The death of my mother woke me up from my innocent dream. I used to think that mother and father would stay with Sabin and I forever - I didn't expect her to be gone just like that. I cried, expecting her to come to comfort me and tell me everything will be fine like she always do. But she never came.

At that point, I realized that nothing lasts forever. Time passes by so fast you don't even have a chance to hang on to what you love most. I began to treasure every precious moment in my life, living in a fear that everyone I love will all be gone one day and I'll be left all alone. That day eventually came when my father died and Sabin left the castle for his own freedom....leaving me alone in the castle with a kingdom to run by myself.

My nightmare came true. I couldn't escape.....I had no choice but to remain in the castle and take over my father's realm. The truth is, I didn't really want to be a ruler - I wanted freedom. I wanted to walk down the streets and not have people watching my every move and judging my every action. I didn't enjoy the pressure of being a ruler, the pressure of having to make the right decisions for all the people. But it was my father's dream to build a perfect kingdom, and I had to carry on his wish. It wouldn't be as bad if I had someone that would stand by me and support me emotionally. But my family was gone, and I didn't have any true friends in the castle. I was on my own. The loneliness was too much for me to bear.

I gradually accepted my fate and my life. I eventually developed a habit of toying around with romantic relationships to ease off the pressure and the loneliness. Even though I know it's morally wrong, I guess flirting with women became my only entertainment in the castle...it gave me a false sense of not having to be alone, and there was no pressure - if a woman ignores me, I can just move on another one. It's the only time that I can fool around and not have to be serious. Well, I was serious to a degree, because I was hoping to find someone that I would love who would also love me back, and that I'll never have to be alone ever again. However, none of the women I have met seem to be able to move my heart yet.

Well, that was true, until I met her.......Terra.....

I remember the first day I met her. Locke brought her to my castle in order to hide her from Imperial Troops. I have to admit that her physical beauty was what captured my attention at first. As with any other women, I fooled around with her a little, but she ignored me. Well, I kind of expected her to; she seemed too confused with herself to even pay attention to me. As time went by I realized that she was more than just a normal pretty face. She was different. She was.......special. Beautiful, kind, gentle, yet also strong and courageous at the same time.

Locke and I escorted her to the Returner's Hideout so she could meet our mentor, Banon. Her ability to use magic was our only retaliation against the Empire's Magitek, and we tried to convince her to help us. However, she was still too confused about herself and her ability......

Seeing his expression, Terra couldn't help but smile. "Friends." she said as the two shook hands.

Those words were what caught my attention the most. The same words I hear in my heart all the time. The moment she said that I felt as if I was talking to a part of myself....the sad realization that I have no one close to me. I understood the sad loneliness she was feeling, and it made me want to help her, and protect her......I thought that if I could help her get rid of this sadness, then maybe I will be able to help myself as well......I guess it was.....the first sign of me falling in love with her.......

Terra eventually agreed to help us, and she was able to recover her lost memories as we found the magicite of the Esper whom was her father. We thought that she could help us to convince the Esper race to help us battle the Emperor, but when the gate to the Esper world opened the Espers went berserk, destroying everything in their path as they gathered in Crescent Island. Soon after, to our surprise, Gestahl proposed peace, asking Terra to talk to the Espers to make them understand that the war has ended. We didn't trust Gestahl, but we decided to act along to see what he was up to. Gestahl has ordered General Leo to accompany Terra to Crescent Island. We were not going to let Terra go alone, so Locke and I decided to go with her. We boarded a ferry in Albrook the next day and were on our way to Crescent Island.......

Terra paused, then wrapped her hand around his. "Yeah.....let's hope....."

It turned out that the Emperor's true intention was to capture magicite and control the magic statues in the Esper world. However, Kefka decided to betray Gestahl and took control of the statues, destroying the world as he moved them out of alignment. We tried to escape from this havoc, but the Blackjack was destroyed during flight and we were separated.

The next thing I remembered was waking up in an old man's house in Nikeah. The old man, a retired doctor, told me that he found me unconscious in the outskirts of the town, and that I was in a coma for four months. I suffered from a broken neck, and it took another month for me to fully recover from my injury.

I thanked the old man for his care and began my search for my companions. However, the search was cut short when I heard that Figaro Castle was buried underground. I knew they would lower the Castle when the world was going through chaos, but I didn't expect it to get stuck. I didn't want to give up the search because I was worried about my friends, especially Terra, but I knew my responsibility. I spent the next five months travelling back and forth from Nikeah to South Figaro, trying to find a way to get into the castle. The castle has a life-support system for these kind of emergency, but I know it wouldn't last forever. My breakthrough came when I found a group of thieves talking about tentacle monsters breaking into Figaro castle through a cave that allowed them to escape. I came up with a plan to disguise myself as a master thief and convince them to take me to the castle so we can steal the treasure there. The plan was successful, and I even ran into Celes and Sabin, who helped me to kill the tentacle monsters.

We found Setzer in Kohlingen, and he got us a new airship. We began to search for our lost comrades. My surprise came when we found Terra in Mobliz, taking care of a group of orphans. I was happy to see her alive. However, when we asked her to join us, she refused......

"No problem. We'll visit you when we have time," he hesitated for a moment, then leaned over to kiss her on the forehead before leaving the room.

We continued on with our journey. I thought about her everyday, and as time went by I missed her more and more. When I look up at the night sky, I thought about the wish we made, the wish that we'll find what we're looking for in life. I did find what I'm looking for - her - but she didn't want to be with me. This made the sorrow even greater.

We visited her a month later, and Phunbaba attacked Mobliz again. We were able to kill him with Terra's help. This time, Terra agreed to join us. I was delighted, but I knew she would return to Mobliz once the battle with Kefka is over. I didn't want her to leave my life again.

After all the preparations, it was time for the final battle.......

Edgar hesitated for a moment, then followed her downstairs.

Terra nodded and gave him an assuring smile. The two lovers kissed as they held tightly onto each other. A few minutes later Edgar let go of her. "It's time to go," he said softly as he took her hand. "Stay by my side no matter what, okay?"

Kefka's tower was full of monsters, but we managed to get through and defeated him. As we were escaping from the falling tower, each piece of our magicite began to disappear. I began to fear for Terra's life.

Terra led us out of the tower, and I could see her power fading away as each minute went by. When she fell unconscious, I felt as if my heart has stopped. I feared for the worse.

I quickly ran to her.....

The world began to fade out. She could not keep her eyes open any longer. The last thing she saw were his tears rolling down from his eyes.

It was not supposed to end like this. I didn't expect it to end like this. I was expecting the evil villain to be destroyed, and we live happily ever after. Wasn't that what was supposed to happen? Why did it end up this way?

Why did she have to die? She never had a chance to live. She spent her whole life struggling to find herself after being controlled for so many years. All she wanted was a peaceful life. She didn't deserve an ending like this.

Fate, why did you separate us? Just when I finally found my true love, you took her away from me. Why? Why won't you let us live happily ever after, like in those beautiful fairytales? That was all I wanted.....that was all she wanted.....

Perhaps 'live happily ever after' is nothing but a fairytale ending. It will never happen in reality - at least for me. Happiness was never meant to last......

If so, what am I living for then, if I am doomed to live in this sorrow and loneliness forever? I was fighting for a 'better future' that doesn't exist........

The people I loved, the people I needed most in this world....mom....dad.....Terra......all gone in the blink of an eye.....leaving me in a black void.....floating around in a dark nothingness....

How can I love anyone ever again?

I understood the feeling he is going through right now. I went through the same thing when Rachel died. It felt as if the whole world has collapsed, and nothing seemed significant anymore.

At the night of the party, I went up to the top of the castle for some fresh air. I saw Edgar there, and I stopped at the top of the staircase. He didn't hear me approaching. He was looking up at the starless sky.

I wanted to go talk to him, but then decided it would be better to leave him alone. He was probably still in too much of an emotional shock to even listen to me. I just stood and watched him, mainly because I was worried that he'll do something stupid.

A few minutes later, I saw a thin line of white light moving across the sky. It was a shooting star.

Edgar saw it too, and I saw him trembled uncontrollably. He then dropped weakly to his knees like a defeated man and buried his face in his arm. Through this quiet night, I could hear his silent sobs. I left as quietly as I came.

Strange, to see a shooting star in a starless night.

Or maybe it was a tear from the sky.

A Tear From the Sky © 2000 by Lilith Morrigan aka Midnite Angel Aeris