[Disclaimer]: I do not own the rights to any of the characters in this fanfic, nor do I claim them. The idea, however is mine.
AN - Well, this is a Chrono Trigger/Secret of Mana crossover. What can these two games possibly have in common? Read to find out. ^_^ Please, please leave a review! Enjoy!
Revival of the Legend
Part 2
As the sun rose the next morning, Serin stood at the front gate that led to the castle. He was wearing his usual ensemble; a pair of baggy, blue pants and a matching sleeveless shirt, a purple triangle plate that covered his shoulders and chest, and a purple headband. Unconsciously, he put his hand to his side, where the Mana Sword should have been. With a sigh, he began to walk towards Luka's place.
"Serin, wait," Marle yelled out. As she came into view, Serin stopped. Marle was back in what she usually wore, which was a white, sleeveless, off-the-shoulder jumpsuit. She also had her crossbow strapped across her back. She caught up with Serin, and stood next to him, folding her hands together in front of her.
"Good morning, Marle," he greeted. "What are you doing up so early?"
"I woke up because I wanted to go with you to meet Luka," she replied. "Do you mind the company?" Serin shook his head.
"No, I don't," he replied, as the two began to walk. "Where are Crono and Glenn?" Marle shrugged her shoulders.
"In their rooms, I guess," she stated. The two walked in silence, and Marle looked over at Serin. "Our groups have a lot in common. Who would have thought all of us are warriors?"
"It's strange," Serin replied. "I was really surprised you were a Princess ... No offense, but you seem like you have more of a fighting spirit." Marle smiled at him.
"Usually, I would have been angry, but I'm not," she stated. "When I met Crono, it felt fated that I should help him in whatever quest he was on."
"From the story you told, you didn't really have a choice," Serin commented with a small laugh.
"Yeah," she said absently, remembering the tale she had retold Serin and Charis the night before. "Crono and I ... We've been through so much together. We're very close. It seems like you and Charis are close, too."
Serin shook his head in response. "Yeah, we are," he said. "But, it wasn't like that at first. While we were searching for Dyluck, she was so difficult to be around. It was her way, or else she wouldn't help. That changed, though, after she realized the danger we were all in. The more times we ran into Thanatos and Dyluck, the less confrontational she became. Dyluck's death is what made her finally reconcile with her father." A look of understanding passed over Marle's face.
"I know how she must have felt," she said quietly. Serin glanced over at her, a questioning look on his face, and she smiled. Though she, Crono, and Glenn had told about their adventures, they left out the fact they could travel through time, resurrect people by going into the past, and other events they thought would be difficult for their new friends to believe. "A turn of several events made me reconcile with my father, too." He nodded his head, and they walked in silence. As they passed a bridge, Serin stopped. "What's wrong," Marle asked.
"This is where Charis and I parted ways, when we first met," he replied, smiling at the memory. "After she saved me from the goblins."
"Goblins," Marle asked, confused.
"It's a long story," he stated. He looked up, and pointed ahead of them. "Luka's place is this way. We're almost there." As the two continued to walk, a voice shouted out at them.
"Serin, wait," Charis yelled. She, Crono, and Glenn came running from behind Serin and Marle, passing a large tree, and crossing the same bridge they had just passed. As the trio caught up with them, Charis crossed her arms and glared at Serin. "So, you were just going to leave us behind," she demanded.
"No, Charis," Serin replied. "I didn't think you would be up yet, and I didn't want to wake you."
"Is that so," she challenged, glancing at Marle briefly. "And I suppose she was up?"
"As a matter of fact, she was," Serin replied, frowning. "Charis, what's wrong with you?"
"Nothing," she snapped. She lowered her gaze, trying to hide her flustered face. She smoothed down her pink, fancy dress - which was actually a one-piece pantsuit - and straightened the gauntlets on her wrists. She looked back up towards Serin and sighed. "Serin, you knew I wanted to see Luka again," she stated quietly.
"Then I'm sorry, Charis," he replied. "I just thought you would be tired, that's all. You have a lot of responsibility on your shoulders now. Besides, I didn't think your father or King Edward would allow you to go. You know how they both are." She was about to say something, but thought better of it and just nodded her head in agreement.
"Well, let's get on our way," Charis stated. She turned, and the others followed her silently. Before long, they were standing in front of the shrine. "I haven't been here in so long," Charis mused aloud, looking around the place. She ran up the stairs, leading into the shrine, and ran down the long hall. The others followed her pace quickly, and ran along with her. After they pushed down the three different levers that drew out the bridges, they were standing at the highest level. Luka was standing at the base of the pedestal, staring up at the Mana seed.
"Welcome back," Luka stated, sensing their presence. "It's been a long time, Serin and Charis." As she turned around, she gasped slightly as she noticed Crono, Marle, and Glenn standing behind them. "You must be the three strangers with the strange machine. Crono, Marle, and Glenn, was it?"
"How did you know that," Marle asked, shocked. Luka gave a small smile.
"The ebb and flow of the water brings news from everywhere, Marle," Luka replied. "I knew about you practically the moment you came into this land."
"Luka, is something wrong," Serin asked, stepping towards her. "Jema mentioned the uneasiness of the land, but I don't know what he meant."
"So Jema senses it, too," Luka mused. She sighed, and motioned for Serin to come closer to her. "Serin, don't you feel the power reawakening?"
"Luka," he began. "I ..." His voice trailed as his gaze moved up towards the Mana seed. A faint aura shimmered around it, and he gasped. "Is it possible?" Luka stepped aside, and Serin made his way up the stairs towards the seed. As he stood in front of it, he reached out with shaking hands.
"Go ahead, Serin," Luka stated. Serin looked over towards Luka, and then back towards the seed. He reached out and grasped it with both of his hands, and a green light filled the room. As the glow faded, Serin ran down the stairs and stood in front of the guardian.
"Luka, does this mean what I think it means," he asked.
"Yes, Serin," Luka replied. "Mana power is slowly reawakening in this land. I don't know how, or the reason why, yet. I must ask something of you."
"Anything," he stated.
"Go to Potos, Serin, where the Mana Sword rests," Luka began. "Go, and pull the sword. If you are able to, it means your work is not done yet." He nodded in understanding, and Luka turned towards Charis. "I want you to go as well, Charis."
"Of course, Luka," Charis replied. "Let's go, Serin." He nodded his head, and the two began to leave.
"Wait," Luka called out. The two warriors stopped, and as they turned around, two glowing objects floated in front of them. "These may be helpful." Serin reached out and touched the object in front of him. As he made contact, the axe formed in his hands. Charis did the same, and the whip formed in her hands.
"Thank you, Luka," Serin said.
"Now go quickly," Luka stated. She watched as the two ran off, and as Crono, Marle, and Glenn began to follow, she stopped them. "You three must remain here," she told them. "I would like to talk to you."
~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~
Serin and Charis left the shrine, and began running, with Serin taking the lead. "Let's go through the Haunted Forest, Charis," Serin suggested, running to the left. She silently agreed, and quickly followed to the portal spot, which would take them into the forest. Wasting no time, Serin ran to the post once they were in the forest, and waited for Charis to catch up with him.
"It's a good thing Luka gave us the whip," she stated. She threw one end of the whip toward the other post, and as Serin grabbed a hold of her waist, she pulled them across the ravine. "She must have known ... Hey, Serin, wait for me," she yelled out as he took off running again.
"Sorry, we don't have time to talk. Let's keep going," he called back towards her. He set an emotionless expression on his face as he ran. "I'm glad you can still keep up, Charis," he said to himself as he noticed her running beside him from the corner of his eye, matching his pace. "I just hope Luka was wrong for once. We destroyed the Mana Beast. How can Mana power still exist?" The two continued quietly through the maze, with Serin cutting down boulders and overgrown weeds with his axe, and Charis whipping them across ravines where needed. Finally, the two made it to the portal on the other side of the forest.
"Let's go to the Canon Travel," Charis suggested. "Hopefully, it can still send us to Potos." Serin nodded in agreement, and then ran after her. The two only stopped when they made it to their destination.
"Do you still service to Potos Village," Serin asked the canon man.
"We do," the canon operator replied. "Just fifteen gold pieces will send you on your way." He studied the two as they searched through their pockets for the money, and he snapped his fingers. "I know you! You saved the world. You're Serin, right?" He paused momentarily as Serin shook his head. "I knew it! Just climb into the canon. For you, it's free."
"Thank you," Serin stated. He helped Charis climb into the canon, and then climbed in himself. The canon operator lit the fuse, and in a matter of seconds, the two warriors were flying through the air. They flew in an arc, and as they descended towards the ground, they prepared themselves for the landing. As they hit the ground, they rolled to a stop.
"These are the times I wish we still had Flammie," Charis grumbled as Serin helped her stand. He smiled sadly, and the two turned towards the entrance to Potos Village. Charis glanced over at Serin, and grabbed his hand, giving it a squeeze. "Serin, you're the savior of this village now. They've realized their mistake, and welcomed you back."
"I know, Charis," he replied, squeezing her hand back. "Thank you." He took a deep breath, and then led Charis into the village. As they made their way through, a chorus of hellos followed them. The village elder talked to Serin momentarily, and afterwards, as the two continued through, they stopped in front of Serin's old house. "I'll never understand how they could banish me so easily, Charis," he said quietly, hurt filling his voice. "Without even a second thought."
"They were just frightened, and made a bad decision. Let's just go," she ushered him, pulling him gently. They made their way through the back entrance of the village, and took up a run once again, heading towards the spot the Mana Sword lay. Serin cut down the last of the overgrown weeds, and inhaled sharply as he saw the sword wedged in the rock at the bottom of the waterfall.
"There it is," he stated, walking towards it in a trance-like state. As he stood in front of the embedded weapon, a figure appeared in front of him. He looked up, and a small smile appeared on his face. "Father."
"Hello, my son," his father stated.
~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~
"I better understand your situation now," Luka said to Crono, Marle, and Glenn. "How strange that you ended up here."
"Thou believe'th us," Glenn asked, watching Luka thoughtfully. "Dost thou find'eth this strange?"
"I have seen many strange and unbelievable things in my lifetime," Luka replied. "It's not hard for me to believe your story."
"Is there possibly any way to fix Epoch," Crono asked.
"Travel to Tasnica," Luka replied. "There, you will find the technology you need for your travel back to where you truly belong." She looked up, past the three briefly, and then looked back towards them. "I'm sure Serin and Charis will help you find your way there."
"Thank you, Luka," Marle stated. She nodded her head as the trio turned towards the sound of footsteps. She, too, looked up, as Serin and Charis entered the room. Serin had a troubled look on his face, and Charis had unshed tears in her eyes.
"Luka," Serin began quietly, walking to where she stood. Without another word, Serin unsheathed the sword that was now at his side and held it out in front of him. "My father told me to take the sword, and once again put a stop to the evil that's growing in this land."
"I was afraid of this, Serin," Luka stated. She stepped aside, allowing Serin passage to the steps. "Seal the power of the Mana seed." He complied, and walked up to the seed. As he placed the blade against it, a faint glow emitted from it and a flash once again filled the room. Replacing the Mana Sword back in its' sheath, he walked back down the stairs and stood in front of Luka.
"What do I do now," he asked.
"What you are destined to do, Serin," Luka replied. "With the sword, travel back to the Pure Land. You'll find your answers there. Your new quest begins Brave Warrior, but you will need allies. The power of five is greater than the power of one."
"The power of five," Serin asked. He looked back towards Charis, Crono, Marle, and Glenn, and understood Luka's meaning. Luka smiled, and raised her hands into the air. One by one, the rest of the Mana weapons appeared on the ground. She turned towards Charis.
"Go to the seed, Charis, and receive the powers you once held," Luka told her. She did as she was told, and when she touched the seed, the magic she once had power over returned to her.
"Isn't there anything we can do," Marle asked Luka.
"For the moment, no," Luka stated. "Just help in any way you can." She turned back towards Serin, and put her hands on his shoulders. "Now go forth, brave Mana Knight, and once again return peace to this land."
"I will, Luka, I promise," Serin stated. Luka watched as the five warriors left. The stray cat she had found rubbed past her, and she picked him up.
"You'll find the strength that you need, Serin," Luka said quietly. "Please, just don't fail, like I have."
To Be Continued . . .