Start Date: January 21, 2022

Windwillow

Chrono Trigger

Chapter Thirty-Three

Had it ended...?

Scene One

"What the hell... where am I...?!"

Crono opened his eyes to find himself on his back at the End of Time, Gaspar staring down at him. He was wearing his Guru garb.

"You did it, m'boy!" he chirped. "You guys really did it!"

He blinked his eyes, and jolted his head up, headbutting Gaspar. As the Guru recoiled and fell back, Crono leapt to his feet and saw his friends surrounding him. They were all smiling, and also heavily bandaged. His eyes turned to Marle, who smiled.

"It's over, Crono. It's finally over!"

Crono smiled nervously. Slowly he approached her, embraced her, and kissed her deeply to the cheers of the party (sans Magus). As they detatched, he stared at the jolly pink Nu called Spekkio in the corner. He was wearing a party hat and waved a victory flag.

"Go, go, C-ro-no!"

He grinned.

"Yeah, I did it, didn't I?"

Gaspar nodded.

"You've saved us all. So, what do you want to do first?"

Crono smiled weakly.

"I wanna take a nap. I'm going home."

Scene Two

"Crono... Crono..."

Crono stirred.

"Ma? You sound masculine..."

He opened his eyes to find a soldier staring down at him. At once he startled, and skittered back in his bed. The soldier smiled grimly.

"The King has decided your sentence. You'll come with me to the castle."

Crono's face dropped.

"I saved the world AND his daughter and he still wants to cut my head off?! Get the hell outta my room!"

Joaquim and Gina entered the room. For the situation, they seemed almost... happy.

"You're getting what you deserve, son," said Joaquim. He smiled. "It's time to pay the piper."

Crono groaned.

"If I remember right I made you not-dead! The hell?!"

Gina nodded.

"Crono, I'd just go see the King. He has something he needs to tell you."

Crono sighed.

"At least I'm strong enough to break the guillotine now..."

Scene Three

"Your Majesty, Sir Crono has come."

The King nodded.

"Show him in."

As the door opened, Crono walked into the throne room, defiantly. He'd tell the old coot what was what. Marle rushed in, desperately grabbing her father's arm.

"Dad, please! He didn't do anything!"

The King frowned.

"On the contrary. He committed a remarkable act, one that must be repaid."

Marle shook the King's arm.

"No! All he did was..."

The King smiled.

"All he did was save the world, right?"

Marle and Crono stopped dead. The King laughed.

"I've heard an awful lot about your actions, boy."

Crono cocked his head.

"Come again, Sir?"

The King laughed.

"First-hand knowledge."

Lucca popped out from behind the throne.

"Gaspar was busy! He brought some friends over to talk with Old Man Guardia!"

Kino stepped into the room.

"Cro save Ayla, save Kino! Cro hero!"

The medieval King entered and smiled.

"You've saved my kingdom, my wife, and now the world. That merits a reward."

To Crono's shock, even Doan entered the throne room.

"You have given my people hope. How I can repay you is something I still can't grasp."

Crono's jaw dropped.

"Hey, what... how...?"

Lucca grinned.

"When we went to fight Lavos, he visited these guys and brought them here. They talked to the King and, well..."

The King smiled.

"You're pardoned. Not only that, I've got a few medals for you."

Marle beamed.

"That's great! You're a hero!"

Crono paused.

"I'm a what now?"

The King held out his hand.

"Come, my boy. It's almost time for the grand finale of the Millennial Fair, the Moonlight Parade. And I'd like you to participate!"

The Chancellor entered.

"The preparations are underway. We begin tonight!"

Crono cocked his head.

"Didn't we kill you?"

Scene Four

"Listen, Guardian subjects! This is the culmination of our Millennial Fair! And tonight, it will be led by our nation's - our world's - hero, Crono!"

Balloons popped up, as dancers plied their trade across Leene Square. Floating lanterns decorated the Fairgrounds, as the citizens of Guardia marked their thousand year holiday in style - the end being the best!

Vendors handed out balloons and candies, and the public mingled with the nobility. At the back square, however, the true celebration was about to come to its end.

It was near the Telepod that began it all, that our heroes toasted their victory. Strangely, though, Frog was absent. They laughed, cried, and cheered as Crono and Marle danced a waltz. Well, Magus didn't, but everyone else did. Time passed and Lucca activated the Gate for the final time.

"With the planet saved, the Gates will close soon. We need to get everyone back where they belong before that happens."

Kino and Ayla trekked towards the Gate. Ayla smiled and hugged Marle, but paused and cocked her head.

"Marle no have boobs. How nurse kids?"

Marle turned beet red as the team laughed. Kino reached the Gate first.

"Never forget Cro and friends! Have many strong kids!"

Ayla nodded.

"Yep. Many, many! Very strong!"

Kino flushed.

"K-Kino... uh..."

Ayla patted him on the shoulder.

"We go. Bye!"

They stepped into the Gate and vanished. Next was King Guardia and Frog... wherever he was. Marle cocked her head.

"Uh, where's Frog?"

Frog's voice came from the square.

"I'm here!"

Everyone jumped as they saw a handsome young man with green hair stride into the fairgrounds. At first they didn't understand, but when they saw the Masamune at his side they connected the dots. Lucca's mouth gaped.

"Holy crap you're hot! Uh, I mean, how are you human again?"

Frog (or Glenn, rather) gestured to Magus.

"He undid the curse as a courtesy."

Magus scowled.

"I took pity, nothing more."

Glenn turned and kneeled before the medieval King.

"My liege, we must hurry."

The King nodded, and patted Glenn on the shoulder. He turned to Crono, shook his hand, and smiled warmly.

"Your deeds have made you a hero both present and past. We shall never forget our debt to you."

Crono smirked.

"Tell the cook and captain hello for us."

King Guardia smiled.

"They've gotten back together again, once again thanks to you. I'll pass that along."

Glenn and the King walked towards the Gate. The King entered, but Glenn stopped and turned. He kneeled.

"I have no words to express my gratitude. Godspeed to you all!"

He entered the Gate and vanished. Robo stepped up, but Lucca stopped him.

"Wait! We changed the future, so... Where will you end up? And Doan, for that matter?"

Doan smiled.

"I look forward to being healthy and happy. So long as I'm alive I shall cherish my life, all thanks to you."

Robo nodded.

"I believe that the new future will contain Atropos and my brethren. We may begin anew, and create an unseen future of amazing potential. But, I believe that is not what you are worried about, Lucca."

Lucca flushed. Robo patted her on the head.

"I will never forget you, nor you myself. Our friendship transcends time and space."

Robo paused, and hugged Lucca.

"Thank you for everything, my friend."

He and Doan entered the Gate and vanished. Magus stepped up, and Marle cocked her head.

"Looking for Schala, I take it?"

Magus covered himself in his cape and jumped back, but with a final smile. Lucca wiped her brow.

"I guess that means we'll dismantle the Epoch. Can't have something like that lying around for anyone to use."

Crono nodded.

"Yeah, who knows who might try to take it."

Marle smiled, and gripped Crono by the shoulder.

"Now... finally..."

Crono grinned nervously.

"Yep. We're together for real."

They embraced and kissed. Lucca blushed, but nudged them away as King Guardia entered the fairgrounds. He didn't look ready to kill Crono, so everyone let the matter drop.

"Come, my boy! I have something to show you and Marle."

Scene Five

"I present to you, Nadia's Bell!"

The King gestured towards a new silver bell near Leene's Bell.

"To mark this occasion, I've commissioned this little thing! Now, boy... Care to help me lift it?"

Crono nodded.

"Yes, Your Majesty."

The King nudged him.

"And by the way, make her cry and I'll still execute you."

Crono gulped, but smiled and nodded. His mother Gina chased his cat past the bell.

"Scratch, you little rascal! Get back here!"

Lucca cocked her head.

"Mrs. Crono?!"

Gina rushed towards the Gate.

"Now, I've got you! C'mere!"

She dove to get Scratch, but tripped and fell into the Gate before it closed. Everyone stared in stunned silence. Crono groaned.

"Great, now my mother's gonna cause a paradox somewhere. Will I still be born?"

Lucca grinned.

"Still too soon to give up. Remember what we've got?"

Marle and Crono cheered.

"A time machine!"

As they rushed past the King, he shook his head.

"That girl, I tell you..."

Taban entered with fireworks.

"Hey, Your Majesty! Should I light 'em up?"

The King sighed.

"Um... The moment's passed. We'll have to wait."

Taban sat down by the Telepod.

"We've both got some amazing kids, right, Your Majesty?"

The King smiled.

"Two kids and a future son-in-law."

Up above, the Epoch zoomed into time, as their search began...

Scene Six

"I hereby knight you, Glenn. You're now Knight Captain of the Kingdom of Guardia!"

Glenn rose from his knees, as the King's sword left his shoulder.

"No honor could be greater, Your Majesty."

Beside King Guardia, Leene giggled. Glenn turned to leave, but saw the former captain and his brother toasting with ale. He smiled, and stepped from the throne room.

Crono, everyone... Words can't express what I'm feeling. You'll be my friends and companions for as long as our lives are lived.

Scene Seven

"The new domiciles look excellent."

R-67Y nodded.

"The factories will be up and running in an hour. Will you attend the ceremony, Prometheus?"

Robo shook his head.

"I have a prior engagement."

Atropos entered the square.

"Prometheus! It is time for our date!"

Robo nodded.

"I shall be there momentarily."

Because of all of you, I found true friendship. And now, I have a family again. Crono, Marle, Lucca, Frog, Ayla, Magus... Thank you.

Scene Eight

"Burn! Bobonga!"

The Iokans erupted in cheers as the party began. As everyone began drinking, Ayla gestured to Kino.

"Kino! Come here!"

Kino cocked his head, but approached. Ayla grabbed his hand and slid a Dreamstone ring on his finger. She smiled toothily.

"Ayla and Kino make strong babies!"

Kino smiled nervously. Ayla raised her fist as the tribe cheered wildly.

Cro, give Ayla many friends. Ayla never forget Cro... Marle, Lucca, Frog, Robo, Magus... Ayla friends forever.

Scene Nine

"I've searched the whole continent, and nothing... It's as if she never came out of the Ocean Palace."

Magus narrowed his eyes.

"That can't be right. The future changed, she must have gone somewhere. The damn Pendant was passed down, so she clearly made it out in the original timeline. Where is she?!"

Scene Ten

"The last of my Pendant's power can send you to safety... All I ask of you is not to hate Mother or our nation... I don't know if I have that right, but..."

She snatched up Marle's Pendant and tossed it, Lucca catching it. Then, she looked at her own and began to chant. Magus rose broken and bloody, eyes wide opened and terror in his eyes.

"Schala, don't! Don't leave me again!"

The three vanished, leaving only Schala. She fell to her knees, sobbing uncontrollably.

"Oh, Crono..."

Suddenly, the entire Ocean Palace began to warp. The Mammon Machine trembled, glowed, and shattered. Schala covered her eyes, but as she opened them all she saw was an empty void, with bubbles of strange places floating about.

When she turned, she saw the broken body of Lavos. She fell back and skittered away, only for the shell to begin to glow. It rumbled, and a violent force exploded around her, encompassing her...

"NO!"