“Alright, let’s get going,” Crono said with a grin. They departed the fair and made their way through town. Before making their way to the castle, Crono remembered that he needed to get rid of the clothes that had been ruined by his trip to the past. Arriving at his house, Crono opened the door and called out to his mom. There was no answer. He quickly found a note from her saying she had gone to get more food for his cat.
While Marle waited downstairs, Crono ran up to his room to put away his clothes and his old sword. He started to put the new sword down too but something told him to hang on to it. He ran back downstairs to Marle and left a note to his mom to tell her that he’d be back after taking a friend home.
“So how long have you known Lucca?” Marle asked as they walked down the road to the palace. Crono looked over towards Lucca’s house as they neared it. He shrugged and replied, “Years I guess? Our moms are friends and we’ve known each other as far back as I can remember. That’s her house over there.”
Marle looked in the direction of Lucca’s house. It was a rather unassuming two-story house on a island across a small bridge. That’s when she saw Lucca running across the bridge towards them.
“Hey guys! You got a few minutes?” Lucca called out. Crono looked to Marle who nodded. They walked up to Lucca. She quickly handed them each a Gate Key.
“You made more?” Crono asked. “But you told your dad-“
“Just because I said we wouldn’t doesn’t mean it might not happen again accidentally,” Lucca replied. “This way we each have a way home.”
Marle and Crono quickly put their Keys away. That’s when they heard a woman call out to Lucca and Crono. Marle looked up to see an older woman with teal hair walk up to them. The woman smiled and asked, “Who’s your new friend?”
“Oh hi, Mom. This is Marle,” Lucca replied. She looked down at her mom’s feet and asked, “How are the new adjustments?”
“Oh, they’re doing great,” her mom replied. That’s when Marle noticed Lucca’s mom’s legs. They were prosthetics. Marle wondered what had happened but didn’t want to make things awkward by asking. She quickly looked back up, hoping she hadn’t stared long. Lucca’s mom smiled and said. “It’s nice to see Lucca making new friends.”
“It’s nice to meet you too,” Marle said with a smile. “I’d love to stay but I should be getting home. Do you want to come too, Lucca?”
“Sure! If that’s ok, mom?” Lucca asked, looking to her mom. Her mom smiled and said, “Just be back before dark.”
As they walked down road to the castle, Crono looked around, “Crazy how much changed in four hundred years… What do you think happened to that Glenn guy?”
“Records from back then were rather sparse, what with the war against the Mystics,” Lucca said. “I hope he got out of Guardia safely.”
Marle said, “I can’t wait to show you around the castle! I mean, after I’m done being grounded for sneaking out. Father’s gonna be so mad.”
“You snuck out?” Lucca asked in surprise. Marle said, “Yeah, I don’t normally dress like this and Father said I ‘should stay in the castle and be a proper princess.’ Come on, the castle is just up this road.”
As they neared the castle, an older man and some guards came around the corner of the curving road. He saw Marle with Crono and Lucca and yelled out, “Ah! Princess Nadia! Get away from those ruffians! Guards!”
The guards quickly surrounded the group. Marle put her arms in front of Crono and a Lucca and yelled, “Stop Chancellor! They’re my friends!”
The guards stopped and the older man yelled, “What are you doing?!”
“I don’t care what she said, arrest them!”
Marle suddenly snatched a crossbow from a nearby guard and pointed it at the other guards. “I said stop! If you arrest them, I’ll tell my father!”
“They’ve clearly confused you,” the Chancellor remarked. “Put down the crossbow, Your Highness.”
Marle looked around quickly and saw a trail into the forest. She kept the crossbow aimed at the guards even though she knew she couldn’t bring herself to shoot any of them. She whispered to Crono and Lucca, “When I say so, run after me.”
“What?” Crono whispered back.
“Run!!” Marle cried out as she turned and bolted down the trail. Crono and Lucca quickly turned and followed. The guards stood there for a moment before realizing they had to chase their princess.
Marle pushed into a clearing and was surprised to find a Gate. “Guys! Look!”
“Another Gate?” Lucca asked in surprise. Marle fished around her pockets for her copy of the Gate Key. “We should use it.”
“But we don’t know where it will go!” Crono said in protest. The sounds of the guards neared. Marle pulled her Key out and pushed the button. The Gate opened up and Marle turned to Crono and Lucca. “Anywhere’s better than here! Let’s go!”
Exchanging glances, Crono and Lucca nodded and followed Marle into the Gate and into the unknown.
