with the Chrono Trigger - Perfect Bible out, maybe the answer to the Is the new ending canonical?
I wouldn't count on a game guide book to clear up anything about plot or story canon. If anything, especially when it comes to third party involvement, these books sometimes print erroneous things.
Furthermore, I don't like the wishing for an interview scheme. It's one thing to have a a meaningful interview about elements you wanted to pursue with a project, (but couldn't due to reasonable limitations) but if you're still unable to reproduce and convey what you want, (or clarify desired outcome) in a third time reproduction, that just means you're losing it. Personally I'm starting to think that Akira Toriyama have more rein control of this sled. Capsules and monster training, oh my!
Also, this new ending tie-in to Cross makes me think that the story is just another teen girl love-fling, like 'Twilight', or whatever. *note* (I haven't read or scene about twilight, I'm just using as an example of the genre)
"Grr, I'm angry at my parent, the world everything! So im'ma destroy it." Then suddenly down the line she hears some child crying, develops a crush on him, and changes her ways to intervene on his behalf. (teen fickle) So, if building a crush on an infant isn't bad enough, she's lusting for him so much, she clones herself to be able to do it twice. Then when both are free (one on either arm >.>) she like "I'm only how many thousands of years older than you? Oh well, even though you won't remember me, we're gonna stalk you through in time/space. We're not creepy. Much."
And all the while, Dalton and Balthesar are collaborating to see if they can escalate this from teen-love to a soap opera.
*insert plot hanger jingle* dun dun duuuuuuuun!
Okay, less silly now.
I always thought of it as each timeline is in its own dimension...all separate from each other, so when one changes the timeline, it is self contained to that dimension... but the split in Cross was one timeline that was split in twain but still self contained...for the most part anyway (looking at you Dinopolis). like a head of hair, each hair is in one follicle (i know multiples can sprout from one follicle but for simplicity sake...), and then there are hairs that are split, effectively becoming 2 hairs from one follicle. something like that anyway.
And I think that sort of mindset/mentality foundation would've done better for the consistency of plot design in Chrono games. If that were the case, I don't think the draconian merge could've happened. Most time created changes between the two games are based on the key-stone timelines, but a timeline that doesn't have Lavos arrive (hence the survival of the reptites) couldn't have happened in this follicle. This is another example of how the approach to time/dimensions is mostly a split basis of "what-if" possibilities to become whatever time branch is necessary for plot convenience. Granted, a third game installment could've created some time project to prevent Lavos from hitting the planet in the first place, but I'm still finding any involvement with that time-line weak story writing at best. Why? Because if someone on this planet with time travel capabilities can prevent Lavos, then they could surely arrange for the means of having a similar massed object hitting the planet to maintain the time-line effects without Lavos' involvement, and thus reduce sizable variations or complications. Butterfly-effect go!
Oh all the philosophical placements throughout both games, I guess this is where Descartes makes a show. Only its not the 'me' it's the 'everything else'.
