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Crono, Snappdragon, and Fay tore through the woods.
Ever since they had entered the heart of Truce Canyon,
they had
been under constant attack. Will had twisted his
ankle a while
back; Lucca had been knocked out, and Taban refused
to leave her.
None of them knew what had become of Brooklyn, who
had disappeared.
Crono felt as if his lungs were
going to explode.
Every muscle in his small body ached, and it was
only Snappdragon's
hand wrapped firmly around his wrist that kept him
from collapsing.
Fay shrieked; Crono, out of instinct,
moved to defend
the tiny girl. Something struck his head, and he
was dazed for
a moment. He could hear what was around him, just
as he could
see, but he couldn't move. Fay cried out in rage
and struck the
imp down, killing it. Crono's senses returned to
him. He saw Snappdragon
lying on the ground, bleeding heavily.
He knelt and gently lifted his
protector's head.
Snappdragon smiled at him. "Time to go home,"
he whispered
weakly, then he was gone.
Fay laid a hand gently on the
stunned boy's shoulder.
"Come on," she said. "It'll
be all right. We have
to find your father."
Nothing the girl was saying registered
in his mind.
Time to go home?
Then it hit him. Anguish flooded
over him, threatening
to drown him.
Snappdragon was dead.
All Crono could do was shake his
head. "No,
no, no".He didn't realize
tears were flowing unchecked
down his face.
"Crono
Little
one. It's okay"
"please, let's go". He didn't respond.
"Crono, it's
supposed to be this way. Your father wouldn't have
allowed it
if it wasn't."
That caught his attention.
He
was supposed to
die?
Fay sighed a little."Yes.
When you meet your
father, I too will die. We were created solely to
protect you.
When this task is done, we pass away. Snappdragon's
part is finished."
But-
"No. Snappdragon's happy
now. He knows you'll
make it now."
But why did not you-
"I have to make sure
you reach your father."
She replied with a comforting smile."Let's
go."
With one last sorrowful glance
at his protector, he
wiped a tear off his cheek with the back of his hand
and ran off
with Fay.
"Hey."
Lucca closed her eyes tighter,
blocking out the voice.
Please, leave me alone. I just want to sleep.
"Sweetie, hey, come on."
Daddy?
"Wake up, baby-doll,
please!"
I'm trying Daddy, I'm
really trying!
"Lucca"
Who're you? Brooklyn?
She glanced around in the darkness.
She saw him,
one of the young men who had protected her so valiantly
when she
and her father had been taken by the outlaws. "Go
back, Lucca.
This place isn't for you."
What? Why can't I wake
up?
"Because you're dying."
I don't want to die!
"No, you don't. But you
don't want to go back,
either. You don't like fighting, but you know you'll
have to if
you go back. You're scared. Go back, now, please."
I can't
"Lucca, please, you can't leave me!"
Lucca forced her eyes open, inhaling sharply. Her
father was bent over her. She could tell he had been crying. "Oh,
God, Lucca, I thought I'd lost you!" he sobbed, gathering
her into a tight embrace.
After a few moments, it became apparent to her that
she had not been breathing for at least a minute and a half, maybe
two. Then she noticed the still form beside them. "Brooklyn?
Is he-?"
Taban could only nod.
Lucca broke down into another fit of heartbroken
sobs. Taban allowed his daughter to cry into his shirt for a few
more moments, then pulled her away gently."C'mon, pumpkin,"
he said quietly. "We have to find Crono." Lucca nodded,
and they started off once more.
Crono and Fay dashed another clearing, not seeing
the awaiting ambush. There were only three imps. Crono and Fay
made quick work of them. They did not, however, see the four archers
hidden by the underbrush..
A blond form leapt out in front of them, shielding
their bodies with his own. Overcome with sudden grief and rage,
Crono darted forward, slashing blindly. A silvery voice brought
him back from his haze of anger a moment later.
"Uh, Crono, I think they're dead now."
Crono looked up, his eyes refocusing. Then his cheeks
flushed in embarrassment as he slid his wooden katana back into
its sheath. Sorry about that. I just-
"It's okay," Will whispered hoarsely. His
breathing was shallow, and his voice sounded as if he had rocks
in his throat."You're almost there now, Crono. Tell Lucca
to take care of herself." Then he was gone.
Crono shook his head, trying to hide his tears. Come
on! He signed angrily.
Within minutes they were in the very center of Truce
canyon.
"I've been waiting for you, Crono."
Crono stared at the cloaked figure. He obviously
didn't plan on revealing who he was.
Hello, Father.
"Crono!" Lucca gasped, bursting into the
clearing. Crono smiled sickly and waved to show them that he wasn't
hurt.
"Little one," Fay whispered. Crono turned
his attention back to her."I must go now. Be careful."
She went to his father. He knelt and hugged her, praising her
for her work.
Then he killed her.
Crono started forward angrily, then he remembered
her words. We were created solely to protect you; when this
task is done, we pass away. Swallowing hard, he clumsily drew
his katana.
"Hmm... So you don't want to talk,"
his father said, viciously sneering the word "talk."
Crono gasped in rage; "Sorry, sorry, bad, ill timed joke."
He stretched out his arms."Well?" he wanted to know.
"Aren't you going to attack me?"
Crono hesitated, then rushed at his father. He easily
caught the blade and threw it back, causing Crono to stumble.
Lucca and Taban started forward protectively.
"Ah, ah," the man scolded. "No intervening."
The two glanced at each other, then stepped back when Crono nodded.
This was his fight, after all.
Crono turned his attention back to his father. He
struck out again, and again, but to no avail. His father parried
each one of the blows.
By now they were both locked into combat, but for
some reason, Crono looked away, a sixth sense telling him that
something was wrong...
"Lucca, look out!"
Lucca dodged the oncoming blow as Taban shot the
imp, killing it, then they both looked at Crono in dazed confusion.
He had been the one who warned her. He had spoken.