Disclaimer: I do not own Final Fantasy 6 nor any of it's characters. I am not making any profit from this story.

Chapter 28

Home

The man in dark blue stopped noticing green hear boy walking towards him. He shuffled his bag and just before Gau got close enough he pulled out a letter.

The group sat at the dinner table, eating while silence ruled the room. You could almost hear actual sounds that fork should make meeting the plate. Everyone looked at their own dish and nowhere else. They all wanted to ask Gau what man told him, but none of them dared to do that. Not even Relm. For some unknown reason they all felt tension grow in the air. Edgar tried to think of a way to stop it, but he failed. He was not able to even look up at his friends. As if he was the one to blame for everything.

"Terra, we are going home." Gau spoke up placing half empty glass on the table. Everyone looked at him waiting for the explanation that never came. "Why?" Terra couldn't help but ask. "You still belong to us." He said calmly and sounded just like the old Gau – cold and cruel child under Kefka's command. "Wait a moment there Gau!" Edgar stood up followed by Sabin and Locke. "We have no time to wait. Since father is dead, we have to go back to our kingdom. We both have our duties." Gau stood up and looked at everyone. "You should understand me the best." He looked at Edgar. The king of Figaro frowned, but what Gau said was the truth. If they won't head out to their home as soon as possible, they will not have a home to return to. Time was not their ally anymore. Sighing he sat down and closed his eyes. "Tomorrow morning two chocobos will be waiting for you in front of Figaro." Gau bowed his head to Edgar. "I thank you. Make sure to get ready, we are leaving first thing tomorrow." He didn't wait for Terra's response. He just walked out of the dinning room and into his own.

Celes looked down at her food while Locke and Sabin sat down. They all seemed to understand the seriousness of Magitec and its entire people. The city could never last without its leader. The silence was the queen in the dining room now. They all wanted to comfort one another, but just could not bring themselves to say a thing. "Doma also needs its leader." With that said Relm finished her food and walked out of the dining room. She, as a princess, could not do that. She had to wait till everyone else has done eating. However, at that moment everyone saw her as a simple girl.

The door to Gau's room swung open. "Leave." A cold voice said before the girl could enter the place. "Make me." A replay came. "You know well enough that I actually can do that." The boy grinned. He was sitting on the frame of the window looking outside. Relm walked up to him and looked out the window. "This time tomorrow, I shall be the princess of Doma." The two were quiet for the moment. "I bet you would start crying once you get back." Gau grinned. "I will not!" Relm punched him in the arm. "Yes you will, because you are weak!" Gau stated jumping out the window. "I am not! And I will not!" Relm yelled back chasing him. Gau watched as the princess jumped out the window on the second floor. He shook his head and caught her. "You are stupid that is why you are going to cry." He said placing her down. "And why do you think I am stupid?" She asked hitting him again. "Show me a princess that would jump out the second floor window." He pointed up to his room. Relm looked up at the window. She was quiet for a moment then turned to Gau and smirked. "You are in love with that princess." She teased him. "Or more like that stupid princess is in love with me." Relm was about to object but had second thoughts. "That is why you are going to cry." He turned away. He knew he said too much, but he just could not help it. "Hah, because you are in love with a stupid princess you will end up crying your eyes out." She turned back to face a stunned boy. Gau turned to her surprised. "Say what?" He blinked. "You mean the all powerful Gau, lord Kefka's son…" He started "Is going to cry because he is madly in love with the stupid princess." Relm finished. Gau sneered at that statement but never said anything against it.

"The sun is setting." Relm looked at the sunset. Gau sat down on the soft sand and pulled the princess together with him. "I think we destroyed Doma." Gau stated. "That is very romantic." Relm answered. "But no matter. We will rebuild even better Doma. It'll be so great that everyone feel envious!" She grinned. "I will look forward to it." Gau grinned. "When you built even greater Doma, let me know. I shall come to take it over." Relm pushed him. "Just try. I will become even more powerful and you will have no chance of taking it over. You will run away once you'll feel the new Doma power!" They looked at each other for a moment and started to laugh. "Then till that time comes." Gau said pushing the princess. "You will tremble at the power of Doma." Relm rested her head on Gau's shoulder.

"Nice catch." Locke winked at a green hair boy carrying a sleeping princess. "She looks like a little angel." Celes smiled looking at Relm. "More like bride." Locke commented. "Oh shut up." Gau turned his blushing face away and the older ones giggled. Locke leaned down and caught Celes by surprise as he lifted her up. "So where will my bride sleep?" He winked at Celes. Celes looked away smiling. "Oh the usual. Her room." Locke grinned. "Will I be allowed to-" Celes index finger cut him off. "No you will not." She grinned at him. "Oh then I am not letting you go." He grinned and ran around the palace halls carrying the poor girl.

Terra stood in her room listening to the silliness just outside the door. Locke and Celes did make a great couple. And just moments ago Relm and Gau were bickering and all together laughing. She placed her hand on the cold wood frame of the window. "I will miss you all." She whispered to herself. The door of the room slowly closed and unknown to the girl a king of Figaro walked back to his room. "Edgar why?" Sabin asked. "It is already hard on her; I do not want to make it worse." He said and closed the door right in front of his twin brother. "You look no better." Sabin whispered to himself looking at the closed door. Leaning into the stone wall Sabin sighed. Was this the end? Will this crazy adventure end this way? Locke probably will head out to hunt for treasures leaving Celes behind. Relm will be busy becoming a true princess back in Doma. Gau will take Terra away and most likely rebuild the empire. Yes, that is how it was meant to be.

The next morning Terra and Gau were sitting on chocobos. "Should not we say goodbye?" Terra asked as Gau looked up at the castle of Figaro. "There is no need to. Let them rest. Let's go." He said and the chocobos started to run. His eyes caught a shadow and Gau looked up. There at the window stood the princess of Doma. "Cry your eyes out princess!" Gau waved at her. "In your dreams you idiot!" Relm yelled back at him and waved. Terra did not dare to ask what this all was about. She looked back to see everyone else waving at them. She gazed at Edgar. I am sorry… she apologized in her mind. Closing her eyes she rushed her chocobo so she could catch up to her lord.

"I would say it was a quiet year." Sabin said walking up to his twin brother. They both were gazing at the moon up on the roof of the tower. "A year you say?" Edgar turned to his brother. "It's been five years already!" He complained. "Who is counting?" Sabin shrugged and looked at the distance. "Yet, I didn't mean that. It's been a year since Doma and Magitec united." He grinned. "Ah, those two." Edgar rolled his eyes. "Well Relm sure became a powerful princess." Sabin noted. "A real lady if I may say that to myself." Edgar looked away. "Yeah. And who would have thought that Lord Kefka's son would be captivated by the tomboy princess." The twins laughed. "Well she is a princess." Edgar marked. "However, I cannot believe that a thief actually stopped looking for treasures." Edgar leaned into the wall.

"It's treasure hunter!" Locke showed up almost out of nowhere. "What in the world?" Both brothers looked at the former treasure hunter. "Well to tell you the truth I was looking for a treasure recently. And I brought one to the King." He bowed at Edgar. "I really don't think some old garbage will interest me." Edgar rolled his eyes. "Oh? But you haven't seen it yet and you call it garbage. So rude!" Locke mocked. "Sabin why don't you take a look then?" Edgar was looking into the distance not really caring about the treasure. "Well that kind of treasure I'm sure Edgar will accept." Sabin said eyeing the so called treasure. "Whatever." Edgar dismissed them. "So rude. Common Sabin, I'll show you my little treasure hunter. He already is fastest boy in entire kingdom. Oh and Edgar be gentle with my treasure." Locke walked away with Sabin leaving the treasure with Edgar.

"I said I don't want any…" Edgar turned around forgot what he wanted to say. There right in front of him stood a woman he longed for all these five years. "Terra?" He would ask staring at her. "So you dislike the treasure?" She asked looking away. "N-no! No no no!" He walked up to her not knowing what to do. "If you are the treasure then… I… I… where have you been?" He asked looking down. "Relm and Gau's marriage a year ago… you weren't there." He whispered the last part. "I was… working…" Terra answered. Edgar gripped his fists. "Working?" He asked with bitterness in his words. He did know what it meant. She was taking over kingdoms. He heard. Empire became even more powerful. Many believed that princess of Doma managed to talk Gau into marrying her thus saving her kingdom. Her people loved Relm for that.

"Yes working." Terra answered. She looked away and into the distance. "Empire now is even more powerful than it was before. Now that we have Doma on our side… We came for Figaro." She turned to Edgar. "Figaro? You come all this way to take over my kingdom?" Edgar asked controlling his anger. He gripped her shoulders not even wanting to start believing her words. "I'm sorry Edgar…" She whispered.

"Well I am not sorry." They heard a voice. A king of Magitec appeared. "We are to take Figaro and you have no saying in it Edgar." There stood Gau. His now long hair swayed in the wind as he held a sword in his hand. He was a man now. A fearless king and cruel emperor just like his father. Edgar drew his sword almost in an instant. They both walked away from Terra. Swords shining in the moonlight as men circled one another. "Figaro shall never fall into your hands." Edgar stopped lifting his sword. "We'll see about that." Gau swung his sword and the fight began. Terra only watched them. That was all she could do at the moment. It was their duel.

Down in the hall Sabin felt something hit his legs. Looking down he saw mini Locke staring back at him. "Really now, you should watch where you are going." He smiled. The boy hid behind his father and Locke pulled him away. "Apologize." Boy's father instructed. "I'm sorry." As Sabin looked down at the boy he noticed just how much of his mother's charm this little treasure hunter has. He placed his hand on the boy's head "Just don't become a thief like your father." He laughed lightly as Locke hit his arm. "It's treasure hunter." They both said in union and started to laugh. The boy couldn't understand what was going on, so he was just looking at them confused.

The light laughter was heard coming from the once empty room. There on the bed sat two women sharing the experience. "I do believe it." Celes said laughing lightly. "No matter how tough they look, how cool they try to be, men just loose it when the child is born." She held a small princess in her hands. "I was really surprised, but very happy. I thought Gau will be cold towards her. He was always talking about how he wished to have a son." Relm placed her hand on her stomach. "Hopefully this time we will have a son." Even though her words seemed to be annoyed, Relm's face held gentle smile. "I do understand what you mean. Locke wishes to have more children also. He wants twins or triplets." The girls smiled at each other playing with a baby princess.

There on the roof the men were still fighting. "You are getting rusty King." Gau sneered. "I am not getting younger." He said and Terra was confused. Even though they were fighting, it seemed more like they were having fun. After few more lashes they stopped and put the swords away. "It was a pleasure." Gau was the first one to speak. "But I think you need to retire. Let the younger generation take over." He walked up to him offering to shake his hand. "Not you." Edgar took it. They shook hands and walked down to the exit. "Terra, please do join us." The king of Figaro smiled. Terra just smiled and followed the two.

"So how did the tomboy princess got you to marry her?" Edgar teased and Terra could not help but giggle. Gau closed his eyes and then reopened them. "People do love to make things up. They refuse to believe that a cruel Emperor could actually have soft feelings." They turned the corner. "You are not denying them. Is that for safety." Edgar asked. He could understand the young king. "Those that are dear to me will be in danger if people shall think otherwise." The emerald hair boy started. "My father used the same rumors. To protect mother, he made people believe that he had to marry her and that way get her kingdom instead of destroying it."

"If your enemies knew the truth, they will use it to destroy you." Edgar said making Gau only smile. "Do you really believe that Relm is that weak?" The three of them smiled. "She would rather die than be the reason of my death." True. Relm could not be taken as hostage easily. Not now anyway. "The tomboy princess, will she ever change?" Edgar opened the door to the room where laughter was heard. And froze in surprise. There smiling gently Relm was holding a child. "Gau... that kid..." He couldn't finish the words because it really seemed unbelievable. "Edgar I present you future princess of Doma." Gau walked up to his wife. Terra guided Edgar to the closest chair. "Kids. They are so fast." Everyone laughed and Edgar joined them. "No Edgar, it is we who are getting old." Locke laughed lightly.

Yes indeed. The group of friends seemed to get older by passing years. Soon they will disappear leaving only memories in people hearts. Younger generations will take action and one day they will be forgotten. Terra's eyes locked on the king of Figaro. A sad smile appeared on her face and she looked downwards. Everyone seemed to be happy. She did envy Celes and Relm. Terra also wanted a family, but that couldn't be granted. She was a tool and had to obey her lord orders. Maybe she was wishing for too much. Greedy people were always punished. Kefka was good example. Terra's attention was brought back to her surroundings when Celes touched her hand. The blond did understand younger ones sadness, but smiled weakly to reassure her. Terra felt Celes' heart. Sometimes things just had to be that way.

Perhaps it was a year later when Edgar stood leaning into his castle walls. The setting sun was so beautiful, that he just had to be outside. No one dared to walk up to him. After he heard that Terra was once again taking over kingdoms he was just heartbroken. He refused any other princess. He didn't need them. Sabin was already married to far away princess that wished to unite her kingdom, so Gau wouldn't attack it. But Edgar always refused the marriage. And Sabin made sure that King's decisions were not questioned.

Edgar gazed into the golden sky which seemed to remind him of those days when the gang was here. There were so many stupid situations. And he was always the center of attention. A smile appeared on his face as he remembered the day he walked into Terra's room. How his foot got stuck into the vase. Or was it a bucket? He remembered his bickering with Locke and getting burned by Mist. Soon his smile disappeared. Closing his eyes Edgar looked away. "I guess it was never meant to be." A small sentence but said with so much pain, one would end up crying.

"Maybe it was not." Edgar spun around almost instantly and smile appeared on his face. "Terra." His actions caught up with his words and the emerald hair girl was secured in a tight embrace. This time, she shall not escape.

The end

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Table of contents

Authors note; Thank you; Funny thing

Authors note: Yes this is the very end. It took me so long to update the last chapter because I thought I might edit the entire story. It was taking a long time, but in the end one friend told me to stop the nonsense. This story is a proof of my writing evolution. Even if it's bad, it's what got me where I am today. Hopefully I will not abandon any more stories like this one. There will be no continuations. No sequels of this story. But if you feel that I missed something or something else needs to be told, go ahead write a fiction yourself. If you really do base your story on this one, don't forget to credit me and to show me what you've done. I'd love to read it!

Thank you: I'd like to thank everyone who was with me for all those long long years waiting for an update. I thank you those who liked this story and those who hated it. I thank you for reading and reviewing! For tips, ideas and support! Thank you so much! Also thanks goes to my little sister who asked me to write EdgarxTerra fiction in the first place!

Funny thing: The funny thing is - this story had to be a one-shot.

Once again, thank you very very much! Love you all, good and evil.

~Molly (aka Fox-san)