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Chapter Text

Frog, now human, walked down the bridge to the to talk to Queen Leene. Guards were a few meters behind him because they didn't trust him. He saw Queen Leene, the king, the chancellor, and knights building the new court. They hadn't noticed him yet. Frog, who now wanted to be called Glenn again, walked and wondered how he would explain himself. Would they believe him? What if they didn't.

Suddenly they looked up at him. Here it comes, Glenn thought, the questions, the disbelief. But something caught their eyes and they turned to look at it. Glenn followed their gaze to see a small object moving in a straight line, then it sped away with a trail a light following it. Glenn smiled to himself. It was the Epoch, he could recognize it anywhere. Probably Crono, Marle, and Lucca, he thought, but why are they here?

After the Epoch disappeared, Glenn turn back to the castle. To his surprise, Queen Leene was walking towards him. The knights watched him carefully. She had obviously ordered them to stay back.

Queen Leene stopped in front of him. Glenn quickly bowed in respect, so she spoke, "That is not necessary, Glenn. I didn't expect you so soon. I thought you would stay longer with Crono and the others."

Glenn looked up in surprise, "You knew Frog was me, and how do you know I'm Glenn? It's been 10 years since I was human, I barely recognized myself."

Queen Leene smiled, "You did not change much, you just look older. " She paused, then continued, "When I first met you as Frog I suspected that you were Glenn. You acted the same, but with anger. Also you knew things that only Glenn knew."

Glenn nodded.

Queen Leene tilted her head slightly with a concerned looked, "Why was the, what was it, the Epuk, why was it here in our time? I thought everyone were going to stay in their own time. Is something wrong?"

Glenn looked to where the Epoch had been, "The Epoch, I thought everyone was going to stay in their own time too. I hope nothings wrong."

.

Ayla and Kino laughed as they rode on the dactyls up in the sky.

"Ayla back," Kino said, "Ayla stay long time?"

"Ayla stay. Have party. Eat! Dance! Fight! Fun!"

They rode higher and higher.

"People small when we high." Kino said pointing to the people down below.

Ayla looked at the tiny people. She never paid attention to her surroundings when she was on a dactyl before. The tiny people looked funny.

Kino spoke, "Mountains beautiful. What that?"

Ayla looked where Kino pointed, "Epoch? Why Epoch here?"

"Ayla leave again?"

Ayla shook her head in confusion. "Why Epoch here? Ayla not understand."

.

Robo waited at the cliff of the mountain. Suddenly a familar voice came, "Prometheus! How are you? It seems like it has been long. Mother Brain and I have missed."

Robo would've have smiled if he could at the sight of his girlfriend, Atropos, "I missed you as well. How are you? How is Mother Brain?"

Atropos took Robo's hand and they both sat down.

"We are both fine. Everything here has been normal. No more problems, human or robot."

"That's good."

"Prometheus, do you think at one point Lavos wasn't killed in 1999 A.D. I mean, do you think anyone remembers what would've happen if no one beat him."

"I thought about that. Maybe Crono, Marle, Lucca, Ayla, and Frog. Any of them might remember 2300 A.D. as it was as if Lavos hadn't been killed because it was their future change, not their past."

"So you could've remembered 2300 A.D. that way until you came back here. That's strange to think about."

"Time-tavel," Robo said shaking his head, "We may never figure how it works."

"What's that?" Atropos asked, "It looks like the Epoch."

Robo looked towards where she pointed, "Why is that here?"

.

To Be Continued:

Chapter Text

Crono, Marle, and Lucca rode in the Epoch in 2300 A.D. Marle was petting a kitten as it purred in her lap.

"Ok, Crono, we got all three out of four of your cats." Marle said, "Now we just need to find that last cat and your mom."

Lucca shook her head frustrated, "We check every time from 65,000,000 B.C. to 2300 A.D. and even the End Of Time. Where could she be!?"

"Don't get mad." Marle said smiling, "Now we can time-travel just a little more." her smile suddenly got bigger, "Maybe we just might have to go on the ground on go door to door looking for her and that last cat."

"Probably will, by the way if their are three of us, and three seats. Where will she sit?"

"I guess one of us will have to stay at that time until the others come back- ooh cat alert!"

Crono parked the Epoch close to the cat, but not too close to scare. Then they climbed out.

"Come on, Lucca, look how 2300 A.D. has changed. You must be dying to find Robo and ask him about it."

"He won't remember us."

Crono picked up the cat.

"But remember you made a copy of his memories in case he forgets us. Plus wouldn't you love to get your hands on the computers here."

"Marle stop. Crono stop laughing."

"I bet they're even more advanced then the last time we were here."

"Marle!" Lucca tried to sound angry but her giggles could be heard.

They got in.

"Why are you acting as if you're not enjoying yourself? What happen to the happy, smart, joyful, fun-loving, Lucca I know?"

Lucca laughed, "She's still here; and I'm acting this way because I feel we shouldn't time-travel and I thought acting like I didn't enjoy it would make it easier."

"Thought that would make it easier! Where is your brain today, it's never left before."

Now they were back in their own time, in Crono house. Crono left to feed the cats.

"How long do you think he'll take?" Marle asked.

"I don't know. Because it is the last day of the fair he can't get it at the Tent of Horrors. So I don't know where he's getting it."

"So shouldn't we ask him?"

"Oh yah! Where is my brain today?"

.

On the Epoch, cats were fed, Marle was driving. 65,000,000 B.C. and 12,000 B.C. were already checked. They were now on their way to 600 A.D.

Lucca planned everything, "We'll look in the houses in Truce. That town is nearest to the time-gate. Then we'll check Guardia Forest and Guardia Castle ."

"We're here!" Marle announced.

They climbed out.

"We'll spit up and each check -"

"Lucca. " Marle interrupted, "We did this in the last two times. We know what to do."

"Yes. Alright." Lucca left.

Marle shook her head. "I think she found her brain." Then went the market.

.

Lucca found Crono's mom in the Inn.

"Lucca! Where are we?"

Lucca smiled "We'll take you home."

"Where's Crono?"

Lucca led her out and called the others.

"I'll stay here while you take her back," Marle volunteered as soon as she came out, "While I'm here, I might as will visit Frog. It would be rude not to."

"Who's Frog?" asked Crono's mom, "Is that the green-toad thing I saw in our house?"

Before the Epoch even lifted Marle was on her way.

.

Marle was now in Cursed Woods fighting a T'pole. It hit her. She got mad and an arrow flew to the T'pole. Half his HP was lost.

"Another hit and I'll win." She told herself.

The T'pole striked her again.

"Take HP from me will you?" she said pulling back her bow and arrow. "You wanted a fight, you got one."

The T'pole fell at the second strike. Marle jumped in glee.

"Now sleep, when I'm back you'll want another fight."

Marle continued her way to Frog's home. She got to the bushes that hid his home. She found the ladder and climbed down. You better be here, she thought, I didn't come all this all for nothing. If you in the castle, I'll be disappointed. Marle jump off the second lowest step and took two steps when a human yelling, "Who's there!?" came flying into the room.

"Big jump." Marle said to this strange human with green hair and wearing Frog's clothes.

"Marle, I did not expect you."

Marle slowly circled man once, who sounded like Frog, but with some difference. Yep, Frog's clothes. The man appeared to be in his early twenties, his hair held two loose braids in the back. Marle stopped in front of him, "Frog?"

"Yes?"

"You're, human."

"Magus said his death would break the spell, and he is dead. Also please call me Glenn."

"Glenn?"

"Yes?"

"You're different. I mean..."

"It's ok that you are surprised. I mean, if I saw you and you were a frog, I'd be surprised too. By the way, why are you here in 600 A.D.?"

"Nothing big. Crono's mom went into the gate before it closed so we had to find her. We did. Crono and Lucca are bringing her back to 1000 A.D. Then they'll come back for me."

Glenn nodded, "Well, I'm glad nothing is wrong."

Marle recognized his tone of voice, "Don't tell me something wrong is here. That's the last thing this kingdom needs; and where is your accent?"

"I can talk normal now that I'm human. Before I had the accent because I couldn't talk normal with a frog's mouth."

"Ok, now tell me what the problem is."

"Have you ever heard of the Shifters."

"Yes, they can change shape, imitate anything or person. But they disappeared in 2000 B.C. How are they here now?"

"We think they have been hiding for the last 2600 years. We don't even know where they are hiding. All we know is that they're here."

"How do you know they're here?"

"People found many notes all reading, 'We are the Shifters, we want revenge, we will attack and destroy all human kind.' "

"Revenge?"

Glenn shook his head, "In 2000 B.C. some of the humans experimented on whatever Shifter they found. So the Shifters hid. Now, 2600 years later, they want revenge."

"Oh, wait a minute, how do I know you're the real Glenn and not a Shifter."

"When we first met I said, 'Your resemblance to the queen is uncanny.' Now prove to me to me you're you."

Marle frowned slightly not sure she liked his proof, but it was the best they could do, now she had to prove herself, "I screamed when I first met you."

Glenn nodded.

Marle wished she thought of something else. But it was too late now, "We'll help you. "

"There is no need for you to get involved. You helped us enough."

"Come on Fr- I mean Glenn. Crono, Lucca, and I need more adventure. You're kingdom has one but doesn't want it. So doesn't that state the obvious?"

"We'll have to find away to prove to each we really are who we say we are every time we meet again."

"You'll say uncanny, I'll say scream. Crono and Lucca must be here by now." Marle said while jumping up and down. Then she ran to the ladder, "Come on."

"I'll follow I have to get some things first."

Marle quickly climbed up the ladder. She got to the top to find Crono and Lucca walking towards her.

"I found an adventure, Glenn needs our help."

Lucca shook her head, "I knew you would do that."

"Tell us about it," said Crono.

Marle and Lucca both looked at him in surprise. Lucca spoke first, "Shut up, he doesn't just speak out like that."

Marle couldn't believe what she was hearing, "Y-You're Shifters." She took a step back.

The Lucca-Shifter suddenly jumped forward and pushed Marle against a tree. "Humans are so weak," she said as she covered Marle's mouth.

Then she started to change. The antenna-thing on her hat got smaller. The colors in her purple hair pulled away showing red and blue. Her scarf shrunk, turning more golden. Her hat got smaller and fell back. Hair was longer by now each strand alternating blue and red. Then the blue went down to stain her clothes a sky-blue. The blue was replaced by yellow. Her glasses got thinner until it disappeared into her face. The red and yellow strands in her hair joined to make orange. Yellow joined her blue eyes to make green. The scarf became a necklace. The change took seconds and when she was done the Lucca-Shifter was a perfect image of Marle.

Marle meanwhile had stood there amazed by the art. After, she looked at Crono-Shifter who had no expression on his face.

Marle-Shifter turned to Crono-Shifter. "Swau, fwr icwe gwew."

Crono walked quickly to her.

Marle-Shifter spoke English this time, "We'll take her back to Shifton."

Crono-Shifter nodded, he took Marle's wrist and led her into the thicker part of the forest.

"Don't talk," said Marle-Shifter as she followed.

.

To Be Continued...

Chapter Text

Glenn climb the ladder hoping no one noticed how long he took. He found mostly everything easy, the Masamune, the Hero's Medal, his armor and helmet. The only thing that slowed him was the money. He put it in a new place, then forgot, but then he remembered he had in under his bed.

Glenn heard voices as he approached the top. Crono and Lucca must have arrived, he thought. When he got to the top he sneaked a look. There was two Marles. He ducked down. No, no, why is this happening, he thought. He knew if he tried to help her he would be captured as well. Either that or the Crono-Shifter would turn into him and confuse everyone. Then Glenn noticed him looking straight at the bush Glenn hid behind. Glenn stayed still and held his breath. To his relief the Shifter turned away, then took Marle's wrist and they went into the thicker part of the forest. Marle-Shifter followed.

Glenn counted to five. Then he got up and ran out of the forest. Crono and Lucca, he thought, you'd better be here by now.

.

Marle-Shifter watched Glenn run out. Then she waited a few seconds before going back out into the opened. Crono-Shifter followed her still holding Marle's wrist. Then the two Shifters spoke in their language.

"Swau, did you see if Glenn saw her capture?" Marle-Shifter asked.

"Yes, Viaat, I saw him."

"Good, now when we release her, they'll think she is a Shifter," she smiled.

"Do we let her go now."

"Not yet, we have to wait a little so he can explain how she has been replaced."

Marle watched them speak their language. Sounded strange to hear such noises coming from something that looked human. What are they doing? She thought. She was bored so she studied them. The female, if it's a female, seemed to be the one in charge. The male was quiet and let her do most of the talking. She wondered what they were talking about. She tried to imagine. Maybe it was about her. Maybe it was about their home. She wondered what her friends were doing right now.

Suddenly Crono-Shifter let go of her. Marle frowned and looked at him.

Marle-Shifter spoke, "Fi biq." Crono-Shifter started going back to the thicker part of the forest. Marle-Shifter followed.

Marle didn't watch and let them change their mind. She'd figure out what they were up to later, she decided as she out of the forest.

.

Meanwhile, as Glenn ran out of the forest he saw Crono and Lucca climbing out of the Epoch. Lucca was talking, "Did you really except to be right here waiting for us." Then she turned around and jumped when she saw Glenn running to her.

Glenn stopped in front of her, "Sorry," he said as he watched Crono eyeing him as he came around the Epoch.

"It's ok," Lucca said as she looked at him with curiosity. "Um, who are you?" Whoever he is, she thought, he's really cute. Where was he before?

Glenn sighed, "It's me, Frog."

"Frog?" she looked at with distrust, then she started to smile, "It is you isn't it. You're wearing his clothes and you almost sound like him." What she was think was, why didn't you tell you were a dish? A frown started to form, "Why are you running out of the forest and where's Marle."

"Do you know who the Shifters are?"

Lucca's eye showed curiosity, "Yes," she said slowly, sensing something was wrong. She turned to Crono, "Do you?"

Crono nodded.

"They kidnapped and replaced her."

"Oh, um, if the Shifters are here how do we know you're not one of them?"

"Remember when we first met."

"Yes."

"The first thing I said was, 'Put down thy guard and thou art letting thine enemies in' and then you repeated over and over again how much you hated frogs."

Some redness showed in Lucca's cheeks, "Yah, I remember that. Why would they kidnap her?"

"She's human, and they plan on destroying all humans."

Lucca glared at Glenn, "You know you didn't really have to add that last part."

"Sorry. So what are we going to do about the fake Marle."

Just then Marle ran out of Cursed Woods.

Lucca was the first to notice, "Speaking of her," she whispered.

Glenn turned around, then heard Lucca add, "Are you sure she was replaced."

"There were two Marles."

"That would be pretty obvious."

Marle stopped in front of them, "The Shifters-"

"We're not stupid," Lucca interrupted, "Especially me, you would know that if you weren't a Shifter."

"What?!" Marle couldn't believe what she was hearing. So that's what the Shifters were up to, she thought, Glenn must have seen it, now they think I'm a Shifter.

Marle was taken to the castle for a trial in the newly just built court room. Which looked just like the court room in her time. This was strange. The only difference was the stain glass window. Now it was simple picture of the Cathedral, or at least that what she thought it was supposed to be.

She stood in her place, this was indeed very strange. The Chancellor, who was the judge, explained everything. "Jeno," the man on her left stepped forward, wasn't he a soldier, she thought, "Here will try to convince the jury you're guilty." Jeno stepped back. "Zibik," the man on her right stepped forward, he used to be soldier too, she thought, "Will defend you." Zibik stepped back. "We have one witness, Glenn, and then seven jury men will decide if you are guilty or not guilty. Understand?"

"Yes." Marle answered, guess the court never changed.

Jeno stepped forward, "Have you ever seen this?" He held a piece of paper, it seemed to be the one of the letters Glenn told her about.

"No."

"Never in your life?"

"No."

"Are you sure?"

"Judge," Zibik spoke out, "Why ask the same question three times?"

Jeno answered, "So she can change her mind if she wants to. Do you have something to hide?"

"Nothing to hide, I just want to be out of here before the year ends."

Jeno rolled his eyes, "We have a witness that says you are a Shifter."

Glenn came in and told what he saw.

"What do you have to say for yourself?" Jena asked Marle.

Marle told what happen.

"Glenn," Zibik started, "Did you have time to speak to Crono and Lucca before Marle came out of the woods?"

"Yes."

"So what she's saying might be true?"

"It's possible."

Glenn left. There was a few more questions. Then it was time for the jury to decide. "Guilty." "Guilty." "Not guilty." (Marle smiled.) "Guilty." "Guilty." "Guilty." "Not guity."

Thanks for trying, Marle thought to the 'Not guilty' men, at least I'm going to be the first prisoner here. Not only the first prisoner, but the first innecent prisoner.

At her cell there was some weird yellow stuff to eat. It taisted bland. Good thing I brought my own food, she thought.

.

Glenn was in the Soldiers' Quarters sitting on one of the beds, cleaning the Masamune. He hoped he had done the right thing, if he was wrong then Marle would have gone to jail because of him. He looked up as Crono came in being followed by Lucca. Crono sat on the bed across from Glenn. Lucca stood.

"We need to find the real Marle." Lucca said.

"If you recall, we don't know where the Shifters live." Glenn pointed out.

Lucca looked at him as if he should already know the sollution to it, "Then we'll find it," she paused, not sure if she should finish. "Maybe we should get the others."

"Ayla and Robo?"

"Marle needs our help, I think they would want to help us."

"And add more confusion!" Glenn sighed, "But you are right."

"Maybe they could think of someplace that hasn't been thought of before."

Glenn looked at Crono. Crono nodded his agreement.

Lucca smiled, "Then let's get them."

"Wait," Glenn said, "It would be better if only one person got them. So getting them will take only one trip."

"I'll go." Lucca volunteered.

.

Ayla and Kino were eating when they saw the Epoch a third time.

Kino looked at Ayla, "Still no find Crono mom, not good."

Ayla didn't respond, she watched the Epoch land near her. Only Lucca was in it.

"Hello." Ayla greeted, walking to Lucca, "Why Lucca alone?"

Lucca jumped out. "I thought you should know something."

Ayla turn to see where Kino went, he left so they could talk alone. Good Kino, she thought. She turned back to Lucca. "What wrong? No find Crono mom?"

For a second Lucca wondered how she knew about that. Then remembered they told her the second time they came here. "We found her, she is home and safe."

"What wrong then?"

"The Shifters are in 600 A.D."

"Shifters? Who they? Ayla eat Shifters?"

If they turn into food, Lucca thought. "No, they are beings that can turn into anything or anyone. They want to destroy all the humans in 600 A.D."

"Ayla help. Ayla fight Shifters." Ayla put her fists up.

"That's not all."

Ayla put her fists down. "More bad?"

Lucca nodded, "They kidnapped Marle."

Ayla put her fists up again. "Ayla fight Shifters. Save Marle. Not give up. Only when dead give up."

"We don't know where the Shifters live."

"Ayla find Shifters. Fight Shifters." Fists back down. "Where next? Lucca get Robo?"

Lucca nodded, "Lucca get Robo."

.

"2300 A.D. change," Ayla said as they climbed out of the Epoch, "Look better."

Lucca went into the Proto Dome, she first met Robo here, maybe she can meet him here second time. She hope he'd remember her, she didn't feel like having to put the copy of his memories in. She called out, "Hello?"

Someone called back, but it wasn't Robo, "Lucca, Ayla, so good to see you."

Lucca looked to where the voice came. A female version of Robo stood there. Atropos XR?

Robo had spook of her so much. Lucca smiled. If Atropos XR knew who she was, then Robo probably did too.

Lucca waved, "Hello." Now she wasn't sure what to say. Part of her was afraid to mention Robo and find out he no longer exist. She decided to see what Atropos XR said.

"Lucca, Ayla, it has been long. Do you not remember me? Prometheus suggested your memories might be different than ours."

"Where Robo?" Ayla asked.

"In the Gene Dome with Mother Brain."

"Mother Brain?!" Lucca said with surprise.

"Mother Brain, I can take you to them."

Lucca and Ayla looked at each other and both thought the same thing, wasn't Mother Brain evil. But Lucca decided to go see Mother Brain, if she recalled correctly Atropos XR was also evil, things were obvisouly different. "Yes, please take us."

"Alright, we can take the bridge there."

Must be a long bridge. Lucca would have liked to take the bridge but she didn't know how long everything would take and didn't want to leave the Epoch alone for a long time.

"Can we take the Epoch instead?"

"We can."

Ayla smiled, "Take Epoch, get Robo."

The three of them got into the Epoch. Lucca drove to Gene Drome. When they walked in, they were quickly greeted by Mother Brain's voice. "Ah come, come. I welcome you back. Come!" With that the door opened. Atropos XR led the way through the door. Now they were on a conveyor belt, it moved forward. Mother Brian continued, "You're here to see Prometheus? He is by computer 2. Why do you look for him?"

Lucca looked up, since that seemed to be the place the voice came from, "We need to talk to him, we might need his help."

"Shall I inform him of your arrival?"

"Yes, thank you"

The conveyot belt stop at the door. Lucca walked through. Robo was their to greet her, "Lucca, Ayla, I was told you were coming. How are you?"

"Fine."

"How is everyone else?"

Lucca explained what had happened in 600 A.D.

"Then I want to help, but I must ask Mother Brain for permission to leave. We must go to the main computer room to ask her." He said as he started walking. Lucca, Ayla and Atropos XR followed.

"Prometheus, I believe their memories of 2300 A.D. are different than our." Atropos XR said.

"Really? What do you remember?" Robo asked them.

"Well, 2300 A.D. wasn't in good shape." Lucca said.

"And ruled by-" Ayla stopped in mid-sentence, 2300 A.D. was ruled by monsters, which was ok to say. But it was also ruled by evil machines, and that wasn't something you say in front of two of them, three if Mother Brain was listening.

"Ruled by what?" Robo and Atropos XR asked.

"By monsters." Ayla finished, they didn't need to know about the evil machines part.

"How was Mother Brain?" Atropos XR asked, "You were surprised when I mentioned her."

Lucca answered, "She was, um, malfunctioning

"Lucca what are you hiding?" Robo asked.

"She was evil and hated humans." He wanted to know, now he knows.

"Then she was indeed malfunctioning Atropos XR said, "Mother Brain would never hate humans. Humans are the ones who created her."

That is nice to know, Lucca thought.

They got to the main computer room. When they entered Mother Brain apeared in front of them. She had a human face with hair to her shoulders. She had the body of an insect with a cape. She glowed all the colors of the rainbow. She was very pretty."

Robo explained the situation and requested to leave.

"Then go," Mother Brain said. "You must help find Marle and stop the Shifters."

"Thank-you." Robo said. Then he went out the door.

Lucca said her thanks and turned to Atropos XR, "We can take you back to Proto Dome."

"Thank-you, but I will remain here."

Lucca nodded and then left.

.

Crono, Lucca, Glenn, Ayla, and Robo were in Glenn's place. Lucca was putting Robo's old copy memories into Robo.

"We need to find a way to identify each other." Glenn said.

"How about we just never leave somewhere by oursevles." Lucca sugest, "Make sure their is always one person with us."

"Ok. Now we need to find out where the Shifters live."

"Is there new places up?" Robo asked.

"No." Glenn said.

Ayla spook, "Shifters not in new place? Maybe old place. Soilders check places others bad people live before."

Glenn tilted his head, "Now that you mentioned it, no one has."

"What's the place that the monsters first left?" Lucca asked, "The Shifters would have had the most time to settle in there."

.

Viaat was in the Cathadral's farthest back room watching the other Shifters build her cage. "Make sure it's big," she said, "I want comfort."

"It wil be as big as the prison cells in the castle," Swau said, "Is that big enough?"

"Yes."

Swau moved closer to Viaat, "Do you think you can act like Marle enough to fool her friends?"

"Act way too happy and get excited over everything, that won't be hard."

"It won't be so easy, we may have been studying them for a long time now, but it still won't be easy."

"You worry too much. Who are you going to replace."

"Whoever is the first to be by themself. Do you think it's a good idea to replace all of them."

"Ofcoarse, when they are all in jail, then who will fight the Shifters when they attack. The kingdom will depend on the team, but the real team will be in jail." Viaat laughed.

Swau sighed.

.

Marle heard footsteps from her cell. The steps were lighter and faster then normal. Was someone coming to visit her. She got up and moved towards the bar door. She saw Lucca.

Lucca stopped on front of her, "We are going to rescure the real Marle."

"You have to open this door to rescue me."

Lucca rolled eyes and started to leave.

"Lucca," Marle called, "If I was a Shifter don't you think I would just squeeze through these bars and disappear."

"The food you have been eating has Kasenzoolerfwasina in it."

"Has Kasen-what in it?" Marle asked, wondering why they gave it such a long and complicated name."

"Kasenzoolerfwasina, it keeps you from shifting, that's why you can't just sqeeze through the bars."

"If I was a Shifter wouldn't I know that."

"Not neccisarly, even if you did you could pretend not to know. I'm not stupid."Lucca rolled her eyes and left.

.

To Be Continued...

Chapter Text

Viaat was in the Cathedral's farthest back room watching the other Shifters build her cage. "Make sure it's big," she said, "I want comfort."

"It will be as big as the prison cells in the castle," Swau informed. "Is that big enough?"

"Yes."

Swau moved closer to Viaat. "Do you think you can act like Marle enough to fool her friends?"

"Act way too happy and get excited over everything. That won't be hard."

"It won't be so easy. We may have been studying them for a long time now, but it still won't be easy."

"You worry too much. Who are you going to replace?"

"Whoever is first to be by his or herself. Do you think it's a good idea to replace all of them?"

"Of coarse, when they are all in jail, then who will fight us when they attack? The kingdom will depend on the team, but the real team will be in jail." Viaat laughed.

Swau sighed softly, but no one noticed.

Marle heard footsteps from her cell. The steps were lighter and faster then the normal guards who passed by. Someone coming to see me? She got up and moved towards the bar door. Lucca.

Lucca stopped on front of her. "We are going to rescue the real Marle."

"You have to open this door to rescue me."

Lucca rolled eyes slightly, and started to leave.

"Lucca," Marle called, "If I was a Shifter don't you think I would just squeeze through these bars and disappear."

"The food you have been eating has Kasenzoolerfwasina in it."

"Has Kasen-what in it?" Marle asked. Who in all time named that?!

"Kasenzoolerfwasina. It keeps you from shifting. That's why you can't just squeeze through the bars."

"If I was a Shifter wouldn't I know that."

"Not necessarily. Even if you did, you could pretend not to know. You can't trick me." Lucca smirked, and left.

Crono, Ayla, and Robo entered the Cathedral.

"It seems strange to take Marle here," Robo said.

Ayla answered him, "Glenn say, Cathadral bigger than look. Robo see back door? Ayla open." Ayla ran to the door and tried to push it open.

Crono went to the organ and played it.

"No play organ," Ayla said, "Open door. Fight Shifters. Find Marle," Ayla said as she put all her weight on the door to open it.

The door opened and Ayla fell, "Ayla open door." She got up.

Crono laughed, thinking that he'd have to tell Glenn and Lucca about this.

They went through the door, and no were Shifters in sight. They walked through the door ahead of them, and saw a bucket to the left. They went to the bucket, surrounding it, not sure if it was a Shifter, or just a bucket. After a few seconds, Crono tapped the bucket with his sword.

The bucket sprang into action, releasing a gush of water into the air. They recognized Water 2 right away, and the two humans held their breaths. The water slammed into all three of them, and they hit the ground. Crono lost his breath from the hit, and felt a panic of drowning. Determined to stay calm, he closed his mouth again, and waited until he could refill his lungs with air. As the water washed over, Robo saw a remaining water bubble near. He backed again, and was glad it popped on it's own before hitting him.

After catching her breath, Ayla ran up to the bucket hit hard with her fist. Crono slashed it with his sword, and soon after Robo punched it.

They were attacked again, this time with Ice 2. Two huge forms of ice suddenly formed around them, freezing them in place. Robo felt almost sure his circuits would freeze, especially since they still had water in them from the previous attack. Crono and Ayla had both held their breath when they saw the ice starting to form, giving a feel of control, rather than a feel of suffocation. Eyes were closed, and skin felt like it was burned from the cold.

The ice disappeared as quickly as it left, dropping them to the ground, and leaving the humans shivering and gasping for air.

Ayla got her breath first, and got up, ready for revenge. However they didn't have time to make another round of attacks. The bucket slid away, became like liquid, and leaked into a crack in the wall.

"We beat bucket," Ayla said, still shivering slightly.

"We didn't really beat it," Robo pointed out, "It just ran away."

"Bucket run away from us."

They continued walking down the red carpet, and entered a door. Another door was ahead of them up the stairs, which they entered it. Another organ was to the left, and Crono walked up to it and played.

"Ayla confused," said Ayla, "Crono play organ again. What organ do?"

"My concern," Robo stated, "Was that there is no one to fight. This is easy, almost too easy."

"Not fun when no fight."

Crono went back through the door, and they followed.

"Fun!" Robo exclaimed, "Fighting isn't fun. It is a battle between two enemies, not about fun."

They went down the stairs to the right, which collapsed under them.

"Ouch," Ayla glared at Crono. "Crono! Warn Ayla when something fall. Crono rude not too."

Crono got up frowning slightly. He had forgotten that the stairs collapsed, and was falling by the time he remembered. Ayla didn't need to yell, he thought. Crono shook his head, and continued on his way to the door now in front of him.

"You wanted a fight," Robo said to Ayla, pointing to a chair in the middle of the next room.

Ayla ran to it, flicked it, quickly moved back, and got into her fighting position.

The chair quickly started to morph into a person. The back legs became the person's legs, while the front legs became his arms. The back rest turned into a head, shoulders, and upper back. This person appeared to be a male with short, blue-green hair, combed neatly, and parted in the middle. It came straight down and stopped above his ears. He had pale green skin and purple eyes, and wore blue jeans and a white shirt. He spoke, "You are early."

Ayla jumped forward. "Not expect us now? Good. Move or fight! We get Marle."

"I have no wish to move or fight." He put his hand out as a sword formed, "but, if you give me no choice."

Robo spoke quickly, "You don't want to fight? Is this your choice or do all Shifters feel this way?"

The Shifter (who was Swau) frowned slightly, and then put his sword in a sheath that wasn't there before. "My choice, but I was put here to fight, so if you're ready." The sword disappeared while it reformed in his fisted hand. Swau pointed it to them. "Fight?"

"Maybe we can make bargain," Robo said, "if you don't want to fight, then why should you?" I might get information from him, he thought.

"I won't move, I won't-" a small pause, "-betray my people."

Ayla spoke this time, "You not give choice to not fight. But you not want fight. We get through, fight or not. Save Marle."

"Fools." Swau said, "Why can't humans see the obvious?"

Ayla frowned, "Huh? No matter. Fight!"

Swau nodded, and then he leaped into the air and landed in the middle of the team. He spun with the sword out, cutting all of them. Then he leaped back where he was.

"You fight good for someone who not want fight." Ayla said, then jumped at him. She landed on him, digging her nails into his skin, and biting his neck like a cat, which she had proudly called, Cat Attack. She back off, and saw he "bled" water-like substance from his injuries, which quickly healed themselves.

"Thank you. You fight well also." The Shifter got back up.

Ayla nodded her thanks and smiled.

Crono never understood how people can talk to who they were fighting, but Marle, Ayla, Lucca, and sometimes even Glenn all did it. He rolled his eyes before using Lightning on the Shifter. The room flashed as one lightening bolt came down on the Shifter, who froze as electric currents seized his body. He let out a gasp of pain, and fell backwards, turning to water as his body hit the floor.

The three watched the puddle, unsure if they had killed him or not. Suddenly it jumped into the air, retaking human form as it landed on Robo, slashing with his sword. He jumped back in his place, though stumbled slightly with the land.

"You like Jump-Attacks?" Ayla asked.

"Depends on my mood, but I usually prefer it."

Robo Uzi-Punched the Shifter, sending him backwards slightly, but seemed to pass through him more than actually hurting him.

Suddenly Swau tilted his head, glancing behind him, as if hearing something. "Now you can pass." He jump and landed on the wall. "We shall meet again, probably in another fight."

Ayla nodded. "Ayla look for jumping fighter?"

Swau laughed. "Maybe. You fight well, Ayla"

"You too. What name?"

"My name is Swau." After that he grew smaller and darker until he was a spider. He crawled toward a crack in the wall.

Ayla watched this. "Bye Swau," she said as she watched the spider crawl in the hole and disappeared.

Robo watched Ayla, when she turned to Crono and him. He spook, "You just gave him your name and made friends with him."

"Swau seem sad." Ayla said.

Crono walked to push the next door open and went in.

Robo turned to Ayla, "What did he mean by 'Now you can pass?'"

"Ayla not know."

They followed Crono into a long room. Crono was at an opened door in the middle, looking at them, arms folded, slightly annoyed that their talking was slowing them down.

Ayla ignored this and went to him. She looked in to see a hall.

"Crono play organ, door open?"

Crono nodded.

"Ayla not open first door in first room."

Crono shook his head.

Ayla laughed, then started down the hall, "Come, we go now."

They walked down the hall. Another door was at the end of it.

Robo felt something was wrong. "Only two enemies, and one was put there obviously to stall us. I don't get. Something is wrong."

"Swau said Shifters not ready for us," Ayla pointed out.

"Yes, but then he let us go."

"Maybe Swau change mind."

"Maybe."

They got to the door and walked in. At least they came to the right place. There was a big cage at the end of the room, and Marle-Shifter was in it. A human sat on the floor in front of the cage. Marle-Shifer moved to the front part of the cage. The human ignored her movement and looked at them.

This Human-Shifter had long black hair that was pulled back. The eyes were white, and the skin was pink. It didn't look male or female.

"Marle," Ayla called.

"Ayla, you and Robo are here. How nice of you to come help me," she said with a smile.

The Human-Shifter spoke, "Stop talking! Fight!" He attacked with Ice 2.

Ayla jumped towards the creature, which caused her to just barely miss being hit with ice. She kicked it three times in a row. "Not like talk. Rather fight. Then fight."

Crono laughed to himself, as he heard what Ayla had said when the ice started to freeze only him. He shook off the shivering feeling, and decided things needed to get a little warmer. He brought up his arms, feeling himself lift into the air as he called in for his attack, Luminaire. A tingling sensation moved up through is body, and the Shifter made an inhuman scream as a green glow was cast down on it.

Robo raised his own arms, ready to Shock the creature. Electricity shot through the room, missing his allies, and striking through the Shifter.

Crono felt the same sensation from Robo's attack as when he used lightening, and wondered if his friends felt it when he used any type of lightening attack.

The Shifter made a loud growling noise, and lifted up its arms. Suddenly there was explosions of fire surrounding the three. All started to duck, but instead were thrown back as burning flames hit skin.

Crono felt his head hit the ground, and momentarily thought that might do more damage than the fire itself. He got up, slightly dizzy, with his face, arms, and hands carrying the feel of a horrible sunburn. The feel of it coming so soon after the ice attack, and he realized why Marle's and Lucca's Antipode attacks, a combination of ice and fire, were so deadly.

As he stood, he saw Ayla already was recovered, and repeating her Tripple Kick attack on the Shifter. Though tired, he lifted his arms for another Luminaire, closing his eyes to help the dizziness leave. He opened them again when his feet were back on the ground, and saw Robo was also repeating his best attack.

The Shifter fell as Swau had done before, turning to clear liquid.

They eyed the puddle, expecting it to make another attack.

Marle-Shifter raised her eyebrows, "Their true form looks like water? That's scary to think about."

When it seemed the puddle would not attack, Ayla ran to the cage. "How get out."

"Key." Marle-Shifter pointed to a key rack with a key.

Ayla went to get it.

Robo watched her, and then went to the cage. "Do you why there are not many Shifters to fight in here? Getting here was very easy."

"Maybe they weren't ready for you to find out where they were."

"But one didn't let us through, but after a small fight he did."

She shrugged. "Maybe Shifters are week. You fought him easily." Marle-Shifter pointed to the water puddle.

Ayla returned with the key, and unlocked the door.

Marle-Shifter hurried out and jumped. "I'm free!" She smiled and started running towards the door. "Let's get out of here."

Almost the entire team was in Glenn's home. Five of them thought they were all they were all there. The other knew, but acted as everything was normal.

"Now what?" Ayla asked, "See what happen next."

Lucca, while cleaning her Wonder Shot, answered, "Wait until the Shifters make the next move, while we try to find their home."

"Shifton," Marle-Shifter said while looking at Lucca's gun, "That thing better be empty

"Of coarse it's empty. How do know the name of the place?"

"I heard them mention it."

"It is best," Robo said, "To do what Lucca says. We don't know if the Shifters want to continue the fight. If they do it is best to know where Shifton is."

"Maybe Shifters no want more fight," Ayla suggested though looked disappointed at the idea. "Maybe most Shifters like Swau, not want fight."

Marle-Shifter quickly turned to Ayla, "What?!"

"Swau Shifter, Swau not want fight."

Marle-Shifter couldn't believe what she was hearing. Swau gave his name to these humans?! I knew he wasn't fond of starting this war, but I didn't know he was stupid.

"A Shifter gave his name, and doesn't like this fight," Lucca said with curiosity and plans in her eyes, "This may become useful to us, if we can talk to him we may be able to convince him to go on our-"

"A Shifter would never betray his people," Marle-Shifter said quickly. She felt insulted that they would consider this.

"We don't know this," Lucca said, "Why are you mad?"

"I'm not angry. It is just an opinion Shifters were the one thing I found interesting enough to school to study about." Marle-Shifter sighed, and tried to not sound angry, "Also, I heard this Swau talking, and he hated humans. It won't work."

"He didn't sound like it," Ayla said.

"Maybe he wanted you to get your guard down." Marle-Shifter said, getting up. "Uh, I kind of would like to leave and go to the castle. I want to talk to the one who tried to be me, but because of the 'Don't get replaced by a Shifter' safety procedures-

"I'll go," Glenn said. "I wanted to talk to some of the people there and see if anything has been discovered about the Shifters."

.

To Be Continued...

Chapter Text

Crono, Ayla, and Robo entered the Cathadral.

"It seems strange to take Marle here," Robo said.

Ayla answered him, "Glenn say, Cathadral bigger than look. Robo see back door? Ayla open." Ayla ran to the door and tried to push it open.

Crono went to the organ and played it.

"No play organ," Ayla said, "Open door, fight Shifters, find Marle." Ayla said as she put all her weight on the door to open it.

The door opened and Ayla fell, "Ayla open door." She got up.

Crono laughed, he'd have to tell Glenn and Lucca.

They went through the door, no Shifters in sight. They went through the door ahead of them. To the left was a bucket. They went to the bucket and tapped it.

The bucket sprang into action. It did Water 2 on them and move a few feet back.

Crono, Ayla, and Robo surrounded the bucket.

Ayla hit hard with her fist. 97 HP was lost.

Crono slashed it with his sword soon after Robo hit it. 174 HP was lost all together. They were attacked again, this time with Ice 2. Then the bucket slid away and became like liquid and leaked into a crack in the wall.

"Yes," Ayla said, "We beat bucket."

"We didn't really beat it," Robo said, "It just ran away."

"Bucket run away from us."

They continued walking down the red carpet. They entered a door. Their was another door ahead of them up the stairs. They entered it. Another organ was to the left. Crono went up to this organ and played.

"Ayla confused," said Ayla, "Crono play organ again. What organ do?"

"My concern," Robo stated, "Was that their is no one to fight. This is easy, almost too easy."

"Not fun when no fight."

Crono went back through the door. They followed.

"Fun!" Robo exclaimed, "Fighting isn't fun. It is a battle between two enemies, not fun."

They went down the stairs to the right. The stairs collapsed as they went down.

"Ouch," Ayla glared at Crono. "Crono! Warn Ayla when something fall. Crono rude not too."

Crono got up frowning. He forgot that the stairs collapsed, by the time he remembered he was already falling. Ayla didn't need to yell. He shook his head and continued on his way to the door now in front of him.

"You wanted a fight." Robo said to Ayla, pointing to a chair in the middle of the next room.

Ayla ran to it and flicked it. She quickly moved back and got into her fighting possession when the chair started to morph quickly into a person.

The back legs became the persons two legs, the front legs became his arms. The back rest became the persons head, shoulders, and upper back. This person appeared to be a male with short blue-green hair that was combed neatly with a part in the middle. It was straight down and stopped above his ears. He had pale green skin and purple eyes. He wore blue jeans and a white shirt. He spoke, "You are early."

Ayla jumped forward, "Not expect us now? Good. Move or fight! We get Marle."

"I have no wish to move or fight." He put his hand out, a sword formed, "But, if you give me no choice."

Robo spoke quickly, "You don't want to fight? Is this your choice or do all Shifters feel this way?"

The Shifter (who was Swau) frowned slightly, then put his sword in a sheath that wasn't there before, "My choice, but I was put here to fight, so if your ready." The sword disappeared while it reformed in his fisted hand. Swau pointed it to them. "Fight?"

"Maybe we can make bargain Robo said, if this Shifter didn't want to fight then why should he. Meanwhile, Robo thought, I might get information from him.

"I won't move, I won't-" a small pause, "-betray my people."

Ayla spoke this time, "You not give choice to not fight. But you not want fight. We get through, fight or not. Save Marle."

"Fools." Swau said, "Why can't humans see the obvious

Ayla frowned, "Huh? No matter. Fight!"

Swau nodded, then he leaped into the air and landed in the middle of the team, spinning with the sword out, getting all of them. Then leaped back where he was.

"You fight good for someone who not want fight." Ayla said, then attacked with nails and teeth like a cat, she had proudly called it, Cat Attack.

"Thank you. You fight well also."

Ayla nodded her thanks and smiled.

Crono never understood how people can talk to who their fighting, but Marle, Ayla, Lucca, and sometimes Glenn all did it. He rolled his eyes before using Lightning on the Shifter.

Swau jumped again, he landed on Robo, slashed with his sword, then jumped back.

"You like Jump-Attacks?" Ayla asked.

"Depends on my mood, but I usually prefer it."

Robo Uzi-Punched the Shifter.

The Swau tilted his head as if hearing something, "Now you can pass." He jump and landed on the wall. "We shall meet again, probally in another fight."

Ayla nodded, " Ayla look for jumping fighter?"

Swau laughed, "Maybe. You fight well, Ayla"

"You too. What name?"

"My name in Swau." After that he grew smaller and darker until he was a spider. He crawled toward a crack in the wall.

Ayla watched this, "Bye Swau." she said as she watch the spider crawl in the hole and disappeared.

Robo watched Ayla, when she turned to Crono and him, he spook, "You just gave him your name and made friends with him."

"Swau seem sad." Ayla said.

Crono walked to pushed the next door open and went in.

Robo turned to Ayla, "What did he mean by 'Now you can pass'?"

"Ayla not know."

They followed Crono into a long room. Crono was at a opened door in the middle, looking at them, arms folded.

Ayla ignored this and went to him, she looked in to see a hall.

"Crono play organ, door open?"

Crono nodded.

"Ayla not open first door in first room."

Crono shook his head.

Ayla laughed. Then she started down the hall, "Come, we go now."

They walked down the hall. Another door was at the end of it.

Robo felt something was wrong, "Only two enemies, and one was put there obviously to stall us. I don't get. Something is wrong."

"Swau said Shifters not ready for us," Ayla pointed out.

"Yes, but then he let us go."

"Maybe Swau change mind."

"Maybe."

They got to the door and walked in. At least they came to the right place. Their was a big cage at the end of the room, Marle-Shifter was in it. A human sat on the floor in front of the cage. Marle-Shifer went to the front part of the cage. The human looked up at them.

This Human-Shifter had long black hair that was pulled back. The eyes were white. The skin was pink. It didn't look male or female.

"Marle," Ayla called.

"Ayla, you and Robo are here. How nice to think that you cared."

The Human-Shifter spoke, "Stop talking! Fight!" He attacked with Ice 2.

Ayla jumped and kicked it three times, "Not like talk. Rather fight. Then fight."

Crono laughed to himself before he attacked with Luminaire.

Robo used his strongest, Shock, also.

Each repeated it's attack, then the Shifter went down. As he few he became clear liquid. After he looked like a puddle of water.

Marle-Shifter raised her eyebrows, "Their true form looks like water, that's scary to think about."

Ayla ran to the cage, "How get out."

"Key." Marle-Shifter pointed to a key rack with a key.

Ayla went to get it.

Robo watched her then went to the cage, "Do you why their are not many Shifters to fight in here? Getting here was very easy."

"Maybe they weren't ready for you to find out where they were."

"But one didn't let us through, but after a small fight he did."

She shrugged, "Maybe Shifters are week. You fought him easily." Marle-Shifter pointed to the water puddle.

Ayla returned with the key. Then she unlocked the door.

Marle-Shifter hurried out and jumped, "I'm free!" She smiled and started heading towards the door. "Let's get out of here."

.

Almost the entire team was in Glenn's home. Five of them thought they were all they were all there. The other knew but acted as everything was normal.

"Now what?" Ayla asked, "See what happen next."

Lucca while cleaning her Wonder Shot, answered, "Wait until the Shifters make the next move, while we try to find their home."

"Shifton," Marle-Shifter said looking at Lucca gun, "That thing better be empty

"I'm not stupid, I'm very smart. Of coarse it's empty. How do know the name of the place."

"I heard them mention it."

"It is best," Robo said, "To do what Lucca says. We don't know if the Shifters want to continue the fight. If they do it is best to know where Shifton is."

"Maybe Shifters no want more fight," Ayla suggested, "Maybe most Shifters like Swau, not want fight."

Marle-Shifter quickly turned to Ayla, "What?!"

"Swau Shifter, Swau not want fight."

Marle-Shifter couldn't believe what she was hearing, Swau had given his name to these humans. She knew he didn't like the starting war with the humans, but she didn't know he was stupid.

"A Shifter gave his name and doesn't like this fight," Lucca said with curiosity and plans in her eyes, "This may become useful to us, if we can talk to him we may be able to convince him to go on our-"

"A Shifter would never betray his people." Marle-Shifter said quickly. She felt insulted that they would consider this.

"We don't know this," Lucca said, "Why are you mad?"

"We must find a plan that will work, not one that won't work."

"Nothing to get mad about. It is just an option."

Marle-Shifter sighed and tried to not sound angry, "It won't work. I heard this Swau talking, he hated humans."

"He didn't sound like it," Ayla said.

"You can't tell by the way people sound." Marle-Shifter said, getting up, "Uh, I kind of would like to leave and go to the castle. I want to talk to the one who tried to be me. But because of the 'Don't get replaced by a Shifter' safety procedures-

"I'll go," Glenn said. "I wanted to talk to some of the people there and see if anything has been discovered about the Shifters."

.

Marle was looking in her bag for something to eat when she heard the soft, quick footsteps again. She ignored them this time and dug through her bag. She found dried cinnamon bread, tonics, water, money, dried vegtibles, and the other supplies and food before she found what she wanted. "Ah," she said as she grabbed the dried berries, "I knew it was here."

The footsteps stopped. So she looked up to see herself standing in front of the cage. She watched herself pace in front of the cell smiling before finally saying something, "How is it in there? Not comfortable, ah, too bad."

Marle smiled and pretended she was enjoying herself, "Very comfy, why don't you come in and see for yourself. All you have to do is slip through the bars."

Marle-Shifter tilted her head and gave a fake sad face, "I would, but I can't. Sorry." Then she laughed.

"Leave me," Marle said, "You bother, and if you keep acting like that then everyone will know who you really are."

"I bother you. How nice."

Marle turned away from the fake, "If your not here to say sorry, then I have no time for you."

"I wanted to talk."

Marle ignored her.

"I wanted to talk." Marle-Shifter said again. No answer. So she left.

.

Marle woke up but noise she couldn't identify. Then she heard it again, something fell, it was in her cell.

She got up to check it out. Against the wall she found two bricks in her cell with a hole above them. She tried to look out but it was dark. "Hello?"

"Yes?" Someone answered.

Marle reconized the voice, "Glenn?"

"Yes."

"What happen?" She started to help remove the bricks.

"You probably can figure it out."

"Replaced?"

"Yes."

"Why are these bricks so loose?"

"I loosened the bricks." He put another brick on the floor, "Last one."

She looked out and then looked at him, she frowned.

"Uncanny," he said.

Marle giggled, "Scream."

Glenn laughed.

Marle climbed out onto a ledge, "How do we climb down?"

"The bricks."

Marle looked down, then back at Glenn, then nervously laughed, "Um, ok. That's pretty far down."

"Don't worry, besides we'll have other ledges to use." Glenn said as he started down.

Marle followed, carefully places each foot and grabbing the right places. She hoped there would be many ledges.

After climbing a bit she saw a ledge a about a foot below her. Glenn was already on it. She soon joined him.

"Do you think they know I'm missing yet."

"If they knew, we would know," he started climbing again.

Soon they got to a ledge that a hole that was in the wall. Marle glanced back and forth between the hole and Glenn before asking, "Couldn't tell which one I was in?"

"I knew which one you were in. I simply didn't want to climb all the way. So I started here. He went in and removed a sheet from the floor. "If they heard me, I would have jump in there." He went back out.

"So you made an escape rout for yourself. What would you have done if someone came while you were made that hole though?"

"I made it on the floor below, hardly any soldiers are there." He started to climb again.

While they climbed Marle laughed. Glenn didn't look up when asking, "What is funny?"

"Not only am I the first prisoner, not only am I the first innocent prisoner, but I'm the first to break out."

"I didn't think of that."

Marle laughed again. Glenn still didn't look up, "What?"

"Remember when we told you how Crono went to jail in our time and he used three holes to get to other cells."

"Yes."

"You just made those holes."

Glenn laughed, "So in 400 years they would have never fixed them. What's taking them so long?"

They both laughed.

Soon the climbing was done. They ran into the forest, "What do we do now?"

"Hide, I don't know where. I was thinking the Denadora Mountains would be a good place."

"Sounds good to me."

They came out of the forest and quietly ran to the bridge. On the bridge they found Toma. He quickly greeted them, "Marle, Glenn, what brings you here so late at night?"

Marle smile at him, "I was about to ask you the same."

"I am a great traveler and adventurer, I can be found anywhere anytime of the day."

"We're taking a walk," she said feeling a little guilty about the fib. Toma has traveled the whole world and did it for the adventure, she thought. It was why Marle had a small crush on him.

"Can I walk with you? I can show you places I bet you didn't know it existed

Marle would have loved to see something new on this planet, but she had to turn the offer down, "No, I'm sorry I can't."

Toma looked offended, "You sure, what about you Glenn?"

"No, we need to go now."

"Can I go with you then?"

"No." Glenn started to leave.

"Sorry." Marle said, "Maybe some other time."

Toma started walking the other direction, "Maybe. Good-bye Marle! Good-bye Glenn!"

"Bye Toma." Marle waved, then went to catch up with Glenn.

.

"She got out!"

The team had been talking in the soilders' quarters when a soldier came and told them the news.

Ayla turned to her friend, "Lucca, no need to yell. Not so bad."

Marle-Shifter walked towards the soldier, "How did this happen?"

"She broke through the wall," he answered.

Glenn asked the next question, "And what, flew away?"

"Evidence shows that she and another climbed down."

By this time Robo was also there, "Another Shifter? Why would they climb all the way down and not fly away as Glenn said."

"To make it look as if they are not Shifters." Marle-Shifter suggested.

"Maybe because whoever rescued her isn't a Shifter." Lucca added.

Marle-Shifter gave her a strange look, "What?"

"Well you took my idea."

The soldier gave more information, "That's not the worst of it." They looked at him. "We believe whoever rescued her was at one point in the castle. That is all." He left.

"If the Shifter," Glenn started, "Is still imitating Marle, then the other may be imitating someone else here."

Lucca sighed, "Why is everyone taking my idea?"

"Sorry."

"We find Shifters, ask Shifters things." Ayla suggested.

"Alright," Lucca said, "Did you guys find some kind of mind reading machine and didn't tell me?"

Everyone laughed. Lucca tried not to, but she couldn't help it.

.

Marle and Glenn were in the Denadoro Mountains in the cave the Masamune was found.

"Well," Marle said, "We may have to fight monsters every time we leave, but it's good. It's big and we have many places to hide if the others try to find us."

"Yes. If they come we can leave, if they find us, we don't want it to be here."

"Alright, but we need to think of a way to show our friends they are working with imposers

"When a Shifter is unconscious, relaxed, sleeping, or dead they turn to their natural form."

"How do you know?"

"The humans in 2000 B.C. learned a lot. It was confirmed when Ayla, Crono, and Robo rescued the other Marle. When they killed the boss there he returned to this form."

"What does it look like."

"They said it looked like water."

"Ew. I hope no one has mistaken a sleeping Shifter for water."

Glenn walked outside, he wondered how long he'd have to live here. Glenn looked toward the water fall. He sensed something wrong, he waved Marle over.

Marle came out, ready to ask what was wrong. But she knew right away what it was. It was voices.

.

To Be Continued…

Chapter Text

Marle listened to see who it was. Lucca, Ayla, and Robo, the one that can figure out anything using science and logic, the one who has hunted before, and the one who has senses a beyond humans. But this didn't help them see a Shifter when it was right in front of them. Ok, Ayla's talent had nothing with recognizing Shifters.

Marle pointed to Glenn then to bushes in front of them. Then she pointed to herself and pointed to bushes near the other ones. Glenn nodded. They both hid in their places.

Marle held her breath when Lucca, Ayla, and Robo went by. She watched them stop in front of Glenn's bush. They spoke quietly and watched it closely. Marle started planning what she'd do if they found him. But it was necessary, they moved on. They climbed the rope that led to the higher land. Soon they disappeared into the cave.

Glenn got out and quickly went where Marle was.

He pointed to the water fall.

Marle shook her head.

"Come on," he whispered, "Going down the waterfall will be quicker, we'll be way ahead of them, and I've done it before."

Marle gave him a strange look, "If we just leave they won't see us."

"But they'll leave eventually and this way we'll be way ahead of them."

Marle sighed but finally nodded.

Glenn ran towards the waterfall he crept quietly when passing the cave. Marle followed. Glenn hesitated a second before jumping. Marle grabbed the edge then climbed down. If she was going to jump she was going to make it so the ground was as close as possible. She couldn't let go by herself so she let the water push her.

.

Robo heard a noise outside. He ran out, but he saw nothing. Lucca and Ayla had followed him. Lucca shook her head, "No one is here. Lets go." She started walking.

"Either the Shifters are home or they have found a place we had not thought of looking."

Lucca shook her head, "The others still might find them at the Magic Cave or Magus's Lair. But the Shifters most likely went home."

Robo looked at her, he knew they were both thinking the same thing (he didn't know about Ayla) and he was going to say it, "That is if, they are Shifters."

"You've thought of that too. Marle has acted strange lately." Lucca said.

"We talk to others about it?" Ayla asked.

"No," Lucca said, "We may be wrong. Also we are looking for what seems to be two Shifters."

"Then we must figure out who can't be replaced and tell them." Robo said.

Lucca suggested, "I think we should try to do this ourselves. Then there is no risk."

.

Marle and Glenn were on their way to the Magic Cave. They turned to be in front of the cave. But they stopped quickly when they saw themselves and Crono. They back up quickly, but now didn't know what to do.

Marle thought going back to Denadoro Mountains but they would just chase them. Besides that she saw Lucca, Ayla, and Robo were coming from there.

Ayla was the first to speak, "Fight," as she put her fist up.

"Always comes down to fighting." said the Glenn just on Marle's side (Glenn 1) as he grabbed his sword with his left hand.

"Afraid to loose?" asked the other Glenn (Glenn 2) grabbing his sword with the same hand.

Ayla went to attack them.

"Wait-wait-wait!" Marle said quickly as she blocked herself.

"What?" Ayla asked.

"Six against two, don't you think that's a little unfair."

"No." Ayla went to attack again.

"Wait-wait-wait!"

"Now what?" Ayla asked.

"Well," Marle said, "You know, we didn't really plan on fighting. So don't you think it would be fair if you would let us plan a little."

Ayla didn't respond, but Marle-Shifter did. "No. You shouldn't be able to plan."

Marle had one last plan, she threw a temper tantrum, "IT'S NOT FAIR!! NOT FAIR-NOT FAIR-NOT FAIR-NOT FAIR-NOT FAIR-NOT FAIR-NOT FAIR-NOT FA-"

"Alright!!" Lucca yelled. If she could say it she would have said, maybe this is the real Marle, but because of the Marle on their side she couldn't. "The two of you can discuss your plans with each other. But don't take too long."

"What!" said Marle-Shifter.

"It would be," Glenn 2 said, "Without honor if we won. The fight is unfair to them."

Marle-Shifter wanted to respond but if she did it would be un-Marle like. Instead she glanced back and forth between the two Glenns. She felt ashamed that she couldn't tell which was the real one and which was the fake. It was one of the first talents that all Shifters learned and it was something she was never good at.

Marle said her thanks and went a few meters away from them. When Glenn 1 joined her she spoke, "What do we do, we can't fight them."

"We'll probably have to alternate between attacks and healing. You heal or give a Ether to who needs it, I attack, then we do Double Cure."

"Right, and the first thing I do is Haste."

"At times we will both be able to attack, we use Glacier. If you do attack only one person it'll be Marle-Shifter so she is the most likely person to loose all HP. Then she'll return to her natural form."

Marle nodded. They came back.

"Ready fight?" Ayla asked.

No, Marle thought, but she said, "Ready as can be." Then in her head added, considering it's six against two.

"Good." Ayla said, the Cat Attacked Marle.

Ow, Marle though as she Hasted herself.

Robo Rocket Punched Glenn.

Glenn used Frog Sqaush to attack the entire team.

Marle Hasted Glenn.

Crono used Lightning 2.

Lucca threw a Mega Bomb as she said, "Here."

"Here? " Marle asked as she and Glenn 1 did Double Cure, "I thought you were smart."

"I am smart!"

The battle continued, after awhile Lucca lost her HP.

Ayla looked at Marle-Shifter to do Life 2 then paid attention to the battle. Something in this battle was familiar. But she didn't know what or how.

Marle-Shifter was about to do Life 2 when she was again attack with Leap Slash by Glenn 1. So she had to put her HP back up because to her it was most important.

Soon Crono lost his HP.

Marle wanted to laughed, her imitator was not doing her job well.

Glenn 2 Revived Crono but after Glenn 1 and Marle did Glacier. Crono fell back down. Were they waiting for someone to do Revive? Glenn 2 thought, and why can't Marle do her job.

Ayla Triple Kicked Marle.

Marle Cured herself while Glenn 1 did another Frog Squash,

Ayla lost her HP.

Robo at this point was more concern getting his HP up then to fight, apparently his fighters knew this, with another Glacier he was out.

Marle-Shifter couldn't believe this, they were losing, how is this possible. Now it was her and Glenn 2 against themselves. Marle-Shifter knew if this kept going she would lose her HP and return to her original state. So she ran away.

Glenn 2 couldn't believe his eyes as he watched Marle-Shifter run, "Marle!" he called, "What are you doing?! Get over here!" He shook his head and looked towards Glenn 1 and Marle.

Glenn 1 spoke, "Looks like someone ditched you. Very un-Marle like. But now the important stuff. I don't think you can win right now."

Glenn 2 sighed, he knew the other Glenn was right, so he nodded.

"You admit you lost? Good. Then we we'll leave." He started to leave.

Marle watch as Glenn 2 took out a revive. Then she looked at her friends, she didn't want to just leave them, "Shouldn't we help?"

Glenn 1 turned around, "And do what? They'll attack us. They think we're Shifters." He turned around and left.

Marle turned to Glenn 2, "If you do Crono first, he can help with Life." Then she turned and followed Glenn 1.

.

The entire team glared at Marle-Shifter when they found her in the Soldiers Quarters'.

Lucca was the first to speak, "Thank you, Marle. Now thanks to you, we lost!"

"I'm not the only one with healing powers

"No, it's just you job."

"Not only," Glenn started, "Did you not do your job, but after, you ditched us." Glenn was obviously trying to control his anger. (Where Lucca didn't even try.)

"I did my best. They kept a tacking me."

"Then why didn't you trust us to heal you, we can do some. But were not suppose to do all." With that, Glenn left.

Lucca shook her head and followed. Soon everyone but Marle-Shifter and Ayla was gone.

"Ayla?"

No answer.

"Ayla talk to me."

Ayla looked up, "Why Marle not act like Marle?"

"I'm just mad, and being yelled at or ignored by my friends don't help."

"Ayla see sad Marle, Ayla see angry Marle. But Ayla not see Marle act this." Ayla left.

Marle-Shifter shook her head with anger. They're all stupid, she thought, what do I care if they are mad at me? They're only humans. Then she saw a note on the table. The outside read "Viaat". She picked up the note and read it. It was in her language. It read:

.

Dear Viaat,

It is me, Swau. I want to talk to you. Meet me the Cursed Woods tonight. I need to tell you same things. It is important. You must be there!

From Swau

.

Marle-Shifter smiled. It was nice to hear from Shifters again. It was also nice to see her name. She nodded her head. She would defiantly be there. She had to find out which Glenn he was.

.

That night Marle-Shifter snuck out of the castle she walked a while. Then when she was sure no one from the castle could see her, she turned into a Raven and flew to Cursed Woods. When she got there she landed and turned back into Marle-Shifter. She looked around, "Swau?"

"Here." Swau came out of the trees still having his Glenn look, "What took you so long?"

"What's so important?"

"Business first. You were always like that. About me telling you which Glenn I am. You obviously don't know."

"Which Glenn are you?"

"Castle Glenn. I thought it was really funny when I realized you thought I was the real Glenn," he said laughing.

"Then why did you yell at me?"

"I had to look mad. Why aren't you acting like Marle? I think the whole castle suspects you now."

"They do not! What else is important?"

"We need to get one of them alone with us. Another Shifter, Dsjw, is ready to switch with that person."

"Who will we switch?"

"Let's talk tomorrow."

"At the castle!"

"If we meet every night I think they'll notice."

"Alright, let's go back to the castle."

Marle-Shifter turned back into a raven. Glenn-Shifter turned into a bat. They both flew back to the castle.

"Tomorrow we'll talk?" Glenn-Shifter asked.

"Yes, good night

"Good night

.

Lucca was eating Refreshed Salad for breakfast.

"Why that breakfast?" Ayla asked, "Not breakfasty."

"And soup is?"

"Ayla's people always eat soup for breakfast."

Marle-Shifter shook her head, "Why are you two arguing about breakfast."

"Like you should complain about anything." Lucca said.

"That's not nice, Lucca." Robo said.

"I said sorry," Marle-Shifter said, "What do you want me to do, Lucca?"

"I for one," said Glenn, "Am getting sick of the arguments and complaining."

Crono nodded, he was tired of the arguing too.

Lucca spoke, "In other words, Marle, shut up."

"Actually," Glenn said, "I was speaking to the person who just had two arguements."

Lucca looked at him with anger, "Me?"

"Starting another?"

"You stated it!"

Robo said something before this got out hand, "Look everyone is mad. Glenn don't talk to Lucca. Lucca stopped arguing with everyone."

"I'm not arguing with everyone."

"Oh forget it," he left.

Ayla followed.

Lucca sighed, then she turned to Crono, "Am I arguing with everyone?"

Crono nodded.

"Liar! I am not." Then she left.

.

Marle got up late that day, she went out to look for Glenn. She found him cooking something. She looked at with curious, "What's that?"

"Food."

"Ew, I think I'll eat what's in my bag."

"You have been eating out of that since we got here. That's not healthy."

"It's heathy," she dug out dried vegetables, Then offered some to him, "Tomato."

"No thanks."

"You're missing out."

.

Marle-Shifter was looking for Glenn. She couldn't find him anywhere. She decided to asked Queen Leene. She found her in her room.

"Excuse me, are you busy?"

Queen Leene was knitting. Because she was just starting it, Marle-Shifter couldn't tell what it was. Queen Leene didn't look up, "No."

"Don't you have people to do that for you."

Queen Leene glanced up, smiled and continued to knit, "Yes, but I like to knit. It's very relaxing. Do you know how to knit? I can teach you."

"No and no thank-you. Actully I was wondering if you knew where Glenn is."

"Yes, but he wanted to be alone."

"Oh, ok. Thank you anyway. Good-bye." Marle left quickly. She would just have to ask someone else. She knew Queen Leene was too polite to tell her.

She found a soldier in the hall that lead to the Soldiers' Quarters. She asked him, "Have you seen Glenn lately?"

"I saw him walking around in the jail."

"Why."

"How am I supposed to know. I can never figure out the guy. He leaves for ten years, then comes back like nothing. This guy is too confusing!" He shook his head as he past her.

Marle-Shifter smiled, she liked it when humans got angry over nothing. She went to the jail and walked up and down each floor until she found him on the top floor in an open cell. He seemed to be deep in thought. She smiled as she looked in, "So what did you do?"

Glenn looked up quickly at her voice, "I'm thinking of the Shifters and I didn't want to hear anymore arguments

"You know I could close this and lock you in." Marle-Shifter said jokenly.

"That would be rude."

Marle-Shifter looked to see if any guards were near, "It was a joke," she paused, then quietly added, "Swau."

"What?"

Marle-Shifter wasn't sure which what he was asking. Was is 'What's Swau mean?' or was it 'What did you say?' She decided to ask, "What what?"

"What is a Swau?"

Marle-Shifter couldn't believe it, she had tried to deny it. But it was true, this was the real Glenn. Swau had lied to her. Now she had to make-up what a Swau was. "It's a food. I've been craving it. Do you think the chef knows how to make it?"

"I don't know. He makes something called, Sawl, maybe that's it," he got up, "I am tired of sitting here. The kitchen is close by, I could ask him for you."

"Thanks, that would be nice." She said as she thought, he bought it, humans are so stupid! Glenn nodded and passed her, "You should try thinking here too. If you can ignore the fact that it's a cell, the quietness is calm and peaceful."

Marle-Shifter nodded and slowly walked in. She sat on the bed to think. Now what should I think about, how Swau betrayed her, how humans are so stupid, or what Sawl was like. She never heard of Sawl and wondered if it was good. I have to find Swau and asked why he did that.

Marle-Shifter smiled to herself and thought some more. Imagine Glenn going to the kitchen to ask the chef if Swau is Sawl. Wait a minute, how would the chef know if something from his future is the same as something he made now.

Marle stood up, trying to figure this out. And the kitchen isn't close, it all the way on the other side of the castle. The thing that is close is... She finished her thought off in words, "... the Soldiers Quarters'. "

.

To Be Continued...

Chapter Text

Glenn walked quickly into the Soldiers' Quarters to hear more arguing. But it was about Marle. (Or should he think Marle-Shifter.) Which was good. The other good thing was that they were all there.

"No, no," Lucca was saying, "Marle has no excuse for the way she has been acting."

Ayla frowned, "Marle say Marle angry and sorry."

"It's not just the fight we had. Even though that's a big part of it. But she hasn't been herself lately. Who disagrees."

No one did.

Glenn decided to let Lucca finish.

Lucca continued, "She has been rude, selfish, and gets angry whenever anything we say something about the Shifters that she disagrees with, and-"

"Lucca." Glenn interrupted, how much did she plan on saying?

"I was talking."

"Well I'm interrupting if you don't mind. What's Swau?"

Ayla answered, "Swau Shifter. Why?"

"That's what I thought." Glenn turned to frowning Lucca, "She called me that."

Lucca's frown disappeared, "She called you Swau." She turned to the others, "Evidence!" She turned back to Glenn, "She must have thought you were a fake."

"I," Robo said, "Believed you. You just didn't give me a chance to say it."

Suddenly Marle-Shifter ran in. She was breathing hard and was clearly out of breath.

Glenn moved closer to her, "Did you run the whole way?"

She looked at him with disguised, "What?"

Lucca jump towards her, "We know who you are."

"I don't ... know what ...your talking about," she said innocently. She was breathing almost normal now.

"You're a Shifter. Glenn explained everything." Lucca said.

Glenn started wondering why it was always Lucca who told someone they were a Shifter.

"I don't understand. Glenn and I just talked. Then he ran off. I followed to why he ran."

"You called him, Swau."

"What's a Swau? Why would I call him it."

"You called him a Swau." Lucca was actually starting to get angry "And now you're lying about it! You-"

"Lucca." Glenn said.

"Why do you keep interrupting me."

"Lucca, there's no real evidence who's telling the truth. Before you keep yelling at her you have to find evidence to support what you say."

"You're a witness."

"No! Last time I was a witness I put the real Marle in jail."

"It won't be just that it'll be-" Lucca stopped. Glenn was right and she shouldn't be arguing with him, "You're right. We'll find evidence."

Marle-Shifter smiled, they would never find any evidence.

"We could-" Lucca continued, "try and find the other Marle and Glenn."

Marle-Shifter's smile disappeared, why did she have to remember them.

.

Marle was drinking water from the water by the waterfall.

"The waterfall is so pretty isn't it?"

Glenn-Shifter looked at it, it was hard to be impressed by something you can become, but since he was supposed to be a human, "Yes, very pretty."

Glenn-Shifter wished he could just melt into a pool of water right now. He laughed and wondered how Marle would react to that.

"What are you laughing at?"

Glenn-Shifter turned to the princess, "It's not very funny, silly really."

Marle looked surprise, "You? Amused by silly, little things. I can't picture that."

"You learn a lot about a person when you're hiding on mountains with them." Guilt spread through him. He didn't know how much he could take lying to her.

Marle sat down across from her, "What should we do about the Shifters who are replacing us? I hope my replacing didn't help with yours. Sorry if it did."

Glenn-Shifter organized his things, another wave of guilt washed over him. Don't feel bad, he told himself, you are doing this to be good, and you plan on telling her eventually. He shook his head, "Marle we need to talk."

"What's that?" She asked looking to her right.

"We need-"

She put her hand out

Glenn-Shifter heard too, it was Lucca, "Hello?! We need to talk to you two! That's all!"

Marle turned back to Glenn-Shifter, "What should we do?"

"I don't know."

"I think we should hear what they have to say."

Glenn-Shifter nodded, "Alright."

They stood up and faced toward Lucca's voice. She repeated it several times and got louder and louder.

Lucca started to yell again, "Hello?! We need-Oh." She saw them, "So you heard me"

Glenn-Shifter moved one step back, "The person in this very spot in 2300 A.D. heard you."

Lucca frowned at the remark, "We wanted you attention."

"You got it," Marle said, "About a hour ago."

Lucca frowned.

Marle smiled, "Joke."

"Oh, I see. Hey! That's not funny!"

Everyone but Lucca laughed.

Glenn-Shifter stepped forward, "What do you want?"

"To talk."

"You already told us that about 20 times. What do you want to talk about?"

"You two. One of you is a Shifter and the other's not."

Glenn-Shifter laughed, "I'm sorry, but I can't help but laugh at that. How did you reach this conclusion?"

Ayla came up and explained everything, "Glenn and Marle talk. Glenn leave and tell us Marle call him Swau. Swau Shifter."

Glenn-Shifter muffled a laugh at Ayla telling him who he was.

"Marle say no happen. We not know who believe. We hope you know."

Glenn-Shifter sighed slightly, now he had to tell Marle who he was.

Marle frowned, "So now you say one of us is real and the other's a Shifter. How-"

"Marle." Glenn-Shifter said.

Marle turned towards him, "Yes."

"Um," he wanted to look at the ground and mumble. But he looked straight into her eyes and got it over with, "They're right. I'm not Glenn, I'm a Shifter."

Marle eyes held anger, disappointment, and disbelief. Her face showed nothing. She shook her head, "Why did you lie to me?"

"I was afraid that if I told you I was a Shifter, you wouldn't trust me. But now that I know you, I believe I was wrong." He didn't know what to say after that.

Marle turned away and looked the sky. She was glad that the Shifter thought he was wrong. She wasn't sure if he was or not. She wasn't sure what to say now.

Crono moved towards her and took her hand. He didn't need to say anything and simply comforted her with his eyes.

Marle-Shifter moved to Glenn-Shifter, "Why have you betrayed your people?"

"Depends how you look at it."

"What do you mean?"

"I betrayed the few high-ranking Shifters who wanted this war. The mid-high-ranking Shifters to the low-ranking, none of them wanted the war. You betrayed them. "

"They will hear of your betrayal She turned and ran right off the mountain. She fell and disappeared. Soon a black bird flew up and away.

Glenn-Shifter turned back to see Marle was watching. He sighed silently, "I'm sorry I lied to you."

Marle nodded, "Before they came, you were going to tell me, weren't you."

"Yes."

Glenn-Shifter looked at the others, but he didn't say anything.

Lucca did, "I think it's about time you explained some things."

"Yes," Glenn said, "But before you do would you mind changing."

Glenn-Shifter laughed, "I will change. Now what should I look like? Hmmm He change into what he looked like at the Cathedral. "My favorite human look. Well, sort of human look."

He sat down on the floor, "I am Swau. My partner was Viaat, she the one who just left. The leader of the Shifter is Jubf. Jubf decided to have a war with the humans a while ago. So Viaat and I were sent up to study humans. At this time their was a war with the Mystics. So we watch to see the abilities of humans. We saw the Mystics were winning. When you came we knew you had the chance to beat the Mystics. So we studied you. When you did beat the Mystics the plan became to slowly take the place of each of you one at a time before you knew we were their. Then start the war. But none of you seem to separate until recently."

"Good plan," Lucca said.

Swau nodded, "What Judf didn't know was their was a group of Shifter who were working against him. A group called, Biqse. I was part of this group. The Biqse are the ones who put the letters here so the humans knew about us. Jubf had to change some of the plan because of this."

"How Swau study us?" Ayla asked.

"By being different people and animals. Remember Tata's grandfather."

Marle answered, "Yes."

"That was me. If you look you will notice he's not there anymore."

Lucca frowned, "Didn't Tata and his father notice something strange."

"I wasn't always there, just when you were there."

Ayla said, "Swau tricky. Swau tell us, how stop war."

"If you fight Judf and some of the other high-ranking Shifters and win. The war will stop because no one else wants this war. I can show you the way but I won't fight. I hate to fight."

"Three of us will go." Robo said.

"I'm going," Marle and Glenn said one the same time.

"Who else will go?"

"I could go," Lucca said.

"Should we go now, "Swau asked.

"First," Lucca said, "We have to see what armor and helmets to wear."

"What do I get?" Marle asked.

"You can have the Haste Helm and Prism Dress."

"Yea!" Marle jumped happily.

"I get," Lucca continued, "The Prism Helm and Zodiac Cape."

Glenn nodded, "I shall have the Vigil Hat and Nova Armor."

Lucca smiled, "I'll have the Sight Scope, Glenn you have the Hero's Medal, like always, and Marle you have the Gold Stud."

"Yea!" Marle was happy.

They got their things.

"Now," Swau said, "Shall we go."

"Yes." Marle said.

Swau began to leave. They followed him.

"Swau," Ayla called, Swau turned around, "Ayla see Swau again."

"Yes, we will see each other again."

On the way to Shifton they talked, "Swau," Lucca said, "Where is Shifton?"

"It is under Magus's Lair."

"Marle," Glenn said.

Marle moved beside him, "Yes."

"I'm sorry I put you in jail."

"It's ok. You did what you thought was right."

Glenn nodded, "So did he act like me?"

"Yes he did a lot in the beginning but towards the end he acted less like you. Now let me ask you a question, what did you think when the other Marle ran at the end of the battle."

"I wondered if she was a Shifter. Then you wanted to help, I thought about it even more. I think we all were thinking it."

"Another question, why did you let us win that battle?"

"That wasn't planned. We suspected that you might be the real Marle because the way the fake one was acting and because of this I think we all decided on our own to be easy on you . That combined with the fact that Marle-Shifter wasn't doing her job caused you to win. I'm not sure why we kept relying on her to heal."

They walked through the Magic Cave and were by Magus's Lair. Swau went behind Magus's Lair by the water edge. Then he went into the water, "There's a hole a few feet below. Then the hole goes up so the water can't be there."

"How big is the hole?" Lucca asked.

"Three feet from side to side and top to bottom."

Marle nodded, "We'll just have to crawl."

"It gets bigger as it goes," then he went under.

Lucca turned to the others, "This seems strange."

Marle smiled, "I like swimming," then she jumped into the water and swam under.

Glenn went to the edge, "Swimming will be different as a human." Then he went.

Lucca laughed when he tried to swim like a frog. Then he started using Marle's way of swimming and disappeared. Then Lucca followed.

Marle swam into the hole which went up steadily. It was fairly dark but the light was always there. When the sunlight disappeared, light from where the hole lead to was there. When she got to the top she saw the light was torches in the wall. The water now looked like a pond. The ground was higher than the water by half a foot. It was also muddy. Swau held his hand out to her. She took it and she pulled her up.

"This place is neat!"

"It leads us down from now on."

Marle nodded and looked in the water. She saw Glenn.

"Hello," she greeted as she helped him up, "You swim just the way I do."

"Actually I copied you. I can't swim the way I used to."

Marle giggled. Then she saw Lucca. Marle and Glenn helped her up.

"Why," Lucca said, "Is the ground above the water?"

"So when it goes down it won't be below the water so fast. It used to be higher."

They started to go. The ground got lower and lower. The torches on the wall alternated sides were a meter apart. Several weren't lit. As they went on more were lit. Soon an unlit torch couldn't be found. There was painted pictures on the dirt wall that seemed to say things.

"Swau, what are these pictures of?" Marle asked.

"They tell of the history of our people. They date from when the first Shifters were here in 2000 B.C. This," he pointed a group of pictures. "Tells us of tells us of the leader Qub. He was a great leader." Swau continued to walk.

"How many symbols are there," Lucca asked.

"876."

"Wow!" Marle said, "That's a lot. Think I could learn some."

"A English-Shiftaz dictionary might help."

"Is that what you used?" Lucca asked.

"No, I learned English when I was a baby. I learned it the same time I learned Shiftaz."

"Oh," Lucca felt embarrass.

"Here we are, the first part of Shifton."

They were in a large room that had five more doorways and some holes in the floor. The walls of this room also had many pictures.

A lion greeted them, "Swau, who are your friends. Are they the humans who have come to stop the war." The voice was feminine.

"Yes, Fiis. How are you?"

"Good, but that doesn't matter. We must get them to Judf to defeat him."

Swau nodded and walked past her.

"You don't need to hide our plans?" Glenn said.

"No, none of the Shifters here want the war. Most of them are with the Biqse."

"How do you identify one Shifter from the other?" Marle asked.

"By the smell, that is also how we identify where we are in Shifton. That and the symbols on the walls." He went into a hole that lead down. They followed. After they went down many holes Swau spoke, "This is the lowest floor. We are about 78 miles underground."

"How are we going to get to Judf."

"You will fight, but mostly they will let us through. When you do fight, I can help by putting them to sleep. But as I said I won't take away any HP by sword or magic. I can also give you Ethers when you need them. Marle you and I could do Double Cure so Glenn can fight."

"Good plan." Marle said.

They got to the end. Two guards were guarding the doorway. "Gskr." (Halt in English.)

Swau wasn't worried, "Jubf bir. Biqse."

The guards nodded. One spoke, "Sorry, we didn't know you were Biqse. Go on."

Swau nodded and went through, "As you see," he said to his friends, "Many are part of the Biqse because only Jubf wants this war. But their is one who will obey him no matter what."

They went farther in the cave. The wall still had the paintings but the torches were now on both sides of the wall. Swau used that same password to get through.

Finally they came to a room where what looked like water was on the floor. The Shifter rose, "What are humans doing here, Shifter."

"My name is Swau. These humans are here to destroy Jubf."

"Not if I can help it." The Shifter attacked with Ice 2.

Lucca laughed, "I hope that's not the best you can do," then attacked using Flare.

Marle started to put haste on everyone.

Glenn jump to do Leap Slash.

The enemy Shifter laughed at Glenn, "That better not be the best you can do."

Glenn laughed, "You'll wish it was."

Swau put the Shifter to sleep. So Marle finished her haste and gave everyone the Ethers they needed. Glenn used Heal. Then they waited until everyone was ready to fight again. Then Lucca did Flare. Which was followed by Glacier from Glenn and Marle.

The Shifter laughed then attacked. The attack took all but one HP off everyone.

Marle and Swau quickly did Double Cure. Then they laughed.

The Shifter frowned, "Giving yourself more HP is cheating!"

Marle laughed, "Since when?"

The Shifter did the attack again, "Remember this attack, it's called Down To One."

Marle and Swau did Double Cure, Marle laughed, "Oh, that's creative."

But as soon as they did the Double Cure the Shifter did Down To One again.

Lucca used a Lapis.

The Shifter laughed and used another attack that took an average of 100 HP off each.

Marle and Swau did Double Cure.

Lucca used Flare.

The Shifter started to loose his shape. His shape became less detailed.

Glenn did Frog Squash on the Shifter.

The Shifter shook his head, "No." Then collapsed.

Marle, Glenn, Lucca, and Swau each celebrated in their own small way.

"Next is Jubf, he is even more powerful then this one. I can't put him to sleep. He can do Down To One 2. This spell takes all but one of HP and MP. But he can't do it to in a row like this one did. "

"How many Mega Elixirs do we have?" Marle asked.

Everyone counted.

"I got two," Swau said.

"Four here," Marle added.

"I have three," Glenn said as he double checked his answer.

"So," Lucca said, "Including mine, we have twelve."

"Let's hope he doesn't do it more than twelve times," Marle said, "Lets go."

Swau nodded and lead the way. They walked through a long hallway. It was like every other wall, it had the torches and paintings. But this time the paintings were also on the floor and ceiling. Also the torches were held by gold scalped to look like hands. Soon a doorway could be seen. The team had a mixture of emotions, excitement, fear, feeling nervous, anger, and happiness. The same feelings they always got before they fought the leading bad guys.

They walked through the doorway. At first Marle, Glenn, and Lucca saw nothing. Then they looked in the direction Swau looked. A small black insect was on the floor. Then it got bigger and changed. Four of it's legs stayed on the floor. The other two rose up. The upper part turned white. It turned into a centaur. The horse part of it was black. The human part was white. It's eyes were red with no pupil. The hair was black, the tail was white. It had two long, horns on it's head the curved back slightly.

"Swau, you have betrayed me, why?"

"To stop the war."

"Then I shall kill you and the humans."

"You shall try."

Jubf laughed and then threw a ball of ice at them. The ice hit the floor and exploded with more ice hitting everyone.

Lucca did Flare as Marle started giving haste to her friends.

Jubf laughed, "You think you can defeat me?"

Glenn did Frog Squash, "We think we can."

"And we will," Marle added.

Jubf laughed and held his hand out. A thin white light came from it and suddenly it flashed filling the room. Down To One 2 was done, "Take that, humans."

Marle quickly used a Mega Elixir.

Lucca did Flare again.

Jubf threw double-sided knives at each of his challengers. The knives spun into the air. Glenn dived to the floor to dodge the knife being thrown at him. Then he watch the knife lodge itself into the dirt wall behind him.

"No!" Jubf cried, "You ruined my wall. You will pay!" He did Down To One 2 again.

Marle used another Mega Elixir.

The fight was long and hard for both sides. A lot of Flares, Frog Squashes, Double Cures, Mega Elixirs, and Down To One 2s were used. Glaciers, Heals, Cures, Leap Slashes, and Mid Ethers were also used. But what only one side knew, it would soon end.

It was getting harder for Jubf to keep his shape but he wouldn't let his enemies know this. He didn't know how longer they could last but he couldn't last much longer. His HP was down to 2000 and only four more Flares or Frog Squashes would kill him. Now he wished he had learned some healing tech like his challengers did. Another Flare was done on him followed by Glacier. Only 1000 HP left. He did Down To One 2 again.

Swau used a Mega Elixir. Then she spoke quietly to Marle, "He's getting week."

Marle nodded at his words then told Glenn. Glenn told Lucca. Lucca laughed then did Flare again.

Marle and Glenn glanced at each other then did Glacier again.

Jubf went to his knees. No, he thought, they can't win. He fell to his sides and slashed when he became the water-like substance.

Marle jumped up and down in glee.

Glenn made his hand into a fist and smiled.

Lucca punched up into the air and laughed.

Swau happily spun around in a circle.

When they stopped Swau turned to them, "Tell your leader to no longer worry about the war."

"Aren't you coming with us?" Marle asked.

"I will follow you, but I have things to do here first."

"Then we won't leave 600 A.D. until you come."

.

Crono, Ayla, and Robo were in Glenn's home. They were to wait for the others here.

"They take long time," Ayla said frowning, "Ayla no like wait."

"Didn't you expect them to long?" Robo asked.

"Of course, but Ayla still no like wait."

Robo heard something outside, "They might be here."

"Good. Ayla happy now."

A few seconds later, Glenn come in, followed by Marle and Lucca.

Ayla frowned, "Where Swau?"

"He'll come," Lucca said, "Now let's tell King Guardia and Queen Leene they no longer have to worry about the Shifters."

"Shouldn't Swau be with us when we tell them?" Marle said, "He helped a lot."

Crono nodded.

So they waited for him. Soon Swau came, he was holding a book.

"What's that?" Lucca asked.

"An English-Shiftaz dictionary," he said as he handed it to Marle, then he spoke to her, "You said you wanted to learn how to read some Shiftaz."

"Cool, thank you" she said as she looked through the book. "What are the pages made of, they don't feel like paper."

"Paper? We make it out of a medal called, Reww. I don't think humans discovered the medal yet. It's very deep under the earth."

"Wow," Lucca said as she went to look at the book. "This medal is awesome After she looked at it for awhile she got up, "Now we tell King Guardia and Queen Leene the war is no longer a concern."

.

Crono, Marle, Glenn, Lucca, Robo, Ayla, and Swau explained everything to the King Guardia and Queen Leene.

"I am glad we no longer have to worry," King Guardia said.

"A war," Queen Leene added, "Was the last thing we need." She turned to Swau, "What will the Shifters do now?"

"I don't know how many want to see how it is up above the earth. But I think a few might like what they see and might want to stay."

"They will be welcomed."

Swau gave a nodd of respect, "Thank you."

The team said good-bye and left the castle. They were now standing next to the Epoch.

"This good-bye?" Ayla said already knowing the answer.

"Yes," Lucca said, "But there is no reason not to see each again."

"Good," Marle said, "That's a very good idea."

Lucca smiled, "I thought so. Lucca the Great always thinks of good ideas."

"One of you will have to take Ayla and me home, then pick up the others," Robo said.

Crono raised his hand and got into the driver's seat of the Epoch.

"Good-bye everyone!" Ayla said, "Ayla look forward when see you next time." She got into the Epoch.

"Me too," Robo said, "Visit us often and soon. Good-bye."

"Good-bye!" Marle, Glenn, Lucca, and Swau called.

The Epoch lifted up, then jerked forward and disappeared.

"Thank you," Swau said, "For helping to stop Jubf."

"Thank you for helping us stop him," Glenn said.

"And for the book," Marle added.

Lucca laughed then spoke, "Well, good-bye for now. We'll see each other again soon."

"Swau, where should we find you?" Marle asked.

"Well, it sounds strange but I liked the Denadora Mountains. If I move to live on top of the earth I think I'll live there."

The Epoch appeared above them, then landed. Marle and Lucca climbed in. Everyone either said good-bye or waved or both.

Then they Epoch again lifted and disappeared.

Now in 1000 A.D. Marle climbed out, "I confused about something."

"I sure I can help," Lucca said.

"Where are the Shifters now? Don't you think some would live here now?"

"I'm sure some do live here. But it's normal now so you don't here about it."

"Maybe, but I think we would hear about them."

Lucca shrugged her shoulders, "Doesn't matter. I'm going home." Then she ran off.

"But Lucca-" Marle sighed and turned to Crono, "I was going to invite you both to eat at my home but she ran off. Would you want to."

Crono nodded and to the castle they went.

.

The End