Hey there again everyone...I hope this is gonna get better or whatever...and please keep the reviews coming...

Sorry about the long wait, everything is so damned hectic. This is going to be a really, really long chapter though, or at least compared to my other chapters, so that might make up for it. Plus a lot is explained, or at least a little of the original plotline is. Actually in he length thing too, this should probably be separated into 2 or 3 chapters instead of one but...it'd be way too short, and I'd end up with way too many chapters.

Give The World

Chapter 12: Hermit Hideaway Extravaganza

Serge awoke once more, not even pausing to think about where he was anymore. He would just be there, it didn't matter, he couldn't do anything about it.

Might as well make the best of it...right?

But Serge was still at Viper Manner; in the same room he'd fallen to sleep in the previous night. Serge stood slowly remembering his dream...or whatever it was.

Fort Dragonia...

Serge flew down the hallways, receiving a few glares and cruses from maids. Pounding the button Serge knew would take him to Viper's office he heard a voice.

"What are you doing?" Serge stared at Pierre blankly.

What are you doing?

"Don't you know Viper isn't here?" Serge groaned, jumping off the moving lift, causing Pierre to gasp. "You are truly barbarous."

"Really and what exactly happened to your accent?" Serge asked slyly.

"I AM FRENCH!" Pierre screamed.

Who's barbarous again?

"Right..." Serge said sarcastically, Pierre looked positively offended to death. "So where is Viper then?" Serge asked, putting a hand in his pocket.

"He went to consult Radius at Hermit's Hideaway..." Pierre answered hesitantly, as though it was something top-secret information. "You know I wasn't supposed to tell anyway, moi over herd you zee." Serge noticed Pierre re-layer his false accent. "But since you are ze Chrono Trigger...I have made a exception." Everything revolved around him being Chrono Trigger...Serge hated it.

Serge turned and began walking away. "Where are you going?" Pierre asked in a startled tone. Serge growled under his breath in frustration.

"Look, Pierre...." Serge said slowly. "We've already been through this. I am going to speak to Viper." Serge began leaving again.

"Well, you aren't even going to stay to chat? How barbarous!" Serge rolled his eyes at Pierre and left. Something Serge had noticed was that Pierre sounded remarkably like Leena at times...it definitely wasn't healthy.

Serge made his way down the polished floors and walls of Viper Manner towards the exit, wishing in the back of his mind that Viper Manner wasn't quite so huge... possibly not so bright. The maids certainly did their job well. Serge could see himself reflected in the walls they were so clean...though he didn't really like what he saw.

Serge hadn't realized how much he really was falling apart. It had just been this huge out of control down-wards spiral since the Time Devour. Serge hadn't even bothered to look in a mirror, now he could see why everyone was always so concerned. He hadn't gotten enough sleep in the past few months, and it showed. His hair didn't look as soft as it previously had, and was obviously very unattended to. The way his face was set into a frown, and how in his eyes you could see so much pain. Serge took a few steps towards the wall, reaching out to touch his reflection...it couldn't be him...There was no serenity in his eyes...no rolling ocean in them to be lost in, no humorous smirk...it wasn't him...it wasn't what he remembered. He looked so much older. Serge let his hand drop from the spotless wall, this was all wrong. Everything was wrong! Serge stepped backwards a few steps, holding his head, and sat down, leaning against the opposite wall.

Why?...why?...why?...why?...why?...why?...why?... why?...why?...

Why was all this happening to him. Everything hurt...before he could just feel it, now he saw it too. The remembrance of how happy he used to be, how nice it felt only made him hurt more because now it was gone. Everything was gone. Guldove was gone, his life was gone...Kid was gone...even Serge was gone...but he still had everyone else, he'd ignored the fact that he did have friends for so long, it was as if he hadn't even ever noticed. Sure some of them ticked him off...but...but they all cared and he had been oblivious to it all. Hell, if he saw someone who looked as sad as he did he'd care too. But they cared more because it was him...because he was the Chrono Trigger?...no...they cared because he was Serge, the person who had lead them through everything, and always kept their spirits up, always been there...and they still cared even if he wasn't everything he used to be. Sure they didn't really understand his pain...but they tried. Serge, at that moment decided to be a lot nicer to them, or at least a little more exceptive of them.

Serge reached Termina, and took a huge breath of the fresh air. He had new purpose almost. He had to get through all of this just like last time, he had people to help him, hell, even Harle was on his side. And he'd get Kid back, like he always had before, he'd always saved her. Always...these delusions Lynx gave Serge pain, but the fact remained that they were just illusions. Serge had saved Kid from the burning Orphanage, Serge had helped Kid return to herself when Lynx stabbed her, Serge had gotten the Hydra humor, Serge wasn't a failure, and he did save Kid, which meant he cold bloody well do it again.

Serge past all the merchants pitching sales to him and generally ignored them all, but he stopped at the fortuneteller.

"Would you like me to see your future lad?" Serge sighed; he couldn't help himself as memories of when him and Kid had gotten their fortune told flooded his mind.

"Sure." Serge answered and the fortuneteller closed her eyes.

"Betrayal is a horrible thing..." the fortune teller chuckled, sounding way too much like lynx for Serge's personal comfort. "Be sure it does not happen to you..." The fortune teller smirked, and Serge swore her eyes were those of a cats. Slowly Serge continued to Van's mansion.

Serge knocked on the huge double doors multiple times before, finally, a maid answered.

"Hello good sir." The maid stated meekly, duster in hand. Serge smiled gently, he didn't want to scare her. The maid returned the smile, she obviously wasn't treated well, which didn't surprise Serge much.

"Hello. Is Van here?" The maid nodded.

"I shall retrieve him for you good sir." The maid ducked her head in a short curtsey and Serge sighed.

"Just call me Serge." The maid looked up, finding Serge giving a short bow to her. The maid beamed.

"Okay then...I shall retrieve Van for you..." The maid paused. "Serge." She was also obviously not accustomed to this sort of kindness. Serge waited patiently for Van, who after a few minutes appeared in his doorway.

"Oh, why hello there Serge." Van said it as though suddenly presented with someone psychotic or dangerous. "What brings you here on this fine day?"

"I was wondering if I could use your private boat to get to Hermit's Hideaway." Serge replied simply. "You could do that for a friend, right?" Serge put on a hopeful face, hoping to pull it off through the fact of how sad and tired he knew he looked. Van laughed.

"Of course." Van began leading Serge to around back of his house, where his boats were docked, yes, boats, as in more than one. Rich bastard.

So Serge set off towards Hermit's Hideaway, and the original cause for his day's conquest: General Viper.

Serge found himself racing through the beach leading to Hermit's Hideaway in practically no time at all. Climbing down to the inside of the tree, where conversation could be heard for some reason the strange fortuneteller's words floated into his brain.

"Betrayal is a horrible thing..."

"Be sure it does not happen to you."

Serge shrugged it off though, as he dropped down into the tree. Everyone's eyes stared at him automatically as everything went silent.

"You know normally I would feel rather uncomfortable if everyone just so happens to go silent when I walk into a room." Serge looked around. "But right now all I'm getting is the feeling you're hiding something from me."

"You must understand Serge." General Viper stared to explain but Serge cut him off.

"That I might blow up?" There was another silence before Serge added, "again." Serge sighed. "I'm sorry guys...it's just really hard...you couldn't even imagine..."

"Betrayal is a horrible thing..."

"Be sure it does not happen to you."

Serge shook the thought out of his mind and continued. "Look...I know where Lynx is." This caught their attention.

"How?" Viper asked in astonishment.

"Lets just say a little Harlequin told me." Serge laughed a little. "But he's at Fort Dragonia."

"He must be using it for some sort of lair." Radius sighed in aggravation. "Of course. Damn...I should have realized that by now."

"Must be getting senile in your old age." Marcy snickered annoyingly at her own words.

"You little-"

General Viper interrupted with a few coughs. "We must be off to Fort Dragonia then." General Viper sighed. "Though we should stay here tonight and rest first. I'll gather my troops in the mean while."

"No." Everyone looked abruptly to Serge at his outburst. "We are not bringing all your army into this." Serge sighed. "This isn't about war or anyone but us. We cannot force other people into our problem like that."

"It's your problem, ya know, you're the Chrono Trigger!" Marcy stated preppily.

"Yes, I am." Serge sighed. "It isn't your problem. Isn't anyone's but mine, though I'm not forcing any of you into it either...Marcy am I right that last time you joined of your own free will. It is always your decision you know."

"It's just good fun..." Marcy stomped of in a pout. Serge chuckled under his breath. Everyone seemed a bit surprised by his sudden change of attitude.

"What happened with you?" Steena asked emotionlessly.

"I dunno...I just realized something." Serge replied turning around.

"And what would that be." Steena questioned further, crossing her arms in front of her chest.

"Well...I looked into a mirror for one." A few people laughed. "I'm not Serge anymore. To tell you the truth I kind of miss him."

"He was a good fellow, that one." Radius chuckled to himself.

"I know I missed you." Steena sighed, rolling her eyes. "I suppose everyone need a little emotion in their lives." Serge smiled. "Is that all that made you return to us? A mirror?" Steena asked, walking towards Serge, his back was still turned to her.

"I remembered that you are all my friends...you care..." Serge felt a slight tug of happiness. Sure he didn't have who he really wanted but...at least he had something. They cared, and they'd help him, they'd always be there, they wouldn't ever hurt him. Serge felt a splitting pain run through him as a knife dug through his back and stomach.

"Betrayal is a horrible thing you know." Serge heard Steena say. "You shouldn't of let it happen to you." With that Steena brought out the dagger she'd stabbed Serge with.

Serge felt the pain creep up on him unexpectedly.

Why?...why?...why?...why?...why?...why?...why?... why?...why...me?

Serge felt unconsciousness wash over him as he asked himself one last time,

Why?

Sure life goes on...

But who says it ever lead to a happy ending?