You may call me...little miss super late updater! Or something. Hope you enjoy this chapter! ^^

Disclaimer: Chrono Crusade and all its characters rightfully belong to Daisuke Moriyama-sama. x3

Countdown (part 22)

All was silent, except for the howling of the wind passing through the area.

"YO, Chrono!"

Joshua and I looked up at the sound of the voice to see a hexagon-shaped projected screen showing Aion.

I gritted my teeth at the sight of him, "You..."

"Hello, Guardian." He said, "Or shall I say...useless sorcerer?"

I groaned angrily in response. He spoke directly to Chrono.

"As you can see...I'm almost at the finishing line! A few more steps and I'll be right at 'Her' feet. Game, set, match...and I win again!" Chrono said nothing, and Aion continued, "I have already grasped some of the operation procedures...although I am unable to control them at will...the geas actually possesses this function aswell. Observe, Chrono...as I take...the first step towards true liberty!"

I muttered in disgust, "You call this liberty...?"

"Pandaemonium's end would signify a new beginning for the world...but you already know that...don't you?"

Chrono's head was still held low and he didn't say a word.

"Chrono? Earth to Chrono...hello?" Aion looked bothered, "Are you even listening?"

Then he caught sight of Rosette lying on the ground, "Oh...I see. So this lass has passed on...but...she didn't die in vain...did she? After all, the one she gave her life to free...has been freed, no?"

Joshua's eyes widened and he faced the screen of Aion, "W-what do you mean?"

"My dear Joshua, shouldn't you put all the blame on Chrono? Because they were well aware that this would happen...and she went with it anyway..."

Joshua glanced at Chrono in disbelief. I walked over and took his arm, watching Chrono in his depressed state.

"Oh, Chrono..."

There was a moment of silence, before Aion spoke up, "You know, Chrono. She and Mary Magdalene are so alike...you've let history repeat itself...haven't you learnt your lesson now? You don't belong in their world!"

Aion held his hand out to Chrono, "A bird that cannot take wing is saddening...not just for itself, but for its compatriots aswell...return to my side, Chrono! I have no lack of substitute for contractors like you!"

Half a minute had passed until Chrono finally spoke up, "Aion...you're always gazing at the ground from that high pedestal of yours. That is why you are blind to the fact...that each person has a unique name...and varying personalities." Chrono was slowly standing up at this point Joshua and I watched in disbelief as my grip around Joshua's arm tightened.

"It doesn't matter if I do not have wings...planting my feet on the ground has enabled me to open my eyes...and mind." He lifted his horns Rosette had given him to his head, "This is my answer!"

Suddenly a blast of wind burst upwards surrounding Chrono like a tornado.

*KZAAAAAAAAA*

"AAAH!" Chrono yelled.

*KRAK KRAK KRAK*

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAHH!"

"This is MADNESS!" Aion shouted, "The Geas will...you have resigned yourself to the fate others have suffered!"

Then Chrono's arms began to grow more...masculine?

"RYAAAAAAAAAAAAAHH...!"

The wind had cleared, the transformation ended, Chrono was complete-devil again. I was so stunned I couldn't do anything but watch him.

"There are no substitutes for the life of an individual..." he huffed, "Whatever becomes of me is no consequence...and you do not have the right to judge her! I have to end this...right here, right now. This is it, Aion...! Let our next battle be the LAST!

Aion simply watched Chrono with discontent, "The fool..."

*CLICK*

The screen disappeared. Then Joshua ran over and picked up Rosette in his arms(bride-style).

"Joshua..Heidi...I leave her to you." said Chrono.

Joshua stopped him, "Hold it! You're just gonna leave Rosette like this?"

A moment of silence, tears began to form in Chrono's eyes, "As you said..I am a monster. I do not...deserve to live with others..."

Joshua turned to me, "Heidi! You can do something can't you?"

"Do what?" I asked him.

"Heal her! Bring her back!"

"That, I..." I never recalled any form of sorcery strong enough for that sort of thing, "I'm sorry, Joshua. I can't."

"You can heal her, can't you?"

"No! I wish I could but...I can't...I can't resurrect the dead. (I was chosen as the Guardian to protect the apostles...I failed...but how come I can't even save my friends? No...it's not my fault...there was nothing I could do...was there...?)"

Chrono turned away, "Monsters are only capable of destruction, destruction...and further destruction. And so...I shall destroy the chain of tragedy!"

We heard the flutter of wings.

"Tragedy will no longer occur again...for there is still time to prevent it!"

I spun around to face the direction the voice was coming from, and I saw a familiar girl with outstretched wings on her back.

"Ah...Ah...Azmaria?"

…

"You-you're unharmed!" I said, "(But..something's wrong...there's a different aura about her...)"

As if sensing my thoughts, Chrono asked her, "Um...is that really you, Azmaria?"

Azmaria started to wave her arms around in panic, "Whuh-buh-huh? What're you saying? You're too much. Now's not the time to be making bad jokes! We've gotta make every second count!"

Chrono stared, "Yup...it's her alright."

"No mistaking it now..." I added.

"LOOK! You gotta listen to me! We have to take Rosette back to Eden now!" she exclaimed.

" Okay, okay, but...please, calm down first." I said.

Chrono looked hopeful, "What do you have in mind?"

"Don't you remember, Chrono?" Azmaria asked, "The time when a ghost haunted the convent? That ghost turned out to be Rosette; the same thing's happening again!"

Chrono remembered, "...You're saying...that the strain jolted Rosette's soul from her body, causing her to be in a comatose state? That Rosette...is still alive?"

I turned to Joshua who was holding onto Rosette, tears of hopeful possibility were forming in his eyes.

"Th-there's still hope..?" he wondered, "Uh..uh...this is..."

I watched Rosette in her almost lifeless state, was there really a way to bring her back? Chrono bowed to Azmaria in gratitude, "I thank you...from the bottom of my heart..."

Azmaria shut her eyes tightly and turned away, "No...it's not that simple...if we don't act fast, the problem will grow out of proportion...because Aion is..."

Another minute of silence.

"Azmaria?"

She turned back to face us with a look of determination, "If Aion succeeds in destroying the central core...Pandaemonium will set its sights on Rosette!"

I put my hands to my mouth as you gasped in astonishment.

"Unlike last time...Rosette's soul will not make it back on its own!" she continued, "Right now...her body's just another lifeless shell...this is the perfect opportunity for Pandaemonium!"

"...Well, I don't know how you improved your vocabulary so quickly, Azmaria, but you're right." I stated, "What're we standing 'round here for? Let's get a move on!"

…

I was walking with Azmaria and Joshua(carrying Rosette on his back) all the way back to Eden. The island was still in the ground as Rosette, Joshua and I had left it from before. Chrono had split up from us to face Aion himself, most likely to take care of his own personal business from what I thought. We all entered the big round building and sped past the same corridors we ran through from before, and made it all the way back to the pipe organ that was used for the Oratorio.

"I'll try to recall Rosette's soul!" Azmaria declared.

I looked incredulous, "Is that possible?"

"Um..the chances...are not zero...but Chrono can make a difference..."

I laughed lightly, "Always about Chrono, huh? I guess a lot has happened in the past few years he spent with her."

"We've gotta hurry! Before Pandaemonium shows up!"

"Right."

Joshua carefully placed Rosette on one of the floating platforms. I could tell how upset he was from the way he hadn't said anything in that long while. I was about to go up to him when -

"HEY! Heidi!"

My eyes widened and I spun around to see Jasmine, Xiao Xiao, and the rest of the apostles standing on a stage not far from where I was.

"Uh-...you guys...so you're all..."

"Perfectly fine." Jasmine finished, "Y'know I always thought I was your best friend...but being second always feels like first to me. So I'm okay with it."

"Do your best, Heidi..." said Xiao Xiao, "We're counting on you."

I was floored, "But...what can I do?"

"Just be around to protect us..." Jasmine replied, "Don't screw up this time, 'kay?"

I sighed and smiled in relief, "...Sure thing."

*GASP* Noble words coming from Azmaria? That's so unlikely...until NOW that is!

Joshua hasn't said much...is he really okay with the plan?

Have the apostles suddenly called upon you as the Guardian once more?

Will Aion accomplish his demise for the world? Or will Chrono stop him in time?
Next chapter, coming soon!