[FMV] Eventually, night comes to the manor.] [FMV] [They head through the courtyard to a small barn and go inside.] Old Man: Who are you? Oh yeah... You must be the new helpers I was told about. (Serge): That's right. Old Man: Oh great. You're just in time. My back gave out recently... and I can't feed the dragons. I want you to take over for me. Kid: Do ya have a key to the manor? Old Man: Sure do. Wouldn't mind givin' it to ya if you take on this job. Kid: Do it, Serge. Will you feed 'em? (Serge):Sure Old Man: All you have to do is feed the dragons and satisfy their hunger. I'll give you a nice gift depending on how many timees you feed the dragons. How many times? (Serge): 10 times. Old Man: 10 times, eh? OK, I'll be countin' Good luck to ya! [Serge feeds the dragons.] Old Man: Good! A job well done. You'll find the key in the cupboard. Take it. And here's the gift that I promised. Come feed the dragons for me again, sometime. [With the key, the 3 of them are finally able to enter the manor through the front door.] [They find a door they cannot open at the end of the hall.] Kid: Wishful thinkin'... Guile: This door does not have a keyhole. Kid: Is this a trick door of some type? Guile: There must be a way to open it. [Serge finds a snake like statue next to the door. He turns a knob on it, causing the floor to collapse from beneath them. They fall in a cell, surrounded by 3 troops.] Soldier1: !!! Soldier2: Intruders!? Soldier1: How'd you get past our security? Soldier3:Heh heh... I can't believe you would fall for a trap like this... What should we do with these fools? Kid: Hehehe... Soldier1:What's so funny?! Kid: You dragoons are a bunch of dag-nuts! Soldier2: You're askin for it! Soldier3:Take it easy. Kid: So you're afraid of us, eh? CHICK-EN! Soldier2: This should be interesting. Let's teach them a lesson! Open it up. Soldier3: Man, don't be taken in by her fast talk. Kid: Bring it on, chums! [They open the cell.] Soldier2: Now, get out! We'll teach you a lesson! [The soldiers are defeated.] Kid: Why don't we disguise ourselves with these suits? [They put on the dragoon uniforms.] [They head into the mess hall and talk with a dragoon.] Dragoon: What!? It fell down again? How many times do I have to tell you? It's ...... to the right and ...... to the left. Got that? Glenn: Better write this down before I forget. [He leaves. They follow him to the soldier's quarters.] Glenn: I better write that down. [They head to the library, where a little girl waits. An old man stands on the balcony above them.] Girl: So, like... What are you doin' here!? Dragoons aren't allowed up here, you know? Kid: We're not really dragoons. Girl: What are you talkin' about? [They remove their dragoon costumes.] Girl: So, like... What's your point? Old Man: What is it, Marcy? Is someone there? Marcy: Some weirdos. Old Man: Hmmm... Marcy, lower the ladder, please. Marcy: Alright. [She pushes a switch on the wall, causing a ladder to fall from the balcony so the old man can come down.] Old Man:If you did not know you were not allowed in here... Then you must not be one of our dragoons. Oh my... You must be... Yes, yes... You must be Serge. My, how you have grown. Marcy: Like, can I kill 'em yet? Old Man: Patience child, patience! I need to have a word with these people... Kid: Who are ya? And how do you know Serge? Old Man: Hmmm... How do I explain...? I guess you could say I am the prophet of time. Listen carefully. The world is not just a single entity. Another world similar to ours exists in another dimension. There you will find what you might have become, a world of possibilities that might have existed, a whole history that has not been written yet... It is out there somewhere... We are simply unable to see, feel, or experience it. [The background changes, to a space like enviroment. Maps of the 2 worlds appear behind them.] Prophet: Serge... This world is not the world you grew up in. 10 years ago, something happened that put your very soul teetering on the balancing scales of fate... with a fifty-fifty chance of life or death! This is when your future was split in twain. In your home world, you survived to live a happy and prosperous life. That is how you made it to the present point in time. However, here in this "alternate" world, you are, in fact, very dead and buried. You died 10 years ago, but this world's time line has flowed on regardless. You have no place in this world... Here, you are but a ghost brought back from the past! I do not know what happened 10 years ago... Nor can I guess what triggered your entrance into this world. The locations where such divisions in the time-space continua occur are called, "ANGELUS ERRARE" - "Where Angels Lose Their Way." It is said that, there, the borders of two dimensions fluctuate in such a way as to make the passage between the parallel realities a possibility. Perhaps in this world, you are the missing piece from a giant puzzle. And maybe, just maybe... the vacuum created by your non-existence here has drawn you across the border between the dimensions to fill the void in that puzzle. Of course, no one can say for sure. [The background changes back to normal.] Prophet: However, it appears as though these 2 worlds are connected by some unknown force. Depending on the location, the 2 worlds influence each other in strange ways. I am quite certain there is a wormhole that connects the 2 parallel worlds... For your information, if you press the START button while on the world map, a menu window will appear that allows you to display which world you are in: Your Home World or Another World. Select ON to display this. Kid: If what you say is true, and this world is an alternate reaality... Then why the bloody hell did Serge die...? The reason has to be somethin' that happened 10 years ago! Prophet: You can only find out by moving on... Marcy: No way I'm gonna let you! Kid: Shut up, you little brat! Marcy: Can I!? Can I!? Prophet: I guess it cannot be helped... This may be fate in itself. Kid: We ain't here to play jacks! Prophet: I advise you not to take Marcy lightly. This child is one of the 4 Devas, the highest rank of the Acacia Dragoons. Kid: What!? This little brat? Marcy: Hee-Hee...! Too late now. Say bye-bye! [She is defeated.] Marcy: Hmph! It's not over yet! I'll get you next time! [She leaves.] Prophet: Hoh-hoh-hoh... I did not think you would be able to defeat Marcy. Very well. I shall advise you of your next step. There are 8 pillars standing in the main hall. Behind the 2nd to last pillar on the left is a button to release the platform. Dragoons are not allowed up there, so it is best that you go up as you are. Beware, however... There is a much stronger being you will encounter. [They head back in the hallway, and make there was to the pillars. A Harlequin stands in their way though.] Kid: Huh!? Who the...? Harlequin: Hmmm... You are Serge? You are even more sexzy zan I t'ought! Ooh la lah! Kid: And who the bloody hell are you!? Harlequin: And zis vulgaire one must be Kid... You disgust moi! Kid: Whadja say!? If you're gonna insult someone, you should at least speak propa English! Harlequin: Je m'appelle Harle. I am ze right-hand harlequin to Monsieur Lynx. Serge, mon puze... If you lie down wit' a dog like zis femme, you will surely catch flez, non? I t'ink you can do much better if you gave her up! Actually, I suggest you all turn back. You should not defy him. Kid: Oi!!! What's yer problem...!? Harle: Pleaze, mon Serge. I would hate to see anyt'ing sad happen to you. Kid: I've had it up ta here with you!!! Harle: Taisez-vous! You shut up! I am having a serious conversation with Serge! Why don't you mind your own buziness! Kid: THAT's IT! Put up yer dukes! I'm gonna kick yer arse so hard, you'll kiss the moon! Harle: You are ze one who iz going to have her derriere kicked!! Non? But alas... I cannot be caught fighting you here... Imageine ze trouble I would get into... Au revoir, mon Serge! See you again! And Serge, pleaze dream of moi! Oui? [She leaves.] Kid: Sheeze! What's her problem? [They push the switch and head up to the higher floor on the elevating platform after defeating a pair of soldiers. They head into a room where a large blue crystal lays on a desk.] Kid: Oi! Could this be...!? Naah... It ain't the Frozen Flame. Don't see any other booty here, either. I guess I betta ask the general direcctly then... [The bookcase behind the desk moves over and the general comes out.] Viper: What is it you want to ask me? Kid: ......! Viper: My compliments on getting past my security. Now, may I ask yoiu, who in heaven's name are you? Kid: So you're General Viper? Don't feign ignorance on me now! Why did ya send yer dragoons to get me mate Serge here!? Viper: Serge...? My dragoons...? I'm afraid, my dear, I haven't the foggiest idea what you are talking about. Mystery Man: General, I believe these vermin are here to see me. [An odd cat like man enters the room.] Mystery Man: Well, it seems you have saved me the trouble of finding you! Kid: LYNX!? Lynx: Hmm...? Young girl... Are you...? Kid: What's the matter!? Cat got yer tongue!? I've finally caught you by the tail now, Lynx! I've come for two things... The Frozen Flame and yer life, ya murderer!!! Lynx:Aha... So you must be Kid then... A member of the fearsome band of thieves known as the Radical Dreamers, correct? Viper: Radical Dreamers...? This young lady...? Lynx: Precisely! Don't let her innocence fool you, General. She is quite ferocious... Kid: Hah! Ferocious!? My arse...! After what you've done! Lynx: I hate to dissappoint you, but the Frozen Flame is not here. That fire lies hidden in the Sea of Eden, the place where past and future collide... Kid: Alright then... It looks like I'll have to put that part off 'til later. In the meantime, I'll settle my score with you, Lynx! Prepare to meet yer maker! [After a short battle, Lynx falls. He transforms into a shadow like cat. The real Lynx shows up across the room.] Kid: Bugger...! It was just a shadow! Lunx: Did you think I would be stupid enough to pick a fight with a rabid dog? Why, just a shadow of mine is enough to deal with the likes of you! Now, Serge... What do you desire from this world? Do you wish to live again? Do you want to erase your demise from the pages of history? Kid; What's wrong Serge? [FMV] Looking at the crystal, Serge's face transforms to Lynx's for a brief moment. He has a vision of a large city, on an island. Suddenly, and explosion envelops the mountain. Serge finds himself in a windy haze, with a orange crystal in front of him.] [FMV] Lynx: Listen to me... The end of the human world is nigh! When this time comes, Serge, there shall be a deep emnity between you and the world! This is not speculation or prediction... This is history! [2 more mysterious shadow cats show up.] Kid: Bugger...! This doesn't look good... Lynx: You cannot escape. There is something I want to ask you... [Suddenly, Riddel enters the room.] Riddel: Daddy! About that voyage I've been planning... Oooh! [Kid pulls a knife on her and hold it to her throat.] Kid: Don't move a whisker if you want this girl to live! Riddel: Goodness gracious! Who are you!? Viper: My darling Riddel!!! Why you dirty...! Kid: Shuddup, old-timer! Our lives are at stake here! There ain't nothin dirty about savin' yer own life...! [to Riddel] Just stay calm and quiet, and I won't hurt ya OK...? I just need ya to come with us 'til we reach a safer place. You alright, Serge!? C'mon, let's bust outta here! [They head out of the room.] Viper: Don't be foolish! Do you really think you can escape!? [Karsh and 2 dragoons come up the stairs.] Guile: We are blocked in! [Kid backs up the other set of stairs.] Karsh: You fiend...! Take your dirty hands off Lady Riddel! Kid: Oh...OK... Whaddya take me for!? An idiot!? Karsh: GRRRRRR...! Kid: Serge, this way. [They head up the stairs and outside to the balcony. The others follow. Kid backs up to the edge of the balcony.] Lynx: We have you now, you vermin. There is no way outta here. Kid: Bloody hell! Viper: Let's work out a deal. Release my daughter, and I shall let you walk away. How about it? Kid: Yeah, right! As if we can trust you!? Lynx: Are you willing to jump to your death? [Kid looks over the edge. As soon as she's distracted, Lynx pulls out a knife and throws. Serge ducks out of the way, but it strikes Kid in the arm. Lady Riddel escapes from Kid's grasp as she weakly topples over the edge into the waters below. Serge looks over the edge himself.] Lynx: What do you live for? What are you willing to die for? I've been waiting for you, Serge... Waiting a long, long time for you... [He steps closer to him.] Lynx: Now come to me Serge, The Assassin of time! THE CHRONO TRIGGER! Come to me, Serge. [Serge shakes his head and along with Guile jumps over the edge] Lynx: N-No! [They fall into the water below.]