Ayla wandered on. She had no idea where in the world she was going. Everywhere she went looked the same. Suddenly, her stomach began to growl.
"Ayla hungry! Time for lunch." She spotted a hill with a bunch of tasty looking bugs, and ran towards it. She charged up, eating every insect she saw. Suddenly, a small guy with a mushroom-type hat came running up to her.
"Sorry, but the beetles are for selling, not eating." Ayla stopped running long enough to say, "Out of Ayla's way, mushroom-head!" and then gave him a quick slap which knocked him over. He rolled down the hill.
"Stop that woman!"
BRRRIIIING! Marle sleepily answered her phone.
"Hello?"
"Marle, it's me, Lucca. Are you all right?"
"Sure, I'm fine!"
"You sound like you just woke up from a nap."
"Well, I was really tired after the Yoshi Races."
"Yoshi Races?"
"Yeah. Have you gotten word of Crono?"
"Uh-huh. Why don't you call him up? I think he wants to talk to you."
"Sure thing. Thanks!" CLICK!
"When dost the person arrive, Lucca?" Frog asked impatiently.
"Soon," replied Lucca. "It called back and told me that it had something to do first. Said it was an emergency."
"Well, this is an emergency, also," said Robo. "What could possibly be more of an emergency than this?"
Ayla reached the top of the hill, panting like a dog. She could hear the voices of the angry people behind her.
"There she is! Don't let her get away!" Ayla looked towards the exit, and saw Booster and three snifits running towards her.
"Ah, there awaits my bride-to-be, ready for the wedding!" Booster and Toad's group had trapped her. Suddenly, she heard another voice speaking to her. She couldn't tell if it was male or female.
"Jump, Ayla! It's your only escape!" Ayla looked down at the sea below, and felt dizzy. She gulped. "Hurry! You can do it!" The voice was reassuring, and Ayla felt confident. She took a deep breath, and jumped.
"No! Don't jump!" yelled Booster. Ayla heard the voice again as she was falling, and this time saw a dark, bird-shaped thing appear out of what looked like a purple Gate. Suddenly Ayla was flying through the air, as the thing seemed to support her from underneath.
"Stay over the water!" It disappeared, but Ayla kept on flying over the open sea.
"I've told you a hundred times, I have no scythes for sale!"
"Well, then you should order some!" Magus was trying to buy something at the shop. He was not having much luck.
"Get out of my store, you, you monster!" Magus stormed out, muttering to himself. Suddenly he was aware of a voice speaking to him.
"Quick! Your friend is in trouble!" He looked around, but couldn't see anybody, which just annoyed him further.
"Who said that?!"
"Never mind who. Ayla is in the ocean, and can't swim much longer. You'd better help her!" Magus looked out towards the sea.
Suddenly, Ayla felt herself falling again. She plunged headlong into the water. She could swim somewhat, but got tired easily, being unused to it.
"Where strange creature go?" she said. She looked up, and saw the shore. She struck out towards it, but was way too tired to go on, and started to sink.
"Help!"
"Ayla?"
"Magus help Ayla! Hurry!" Magus floated down and picked Ayla up. Then he dropped her on the bank.
"What are you doing here?"
"Ayla try to find Crono. Jump off big mountain, float like bird. Then fall into water."
"Maybe we could call him."
"Yes, I'll come as soon as I can! Are you sure you're all right? Okay, bye!" Marle hung up the phone. Yoshi walked in.
"Are you ready for some more racing?"
"No, I've got to get to Mushroom Kingdom."
"I'll take you there if you want."
"Would you? Oh, thank you!"
"And I'll bring along some Cookies, in case we get hungry."
"Let's get going then!"
A purple Gate formed in front of Lucca, and a dark figure about her height stepped through.
"Hi, Lucca. This must be Frog, and Robo."
"How did you know our names?" asked Robo.
"You'd be surprised at what I know."
"What shall we call thee?" inquired Frog. "Its name is Tiger," Lucca murmured. Then she spoke louder. "Tiger, back to why we called you." Tiger nodded.
"I already know, and I've fixed it somewhat already. Ayla and Magus have found each other and are searching for Crono. Marle's already found out where he is and is heading that way with Yoshi. They'll all be together soon."
"Then how will we get them back?"
"Leave it to me."
"I wish we could repay you somehow."
"I'll be repaid by your gratitude." With that, it left.
BRRRIIIING! Crono had been slicing at Goombas in Mushroom Way, and he had his hands full with his sword, so he couldn't answer his phone. BRRRIIIING!
"All right, just a minute!" he muttered. Suddenly his portable answering machine went off.
"Hello, you have reached Crono's portable phone. Crono is either unconscious, or has abandoned his phone for certain purposes. In any case, he can't answer, so leave a message after the beep, and maybe he'll find his phone again."
"This is Magus. I'm here in Seaside with Ayla, and I'm wondering. . ."
"Oh, I can't reach the phone in time!" Desperately he slashed harder at the surrounding enemies.
". . .where you are, so call back."
"Hello Crono!" As he heard this last part of Ayla shouting, the phone on the other end hung up.
"Dang!" He finished them off and dialed up Magus.
"Hello?"
"Magus, I heard your message. Sorry I didn't answer, I was in the middle of a fight."
"There's monsters there?"
"Yeah, but they're pretty easy."
"Where are you?"
"I'm near Mushroom Kingdom."
"Okay, we're coming then." Click! Crono turned around as an enemy tried to sneak up on him. He defeated it in one swipe.
"These guys are just too easy!" He decided he'd better head back to Mushroom Kingdom to meet Marle, and went off.
"Where are we?" Marle and Yoshi had been traveling for hours. They were now in a dark, murky area.
"This is the Kero Sewers, where Belome used to live."
"Who's Belome?"
"An evil, four-eyed creature."
"Ooh." They continued on through the pipes and water. Suddenly, a rat came up and attacked them.
"EEEEK!" yelled Yoshi. Marle immediately fired her crossbow. It hit it's mark exactly, and defeated the rat. "Wow, you're pretty strong!"
"How do you think I ended up with this weapon?" Marle smirked.
Soon they got to Mushroom Kingdom, and Marle hopped off.
"Thanks for the ride!"
"No problem." Just then, Crono came running up.
"Marle!" They hugged each other.
"Who is this?" asked Yoshi.
"This is Crono, my friend. Crono, this is Yoshi." Crono smiled and nodded.
"Thanks for bringing her."
"I've got to go now, Marle. Bye!" Yoshi waved as he headed off.
"Bye, Yoshi! Thanks again!" Marle turned to Crono.
"What have you been doing all this time?" He shrugged.
"Oh, nothing much, just slicing up a few baddies."
"Let's both do it! We haven't fought together in a while."
"Sure, why not? Let's go!"