Fan Fiction ❯ The Last Sunrise ❯ Through the caverns; A final flight for freedom. ( Chapter 7 )

Chapter 7

Through the caverns;

A final flight for freedom.

CHRONO AND AARON RAN THROUGH THE CAVERNS, TURNING WHENEVER THEY COULD. Chrono simply didn't feel safe if they stayed on the same path for too long. The two could say nothing; both father and son were broken emotionally. The caverns were alive with the sounds they made as they ran, Chrono's armor clanking and the sobbing of Aaron. Finally, they were forced to stop when both of them where out of breath. Chrono was satisfied that they had at least bought a few minutes. Aaron began to cry harder once they stopped, and Chrono felt his heart ache as he looked at the boy. Not even four years old, and he had just seen the deaths of his sister and mother. Chrono closed his eyes.

I didn't want war… It wasn't a statement anymore. It was a silent plea, coming from a shattered man. He pulled Aaron close to him, hugging his son tightly. Aaron hugged him as well, sobbing. Chrono closed his eyes, cherishing the bundle of life that he protected. That boy was everything Chrono had left. And he would fight to the bitter end to protect him. After two minutes Chrono's stomach began to knot. He picked Aaron up, hoisting him onto his back. Aaron protested.

"I'm tired, daddy… I'm tired, and I want Mommy and Jade!" He cried. His spirit had been shattered as well. Chrono could sense it. He sighed, looking at the boy.

"We have to go. If Lynx comes back… Then we'll have to face him again, and I don't know if we can win."

Aaron silenced. He whispered in terror.

"I hate that bad man… I don't want him to come after us!!! What did we do to him?!"

Chrono shook his head.

"I don't know…" He said softly. "But we have to keep moving. When we get to Medina… I promise that we'll rest."

Aaron nodded and spoke softly.

"Okay…"

So father and son began to trek through the caverns. Chrono at least could be glad that he wasn't lost-but he had ended up further away from the canyon than he had wanted to. He did the only thing he could-he walked. Aaron fell asleep on his back, and Chrono himself was feeling tired. But he didn't dare sleep. Sleeping now would be a death sentence for both of them. He walked as quietly as he could, but that was difficult. His pace was so slow that it was painful to him. He wanted out. He wanted out more than anything. And he knew that every corner he turned could be his last. If Lynx were there waiting… All it would take was a well-aimed hit from that sickle. And with Lynx's aim… He shook those thoughts away and continued on, trying not to think much. He was sure that he could make it out. He had to.

He walked for what seemed like an eternity, and the heat built up greatly. Chrono moaned, wiping at his forehead with his robe.

"Great… What next…?" He groaned, trudging on. He heard a jingle behind him. His heart froze and he drew his sword, facing the sound. He saw nothing. He narrowed his eyes. "Who's there?!" He cried, looking around horrified. A female voice answered him.

"Bonjure! So you are zee king. I finally got to speak with you." The harlequin appeared out of nothingness, and she smiled at him. "You are well, no?"

Chrono glared at her, feeling hot rage building inside of him. She had taken his magic. He knew it.

"Give me back my magic!!!" He cried.

The harlequin laughed.

"You think zat moi has your magic? Oh, non-mis petit. Your magic is just locked."

"Then unlock it!"

The harlequin shook her head.

"Non, monsieur Chrono. Your time is over. Monsieur Lynx is on his way, and you will be… As zey say, finished." Chrono glared at her.

"So why are you here?!"

She laughed softly.

"To get a look at zee boy everyone wants to kill. Zat is all." Then she looked down. "Do not fight-it will be less painful for you, and zee boy. Adieu, adieu!" She did a back flip, vanishing. Chrono blinked, sighing.

"What next…?" He whispered, looking up. His magic had been locked… It had happened to him before, but it had never lasted this long. What had she done…? Then it hit him that she had warned him. Lynx was coming, and if Chrono didn't keep moving, they'd be over taken. He began walking again, when he heard another noise behind him. Chanting. Chrono began to turn just in time to see a wall of darkness exploding towards him. In that darkness he saw thousands of glowing eyes ; cats eyes. The black forms flew past he and the sleeping Aaron, ripping at their clothing and drawing blood with their razor sharp claws. Chrono was protected for the most part because of his armor, but Aaron… He was awake and screaming in pain in two seconds. They had gotten his arms and legs for the most part, and now the boy protested to be put down. He leapt off of Chrono's back, dashing into the corner. Chrono turned towards him.

"Aaron!!! RUN!!!"

Aaron nodded and backed away from the fight. Lynx smiled at Chrono crookedly. Chrono drew his sword.

"Now we fight." Lynx said, grinning.

"That's right." Chrono said, glaring. "I'm gonna make you pay for what you did to Lucca, my mother, Jade, and Marle… You'll see why Lavos was so scared of us!"

"Pah." Lynx scoffed. "You've forgotten why you were so strong. That's why you are all so easily killed! Only one of you remains in this time, and you have no magic. Are your physical talents advanced enough to face me? Or was it Spekkio's magic that defeated Lavos?"

Chrono glared at him, gripping his blade tighter.

"I don't need magic to beat a coward like you… You only pick on women and children!"

"Is that what you think…?" Lynx mused, grinning. "Alright then, boy… Let's see how strong you are."

Chrono waited no longer. He sprang at Lynx, thrusting his sword forward. Lynx sidestepped the attack, but Chrono kicked him, sending the demi-human flying. Lynx leapt back up though, and he flew at Chrono with amazing speed. He swiped down at the young king with his sickle, but Chrono parried with the Rainbow Blade. He drop-kicked Lynx, again throwing the demi-human off. Lynx was getting annoyed, but he didn't dare show it. Instead, he called his magic into his sword. The elements on his weapon glowed black, and he swept the blade down on Chrono. Chrono flipped back, kicked off the wall, flew over Lynx, and planted a stab on his back. Lynx roared, but didn't seem phased. He only redirected his attack into a blast of darkness that engulfed Chrono. He flipped backwards, striking the wall. But Chrono wouldn't give up. He leapt up again, focusing his attention on the space around Lynx. He flew about the demi-human, performing his confuse technique. He was able to hit his enemy four times with his sword, but Lynx simply didn't seem like he was taking any damage. Lynx hit him again, this time with razor sharp claws. Lynx raked his claws across Chrono's face, and Chrono screamed, falling back. He dropped his sword and gripped his face. He brought his hands away, and saw that his gauntlets were smeared with blood. His left eye stung horribly, and he couldn't open it… Couldn't see out of it. He fell back then, shaking his head, trying to clear the vision in his left eye. He looked up, only to see Lynx looming above him.

"So weak…" Lynx said softly, shaking his head. He raised his sickle, and Chrono bowed his head, the blood falling from his face to the ground beneath him. He choked a sob, waiting for the blade to take his future away, just as it had Marle, Lucca, his mother, and Jade's.

"Just do it now…" He whispered weakly. "End this…"

Lynx was about to do just that, but he was interrupted by a small voice.

"Lightning!!!"

A small lightning bolt struck Lynx, and he looked up angrily. Chrono looked up as well, and to his utter horror, Aaron was standing there, electricity sparking about him. The boy glared at Lynx.

"Leave my daddy alone!!!"

"So…" Lynx said softly. "The little one has magic already…? He must be quite gifted. What a shame…" Lynx turned to Aaron, casting a shadow on the boy. "What a shame his path ends here…" Chrono shook his head.

"Lynx-NO!" He cried. "Please don't!!!" Despite the horrid pain in his head, Chrono managed to stand up. Lynx brought his sickle up to strike Aaron, who stared up at him wide-eyed. Chrono screamed out; "Noooo!!!" as he left up, placing himself in front of the boy. He brought his arm up to block the attack.

Lynx's sickle cut down onto Chrono's arm at an odd angle, slicing into the bone. Chrono screamed in pain again, and he tried to pull his arm away. Doing this caused a chunk of flesh to come off of his arm completely. Chrono stumbled back, his world red with pain. His entire arm throbbed, and he couldn't feel his hand. The pain was so intense that Chrono could barely even hear. But everything cleared up when he heard Lynx's voice.

"You think that will save your child?"

Chrono's eyes widened in terror as he felt something cold pass him, reaching for Aaron. He heard his boys screams of agony. The screams lasted only a moment, and by the time Chrono turned to help, it was too late. Aaron lay motionless on the ground, his little body pale. He wasn't breathing. Chrono knelt next to him, placing his bloody gauntleted hand to his son's cheek. His eyes welled up with tears, and in his left eye he wept blood. He turned back to Lynx, glaring coldly.

"You bastard…" Chrono could only manage a hate filled whisper, the pain in his body and heart was simply too much. Lynx smiled at him.

"I told you it was foolish to try and stop me. You thought you were invincible… You were all far easier to beat than I imagined!" Chrono's icy glare remained the same. He spoke through clenched teeth

"You haven't won… I won't give up… I will make you pay for what you've done."

Lynx laughed again.

"You're just as persistent as they say…"

"You haven't seen anything yet, bastard…" Chrono whispered hatefully. "Fight me. Fight me and we'll end this. One of us will die."

Lynx shook his head.

"I'll let you suffer a bit longer. I'll come for you when I'm ready, good king." Lynx smiled at him and vanished.

Chrono bowed his head, and he dropped to his knees. He cried more, hugging the body of his son. The pain that he felt inside was a billion times worse than any wound inflicted on his body. His eyes, the eyes of a son, a husband, and a father had seen the deaths of everyone close to him, and now he truly was alone. Alone in his own private hell.