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Chapter 9
The ride back to Arni Village was a somber one. Afterwards, the old man had agreed to let them use his boat to ride to Mount Pyre.
After a long silence on the ride there, Leena finally broke the silence.
"Enough of this!" she exclaimed, "We're almost done with our quest! Once we stop Viper from using the Dragon Tear, we'll corner Lynx and finish him off once and for all! Once we find the Frozen Flame afterward, we can all go home. Serge…I'll miss you, but you'll finally be able to live your life in peace without Lynx harassing you all the time!"
Serge smiled. Always the optimist…
"Exactly," Glenn agreed, "And life in the dragoons will finally return to normal,"
"What about you, Guile?" asked Kid, "What are you gonna do after this is over?"
Guile sighed. "Kid…" he said, "Once this is over, I have something very important to tell you. Lynx will be avenged, but your journey is far from over,"
"Sounds serious," said Leena.
"You and Glenn should try to get back to your lives," Guile told her, "But I believe that Kid and I can find more answers in Serge's world,"
"Fine with me," Kid shrugged, "Not like I'll have anything better to do. Bugger…I've spent so many years hell-bent on revenge. Once I have it…I sure will have a lot of time on my hands,"
"So I'll still get to see you," Serge smiled at her.
"Guess you're stuck with me for a little while longer," Kid smirked.
"There it is," Leena pointed ahead.
"Right," Kid steeled herself, "Let's see how that little trinket the Water Dragon gave us works,"
The five fell silent once again as they approached the shores of Mount Pyre. Glenn and Guile hopped out of the boat and dragged it onto the beach. Once Serge and the girls had gotten out, the five of them dragged it over to a tree where Serge secured the boat with a rope.
"Let's go," he said.
"Damn!" exclaimed Kid as the heat of Mount Pyre hit them like a blast, "This place ain't gonna erupt, is it?"
"Not with this…" Serge took out the Ice Breath.
"So how do we…?" Kid never finished her sentence.
The small object began to glow in Serge's hands. Suddenly, the room seemed to get completely dark. When the darkness lifted, the rivers of lava had been completely frozen over.
"Ahhh!" cried a familiar voice, "They're really here!"
The group looked up to see Solt and Peppor standing on top of the hill.
"This time," said Peppor, "let's shake it to them for sure!"
"I'll do my best, Peppor!" Solt grabbed his weapon.
The two charged down the slope towards Serge and the others. However, Peppor soon slipped on the ice and crashed into Solt. The two slid helplessly downwards and crashed into the wall.
"Let's go," Serge rolled his eyes.
The party continued up the hill while Solt and Peppor argued with each other over whose fault it was that they fell.
"Um, Glenn…" Leena said, "What is it with those two? I'm more qualified to be a dragoon than they are!"
"Oh, that," Glenn smiled ruefully, "Unfortunately, General Viper is quite old-fashioned when it comes to legacies. Their father and grandfather were both great dragoons. However, something must have gone wrong with their DNA, because they have none of the talents their predecessors did. The general feels obligated to have them as lackeys because their father was his mentor. Honestly, I think their father would've understood if he'd turned them away, but such is life,"
"Well, it explains why he was dumb enough to follow Lynx over here," Kid remarked as they approached a doorway leading to the next part of the cave.
"That's far enough!"
Karsh, Marcy, and another larger man came out of the doorway.
"Glenn?" Marcy scowled, "Like, what are you doing hanging with those losers?"
"We're here to stop General Viper from making a huge mistake," Glenn stated firmly.
"Then we've got a problem," said Karsh. He looked at Serge. "So you made it this far, huh, junior? Well, in the name of the Acacia Dragoons, you ain't getting past here! I believe you already know Marcy, but have you met Zoah?"
"THIS WILL BE THE END OF YOU ALL," Zoah spoke in a booming voice.
Marcy stepped forward. "And Serge! I HATE YOU! I hate your friends, your mom, your dad, your grandma, your grandpa, your great-grandma, your...I HATE THEM ALL! I hate you! I despise you! I REALLY, REALLY ABHOR YOU!"
"Does she ever shut up?" Kid whispered to Glenn.
Glenn shook his head.
"Looks like she can't stand you," Karsh laughed, "Relax, Marcy. They're not worth it. Though I do believe I have a score to settle with our little traitor…"
He charged at Glenn with his axe. Glenn tried to dodge Karsh's swing, but Karsh predicted Glenn's movement and knocked Glenn on the head with the flat side.
"Glenn!" Leena cried out. But Marcy ensnared her with her wire.
"Maybe I'll give you another scar to match the one you already have!" Karsh sneered.
"You're the one who keeps lying about what really happened to my brother!" growled Glenn, "I know you know more than you're letting on!"
"Stupid kid…!" Karsh swung again. This time, Glenn blocked it with his sword. "I kicked your ass then, and I'll do it again!"
"COWARD!" Glenn yelled as he dodged another swing. He swung his sword, this time, knocking Karsh's axe out of his hands.
"Impossible…!" Karsh stumbled backwards.
"IT IS ALMOST TIME," Zoah boomed. He left.
"Dammit!" Karsh cursed, "I'll get even with you for this!"
He stormed away.
"BLEAH!" Marcy stuck her tongue out at Serge and then left.
"Is that little brat also the result of the general feeling 'obligated' to someone?" Kid asked Glenn.
"No," Glenn shook his head, "She's one of the most amazing fighters ever. She's just a child, though her small stature only adds to her speed and grace…even if such grace doesn't extend to her manners,"
"It seemed like you and Karsh already had a pre-existing rivalry," Guile observed.
"Ever since Dario was killed…" Glenn shook his head, "I knew there was something Karsh never told me, or anyone else. I confronted him about it before, and we fought. In the end, he gave me this…"
He touched the cross-shaped scar on his left cheek.
"Glenn…" Leena touched his shoulder.
"Let's keep going," Serge said.
They left the cavern. Just then, Harle appeared.
There will be no turning back…she thought, I won't stop you, Serge. But…don't die…
A strong feeling of déjà-vu and dread crept up as Serge gazed at the large fortress before him. It stayed with them as they walked through the hallways of the fortress, past the dead bodies of monsters that the dragoons had no doubt slain. Finally, they reached the elevator in Serge's dream.
As they rode up, the gnawing fear in the pit of Serge's stomach only worsened.
"What's the matter, Serge?" asked Glenn, "You look troubled,"
Serge said nothing.
"This is it," Guile reminded him, "There's no turning back now!"
"Oi!" agreed Kid, "C'mon, guys!"
She stepped out of the elevator, and Korcha followed her. "Just you wait, Lynx!" she said fiercely, "Today's gonna be the day of reckonin'. Say yer prayers…not that it'll do ya any good…!"
She began to laugh.
"Serge!" Leena called, exasperated.
Serge stepped out of the elevator, and followed his companions down the hallway, and into a room with a purplish-black looking beam emanating from the floor, behind a podium. Serge stepped up and pushed a button on the podium, and the light vanished.
The group backtracked into the hallway, this time, approaching a platform with a circle around it. Upon stepping on it, the five were transported by a beam, up onto another platform outside, before a large set of doors.
"Oi!" exclaimed Kid as she stumbled a bit, "What the bloody hell just happened?"
She looked over the edge of the platform they now stood on.
"Wow…bugger!" she exclaimed, "We're so high up! Is this thing floatin'?"
"Did it feel like your body just passed through the floor right now?" Glenn asked her.
Kid nodded. "This sure is some fort!" she commented, "Eh, Serge?"
Serge remained silent.
The blonde turned around and faced him.
"You alright, mate?" she asked him, "You've been acting all weird. Who knows what's up ahead, so just stay on your toes, eh?"
Serge nodded.
The three headed toward the doors. Just as Kid was about to open them, Serge's heart started beating faster. Suddenly, in his mind, he saw her falling to the floor, and himself, holding a bloody knife, the corners of his mouth slowly twisting into a menacing smirk…
He didn't notice that Kid had already opened the doors and was dragging him inside.
"Finally," Lynx observed, "We've been expecting you,"
They were in a room with six colored rings illuminating the area. In the center of the room, the Dragon Tear sat on a small pedestal.
"So we have," agreed General Viper, "Know this: I have nothing personal against you, but anyone who hinders our plan must be eliminated,"
"General Viper!" Glenn pleaded, "You know that you're only hurting Miss Riddel…!"
"Glenn…" Viper sighed, "One day, both you and my daughter will come to understand…please, step aside. I don't want to see you hurt, my boy,"
He charged forward at the group, but only made it about three steps before Lynx plunged his scythe-like weapon into the general's back.
"Lynx…!" he gasped, "Why…!"
"You were extremely useful in helping me make my way around these islands," Lynx spoke calmly, "I appreciate your help, General. However, I no longer have any need for you. This fort shall serve as a fine grave marker for you and your dragoons. May you rest in peace,"
"D-Damn...!" wheezed the general, "Forgive...me...Riddel...!"
He closed his eyes.
"General!" Glenn hurried over to the fallen leader and examined him. "He's not dead yet! If we finish Lynx off now, we might be able to save him! Leena! Use one of your cure elements while I settle the score!"
"Not without me, you won't!" Kid stepped up next to Glenn and pulled out her dagger.
Lynx snorted. "You're more trouble than I thought. But do you really think your skills are superior to mine?"
"Sore loser!" Kid yelled as she tried to stab him. Lynx disappeared and reappeared next to the Dragon Tear.
"Serge, have you ever questioned who you really are?" Lynx asked him.
"What?" Serge looked confused.
"What has been the significance of your existence up until now? On that ominous day, ten years ago, the boundary of space and time was torn, and part of me, in fact, died..."
Serge found himself mesmerized by the demi-human's words.
"You cannot defeat me, Serge," Lynx glared at him, "This is because denying me is the same as erasing your very existence,"
"Don't be taken in by his rubbish, Serge!" Kid gripped her dagger, "This guy's full of it!"
"Huh..." chuckled Lynx, "We'll see about that. There are two sides to every coin. Life and death...love and hate...they are all the same,"
"Are they…?" Serge countered.
The dragon tear began to glimmer. Serge looked at his reflection in it. Suddenly, it began to change into that of Lynx's.
"Snap out of it!" Leena called out to him as she frantically tried to heal General Viper.
Serge clutched his head and fell to the ground convulsing.
"No, Serge!" Glenn cried out, "Fight it- whatever it is!"
Finally, Serge stopped convulsing. He slowly got to his feet, and glared menacingly at Lynx.
"Serge!" Kid looked terrified, "What's wrong? LYNX! What have you done to Serge?"
Lynx tried to speak, but it came out in a hideous growl.
Kid ran over to Serge. "Serge! You alright?"
"Yes..." Serge took a deep breath, "I'm fine...I'm just fine, Kid,"
Lynx backed away, looking utterly confused at the situation.
"Where are you going, Lynx?" Serge's voice seemed filled with malice, "Now's your chance, Kid! Kill him!"
"Yeah..." a dark look crossed Kid's face, "I know,"
She walked up to him.
"I've been waiting years for this…" she grinned maliciously, "This is the end of you, Lynx! Say yer prayers!"
Lynx attempted to protest, but Kid swiftly stabbed him in the shoulder. He fell to the ground, howling in pain.
"You did it, Kid," Serge smiled proudly.
"Y-Yeah..." Kid stammered.
"Now finish him off," Serge said calmly as he saw her hesitate, "What's wrong? Settle it once and for all,"
Kid said nothing.
"Here, hand me your dagger," Serge took Kid's dagger out of her hand, "Watch this, Kid...I'll avenge Lucca for you! Die, LYNX!"
"WAIT!" Kid grabbed Serge's hand and held it back.
Serge looked mildly surprised. "What's wrong, Kid? He's your foe, isn't he?"
Kid looked suspiciously at Serge. "How do you know Lucca's name?"
Serge looked taken aback. "What are you talking about, Kid...?"
Kid glared at him. "Not once did I ever mention Lucca's name to you, Serge...who are you…?"
An angry look crossed Serge's face as Kid continued to glare at him. Suddenly he charged at her and thrust her dagger into her stomach. A look of utter pain and shock appeared on Kid's face. Serge simply pulled the dagger out and stepped back. Kid stumbled for a bit, staring incredulously at Serge, and then fell to the floor, her eyes closed.
Lynx howled again.
Leena screamed and ran over to Kid. She scooped up Kid's body and held Kid's head in her lap. She then burst into hysterical sobbing.
"Serge…!" Guile could barely control his rage, "Why!
He charged furiously at Serge, the only time Guile had ever shown any strong emotions.
"QUIET!" Serge bellowed. A blast of electricity shot from his hands, knocking Guile unconscious.
He stood over Leena and Kid. "This is the end of the road for you,"
"U-Ugh...!" Kid opened her eyes, "Y-you're Lynx...ain't ya?"
"Don't talk, Kid!" Leena wept, "Please!"
Lynx in Serge's body laughed. "Don't cry, Leena. I'll send her to see Lucca soon. But for now…"
He shot two more blasts of energy, knocking both Leena and Glenn out cold. He then walked up to Serge in Lynx's body. "Look at yourself, Serge...I mean, Lynx!"
Serge's yellow eyes were filled with utter hatred.
"Excellent!" Lynx laughed, "The enmity is growing! The only thing pure in this world is hatred! Well then, the time has come for the curtain to fall. Your services are no longer needed. Even your very existence is worthless...farewell, Serge,"
He took the Dragon Tear. "Finally, I have the key. The key to the gate of Fate! The time has finally come for the Frozen Flame to awaken!" He looked at Serge again. "Come to the Sea of Eden, Serge...should you wish to end your dream of ten years ago...
The Dragon Tear began to glow, and a shock wave came out, blowing up all the dragon statues in the room. An electrical energy surrounded Serge, and he began to levitate.
Lynx laughed insanely. "Now, let love bleed! Darker and deeper than the seas of hell!"
The world seemed to completely fade from Serge's eyes.