Cirque du Kefka

by the Seer of Gallifrey

When Kefka created a circus to enjoy himself, he gathered the other villains of Chaos to join and work for him. When the employees find something is wrong with the circus, they decide to do clandestine work to find out why the circus is more than insane.

1. Prologue

CIRQUE du KEFKA

(NOT based on "Cirque du Freak")

Characters –

Kefka Palazzo

Sephiroth

Emperor Mateus Palamecia (the Emperor)

Cloud of Darkness

Ultimecia

Kuja Tribal

Garland

Terra Branford

Cloud Strife

Zidane Tribal

Pairings –

The Emperor/Ultimecia

The Emperor/Cloud of Darkness

(Emperor Mateus. So you know, I am NOT a 'lady's man'.)

Setting (Chapterwise) – Narshe, South Figaro; World of Balance

~PROLOGUE – The Pala—Spectrum Circus

Terra was around the city of Narshe, finding herself in lost moments of being as bored as a rock. Edgar Figaro was not with her, but his brother was. Sabin was normally around her, protecting her from anything remotely destructive. Who knows, another evil like Kefka would rise again in the World of Balance and tear it at the seams like the insane Court Mage.

Another friend of Terra's, Celes, was just next to Sabin. The last of the small group was Locke, but did not happen to be around her at the moment.

"Is there anything that is not boring that would be so fun to see?"

"I don't know, Miss Terra." Sabin scratched the back of his head, and crossed his arms after a second of standing before a poster that advertised the latest events in the Narshe park.

"Someone told me about a circus coming next week, he has details about it with him. Maybe we should see him." Celes informed the both of them.

Terra began to ponder the consequences, which appeared to be nothing to her. "Why not? Who's this friend of yours?"

"Edgar."

"Do we have to go all the way to Figaro Castle?"

"He should be in town." Sabin added to the mix, following them out of the park to find Edgar. "It wouldn't hurt to find him, so I guess I'll go look for him. You two stay here."

"What about Locke?"

"If he returns, he'll find you. " And with that, Sabin left into the cityscape of Narshe. Terra and Celes glanced at each other, and both shrugged.

"I still want something to do now. But what's good now?" Terra continued walking around the streets of Narshe, along with Celes, and finally caught up to Locke about three moments later. "Locke! You're back!"

"Yeah, I was trying to find you, but I only found Sabin trying to find his brother." Locke turned to see the crowded streets of Narshe, Terra and Celes walking past him. He followed, quickly. "I thought Edgar Figaro was not in town today."

"Sabin said he was in Narshe, but you know how he is. Always telling himself King Edgar is somewhere around, when he's not." Celes loosened her hair and continued to walk along the cobblestone streets with Terra and Locke.

"When I passed by Sabin, he was talking about finding some information on the circus. Why is everyone looking forward to it?"

"Some people like the circus, and love seeing clowns."

"That is just it; the circus is a demented place, and clowns are evil."

"Not evil like Kefka."

"That's true." Locke stood in a confused position, placing a hand on his chin to ponder about what the circus may be. "But he's gone, his influence is dead. Let's just worry that clowns won't kill us, anymore."

Celes nudged him and crossed her arms. "Yeah, right. They won't kill us. Clowns look evil, but they are innocent."

"What about Kefka?"

"That was a Court Mage." the first pure Magitek Knight sighed. "Not a clown."

Terra nodded, "But he looked like one, certainly." The three of them ran into someone who looked like they worked at a circus, in the Freak Show section. Terra recognized the girl as "Shantotto".

"Hello! Is the circus what you wanted to know?" Shantotto rhymed. "Terra is confused. Let me shine on you or refuse."

"Can you please not rhyme?"

"I could not. You are in a knot." The shorter crossed her arms and glanced toward the Esper-human. "Can't help you here."

After returning home from an hour of rambling and rhyming with Shantotto, Terra, Celes, and Locke relaxed, with Sabin and Edgar still not present.

Shantotto was with them, also. She was sitting on the bed as she watched the others do what they normally did, inside. "What could there be to do in one week?" spoke the Esper human. Celes shrugged with Locke, and Shantotto hopped off the bed.

"Go to the Castle! But it might be a hassle."

"How?"

"The circus is there."

"How do you know?"

"…I work there. The Management said he wanted to see a Terra Branford, there. That was you, I remember. I believe you are Terra Branford." Shantotto continued to rhyme.

"Who is he?"

"Told me not to say anything, only that he wanted to see you. I only know who." Terra sighed, wishing forever the rhyming to end. "Pack up! To Figaro or bust!"

Terra shrugged, and had begun to leave straight for Figaro, with Shantotto. They both rode on Chocobos, all of the way to South Figaro. Just across the desert, the sands became hot and smoldering for even Chocobo feet. It had taken a bit longer since they were not much able to run in the heat. Shantotto had hopped off of her Chocobo and took the strap, continuing to walk on forward to the city in the great distance. Terra continued to ride on her Chocobo after the shorter rhyming one moved on.

"I can see Figaro Castle in the distance." Terra yelled without an echo.

Shantotto hopped back onto the Chocobo, and rode fast to South Figaro. The other followed as quickly as possible to catch up.

They were there in a matter of moments, but it seemed like an eternity they had begun that trip forward. Both continued to press on like nothing happened less than a short break from the heat of the desert. It had become significantly colder the closer they reached Figaro Castle. "The Management is checking with King Edgar Figaro to stay."

"Should we go into the Castle? Only I am allowed of the two of us. Maybe Edgar is here." Shantotto agreed with her, allowing Terra to continue on.

As they continued on to the city in the distance, Terra became paranoid that she would not make it in that lifetime. "We are so far from the castle."

"Never fear, Terra Branford, I know a way!" The Chocobos rode faster into the desert; three moments after, landed into the city of South Figaro, just before the Castle. "That way."

"We didn't do anything but ride faster."

"Exactly." Shantotto and Terra dismounted the Chocobos at the gates of the Figaro stables. From under the castle, they reached to the main domain of Edgar. There he was at the front gate, speaking with two men. One was under a hood, and the other was Sabin.

"Edgar!" Terra called from behind, when the king turned behind to see her and the shorter, rythmic, Tarutaru just beyond her.

"Terra, good to see you! The circus Management called to see you, and—"

"Shantotto told me everything."

"Shantotto?" He noticed Shantotto standing behind her as she (Terra) descended to greet him, "Oh, nevermind." Edgar and Sabin continued to speak with the management of the traveling circus. "Anyway, I'm not sure you should be around here. Last time there was a clown, he ruined the world."

"Really? Where he left his tracks, I'm not following them. Trust me!"

"I don't trust clowns, anymore."

"And what if I said I was that Palazzo fellow?"

"Then I would slay you, put you on a rotisserie, and eat you like chicken on Sunday."

"…ew. Disgusting." The hooded Management had noted Shantotto and pulled her forward. "…so, I can't stay here?"

"No. I don't trust you."

"What if I said I wasn't a clown?"

"Then any circus without an egotistical, egomaniacal clown is welcome here!" Edgar boasted with a smile on his face, pulling Terra closer to him. "Now, Terra," he turned to speak, "I want you to talk to the Mage, here. He ordered that you be found. He wanted you to work in the circus with him."

Terra glanced to the mage, tilting her head to the side in mere confusion. He stretched a sleeved hand to greet her, politely, and the Esper [hesitantly] took his hand to confirm the greeting. "Okay…I might not like this."

"You should enjoy working at a circus. I have a special job for you." the Mage mentioned, taking Terra with him. "Thank you for your thoughts, King Edgar Figaro." And the mage descended into the city that had lied before the castle. He dragged Terra further into the city, and she noted a caravan. Attached by straps were five Chocobos, each different colors. It seemed they were a large part of how to get places.

"You're a part of a traveling circus?"

"Ah, yes. I am the Management."

"You sound familiar."

"Several people have a voice like this, Es—I mean Miss Branford." Terra glanced to the hooded Management as they walked closer to the sparkling caravan. "Like clowns."

"Okay, makes sense." Terra stepped into the caravan after the Management. "This is really nice."

"Yes, it is—I mean to say…uh…er, thank you!" Terra had suddenly become a bit suspicious of the hooded Mage.

Terra glanced around as the Mage ushered her to a seat near a desk. The desk was almost cracked in half, and the seat's legs were somewhat broken. The decorations, though, were colorful and the walls were laced all in cloth.

"I'll get you some lemonade, Dear." said the Mage.

"I'm fine."

"No, really. I've got a wi—I mean 'delightful' drink maker that you might like."

"I think I'm fine, right now." Terra assured the overly tense Mage. "So, what was the job you wanted me to do?"

"Follow the lady outside of the caravan, and she will show you the schedule." He ushered her back out of the caravan to see a silver-haired, slightly tattooed female standing outside the door.

"Do I know you?" Terra asked, seeming to see a resemblance in her face to someone else's. The taller lady did not even look at the Esper human.

"No." she quickly answered.

"Huh. Okay." But Terra did not believe her. The rushing lady slowed down soon enough as she reached the bulletin board across the area that was encompassed by the traveling circus. So far, she did not even see the name of the circus, so she asked the lady. "Excuse me, but no one [yet] has told me about the name of this traveling circus. What's it called?"

The lady still had been reluctant to turn. "We called it the Spectrum Circus because of it's colors."

Terra nodded as she was left next to the bulletin board at the smallest caravan. She read over the names listed on the paper and realized something. No one was named with their actual name. The lady pointed out Terra's job, and it said another name to describe her, instead.

How did they know she was an Esper? Her job was helping tame the Bloodfangs and the Belzecue. Then, the silver-haired lady disappeared.

So, to pass time, she had started to look around the circus. Terra decided that it would be best to get acquainted with the people she would soon have to work with.

She found several of them to look like people she had seen in the past, but she had shrugged it that it was a coincedence, that some people look like others with popularity to gain popularity. Apprarently, they are very good at acting, because their personalities and looks were on the spots. …so why were they dressed as enemies she had fought in the past? She asked one of them who looked very regal with his gold and purple armor.

"You look like someone I know."

"To be honest," he spoke in a light English accent (British), "if we look like anyone you have seen, we promise you that it is a mere coincedence. Who, pray tell, do I look like?"

"I can't put his name out there, I'm not sure. You just look like a person I saw."

"Hm…well, if you can remember the name, be sure to return to me." And thus, he had left to the unknown. Terra knew how much this place was suspicious. The Mage did not try uttering her name once, so she wanted to investigate further. Now was not exactly the time, she did not want to act suspicious [herself].

She walked back to the Management Caravan and overheard the strange hooded Mage speaking to the same regal looking man she met up with.

"But, Sir! She is useful to you, that is why you took her in the first place."

"Yes, Captain Obvious, do you think I'm stupid?"

"That would be EMPEROR Obvious, Sir." The regal man walked out of the caravan and noted Terra stepping a bit of the away. "Oh, Miss Branford! That was a simple bout we had in there, don't mind it. If you wanted to see the Management, you could have knocked."

"I was passing by, and I heard some yelling."

"The Management and I…don't really get along." He scratched the back of his head and glanced down to the Esper human. "We have a fight many a day. Never a dull day, here. It might be the same for you."

Terra glanced upward to the man's face. "I really believe I know who you are…I just can't say who."

"Trust me, I look like David Bowie more than anyone else." said the regal man, "But still, who do you think I look like?"

"Uh…you look very decorated."

"Ah, thank you. But that was not what I meant, Miss Branford."

"You look like some kind of Emperor." He went stiff at the mention of the word "emperor".

He then became less tense and continued on like nothing, "Well, I am the Emperor. It's a figure of speech. The emperor to the Management. I control what happens here, but the Management controls my actions."

"Oh. I thought you were someone else. He was an Emperor, too."

"Oh, really? Interesting." he spoke, slowly. Upon Terra following him as they walked to the center of the traveling circus, she saw another person who seemed to look like a monkey with his tail. Here, he was in a cage, along with another person, who may have possibly been his younger brother. "This is a part of the 'Freak Show' as the Management likes to call them. These people have special powers. They might look like they are monkeys, but they are strong."

"Who are they?"

"This youngling here is Zidane." Terra became well aware who the younger person was. She went into shock. "Is…something wrong?"

"I know who he is! I've seen him before." Zidane was behind the bars, clutching for himself, and he seemed to be scared.

"Really? I might have to tell the Management about that. He wants to know everything. He's on this place like a wolf to its pack. Trust me, the security around here is…" he trailed off, then suddenly continued, off on another subject, "Get reacquainted with Zidane while I speak to the Management." He turned and bolted off into the distance.

Terra glanced to see that no one was looking, then turning to see Zidane holding the bars. "You've got to get me out of here, Terra. This place is freaking me out. First, I get grabbed by the Management, and then he drags me here to the Freak Show. What job did he give you?"

"Taming the Bloodhounds."

"It's not easy, trying to impress the Management. I only got the job for looking like a monkey. You're the only one of us who isn't inside a cage. I have to stick with Kuja in here, and I don't like it."

"Do you know who the Management is?" Terra asked, quickly, "He's never told me his name, or anyone who works here. All he told me was that he was a part of this traveling circus."

"I don't have a clue, Terra. I've heard from that Emperor of the Management, though, that the Management controls everything from the background. Never told me his name. He's a bit suspicious, if you ask me. All of them look like our enemies." Zidane sat onto the wooden floor and Terra still glanced to him without taking her eyes from him. "But the Management never revealed himself, which is very suspicious. This place is like a playground for villains. That silver haired man with the Throwing Blades booth…he looks like Sephiroth." Terra nodded, letting Zidane continue on with his information, "That drinks and snacks lady looks like Ultimecia." He pointed to the silver-haired lady Terra followed, earlier. "I'm thinking that maybe it is them. But…they are really good in costumes and personalities. I'm just thinking that the emperor of the Management is a little strange. He keeps stuttering and tripping over his words. And that British accent? A little suspicious, but I think he knows that we think he is the Emperor of Palamecia." Terra nodded in agreement with the young boy, and she stood close by the bars. "I don't think you should be hanging around the cage for a while. The 'Trainer' is coming."

"The 'Trainer'? Who's he?"

"The 'Trainer' is a 'she', Terra. She's pretty strict. She keeps a Bloodhound with her, everywhere."

"What does she look like?"

"I can't remember." Zidane crossed his legs and continued to sit before the bars of his cage. "Well, I think you should go, now. The 'Trainer' comes around about now."

"It was nice to see you, Zidane."

"Yeah, you too." Terra turned to leave, then passed by a tall, silver-haired man with a very haunting glare in his strange eyes.

"What are you doing, scampering around?"

"I was just…taking a look. When do I start working?"

"Tomorrow." And the man continued to pass on, when the Esper human turned see Zidane shrugging. She had then continued to move on to the main caravan, where the employees met. It seemed to look like a lounge, of a sort.

Terra glanced around, only to see a large man in armor, standing at the edge of the caravan, just next to a tall mirror. The armor was a great coat of silver, and the man held a massive sword, almost as tall as he was. Terra KNEW [for a fact] that the man was a villain. She just wanted to dismiss it, so she shrugged it off that he did not attack for the time she was in there.

That, and he was simply speaking to her without the harsh power of his vocabulary. "Hello, Miss Branford."

"Uh…hello. …what are you doing here? Why aren't you attacking me?"

"The Management said I could not explain why I am here."

"I know that you are someone named Garland."

"Very smart girl, you are, Miss Branford."

"Why does everyone look like a villain I know? I just met with a man that looked so much like Sephiroth."

"That was Sephiroth."

"I knew it. Are you telling me this to stall me, or are you really telling me this to help?"

"I need help. The Management is using me as a decoration for the caravan."

"Who is the Management?"

"He told me not to say much except that he is a Mage." Garland was not even moving. It seemed something binded him. "The reason I am stuck here, in THIS caravan, is because I gave away the information. No heroes were supposed to enter this caravan unless they worked here, and the only hero working here, for him, is you."

"Huh. Do you need help getting untangled?"

"No." Garland spoke flatly, in a mild undertone. "If the Management notes my missing, he will know it was you."

Terra glanced confusingly at Garland, then turned to face the door. "Even when no one's watching?"

"Yes, Miss Branford." Terra glanced back to the massive suit of armor at the corner.

"Does anyone patrol this circus?" asked she, with a small hint of tension behind her voice. She hardly believed she was speaking with a villain, and was not being attacked. It was not that he was held back, but he came to terms upon something.

Garland continued speaking quickly, detailing that the security was very uptight and sophisticated, for the Management who acted like he never was serious. Terra listened to the information. Just as she heard a sound at the door, she dove behind a quite decorated cabinet to hide. Garland went back to his previous position. Who stepped in was the emperor of the Management.

"Terra Branford, I know that you are in here. Show yourself, the Management wants to see you."

Terra continued to hide behind the cabinet, but was pulled out from behind by a security guard. "Ah, there you are. Follow me, Miss Branford."

She was dragged from the Meeting caravan to the Management caravan in minutes, then placed in front of the hooded Mage [who leisurely sat on the steps to his doorway]. "You found her! Goody!" Terra noticed when the Management had clapped his hands, they seemed to be in some form of discord. When he placed his arms back on the step he was lying on, his left hand seemed to slip from his black sleeve. He covered it, very quickly. "I got a job for you. Put up these posters around South Figaro. Emperor Matis is coming to help you."

"A job on the first day?"

"This one's really simple." From what Terra could see, he gave to her a pack of posters. Again, she could see his hands, but it was another split second. All she could noticed was how pale they were, that they were as white as a sheet of computer paper. "Just put them up around South Figaro. You know your way around, right?"

Terra took the posters and placed them against her chest. "Of course."

"Good. Now, off you go!" Terra was followed by Emperor Matis, who had taken more than half of the posters, just to help her out.

"Mr. Emperor?"

"Call me Emperor Matis, alright?"

"Oh, sorry. Anyway, you really don't half to take half of the job."

"I'm just doing what I can for you."

"Thank you, Emperor Matis." The Esper human had a great feeling that even he knew that she knew he was the Emperor of Palamecia…or also known as Emperor Mateus. She wanted to make it known, but now was still not the time. "Where should we put them up?"

Emperor Matis had glanced around the area as they stepped back into South Figaro. He scanned for any bare walls. There seemed to be quite a few. "Look for any unused walls, then set them up."

Looking at the posters before she set one on a bare wall, she noted the name was not Spectrum Circus, but "the Palazzo Cirque". She immediately notified Emperor Matis, and he came straight over.

"Someone told me that the name of the circus was 'the Spectrum Circus', but…this isn't the name I saw."

"Another name is the Palazzo Cirque, because everyone seems to claim that the Palazzo fellow owns this circus."

"Don't continue to lie, Emperor Mateus."

"…I knew you would find out."

"Why are you helping me?"

"The Management ordered. Not only that, but I felt the need to help."

"You're a villain."

"I know that, Child. I just need to get away."

"Why do you keep calling this guy the 'Management'?"

"Because I have to follow his orders. Not even I have seen him square on the face. He keeps the hood on so no one knows. I've only heard his voice to know who he is, but he won't keep his name in front of me." the Emperor informed Terra as she placed a poster on the wall. He placed one just three meters off. "Do we have a truce? I do not like working with you, you do not like working with me. I think we can come to terms over tea."

"…okay. I guess." Terra slid over to the Emperor and hugged him like she would a mog.

He pushed her off, instantly, "Not my personal space, Miss Branford."

She let go, reluctantly, "Sorry. I'm just happy. I've already got Garland on my side."

"Garland? He hasn't spoken to me since this whole fiasco started."

"What fiasco?"

"When we started working together. He and I fought and fought for days about how either of us was better than the other."

"Apparently, you like getting in fights."

"I'm a minefield for a bout. I've fought with everyone." Emperor Mateus had sighed, and continued working. He found other places for the posters, and continued speaking. "I've fought with Sephiroth. The Management. You name the person. I've fought with him."

"What about the person that looks like Ultimecia?"

"That is Ultimecia, Miss Branford."

"Why are all the enemies of mine working here, except for Kefka? I've seen Garland, Cloud of Darkness, Ultimecia, Kuja, you, and others I've passed by. Is Kefka a clown in remission?"

"I'm not sure where he is, Miss Branford. Let's just get these posters, and we'll ask the Management to see if he knows where Kefka is."

End of the Prologue