A Different Dream

Her head resting on the window, Terra sighed. She was facing a bit of a dilemma; on one hand planning for the Reconstruction Party was going smoothly. Some excess supplies were being shipped to Doma for the party, Sabin had even managed to procure a shipment of water powered lights that Figaro had produced. "Although heaven knows how."

But that wasn't her problem.

Her problem was Edgar, or more appropriately him not being there. According to the note she had received the Chancellor had bogged him down with paperwork regarding Figaro's taxes, and expenses, which was fine considering they still had two weeks before the party. "Except that I want him here now…"

Terra's dreams were becoming increasingly vivid: She would be drifting in darkness, until she came upon the sobbing fourteen year old version of herself. When she tried to comfort her, images pushed themselves into the dark…

A porcelain white finger pointing at a group of soldiers as though fate were passing judgment on them.

Eyes that held no emotion within their emerald depths.

A bloody sword gleaming as it came down.

A stone floor stained with blood and tears.

A room, crystallized by ice.

The images were always blurred, and seemed to come in no apparent order, and then even they would fade as Terra regained consciousness. "But they're only part of the problem." She thought. The real problem was that Edgar wasn't around afterwards. To help stave off her fears and sadness, Terra had brought her dream journal with her, and was writing every day in it; but it wasn't enough. So to chase her remaining demons away she had begun thinking of Edgar. It had worked, not only did it keep her mind off the dreams, it kept her calm enough to fall back asleep… until last night.

Terra had woken up from another dream of the sobbing girl and her images, and as had become habit over the past two weeks, grabbed her journal from her nightstand, turned on the reading light, and began to write. After she was finished she would lay back and think about Edgar until the dream had stopped bothering her. Her favorite fantasy was of him laying next to her, holding her so close she could feel his heartbeat, as he whispered soft words of kindness, love to her. She had fallen asleep last night to that fantasy… And it had continued after she'd fallen asleep.

Edgar had begun caressing her… gently running his fingers though first her hair, then down her back. As he continued, he pressed his lips to hers warmly. She'd kissed him back as his hands moved to her front, and unbuttoned her nightgown. Terra had moaned as he slipped his hands into the fabric touching, feeling every inch of her; and then moving lower, over her smooth stomach and down to her waist, where the heat was strongest…

Terra had almost begged him to stop when he began to caress her there; the feelings were simply too intense, too hot to understand, and they had only continued to grow in intensity until she had kicked off the blanket. Only realizing she was awake when she called out for Edgar and there was no reply. Soaked with sweat, and more than a little disappointed that it was only a dream, Terra walked the window, opened it, and had remained standing there as the dawn wind cooled her off.

That was four hours ago.

By now everyone was awake and probably wondering where she was, and why she wasn't helping with the preparations. With another sigh she went to her dresser, silently cursing Edgar for not being there.

As she went about her day, Terra found her thoughts constantly returning to the dream about Edgar. She was sure that that particular dream was just a dream. Unfortunately it was a distracting dream. Twice she'd nearly fallen while hanging lights.

After that, Terra decided to stick to less dangerous tasks. She was helping Celes and Gau unload a shipment of spices imported from Thramsa when an idea came to her. Celes had fallen in love with Locke, so it was very possible that she'd had a similar dream about him… If that was the case then she would probably know more about these dreams.

As she handed another crate full of herbs down to her Terra asked, "Um, Celes?"

Celes handed the box to Gau, who quickly took it to the castle, before turning back to her, "Yes?"

"I need to talk to you alone, after we're done." She said, "I have a problem."

Celes merely shrugged, "Sure, okay."

It took another hour to finish with the spices, afterwards Celes brought Terra back to her room, which was closer. "So," She said closing the door behind them. "What's wrong."

Terra glanced out the window, Locke was outside with Rachel so he wouldn't bother them.

"Well," She began, unsure of how much to tell her. "About a year ago I started having nightmares about my time being trained in Vector. I eventually told Edgar about them, and he's been helping me though them. Since he's not here, when I wake up I imagine that he's with me so that I can get back to sleep."

"Ok," Celes said, sitting down on the bed. "Go on."

Terra felt her cheeks grow warm as she continued. "Last night I dreamt that Edgar was still with me. He kissed me, touched me, and felt all over… It got so hot I could think straight, and when I woke up I was covered in sweat."

Celes nodded, "I see…"

"I was wondering… Did you ever have any dreams like that?"

Celes was now watching her intently. "I have, but first tell me something. In your nightmares were you ever taken aside by one of the maids, or maybe even Leo?

Terra shook her head, "No, why?"

Celes stood abruptly, "Terra what you dreamt about was completely natural. But are you sure that you've never been, pulled aside, while you were at Vector?"

Again she shook her head.

"Then come with me." Celes said, taking her hand and leading her to the bathroom.

"Why there?" Was all Terra managed to blurt.

"It seems your- ah- 'training' was somewhat neglected… I'm going to remedy that.

Terra stepped back into her room, her mind heavy with what Celes had said and done. Terra had never realized her own body could have that kind of delights; and according to Celes, who explained to her in no uncertain terms what went on between a husband and his wife behind closed doors, it felt even better when Edgar, or whomever she chose to be with, did it.

Celes had also explained that there were numerous little hints that a girl could drop to let a guy know she liked him, and starting tomorrow, Terra planned to learn those little tidbits from Celes. For now, Celes had urged her to go to her own room and explore herself for a couple hours.

Terra shrugged out of her clothes and stood in front of the bathrooms full-length mirror.

"It's amazing that things like that were hidden from me all this time… But now I know…"

Terra looked back to her bed, Celes's words echoing in her mind: Go back to your room and explore yourself a little… See what you like.

"This should be fun…"