By Mintbaby
Author’s Note: The characters of Final Fantasy VI have long been a fascinating part of my life. Of course, the characters of many of the older Square titles have given me hours of enjoyment and laughter as well as tears and irritation. One particular aspect of Final Fantasy VI that I felt to be left unspoken – reasonably so, perhaps – was the question of our young heroine. Shy and timid, yet strong and determined. Naïve and innocent, and yet she’d seen and caused so much death. She was passionate and powerful, and yet seemed to embrace and epitomize purity.
One aspect of her character that was left to itself was an unacceptable ending for me. So, in the following fic – the first piece I ever attempted – I took it upon myself to open her eyes and her heart to the possibilities. I gently opened doors and allowed her the discovery of who she was and what she wanted. I encourage reviews of each chapter. J I love hearing about favorite parts/scenes/statements. I hope you enjoy reading it. I know I enjoyed writing it.
mint
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Terra Branford stared out at the fading sun with unseeing eyes. A tear slid down her pale cheek and she lowered her head as the breeze ruffled the light green waves of her hair. She could still feel the thrill of freedom when she let her memories drift to the days when she’d been free to soar.
“Mamma!” A young girl’s wail was heard moments before she ran into the room. Her blonde ponytails were dripping wet, as was a large portion of her pale yellow jumper. “Mamma, R-Robby dumped his w-water on me,” she sobbed.
Terra smiled and scooped the weeping six-year-old into her arms. The little girl snuggled into them and cried into her shoulder. “It's all right,” Terra said in a soft voice. “It's only water. I don’t think you’ll melt.”
The quiet, soothing tone quieted the girl until she was merely sniffling as she clung to Terra's neck. While at one time saving the world from Kefka's insanity had seemed a much easier task than taking care of so many children, now Terra couldn’t imagine her life without them.
“Come on, Cera. Let's get you dried off, and then we’ll go find Robby,” she said aloud.
Cera sniffed a few more times as she peered at Terra with puzzled blue eyes. “Why?”
“Little boys love picking on little girls until... well...” Terra touched Cera on the nose with a slender finger. “I'll tell you when you're older. Right now, let's go dump water on him and see how he likes it.”
“Oh goody!” And Cera’s eyes twinkled with delight.
The little girl wriggled down from Terra's grasp, squealing with giggles as she streaked from the room. A trail of water droplets marked her path. Terra sent another longing glance over her shoulder toward the pink and lavender sky before turning with a sigh and following Cera’s trail. It had been months since the long series of battles at the Tower of Kefka where her friends had defeated the tormented soul of its namesake. Those months since magic’s existence faded had left her feeling strangely hollow.
Locke and Celes came to visit whenever they could, and she was always glad to see them, but they were so involved with each other that being in the same room with them usually made Terra feel worse. She knew Locke suspected something was wrong, but how could she tell him that seeing the two happy made her miserable? Locke would have felt guilty and taken it upon himself to try and help her, although she knew he wouldn't have had any idea how. She didn’t even know what the problem was.
Terra released a deep breath, and then a reluctant smile danced on her lips. The children were thrilled when Shadow materialized in his ever-mysterious ninja fashion. She had no idea what to say to him when he did come, but he was always so content with the silence as he watched her and the children that she’d given up trying. Shadow sometimes stayed for dinner, where he would always be persuaded to tell a brief story before bed. Terra never knew whether the stories were imagined or painfully real, either. Then he would disappear into the night without another word. She tried so hard to understand him, but it grew harder with each visit.
Terra took hold of a few thick, handmade towels and helped Cera dry off and change her clothes.
“There.” Terra turned Cera to face her. “Now. I’ll get you a glass of water while you try and remember where you saw him last. Okay?”
Cera nodded; her eyes and expression were serious concentration and thought. Terra giggled and turned away, making her way into the back room that was set up as a functional kitchen. She pulled a glass down from the cupboard as Cera slowly made her way into the kitchen behind her, chewing on the end of one of her ponytails as Terra pumped the water into the glass.
Terra turned to Cera with the full glass of water and gave the girl a mischievous smile. “Okay, then. I’ve got the water. Do you remember where you left him?”
Cera nodded, still serious, and pointed out of the kitchen.“ He ran to the house where we all sleep.”
Terra nodded and took hold of Cera’s hand. “All right. Let’s go get him.”
Cera grinned, skipping along beside Terra as they exited the house near the entrance of Mobliz and made their way to the houses situated to the west. There weren’t any signs of children anywhere, but Terra knew it was because they’d gotten quite good at the game of hide-and-seek. Shadow must be giving them pointers. And that thought brought a wider smile to Terra’s face.
“I don’t see him,” Cera whispered.
“I know. Neither do I. Let’s keep looking,” Terra whispered back.
Terra’s hand tightened around Cera’s as she led her toward the back of the main house. The house where Sabin, Celes, and Locke had found her after Kefka ruined the world. She heard a whisper and sent Cera a grin as she handed her the glass of water. Cera nodded, took the glass carefully from Terra’s outstretched hand, and then tiptoed around the house. Terra heard a shriek.
Terra laughed and came around the corner of the house. Robby was standing by the back porch with arms held carefully away from his body. His soaked hair dripped water into his eyes and his mouth was gaping open. “You won’t be drenching any others now will you?” Terra asked. Robby shook his head. “Cera, why don’t you go help Robby get dried off?”
“Okay.” Cera grinned. She turned toward Robby and took his arm. “Come on, Robby.”
Terra watched them leave as a smile danced on her lips and on her expression. Then the wind caressed her face and she turned. She took in a deep breath of the fresh air and released it slowly, sitting on a grassy patch of ground as the wind continued to tease her hair. She lay on her stomach and picked a strange white flower, staring down at it as the wind whistled in her ears and through her hair.
The world was finally recovering from Kefka's evil influence. She knew it would take time before it was the same grassy paradise she’d come to know and love in the presence of her friends. It would take time and patience. Time. She sighed. I guess that's what everything needs. Even General Leo had said she needed time. And hadn’t he been right? Hadn’t she learned to love these children who had no family of their own?
But there seemed to be some part of her soul that didn’t feel… whole. A longing had started to grow over the past few months that she didn’t understand, and she didn’t even know who to talk to about it. She got so embarrassed when she tried to bring it up when talking to Celes, and she felt even worse when Sabin asked her what was wrong.
Terra sighed deeply and lifted her eyes to the horizon. What is it? What’s pulling at me? It was as if an invisible hand held her heart and wouldn’t let go until she discovered who it belonged to. But how will I know who it is? Mobliz has been deserted for so long that I don't think anyone but my friends realize it's even here.
Terra tossed the flower aside with a quick breath of exasperation and rolled over onto her back. She found herself gazing up into a handsome face with a full smile and twinkling blue eyes. She sat up. “Edgar!”
King Edgar of Figaro bowed deep. His typical lopsided smirk heightened his blonde good looks as he made a flourish with his ever-present cape. “At your service, my lady,” he said with laughter in his voice. “Your wish is my command.”
Edgar offered her his hand and she accepted it. Terra pulled him into a hug once she was fully on her feet, and she smiled with a slight sigh when his arms went around her. She heard him chuckle and pulled back, self-consciously wiping dust and debris from her burgundy trousers and ivory blouse. She occasionally lifted a glance up to see if anyone was with him. No one was.
She met his laughing eyes. “What are you doing here? And how in the world did you get the Chancellor to let you come alone?” Terra’s lips rose in a smile. “Don't you usually have a 'bodyguard' with you?”
And that was a preposterous idea, too. He was one of the foremost minds when it came to mechanical battle weapons, and he’d always been able to hold his own in battle. She’d seen him in action enough times to know he didn’t need a bodyguard.
“I have come to see you,” he said as he gave her hand a gentle squeeze. “I had no wish to watch my entourage guard us guarding every word we say to one another.”
Terra’s cheeks flushed slightly as her eyes grew wider. “You came to see... me?”
His eyes twinkled. “You, my lady, are the light of my heart. How could I stay away from that?”
Terra saw the familiar glint in his eyes and smiled. “Edgar, why do you always have to be such a tease?” she said with a giggle.
He paused for a very long time and Terra's smile wavered. “Edgar?”
Edgar’s lips finally tilted upward. “I continue to forget you knew me when. I am sorry, Terra. Running a kingdom well depends on a certain level of… smooth talk, and I am the king.”
“In more ways than one,” Terra countered.
He bowed. “Touché.”
She passed by him and sat on the bench a few of the older boys had painstakingly built on the side of the house. She offered Edgar the space beside her. “Seriously, Edgar,” she told him. “What are you doing here?”
He sat with a flourish of his deep purple cape and leaned back. Edgar’s aura alone seemed to transform the dilapidated bench into a velvet lounge.
His brilliant blue eyes focused on the horizon. “As I said before, I’ve come to see you. Setzer and the others have made it the point of their existence to tell me how… different you’ve seemed lately. I suppose they believe I’ll be able to change you for the better.”
Terra leaned back against the chair, pulling her legs up to hug her knees to her chest as she stared at the patch of white flowers with an unseeing gaze. “I don’t know what’s the matter with me,” she said softly. “But I’m glad they care enough to be worried.”
Edgar’s eyes moved from the horizon to an examination of her profile. “Terra, we love you. Of course anything odd in your demeanor will cause us worry.”
Terra’s lips lifted in a smile. It was good to hear that. It made her feel… nice and… different. She didn’t remember much of her life with the Empire, but she certainly didn’t recall any firm and close friendships like what she had with Setzer, Celes, Locke, Sabin, and Edgar.
“This life is much different than our time traveling together, isn’t it?” he asked in a quiet tone.
She slightly nodded and adjusted her arms around her legs as her smile disappeared. “Yes, but I don’t think that’s the problem. I mean… I’ve been living here with the children for almost three years. Why would that start being a problem now?” She shook her head.
“This does begin a mystery, doesn’t it?” Edgar moved his eyes from her profile and crossed his arms. “Have you thought much of the possible reasons?”
Terra sighed with a bit of a shrug. “It… it just feels as if… as if something’s calling me. It won’t let me go. It’s always there and I can’t ever really hear what it’s saying.”
“How exasperating.”
Terra giggled and sent him a sidelong glance. “Yes, it is, and I’ve been trying to figure out a way to talk to someone about it, but it’s so…” She looked away again.
“Embarrassing?”
Terra’s smile widened a bit and she gave a slight nod. “Yes.”
Edgar reached out and stroked her back once, twice, three times in comfort and encouragement before retracting his hand and tightly tucking it under his other arm again. “I apologize, then, that this visit has been so long in coming.”
Terra released her hold on her legs and rocked forward a little to grip the seat of the bench instead. “It’s alright, Edgar.”
“No, it isn’t. Terra, you’re a close friend,” he said softly. “You deserved the time, especially if you had need of it. Which you apparently do.”
She faced him and placed a hand on his arm. “Edgar, you’re here now. Don’t feel so bad.”
Edgar freed his right hand from his crossed arms and covered her hand with it, lightly stroking the top with his thumb. “I appreciate your unstated forgiveness.” He sent her a quick glance before refocusing his gaze on the horizon. “I’ve been a cad,” he admitted. “I should have listened to Sabin as he made it a point of reminding me of that fact each time he saw my smug face.”
“You don't have a smug face,” she protested with a laugh as she continued to watch his profile.
“This is what I have always thought,” he said with mock seriousness as he released her hand. “In any regard, Sabin was sure that I had done you a great wrong. Now that I see I have, I am determined to set it right.”
“But… how?”
Terra watched him with a smile as he laid out the reason for his visit, loosing hold of her thoughts and letting them roam to memories of shared laughter and stories and adventures in the company of her friends. Those memories made the hold on her heart drift and fade to practically nothing. Setzer had been right about the visits of her friends being what she’d needed to chase away the oppressive pull. It was nice to feel the calm and peace again.
Terra leaned back against the bench as his friendly voice drifted in and out of her thoughts. It was soothing and… and she didn’t really know. It just made her forget things like the nightmares and the press of each day, of her responsibilities, of her duties, and of life in general. His presence, in combination with Sabin and Setzer and the others, made her breathe on a different level. With the comfort of her friends she felt more… complete.
“...So, as you can see, I have a problem.”
Terra flushed and changed her eyes to his. “I'm sorry. What can I do to help?”
Edgar looked over at her reddened cheeks and chuckled. “You weren't paying attention, dear lady. Here I was lying my heart at your feet and you didn't hear a word I said.” He shook his head and brought a hand up to cover his heart. “My heart is broken.”
A flash of something flushed her cheeks to an even darker shade as she stood from the bench and moved a step away to stare at the sunset. “I said I was sorry,” she told him in a short tone.
Terra wrapped her arms around herself and chewed her lower lip to keep back the tears that burned at her eyes. She knew he’d only been joking. Edgar came to stand beside her, and the breeze ruffled his cape so that it gently caressed her leg. Terra took in a deep breath as she sent him a sidelong glance. His face was unreadable as he stared out at the distant mountains, and that made Terra's stomach knot up. She’d never seen him that way before.
“Edgar.” She faced him. “Edgar, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to snarl at you like that. I… I knew you were just joking.”
“Perhaps it has been a long day for the both of us.” His voice sounded strange.
Terra moved a little closer to her friend’s comforting presence standing so firm and still beside her. “Yes. I guess you’re right. I…” She found herself watching his odd expression. “I didn’t mean to say it like that, Edgar. Really I didn’t.”
“I know, Terra.”
Terra changed her gaze back to the horizon and bit on a fingernail as she crossed her left arm around herself. “Edgar, why don’t you ever visit? Thank you for sending the flowers and the invitations to balls and whatever, but… I know things have been busy at Figaro …” She lowered her hand to her left elbow and sighed. “Everyone else has visited at least once. I… I guess I just expected you to visit, too.”
Edgar remained silent for longer than she thought he would. When she looked over at him, his eyes wore an odd expression as he watched her face. “If I had known your distress was not the imagination of a mother hen, I would have come much sooner. Things have not been so busy at Figaro that I couldn’t have made the time to visit you,” he said in a quiet voice.
“But you didn’t,” she pressed with a catch in her voice. She gnawed her lower lip at a surprising tightness in her throat and looked away. “Maybe that’s what’s been bothering me?” Terra shrugged and moved her eyes to the toes of her shoes as she dug at the ground with her right toe. “Shadow visits more than you have. I guess that hurt my feelings. I mean… I mean I thought we were friends.” And she couldn’t believe she was whining about it.
Edgar reached out and brushed a lock of hair from her neck before resting his hand on her shoulder. “I meant to visit,” he said softly.
She moved her eyes to his face and held his gaze. “Then why didn’t you? You’re king of Figaro. You could have come whenever you wanted. Couldn’t you?”
He took in a deep breath and released it slowly. “I know. I am truly sorry that my not doing so has hurt you. I did not intend for that to happen.”
“I’m not hurt, Edgar,” she assured him softly. “I just… I just don’t understand.”
Edgar gave her shoulder a gentle squeeze and sent her a regretful smile. “It’s getting late.”
The statement made a flutter of regret and desperation battle for the upper hand. It had been nearly a week since Setzer’s visit. She was lonely for her friends. “Did you want to stay for dinner? I'm sure everyone would love to have you.”
Edgar’s expression darkened slightly, but then his lips raised in a smile and the look slowly faded as he lowered his hand from her shoulder. “Much as I wish I could, Terra, I cannot stay. I promised the Chancellor that I would be back to our camp before sunset and, as you can see, I have passed my allotted curfew. We're leaving for Figaro Castle quite early in the morning. If I don’t get some rest, I shall be an absolute bear.”
“Will you come by before you leave?” His expression softened somewhat and she glanced down, clenching her hands in front of her. “I-I'd love it if you would,” she added. She would have given anything for him to stay and talk about old times. To stay and make her laugh like she had when they’d all been together.
“As much as your invitation tempts me,” he said as he took hold of her hand, “I must decline.” One side of his lips tilted in a smile when her eyes met his. He bowed and touched his lips to her hand. Then he straightened and tossed his cape over his shoulders with a flourish. “Again, I do apologize, but I must away. Take care, dear lady.”
And with that, he turned to disappear around the side of the house.
Terra released a deep breath of disappointment that made her lips droop. She took a few steps forward, just to the corner of the house, and pressed her hands against it as she leaned around and watched him stride away. She leaned her forehead against the house with another breath as her lower lip slightly protruded.
King Edgar of Figaro clenched his hands behind his back as he stood on the top most battlement of Figaro castle. The slight breeze teased his tightly combed blonde hair. I should have said ‘farewell’ before leaving for home, he told himself sternly. But her initial reaction to his visit had surprised him, making him feel guilty and uncomfortable because he knew she wouldn’t have reacted quite so passionately if he’d visited more often. In fact, his lack of visits had caused a heated discussion with Sabin.
“Why don't you ever visit her, brother?” Sabin would hurl the question at him as if it was one of his infamous Blitz attacks, and then he’d expect an honest and just as rapid reply. How could Edgar admit that he didn't know how to talk to her anymore? Sabin would’ve found it uproariously amusing and worth repeating. He who had claimed to be the original ‘ladies man’ had admitted to being uncomfortable in the presence of a lady.
Edgar frowned as he turned from the tower wall and made his way downstairs. His frown deepened to a glare when his conscience nipped at him at the memory of the way the two had parted. I should have stayed for dinner. No. I should have invited her to the campsite. Campsite? Bah! I should have... His frown deepened. I should have what?
Edgar grimaced. He should have stayed and comforted her. He should have coaxed more details from her about what pulled at her so, besides his infrequent visits. And if the reason for her misery is indeed her loss of magic? How does one talk of something such as that? It was still no excuse, he knew. During their adventures, when she’d seemed frightened of the future, he’d been able to deftly divert her mind from the terror and cause her to laugh. So why was I unable to give her the comfort she needed? As I have in the past?
Of course, he’d been arrogant and full of pride then. Sure of his own importance and blinded by his wealth, good looks, and charm. Terra's innocent oblivion now and before to all of these had reminded him of his own simplicity and the fact that he was, above all, a human being.
The Chancellor rushed up on him then, waving contracts and building plans. Edgar brushed him aside and strode past to lock himself in his bedchamber. To blame the Chancellor for Terra and his premature parting the previous week would’ve been too convenient, especially when Edgar knew that only he was to blame.
Locke and Celes had mentioned so many times how Terra seemed more withdrawn. Instead of following his common sense and visiting her to offer his help, he’d pushed his concern aside with the easy excuse that he couldn't leave his kingdom for such a long journey. Edgar had allowed his kingdom to come between him and a friend. He’d never done that before. Not even with Locke. Why did I not visit? Was I truly convinced that she would laugh in my face and scoff at my well-intentioned concern? Did I believe she would despise me for not visiting her, as I had once promised I would?
Again and again the others had voiced their concern for her, telling him that she seemed to get worse with each of their visits instead of better. Even Setzer had commented on it, pressing him to visit. Edgar shook his head now and threw himself into a chair to prop his feet up on the table. Either way, Terra Branford had been anything but fine, and it hadn't been because of the loss of her powers.
“Lost powers,” Edgar muttered. “She's a woman and she needs a man. To protect her. To comfort her. To…”
Edgar glowered at his finely crafted leather boots and heard his brother's voice ring through his memory yet again. “You're crazy about her, brother. Why don't you admit it to yourself? She doesn't believe a single smooth-talking phrase from your over-active mouth and you still call her a friend. Normally you'd have lost interest a long time ago, but you and I know there’s something about her you can't forget. You respect her silent strength and determination so much that it's obvious to 'naïve’ little Relm, so how can you think it's nothing?”
And when had Edgar ever said he thought it was nothing?
The door opened, but Edgar didn't bother turning. “Locke, I wish you wouldn't do such things.”
“If you don't want me to pick ‘em, don't lock ‘em. You know it’s a challenge no self-respecting treasure hunter can pass up.”
Edgar scoffed. “I needed some privacy. You have heard of that, I assume?”
“Of course, but now's not the time for that.” Locke leaned against the table across from Edgar’s armchair and crossed his arms as his steel-gray eyes pierced Edgar clean through. “So, what happened?”
“What are you talking about?” Edgar mumbled.
“I know that you went to visit Terra.” Locke sounded annoyed. “What happened? Is she coming to the pre-wedding party or not?”
“She is not.”
Locke pulled a dagger from somewhere on his person and ran his finger along the blade with a deep breath. “Edgar, what's the matter with you? Did you come out and tell her why you wanted her to come? Or did you not even get to the point?”
Edgar made a gruff sound and stood, stalking to the fireplace to stare into the flames. Locke watched him a moment before lowering his gaze to continue playing with the dagger.
“What did you say that made her mad?” Locke asked suddenly.
“Never mind.”
“Some of that smooth talk, I bet.”
“I said never mind.”
“Okay, okay.” Silence fell over the two men. Locke sheathed the dagger. “I don't get it,” he admitted. “You guys were as close as anything during that whole fiasco with Kefka. Why do you think I warned Terra about you before I went off to South Figaro that time? I was sure she’d fall head over heels for your charm because she was so... inexperienced, I guess. I didn't want the kid getting hurt.”
“Apparently I hurt her without trying, Cole.” Edgar sent a glance over his shoulder. “Just drop it.”
Locke came to stand by Edgar and leaned against the mantle. “What are you talking about? Who told you that you hurt her?”
“Terra.”
Locke blinked. “What? She told you that?”
“Not in so many words---”
“Excuse me, Your Highness,” the Chancellor interrupted outside the door. “There's a young woman here to meet with you. She seems a trifle frantic.”
Locke and Edgar exchanged a glance, and then he straightened with a deep breath. “Very well. I shall be there momentarily.” The Chancellor's footsteps were heard leaving the area and Edgar turned. “Forget it, Cole. I appreciate what you’re trying to do, but it would never work. Terra and I are from two different worlds. Literally. I was born to be a bachelor and she was born... Well, she was born Terra. Pair her with Setzer or Sabin. They seem taken with her.”
“Yeah? You’re the only one that really loves her.”
Edgar clenched his jaw and straightened his royal cape. “Locke.”
“Okay. I'll drop it, but only for a bit. Celes wants a double wedding and I'm determined to give her what she wants.”
“Fine, then marry Shadow off. He's in need of a good woman to change his fashion taste.”
Locke chuckled and followed Edgar out of his bedchamber. “Yeah. Like I'd be able to even bribe someone to marry that walking freak show.”
“Stranger things have happened.”
“Then maybe you'll marry Terra?”
Edgar sent Locke a dark look, but he ignored it as he stared down the hall with a smirk on his face. “Locke Cole,” Edgar growled, “you smug old scratch. You always believe you know everything.”
Locke chuckled. “Who says I don't?”
“Celes,” Edgar snapped.
Locke threw back his head and laughed.
Terra gripped her hands together, clenching them again and again until her fingers were sore from the effort. What’s taking him so long? There was a sound behind her and the Chancellor entered the throne room. Terra hurried up to him to wait for his answer.
“His highness shall be here presently.”
Terra nodded with a sigh of relief. She shook her hands out in front of her, wringing them again as she desperately waited for Edgar. She fought the tears and paced back and forth in front of the empty throne where she’d first seen him. The pleasant memories weren't enough to calm her. How could this happen?
“Terra?”
She looked up sharply. Her throat tightened with relief as Edgar and Locke filed into the throne room. “They're gone,” she cried in a choked voice. Terra squeezed her hands together tighter and cleared her throat. The tears were still there when she tried to speak again. “They're all gone. All my ch-children are gone...”
Her voice cracked and she covered her face with her hands, emotionally unprepared for the strong arms that engulfed her. That firm but gentle grip made the tears come more easily as she hid her face in the soft, scented fabric of Edgar's royal clothes.
“What happened?” he asked in a soothing voice.
“I don't know,” she forced out. “I was out gathering food from our little garden and heard a shriek. I think it was Cera. When I got there...” Terra took in a deep breath and gnawed her lower lip. “When I got there... Edgar, they were gone,” and her voice faded into sobs.
“Could Setzer have abducted them in his airship?” Locke asked gently. “You know how they love that.”
“I-I already asked him before I came here,” she choked out. “Setzer thinks they've been kidnapped by a slaver.”
Locke cringed and glanced over at Edgar. “We better take off as soon as possible. I'll send a message to Celes in Kohlingen and have her get the others together to start looking around Mobliz, but I'm going with you.”
“Very well, Locke.” Locke strode from the room as Edgar continued to comfort Terra. He tenderly stroked her hair and her sobs began to quiet. “All will be well, Terra. I promise. We shall get our gear together, I'm sure I still have it in storage, and set off in search of them. I'm sure they're fine.” She pulled back and gazed up into his kind blue eyes. Edgar smiled down at her and absently brushed a strand of hair from her face. “There now. Tears were never meant to be in those eyes.”
“I-I'm sorry.”
“It’s nothing to apologize for. Now, I'll show you to a room where you may get ready for the journey. Then I'll hunt down Locke and Setzer and receive more details.” He wrapped her arm around his and led her from the throne room. “Leave the details to me. You make yourself ready.”
She nodded slowly. Her mind and heart oddly calm as she stared at the flagstones that moved beneath her feet.
“Here you are. I shan't be a moment.”
With that, he kissed her hand and departed with a twirl of his cape. Terra turned away as the new and raw emotion of terror for her children hit her with numbing precision. She groaned, biting into her lip as she tried to concentrate on getting the right armor and weapon from the storage room. If only I hadn't left them... She’d done it so many times in the years that she’d raised them. What would have made this one time so different in her mind? In anyone's? Mobliz was a deserted town that no one thought of as home; no one save her and the children that lived there.
Terra’s hand wrapped around a familiar feel, and she raised a sword from its resting place. She felt the memory of the age-old power rush through her arms as she recalled the many times she’d wielded it in defense and attack against enemies a normal woman would have turned from in horror. Its magic may have been gone, but the edge was still sharp.
Rage filled Terra's heart and she sheathed the Ragnarok with a harsh motion.
Edgar and Locke met her just outside the storage room.
“Terra,” Locke said carefully, “Setzer thinks he knows who's responsible.”
Terra pressed her lips together. She began slipping into her armor and strapping her scabbard and sword around her slim waist. “How can he be sure?”
“Because he was in a card game with him recently.”
Terra looked up sharply and paused the slipping on of her gloves. “A card game?”
“A card game. In Zozo. It figures, really,” Locke said. “Personally, that place gave me nightmares. I don't know what Setzer was doing there.”
“Making money, I dare say,” Edgar said with a grim look.
Terra strode through the castle and out into the dim morning sunlight. “Come on. Let's get going. Chances are he won't have taken them to a place like Zozo because of the danger to his own life.”
“Meaning: he wouldn't want to get killed by someone wanting to squeeze their way into his sudden claim to fortune,” Locke said in a quiet voice.
Terra cringed and nodded. “Exactly.”
“What do you suggest?” Edgar asked with a strange look in his eyes. He adjusted his grip on a spear as they made their way out into the tangy air of Figaro desert.
Terra struggled to keep the feelings of helplessness out of her voice. “I don't know. Not yet. Let's go to Jidoor and see if anyone there has any information.”
“And if they do not?” Edgar's question, again, was soft.
Terra gripped the handle of her sword. At the entrance of the airship she turned and locked gazes with Edgar. “Then we keep searching.”
Locke stepped between them and gave Terra a nod. “You've got it, Terra.”
Terra's eyes strayed to Edgar's again, and then she boarded the airship.
È
Setzer pulled out a chair as he sent Edgar and Locke a shielded glance.
“I haven't seen her like this since Phunbaba attacked her and the kids. Man, was she pissed that day,” Locke was saying.
“As I recall, she beat him soundly,” Edgar reminded in a quiet tone. “What do you suppose she'll do to-- What was his name?”
“Ledo. Ledo Grikea,” Setzer offered.
Locke flung a dagger to the opposite side of the ship with a scowl. “I don't really care what she does to this guy. She can flay him alive for all I care.”
Edgar raised his eyes. “Locke, there are laws to follow. If we don't abide by them, then we are no better than the criminals for which we search.”
Locke wielded another dagger and sent Edgar a hard look. “That's a crock, Edgar. Stealing kids? That's about as low as anyone can get, in my opinion.”
“I agree,” Setzer admitted as he calmly shuffled a deck of cards.
“This slaver needs to be taught a lesson, and I think Terra is just the person to do it.” Locke emphasized the comment with another dagger hurled across the room.
“You gentlemen do not seem to understand!” Edgar stood. His blue eyes were angry and annoyed. “If Terra does this she'll likely go mad, just as she did before. Remember the episode with the Esper in Narshe? She screamed off and destroyed many things because of her inability to control her power. It won't be exactly the same, I grant you, but close enough in any regard. She will be forever changed if she surrenders to the rage. She will become unable to control her anger.” Edgar gestured toward Locke. “Don't you remember how it was when your friend was captured by the Empire?”
Locke clenched his fists. “That was different.”
“Was it? Terra may go too far, and it's up to us to make sure that doesn't happen,” Edgar insisted.
Locke and Setzer lowered their gazes to the table. Edgar turned and slammed from the room. Locke and Setzer stared after him.
“You don't think he may be right?” Setzer nonchalantly dealt a game of cards without glancing up. “After all, he's known her longer than I have.”
“Yeah? Well I've known her longer than he has,” Locke countered. “Deal, Setzer.”
The gambler smirked and dealt the cards.
È
Edgar strode to the top deck and gripped the railing. Why won't they listen? Don't they see that who she is will be forever changed if she does this? Don't they realize that she will no longer be the quiet and compassionate woman of strength that we've come to love? Edgar was surprised that Locke was so oblivious to the problem. He’d always seemed to be over-protective of her. Like he saw her as a sister he’d never had. Why, then, is he being so blasted pig-headed!
Edgar let out a quick breath and turned from the railing to stride toward the bow of the airship. His eyes automatically searched for Terra's full head of light green hair. She stood behind the wheel with a grim look of determination as she steered their course. There was something in her eyes, though, that spoke clearly of the inner terror that one of her children was hurt.
He came to stand beside her and gently placed a hand on her shoulder. “Are you all right?” Her grip tightened on the wheel and she silently nodded. “Did you need a rest?”
“I'm okay, Edgar. I've been through tougher times than this.” Her voice sounded strained.
“But never alone, Terra. We were there.”
She was quiet for a while before letting her guard drop. “And here you are again. It's been a long time.”
“Too long.”
Terra glanced his way. “Do you ever miss it?”
“The battles? Hardly,” he said with a smile. He clenched his hands behind his back. “Kefka? Definitely not. But the constant companionship? The laughter? The good times? Yes, I miss that beyond a shadow of a doubt.”
“Being a king is hard work, I guess.”
“At times. Actually, most of the time, but,” Edgar smiled fondly, “the people of Figaro are in my blood, Terra. On some days they're my only reason for existing. They help me through the darkest times.”
Terra made a slight alteration to the course. “Your father would be proud of you, Edgar. Of both of you. You’re helping put the world right again.”
Edgar fell silent with only a slight sound of clearing his throat. He caught Terra’s glance toward him and released a slight, uncomfortable smile. “I appreciate the comment, Terra, truly I do, but I’m of the mind father would be less than thrilled with my handling of Figaro’s relationship with the Empire.”
Terra’s second glance was bright with surprise. “What? Edgar, you did your best in a bad situation. You couldn’t have gone against the Empire in everything. They would’ve known you were a threat and kept a closer watch on what you did. That would’ve put the Returners in danger.”
Edgar lowered his eyes as he clenched his hands behind his back. He rocked back on his heels and then flat-footed again with a slight pursing of his lips. “Yes. That’s true.”
“But you did charm the Empire. And you did sign a treaty. And you did make it possible for the Returners to do their job a lot easier than if you hadn’t been able to freely help them.” Terra sent him another glance. This time, she released one hand from the wheel and placed it tenderly on his arm. Her eyes met and held his. “You saw what needed to be done, Edgar,” she told him softly. “You saw it and you did it. Never doubt that your father wouldn’t have done the same.”
Her voice and eyes seemed to work a miracle; repairing a void in his heart and soul that had been steadily distancing him from the memories of his father. Memories he had once feared would prove he hadn’t lived up to his father’s expectations. Edgar pulled his eyes from hers and covered her hand with his. “Thank you, Terra. You will never know what those words mean to me.”
Her tender hold slightly increased, and the warmth that spread from her long fingers and through his arm made his soul tingle and his eyes see white.
“I think I do,” she said in that still silk-soft tone. “You and your brother seemed to be defined and strengthened by family, duty, and honor. If you thought your father wouldn’t have seen what you did as honorable or right or whatever, it would’ve toppled the foundation of who you are.”
Edgar swallowed hard as he watched her profile. Her insight into his family… Has anyone seen through me so well? “You are truly a good friend, Terra,” he forced in a calm voice, “to understand me so easily.”
Terra giggled and the sound burst with innocence and joy. “It’s been anything but easy, Edgar,” she confessed in a bright tone. She pulled her hand from his with another glance toward his face before placing it on the wheel. “Three years with children and nearly five years relearning how to be human has been hard. Fun in its own way, but definitely a challenge.”
“And a challenge that has dealt with you most kindly.”
Terra sent him a slight smile that seemed to shine and twinkle in her violet eyes.
Edgar watched her profile as she guided the ship. Her high, delicate cheekbones. Her pure skin with a color of innocence and life in the cheeks. Her femininity and delicate spirit balanced with determination and strength. And a touch of naivety in the wisps of hair that curled and tickled her neck and ears. An intoxicating combination that made his chest tighten as he gazed upon it. Could someone such as she exist? he asked in disbelieving confusion. She must be of my imagination. This woman who understands my fears and comforts them away. This child of war who understands delicacy and kindness so completely. This Esper angel who protects those she loves with such dogged determination and fire.
Edgar moved his eyes to the horizon with a slow and deliberate inhalation of breath.
“I know why you're really here, Edgar,” Terra said quietly.
Edgar changed his eyes back to the silhouette perfectly captured against the brilliant sky. “Do you?”
“You want a turn.”
He chuckled and shook his head. “No, no. I came to be a friend, Terra. I haven't been a very able one of late, and I'm attempting to change that.” She turned her head to look at him, and a strange emotion flickered in her eyes. An emotion Edgar didn't remember seeing before.
“Thank you,” she said softly.
He placed a hand on her shoulder. “You're quite welcome.”
Terra leaned against his hold for a moment before turning her head back to the view ahead of them. Edgar forced himself to release her shoulder and breathed in slow to relieve the burning tingle. She seemed so lost and alone. So afraid to face what she was feeling. How do I help her open up as she once did?
“What if I don't find them, Edgar?”
The strain in her voice was clear as he watched her delicate profile. “We will, Terra. We will. There is no 'I' when you're among friends; only 'us' and 'we' and 'together'.”
Terra sighed with a slow nod. “I know, but... They're just so young. The oldest is only ten. What will this do to them?”
“Everything in life makes us stronger. You know that. Look at your own life. You were fearful and unsure of everyone around you at one time. You were even troubled by your own identity. Now look at you.”
Edgar rubbed her back. His fingers burned at the warmth of her skin and, again, she seemed to lean against his touch.
“I don't feel I've changed,” she was saying. “What if I do something that gets them hurt? Or... or killed?”
“Terra, during the pursuits, intrigues, and conspiracies of Kefka you were the consummate soldier. The reliable ally. The trustworthy leader. Don't doubt yourself now. Not when you need those skills most. You will be fine, as you always were.”
“But, Edgar...” She turned her head toward him. “Edgar, I'm not the same soldier I was before. I can't use magic. I'm not as strong as I was then. What if that's enough to change everything?” Tears glistened in Terra's unique eyes.
Edgar's throat tightened around all the assurances he wanted to give her, and he choked on all the empty promises. Why can't I lie to her as I did before? Why can't I offer her the easy answers I know so well? All he could do was smile down at her in his most charismatic manner and lightly touch her nose with a finger. “Your beauty and charm are magic enough, my lady. The ruffians will have no chance of resistance.”
Terra smiled, albeit a little reluctantly, and hesitantly placed a hand on Edgar's cheek. “I’ve missed you, Edgar,” she whispered as she lightly stroked his cheek with her thumb. “I’ve missed you so much.”
Edgar couldn't resist. He took her hand from his cheek and pressed the wrist against his lips for a long moment as his eyes continued to hold hers. Her eyes registered something, but Edgar wasn't sure what it was. The emotion seemed to be as unique as Terra herself. Don't hope for too much, he told himself. You are her friend, and that is all she believes to be true. Do not begin to hope that she feels more, for she doesn't understand any love other than the love she feels for her children. Be her friend, he told himself firmly. But the hope was so easy when she looked at him.
“And I you,” he said softly.
Terra gripped his hand. “Don't stay away so long next time,” she pleaded in a choked voice. “Please?”
Edgar lowered her hand from his lips and continued to hold it. He caressed her jawline with a finger and brushed some hair behind her ear. “This I swear, my lady. This I swear.”
Edgar could tell Terra was hard-pressed to keep herself under control when the four arrived at Jidoor. A kind of quiet hysteria seemed to radiate from her. It even had Setzer champing at the bit. Edgar tried his best to be stable and controlled for her, even going so far as to stay as close to her side as possible without causing comment from Setzer and Locke. But Setzer and Locke were too busy arguing about where the best place was to start searching to notice anything.
“Gentlemen, calm yourselves,” Edgar told them in his most authoritative voice. The two men sent him dark glares. “This constant contention is not helping anyone, and it will only serve to make it more difficult for us to work together when the time comes to face this–” Edgar glanced at Terra and repressed the curse. “This 'gentleman', and believe me when I say I use the term loosely.”
“They're not here.” Terra's sudden statement was so certain that all three of them stared at her in quiet amazement. “He hasn't been here,” she said again with narrowed eyes. “Something just doesn't feel right about the place. It's too... I don't know. It's too relaxed. Too normal.”
“That doesn't necessarily mean he's–”
Terra sent Locke a glare. “He's not here, Locke. He's not going to come here, either. Slavers aren't welcome in Jidoor. They never have been. Not even the upper class use slaves. Why would he come here when he knows he couldn't make a sale?”
Locke looked around a moment. “Fine. It makes sense. I'm still going to go ask some questions.”
“Fine.”
Locke took off with a grumble, and Edgar hesitantly decided to follow. “I'll assist Locke. Terra, remain with Setzer until we return.” She turned away without a word. Edgar raised an eyebrow before sending Setzer a 'don't leave her for a moment' look. Locke was waiting by the entrance to the auctioneer's house when Edgar caught up with him.
“I've never seen her like this before, Edgar,” Locke said in an angry voice.
“I know. Neither have I.”
“Maybe you were right.”
That statement meant a lot coming from Locke Cole. The treasure hunter never conceded to being wrong. Not in all the years Edgar had known him. “Locke, you must attempt to understand her position. Terra blames herself for their abduction because she wasn't constantly there. Until she is able to leave the guilt behind her, she will be a bear to work with.”
“I kind of guessed that.” Locke sighed and ran a hand through his pale hair. “So how are we going to do this? With her snapping our heads off we won't be able to work together without killing each other. Or her, at least.” Edgar glanced away. Locke raised an eyebrow. “You've got an idea, don't you?”
“Yes.”
“And?”
“I don't believe I could do that to her. Not now. She's so lost. So confused. I can't but… but I feel I must.”
“What? Do what?”
“Seduce her.”
Locke stared at his longtime friend with a slack-jawed gaze. His eyes flashed with menace. “Edgar--”
“Let me explain,” Edgar said, recognizing all too clearly the dangerous spark in his friend’s eye.
“Oh, you better explain, or you're liable to find a dagger in your gut. Hell, you might find one there even after you explain. It better be good.”
Edgar let out a deep breath and dug at the ground with the haft of his spear. “I don’t mean seduce in the literal sense of the word, Locke. A distraction. That’s what it would be.“ Right?
“Go on,” Locke prodded.
“When I was on deck with Terra on our way here, I noticed the change in her. She was calmer. More controlled. She talked about how and why she felt the way she did. She seemed to be more... more like the Terra we knew before.”
“So where does the 'seduce' part come in,” Locke prompted suspiciously.
“It's the only way I know to keep her mind from the rage and lust for revenge.” Edgar raised his eyes. “I've wooed and pursued ladies my entire life, Locke. I know just what to say to keep her off balance. I’ll do nothing more.”
“Edgar, buddy, I hate to break this to you, but you've never been a very good 'wooer'. Ladies never believed a single word of your sweet-talking choco-crap. What makes you think Terra will? You know she never did in the past.”
Edgar leaned against the spear and finally caught Locke's eyes. “I believe Terra feels something for me that she didn't before.”
“You're going to use that?” Locke made a disgusted sound. “That's low, Edgar, even for you.”
Edgar glared. “Why? I shall do whatever it takes if it prevents her from going insane when we find this bastard.”
“Sure, but are you going to follow through when this fiasco is over? You said so yourself, Edgar, that you were born to be a bachelor. You've certainly lived up to the standard. One problem: with Terra it's always been different. You've never walked over that line she drew when she first met you. You've never done anything to jeopardize how she looked up to you. Are you going to do that now? Are you really going to be able to walk away when her kids are found? Are you going to say to her face that it was all a plan to keep her under control?”
Locke crossed his arms and his steel-gray eyes sparked. “That's a bald-faced lie and you know it. You want to know what I think? I think you want her so bad that you're willing to risk a future with her just to score a couple easy nights.”
Edgar clenched his jaw and straightened. “I thought you knew me better than that, Cole. Terra, first and foremost, is a friend. I would never do anything to hurt her.”
“A friend?” Locke's question was disbelieving. “You'd treat a friend like this, Edgar? You'd screw with a friend's mind? You'd lie to them?”
“For the greater good, yes.”
Locke clenched his jaw and ran a hand through his hair in aggravation before he continued. “This is easily the worst, most unethical idea you’ve ever had! Trying to encourage a feeling that might not be there just to distract her from what you think she’ll do? I knew you were an arrogant old scratch, but this beats all!”
Edgar glared at Locke, taking in multiple deep breaths to control his anger. “I told you before I doubted whether or not I could go through with this. Remember?”
Locke slightly nodded.
“Well do you wish to know why?” Locke crossed his arms and Edgar continued. “My greatest fear is that she would not want me. Do you have any idea what that is like? Of course not,” he said through clenched teeth. “You and Celes have been mad for each other since you rescued her from the Empire in South Figaro. You've never known the self-doubt that comes with the knowledge the woman you care for may want nothing to do with you.”
Locke didn't respond.
“Terra Branford believes I'm nothing but a flirt. A rake. She truly believes that whenever I say something gallant I'm simply being a tease. Do you know what it's like to be haunted with that, Cole? Do you know how it hurts to have her smile at me with patience and understanding and not have the faintest idea I was sincere?”
“Then why would you even consider it, Edgar? If you're so sure she won't buy it, why are you going to do it?” Locke jabbed a finger in Edgar’s chest. “Admit it! I'm right. You think this is the only chance you'll have of getting her in the sack! It's nothing but a game. Another conquest, and you know it!”
Edgar slapped Locke’s hand away, barely restraining himself from throwing a punch. “You are wrong.”
Locke glared at the young king with narrowed eyes. “Tell me, Edgar. Are you willing to marry Terra after this is all over? Are you ready to give up your bachelorhood if this plan of yours works? Will you throw away all your little black books and secret lists of female 'friends' for her? I'm warning you now, if she's truly your friend and you were telling the truth when you said you didn't want to hurt her, you'll marry her when this is finished.”
Edgar was quiet for a long time. Then he lowered his eyes. “Cole, you were right before when you said I love her. What if this is the only chance I have to show her that love? What if this accursed kidnapping is the only opportunity I'll ever have of telling her I truly care? That I do honestly believe she's the 'light of my heart' and whatever other nonsense I've confessed to upon occasion. Would you be able to ignore the opportunity?” He raised his eyes and met Locke’s gaze. “Truthfully, Cole, would you?”
“Whether you pass the opportunity or not isn't the point. Will you follow through with what you started?”
“I can only ask you to trust me.”
Locke hemmed and hawed, scratching the back of his neck and running a hand through his hair as he gauged Edgar’s open expression. Finally, he grudgingly conceded. “I still don't like it, Edgar. She's just a kid.”
“Have you truly seen Terra?” Edgar asked in shock. “Besides being stunningly beautiful, she's one of the most mature and responsible people I know. How else were we able to defeat that blasted lunatic Kefka? Her skills have saved our backsides plenty of times, and well you know it.”
Locke jabbed Edgar in the chest with the pommel of his dagger hilt. “She's still a kid, Edgar, and I don't like it. You just watch yourself. Carefully.”
It was Edgar's turn at the wheel, but because of a previous incident with a prior airship Setzer wasn't too comfortable with the idea of letting him have that turn. So, Terra was left alone with Edgar for their entire trip to Zozo while Locke and Setzer went above to pilot the ship. Terra had to admit she didn't know whether the trip to Zozo would be too short or too long. There’d been something in Edgar’s manner when he‘d returned from Jidoor that had made her wary. Then, when he’d said that Locke and Setzer take a turn at the wheel and conveniently leave the two alone… Terra hadn't known whether to be eager at the prospect of more time with Edgar or terrified because of how eager she was.
“Are you sure traveling to Zozo is wise?” Edgar came to sit beside her. “You mentioned before that he wouldn't set camp there for fear of losing his treasures.”
“I know.” She sighed as she rubbed her face and neck, “but I've had a chance to think.” Terra looked over at Edgar and caught him watching her. It was a little disconcerting. “Doesn't it make sense that someone there would be willing to give us information about his operation if we offered enough money? Surely if Setzer was able to discover a name we could do even better.”
Edgar stood with a smile and came to stand behind her. His hands gently massaged her shoulders. “That's why we always made you leader, Terra. Not only are you beautiful, but you're bright.”
Terra waved his comments aside and looked down at the map of the newly formed world. “I just don't know,” she said in an exasperated voice. “It's been too long, Edgar. I don't remember how to plan anything.” His touch began to irritate her and she stood, pulling away from him to stand by a window.
“Terra,” Edgar said as he came to stand behind her. “Terra, you mustn't be so hard on yourself.” Edgar placed his hands on her shoulders again, but she shrugged them off and moved away. “You're pushing yourself too hard.”
“If I don't push myself, who will? I can't just breeze through this and expect none of them to get hurt. I have to think everything through and get it right.”
“Terra.” He turned her around to face him, but she kept her head lowered. “We're a team. No one expects you to solve this alone. All of us are with you in this.”
“You don't understand.”
“Then make me understand. I wish to help, Terra. Whatever it is. Whatever you're going through.”
Terra turned away. “It's my fault,” she said in a choked voice. “If I had just taken them with me this wouldn't have happened.”
“There was no way you could know that. You might have only been taken along with them–”
“There had to have been a way, Edgar. A way to stop this! A way to know!” Terra's voice was laced with guilt and pain. “I left them alone so that I could have some time by myself. Don't you understand? I... I left them. They look up to me for protection and I let them down. I walked away and let them get taken–”
The control broke and Edgar stepped forward to embrace her. “Terra, you're not to blame. Not by any means. You deserve time alone as much as any of us do. Besides, you trust the older ones to watch the younger because of the responsibility that they’ve learned from you. There was nothing wrong with trusting them further.” Edgar pulled back and held her face in his hands. His thumbs caressed her tear-stained cheeks. “The fault was not yours--”
“It is my fault,” she insisted harshly. She pushed his hands from her face. “All I had to do was watch them because they had no one else, and I couldn't even do that! How can you stand there and say it isn't my fault? You don't know what you're talking about, Edgar! You... y-you don't know...” She hid her face with her hands and felt his arms surround her again. Terra clung to him and sobbed.
“I know more than you think, Terra,” Edgar said. “I understand that you're afraid you'll lose the only people you've ever loved. I know that you're terrified the anger you feel building will take control.”
Terra wanted to believe him, but something held her back. Something dark. Something lurking in the back part of her mind. Something that scared her.
“Shh,” he whispered as he stroked her hair. “Shh. It's all right to be scared, Terra. Even I have suffered the same malady upon occasion. I had acted such a fool during my first visit to you. Then there you were on my doorstep asking for help. I was thanking my lucky stars.”
Terra looked up at him and reluctantly smiled. Her eyes glistened and her chin quivered. “Oh Edgar,” she said as she wiped at her face. “Can't you be serious about anything?”
He smirked and helped her dry her face with a silk kerchief he pulled from his pocket. “When I'm holding a lovely creature in my arms? Don't be cruel.” She shook her head with a reluctant laugh. “That's better. We cannot be having tears in a lady's eyes on an adventure such as this.” He kissed the kerchief while her eyes watched in surprise and tucked it carefully back into his satin vest pocket. “Now, give me your hand and let's have a laugh or two before tackling the problem again.”
She slipped her hand into his and he brought it to his lips for a long moment before smiling down at her with a strange expression. Terra turned her eyes away and let him lead her back to the table.
“A laugh, Edgar?” she asked when she sat in the offered chair. “My kids are gone and I don’t know where. How can I laugh? Too much time’s been wasted already.”
He pulled a chair up directly opposite and took hold of her hands again. His grip was comforting and ushered that ‘something dark’ a little further away. She clasped them tightly, feeling a surge of desperation to fully chase the oppression from her soul.
“No, Terra. We haven’t wasted anything. I understand it seems we work too slow, but that serves to prove you care deeply for your children. Just as it keeps us pressing onward.” Edgar’s thumbs rhythmically touched and soothed away the trembles of her hands. “Let us laugh of old times, so that your heart will be more at ease.”
Terra’s throat tightened and her eyes continued to hold the vision of their clasped hands. “I-I can’t, Edgar. I… I feel that thing pulling and pressing at me again.”
“As you did at Mobliz?” Edgar’s voice was as gentle and soothing as his touch and drew Terra’s soul further from its protection.
“No. It’s different. Darker.” She finally raised her eyes to meet his. “Edgar… Edgar, it scares me. It makes me think someone’s watching; waiting for me to make a mistake so they can punish me.”
Edgar’s caress on her hands ceased and the oppression reared, surging forward as her soul cringed away—the oppression vanished on the tail-end of a sudden ringing in her ears and Edgar’s caress began again.
“Perhaps it is you punishing yourself, Terra. Too long in the presence of the Empire and its demand for perfection has damaged and timidified your sensitive nature.” His expression and smile were oddly compassionate as he released her right hand and, almost fondly, touched and held her chin. “Release your mind to work, Terra. Allow yourself to remember and press on. Ignore the harsh words and oppression and focus on the goal.”
And those eyes comforted her trembling soul and soothed a slight smile to her lips. “I’ll try, Edgar.”
The intensity of his eyes grew as they held hers, and then he slowly leaned forward to touch her cheek very briefly. “Well, my dear? Where shall we begin the search?”
È
Locke looked over at Setzer with a shake of his head. “I don't like it,” he grumbled for the countless time. “I don't like it at all.”
Setzer smirked and did some fancy shuffling of his cards. “Leave them alone, Cole. Life is a lonely mistress. Those two deserve what they're getting.”
“She doesn't know Edgar like I do. The last thing she needs is Edgar putting the moves on her and kissing her so she can barely think straight. She's just a kid,” he insisted as his hands gripped the wheel.
“Terra is a woman and Edgar is a man.”
Locke rolled his eyes. “Don't remind me.”
Setzer laughed. “I thought you wanted them to be married, Cole.”
“He hasn't exactly put a ring on her finger, has he? I don't like putting the cart before the chocobo, okay?”
“Do you truly doubt he will? Edgar is a man of honor, Cole. Don't trifle with that or you're liable to get your head cleaved in two. Besides,” Setzer paused and palmed the Queen of Hearts, “I don't believe anything but a few passionate embraces are being shared. He respects her too much to rush her into more than that.”
“You don't know Edgar.”
Setzer seemed to get annoyed at that point. “Only Edgar knows Edgar,” he said as he stood. “Trust your friends and leave it at that. I'm going below.”
“If you come back a little pink around the ears, I'll know you were wrong,” Locke grumbled.
Setzer chuckled despite himself. “It's nothing I haven't experienced myself,” he tossed over his shoulder. “Besides, a little amusement would be just what I need right now.”
Locke glared after him.
When Setzer made his way below, however, Edgar and Terra were sharing anything but a tender embrace. The two were gathered around the table examining maps and talking in low tones while pointing at different areas. Setzer smirked with a shake of his head. Terra didn't appear the least bit disheveled. Pity, he thought to himself. She's in need of some good lovemaking to make her a woman.
Edgar looked up and greeted Setzer with an easy smile. “I do believe we have solved the mystery.”
Setzer raised an eyebrow. “Oh really? You two certainly have been busy.” Terra didn't even flush a slight color of red. Hmm.
“Before this world of ruin there was a trade route from Nikeah to about here.” She traced a line on the map. Then she pointed to a section where there was only polluted water. “The Imperial base was there but, as you can see, it doesn't exist in this world.”
Setzer leaned over the map with a nod. “Right. Shall we all observe a moment of silence for the loss?”
“Hardly,” Edgar scoffed. “But when Terra and I recalled that you’d said you believed slavers were responsible, we then remembered the fact the Empire once used slave labor in order to,” he grimaced, “save money. Harvesting prime candidates for this less than glorious profession had become quite a problem in years gone by. Before Kefka turned our little world upside down, that is. People of all ages would disappear from their homes in the middle of the night and never be heard from again. Whole schools would disappear without a trace.”
Setzer noticed something strange about Terra's face, but pushed it aside. “So, our Empire friends have indeed found a way to resume their charming way of life.”
“Perhaps not the Empire directly, but rather some of the leftover scum who wouldn’t know better,” Edgar said.
Terra changed her gaze from Edgar to Setzer with a nod. “Do you know anything about this Ledo character? Do you know if he's had anything to do with the Empire in the past?”
Setzer sat in a chair across from her and leaned back to prop his feet up on the table. “Your typical Zozo slime. Arrogant. Ugly. Anything but charming, to say the least. A real piece of work. Money and power are that character's only real loves.” A frown twisted the scar over his left eye.
“Do you remember something?” Edgar asked.
“It seems to me he was throwing a lot of money into that game. Throwing it and losing it without flinching.”
Terra and Edgar exchanged a glance. “What does that mean to you, Setzer?” Terra asked.
“It means that he’d just been paid a lot of money. Not only that, he was more than likely expecting to be paid more. And soon.”
Terra took in a slow breath and stared down at the map. “I don't suppose he mentioned anything about it?”
Setzer shook his head. “No.”
“Blast,” Edgar said.
Locke chose that moment to come in to the room. “You've got that right.”
“Zozo?” Edgar asked.
“Zozo.” Locke glowered. “I hate this place. Not only does it stink to the heavens, but all of them are the worst possible thieves.”
“I'm sure you could give them lessons,” Setzer chuckled.
Locke sent him a glare. “Ha, ha, ha. Very funny.”
“I suppose we should go,” Terra said as she rolled up the map. She set it aside and slipped into her scabbard. “We've wasted enough time.”
Setzer stood and collected his razor edged cards and not-so-enchanted dice. “I'd like to think we've invested time, Terra. 'Wasted' is such a harsh word.”
Terra sent him a small smile, which he returned. Ah. The Terra we all know and love seems to have returned. Bravo, Edgar. Bravo.
Terra's grip on the sword hilt tightened as the group of four entered the dark town of Zozo. It was raining and Terra grimaced at the stench of rotting corpses. The last time had been so different. She’d been drawn to the top of one of the buildings by Ramuh's power when transformed by the Esper, Tritoch. She’d been so afraid of her seemingly limitless power. So terrified that she’d hurt someone without meaning to. It had been Zozo where Locke, Edgar, Sabin, and Celes had found her. Zozo where all her friends had discovered her terrible secret.
She was only half human. Her father had been an Esper. Maduin by name.
Now Terra led the group further into the city. She pressed her lips together when she saw a group of residents closing in. “Keep your eyes open,” she warned. “It looks like we're going to have company.”
“Bring 'em on,” Locke grumbled. “It'll give me a chance to work out some frustrations. Believe me, I’ve got a lot of frustrations.”
Setzer chuckled. “You always do when you're away from Celes for any longer than a day.”
Edgar gripped Locke's arm to prevent the impending fistfight, and then he sent Setzer a hard look. “Gentlemen, this is neither the place nor the time. Our goal is to locate Terra's children, remember?”
“Yeah, yeah. I know. Sorry, gambler.”
“It's quite all right.”
Locke looped his thumb on his belt. “So, where to next?”
Terra shook her head. “I'm not sure. This place... This place...” She shook her head again and brought a hand up to her forehead with a cringe. A spark seemed to have shot out from the very center of her brain. It caused yellow and white spots to flash in her eyes. “Ohh. My head.”
Edgar stepped closer, gripping her shoulder to steady her when she stumbled. He tilted her chin up and examined her face and eyes. “What's wrong?” He felt her forehead and glanced sharply over at Locke. “She's burning up.”
“What?” Locke strode forward and touched her forehead as well. Then he checked her pulse. He shook his head. “Something spooky's going on, Edgar. We've got to get her back to the ship.”
Terra shook her head feebly and tried to straighten. “No. No, we have to go on,” she insisted.
“Terra,” Edgar said firmly. She locked gazes with him. “Terra, you are not going on. Setzer will take you back to the ship while Locke and I discover what we can.”
Terra pressed her lips together and dropped her hand from Edgar's arm to straighten under her own power. The pain surged through her body, but she forced herself to ignore it. She took in a slow breath and willed herself to ignore the burning agony that seemed to melt her brain. “We’ll go on as a group, Edgar,” she said firmly. Her voice didn't even quiver. “A group of four in Zozo is bad enough. Two is a suicide mission.”
Edgar shook his head with a reluctant smile after a long pause. “Very well. We will stay together, but I'm only agreeing so that I may keep an eye on you.”
Terra forced a smile.
“You've had your eye on her for long enough, don't you think? I'd say you need to get a little more physical than that.”
Edgar's ears flushed pink and he shot Setzer a warning glare, ignoring Locke's loud laugh that even had the Zozo residents looking amongst themselves in confusion. Edgar pulled a small bottle from a pouch on his belt and handed it to Terra. “Here,” he said. “Take this. It may not take away all the pain--”
“Edgar...” Terra took it with a grimace.
“Do not deny that you are hurting. I think it will help.”
“Thank you. I'll save it for later–”
“No,” Edgar pressed firmly. “No, you will take it now. I have plenty more, as do Locke and Setzer.”
Terra removed the stopper and took in a deep breath as she prepared herself for the super-sweet taste of the herbal potion, as well as the bizarre effects that would linger for several moments afterward. With a last hesitation, she swallowed the thick greenish-blue liquid and grimaced as she handed the glass bottle back to Edgar. The liquid slid down her throat slowly, causing her whole body to shiver as its healing effects tingled and warmed her insides. The burning in her brain receded a bit, making it easier for her to ignore, and the sparks that had begun to cascade through her body from toe to fingertips all but disappeared. She swallowed several times, desperately trying to clear the remaining sticky substance from her mouth as her limbs began to feel a little heavier than normal. The heaviness was due to the effects of the potion and would pass quickly.
“Better?” Edgar asked.
Terra gave Edgar a small nod. “Better.”
“Good, because our company is getting closer,” Locke warned.
Terra sent them a look and carefully gauged the challenge. “Nothing to worry about.”
Setzer smirked and lightly fingered his deck of cards. “Well said, but a challenge nonetheless. We have, after all, been out of the fighting business for quite a while.”
There was a brief tingling at the base of her skull followed by a pop in each ear that quickly faded. Terra sent Setzer a smile. “Come on, gambler, are you telling me you've forgotten how to use those cards of yours?” She slowly pulled her sword from its sheath and sent Edgar a wink. “Come on. Let's show them how it's done.”
“Terra! Wait!”
Edgar tried to grab her arm, but she took off with a war cry that scattered the less assured ruffians while causing the more arrogant ones to gather around her. Their move blocked any avenue of escape she might have had. The trio stared after her in shock.
“What's gotten into her? She's never been this way before,” Locke said in confusion.
Edgar holstered his chain saw and hurried after her. “It's the potion,” he shouted over his shoulder. “It has to be!”
“What kind of potion did you give her,” Locke asked as he followed. “Have you had that thing in your pocket your whole life or something?”
“No,” Edgar shot back. “It's reacting to whatever is causing Terra to be ill.”
Locke grit his teeth. “Remind me to tell you--”
“Save the Philosophy lesson. We've got work to do,” Setzer said calmly as he palmed at least five cards. “She may be a good fighter, but she's not as powerful as she used to be. Not only that, I believe five or six Zozoians would be too much for any woman.”
Locke's gaze followed Setzer's, and he groaned. “Man, we can't take her anywhere without some kind of trouble.”
Setzer sent Locke a smirk. “What are you saying? Leave her home? That would go over well.”
“It's a thought, okay? Take her flank, Setzer. Edgar, take the-- Edgar!”
Edgar had a