Making History

There were no dreams; Chrono just awoke as if he had never really slept. Right away he felt Lucca's arms surround him and lift his head from the ice. She put her head against his and gasped. Hesitantly, Chrono returned the embrace. This was something new, and he probably wouldn't get it again. In fact, just as abruptly as it started it was over – his head dropped back to the ice with a thunk.

"Quit fooling around," Lucca said, though she was having trouble getting the words out through heavy breaths. She sounded as if her voice somehow betrayed her, and she wouldn't look Chrono directly in the eye. "We have to get moving. There isn't much time." She dusted off her clothes, for she had already removed her armor, and left.

Chrono sat up more quickly than he thought possible. His armor was all removed and laying at either side of him. Each piece was split precisely in two and otherwise undamaged. The spear had been removed from his midsection and there was no sign of a scar. The only sign there had been a struggle at all was a hole in his tunic.

"I am glad to see you have recovered."

Robo had come from behind and now stood in front of Chrono. "Nadia got to you just in time to… ah… to… sorry… to save your life. I only wish we had helped sooner, but… ah… there were so many bodies we could… ah… sorry… we couldn't find you… and, sorry… I am finding it very difficult to speak. Forgive me. I am uncertain as to my feelings. But I could not bear to lose you… certainly Miss Lucca and Nadia would feel something too. They have been practicing longer than I."

Chrono stood. "Thanks."

"You are welcome. Lucca has told me that we are to meet her and Nadia in the blue tent on the other side of the ravine."

"They're there now?"

"No. There are still many more wounded soldiers." Chrono understood. "I will show you the way."

Robo set off toward the north side of the ravine at a slow pace, making sure not to get too far ahead of Chrono, who, though not injured, still found it difficult to walk. Maybe he was just tired. Or he didn't have the will to move.

Then a new thought came to him. In the thick of the fight it would never occur to him, but now that the battle was over and he thought about the last few hours, he could really see what happened. And now he couldn't understand just why he had been fighting – or even why there had been a battle, or a war. He had read the history books years ago when he was tutored, though he had forgotten nearly everything since then. Of course he remembered the Mystic War, but he couldn't remember just what started it. Perhaps there was no reason – had the two peoples got bored and decided to kill each other off? Was it a war of conquest – and if so, why would the two sides bother to conquer each other anyway? Each body Chrono saw on the ground only added to his confusion, as he saw them all as just one more life wasted. Most of the men looked about his age or a little older - but not much. And now they were gone. Wherever they were, they were certainly gone, and Chrono couldn't help imagining how easy it would have been for him to be one of the bodies. Another life wasted. And what if those men had lived? Surely they would be killed the next battle – or the next. And if they had lived through the war they would eventually die in their beds. More lives wasted. Did they fight because life did not matter or because death did not matter? More and more Chrono questioned himself, why he had even come to exist, to the point of muttering the question aloud.

"Pardon?" It was Robo, who was definitely not aware of all that Chrono was going through. He kept walking as if the carnage had bothered him not at all.

"Sorry, I was thinking aloud. Never mind."

"No, please. Go on. It is better to think aloud than to sit alone with our thoughts."

Chrono wanted to say "When did you become a philosopher," but instead he just said "you don't want to know."

"Oh yes, I do. Perhaps I can help you with your thoughts – and you with mine. I cannot bear the silence another minute."

"What's the point then?" Chrono stopped and let his hands go limp at his sides. "Of all this. We could have been another number in the death count of history. I could have read about my own death in the history books."

Robo stopped and turned to face the boy. "Yes, well there are certain mysteries about time travel…"

"No, not that. Not that at all. I was just…" he took a deep breath. "Why do we do all this? Why fight at all?" The words sounded ridiculous out loud.

"I have never totally understood fighting. From what I gathered in Miss Lucca's books, all wars were struggles for survival. Perhaps that is all we do. You do. Perhaps these people fought simply to survive – for our race to survive. That is… ah… your human race. To not fight is to die."

"But if you fight, you die."

"Yes, you are right. I will have to study further to understand. For now, let us walk. I do not wish to see this battlefield ever again."

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Lucca was waiting for them when they got to the tent. She immediately ran to Chrono and gave him another embrace. Chrono wasn't as surprised this time around. Now he just enjoyed the moment and returned the embrace. Perhaps Lucca had come to the same realizations as he. That thought brought a feeling of intimacy to Chrono, at least in the familial sense, and he wished the moment would never end even though his feelings had nothing to do with Lucca. For once he didn't feel he was fighting on his own. In the moment he vowed to himself that, whatever the cost, he would fight for their survival, to the death.

But this moment was also too short. Almost before it was over Lucca was back to business. "History has changed, Chrono. We changed history."

"…"

"Of course, if you studied once in a while you'd know firsthand what I'm talking about. I mean, history – the way it was written – is just different. I can remember reading the old books… or the books I read before… you know, and at the same time I can "remember" studying this last year, reading the books of the history we just created. I'm remembering things that never happened! It's not even possible, but I'm aware of two alternate realities. Chrono, this has to be amazing. Come on."

Chrono shrugged.

"But this means we have to be very careful how we work. We're here to find Magus…"

"Who is on an undiscovered island," Chrono interrupted, "that disappeared before modern historians could map it and from which Magus disappeared within the next year. Am I right?"

"Good, you remember."

"And all this without interrupting history? How much did we alter it today?"

Lucca frowned in concentration before answering, "a lot. But time rights itself in another couple hundred years. Then everything will be back to normal. Except for the outcome of the battle."

"Wait, hold on, we lost?"

"No – well, not really. We lost more men than they, I suppose, but the 'defeat' caused a mass uprising of civilians, so we massacred the mystics in the next few battles."

"That's fortunate. For us."

About this time Nadia came into the tent. She was still in her armor, though by the way she walked, it appeared to have become three times as heavy. Her eyes were half-closed, and she seemed to look right through everyone in the room. "It's done," was all she said, or all she was able to say before she crashed on a straw mat.

"Over four thousand were saved by her," Lucca beamed. "History has forgotten who she is. But we won't."

They all shared a moment of silence together. Chrono wondered if the others thought the same things as he – whether they questioned the reasons behind this "adventure," their motives, and even the worth of their own lives. Looking at Nadia, Chrono felt a sudden puff of pride, and a dash of humility – a paradoxical feeling – that came from knowing that, while Spekkio had certainly given them their quest, that mystical creature could have chosen anyone. Chrono had never felt so unqualified in his life. Who was he, and who were these three others in the tent? This was one lottery he wished they hadn't won. But as long as it had been charged to them to defeat this mythical "Lavos," then there was nothing to do but obey, and the thought frightened Chrono. What could he do? Say "thanks, but no thanks," to a creature that could easily kill them if angered? Now he felt not only unqualified, but unimportant.

As if to relieve Chrono of his thoughts, Toma poked his head into the tent at that moment. "She asleep?" he grunted, motioning to the unconscious form of Nadia on the mat. "Never you mind. You should be packing soon." Then he was gone.

Lucca saved them the confusion: "he's talking about the celebration. Most of the soldiers are going to stop in Dorino and get drunk."

"We don't have to go, do we?" Chrono asked.

"Is it on our route?" Robo added.

"Yes, it's on the way, but I don't think we need to stop for anything. I for one am done with soldiers."

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

They did stop. The trip was long on foot, and they (with the exception of Nadia) hadn't really slept in over 24 hours. So they had blindly followed the soldiers because they could not remember where they were going. In fact, they didn't even realize they had come upon Dorino until they were in the inn. The stench of sweaty men and alcohol brought them to their senses, or at least to a degree of sense. It was difficult to tell who was who in the low light and constant yelling and clanging of glasses, but Chrono guessed his friends were somewhere nearby. He groped one on the shoulder. "Let go of me, you drunken fool!" Nope. Definitely not Nadia. It could have been Lucca, if she were a man.

Chrono stumbled up to the counter. "I need a room for four, please," he said just loud enough to be heard over the din.

The voice on the other end was friendly and rational. "Boy, this is the bar. Rooms are behind you."

Chrono turned around. "I need a room for four, please."

"Certainly, for 6 gold coins," came a gentlemanly voice that Chrono assumed to be from a man on the other end. All he could see was a silhouette. "Boy?"

"Hm… oh." He grabbed the brown sack on his belt, hoping there was still money in it. No luck – the bag was torn in two.

"I'll pay," a voice came from behind. Lucca. So someone was still with him. He saw an arm go by his head, and heard the clatter of change. Next he felt a key being placed in his hand.

"Boy, you'll be going up one staircase and into the door on your right." When Chrono didn't move, the man behind the counter added, "the staircase will be to your left. That way. That way."

Lucca (if it was Lucca) grabbed his upper arm and dragged him across the room. "Come on, I don't want to carry you up the stairs too." She set him on his feet, and he slowly began the climb. The steps were the only part of the room illuminated, making them seem more dangerous. The first one groaned under Chrono's foot. He hesitated a moment before putting the other one on. The next step groaned even more – he felt like some sort of beast trampling on prey. Each step creaked and whined more than the last, and they all seemed to grow taller and farther apart, so Chrono had to practically lift himself up the final one.

He tried several doors before the key fit. "First one, he said."

"I'm sure he meant the first one from the stairs, not the first one you tried," came Lucca's response. "Now I'm as tired as you. Get in, you're in the way."

Chrono stumbled into the room. There was almost no light. The sun had almost completely set, and only few red streaks of sunlight shone through the greasy window, revealing a well-kept but old wood room with two large beds. I said for four – sleeping arrangements are going to be interesting. "Okay, I'll fight you for a bed."

"Ladies first," Lucca replied.

"I am a machine. I do not sleep, but I can be switched off if some of my wiring is disconnected." Robo. So he had been with them the whole time as well. That just left Nadia, who, when Chrono looked around again, he could not find anywhere.

"Never mind, then. We each get one." Chrono had barely finished the statement when he leapt for the first bed. Only his front half actually landed on the bed, and it wasn't exactly soft and comfortable. He lay for a moment to let his head clear before wiggling onto the mat and pulling the old, thick blanket over his head. He closed his eyes and was asleep before he could hear Lucca laughing.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

He woke remembering every detail of his dream. That was not difficult, because the dream was every detail about the previous day's battle. Every sight and sound, and stench, was amplified ten times until Chrono could see individual hairs on the zombies, and hear each shriek of a dying soldier. He shook his head vigorously, as if that would release his thoughts. That didn't work so well. He found them turning over and over in his mind, and once again he vowed silently that he would do anything to rid the world of Lavos – for he was beginning to believe Lavos to be the cause of all death, wars, and sickness.

"Ah, you have slept long." Robo was standing by the door.

Chrono's response came out a little more gruff than he intended. "Good morning to you, too, Robo."

"It is almost afternoon, and the three of you should be well rested. I know I am."

Suddenly there was a knock at the door – just one – and Toma cracked it open an inch. "You awake yet?"

"Now we are." Chrono looked to see Nadia and Lucca crawling out of the bed.

"Get yourselves dressed and come! You won't believe what's finally happened!" And with that he slammed the door shut. They all heard every step of his as he thumped down the stairs.

There was no need to get dressed, as none of them had undressed the night before. So they walked out and headed downstairs. Chrono noticed they were all feeling much better than before, and showed no sign of yesterday's battle. Nadia was even walking upright, and almost – Chrono could feel it – with a spring in her step. Lucca walked taller than usual as well. But missing was her normal air of superiority - thank goodness. Maybe the girls were beginning to see things the way he had.

He forgot all about it the moment he got downstairs. Just like the night before, the room was filled with men of all sizes, mostly large, who were shouting for more beer, better women, arguing with neighbors, or just shouting because they could.

Toma found them right away. "You will not believe what has finally happened!"

Lucca took it by the pause it was time to respond. "What is it?"

"The Hero has appeared!"

"Who?" Chrono yelled back before Lucca elbowed him in the ribs. Apparently that was the wrong thing to say.

"The Hero!"

"Oh… I thought you said… er, the Ear has appeared!"

"Hero! The Hero has finally appeared, and he is coming to Dorino later today! To think all of history has waited thousands of years for now! You have to stay!"

Lucca jumped in. "No please, really, we must be…"

"Follow!"

Toma almost dragged Chrono through the crowd, forcing the others to tag along or get lost. The further they went it, the less air there was, until suddenly they emerged in the light – the outdoors. The town itself looked very nice, and down-to-earth. Chrono would never have known from the condition of the inn. The streets weren't paved and the houses didn't have much in the way of windows, but the atmosphere was fresh and the people looked inviting, or at least sane. They all noticed the group that had just gone out of the inn, for Chrono's party were the only ones wearing a color besides brown. That was interesting to them.

Or at least to one. "Tomaaaaaaa!"

Everyone turned to see a short, stout, old woman running along the dirt towards them. They all stepped back except for Toma, who took several large steps back.

"Toma!" The woman barreled into the big man, gasping and panting. "How dare you! How dare you! How dare you!"

"I…" the big man tried to say before the woman squeezed him so hard Chrono could hear joints snapping.

"You go missing and the next thing we hear you are conscripted to the royal army! How dare you!"

"This…" Toma gasped between hugs, "this is my mother."

"I apologize," the woman said to the others, "this man is in trouble." Then, to her son, "come home. You have not seen your father for two years!"

"Mother…" Toma looked embarrassed to say it. "Mother, I cannot go home now. The Hero is here! Guardia is saved! I will be a part of the conquering army! I will not wander any longer! I will come home a hero... some other day."

The woman was unmoved. "Come, we have a table ready. We have two tables. Please, bring your friends. Bring everybody! My son has returned!"

Lucca poked Chrono to get his attention. "We can't do this!" she hissed. "We're not here for some mythical Hero. History, remember?"

"Play along," Chrono hissed back.

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AUTHOR'S NOTE: Okay, that went well. I'm sort of glad that whole battle scene is over, because I'm not so good at writing the action sequences. They all start to sound like "and then so-and-so hit such-and-such, and he beat him on the head until he died." So I feel more at home with the character work (which is unfortunately very dull to readers who audaciously expect a plot).

I'm anxious for reviews, as I've mentioned in every author's note. Don't worry that I won't be correcting any errors now. I'm trying to complete this whole story before I start editing myself (I know this is a repeat) because if I start editing, I'll never ever ever ever finish. But I will go back through all the reviews for each chapter I want to correct, and look for specific things to fix. I want specific things like "This character is not developed enough to do x at this point," or "Why would so-and-so do x if he did y in the last chapter," or "You could go further with xyz because it's really cool and you completely forgot about it." I won't like reviews that say "Change x and your plot is bad." Although there is a certain pleasure to getting flamed. Rarely ever do I get funny reviews.

My concerns for this chapter: is this just slogging through plot points? In other words, can I get through this stuff faster? I mean, in my head I have the map of what should happen in what order, but sometimes I miss things that could go together, or I just ramble on and on about things that don't really matter. Of course I realize you don't know where I'm going, so I'm not asking you to validate all those parts when I go "off book," especially because the whole chapter is "off book."

Anyway, my next update may be slow in coming, because my teachers may actually start assigning homework.