Disclaimer: All characters belong to Square.

Author's Note: Feel free to point out any mistakes, but please do remember that this is a fanfic, and it's bound to have something you didn't expect. In fact, I'm almost certain that none of this could happen in the game. So don't even try to compare, and don't bother telling me what can and can't happen. It's my story, and if you don't like it, no one's forcing you to read it. This particular part may be the most controversial, but as I said before, it is my fanfic.

Summary: Lynx calls Harle back to his side, but what are his intentions?

... are thoughts.

The Contest, Part 5: The Missing Lynx


This place...it looks so familiar, but I can't remember...

She could feel her body being moved by some unknown force. The room spun in and out of focus, until Kid realized that she, too, was spinning, ever so slowly.

As Kid's head flopped weakly to her shoulder, her vision finally cleared enough to make out something red on the floor. She only needed a second to know that it was blood. Her blood. If she concentrated hard enough, she could still feel it running down the numb side of her body. But the effort wasn't worth the pain it brought.

"Something wrong, my dear?"

That voice...I know it, but I don't...

In an instant, she finally remembered. This had happened long ago, before her every fantasy was a vision of blue eyes and dark blue hair. Before Serge and his quest. Before love had become important to her.

"Can you see us now, Kid? Do you remember this day?"

She could, and she did. Not that she wanted to, but she didn't have much of a choice here. Lynx was in control, as he always had been, on some levels. She'd known that, of course. They all had, but no one was willing to admit it, for Serge's sake. Just talking about Lynx gave him the willies, and it was easy to see why.

The scene came into focus now. Lynx would've said they were dancing. Kid would've said what was really going on. He had stabbed her, over and over again, until she was too weak to fight back. And then, with the strangest look on his face, he'd dragged her limp body around the room in a sick, twisted "dance" that actually gave Lynx some sort of pleasure.

She had never told anyone that, and with good reason. It was one time that Lynx had defeated her completely. The one time when she couldn't claim any sort of victory over him, mentally, physically, or otherwise. It was the one time she had lost all her dignity, and that was something Lynx would never give back. It was the day that his obsession with her had gone too far, and hers with him had just begun.

It was something she'd had nightmares about every week since...until she met Serge. He gave her new dreams, new hope, and new feelings that she'd never had for anyone before.

But Serge was a part of Lynx, and Lynx was a part of Serge. In the same way, Lynx was a part of Kid, and she was a part of Lynx. But that was the most frightening thing. Because if she was falling for Serge, then she was also falling for Lynx. If she wanted Lynx dead, then she wanted Serge dead, too. But she couldn't live without Serge, so she couldn't live without Lynx. Because if Kid destroyed Lynx, then Serge would be destroyed, too.

But...Serge is a part of me, too. So if I killed him like he asked, I'd kill Lynx, too...but eventually, I'd die myself, because I can't live without either of them...

* * * * *

"How you children do amuse me," Lynx chuckled to himself as the two teens danced. Serge was leading of course, full of a confidence that wasn't his, using steps that weren't his, either. Kid was the submissive one, as she had always been in their little dance, following aimlessly with a glassy look in her blue eyes. A look that reminded Lynx so much of the day when she had become his forever. But that was then.

"Dance, my children. Dance until you can dance no more, for only then will you know the truth." Lynx smiled and closed his eyes. So long I have dreamed of this day, and yet, I still feel...incomplete. But I know exactly what's missing.

Like most demi-humans, Lynx had a gift when it came to things in his realm. Cats, of course, had always been easy to control, but the human mind was another thing altogether. That was the hardest thing to conquer, but once done, the rewards were endless. For years, he had learned and studied, until even the mind was no longer a match for him. He was about to prove that, too.

Lynx spread his arms and opened his eyes. "Come to me, my dear, sweet Harle. Join us, and make this occasion...complete."

* * * * *

Razzly hated being a fairy. At least, among humans, anyway. Someone was always stepping on her or mistaking her for a circus midget (which was very insulting to any fairy). In any case, they always made her feel so small and helpless.

Now that she was seriously wounded, Razzly couldn't even get out of bed, which just made her feel worse. To add to her depression, Serge was nowhere around. She was forced to remain under Harle's care, which had been, now that she thought about it, quite nice. Despite her initial hatred of the demi-human, Razzly was actually starting to like Harle, and it wasn't because of her weird choice of make-up, either.

"Razzly, do you like your tea hot or cold?"

"Huh? What?" Razzly shook her head and looked up.

Harle was leaning over her, patiently waiting for answer. "Ze tea. Do you-"

"Oh! Hot, please." She waited until Harle turned away before asking, "You love Sergey, don't you?"

Harle paused and looked back at her. "Why do you ask zis, mon ami?"

"I just want to know," Razzly replied. "So do you?"

"I...cannot be sure anymore."

"So you did love him once?"

Harle bit her lip. "Yes, but...zat was a long time ago."

Razzly smirked. "It couldn't have been too long ago, or you wouldn't have come here to see him. You wouldn't have gone out with him, and you-"

"Zat is enough!" Harle interrupted. She lowered her voice. "I do not wish to speak of Serge right now, Razzly. It is...painful for moi. I...will get ze tea for you." She quickly faded from sight.

Razzly sighed and looked towards the window. "I wonder when Pip will come back..."

* * * * *

In all honesty, Pip had no idea that anything was wrong. In fact, he was in a very good mood. Serge would be alone with Kid, and with any luck, he'd stop being so moody and admit that he loved her. She'd say she loved him, then they'd kiss, and she'd drag him up to her room, where they would make loud noises until the next morning. Pip had seen many humans do that back at Viper Manor, and though he wasn't sure why, there was hardly ever a break in the pattern.

However, Pip did know something was wrong when he found a trail of blood in front of the inn. It led straight to the door, where more blood was smeared. Pip quickly ran inside and nearly bumped into Harle.

"Hawwe! Dea's blood awl ova da pwace!"

"I know, mon ami. Razzly is injured. You should stay with her."

"What about you?"

Harle paused. "I must go."

"What? Why?"

"Please, Pip. Just stay here. Razzly needs you, and I...I must do this." Before he could ask anymore questions, Harle faded away.

Pip was on his way to Razzly's room, but he stopped in front of Serge's. It was then that he noticed Serge's steel swallow was missing.

* * * * *

The contest was over, in Serge's mind. He'd forgotten that any other woman existed. He couldn't take his eyes off Kid. She was ten times as beautiful as she had ever been, and he wouldn't listen to anyone who said different. He was hopelessly in love with her, and nothing would change that.

And yet, something deep inside told him the feeling was alien to him. But her beauty was overwhelming all the same. Her hair, her face, her lips, her eyes...

Eyes. Windows to the soul, and so much more.

Eyes...

These eyes...they aren't mine...they can't be! Something is wrong!

"Ah. I see you're awake, Chrono Trigger."

Lynx! I can hear him, but...I can't see him! I can only see Kid...she's so beautiful...so lovely...

"Yes. She is, isn't she? You love her, don't you?"

This isn't right...but Kid...she needs me to love her...I have to...I must...

"Yes, Serge. Love her. Love her until she is the only one that matters. Love her until time ends. Love her...until you can't do anything else."

Serge stopped dancing. His hands left Kid's waist, and slowly traveled up to cup her face. So lovely...I can't believe she's mine...all mine...mine alone...

Kid's eyes seemed to shimmer, and she finally blinked. "Serge?" she asked.

Kid...my love...my goddess...my all...my eternity...

"Serge, can you hear me? Mate?"

So lovely...all mine...for all time...

"SERGE!"

I need you, Kid...you need me...we can be together, forever...just the two of us...

* * * * *

Harle knew of Lynx's plan. She had known that he would summon her one day, and that she would have no choice but to return to him. She just hadn't realized how much it would hurt.

When she entered the ballroom, the first one she saw was Lynx. He turned slightly and smiled at her. He beckoned her closer, gesturing to something beyond him.

Harle hesitated, then came forward, absently gripping the steel swallow tightly. She was hardly aware that she had it at all now. Still, she nearly dropped it when she saw what Lynx had been gesturing to.

Serge stood a few feet away. His normally blue eyes had been replaced by an eerie green. And he was tenderly cupping Kid's face in his hands. And the way she was staring into his eyes...it was...it had to be...

Harle forced her eyes away, but she could still feel her heart breaking. This time, she did release the swallow, but Lynx was quickly at her side to catch it.

"Tell me something, my dear," he said. "Do you think they make a nice couple?"

"Oui, Monsieur Lynx," Harle replied quietly. "They are...perfect together."

"I'm glad you agree, Harle." He reached up to take her chin in one hand. "Your opinion is very important to me, you know."

Harle's eyes focused on his face. For a time, she'd gotten used to seeing his green eyes full of emotion and noble sentiments. But that was while Serge was trapped in Lynx's body. And though emotion still remained, noble sentiments had been replaced by something else.

"You are...different, my dear," Lynx said. "There is something new to you."

"Oui. I t'ink it is what you might call...doubt."

"Doubt?" He smiled. "You doubt the wisdom of my actions, I see. But this scheme of mine has nothing to do with wisdom, and everything to do with desire."

"I...do not understand, Monsieur."

"Which is precisely why I will explain it to you, sweet Harle." Lynx stepped over to Serge and Kid, who were still lost in each other's eyes. Using the swallow as a pointer, he began.

"Let us begin with Serge, the tragic hero. Heroic because he knows no other way to be, and tragic because he is doomed to be hopelessly in love with any girl that has a past shrouded in darkness, much like his own. But what does he desire? Love, pure, simple, and true. The problem is, he does not know love when he experiences it."

Lynx moved on to Kid. "Ah, the tragic heroine. Heroic because she learned from Serge, and tragic because no matter how many times we dance, she never quite learns the steps, does she? No matter. Her foolishness and gullibility are integral parts of my plan. What does she desire? A hero's heart, for herself, and the hero's heart. The problem is, she already has a hero's heart, and cannot obtain the hero's heart. I shall remedy that."

"Next, we have you, my dear," Lynx said, turning to her. "The dark jester. Born and bred on the side of darkness, catching glimpses of the light, but hopelessly trying to straddle the line between them. You try so hard to please both sides, and have lost yourself in the process. Who are you, Harle? My loyal assistant and friend...or Serge's confidante...and more? Your problem is quite clear. You have lost the means to define yourself. But I shall remedy that as well, sweet Harle."

"Finally, we have myself. I am the traditional villain, complete with dreams of limitless power and heartless, maniacal tendencies. My role is now clear. I will unite the four broken pieces. The Chrono Trigger, The Outcast, The Jester, and The Cat. None will survive without the other three. Scarred, imperfect pieces of the same troubled tapestry. How beautiful it will be when we are all one..."

Lynx raised the swallow and swung it several times. Serge's shirt fell away in shreds, revealing a horrific web of jagged scars all over his back. "My marks, Harle. Forever tainting the hero. But the more he cuts them to bleed out the poison, the more he hurts himself. Why? He is obsessed with being rid of me, but does not understand that I will always be a part of him, even after my death. The same goes for Kid. We all define each other, Harle. Never forget that."

"I am still confused, Monsieur," Harle said. "How do you plan to unite us?"

A strange smile appeared on Lynx's face. "With love, sweet Harle. Only with love." He placed the swallow in Harle's hands. "You know what to do, my dear. Do it quickly."

"No, Monsieur Lynx. I cannot do zis. It is not right."

"It is more right than you know, Harle. You have no choice. It is my final request, and I will only allow you to grant it." His eyes glowed brightly. "Do it. Now."

Harle felt her hands gripping the swallow, but she could no longer control them. She drew it back, then rammed it forward. Steel met flesh, and there was no contest between them.

Lynx stared down at her, the light in his eyes beginning to fade. "It is done. Thank you, my dear."

Nearby, Serge and Kid slowly came out of their trances. The first thing they saw was Harle. Then the swallow in her hands. Finally, the demi-human who was impaled upon it.

Lynx slowly turned his head to face them. "Farewell, children. I wish you happiness." He gasped and looked back to Harle. "Live well, sweet Harle. Now...at last...you are defined."

"Au revoir, Monsieur," Harle whispered. She quickly drew the swallow out and dropped it. Then she carefully helped Lynx lie down on the floor.

His breath was coming out in short gasps now. A red pool gradually began to develop beneath him. Then Lynx closed his eyes and breathed no more. The fur on his body began to fall off. A few seconds later, there was a man in his place.

The ballroom faded away. They were now standing in the forest.

Serge removed the wrap from his head and walked over to the body. He stared at the face for a long time before placing the wrap over it. Then he picked up the swallow and sighed. Rest easy, father. Thank you...for everything.


To Be Concluded in The Contest, Part 6: Rainy Daze