Finally! Here's Chapter 15. A semi-quick fight between Lynx and Serge for all of you who want Lynx back in the picture. I've been trying to add him in a lot more if you haven't noticed. And yes, I am leaning toward a Harle/Janus relationship. Heh heh heh . . .

I don't own Chrono Cross or any of its characters. I just own Ana, Bob, any other Dragonians(not the name though), and this story. Feel free to use the characters though. I only want credit for them. Don't copy my story though.

Chapter 15: The Not-So-Final Fight

Kidd and Serge walked in silence while looking for something to eat. In the distance there was a large animal. It had six tree trunk-like legs. Its skin was thick and gray with large, tan spots. It had a head similar to that of a wild boar. With a pig-like snout and two tusks jutting out from its mouth, the resemblance was unmistakable. Kidd pointed at it, "What about that one, mate? It would make a good meal." Serge looked at it for a second and sighed, "I don't know. I'm still really tired." Kidd laughed, "The great Chrono Trigger. Tired! Can't handle it, Serge?" Serge rolled his eyes and grinned, "Fine. Let's do it." Kidd grinned, and the two companions started running quietly toward the beast.

"So, Ana. How are you feeling? I mean this is your country." Ana sighed, "This isn't a country anymore. Now it's just a wilderness. Period." She said sadly. Glenn put an arm around her. Ana sighed again. "I wonder how Kidd feels about this place. She has a lot of memories of here too."

"Hah! That was a piece of cake! I actually thought that would be a challenge!" Serge sat down on the ground and breathed heavily, "Speak for yourself. You couldn't do much other than get a few lucky jabs in. I was the one doing the hard work, like getting thrown thirty feet back and nearly getting trampled. You weren't even targeted! Not even once! The beast went after me and me only!" Kidd scoffed, "Aww... Did wittle Serge get a boo-boo?" Serge growled softly. Kidd laughed loudly, "Come on, mate! He wasn't that hard! We took it out in less than five minutes!" It was Serge's turn to scoff, "It seems a lot longer to the person that getting attacked. It felt more like five hours." Kidd rolled her eyes, "Oh, stop being such a baby." Serge sighed, "So. How are we going to get this thing back? It's huge!" Kidd thought about it for a moment, "I . . . Uh . . . I don't know." Serge groaned. "I guess I'm gonna go get some help. Are you going to be able to stay here?" Kidd nodded, "I can take care of myself. I did it for eleven years and I think that I can do it for another hour." Serge smiled, "I'll be back as soon as possible." He leaned in and kissed her on the cheek. At that time Kidd was nearly ready to say, 'I do' but he was gone before she could even entertain that thought. He's really mastering time. He can stop it on a will . . . She thought sadly.

Lynx chuckled loudly, "You shouldn't have left her alone, Chrono Trigger. It isn't safe . . ." His chuckling turned to laughter as the same four Dragonians that brought him Bob set off to capture the next person on the list . . .

"I need your help. Kidd and I found some type of animal and killed it. The problem is, it's too big for Kidd and I to carry back." Serge looked at the three in front of the large bonfire that had been made. They were Glenn, Karsh, and Ana. Janus was off patrolling the area and Harle was mysteriously floating in the air about ten feet away. Glenn stood up, "Okay, but we have to hurry. I'm starving. I don't know when we had our last meal." Serge smirked, "We had one this morning." Ana laughed and Glenn sighed. "I wonder if Fargo and everybody got out . . ." Glenn said finally.

The four Dragonians flew through a large window and stood before Lynx. In one of their arms was an unconscious Kidd. "Good . . . Well done, now leave." The four left, but not before laying Kidd on the floor. Lynx walked over to the unconscious Kidd. He grabbed her prism dagger. "Ahh . . . I remember this weapon." Kidd groaned slightly and her eyelids slowly lifted. "Serge?" She said weakly. Lynx laughed, "No. I'm not Serge." Kidd's face paled. "What? Not happy to see me?"

"Kidd! Where are you?!" Serge was getting frantic. "Serge! Calm down, nature probably just called her. She'll be back in a few minutes." Serge knew that Glenn was probably right, but something just didn't feel right. His suspicions were confirmed seconds later. "Serge! Look!" Ana said while pointing at an indentation in the ground. It was a large footprint. Not from the beast that they had slain, but from something else. Serge inspected it and his face turned white. "What is it, Serge?" Glenn asked. Serge stiffened, "I–It's a dragonian footprint. Lynx has her."

Janus grabbed Serge by the shoulders, "How could you leave her alone?" Tears streamed down Serge's sweat-matted face. "We're leaving. Now." The only person who didn't object was Janus. "What do you mean, 'we're leaving'? We're in no position to continue yet! We need rest! How are we supposed to fight Lynx if we're asleep?!" Serge ignored Glenn and turned to Ana, "Which direction is the castle?" Ana pointed northwest. "It's that way, but Glenn's right. We can't hope to fight Lynx in our conditions!" Serge ignored her, "I'm going. With or without you." Suddenly, Serge disappeared as if he had never been there. "Wha–? How did he–?" Karsh stuttered in astonishment. Janus groaned, "He's going to get himself killed." A purple mist began floating up form the ground. He turned to the rest of the group, "Are you coming?" Glenn sighed, "Give us a couple of minutes to get our stuff ready." Janus nodded curtly, "Fine. I'll warp us to the camp."  Glenn, Ana, and Karsh stood beside Janus. They looked at the still floating Harle. She shook her head, "I'm going now. I don't have anything back at the camp." Janus nodded, "Fine."

The purple mist engulfed the four people and Harle was left alone. She sighed, "I hope they find and bring my knives . . ." She did a back flip and disappeared.

Lynx cackled at the sight of Kidd. She had been chained to the wall. There were cuts and bruises all over her face from the beating that he had given her. Lynx looked at the dagger in his hand, "Do you remember this, Kidd? Do you remember how I said that I'd finish you later? I think later is now." Kidd's eyes widened as Lynx slowly walked toward her. "When you are gone, Serge will be mine. He'll never be able to resist my mind control. He will be my slave." Kidd struggled in her chains, "He'll never let you control him! He will kill you, Lynx!" Lynx laughed, "I think not." Kidd struggled some more. Lynx got within two feet from her thrashing body. He brought his arm with the dagger back and prepared to stab her in the stomach.

He was never given the chance as he was suddenly slammed into the large computer screen that he had been observing Serge and his group with. In fact, he flew straight through the screen and crashed into the stone wall behind it. He left a large indentation in it. He angrily looked through the hole in the computer screen and saw a sweating and utterly furious Serge standing there. How did he get here so fast? They were at least a day's journey away!

Serge grabbed the chains that held Kidd and ripped them out of the wall with ease. He walked over to the computer screen that Lynx had flown through and through the hole. He didn't see him anywhere. WHAM! Booted feet hit him in the side and he flew straight through a window. "Serge!" Kidd screamed.

Lynx chuckled and walked up to the window. He peered out and saw nothing. "That takes care of that." He turned back to Kidd, "Now for you." FWOOSH! A pillar of white flame flew at Lynx with impossible speed. He just barely dodged it. "What the–?" He stopped when he saw Serge standing at the far side of the room, hands outstretched. "Oh, I see. You've learned a new move. Let me show you something."

The torches that lit the room suddenly went out. The room went dark. Kidd could just hardly see the two men. In the darkness, Kidd couldn't even distinguish the two from one another. If they used the same magic that is. "Meet me," A shadow-like illusion of Lynx appeared next to him, "and me." Another appeared on his other side. "Don't start thinking that these can't hurt you. They are real. I'm sure you remember facing one before." Serge growled, "I remember beating it with ease." Lynx chuckled, "Oh, I'm sure that you'll find these much harder than that one."

The two shadows disappeared and reappeared behind Serge. Each of them had a scythe. They swung the weapons at him, but he was no longer there. Instead, he was directly in front of the real Lynx. Lynx blinked like an owl. Serge punched him in his nose as hard as the angry nineteen-year-old boy could. It sent Lynx all the way back to the wall. Lynx was temporarily stunned and Serge took that time to finish off the shadows. FWOOSH! It was done.

FWOOSH! The holy flame ran over Kidd and when Serge had finished, the chains that were still on her had disappeared. She rubbed her wrists, "Thanks." Serge nodded and turned back to Lynx. He was no longer there, but his voice was. "Until we meet again, Chrono Trigger!" Then there was silence. Serge growled and slammed his hand against the brick wall. The wall exploded inward revealing another room. He looked at his hand in amazement. His thoughts were cut off as Kidd yelled, "Bob!" Serge looked up into the room and saw Bob chained to the wall. He wasn't breathing.

Serge and Kidd ran to their fallen comrade. Serge knelt down beside the dragonian and tried to listen for a heartbeat or a breath.  There was nothing. "It's too late. He's gone." Serge whirled around to face the voice. Harle stood at the entrance of the room. Serge sighed and looked at the floor, "I know . . ." He turned back to his deceased friend, "I never thanked you for saving us back there, Bob. So . . . Thanks." He stood and looked at Kidd, "Are you okay? Did he . . .?" Kidd shook her head, "I'm fine, and no, he didn't do that again." Serge sighed in relief, "I'm sorry . . . I should have never left you . . ." Kidd scoffed, "Oh, stop it. You had no idea that he'd try something like that." Serge sighed, "I know, but–." Kidd pressed her lips against his to silence him. When she pulled back, she winked at him, "I'm fine! See?" Serge smiled and nodded, "Okay. If you say so."

Serge turned to Harle, "Where are the others?" Harle shrugged, "They said that they would be getting the stuff from the camp and warping over here with the help of Janus. They'll be here any minute." As if on cue, purple mist began to float up from the ground. "In fact, here they are now." Harle said with a smirk.

"So. There's some Zealand prophesy that says that you are going to be the destruction of the world?" Glenn asked. Serge sighed and nodded, "Yes. And it seems to be . . . true. I do have power over time. That's how I seemed to warp here. I stopped time." Glenn shook his head, "No. I refuse to believe that you will destroy the world. Powers or not, it's still your choice." Serge sighed, "I hope you're right, Glenn. I truly do . . ." Silence reigned as Serge looked at his now six comrades. They were seated on dusty, but plush, red carpet in a large room. Ana told them that this had once been the throne room. Finally, Serge spoke again, "But . . . and I've already spoken to Janus about this, if . . . this prophesy does come true–" Ana jumped up, "That can't come true! It just can't happen, Serge!" Glenn grabbed her arm and pulled her down. A lump formed in Serge's throat.

He looked at Kidd just in time to see a tear fall from her face and hit the carpet. His heart broke right then. I just can't let that happen. I just can't! He cleared his throat, "As I was saying." He looked apologetically at Ana, "If this does happen . . ." The lump in his throat grew. The thing he was asking them to do . . . "Well . . . I don't want to be responsible for the destruction of the world. So . . . If it comes to it. I want you to destroy any chance of . . . it happening." It was only a second before the group understood what he was asking. Collective gasps and astonished looks ensued. "I . . . I know that this will be hard for you. But . . ." Kidd's and his eyes met, "it has to be done." Kidd looked away; She didn't want to let Serge see her crying. Not now when she had to be strong.

"So. What do we do now? We have no idea where Lynx is." Glenn asked. Serge shrugged, "I don't really know. You're right, we don't have any clues on where he is." Harle cleared her throat, "I think I know where he is." All eyes were on her. "I think he may have gone back to the Sea of Eden. Chronopolis." Serge grinned, "You're right. Where else can he go?" Serge waited to see if any of the others would say anything. They didn't say anything. "Okay. We'll leave whenever Fargo gets here." Harle cleared her throat again. Serge looked at her puzzled. She sighed, "We can't just go barging into Chronopolis." Serge waited for the reason why. "Last time, he underestimated you. You have to understand, Lynx has all kind of weapons and magic augmenters." She looked at Serge, "Including a special helmet that increases his mind-control." Serge let in a sharp intake of breath. "I don't think we'll be able to defeat him using our weapons. We'll have to use magic. I know that some of you can already use magic, but you three," She indicated Glenn, Karsh, and Kidd, "will be wiped out if you don't learn magic." Kidd got angry and was about to argue, but Serge gave her a look. "Harle's right. Ana," Ana looked at him, "Yeah, Serge?"

"Didn't you say that you knew of someone that could teach us magic?" Ana grinned, "Yeah. Melchior. That is . . . if he still lives around here." Janus put his head in his hands, "Not that old coot . . . Is he still alive?" Schala took control of Kidd's features for a moment so she could glare at her brother. Ana laughed, "I hope so. He'd be pretty old now, but I think so. He told me once that Zealands often lived a lot longer than 'earth-bounds'." Janus shook his head, "Unfortunately in some cases." Kidd/Schala glared at him again. Janus sighed, "Fine. When do we leave?" Serge smiled, "We leave now." A purple mist began to come up from the carpet.

The familiar purple mist swallowed the group of seven. A few minutes later, the party found themselves at the bottom of an incline. "It's right over that hill." Ana said.

Serge was the first to the reach the top of the hill. What he saw made him lose all hope. All that was left of the house of Melchior was a pile of rubble. Kidd was right behind him, "Oh Goddess . . . Melchior . . ." Serge turned to Ana, "What do we do now?" Ana smiled, "We'll go see if he's home."

"What do you mean, 'We'll go see if he's home'? There is no home left!" Kidd said with confusion. Ana rolled her eyes, "You didn't actually expect Porre to leave his house standing, did you? They destroyed all standing buildings, except for the castle, during the war. He has a secret underground basement. It's nearly impossible to find. Most likely, he's living there." Janus scoffed, "Most likely, he died a while ago." The other six ignored him. "Let's go." Serge ordered.

"Now, where is that trap door? It was right around here somewhere." Ana moved some of the rubble around, but she couldn't find anything. She sighed, "Melchior? Uncle Melchior? I know that you can hear me!" She pointed to a tiny light that was flashing red. On further inspection, Serge saw that it was a tiny microphone. "Aha! I found it!" She pointed at the wooden floor. "What? There's nothing there!" Kidd stated. Ana smirked, "I told you that it was nearly impossible to find. It wasn't until Serge got within inches of the floor could he see the outline of the trap door. "How are we supposed to open that? It's not like we can pull it open." Ana chuckled, "Of course not!" She pointed to another trap door. It was maybe small enough for a hand. She pressed down on it slightly and then it opened with a mechanical whir. Inside was a small computer screen. Serge had seen one of these before at Chronopolis. It was a hand-print reader.

Ana pressed her hand onto the hand-print reader. When she pulled away, there was a bright green hand print of hers on the screen. Then it faded. When that happened, there was a loud whirring sound and the other trap door pulled back to reveal an iron staircase leading into the ground. "Amazing. Simply amazing." Glenn said in astonishment. Ana looked at him and winked. "Wait until you meet Uncle Melchior. He'll blow you away."

Serge's steel-toed boots clicked loudly as the group walked deeper into Gaia's crust. Ana was in the front, followed closely by Glenn, Serge, Kidd, Karsh, Harle, and finally, Janus. The trapdoor closed behind them and the seven were plunged into darkness . . .

With a small fwoosh, a small ball of fire appeared and floated just inches above Janus's hand. Serge grinned at the man. If Janus smiled back, Serge didn't know. There were too many shadows. Although, Serge had a feeling that Janus did nothing of the sort.

"Uncle Melchior! Are you here?" Ana called. No answer. I hope he's okay. Ana thought to herself. The others, minus Janus, looked in awe at the contraptions and items around them. Most of them, they had never even seen the likes of before. Something familiar caught Serge's eye. It was a teleporter, identical to the one Kidd had given him on his adventures. "Hey, Kidd." Kidd turned to him, "Yeah, mate?" Serge smiled at the accent. He had always loved that accent. "Do you remember the teleporter?" She nodded. "Where'd you get it?" Kidd smiled sadly, " Sis gave it to me. I gave it to you because I figured that we might need it sometime. Ya know, just in case we had to do something that we couldn't bring a large group into." Serge grinned, "Like infiltrating a large manor and trying to assassinate a large cat." Kidd nodded with a smile, "Exactly."

The others had been mostly ignoring their conversation. Their attention was elsewhere . . .

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I'm sorry about killing off Bob. I had to do it. I was hardly ever using him and he was WAY too powerful to keep too long. There can't be too many ultra-powerful people in one group, right? Anyway, I wanted to get the group number down to seven anyway. It's CT's number. J

Until next time, in about two minutes because I've also finished Chapter 16, R&R!

--Ben