“Rene I won’t argue with you anymore but believe me you will be sorry for hiding that traitor here.”

Terra walked down the hallway and out the castle with two guards following her. “I’m not hiding any friggin traitor…” Rene called after her.

She then motioned the chancellor to go and get Rachel and Kefka. “That was way to close. Rachel why the hell did you bring him here I’ve got enough on my mind right now!”

“I’m so sorry I thought maybe you would like to help a friend.”

“I don’t need Terra breathin down my neck.”

“Did you even notice my friend…”

“Oh sorry I didn’t properly introduce myself. I’m Queen Rene of Figaro. Rachel is my connection to the Empire by bringing back messages to me and so forth. I very rarely go to a meeting. I’m also the ally of the Returners. So it kinda makes me a double agent. Understand?”

“Uhh I guess so but...”

“Good now look Kefka why don’t you go look around my castle? I have something to discuss with Rachel…”

“Okay nice to meet you Miss Rene.”

Kefka walked out of the throne room, looked around the castle, and decided to do some reading in the library. Meanwhile Rachel and Rene were talking in the throne room. “She mentioned something about how I would end up like my parents if I didn’t cooperate. Do you think she killed them?”

“Come on Rene you know your parents did not like the Returners. The Returners thought that the best way to get rid of this big problem was to exterminate the King and Queen. It didn’t work because they’re youngest daughter decided to join with the Empire but pretend to be the Returners ally. Now if Terra knows this information we might as well just appoint a new ruler of Figaro because you’re pretty much dead meat.”

“You’re so comforting.”

“Look the Returners must want that Kefka guy bad enough to come and threaten the Queen of Figaro. We have got to get him to meet Ghesthl if you wanna stay here and be killed by Terra fine with me but if you wanna come along with us go right ahead. I’ll be in the study if you need me.”

Rachel walked out of the throne room just as Kefka was reentering. “Hi Rachel…” She grunted a response and walked out of the room. Kefka looked toward Rene hoping for some answers as to why Rachel just stormed out of there mad as a hornet. He hadn’t noticed before how beautiful she was. She had pretty, long blond hair in a messy braid. She was wearing a sky-blue t-shirt and jean shorts. She had baby blue eyes that stared right into his.

Suddenly her ruby red lips spoke, “Umm I’m sorry I guess she’s in a bad mood.” She bit her lip and sat back down. “Kefka if you’ll excuse me I have to speak with my chancellor. It’s getting late why don’t you go to a your room and go to sleep, you must be tired.”

Kefka nodded and walked to his room passing Rachel in the hallway. “Oh Kefka I’m sorry I was so rude to you today.”

“Oh no prob…by the way why did you help me back there?”

“It was my duty.”

“Well why are you guys taking such an interest to me?”

“We like you.”

“No I mean why are you taking me to meet your leader?”

“We think you’d make a good edition to the Empire. Besides the Returners were using you as a biological weapon they don’t deserve to have you as a soldier. You’re a person not a thing. I mean for god’s sake they toke away your memory.”

“They did didn’t they? Thanks Rachel you’re a great help. I’m going to bed. We leave tomorrow?”

“Yah, we do. Good night.”

“Good Night.” Kefka walked to his room and had a fairly peaceful night.

“Uhh.” Edgar awoke in the bustling city of Narshe. He saw people scrambling around the town and suddenly a Returner soldier grabbed him by the collar and lifted him over his head. The bustling stopped as Edgar turned white with fear. The 9’ foot Mike Tyson wannabe suddenly spoke. “Who the hell are you?”

Edgar barely gasped out a reply. “Edgarrrrrr Figgggoooo.”

“Are you a Returner?”

“Of courseeeee.”

“Why you here?”

“Uhh Rock he’s my nephew.”

“Okay Arvis but I’ll take your word for it. But if you’re lyin blondie here gets it.”

“Right Rock, thanks.”

He dropped Edgar on the ground and went toward the mines. “Thanks Arvis.”

“No problem Edgar. Now you can come with me to my house and tell me about yourself.”

Edgar and Arvis walked and talked about the war until they reached Arvis’s house. “So where can I find Rachel, Rene, and Roni?”

“Well Roni for all I know is dead Rene and Rachel should be at the Island Castle Figaro. Don’t try to catch up with them just go to South Figaro cave.”

“Okay thanks.” Edgar walked out of Arvis’s house and out of Narshe. He looked around at his surroundings and finally found the South Figaro cave. Running quickly to the cave he found he was just in time to meet Kefka, Rene, and Rachel before they entered. “Who’s he?”

“I don’t know probably some kid from that little tiny town what’s it called Nikeah.”

Edgar looked at the assorted party. He recognized Rachel with her long black hair and Snow White complexion. And that was Kefka all right except that he actually looked normal. He had on green slacks and a green tunic. He also wore a flowing red cape and was carrying a long silver sword. His eyes were green and his hair was blond. Edgar barely recognized him. Edgar had never seen the other girl in his life. “Yo Blondie!”

“Yes?”

“What’s your name?”

“Edgar.”

“Where ya from?”

“Umm South Figaro.”

“You a Returner or Imperial?”

“Imperial.”

“Good look we’re going to South Figaro and then to the Imperial hideout you wanna come?”

“Sure Rachel.”

“How did you know my name?”

“Umm Ghesthl told me.”

“Oh.”

“Miss are you okay?”

“Oh yes I’m, I’m fine thanks.”

“Are you sure lovely lady?”

“Quite. Who are you?”

“I am Sir Cyan of the Returners. And you are?”

“I’m Terra, Terra Branford.”

“You do look like her quite a bit. But really what is your name?”

“Umm Terra, Terra Ford!”

“Well Miss Ford…”

“Call me Terra.”

“Alright. Miss Terra if I were you I would change your look a bit. If you are mistaken for Lieutenant Terra…well she’s…she’s very…very…very vain. She is known to be the most beautiful woman in the world. If she saw that someone who looked almost exactly like her was more beautiful…she has much more authority then me. She could order me to kill you and if I didn’t it would be worth my life even if I am a General. Here, I have some time before I go to the new base we can go down to the beauty parlor.”

Cyan and Terra walked arm in arm down to the central beauty parlor. As they walked in the hairdressers, manicurists, and makeup artists gasped and bowed low. “She’s not Lieutenant Branford. Her name’s Terra Ford she wants you to give her a makeover so she doesn’t look like…”

“The Queen of Mirrors we get it Cyan…but it’s remarkable how much she looks like the Lieutenant. Dear take out your hair please.”

“Terra pulled the pink ribbon out of her hair. “Oh she has such nice hair it’ll be a shame to dye it.”

“Dye it!”

“Don’t worry we’ll make it a very pretty shade of red and your hair will be able to go back to its green color after about 4 months. Now we’re also going to have curl it and put highlights in. You’ll also need a new wardrobe I mean pink would never work with red. A nice yellow or green would look good. Now we’ll also have to give her some lipstick. She’ll look like a supermodel. What do you think about that?”

“Well…”

“Good now Carrie you do her hair, Jasmine you’ll do her makeup, Lana you’ll do her nails, Shana you pick out her wardrobe, and I’ll get her some jewelry. Cyan she’ll be done in about three hours.”

“I’ll wait here Maurice.”

“Wait! If you pick out my clothes pick out something suitable for traveling and fighting.”

“Got ya covered cutie and no jewelry I’ll get you a sword and shield.”

“*Sigh* Thank you.”

“Oh Terra you look lovely! You’re as stunning as you were before.”

“I still prefer myself with no makeup and green hair.”

(Since I have no artistic talent whatsoever I will only be able to describe her since no one would like to see my pathetic drawings.) Her hair was a shade of light red curled and in a ponytail tied with a yellow ribbon. Her eyes had become a shade of violet blue and her lips had become ruby red. She wore yellow jean shorts and a loose yellow shirt a Flame Sabre was holstered at her side.

“Miss Terra I would be honored if you would have dinner with me tonight.”

“I’m sorry I really have to be going.”

“Well I must be off to bed then. I must go to the new base tomorrow.”

“Oh really where’s that?”

“Southeast of Thamsa we’ll be attacking in a month or so.”

“May I join you?”

“If you wish. But why?”

“Oh I –umm- well I –er- perhaps I will be of some –er- help.”

“Perhaps you will. We leave tomorrow morning at 0500 hours. You’ll be a, a, a tactical advisor!”

“Okay good night.”

“Good night.”

Cyan bowed at Terra and walked to the Returner castle. “What a glorious woman. ”, He said to himself.

“Come on Strago dance with me!”

“No Alisha I don’t want to.”

“Don’t you love me anymore…”

“Oh don’t start with the Bambi eyes we’ll dance, we’ll dance!”

Strago and Alisha danced the night away at the high school dance afterward returning home for juice and cake. “Did you kids have fun?”

“Yes gram it was very fun…”

“Aside from the fact that Strago was the laughing stock of the dance…”

Alisha giggled and stopped when Strago gave her a mean glare. “He can’t dance at all! Didn’t you ever teach him?”

“Regretfully no I didn’t he was always more interested in…”

Suddenly, a young man ran in the room panting and out of breath. “…Swordsmanship. ”, Relm finished staring at the young man. “Strago the mayor orders that all soldiers and soon to be soldiers go on a 5 day training session in the forest northwest of here. He requests that you come in your fighting equipment. We are to leave in an hour.”

“I must leave. Take care grandmother. Alisha I’ll be back soon.”

“Bye.” He kissed both on the cheek and left Thamsa.