Holy crap where I have been? I know it has been forever and a half since I've written anything. That's what happens when you get older, adulting just gets in the way of these things.

This story is based on a very intricate roleplay that I've been doing with my RP partner on tumblr for over two years now. It is based on an AU verse of Glenn actually joining Magus's forces during the ten year war in the game in 600 AD. Why? Because we all know 600 AD is one of the best timelines in the game besides the Kingdom of Zeal. This is set before the events of Chrono Trigger taking place. So, you might be reading things that are questionable. For example, the Chancellor is still an asshat because the Chancellor is still essentially Yakra.

And I thought I'd introduce you all to my newest Chrono Trigger OC. Will there be angsty romance? Maybe because I am a sucker for the whole knight/princess dynamic. What can I say it's one of my favorite tropes.

So I hope you enjoy this little story. I would link you to my roleplay blog on tumblr...but then that would defeat the purpose of this story now wouldn't it?

Chrono Trigger is owned by Square-Enix - although I wish some one would buy the IP because the series needs a new game dang it.

Cover art is made by darksideofthemamon on tumblr. Give their art a look if you're into Chrono Trigger lore.

Choices

Choices are made every day. Within every minute, of every second of a living being's life. Whether human, animal, plant or mineral; the choice is always there. The choice someone makes paves the way for the future. It creates the past and effects the present. Etched throughout time like a string. In times of war, making the right and wrong choices are never easy.

A ten-year war had been raging through the Kingdom of Guardia. Ten hellish years of soldiers and knights laying their lives on the line for the royal family. Even the citizens of the kingdom had gotten involved in trying to help. Some would fight alongside the brave men who had sworn an oath to protect the royal family. Many of them would unfortunately lose their lives.

There was a young woman in Dorino who was also daring enough to bring the forest back that wasted away in the war. Her husband served as a soldier in the war. A small boy at the tender age of six was determined to fight alongside the soldiers and knights. He even boasted to find a relic called the hero's badge. An explorer who roamed the farthest mountains and caves to find rare treasure that would possibly hint at the chance of ensuring the kingdom's victory in this war. Some helped by preparing meals that were often given out as rations to the soldiers who spent their days and sleepless nights on Zenan Bridge. The army's last defense against their enemy. Magus, leader of the fiend army known as the Mystics. Alongside his three generals, Ozzie, Flea, and Slash had gotten the upper hand in the ten years this war was on going. Sending hoards of monsters to fight the army with their incredibly skilled magic. No one knew what his true motives were, it just happened so suddenly.

The only thing that would help the kingdom secure victory in this war was the legendary Masamune sword which was sealed away on Denadoro Mountains. Only two people ever made it to the top of the mountain to retrieve the legendary sword. However, neither one came back. Cyrus and his squire Glenn had been tasked with retrieving the Masamune sword before the war had begun. The rumors were that Cyrus was slain by Magus and his squire had disappeared never to be found. Losing their most courageous men had weighed a heavy heart on the royal family of Guardia.

King Guardia had even joined the army and his loyal subjects in the front lines of the war. Unfortunately, his time in battle was cut short as he was rendered injured and immediately brought back to the castle by the Captain of the knights and a few of his men.

"What were you thinking going into battle?!" Queen Leene scolded her husband.

"I had to do something in order to help my men." The king replied haggardly as a healer tended to his wounds. Magic was scarce throughout the kingdom. Not many knew the artform and those who did would either have been seen as traitors to the kingdom or they were supposed to prove their loyalty. At least that's how the Chancellor decided on perceiving those with the gift. Unless of course, it was the princess.

"Where is our daughter?" King Guardia asked searching for his daughter.

Leene shook her head. "She refuses to come out of her room." Her slender hand squeezed her husband's hand.

"She hasn't been the same since Cyrus and Glenn perished ten years ago." The Chancellor chimed in. However, there was a glint of joy in his eyes. He was almost ecstatic to see the king wounded.

"Father!" The princess's voice echoed through the room. She rushed over panting heavily. She must've dashed down the flights of stairs to his room as fast as humanly possible.

King Guardia let out a small, hefty groan as he felt his daughter's arms around him.

The king gingerly stroked her daughter's auburn hair which was tied in a high ponytail. "Maria it's alright, I'm fine." He reassured her.

"Are you sure?" The princess asked as she stood up straight. Her olive eyes were filled with worry. That's when the king had noticed her attire. She was not wearing her normal green gown. Instead, she had on a white tunic with a brown vest and matching pants which went down to her ankles. A dagger was hidden in her boots, and she had a crossbow with a handful of arrows strapped to her back with a gold belt.

If looks could kill, the kingdom would have won the war by now with the angry look the king was giving his daughter.

"Father, I know what you're going to say, but please let me do this." Maria pleaded. "Some one has to find the legendary Masamune sword, why can't it be me?"

They could have argued about this for hours on end.

Leene looked at her husband. She knew their daughter very well. During the war she would often watch the soldiers train from her room. She knew about Maria sneaking off to train in the late hours of the night when Cyrus and Glenn were still around. Hell, the dagger which was strapped on the inside of her boot was even suggested by Glenn himself for the princess to use. Saying that it was a weapon that would catch an enemy by surprise.

"We should allow her to try to find the sword at least." Leene replied bluntly.

"Send her out there where any thing can happen! I will not allow it!" King Guardia roared but then saw the look in his wife's eyes.

"And why not? She is just as capable of fighting as the rest of the men that are struggling to stay alive out there. And she is gifted in using magic."

King Guardia scoffed a little. "Only because of the pendant around her neck…" He mused.

Maria's gloved fingers touched the thin gold chain around her neck. Attached to the chain was a pendant that was dimly pulsing with a strong magical force. With the pendant she was able to perform the basic elements of spells. Nothing as strong as Magus could conjure. The pendant was passed down from generation to generation. It was crafted from a red rock eons ago only to be swept throughout the sands of time.

"Father please…." Maria pleaded once more to her injured father. "Let me do this. I will bring victory to our kingdom once I find the Masamune."

The king's hand gently held his daughter's tightly. "Come back alive, Maria." He knew he would never hear the end of it if he didn't allow her to at least try.

Leene smiled and hugged Maria. "Bring victory to Guardia. Do this for Cyrus and Glenn." She told her.

Hearing their names weighed heavy on the princess's heart. "I will mother…" She replied.

"That's preposterous! You can't let her leave like this!" The Chancellor screamed. Clearly, he was not fond of the idea of the princess searching for the legendary sword.

The royal family looked at their right-hand man in disbelief.

"That is to say it is dangerous out there…" The Chancellor nervously stroked his long beard. "Surely she will need some one to watch over her."

"I shall lead our princess to the Denadoro Mountains." The Captain of the knights spoke up.

Maria looked at the captain. "Your men need you at the bridge." She protested in concern. "Not to mention your brother is getting anxious by the day. It's getting difficult for him to cook food for everyone without worrying about you." She told him.

At the mention of his brother, the Commander shook his head. "My brother has no need to worry about me. It is my sole responsibility to protect you as well as his Highness and her Majesty."

It was an awkward situation to say the least. Before the war started the two were supposed to be arranged to be married. But once Cyrus had perished the now Commander of the knights had to take up a leadership role to his fellow men. She looked at the Chancellor and with a thoughtful smile she then said, "See Chancellor there is no need to worry."

Anger almost flashed in the old man's eyes, but he knew there was nothing more he could do here now. He would hope that the princess would lose her life along the way up the treacherous trek up the mountains.

With her parent's blessings, Maria left her father's quarters with the Commander and left the castle. She was certain to find the sword, but she wanted to uncover the truth of what happened to Glenn. Everyone said he perished alongside Cyrus, but squire's body was never recovered unlike the fallen knight's. She had also heard rumors that there was some one guarding the sword. Said person would enter and exit the cave where the legendary Masamune was being kept. Almost like a breeze in the wind.

But those were just rumors, right?

Glenn counted himself a lucky man.

Was he entirely fond of his circumstances? No, not necessarily. Working Magus now, had its drawbacks. For example, this sorry scene before him.

The rain beat down in oppressive sheets, cold, bitter and harsh against his skin, darkening his green hair and making it stick to his shoulders and cheeks. The rudimentary face covering he wore to avoid being recognized was soaked through, making it damn difficult to breathe, but he'd rather struggle to huff his breaths through wet cloth than run the risk of some lackey knight from Guardia realizing that Cyrus's little tag-along squire was working for the Fiendlord. And, in the dark pall that smothered what might have otherwise been an idyllic little field around the cave, the pale blue jewel that gave him the strength to stand toe-to-toe with fiends glowed where it was set snugly in the divot of his breastplate, casting his obscured face in an eerie glow.

But it was a small price to do what was right. Magus had told him exactly what his intents were when he had the power to accomplish his goals, and Glenn, with a bitter taste in his mouth, stood as honorably as an ally to the Fiendlord could possibly stand, ready to fend off all who would dare to step too close.

The intruder of choice today was a girl. A fair bit younger than him, by his reckoning, with long, tied-up hair, pauper's clothing, and a crossbow in hand. He narrowed his eyes at her as she approached; he'd known she was coming. He didn't just stand there all day, after all; he only guarded the Masamune when there was something to guard it from. But this girl seemed like the least likely candidate. He'd cut down knights. Soldiers. Warriors. But what use could a girl like this have for the sword of legend when the Hero was nowhere to be seen? And not to mention, she looked incredibly familiar…

"Girl," he said, voice low and harsh, and only just loud enough to be audible over the beating rain, "if I were you, I would turn back now. Go home, and forget you ever saw this place, and I will be merciful. No harm will be done unless you force my hand."

He hoped that would be enough to shoo her off. He wasn't concerned about fighting her, if need be, but he would prefer to avoid unnecessary bloodshed, no matter how he was chastised for his mercy getting in the way.

Well there you have it. Things are about to get pretty steep and dire from here on end. Also, since this is a ficclet/drabble, chapters will be some what short.
Anyways I hope you enjoy this small story and I will continue to post more.

Review.