Chapter 46 An Cavern Of Espers

Terra woke up in someones arms. She groaned and looked up at Locke's steel eyes.

"L-Locke? What hap-happened?" She asked weakly as she drew in another breath of

air, which hurt her badly. Locke grinned. Terra noticed that he was holding her while

he was sitting down on the ground. He laughed. "You kicked his ass, Terra."

Terra frowned. Who's? "W-Who?"

"Ultros, silly!" The memory came back quickly, but she remembered falling asleep

swiftly to a powerful pain.

Terra smiled. "Ooh, right...I failed though..." She muttered, rubbing her head. Locke

smiled again, helping her up to her shaky feet. "Eh, you didn't really. If Ed didn't to you

when he did, you probably would of killed him for poisoning you." The thief added

with a shake of his head. Terra smiled faintly. "...Really?" He nodded again. Terra

smiled, thinking back to everything that had happen. To think that she did that to

Ultros, was like thinking a butterfly could eat a spider. Terra looked up at Locke again.

"So..I did good?" She asked hopefully. Locke chuckled and ruffled her hair.

"Aye, luv. You did great, real great." He whispered, grabbing her hands to lead her to

the golden statues, which were being watched by Edgar, Relm and Strago while Locke

and Terra rested. Locke came over with Terra.

"Jeez, let the girl pass!" He cleared them away to make a path for Terra. She walked up

and stood in front of the magical items before her. She could feel a great surge of

magic flow through her, like it was her blood, granting her power beyond humans

wildest dreams. She reached out and lightly touched the woman shaped figure, feeling

a burning sensation run up her spine and down to her toes. Her hands went back to her

sides as she turned to peer at a path that twisted up to a higher leveled cave.

"I..Can feel them..Their here." She muttered, making her way to the path, with her

friends running after her.

Terra plodded into the dark cave. She could barely see anything, but a small light to the

other end of the tunnel. She heard her friends come up and continued to go further.

Relm heard a low hiss and grabbed Locke's hand tightly, her heart beating faster. Locke

chuckled and squeezed her little hand. "Afraid som'in will get ya?" He asked. She

shook her head and said no. Suddenly the room lit up with a bright red flash, then

circles of purple energy balls shot around the room, circling around the group.

Strago ran besides Relm, While Locke stepped in front of the little girl to defend her.

Edgar found his sword and readied it quickly. Terra unsheathed Ultima blade and

grasped the hilt, searching the cavern for monsters. A man with bronze skin jumped in

front of Terra with a growl, scaring Relm. She grasped Locke's pants and stood closer

to him. Terra took a breath and sighed. More of them came out, growling an hissing at

them. Edgar turned to the thief. "Get Relm out of here, Cole!"

"Roger!" He turned with Relm an Strago, only to see more of the strange creatures

behind them.

Terra gasped when one pulled a dagger out. "Stay back!" She yelled, threating him with

her Ultima. The man lowered his arms and peered into her eyes, a frown replaced his

mouth. Relm screamed, gaining their attention swiftly. A larger creature appeared,

carrying a ax in his gloved hand. The monster raised his arm to strike the girl down,

but something caught his ax blade. It was Yuri. His armored arm was holding the ax's

blade up from the girl's head. "No, Zaraki! They mean us no harm!" Yuri insisted, his

arm throwing the blade upward and away from the little girl's head. Zaraki sighed and

rubbed his forehead. "I fear not or their power, Yuri! But of their lies! Let us rid of

them and be on our way to the mystic statues!" Zaraki yelled madly, pointing to the

people behind him. Yuri turned an looked into Terra's eyes.

"Zaraki, you'd mean to have me murder sir Maduin's little girl?" Yuri asked

calmly, waiting for him to catch on. The massive creature gasped and glared at the older

woman. "You mean to tell me this is Maduin's kid!?" Zaraki scream gleefully as he ran

over to the woman and engulfed her into a hug, scaring her to death. "Oh, little Gaia!"

Terra got loose from his grasp and fell backward. "Wh-Who are you?"

the huge man laughed, while Yuri came up from his side, a gleeful grin on his face.

Yuri held his hand out for her to take and said. " O little one, we've missed you so!"

He pulled her up and into a hug, so tight she could barely breath. "O-Okay! L-Let me

go!" She pleaded, gasping when her feet hit the ground. She looked up at the mystical

creature and frowned. "Are..You a Esper?" Terra asked, her mouth pulled up in a smile

when he nodded. "Oh, I was looking for you guys!"

Yuri chuckled. "We were hiding; You see we've hurt so many..." He frowned. "We

came here to hid our shame and pain, fearing that we'd do it again. So we headed for

a magical place that helped reduced our powers." Yuri replied dully as he looked down

and sighed. The though of those people dying hurt him, he never wanted to murder, nor

hurt humans, or anyone! He just couldn't suppress his power and it slipped out. Terra

sensed his pain and lifted a hand to his shoulder. "I'm..I'm sorry that happened..Really,

I am. But they forgive you! They want to apologize for causing you to go to such

limits." Terra insisted proudly, smiling at him, although he couldn't see it, she felt like

she needed it. Yuri and Zaraki smiled happily as they looked back at the other Espers.

They were happy as well! Yuri turned to Terra and her friends. "Alright, little Gaia!

Take us to them!" Yuri announced with glee in his voice.

Terra laughed. "Okay, I will. Can you give me a minute with my friends?"

"Sure thing." Yuri replied.

Terra ran to her team and asked what they should do; Go back to Thamasa, or head

back to the Empire. Locke though for a moment, and said. "Thamasa."

Edgar frowned. "I think we should take them some place safe- Away from them both."

Relm and Strago voted for Thamasa as well, so Terra picked it instead of Edgar's idea. ALthough Edgar knew she

picked it for Locke.

"So we take them to Thamasa." Terra declared bluntly and ran over to Yuri. She

whispered her answer and said to follow them out of the cave. Edgar sighed, rubbing

his brow. He didn't like that she chose the town over hiding them, but he'd back her no

matter what. When she came over with a smile and laugh of happiness he couldn't tell

her this was a bad idea, she looked so happy that she was doing something good he

couldn't take it away. Terra was so out of her usual self, that her team couldn't tell it

was the same, sad fearful, little woman they meet a couple of months ago. She lead

them out with leadership, although she got them lost a few times, the team and the

Espers didn't mind, they were too busy being silent. After hours, they found the

exit to the cavern and walked out to the falling sun, which left the sky a pink hue, with

light blue streaks running through it. Edgar smiled when Terra sat her body against a

tree and drank some of her water as if she hadn't had water in years. She hid her water

skin in her pack and skipped over to Yuri and sat net to him, right under the a big tree,

giving them shade and a chance away from the heat. Edgar's smile deepened when she

started to talk and smile. She was so sweet looking sitting there, her beautiful face lit

with a genuine smile. Her rosy red cheeks seemed more flush right now, Edgar guessed it

was because she was stuck in a hot cave for hours. But never the less, it made her look

more irresistible to him. Her amethyst eyes shined with bliss when Yuri answered her

back, her giggled, making Edgar chuckle and blush sightly.

Locke yawned, as he pulled the last tent up. Total, it made four tents that could hold five

each. a total of fifteen could fit. Of course he, Edgar and Terra, Strago and Relm would

share. The last eleven would share the other tents, and one had to stand guard with a

shift. It would go Yuri, Locke and Edgar all night, till they woke and left for Thamasa.

Night fell, and they finished their meals and headed in for rest, Terra and Relm ran in

the tent and quickly found the most comfy bedroll. Relm smacked Edgar's hand when

he tried to sit down on it before her and yelled. "Ladies first!"

Edgar chuckled and walked away to a thin bedroll and watched Terra. Locke had come

up besides her and joked about wanting the bedroll. Terra nodded and got up.

"Okay, you can have it. After all, you'll be on guard next, might as well let you have the

comfy one." She offered, crawling over to another cot on the ground. Locke cocked an

eye brow and laughed. "I was joking, luv. You can have it." He replied. Terra shook her

head languidly. "Its fine...Locke, you may have it." She untied her heeled boots and

lined them up next to her. Locke smiled an hugged her. " Good night, Terra." He

kissed the top of her head, laid down on the bed without taking off his boots. Edgar

smiled at her generosity. She's so sweet. Thought the king of Figaro, with a sigh as he

fell backwards and into sleep.

Edgar woke up and knew it was his turn for watch out, Locke had just come in and was

about to wake him, with much needed sleep. Locke had thrown the king's sword down

by his feet and said very silently, but loud enough for him to hear. "Their are monsters

out, watch out." Then he went to his bed and laid down, closing his eyes. Edgar stood

and pulled his leather boots on an made his way out side, by the fire that gleamed like

the sun, popping and sparkling. He sat down and rubbed the sleep from his wry eyes to

get a better look at his surroundings. His sword's hilt was in his hand the whole time,

ready to jump at any moment that may come. A few hours passed and Edgar grew tired,

his eye lids slowly drifting shut, then flew open when he realized that he couldn't sleep.

It was frustrating an hard, but had to- He had to protect his friends...And Terra no

matter what. He heard a branch snap an shot up, his sword ready to claim its victim.

It was Locke. He sat down near Edgar and sighed, gesturing for him to sit. Locke

frowned. "I...I-I couldn't sleep that long..."

"Why's that, Cole?"

"Eh, One reason goes to Strago's snoring! An another to..Well, um..."

"Celes?" Asked Edgar calmly as he threw wood in the fire to keep himself from falling

into deep slumber. Locke nodded swiftly. "Yeah, she..Well, has she talk to you when

we departed?" Edgar though for a moment. "No." He replied, sighing when Locke

groaned. Edgar rouse and stretched. "Was this not the reply you deemed fit, Cole?"

"I..Thought she had..."

"I saw her talking to Terra on the ship. Should ask her in the morning-"

"No!" Cried Locke, jumping up. Edgar stepped back in fear. "W-What?"

Locke shook his head rapidly and looked over to their tent, as if he thought Terra was

watching them. "I..Don't want her to know..A guy's thing..You know?" He whispered.

Edgar sighed. "I'll need more then that, Cole." The young monarch informed tiredly.

Locke nodded, saying he thought he would. "Well, see..We had sort of a fight back in

Albrook..." Locke mumbled, scratching is neck strangely. Edgar sat down and looked

up at the stars that shined as bright as the moon. "...You fought with her? Why would

you even think of a response toward a woman's argument? Woman should always feel

as if their right, or made the right decision, Cole. They like it almost as much as we do.

You should of let her win that fight..." Edgar muttered through a yawn. Locke frowned.

"I sorta said..That I couldn't do some'in she wanted me to do..."

"Er, Cole! Why do you even speak to women? Never, ever, ever let them know you

don't like their 'wants' or 'demands'. Always agree, unless it kills her, of course! But

alas, you've messed things up so badly..." Edgar mentioned, getting a quick gasp from

Locke. Locke jumped up and held his head in his hands. "Please..Please, Edgar! You

must help me!" He cried sadly, pleading for his friends help of the female heart.

Edgar patted his friends back. "...Cole, if you want this right, you're talking to the

wrong man. All I do is...Hurt them, I can't tell you how to fix a fight, when I'm the one

who uses women and hurts them, causing fights Is what I do. I have nay a thing for

you." Edgar sadly replied. Locke moaned angrily. "She'll hate me forever..."

"Forever, Cole? Forever is as long as you wish to be, never ever, my thief." Edgar

indicated. Locke noted the kings wryness and said, holding his head in his hands

again. "You should go get some sleep, Ed. I'll take over..."

Edgar asked if he was sure. Locke told him he needed time and sent the king away to

the tent.

Edgar stumbled to his bedroll and unfastened his boots to lay down, welcoming the

softness of the blankets below him. He looked over at Terra's resting body. Her head

was turned to the right, at him, while her arms rested on her chest, holding the blanket

up for warmth. It got cold at nights, so Edgar stood and lightly covered her with his

extra sheet and smiled down at her. She seemed so defenseless when she slept. He

leaned in and kiss her cheek. She sighed silently and rolled her head over. He chuckled

and went back to his bedroll. Sleep followed him and he dream of a light green haired woman, with

blond mixed with it, smiling and laughing with him, talking to him.