two. This isn't right that he's treated that way."

"It's not," Schala agreed. "Tell me though...would your mother hate him more if you called him your brother?" She paused. "Because he is still your younger brother, no matter what you call him."

"I don't know," Lucca sadly replied. "I just don't know. I guess I can't please everyone. But my love for Crono would never change, no matter what."

For a while, there was silence. They realized what they had in common: a younger brother each was feeling insecure about.

"Do you have any regrets?" Lucca asked.

"About tomorrow?" Schala asked. "Not really. My brother is safe."

Lucca felt amazed as the sacrifice Schala was about to make. Of course, she would lay down her life for Crono any day of the week.

"What about for yourself?" Lucca continued.

"The loss of my own existence?" Schala replied. "I don't know. Death isn't any mystery to me. There was a time before I was born when I was nothing."

This troubled Lucca.

"I'm sure God would let you into the Kingdom," she suggested.

"Who?" Schala asked.

Of course, Lucca realized. This year ends in a B.C. for a reason.

"I guess I regret never becoming queen," Schala continued. "And that I'll never fall in love. I was hoping I would meet a cute blue-haired boy to share my life with." She paused again. "And I'll never know passion, either."

Lucca was slightly surprised, but not much so. Even the most noble people thought about sex.

In any event, Lucca, despite being a woman of science, could almost feel her heart breaking.

LATER...

Marle continued to sit up in bed in the darkness. She was quite unable to sleep, still regretting not saying what she wanted to say to Crono. Tomorrow would be another day, but it would also be a dangerous day.

Her worst nightmare would be to lose him before she told him.

And then, she heard footsteps.

Marle quickly switched on the light. She turned her head to see that Schala had entered the room.

"How could you tell I couldn't sleep?" Marle asked.

"I felt it," Schala replied. "I know you have a lot on your mind."

"Tell me about it," Marle sighed.

"I have something for you that might help you sleep," Schala continued.

As Marle watched, Schala produced a doll that had blond hair in a pigtail, and was wearing a red skirt and jacket that left both her legs and midriff exposed.

Marle was beyond touched by the gift.

"Schala..." she began.

"I won't need it anymore," Schala insisted. "She helped me sleep. She's a strong woman. She's what I've always wanted to be. That is, if I hadn't been a princess."

"She's beautiful," Marle observed. "Who made her?"

"Belthasar," Schala replied. "She was from a kingdom in the future called Oztorla."

"Does she have a name?" Marle asked.

"She sure does," Schala replied. "Belthasar had a pet name for me. So I passed it on to her."

"What did he call you?" Marle asked.

"Kid," Schala replied. "He called me Kid."

She then laid the doll next to Marle.

"Schala," Marle began, "I don't know what to say..."

Schala wrapped her arms around her and hugged her tightly.

"You don't have to say anything," Schala assured her.

It was then that Marle saw that Schala had brought some kind of instrument with her that was similar to a lute.

"Schala...?" Marle began.

"You said you miss your mother singing you to sleep," Schala began. "I know I'm not quite old enough to be your mother...actually, I'm old enough to be your great-great-great-great-grandmother, but, anyways, here goes."

Before Marle could say anything, Schala began playing a hauntingly beautiful melody. And she sang to her with her beautiful voice.

And then, Marle was fast asleep.

Schala gazed at the sleeping girl. She wished she could have a daughter of her own someday.

"Sing it to your children someday," Schala whispered before departing.

LATER...

Schala's last stop of the night was her brother's room. He was sitting up in bed as she walked in.

For the longest time, brother and sister gazed into each other's eyes. Both were well aware it would be their last time together.

"Can you stay with me?" Janus finally pleaded. "Until I fall asleep?"

"Of course," she replied.

She kissed and rocked him until he finally did fall asleep.

Schala then tucked him in.

She put out the light.

She went to her own chamber.

She climbed into her bed.

She cried herself to sleep.

Act Three

August 27, 12,000 B.C.

In the morning, Crono, Marle, Lucca, Frog, Robo, and Ayla stood in the common hall.

"This is it," Crono began. "From here, we go to the Ocean Palace. This will probably be the most dangerous adventure we've ever gone on, and there's a chance we won't be coming back. If anyone wants to back out, now's your last chance."

Nobody said a word; everyone was in.

"Our plan is to break into the Ocean Palace," Crono continued. "First, we'll rescue Schala. Zeal will need a righteous queen."

"The Zealians don't believe in any deity or a life after death of any kind," Lucca added. "Schala expects to cease to exist today!"

"We need to help her," Marle agreed. "Badly."

"Agreed," Crono replied. "Second, we'll eliminate the old queen, and expose her for who she really is. Finally, we'll destroy Lavos. If Lavos is going to wake up, now is the perfect time to wipe it out. We'll save the future from being destroyed."

"Then what?" Ayla asked.

"We'll worry about that when the job is done," Crono replied. "Right now, we need to go to the throne room. If things go the way I'm hoping, Schala won't even set foot in the Palace."

MEANWHILE...

At that very moment, Schala was making those horrible preparations. She had put her long, beautiful hair up in a ponytail, and placed her beautiful blue earrings in.

Two hours earlier, she had awoken in her warm, comfortable bed like any other morning. She sat up, and saw her reflection in the mirror; she was wearing a purple nightgown, and had a bed head.

And then, it had hit her.

"This is the day I die," she said to herself.

It was her time to cry; nobody would see her. She then decided to bathe; she wanted to groom herself for her demise.

Now, it was time to face her destiny.

Schala stepped out of her room for the final time, and walked slowly, but with direction, to the throne room.

She passed Janus's room, and briefly stepped inside. She remained away from the bed; she did not want to disturb her sleeping brother.

"I love you, Janus," she whispered before departing.

And, then, she took the walk. It wasn't a long walk, as, ten minutes later, she was at the crested door. She turned around one last time, saying goodbye to the kingdom she loved. Then, completely resigned to her fate, she raised her pendant, and let herself inside.

"Welcome," Queen Zeal greeted. "Are you ready?"

"Yes, mother," Schala replied without emotion.

FIVE MINUTES LATER...

"We're too late!" Marle lamented as she stepped foot in the throne room. "Poor Schala..."

"Hold on," Robo assured her. "In my time, we have a saying. It's not over until the fat lady sings."

And then, Marle gasped; she had just noticed that Dalton was standing right there.

"Why is the prophet allowed inside while I'm stuck with guard duty?" he grumbled.

"Not my problem," Crono replied.

"There you are," Dalton sighed. "I let the prophet go, knowing he'd mess up sooner or later. But I've no use for you anymore. You're history!"

Without saying a word, Ayla slowly walked up to him until they were a mere inches apart.

"What are you doing?" he inquired.

Then, without warning, Ayla conked her head against his face.

"Ow!" shouted Dalton as he staggered back.

Then, blood began to ooze from his nose.

"No!" he shouted. "I'm going to be immortal! I can't be beaten now!"

He immediately darted into the beam where the throne should be and disappeared.

"After him!" Lucca insisted. "He's getting away!"

"Forget him!" Marle insisted. "We need to save Schala!"

"Not just Schala," Crono added. "The world!"

Everyone then turned their attention to the beam.

"I'm going to presume this leads to the Ocean Palace," Lucca suggested.

For a minute, everyone stared at the beam.

This was it.

"Well," Crono said, law can't stay here."

One by one, they stepped into the tele-porter.

All six would enter the palace.

But only five would return.