Disclaimer: I'm lazy, so I haven't even bothered to check if these "I don't own so-and-so" disclaimers are even mandatory. Are they?

Chapter 8

"Thanks again for the lift," said Leena as the five rode the old fisherman's boat toward the other Water Dragon Isle.

"I feel like a sardine…" Kid complained.

"Just be grateful he helped us out," Serge elbowed her.

"Serge, I know there's something going on with you," the old man commented, "Your mother's been worried sick about you. You're not on drugs or something, are you? This isn't a drug run I'm taking you on?"

"No, this isn't a drug run," Serge muttered, "We worked it all out. She trusts me now,"

Serge had gone to see Marge shortly before they had approached the old man about taking them to their destination. He'd explained to her about Lynx and Kid, but left out the part about the parallel worlds, figuring it would be too hard for her to accept. Marge grudgingly gave him her blessing to continue on his journey, and had even packed lunch for the five of them.

"Hoho…here we are!" the old man pointed at the approaching island, "It's been a while since I visited this isle, but its beauty never fades…"

...

"Strange…" the fisherman remarked as the group approached the large pond in front of them, "I don't see any of the fairies that usually dance around the pond…oh pardon me!" he chuckled, "There's a small village of fairies just beyond this pond. Whatever you need, I'm sure they'll help you out. In the meantime, I'll be fishing here,"

"At this hour?" Serge scowled. The sun was just beginning to set.

"The fishing is great here no matter what the hour," the old man winked, "Must be something in the water, as they say,"

Serge and the others headed further through the island until they reached a clearing.

"Oh my god…!" exclaimed Leena.

The group watched in horror as a dwarf drove his axe into the back of a fairy. Around them, several dead fairies littered the area while several more dwarves ran around. The dwarf laughed maliciously as the fairy fell to the ground.

"You guys again!" Serge clenched his fists.

The dwarf looked up at Serge. "Hmph," he growled, "Just when I thought it was a rarity to see humans on this remote isle, you all hi-ho along,"

"What the hell are you doing to these fairies!" Kid demanded.

"Look at this place," the dwarf gestured about his surroundings, "It's beautiful, a perfect fit for our new home! Too good for these damn fairies. You humans taught us that the world is built on the dead bodies of other species. Now, hi-ho away with you, along with the fairies...to the deeps of the sea!"

"Bullshit!" shouted Kid as she charged at him. She knocked him over easily and stabbed him in one swift movement.

"Kid, no!" Leena cried out, "Don't stoop to their level!"

"What the hell do you expect me to do then!" Kid snarled.

"Let's go find and wake the Water Dragon," Guile suggested, "Perhaps he can help us and the fairies,"

The five ran as fast as they could through the area into the caves. Dodging dwarves left and right, they made their way to the bottom of a large waterfall.

"I knew you'd come…" sneered the dwarf chieftain as he and several other dwarves approached Serge and his friends, "Now we'll confront you fools once and for all,"

A large tank rolled in from the woods.

"I suppose this is fate," said the chieftain as he climbed into the tank, "This ends now- with your death!"

Shots began firing from the tank.

"Duck!" Glenn shouted as he tackled Leena to the ground. One of the shots landed right where Leena had been standing.

Guile floated over to one of the dwarves standing next to the tank.

"Wandaln!" he shouted.

The dwarf looked down to see Guile's rod sticking out of his body. Like the dragoon in Viper Manor, he quickly fainted.

"Aqua ball!" Leena shouted.

A large orb of water appeared over the tank and came splashing down on it.

"Noo!" screamed the chieftain as the tank began to short-circuit. He hit the ejector button and went flying.

"Run!" Serge shouted.

He and his friends ran as fast as they could before they heard a large explosion and dove to the ground.

Serge looked up to see the injured dwarves gathering around the mortally wounded chief.

"Such strength…" wheezed the dwarf, "Not just physical, but mentally…! Is there no land on this planet where we can live in peace? Goddess of fate…why are we dealt such a hand? Are humans really the masters of this planet…? These heretics of evolution…destroyers of the planet…!"

He closed his eyes and stopped moving.

Leena sank to her knees.

"Leena, don't you dare let yourself feel guilty," Kid grabbed her shoulder and forced Leena to look at her, "If you hadn't done what you did, they would've annihilated those poor fairies and pillaged this land! We did the right thing!"

Leena nodded and climbed to her feet.

"Let's go see the Water Dragon," Glenn said gently.

...

"Welcome, son of man," the Water Dragon spoke, "Now come to me…"

Serge and the others slowly approached the giant creature.

"Thou needeth not explain," it told them, "I know already what thou seeketh here. There is naught to be surprised about. It is but a trifle for we 'Sleeping Dragons', who have dwelt upon this land for ages... Mount Pyre, the land thou seeketh is home to the "Fire Dragon." Unless thou quench his red blazes, it will prove a difficult journey. Take this, son of man. My breath can freeze even boiling lava..."

A small object that resembled a block of ice materialized before Serge. He picked it up and examined it.

"Wilt thou change this world...?" the dragon mused, "Or wilt thou change thyself? Wilt thou live with thy mother planet... Or wilt thou turn thy back on the planet and tread another path?"

"Thank you, Water Dragon," Serge said solemnly. The others echoed their thanks.

"Let's go then," said Guile.

...

"There they are!" shouted a fairy as the group emerged from the Dragon's lair.

"They said they 'were chased out of the forest by the humans'," another fairy glared at them, "And they drifted down to our island, so the humans are to blame!

A third fairy flew up to Serge. "Because of you humans, our village, our friends have been made victims! Why can't humans live in harmony with nature? Why do you continue to act the way you do? Don't you see what the outcome of your choices will be in the future?"

"Don't judge us by the actions of other unscrupulous humans," Guile said firmly, "We were the ones who saved you,"

The fairy ignored him. "You crooks, I hate all you wicked humans! Hurry up and get off this island!"

"A very sad tragedy, triggered by acts of humans," a purple-haired fairy woman shook her head, "We have lost so many of our people and loved ones. Although our village has been saved, no one here thinks kindly of man. I am extremely sorry, but please leave the island as soon as you can. You can wait out the night outside of the village,"

"I understand," Serge sighed, "Let's go,"

They made their way out of the village to a small clearing. Suddenly, Kid fainted.

"What the-!" Serge ran over to her.

Glenn knelt down next to her and felt her forehead. "No fever," he observed, "Let's just get her somewhere comfortable and try to get some sleep,"

...

Serge lay near where Kid was resting. It had been an hour since the others had gone to sleep. The events of the day were finally catching up with him, and he was dozing off at last.

"SIS!" Kid cried out as she woke up suddenly.

Serge opened his eyes.

"Where am I…?" Kid looked around, "Oh yeah…I fainted, eh?"

"Yeah," Serge said, "You all right?"

"Yeah," Kid nodded, "Sorry, did I wake you up?"

"Yeah, but don't worry about it," said Serge, "Wanna talk about it?"

"Seeing that fairy's eyes…filled with tears over loosing her friends…" Kid stared at the ground, "Must've triggered memories of me own past…me own friends. I…was abandoned when I was a baby. There was someone who took me in and raised me like I was her own little sister. I'm alive today thanks to her. Then she took in others like me. We didn't have a lot of money, but we were happy. We'd watch Sis making all her strange stuff…people used to say she was a crackpot, but I think she was a genius. Yeah…we were happy…until that bastard Lynx came and shattered it all! He raided our house…burned it down…and kidnapped Sis! She…never came back,"

"I…" Serge sat down next to Kid, "I'm so sorry,"

"Since then…" Kid continued, "I've wandered the world and experienced so much crap…just to get by. No one was there to help me. I was always alone. If you ask me, the idea of guardian angels watching over us all the time…it's a load of bullshit,"

She stood up. "In this world, the underhanded always gets the last laugh. Only the ones who don't think anything of hurting others are the ones who get blood-stained fortuned. The ones who kill, the ones who devour…they're the ones who survive. Our wonderful world, filled with love and happiness...HA! Don't make me laugh! But if that's how it is, that's fine with me. As long as I'm alive, there ain't no going back. I'll abide by this world's rules, and do what I gotta do, despite the rotten hand of cards I've been dealt! I'll make sure that bloody bastard pays for what he's done! I will get even...! No matter what it takes!"

Serge stood up and grabbed Kid's shoulder, forcing her to look at him.

"I'm sorry about everything that's happened in your life," he said firmly, "And I can't even begin to comprehend the pain you went through. But that monologue you just gave me…that's the bullshit. You're no better than those dwarves when you say things like that!"

Kid opened her mouth to protest.

"No, you don't have to argue with me," Serge cut in, "We don't need to debate on this right now. Just know this: I will prove you wrong. Completely and utterly wrong. I promise. And…I know you'd love nothing more than for me to be able to do that…"

"I…" Kid looked at her feet. Then her expression hardened once more. "You won't prove me wrong, Serge,"

"We'll see," said Serge, "But you're not alone anymore,"

"Not for now, I'm not," said Kid, "But once this is over, I will be. You'll go back to yer world to live out your life in peace. Everyone will go their own separate ways. But to tell ya the truth…once I get my revenge…it won't really matter anymore. Knowing that Sis can rest in peace…that's all I need,"

"Then come to my world once it's all over," Serge suggested, "If you really have nothing here…then come with me,"

"What?" Kid stared at Serge.

"Just think about it," said Serge, "We've still got ways to go. We're only going after Viper. We still don't know about the Frozen Flame,"

"Don't remind me…" muttered Kid, "All right. I'm going back to sleep. Oh, and Serge?"

Serge looked at Kid expectantly.

"This conversation never took place as far as the others are concerned," she looked pointedly at Serge, "Not that I don't appreciate you lending an ear, but it's none of their business,"

"All right," Serge shrugged, "I won't say anything,"

"Thanks, mate," Kid smiled slightly. Then she looked around suspiciously. "Ah, what the hell?" She went over to Serge and kissed him. When she stepped back, Serge's face was bright red.

"Kid, this is so sudden…" Serge laughed nervously, "What will Korcha think?"

"I told him I'd think about it," Kid looked away, "I think…ugh! Nevermind. Let's get some sleep,"

She lay down again on the ledge she'd been sleeping on. Serge did the same, but soon found himself unable to sleep. Restless, he got up and walked around the small campsite.

"Can't sleep, eh?"

Serge turned around to see Guile lying on the ground looking up at him.

"Nervous?" Guile sat up, "After all…we weren't exactly successful the last time,"

"It's a lot of things," Serge admitted.

"You remind me of someone," Guile looked at Serge.

"Friend of yours?" asked Serge.

Guile laughed lightly. "Friend isn't really the word. More like…a grudging ally. As I've said before, I've done things I'm not proud of in the past. He was…sort of my new lease on life. I finally was able to see past all of the distractions I'd allowed in my life and concentrate on that which was important to me. After I parted ways with him, I had a couple of years to reflect, and here I am,"

"Are you ever going to clue us in as to what it is you're after?" Serge asked.

"Years ago," Guile sighed, "I lost my family. I found myself in a strange land with absolutely no one. I was taken in by some people. They kept me fed, but they were idiots. And I grew to resent them. As I got older, I used them constantly for my own gain. And when their stupidity got them killed, I honestly didn't care. Now…I prefer not to use people. There's a way to get what you need without gaining it at the expense of others,"

"Tell that to Kid," Serge scoffed.

"Hmm?"

"Oh…" Serge remembered his promise to Kid, "Nothing. Forget I said that,"

"I heard the whole conversation, Serge," Guile admitted, "No, don't worry- I won't say a thing. Kid reminds me a lot of myself when I was her age. She's luckier though. She's met you now, before she can truly lose herself,"

"She's already killed people," Serge sat down next to Guile.

"She can still smile and laugh," Guile pointed out, "She's not completely gone yet. Besides- there's one more thing she has going for her. You care about her,"

"I…" Serge blushed.

"You don't have to say anything," Guile smirked, "But I trust you. Look after her. If you care, then do what you can. Don't make the same mistake that my…"

"Huh?" Serge looked confused.

"I've…said too much," Guile looked away, "Forgive me, but it's still a painful subject for me to discuss. Don't forget what I've said, though,"

"I won't," Serge looked at Guile, "And thanks,"

Guile smiled again. "It's late. We really should get some sleep,"

Serge nodded and got up. He went back to his sleeping spot, took one last look at the sleeping Kid, and lay down.

So much baggage everyone has, Serge thought, makes me realize I'd had a pretty good life up until now.

...

A/N: Hey there. It's been a while. I've been busy with school, and then with looking for a job and an internship. When I wasn't busy with that, I was working on a massive overhaul of my Final Fantasy 7 story. I'm seriously considering turning it into an online doujinshi, but that's a while other topic altogether. Besides- I don't have a scanner yet.

As for this story, I finally got over a major block, and managed to splurt out these two chapters in a matter of days. I'm grateful to the reviewer who suggested that I put Glenn in the story. He's a fun character to work with, and I've enjoyed expanding upon him in these past couple chapters. So thanks!