Chapter Four

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"I still don't understand why we have to go to the castle," Chrono said as they marched through Guardia Forest.

Lucca gulped. "Well, let's just say I have a hunch that Marle might be there."

"Why?"

"You'll find out when we get there!" Lucca took off running through the forest before Chrono could ask anymore questions.

They were greeted by two guards at the door. "Who goes there?" the first one exclaimed.

Chrono reached into his pocket and took out a picture of Marle. "We were just wondering if you've seen this girl anywhere."

The guards examined the photo and appeared to be surprised. "Is this some kind of joke?" the second guard asked.

Lucca shook her head. "No... We're looking for her. Has she come here?"

The first guard shook his head. "No, she has yet to return... But we thank you for your efforts in finding our queen."

"Queen?" Chrono asked, raising an eyebrow. "Her name is Marle." Then, he noticed a large painted portrait hanging on the wall behind one of the guards. It was a picture of a woman -- who looked just like Marle -- wearing a beautiful white dress with long white gloves.

Lucca grabbed his arm. "Thank you... We'll keep our eyes open for the queen." With that, she dragged Chrono away from the castle doors.

As they walked back through the forest, Chrono's mind drifted back to the painting. "Lucca, was it just me, or did that woman in the picture--"

"--Look exactly like Marle? There's a reason for that. And she's gonna kill me for telling you this." She looked at Chrono. "Those guards thought that she was their queen because... Marle is a member of the queen's family... In our time... She's a member of the Guardia family."

Chrono just stood there, trying to figure out what Lucca was trying to say.

Lucca sighed. "Chrono... Marle is... not her real name. She's the daughter of the king."

Chrono's eyes bugged out. "No way... You mean... She's Princess Nadia!?"

o O o

Marle paced around the large master bedroom, which Magus had locked her inside off. How in the world was she going to get out of here? There were bars on the windows, so that option was out. The door was locked and guarded by that Slash person, and the only thing to light the room by were a few candles here and there. She sat down on the bed, trying to let all of this sink in. First, Lucca's gate key made her travle back in time. Then, she was mistaken for her dead ancestor. And now, she was locked up in a wierd guy's palace... in his bedroom. At that moment, there was a light knock on the door that startled her. She cleared her throat. "Come in," she said, knowing that whoever it was would just come right on in anyway. She was just grateful that people had the common decentcy to knock around here.

The door opened and in came Magus, wearing a smile on his face. "Does this room suite you, Your Highness?"

"Yes, thank you... and please, call me Marle."

He walked over and sat down next to her. "I suppose you're wondering why I have not killed you by now, am I correct?"

"Well, it crossed my mind," she replied nervously.

He chuckled. "Well, as I've said before, I am going to be the future ruler of Guardia. But in order for this plan to work, I had to capture Queen Leene... and take her as my wife." He leaned in a little closer. "And then, a little princess from the future came to visit me."

Marle gulped. "Oh... Wait a minute... You mean, you wanna marry me!?"

"Why not? You come from a more advanced time, which probubly offers more of an oppertunity for me to take over not only Guardia, but the entire world." He smiled winder. "That, and you are just as beautiful as Leene."

Marle stood up from the bed and gave him a mean look. "Well, I'm sorry to tell you this... I'm taken!" Then, her mind drifted back to Chrono and Stella kissing in the village square. Maybe she wasn't taken after all... But Magus didn't need to know that.

"I'm afraid you don't have much of a choice in the matter."

"Oh, yes I do." She turned away, folding her arms. "Besides, my time... Isn't all that much different from this one."

"Oh, really? Then tell me about it."

She turned around and looked at him. His smile had not left his face. Obviously, she was not intimidating him enough. "Um, well... The castle is still there... The village is still there... The only major changes made are that there's a square built where the mountains are... the church next to the castle was torn down..." She smiled. "And, now that I think about it, this palace isn't there, either."

His smiled finally faded. "What?"

"Just what I said: Your palace isn't there." She started pacing around the room. "And now that I think about it... You're not their either. All of the history books say that when the diranged Magus tried to kidnap Queen Leene, his plane was foiled. He was captured and executed for his crimed."

"WHAT!?" Magus jumped up from the bed.

"Yes! You were executed five months after the queen's wedding, on their anniversury."

He stared at her with clenched teeth. Then, he started pacing around the room. "Where in the world did I go wrong? My plan was flawless!" He abruptly stopped pacing and looked at her, calmly saying, "I can assure you that my execution will not take place." With that, he marched out of the room, closing and locking the door behind him.

Marle sighed. "Me and my big mouth."