Chrono Helix (script)

[Acacia Sgt]

Now I wonder what would happen if both Marcy and Fargo are in the party...

How does having both gills and lungs could work...? I suppose at least you won't have to fear drowning in that case. 

Oh noes, the side-plot thickens! XD

[alfadorredux]

I suppose I could have written a third version of the scene, but the truth is that I had a hard enough time getting these two out. So I think we'll just assume that Marcy takes precedence if she's present. She seems to be more...proactive. (More seriously, Nikki seems to have been putting more effort into looking for Marcy than for his parents, so I would expect her to be the one who would arrest his attention.)

The mermaids clearly have both gills and lungs too, or Irenes wouldn't be able to leave the water, so presumably there's some kind of built-in biological switch mechanism.

[Acacia Sgt]

Too bad. Nikki's suspicions of Marcy being his sister should definetly get Fargo's attention, since I don't think he is aware she is still alive... isn't he?

[alfadorredux]

Oh, they'll have the whole thing out later, I promise--just not in this particular scene. (Packed in somewhere around the Zelbess'-death-flashback I wrote a while ago is a remark by Luccia to the effect that she did tell Fargo about Marcy, and he didn't believe her. If Fargo still believes that Marcy is an impostor set up by Luccia (complete with fake sewn-together gills), he might choose not to make any remark on the subject.)

[Katie Skyye]

Ahh, the suspense is killin' me! This script is practically the highlight of my week when it updates!

[alfadorredux]

Don't die on me, please!

Things have been a little crazy around here lately, and it took longer than usual to sort the main story from the optional bits and put in basic stage directions for chapter 23, so I'm a bit behind--maybe 25% of the way done.

[alfadorredux]

Whoo, boy. This was one of the longest chapters yet, and the fact that the
first five dragons can be visited in any order just adds to the complexity.
The other thing that took forever was due to having nearly maxed out the
number of recruits present: for every "Member" line I came across, I had
to either provide a dozen alternatives or substitute/backstop with Serge.


23. To the Sea of Eden - Through the hidden holes in time... Part I

   Max recruits: Lynx-Serge, Magus, Sprigg, Radius, Norris, Skelly,
        Guile OR (Glenn and Nikki), Karsh, ZOAH, Marcy, Fargo, Starky, Grobyc,
        Luccia, Dario.
   Recruitable: Leena will become available again at the
        end of the chapter, when Serge returns to his proper form.
        I've decided that Orlha will not be recruitable; however, I
        am going to treat her like Razzly and tell her story without
        making her a PC, rather than writing her out completely.

[Note: This chapter could be said to come in seven parallel
chunks. I've ordered it as blue-yellow-red-green-black-white-other,
and only included the version of the Black Relic's retrieval which
occurs if the player chooses NOT to complete the Save Marbule quest.
The sidequest itself will be posted separately, 'cause it's quite long.
Also, I've made corrections to the dragons' pseudo-Elizabeathan
grammar without marking them again.]

===========================================================
Water Dragon Isle, Cave (Home)
===========================================================

[After defeating the Sidesteppa just outside the Water Dragon's
lair]

Serge:
   ...

Guile:           | Marcy:               | Zoah:
   What is it,   |    You got, like,    |    WHY ARE WE
   Serge?        |    some kind of      |    STOPPING
                 |    problem?          |    HERE?
--------------------------------------------------------------
Norris:          | Starky:              | Glenn:
   Is something  |    Serge stopped.    |    Serge, are
   wrong, sir?   |    What is insiide?  |    you well?
                 |    Staarky wants to  |    Are we in
                 |    knooow.           |    danger?
---------------------------------------------------------------
Karsh:           | Luccia:              | Skelly:
   What're we    |    Dis opening is    |    Chin up, Serge!
   standin' here |    unnatural. Is     |    That dragon can't
   for?! Get on  |    de dragon beyond? |    be hungry enough
   with it!      |                      |    to eat us!
---------------------------------------------------------------
Nikki:           | Sprigg:              | Magus:
   The music     |    You gettin'       |    The pressure of magic from
   coming from   |    cold feet all of  |    the other side of that
   that room's   |    a sudden? That'z  |    doorway is immense. Is this
   kinda funky.  |    not like you.     |    the Water Dragon?
   What's up?    |                      |

Serge:
   Just pulling myself together.
   The dragon should be on the
   other side of that door, and
   I want to make sure I'm ready.
   (Except that I don't see how I
   can be! But I guess I've got
   to go forward anyway.)

===========================================================
Water Dragon Isle, Shrine (Home)
===========================================================

[When Serge reaches the end of the raised platform, the
dragon is already there]

Water Dragon:
   The time has come...
   My powers I shall grant
   to the ones who seek to break
   the eternal chains of fate.

Serge:
   (I don't quite know how to tell
   it that the "chains of fate"
   have nothing to do with this!
   I just want my body back, Kid
   safe, and Lynx not able to do
   ...whatever it is he's trying
   to do!)

Water Dragon:
   What is it thou seekest?

   ~~~The Dragon God's blessing      |    ~~~I seek nothing
                                     |
Water Dragon:                        |    [Scene ends]
   Dost thou need the powers of
   the Sleeping Dragons to cross
   the Dead Sea?
   Dost thou seek to break the
   chains of fate?
   A son of man to challenge
   the Goddess of Fate?
   Fascinating...
   Then confront my trials.

Serge:
   (Sigh. I don't suppose screaming
   "WHAT GODDESS OF FATE?!?!" at it
   would be very useful, but it
   might make me feel better.)

[Combat. When the party wins...]

Water Dragon:
   ...Well done, son of man.
   Thy strength is worthy of
   my powers.
   Take with thee my prayers...

[A blue glow appears and drifts into Serge's hands.]

 [System]
   [Member] has been bestowed the
   BlueRelic.

Serge:
   (So this is what we came here
   for? Doesn't look like much.)

Water Dragon:
   I too shall watch over thy Fate,
   how thou dost struggle to live,
   and how thou facest death...

Serge:
   (Why are these dragons all so
   interested in how I go about
   facing death? Do they just not
   understand death, because
   they're immortal? I'd ask, but
   I don't want to have to fight
   it again...)

===========================================================
Earth Dragon Isle (Home)
===========================================================

[Upon first arriving at the island and speaking to the guy
standing up on the ledge/hill/bluff thing with the best
view of the sandpit/entrance.]

Captain:
   We've searched every square inch
   of this surface but found nothing...
   There has to be something...!
   The only possible entrance I can
   think of is this sand boil hole,
   but once you go in, you get shot
   right back out.
   The only place left is the quicksand...

Serge:
   Okay, I know that quicksand is
   dangerous, but should that
   really stop you from doing
   what you came here for?

Captain:
   I've lost quite a number of
   men to quicksand in my past
   explorations...
   I still can't get over the fear...
   You're pretty much a goner
   once you set foot in that stuff...

Serge:
   (Ulp! I'm sorry I
   said anything!)

[As they approach the quicksand]

 [Captain]
   Hey, guys!
   That's quicksand over there!
   Step in there and you'll never
   see the light of day again!

Serge:
   (I wish we didn't have to, but
   the dragon has to be around here
   somewhere, and, well, there's
   nowhere else to look!)

[after they're sucked in]

 [Captain]
   What are they, crazy!?
   I warned them, too!
   Dammit... Damn amateurs...!

[Upon landing inside the cave]

Serge:
   (So the dragon's got to be
   around here somewhere, but
   it looks like the way forward
   is blocked by that boulder
   over by the far wall...)

[When they emerge via the sand boil, the captain
walks over to them and addresses them]

Captain:
   Are you guys alright!?
   I thought you were
   goners for sure!

Serge:
   (I don't want to embarass him
   by telling him that the worst
   that happened was me getting
   sand down the back of my
   shirt...) There's a cave complex
   down there. I don't know just
   how big it is, because the
   exit from the first room was
   blocked off.

Captain:
   So the quicksand is the entrance,
   and the sand boil is the exit...
   Now why couldn't I figure that out?
   So there was something blocking
   a pathway, you say?
   OK, let us take care of it.
   It may take some time, though.
   
Captain:
   Let's see, now... I need to
   assign some men to investigate and
   prepare explosives to move that rock...
   Would you mind coming back in
   a little while? We have some
   preparations to do.
   But thanks a lot for your help.

Serge:
   And thank you for yours. (I hope
   he hurries up. I want to get at
   that dragon and get this over
   with!)

[At this point, the party must leave the area, then
return, in order for the Explosive to be ready. If they
speak to the captain when they return, we get...]

Captain:
   Our investigation is
   finally under way.
   Thanks to you, of course.

Serge:
   You're welcome.

Captain:
   And we were also able to move
   that thing you were worried about.
   All it took was some explosives
   to clear the path.

Serge:
   Oh, good. (One less thing
   between us and the dragon.)

Captain:
   ...This is totally off the subject,
   but have you heard of a raw
   material called '"rainbow?"'

Serge:
   ?

Captain:
   It's a fossil of a rainbow shell,
   which used to exist long, long ago.
   It's a very rare item these days.
   I can't thank you enough for getting
   our investigation started.
   Here, take this rainbow as a
   token of my appreciation.

Serge:
   (Hmmm... It doesn't look like a
   shell at all--more like metal.
   And it's heavy. Weird.)

Captain:
   I've heard that by combining rainbows
   with certain materials, you can forge
   high quality weapons and armor...
   But it takes a skilled hand and
   special tools to accomplish.
   That just goes to show how difficult
   it is to handle rainbows.

 [System]
   [Member] received
   Rainbow.

Serge:
   (A really good smith who has
   special tools... Maybe I should
   try talking to Zappa--he's
   probably the best smith in
   El Nido.)

===========================================================
Earth Dragon Isle, Cavern (Home)
===========================================================

[If they try to move the rock without the explosive]

 [System]
   It won't budge...
   No use staying here.

Karsh:         | Zoah:                  | Luccia:          | Serge:
   WHAAAT?! It |    A ROCK AS LARGE     |    Ve vill need  |    It's big...
   can't be    |    AS LYNX'S EGO.      |    explosives or |    I don't think
   THAT heavy! |    WE CAN'T MOVE THIS. |    equipment to  |    we can move it.
               |                        |    move dis.     |

Serge:
   We need help. Maybe we should
   go back up and talk to those
   guys who were poking around
   looking for the way in...?

[If they speak to the guy who appears in front of the
entrance to the second cavern area after they alert
the captain to the existence of the cavern...]
 
 [Explorer]
   You see that monster over there,
   sitting as still as a rock?
   It's called a '"Rockroach."'
   It won't attack you as long
   as you don't approach it.
   It's pretty much harmless.

Serge:
   (Okay, it does look like a
   rock...and I guess I get the
   "roach" part too, although I
   think I'd be happier if I
   didn't. But I've never seen one
   anywhere else, so how does he
   know what it's called?)
 
 [Explorer]
   But I tell ya, that thing
   must weigh a ton.
   Our explosives have just barely
   enough power to blow it away.
   By the way, I was the one who
   blasted that one, and it was
   actually my special explosives
   that did the trick!

Serge:
   (I guess he really
   enjoys his work.)
 
 [Explorer]
   Hey, why don't I give you
   some of my explosives?
   They really pack a punch!
   I'm sure they'll come in handy.

   ~~~Sure, I'll take some            |    ~~~No, too dangerous to handle
                                      |
   Oh, there's one thing              | Serge:
   I have to warn you about.          |    (I mean, I'm a fisherman--what
   You can only blast the ones        |    do I know about explosives?!)
   that are just sitting there.       |
   Not any that are moving about or   |  [Explorer]
   coming towards you to attack.      |    Oh... Oh well...
                                      |    But come back anytime if
Serge:                                |    you really need them.
   I guess that makes sense. (I       |    I have plenty, you know!
   mean, I'd feel kind of silly       |
   going, "Here, roachie, roachie,    | [scene ends]
   roachie! Now stand still for a     |
   moment so that I can tie this
   to your leg..." Not even a
   roach could possibly be that
   dumb!)

 [Explorer]
   But hey, I guarantee you'll
   have a blast with these, heh heh!

Serge:
   (Groan...)

 [Explorer]
   Oh, and stay clear of the
   shockwaves from the blast.

   Here you go.
   Put them to good use.

   Member received
   Explosive!

Serge:
   Shockwaves. Right. (Ulp!)

===========================================================
Earth Dragon Isle, Earth Shrine (Home)
===========================================================

[The characters approach the little balcony-thing above the
dragon's sandpit.]

Magus:                    | Marcy:               | Glenn:
   A dead end...? Hmph.   |    So, like, where's |    I see no dragon here...
   There's magic here,    |    the dragon? This  |    and no exit, unless we
   but the traces, though |    just looks like   |    are to attempt to climb
   strong, are not at all |    a dead end.       |    the far wall.
   recent.                |                      |
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Luccia:                   | Radius:              | Norris:
   Dis chamber is a       |    A dead end...?    |    A dead end? That feels...
   geological oddity, but |    And yet, all the  |    rather anticlimactic.
   I see no reason to     |    stories I have    |    Where could this dragon
   t'ink it is a dragon's |    heard suggest the |    be hiding, if not in
   nest, and not a simple |    Earth Dragon      |    these caves?
   dead end.              |    lives here...     |
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fargo:                    | Grobyc:              | Starky:
   Arr... 'Tis a dead     |    Grobyc-does-not-  |    Staarky seeees only a
   end, maties! But why?  |    see-a-dragon...   |    dead end.
                          |    or-an-exit.       |
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Karsh:                    | Zoah:                | Skelly:
   Just a dead end?!      |    THIS SEEMS TO BE  |    This is just a dead
   Where's that damned    |    A SIMPLE DEAD     |    end...and no bones
   dragon hiding?!        |    END.              |    about it!

[Member2 moves forward, kneels to look into the sandpit, then
stands up and surveys the room.]

Sprigg:                    | Guile:                 | Nikki:
   Despite all the magic   |    I see no evidence   |    Looks like just another
   rezidue that's cloggin' |    of dragonian ruins  |    cave to me... You'd think
   this place, it lookz    |    here... Is this     |    that if the dragon had
   like it'z just a        |    merely a cave?      |    been here, there would
   natural cave.           |                        |    be some neat vibes!
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dario:                     | Skelly:                | Zoah:
   If the dragon was ever  |    I've nevah seen a   |    THERE ARE NO SIGNS THAT
   here, it has left no    |    dragon, but I bet   |    THE DRAGON WAS EVER HERE,
   sign.                   |    it doesn't look     |    NOR ANY DRAGONIAN RUINS.
                           |    like a sandpile!    |
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Starky:                    | Grobyc:                | Fargo:
   Staarky doesn't think   |    Grobyc-thinks-this- |    Well, mateys, I see no
   the dragon was ever     |    is-just-a-cave.     |    sign that anyone's ever
   heeere.                 |                        |    been here before us!
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Norris:                    | Radius:                | Luccia:
   If either the dragon or |    Legends say the     |    Dis cave is in no vay
   the dragonians were     |    dragons occupy      |    different from de odders
   ever here, they left no |    dragonian ruins...  |    ve have passed t'rough.
   indication of their     |    I see none of those |    I t'ink dere is no dragon.
   presence.               |    here.               |

Serge:
   (Sigh) I guess that means we're
   just wasting time. Let's go look
   somewhere else.

[Suddenly, the screen darkens and the dragon speaks]

 [Earth Dragon]
   Thou who art bound by fate.
   What powers dost thou seek?

Serge:
   (Whoa... What the...?!)

[The party looks around, searching for the source of the voice.]

Serge:
   (At least I'm not hearing voices
   again--it's pretty obvious that
   this time, everyone else heard
   it too!)

[When they finally look up, the dragon does a belly-flop into
the sand. They must speak to it to continue the scene.]

Earth Dragon:
   The time hath come.
   My powers I shall grant
   to the ones who seek to break
   the eternal chains of fate.

[Incidentally, if it looks like the Earth Dragon's lines are an awful
lot like the Water Dragon's...that's 'cause they're word-for-word
identical. Apparently someone ran out of ideas.]

Earth Dragon:
   What is it thou seekest?

   ~~~The Dragon God's blessing     |    ~~~I seek nothing
                                    |
Earth Dragon:                       |   [scene ends]
   Dost thou need the powers of
   the sleeping dragons to cross
   the Dead Sea?
   Dost thou seek to break the
   chains of fate?
   A son of man to challenge
   the Goddess of Fate?
   Fascinating.
   Then confront my trials.


Serge:
   Trials? Wha--?

[The Earth Dragon throws back its head and roars. Combat.
When the party wins...]

Serge:
   (Why does it seem like everytime
   I turn around these days, I have
   to fight something the size of
   my house?! I mean, just for
   once, can't something challenge
   me to a game of checkers
   instead?)

Earth Dragon:
   Well done, son of man.
   Thy strength is worthy of my
   powers.
   Take with thee my prayers.

[A ball of yellow light forms in midair and drifts slowly
down toward Serge.]

 [System]
   [Member] has been bestowed
   the Yellow Relic.

Earth Dragon:
   I too shall watch over thy fate,
   how thou dost struggle to live
   and how thou facest death...

Serge:
   (There it is again--that thing
   about how I'm going to die...)
   Let's get out of here.
 
===========================================================
Mount Pyre (Another)
===========================================================

[As the party nears the place where Salamander is stuck in
the ground, the chibi version of the Fire Dragon approaches
them from the right.]

Fire Dragon:
   Hey, hey, lad!
   So we meet again!
   You look a bit different,
   but I know it's you!
   C'mon, challenge me again!
   Whaddaya say!?
   If you beat me, I'll give
   you the Dragon Relic and
   my pet Salamander.

Serge:
   Um... Wait a second, here. Are
   you saying that you're the Fire
   Dragon?

Fire Dragon:
   That's right, lad--don't I
   look the part?

Serge:
   I was kind of expecting
   someone...bigger.

[Serge looks at where Salamander's head is sticking
out of the ground.]

Fire Dragon:
   Were you, now?
   Well, I CAN do bigger.
   Here, let me show you.

[Combat. When the party wins...]

Fire Dragon:
   Hmmm...
   We'll meet again.
   Or to put it another way,
   I hope you return for a
   rematch before-- No, I
   shouldn't really talk
   about that.

 [System]
   [Member] received the
   Red Relic.

Serge:
   (Huh? Shouldn't really
   talk about what?)

===========================================================
Hydra Marshes, Western Ledge (Home)
===========================================================

[The Beeba is sitting out in the open, waiting. The conversation
begins automatically as the party approaches.]

BubbaBeeba: [if they got the flute in Another]
   How did you get that flute...?
   It beeba handed down in Beeba family...
   That beeba mine, too.........!!!

BubbaBeeba: [If they got it during the Rescue Kid sequence]
   BEEBA-BAH-BAH-BAH!!!
   Why you beeba-live?
   What happened to Wingapede!?

Serge:
   What's your problem?

BubbaBeeba:
   It brings shame to Beeba family
   if we always beeba defeated.
   Time for bee-venge!

Serge:
   (I had to ask...)

 [Beeba]
   Beeba-Beeba!

[Combat. When the party wins, the beeba collapses into a
sitting position.]

BubbaBeeba:
   I beeba-ry sorry!
   Here! I give you this!
   Please forgive beeba!
   This beeba Ancient Fruit
   found in Ancient Ground.
   You will beeba-ble to tame
   Wingapede with this.

Serge:
   Ancient Ground?

BubbaBeeba:
   The legendary '"Ancient Ground"'
   of us Beebas. You know it as
   '"Gaea's Navel."'
   It beeba a remote island surrounded
   by cliffs, in the sea of El Nido.
   It beeba a mystical place where
   a '"Primeval Forest"' may still exist.

Serge:
   (Gaea's Navel... The one place
   in El Nido where no human has
   ever been. Could there be a
   dragon there...?)

   Thanks. So how do we use this
   "Ancient Fruit"?

BubbaBeeba:
   All you have to do now is
   blow the Beeba Flute.
   That beeba the truth.
   If you blow the flute further
   down the branch where my friend
   beeba standing, you will beeba-ble
   to ride Wingapede to Ancient Ground.

Serge:
   (I just hope we can trust him.)

[The beeba approaches Serge and hands over an
Ancient Fruit.]

BubbaBeeba:
   I wish you the beebesta luck.

Serge:
   Uh, right. You...beeba well,
   okay? (I can't believe I
   just said that.)

[If they speak to it again...]
   
BubbaBeeba:
   You and me beeba comrades.
   If there's anything you want to
   know, don't beeba-fraid to ask.

   ~~~What's Ancient Ground?                |    ~~~What's the Ancient Fruit?
                                            |
BubbaBeeba:                                 | BubbaBeeba:
   The legendary '"Ancient Ground"'         |    With the flute alone, even
   of us Beebas. You know it as             |    we Beebas will get attacked.
   '"Gaea's Navel."'                        |    You need '"Ancient Fruit."'
   It beeba a remote island surrounded      |    We Beebas grow this fruit.
   by cliffs, in the sea of El Nido.        |    It beeba big, but so is Wingapede.
   It beeba a mystical place where          |
   a '"Primeval Forest"' may still exist.   | Serge:
                                            |    (So giving us the flute without
BubbaBeeba:                                 |    the fruit was...some kind of
   That beeba what elder said long ago.     |    Beeba prank? Urgh...)
   I've never beenba to Ancient Ground.     |
   I like it here.                          | BubbaBeeba:
                                            |    You can tame Wingapede with
Serge:                                      |    just one bite of the fruit.
   (He likes living in the middle of a      |    So you just need 1 for round trip.
   toxic swamp? Well, I guess there's       |
   no accounting for taste!)                | Serge:
                                            |    (Wait a sec... If the Wingapede
                                            |    eats one of those in two bites...
                                            |    that's a pretty big bite!)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   ~~~What's a Wingapede?                   |   ~~~No, that's OK
                                            |
BubbaBeeba:                                 |  [conversation ends]
   It beeba a big bug.                      |
   I think you fought it before.            |
   It likes to fly in this forest.          |
   Wingapede fly from Ancient               |
   Ground to this forest.                   |
   Ride Wingapede and you will beeba        |
   able to go to Ancient Ground.            |

Serge:
   (Flying around on a giant bug...
   Whatever. If I have to do it,
   then I'll do it.)

BubbaBeeba:
   You need both Beeba Flute
   and Ancient Fruit to call
   Wingapede safely.
   My friend beeba on branch
   further down. Blow flute there
   and Wingapede will come flying.
   Then, you can ride Wingapede.
   
BubbaBeeba:
   Let me know when you run out.
   I have lots of fruit.
   Don't beeba-fraid to ask.

Tomorrow, we'll finish up the Green Dragon, visit the Black and
White ones, and then drop in on Guldove...

[alfadorredux]

Part the Next, In Which our Heroes Deal With Three More Dragons and One Porrean. Or something like that.


23. To the Sea of Eden - Through the hidden holes in time... Part II

===========================================================
Gaea's Navel (Home)
===========================================================

[The characters drop off the Wingapede's back and onto
the ground.]

Serge:
   (I guess we come here and blow
   the flute again when we want
   to get back.)

???:
   You come-um from sky?

[The screen pans over to show Leah standing at the top
of a cliff.]

???:
   Ooga-Booga!

[Leah does a showy jump-and-flip down to ground level.]

Leah:
   You friend of father?

Serge:
   Father?

Leah:
   You know-um father?
   Father is-um brave warrior.
   
Leah:
   Leah lose-um father
   when Leah very little.

Leah:
   Grandma say-um
   father went-um to sky.
   You come-um from sky,
   so Leah think-um
   you know-um father.

Serge:
   Sorry, Leah, but as far as I
   know, none of us has ever met
   your father. And how did you
   end up here? I didn't think
   there was any way anyone could
   get to this island. (Except by
   flying around on giant bugs,
   that is.)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

[If Magus is present]

Magus:
   She's a long way from home.

Serge:
   She is? How can you tell?

Magus:
   The tail. And the way she talks.
   This girl is a proto-human from
   the distant past, when Reptites,
   not humanity, were the dominant
   race on this planet.

Leah:
   Reptites! Reptites are-um bad!
   Grandma tell-um Leah so.

Serge:
   So how did she get here?

Magus:
   Presumably she fell
   through a natural
   temporal discontinuity.

Serge:
   (A what?)

Magus:
   A hole in time, fool.

Serge:
   (How did he know I was
   wondering what he meant?)

Magus:
   Your expressions are
   easy to read.

Serge:
   (Argh...)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Leah:
   Leah don't know-um.
   Leah face-um land
   anger and end-um up here.
   Villagers not-um here.
   
Leah:
   Only Leah and he
   come-um here.

Serge:
   He?

[The ground shakes]

Magus:              | Sprigg:               | Radius:            | Marcy:
   The dragon...?   |    Seemz the dragon'z |    So that is the  |    That dragon must
   No. Something is |    eager for a fight. |    tread of the    |    weigh, like, a
   not quite right. |                       |    Green Dragon.   |    ton!
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Glenn:              | Dario:                | Grobyc:            | Luccia:
   Was that...the   |    It seems that the  |    Was-that-the-   |    If dat vas a dragon, it
   Green Dragon?    |    dragon is          |    dragon? Grobyc- |    vill take me veeks to
                    |    dauntingly large.  |    is-impressed.   |    dissect it! Ohohoho!
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Nikki:              | Norris:               | Zoah:              | Starky:
   That was some    |    That must have     |    WAS THAT THE    |    The dragon is large
   drum track! Did  |    been the dragon.   |    DRAGON? IT WAS  |    eenough to make
   the dragon do    |                       |    LOUD.           |    earthquakes? Staarky
   that?            |                       |                    |    is surprised.

Leah:
   He pretty tough-um.
   Leah help-um if
   you fight-um him.
   Leah winning-um
   so far.

Serge:
   Thanks for the offer, Leah, but
   I think we can take care of this
   ourselves. (I can't get a kid
   involved in this mess, no matter
   how tough she is.)

Leah:
   You sure-um?

[Serge crouches down to put his head on a level with hers.]

Serge:
   Yeah, I'm sure.

Leah:
   Oh. You be-um careful.

Serge:
   We will. (Oh, believe me, we
   will. I'm NOT going to end up
   in a dragon's gullet and let
   Lynx get away with everything!)

[after they've slaughtered enough monsters to get the
dragon's attention, this happens when they re-enter the
first screen]

Serge:
   (Is it just me, or has
   it gotten awfully quiet
   around here?)

[When they get to where Leah is wandering around near the
landing pad]

Leah:
   He come-um!

[A butt-ugly critter that doesn't actually look at all like
a Tyrannosaurus (tyrannosauridae were bipedal with little
tiny forearms, and this thing is quadrupedal--although I don't
expect anyone reading this cares much about dinosaur trivia!)
comes trotting out from behind the greenery and forces the party
into combat. When the party wins...]

Leah:
   What that!?

[Leah goes running off in the direction the not-Tyrannosaur
came from.]

Serge:
   Leah--Hey! Wait up!

[The party sets off in pursuit.]

===========================================================
Gaea's Navel, Green Dragon's...Perch? (Home)
===========================================================

[When the party hits the end of the sandspit, Leah says...]

Leah:
   Oooga-Booga!!!
   Leah not know-um
   he here!!!?

[...and the camera pans up to show the Green Dragon squatting,
toadlike, on its...tuffet, or whatever that green thing is.]

Serge:
   (I thought that other thing
   didn't seem much like a
   dragon!)

Green Dragon:
   Silence...
   What is all this ruckus...?
   Hmm? I see...
   Thou seekest relics?
   Come hither...

Serge:
   (Oh, great, another
   mind-reader.)

[The party, with Leah in the lead, crosses the shallow water
to the foot of the tuffet.]

Green Dragon:
   And now for lunch.

Serge:
   We're not very tasty.

Green Dragon:
   Nevertheless...

[Combat--big surprise, eh? When the party wins, we discover that
the dragon has vanished from his tuffet]

Green Dragon:
   Impressive...

Serge:
   (Pant, pant) Gee, thanks.

 [System]
   [Member] received
   Green Relic.

Leah:
   Serge, you always
   fight-um monsters
   like that?

Serge:
   Well, we do seem to be running
   into a lot of them lately.

Leah:
   Looks-um fun.

Serge:
   Heh. From the outside, maybe...
   but since all this started, I've
   spent a lot of time being
   worried and scared.

Leah:
   Oh. Not so fun?
   Can Leah help-um?

Serge:
   Thanks, Leah, but I don't see
   how. (She may be tough for a
   kid, but I don't think she has
   any idea what life in the rest
   of El Nido is like, and I don't
   want her first introduction to
   that to be Lynx. Maybe later,
   when this is all over, we can
   come back for her.)

Leah:
   ...
   If you see-um father,
   tell-um him Leah here.
   Leah will-um wait.

Serge:
   Sure. Of course we will. (I
   don't have the heart to tell
   her he's probably dead. Let
   her go on dreaming for just a
   little while longer...'cause
   I remember way too well just
   how it feels when you realize
   he really isn't coming back.)

===========================================================
Storage, SS Zelbess (Home) - If you didn't Save Marbule
===========================================================

[Remember, this assumes that the player did not accept
the "Save Marbule" quest!]

Sage:
   Everything...
   was merely a dream...
   The humans refused to
   cooperate with that singer,
   whom I thought to be our
   last hope.
   I was wrong for trusting
   humans once again...
   Now, I do not care
   what happens...

Serge:
   I'm...sorry. (I feel pretty
   guilty, actually, but what
   could I have done?)

==================================================================
Captain's Quarters, SS Zelbess (Home) - If you didn't Save Marbule
==================================================================

[Presumably, the party has to speak to Fargo in order to initiate
this conversation.]

Fargo:
   Hey, you.
   The concert's over.
   Now my Marbule will fall
   into decay and become just
   an eternal dream...
   Hahhahah!!!

Serge:
   You think this is FUNNY?!

Nikki:                     | Marcy:                   | Fargo:
   Serge, chill. He's      |    Serge, he's just,     |    Don't do it, Serge--
   just running his        |    like, pulling your    |    it won't change anything.
   mouth...like another    |    strings. Don't waste  |    But shiver me timbers!
   guy I could mention.    |    time on him. He isn't |    It'll be weeks 'fore I
                           |    worth it.             |    can look in a mirror and
Fargo(Another):[if present]|                          |    not see the likes of that
   ...                     |                          |    staring back at me.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Guile:                     | Radius:                  | Sprigg:
   Do not waste your time, |    Serge, he is only     |    Only a small man would think
   Serge--that response is |    trying to pull you    |    that wuz some kind of great
   exactly what he wants.  |    down to his level.    |    achievment. Leave 'im alone,
                           |    Ignore him.           |    Serge-us--'e'z just tryin'
                           |                          |    to waste yer time.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dario:                     | Skelly:                  | Luccia:
   Serge, he is seeking    |    Serge, someone with a |    Serge, vhile I vould be
   to provoke you. Do not  |    sense of humour like  |    interested in dissecting him
   waste time on fighting  |    that isn't even worth |    to determine de cause of dis
   him.                    |    fightin'.             |    insensitivity, ve have more
                           |                          |    urgent t'ings to do, do ve not?
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Norris:                    | Zoah:                    | Magus:
   Serge, this is merely   |    SERGE, DON'T LISTEN.  |    Hmph. And we are supposed to
   a clumsy implementation |    HE WANTS TO MAKE YOU  |    see such petty destruction as
   of a tactic to distract |    ANGRY.                |    a significant achievment? I
   one's enemy. Do not     |                          |    have no time to waste on
   waste your time on him. |                          |    confrontations with fools.

Serge:
   I guess that's true, but...
   (Damn it all! I...I can't...
   It isn't RIGHT, what Fargo did
   to those demi-humans, and I want
   to do something to fix it...even
   if the best I can manage is
   punching his nose in!)

Fargo:
   You land-lubber...!
   You're pitiful!!!

Serge:
   (And maybe I am--I mean, I still
   haven't managed to save Kid or
   stop Lynx or do much of anything
   else important, but...hearing
   HIM say it...) That's really
   something, coming from a loser
   like you.

Fargo:
   Call me what you want,
   but it's too late now...
   We can't turn back time.
   Now let go of me!

[Serge backs away]

Serge:
   We've wasted enough time here.
   Let's go.

===========================================================
Marbule (Another) - If you didn't Save Marbule
===========================================================

[When the party approaches and speaks to the Black Dragon...]

Black Dragon:
   ......

 [System]
   The Black Dragon remains asleep...

Serge:
   (I guess it's pretty tired...
   Look at the way those eyes
   are moving under its lids,
   though. Is it having a
   nightmare?)

   [Member] received the
   Black Relic.

Serge:
   (I guess it somehow knows we're
   here. Eerie.)

===========================================================
Sky Dragon Isle (Another)
===========================================================

[When they approach and speak to the dragon]

Sky Dragon:
   Welcome, humans.
   I am the Sky Dragon of the
   White Element.

Serge:
   (As though we wouldn't have
   guessed that!)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

[If they don't yet have the relics from all of the other dragons...]

Sky Dragon:
   First, gain the protection
   of the Five Dragons of the
   world:
   Water Dragon, Earth Dragon,
   Fire Dragon, Black Dragon,
   and Green Dragon.
   Return to me, only once thou
   hast gained all of them!

Serge:
   (I guess that means we have to
   hunt down all the other relics
   before he'll give us his...
   Why does everyone have to make
   things so complicated?)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

[If they've got all the other Plot Coup--er, Relics...]

Sky Dragon:
   Well done. Thou hast gained the
   protection of the Five Dragons.
   Let me test thy skills to see
   if thou art truly worthy to
   enter the Sea of Eden!

Serge:
   (Sigh) You know, I really am
   getting tired of this.

[Combat. When the party wins...]

Sky Dragon:
   Thy skills, I acknowledge.

Serge:
   (Yeah, yeah, whatever. Wasn't
   fighting all the other dragons
   enough to prove we knew how to
   take on something his size
   without us having to fight him,
   too?)

Sky Dragon:
   I will grant thee the protection
   of the Sky Dragon.

[A ball of white light drops into Serge's hands.]

 [System]
   Member received the
   White Relic!

Serge:
   So this is the last one...
   (Kinda looks like a candle...
   Where did they get these from,
   anyway? They're too small for
   the dragons to have made
   them themselves...)

Sky Dragon:
   The Dead Sea has disintegrated,
   and the gates of time have
   been opened.
   With the divine protection of
   the 6 Dragons...
   Venture deep beyond the Pearly
   Gates, across the dimensions.


Serge:
   I thought I had to turn
   back into...me...first.

Sky Dragon:
   With that, I cannot help you.
   See the aid of knowledgeable
   humans.

Serge:
   (Right. Guldove. Sigh.)

===========================================================
Guldove (Home)
===========================================================

[If the party attempts to enter the shrine in Home World
without the Dragon Emblem, the guard outside will stop
them.]

 [Man]
   You, halt.
   Judging by your appearance...
   you are foreign-born?
   For reasons we will not explain,
   foreigners are not allowed to
   enter the tower.
   Please leave the premises at once.

[The party moves a short distance away, and forms a huddle]

Serge:
   (Snotty bastard--"For reasons we
   will not explain" my tuchis!
   If you mean, "We're scared of
   everyone not from Guldove
   because some guy calling himself
   "Serge" is stirring up a fuss
   right now and might want to
   steal our precious relic," then
   say it!)

   Well, that was a bust. Does
   anyone have any suggestions?
   I mean, we could probably
   hammer that guy flat, but I
   don't think that would make
   our chances of getting the
   Dragon Tear afterwards very
   good.

Radius:                  | Guile:                      | Norris:
   The people of Guldove |    Coming here with the     |    We have no allies in
   have always been      |    fragments of the other   |    this Guldove. Perhaps
   stubborn. Perhaps the |    Dragon Tear in your      |    we would do better to
   shaman from the other |    pocket was perhaps not   |    ask for help in the
   world can give us     |    the best of ideas. We    |    other world. The shaman
   something we can use  |    should return them to    |    there should know how
   to persuade them.     |    the shaman in the        |    to persuade her people.
                         |    other world.             |
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Nikki:                   | Zoah:                       | Sprigg:
   Seems to me that we   |    WE NEED TO RE-THINK      |    Maybe the shaman in the
   had less trouble with |    OUR STRATEGY. PERHAPS    |    other Guldove would 'ave
   the shaman in the     |    THE SHAMAN FROM THE      |    some idea. Besides, we
   other Guldove--maybe  |    OTHER GULDOVE CAN        |    still need to tell 'er
   we should ask her     |    HELP. IN ANY CASE, WE    |    that 'er Dragon Tear
   what to do.           |    NEED TO TELL HER WHAT    |    broke.
                         |    HAPPENED TO THE          |
                         |    DRAGON TEAR.             |
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Marcy:                   | Glenn:                      | Karsh:
   This is, like, SO     |    Perhaps the shaman       |    If we didn't need his
   lame, y'know?. Back   |    from our Guldove can     |    boss's help, I'd think
   in OUR Guldove,       |    offer some suggestion.   |    seriously about bashin'
   people respect the    |    Besides, it would be     |    him anyway...
   Acacia Dragoons. We   |    only honourable to       |
   should go talk to the |    tell her what has        |    Okay, okay! Stop lookin' at
   shaman there--she'll  |    happened to her Dragon   |    me like that! Maybe the
   know what to do about |    Tear.                    |    shaman in the other Guldove'll
   this bonehead.        |                             |    know what to do.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Skelly:                  | Fargo:                      | Dario:
   Sounds like he thinks |    Arr! If I had the        |    That man is very nervous.
   he has a bone to pick |    Invincible here, we'd    |    He will need more than
   with us! Maybe we     |    make short work of       |    our word alone that we
   should go ask the     |    this tower, but I don't  |    mean his shaman no harm.
   shaman in the othah   |    think she'll fit through |    Perhaps we should go to
   world if she's got    |    the portal! But still,   |    the other Guldove and ask
   any idea how we could |    maybe going to the other |    the shaman there how to
   get inside.           |    Guldove isn't such a bad |    set his mind at ease.
                         |    idea--if tharr be a      |
                         |    secret handshake or the  |
                         |    like that'll make him    |
                         |    let us through, they'll  |
                         |    know what it be.         |

===========================================================
Guldove (Another)
===========================================================

[As the party disembarks from the boat, everyone stops dead.]

Dario:                     | Fargo:                       | Grobyc:
   Something seems odd     |    It's too quiet, and       |    Grobyc-hears-sounds-of-
   here. There is tension  |    the only people in        |    conflict, and-hopes-it-
   in the air...and        |    sight are all over        |    is-not-a-private-fight.
   everyone seems to be    |    there. Serge, lad,        |    Let-us-go-see-what-is-
   gathered over there,    |    this smells like a        |    happening.
   with no one working     |    brawl. Perhaps we         |
   the docks. Is it a      |    should pitch in?          |
   fight?                  |                              | 
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Karsh:                     | Norris:                      | Starky:
   Somethin' fishy's       |    The last time I was       |    Staarky thinks this
   goin' on around here.   |    in a place with an        |    plaace feeels wrong.
   Let's go over there     |    atmosphere like this,     |    What is happening
   and see what everyone's |    a riot started not        |    oover there?
   up to.                  |    ten minutes later, sir.   |
                           |    We should check to        |
                           |    see what's going          |
                           |    on...but be ready to      |
                           |    run.                      |
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Luccia:                    | Radius:                      | Sprigg:
   Psychology is not my    |    Something is wrong. I     |    It'z so quiet 'ere ya
   field, but I suspect    |    have never seen Guldove's |    could almost 'ear a pin
   some disaster must be   |    docks completely unmanned |    drop--just the sound of
   happening over dere--   |    before, even during the   |    the wavez. Somethin' odd'z
   not'ing else could      |    worst of storms. For      |    goin' on--we should
   draw de attention of    |    these people, the sea is  |    probably ask thoze people
   so many people like     |    life, even more than it   |    about it.
   dis.                    |    is in Arni. We should go  |
                           |    over there and ask what's |
                           |    going on.                 |
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Glenn:                     | Marcy:                       | Skelly:
   Something is not quite  |    I think I see some of     |    Something's funny heah...
   right, although I       |    those Porrean guys over   |    Well, not really. More
   cannot put my finger on |    there! Ew, GROSS! We      |    like something's WEIRD.
   it. Perhaps we should   |    should go try to beat     |    Maybe those guys ovah
   go ask those people     |    them up!                  |    there can tell us what's
   over there what is      |                              |    up.
   going on.               |                              |

[Further along the dock, near the trading post, the party discovers
Orlha and a bunch of Porrean soldiers. Two of the soldiers are
apparently out cold.]

Norris:                 | Karsh:                     | Zoah:
   A lieutenant and a   |    WHAAT? Porreans, here?! |    WHO IS THAT WOMAN? THE
   handful of enlisted  |    And trying to beat up a |    PORREAN SOLDIERS SEEM
   men...but why here?  |    girl?! Sounds like they |    TO BE VERY INTERESTED
   This village should  |    might need a little     |    IN HER.
   not be large enough  |    intro to my axe!        |
   for the High Command |                            |
   to have any interest |                            |
   in it.               |                            |
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Nikki:                  | Radius:                    | Serge:
   A bunch of Porreans, |    Porrean soldiers? What  |    (What are Porreans doing
   and...doesn't she    |    are they doing here?    |    here? And isn't she the
   run the bar?         |    In our world, they left |    bartender? Why would they
                        |    Guldove alone...and     |    want to beat up on her?)
                        |    who is that woman?      |

 [Porre Officer]
   Y-You dare to resist
   the Porre military!?

Orlha:
   So what if I resist?
   Why don't you stop hiding
   behind your men and try to
   stop me yourself?

 [Porre Officer]
   I-I'll make you regret that!
   A-Alright, you, GO!
   Seize th-this girl.

Serge:
   (Is it just me, or is this
   guy a real piece of work?
   I swear I've run into
   jellyfish with more spine!)

 [Porre Soldier]
   Wh-Why me, sir?

 [Porre Officer]
   Arrgh, don't talk back!
   This is a direct order!
   Get with it, on the double!!!
 
[The junior soldier walks over to Orlha and points his gun at her.]

 [Porre Soldier]
   Y-You heard us.
   C-Cease your r-resistance.
   A woman should...be more gentle
   a-and lady-like...

Serge:
   (Oh, man, if Leena were here,
   she'd belt him one!)

[Orlha puts the poor bastard out of his misery with a single punch.]

Orlha:
   There, that'll teach you
   a lesson, o great soldier-man!
   Or do you need another round?   

Serge:
   (Heheheh... I get the feeling
   this is what Leena's going to
   be like in a few more years.

   ...

   Oh, hell.)

[Orlha turns to face the officer and takes up a fighting stance. The
officer looks around frantically...then notices the presence of
the party and runs toward them.]

 [Porre Officer]
   ~!!!~

   Why, isn't this Sir Lynx?
   We cannot arrest
   this girl on our own.
   Please help us, sir!

Serge:
   Well, actually--

Orlha:
   There are more of you?
   But you're still no match for me.
   Leave this village now!

Serge:
   (Why is it that people around
   here never let me get a word
   in edgewise?)

[The officer scampers out of the way as Orlha initiates combat.
When the party wins and Orlha is lying there out cold, the
Porrean officer dares to approach.]
 
 [Porre Officer]
   Masterful work, Sir Lynx!
   I knew we could count
   on you, sir.
   Thank you for your troubles.
   Please leave the rest to us.
   We will take her into custody and
   sentence her at headquarters...

Serge:
   (Here goes nothing...)
   On the contrary, you will
   return to headquarters alone.
   I wouldn't trust you to walk
   a dog, much less escort a
   dangerous prisoner. She will
   remain in my custody until I
   decide what to do with her.
   I am also placing this village
   under my direct command.
   You will report both these
   things back to your superiors.

   (I don't think this guy has
   ever had much to do with Lynx--
   the real Lynx wouldn't put up
   with him--so hopefully it
   shouldn't matter if I don't
   quite sound right.)
   
 [Porre Officer]
   But that will be too much
   trouble for...

Serge:
   If you continue being
   insubordinate, there may not
   be enough of you left to make
   it back to headquarters for
   your court-martial! You
   have your orders. Now go and
   carry them out!

 [Porre Officer]
   Y-Yes, sir!
   We will gather the troops
   and head back to headquarters
   at once, sir!

Serge:
   (Ugh. I feel...filthy, just
   saying stuff like that.)

[Fadeout as the Porrean runs away.]

I mentioned that this was a long chapter, right? There's one more part, in which Serge breaks the other Dragon Tear. That'll go up tomorrow. After that, I need to finish up the rest of the mid-game side-stuff, which will take at least three more postings (and quite possibly four or five). After that, I'll go on to the Sea of Eden.

[alfadorredux]

And here's the final part of the chapter.


To the Sea of Eden - Through the hidden holes in time... Part III

================================================
Doc's House, Guldove (Another)
================================================

[We fade back in to see Orlha sitting on the edge of
a bed, with the party, Doc, and the nurse clustered
around her.]

Orlha:
   ...You say that you
   are really Serge?
   Even though you are
   in a different body?
   I don't know what happened...
   but you need to get back
   your true self.

Serge:
   You're telling me.

Doc:
   I cannot believe it...
   Is it possible that such a
   thing can occur...?

Serge:
   Ask the real Lynx.

[Orlha gets to her feet, then sort of sags.]

Doc:
   Hey, even you should not
   get up so soon.
   ...Are you alright?
   Even though you are a trained
   fighter, you should refrain from
   pushing yourself too hard.

Serge:
   (A trained fighter? Her? So
   what is she doing tending bar
   in a dinky little village like
   Guldove? ...I bet she doesn't
   need a bouncer, though.)

[Orlha straightens up]

Orlha:
   I'll be fine...
   But I almost bit the
   big one this time.
   Ha ha...
   Looks like I'm in need of
   more training...
   Ooo, that hurts...

[She walks over to Serge.]

Orlha:
   As proof that you are really
   Serge when you regain your
   self, I will lend you this brooch.

 [System]
   Serge received the
   SapphireBrooch.
   
Doc:
   Orlha!?
   Is that your sister's...?

[Orlha shakes her head]

Orlha:
   It's alright...for now.
   Listen, Serge.
   Promise me this.
   When you successfully regain
   your true self, come visit me.
   
[Serge nods.]

Serge:
   Okay, if that's what you want.
   (Why not?)

[Fadeout.]

===========================================================
Chief's Tent, Guldove (Another)
===========================================================

[In this world, the guard just warns the party to be "courteous"
to his boss, and lets them into her tent. When Serge uses the
Tear of Hate in front of Direa...]

Direa:
   How can this be?
   This is without doubt, a
   piece of the Dragon Tear...

Serge:
   One of the Dragoons picked
   it up after Lynx broke the
   Tear. He gave it to me while
   I was in Termina. ...I'm
   sorry. I know that the Tear
   was precious to you and the
   people of Guldove.

Direa:
   I cannot see the future as such,
   but I think that perhaps the
   Tear was given into our hands
   so that it would be at Fort
   Dragonia to be broken.

Serge:
   (Is she saying that I was
   fated to get my body stolen
   by Lynx?! Oh, great.)

Direa:
   Serge, I shall bestow upon
   you the Dragon Emblem.
   It is the symbol of a
   Dragon shaman.

 [System]
   [Member] has been bestowed the
   DragonEmblem.

Serge:
   Thanks. Er...

Direa:
   The emblem and the Dragon Tear
   have been handed down by
   Dragon shamans for generations.
   Although the worlds are
   different, you should be able
   to receive aid from the other
   shaman with this emblem.
   Make haste to the
   alternate world.

Serge:
   (It should be enough to impress
   that big lug of a doorguard,
   anyway. I just hope he doesn't
   think that we stole it.)

===========================================================
Guldove (Home)
===========================================================

[If they approach the door guard, he gives them the "Halt,
evil furriners!" speech again, and the party moves away for
a brief conference.]

Serge:
   I guess we're going to have
   to show him the Dragon Emblem
   after all.

[Once Serge uses the Dragon Emblem in front of the guard...]

 [Man]
   Th-That is a Dragon Emblem!?
   How did a foreigner like you
   get a hold of it...

Serge:
   (Sigh) I doubt you'd believe me
   even if I told you.

 [Steena]
   Welcome...
   Travellers across the dimensions...
   ~
   Bring them before me.
   
 [Man]
   Yes, if it is your wish,
   Miss Steena...
   You have permission from the chief.
   You may pass, foreign travelers.

Serge:
   (Well, if she already knew we
   were coming, why didn't she
   just...? Hey, wait a minute,
   did he say "Miss STEENA"? What
   happened to this world's Direa?)

[And the guard finally gets out of the way...]

===========================================================
Chief's Hut, Guldove (Home)
===========================================================

[Upon speaking to Steena, if Serge doesn't yet have all the
Relics...]

Steena:
   Let me make this
   clear, Serge..
   Seek the eldest beings on
   El Nido: the Dragon Gods.
   During your travels,
   you have seen the Dragon
   Gods with your own eyes.
   I can sense that...
   I shall lend the Dragonian
   artifact '"Dragon Tear"'
   to the one chosen by the 
   Dragon Gods...

Serge:
   So you won't help me until
   I visit all of the dragons?
   Where am I even supposed to
   find them? I may have seen
   a couple of them, but not
   all six.

Steena:
   Only three of them remain in
   this world: the Water and
   Earth dragons, who yet reside
   on the islands named for them,
   and the Green Dragon, who
   stalks the primeval forest
   beyond the reach of man. The
   remaining dragons you will
   have to seek in the other
   world--I know nothing of them,
   save that they no longer exist
   here.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

[If Serge does have all the Relics...]

Steena:
   As promised, I will lend you the
   Dragon Tear.

[System]
    [Member] receives
    the Dragon Tear.

Serge:
   (Any minute now, I should...)

   (...)

   (Nothing's happening.)

Steena:
   Now, take the Dragon Tear
   with you...to the '"Room of
   Rituals"' in Fort Dragonia.

Serge:
   You mean...it only
   works there?

Steena:
   That is so.

Serge:
   (I should have known it
   wouldn't be that easy.)

Steena:
   I will meet you
   at the fortress.

Serge:
   You will?

Steena:
   If you are to accomplish this,
   you will require instruction.

Serge:
   (And just telling me now 
   wouldn't be good enough?)
   Okay, whatever. I guess
   we'll see you there.

===========================================================
Entryway, Fort Dragonia (Home)
===========================================================

[Steena is waiting there for the party.]

Steena:
   Place the Dragon Tear here...
   The fort shall open
   itself up for you...

Serge:
   (This must be how Lynx
   got in the first time...)

[Serge places the Dragon Tear on the podium-thing in the
middle of the room, and the screen shakes for a moment.]

Serge:
   Now what?

Steena:
   Proceed to the Room of Rituals
   at the highest point of the
   fort. I will meet you there
   once you have cleared the way.

===========================================================
Lift Shaft, Fort Dragonia (Home)
===========================================================

[Dark Serge is waiting for the party, just casually floating
in midair.]

Serge:
   Lynx! (What's he doing here?
   I thought he was hiding in the
   Sea of Eden!)

Dark Serge:
   Heh...
   So you finally made it.
   But this is as far as
   you will get...
   It's a little too soon
   for you to get your
   original form back.

Serge:
   And who's going to stop me--YOU?
   If I have anything to say about
   it, you're not leaving this room
   alive.

[Combat. When the party wins...]

Dark Serge:
   Impressive...
   I may have underestimated you.
   Anyway, I must get on
   with my affairs.
   Besides, it's too late...!
   Good-bye, Serge...
 
[Dark Serge vanishes.]

Serge:
   (Son of a...! Why did he stop
   off here, then? Just to say
   hello?! And what did he mean,
   "too late"?)

===========================================================
Doors, Fort Dragonia (Home)
===========================================================

[Steena is waiting for the party outside the double doors.
As they open...]

Steena:
   Serge...
   You must proceed
   alone from here.
   You must see and confirm for
   yourself who you really are...
   Truth shall manifest itself,
   once you believe in your heart.

Serge:
   Just a second--what if Lynx is
   waiting for me in there? (Okay,
   so we just cleaned the bastard's
   clock, but I'm not sure I could
   do it again alone!)

Steena:
   He is not. There is nothing
   within save for the shadows
   of the past.

Serge:
   ...
   I suppose I have to trust you.

[Serge passes through the doors alone, and they close behind him.]

===========================================================
Tower, Fort Dragonia (Home)
===========================================================

[Inside, Serge places the intact Dragon Tear on the plinth in
the center of the room, and a ball of light appears in front of
the mural on the far left side of the room. It moves along the
wall as the record is interpreted.]

 [Dragonian Record]
   All life on this planet
   was born in the sea.
   
   The life-forms softly
   slumbered within the
   womb of our mother sea...

   Until eventually they
   developed free will and
   were able to swim about
   the ocean freely.

Serge:
   (Some kind of...history?)

 [Dragonian Record]
   Then there came those that,
   not satisfied with life in the
   water, looked up from the ocean
   floor towards the blue skies and
   dreamt of the feel of the land.
   
   Aeons passed before their
   preposterous dream became
   a reality, and they rose up
   from the seas onto the earth.

   The land became full of
   all kinds of creatures.
   
   Among these, the dragon lizards
   and the more evolved Reptites
   thought they would reign over
   the earth forever.

   And for a long while it
   seemed that they would...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

[If Magus has been recruited]

Serge:
   (Magus said something about
   Reptites when we ran into
   Leah...)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 [Dragonian Record]
   However, the unforeseen
   coming of the mighty one from
   the heavens suddenly smashed
   their kingdom to pieces.

   That one was known as '"Lavos!"'
   The great crimson flame......
   
   Wielding absolute power,
   Lavos buried the dinosaurs -
   the kings of the land -
   in the space of a night.

   However, the timid '"apes"'
   who had lived hidden in
   the forests...
   
   ...came into contact with
   the crimsom flame
   that fell from the sky,
   and evolved into '"humans."'

   Or perhaps it was
   not '"evolution,"'
   but '"transformation."'
   
   In this way, humans
   increased in number
   and filled the earth...

   The fearsome '"progeny of Lavos"'
   who, like their progenitor,
   began to devour our mother planet.

Serge:
   (So we're...Lavos' children? We
   were created by that thing that
   destroyed the world? The
   Dragonians...really must have
   hated us. Oh, man, I hope the
   Dragon Tear doesn't explode in
   my face!)

[The light moves toward the center of the room and
enters the Dragon Tear, and we are presented with
VIDEO: turning back into Serge.]

===========================================================
Doors, Fort Dragonia (Home)
===========================================================

[Outside, the double doors open again, and Serge steps out.]

Serge:
   Hey, guys, I'm back.

Norris: [if present]
   So that is what you
   really look like.

Sprigg: [if present]
   Good job, boyo!

Dario: [if present]
   Congradulations.

Karsh: [if present]
   Ha! Now you look like
   a kid again.

Marcy: [if present]
   So the real you is, like,
   half a foot shorter? That's
   got to suck.

Luccia: [if present]
   Dese impossible phenomena...
   I am getting a headache.

Starky: [if present]
   Staarky thinks Serge is
   much happiier now.

Fargo: [if present]
   Arr! Good show, lad!

Zoah: [if present]
   IT APPEARS YOU WERE
   SUCCESSFUL.

Nikki: [if present]
   Rockin'!

Guile: [if present]
   Another mystery...solved.

Glenn: [if present]
   Congradulations, Serge.

Radius: [if present]
   Your mother will be proud.

Skelly: [if present]
   I guess the cat's out of
   the bag--or boy--now!
   Nyak-nyak!

Grobyc: [if present]
   So-this-is-Serge. Grobyc-thinks
   -the-other-body-was-stronger.

Magus: [if present]
   Hmph.

Steena:
   Serge....
   You have regained your identity
   without being led astray.
   Your eyes, which foresaw
   the truth, shall help you
   to regain your trust among
   your comrades...

Serge:
   (Does that mean Leena will talk
   to me again? ...I'm not sure
   that's a good thing.)

   Um, Steena? I'm afraid I kind of
   broke this Dragon Tear too.

Steena:
   There is nothing we can do
   about the Dragon Tear...
   Its shattering result does
   not come as a surprise.
   However, you also carry
   the fate of the Dragon Tear
   from another world.
   The broken pieces of
   love and hate: although
   contradictory, they are two
   sides of the same coin...
   A mysterious force may
   come to light when the
   two pieces are united...
   Perhaps this force will be
   the legendary Chrono Cross...
   The only problem is, the shrine,
   which is said to give life to the
   Chrono Cross, is nothing but a
   cavern inside Divine Dragon Falls.
   Serge....
   You may hold the key to
   bringing forth its powers.

Serge:
   (The legendary...what? Chrono
   Cross? What's that? Or, as
   Poshul would say, "Ith it good
   to eat?")

   (I hate this mystical...stuff.)

 [System]
   The Dragon Tear shattered
   but transformed into the Tear of Love!

[At this point, Leena becomes recruited and can be
used as a party member again.]

Serge:
   (And now, the Sea of Eden.
   It's time that Lynx and I
   ended this.)

The next few postings will be side-stuff: recruiting Dario, the Marbule sidequest,
Orlha, the thing I'm doing with Riddel, Skelly's history (because I haven't done
that yet and it has to go somewhere), and miscellaneous bits and pieces like Starky
freaking out over the Epoch II. A lot of these are going to be long chunks, so I
may just post each item individually as I finish it.

[Acacia Sgt]

Eh? Leena gets auto-rerecruited just like that? And when everyone else could just rejoin earlier, seems a little unfair for her.

[alfadorredux]

Leena couldn't have rejoined any earlier--she doesn't believe or trust Serge-as-Lynx--but I suppose I could write a brief re-recruitment scenelet for her ("You know, Serge, this crazy demi-human showed up claiming that he was you!") if it really does look like she's being short-changed.

I do have plans for her later on, though, so it isn't like she isn't going to get more screen time.

[Sailor Phantom]

I love Marcy's comment.
_{Marcy: [if present]
   So the real you is, like,
   half a foot shorter? That's
   got to suck.}

Speaking of comments, I finally commented! I really love how Serge gets to talk, and have lots of inner monologue. It really helps in lots of places.

[alfadorredux]

There were a couple of fragments of this chapter that I really had fun writing, and Marcy's comment was one of them.

The more commenters, the merrier! We fanfic writers love having our egos stroked (although constructive criticism is good too).

[alfadorredux]

And here we have the promised first installment of the additional side-stuff: Dario's recruitment.


11. Recruiting Dario

=========================================================== 
Forbidden Island, Hut (Home)
===========================================================

[Dario is sitting at the back of the room, beside the table.
The following scene requires Luccia, Radius, or one of the
Dragoons to be in the party.]

Man:
   Yes?
   
Radius:               | Zoah:                      | Glenn:
   Impossible!        |    D-DARIO!                |    B-brother?! But h-how?!
   Dario!?            |    YOU ARE ALIVE           |    I never expected to see
   You are alive!     |    IN THIS WORLD!          |    you alive again!
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Luccia:               | Karsh:                     | Marcy:
   You...             |   DARIO!                   |   No way!
   Are you Dario?     |   Is it really you!?       |   Are you Dario!?
   So you are alive   |   What the...!?            |   You're alive...
   in dis vorld.      |   So you're actually alive |   Of course you are!
   yes, it all makes  |   in this world!           |   You're Dario!
   perfect sense.     |                            |

Serge:
   (So this is Glenn's brother
   Dario? ...I could believe that.
   Question is, if he's alive in
   this world, why doesn't anyone
   seem to know about it?)

Man:
   Are you saying you
   know who I am?

Serge:
   (!)

Radius:          | Karsh:                  | Zoah:
   What?         |    Cut the crap,        |    HUH?
   You do not    |    Dario!               |    DO YOU NOT KNOW
   recognize me? |    Of course we know!   |    WHO YOU ARE?
-------------------------------------------------------------
Luccia:          | Glenn:                  | Marcy:
   Dario...      |    Brother, could you   |    So, like, what are you sayin'!?
   Have you...   |    have...forgotten me? |    No time for games!

[The owner of the hut enters from the bottom of the screen]

 [Woman]
   Do you know this man?

[She walks over to stand beside the table.]

   It has been 4 years
   since this man washed
   ashore, clinging on
   for dear life.

   Every day was a battle
   between life and death, but
   miraculously, he made it.

   However, this man has
   no recollection of his
   past whatsoever...

Serge:
   (Amnesia...?)
   
Radius:                           | Karsh:                       | Luccia:
   Hmmm...                        |    Dario!                    |    A case of amnesia
   Well, it was a miracle         |    I'm your buddy Karsh!     |    resulting from his injuries.
   that he survived...            |    Don't you remember!?      |    Dis could be bad.
   I guess this cannot be helped. |                              |
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Marcy:                            | Glenn:                       | Zoah:
   C'mon!                         |    Brother!                  |    THIS IS TERRIBLE...
   You don't remember me?         |    Don't you remember me!?   |
                                  |    I am your brother, Glenn! |
   
Dario:
   Forgive me...
   I just cannot remember.

Serge:
   There has to be some way we
   can help. I mean, we can't
   just leave the poor guy here.
   (Well, okay, we COULD, but I
   have...how many people, again?
   ...following me around who
   knew him, and they'd all be
   pretty unhappy about it.)

Radius:                        | Marcy:                       | Glenn:
   What can we do?             |    So, like, what can we do? |    Perhaps Miss Riddel would have
   Yes!                        |    Oh yeah!                  |    some idea. She is the only
   Perhaps he will remember if |    Maybe he'll remember if   |    person who may have been
   we bring Riddel here.       |    we bring Riddel here!     |    closer to my brother than I.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Karsh:                         | Luccia:                      | Zoah:
   Damn...!                    |    Somet'ing to stimulate    |    WHAT CAN WE DO?
   What can we do?             |    his memory...             |    AHA! YES!
   Hey!                        |    yes, perhaps if ve        |    HE MAY REMEMBER IF WE
   What if we bring            |    bring Riddel here...      |    BRING MISS Riddel HERE.
   Lady Riddel here?           |                              |
   He might remember then!     |                              |

Serge:
   (If it doesn't work, Riddel will
   be hurt...but if we don't tell
   her, and she finds out later,
   she'll probably be hurt worse.
   Damn.) I guess we'll try it.
   She's on board the Invincible,
   right? Let's go.

Dario:
   My name is Dario...?

[At this point, they have to go to the Invincible and find Riddel
to get anything further to happen.]

=========================================================== 
S.S. Invincible (Another)
===========================================================

[When the party speaks to her, Riddel sways a bit and raises
her hand to her mouth, as though shocked.]

Riddel:
   Dario is...alive?

[She sways again, almost falling over, and Karsh (if he's there)
or Serge (if Karsh isn't around) takes her by the shoulders and
steadies her.]

Karsh:                 | Serge:
   You okay?           |    Whoa, there! Yes,
   Yeah, he's alive,   |    he's alive, but...
   but he kinda, uh... |

[Riddel straightens.]

Riddel:
   Something is wrong. If Dario
   were well, he would have
   returned to Termina and the
   Dragoons, instead of vanishing
   so thoroughly that not even
   Sir Radius knew his whereabouts.
   Tell me, please.

Karsh:                  | Serge:
   He lost his memory.  |    He has amnesia--
   Doesn't remember his |    I guess he must have
   own name, much less  |    hit his head, or
   me...or you.         |    something.

Riddel:
   Then...he does not remember
   that we were to be wed.
   ...
   Well, then, I will make him
   remember. It is as simple as
   that. 

Serge:
   Um, is it okay with you that
   he isn't YOUR Dario, if you
   know what I mean?

Riddel:
   The Riddel from his own world
   is no longer there, just as the
   Dario from mine is gone.
   Therefore, I must stand in her
   place. I do not think that she
   would mind.
   ...Oh! There is one other thing.
   The pendant.

Serge:
   Pendant? (I feel like
   a parrot again.)

Riddel:
   Dario gave it to me when we
   became engaged. It belonged to
   his mother, and was very dear
   to him. If my presence is not
   enough to stir his memories,
   then perhaps that will be.

Serge:
   (She isn't pulling it out...
   Oh, please tell me that she
   didn't...) Do you have it
   with you?

[Riddel shakes her head]

Riddel:
   I have not been able to wear
   it since my Dario vanished.
   I think Daddy may have locked
   it up in the treasure tower.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

[If Serge hasn't opened the chest in Viper Manor]

Serge:
   (Sigh) I suppose that means
   we're going to have to go
   and get it.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

[If the chest has been opened, but the party hasn't
gotten the pendant back from the Shaker Brothers]

Karsh:                      | Serge:
   Those idiots must have   |    (It was probably in THAT
   taken it! Serge, we need |    chest...which means we
   to go to the Isle of the |    have to take Karsh to
   Dead.                    |    the Isle of the Dead.)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

[If they've already finished the Shaker Bros., or if
they went off, completed the quest, and then spoke
to Riddel again]

Karsh:   | Serge:
   Here. |    Is this the pendant?

Riddel:
   Oh, thank you!
   I am ready now. Will
   you take me to Dario?

Serge:
   Of course.

Karsh: [if present]
   ...

=========================================================== 
Forbidden Island, Hut (Home)
===========================================================

[As the party disembarks from the boat, Riddel walks past them
and into the hut. When the party follows her inside, this is
what they see.]

Riddel:
   Dario! Oh, it truly IS you!
   Thank the dragon gods that you
   are safe!

Dario:
   You seem to know
   me quite well.
   
Riddel:
   Yes, Dario.
   You do not remember me?
   I may be the Riddel
   from another world, but
   every day, I have always...
   And yet you do not
   remember who I am?

Dario:
   Riddel...?
   That name moves my heart...
   I have a feeling I have lost
   someone very dear to me...

Serge:
   (Bingo.)

Riddel:
   Take a look at this.

[Dario leaves the table and walks over to face her]

Riddel: [holding out pendant]
   This pendant is a memento
   from your mother...
   and a gift you gave me
   when we got engaged.
   
Dario:
   This is...

[If Karsh and Radius are not in the party, they enter the
room at this point.]

Riddel:
   Try to remember!
   We have been together
   since we were little.
   And we will continue to be...
   I will always be there
   for you, Dario...

Dario:
   Riddel...
   R-Run...

[Dario backs away and falls to one knee. He claps his hands to
his head as a dark miasma begins to rise from him.]

Serge:
   (What the hell?!)
   Riddel, back away!
   Something's really wrong!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

[if Magus is in the party]

Magus:
   That aura--it's the
   Masamune again!

Serge:
   What?!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Dario:
   Aaaaaaargh!
 
 [Garai]
   Riddel...
   Riddel...
   That's right... Riddel...

Glenn: [if present]
   That sounds almost like...
   Father...

Serge:
   (That's...Garai? Uh-oh.)

Radius:
   Th-This is bad!

[The owner of the hut goes to stand beside Dario]
 
 [Woman]
   W-What...?
   What's wrong?
   
Radius:
   No!
   Don't touch him!

[The Masamune drops from above in a ball of pink light
and knocks her aside with a flare of energy.]

Serge:
   (Dario must have had it
   all along--and because of
   that, Garai had him! He didn't
   lose his memory--he THREW it
   away to keep Garai away from
   Riddel!)

 [Woman]
   AHHHHHH!
   
Karsh:
   What the...!?

[The floating sword flips itself over and offers its
hilt to Dario.]

Karsh:
   The Masamune!

Riddel:
   Dario!

[Dario stands up and reaches for the Masamune]

Riddel:
   No, Dario!
   Do not touch that sword!

Serge:
   I don't think we can stop him.
   He's possessed. (Or at least,
   I can't think of a better word.)

[Dario takes the Masamune and brandishes it at the party]

 [Garai]
   Riddel...
   Mine sword thirsts for your blood...

Glenn: [if present]
   This is...all wrong...
   Why is this happening?!

Radius:
   I knew it!
   The Masamune never actually
   disappeared from Death Gate.
   It just returned to its
   rightful owner.

Karsh:
   Wait a minute!
   Then that means Dario's still...

Radius:
   What really happened!?
   I thought Dario died
   fighting demons on the
   Isle of the Damned!?
   
Karsh:
   Actually...

[Here we have the flashback to Karsh and Dario fighting on the
Isle of the Damned, Dario falling off the headland, and Lynx
showing up and taking the Masamune while suggesting that Karsh
not tell anyone what really happened. It's another of those
scenes that I'm omitting because I can't improve on it.]

=========================================================== 
Forbidden Island (Home)
=========================================================== 

[The party is now outside, and Possessed!Dario is approaching
from the direction of the hut]

Radius:
   Now I understand...

Radius:
   Dario was possessed by the
   enmity of the Masamune, too.

Serge:
   (And Karsh covered it up because
   he didn't want Riddel to be
   hurt. He loves her so much that
   it's scary, but she can't or
   won't see it. Poor guy.)

[Dario comes to a halt in front of the party.]

Radius:
   Prepare yourselves!

Karsh:
   I guess there's no
   way outta this!

Riddel:
   I cannot face Dario
   in battle!
   
Glenn: [if present]
   Me, neither!
   I just found my brother!
   No, I cannot do this...
   
Radius:
   To abolish the darkness,
   we must defeat the Masamune!
   It is the only way
   to save Dario!

Magus: [if present]
   I am NOT going to let myself
   be cut down by that damnable
   sword again!

Serge:
   Besides, I don't think he's
   going to let us NOT fight!
   We have to get that sword
   away from him!

 [Garai]
   Face the enmity of my sword...
   
Radius:
   Do not give in to its enmity!
   Cast off the darkness!

[Combat. When it's over, Dario is kneeling on the ground with the
Masamune floating above him.]

Serge:
   (What's going on? The sword...
   I can almost feel it looking
   at me.)

Magus: [if present]
   The aura of the Masamune has
   changed... It is now as I
   remember it from our encounters
   in the sixth century.

Radius:
   Hmph!
   It appears the Masamune
   found a new master.

Karsh:
   What!?
   Lynx!!!?

Radius:
   Do not panic.
   Look around you.
   
Riddel:
   Birds...!
   The birds that fled
   are coming back!

Radius:
   I no longer sense the slightest
   bit of malice from the Masamune.
   There is no more fear of
   succumbing to its enmity.

[The screen darkens slightly]

Mune:
   Huaaah...
   You awake, Masa?
 
Masa:
   Yeah...
   But looking back...
   I think we've done
   something terrible.

Serge:
   (Voices AGAIN?)

Magus: [if present]
   The dream creatures... I
   thought they had been swallowed
   up by whatever contaminated
   the sword.

Mune:
   Heh heh...
   No one will know if
   we don't tell.
   
Doreen:
   HEY!
   What were you
   two up to!?

Masa:
   Yikes!
   It's Doreen!
   
Mune:
   N-Nothing!
   We don't remember a thing!
   
Doreen:
   Hmmm, I see...
   Well, just to make sure
   you're not up to any mischief...
   I'm coming along.

Masa:
   Alright!
   How many centuries has it been
   since the 3 of us got together!?

Doreen:
   OK then, let's go!

[The screen returns to normal, and the Masamune floats down
toward Serge and is absorbed. Serge brandishes his weapon.]

Serge:
   (Damn, that felt weird... Sort
   of like the time I got stung by
   that purple jellyfish, but
   running up and down my arm...
   Hey--what happened to my
   swallow?!)

 [System]
   Serge's Sea Swallow
   transformed
   into the Mastermune.

Serge:
   (Well, I guess it didn't hurt
   it... Actually, the heft feels
   better than before...)

[Serge puts his weapon away.]

Dario:
   Where...am I...?

Karsh:
   Some little flyspeck of an
   island--don't think we ever
   did get the name. You okay?

Dario:
   Karsh...
   Yes, I am fine--merely a
   bit bruised.

Serge:
   (Guess that armour of his can
   take a lot of punishment,
   although I wonder why he kept
   it when there's no way he would
   need it here.)

[Dario stands up]

Dario:
   Riddel...
   Is that you, Riddel?
   What happened to me?

Riddel:
   Dario...
   Thank goodness...
   Your memory has returned.

Dario:
   Memory? Oh, yes...
   I had taken a hold of
   the Masamune when...
   Forgive me, Karsh...
   for what I have put you through.

Karsh:
   Ahh, forget about it!
 
Radius:
   Although your memory has
   returned, let us not forget
   the harsh reality
   which lies in wait.
   Come.

Dario:
   Harsh...reality?

Karsh:
   Things in this world have
   ...kind of changed while you
   were away.

Radius:
   I think it's best that you
   see for yourself, rather than
   having us try to explain.

Dario:
   Very well. I will restrain my
   curiosity for the present.

 [Woman]
   So...
   You will be leaving...
   I have been prepared
   for this day...

Dario:
   Thank you for everything
   you've done for me, ma'am.
   I will never forget your
   kindness.

 [Woman]
   Farewell...
   I wish you all the best...

Riddel:
   Everyone is hurt
   and separated...
   Inexperienced and incomplete...

Riddel:
   However, by living as such,
   we may change for the better
   into something bigger...
   Something more...gentle...

=========================================================== 
Viper Manor (Home)
=========================================================== 

[We are taken here directly from the previous scene. Dario,
Riddel, Karsh, Radius, and the party all arrive together, with
Dario in the lead.]

Dario: [climbing the front steps]
   My goodness...
   What has happened
   during my absence!?

Dario:
   Where have the general
   and the others gone?

Serge:
   Well, first Lynx took the 
   General on an errand to the Dead
   Sea... And then there was a bit
   of a war with Porre... (It's
   difficult to sum it all up in a
   way that makes sense without
   taking hours to tell him the
   whole thing...)

[Dario turns to face the party]

Dario:
   Riddel, you said that you
   all came from another world.
   Then where are Karsh, you,
   and the others in this world?
   
Radius:
   Unfortunately, no one from
   Viper Manor who went to the
   Dead Sea will return.

Serge:
   (Except that Solt and Peppor
   DID make it out...)

Dario:
   ...Why did the general
   and the others go to
   such a dangerous place?
   
Radius:
   In search of the Frozen Flame...
   They were swallowed up by
   a terminated time line...
   and have perished along
   with the Dead Sea...

Serge:
   Lynx set them up. What we still
   don't know is why.

Dario:
   Sigh...
   How ironic that it is I
   who have survived...

Riddel:
   But Dario...
   You still have me.

Dario:
   Riddel...

Riddel:
   We may be from different
   worlds, but you are you,
   and I am I.
   
Karsh:
   Yo! That's right!
   I'm alive and kickin', too!
   There ain't no one
   who can take my life!
   Gah-haha-ha!
   
Karsh:
   Zoah and Marcy are
   here, too... We can also call
   the old dragon stable keeper!

Dario:
   Thank you, everyone...

Dario:
   I guess you are right.
   I am alive.
   And I will do whatever
   I must do.
   
Dario:
   I do not know how many
   years it will take, but
   I will rebuild Viper Manor.
   It is my duty.

Dario:
   But first I will avenge the
   General, if that is possible.
   That, too, is my duty. Tell
   me, where can I find this...
   Lynx?

Serge:
   That's...kind of complicated,
   actually. We're going after the
   one from the other world
   ourselves, but I'm not sure
   whether he's the one who tricked
   your general or not. (I mean,
   Lynx obviously knew that I
   existed in this world even
   though I first met him in the
   other one, but I don't know if
   that means there's only one of
   him for both worlds, or... Aagh,
   everything's getting too
   complicated again!)

Dario:
   Then, if you permit, I will
   join you for the present.

[System]
   Dario joins your party!

Radius:
   My, my, my...
   Perhaps it's about time
   I came out of retirement...
   Time for one last hurrah!
   Hoh-hoh-hoh!

Karsh:
   OH YEAH!
   Bring it on!
   Even though we may be from
   different worlds, the 4
   Devas are back in business!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

[If Glenn is present]

Glenn:
   Brother!
   I've matured into
   quite a swordsman
   in the past 4 years!

Dario:
   I'm sure you have! You always
   had potential, Glenn. Father
   would have been proud of you.

Glenn:
   Father... Dario, was that truly
   his voice I heard, when the
   Masamune possessed you?

[Dario turns to face away from the party, and bows his head.]

Dario:
   I...don't know. When I found the
   sword, I too heard his voice,
   like some dark ghost writhing
   inside my head... Father died
   searching for that sword. I...
   I think the Masamune may have
   used the memory of him to create
   a phantom to ensnare me. So even
   if it was his voice, it was not
   his mind behind it.

Radius:
   ...

[Dario turns back to face everyone again.]

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Dario:
   I will return here to work on
   the manor as time permits.
   Unless... Riddel, does it bother
   you to leave it in such a state?

[Riddel shakes her head]

Riddel:
   Of course not. The manor where
   I grew up is back in the other
   world. This manor is the one
   that you and I will build with
   our own hands.

Riddel:
   Plus, I have
   an idea...
   Ha-hah-ha!

Serge:
   (I'm not sure I like the
   sound of that...)

That's it for now, folks. The next installment will involve the little problem of what to do with an extra Riddel... <evil laugh>

[Acacia Sgt]

That's it for now, folks. The next installment will involve the little problem of what to do with an extra Riddel... <evil laugh>

How nice of you of ruining the atmosphere of the whole sub-plot... Eh... I mean... okay, looking forward to it.... :/

Pay no mind, I just don't like that change unlike the others.