Alright. Hopefully this update works this time. Anyhow. I was in England for the past three months and that was such a huge trip for me that it took up all my time. Hopefully now that I have returned to the states I'll be able to update more frequently. Although school is starting so who knows.

As always I own nothing which is actually very sad since I'm dedicating a small portion of my life to something that will never be entirely mine. I weep, but hah, nobody can sue me because of it.

On with the show ladies and gents:

"You're going to what!" cried Marle to the purple haired girl who stood before her. "And with who!"

"I've already told you three times," said Lucca quietly, biting her lip and holding the strange blue cat closer to her chest. "I'm going to go with Magus. He's looking for his sister somewhere... out there," she made a gesture with her hand to encompass the entirety of the land.

"Lucca, friend, thou art in danger with that one," Frog croacked out, his face puffing out making his large eyes seem larger. Lucca didn't know if that made her feel bad for the humanoid creature or just a teensy bit more creeped out.

"Look," began Lucca exaspetated, "It's not that I am unaware that Magus isn't exactly the nicest guy around but I know that he's not evil..."

Frog interrupted with a noise. Lucca eventually decided that it must have been a frogs version of a sarcastic laugh.

"Okay well he's not Lavos-evil. I can't explain it, I just know." Or, at least, I hope, said a little voice in her head.

Marle sighed and looked down. "Lucca, we were planning on trying to see if there was a way of.. Of.. " she took a moment to quiet herself before looking up at her friend. "Of bringing Crono back."

"Crono gone. Bring back!" said Ayla helpfully and with strange cheer.

"That's right, Ayla. We're going to bring him back!" Marle looked at the blond with a sad smile before turning back to Lucca. "I wanted you to help Lucca. You're smarter than all of us. What if the Epoch breaks down or Robo needs a check-up?" Lucca sighed.

"I know it seems like I'm abandoning everyone to go on some crazy chase with a man who once tried to kill us... okay maybe I am crazy. But look, it's just something I need to do. And please, I don't mean any disrespect by this Marle, but it's unlikely that you guys will be able to bring Crono back, my help or not," Lucca staggered when she saw Marle's eyes filling with tears. It was with a heavy heart that she continued on, "But I would be disappointed if you didn't try. It's something you have to do, just as this is something I have to do. Please understand..." It was clear from the look in everyone's eyes, except Ayla who was tying her tail in a knot, that this was not the case. Marle, however, nodded vaguely.

"If it's what you have to do, then do it. I don't like the idea, Lucca, but I understand. We all do," she gave Frog a look at this.

"Lady Lucca, please reconsider," said Frog. Lucca only shook her head sadly. The tension in the room felt overbearing. It seemed like they could all stand there, not talking for eternity before there came a voice from the background.

"Oo, kitty! Rarr!" It was Ayla, leaping from a position on the floor and tacking Lucca and Alfador. The cat, who didn't very much like being tackled, took this as a sign of the upmost danger and scrambled away before being in any real peril. Lucca, however, was not so lucky. She and Ayla tumbled to the floor, blond and purple hair flying everywhere.

"Ooof! Ayla! Watch it!" cried Lucca on her back.

"Cat get away!" shouted the blond. She would have run after it if Lucca hadn't grabbed onto her tail and held her back.

"No fair," said Ayla, pouting. "No laugh!" she cried, but everyone, in shock, had started laughing heartily at her foibles.

---------------------------------------------------------------

The group decided to meet up at the End of Time after a certain number of weeks. Lucca gave them one of her pet projects she had been working on.

"What is this again?" Marle had asked, holding the tiny device gingerly in her hands.

"It's a communicator. I haven't really been able to test it that well but it should be able to let us make quick messages to one another if it's an emergency. I'm not sure exactly what the range is, or if it will even work if we're in different time periods. But I have been working under the theory of the speed of light that if..."

"Okay, okay! Don't go into the details, I won't understand a word of it," giggled Marle.

Frog had given her a stern lecture about Magus, citing various injuries the mage had done in the name of senseless cruelty. By the end of his tirade Lucca had half a mind to call the crazy deal off.

However, thought she, I went through all that trouble of convincing them. I might as well go.

Lucca started her way to the small earthbound town to gather supplies for her upcoming journey when she heard a noise behind her. She turned to see Robo trudging slowly after her.

"Robo? What are you doing here. You should be with the others."

"Lucca, I could not let you go without first saying goodbye," the robot whirred.

"Oh, Robo, that's so sweet," Lucca said as she put her arms around the metallic body of the robot she had saved and named.

"I'm scared Robo," she admitted to him.

"You are brave, Lucca. You will be strong. I have been listening to Frog talk and he has been speaking about a ..." the robot whirred, processing information, "higher power? Is that accurate? He believes that a higher power is controlling our lives and what you humans would call destiny. From what I understand of this concept I believe that it is our destiny to meet again. So, please, do not be afraid of the future."

"Robo," said Lucca quietly, "have I ever told you that you're the only one who makes sense to me?"

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Marle dried her eyes. She had to be strong. With Crono gone and oh, how that pain ached and Lucca wandering off it was she who would be in charge of the little band of warriors. As a princess she was used to giving orders and having them followed without a second thought. However she was surrounded by her friends and companions. They had been through a lot together. Under the leadership of Crono they had fought bravely and well. She didn't know if she could lead them as well as he did.

It doesn't matter. All you have to do is get Crono back. Then everything will be back to normal.

Still. When she looked at their faces, she saw the pain as clearly as if she was looking in the mirror. She was unsure of herself, just as much as they must have been unsure of her.

"Princess Marle?" said Frog respectfully. "Thou hast been silent for a time now. Shouldst thou not decide which course of action we take?"

"Yes," said Marle quietly. "Yes. The main objective is to bring Crono back. I have no idea where to start though."

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Lucca made it back to the North Cape at the time when she had told Magus she would return. She didn't see him when she got there so she sat down and rested her head on her hands and sighed. She couldn't believe he was late. It just didn't seem like something he would do.

Her disappointment was quickly ended when a voice thundered at her, causing her to stand up in alarm, the hairs on her arms sticking right up.

"Where is Alfador?" shouted the distinct voice of Magus.

"Oh. Shit."