I don't own Chrono Cross or any of its characters and places. I do own Ana though. So, There!
Chapter 3: The Thief
Serge and Glenn walked through the rubble of Termina while they talked about what has been happening to them in the past two years. "Yeah, I had just gotten promoted to Leader of the Divas, before that dragon came." Serge smiled at that. "So, you finally got out of your brother's shadow, huh?" Glenn smiled and nodded. "So, Serge? How 'bout you? Did you ever marry that Leena girl?" Serge stopped smiling. "I–No. I didn't. I don't know why, but . . . I just didn't. Not that she didn't hint at it every time she got." Serge said jokingly. Glenn chuckled and then got serious, "I think I know why." Serge looked at him. "Your heart still belongs to Kidd. Even though you didn't remember her, you still loved her, and Leena just couldn't compete with that." Serge turned that over in his head. "Yeah. Maybe that's it." Glenn patted him on the back. "We'll get her back, Serge. I promise." Serge smiled. "Come on. I finally bought myself a boat, so we won't have to walk." As they were walking, Glenn noticed he was still in his dress uniform. "Aw man. All my clothes were in Viper Manor! I can't fight a powerful evil in this!" Serge started cracking up. Soon Glenn joined in his laughter. "Well. I guess we'd better get you some clothes before setting off. Plus, you need to tell somebody where you are going first." Glenn nodded, and they started back towards the manor.
"Glenn! No! You can't just leave! Especially not now! The city is in shambles! We need you here!" Glenn and Dario were in a heated argument. "I don't care, Dario! My friends need me! I have to help them!"
"Your people need you! What's more important, Glenn?" Glenn sighed, "Dario, if I don't help Serge, the entire world could be at stake! Serge needs my help! If not, then there may not be a 'my people' anymore!" Dario threw up his hands, and then pointed an accusing finger at Serge, "You! You're filling my brother's head with nonsense!" Serge looked bewildered. Riddle stepped in to rescue him, "Dear. He just saved us all! Don't you think he might actually be telling the truth?" Dario's shoulders sagged. "I–I just don't know." Doreen! Is there anyway to get him to remember? Serge asked via a mental link. Yes. Leave it up to us. The Mastermune started to glow. Everybody stopped talking, as this happened. FLASH! Riddle screamed before Dario did. She was holding her head. The same thing started to happen with Dario. Within seconds they stopped screaming, only to be hit by memories. They didn't get up for a long time. "I–I remember! I remember everything!" Dario said. Riddle nodded, "So do I, but I don't understand. Why did we forget in the first place?" Serge and Glenn looked at each other, and then they started to explain.
"I see. So Kidd's in trouble?" Dario asked. Serge nodded. "Yeah. She's in trouble, and Glenn and I have to save her." Dario nodded. "Maybe we could send the army after this 'evil'. It'd speed up the process." Serge shook his head, "No. You saw what that dragon could do. That dragon was just a minion! Plus, you need all the soldiers you can get. Just in case you're attacked again." Dario nodded, "But how are you gonna defeat it?" Serge thought about this, "I–I don't know yet. But I wouldn't worry about it too much. The only reason that dragon put up so much fight today was because I haven't been in a real fight like that in two years." There was a pause, "Are you saying that you're stronger than that?!" Dario asked. "Dario, Serge here could kick ten dragons' butts in his sleep. Of course he's stronger than that!" Glenn stated. Serge didn't deny it. Dario didn't look so sure. "I find that doubtful." Serge smiled. "Hey! I beat you didn't I?" Dario laughed, "That you did, Serge. That you did."
Serge and Glenn were, once again, walking toward the docks. Glenn was dressed in more informal attire. A t-shirt and shorts. The shirt was a tropical T-shirt. "Hey, we'll be going through Mt. Pyre! You know how hot it is there! Plus, I'm bringing my armor!" And he was bringing his armor. He had it slung over his shoulder. Serge smiled. "You never cease to surprise me, Glenn." There was silence. "So, Glenn. Who do think that woman was earlier?" Glenn looked thoughtful. "I don't know. I didn't get a good look at her." There was a noise behind them. Before they could turn around, there was an arrow poking Serge in the back. Glenn spun around. "You!" Serge looked over his shoulder, and found himself staring into to deep green eyes. The deep green eyes of the woman who saved him earlier. The arrow was still poking him. "Keep on moving. Don't even think about trying anything." They moved into an alleyway between two barely standing buildings. "Okay, you know the drill. If you have any valuables, hand them over." Serge smirked. "I suggest you take that arrow somewhere else, that is, if you want to live." The woman laughed, "You're the one with the arrow in your back. Hmm... This weapon here looks nice. It'd get me plenty of Gold. I think I'll take it." She said, indicating the Mastermune. "Uh... I wouldn't do that." Glenn said. "You just shut up, pretty boy." Ana shot back. Serge chuckled to himself, she was going to be in for a rude awakening. She touched the swallow. FLASH! She flew back and hit a wall. Serge turned around slowly. The woman groaned. "I warned you." Glenn stated. Serge grabbed the Mastermune and pointed it at her neck. "Now, who are you?"
"My name is Ana Cage. As you already know, I am a thief." Ana Cage had long, blond hair with red streaks and a figure most people would die for. She wore a tight black T-shirt and black sweat pants. She reminded Serge of Kidd. "Where you at the battle with that dragon earlier?" Glenn asked. She didn't answer. Serge gave her a threatening look. She hung her head, "I–Yes. Yes, I was there." Serge and Glenn smiled. Now they were getting somewhere. "Let's just cut to the chase," Serge said, "I was saved by a woman during that battle." Ana looked up. "You were the person fighting that thing?" Serge nodded, "Anyway, as I said. A woman saved me. This woman used some kind of strange element I had never seen before. Glenn here, says that you are that woman. Now, I ask you, are you that woman?" She didn't reply for many moments. "It wasn't an element."
"Excuse me?" Serge asked. "I said. It wasn't an element. It was magic. Real magic. Magic in its purest form." Glenn laughed, "Do you think we are dumb? Nobody's used magic for four hundred years! Where did you learn magic?" She looked puzzled, "My father taught me. And plus, what you said about magic not being used for hundreds of years is wrong." She stated as-a-matter-of-factly. "What? What are you talking about?" Serge asked. Ana looked at him. "You used magic today. I believe it's called Luminaire." Serge laughed. "That isn't magic!"
"Oh? Then, what is it?" Serge thought about it. "I–I don't know. I've never really thought about it. I always thought it was just a regular technique." She smiled. "No, you're wrong. It's a type of magic. Light magic, I think. In fact, it's the most powerful light magic known yet." Serge thought about it. "How did you learn it?" Ana asked. "I–I'm not sure. I think I learned it in a dream. In this dream, there was a man with red, spiky hair." Ana's eyes widened. "Crono." She said quietly. "What?" Serge asked. That name sounded familiar. "Crono! King Crono of Guardia! You were contacted by Crono!" Serge still couldn't place the name. "But that's... Impossible... He's been dead for thirteen years... Unless..." She looked at Serge again, "Does the phrase, 'Chrono Trigger', mean anything to you?" Serge's eyes widened. Did it ever mean something to him! "I–I have been called the Chrono Trigger." He said after a few seconds. Ana's eyes widened, "So that's how." Serge looked at her, "What do you mean?" She hesitated. Glenn's swords rang as they were pulled out of his sheaths. Ana chuckled, "You wouldn't kill me. It's not the noble way." Glenn swung the sword at her, and stopped inches away from her neck. "Maybe I'm not as noble as you think." Ana looked at the Einlanzer to Glenn and, finally, Serge. Their eyes met. Serge put a hand up to signal Glenn to stop. Glenn complied. "Now, you are going to tell us everything we need to know. If not, Glenn here is going to turn you into the authorities." Ana weighed her options and sighed, "What I meant was that it has been said that it might be possible for Chrono Triggers to pass knowledge onto the next Chrono Trigger." Serge nodded thoughtfully, "So... How do you know so much about Chrono Triggers?" He asked. "I–I mean, my father told me." Serge arched an eyebrow. "Who was your father, and how did he know about the Triggers?" Ana looked indignant, "He was a very wise man, that's all you need to know." Serge sighed, "Fine. Glenn, let her up." Glenn nodded and sheathed his swords. He held out a hand for her to help her up. She swatted his hand away and got up herself. Serge retrieved her bow and arrows for her. He noted that some arrows had different colored tips. He handed the items to her. "Thank you." She said curtly. She began walking off. There were some yelling a little farther away. Ana took off toward it. Glenn and Serge looked at each other, both thinking the same thing. A distant roar confirmed their suspicions.
What was left of the town was, once again, in chaos. Another horde of beasts was attacking. It was smaller than last time and there were no big dragons, but Serge and Glenn felt the need to help out anyway. Ana was already there. She and her bow actually proved to be formidable allies. "Don't these ever stop?" Serge asked Glenn in between monsters. Glenn just shrugged and decapitated a nearby Taurus. Serge looked at what was happening around him. The soldiers weren't the only people fighting now, the townspeople now were fighting along side them with pretty much anything they could find. A woman not too far away from him was using a frying pan. Serge instantly felt a pang of guilt. He really shouldn't have left Leena on such harsh words. "Serge! Look out!" Glenn's words cut through his thought. He spun around to see a large werewolf-like creature charging at him. He had no time to react. It was too close! The creature swung a meaty paw at his neck. The huge claws shone in the sunlight. Serge's eyes widened, he thought that this was the end! Right before the paw connected with Serge's neck, an arrow was shot into it. The werewolf roared in pain. It momentarily forgot Serge, and that was all he needed. He cleaved the creature in half. He looked up to see Ana on the rooftop of a still standing building. He gave her a 'thumbs up'. She smiled at him. The battling went on for, what seemed to be, hours. After a little while, Ana grabbed a sword off of a dead soldier's body and started fighting with that. "Is there anything she can't do?" Glenn asked. Serge just chuckled. Glenn and Serge looked at each other and nodded. They jumped apart and ran forward, completing the X-Strike maneuver. The werewolf never even had a chance.
The beasts were finally beginning to dwindle. "Glenn, let's leave now! The soldiers can take care of the rest." Glenn nodded. FWOOSH! Lisa's Element Shop burst into flames. Serge turned around slowly. His deep blue eyes met with the blood red eyes of an identical dragon as the one earlier. Glenn stepped up next to him. "Or not." He said. People went running. Serge had already begun to float upward. He was going to make this battle a short one. The image of Masa and Mune appeared behind him. He brought his arm back and threw his swallow down. Masa and Mune mirrored it. The explosion was just as enormous as before. When the smoke and dirt cleared, the dragon was nowhere to be seen. Serge smiled. That was easy. He thought. He looked down, Glenn was yelling something up at him. Serge caught the word 'dragon'. There was a disturbance in the air above him. He looked up just in time to see the dragon's 'hand' flying down to meet him. He had just enough time to curse before they connected.
Serge flew downward at bone breaking speed. He landed in the still burning remains of Lisa's shop. The last remaining wall fell on top of him. Ana covering her mouth with her hand. There's no way he could live through that! Chrono Trigger or not! She ran to the shop. She vaguely noticed the Mastermune floating through the air toward the rubble also. Weird. She thought. When the swallow reached the fallen shop, it just hovered over where Serge fell. Ana reached the shop seconds later. She began digging through the fallen bricks and stones. There was a disturbance in the rubble a couple feet away from her. A hand shot up from it. Ana watched in amazement as Serge pulled himself out of the rubble. He looked at her and smiled. He had a few scratches, but other than that he looked fine. "I–How?" She stammered. Serge just smiled and held up a few used 'Cure' and 'Heal' elements. Ana rolled her eyes. Serge grabbed the Mastermune and looked up at the dragon. His eyes narrowed. Ana saw a green element in his hand.
Serge started to concentrate on the element in his hand, Aeroblaster. He pointed his hand at the dragon, palms up. The green shockwaves immediately began flowing out of his hand. The sound was immense! Ana had never seen anyone use an element so powerfully! Somehow he was even able to keep the shockwaves concentrated, so they didn't spread out. The shockwaves hit one of the dragon's wings. The bones in it shattered. The dragon screamed in pain and spiraled to the ground. Serge started to run to its position at unbelievable speed. Yep. He's a Chrono Trigger all right. Ana thought with a smile.
When Ana arrived, the dragon was already dead. Serge and Glenn were talking excitedly. "I can't believe you survived that blow! And you end up with barely any proof of the fall too!" Serge just shrugged. Ana smiled. "He used some healing elements. That's how he made it out with no scratches." Glenn glared at Serge. Serge just scratched his head sheepishly. "But. I can't understand how he survived to use the elements. A wall fell on him and everything. No normal human being could survive that!" Serge grinned. "That was nothing. I've seen Serge survive even bigger things than that! He has gone through quite a few 'Free Fall' elements in the past. Those lift you up even higher and drop you faster than that. But he never made it out scratch less." Serge just grinned. Ana just rolled her eyes. "Well. Come on, Glenn. We have to go. Now." Glenn nodded in agreement. "Yeah, you're right. We gotta save the world... Again! Doesn't evil ever rest?!" Serge had a solemn look on his face. "No. I don't think it ever will rest." This conversation intrigued Ana. "What do you mean save the world?" Serge looked to tell her anything, but Glenn went right ahead and explained. "Masa and Mune told him about a new evil in the world. We have the job of stopping it." He said with a grin. Serge glared at him. Ana gave a short intake of breath. She knew who Masa and Mune was. Not that she was going to tell Serge and Glenn. Not yet anyway. "What do you mean, Masa and Mune?" He pointed at the swallow that Serge was holding. Ana's eyes widened. "Masamune." she said barely above a whisper. Serge still heard it, "How do you know about the Masamune?" Ana hesitated. Did she really want to tell them that? Glenn answered for her, "I bet I know! Her father told her!" Serge looked at her. Ana nodded slowly. "How about you tell us exactly who your father is now?" Glenn demanded. "I told you, he was a wise man. And... He knew the former Chrono Trigger, Crono, very well." Serge's eyes widened, "That's where I heard Crono before!" Ana looked at Serge sharply. "Now that I've told you that, how 'bout you tell me about this 'saving the world' business?"
They told her nearly everything, but at the request of Serge, they didn't tell her about Kidd. They also left out a lot of things of their former adventure. Things like Lynx and Serge being changed into Lynx. They left Kidd out of that also. "So, now you see why we said that we have to save the world again." Glenn finished. Ana nodded. "Okay. We had better get going! We don't have forever, ya know." She said quickly. Serge looked at her sharply. "What do you mean 'we'?" He hissed. Ana rolled her eyes, "I mean just what I said. We are going to do this together. I'm going with you." Glenn shook his head, "Oh no. You aren't going with us. It'd be too dangerous." Serge looked thoughtful. "I am going with you! You guys could use a mage! I know both Ice and Lightning magic!" Glenn rolled his eyes, "I still don't believe you about the magic thing. And the answer's still–" Serge cut him off, "Would you be able to leave now?" Glenn looked at him in surprise. "Serge! We can't just pick up random people! We don't know her! She's a thief!" Serge's eyes widened in fury. He grabbed Glenn by his collar and lifted him into the air. "What did you say?" He hissed. Glenn's face fell as he realized what he had said. "I–No. I'm sorry, Serge. I didn't mean it like that." Serge put Glenn back down and turned away. Ana tried to understand what had just happened, but she came up with no ideas. She was about to ask, but a look from Glenn told her to let it go. There was a long silence. "You–" Serge choked. It sounded like he was in real distress about something. "You never answered my question. Are you able to leave now?" Ana smiled. "Yes, I can leave now." Glenn didn't protest.