Chapter 12 Unexpected Arrival.

Edgar paced the room as he listened to Banon, the Elder and Arvis ague about their

dilemma. Banon wanted to see the Esper as soon as Terra woke, Arvis wanted Terra to

rest longer and keep the town update, while the Elder wanted nothing to do with the

Returners. But Edgar only wanted to go into Terra's room and apologize for everything

he has ever said to her. But he didn't know how to start that, so he kept quiet about it.

For now. Arvis told them that he knew men out in Waste Line Forest that could fend off

the Empire till they got the Esper out of Narshe and into a safe place. Banon shook his

square head. "No. It can't be done. It's too risky."

"Good. Now stop this stupid act now." The Elder said, with a nod of his head. Banon

told him that the Empire would kill every one in Narshe just because they were neutral,

but the Elder told him he was lying and that he should leave Narshe now. Arvis argued

that Banon was right. Their talking and mumbling became unbearable for Edgar. He

slammed his fists into a table, knocking everything off. "If you want to die by their

hands, then so be it! But we do not, so we will head to that damned Esper and do what

every we have to be safe! If you won't let us, then I'll handle you for once and all!"

He screamed, running out of air. They stared at him, wide eyed. Arvis opened his

mouth to talk, but the door opened to the bed room, revealing Terra, draped in sheets.

Edgar gasped, watching her like she was a precious gem. She looked at Edgar, then

Arvis. "Ar-Arvis..Can I talk to you please?"

"Of course Terra." He went into the room with her, closing the door behind him.

Edgar sighed, looking down at his wet boots. He wanted her talk to him. Him.

He was about to walk over and go in, but the front doors flew open. Locke came in,

shaking off snow. "Oi Edgar!" Edgar smiled. "Cole!?" He shook hands with him,

smiling when Locke looked down. "Oh, ya miss me?"

"Not a chance thief."

"Treasure hunter!" Locke yelled, patting Edgar's back. Then he looked around and

cocked an eye brow. "Wheres Terra, mate?"

Edgar pointed to the bedroom and told him he shouldn't go in yet. That she and Arvis

were talking. Locke smiled. "Well, while I'm wait'in, might as well show you guys."

He gestured to something. A tall, blond woman enter, snow all over her body and boots.

Her hair was flowing down her back. Edgar asked who she was.

"She's-"

"I'm," She looked at him and shifted to her other boot, glaring at Locke. "Celes Chère.

EX-general of Vector." The room gasped. Banon and the Elder began to mutter about

her past. Locke frowned. "Don't worry, she's wit us now. The Returners." Locke

informed. Celes laid a hand on his shoulder. "They don't care about that Locke. I'm...

was with the Empire." She told him, shaking her head. Locke grunted.

Edgar smiled, dragging Locke away. "Cole."

"Yeah?"

"Can you explain why you have a dangerous, ice, crazy, manic woman in here?" He

hissed, punching him on the arm. Locke pulled away and replied, looking at Celes, who

was leaning against the wall, watching Banon, Elder glaring at her. "She was being

beat and tortured in South Figaro for tell'in the Emperor that he was crazy and freaky.

She's good, I'm tell'in you. Just give her a chance." He noticed Sabin gone. "Sabin?"

"...Fell in Lethe River..."

"Oh..Sorry, Ed." Locke patted his back and went over to Celes, obviously to talk.

Edgar rolled his eyes, turning to Banon. "What's are plan?"

"If the Elder let's us, we will head to the Esper." Banon stated. The Elder snorted. "I

gave you my answer. Now go!"

The doors opened again. Sabin ran in, along with a young boy with wild, blond hair,

tied in a pony tail. His only clothing was a pelt around his waist and fur shoes.

An older man came in. He had black hair, also pulled into a pony tail, but tied in a

black ribbon. His purple armor seemed almost black in the dark house, He had two

Ashura's at his sides.. Edgar's face paled. "Sabin!" He ran over and hugged his brother.

Sabin laughed, bear hugging his brother, squashing the life out of him. "I missed you

too, Bro!" Sabin said, pulling him away. "I have brought new recruits, bro!" He pointed

to the two men behind him. The old one bowed. "King Edgar, it is a pleasure to meet

thee. I am Cyan Garamonde, retainer of King Doma." Edgar turned to the feral boy.

"Me Gau. Uwau!" Edgar laughed. "Nice to meet you. Over by the corner is my friend

Locke Cole." Locke smiled, waving to them. Celes pulled Locke around to face her.

"Where is she?" She whispered. Locke snorted. "Talking with a friend, Why so

touchy?" Celes narrowed her eyes and said. "I want to see her."

"Later. When she is done, kay?"

Celes turned her head, growling under her breath.

Sabin was tugged done by Gau. "Uwauaa!"

Sabin gasped. "Oh, gods! I forgot!" He turned to Edgar.

"Kefka has poisoned Doma. He killed everyone but Cyan!"

The room gasped. Banon turned to the Elder. "Now do you see what they are capable

of!? We have to stop this, soon!"

The Elder frowned, fingering his beard. "...Fine! But if they offer us peace for that

thing, I'll gladly trade it! So hurry up!"

"Kefka...Poisoned Doma?" The room turned to a frail young woman, standing next to a

old man in a brown leather shirt. Edgar smiled. Terra was still in her prison cloths.

Celes' face lit up. It's really her...

Terra saw Sabin smiling at her. "Sabin!" She ran to him and hugged him. He picked her

up and swung her around. "Oi Terra!" She smiled at him, looking all the up to see his

blue eyes. He muffled her hair and said. "What, you think a little octopus would do me

in?" He laughed when she nodded. "Well," He leaned down and whispered in her ear.

"He was a little strong..." Terra giggled, looking around the room, she saw the new

people and asked Sabin who they were. "Cyan is the old one. Gau is the boy."

"Oh." She smiled at them and saw Locke. Locke! She ran over and hugged him.

"I missed you so much, Locke!" She said, rubbing her face in his wet shirt. Locke

grinned, hugging her back. "Me too, luv." Edgar hissed under his breath.

Celes looked away. Hmph!

Terra glanced up and smiled sweetly. "Who are you?"

Celes heart skipped. She doesn't remember me? "I'm Celes Chère."

Cyan gasped. "Celes Chère of the Empire!? I knew I recognized you!" Cyan yelled,

pulling his Ashura out and running towards her. Locke pushed Terra out of the way and

blocked Cyan's attack with his dagger. "Leave her alone!"

Celes gasped. Terra looked down.

"Locke leave it be." Celes whispered. Locke growled, pushing Cyan away. "I promised

to protect you! I will not go back on that!"

Celes was stunned. Terra gasped lightly. He promised to protect her? What about me?

Terra looked up and said. "I...Was in the Empire too."

Cyan backed off. "What!? How can you have a rebel force made of Evil people!?"

Terra stopped, looking down. Evil? Edgar growled. "Not every one in the Empire is

evil!" He yelled. Terra looked at Edgar and smiled faintly. Thanks Edgar...

Locke agreed and smiled at Celes. She looked away.

The doors opened and a guard ran in. His face was flushed. "Kefka has arrived!"

Banon and the Elder gasped. "We have no time to lose! Get ready, we are heading to

the Esper." Banon turned to the new Returners. "Dress for warmth. We leave in ten!"

Every one ran about seeking cloths. Celes and Terra stood there, watching them freak.

Edgar appeared in front of them. His smile bigger then his handsome, young face.

"You know ladies...You can dress in that room. I won't peek, promise." He winked at

them. Terra blushed, but Celes rolled her eyes. "And by 'not peek', you mean you'll

peak on us? I am not fooled by your lies, King." Edgar pretended to be hit by a punch.

"Ouch, you hurt me, miss Chère." She sighed, walking outside. "It's cold out there!"

He called after her. "I don't care!" She replied. Edgar turned to Terra and smiled.

"How about you get dressed?"

"Edgar!" He turned and saw Sabin, in a brown poncho, and a fur cap. "Leave her

alone!" Edgar tried to argue, but Sabin threatened to punch his lights out. By the time

they were done, Terra was gone. Edgar sighed, snapping his fingers. Dang!

Edgar and Locke didn't have to dress, nor Celes. For some reason, the cold had no

affect on her. Sabin was dressed like a Narshe guard, Banon in cloaks, Cyan in his

armor, Gau in a fur wrap. Arvis and Terra weren't there. Edgar began to wonder.

Suddenly, the door opened and Terra came out. Edgar's jaw dropped. She had a red top

on, with little pink, red, yellow hibiscus prints on them. She had elbow high gloves,

they were red and had the same print on them. She wore a skirt that went a little below

her thighs, it also had the same prints on it. Around her slim waste, were light, see

through sashes and an brown belt, with a sheath on it. Her boots were red, and went to

her knees, with gold strings and brown bottoms. She had see through leggings, with

little purple flowers on them. Her hair was pulled back in the usual pony tail, but her

eyes were line by a deep black, her eye lashes were longer, her eye lids were colored

firebrick red. She had earrings on, they were purple, round, with little blue beads on the

sides. Around her forehead, was a lovely, light gold headpeice, decorated by little gems

that varied colors from amethyst to blue. In the middle of the headpiece, was a little

sapphire. Edgar looked at her lips. The were crimson red, they glowed like fire. Edgar

mused over her outfit. Why had she picked all red? He smiled when she walked down

from the stairs and in front of the party. To Edgar, she looked more Slender then before.

She was gorgeous! Edgar smiled. "You..Uh..Look..." She smiled at him, then turned to

Locke.

"When do we leave, Locke?"

Locke laughed. "Who's the one that dressed you like that, luv?"

Terra blushed, looking over her attire. "What's wrong with it?"

Locke shook his head. A smile appeared. "Nothing. Where'd you get it?"

Terra frowned. "They were on me when Arvis found me, so he said." She glanced back

at her first friend and faintly smiled. "Are they...Weird?"

Locke and Edgar shook their head an said. "Their fine, really." Then Locke left to talk

to Celes, alone. Edgar blushed, trying to get the courage to say something.

"Uh...Terra?"

"Hm?" He noticed she was watching Locke. He sighed. Just say something Edgar!

"Uh..look..You..Um I mean 'you' good look." She giggled, causing his cheeks to turn

crimson. Dang Edgar! Can't something you always say! She must thing I'm stupid...

She smiled at him and whispered. "Thanks for getting me out of jail, Edgar." She

hugged him and ran towards Locke. Edgar's heart ripped from his chest. Him, again.

He sighed as they were told to move out.