Chapter 1 -- Disenchantment

"Chrono! Wake up, Chrono!"

A girl's voice floated out of the blackness. With it came a ghostly figure, a young maiden, a strange sight,

Lighting the way as she comes out
A face so fair, and hair about
As silver as a cloud or near
Though she's a shade, one need not fear
An orchid musk upon her sleeves
A dress that flows like lotus leaves
A sterling moon rests in her cheek
Her tresses fine an halcyon-sleek
Her movement causing her to bend
Like a leaf in waltzing wind
And on her head a cap of pearl
A fitting top for such a girl
A half-incipient look of pique
Announces when she wills to speak
Shining, shimmering, rare complexion
Icy pure, yet warm perfection
Marvelous, her glittering dress
Where art lends grace to sumptuousness
Flower-like, a stately glow
Like hardy blossoms in the snow
Her eyes burn like a mournful wake
While sunset sneaks upon the lake
A heavenly concert just ended, it seems
Or is this girl but a lovely dream?

"Are you... a ghost?" Chrono asked.

"You might call me that," answered the girl, "but I would rather you call me by my name. I am the fairy Disenchantment."

"A pleasure to meet you," said Chrono. "At least, I hope it is. Would you mind telling me where I am and how you know my name?"

Disenchantment replied, "You came through that Gate from the Realm of the Living, did you not? I saw you before you left your world."

"Realm of the Living?" Chrono pinched himself. "Does that make this place...?"

"The Realm of Separation," said Disenchantment. "All souls wind up here eventually, at the Sea of Sorrows, beyond the End of Time."

"Did I die?"

Disenchantment folded her hands. "I must say that I do not know."

"You said you just saw me, though. Couldn't you tell?"

"That sort of thing is not as obvious a distinction as you seem to think. All I know is that you are here."

"Beyond the End of Time, in the Sea of Sorrows."

"Brought here for a purpose." Disenchantment looked into Chrono's eyes.

Those eyes narrowed. "A purpose?"

"Hold out your left hand," instructed Disenchantment.

"Like this?" Chrono did as he was told.

"Perfect," said Disenchantment. "I am to bring you with me on a journey."

"To where?"

"To the Castle of Dreams, on the Orchid Mountain."

"What for?"

"You are to meet with the Princess of the Dead."

"Sounds inviting."

"Have you someplace else to go?"

"That Gate interrupted my wedding." Chrono scowled.

"But you cannot go back now, can you?" Disenchantment gave Chrono a thoroughly disconcerting wink.

"I can't yet, but here has to be a way," said Chrono. "I can't just up and leave Nadia. Not forever."

"I know of no one who has gone back, ever."

"Then I'll be the first," said Chrono.

"Brave one, you are," Disenchantment. Her eyes turned to a shining speck on Chrono's hand. "And you have such a pretty red rock on you."

Nadia's ring?

Disenchantment stared intently at Chrono's treasure. "Mind if I have a look?"

"I'd rather keep that to myself," said Chrono.

"Too late!" Disenchantment folded her arms across her chest, chanted to herself, and nodded her head, and with a flash of red light, the wedding band, with its stone, vanished from Chrono's ring finger and reappeared on Disenchantment's. She laughed.

"It's nice," she said.

"Give it back!" said Chrono, his face flushed.

"In time, Chrono."

"In time? I want it now."

"'Now' is a meaningless word in the Sea of Sorrows," said Disenchantment. "An illusion. What you call 'now' exists only in the Realm of the Living and ends at the End of Time."

"Cut the semantics and give me Nadia's ring!" Chrono attempted to lunge at Disenchantment, but his feet met no traction on the mysterious surface of the Sea, and with a plop, he tumbled onto his face, farther away from his target than before.

"It will take you time to become accustomed to moving around here," Disenchantment said through a giggle.

"But you said time was an illusion here!" Chrono grew impatient.

"Real and not-real are like life and death; even I have difficulty telling them apart in this world."

"Fun place," said Chrono as he tried to pull himself to his feet.

"Take my hand," said Disenchantment. "From here on, I shall be your guide."