Chapter 1 - A Nice Day to Begin a Disaster by Gaspar

            Crono was slashing through wooden dummies with a steel blade.  He was practicing for his annual sword show at the fairgrounds.  Of course, Marle would be there, cheering him up.  When he turns 21, they’ll be from fiancées to newlyweds.  And his birthday was coincidently on the day of the fair, so he was giving his best to make a fancy display of footwork and was preparing a speech.  Of course, he knew she would say yes, so it really didn’t matter how he said it.

            “Crono, don’t get so damned nervous!” cried Marshall, his choreographer.  While Crono was a master swordsman from fighting Lavos, he still didn’t look all that professional while hitting wood with a steel blade.  At least that’s what you would say until he hit you with it.

            “Marshall, you’re not helping,” said Crono.  He was trying as hard as he could to keep focus on the many targets and his style while not thinking of a marriage proposal speech.  He kept on what looked like tapping wood structures to make them slash in half.  He knew that out of all the contestants at the show, he would be the most powerful and graceful, except for Marshall.  Marshall was participating this year, and he had studied the sword since age 6, until now, age 37.  He was the only one who really stood a chance against Crono, so they made a nice team.  This year, they were going to go against each other.

            “You know tomorrow is the fair, right?” exclaimed Marshall.  Crono nodded.  Marshall sighed, and looked at Crono.  He looked up at the seagulls preparing to get some free food for the next day, and at the ships, already teeming with people coming for the fair.  The fair had become an international ever since Crono’s return from battle.  He then looked at the sky.  He just stared at the blue sky and forgot his worries for a brief second or two, until he was interrupted.

            “Marshall, the grounds are about to close. I think we should leave, I’ll see you tomorrow.” Said Crono.  They left home, getting even more anxious for they show to come.

            Crono woke up the next day, and to his surprise, was Marle next to him.

            “Crono, get ready, today is the fair.” Scolded Marle.  Of course, Crono was half dead, but he made an effort to raise himself from the bed to fall down on the floor again.  Marle laughed, and got his Rainbow Sword, towel, and clothes from the closet.  They now owned the house, and Crono’s mother moved to a house not far away.  Crono knew she would be there, and so would Lucca, his best friend.  So, he got ready, and left to the show.

            “The fair was packed that day.  The usual games of strength and wit like the drinking contest, and race were there.  He could see people from all around the world that Crono never met.  He walked backstage after kissing Marle as she reluctantly walked into the crowd at the stage.  He picked up a drink, and practiced his strike on a steel bar.

            “Now, witness the fight to see!”  Our judges will grade our contestants and the first one to fall wins.  Extra points are awarded for style and grace.  Our firs contestants will be Crono and Marshall, as we all know.  Please welcome them.”

            Crono and Marshall paced themselves to the stage.  Crono went t the left, and got into position, while Marshall went to the right.  Crono could hear “I love you” from Marle in the front, while Lucca had made a contraption, which sounded like crowds of people were cheering Crono on.  The crowd itself didn’t know who to cheer for, so they just cheered for a fight.

            “Go”

            Immediately Crono leashed his Rainbow Sword out and faked to the left, and quickly swung to the right.  Marshall fended it off, then jumped to Crono’s left, and attempted to trip Crono with his sword.  Crono instead jumped forward, then spun toward Marshall to confuse him.  He then stopped and pointed his sword to Marshall with grin, then put the sword to it broad side, and swooped Marshall of the floor.  But, just as he was about to land on the floor, there was an explosion from the backstage, and Crono and Marshall were blown a couple of feet away.  They jumped to investigate and heard someone yelling.

            “It’s a hole in the ground!  It’s a blue hole in the ground exploding!”

            Marle and Lucca ran towards Marshall and Crono as they ran to the man.

            “Where is it?” asked Crono.

            “Its . . . its . . . its there!  Behind me!” said the man.  They went southward, to the entrance, and saw a blue hole in the ground, exploding.  A time warp being made.  It was at least 16 feet deep, and 19 feet long and wide.  Crono stared at the time warp, and then stared at the people, in shock.

            “Marle, you remember how it first was, right?”

            “Please Crono, don’t . . .” pleaded Marle.  It was too late.  Crono had jumped into the warp, and the warp engulfed him to another time, and disappeared.  Marle kneeled over to the spot where she last saw her fiancée.

            “He was going to ask me to marry him today . . .” exclaimed Marle.  She wept over the spot where Crono last was.