The Prisoner of Figaro

Disclaimer: I do not own Final Fantasy VI.

A/N: Hi, this is my first Final Fantasy VI fanfic. I hope you'll enjoy reading it!

P.S. This story is a 'variation' of what happened in the game. It's basically about my fantasy of what would happen if Terra was on the Empire's side and was kidnapped by Locke before she could get to the Esper. :P

Summary: Terra Branford, a soldier of the Empire, is captured and brought to the castle of Figaro as a prisoner. All Edgar Roni Figaro has to do now is to keep her in his custody until their victory against the Empire is assured. But of course, there are certain complications… Edgar x Terra, Celes x Locke and a LITTLE hint of Celes x Leo (for those of you who are really desperate for it)

Chapter 1: The Guest of Honour

"We've got her, we've got her!" Loud voices proclaimed, triumphant horns blared and a young king looked up from his seat on the throne. "We've got the key to winning the war..."

"Terra, we're about to meet a king. You must defer to him, even if you don't want to. And don't even think about hurting him. Or else you'll have a whole kingdom and me to answer to," a man warned his captive. The man wore bluish-purplish clothing and around his head was a bandana. He wore earrings and on his feet were leather boots.

"Whatever, Locke," Terra replied through her gag. She shifted slightly and the ropes that bound her wrists cut into her flesh, making her squeak. "They hurt," she said angrily. "Take them off. And why are we walking in the middle of a desert?"

"What? Can't understand you through that gag," Locke teased, then sighed at his captive's hateful glare. "Look, I'm no fool, and if you think that your looks will let you get away with this, you'll be seriously disappointed. I know that if I remove your gag and your bonds you'll kill me with magic. Besides, I was nice enough to tell you my name. Stop whining now. We're here."

The two had arrived at a large castle made of stone that cast a huge shadow over them. At the door were two guards dressed in reddish-brownish armour. Both had expectant expressions on their faces. Terra winced. Her head throbbed from the sight of the grand castle and the heat was not helping, either. She tried to close her eyes but was roughly shoved by one of the guards.

"Move it, girl. The king can't wait for you forever," the man grinned, showing yellow teeth. Too weary to even reply, Terra stumbled forward into a great, well-lit hall. At the back was a golden throne and on it was a handsome man in a blue cape and hair tied back in a braid. The king smiled smugly at Locke, who gave a mock bow.

"My king, this is Terra Branford, a soldier from the Empire. But she's not just any soldier. She's the key to the Empire's winning this war," Locke announced, a small smile playing across his lips. The king smiled and Terra sent him a quick death glare. What an annoying smile. She thought of ways to describe the king's smile. The king's smile was like a cat that had caught a delicious fish for its dinner. No, more than that. The king's smile was the kind of smile that Kefka wore whenever he was with General Leo. Terra smiled weakly at her joke. She had always hated the minister, but who else had been kind enough to take her in when she was a baby? She had to stay faithful to Emperor Gestahl and his subordinates, no matter what. Terra was brought back to reality by the king, who had walked over to her.

"You're not pulling my leg, Locke? Because if this girl is the one," the king lifted his prisoner's chin. "Then this war will be ours and Gestahl will be in his grave before he knows it." At that point the king looked at Terra, and she stared straight back at him. She had to act strong and be defiant. Her head throbbed in protest, but she ignored it.

As she looked into the king's eyes, however, the girl felt a tingly sensation in her stomach that was neither pleasant nor unpleasant. Suddenly scared of the feeling Terra looked away. The sensation stopped, and she stole a quick glance at the king who had turned to her captor. Had the king caused that new feeling? Was it a power that all kings possessed? Terra thought, licking her dry lips under her gag. No wonder everyone avoided eye contact with the king when they could help it. Except Locke. Locke seemed to be immune to the king's powerful stare. Or maybe he was special, too.

"Where and how did you find Terra?" the king asked, and Locke shrugged his shoulders, grinning.

"I found her in the coal mines in Narshe. There were two guards flanking her but all I had to do was kill them and make her fall asleep. It was easy; there was a slave crown on her head (I removed that after she'd fallen asleep, of course), put the special gag on her and left. I had a little trouble getting here because of the Narshe guards, though. They thought I was her accomplice," Locke laughed. The king raised an eyebrow.

"So why have you brought her here instead of keeping her at Narshe?"

"The Narshe guards wanted to kill her. The thing is, she'd do well to join our side. So I brought her here instead." Locke spread out his hands. "If you can keep her here and persuade her to help us, we'll have an even better chance of winning. If not, just keep her here until our victory is assured."

"Ugh, thanks for giving me more to take care of, Locke. I bet you actually brought her here because you knew how I loved work," the king sighed, and Terra looked at him, annoyed. "I can take care of myself," she mumbled angrily. The king ignored his prisoner.

"Well, in any case, Locke, you'd better get out of here. You know, get more information. We need as much as we can get. Just having our beauty here isn't going to be enough to win the war. We're counting on you."

Locke nodded in response and grinned. "We're counting on you too, Edgar. Because if you let her escape, we're up shi-shiitake mushroom creek." Terra's captor turned away to go, then looked back. "And be careful. That gag's a special one that stops her from using magic. If you take that off, she'll turn on you and zap! You'll be bacon before you know it. The gag doesn't actually stop her from speaking." Locke chewed his nails thoughtfully. "Did you know that she fried fifty Magitek soldiers in three minutes?" Terra's heart wrenched at the information. She had killed fifty of Kefka's soldiers? When? How? And why? She wasn't that cold-hearted, was she?

"Oi, Terra, pay attention, words of wisdom are coming out of my mouth right now," Locke playfully waved a hand in front of his captive's face. "You'd better be on your guard when I'm gone or a certain king will be all over you like a wet towel."

"Locke!" the king shouted, his eyes flashing dangerously. "Get out and do what you're meant to be doing! Now!"

"Ciao!" Locke left the room and Terra suddenly felt extremely conscious of the king fuming silently behind her.

"Wh-Who are you? What do you want from me?" she asked nervously, trying to undo the ropes that bound her behind her back. "And can you stop touching me?" Terra glanced down at the finger that still touched her chin.

The king leapt back as if she had burned him. "Oh, my deepest apologies!" he exclaimed. "For not introducing myself and touching you without your permission!" the king made an exaggerated bow. "I am Edgar Roni Figaro, the king of Figaro castle! I am sure that a lady as beautiful as yourself can overlook my rudeness!"

Terra blinked, confused. What was King Edgar on about? Surely she was wasting her time listening to a lunatic? The king scowled and tutted softly to himself.

"Hm, I can't seem to charm a woman these days. I need more practice." Terra stared. What was a king doing flirting with his prisoner? At that moment the king produced a knife, and the girl's eyes widened. Terra began to back away. Her head hurt with each step I took backwards.

"Don't hurt me," Terra croaked, her voice hoarse. "Locke said that you had to keep me until the Empire lost the war, right? Not kill me! Or he'd have left me in Narshe a long time ago…"

"But I'm not going to kill you," the king smiled, and the green-haired girl wasn't sure whether to trust him or not. "Stand still; you can trust me. I won't kill you."

"Promise?" Terra backed into a wall and winced at the touch of the cool rock. A dead end.

"Not unless you promise not to run away."

"I can't guarantee that."

"Then I won't promise, either."

King Edgar advanced slowly, and Terra closed her eyes, waiting for the end. All those years of training with Kefka, lost. But the least she could do now was stay faithful to the Empire.

Yes, that's where you belong, a voice in her head spoke. You won't have any friends, but you'll have glory… Terra screwed her eyes shut as tears began to spill out. "I don't want glory…" she whispered. Her eyes flew open as the king darted quickly around her and slashed at the back of her head.

Terra gasped in shock as her gag loosened and fell to the ground. Cool air rushed into her mouth. At the same time she felt the ropes that bound her wrists fall to the ground. Terra rubbed her sore wrists and stared at the king. Mixed feelings of anger and confusion grew in her.

"Why? I can kill you with one word now! Locke warned you! And you still took my gag off!" Terra exclaimed. "Do you want to die?"

King Edgar shrugged carelessly, raising his hands above his head in mock surrender. "It's unkind to keep a lady bound and gagged. And if you think I'm so foolish, punish me. I would be honoured to be killed by a powerful, beautiful lady such as yourself, and what's more, I would be able to see magic with my own two eyes!"

Terra stared, even more confused. The man who stood in front of her was doing things beyond her comprehension. Why was he so relaxed about losing his life? Why was he so reckless? Terra opened her mouth but no sound came out. Kefka wouldn't have taken a second to kill the king. So why was she having trouble?

What seemed like centuries passed before Terra closed her mouth. "Don't think I like you," she warned, ignoring the searing pains that shot through her head. The king put his hands down, still smiling as if he didn't have a care in the world. Pig, Terra thought bitterly. He was still alive right now because she hadn't been in the mood for killing…right? King Edgar clapped his hands and four well built, well dressed men enter the room. Terra recognised the guard who had treated her roughly among them.

"Guards, take this fine young lady to the guest room," King Edgar ordered, and all four burst out in protest.

"But, your majesty-"

"The girl-"

"Prisoner-"

"She should be in jail-"

"Terra Branford is a guest of honour," King Edgar stated firmly. "Now take her to the guest room. Have her bathed, dressed in our finest garments and down in the dining hall by eight. She shall be dining with me." Grumbling, the guards half-led, half-dragged Terra out of the throne room. The girl resigned herself to their roughness when the king called after her.

"Wait!"

The guards stopped, jerking their prisoner backwards. Terra weakly looked back to face the king, who was wearing a smug expression as always.

"Don't think you have escaped my charms just yet, my pretty."

The king sounded cheerful but Terra had caught something else in his tone. Frustration? The green-haired girl smirked to herself. At least she had managed to infuriate her captor.

"My lady, you are ready to dine with the king," the maid announced coldly and backed away, allowing Terra to see her reflection in the jewel-encrusted mirror. She gasped and whirled around, the image dazzling her. For what she saw was a beautiful, green-haired girl with her flowing tresses in a high ponytail wearing a royal blue dress and a blood-red ruby pendant around her slender neck. "I look like a princess," she breathed, fingering the jewel. She turned to her maid and curtsied. "Thank you for taking the time to help me look beautiful," she said humbly.

"You're welcome," the maid curtsied back, her tone somewhat warmer. "I was, after all, a fashion designer once, my lady," she added, slightly cautious.

"Wow, I've always wanted to become a fashion designer, but I've been raised and trained to be a Magit-" Terra paused mid-sentence and looked sadly down at her gown. "Never mind, I guess I've said enough."

"No, please continue, it doesn't matter to me that you're a Magitek soldier, you're still Terra Branford, right?" the maid encouraged warmly, and Terra was immediately on her guard. The maid could be encouraging her to speak for more information about the Empire.

"I'm sorry, I don't feel like talking. I-I have a headache still," Terra said heatedly, glad that it was not a full lie. Her maid opened her mouth to reply but at that moment there was a knock on the door. Relieved, Terra answered the door but was surprised to find the king standing in front of her.

"Ah, Terra! How beautiful you look in that blue dress!" King Edgar smiled his charming smile. "Are you ready to come down with me now?"

Terra looked uncertainly at her maid, who smiled encouragingly and mouthed 'go on'. She cleared her throat nervously. Dining with the king of Figaro was not her way of getting rid of a headache.

"Your majesty, I am ready, but…is it alright if I pass tonight? I have a headache…"

"You just need some food in your system! Come on, take my arm and I'll lead you to the dining room!" Terra was about to protest but Edgar had already taken her arm and tucked it firmly under his own. "And if you faint, I'll be there to support you," he added with a suggestive smile. Terra groaned inwardly. He was evidently flirting with her again, but she was too tired to argue back.

As the two left the room, the maid called after Terra, "My lady, if you try to harm my king in the hopes of killing him, I'm afraid that you'll be sorely disappointed. King Edgar is the champion of technology." King Edgar laughed, his frame shaking.

"Please forgive Sheila, she's been rather silly lately," Edgar informed his guest, who didn't reply. Not saying anymore, Edgar led his guest through a corridor and down three flights of stairs. Sensing her need for rest, the king patted Terra's back comfortingly. "We're here," he whispered in her ear as he motioned for large oak doors to be opened.

Terra's headache vanished temporarily as she saw the dining hall. Although it was considerably smaller than Emperor Gestahl's, it had a warmer, friendlier air about it. Above a large square table hung a shining glass chandelier. The walls were furnished with pictures of the previous kings of Figaro and several weapons Terra had never seen before. Maybe these were what my maid was talking about when she said that Edgar was the champion of technology, she thought as she felt a grudging admiration for her captor.

"Please, take a seat," Edgar offered, and Terra gladly sat down on a cushioned chair. The king took a seat at the other end of the table and a salad was served. Terra was surprised, however, when the king snapped his fingers again. A waiter approached, and the king spoke softly, but loud enough for Terra to hear.

"Skip the appetizers and get to the main course. Our guest is not feeling very well and it would be unwise of me to offer her any cold foods."

"No, I'm fine, don't worry about me," Terra gave a forced smile but made no effort to stop the king. Although she hid her emotions behind a passive face, Terra felt warm, but she ignored the feeling. Don't get too comfortable, she told herself. King Edgar could be doing this to get you to betray the Empire.

"You know, you really are very pretty tonight," King Edgar remarked casually as a large plate of turkey was put on the table. A waiter approached the table and put a generous portion of turkey on the king's plate before serving his guest. Terra thanked the waiter and smiled, but she was annoyed. What was the king's aim in flirting with her? Her head throbbed and she snapped.

"Your majesty, what is the meaning of all this? Why do you beat about the bush? I'm afraid that I'm not in the mood for all this flirting that's going on, so please tell me what you want from me."

King Edgar calmly finished his food, chewing slowly. Terra felt that the king would never answer her demand, but he suddenly looked up, his eyes serious. The girl hesitated, unsure of whether to egg her host on or whether to tell him to forget the demand. But the king spoke, and all the playfulness in his tone was gone.

"I suppose you are right; flirting does not fit you at all," he said evenly. "So I'll tell you what I want. But I'm not going to hold you against your will; otherwise I'd be just as bad as the Empire. I want you to tell me about what the Empire is doing and about yourself."

Terra felt anger swell in her like a large balloon on the verge of exploding. "Why?" she returned calmly, but her blood boiled.

"The Empire is planning to take over the world and if we let them do that then the world will become one big wasteland," Edgar spread his palms out. "We need your help and the information to prepare for battle against the Em-"

"No! What do you take me for? Some girl who's so scared that she'll betray her own side just to please some, some…some pigheaded king? I won't tell you anything about the Empire!" Terra stood up sharply and flinched slightly at the pain that seared through her brain. "I'm leaving now, whether you like it or not." She made an attempt to walk to the door but sank to the ground. "My head…" she murmured in pain, tears threatening to spill. King Edgar walked over to his guest and slowly helped her back into her chair. When Terra had recovered, he looked at her pleadingly, but there was still a hint of a small smile.

"I shall have to be even more pigheaded then. Tell me about yourself."

"No, I won't tell you about my pa-" Terra froze in her seat, horror-stricken. Who was her family? Where did she come from? What was she the only human being who could use magic and didn't have to be artificially infused with it? In fact, what was she? She frantically turned her aching brain inside out but no answers came. She turned slowly to the king.

"What's the matter?" King Edgar asked.

"I-I can't remember a thing! No…" Terra buried her head in her hands, trying to will her headache away. "I don't even know who I am anymore…"

"What? No, that can't be! I mean…" King Edgar exclaimed in shock, then his eyes softened and Terra felt her heart skip a beat. "I'm sorry; I didn't mean to be like that. It's just…I've never had to deal with amnesia before, so…ugh…" Edgar strode over to look out the window.

Terra began to worry. Now Edgar knew that she remembered nothing about her past, he would most likely dispose of her. She glumly recalled Kefka's words: "If the person is of no use to you, dispose of him!"

Ages passed before Terra could speak. "Wh-What are you going to do with me now?" she sniffed unhappily. "Are you going to kill me?"

King Edgar whipped around, his eyes wide. "No, of course not! I would never kill a beautiful lady; that would be shameful!" he exclaimed gallantly. "I'd rather you got a good night's sleep. Are you still hungry?"

Terra shook her head, and the king smiled. "I suppose you want your night's rest?" Terra nodded emphatically in spite of her headache. "Very much," she said.

"Alright, then I shall take you to your room."

Terra stared at the king, puzzled. "Why not just call your guards and get them to send me up? Or let me go by myself?" she suggested. Emperor Gestahl had always sent her up to her room alone when she was sick. The king looked at his guest and laughed.

"It's extremely impolite to send a lady to her destination alone. Plus, you are not feeling well and I would not be pleased if you passed out in my castle; I would have to wake the whole castle up to find you. Here, take my arm," King Edgar offered his arm and Terra took it. Her vision blurred for a moment and she winced. In spite of her pain the girl gave a weak smile. "I'm fine," she said.

"You must get some rest," the king said insistently, ignoring Terra and pulling her to her feet. "And I will accompany you to your room." Seeing that his guest was too tired to argue the host half-carried, half led his guest to her room. Little was said on the way to Terra's room, but the two had to stop from time to time when the girl's headache felt overwhelming.

Five long minutes passed, but the two finally reached their destination. Seeing Terra in King Edgar turned to leave, but a voice stopped him.

"King Edgar."

The king turned to face Terra and for once he realized how beautiful she really was in her royal blue gown, looking at him with confused eyes. A wisp of hair was hanging in front of her face, astray. King Edgar was strongly reminded of a lost puppy.

"What is it?" he asked, shaking his head slightly. If he fell in love with his prisoner her escape would be certain.

"Why are you helping me? Is it because of what that Locke person told you to do? Or is it because…I have special powers and information that you need?"

The king smiled, his eyes gentle and amused. Terra felt the strange, tingly sensation in her stomach for the third time, but she bravely stared into the king's blue orbs. She grudgingly admitted to herself that she liked looking into the king's deep blue eyes; she could get lost in them anytime. She then closed her eyes and opened them, concentrating on her delicate slippers. What kind of power did the king have over her? Whatever it was, she had to resist…

"None of those reasons," Terra looked up sharply in surprise, searching for some clue as to the king's feelings in his eyes, but he had turned his back to her. "My main reason is that your kind and caring personality has attracted me, and my second reason is that I enjoy your company immensely! Why would I give away such a valuable companion?" Terra blinked. What kind of answer was this? She looked at the king, who had turned back to face her, his face strangely hopeful.

"Never mind," he murmured, then sighed, clearly disappointed. "I'll just…spend my time alone. Good night." The king shut the door, leaving Terra to herself. Closing her eyes, the green-haired girl fell back on her bed, but she could not go to sleep. She opened her eyes.

She had never known that so much could happen in a day. In one day she had been kidnapped by a man called Locke, brought to a castle in the middle of a desert and met a king who said strange things every now and then. But strangest of all was the warm, tingly feeling that lingered in her stomach.

What is this feeling? Terra asked for what felt like the millionth time, annoyed. And why is the king the only one who makes me feel this way? Was I put under a spell the minute I saw him? But I'm supposed to be the only one who was born with magical powers…

"How do you like our new guest, Chadron?" King Edgar asked his chancellor. The king and his minister were in a room full of comfortable chaises. Paintings of fruit and landscapes decorated the walls and the room was lit by a lone candle. The minister sat in one of the three chaises in the room while his king eyed a painting of Figaro, his back to his subordinate.

"She is very pretty, my king. Although she is a soldier of the Empire, she does not seem to have the cold-heartedness to go with the position and she looked like she was in great pain when I saw her. There have also been rumours that she has amnesia." Chadron said pointedly. "I don't advise your majesty, however, to become too close to our pris-our guest. But if she cannot remember a single thing, why do you still allow her to stay?"

"She is very pretty," the king mused. "She seems to have amnesia, but we need her magic powers to win the war against the Empire. I don't, however, agree with not getting too close to her. Terra is a very pretty lady, and so I must spend more time with her."

"Do what you will my king, but you must be careful. Even roses have thorns," Chadron replied coldly. King Edgar smirked at his chancellor's tone. Chadron's ancestors had been servants of his ancestors for decades, but they had always been known to be snobbish. Snobbish but good servants nevertheless, he couldn't deny that. He waved a dismissive hand at his minister.

"Of course I can take care of myself. You're dismissed now," the king nodded once and his chancellor stood up.

"Goodnight, my king."

"Goodnight, Chadron." The chancellor left the room. Brushing his finger across the yellow-orange dunes that surrounded a miniature castle that was meant to be Figaro the king closed his eyes, allowing his thoughts to wander.

Why did he really keep Terra instead of disposing her? When Chadron had asked, his answer had been reasons Terra had proposed. But what was the real reason? Was it because her beauty had really attracted him? Was he attracted by the fact that her oblivion to his flirting made her even cuter? Or maybe because her powers were really what he was after? No…The king rubbed his temples, frustrated.

He had to sort his confused mind out before disaster struck.

A/N: I don't feel particularly 'talkative' right now, so I'll just say three things. One: Merry Christmas to all! Two: Thanks for reading! And three (probably the most important of all concerning me): Please review!