Chapter 2 Preview

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