Chapter 26: The Fated Hour
Act One
On September 2, 1000, Chancellor Vanim stood in the throne room. He gazed longingly at the throne; his goal was almost reached.
Princess Nadia was now an ex-princess; she had been disowned by her father, thus removing her from the line of succession.
It was written into the Guardian constitution that if the king died without an heir, the chancellor would become king, whereupon his successor as chancellor would be elected by Parliament later that day.
Chancellor Vanim had other plans; he would dissolve Parliament immediately upon coronation, effectively ruling the kingdom as a dictator.
All he had to do was find a way to either murder the king, or have him imprisoned.
If only there was a way….
MEANWHILE….
"A ghost?!" Glenn exclaimed skeptically.
"A ghost," Crono replied. "At the ruins east of Choras."
"I find that hard to believe," Glenn admitted.
"Even after Magus' castle?!" Marle asked in surprise.
"Trust me," Crono insisted. "It's there. If you come with us and see…."
"I don't need a reward," Glenn interjected. "I just want to show you you're seeing things. Then we can finally move forward. I think there are greater things at stake here, now that we've resumed our mission to destroy Lavos."
"O….kay," Marle replied skeptically.
"Suit yourself," Crono added.
"Well then," Glenn said. "Let's go to the Northern Ruins and get this over with."
LATER…
Marle gripped Crono's hand nervously as the three of them approached the Northern Ruins. She was not afraid of much, after what she had been through, but ghosts were something that frightened her. Especially that one.
The entrance to the Northern Ruins was fifty yards away; nothing was there.
Then, the entrance was twenty yards away; there was still nothing.
Then, they were at the entrance; nothing.
They waited for a few moments for something to happen, but nothing did.
"There, now," Glenn said in triumph. "You were simply imagining it."
"How could we both imagine the same thing at the same time?" Crono somewhat demanded.
"Well," Glenn began, "perhaps…"
And then, finally, the ghost began to appear.
At first, it's outline appeared, followed by its whole body.
Crono and Marle were unsure whether to feel victorious or frightened.
"You weren't lying!" Glenn exclaimed as he drew the Masamune, though he was obviously frightened as well.
The ghost began to advance on Glenn.
Glenn swung the Masamune, which, predictably, passed right through the ghost.
The ghost staggered back, despite being unharmed. It gave Glenn a strange, longing look.
"What is this about?" Glenn demanded.
"Glenn…" the ghost moaned as it retreated.
"What?!" Glenn exclaimed.
The voice did sound familiar.
"Glenn!" the ghost whined again.
And then, the voice was recognized; it was a voice unheard in many years.
"Cyrus?!" Glenn exclaimed. "It's me! Glenn!"
"Glenn!" the ghost said one more time before disappearing into the Northern Ruins.
Glenn stood silently, completely shocked at what had just taken place.
"Magus slew him in hundreds of years ago," he finally said. "Why would he still be here?"
"I've heard stories," Marle began. "Sometimes, when you die, you can't move on to the next world if you're still holding onto something."
"But what could he be holding onto?" Crono asked.
And then, both Crono and Marle looked at Glenn.
"But he protected me," Glenn insisted. "Except from being turned into a frog. I suppose that could be it. Or maybe he doesn't know Queen Leene is okay."
Marle turned to her love.
"Could we somehow tell him everything's okay?" she suggested.
"It seems like he's too far gone," Crono replied. "It would take forever to reach him. Unless…"
"…we come back here in 600?" Marle suggested.
"It's possible," Glenn admitted.
September 2, 600
Crono, Marle, and Glenn arrived at the Northern Ruins in the year 600. They did not look all that different, except for the obvious cracks and weathering, which had not yet occurred.
No ghost greeted them at the entrance. They had waited nearly an hour, but Cyrus failed to show.
"Where is he?" Marle asked.
"I would suppose that, if he is indeed here, he would be inside," Glenn suggested.
Marle knew exactly what that meant. She began to draw her crossbow.
And then, Glenn gently stayed her arm, shaking his head.
Marle nodded and put her crossbow away; she realized she wouldn't need it down there.
The three of them then entered the Northern Ruins. There were two doors in the first room; one to the left, the other to the right. The door to the left had stairs that led down, leaving Glenn inclined to descend them.
At the bottom of the stairs was a long room. The three of them made their way down, keeping their eyes peeled for any ghosts or other supernatural surprises. All they found was a sole rat that scurried off immediately upon discovery. Turning left at the end of the room, they found a doorway.
Beyond the doorway, there was a small room that ended in another doorway.
Then, beyond that, Glenn finally saw what he had been looking for.
In that room, at the top of a flight of stairs, stood a grave.
The gravestone was quite self-explanatory.
Cyrus, the Fool who Challenged Magus, Rests Here
Glenn cautiously approached the tomb. He knelt down, and controlled himself as best he could to keep his composure.
"Cyrus," began Glenn, "I have returned. I will honor my promise to you!"
For a moment, nothing happened.
"Queen Leene is okay. So is the king. Magus has been defeated, and the spell on me is partially broken. Guadia is thriving, Cyrus. It's thriving."
Then, the ghost appeared. But this wasn't the mindless ghost of the year 1000; this was the Cyrus Glenn had known.
"Glenn," Cyrus began. "Thank you...for making the journey here."
"Dear Cyrus," Glenn continued, "you must...think ill of me."
"On the contrary!" Cyrus insisted. "You have come far, my friend. When Magus defeated me, I thought of all those whom I had left behind. King Guardia, Queen Leene, and of course, you. Your skill and dedication is superior! I can rest now, knowing that everyone is in good hands. Goodbye, my friend!"
With that, Cyrus began to fade away.
"Cyrus, wait!" Glenn pleaded. "I…I…"
"The Queen," Cyrus interjected. "Look after Queen Leene. Alas, and farewell, Glenn!"
With that, Cyrus was gone.
"Cyrus!" Glenn pleaded as a tear escaped his eye. "I'm so sorry, Cyrus."
And then, suddenly, the Masamune began to glow.
"The Masamune?!" Glenn exclaimed. "It's flowing with strength and vigor."
A moment later, Masa and Mune appeared in front of him.
"That was special!" Mune announced.
"Quite," Masa agreed. "I guess it means that a hero's power comes from within."
"Mucho metaphysical, man," Mune said.
"Like, mind over matter, Mune!" Masa added.
"My...mind?" Glenn inquired.
"Now for a yummy, full-on test!" Mune announced.
"It's thrashin' time!" Masa shouted.
A moment later, the creatures disappeared.
Meanwhile, the Masamune was several inches longer.
Glenn rose to his feet.
"The true identity of the Masamune!" he said. "Cyrus, I promise to fulfill your wishes! Frog: 'Tis a sad farewell!" He then turned to Crono and Marle. "Onward, all!"
THAT EVENING….
Crono, Marle, Lucca, Glenn, Robo, Ayla, and Magus sat at a large table in the Porre Inn when a familiar face approached the spikey redhead.
"So, Crono," Toma began. "I heard you saw a ghost up at the Northern Ruins."
"That's right," Crono replied. "Don't tell me you were looking for him."
"No way!" Toma dismissed. "I look for things that were never living, not things that were once living!"
"Like what?" Magus sarcastically inquired.
"The Rainbow Shell," Toma pointed out. "Supposedly you can make some powerful weapons out of it. It's in a cave on an island. Nobody can get to it."
"I suppose you have plans to find it?" Lucca asked.
"Of course!" Toma insisted as the hostess approached with their food.
"And I have plans of my own!" she announced with a smile as she peered into the corner of the restaurant.
In the background, Tata and his father could be seen eating.
"Now that the boy's back," she continued, "it's time to set my sights on his father!"
A moment later, the seven were alone at the table.
"About that Rainbow Shell," Crono began, "it's not something we ought to leave lying around. Imagine if that fell into the wrong hands."
"True," Ayla said. "But are we the wrong hands, too?"
"It's a good question," Crono admitted.
There were a few silent moments as everyone wondered how to deal with it.
Then, one of them had an idea.
"We can give it to my ancestor!" Marle suggested. "He'll keep it safe in the basement!"
"Great idea!" Lucca complimented. "It's the most secure place in the kingdom!"
"Then it's settled," Ayla agreed. "Tomorrow, we'll find the Rainbow Shell, and bring it to the castle."
Marle smiled, though she remained troubled.
There was still the situation with her father to deal with.
Act Two
September 3, 600
The next day, Crono was piloting the Epoch over the waters between the Medina and Choras islands when Marle spotted something out of the corner of her eye.
"I've never noticed that island before," she said.
Crono eyed said island. There was a cave there, and it almost appeared to be shaped like a giant hand.
"It must have sunk before our time," Lucca suggested.
"We call that cave the Giant's Claw," Magus said. "Nobody can get to that island. It's up on a cliff. Any ship that approaches it is fed to the rocks."
"That sounds like the island Toma was describing," Lucca suggested. "I'll wager the Rainbow Shell's inside that cave!"
"I think it's time we made a landing," Crono said.
MINUTES LATER…
Crono, Marle, Lucca, and Magus disembarked the Epoch and approached the mouth of the cave.
"Be careful," Crono warned. "We'll never know what's down there."
"Suggestion noted," Magus replied sarcastically.
Ignoring the insult, Crono led the other three into the cave.
The four of them found themselves in a long, dark, musty chamber; it seemed as if no living thing had been in there for eons.
"I wonder what the Rainbow Shell looks like," Marle said.
"You'll know when you'll see it," Magus replied, again with sarcasm.
Marle looked at Crono as if to say: "Why are we taking him down there?"
The answer was simple; Lavos could be down there, and Magus might be able to destroy it, now that it was known what the weak spot was.
The four of them reached the end of the chamber.
But nothing could have prepared them for what was in the next room.
Stone tiles.
Stone walls.
Lamps that had produced flames millions of years before.
The location had suddenly become familiar to Crono, Marle, and Lucca.
"A prehistoric castle," Magus observed.
Lucca, meanwhile, recognized the lamps from a previous adventure.
"Is this the Tyrano Lair?" she inquired.
Crono turned around, and spotted Azala's throne, which had turned green from mold.
"It appears so," he replied.
"This must have been pushed underground when Lavos fell to earth," Marle suggested.
The next room was a typical cave chamber again. There were bats at the ceiling, but none that posed even a remote threat.
"What happened here?" Magus inquired.
"This was where Lavos fell," Crono replied. "Sixty-five million years ago. It killed most of the living things on the earth."
The next room was another ruined part of the Tyrano lair.
"Who lived here?" Magus asked as they all began to descend a flight of stairs.
"An empire of reptiles," Lucca replied. "Called the Reptites."
"That can't be true," Magus dismissed.
"It's true," Crono insisted. "They had their own language, culture, and everything."
"If Lavos never fell," Marle added, "I wonder what they would be like now?"
At the bottom of the stairs was a rib cage.
"Ribs?" Magus inquired.
"A prison gate," Lucca replied.
"So how do we get through?" Magus demanded.
"The same way Ayla did!" Marle announced before charging through the door.
The bones, being ancient and brittle, practically crumbled to dust upon contact, causing Marle to sneeze.
Then, they were in another cave chamber. And there, right in front of them, stood a Tyrannosaurus Rex.
A living, breathing one.
"Another one of those things?" Crono exclaimed.
"What a magnificent creature," Magus complimented.
"How can it have survived that long?!" Lucca exclaimed.
"Exposure to Lavos," Magus suggested.
And then, the Tyrannosaurus began to charge.
"Umm…." Marle began as she drew her crossbow.
Magus immediately cast a shadow spell; a black field of power covered the creature.
The Tyrannosaurus stopped and roared. Then it fell to the ground, dead.
"Such a waste of a noble creature," Magus lamented.
Lucca began to chuckle, remembering the situation with the mammoth.
"What's so funny?" Magus demanded.
"Oh," Lucca replied sheepishly, "nothing."
Beyond the corpse awaited the prize they had sought.
"The Rainbow Shell!" Lucca exclaimed.
The four of them tried to live it, but it barely got a couple of inches off the ground.
"It's heavy!" Marle exclaimed. "We won't be able to carry it. Better get some help at the castle!"
LATER….
"Hello!" greeted King Guardia XXI. "You're always welcome here. What can I do for you?"
"Well…" Marle began.
"We explored the Giant's Claw," Crono said. "And you'll never guess what we saw down there."
"I get it," replied the king with a smile. "You want me to keep that huge shell safe here until the next century, right?"
"I ask for the sake of Crono," Queen Leene requested. "Please carry out their request."
"Done!" King Guardia XXI granted. "I shall obtain the shell and store it in the castle, as a national treasure. Knight Captain!"
"Yes, Majesty!" the Knight Captain replied, who had been standing behind Crono, along with his brother, the chef.
"Go and obtain the Rainbow Shell," commanded the king, "and bring it back in one piece!"
"At once, Sire!" the Knight Captain complied.
"Thank you, your Majesty!" Marle said with a smile. "And Queen Leene too, of course!"
THAT NIGHT….
Crono, Marle, and Lucca were at the pub in Truce when a familiar face approached them.
"So, Crono," greeted Toma, "you beat me to the Rainbow Shell?"
"I'm afraid so," Crono replied. "Sorry."
"Nah, I'm not sour about it," Toma insisted. "I probably couldn't have handled the monsters. But I will find the Sun Stone first!"
With that, Toma turned and left the pub.
"How does he always know where we're going?" Lucca inquired.
Crono simply shrugged.
"That's creepy!" Marle groaned.
Act Three
September 4, 600
In the morning, Crono and his friends departed Truce and boarded the Epoch.
"Where to now?" Marle asked as she lovingly held Crono's hand.
"Good question," Crono replied. "I suppose we could do one last sweep of the Middle Ages before we depart."
So they did just that, keeping an eye out for anything out of the ordinary. As they passed over Zenan, Marle took notice of a house in the middle of the desert.
"Who would live out there?" Magus said to himself.
As they drew closer, Ayla could see a nineteen-year-old woman sitting on a tree stump outside. Her head was buried in her hands; she was obviously crying.
Marle immediately squeezed Crono's hand, and he knew exactly what she was thinking.
Crono then piloted the Epoch near the villa, and landed it nearby. He, Marle, Ayla, and Glenn disembarked and approached the sobbing young woman.
"We couldn't help but notice you were so upset," Marle observed. "Is there a problem?"
"Oh, yes," the woman sobbed.
"My name is Marle," she greeted. "This is Crono, Glenn, and Ayla. We're here to help."
"My name's Fiona," the woman replied. "I appreciate it, but I think this is beyond anyone's capabilities."
"You'll be surprised what we've been through," Crono insisted. "What's happened here?"
"Many trees were destroyed in the war with the Magus's Army," Fiona replied sadly. "I try to maintain the forest by replanting trees, but they all die."
"Why does that happen?" Ayla inquired.
"The desert monsters are draining the life out of the soil here," Fiona continued. "This Mystic seedling could revive the forest, but I can't plant it. Too many hungry monsters lurking about."
Just then, a young man emerged from the house; he appeared to be Finoa's age.
Suddenly, Fiona's face brightened; all traces of sadness were suddenly gone.
"My husband Marco is finally home!" Fiona continued happily. "I'm so relieved!"
"I've been home for three days," Marco laughed.
"I just get worried," Fiona sighed.
"Don't worry," Marco assured her. "I'm home for good."
"It sounds to me like there's something going on below," Crono suggested. "Something's draining the soil.
"Maybe it has to do with your flying?" Ayla suggested. "Some spell?"
"I'm not….flying?" replied the baffled Fiona.
Marle suddenly realized the horrible situation.
"Ayla, you're sinking!"
Ayla was waist-deep in the sand, and still sinking.
"Help me!" she pleaded as she began to struggle, though the struggles made her sink faster.
Glenn immediately grabbed Ayla's hands, hoping to pull her to safety. Unfortunately for him, Ayla was the stronger one, and thus pulled him in as well.
Both of them disappeared below the sand in thirty seconds flat.
Marle immediately collapsed to the ground and sobbed.
MOMENTS LATER…
Of course, the likes of Glenn and Ayla wouldn't die so easily. They landed quite safely, though they were initially confused about where they were. There were caverns all around them, and there was moving sand below. Somehow, the luster of the walls illuminated the area.
"We underground," Ayla said.
"Of course," Glenn agreed. "But how can we see?"
"The cave walls illuminate?" she suggested.
"Perhaps," Glenn said. "But, more importantly, how do we get out of here?"
"We'll find a way," Ayla assured him.
At that moment, three large worm-like creatures began to close in on them.
"If we don't get eaten!" Glenn added.
He quickly drew the Masamune and destroyed the giant worms one by one.
"Who made those?" Ayla exclaimed.
"Possibly Magus," Glenn replied. "Or Lavos. I'm not sure which sounds stranger."
"You don't trust Magus, do you?" she asked him.
Glenn shook his head.
"I'll never be able to forgive him," he replied. "And if he does help us destroy Lavos, what then?"
Ayla nodded, he did have a point.
The two of them explored the cavern for a few moments before two more nasty creatures emerged from the sand flood. They were almost like fish, only they swam in the sand.
Glenn again drew the Masamune.
"This time, let me help you!" Ayla insisted.
With that, she stomped on both of the creatures, killing them.
"See?" she gloated. "I don't need weapons."
They then made their way into another chamber, where two more worms began to close in on them.
Glenn quickly dispatched them with his Masamune.
"Those things are worse than those termites we saw in the far future!" Ayla exclaimed.
"Don't remind me!" Glenn sighed. "We need to make sure that future never happens!"
In the third chamber, the ground was mainly solid, though there was a small portion of sand floor.
As Glenn and Ayla approached, a horrid creature sprang from the sand. It was mostly a skeleton, though a single, large eye separated its ribcage from its pelvis.
"Retinite?!" Glenn exclaimed.
"You know this thing?" Ayla demanded.
"It's one of Magus' beasts," Glenn replied. "One of his worst creations."
"And one of his last!" she exclaimed as she performed a flying kick, striking the Retinite in the sternum.
Unfortunately, it did no damage.
"Aim for the eye!" Glenn commanded.
Ayla then performed another flying kick, this time striking the eye.
The eye would never know what hit it; it was knocked from the Retinite, striking the cave wall hard and falling to the floor.
A moment later, Ayla stomped down on it, crushing it flat.
The bones immediately collapsed, and moved no further after that.
"Would that help the forest?" Ayla smartly inquired.
"Probably," Glenn replied, unable to think of a witty response.
The fourth chamber led back to the surface. After that, Glenn and Ayla returned to Fiona's house, where a still-grieving Marle threw her arms around both of them in turn.
"It was a Retinite," Glenn announced. "It won't be destroying the soil any more."
"You killed the monsters?!" Marco exclaimed. "How can I ever thank you?"
"No need," Ayla assured him. "You regrow the forest now."
"The war with the Mystics is over," Marco said, "but the battle to revive the forest is just beginning."
The smile faded from Crono's face; it was more than obvious that a forest could not be regrown overnight. There was barren wasteland several miles in every direction. The soil looked poor, and the rain was anything but dependable.
"Thank you for routing the beasts!" added Fiona. "Unfortunately, it'll take centuries to revive the forest. I wish I could live long enough to see my wish come true!"
And then, out of the blue, Robo turned to Crono.
"You can come for me when the job is done," Robo announced. "May I stay behind and help Fiona?"
"It could take decades, or maybe even centuries," Crono replied honestly.
"All you'd have to do is take the Epoch forward," Robo reminded him.
"I know," Crono said. "But I mean…how long do you…live?"
"As long as my CPU is intact," Robo answered, "indefinitely."
"Alright," Crono agreed. "We'll pick you up when the job's done. But if we go to 1000 and can't find you, we're going to find out why and stop it. Agreed?"
"Agreed," Robo said.
Fiona smiled. The tears had returned, but they were tears of joy.
"Thank you," she said as she placed her hands over her heart. "With Robo's help, it seems my dream may finally come true. How can I ever thank you?"
"Just take care of him," Crono requested. "He's beyond important to us."
Act Four
And so it was that Robo ploughed the wasteland, fertilizing the poor soil until plants began to grow. Grass was the first to appear, followed by shrubs. Then, Robo began to plant the trees. Saplings began to appear the following spring. As the years began to fall off the calendar, the trees grew taller and taller.
Fiona and Marco had four children. Their second son died as an infant, their third at the age of four, and their only daughter at seventeen. But the trees continued to grow.
Fiona herself died in 609 at twenty-eight, drowning while teaching her oldest son to swim. But the trees continued to grow.
Marco would never remarry. He continued to live in the house until his own death in 646. But the trees continued to grow.
Fiona's oldest son was the only one to live to adulthood. In 703, his grandson, Fiona's last direct descendant, died. But the trees continued to grow.
Robo, meanwhile, continued to nurture the forest, even as his joints began to rust. And then, one day, he ceased to move.
But that was not the end.
He suddenly regained consciousness, but was rather confused about his surroundings. It appeared to be a Catholic church, as he could see nuns in the pews.
But, more importantly, Lucca was standing over him. Behind her was Crono, Marle, Glenn, Ayla, and Magus.
"Systems reactivated," Robo uttered. "Where am I?"
"The Cathedral of Saint Fiona," Crono replied. "September 4, 1000, to be exact."
If Robo had a mouth, he would have smiled.
"Crono," he said, "how nice to see you. For you, it was a quick hop, but for me, four hundred long years have passed."
"You're in shambles," Crono pointed out.
"The effort was worth it!" Robo insisted. "The forest has grown back! Now, let us celebrate our four hundredth year reunion."
THAT NIGHT….
Robo, when provided with the right metals, was almost completely able to repair himself. He soon appeared almost as the Robo his friends were more familiar with, though he appeared a lot shinier with his new exterior.
They had decided to set up camp deep in what was now known as Saint Fiona's Forest, to admire what Robo had pulled off. The trees were now four hundred years old, and covered the landscape with foliage.
"You spent four hundred years on this," Crono observed in amazement.
"Actually, only two hundred and thirty-two," Robo corrected. "I collapsed in the year 832. Then I found myself in the shrine, being revived by you guys."
"So what else did you do this whole time?" Lucca asked.
"Nothing, really," he answered.
"Nothing at all?" Lucca asked in surprise. "You didn't even ponder the meaning of existence?"
"Actually," Robo replied, "there is one thing."
"What's that?" Ayla inquired.
"After four hundred years of experience," Robo said, "I have come to think that Lavos may not be responsible for the Gates."
"What do you mean?" Marle asked.
She was laying on her stomach next to Crono, lovingly holding his hand.
"I have come to think that someone, or something wanted us to see all this," Robo continued. "The different events over time that we have witnessed. It is almost as if some entity wanted to re-live its past."
"That sounds strange," Lucca observed. "Especially coming from a robot from the future."
"I know!" Ayla said. "When people die, elders say, they see whole life pass by!"
"It is true that mortals do relive their most profound memories before death claims them," Glenn, who, unfortunately, was Frog now, due to the clear moon, added. "Yet those memories most often are sad ones."
Robo nodded.
"Thinking things like, 'If only I had done this,' or, 'I shouldn't have done that' triggers unpleasant, old memories."
"Who are you to talk?" Magus sneered. "You won't die like the rest of us."
"I will cease to function one day," Robo corrected. "I will not last forever."
"Will that happen when our time comes?" Marle asked.
"Probably," Lucca replied. "Who knows?"
"Is there a point in time you'd want to return to, Lucca?" Marle asked.
"No...not really," Lucca dismissed as she removed her glasses and closed her eyes.
It was clear at this point that Lucca seemed uncomfortable.
"I'm sorry," Marle apologized. "Was that something I shouldn't have asked?"
"It's okay," Lucca assured her as she put her glasses back on. "It's just something I don't like to think about too much."
Marle remained skeptical.
"Lavos plays an integral role in the fortunes of this Entity," Frog added.
"So who is this Entity?" Magus inquired.
"It is unknown whose memories these are," Robo admitted. "It may be something beyond our comprehension. Our journey may come to an end when we finally discover the identity of the Entity."
Suddenly, Marle nudged Crono.
"Sorry," she apologized. "I need to talk to Crono in private."
She took him by the hand to a spot twenty or so yards from the campsite. It had been on her mind for some time, and she wanted privacy, so she would have no chance of being interrupted.
"Crono," she began, "there's been something I've been wanting to tell you."
"Go ahead," he permitted."
"I'll be ready tomorrow," Marle announced. "To…return to the castle and confront Chancellor Vanim."
"Are you sure?" Crono asked.
Marle closed her eyes and nodded.
"I'll be okay," she said. "As long as I have you by my side."
"You will," Crono assured her. "I'll follow you anywhere."
Marle smiled.
"Oh Crono," she said, "I love you so much!"
She threw her arms around him and kissed him. She then broke the embrace, and stepped backward. There was something more she wanted to talk to him about, but wasn't sure how best to lead up to it.
"So tomorrow we'll go to Guardia Castle and take care of Vanim," Marle continued. "And then we'll take care of Lavos. And then…."
Crono simply stood and smiled; he had no idea of what she was leading up to.
"And then…." she repeated.
"I'm sure they'll elect a new chancellor that is fair and just," Crono assured her.
"Yeah," Marle said sadly. "I guess you're right."
She looked down on her left hand, and stared longingly on her ring finger.
Crono still didn't take the hint.
Act Five
September 5, 1000
Everyone awoke in the woods the next morning. There had not been a proper tent, though tent-like material had been utilized to surround the campsite.
"There's two lakes to bathe in," Crono announced as he rose to his feet. "Ladies in one, gentlemen in the other."
Everyone made their way to their respective lake until Crono and Marle stood alone.
"Everything okay?" Crono asked.
"Yeah," Marle said while avoiding eye contact.
Crono could see right through her.
"What is it?" he asked.
"I saw another lake," she replied. "A little further from the campsite."
"I wouldn't," Crono dismissed. "There might be stags nearby, and they get territorial this time of year."
"Oh…okay," Marle said in disappointment. "I'll see you later, then?"
"You got it," Crono replied before kissing her.
Marle turned around and made her way toward the "girls'" lake.
"There you are," greeted Lucca halfway to the lake.
"Hey," Marle greeted in an uncheery voice.
"What's wrong?" Lucca asked.
"I wanted to bathe with Crono, but he didn't take the hint," Marle groaned. "He was so much easier before he died!"
"Those feelings again," Lucca observed. "I might have a little talk with him."
"Honestly," Marle said, "I don't really have time for that now. I'm really worried about my father. Chancellor Vanim needs to be taken care of."
"Why not today?" Lucca suggested.
"Come again?" Marle asked. "I mean, that's what I talked to Crono about last night, but I didn't expect anyone else's support."
Lucca smiled.
"I mean, we took care of a ghost, a dinosaur, an evil computer, and horrid underground creatures. I think a simple chancellor would be dwarfed by it all."
LATER….
At noon that day, Crono, Marle, Robo, and Lucca stood at the bottom of the steps that led to Guardia Castle. The last time they had been there, King Guardia XXXIII had angrily warned them never to return. One of three things was now about to happen. One, he would order them to leave. Two, he would welcome her back, and put Chancellor Vanim on trial. Three, he would have them arrested, imprisoned, and possibly even executed.
Still, the kingdom was in danger, and Chancellor Vanim needed to be taken care of. There was no easy way around it.
"Okay," Marle finally said. "Let's do this."
She gripped Crono's hand as the four of them ascended the stairs. The climb was not long, and the door was wide open. Marle wondered how her father would react to seeing her again; in a few more moments, she should know the answer. Finally, the three of them reached the top of the steps, and proceeded through the castle doors.
Inside, the castle, in the structural sense, appeared exactly as it had the last time they were there. The throne was there, along with the familiar carpets and drapes Marle had known through the sixteen years of her life.
But the throne room was deserted; an empty throne stood with no king on it. The chancellor was nowhere to be seen. No royal guards were around, either.
"Father?" Marle called in a shaky voice. "I'm home."
Of course, there was no response; her voice simply echoed.
"Father?" Marle repeated. "I'm really sorry. I know I said some things that shouldn't have, but…."
She stopped.
All she heard was her shaky voice echoing.
She turned to Crono, and buried her head in his chest.
"There's no one here!" she sobbed. "We're in the castle, but there's no one here!"
Then, footsteps began.
Marle slowly broke the embrace and turned her head to the sound's origin.
She felt somewhat relieved to see at least one familiar face.
"I thought I'd never see you again," Pierre said.
"Pierre, the lawyer!" Marle exclaimed as she quickly dried her tears. "Where is everyone?"
"Upstairs, in the courtroom," he answered.
Marle's mouth went dry; this did not sound goodz
"The courtroom?" Lucca inquired. "But why?"
"Your father's on trial," Pierre replied. "Haven't you heard?"
"On trial?!" Marle exclaimed as her stomach tightened. "What did he do?"
"He sold an heirloom," Pierre replied. "A precious one, at that."
"Aren't you defending him?" Marle protested.
"I'm the public advocate," Pierre replied. "He brought in the best, high-priced advocate he could find. But it doesn't matter. The jurors have been unfairly selected. They've made up their mind already."
"A kangaroo court," Robo observed.
"Who's prosecuting the case?"
"Chancellor Vanim himself," Pierre answered. "He seems quite adamant about it."
"I knew it!" Marle shouted. "He's trying to take over the kingdom!"
Knowing precisely that she was either just in time or a moment too late, Marle practically charged toward the stairs in the eastern wing of the castle. She showed no signs of tire as she climbed the many staircases, with Crono, Lucca, and even Robo struggling to keep up.
She only stopped when she reached the entrance to the courtroom, which was guarded by two sentries.
"No entry allowed!" one of them insisted.
"Let me through!" Marle wailed at the top of her lungs.
She then used the distraction to push her way past them and into the courtroom.
INSIDE…
An odd sight presented itself as King Guardia XXXIII sat at the defendant's table.
Meanwhile, the prosecutor was presenting his case.
"Had any of you heard of the Rainbow Shell?" Chancellor Vanim inquired.
The jury was silent; two or three members shook their heads.
"I too, had no idea until I found this," Vanim continued as he produced a piece of parchment. "It's an ancestral will. It says, 'Unveil the Rainbow Shell to the people at the Millennial Fair.'"
"What are you talking about?" interjected King Guardia XXXIII. "We have no family heirlooms here!"
"So this is a forgery?" Vanim inquired. "Why does the defendant deny the people a glimpse of the Rainbow Shell?"
The courtroom was filled with silence.
"Because he no longer has it!" Vanim answered for himself. "He sold the heirloom for cash! Witness, please!"
It was then that Marle's presence in the courtroom was noticed.
"What is it, Nadia?" Vanim disrespectfully sneered.
"You are addressing a princess!" Crono bravely reprimanded. "And heir to the throne!"
"We are conducting a trial here," Vanim insisted.
And then, Marle spotted whom she had been waiting to see.
"Father!" she exclaimed as she ran to the king.
"Nadia!" King Guardia replied. "The chancellor is trying to frame me!"
"He hurls insults!" Vanim snapped. "Confirm your innocence with proof!"
"Proof?" Marle inquired.
"Yes," Vanim replied. "If he hasn't sold the heirloom, it should be in the castle. Show me the Rainbow Shell, and I'll accept his innocence."
"Chancellor!" exclaimed the king. "What kind of trickery is this?!"
In response, Vanim turned and pointed his finger at the intruders.
"Remove them!" he demanded.
The four of them were quickly escorted out. They soon found themselves out in the hall again, with the courtroom doors blocked by the two guards once more.
"No entry allowed!" the one guard repeated.
"Let me through!" Marle wailed, in the exact same manner as before.
This time, the guards refused to budge.
"Princess, not even you may enter," the guard insisted.
She then turned to Crono, and gave him a desperate look.
"I think when we get the heirloom and show them, we can put a stop to this," Crono suggested.
"What are you saying?" Marle replied. "It's a lie! There is no heirloom!"
"Well," Crono reminded her, "there is now. We changed history, right?"
Marle immediately realized what he meant.
"Aha!" she exclaimed. "The Rainbow Shell we gave to my ancestor four hundred years ago is still here. It's probably in the basement!"
Marle immediately darted down the stairs as fast as her legs could carry her.
Crono, Lucca, and Robo quickly trailed behind.
Act Six
When they reached the basement, two of what appeared to be half-man, half-serpents appeared around the corner.
"The boss is itching to avenge the grudge that's been in the family for thirteen generations!" one of them cackled.
"He's gonna frame the king!" the other cackled.
A moment later, they spotted Crono, Marle, and Lucca.
"Witnesses!" they exclaimed. "They can identify us! Kill them all!"
Crono quickly drew his sword and dispatched them both.
Marle angrily placed her hands on her hips, and turned to Crono.
"So there is a plot!" she realized. "Let's hurry!"
MEANWHILE….
"I confess," admitted a merchant on the witness stand. "I bought it from the king. He said he needed the cash."
"Liar!" exclaimed King Guardia XXXIII. "I've never even seen you before!"
The spectators began to chatter loudly.
"Order in the court!" snapped the judge as he pounded the gavel.
The merchant hopped off the witness stand and left the courtroom, but not before passing the chancellor.
"Was I convincing?" he whispered.
"Perfect!" Vanim whispered back.
IN THE BASEMENT…
Finally, after a long hallway, Marle found what she had been looking for.
"The Rainbow Shell!" she exclaimed.
"But how will we get it all the way up there?" Crono inquired.
"I've just been remetaled," Robo replied. "I should be able to lift the shell with no trouble at all."
With that, he approached the Rainbow Shell and lifted it with the greatest of ease.
It was then that Lucca spotted the paper below the shell.
"What's this?" she inquired. "A letter?"
"What does it say?" Marle asked.
"It's addressed to you," Lucca replied.
Marle cautiously picked up the letter, praying that it wouldn't crumble.
"Dearest Marle," she began aloud, "I know things are tough between you and your father. But nothing can break your bond of blood. Neither words of anger, nor great distances. Someday, when you have children, you will understand. This special bond is part of a family tree which links us together. Queen Guardia XXI, Leene."
Marle then stood in silence, taking it all in.
"Boy, can she tell it like it is!" Lucca observed.
Meanwhile, Robo was carrying the shell out of the basement as fast as he could.
"Father!" Marle said. "Hang in there, we're coming!
MEANWHILE…
"Members of the jury," the judge implored, "if he is guilty, stand to the left. If innocent, stand to the right."
The first juror approached the bench.
"Guilty," he said as he walked to the left.
MEANWHILE….
Crono, Marle, Robo, and Lucca had reached the door to the courtroom, where the doors were still well-guarded.
"We've got the Rainbow Shell!" Marle announced to the guard.
"Princess, not even you may enter," the guard repeated.
"You won't reconsider?" Marle pleaded, though it was obvious the soldier was on Vanim's payroll.
"No, Princess," the soldier insisted.
Marle then turned to Crono.
"There is one way," she said. "It's a bit rough, but just follow me!"
She then led them on again.
MEANWHILE….
"The verdict is in!" the judge announced. "Guilty!"
The smirk on the chancellor's face was visible to all.
So was the devastated look on the king's.
"The Guardia line ends here," Vanim announced. "I will now serve as both king and chancellor! This domain shall be mine!" He then turned to King Guardia XXXIII, and pointed his finger. "Take him away!"
Two guards approached the king.
"Wait!" cried a voice from above.
"Who is it?!" demanded Vanim.
Just then, a familiar-looking girl broke through the stained-glass window, landing perfectly on her feet.
"Nadia!" exclaimed the king.
"Princess!" reprimanded Vanim. "Control yourself!"
"His majesty is in control!" Crono announced as he drew his sword from behind the broken window. "Your game is over, chancellor!"
"You're too late!" Vanim insisted. "The king has been found guilty. Even kings are subject to our laws."
"No," dismissed Marle as she shook her head, "this was a set up!"
"Nonsense!" Vanim declared. "The king's a crook!"
"But the treasure is right here!" Marle announced as she pointed to the broken courtroom window.
There stood Robo, proudly sporting the Rainbow Shell. Unknown to anyone else, Robo had his laser aimed at Vanim.
He perceived a warning, with the font in red and all capital letters:
WARNING: ROBOTICS LAW #1: A ROBOT MAY NOT INJURE A HUMAN OR, THROUGH INACTION, ALLOW A HUMAN TO COME TO HARM.
"Impossible!" exclaimed Vanim.
"Your little scheme is over, chancellor!" Marle declared triumphantly.
Robo kept his laser cannon aimed at Vanim. The red warning was still in his eyes.
WARNING: ROBOTICS LAW #1: A ROBOT MAY NOT INJURE A HUMAN OR, THROUGH INACTION, ALLOW A HUMAN TO COME TO HARM.
He knew such a violation would result in shutdown.
Meanwhile, Vanim angrily groaned.
"It's not the plot you think! I'm here to avenge my ancestors!"
"Ancestors?!" Crono inquired.
Robo began to power up his laser, despite the message only he could see.
WARNING: ROBOTICS LAW #1: A ROBOT MAY NOT INJURE A HUMAN OR, THROUGH INACTION, ALLOW A HUMAN TO COME TO HARM.
Suddenly, an aura appeared around Chancellor Vanim.
"Super, ultra, presto...transformo!" she shouted.
There was a flash of light.
When it dissipated, the chancellor had changed his form. He was now green, but was otherwise identical to a creature Crono, Marle, Lucca, and Glenn had encountered a few weeks earlier.
He was no longer Chancellor Vanim.
He was Yakra XIII.
"You!" Marle exclaimed as she drew her crossbow. "I should've known!"
"Should have, but didn't!" Yakra XIII cackled. "I'll now dissolve Parliament and rule Guardia myself. And, for my first act as dictator, I'll exterminate the royal family."
He turned toward King Guardia XXXIII, and prepared to charge. But then, he stopped.
"Nah, too quick!" he decided. "I want him to suffer!"
He then turned to Marle.
He began to charge.
The king watching his daughter die gruesomely before his eyes would be priceless.
Meanwhile, a change had occurred in Robo that only he could notice. As soon as the transformation occurred, the warning in red letters was suddenly gone.
Robo immediately fired his laser, striking Yakra XIII directly.
Yakra XIII let out a hideous scream before melting into a puddle of slime.
Marle cautiously approached the puddle of slime, and quickly realized that Yakra XIII was no more.
She then turned to the king, who was still at the defendant's seat. Quietly, she walked over and sat down next to him. She immediately began to sob, and rested her head on his shoulder.
"Father…I…" she began.
"No, don't say it," King Guardia interjected as he extended an arm around her. "I was wrong to be so stubborn."
"No, I didn't even think about how you felt," Marle said as she wiped a tear away. "I know it in my heart, but the words just come out wrong."
"I too, have that problem," the king admitted. "I thought you left me, but realized that it was I, who abandoned you."
"But I'm here now," Marle said happily. "We'll talk about everything that's happened. About Crono, and mother, and…"
"Your mother," King Guardia XXXIII lamented. "How sad! It has taken me so long to understand what Aliza meant with her last words."
"Her last words?" Marle inquired.
"'Someday, when Nadia grows up, she will bring her beloved to meet you. Welcome him warmly. It will be a day you remember forever.'" He paused. "And I let Vanim hand down a capital sentence instead. I failed your mother. And I failed you."
"But you heard her last words?" Marle asked.
"Of course!" the king replied. "You were so young! You ran around saying, 'Daddy, it's fun having all my favorite people here!' Seeing you so happy, she felt reassured, and she left us quite peacefully."
For a moment, Marle raised her head, and stared her father in the eyes.
"So that's how it was," she sighed.
"Yes, why?" replied her father.
"I used to call you 'Daddy?'" she asked.
"You did," the king replied.
Marle dried another tear, and rested her head back on his shoulder.
"I'm sorry, Daddy," she sighed. "I'm really sorry for doubting you. "
"And I'm sorry for what I did to Crono," he said. "I hope he forgives me."
"I love him," Marle began. "I mean, I really, really love him."
"I know," King Guardia said. "And that makes me happy."
LATER…
Crono, Marle, Lucca, and Robo stood before the exonerated king, who was now sitting on the throne he had never expected to occupy again.
"I'll let you exit the castle," he began, seeming to direct toward Marle, "but you be careful, now."
He then turned to Crono.
"Take care of her!"
"I promise I won't let you down," Crono assured him.
Suddenly, the castle doors opened.
"It's my turn, now," announced a familiar voice.
"Melchior!" Marle greeted with a smile.
"Can't let you run the whole show," Melchior insisted. "Let me make some weapons from the Rainbow Shell! Finally time for me to do something. Watch and learn!"
Melchior led them into the basement, where the Rainbow Shell had been returned.
As they rounded a corner, they spotted a treasure chest that none of them had managed to notice in the midst of the confusion.
"That's a strange place to leave a treasure chest," Melchior observed.
And then, the chest jolted.
"Great heavens!" the old man exclaimed. "There's something alive in there!"
And then, Crono, rather nonchalantly, knelt down by the chest and prepared to open it.
"Are you crazy?!" Lucca exclaimed.
"Far from it," he assured her.
Crono then opened the chest and identified the living thing inside; it was none other than whom he had half-expected to find there.
"Phew, finally!" Chancellor Vanim greeted as he sat up. "That beast, keeping me locked up in here!"
Lucca helped the real Chancellor Vanim out of the chest.
"Princess Nadia!" Vanim greeted. "Your friends, I presume?"
"Absolutely!" Marle replied with a smile. "This is Melchior, this is Lucca, this is Robo, and this is my boyfriend, Crono!"
"Wait, I don't have time for this," Vanim suddenly realized. "I must prepare for the Moonlight Parade!"
With that, he scurried off.
"I knew the real Chancellor Vanim would be around here somewhere," Crono said. "But…I guess there's only one thing left to do."
Crono, Marle, Lucca, and Robo turned to the stairs that would lead out of the castle.
"Going somewhere?" Melchior inquired.
"It's time," Crono replied. "We're going to challenge Lavos again."
"We tried that before, didn't we?" Melchior asked. "It didn't work out too well."
"I'm well aware," Crono admitted. "But the future if we don't do anything will be a lot worse. Your old friend Belthasar got sent there. We've been using the time machine he built to get around."
"Belthasar?!" Melchior exclaimed. "He's there? How's he doing?"
"He…isn't," Robo replied. "He died from the environment. We terminated his consciousness later on."
Melchior lowered his head in sadness.
"But we can still save him!" Lucca insisted. "If we change the future."
"We found a weak spot on Lavos," Crono added. "Its nose. This time, I'll be a lot more careful."
"Be that as it may," Melchior continued, "you can't just go for him. Please give me an hour."
Melchior then darted off toward the Rainbow Shell.
They gave him an hour.
When he returned, he had a long sword in rainbow colors, nearly the size of the Masamune.
"This sword is almost as powerful as my last creation," Melchior insisted. "Use it well."
After thanking Melchior and saying their good-byes, Crono, Marle, Lucca, and Robo walked out of the castle, and down the stairs.
At the bottom was the Epoch, with Glenn, Magus, and Ayla waiting for them.
"Some last minute weapons, I see," Magus observed.
"We can never be too careful," Crono said.
"Anyway," Magus continued, "I suppose the fated hour is at hand, is it not?"
Crono silently nodded as he boarded the Epoch with Marle, Lucca, and Robo.
"So where to?" Glenn inquired. "And when to?"
"I have the exact location for Lavos's final eruption," Robo.
"Where?" asked Crono.
"Latitude 40.1806369 north, longitude 74.8701493 west," he replied.
"Where's that?!" Crono asked in frustration.
"West," Robo answered. "Far, far to the west."
"Beyond the Hebrides?" asked Marle.
"Yes," Robo replied. "Beyond the sea."
"There's land beyond the sea?" Lucca asked.
"Allow me to demonstrate," Robo insisted.
He plugged in the coordinates.
"Ready?" Crono asked.
"Ready!" Marle replied with a smile as she held his hand.
Crono pressed the button.
As the Epoch was capable of breaking the light barrier, it took less than a second to arrive at the coordinates.
Crono scanned the surroundings; there were large, boreal trees, with strange-looking deer with white tails. Nearby, he saw semi-spherical dwellings that seemed to be made of animal skins.
"They're called wigwams," Robo replied. "The Lenape live there."
"Where is Lavos?" Magus inquired.
"Lavos won't erupt for another thousand years," Robo answered. "Allow me to plug the date in."
Robo then plugged the date in.
"I programmed the day before Lavos erupts," he announced. "Just to give us a little time to adjust to the time period."
Marle clutched Crono's hand again.
"So this is it?" she asked.
"This is it," Crono replied as he aimed his finger for the button. "Anyone not going to the Day of Lavos better disembark."
There was a long silence. Everyone stayed put.
"Last chance," he warned.
Nobody moved. Everyone remained, waiting for him to press the button.
"Everyone," Crono said, "thank you all for your support and commitment. We couldn't have done this without you."
He then pushed the button, and, once again, they all travelled into futurity.
LATER…
The Epoch stopped on the exact date and time that had been set. Yet everyone was bewildered; their surroundings were pitch black.
"Everything's dark?" Marle inquired.
"This must be some kind of ruin," Crono deduced.
"Are we too late?" Lucca asked. "Did we overshoot?"
"Impossible," Robo dismissed. "My internal clock reads the day before Lavos."
"Hold on," Ayla said as she pointed her finger. "A light!"
There was indeed a light several yards away.
"Is that the way out of here?" Glenn inquired.
"It would appear so," Ayla replied.
The seven of them disembarked the Epoch and made their way to the light, stopping when they reached the obstruction.
It was a big, glass door, that seemed to be covered by decals.
"Hold on," Robo commanded. "I think I can open this."
He then gathered his strength, and opened the door until the opening was a foot wide.
The light suddenly showed brightly, causing everyone to squint. Once their eyes adjusted, they were finally able to perceive, in full, their new surroundings.
There were people moving about. They appeared to be in a two-story complex, with metal stairs that moved, and lights that seemed to be powered artificially. In the distance, Crono could see a sign that read a strange word: Macy's.
"What is this place?" Marle finally asked.
"It's called a mall," Robo answered. "A dying retailer."
"Look at those outfits!" Marle exclaimed.
"This era is…strange, to say the least," Robo explained.
Lucca scanned the area again, taking in the fact that it was the peak of civilization they had arrived at. She wondered what science and technology awaited her there.
"You there!" called a voice.
Everyone turned.
Crono could see two women approaching the group. One of them appeared to be sixteen or seventeen. The other appeared to be in her forties.
"Is there a comic-con going on?" the teen asked.
"Excuse me?" Crono asked, somewhat baffled.
"I saw you come out of the dead Boscov's," the girl continued. "That would be a good use for it."
Crono simply shrugged.
"What's a comic-con?" he asked.
"I'll take that as a no," the girl said. "Bummer! I haven't been to one since COVID hit."
"Who's COVID?" Lucca inquired, knowing she had a thousand years of catch-up history.
"Don't tell me you've been living under a rock?" the older woman said in disbelief.
"In a way," Lucca replied. "Yes, I've been living under a rock."
"There's been a pandemic going on since 2019," the older woman replied. "Don't you remember all the masks and lockdowns?"
Lucca decided to play along.
"I'm trying to forget," she said.
"Aren't we all?" the older woman laughed.
"So you just felt like a little cosplay today?" the girl then asked.
"Cosplay?" Crono asked.
"Who are you guys, anyway?" the older woman asked. "We saw you come out of the old Boscov's. Don't tell me you were going to rent it out? Seriously, who are you?"
"I'm Crono," he introduced.
"I know who you're supposed to be," the younger girl laughed. "But what are your real names? I'm Gehrig. Gehrig Cline. And this is my mom, Mary Ellen."
"Well," replied the puzzled Crono, "Marle's actual name is Nadia, and Magus's real name is Janus."
Gehrig gave them a long, skeptical look.
"Where are you guys from?" she pressed. "The truth."
"Guardia," Crono replied.
"It's off the coast of Scotland," Robo added.
Then, without warning, Gehrig suddenly ripped the plates off of Robo's head, revealing the wiring.
"Wait a minute!" she exclaimed. "You're a real robot?!"
"I am," Robo answered.
"I'm so sorry!"
"It didn't hurt," Robo assured her.
Gehrig slowly placed the plates back onto Robo's head. She then scanned them all again.
"You're saying you're the real Crono and Marle?" she continued.
"We are," Crono replied.
"How do you know who we are?" Magus demanded.
Gehrig put her hands on her hips and smiled.
"Simple," she replied. "I've played Chrono Trigger."
