Chapter VII: INto the Fire

All three sailed through the void. Colours and darkness swirled and shifted about. Each had braved the psychadelic tornado individualy, but flying through as a group was a new experience. Neither Crono, Marle, nor Lucca knew what to expect.
As with the first time, Crono could not feel his own body. The howl of the North Wind whistled emphaticaly in his ears. The next thing he felt was a hand take his own. The grasp was cold, initialy, but the longer and faster they gripped, the warmer it became. He looked back, and somehow through the bright nothingness, he saw a set of sapphire eyes caged upon him. He tried to say something, but was unsure if any words came from him. He tried to find Lucca, to try to get some sort of answers, but had no idea of where to look.
Suddenly Crono and Marle heard a voice say, 'Up ahead! That's our stop!'
A certain blackness approached. It was small at first, but grew as they sped foreward. Soon it consumed them, Crono could feel Marle release his hand. They saw the emptyness tear a hole within itself, and the next thing they felt was a warm energy wash over. Before they new it, all three stood upon the fair grounds, between the telepods.
Crono fell upon the ground, overwhelmed with a sudden vertigo. Lucca and Marle stood fine as though they'd just woken from a wonderful nap.
'Wow! We're back!' chirped Marle
'You okay Crono?' queried Lucca
Crono huffed and puffed like a billow. Between huffs, he raised a thumbs up.
'Tell me one thing? What just happened?'
'We rode the gate what else?' answered Lucca with a slightly snide, matter-of-a-factly tone. She turned to Marle, who smiled 'Sorry to put you through all that Marle'
'Oh don't bother! Are you kidding me? That was the most fun I've had in monthes! And I've got some new friends! You just don't beat that!'
Lucca was a bit taken back by her answer, but lightened as it sunk in. 'Cool. thanks!'
They shared a laugh. 'So what now?' asked Marle.

'Crono, be a gentleman for once, and escort her home. I've got some work to do'
He arose, a bit irrated at Lucca's order, but such sentiments disloved when he saw Marle smiling gracefully. She offered out her arm. 'I'd be honored Sir!'
They hooked arms causing Crono to smile as well. 'Sure you won't join us Lucca?' asked Marle. 'I'd love it if you both came over to the palace for dinner.'
'Fraid I'll have to take a raincheck.'
'That's alright.'
'I need to go. My father will be dying to hear about what we just went through.' Lucca walked off, waving a farewell
'See you soon Lucca.'
'One of these days, I'm gonna have to tell you about all that she's put me through.'
Marle chuckled. 'Think if you hadn't gone through with it this time. WE'd be in a world of trouble'
'I guess you're right there'
They began walking. The more steps they took, the less they were aware of their surroundings. 'So how long have the two of you been friends?'
Crono thought for a bit. 'I can't not remember being her friend.'
'Well that's good. I wish I could say that about someone.'
'Really. I would think that as royalty, you'd get pretty well whatever you wanted.'
'Oh, you are so wrong. Why do you think I ran away, and faked who I was?'
'Guess so. Hey, I need to stop by my house and tell my mom, I'll be having dinner with you.'
'Oh that's fine. I'd like to meet your mother.'
Crono groaned to himself. 'On second thought'
'Oh come on Crono. I bet your mother's really great.'
He sighed. 'You have no idea.'
They walked again by Leene's bell. As though it was given a cue, it rang although no breeze blew in. Marle regarded it. 'It kinda has a new meaning now, after what we went through.'
Crono looked up at it as well. 'Yeah, you're right.' they shared another smile. Crono's other arm fell to his side, landing upon something hard. 'Hey did you want your pendant back?'
Marle gasped. 'I forgot all about that! I guess that thing started this whole mess.'
'It did. So what can you tell me about it?'
'Nothing really. It's just been in the family forever. But that nice old man who sold you your sword seemed to know a bit about it. Wonder if he's still in. We've got time.'
They went over to where they met Melchior earlier. 'Ah hello you two! Have we been having fun?'
Marle chuckeled. 'An absolute blast!'
'I'm glad.'
'Say I've got a question, what can else can you tell me about my pendant? you know the one you saw earlier?' She nudged Crono. 'Show him'
Crono drew it from his pocket and held it out. MElchior took it with one hand, and adjusted his glasses with the other. He cleared his voice.
'Well, this stone is over a million years old, several million in fact. Ancient kings and queens valued this stone more than gold. It is said to bring good luck and strength to it's owner.' his tone seemed a bit nebulous. Neither weere able to tell.
'Wow. I had no idea! Anything else you can tell me?'
'Yes one other thing.' Marle tuned her ears. 'Hang on to this. You must never lose this. It is more valuable than anything in the entire kingdom.'
'Thanks so much!'
'Young man, how did you find that sword?'
Crono drew it out. Melchior gasped when he saw how notched and used it had become. 'How did you get so much useage out of it in such a short time.'
'You wouldn't believe me if I told you.'
'You'd be surprised. I've seen alot in my day.'
'I imagine you have.'
'Come by my place and try me sometime. Would you like another blade?'
'Sure.'
'I'll give you the steel sabre for the one I lent you, and, oh say, 240 gold. How's that?'
Crono looked in his pockets, and pulled out a sack of gold. 'Okay.' They traded weapons.
'Pleasure. You both will have to come by and see me some time. You two have been my best customers today.'
'Yeah. we will.' said Marle.
They bade each other farewell and Crono and Marle exited the fairgrounds.

Marle couldn't help but to notice how nearly everyone who encountered them assumed they were a couple. She wanted to point that out to him, but was fearful that that would startle him.
'Can I ask you something?' Crono queried
'Go ahead. Crono, you can ask me anything.'
'ALright. How come you left the palace today?'
'There are alot of reasons, do you want me to bore you with all of them?'
'Ehh, just give me the top three.'
'Okay. Life in the palace gets so dull. All they want me to do is learn how to be proper royalty. And I sware those walls are closing in on me. That, and a Millennial fair only comes around once every 1000 years. Wouldn't want to miss it you know?'
Crono nodded, satisfied. 'This is my house. Are you sure you want to do this?' THey came upon Crono's threshold.
'Yeah! Open the door already'
'Yes Majesty'
'Don't start that with me!' Marle admonished.
CRono took in a deep breath and opened the door. He could feel the sweat upon his palms upon the wood of the door. They entered in and went to the kitchen. There his mother sat at the table reading. She took of her glasses when she heard them enter in.
'Oh hello Crono, back already?'
'Hello Ma;am.' addressed Marle.
She arose, a bit surprised. 'Oh. Crono. Who's you're pretty freind? I've only seen you with Lucca now.'
Marle giggled and offered her hand. 'I'm Marle! Pleased to meet you.'
'And so polite. Hello dear.'

'Oh Mom, Im having dinner with Marle today.'
She was a bit startled, well, more of pleasantly surprised. 'Okay! Where do you live Marle?'
'Oh, um, Porre.'
'You look somewhat familiar. Do I know your parents?'
'Maybe. Kinda doubt it though.'
'Well I'll have to meet them sometime.'
'I'm sure they'd like that.'
'Okay, well you two have fun, and get back at a reasonable hour.'
'Okay Mom.' Crono turned to Marle. 'Are you ready?'
'Sure. If you are.'
'Oh Crono, before I forget, how did Lucca's invention turn out?'
Crono and Marle looked at each other and shared a knowing smile.
He sighed. 'It's something we'll never forget!'
'Yes. It was quite an experience' Marle Echoed.
'WEll good. I'm glad it went better than her other little endevors. You two have fun now.'
'Yes ma;am. It was a pleasure meeting you'
'Thank you. COme back any time'
Crono kissed his mom and he exited with Marle.
'Oh now was that so bad?'
Crono expelled a sigh of relief, as though he found out the oven was off. 'You don't want me to answer that'
They took the path out of town leading to the Castle. It was much the same in their day as it was 400 years prior to them.
'This road hasn't changed much since 600.' commented Marle
Crono chuckled, 'Yeah, you're right.'
She shook her haed. 'Just wait till you meet my dad'
'I imagine he's alot like his, or your anscestor.'
'Ummm, Yeah kinda.' There was a hint of uneasiness in her tone which Crono did not catch.
'Am I gonna have to climb another mountain of stairs?'
'Oh come on. You mean to tell me after fighting your way through that cathedral, and huge monster, you can't handle a few steps?'
'Great.'
They came to a thick grove. In the past 400 years it had growm considerably larger and less navigable. It was a deep, humid, mysterious grove. Marle found herself walking a step close to Crono than she did on the path. She could hear his breath. There was something reassuraing about having him so near. Crono found the wood to haunting and captivating at the same time. He wondered about what would happen were they to become lost in it. What would become of them? How would they survive? What would they do? He entertained the notion further, and found it more appealing, although he was unsure as to why.

The air was clean, and invigorating. A meager amount of sunlight did penetrate the canopy. Marle found Crono's arm, and linked hers in his. He was a bit surprised, but found the contact to be very pleasant. Both found the forest to be a nice peaceful setting in contrast to the the crisis they just faced. Although he had no idea, Crono was best off remaining in the woods.
'I need to come out here more often.' commented Marle
'Oh yeah?'
'Yeah. It's nice and peaceful out here'
'It is.'
They exited the grove and stood before the palace. It was just as grand as it was 400 years prior. Crono felt a tinge of nervousness crawl down his spine. Marle looked at him.
'Don't worry, you'll fit right in.'
'That wasn't really what I was worried about.'
'What was then?'
'I don't know'
'Don't get all paranoid on me now, we're just gonna have dinner.'
They crossed the drawbridge, and entered into the castle. Three soldiers stood gaurd.
'Princess Nadia, you have returned!' he said that as though she had returned from Mars.
'Yeah, I'm ' before shou could continue An old man ambled over as swiftly as his feet would allow. He was hunched over, leaning on a cane. He was a thin willowy man with a thick, long beard like a cirrus could. He was dressed distinquishedly. His eyes were glazed over and filled with intensity.
'Are you alright Princess?!' He called from across the hall. His voice grew louder as he approached. 'I heard you were abducted!' he began to pant between words.
'WHAT?! That's ridiculous!'
He was a good five paces from them 'We had the soldiers searching for you, you ought know better than to simply-' He froze suddenly as though a ghost stood before him. His hands trembled, flushing white as they gripped his cane. He raised it as though to strike someone. 'You, you!' He seethed like a quaking volcano. The soliders looked on bewildered. Marle began to grow furious. Crono was unsure of what to say, if anything at all.
He pointed his cane at Crono. 'You kidnapped the Princess, didn't you!?!? You scoundrel!
Crono's jaw dropped.
'Feind! Terrorist! Anrachist!'
Marle grew more irate with each word he spoke. 'NO! You're insane! Crono's--'
She was interupted by the screaming chancellor. 'Gaurds! Seize him!'
They swarmed Crono and Marle seperating the two. They grabbed his arms and shirt. He thrashed about in resistance. 'Admit it! You kidnapped the Princess, confused her to try to take over the throne!'
Of all the incredulous things Crono had heard on this day, that line took it. 'What-'

'Silence!' the gaurds continued their assault. Crono resisted, but was overpowered them.
'Stop it!! STOP THIS RIGHT NOW!!!!!!' Marle shouted with such volume the walls shook
The gaurds dropped Crono and fell to their knees. He arose and dusted himself. He looked over at Marle who looked as furious as wet cat.
'What are you doing?!' repremanded the Chancellor.
'But Princess Nadia said to!'
'FOOLS! SEIZE HIM AT ONCE!!!!!'
They arose and rushed Crono. Sweeping him away like a sugar cube taken by a partol of ants.
'CRONO!' cried Marle as they carried off a hapless Crono. She was boiling. Her face flushed red, and her breathing grew heavy. Flustered she sat upon the steps, shoulders slumping, lungs deflated. 'CRONO!!!!!!!!!'
She arose and took after them.

End Chapter