Authors Note: Moving right along. I'm on break now, so I'll see exactly how much of this I can work with.

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An eerie calm penetrated the serene forest. Legends stated that a machine made of metal had cultivated it, either from an unknown civilization of vast technology in the past, an automaton of alien origin, or a time traveler from the distant future.

As theorists had stated time and time again, time travel as they had seen it was impossible due to several points, most of which dealt with things going back to the past from an as of yet uncertain future.

We know that we can travel forward in time easily enough, for in our every day lives, we live out time as a constant forward motion. But how would one go backwards along that path? Could one travel to a period in time before they even existed?

Most of us see time as a line, a timeline if you will, supposedly there are ways to travel forward and backwards on this line, however scientific methods deemed this possibility impossible, as impossible as humans that could use the powers of magic.

Popular views stated that the hero Crono, and many of his friends were from a time in the future, but many disregarded these as the ramblings of a hero with a troubled mind. Even though Sir Jonathan had dispelled the rumors of his ancestor, Glenn, having mental issues from being a frog for ten years of his life, there were still many who considered his claim of having allies from all across the timeline to be impossible.

Even the Legendary machine that planted the forest was supposedly one of these allies who fought against the Dark Lord Magus, and the Sisterhood of Fiona, the caretakers of the forest, believed the statements as truth, and set up a shrine, which also doubled as one that would await the coming heroes who would shape the entirety of the timeline.

The shrine was known for the safeguarding of holy artifacts as well, as Jonathan had to visit on occasion to undergo a ritual with the Masamune, usually it dealt with new members of the Sisterhood speaking with the summoned Masa and Mune, who would offer guidance from time to time. Jonathan figured the creatures really enjoyed speaking with the young girls, though he wondered about their motives at times.

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Stories of Chrono Trigger Before the Tale

Chapter 3

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"Jon."

The swordsman was roused at his friend's urging. "What is it, Alex?"

"Why are we waiting around here? Should we not be elsewhere, looking for a better vantage point?"

Jonathan shook his head, focusing on his sword for a moment.

"No… even a thief will pass along here, for the paths through the forest are too rough to make good headway. The fact that there is a hostage to consider would also hinder them, so this would be the fastest path, if they were indeed on their way to Porre. Since I already had the pier in Truce shut down, there would be no other way. Besides, when they do come near, my sword will resonate, nothing jarring, mind you, but Masa and Mune will definitely let me know."

Alex raised an eyebrow in confusion, "I guess I should not doubt magical creatures that inhabit a sword, but could they find her even from where they are?"

Jonathan nodded, "They are certainly mysterious creatures, but they say that it would be no problem for them to find Marle."

Though Jonathan never asked why, Marle had a certain item, made from the same material as his sword, which caused the resonance to occur.

"I've sighted them, gentlemen."

The two turned to the inventor, who had a curious scope in his hands. He displaced it, pulling out a large two-handed hammer from his travel gear.

"So much for your resonance idea, Jon."

"It would have been useful if we had to pick them out in a crowd, but to be the only group coming this way…"

"Just admit that science will win out in the end."

"I cannot admit what I am not sure of…"

"Sir Jonathan. Allow us the pleasure of showing him what magic is capable of."

Jonathan concentrated for a moment, before the sword began glowing. All of a sudden, the magical blade disappeared, and in its place was a small ruby dagger.

"Your… sword…" Alex mused.

Of course, he had seen the sword in this shape, when the magical beings had appeared before.

The wind stirred…

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"So where is it that you are taking me? It looks like we are on the way to Porre by the sun's path…"

If anyone had noticed the young woman traveling with the unsavory bunch, they would have thought that she was a cohort of sorts, save for the bindings around her. In reality, as soon as she had been surrounded by all of them, she thought that playing the part of a docile woman would keep them from attempting to hurt her. And when they let down their guard…

"Heh, missy, yer certainly a talkative one," mused the lead man, stout, and with distinctive scars across his grizzled face. "Good thing yew got a pretty singsong voice, or I'd've shut ye up by now."

"Oh!" She tried to put a hand over her mouth, but the rope bindings kept her from moving them past her waist. Also, the rope around her neck would chafe if she made unnecessary movements, "I am so dreadfully sorry!"

"Now now missy, I didn't mean that yew should shut yer yap, t'is music that passes the time, that I be sure of."

One of the other brigands spoke up, "So boss, what're we plannin' wit her?"

"As soon as we got a piece of da Truce fortune, we can get to building that great seaworthy ship, and travellin' to find the lost treassr down south like I been tellin' you boys about!"

"The ship dats da big shots can't get us?"

"Right! Rather than wait on those idjuts to stop der sqabblin' we'll pony up da gold ourselves!"

"Oh!" exclaimed Marle, "You mean I am going to meet others like you?"

"Naw missy, the guys wot pay us gold don't act like us much at all. Civilized folk like yerself."

"So wait? What will you do when you get the gold? What will I do?"

"Yew? Missy, yer welcome to go wherever ye please once we get that gold! Yew can go back to that Truce man if ye wish, or iff'n ye be really good, yew can travel the seas wit us!"

She feigned dropping her head, trying to play the part of the naïve captive.

"But I am not skilled except in my education. Whatever would I be able to help you all with?"

A few of the men snickered while the leader smiled, showing that he was missing a few teeth, "Why missy, I'm sure there's a few holes wot can be filled."

She inwardly groaned as the men erupted in raucous laughter. Out of the corner of her eye, she could see a few small quickly moving forms that seemed to fade in and out of reality. As the wind picked up, she smirked, understanding the significance, as she suddenly fidgeted.

"Oh dear sirs, I am afraid to bother you, but I am afraid this long walk has made me very uncomfortable. I need to expel water from my body… can we please stop for a bit?"

The lead man smiled, a strange look in his eye, "Certainly, missy!" He loosened the bindings around her hands, though keeping the lead around her neck.

She started to move towards the edge of the woods, but found that the rope around her neck was still within a firm hold.

"We don't trust ye yet though, that's as far as yer goin'"

She noticed all the men had amused glares, though she inwardly smirked as she also noticed that they all had their eyes on her. She continued to play her part.

"Oh! But sirs… I have only ever expelled water in privacy… to do so in front of people is unnecessary! And I really have to…"

The lead man smirked, "What now missy? Yer too good fer us? We can't let ye outta our sight. Get to it so we can move on!"

She sighed, moving her hands to the band around her waist holding up her pants. She slowly made to lower them when all of a sudden:

"Hey, were did Jarvis go?"

"Wha?! Les is missin' too!"

"Eh, there went Fergus!"

"Mr. Gerad…. Boss… I don know wut's going on here, but all the men are-"

And suddenly it was just the leader, as he looked around at where the men used to be, he suddenly heard a knife being drawn, and the rope he was holding went slack. He turned to see his captive holding an intricate knife in her hands.

Of course, he'd never thought to search her, especially in the bustle to take her away. He was caught in this thought, drawing his own knife, when all of a sudden two mystic-looking creatures appeared between his captive and himself.

The green adorned one of the two nodded to the girl; "Let us take it from here, Marle. That diversion was well timed!"

"Thank you Masa! And you too, Mune!" She also nodded to the blue adorned twin.

Gerad, as he was last called, groaned as he realized that his intricate plans were ruined. As he was about to turn and run, he found all of his men with various mortal wounds on their bodies, noticing this, he turned to the two creatures.

"So I'm guessin' yer wit her, and yew did that to me men."

Masa smirked, "I suppose we can grant you a boon before we dispose of you. In short, you picked the wrong girl from the wrong noble family to mess with."

"I don't suppose ye'll give me a hint?"

She smirked, "Let us just say it is very old, and very well established."

"Marle," Mune murmured, "This is more for your benefit, but I'd appreciate it if you turned around… I don't want you to see what we're going to do to this sicko."

She nodded, glancing at the man before smiling and responding in her previous singsong voice, "So sorry sir! I am afraid I will have to look away so they cannot show me where they will take you! I do hope we will meet again some time!"

As she whirled around, she heard him snarl, "Yer a crafty one, and no mistake! Just like the ones who coin me! I shudda known never to trust ye as much as I did! Yer a crafty bi-"

Suddenly he was silent, except for the sickening squish that Marle heard. While she knew Masa and Mune to be good creatures at heart, she also figured that since they bonded with their wielder to an extent, that Sir Jonathan's influence caused them to be a little more bloodthirsty than she had thought previously. Now that she thought about it, wasn't there a gradual change among the Knight Captains at times…?

"Marle, if you would turn to your left and not look this way, Sir Jonathan would like to see you safe, run along now…"

"Thank you Masa…" she softly spoke, before running towards the direction she faced, not wanted to see what was left of Gerad.

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The relieved faces of Jonathan and Alexander were almost too much for her to bear, but she managed to keep tears from coming as she ran to greet them. Alexander fiercely hugged her while Jonathan strode over to her, speaking condescendingly.

"Marle, if you had any idea what I'd have to face from your f-… family… well… look, just don't do anything like that from now on. I'll live a long life for sure if you keep yourself out of trouble…"

"Oh Sir Jonathan, I am terribly sorry. You have my word, for sure… Alex has reminded me of the responsibility that many of us have come to take control of… while there is much to think of, never again will I go against my family's wishes."

She noticed that Alexander had not been the first to speak up, though after that statement, he loosened his hug to smirk, "Well, do not follow everything that they say. You are your own person, as I am, but we must still bring honor to our families, right?"

She smiled broadly as he broke the hug and the two lead her along with Taban to his boat.

"You are absolutely right, Alex. I need to face what my family asks of me…" She gazed at him as he looked back a little surprised, "And I will tell them that I have made my choice."

She stepped on the boat before the other two, though Alexander was a little confused at what she meant by her particular word choice. Jonathan smirked as he smacked his friend across the back. Suddenly he looked down at his sword and noticed it was whole again.

"Looks like we're finished here…" He watched as Alexander began to idly converse with Marle, with Taban throwing in an anecdote or two at times. "And there's still time for the big surprise tomorrow…"

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Author's note: Wow! I guess there's a stopping point. I played around with the idea of this chapter for a long time, and finally wrote the end of it up. I had issues figuring out exactly how depraved to make the brigands, and figured I would try to keep to my original rating by only using innuendo and light descriptions as needed, try not to explode at me too much if it's not your cup of tea!

By the way, the brigand Gerad has no similarities with the awesome Edgar Figaro, I just couldn't come up with a better name for the leader of the small band of bad guys here.

You guys can thank Nanaki for uploading more of his stuff, it gave me the wakeup call I needed to get my writing skills up to speed again, have fun reading this! The end is on its way!