Terra gripped her hands together, clenching them again and again until her fingers were sore. ‘What could be taking him so long?’ There was a sound behind her and the Chancellor came back into the throne room. Terra hurried up to him and waited for his answer.

“His highness shall be here presently.”

Terra nodded with a sigh of relief and shook her hands out in front of her before beginning to wring them again, desperately waiting for Edgar to appear. ‘He’s the only one who can help,’ she thought frantically. ‘I just hope I’m not too late!’ She fought the tears and paced back and forth in front of the empty throne where she had first seen him. The pleasant memories weren’t enough to calm her. ‘How could this have happened? I was so careful!’

“Terra?”

She looked up sharply, her throat tightening with the tears of 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 attempted to speak again. “They’re all gone. All my kids are gone...”

Her voice cracked and she covered her face with her hands, completely unprepared for the strong arms that engulfed her. That firm and 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... When I got there... Edgar, when I got there 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. He’s waiting out by the airship,” she choked out. “Setzer thinks that 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 in their area, but I’m going with you.”

“Very well, Locke.” Locke strode from the room and Edgar continued to comfort Terra. Her sobs quieted as he tenderly stroked her hair. “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.”

“‘Tis nothing to apologize for. Now, I’ll show you to a room where you may get ready for the journey and then I’ll hunt down Locke. He’s more than likely speaking with Setzer about 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 strangely 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 watched him leave before she turned away, the new and raw emotion of terror for her children’s safety hitting her brain with numbing precision. She groaned and desperately tried to concentrate on getting the appropriate armor and weapon from the storage room that would somewhat compensate for her reduced powers and abilities. ‘If only I hadn’t left them they would be fine.’ She’d done it so many times in the three years that she had 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 a home to anyone...

Terra’s hand wrapped around a familiar feel and she raised a sword from it’s resting place. She felt the memory of the age-old power rush through her arms as she recalled the many times she had wielded it in defense and attack against enemies a normal woman would have turned from with horror. It’s magic may have been gone, but the edge was yet sharp. Rage filled Terra’s heart and soul and she sheathed the Ragnarok with a harsh motion. She would get her kids back.

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 and 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 slipping on 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 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.

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.”

“If they do not?” Edgar’s question, again, was soft.

Terra gripped the handle of her sword and she surrendered to the feeling of power she remembered from days gone by. She turned at the entrance of the airship and locked gazes with Edgar. “Then we keep searching.”

Locke stepped between them and gave Terra a nod. “You’ve got it, Terra. We’re with you all the way.”

Terra’s eyes strayed to Edgar’s again and then she turned and entered the massive airship.

Setzer pulled out a chair and gave Edgar and Locke a shielded glance. “I haven’t seen her like this since Phumbaba attacked her and the kids. Man, was she pissed that day!”

“As I recall, she beat him soundly,” Edgar reminded quietly. “What do you suppose she’ll do to... What was his name?”

“Ledo. Ledo Grikea.”

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, that isn’t right and you know this. There are laws to follow. If we don’t abide by them, 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, and you know it. 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 finished the comment with another dagger tossed across the room.

“You gentleman do not seem to understand!” Edgar stood sharply, his blue eyes angry and annoyed. “If Terra does this she’ll go mad just as she had before. Remember the episode with the Esper in Narshe? She screamed off onto the horizon 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. Come, Locke! Don’t you remember how it was when your friend was captured by the Empire?”

Locke leaped from his chair with clenched fists. “That was different!”

“Was it? Was it really? Terra may go too far and it’s up to us to make sure that doesn’t happen!” Edgar insisted.

Locke and Setzer dropped their gazes to the table and Edgar paused a moment more before turning sharply and slamming 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.

Edgar strode to the top deck and gripped the railing. ‘Why won’t they listen? Don’t they see that who she is shall 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 had always seemed to be over-protective of her. Like he saw her as a sister he had 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 searching for Terra’s full head of light green hair. She stood behind the wheel with a grim look of determination on her face 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 nodded. “Did you need a rest?”

“I’m okay, Edgar. I’ve been through tougher times than this.” Her voice sounded strained.

“No. No, you haven’t, Terra. You never had to go through anything like this alone. Not even with that incident with Kefka at the entrance to the Esper world. We were there, too.”

She was quiet for a while and let her head drop after a moment’s pause. “And here you are again. It’s been a long time.”

“Too long.”

Terra raised her head and sent him a glance. “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 the people of Figaro are in my blood, Terra,” Edgar said fondly. “They’re my reason for existing on some days. They get me through the darkest times.”

Terra made a slight alteration to the course before speaking. “Your father would be proud of you, Edgar. Of both of you. You are helping put the world right again.”

Edgar was silent, a little uncomfortable with the praise. Thoughts of his father were never far from his mind. Neither was the uncertainty as to how his father would have reacted to his son’s different decisions regarding Figaro and it’s short-lived treaty with the late Empire. So many of his friends were sure that his father would have been proud, but Edgar was never so confident. Perhaps that was what made him strive so hard to be fair in all he did. That was why he couldn’t bear to see Terra make a mistake such as he feared she would. To his father, a friend had been the most important thing beside his family. Edgar wanted to think that, in this one thing, they were alike.

“I know why you’re here, Edgar,” Terra said quietly.

Edgar watched her profile with a smile. “Do you?”

“You want to drive.”

He chuckled and shook his head. “No, no. I came to be a friend, Terra. I haven’t been a very able one 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 hand 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 calm himself. She seemed so lost. So alone. So afraid to face what she was feeling. ‘How do I help her open up? As she once had?’

“What if I don’t find them, Edgar?”

The strain in her voice was as clear as it could be as he watched her delicate profile. “We will, Terra. We will. There is no ‘I’ when you’re among friends. There is 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 used to be fearful and unsure of everyone around you. You were even troubled by who you were. Now look at you.”

Edgar rubbed her back before he could stop himself and his fingers burned at the warmth of her skin. Again, she seemed to lean against his touch and Edgar decided to indulge himself. ‘I haven’t seen her for months,’ he reasoned. ‘I’m entitled to something, aren’t I?’

“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 and I’m not as strong as I was then. What if that’s enough to change everything?”

Tears glistened in Terra’s unique eyes and Edgar’s throat tightened around all the assurances he wanted to give her. He choked on all the promises he wanted to make good on. ‘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. His face flamed at her touch. ‘Terra, be careful,’ he silently warned her. ‘These waters rage deep...’

“I have missed you, Edgar,” she whispered. “I have missed you so much.”

“And I you.”

Edgar couldn’t resist. He took her hand from his cheek and pressed the palm against his lips for a long moment, his eyes still holding 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...

“Don’t stay away so long next time,” she pleaded in a strangely soft voice.

Edgar lowered her hand, but continued to hold it. “This I swear, my lady. This I swear.”

When the four arrived at Jidoor, Edgar could tell that Terra was hard-pressed to keep herself under control. A type of quiet hysteria seemed to radiate from her that even had the normally ‘laid back’ Setzer champing at the bit. Edgar tried his best to be stable and controlled for her, even going so far as to remain as close to her side as possible without causing comment from Setzer and Locke. Setzer and Locke were too busy arguing about the best place to start to even notice.

“Gentlemen, calm yourselves,” Edgar told them in his most authoritative voice. The two men looked at him with dark glares. “This constant contention is not assisting 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 stupefaction. “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---”

“He’s not here, Locke.” Terra sent Locke a glare. “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 and 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, Locke. Neither have I.”

“Maybe you were right.”

Edgar knew that statement meant a lot coming from Locke Cole because the treasure-hunter never had conceded to being wrong before. Not in all the years Edgar had known him. Then Locke had met Celes and begun a slow, quiet transformation into the man he was now. Confident still, yet able to admit a mistake more easily than before.

“Locke, you must attempt to understand her position. She believes that she has let these kids down. Terra blames herself for their abduction because she wasn’t there constantly. Until she is able to leave the guilt behind her, she shall be a bear to work with.”

“I kind of guessed that.” Locke sighed and ran a hand through his blonde 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 and 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 I feel I must.”

“What? Do what?”

“Seduce her.”

Locke stared at his long-time friend with a slack-jawed gaze. When he had gathered his wits enough to speak, his voice was hard. “Edgar, you better explain yourself or you’re liable to find a dagger in your gut. Heck, 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 his spear. “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 old 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. I’ve wooed and pursued ladies my entire life, Locke. I know just what to say to keep her off balance.”

“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 now? You know she never did in the past.” 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 have ever had! Trying to encourage a feeling that isn’t there just to distract her from what you think she will do? I knew you were an arrogant old scratch, but this beats it all!”

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? If it prevents her from going insane when we find this blaggard, I shall do whatever it takes.”

“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 and you’ve certainly lived up to the standard. One problem. With Terra it’s always been different. You’ve never walked over that line that 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 your 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 and 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 like this? You’d lie to them like this?”

“For the greater good, yes.” Edgar paused and took in a slow breath to control his anger. “I told you before that I doubted whether or not I could go through with this. 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 about 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 and say ‘you always were a tease, weren’t you’ and not have the faintest idea I was sincere?”

“So 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? Admit it! I’m right. You think this is the only chance you’ll have of getting her in the sack!” Locke threw his arms in the air. “It’s nothing but a game. Another conquest and you know it!”

Edgar barely restrained himself. “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 can tell you for certain that if you do this, if you really follow through with this crazy plan, Terra will fall in love with you. 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. “Cole, you were right before when you said I love her. What if this is the only chance I have to show her that? What if this accursed kidnapping is the only opportunity I’ll ever have of telling her that 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? 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 grudgingly conceded. “I still don’t like it, Edgar. She’s just a kid."

“Have you truly seen Terra? 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 you well know it"

Locke jabbed Edgar in the chest with the end of his dagger hilt. “She’s still a kid, Edgar, and I don’t like it. You just watch yourself. Carefully."

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