Chapter Six

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The cathedral was lit up by the light of the sun, beaming in through the colorful stain glass windows. There were three nuns sitting in the pews, and one nun was standing next to the organ. "Excuse me," Lucca asked as she showed the nun the picture of Marle. "But, have you seen this girl?"

The nun examined the picture and appeared to be almost shocked, but held her reaction back. "Oh, dear me... I'm not sure. I might have."

Chrono looked around the cathedral, taking in it's beauty. Then, he noticed something shining on the ground. He walked over and picked it up. "Hey Lucca, take a look at this."

"What did you find?" Lucca took the item and examined it. "A hair pin." As she examined it further, she saw that there was a special seal on it. Her eyes bugged out. "That's Guardia's royal crest!" All of the nuns gathered around them, standing in a line in front of them. Then, a magical blue fire appeared, engulfing each one of them! Chrono and Lucca watched in awe at the creatures that came out of the fire. They were not nuns at all! Instead, they were creatures with long pink hair, kept up in a pony tail, yellow skin, a blue tube top, and a long pink tail. Chrono drew his sword and Lucca pulled out her gun.

Chrono charged for the first two and jumped in the air, swirling around with his sword in hand. While he was choping them to pieces, Lucca was ramming her two enemies with a hammer and shooting them with her gun. In all, they weren't very much a challange. But this did prove one thing: someone or something was definately hidden away, somewhere in this cathedral.

When the battle was over, Lucca adjusted her glasses. "Phew, that was close!"

Chrono's eyes widened. "Lucca, look out!"

Lucca whirled around to see yet another creature emerge from a blue ball of fire. "AAHHH!" Lucca cried.

Just as the creature was about to attack, someone came jumping down from the ceiling, thrusting his sword into the creature, killing it on sight. "Lower thin guard, and thow'rt allowing the enemy in," their rescuer stated. He looked at them. "Thow'rt here to the queen? The lair is deep within. Will thee acompany me?"

Lucca shivered all over. "A... A FROG!?" She exclaimed. "Chrono, it's a talking FROG! I hate frogs!"

He looked away. "My guise doth not inquite thy trust... Very well, do as thee please. But I shall save the queen." He began to walk away.

"W, Wait!" Chrono excplaimed.

The frog looked back at them. "Yes?"

Chrono looked at Lucca. "I think we should go with him."

"WHAT!?" Lucca exclaimed. "Chrono, are you crazy!?"

"No, I just think he might be able to help us, that's all." He looked back at the frog. "Would you mind?"

"It does not bother me," he replied.

Lucca gulped. I'll just have to handle it. I mean... deal with... him!" She cleared her throat. "What's your name?"

"Frog will do."

"Alright... nice to meet you, Frog."

Frog looked around the room. "Mayhap a hidden door lurks nie? Let us search the environs."

The three began to search every inch of the place. The walls, the floors, the pews -- everywhere. But they couldn't find any kind of switch that might open a hidden door. Chrono finally leaned up against the organ, causing a few keys to play. A rumbling sound was heard just before a door popped out of nowhere on the other end of the room.

"Great idea, Chrono!" Lucca exclaimed.

Chrono blinked. "Um, yeah! Thanks!"

o O o

"Prepare yourself, Queen Leene!" the Chancellor's voice exclaimed just as the group ran through the hidden door.

The group ran up to the scene and found Queen Leene, scared to death of the not-so-tough looking Chancellor. When he saw the group, he shouted, "YOU! How did you get in here!?"

Queen Leene turned to the group and smiled. "Frog!"

"Majesty, stand back and allow me the honor!" Frog exclaimed as he bowed.

Queen Leene nodded. "Be careful!" She ran to the back of the room, where is was safe. The Chancellor stood up from his seat, walked around to the front of the table he was seated at, and laughed out loud. "It is useless to fight! No one will leave here alive!" He glared at Frog. "Stupid frog! It's time you jumped off the mortal coil!" He raised his hand in the air and closed his eyes. They all watched in awe as several electrical lights flashed all aroud him. He began to glow a bright light, taking on a new form as he whirled around in mid air. He emerged as Yakra, in his yellow body, with his gray claws.

"Chrono!" Frog exclaimed. "Fight with me! Charge with me from the left, I'll charge to the right!"

Chrono followed his lead without saying a word. As he charged for the left, Frog charged to the right, producing a huge red 'X' along his body. Lucca held up her hand and produced a chain that consisted of several fire balls from her glove. She threw the string of fire at Yakra. When it was all said and done, Yakra started glowing a white light, and appeared to evaporate into thin air. "NOOO!" he shouted as he dissapeared for the last time.

Queen Leene ran back up to the group ."You came to rescue me! Thank you, Frog."

Frog bowed once more. "The King awaits. Let us return to the castle."

Lucca ran up to the queen. "Are you sure you're alright, Your Majesty?"

She nodded. "Yes, thank you all. I don't know what he would have had you not come in time."

"It could have been worse," Frog pointed out. "I just came from the forth continent, where a young woman who was mistaken for you was kidnapped by Magus."

Chrono chimed into the conversation. "A young woman who looks like the queen?... Did she mention her name?"

Frog nodded. "She called herself Marle."

"Was she alright!?" Lucca exclaimed.

Frog nodded. "She was just fine. I rescued her from Magus's palace, which has now been burned down. Then, she held up a strange looking item that opened a giant portal and she dissapeared inside it."

Lucca held up her gate key. "Did it look like this? Only blue?"

Frog nodded. "Exactly like that one... Only, it was broken."

"BROKEN!? And she used it anyway!?" Lucca began pacing around the room. "Who knows where she could end up with a broken gate key? We've gotta go after her!"

Chrono shook his head. "No, I've gotta go after her... Lucca, you're going home."

"But Chrono... I..."

"Lucca, she never would have run away if it weren't for me. It's all my fault. I'm the one who should go after her." He looked away for a moment. "That, and I need to talk to her about the whole Princess Nadia thing."

Lucca nodded. "I understand." She handed him the gate key and he pointed it at an open space in the room. He pressed the button and the portal opened up for her. Lucca hugged him. "Be careful," she said before she jumped inside the portal, which closed up behind her.

Queen Leene was surprised. "Are you seriously going to travle all over the place in search of this girl?"

Chrono nodded. "I have to... I can't just let her get away from me. Ever since we met, I've known that she's the one for me... I can't explain it."

Frog smiled. "Then, I wish you luck, Sir Chrono."

Just before Chrono was about to open up another portal, a dark shadow flew in front of the stain glass windows. The figure burst through the windows, shatering them to pieces. "FROG!" Magus exclaimed as he hovered in the air.

Frog looked at Chrono. "Hurry and get out of here! Find Marle!" He drew his sword.

Queen Leene ran out of the room for safety.

Chrono pressed the button on the gate key and opened up another portal for himself. As he jumped inside, Magus went charging after him. "You're after Marle!? Then I shall follow you!" With that, the portal closed up on them, taking them who-knows-where in time.