Chapter 2
Return and Consequences
Crono
watched the time streams swirl around her and something about the scene gave
her a strange feeling in the pit of her stomach. It felt like butterflies but
was somehow stronger than she had previously experiences. Maybe it was because
she didn’t have saving Marle to focus on so she could take in the sight but she
just felt off. She didn’t have much time to mull it over because a pinpoint of
light ahead of her grew larger as it came closer and soon she found herself
staring at the northern grounds of the fair where Lucca had set up her telepod.
Crono stepped out onto the stone surface and was greeted with the exotic smells
of the fair. She closed her eyes and took in a deep breath, happy to once more
be home. When she opened them she saw Lucca and Marle standing next to her
smiling in her direction.
Lucca
gave a satisfied sigh. “Well I think everything worked out just fine.” Marle
set a hand on her hip and shifted her weight onto one foot. “Oh really, you
mean going back into the past and changing history isn’t any concern?” Lucca
sputtered in response. “Well, I guess…I mean, we’re all here….” Marle started
laughing. “I’m just teasing you. I know you didn’t mean for any of this to
happen and I really am glad you came to get me.” Crono walked over to Marle and
put a hand on her shoulder. Lucca nodded. “Yah, I’m really sorry about that.
I’m going to have to go home and figure out why that necklace of yours caused
the gate to form in the first place.” Marle jump up suddenly. “Oh, my pendant!
I completely forgot about it.” Crono dug into her pocket and fished out the
necklace, handing it to Marle who cradled it in both hands. “Thank you so
much.” She slipped her head through the open loop, allowing the gem to come to
rest at the top of her cleavage.
Lucca
started leaving speaking loudly enough for the two of them to hear as she
departed. “Well it’s getting late so I’m going to get something to eat before I
go to sleep. I’ll see the two of you later.” Crono looked down at herself and
realized that she hadn’t eaten anything since breakfast at the start of the
day. Marle sidles up next to Crono and grabbed her arm. “Hey, why don’t you
come to the castle and have dinner. It’s the least I could do.” Crono tried not
to let her eagerness show but the chance to spend more time with her blonde
paramour almost made her bounce in excitement. Marle smiled at the physical
reaction to the idea. “And when we’re there we can set you up with a new set of
clothes to fit your…lovely figure.” Crono shot Marle a wry grin but didn’t add
anything more as the two walked hand-in-hand to the castle.
They
took a leisurely walk through the fair as the day was winding down. Many of the
stalls had closed and there were fewer people walking around than there were
earlier but the fair was still bustling with activity. While Marle did want to stick
around a short while longer she had been away from the castle for most of the
day and if she didn’t get back soon they’d probably notice and send someone to
go fine her. She pulled Crono along with her towards her home and after
traipsing through the woods the two of them ascended the stairs to the castle.
Crono
was awed by the ancient fortress, its stone walls having stood for a thousand
years and though not completely original, the remodeling that had happened over
the past millennia hadn’t taken away any of its majesty. Marle smiled at
Crono’s reaction and pushed the front door open. She was greeted with surprised
stares from the guards. “Prince Nadia?” She nodded to one of them. “Hello, I’ve
returned. Would you please tell…” She was cut off by a yell from the top of the
stairs. “Prince Nadia! Where have you been?!” The short, stumpy Chancellor with
her long white hair poking out from beneath the cap of state, came bounding
down the stairs waving her arms frantically. “The King’s been worried sick!”
Marle tried to calm the old woman down. “It’s alright Chancellor, I was just at
the fair with my friend.” Marle gestured to Crono who had just stepped into the
hall. The Chancellor pointed accusingly at the redhead. “You, charlatan, it was
you who spirited away the Prince from us!” Marle stepped between the two of
them to shield Crono. “No, Chancellor, it’s not like that.” The Chancellor
didn’t seem to hear her words. “Guards! Take her into custody.”
Crono
soon found herself flanked by several guardswomen with two of them grabbing
onto her arms. “Now wait just a damn minute!” Marle grabbed one of the guards
to try and pull her off of Crono but the Chancellor pulled the blonde back.
“Hurry, take her away before she can corrupt the Prince anymore.” Crono was
then lifted off the ground and carried unceremoniously deeper into the castle
as she watched Marle try to fight her way through the barricade of guards to
get to the redhead.
More to Come
