*Time:  ?

	



	Crono opened his eyes as he traveled through the void.  

He had no since of direction, he just knew that what he was 

seeing was unbelievable.  Beams of energy swirled around him 

like cords through the black emptiness.  What really 

surprised Crono was that he felt like the energy that he

found himself traveling in.  He wasn't looking with his eyes, 

but with his mind, as "his body" flew through the emptiness 

at fantastic speeds.  Up ahead he could see a small sparkle 

of light up ahead.  As he flew closer to the light it grew 

larger and larger until he entered it.  

	There was a blinding light, followed by a rush of wind.  

He realized that he was back in reality as gravity took a 

hold of his body and pulled him to the ground.  He hit the 

ground hard, almost knocking out his breath.  Then, he 

realized that it was grass he had landed on.  He rose to his 

feet and looked at the surroundings.  He was in a grove of 

trees, all of them pure green.  "This isn't right," Crono 

said to himself, "it's autumn right now.  The leaves should 

be brown already.  Then again, where am I?"  	

	Crono looked in his hand and saw he was still holding 

Marle's pendant.  "Boy has this piece of jewelry caused a 

lot of trouble," he said as he put the pendant around his 

neck and dropped it inside his shirt.

	He walked out of the grove of trees.  He looked down 

at the ground.  The grass was a healthy green, and he could 

see that he his shadow was beneath him, indicating it was 

around noon.  Ahead he heard the rushing water of a huge 

river up ahead of him.  He ran toward the sound of the river 

to discover it was a huge ravine with the river running 

through it.  "This sort of looks like Truce Canyon, that 

canyon behind Leene Square, but it's much deeper than this!"

	Crono walked along side of the river going upstream, 

looking at the surroundings.  In front of him he could see 

some big, rocky snow capped mountains.  The grass was as 

green as could be, and the roar of the rushing waters drowned 

out the songs of the birds that sung in the treetops.  Then, 

Crono remembered why he was here.  "Oh yeah, Marle.  Marle!" 

he called out.

	There was no answer.  "Oh Marle!!" he called louder.

	Still, there was no answer.  He scanned all around him.  

Up ahead was a wooden bridge crossing the river.  He walked 

up to the bridge.  Posted beside it was a sign.  It read, 

"Truce Village," pointing at the bridge.  "What?" said 

Crono in confusion, "If town is still here, then I haven't 

gone anywhere. But that canât be.  Where is Leene Square.  

This is so confusing!"

	He went across the bridge and saw some woods ahead of 

him.  "Now this is where Leene Square is.  Now it's trees.  

Whatever!  I'd believe anything now!"

	Crono started into the forest.  As he walked along he 

thought he heard something from up in the trees.  He looked 

up couldn't see anything.  He continued into the woods but 

still heard that something was up in those trees, but every 

time he would stop, so would the noise.  Crono knew something 

was up there.  Back in training he had to hunt down rabbits 

hiding in the woods.  There was definitely something up 

there that didn't want to be seen.  So he completely stopped 

completely and watched the trees.  Nothing could be seen or 

heard.  Still, Crono was patient and waited.  Then, he heard 

high pitched cries and saw six or seven little creatures 

fall from behind the branches to the ground behind him.  

	Crono spun around and looked at them.  They were imps, 

the smallest yet one of the meanest of the Mystics.  Crono 

had never seen an imp before, but they matched the pictures 

he memorized in training.  They are about waist high, their 

heads are almost the size of their bodies, they have no 

facial hair, have pointed ears, can range in a number of 

colors from blue, green, violet, and gray.  What made imps 

so infamous were their famous tempers.  Their tempers can be 

as fierce as a goblin's temper.  "Kill the human!" one of 

the imps  shouted with a high pitched voice.

	"Down with the awful humans!" another shouted whose 

voice was high pitched as well.

	Crono couldn't to help but laugh.  "I never knew that 

imps could sound so funny!" he laughed.

	The imps looked at each other, talked amongst 

themselves, and then each picked up a stone.  "We have 

agreed that you are mocking us.  For that, we must stone you, 

then kill you."

	At that moment imps threw a bombardment of stones.  

Crono turned his back to them as the stones hit him in the 

back or missed completely.  "Ouch!" said Crono as the rocks 

stung his back.  

	"Now it's my turn," he said as he pulled out his 

sword from his sheath.  

	"No!" cried the imps.

	"We cannot be killed!  Master Yakra needs us!" said 

a purple imp.

	"Don't say the "Y" name stupid!" a green imp yelled 

at him.

	"Who are you calling stupid!" the purple imp yelled 

back.

	"Shut up!" a blue imp yelled at them.

	"Come on!  We couldn't even kill that girl we saw 

here a couple of days ago!  How are we supposed to kill him?!" 

another green imp asked.

	"Hey, not only was she armed with a nasty looking weapon, 

the king's guards came too!"  the blue imp answered.

	This struck Crono suddenly.  "They're talking about 

Marle!" he exclaimed, "Hey imps, what did this girl look like?!"

	"Oh shut up human!" the second green imp yelled, "We 

aren't talking to you!"

	Crono became annoyed and knew he wouldn't get anywhere 

with them.  So he pointed his sword at the imps and yelled, 

"Charge!!!"

	He charged at the group of imps with a loud war cry.  

The imps screamed and scattered, going in all directions.  In 

a few seconds he had lost them all already.  There wasn't a 

sound around anywhere that would point out the location of 

the imps.  "Boy, when they said in training that the imps 

where masters in hiding, they weren't kidding!  But I thought 

that imps didn't live anywhere in Guardia.  Then again, not 

much seems to be right anyway."

	He could see the end of the woods ahead.  He ran the 

rest of the way and exited the woods.  Out of there he could 

see the Truce Village.  "Oh good!  Home!  At least it should be.  

I'd better go home and find out where I have just been."

	Crono walked down the dirt to Truce.  Unfortunately, 

Crono didn't get what he wanted.  Instead of getting answers, 

more questions arose.  The beautiful houses made of brick and 

imported wood that made Truce such a popular town was replaced 

by small looking huts made of stacked stones with roofs made of 

hay.  Crono suddenly found himself in a panic. Where is house 

should have been, beside the Davidson Creek, was now a water 

mill.  "What's happened here!" Crono yelled in frustration. 

	Cornfields replaced all of the fields that he knew, and 

livestock freely walked the street.  The air was hazy, and dust 

filled the air.  Crono saw a few strangers walking outside.  This 

only confused him even more, for they were dressed in old and odd 

looking clothes, and all of them were filthy, as if it had been 

weeks since they had a bath.  "This isn't Truce.  That has to be 

it!" Crono exclaimed, "That portal sent me to somewhere else on 

the planet.  But I thought that there wasn't any other towns 

called Truce except mine.  This just isn't right!"

	Crono thought that he was losing his mind.  Then, he saw a 

wooden two-story house up ahead.  He walked up to it and looked 

above the swinging doors.  It said, "CafŽ/Hotel."  Brad walked 

up to the wooden blank and looked inside.  What he saw struck him.  

There were men sitting at the bar drinking, almost all of them 

dressed in armor.  Huge swords were in sheaths hanging from their 

belts.  "Knights?!  Is it a costume party or something?" Crono 

exclaimed.

	Everyone heard him and turned around and starred at Crono.  

Crono looked behind him to see if they really were starring at him.  

They were.  "What a strangely dressed young lad!" one of the 

knights said to him.

	"If it wasn't for that voice I would had mistaken him for 

one of Magus's troops!" another joked.

	Crono walked slowly up to the bar and sat in an empty space 

between a knight and an another man.  The bartender walked up to 

Crono and asked, "So what will it be?"

	"Uhh, I guess, some cider will be nice," said Crono, trying 

to think of what to order.

	"What will you pay it with?" the bartender asked.

	Crono reached in his money sack and pulled out five gold 

coins.  The knight sitting beside him looked at the coins and picked 

up one.  "Hey kid, who is that supposed to be on the coin?  This 

isn't a coin I had ever seen!"

	Before he could answer the man sitting on his left reached 

over and took the coin from the knight.  "So Toma," said the knight, 

"You've been around, who is that on the coin?"

	The man looked at the coin closely and weighed it in his hand.  

"Well, I can't say I have.  This is still gold though, so oh well."

	The man laid the coin back on the bar and the bartender had 

just come back with a mug of cider.  The bartender then snatched 

the coins and put them in a jar under the bar.  Crono picked up 

the mug and examined it.  It looked like it hadn't been washed 

in a while, for the mug was stained, and little bits of dirt 

floated on top of the cider.  Crono put the mug back down and 

tugged on the bartender's sleeve, which had his back to him.  

"Excuse me, I have a question."

	The bartender turned around and said, "What?"

	Crono motioned him to lean closer so he wouldn't have to 

speak louder than he had to.  "I was just wondering, but, where 

am I and what's going on?"

	The bartender straightened up and gave Crono the oddest 

look.  "Where are you?" the bartender repeated to him, "Good grief!  

Where have you been boy?!"

	All of the knights looked in Crono's direction.  He felt 

himself sink in his stool as he saw the knights' accusing eyes. 

"What has this bum done now?!" shouted one knight.

	"The boy has lost his mind, or he is just plain stupid!" 

said the bartender.  

	"I heard what you said kid!" said the knight beside him.  

"I'll answer your little question!  You are in Guardia, the 

last kingdom in the world not to be ruled by those god forsaken 

monsters!  We are out there every day sacrificing ourselves 

for you, so you might have freedom, and you don't even have 

the slightest clue of what we have done for you?!!"

	Crono stepped back toward the door.  "I'm sorry," he 

said with a shaky voice, "I haven't been out much."

	"Get out of here you little puss!" the knight roared 

as he threw his mug at him.  

	Crono ducked under it and ran out the door, hearing 

other knights yelling at him too.  He was back out on the 

street, just standing there in shock after what had just 

happened.  "Hey kid, don't let those knights get you down."

	He looked behind him.  It was the man the knights 

called Toma.  "It's just that the war is at a stalemate, 

and it's stressing out the soldiers," he said.

	"I'm just totally lost," Crono confessed, "I don't 

have a clue where I am or what's going on."

	"Well," said Toma, "I can't help you.  I hope you 

find what you're looking for."

	At that Crono remembered about Marle.  "Well, I am 

also looking for someone.  She was around Truce Canyon a 

couple of days ago.  Any news of someone being found there?"

	"Would this woman be the queen?" Toma asked.

	"No, her name is Marle," Crono answered.

	"Then no.  The only person I heard of that was found 

there was Queen Leene herself."

	"I'm listening," said Crono.

	"About four days ago Queen Leene vanished without a 

trace while taking a walk outside the castle.  Now two 

days ago, while a patrol of soldiers traveled through Truce 

Canyon looking for imps that where rumored to be hiding there, 

they found the queen who was lost up there.  That's all I know."

	"Interesting.  Thank you Toma!" said Crono.

	"I'm glad I could help.  By the way, what's your name?"

	"Crono," he answered.  "Oh, which way to the castle?"

	"That way," Toma pointed toward a forest.

	"Great," said Crono as he headed toward the forest.  

"Maybe the soldiers saw Marle around the canyon while they were 

there," he thought as he went into a sprint.

	The jog took about fifteen minutes until he had reached 

the edge of the forest.  The castle still couldn't be seen 

through the trees but he was able to get a glimpse of one of the 

towers that stood high above the trees.  Crono looked around 

until he saw a sign pointing to a road that led through the 

forest.  It was a very big dirt road, which winded through the 

forest.  "Well, let's see this castle," said Crono as he started 

up the dirt road.

	Up ahead Crono thought he heard something.  He stopped 

and listened.  It was the galloping of horses.  Crono stepped 

to the right side of the road to let them by.  The galloping 

got louder as they came closer.  Still, Crono wasn't able to 

see them through the trees.  Then, from around the bend came 

a huge group of knights on horseback.  There were so many of them 

they took up the whole road.  Crono quickly stepped out of the 

road as he saw the knights fly by at full gallop, all of them 

being led by a knight in gold looking chain mail.  "Boy are 

they in a hurry!" Crono exclaimed as he watched the horses 

disappear around the bend.

	They had disappeared as fast as they appeared, the only 

sign of them was a big cloud of dust that irritated his eyes.  

He stepped back in the road, blinked to wash out the dust and 

walked around the bend in the road.  He turned the bend and 

saw the castle.  It was gigantic, built on the top of a hill.  

Made out of perfectly laid stones, this fortress stood high 

above the forest.  "Wow!  Well, time to see who can help me."

	Crono walked up the many stone steps up to the front of 

the castle.  The two doors stood up almost twelve feet, made 

out of fine wood.  He grabbed a hold of a heavy doorknocker 

and knocked three times.  Almost immediately the doors opened 

and two guards dressed in armor stood in its way in front of 

Crono.  "What do you want?!!" one of the guards yelled in 

Crono's face.

	"Uhh, actually, I've come to ask-"

	"Hey, what kind of clothes are those kid?!" one guard 

asked him.	Crono looked down at what he was wearing.  "Well, 

this is a leather jacket, this is a long sleeve blue shirt and-"

	A guard pulled out a sword from his sheath and said, 

"Don't mess with me kid."

	Crono then pulled out his own sword.  "It would be best 

if you didn't threaten me," said Crono with a threatening voice.

	"Stop this at once!  Guards!  Enough!"

	The guards kneeled on the ground and put down their 

swords.  Brad looked up.  Coming down the stairs in front of 

him came down a young woman in a fancy white gown, and wore a 

golden crown on her head.  "A princess or something?" Crono 

thought.

	"Your majesty.  This buffoon came in and-," the guard 

stopped when he saw the anger in the woman's face.

	"Silence!  Enough of this!" shouted the woman.	

	ãYour majesty, we were only doing as we were ordered,ä 

said on the guards, ãTo keep out intruders.ä

	"I am your queen, am I not?" the woman asked the guards.

	"A queen?  That young?" Crono thought in amazement.

	The guards then responded, "Always my lady."

	"Then treat this man as you would treat me.  He is a 

good friend of mine." The queen then looked up at Crono and 

winked at him.  

	In the back of his mind he recognized her, but doubted 

the logic in it.  The queen continued, "Take my friend to the 

guest room and have him wash up for dinner.  We will have 

dinner privately in my chambers.  Understood?!"

	"Yes my lady!" said the guards.

	"Good."  The queen turned around and went up the stairs.

	Crono looked at the guards as they rose to their feet.  

"Our apologies," said one of the guards.  "A friend of the queen 

is a friend of ours.  Come this way."  

	He followed the guards to the guestroom on the east wing 

of the castle.  There Crono rested for the afternoon, trying to 

make sense of what was happening.

		*				*				*

	It was near sundown, and still he stayed in the guestroom 

thinking.  Finally, tired of staying in one room, he got out of 

the rocking chair and opened the door.  The two soldiers who 

stood guard there turned to him.  "Sir, you must stay in the 

room until the queen summons you."

	Crono smiled and said, "Do you want me to tell the queen 

that I thought I wasn't treated fairly?"

	"No sir," said one of the guards.

	"Then let me out," he replied.

	The guards looked at each other, and nodded.  "Go ahead, 

but not too far, or we will be punished for sure," one of them 

said.

	Crono walked out and decided to stroll around the castle.  

He stayed on the bottom floor so he wouldn't get lost.  That floor 

itself was huge, going through a maze of hallways.  He walked by 

one room and heard some men laughing inside.  Crono peeked in and 

saw knights cutting up and telling jokes while sitting at a long 

rectangular table.  "Excuse me," he heard a voice from behind.  

	He turned around and saw it was the same knight in the gold 

chain mail that he had seen earlier on the dirt road that day.  "Oh!  

Sorry!"  Crono apologized as he stepped aside.

	"ÎTis Sir Richard!  Attention!  Silence!" the knights yelled 

at each other as the meeting came to order.

	Crono continued to look inside and listened.  The knight in 

gold armor sat down at the head of the table and spoke.  "We have 

just received reports that the Mystic activity in Porre is settling 

down.  However, the rumors of the six towns destroyed by Magus's 

forces are confirmed.  The other nine are still occupied by the 

Mystics, but are not destroyed thankfully."

	"This is old news Richard," said an older knight, "Now why 

did you call this meeting?"

	The other knights agreed and all talked at once.  "Patience 

gentlemen!" Sir Richard barked.  Everyone was silent again, and he 

continued.  "The reports also confirm that most of the Mystic forces 

have drawn south of what's left of Zenen Bridge.  I believe that 

it is time to rebuild the bridge so that we can take back Porre 

from the Mystics."

	This comment aroused even more commotion.  This surprised 

Crono as well.  There was a Zenen Bridge back in Guardia too.  

Could this be the same bridge?  Crono then got the feeling he 

wasn't alone.  He turned to his left and saw an old man dressed 

in royal clothes was also peeking in.  The old man looked back at 

Crono, smiled, and looked back inside.  "First two queens, now 

the bridge.  My goodness.  So much to keep up with," he murmured 

to himself.

	Crono stepped back and stopped a passing servant.  "Excuse 

me, but who is that guy?" he asked him, pointing to the old man 

who was just now leaving the door.  "That is the king's chancellor, 

Sir Henry Griffin."

	"Well, what does he do?" Crono asked the servant.  

	"The chancellor is in charge of the king's courts and advises 

the king when asked.  He is a good man.  Sir Henry goes to the old 

sanctuary almost every night to worship the gods, and is kind to 

the king and his wife."

	"What is the king's name anyway?" Crono asked the servant.

	The servant gave him an odd look.  Brad had become 

accustomed to it now, so he shrugged it off.  "The king is John 

Guardia I sir!" the servant corrected him rudely.

	"Thank you!" Crono said back with the same tone.

	This also disturbed Crono.  The king back home was also 

named King John Guardia.  Could this be the same king?  Before 

he could really think he heard someone yelling down the hall 

behind him.  "Sir!  There you are sir!" yelled a guard running 

to Crono.  

	It was one of the guards that stood at the guestroom's 

doorway.  "Okay.  What do you want from me now?  To go back to 

my room?" Crono asked, showing the annoyance he had for the guard.

	"The queen requests you now for dinner," he said, now out 

of breath.  

	"Good!  I'm starving!" said Crono in an angry 

voice. 

	He had come to love being a friend of royalty.  It was 

giving him some attitude rights, and he was going to take 

advantage of them.  "Sir," the guard said to the servant, 

"Could you escort the queen's guest up to her chambers.  I 

have to get back to my post."

	"Go ahead," said the servant with a sigh.  

	Crono knew that this servant must have been thinking, 

how a weirdo like himself was a friend of the queen.  He wasn't 

too sure himself, but he did have an idea.  It was an unlikely 

theory, but it was his best one.  The servant led the way to a 

tall spiraling staircase.  Crono walked up the stairs, each one 

getting harder and harder.  Windows that shown outside showed 

that they were going higher and higher, past the tops of the 

trees itself.  Finally, they reached the end.  There was a single 

wooden door in front of them, made of polished oak.  "You may 

enter," said the servant as he opened the door for him.

	Crono walked inside.  It was a very decorated room, with 

colorful curtains, a huge floor mat that covered most of the room, 

fancy furniture, and a bed with curtains made of pure silk.  

"Whoa!" said Crono.

	"I'll be outside if you need anything," said the servant 

as he shut the door behind him.  

	Crono looked at the window.  In front of it was a big turkey 

and side dishes on a table that had two chairs, a white dishcloth, 

and two lit candles.  It was already turning hazy outside, so the 

whole room was lit up by soft candlelight.  The room appeared to 

be empty.  Then, Crono noticed there was  another door to his 

right.  He walked up to the door and knocked.  "Is anyone in there?" 

he asked.

	"One minute, okay?" he heard the queen answer.

	"Sure," said Crono.

	He knew that voice, and it wasn't just the queen's voice.  

It was...impossible.  Was it?  The questions gave him a headache 

as usual.  Then, the door opened.  He gasped in surprise.  It 

was Marle, in her normal clothes that she wore to the fair.  

They were a little dirty, but it was definitely Marle.  "Hi 

Crono!" she exclaimed as she gave him a big hug around the neck.

	Crono hugged with her and began to laugh with delight.  

Marle laughed too.  Both of them laughed till they had tears 

in their eyes.  "I can't believe it's you!" said Marle.

	"Me?!  I can't believe it's you!" said Crono.  

	They broke their embrace and looked at each other.  

Then, Marle exhaled and said, "Well, I'm starved!"

	"You said it!" said Crono jokingly as they both sat 

down at the table.

			*				*				*

	The two of them dived in to the meal before them, 

digging into the turkey, rice and gravy.  They disregarded 

table manners, stuffing in more than they could chew and 

not bothering to wipe their faces.  "So," said Crono with 

a mouthful of turkey, "How long have you been playing a queen?"

	"For three days now, this being the third.  Did you 

know it was me?"

	Crono nodded, "Yeah, but I didn't believe it.  How 

did you ever become a queen anyway?"

	Marle pointed, telling him to wait as she swallowed.  

She took a big gulp and said, "Well, I found myself above 

this gorge in a grove of trees after being sucked up into 

that thing back at the fair."

	"The same thing happened to me," Crono commented.

	"Anyway," she continued, "I crossed a bridge over 

the gorge and ran into some imps.  They threatened to kill 

me.  With my crossbow I fired a warning shot at them.  They 

ran, but came back saying they weren't afraid.  Then, a bunch 

of knights on horses came and chased them off.  They said I 

was the queen and brought me here.  I later saw a picture of 

the queen .  We look almost completely identical, so Iâm not 

surprised for the mistake. That's all that happened."

	"Hmm...interesting," said Crono in thought.  

	Marle then exhaled and smiled.  "Crono, I knew you would 

come for me.  I just knew.  It is such a relief to see someone 

trying to look out for me!  Thank you!"

	Crono felt himself get red in the face.  "You're welcome," 

he said.  He never took compliments well.

	Marle saw him get red and laughed.  "Sorry to embarrass 

you!"

	"I'm not embarrassed," he said.

	He then decided to see if Marle had any answers to his 

many questions.  "So Marle, you've been here a while.  Do you 

have any idea where we are?" he asked.

	Marle then took a deep breath to prepare herself.  

"Actually, I do."

	"Well, where are we!" he asked with impatience.

	"Okay, get ready.  We are-" she stopped and felt her 

forehead.

	"Marle?" Crono asked with concern.

	She motioned him to wait.  "It's just a headache.  I've 

had it since I got here.  I don't know why, but maybe-" she 

stopped again.

	Marle stood up and held her head with both of her hands.  

She groaned in pain.  "Oh my gosh, this hurts."

	Crono started to touch her shoulder when she jerked back 

and then curled up in a ball on the floor.  "Crono?" she asked 

with fear in her voice.

	"Crono!  What's wrong?!" he shouted, now in fear for 

Marle's health.

	"It-It feels like I am being torn apart!  Oh god it 

hurts!!  Help me Crono!  Help!!!"

	Crono started toward her when she suddenly jumped to 

her feet and screamed.  It ran chills down his spine.  Then, 

Marle appeared to become transparent, for he could see wall right 

through her.  The room then lit with a  strange blue light.  Then, 

Marle's shape seemed to wiggle and wave like a disturbed reflection 

in a pool of water.  Her scream then cut short as she slowly 

disappeared before Crono's eyes.  He stood there helpless.  Just 

when he had found Marle, she was gone already.  The strange light 

disappeared and the servant came in.  "Did I hear screaming?!  

Where's the queen?!"

	Crono felt a panic.  The servant saw this and turned 

toward the stairs.  Crono ran up to the guard and grabbed him.  

"Let me go!!  Let me-" the servant shouted when Crono covered his 

mouth.  He pulled the servant into the other room that Marle came 

out of.  It was a primitive bathroom, with a white dress, Marle's 

queenly dress, piled in the floor.  Crono then pulled out his sword 

and hit the back of the servant's head with the hilt.  The servant 

then slumped into Crono's arms out cold.  Crono then dropped the 

servant, tied his arms and legs with shreds of the dress, tied up 

his mouth with a handkerchief, and left the room.

	He ran down the stairs as fast as his legs could carry him.  

"I could be called a murderer of the queen!  I have to get out of 

here!" he thought to himself as he sped down the spiraling 

staircase.

	Finally, he reached the bottom, and he ran out into the 

hall.  He looked behind him to see if anyone was following him.  

Then, he felt himself run into someone.  "Ohh!" he grunted as he 

bounced back to the ground.  He heard that whoever he ran into 

also fell.  Crono looked up as he rose to his feet and saw it 

was the king himself that he ran into.  "Oh crap!" he thought 

to himself.

	"Oh, that's quite all right.  Just watch where you are 

going young man," said the king as he reached for his fallen 

crown.

	"I'm so sorry sir," said Crono as he helped pull up the 

king.

	"That's fine," said the king.

	Crono then noticed what the king was wearing.  He didn't

 wear the normal dress a king would wear.  The king wore a 

brown robe lined with animal fur, the normal clothes he would 

expect a king to wear except that they had dull colors, like 

the dark green jacket and the brown pants.  What really struck 

Crono was that the king wore some worn-out boots, and had a 

sword at his side.  "I've never seen a king dress like that," 

Crono commented.

	"Well, you can't wear your best clothes when you're 

fighting a war," said the king.

	"I suppose so.  I got to go," said Crono as he walked 

by the king.  	"Goodbye," said king behind him.

	Crono continued down the hall toward the main room, 

where the front door was.  Finally, he opened the two doors 

and was back in the main room.  He checked behind him again 

to see if anyone was following him.  Then, from out of nowhere 

he ran into someone again.  He fell to the ground and heard the 

other person fall as well.  "This is some luck," said Crono as 

he rose to his feet.  

	"Crono?" he heard a female voice say.

	He looked at the fallen person.  It was Lucca.  "Lucca!" 

Crono exclaimed.

	"It is you Crono!" said Lucca.

	"Come on.  Let's get out of here!" said Crono as he 

motioned Lucca to follow.

	He ran to the front door, and saw that the two guards 

on duty were lying on the floor unconscious.  "Lucca, what 

did you do?"

	"Some traveler named Toma said he saw you early today 

and said you were going to the castle.  I asked these guards 

and they thought I was some freak and tried to grab me.  

Probably because of my glasses.  I taught them though,  never 

mess with someone armed with a dart gun!  These knockout darts 

work like a-"

	"Oh come on!" said Crono as he took Lucca's wrist and 

ran out the front door.

	They ran off into the woods and sat down behind some

underbrush.  Crono and Lucca looked back at the castle.  No one 

came out, so Crono turned back to Lucca.  ãLucca, do you have 

any idea where we are?!ä he asked in a frantic voice.

	ãHang on Crono!ä said Lucca, ãIâm trying to figure that out.ä

	She then began to think, mumbling some strange equations.  

ãSo how long have you been here Crono?ä  

	ãI got here some time around noon today I believe,ä he 

answered.

	ãToday?!ä Lucca exclaimed.

	ãYes, today.  Why?ä

	ãBecause I spent three weeks back home making the device 

I used to get here.ä

	ãBut that means you shouldnât be here yet!  Oh boy do I 

have a headache,ä said Crono, holding his head.

	ãActually, this may explain a lot!ä said Lucca enthusiastically.  

ãNow did you find Marle at all?ä

	Crono looked down and nodded.  ãYes, and I lost her again.ä

	ãWhat happened?ä Lucca asked.

	Crono then went on to tell all that had happened that day, from 

meeting the imps at the gorge, to Marle being called Queen Leene, to 

meeting Chancellor Griffin and General William, the king also named 

John Guardia, and finally when Faith vanished before his eyes.  ãSo 

Marle was called a queen.  Okay Crono, I think Iâve got it.ä

	ãGo on!ä said Crono impatiently.

	ãOkay, Truce town is more like a primitive village.  The 

soldiers are knights instead of what we have back home.  Truce 

Canyon isnât as big as the one back home is.  Do you know what Guardia 

Castle looks like back home?ä

	ãIâve never been there,ä Crono answered.

	ãWell Iâve been several times with daddy since he makes 

inventions for the king.  That castle and the one here look very 

similar.  Now did you say that the king here is John Guardia I?ä

	ãYes.ä

	ãThen there is only one logical explanation.  We have 

traveled back in time!ä

	Crono looked closely at Lucca.  ãAre you serious?ä he 

asked her.

	ãWell, think about it.  The canyon is smaller because the 

river still needs more time to carve it.  The village is primitive 

because-ã

	Crono then suddenly stood up.  It was true.  Everything made 

sense.  ãWhoa!!  I get it!  It all makes perfect sense now.ä

	ãIt does make sense now doesnât it!ä said Lucca triumphantly.  	

ãThis even explains the war and why the imps are living in 

Truce Canyon!  This must be around 600 AD, at the time that Magus 

takes over Porre in the south!ä  

	ãHow much history do you know Crono?ä Lucca asked him.

	ãWell, just a year ago, a year ago from now, the Mystics 

take over the continent Porre in the south and destroy the Zenen 

Bridge to keep the Guardiaâs forces from retaking it.  Now if this 

is the spring, then around this time the queen, Queen Leene would be

 kidnapped by the Mystics...Queen Leene·that must be why she is the 

new queen,  because the real queen is kidnapped!ä

	ãThis is so unreal!ä Lucca exclaimed.

	ãBut that still doesnât explain why she vanished,ä said Crono.

	ãActually, it does,ä said Lucca.

	ãNow how is that?ä

	I knew I recognized that girl of yours!ä said Lucca in 

excitement, ãI have seen her in the castle before!  You donât know Marleâs

 real name.  Her real name is Nadia.ä

	ãNadia·the princess of Guardia!?ä Crono exclaimed.

	ãYes sir.ä

	ãThat must be why she resembles the real queen so much.  There 

has only been seven John Guardias anyway.  So why did she disappear 

now?ä

	ãWell,ä said Lucca, "You said at this time the queen is 

kidnapped.  Now was she ever found?ä

	ãYes,ä said Crono, ãAccording to reports, a strange creature 

returned her back to the castle four days after she was kidnapped. 

No one knows where she was hidden or why, just that the Mystics 

were responsible.ä

	ãThen when Marle arrived, they thought they had found the 

queen already,ä said Lucca in thought.

	ãSo the real queen must have been killed somewhere along the 

line.  That means that Marle was never born if this continues!ä said 

Crono in horror.

	ãThen we have to find the real queen and set things right 

before itâs too late!ä said Lucca.  ãNow do you have any idea where 

the queen was hidden?ä

	ãIâm thinking,ä said Crono.  ãI remember reading somewhere 

that Chancellor Griffin was somehow involved.ä

	ãHow was that?ä Lucca asked.	ãI canât remember.  Itâs just 

some dumb fact I happen to remember,ä said Crono.

	ãThen letâs ask him,ä said Lucca.

	ãNo!  I may end up a wanted man sometime soon!ä Crono warned 

her.

	She nodded.  ãThen do you know where he goes outside of the 

castle?ä she asked.

	Crono thought a minute and said, ãI remember hearing a servant 

say that he hangs around the old sanctuary a lot.  Do you want to 

check there?ä

	ãCome on, and letâs hurry!ä exclaimed Lucca as they began 

toward Truce.

	Crono and Lucca walked through the woods along side of the 

road.  About fifteen minutes after they started, they saw a bunch of 

knights on horseback fly past them on the road beside them.  

Chancellor Griffin was in front, and they disappeared in a cloud 

of dust thrown by the horses' hooves.  ãDo you think that word is 

out about Marle?ä Lucca asked as she ducked under a tree branch.

	ãThey could be going for any number of reasons.  Actually, 

I donât want to talk about it!  We need to find where this sanctuary 

is!ä said Crono in frustration.

	ãWell,ä said Lucca in thought, ãRemember those old ruins 

out in the forest west of the castle back home?ä

	ãOh yeah,ä said Crono remembering the ruins, ãWe used to 

play there when we were little.  Now the woods have nearly wrecked 

what was left.ä

	He went on through the woods until it hit him.  ãAre you 

suggesting that those ruins come from this sanctuary?ä

	ãWell why not?!ä Lucca asked him.

	ãBecause·I just donât think so.  Thatâs why!ä he answered, 

not able to think of a better reason.

	ãBrad, we need to check this out!  Iâm not trying to be 

annoying!ä 	ãFine!  Whatever!ä he said in defeat.  ãWeâll start 

there.  Now if I am not mistaken, the ruins would be a few hundred 

yards west of the front of this forest.  I say letâs run!  We need 

to move!!ä

	Lucca watched as Crono jumped back on the road and went into 

a full sprint leaving her behind.  ãDarn it Crono!  You know I donât 

run that often!ä she shouted at him.  

	He didnât slow down.  ãJerk,ä she murmured as she got back on 

the dirt road and ran after him.

   		*				  *				 *

	Finally, when Lucca thought her lungs were on fire, Crono 

stopped in front of the woods.  They had run up the dirt road, 

back through town, and finally, about twenty minutes later, they 

had reached the woods.  She stood beside Lucca and looked at him. 

His face seemed to be blank.  ãCrono, what is it?ä she asked him, 

out of breath.

	Crono pointed in front of him.  As clear as day she saw a 

walkway in front of them that lead into the woods.  All the trees 

had been cut in neatly beside this walkway of laid stones, almost 

creating two walls made of green leaves.  However, the walkway was 

making a turn to the left, so whatever was at the end couldnât be 

seen.  ãLucca, we may be onto something,ä said Crono. 

	ãWhat are you talking about?!ä she exclaimed, ãIt was my idea 

to come here!ä

	ãOkay then Miss Smarty!  You can go down this sidewalk first!ä

	ãFine!  I will!ä she barked back.

	She walked fast but Crono just laid back as he let her led.  

Then, Lucca who was now way ahead of him turned the corner.  Crono 

got there at his own pace and made the turn.  In front of him, they 

could see in the last bit of sunlight a two-story building made of 

laid stones, with a small tower in the front.  ãGood job Lucca!  

This has to be it!ä Crono exclaimed.

	ãThanks.  Now what?ä

	Crono rushed past her and walked up to the front door.  He 

looked back as he opened the double doors.  ãAre you coming?ä he 

asked her. 

	ãOf course!ä she said as she ran up to the door.

	They entered the sanctuary and looked at the surroundings.  

It wasnât very large, just two sets of pews on either side of them.  

The front of the room was decorated with one single stain glass 

window picturing three warriors dressed in decorative armor, all 

ready to fight each other. Crono recognized them as the gods of 

war, peace, and time.  An altar at the front had a red cloth on it 

and two candelabrums each containing three lit candles.  They looked 

around and saw there were four small women dressed as nuns sitting in 

the pews.  One woman was at the organ playing sad sounding hymns.

	ãSo what do we look for Crono?ä Lucca whispered.

	ãAnything that might look peculiar or unusual,ä he answered.

	Crono and Lucca then separated and began to snoop around the 

sanctuary.  Crono noticed that the four women were looking at 

them curiously.  Their eyes never came off of them, making him feel 

uneasy.  He walked up to the altar and looked around the floor.  

He didnât see anything out of place.  Lucca was busy walking up and 

down the pews.  Crono then started toward the organ when he felt 

himself step on something.  He looked down and saw it was a ring.  

It looked very expensive, and it was made out of gold, since it bent 

under his foot when he stepped on it.  There was some sort of seal 

on the front of the ring.  It looked like the old coat of arms of 

the Kingdom of Guardia.  ãPsst!  Lucca!ä Crono whispered.

	She saw him gesturing him to come.  Lucca then walked up to 

Crono.  He handed her the ring.  She looked at it and immediately 

recognized the seal.  ãThis is the coat of arms of Guardia!ä she 

exclaimed out loud.  

	Her voice echoed across the sanctuary.  ãQuiet down!ä said 

Crono.

	ãThis has to be Leeneâs ring!  The queen is here!ä she 

said enthusiastically.

	Crono noticed that the four women were starting to get 

up.  ãLucca!  Calm down!ä

	It was no use.  She could hardly control herself.  ãCrono!  

We have to get the guards from the castle down here to check this 

out!  Iâm serious!ä

	Crono shook his head.  ãAre you nuts?!  I may be a wanted 

man!  We wonât go to the castle!ä

	ãThatâs right.  You wonât go,ä they heard a voice from behind.

	They turned around and saw the four nuns were behind them 

making a wall between them and the door.  ãExcuse me?ä Crono asked.

	ãYou are correct,ä said another nun, ãYou wonât go to the 

castle, or anywhere else.ä

	ãWe go where we want to ladies!ä said Lucca.

	ãBut we arenât ladies,ä said a nun in a scratchy, inhuman 

voice.

	Crono and Lucca stepped back.  ãI think weâre in trouble

 Crono,ä said Emily.

	The nuns took off their shawls from their heads.  Then 

before their eyes their long hair began to turn a bright pink.  

Their teeth grew pointed, and their eyes turned like a catâs, with 

long pupils.  Then, Crono noticed that their ears were pointed.  

He immediately drew his sword.  ãLucca, get out that gun of yours 

if you have it.ä

	ãWhy?ä she asked.

	ãBecause we are in for a fight,ä he answered.

	Suddenly, they let out high pitch shrieks and ripped off 

their robes.  Lucca gasped.  From the waist up they looked human, 

and wore rags over their chests, but from the waist down they 

didnât have legs.  They had the tails of serpents, all of them 

shades of pink.  They held out their fingers and long claws 

came from them.  ãBanshees!ä Crono yelled.

	ãWho!ä Lucca asked in fear.

	ãAnother friendly Mystic!  Donât let their shrieks hit 

you!ä he said.

	Then, one of the banshees leaped at him.  It landed on top 

of him, but Crono pushed it off of him with his legs.  The banshee 

then slashed at him with its claws.  It caught Cronoâs leather 

jacket, but was unharmed.  He then heard another one slither behind 

him.  ãCrap,ä he thought.

	Lucca was running away from two banshees while trying to load 

her dart gun.  She was surprised how fast they could slither, for 

she was a full sprint and they were keeping up with her.  Finally, 

she loaded her dart gun with a dart.  She spun around and immediately 

fired.  The dart hit the side of the bansheeâs neck.  It pulled out 

the dart, and before it could do anything else, it fell to the 

ground unconsious.  Lucca sighed in relief.

	Crono found himself to be in worse shape.  He did not want 

to hurt the banshees at all, nor less kill them.  He knew he could, 

but wouldnât.  This didnât stop the banshees though.  He was no 

longer surrounded, but they slashed at him again and again.  He 

continued to leap back again and again.  Finally, he had run out of 

room and was cornered.  ãPrepare to die human!ä a banshee hissed.

	ãWell, itâs either me or them,ä Crono thought.

	Then, he heard the banshee take a deep breath.  Crono 

immediately leaped to the side.  The banshee then let out an 

earsplitting shriek.  He looked to where he was standing and 

saw the wall crack where he had stood.  Still, the shriek was 

loud enough to make him cover his ears.  Crono then wasted no 

time and cut the banshee down the shoulder.  The banshee fell 

to the ground.  He no longer felt remorse.  He knew that he had 

no choice.

	Crono was trying to load her dart gun again when he heard 

a banshee rush from behind her.  She knew she only had less than 

seconds.  Her fingers trembled as she pulled back the lever to 

set the spring.  Suddenly she heard the banshee give out a loud 

war cry.  Lucca spun around and with a war cry of her own fired.  

The dart hit the bansheeâs chest.  The toxin took effect immediately, 

and the banshee fell on top of Lucca.  She pushed the banshee off 

and layed on the ground, out of breath.

	Crono now dealt with the last banshee.  Somehow this banshee 

was able to get its hands on a shield and was blocking Crono's 

sword.  Every time Crono swung, the banshee would block and slash 

with her claws.  Then, the banshee took a deep breath.  Seeing that 

this banshee was going to shriek, Crono tried to jump aside.  

Suddenly he felt himself land against the altar, blocking him from 

going any further.  Then, the banshee shrieked.  Crono couldnât hear 

the shriek since he was in its path.  The force of the shriek threw 

Crono over the altar on onto the floor.  His mind was spinning, he 

couldnât think straight, and his vision was doubled.  He felt for 

his sword and tried to stand.  Then, he saw the banshee run at him 

ready to slash.  He had no idea where to attack so he took one long 

swing with his sword.  He saw the banshee fall to the ground, as 

blurry as at looked, and he knew he had killed it.

 	Lucca turned to see Crono kill the last banshee after getting 

to her feet.  Crono then sat on the altar and held his head.  She 

ran up to him.  ãAre you okay?ä she asked.

	ãDespite the fact I just survived the scream of a banshee, 

I canât hear straight, and I have the worst headache I could ever 

have·just dandy.ä

	He then turned to Lucca and saw that he still was seeing 

double.  Suddenly, he saw a banshee behind Lucca preparing to 

strike.  ãLucca!  Behind you!ä he yelled.

	Lucca protected her head seeing the banshee.  It was about 

to strike when they heard something crash though the stain glass.  

They all looked and saw a streak of green fly and land on the 

banshee.  The bansheeâs cry cut short.  Crono, now regaining his 

vision, looked at the banshee.  In front of it stood a green faced 

figure.  Lucca looked in wonder.  It was a frog, standing on two 

feet like a human.

	The frog was dressed in plated armor and stood about 5â3.  

He was barefooted, showing his webbed feet.  His head was the 

size of a normal human, except it was a frogâs head and having a 

short fat neck.  On its belt was a sheath, and in its hand was a 

long, blood stained broad sword.  ãUhh·,ä said Lucca in awe.

	ãMadam, lower thy guard and allow the enemy within,ä said 

the frog in a very human male voice.

	Then the frog croaked like a frog.  ãUhh·thank you,ä said 

Lucca.

	ãA talking frog?!ä Crono exclaimed, ãThat last banshee must 

have been that organist.  You killed it!  Are you some kind of 

renegade Mystic or something?ä

	ãNay.  ÎTis a frog I promise you,ä said the frog.

	ãWell, whatâs your name frog?ä Lucca asked him.

	The frog seemed hesitant, turning his head away from them. 

The frog then turned back to them.  "Thou may address me as frog."

	"Okay frog," said Crono, "I'm Crono.  This is my friend 

Lucca.  Now what brings you here?"

	"The queen, who I swore to protect, was taken from thy will!  

Thy maiden dwells here.  This sanctuary Îtis her prison!  I have 

listened to rumors which imply that Mystics may hold an unknown 

lair in this ancient structure."

	"You are searching for the queen too?" Lucca asked.

	"So are we frog!" said Crono.

	The frog smiled and said, "Excellent!  We shall continue 

this inquiry together!  Come hither!"

	"Where?" Crono and Lucca asked at the same time.

	The frog then walked over to the altar.  "Come to thy aid 

and help me push this mass of stone."

	Crono and Lucca walked up to the altar beside the frog.  

Then they pushed against the heavy stone altar.  It slowly slid 

away to reveal a hidden stairwell going underground.  "This has 

to be where the Mystics are hiding!" Crono exclaimed.

	"Come!  Time runs against us!" said the frog as he started 

down the stairs.

	"I couldn't have said it better myself," said Crono.

	Lucca chuckled getting his joke.  The stairs didn't go 

down far till they reached the bottom.  They entered a short 

hallway.  It was decorated with long red carpets decorating it, 

lit by torches.  Frog then walked up to a door in front of them 

and cracked it.  They all peeked in to see.  There were four 

Mystics sitting around a table.  One was an ogre, wearing a metal 

vest and helmet over some ragged pants, chewing at a piece of ham.  

One was an imp, eating a ham sandwich with fair table manners.  

"Imps are about as civilized with a Mystic as you can get," Crono 

whispered.

	A banshee was standing up drinking a mug of beer.  There 

was also a gargoyle also drinking some beer.  Gargoyles were the 

only Mystics that could fly, and usually had gray skin, two small 

horns on their heads, and sharp claws.  Of course, like all Mystics, 

they had pointed ears.  "So, who impersonated the guards that 

kidnapped that nasty queen?" the banshee asked.

	"Must have been Gredos and Ension.  Those two ogres always 

make good guards," said the ogre.

	ãIs it you that is going to impersonate the queen?ä the imp 

asked the banshee.

	"Yep.  I still have to study her looks a little bit longer, 

but soon I will assist Yakra in spying on Guardia.  So what do they 

plan to do with these humans we are holding?" the banshee asked.

	"What Yakra said we would.  Eat them like we do most humans 

anyway!" said the imp.

	"Yakra.  I heard that name when I met those imps back at the 

canyon," said Crono.

	They then stepped away from the door.  "Sir Crono  Thou'st know 

what we just perceived?" the frog asked.

	"The imps I meet earlier today seemed to refer this Yakra as 

their leader.  He must be responsible for the kidnapping.  I forgot 

that Mystics are known to masterfully impersonate humans.  The whole 

scheme must have been done without any detection or suspicion.ä

	ãNot for long!ä said Lucca.

	The frog nodded, ãThis Yakra shall meet his destiny with 

thy blade!ä

	ãYeah.  Iâm going down to the shrine worship Magus,ä they 

heard the gargoyle say.  

	The gargoyle opened the door and saw the three of them 

before they could react.  They were stunned.  The gargoyle 

shook his head and said, ãGuys, you donât have to impersonate 

humans now.  Oh well.ä

	It was obvious that he didnât see the frog.  The gargoyle 

then turned and went down the hall.  ãCome.  Let us pursue this 

fiend,ä said the frog.

	The frog then started to follow the gargoyle.  Crono and

Lucca followed.  Lucca then whispered to Crono, ãIs this possibly 

this creature you spoke of that rescued the queen?ä

	ãI have no doubt in my mind thatâs him,ä he answered.

	The gargoyle then entered another door and entered a huge 

chamber.  There were chandeliers up in the ceiling and two grand 

staircases going each side of it up to a second floor.  The 

gargoyle went to the stairs on the right.  Frog led the way.  

They occasionally stop and hide behind a corner or something 

when they saw various Mystics roaming around.  They saw the door 

the gargoyle entered and took their time getting there.  

Finally, they entered the door.  

	Inside they saw about ten imps in two small rows, with 

the gargoyle at the end of one.  They all faced a statue at 

the end of the long room.  The statue had moonlight shining on 

it from a circular window behind it.  It was a tall muscular 

man.  He had long hair, was wearing fancy looking armor, and 

had a long scythe in his hand.  ãOh Magus,ä they sang in a strange 

ritual sounding chant, ãYouâre hair shines like the moon.  Youâre 

fist is mightier than the waves.  You will lead us to victory 

against our enemies.  Long live Magus!ä

	They continued the same chant.  ãIsnât Magus the leader 

of the Mystics?ä Crono thought to himself.

	ãMagus!ä said the frog, ãThe true demon in flesh!  May 

Magus return to the abyss from which he was spawned!ä 

	With a loud cry he ran and leapt up at the statue and 

broke it in two with one big swing of his sword.  The Mystics 

roared in anger.  ãFrog!ä said Brad in frustration, ãWhat the #@%! 

are you doing?!ä

	ãNo time to quarrel!ä said the frog, ãÎTis time to do battle!ä

	The imps and the single gargoyle charged at the frog that 

was obviously outnumbered.  ãWe have to help him!ä said Lucca.

	ãYes.  We do,ä said Crono in annoyance as he drew his sword.

	Lucca fired a dart at one imp.  The imp grunted and fell 

over as the potion put it to sleep.  Two imps reached the frog 

simultaneously, armed with knives.  The frog took his sword 

and cut both of them down.  Then, the gargoyle flew down and 

took the frogâs sword from his hand.  Now the frog had to fight 

with his fists while the other imps had knives.  Crono knew that 

imps could easily be frightned.  He took out his sword and yelled, 

ãCharge!!!ä

	The imps scattered as he ran toward the crowd, breaking it 

in two.  At this time Lucca had loaded her dart gun a second time. 

 She then noticed the gargoyle with the frogâs sword, heading toward 

the door.  She aimed carefully and fired.  The dart hit the 

gargoyleâs thigh.  The gargoyle grunted and fell to the ground.  

The frog saw this and ran toward his sword.  The imps then ran in 

front of him to stop the frog.  The frog then leaped into the air.  

Everyone in the room stopped and looked.  It appeared that the 

frog might hit the ceiling, for he jumped about nine feet in the 

air!  He flew over the wall of imps and landed behind them, and 

he grabbed his sword.  He was ready to attack when the frog heard 

Crono yell, ãHead to the door!ä

	They all ran to the door and shut it behind them.  They felt 

the imps pushing against them, but Lucca pulled a huge cinderblock 

to the door.  They proped it up against the door, and ran off.  

They reached the bottom of the staircase, looked around to see if 

anyone was coming, and sat down on the stairs to catch their breath.

 	ãFrog.  Why in the $#@! did you go berserk and cut this statue 

in two?!ä Crono asked.

	The frog looked at Crono and answered, ãThis fiend is truly 

a spawn of hell.  He massacres the innocent, and hath destroyeth 

mine as well.  I shall have my vengeance.ä

	ãWell, thatâs fine now, but now where do we go?ä Lucca asked.

	The frog started to speak when Brad said, ãIâll lead for now on.ä

	ãWhat maketh thou have the right to lead?ä the frog asked him 

arguably.

	ãBecause I said so.  I donât want you to go around killing every 

Mystic you can find.  We might end up in a situation where the odds 

would be too great.  So either follow me, or go on your own.ä

	ãÎTis better to be a unit, rather than traveling solo.  I shall 

follow thou,ä said the frog.

	ãThank you,ä said Crono, ãNow letâs go.ä

	Crono went down the stairs quietly, followed by the frog, then 

Lucca in the back.  He then noticed on the ground that a door was 

between the two staircases.  He looked back at the frog and Emily 

and pointed at the door.  They nodded.  Crono led the way and they 

sneaked inside.  To their disappointment it lead to a hall going 

both directions.  ãNow where?ä Lucca asked.

	ãTo the right,ä Crono answered.

	They went to the right and saw a staircase going down at 

the end of the hall.  All else was a dead end.  Crono then walked 

up to the staircase and sat on the rail.  ãWhat are you doing?ä 

Lucca asked.

	ãI havenât done this in a long time,ä said Crono.

	He then slid down the rail.  He didnât look in front of him 

until he reached the bottom.  He looked and saw an ogre was just 

starting up the stairs.  Crono and the ogre gasped as Crono slammed 

into the ogre.  They both landed on the ground dazed.  As he started 

to stand he saw the frog running down the stairs ready to chop into 

the ogre.  ãNo!ä Crono shouted.

	The frog stopped and looked at Crono confusingly.  ãWe must 

purge the evil, or the evil will trample the righteous!ä said the frog.

	ãNo!ä Crono commanded, ãI have had enough of unnecessary 

killing today!  If itâs evil or not, I will not let you become 

what you hate!ä 	

	Crono then saw the ogre starting to rise.  Crono then took 

his sword and slammed it against the ogreâs helmet.  It knocked the 

ogre out cold.  ãThere!ä said Crono, ãNo one is dead, just hurt with 

a headache.ä	

	Crono then looked around him and saw that there was a single 

door that went underneath the hallway above them.  He opened it and 

looked inside.  There were a few bats on the ceiling above the floor, 

but no signs of any Mystics.  He looked back and motioned them to come.  

The frog hesitated at first but followed Lucca inside.  Crono could see 

that the short passage lead to another door in front of him.  He opened 

it and saw that another hall went to the left.  ãIt appears that this is 

nothing more than a big circle.  It would probably lead us back to 

where we went down the stairs,ä Lucca commented.

	ãWell, there has to be something important here,ä said Crono, 

looking around the room.

	ãSir Crono!  An entrance!ä said the frog pointing at a wooden door 

on the left wall.

	ãA room inside the circle.  Letâs have a look,ä said Crono.

	Crono walked up to the door and tried to turn the knob.  It was 

locked.  ãFrog, you have to help me ram this door down,ä said Crono.

	ãOf course,ä said the frog.

	ãIâll watch for Mystics,ä said Lucca.

	Crono and the frog backed up a few paces in front of the door. 

ãOn three,ä said Crono.

	ãSir Crono, please interpret,ä said the frog.

	ãHuh?  Oh!  We ram the door on the count of three,ä he explained.

	ãVery well,ä said the frog.

	ãOkay...1...2...3!ä

	They both slammed into the door and it swung open.  Unable to stop, 

they kept going until they tripped and fell. ãFrog!  Youâre here!ä they 

heard a voice.

	They rose to their feet and saw Queen Leene chained up on the wall in

 front of them by her wrists.  ãMy queen!ä the frog exclaimed and kneeled in

 front of her.

	ãHelp us frog!  Please!ä the queen begged.

	Lucca walked inside and gasped.  There was at least fifteen to 

twenty prisoners chained up to the wall.  ãItâs all the people the Mystics 

have been impersonating!ä she exclaimed.

	Most of them were soldiers and servants, who were too exhausted to 

hold their heads up.  ãFinally!  Help has arrived!ä Crono heard a voice say

 behind him.  He turned around and saw it was the chancellor chained up 

behind him.

	ãChancellor Griffin!  What are you doing here?!ä Crono asked him.

	ãIâve been here for over a week!  Those Mystics are ready to kill us-ä

	ãThe door is open!  What in blazes?!ä they all heard behind them.

	They turned around and saw it was another Chancellor Griffin, the

 banshee they saw drinking beer in that back room, and a serpent, a Mystic 

snake that was intelligent, talked, wore funny bow ties, and have purple 

scaly skin.  ãAnother Chancellor Griffin?!ä Crono said in surprise.

	ãNo.  It is a Mystic,ä said Crono.

	Crono wasted no time and fired a dart at the banshee.  It hit the 

side of her neck and she fell to the ground instantly.  ãMaster!ä said the 

snake to the fake chancellor on the ground, ãI thought you said no one 

could escape!  Iâm hungry!ä

	ãObviously they have invaded us stupid!  They donât even look like 

humans worth capturing.  Well go ahead and neutralize them.ä

	Before the serpent had the chance to attack Lucca had loaded another

 dart and fired it.  The serpent fell to the ground instantly.  ãWell, I 

guess I will have to deal with this myself,ä said the fake chancellor.

	Suddenly the fake Chancellor lit up in a blinding light.  When the 

light dissipated, Brad saw the ugliest Mystic he had ever saw.  It had a fat

 body and crawled on the ground like a bug with ten tiny legs.  It had 

grayish-black skin, and its body rose to about the height of their 

shoulders.  Its head was shaped like a pumpkin, and had two yellow eyes, 

pointy teeth, and two ram-like horns.  In a bellowing voice the Mystic 

exclaimed, ãYakra shall make Magus proud!ä

	Yakra then charged toward the frog.  The frog leaped over Yakra, just

 barely missing him.  Yakra screeched to a halt and spun back around.  By 

now Emily had already loaded another dart and aimed it at Yakra.  ãGo ahead 

little girl!ä Yakra mocked her.

	She smiled sinisterly and fired.  The dart hit Yakraâs main body, but

 he didnât even flinch.  ãHe must be too big for the toxin to have any 

effect,ä Lucca said in a panic.

	Yakra then stood upright on his two hind legs.  He opened his mouth

 and blew a strange mist at Lucca.  The mist surrounded her and she coughed

 until she fell to the ground unconscious.  Yakra laughed and said, ãMother

 always told me that my breath was a knockout!ä

	Crono then charged at Yakra and slammed the blade on top of his body. 

 The blade couldnât pass through much skin.  ãOuch!  You fool!ä said Yakra 

as he rammed his horns into Cronoâs chest knocking him backwards.

	His breath was knocked out of him, and was too stunned to move.  The 

frog then let out a war cry and charged at Yakra.  Yakra then stood up again

 and blew his knockout gas at the frog.  The frog coughed but managed to 

jump out of the vapor before it took over.  Yakra laughed and began to 

charge the frog.  Suddenly Yakra saw Brad run in front of him and swung his 

sword under him and into his legs.  Yakra roared as he fell to the ground. 

Crono looked at his sword and saw that there wasnât a trace of blood.  ãGood 

grief does this Mystic have armor!ä he exclaimed.

	Suddenly he heard Yakra roar behind him.  He spun around to see that 

Yakra was on his hind legs ready to fall on top of him.  Crono froze in a 

panic, unable to react.  Then, the frog ran past Crono and ran his sword 

into the soft underbelly of Yakra.  Yakra gasped and fell flat on his back.

  Brad looked as the frog removed the blade from Yakraâs chest as Yakra took

 its final breath.  The frog then turned around and looked at Crono.  He 

nodded and walked past Crono and up to the queen.  ãMy lady, close your 

eyes.  I shall cut your chains.ä

	Crono then noticed Lucca on the ground.  He ran to her and knelt down.

  He checked for any inquires.  She was unharmed, so he spoke into her ear,

 ãLucca.  Wake up.ä

	She moaned in exhaustion and sat up.  ãWhat happened?ä she asked in a 

tired voice.

	ãThat frog has just killed Yakra.  Come on, we need to get these 

people out of here.ä

	She got up, and helped Crono and the frog cut the rest of the 

prisoners down.  

		*				*				*

	King Guardia walked back and forth down his throne room in impatience.

It was just a few hours ago that the queen was found to be missing again,

and that friend of hers tied up one of her royal servants and disappeared.

Also, a young girl had shot two soldiers with strange darts that had knocked

them out, but didnât kill them.  He had called out a search party for both

of them, but he still couldnât help but to feel helpless.  Suddenly, a 

guard burst into the throne room.

	ãSire! Sire!ä the guard yelled breathlessly.

	ãWhat is it guard?ä the king asked.

	ãThe queen has returned!  Also comes her gentlemen friend, and the 

frog!  The strange girl has come too!  And the chancellor!  And soldiers 

and-oh come see!ä

	The king ran behind the guard and saw in the main room a bunch of 

soldiers and servants, most of them dirty and sweaty.  He scanned the crowd 

and saw his wife talking to the frog, and the strange boy and girl.  

ãLeene!ä he called to her.

	ãJohn!ä she called back.

	They ran to each other and embraced.  They both began to cry with 

happiness, as their fears were finally calmed.  Everyone in the room looked 

and smiled.  Crono and Lucca looked at each other with a sense of pride.  

ãHow rewarding.  It makes me feel better,ä said Crono.

	Lucca nodded and said, ãNo kidding.ä

	The king then broke the embrace and looked at Leene.  ãAre you all 

right?ä he asked with concern.

	ãI am now, since Iâm home!  Now you must hunt down the Mystics spying 

here in the castle.  They were impersonating all of these men and Chancellor

Griffin as well.ä

	The king then pointed to a guard at attention.  The guard acknowledged

and ran out of the main room.  Suddenly, Crono remembered what their 

original purpose was.  ãMarle!ä he exclaimed.

	ãOh I forgot!ä said Lucca. 

	ãShe should be back now!  But where?!ä Crono panicked.

	ãWhere did she disappear?ä Lucca asked.

	ãIn the queenâs private chambers!ä he answered.

	ãDo you know the way?ä she asked.

	Crono then cut a trail without answering.  Lucca followed as best as

she could.  He ran to the staircase and on pure adrenaline he flew up the

stairs.  Lucca got tired out about halfway but Crono kept on going.  

Finally he had reached the top of the stairs.  There was a guard standing in

front of the door.  ãIâm sorry sir,ä said the guard, ãThis room is a sight

of investigation and cannot be-ä

	ãOut of my way!!!ä Crono roared as he punched the guard across the 

jaw.

	The guard then slumped against the wall.  Crono opened the door and 

looked around.  Everything was how he had left it, except the bathroom door 

was open.  Otherwise, no sign of Marle.  ãMarle!ä he called out.

	Still, no one was there.  ãOh no!  What did I do wrong?!ä he asked 

himself.

	As if he expected an answer he kept quiet.  There wasnât an answer. 

ãI canât believe it!  This canât be right!  Everything is right now!  What 

the hell has gone wrong?!  What?!ä

	Then, the light in the room changed to the blue color he saw when 

Marle vanished.  He held his breath and looked around.  The light then 

disappeared, but nothing happened.  ãMarle?ä he called out quietly.

	ãCrono?ä he heard someone say behind him.  

	He turned around and saw her.  She was the same way as when he last 

saw her, with her old clothes on, and tears rolling down her cheeks.  ãOh 

Crono,ä she said as she began to cry.  

	Crono ran to her and embraced her.  She cried as she held Crono tight.

They were both scared out of their minds and needed comfort.  They got it as

all of their fears left their hearts and finally found peace.  He then broke

the embrace and looked into her bloodshot eyes.  ãAre you okay?ä he asked.

	ãI am now.  I was so scared!  It was dark, full of mist and emptiness.

I never have felt so alone!  I felt like I was already dead,ä she said as 

began to choke in tears.  

	ãHey!  Iâm here now!  Itâs okay,ä he said soothingly as he tried held 

her again to calm her down.

	ãMarle!  Youâre okay!ä they heard Lucca exclaim from the door.

	Marle turned her head and smiled.  ãHi Lucca!  Itâs so good to see 

you.ä

	Lucca grinned and said, ãItâs good to see you too, Princess.ä

	Marleâs expression turned to shock as her eyes seemed to grow larger 

before their eyes.  ãExcuse me?ä she asked.

	ãOh come on!ä said Lucca, ãI knew it all of the time!ä

	Marle stepped away from Crono and forced out a grin and laughed 

nervously, ãI guess I couldnât have held out that secret much longer.ä

	ãWell I want to hear it from you,ä said Crono.	

	Marle looked down and said, ãYes, I am Princess Nadia, daughter of the

king, King Guardia VII.ä

	ãI knew you was!ä Lucca exclaimed, ãSo we need to call you Princess 

Nadia!ä

	ãNo!!!ä Marle barked back.

	Both Lucca and Crono jumped back.  ãSorry,ä said Marle, ãI canât stand

being called royal titles.  It can be a real pain in the neck.  Just call me

Marle, please.  Itâs kind of a nickname that I have, and I like it better 

than ÎPrincess Nadia.âä

	ãBut why did you not tell me who you really were back at the fair?ä 

Crono asked.

	ãCrono, if I told you that I was a princess, you would have never have

let me go with you at the fair.  I know that.ä

	ãThatâs nonsense!ä said Crono, ãI may have felt slightly awkward, me a

commoner and you being royalty.  Still, I had a fun time with you!  Even if 

you had told me that you was a princess, I still would have wanted the 

pleasure of your company!ä

	ãOh Crono!  You are such a gentleman!ä said Marle as she gave Crono a 

big hug.

	Crono looked over Marleâs shoulder to see Lucca.  She leaned against 

the side of the doorway and shook her head.  ãYou flirt,ä she mouthed to 

him.

	Crono couldnât help but to chuckle.  Marle then looked at Crono and 

said, ãExactly why did I disappear?ä she asked.

	ãItâs a long story,ä said Crono, ãIâll explain it on the way home.  

Actually·Lucca, you did cover this didnât you?ä

	ãCrono, you know I donât forget anything that important.  Follow me, 

and Iâll show you.ä

	Lucca then started down the stairs.  Crono and Marle walked out of the

room side by side as they stepped over the unconscious guard.  ãWell, it all

started when-ä Crono began the story.

	Lucca had just reached the bottom of the stairs when a guard stood in 

front of the door.  ãMadam, is your friend, Sir Crono with you?ä

	ãYes he is.  Why?ä she asked.

	ãThe king requests for your presence,ä he answered.

	ãOkay.  Hey Crono!ä she called up the stairs.

	ãYeah?ä she heard him respond.

	ãThe king wants to see us!  So hurry up!ä

		*				    *					*

	The king shook his head in wonder as Crono, Lucca, and the frog told 

their story.  Queen Leene, Sir Richard, and Chancellor Griffin were in the 

throne room as well listening to their tale.  They told the king of how 

Yakra tried to run a spying operation in Guardia Castle, using Mystics to 

disguise themselves as guards, servants, soldiers, Chancellor Griffin, and 

even attempted to have a banshee impersonate the queen herself.  All of them

listened as they told how the Mystics used the old sanctuary as a hideout 

for all of them and as a temporary prison for the humans they were 

impersonating.  Even though the queen and chancellor were prisoners there,

they didnât know exactly what was happening.  As they finished, a guard 

barged inside the throne room.

	ãSir, most of the Mystics in the castle have been rounded up.  We have

also found some soldiers that are human who were aiding in the plot of 

kidnapping the queen and chancellor.ä

	ãWhy would anyone help the Mystics?ä Sir Richard asked.

	ãThey seemed to have been paid a lot of money sir.  We found about 

2000 gold pieces hidden in their chambers,ä the guard answered.

	The king then looked at the chancellor.  ãChancellor, I want you to 

devise some new laws that will strictly punish these rebels.  I want this 

act to discourage anyone who would dare to aid the Mystics again.ä

	ãYes sir,ä said the chancellor as we quickly wrote on a scroll.  

ãShould I also make stricter laws that will punish those who would kidnap 

royalty?  Doing so would also send out a good message to anyone who would 

think of doing so.ä

	ãI agree,ä said the king, ãMake laws that will protect those from the 

king to his children and their childrenâs children!ä

	ãConsider it done,ä said the chancellor as he left the room still 

writing.

	The queen then walked up to Marle and looked at her face closely, 

ãYour resemblance to me is amazing.  I still canât believe it.ä

	ãI know.  Itâs weird isnât it,ä said Marle.

	ãWeird?ä everyone said in the room with confusion.

	ãWhat does wierd mean?ä the queen asked.

	ãI think we should be going now,ä said Lucca.

	ãYes,ä said Crono, ãGoodbye!ä

	ãGoodbye!ä everyone said as they left the throne room.

	They reached the front door when Marle looked back and saw that the 

frog was following them.  ãHello Mr. Frog!ä said Marle.

	ãFrog!ä said Crono, ãWhere are you off to?ä

	ãI wanted to bid thou farewell before I retreat for a time,ä said the 

frog.

	ãWhat do you mean?ä Lucca asked.

	ãI vowed to protect the queen with my life.  The fair Leene was almost

slain by evil.  I hath failed to protect thee.ä

	ãBut frog, you-ä Lucca tried to explain.

	ãDisregard the fact she hath remainth today.  ÎTwas not for thou, I 

would have dishonored my vow.  Now farewell.ä

	The frog walked past Lucca and stopped to look at Marle.  ãYouâre 

resemblance to her majesty is uncanny,ä he commented.

	He then turned to look at Crono.  ãSir Crono, thou possess the 

potential to become a masterful swordsman.  However, you must disregard 

morality and be willing to purge the wicked with a stroke of your blade.  

If not, thou shanât be any greater.ä

	Crono shrugged his shoulders and said, ãOkay.  Whatever.  You believe

what you want, but I still wonât be a killer.  So take care of yourself.ä

	The frog bowed to them and said, ãFarewell my friends.ä

	The frog then walked out the front door without turning back.  ãGoodbye 

Mr. Frog.  You wasnât a bad guy at all,ä Lucca said sadly.

	ãLetâs let the frog be,ä said Crono, ãNow how do we get home?ä

	ãOh yeah!  I forgot!  Follow me guys!ä

	Marle then turned to Crono and asked, ãWould you start where you left 

off, about what happened to me?ä

	ãOh sure!  Well, since you are in the Guardia family·ä

	*					*				*

	Using just the moonlight, Lucca had led them all the way back to Truce

Canyon.  Crono and Marle stayed back as he told her about what had happened 

that evening.  ãI thought that we might have ended up in the past.  Oh I 

knew that playing a queen would be a bad idea!ä said Marle in frustration. 

	ãOh well, youâre safe now,ä said Crono.

	They then crossed the wooden bridge over the canyon.  They could hear 

the water gushing beneath them.  ãAre we going to where we appeared here in 

the past?ä Crono asked.

	ãYouâll see,ä Lucca said.

	 She disappeared behind the grove of trees that Crono remembered 

appearing in.  Strangly the area inside of the grove seemed to be lit with a

strange blue glow, not coming from the moon.  As Crono and Marle entered the

grove to see that a unusual looking blue ball, the size of their heads, 

floating a few feet off the ground.  It was the source of the light, and all

three of them seemed to glow in its light as well.  ãWhat is it?ä Marle 

asked.

	ãI call it a time gate.  After Crono entered this portal with your 

pendant, this appeared in place of the portal.  I then theroized that the 

pendant had created a permanent time gate that led to this time, same 

location, just different time.ä

	ãSo do we just jump in or something?ä Marle asked.

	ãOh no!ä Lucca warned her, ãI think it was luck that Crono ended up in

this time with you!  These time gates are unstable to where they will take 

you.  Crono could have ended up here a year after you got here, or a year 

before.ä

	ãSo what do we do then Lucca?!ä said Crono impatiently.

	ãSimple.  I have made a device that will make the portal more stable. 

Here it is!ä

	She then pulled out of her pocket a long, strange looking key.  There 

was a star made of wires at the top of the key, and little switches on the 

side of the key.  It looked like much of it was made with gold.  ãI call it 

the Gate Key!ä she exclaimed.

	ãWell what does it do,ä said Crono who was not impressed.

	ãI makes the time gate more stable.  Say I enter the portal back home 

using the key at 3:00 pm on Monday.  I can stay here as long as I want, and 

when I want to go back home, I use the key on the time gate, and I will end 

up back home around 3:15 pm on Monday, instead of a year after or before or 

whatever.  I based the general principle of the Gate Key on my teleport 

device!ä

	ãYouâre a genious!ä Marle exclaimed.

	ãOh, itâs not that big a deal,ä said Lucca.

	ãNo really it is!ä said Marle.  ãWhy, I would trade all of my royal 

titles to have your genius!ä

	ãWell I guess I am pretty smart!ä said Lucca.

	ãEnough of this crap!  Letâs just go home!ä said Crono impatiently.

	ãFor once I agree with you!ä said Lucca.

	She then hit a couple of switches on the Gate Key and inserted it into

the time gate.  The ball then grew larger and larger until it was the size of 

Crono, and looked just like the gate they had entered before.  ãWell come

on!  Donât wait up!ä said Lucca as she jumped into the portal.

	ãLadyâs first,ä said Crono gesturing Marle to go next.

	ãCrono, I get that all the time back home.  Iâm not impressed,ä said 

Marle.

	ãFine!  Then youâre last!ä said Crono with laughter as he leaped into 

the portal.

	Marle laughed and jumped in last.  After she was gone, the portal 

closed behind her.

		*				*				*

	Marle saw that the portal had reached the end and she flew out into 

the sunshine and landed on top of Crono and Lucca, who also had been thrown 

to the ground.  They all staggered to their feet and looked around.  They 

were back at Luccaâs teleport device, empty, and the time gate behind them 

between the two pods.  ãWeâre home!ä Marle exclaimed.

	ãWay to go Lucca!ä said Crono with praise.

	ãThanks,ä she answered.

	They then looked up at the clocktower and saw it was 6:24 in the 

evening.  ãI guess I better take you home,ä said Crono looking at Marle.

	ãI guess I need to go,ä she said with disappointment.

	ãIâll head back home and tell daddy that it was a success.  See you 

later!  Bye Crono!  Bye Marle!ä

	ãBye Lucca!ä they both said to her as she left toward the fair.

	ãAnd thank you!ä Marle added.

	Lucca turned around and said, ãNo problem!ä

	Marle then looked at Crono.  ãIf we donât head to the castle now, I 

may never want to go back.  So letâs go.ä

	They had reached the Guardia Forest, and were now only a few hundred

yards away from the castle.  Marle looked at Crono and exhaled, "I guess I

will be stuck in the castle again.  I enjoyed our time together."

	Crono nodded and said, "Hey, if you ever sneak out of the castle

again, just look me up, okay?"

	Marle smiled and said, "You bet!"

	Crono stared into her blue eyes and saw that they were filled with 

tears.  They both knew that they would probably never see each other again. 

Before he could speak, she then turned toward the long dirt and started up

it, toward the castle hidden by the sea of trees.  She never looked back,

but Crono continued to watch her go, until her siloette merged with the

shadows of the trees, and could no longer be seen.