They fly forgotten as a dream dies at the break of day
A Thousand Ages in Thy sight are like an evening gone
Short as the watch that ends the night before the rising sun
Isaac Watts: Man Frail, God Eternal
Hidden from the sun's piercing eyes, far beneath the earth, where neither wind blew nor water fell; It waited. In the most remote, most shrouded pocket of the planet's bowels, it slept. Lying cocooned in crypt-like silence, it sleapt. It lay like a ticking timebomb.� Waiting. A force more potent, more malevolent, more fearsome than an atomic bomb, sat silent. Though on the outside it was taciturn, it raged liked a storm within.
It sat pulsating, throbing, resonating with an arcane, insidious power.� Waiting. COuntless days had passed; and volumes of histories, kingdoms, gods, legends had faded into forgotten lines on uinfinished pages. None knew, yet it knew, and still it waited. �
� A bell chimed sweetly giving it's song to the new day as a sort of welcome. It's aria resonated clear, firm and bold across the land. It's celestial song was accompanied by the gulls and robins.
A fleet of balloons were released into the sky, marking the dawn of a new day, a new age. A menagerie of colours floated into the air, seemingly filling it. A collection of hues, as varied as a bag of candy, cluttered above the land, and with a sudden gust of wind, the balloons were carried off. A clarion call of cheers came forth from the people below. With that the celebration commenced.� Meanwhile in a house not too far a off, a mother trekked up the steps, and entered her son's room.
'Leene's bell makes such beautiful music.' She looked over at her son, who had moved possibly two degrees. She sighed. 'I bet you were so excited about teh festival you didn't get any sleep. If you don't get up you'll miss it entirely!'
The mother exited and the boy arose a few moments after. He was of medium height, decent stature; lean and wiry, yet not lanky, nor stout. He was built like young colt. His eyes were quick and lively. His face was a bit ruddy, yet handsome. The most out standing feautre was his hair. It was deep sanguine, and hung like the branches and leaves of a houseplant.
Crono, as his mother called him, let free an extended yawn. HTe weariness of night was shaken off. He tensed his muscles and extended his limbs as far as he could. Crono got dressed and was ready to go.
His garb was nothing extrordinary. Crono wore slate grey pants, which an olive green tunic was tucked into. Over that was a cobalt blue jerkin held in pace by a brown belt. A yellow bandanna circumvented his neck.
He headed down the stairs, where his mother waited. He was as excited as a child leaving classes for summer vacation.
� 'Crono don't forget now, that freind of yours, oh, darn I can't remember her name...'
'Lucca'
'Yes. I can't believe I forgot that! Lucca needs you to test out that experiment she's running with her father at the festival. I hope this one doesn't turn out like those others.'
Crono said nothing, only gave her a 'Yes Mother' look. She walked off to the kitchen
His cat sat waiting, about as eagerly as cats get. Crono gave it a stroke. It purred and darted off.
� 'Behave yourself now, I don't want my son being hauled off into jail or something.' she nagged just as mother should.
Crono rolled his eyes, saying nothing. He caught up with her.br> 'Oh before I forget, here's some money.'
He thanked her, gave his mother a kiss, took the small purse, and headed out the door on his way.
Crono was greeted by a fine morning
HE stopped just before the entrance of the fairgrounds and took in all of the sights, sounds and scents. An array of tents, as colourful as a mosiac sat peacefully like a crop of toadstools beneath the shade of an oak. Banners were held aloft streatching across the grounds like an aroura over the moutains. Streamers tapered down, and flagged in the wind like the tail feathers of some exotic bird.
Everywhere Crono looked, his senses beheld something different. He saw a spoony young bard trying to woo a comely young lady with verse and song. Over to his right was a green scaley person of sorts in a dead sprint. Behind him (or it) a cat, and two other runners scrambled desperatly to catch up, inhaling the dust kicked up in his furious wake.
A bell chimed and a chorus of cheers sounded. Not too far off, he heard a tribal beat raging wildly. Just ahead a vendor stood at a tent, hawking 'The finest robes as worn by the royalty of Termina, on sale for such a low low low price!'
The bell sounded again, this time sighs of disappointment filled the air. Smells of animals, candy, and somethingss he dared not know, drifted into his nostils. Crono stood for a good ten minutes of awed silence untill he realized,
'Crap, Lucca's gonna kill me if I am late.'
Crono dashed off paying little heed as to his festive surroundings
Crono did not see the girl coming his way from the right side of hte bell. How he could see her was a mystery to me. She was the type of girl a boy would find himself focusing on in his english class instead of the teacher. She had an angelic frame, and a pleasent face like the pedals of a magnolia. Atop her head lay luxurient hair; red as the leaves of a maple in the 3rd week of october pulled into a lush ponytail. Her eyes were as blue as the morning skies above, and shone with a cheerful glow.
Of course, she was as equally oblivious to Crono. That is untill they collided.
'Ouch! That Hurt!'
A breeze played through the area, causing Leene's bell to sing it's celestial aria.
The girl was the first to rise. 'Are you alright?' She inquired as she helped Crono up.
'Yeah I'm sorry'
Their hands remained linked longer than either one realized. Crono couldn't help but to notice the tender smoothness of her hand. His eyes grew wide, and his tounge was tangled in a sheepshank. The girl felt his pulse racing, just after hers missed a beat.
Their eyes found each other. Crono found himself gazing into hers like a bird flying through the endless skies. There was something about his gaze that she found interesting, yet she was unsure as to what. She peered further and further into them, trying to decipher some mystery as to why she was taken in. Their collision was as life altering as the collision of two stars.
Nervously she felt beneath her neck. Something was wrong. She jerked her hand away and let out a startled gasp
'Oh no! My pendant! I can't have lost it!' She set out in a frantic search about the grounds.
Crono hunted as well. Not too far from where they fell, he spied what she sought. It was a jewell, red as blood, and was cradled in an exquisite frame of silver. It shimmered like the sun. The chain was a magnificent as a procession of stars.
THe girl let out another surprised gasp when Crono approached her.
'Oh, my pendant, May I have it back?'
Crono merely handed it over.
She cracked a smile. It was warm and serene, and as pleasent to veiw as a ray of sunlight. Crono opened one as well. 'Thanks! I couldn't stand to lose it, it has so much sentimental value.' She paused, and gazed down at the ground. Her voice had an energetic, chipper perk, that Crono found charming. 'Say in case you couldn't tell, I'm not from around here, so could I please by chance hang around with you?'
Crono took no hesitation in a reply. 'Sure'
She let free an excited yell. 'Oh thank you, you are such a gentleman!'
Had he refused her company, Crono would doubt his very own existance. What young man wouldn't want the company of an attractive young woman?
'What's your name?' inquired she. 'I'm Crono'
'That's such a nice name! You can call me,' She paused for a moment. 'Marle. I'm Marle. Pleased to meet you Crono'
'The pleasure is all mine. Where are you from?'
Marle hesitated. 'Um, Porre. I thought I'd come by and check out the festival. I mean you get a Millenial Fair only once in a 1000 years.'
'Okay'
'Well Crono, lead the way!'
They shared a laugh.
They walked past the bell to where Crono was supposed to meet Lucca, and they found they could not go further.
'Excuse me, is this where Lucca and Taban are?' inquired Crono
'Yes young man, but they are not yet done setting up.'
Crono obliged, and walked off with no set destination in mind. 'So where to?'
'ANywhere's fine Crono, what was that?'
'I'm not too sure, but that's why I came here.'
'Excuse me young man, care to test your strength?' offered a vendor. 'Come on now, show that pretty girl of yours how strong you are' He held out a hammer, and Crono took it
'Step right up and ring the bell'
He cracked his knuckles and shook out his limbs. Crono eyed his target, cocked back his hamer and swung. THe resonance shook all of his bones. The weight fired up only to fall short.
'Come on now son, you've got to have more salt in you than that! Show your girl what you're made of!' He looked at the merchant, and then at Marle who smiled pleasently
He scoped his target, and took a couple practice swings. He drew in a couple deep breaths. Holding his last one in, Crono closed his eyes and took another swing. A lound ping came to their ears.
THe vendor threw Crono a bag. 'Five silver points, for your strength.'
Marle took Crono's arm, and he couldn't help but to flex. They walked off, again, no set destination. They walked past a fountain where stood An elderly gentleman who caught their attention.
'Excuse me young man, could I interest you in a blade?' He was portly, more of a healthily plump. He had the face of a kind, favourite uncle. His eyes were concealed by a set of smoked lenses. His cheeks had a rosy tint to them, and his voice rang of a warm friendliCness. 'I am Melchior' He smiled pleasently. 'I have a couple of models which you may find to your approval' He revealed two swords. 'This here is hte steel sabre.' It was light and slender. 'And here I have the lode sword.' It was shorter and stouter.'
Crono regaurded both, and hefted them, trying to discern which one he perfered. 'What do you have for training purposes?'
Melchior, produced another blade. 'This is the heavy foil. I'll let you try it out for the day. How's that?'
'That'd be great! Thanks!'
Melchior smiled all hte brighter. 'I have my forge across the bay, so drop in sometime.'
Marle let free a sneeze, causing the pentant to leap off of her neck, like a limb knocked by a gust of wind.
'Allow me' offered Melchior. He was taken in by the stone as he bent over to pick it up. 'If I may take a look at it, I am an expert on precious stones.'
'That's not the first time I've lost it today.' Stated Marle.
Melchior bent to retrieve it, after which, he regaurded it, shifting his smoked glasses up to his forehead. His plum cheeks drained of colour, and he gasped as though he'd seen a ghost. 'Oh my!' He took in a breath. 'Where did you get this?'
'It's been in my family for years.'
'I see. I thought these kind of stones had vanished, I see that I was mistaken. Do take very good care of this young lady, this is indeed one of a kind.' He returned it to her
'I will thank you'
They went off again. 'He's such a nice old man.' Stated Marle.
'Is that why there's been peace for the past 400 some odd years?'
'I suppose it is.'
'But I don't see what the big deal is, so what if we won a war against a wizard all those years ago?'
Marle turned to Crono. 'I'm having a great time.' she said with a giggle.
As they walked, Marle talked incessently about everything that came to mind. 'You're pretty quiet you know Crono?'
'You think?'
'WEll here I am going on and on, and haven't let you get in a word edgewise. You must think I'm the rudest person!'
'Not really.'
'You sure?'
'Yeah, you're fine'
'Well great, It'd bother me if you thought ill of me.'
Another vendor came to their attention. 'I will give 30 silver points to anyone who can drink more soda than me!'
Crono stepped up to the man's table. 'I'll take you on'
'Alright then.'
A 'GO!' was shouted, and the two took to drinking. Crono sent down cans like falling rain. He'd grab, tilt, toss, and grab another. After the 'STOP!' was declared, two piles of cans stood like bones on a battlefield.
'Our winner!' He said pointing at Crono. Crono grinned and took his 30 points.
Marle giggled 'You're awfully competetive aren't you Crono?'
'Guess I am.'
THey continued upon their way. As they walked an old woman drew their attention.
'Excuse me, you look like a brave young man, why not test your courage in the ever-renowned Tent of Horrors?'
'"Tent of Horrors?"' echoed Marle, 'Sounds like fun!'
THe tent it self looked rather ragged and tattered. Just over the threshold, stood a human skull, gazing meanacingly.
'Come on now young man, show that pretty girl of yours how brave you are!'
How many times am I going to hear that? mused Crono 'Sure why not'
'Please use extreme caution. Only the very brave, or very foolish dare challenge the Tent of Horrors'
Crono and Marle entered. They stood upon a stone floor in a musty room, illuminated by two faint torches. It appeared uninhabited. Before them, they could make out a caged door, from which peered a set of eyes, glowing eerily like a jack-o-lantern.
Without warning, the host made himself present. Out of nowhere appeared a face and hands. Both Crono and Marle let free startled gasps. It released a high-pitched, jubuliant laugh, that made them feel ill at ease. It was screatchy like an ill-tuned violin and gave them goosebumps. THe face which seemingly hovered was pale and jovial. It had a sharp aequiline nose, wide bright eyes, and puffy rosy cheeks.
'Good day! My what a lovely young couple you two are!' His voice had the intonation of a child's slide whistle but in a minor key; almost like Vincent Price. 'Welcome to Norstein Bekkler's Mysterious Lab. HTe spine-tingling show is about to begin. As you may have figured out by now, I am Norstein Bekkler. Now then, Obviously you are here because you want to be shocked and challenged. So how much would you care for today?' When he spoke, his entire face was utilized to form the words.
They looked at Professor Bekkler blankly.
