Chrono Corruption

Act 2: The Fall of Guardia

Chapter 9: A War and a Wedding

*Guardia Catacombs*

Ty continued to drag Tomo through the Guardian Catacombs and she was sweating profusely and her skin was red as a beet. "What did you give me, Ty?! I'm so overheated and hyper!" she said frustrated and flailing about. "It doesn't go well with indigestion, ugh!"

"As I said, it's my new technique!" he began. "Although I still need time to perfect it. I call it, the 'Adrenaline Rush'! It's a concoction that unleashes a massive boost of power in my body, not unlike adrenaline! In this stage, its helping you burn some of those excess calories. Since it's speeding up your blood flow, your digestion has also sped up. You should feel better as soon as we get back up to the castle!"

She jumped up to her feet, "Never mind the dragging, I'll race you to the exit!"

*Leene Square*

The wedding bells rang as Princess Nadia appeared at the end of the red carpet dressed in the finest wedding dress to fit royalty. She gazed at Crono through her veil to catch the eyes of her husband to be and he was awestruck. His eyes widened as they sparkled with delight. The music began as Marle began slowly walking down the walkway as little flower girls threw petals of white, yellow, and purple everywhere behind her. The King escorted his daughter until reaching the platform where he gave his daughter to be married. The priest called out, "Who gives this young woman to be married?"

"I, the King of Guardia, give my only daughter, Princess Nadia Guardia to be married this day!" he said with delight. He let go of his daughter's arm and she rose to the platform to face Crono and they joined hands as the priest began his sermon.

Marle and Crono spoke silently to each other. Marle's eyes darted around but found something strange, "Where's Lucca? She's a bride's maid, but she is missing!" she asked quietly.

Crono responded quietly, "I'm not sure, Ty and Tomo are missing too. Maybe Lucca went to go and find them. She seemed really worried ever since my dad came back."

"Well, I hope she returns soon!" she whispered back.

*Guardia Catacombs*

Ty and Tomo approached another large wooden door with torches lighting the surrounding area. "Is this finally the exit?" Tomo asked with hope.

"I sure hope so...!" Ty was cut off by a knock at the door.

They drew their weapons, expecting an enemy, but they just heard a familiar voice as the door opened. "Oh, I was right, you guys are down here!" said Lucca as she emerged.

They sheathed their weapons with a sigh of relief, "Oh, thank goodness, it's you, Lucca!" Ty said relieved.

"Yeah, I was hoping it wasn't another Yakra!" Tomo also said with relief.

"A Yakra, you guys met with a Yakra?!" Lucca asked astounded.

"We'll explain on the way, let's move!" Ty urged as he to the lead.

*Leene Square*

The priest turned to Crono, "Do you, Crono Trigger, takes this woman and Princess to be your lawfully wedded wife and join the Guardia royal family, in sickness and in health, or richer or poorer, for as long as you both shall live?"

Crono brimmed with confidence, "I do!" he said loudly with joy.

The priest then turned to Marle, "And do you, our esteemed Princess, accept this man into your royal family to be your lawfully wedded husband, in sickness and in health, for richer or poorer, for as long as both of you shall live?"

Marle swelled with joy, "I do!" she said trying to hold back tears of joy.

The pastor faced the audience, "Then if there is anyone who believes these two should not be wed, then speak now or forever hold your peace!" he said to the crowd. A moment of silence overtook the air, followed by a quiet, but very audible explosion off in the distance. A plume of smoke erupted in Truce Village to their south. Crono and Marle's eyes widened with fear as their hearts sunk into their guts. The priest noticed, but instead of causing a panic, he went on with the ceremony, "Then by the powers invested in me, Crono you may kiss your bride!" he instructed. Hoping it was just some sort of failed firework, Crono and Marle kissed and the crowd cheered loudly for the new couple. They faced the crowd, hand in hand with gold rings on their fingers, and they saw the smoke arise as another distant explosion could be heard. "Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you, Crono and Nadia Guardia!" said the priest as he stepped back, his job now done.

Crono and Marle walked back down the walkway only to be met with a horrid sight. Truce Village was seen on fire in the distance. The explosions they heard, turned out to be mobile steam-driven cannons with Chimera motifs, strange mechanical dolls, and other such war machines operated by quickly approaching Porrean Soldiers.

A Guardian soldier shouted, "To arms, we're being invaded! Fate save the King and the new couple!"

Crono and Marle were in shock by what they witnessed as Truce Village was being burnt to the ground. The Porrean soldiers and their steam machines quickly entered Leene Square and the crowd began to scatter. The King turned to Caelus, who had a strange unsettling smile on his face, "Caelus, help me get to safety!" he begged.

"Yes, your majesty!" he said as he began to lead the King away.

A single Porrean Lieutenant approached Crono and Marle with two robots at his side. He pointed his sword at them, "People of Guardia, enjoy your festival while you still can! For this day your reign comes to an end! Soldiers of Porre, ATTACK!"

At his command, other soldiers used their matchlock rifles to fire into the crowds of people while the robots trashed everything in their path. Crono picked up Marle 'princess' style and they retreated. "We can't fight back without our weapons and there are too many innocent people amongst the crowd to effectively use magic!" Crono said with a cold sweat. "Lucca was right and I didn't listen...," he lamented as Marle simply shed tears with her lips quivering.

Just then, a familiar face emerged from the crowd. A short and stocky man with black round glasses, a bushy white mustache, robes, and a hat with a blue, white, and orange color scheme came to them. "Melchior!" said Crono with surprise.

"Come with me lad, let's get you two to a safer place!" he urged desperately.

*Castle Guardia*

Lucca, Ty, and Tomo emerged from the catacombs and could hear explosions come from the forest below. "Looks like the party started without us!" Ty said as he looked out a nearby window.

"Alright Lucca, what should we do now?" asked a concerned Tomo.

Lucca adjusted her glasses, "We fight back! Follow me!"

"I was hoping you'd say that!" Ty replied with a smile.

*Castle Guardia Rooftops*

On the rooftops, Guardia Soldiers readied their antique weapons. A massive explosion hit one of the walls and rubble flew everywhere. "Lady Ashtear!" said a Lieutenant as he approached. "We are having problems with your equipment! It seems to only be backfiring on us! The Porrean machines are heading to the castle's main door! We can't stop them with our antique weapons! We're getting demolished!"

Lucca was unsure what to do as she hoped her new inventions would help, but not only did they not help, they hindered them. Ty grabbed her by the shoulder. "Hey, stay calm and think, here they come," he said as grappling hooks and ladders attached themselves to the sides of the castle walls.

Tomo, in her fit form, approached Ty with a set of knives. "Ty, look, I found some throwing knives! You can use these for some extra long range! Your daggers can't reach everything you know!"

"Right, good thinking! I've been needing to stock up on some of these!" Ty said as he stuffed them into his Thieve's Kit.

Porrean Soldiers quickly emerged and began doing battle with Guardia's finest. The party was surrounded as Ty plucked one soldier off with a throwing knife right between the eyes. "Nice shot!" Tomo praised.

"I know, normally I stink with these things!" Ty said as more soldiers took their comrade's place.

Lucca's frustration peaked, "Gahh, enough of this!" she shouted as she took out two specialized pistols and began rapid-firing them at every Porrean Soldier she could see. "How do you slime balls like my Trigger Happy technique!"

"Nice!" Ty said as the smoke cleared. "But that won't hold them off for long! Let's fall back a bit and get a better position!" he said as he threw out one of his smoke bombs.

*Meanwhile, In Guardia Forest*

Crono and Marle, now no longer dressed in their wedding garb, were given back their weapons and began sneaking through the forest. Porrean war machines marched through the forest and began torching every bit of flora they could find. Marle wanted to collapse and break down, but Crono kept her going. "We have to reach the castle Marle, the others need us!" he said to a silent Marle. "I'll have to remember to thank Melchior for getting my mom and Lucca's parents to safety when we get out of this!" he thought gratefully.

*Castle Guardia*

The King was successfully escorted back to his throne room by Caelus. He was in quite a panic, "What shall we do? I surely cannot remain in here!" said the King frantically.

"Not to worry, you should be safe in here for the time being. If you'll excuse me, I need to check on something," said Caelus calmly. With great speed, Caelus departed.

*Guardia Castle Rooftops*

Lucca and the others fell back across a tower bridge. As they did so, the tower they were on had collapsed from the cannon fire coming from the forest below. The debris littered the forest floor. This made the bridge unstable and it now swayed slightly. "Run! Make a break for the other tower!" Lucca shouted strongly. The party made a mad dash for the next tower and luckily they made it in time as the bridge collapsed under its own weight. They now stood before the tower, looking at the fighting in the courtyards below.

Ty felt a sudden wave of air behind him and as he turned around, he laid his eyes upon Caelus, who stood smugly before them. Tomo and Lucca turned to face him shortly after Ty in surprise. Lucca ground her teeth, "Caelus! What are you doing?!"

Caelus took a deep breath, "Ahh, well, your two friends there seemed to kill off that stupid Yakra King... I guess he couldn't keep his appetite under wraps. Oh well, a minor setback. I'll beat these two myself," he said with a creepy grin.

Lucca didn't even have a chance to move her eyes before Caelus vanished from sight. Suddenly, Ty was in front of her, defending himself from an oncoming sword strike. Caelus backed up and was almost impressed. "I'll pay you back for that cheap shot to the back of my head earlier!" Ty claimed angrily.

"A man like you shouldn't complain about sneak attacks...," Caelus said coldly. Ty spat back as a response.

"His speed is unreal," marveled Tomo.

He readied his katana and it shined like a prism. Lucca noticed the sword, "That's Crono's Rainbow Sword! How did you get it and why? Why are you doing this?!" she said in confusion.

"Such a fine sword, but it seems my son has grown too soft to use such a blade. Have at you! Descendant of the King of Thieves!" Caelus said setting his sights on Ty.

Ty dropped a smoke bomb and Caelus was already in his face seemingly unhindered by the smoke. Lucca and Tomo could do nothing as they heard the chattering of sword versus daggers colliding with one another. "Ty, I wish you didn't throw out a smoke bomb! I can't get a clear shot!" Lucca said angrily.

"Yeah, I can't see anything either!" Tomo remarked as she held back from getting into the smoke.

No matter what move Ty tried Caelus was able to block it effortlessly. He then used his Ghostly Strike to appear behind Caelus only to have an elbow in his face as a countermeasure. Ty held his nose reflexively as blood poured from it. Ty's smoke bomb cleared and Caelus made one final strike cutting Ty deep on his right shoulder. Blood poured out from his burning shoulder and onto the ground as he collapsed.

"Ty!" shouted Tomo as she rushed Caelus. She swung her hammer valiantly, but it just seemed like slow motion to Caelus. Realizing that her hammer would never reach him she tried her magic instead. "Let's see if you like your own friend's technique used on you!" she announced as she used the Yakra's Needle Spin technique.

"Hmph, pointless...," said Caelus coldly as he moved so fast he left afterimages. "I can use magic too sweetheart...," he said mockingly. He pointed at her with one finger and fired a very thin, bright ray of pure white light. The beam of light pierced Tomo's left side right underneath her ribs and she collapsed. "My Photon Ray should keep you down. Now where we're we...," he said, lifting his head toward Lucca.

Lucca was visibly shaking, "I don't understand..., are you helping Porre?"

In a split second, Caelus appeared quickly enough before Lucca to speak into her ear, "Indeed I am, come with me and I'll explain everything."

Lucca backed up and aimed both her pistols at him with her Trigger Happy technique. Unfortunately, Caelus was able to block every bullet with ease. "No way...," Lucca said astonished.

"Did you not see the other girl just try essentially the same thing?" Caelus said threateningly as he closed in on her. "And here I was hoping you would let me explain things for you! For someone with such high intelligence, you made such a stupid decision!" he said as Lucca felt a burning sensation across multiple areas of her body. She collapsed to the ground, her blood staining the stone beneath her. "You'll see things my way soon enough," he said as he sheathed his sword.

*?*

Crono and Marle trekked through a deep dank tunnel, "It's a good thing that old well in the forest led us into the catacombs! We can get back into the castle from here without being noticed!" thought Crono. "C'mon Marle, we have to find our dads and get to safety," he said gently.

Marle was still in shock, unable to process her current predicament. Crono took her hand and it seemed to calm her down quite a bit. They easily made their way through the catacombs and noticed a sudden influx of monsters that weren't present before. They fought their way to the exit and reentered the castle. Porrean Soldiers had wrecked the castle. The corpses of every defender were strewn throughout its halls, they never stood a chance what with Porre's sudden advancement in technology. The carnage threw Marle back into shock. Crono growled angrily as they headed to the throne room. Porrean Soldiers and their mechanical dolls attempted to intercept but were dealt with easily with magic. Crono and Marle snuck up to the throne room, but they had been spotted and they rushed up the stairs and entered the throne room shutting the double doors behind them.

Crono and Marle were astonished at what they saw. Lucca, Ty, and Tomo lie injured in front of the throne, suffering from their injuries. The King was on his knees, tape over his mouth with Caelus in front of him and a strange cloaked man behind him. Time seemed to stop as Crono realized that the King was in a position to be executed. Crono swallowed hard, "D-dad? What's going on? What's happened to my friends?"

Caelus laughed deeply, "Nothing much..., just a little 'sparring' practice is all..."

"I don't... understand...," Crono said weakly.

"Now, this might a bit tough for you to understand my boy," Caelus began as he cleared his throat. "...This nation's reign is coming to its end. It's called a power shift, son. The boys with the biggest toys win the wars! Guardia is holding the world back with its Medieval ways. They've been in control for long enough. The man back there helped orchestrate all of this. He was an advisor that was helping us get to El Nido a while back. Our ship, the one Guardia sent us with somehow broke down and he was able to offer his own ship as a 'Service to the King'. He seemed to know exactly how to navigate El Nido and he knew about the ancient civilization there. Long story short, he had the legendary Frozen Flame! He demonstrated its power to me by wiping out my crew. Only I survived. He then opened my eyes and everything became clear to me! He was impressed with my survivability, so he took me to Porre and showed me everything they had accomplished. It was amazing! Like nothing, I had ever seen! I realized that Guardia must relinquish control for progression to continue!"

Crono was aghast, "I could have changed that, dad! We have Lucca! Her ideas could change the whole world!"

Caelus scoffed, "The rants of that madwoman? I suppose she had the right ideas, but she was unstable! She even aimed her gun at me after these two Chorasites attacked! I wanted to talk, but she just kept firing!"

"Dad..., what do you get out of all of this? What would mom say?" Crono said trying to hold back his frustration.

"A new life son...," Caelus replied flatly. "You and Marle can come with me and your mother. Porre is luxurious! We can make a new life there. You and Marle can live like a normal married couple without the burden of running a kingdom! Porre isn't a kingdom, it's all military men, like me! ...And like you..., son. You belong on the field of battle, my boy, not a throne to let your skills rot and your body grow soft!"

Suddenly, the cloaked man stepped forward, "That's enough Caelus," he muttered, the sound of his voice indicated his elderly status. "I must have a few words with these people, he said as he revealed his face. The man had long white hair with a mustache. His face wrinkled like beef jerky and he missed a few teeth. He wore a familiar leather eye patch over his right eye.

He smiled wickedly at both Crono and Marle and they both went pale as they realized who the man was. "DALTON?!" they said in unison.

"...But General Dalton, I have this under control...," said Caelus.

"Stand down Caelus, you don't know my own dealings with these cretins!" Dalton said angrily.

"Dalton, you slime ball!" Crono shouted as he approached the downed bodies of his friends.

Dalton laughed and wheezed as he did so, "After fifty years of painstaking research and planning I was able to elevate a nation. Not into the sky mind you, but enough to destroy everything you pests loved! These two lousy treasure hunter's nearly destroyed my plans by sneaking around as they do. Although I have to say, I'm impressed they managed to survive our last encounter!" he claimed with a frown.

Ty and Tomo awoke and set their sights on Dalton. Ty held his shoulder in pain, "So you're the creep who tossed us into that void?"

"Yes, although you should have been lost deep in the darkness beyond time! It would seem you two are more resourceful than I thought," Dalton said.

"Alright old man, where's the Frozen Flame?!" Ty said demandingly.

"With me obviously, where it should be!" he growled. "The Frozen Flame is my key to immortality! Something I should have had thousands of years ago! Now my revenge is nearly complete!" he said taking out a bloodied glowing broadsword.

Marle noticed the blade, "The Grandleon?! What are you-!? She shouted as Dalton rose the tainted blade above the King. The King gave Marle an expression of sorrow as her face drained of blood and went cold. The cold Grandleon was brought down and the King's now reddened crown fell to the ground. Marle screamed as tears flooded from her eyes. Dalton's laughter could be heard rising over Marle's cries of despair, the bloodstained Grandleon now glowing a sickly shade of purple like a heartbeat.

Dalton planted the blade in the King's now lifeless body. "Alright, 'now' my revenge is complete!"

Caelus broke into a cold sweat, "General Dalton, was such a thing necessary?!"

Dalton took an object from his cloak. It was the Frozen Flame in its compact state. "And now, for IMMORTALITY! Come Caelus, join me in my jubilation!" said Dalton as he activated the Flame. The Frozen Flame was now in the spotlight of the room. It opened up revealing its flame-like appearance with nasty alien-looking eyes set deep into its center. The Flame flashed and Caelus was enveloped in a sickly light.

"Yes sir..., General Dalton... sir," said Caelus, his brainwashing grown worse.

"Now, you'll all feel my wrath as I become one with the Frozen Flame!" Dalton shouted as he bathed in the energies the artifact emanated. The Flame shined brightly as a flash of light enveloped the entire room. Crono and his friends were then levitated into the air and in a brief moment, they were sucked into a massive Gate, not unlike the time when Magus summoned Lavos to his lair. After it had ended, only the King's body lay lifeless with the Grandleon slowly turning red and its blade transforming into a demonic shape thanks to the energy from the Flame.

*?*

Crono opened his eyes and felt sick to his stomach. He sat up slowly, only to feel sicker. His skin crawled as if it were recovering from being numb. He found himself in a strange place that yet seemed familiar to him. The gothic decor and endless void beyond it he recognized, "Is this..., The End of Time?" he said quietly. "It looks larger than before... I wonder if Gaspar did some redecorating..."

Crono rose to his feet and felt his stomach churn with queasiness. He felt the urge to vomit but held it back. He began to walk the thin bridges looking for his wife and friends. His path was lit by lamps and the bridges and square-shaped 'rooms' were lined safely with bronzed gothic style fences. He came to a room and someone lay on the ground moaning. It was Marle, "Marle! I'm here sweetie!" Crono rushed to her side and gently held her in his arms as she struggled to open her eyes.

"Crono...?" she mumbled as she adjusted her eyes. She looked around with very little emotion other than agony from the ordeal she had suffered. "Are we... dead...? This place... it looks like... The End of Time...?" she muttered as Crono helped her to her feet.

"It seems like it. Let's see if we can find Gaspar," Crono said urgently.

It wasn't long before Crono came to a familiar room where an elderly man with a grey mustache and beard came into view. He was dressed in a brown trench coat and bowler hat. He leaned against a lamp post at the center of the room sleeping while holding himself up with a cane. Crono smiled as he approached and the old man awoke with the pop of a bubble from his nose.

"Ah, Crono, Marle, I was wondering when you would show up," said the Old Man. It's a pleasure to see you again, considering the circumstances. I see you brought some new friends with you as well as old ones. Not to worry, I patched them up, but they are still weak. They're resting in the room opposite Spekkio's," he explained with a gentle grin.

Crono turned to Marle, "Marle, would you like to check up on them and get some rest? I'll talk to Gaspar for a moment," he said as Marle silently agreed. Marle left Crono's side sad and still in shock to rest.

Crono then turned to Gaspar whose gentle smile turned to one of grief. "It looks like a terrible fate has befallen you, your majesty...," he said.

"Yeah, Dalton finally got back at us...," Crono said with his gaze downcast.

"He may be eccentric, but he was the General of Zeal for a reason," Gaspar pointed out.

"My dad was brainwashed by Dalton What am I supposed to do now?" Crono giggled with grief as he looked into the endless blank sky. Then something came to mind, "Gaspar, what is this Frozen Flame?"

Gaspar's eyes widened as his eyes gave way to difficult thoughts going through his mind. "It's a long story," he said trying to wet his mouth. "The Frozen Flame was an object that was found during the Ice Age. It was discovered by some of the earliest humans and it granted them magic. It was kept by the ancestors of Zeal until it became something kept by the royal family themselves."

"So Ty was right! It was found during the Ice Age!" Crono said praising Ty's deduction.

"However, we came to discover the... truth about it...," said Gaspar uneasily. "The Frozen Flame..., is a part of Lavos..."

Crono's eyes widened as he was dumbstruck, "Lavos...?!" he mumbled.

Gaspar took a deep breath and continued, "Its discovery led us to discover Lavos, and it was eventually placed into the Mammon Machine as its core, so we could siphon energy from Lavos. Which led us to the Ocean Palace Disaster... That's pretty much all I know about it. Melchior and Belthasar know more though," he finished.

"But, I thought we destroyed all of Lavos!" Crono said frustrated.

"I was hoping the Flame would be destroyed along with Lavos, but I guess I was hoping for too much," sighed Gaspar. "It was lost after Zeal fell, falling into the sea. I'm not sure what became of it after that though..."

"So that's why Dalton wanted it. He was after what Queen Zeal had. It's power," Crono deduced.

Gaspar sighed, "It would appear so. That stunt he just pulled overstretched the limits of time."

"What do you mean?" Crono asked curiously.

"Hmm, as it is right now, it's a long story, why don't you get some rest and explain to your new friends about your ordeal with time travel. Then, when your all rested up, I'll fill you in on what exactly Dalton just did."

"Maybe your right, I'm so exhausted I can barely stand," Crono said ready to pass out.

Crono retreated to the new addition for some sleep, while Gaspar stood quietly under his lamp post and he cast his gaze upon the ground, "Good night my boy, I really hope we can fix this one..." he thought as he drifted back off to sleep.

*End of Act 2*