Drew greeted the couple as they entered the dining hall, "Master Douglass requested you meet him on the roof for dinner."

"Why?" Leo frowned.

"It's a beautiful night, my lord," Drew looked up at him blankly. He turned, "please follow me."

Terra looked at Leo and saw that his jaw was very stiff. He was ready for a fight, although she wasn't exactly sure what they were fighting.

* * *

The roof was plain with the exceptions of torches shining brightly as the sun sunk into the countryside. A large wall stood on the west side of the roof. A table had been set for the three of them and the centerpiece was made up of several candles. Terra tentatively looked over the edge on the east and saw that they were approximately 3 stories above ground. A little closer to the ground than the balconies of Castle Figaro, but she couldn't help feel a little dizzy looking down from what could become a very hostile environment.

She instinctively put her hand to her chest and stood back from the stone railing. She almost fell back against guards standing near the entrances to the roof. Which of course, they were guarding their exits as well. She felt her self looking for her sword, unfortunately, it didn't really go with the outfit, so she reluctantly was left with daggers strapped to her thighs. In a pinch it would work, but it probably wouldn't save them from all of the army, disorganized or not.

She saw Leo rest his hand on the hilt of his sword, the sword he seemed to favor for as long as their reunion. She could tell he was trying to keep her in his line of sight at all times, so she figured she'd make it easier for him. She felt his eyes fall upon her approvingly. She couldn't keep him out of her mind. She was so ready to commit herself to Edgar, and then this man walks into her life. She never felt that way before, not even when she was about to say, "yes" to Edgar. She felt her cheeks blush. She couldn't think about this now, definitely not now.

The creepy child Drew led them to the table and held out the chair for Terra. She thanked him kindly as she sat in the chair. She looked around at the faces of the guards. They seemed happy of their arrival, as opposed to Douglass, who seemed to have wished they had never shown up. Leo looked rather troubled. She wished she caught more of the conversation, but she had to trust his instincts. This was his mission; she had to follow up on his lead.

Douglass entered and sat at the head of the table gazing on his two guests. Terra felt a chill climb up her back. She looked at Leo who kept his look calm. Probably had lots of years practice.

"Leo, I get an impression that you wish to talk to me," Douglass began.

Leo cleared his throat, "yes, I do. First off, why did you attack Figaro?"

Douglass grinned, "hear that boys? We got their attention!"

Drew stood behind Douglass, his face straight. The other guards grinned. "See, my dear Leo, we knew if we made our existence known, so that you and the emperor would come."

"What?" Leo frowned. "You attacked us? You killed and even hurt people, just so that we would notice you?"

"I think you exaggerate," Douglass began.

"You know very well, Douglass that I don't exaggerate," Leo scowled.

Drew made a move to put his hand on Douglass shoulder, but Douglass waved him off, "do you really know me Leo? Do you really?" He narrowed his eyes. "You don't know anything," he whispered harshly.

"Douglass, we have better ways to handle wanting to get noticed. Whatever problem you have with me, we can work out," Leo replied softly.

"I don't think you know me at all, Leo, or what you are talking about. You haven't been a general for five years. Not even a soldier in Figaro's army," Douglass preached loudly.

"Douglass, you know."

"And you come here, after we have been self-sufficient for so many years,."

"I'm not here to impose on your territory," Leo blurted out standing at the table.

"Oh really?" Douglass stood and leaned in towards him. "What you are going to tell me that you lost your memory for five years and worked as a bladesmith?" he chuckled. Several of the guards chuckled along with him.

Leo sat down dejectedly, "you are right Douglass. I don't know you."

Terra looked at Leo who was staring back at Douglass as he just discredited him in front of all the guards. Douglass smiled wildly, "you go back to your king as the faithful lapdog you always were. Tell him we are a force to be reckoned with and not to take us lightly." He glided over to where Leo was slumped in his chair and whispered in his ear, "you will always fail." He then moved towards Terra, who hadn't found her voice yet this conversation.

She looked up into his eyes. She saw no innocence. She saw only wickedness. Deep wickedness, she wondered how such a young person could harbor such wickedness. He saw her staring up at her and bent down to her placing one arm on the back of her chair, and the other resting on the table, leaning into her, "such a beautiful witch." She braced herself; unfortunately it would be difficult to pull her dagger at this angle. "I see why Kefka kept you to himself. I bet you know how to pleasure the hidden desires of an evil man's heart. He leaned in, which Terra took as a queue to use one arm to fain pushing him back, while using the other to free her dagger. He placed his hand on her face and drew her close for a kiss. An instant before Terra released her dagger, Leo had Douglass at the neck with his sword.

"Back off," Leo commanded.

"Guards!" Douglass ordered.

"All of you stay back!" Leo looked around, but no one made a move.

"What's the matter with you?" Douglass ordered.

"Douglass," one of the guards said meekly, "perhaps you should back away from the Lady Terra. She has done us no harm. And she is with General Leo."

"Ignorant fools!" He grumbled.

"So perhaps you are all honorable," Leo started. "Honorable men do not treat women that way. I know I taught you that, Douglass."

"Don't CALL ME THAT!" Douglass shouted pushing Leo back, his blood streaming down his neck where the impression made by the sword placed on his neck.

Drew had walked up to Douglass, "it's time." Drew placed his hands on Douglass shoulders and shoved him down into a kneeling position. Then what happened next hasn't been seen since before magic disappeared.

Drew and Douglass changed shape before their eyes. Their skin grew dark and scaly. A tail lengthened out the back waving wildly, knocking the sword out of Leo's hand. A fierce beast head protruded out of the front. A large dark dragon glared at them. It roared in laughter. "You are all fools."

The dragon stretched out to his full length taking to the air. It arched its back as if it was taking a deep breath and then it blew fire. Leo knocked Terra to the ground and knocked the table over to use as a shield. He motioned to many of the astonished guards to come and hide behind the primitive shield.

"What the hell is that?" Leo looked at the guards' ashen faces. Leo figured with their lack of response that there were scared as he was. "Terra?"

"No clue," Terra shook her head. "There was seven dragons we fought on our way to battle Kefka, but none of them hid their form in humans. It's been awhile." She hiked up her dress and reached in between her legs and pulled out two shiny 6-inch daggers. "Not my weapon of choice, but it's hard to hide an Atma on your thigh." She said to the astonished boys.

Leo grinned, "You are full of surprises."

"So are your friends," she handed him a dagger and poised in a crouched position behind the thick wooden table looking at the beast reared back in laughter. She ducked as another onslaught of flames attacked the table. "This is not going to hold!"

"Right, we need a plan," Leo began.

"Don't die?"

"That's part of it." Leo grunted, "Perhaps I can distract him."

"Careful." Terra warned.

Leo chuckled. How can you be careful with a fire-breathing dragon? Not just any fire breathing dragon, but apparently a fire-breathing dragon whose agenda you are about to upset and also holds a personal grudge towards you. No pressure! None at all. Leo stood from behind the table, walking cautiously out in front of it, "Douglass."

"Don't call me that!"

"Right! Stop, no need to burn me, yet. What can I call you?"

"Master will suffice."

Arrogant little bastard, Leo glanced slightly at Terra and the others working their way back into the building. "Fine, 'Master,' what do you want?"

"Nothing you can offer," it laughed haughtily.

"How do you know this? I do have access to Figaro castle, the most powerful entity in the world at this time," Leo coaxed.

"Stupid humans. Your want for power weakens you."

Leo frowned, now he was confused, "what do you want?"

"To be free," it responded simply. It was hovering a little close to Leo. Leo tried not to step back in intimidation. He wasn't sure what game he was playing, but he was trying to delay the inevitable until he was prepared.

"Free? What do these kids, or the castle, or for that matter anybody in the kingdom have to do with this?"

"You can't possibly understand," the beast declared. The dragon swatted Leo aside easily. Leo fell back hard against the ground.

"There goes a rib," Leo thought. He felt a breeze where his vest was scratched open the edges moistened with his own blood. "So much for small talk," he muttered. The dagger fell out of his reach. He swore if he got out of this alive he would train to keep a hold on weaponry. He grimaced as he stood slowly and looked at the doorway where Terra stood. She handed the hilt of his sword towards him. He nodded. He took a deep breath. mistake. the cracked rib reminded him that it was there. He bit down on the inside of his cheek and ran towards the dragon catching the sword tossed at him.

The dragon reared back again and started blowing flames. Leo dropped and rolled towards the edge of the roof, laying flat against the block fencing. Leo stood after the flames stopped, "singed me a bit." he complained. He swung the sword at the dragon, the demon dodge the attack easily.

"You can't be the great Leo," it cackled.

"It would seem like that," Leo swung towards at a leg that looked within reach and almost lost his balance of the edge of the roof. He looked down and fell back on the roof.

He sighed, and opened his eyes to see Terra, wind blowing her hair out of its place and the dress fluttering. She pulled her arm back as far as she could and with precise accuracy and vehemence she launched the dagger. Leo turned to look and saw the dragon lurch back slightly as the dagger embedded itself in his chest.

She dived towards the other dagger, rolled, and stood taking aim again. The dragon, obviously angered by the first piercing, was not about to stand for another one.

Leo jumped up as the dragon headed towards Terra. He somehow gathered the strength and momentum to run and jump on the back of the beast.

Terra looked at him puzzled, "What the hell?"

"I don't know," Leo hung onto the neck of the dragon.

Terra threw the other dagger; this one also hit but seemed to lodge between the dragon's ribs. The dragon jerked back unexpectedly. Leo held on, careful not to lose grip on the sword in his right hand.

Leo hadn't kept abreast of his dragon anatomy, but figured his guess was as good as he was going to get. He shoved in the sword from the back through as hard as he could, hoping he hit the heart. The dragon's roar gurgled as it thrashed about knocking Leo off its back. Leo winced, "another rib."

Terra had run to the guards hiding behind the door grabbing another sword from an unexpected lad who was too frightened to notice. She looked back to see Leo on the ground, the wind knocked out of him. She watched the dragon writhe and fall on top of the toppled wood table, cracking the wood into splinters. She ran to Leo who was breathing hard, "Leo!" she called urgently.

"Yeah?" he opened his eyes and saw her look of concern. He tilted his head and saw where the dragon had landed. He sat up, knowing the pain he wasn't feeling now, would hit him hard later. He and Terra watched as the dragon morphed back into Douglass and Drew. Drew laid there, two daggers and sword sticking out of him. Slowly, his essence evaporated into thin air, the word freedom carried softly away in the wind.

Leo scrambled to stand and stumbled. Terra caught him gently and helped him brace himself. They walked over to Douglass who had a wooden splinter sticking out of his chest, blood overflowing. Leo saw tears brimming in Douglass' eyes.

"Douglass?" Leo knelt beside him.

"Leo." he breathed. "Thank you."

Leo grabbed his hand, "Thanks for what? We need to get you help!" His eyes darted at Terra.

Douglass chuckled softly, "No, I don't want any help."

"Douglass, no, stop." Leo's eyes started becoming cloudy.

"It's okay," Douglass squeezed Leo's hand. "I've always known you would come back. You've set me free."

"What happened?"

"No time." Douglass coughed. "You've always been a good father to me, and you have rescued me, again. Thank you."

Leo sighed and held Douglass' hand. "I'm sorry."

Douglass smiled and closed his eyes; "I love you."

The tears fell down Leo's face. He placed Douglass' hand down. He looked up at Terra. She was having difficulty fighting back her own tears. He could tell she was trying to keep strong for him. He fell in love with her even more. She reached her hand down to him and helped him stand, "come on," she coaxed softly.

The sky darkened briefly. Terra and Leo looked up and saw the airship flying overhead. Then two more appeared over the horizon. "Here comes the cavalry," Terra smirked.

"We are going to need help here in a moment anyway," Leo said and nodded towards the soldiers standing around gaping at Douglass, the airships, and well looking rather lost.

"You need medical attention," Terra instructed. "Come on, I will honor your dignity and help you to the airship."

"How is that honoring my dignity?"

"I'm not carrying you."

"Oh."

* * *

"Now, sit still!" the nurse put her hand on Leo's shoulder as he squirmed away from her bandaging. "I really need to get you someplace to lay down, your ribs will not heal right if you don't rest."

"I'll rest, I just have some business to take care of," Leo said distractedly. He glanced off to the distance watching Terra talking to Edgar.

* * *

"When I heard about the fire, I was so worried," Edgar started.

"I'm okay," Terra responded quietly.

"I thought all the dragons were gone," Edgar replied.

"From what I can tell, and this is mostly a guess, there was that was trapped here in the remains of the tower. Douglass in his attempt to find solace confided in him, I guess invited him to use his body. The dragon wanted freedom, but I don't think he knew how. I think the only freedom was him being killed, and also requiring Douglass to die too," Terra explained. "Sad really, you'd think all the heartbreak is finally over from the war, and then something like this happens." Terra looked down at her feet.

"It will take some time," Edgar said softly. "We are still healing as a people."

"Yeah," Terra nodded. They stood in silence for several heartbeats.

Edgar placed his hand on her shoulder and rubbed down to her hand. "This dress is quite beautiful."

Terra chuckled, "not the easiest to hide a weapon in, though."

"So, that's the secret to clothes buying," Edgar smiled.

He felt her hand. He lifted it to his face and looked at the ring he had given her. "This looks beautiful," he sighed.

"Oh," Terra looked up, blushing.

"I suppose you have an answer for me?" Edgar asked.