*Year:  1000 AD

	



	Crono, asleep in distant dreams, suddenly felt the warm morning 

sunshine shine upon his face.  Now coming into consciousness, he groaned 

and turned away from the morning light.  "Crono," he heard his name called.  

He tried opening his eyes but failed.  "Crono," he heard again.  He then 

through the bed sheet over his head.  "Wake up Crono," he heard his mother 

say to him.  

	In defeat he sat up and tried to open his eyes.  "Yes mother," he 

said as he put his feet down on the ground.  

	"Do you know what day this is?" his mother asked him.  

	"No," said Crono as he finally opened his eyes.  He saw his mother 

putting some laundry in his dresser.  She was a pretty woman for being forty.  

She had long red hair, like Crono's own hair, blue eyes, a slim figure, and 

not a wrinkle on her face.  She turned to Crono and said, "Today's the first 

day of the Millennium Fair!"  

	Immediately he shot out of bed and ran to the dresser and put some 

pants on.  All year he had waited for the fair, the once and a lifetime event.  

It was to start on November 1, 1000 in Leene Square, and this was the day.  

Not only was it to commemorate the first Millennium, but to also celebrate 

the 400-year anniversary of the victory over the Mystics in the infamous 

Mystic War.  It would run all the way through December 31 with a huge parade 

on the final night.  "I'll be downstairs with breakfast," said Crono's mom 

and she left his room.  

	"Okay mom!"  Crono acknowledged her.  He grabbed the first shirt he 

could find, grabbed his boots, his brown leather jacket, and his wooden sword 

and ran downstairs.

	"Crono!  Good grief!  Don't break your neck!" she yelled as Crono 

clumsily ran down the stairs.  

	"Now eat some breakfast," said Crono's mom as she laid a plate of 

bacon and eggs on the table.  Crono hopped in the chair, took a huge mouthful

of eggs and began to put on his boots.  Crono's mom simply rolled her eyes. 

	"Any messages for me?"  he asked with a mouthful.  

	"Oh yes!  I forgot!"  exclaimed Crono's mom.  "Uhh, what's your 

friend's name?  Taban's daughter?"  

	"Lucca!" Crono reminded her.  

	"Thank you," she said, "Lucca came by to see if you were up, but you 

were still asleep.  She told you to look at the north end of the fair for her

tent.  She and her father have a new invention. There is also a note for you 

that was just delivered."  

	"Who is it from?" asked Crono as he washed down his breakfast with a 

huge swallow of orange juice.

	"It is from the military's office," she answered as she read the 

return address.  Crono groaned at the sound of it.  He hated the military.  

He was being forced to join the Royal Swordsmen of Guardia.  "It's a family 

tradition!" he constantly heard from his mom and relatives about how it was 

a family tradition that the men of the William's family must join the 

military.  The William's family did have a long tradition of great military 

officers in Guardia's army. He was given the choice to join any branch of the

military that he preferred.  He decided to sign up with the Royal Swordsmen 

because he knew his father was in command of the Royal Swordsmen at one time.

"Well, what does it say?" Crono asked.

	She opened it and read aloud, "'Dear Crono, it is with great pleasure

 to inform you that your twelve weeks of basic training are over.  After the 

Millennial Fair is over, on January 2 you are to report to the register's 

office and sign up for the more advanced training of the Royal Swordsmen.  

Congratulations for your hard work so far and I look forward to seeing you 

next year.  Sincerely, Captain Gerald Franks.'  Well congratulations Crono 

on a job well done!  You made it!"  

	"Sure.  Joy," said Crono with an ill tone.	

	"Oh come on Crono.  It won't be that bad," Crono's mom assured him.

  	"Mom, they will make me cut my hair short!  Less sleep, less food.  I 

don't like it!"  he said.

	"Oh, you won't miss that long hair of yours!" she said playing with 

his long red hair.  

	"I will!  You wait and see!"  he said as he knocked his mom's hands 

away.

	"Now don't you worry about this.  It will be a while before you play 

with swords again.  Now here is your allowance," she said as she laid the 

twenty gold coins on the table.  "Now remember that I want you home by 

12:00 a.m. tonight.  Okay?"  She looked into Crono's blue eyes demanding the 

right answer.  

	"Okay mom,"  he said in annoyance.  

	He quickly put wrapped a band in his hair making a pony tail, scooped

 up the money, and grabbed his wooden sword as he ran out the door, leaving 

the dishes for his mother.  He quickly turned right along side of the house 

and toward the fair.	

			*			*		 	 *	

	The festivities had already begun, and nearly half the kingdom was 

already there enjoying the fair.  There you could find games, races, shows, 

displays, actors, and performers, tons of food, anything that could bring out

a crowd.  As soon as Crono ran into Leene Square, he about lost his breath.  

He knew it would be a sight but still was blown away.  "Wow!" was all he 

could get out.  

	Balloons by the thousands in every color hanged on every tent and 

fence making dozens of rainbows.  In front of him a bunch of racers flew by, 

running around the outside of the fairgrounds.  Off to the side he saw a 

couple of people juggling swords.  He could see painters painting portraits, 

venders selling food and neat clothing.  He could see that the old bell tower 

in the center of the square had been decorated.  Of course it wouldn't chime 

at the hour, since the mechanism broke a few years age.  He remembered what 

his mom once told him, that anyone who heard the bell ring at the gust of the

 wind would have interesting lives.  It was an old saying, and to his 

knowledge the bell had only rung once or twice since it broke.  

	Crono was able to point out each kind of ethnic group from each 

kingdom that he had learned of in training, except the Mystics of course.  

For one thing the Mystics aren't even human, and tried to take over every 

human in the world in the Mystic War which lasted nearly twenty years.  

Humans may hate the Mystics, but the Mystics hated the humans more.  

They would never show up here.  "Well, let's check this out!" he said as he 

entered the fairgrounds.  

	There were shows left and right.  No matter where Crono would go, 

there was always something that would interest him.  Finally, something 

really caught his attention.  It was a display of real metal swords.  

Crono ran up to the display and stared at the mighty pieces of steel.  

"Beautiful aren't they?" Crono heard a voice say to him.  

	He turned around and saw a strangely dressed old man.  He wore a 

funny hat, a blue overcoat that went over a red collar shirt, and blue pants. 

 He had a white mustache, wore a pair of small speckles, and was fairly 

round.  "I would love to have a real sword!"  said Crono enthusiastically.  

	"You like weapons now don't you," said the old man.  

	"A little," Crono answered, "I just mainly want to get rid off this 

dumb wooden sword."  

	Crono held up the wooden sword and the old man chuckled.  "I suppose 

so!  My name is Melchoir, and I made these swords that you seem to admire." 	

	Crono shook hands with him and said, "I'm Crono.  Nice to meet you."  	

	Melchoir took one of the swords off of the display wall and handed it 

to Crono.  He examined the magnificent sword.  What struck him was is wasn't 

like the kind of swords he had been trained with.  The sword was longer, had 

a longer handle, and was sharp just on one side.  It was a little heavier 

than his wooden sword but surprisingly not as heavy as he had anticipated.  

The blade itself was a shiny as a mirror.  He ran his finger along the sharp 

edge.  It was sharper than a razor.  He then held the sword out in an attack 

manner, and began to slowly swing the sword in order to get a feel of it.  

"Now this is a sword!" said Crono enthusiastically.  

	"It's my own special design," said Melchoir.

	"How much is it?" asked Crono as he reached for his change purse.

	"300 gold coins," he answered.

	Crono felt like his heart was about to break.  "But sir," he said 

with a whining voice, "all I have is twenty gold coins."

	Melchoir thought for a minute.  "Well, I suppose we could work out 

something·  I'll tell you what.  I'll hold on to this sword for you.  If you 

give me that wooden sword, I'll sell it to you for half price."

	"But that still leaves me 130 coins short," said Crono.

	"Now there are a ton of games here to win money.  I suggest if you 

want to get this sword you better hurry up."

	Crono wasted no time and ran off.  He looked back and forth at 

various games.  There were some games that would earn about a coin's worth, 

but that would get him nowhere.  Then, he looked to the left and saw it.  It 

was Gato, one of Crono's robots.  Even though it couldn't think but only do 

what it was programmed, Gato could walk, run, and use its arms.  He 

remembered seeing Gato being constructed at Lucca's house, but now it was 

complete.  Lucca told him that she would put it out at the fair to do some 

games.   Crono saw that a crowd of bystanders surrounded Gato.  He squeezed 

through to see whatever they found to be worth seeing.  As he got to the 

front, he could hear the crowd "oh" and "ouch" in unison.  Finally, he 

reached the front and saw what it was.  Lucca had made a fighting robot.  

This seven-foot machine was wearing boxing gloves fighting a man with gloves 

on as they dueled it out.  Gato was winning.  

	Crono laughed as this overweight boxing want-a-be was getting the 

beating of his life.  Gato finished him with an uppercut and the contender 

fell to the ground.  The crowd cheered with delight.  Then, a man in a suit 

stepped in front of the crowd and yelled, "That's right!  The machine still 

dominates over man!  But don't despair!  You can prove this theory wrong by 

signing up for the next fight in half an hour!  You can use any approved 

weapons too!  For 200 gold coins!  Who will it be?"  

	Crono jumped forward and said, "I'll fight!"

	He was surprised as the mob began to laugh hysterically.  "Listen!" 

he shouted over the laughter, "I can fight, and I will defeat Gato!"

	This only increased the laughter.  "Very well!!" shouted the man in 

the suit, "This young man will fight the mighty Gato in half an hour!"  He 

then walked up to Crono and whispered to him, "Good luck, and don't get 

killed."

	Crono walked away and thought to himself, "I hope I didn't do 

something stupid."  He then looked at the bell tower in the center of the 

square to see the time.  He looked but there was a tent in the way.  He 

walked backwards to get a good view when he bumped into someone.  They both 

lost their balance and fell to the ground.  "Oh sorry!"  he yelled out hoping 

whoever he ran into would hear.  "Where's my pendant?  Hey, what happened to 

my pendant?!" he heard a young woman yell.

	"Oh crap," he thought to himself.  Then, to his right he saw the 

pendant.  He rose to his feet and looked at it.  It was beautiful, a shining 

red medallion on a gold chain.  "Hey!  I found the pendant!" he yelled in the

 crowd hoping she would hear.  

	He looked around to see whoever it was.  No one turned to look at 

him.  "Excuse me," he heard a voice from behind him.  He turned around and saw 

her.  He was taken by surprise.  It was a young woman in her early twenties 

like himself.  She was beautiful, having a light tan, was very trim, and her 

blond hair was back in a ponytail.  She wore a white collar T-shirt, a pair 

of white pants, brown boots, and a backpack on her shoulder.  He looked into 

her blue eyes.  They gazed back at him.  "Uhh, he-here's your pendant," said 

Crono with a nervous voice as he held out the pendent.

	"Thank you kind sir," she said as she took it and put it back around 

her neck.  "This has a lot of sentimental value."  

	Just then there was a gust of wind and the Leene Bell rang. The bell 

chimed three times, and then it stopped.  Crono paused at this moment, for he 

had never heard the bell ring before.  "I wonder if the legend of the bell is

true?" Crono thought to himself.  

	"Excuse me, but what's your name?" the woman asked him.

	"Uhh, Crono!" he blurted out.  She jumped back in surprise.  "Stupid!

Calm down you moron!" he thought to himself.  "Okay, what's yours?"

	"My name?" the woman asked.  

	"Yes," he answered.

	She turned and thought for a moment.  "My name is·Marle!" she 

exclaimed.  

	"Nice to meet you Marle," said Crono.

	She smiled and said, "I haven't been out much, and I am totally lost 

here in Leene Square.  I don't have anyone to be here with too."

	"Well, I'm the same way," he replied.

	"Well why don't we go through around the fair together?!" Crono 

exclaimed.

	"Sure!" said Crono, "But I'll have to be back here in half an hour."

	"That's fine," said Marle.  They then walked together in the fair.

*					*				*

	For the next twenty minutes Crono gave Marle a tour of Leene Square, 

from the bell tower to every attraction he knew would be there, except for 

Taban's little attraction.  Now with the time growing short Crono and Marle 

made their way toward Gato's attraction.  When they got there a crowd twice 

the size of the last one had gathered there to see Crono fight.  "What 

exactly are you going to do Crono?" Marle asked him.  

	"I'm going to fight Gato," Crono answered as he began toward the 

crowd.  "Wait!" said Marle as she grabbed his shoulder, "isn't Gato that 

robot that Taban made?"

	"Yes."

	"Crono, he sold Gato to a well known hustler.  He is rumored to have 

pumped up some juice in that robot's strength, so it will hit a lot harder."

	Crono raised an eyebrow and asked, "How do you know this?"  

	"I know, because my father is·he has a high authority in the fair 

and was about to kick him out."

	"So what should I do?  I need the money."

	Marle tossed her backpack on the ground and opened it.  Crono looked 

in and gasped at what he saw.  Marle pulled out a metal crossbow and a case 

of arrows.  She quickly armed it in a few swift motions.  "I am going to help

you out.  Trust me."

	All Crono could do is smile at the sight.  Not only was she very 

beautiful but could fight as well.  He ended up following her as they pushed 

through the crowd as they made their way to the vendor.  Finally, they made 

it to the vendor.  "Well young man, are you ready to show us your stuff?!" 

said the vendor.

	Marle then took the crossbow, and aimed it at the vendor's throat.  

He froze in terror and the crowd turned to an eerie silence.  The vendor 

looked around in panic, taken by surprise.  Marle then whispered into the 

vendor's ear,  "I know your game you swindler.  You added some extra juice to

that robot you bought from Taban didn't you."

	The vendor spoke aloud, "Now miss, I am running a perfectly honest 

business here and-" he hushed as Marle shoved the crossbow up to his neck.

	"Don't try to hustle me," she warned him, "or I may lose my temper 

and accidentally pull the trigger."

	Crono stood in awe at the spectacle.  He couldn't believe his eyes.  

Marle had so much confidence in her voice he wasn't sure if she was bluffing 

or not.  Faith whispered in his ear again, "Now I am going to give you a fair

proposition, you are going to let both Crono and myself fight Gato with our 

own weapons.  If he is destroyed, we win whatever you originally proposed.  

If we lose, which I doubt, you still have to leave the fair.  If you refuse, 

then I will tell everyone of your past hustling."

	"You wouldn't dare," the vendor hissed.

	"Count on it," Marle whispered.  

	The vendor thought and finally said, "Okay, you win."

	Marle took away the crossbow, and stepped away.  "That was a 

beautiful performance!" exclaimed Crono.

	"What surprises me is that it actually worked," she whispered in 

Crono's ear.  His eyes lit up.  He was almost certain that Marle would pull 

the trigger, but it was all an act,  and couldn't help but to laugh.  "Ladies

and gentlemen!" the vendor exclaimed, "For Gato's final battle today, he 

shall take on these two young warriors in one big match.  Are you ready?!" he

asked Crono and Marle.  They nodded.  "Then begin!"

	Gato immediately stepped into the middle of the circle formed by the 

multitudes gathered there.  Crono and Marle stepped into the middle and took 

out their weapons, the wooden sword and crossbow.  Gato then made an 

unexpected punch at the both of them.  It hit them both and they fell to the 

ground.  The crowd cheered.  Crono then took his wooden sword and swung it 

behind Gato's knees, and it hit the ground with a clang.  Crono then got to 

his feet and began to beat Gato's head, swing back and forth with his sword.  

The crowd hooted and hollered at Crono.  Gato then grabbed Crono with both 

arms and tossed him into the crowd.  He landed on a bunch of people that fell 

beneath him, stunned and knocked out of breath.  

	Marle then got up and fired her crossbow.  The arrow hit Gato's 

chest, and a display of sparks came from it.  But this didn't stop Gato.  

Gato charged at Marle and swung its left "fist."  She ducked under it and 

slammed the shoulder rest of her crossbow across his head.  The  crowd 

cheered at the move.  Gato quickly came back with a punch to Marle's stomach.

  The blow knocked her breath out and she fell to her knees stunned.  Gato 

was about to hit again when Crono came from behind and swung his sword behind

 Gato's knees again.  The robot fell to the ground again and Crono began to 

beat at his head again.  Marle then rose to her feet and took her crossbow 

and reloaded it with an arrow from her case.  Crono saw this and he dropped 

his sword, grabbed the sides of Gato's head and held him down.  Marle aimed 

the crossbow and shot an arrow into Gato's head.  It traveled all the way 

through the metallic skull and into the ground, and Gato shut down.  The 

crowd cheered at the victors.  They then walked up to the vendor.  He looked 

angry and couldn't bear to look at them.  

	"200 gold coins," Crono commanded.  

	"Take it," said the vendor pointing to a sack of money.  Crono 

counted the coins and put them in his coin sack.

	"So what do you need the money for?" Marle asked.  

	"You'll see," he answered.

	*				*				*

	"A stupid sword?!" exclaimed Marle as Melchoir handed Crono the 

sword.

	"This isn't a stupid sword!" said Crono, "This sword is what I need.  

Besides, I hate this wooden sword I had to use in training.  Do you have some 

kind of case to carry my sword in?"

	"Of course," said Melchoir handing Crono a small wooden case.

	Crono opened it and put the sword in it.  He held the case under his 

arm and turned to Marle.  "So, what do you want to do now.  We have 70 gold 

coins to spend."

	"Excuse me miss," said Melchoir.

	"Yes?"

	Melchoir starred at Marle's pendant.  "That pendant is gorgeous."

	"Thank you," said Marle.

	Melchoir began to speak when he starred deeper at the pendant.  "Is 

it the one?!  Impossible!  Never mind.  Go on."

	Marle looked at Crono.  He shrugged his shoulders.  "Don't worry 

about it.  Now what can we do?"

	"Let's go see some kind of show," said Marle.  "I would really like 

to see one."

	"I heard of a good show at the East End of the fair.  Let's check it 

out," said Crono as he led the way.

	*				*				*

	"'Norstein Bekkler's Laboratory'" Crono read aloud at the sign above 

big purple tent.

	"Let's check it out," said Marle as she led the way in.

	It was dark and damp inside, and there were just three chairs in 

front of a wooden stage.  Crono and Marle sat down.  Then, the curtains 

opened.  Crono and Marle looked in wonder at the sight.  Out from the 

curtain came a hovering face of a clown and two white gloves, but no body.  

"So, do you want to play?" the clown face asked them.

	"Sure," they said.

	"Place 40 gold coins on the stage please."

	Crono got from his seat and counted 40 coins and dropped them on the 

stage.  One of the gloves swooped down and swept up the coins.  "You, who 

gave the money, stand up," said the clown face.

	Crono stood up from his seat.  "A robot clone of you will come out.  

Do whatever it does exactly.  If you do you will win the clone and it will be

delivered to your house.  Are you ready?"	

Crono looked back at Marle.  She smiled and said, "Go for it!"

	"Ready," said Crono.

	The clown face and gloves disappeared behind the curtain.  Then, from

 out of the curtain came the clone.  Crono and Marle gasped.  It was 

completely identical to Crono, even what he was wearing.  The clone then 

lifted its right hand.  It stood still waiting for Crono to move.

	"Go on Crono!  You paid forty gold coins!" said Marle.

	Crono then lifted his right hand.  Then the clone lifted its left 

hand.  So did Crono.  The clone then pretended to laugh.  Crono then faked 

his own laugh.  This went on for about three minutes.  Finally, the clone 

stopped and the clown's voice said, "You win.  The clone will be delivered 

soon.  Now leave!"  

	Crono and Marle left the tent.  He looked at Faith and said, "So what

 did you think?"  

	"It seemed pointless to me," said Marle.

	"I agree."

	"Come on, let's get some candy!" said Marle.  

	She then took off running up to the north end of the fair forcing 

Crono to run to keep up.  "Oh brother," said Crono in annoyance.

	*				*				*

	"Umm!  I've never had cotton candy before!" exclaimed Marle as she 

happy chewed some pink cotton candy.  

	Crono raised an eyebrow.  "You have never eaten any cotton candy?" he

asked.

	"Never.  I don't get out much at all."

	"Then how did you ever learn to shoot a crossbow?" Crono asked.  

	"In my spare time I practice shooting in Guardia Forest.  It helped 

relieve me from all the pressures placed on me," said Marle with a serious 

tone.

	"Pressure from what?" he asked.

	"My father."

	"Let's sit down on that bench over there," said Crono, pointing to an

empty bench.

	They both sat down and Marle continued.  "My home is far from normal!

I have to do something a certain way or it's wrong, even if my way is better.  

I can't ever do what I want, all of my choices are chosen for me, and I don't 

have hardly any friends."

	"Not any friends?" Crono asked in surprise.

	"Well, my maid Jennifer and I are close friends.  That's it."

	"You have a maid!  Lucky!" exclaimed Crono.

	"It's not that great being...wealthy.  I hate it!  If I don't do what 

tradition says, then I'm just made of pure evil. At least that's the kind of 

message that I'm getting."

	"I know how annoying tradition is just as much as you do," Crono 

acknowledged.

	"So you have your own problems back home.  Tell me," asked Marle, 

relieved that the subject had switched back to him.

	"Oh forget it," said Crono trying to avoid the subject as well, "I 

complain too much."

	Marle could hear in his voice that he really wanted to talk.  "Go 

ahead and tell me.  You listened to me, now I'll do the same."

	Crono took a deep breath and started.  "My entire future has been 

laid out in front of me and I hardly had a word it the whole situation."

	Marle nodded and said, "I know how that feels."

	"I have to join the army, no matter what I say.  I at least was given 

the opportunity to enlist in any division of the Guardia military.  I choose 

the Royal Swordsmen, because my dad was a lieutenant with them, so I have 

some reputation to help me out.  My mom is pretty understanding of my 

objection, but every other solider that happens to have some relation to me 

are just shoving this down my throat."

	"What does your father think?" Marle asked.

	"I wouldn't know.  A prowler killed him before I was ever born.  My 

mom has cared for me, and the army continues to give her money and a home 

since my dad was in the military."

	Marle nodded and said, "My mom died when I was four.  So we both 

live with single parents and are forced to go through things we think are 

silly.  We have a lot in common Crono." 

	Crono grinned and nodded, "You're right.  Marle, I think we are 

going to be good friends!" 

	"You said it!" said Marle enthusiastically.  

	Then, Crono heard something behind him.  It was a cat meowing.  "Hey 

little guy!" said Crono as he picked up the yellow coated cat from behind the 

bench.  

	"What's your name?" he asked sweetly.

	"Hey Crono, look over there!" said Marle.  

	It was a little girl standing alone in the street, calling through 

her tears, "Who's seen my cat!  Please anyone!"

	Their hearts melted as they saw the little girl helplessly call in 

the crowd.  Crono stood up with the cat and walked up to the little girl.  

He bent down to the girl and asked sweetly, "Is this your cat?"

	"Oh thank you mister!  Thank you!" said the girl.

	She immediately took the cat from him and held it close saying, "I 

missed you so much!"

	Crono looked back at Marle with a grin of satisfaction.  She shook 

her head and said, "Crono, you are so sweet."

	"Well, I try," said Crono as he took Marle's hand and pulled her up.

	"My father needs to take lessons from you!" she said humorously.

	Crono was about to talk when they heard a voice coming from behind 

the grove of bushes.  "It's Taban!" Crono exclaimed.

	They walked around the bushes to see Lucca and Taban presenting their 

latest invention.  They saw a small crowd gathered in front of Tabanâs and 

Lucca's invention.  There were two huge pods that could fit a person in each.  

A bunch of wires and cords came from the pods in all directions to two control 

stations that were between the pods.  Crono saw Lucca working on one of the 

control stations while Taban was preparing the pods.  "Hey Lucca!" Crono 

called to her.

	She looked up and saw Crono and Marle.  "Oh hi!  What's up Crono!  

Hang on for a minute, okay?"

	"Sure!" said Crono.

	Lucca then walked up to Taban and said, "All right dad.  I have set 

the matter transfer modulator to .15 kilowatts per second.  The matter 

analyzers have been checked and the main energy bank is powered up."

	Marle raised an eyebrow and asked Crono, "Does she always talk like 

that?"

	"No," he answered, "Just when she is working.  Don't worry, she's 

kind of normal."

	"Kind of normal?" said Marle.

	"Thank you dad!" Lucca waved back to Taban as she walked over to 

Marle and Crono.

	She wore her usual work outfit, her brown overalls, a yellow long 

sleeve shirt, her brown boots, and a leather helmet that covered her brown 

hair.  She took off her glasses and whipped her forehead with her sleeve.  

"Hi guys!" said Lucca with a friendly smile, "Dad is going to do the final 

checks for me.  Boy I can't wait to try this out!"

	"Well, what is this thing-a-ma-jig?" Crono asked.

	Lucca frowned and said,  "Crono, I can't understand how you can't 

see what this is.  I just can't."

	She then looked at Marle.  "What's your name?"

	"Marle," she answered.

	"Okay Marle, answer me, what does this device look like?  Tell Crono,

" Lucca challenged her.

	Marle looked hard at the array of machines.  "Uh, it looks like it 

looks like a like a thing a-ma-jig."

	"Pathetic," said Lucca with a frown of disappointment.  

	"Oh come on Lucca!" said Crono who now annoyed with her criticism, 

"You know that only your father can ever come up with a good answer!  Shesh!"

	Lucca laughed and said, "I know!  I'm just playing with you!"

	"Looks more like annoying him," Marle commented.

	Lucca looked back with a frown and Crono laughed.  "Boy," said Lucca 

looking at Marle, "you sure have a witty tongue!  Have I meet you before?"

	"No.  I don't think so," Marle answered immediately.

	"Hmm.  Okay."  Lucca then whispered quietly into Crono's ear, "Hey 

Crono.  Nice catch you have there.  Way to go."

	"Shut up!" said Crono as he pushed Luccaâs shoulder.  

	Lucca laughed again.

	"What did she say?" Marle asked.

	"Nothing," said Crono, "As you said, she was being annoying."

	"Lucca!  We're ready to start!" shouted Taban.

	"Come on guys!" said Lucca as she waved them up, "Come and get in 

front!  This is going to be an awesome show!"

	Marle started to follow when Crono grabbed her shoulder.  "What?!" 

she asked in surprise.

	"I would stay back if I were you.  A lot of her inventions blow up!  

Taban is worse!"

	"Oh come on and don't disappoint your friend," said Marle taking 

Crono's hand and dragging him up in front of the crowd.

	"Ladies and gentlemen!" announced Taban, "Behold the latest invention 

of my wonderful daughter!  The Matter/Energy Transport Machine!"

	A couple of people clapped, including Marle and Crono.  The rest just

stood and starred at Taban.  "Hmm, tough crowd," said Taban.

	Lucca whispered to Taban, "Then let's skip the simple stuff and go 

right into the big guns, living matter."

	"Will it work?" Taban asked Lucca.

	Lucca nodded, but Taban didn't see her cross her fingers behind her 

back.  Crono did.  "Okay, I'm leaving," he said as he started to leave.  	

	"Oh come on Crono," said Marle as she attempted to hold Crono back.

	"There!  There is our volunteer!" shouted Taban, pointing directly at 

Crono.

	Crono began to step backwards.  "Oh no," he said, "No way am I going 

to be one of Lucca's guinea pigs.  Not today."

	Marle then grabbed the collar of his shirt and yanked him forward 

toward Taban.  Taban caught him and pulled him up.  Crono looked back at 

Marle.  She gave back the most innocent grin.  He rolled his eyes as he 

turned to Taban.  "So what do I do?" he asked.

	"Just step inside this pod," Taban said pointing at the pod on his 

left.

	Crono slowly stepped inside the pod.  He then looked at Lucca and 

glared at her.  Lucca winked back.  "Ready?" Lucca asked Taban.

	"Ready!" he answered.

	"You better not blow me up like you did that rat when-"  

	Crono stopped when he heard the sudden sound of machinery start 

running.  Marle watched with anticipation as she saw flashing lights start 

blinking around the pod.  Crono shut his eyes.  Lucca then finished the 

countdown, "3...2...1...begin energy transfer now!"  

	A beam of light suddenly lit inside both of the pods.  Marle then 

saw Crono's silhouette begin to slowly fade.  On the other pod to her 

surprise she saw a vague silhouette slowly appear simultaneously.  Finally, 

she could no longer be seen in the pod he was in, but in the other pod Crono 

could easily be distinguished.  The crowd starred in wonder.  Finally, the 

beam in the pods ceased, and Crono was there in the other pod, still closing 

his eyes.  "Am I dead yet?" he asked in a small voice.

	The crowd laughed with delight and cheered.  Lucca had the look of 

satisfaction on her face.  Crono opened his eyes, and looked around in 

confusion.  "Hey!  How did I end up here?  Wow!"

	He jumped out of the pod and ran to Marle.  "Was it fun?" she asked.

	"I guess.  You might like to try it," said Crono.

	Marle got a big grin on her face and said, "I will.  Excuse me Taban, 

can I go too?"

	"Sure!  Hop inside the pod!" Taban answered.

	Marle got inside the pod and looked back at Crono.  "I'm going with 

my eyes open!" she said back to him.

	The crowd laughed at the remark.  Crono couldn't help not to blush a 

little.  "Okay!" shouted Lucca, "Here we go.  Boot up the system.  Good.  

I'll start the countdown.  5...4...3...2...1...begin energy transfer now!"

	The beams of light came down on the pods.  Marle could be seen though

the light beams, smiling at the anticipation.  Then, Crono noticed Marle's 

pendant.  It seemed to be glowing.  Others in the crowd began to notice it 

too.  The pendant glowed brighter and stronger.  "Lucca!  What's going on?!" 

Crono shouted to her, but she couldn't hear Crono over the sound of the 

machinery.

	Then without warning, bolts of electricity shot from the two pods 

and traveled behind the monitoring consoles and hit each other.  Then, a 

round portal of swirling blue and white energy formed where the lightning 

struck.  The pendent then dropped on the floor of the pod.  Marle suddenly 

disappeared and reappeared at the front of the portal.  Her face was full of 

panic, when she was drawn inside the portal, and then it closed, leaving 

nothing behind, except for the pendant on the floor of the pod.  "Okay 

everyone!" Lucca shouted to the crowd, "I forgot to tell you, this is a 

different demonstration.  She will reappear in an hour or so in perfect 

condition.  Come back at that time.  Now go everyone.  Go!"  

	The crowd murmured and talked among each other as they slowly left.  

Crono stayed behind and ran up to Lucca.  "Now tell me you wasn't lying!  

Tell me!"

	Lucca exhaled slowly and said, "I was lying."

	"Lucca!" Crono shouted in anger, "Now what the hell happened?!"

	Lucca thought and said, "It appeared the energy transfer somehow 

affected her pendant.  Obviously that was some kind of portal that Marle was 

drawn into."

	"A portal to where?" Crono asked.

	"I don't know.  I would think that wherever she went to, the portal 

has closed on that side too, so she can't reenter the portal.  I believe that

correcting that problem would be the correct course of action. Unfortunately,

it might take weeks for me to precisely know how, and then construct a device 

to reopen that portal."

	"Weeks?!" exclaimed Crono, "That's insane!  She made not have weeks!"

	"So what do you suggest we do?!" said Lucca in frustration.

	Crono turned and thought for a minute.  "There is only one thing to 

do." 

	Crono set his sword case on the ground.  He opened it and pulled out 

his sword.  He took the sheath with the sword in it and strapped it around 

his belt.  He then walked over to the pod Marle had disappeared in and 

picked up the pendant.  "I'm going in after her."

	"Are you crazy?!" Lucca yelled, "We have no idea where that portal 

lead to!"

	Crono put the pendant around his neck and stepped into the pod.  

"Lucca, if it is going to take weeks to rescue her, I need to be there in 

case there is any trouble.  Just do whatever you did before when she 

disappeared with this machine of yours, and if I find·no, when I find Marle, 

we will wait for you to pick us up."

	"I'm totally against this!" said Lucca in anger.  "Dad, what do you 

think?"

	Taban nodded and said, "I agree with my daughter, Crono.  There is 

no since in getting two people in trouble.  Just be patient.  Till then Crono,

 you need to find her parents and tell them to come see me.  My daughter and 

I will work as fast as we possibly can."

	Crono stepped down from the pod in defeat.  He hadn't walked two 

steps when without warning he felt some inspiration.  He ran over to the 

controls.  In plain sight he saw the switch that said "START."  He flipped 

the switch and ran back into the pod.  Lucca and Taban were talking when they 

heard the machine start up again.  "Crono!  You idiot!  You have no idea what 

youâre doing!"  Lucca shouted.

	"Honey, can we disengage the teleport process?" Taban asked.

	"No!  It has to run full course, or we will lose Brad's signal!  Come 

on!  We have to monitor that equipment!"

	Lucca and Taban ran up to the control panels and checked everything.  

All was clear.  "Crono!" Lucca called to him over the roar of the machine, 

"Be careful!  I'll try to figure out what went wrong and come for you!  

Don't worry!"

	They saw Crono salute them.  Lucca counted the last number.  As usual 

the beam of light fired down on top of Crono.  The pendant immediately lit up, 

unlike the first time when it slowly glowed brighter.  Then, the bolts of 

lightning shot from the pods and hit between them.  Then, the portal 

reappeared as it had before.  Crono quickly grabbed onto the pendant when he 

disappeared from the pod and reappeared in the portal.  His face was full of 

shock as the portal closed in front of him.

	"Well," said Lucca with a sigh, "He took the pendant with him.  Now 

that just killed any ideas I had in mind."

	"What's that?  It looks like the portal, sort of," said Taban 

pointing where the portal once stood.

	Lucca looked back and saw what he was pointing at.  It was a 

sparkling blue ball, the size of a doorknob hovering at the sight of the 

portal.  "Now this is strange?" said Taban, "What could it be?"

	Lucca smiled and said, "It's hope.  Seeing this I think that Crono 

and Marle might have a chance of getting back.  I think."