“Stop it Maria, you know you want to be with me.” the man replied simply
“No I don’t!!” Celes squealed squirming desperately in his grasp
“Alright, alright.” the man relented “But don’t try anything.” Reluctantly he set her on the ground
Celes spun away from him, hands raised and ready to fight. “Who the hell are you?” she demanded
“I think I should ask you the same question.” he responded rather coldly “Your not Maria.”
“It was all a trick, so you wouldn’t steal her.” Celes reported boldly “My name is Celes Chere, a Maria look alike.”
Celes watched as the now angered man stepped into the light. She gasped at how pale and white his skin appeared. His long white hair hung nearly to his waist, several strands were twisted into braids. His eyes were sunken in and a rich gold color. She had to admit he was strange looking, but not in an unattractive way.
“Tricked!?” he was fuming “Nobody tricks Setzer Gabbini!!”
“Setzer?” Celes said to herself “Interesting name.”
“Where is the real Maria!?” Setzer was growling “I want the real her.”
“Awww.” Celes pouted “I’m not good enough?”
“No!!” Setzer snapped, his gold eyes suddenly widening like an idea had hit him
“Tell me..” he said slowly “Maria, she didn’t want to go with me?”
“Nope.” Celes replied easily “Thats why I’m here.”
“So she doesn’t love me?”
“I guess not.” Celes responded feeling a pang of sadness towards him all of a sudden
“Well what do you want?” Setzer snapped, gold eyes full of pain “You must have a good reason to switch places with Maria.”
“Yeah, actually I’m with a rebel group called the Returners.” Celes annouced “We need your airship.”
“You expect me to hand it over you to, just because you asked?” Setzer demanded
“Of course not.” Celes snarled, losing her patience “None of us know how to fly this thing.”
“You want me to do it?”
“Yes.”
“And what do I get out of all this?” Setzer questioned
“Uhhh..the satisfaction of being a hero.” Celes tried
“Ha!!” Setzer cried “I don’t need that kind of headache.”
“Then what do you want?” Celes whined “We need this airship!!”
Setzer gave her a small smile and lightly stroked his white chin thoughtfully. “I want you to be my wife.”
Celes opened her mouth to speak but no sound came out. Her turquoise colored eyes bugged in amazement. “Wha...wha...what!!??” she managed to choke out
“You heard me.” Setzer answered calmly “I want you to be my wife.”
“Why!!??” Celes cried “You don’t even know me.”
“I don’t need to know you very well.” Setzer responded hotly “Your everything I want. Pretty, intelligent, bold, and you think for yourself.”
“And I look like Maria, right?” Celes mumbled loud enough for him to over hear
“No!!” Setzer yelled with enough emotion to make Celes jump “Maria has betrayed me. Her beauty has always blinded me. But your different I can tell.”
Celes started to reply, when she spotted a figure moving in the cornor of her eye. “Locke!!” she cried moving past Setzer to help her friend climb aboard
“How dare you!!” Setzer raged at Locke, stomping towards him
“Leave him alone!!” Celes shouted when Setzer bent down to grab him
“How did you get up here?” Setzer growled, reluctantly stepping back
“I grabbed the rope ladder you had hanging down and clung on.” Locke replied proudly
“Where are the others?” Celes asked
“Still at the Opera House, calming things down.” Locke answered, glaring at Setzer “Seems are little scene back there caused quite a riot.”
“Good, I love drama.” Setzer annouced “I bet people will be talking about it for days.”
“Did you ask him about his airship yet?” Locke said to Celes, ignoring Setzer
“Yes she did.” Setzer interupted rudely “And I gave her a choice.”
“What kind of choice!?” Locke fumed, his face turning as red as a cherry
“He won’t help us unless I marry him.” Celes whispered, looking at the floor
“What!!!!” Locke raged jumping to his, feet ready to fight “Are you insane?”
“She doesn’t have to say yes.” Setzer snapped, raising his own fists
“Celes.” Locke cried, sounding desperate “What are you going to do.”
Celes looked up at him with tears flooding her innocent blue eyes. She bit down on her lower lip, in obvious deep thought.
“Marry him.” she sighed a few minutes later
“No!!” Locke erupted, swinging immedately in Setzer’s direction “You’ll have to kill me first!!”
“Locke!!” Celes cried jumping between the two men before a fight broke out “Knock it off.”
“What are you, in love with her?” Setzer taunted
Locke glared at him and then looked away. But not before Celes saw the pain and tears in his grey-blue eyes.
“So its settled right?” Setzer insisted after a brief silence “You marry me, and I’ll help your little group out.”
“Under one condition.” Celes declared suddenly
“What?” Setzer asked, tilting his head to the side in suspicion, Locke looked up hopefully
“I don’t want to get married until
“Why?” Setzer demanded
“Because that way I know you’ll help us.” Celes answered matter-of-factly
“But how do I know that you’ll still marry me?” Setzer shot back
Obviously not anticapteing that, Celes bit down on her lower lip again and brainstormed. “We’ll get engaged!!” she cried suddenly
“Engaged?” Setzer muttered, thinking it over “You mean with a ring and everything?”
“Yes.” Celes answered quickly “I’ve always wanted my wedding to be that way.”
Locke let out a loud groan, but everyone ignored him. Celes remained standing in her cornor, willing Setzer to say yes.
“Alright.” he sighed “I guess thats fair.”
Celes couldn’t contain her joy. She still had a chance to get out of it!! She looked over at Locke trying to make eye contact, but he was staring down at the trees so far below them now.
“Do I need to pick up the rest of your friends?” Setzer said, not appearing at all pleased
“Yeah there still at the Opera House.” Celes answered when Locke didn’t “Land over there somewhere..”
“So he just asked you and you said yes!?” Terra Bradford squealed, later that evening, pulling her straight green hair into a ponytail
“Basically.” Celes replied thoughfully “He’s not bad looking.”
“And how did Locke take it?”
Celes winced at the question. “Uhhh.. not well I suppose.”
“Oh?” Terra said arching a perfectly plucked eyebrow
“Yeah..” Celes responded heistantly “He kind of freaked out.”
“I knew it!!” Terra exclaimed “He’s jealous!!”
“Jealous of what?”
“What are you talking about!?” Terra cried “Its so obvious that he’s crazy about you!!”
“Locke?” Celes snorted doubtfully “I don’t think so. He was just angry that Setzer would make such a extravagent demand.”
“You didn’t see him when Setzer came to pick us up?” Terra reported gazing into the bathroom mirror and dabbing on eye shadow.
“What’d he do?”
“He was sulking.” Terra replied “Because he knows he can’t have you now.”
“Thats silly.” Celes said, amazed at how unsure her voice sounded
“You didn’t see him!!” Terra repeated “He looked like the world had collasped on him, he had tears in his eyes and everything!!”
Celes cringed, realizing it was probably true. Terra seeing it was a sore subject quickly changed it. “Did this Setzer cough up a ring yet?”
“No.” Celes admitted “I don’t expect him too.”
“And why not?” Terra questioned leaning over the sink to put on mascara
“He doesn’t seem the romantic type. I bet he forget all ready.” Celes answered brushing her hair
“Oh.” was all Terra said as she put the finishing touches on her face “Ready for our first dinner on an airship?”
“I think so.” Celes replied, following Terra out into the hall....
“Everything looks great!!” Terra gushed, pileing mashed potatoes onto her plate. “I could eat it all!!”
“Then you won’t be half as attractive as you are now.” Edgar Figaro teased
“Oh go to hell Edgar.” Terra snapped, flinging potatoes directly into his face with her spoon.
Celes simply sat in her seat at the cornor of the table. Right next to the empty seat at the head. “Where’s Setzer?” she thought for the millionth time “We’ve been here for almost twenty minutes!!”
“Where’s are host?” Sabin Figaro asked as if he could read Celes’s mind
“Probably off gambling somewhere.” Locke grumbled from his seat, as far from Celes as possible. Which was more then likely Setzer’s doing, since little name tags had been on all the chairs each Returner was now seated on.
“Terra was right he does look broken.” Celes thought feeling her heart wilt
“He’ll be here soon.” Terra declared in Setzer’s defense “He likes making entrances remember?”
“Indeed I do!!” a loud voice boomed behind Celes, she could hear the pounding of heavy black leather boots on the wooden floor.
Celes slowly turned around and gasped. Setzer was standing there holding a giant stuffed rabbit and a bouquet of red, and white roses!!
“For you Celes my love.” he declared handing her both gifts as the light suddenly dimmed. Reaching into his pocket Setzer fell onto one knee.
“Oh my God!!” Celes heard Terra shriek in the backround “He’s going to ask her!!”
“I know we haven’t known each other long,” he began holding out a small black velvet box “But the moment I grabbed you and saw you weren’t Maria, I realized that your the one for me.”
Celes could feel her heart pounding in her throat. She was sure everyone could hear it!!
“I think we’d make a wonderful couple,” Setzer continued “So, Celes will you marry me?”
Celes’s hand flew to her throat as he snapped open the lid and produced a beautiful platinum ring. With a huge heart-shaped diamond with little blue sapphires gripping the sides.
"What a rock!!" Terra shouted from her end of the table
Celes gave her a dirty look and turned back towards Sezter. "So is it yes or no?" he insisted, looking a little afraid of the answer.
"Yes." Celes whispered, shocking even herself with the answer
Setzer was grinning from ear to ear as he took out the ring and slide it gracefully on her finger. It seemed to fit perfectly fine. "I got myself one too." he declared proudly, showing her a plain man's platinum ring.
Standing up, Setzer quickly took his seat, and as though nothing had happened began pileing food onto his plate. Celes wasn't paying attention though. She was only looking at Locke he was staring down at his food with watery eyes.
"Whats his problem?" Celes thought to herself, petting the stuffed rabbit in her lap "He is taking this pretty hard. But why?"
"So now that thats settled," Setzer declared "What is it I have to do for you Returners?"
"We need you to fly us to the Magitek Factory." Edgar replied "We can't get there on foot."
"Easy enough." Setzer muttered, stuffing his face, and patting Celes's hand from time to time.
"Celes!!" Locke screamed grabbing her arm and jerking her back before she got hit
"Were never going to make it out of here alive!!" Celes wailed clinging to Locke
"Of course we are." Locke assured side-stepping the fallen beam
"Kefka knew if we beat him the whole place would fall down on us!!" Celes cried watching Cyan run a little ways ahead in the distance. "Wheres Setzer?"
"I don't know." Locke growled, pulling Celes behind him "I haven't seen him since Kefka exploded."
"I'm worried." Celes mumbled looking at the ring still on her finger, she'd barely taken it off since she'd gotten it.
Locke didn't reply, he kept right on moving through the collasping Palace. Parts of him hoping Setzer was indeed dead, but then again he wouldn't want to see Celes hurt in that way.
He could feel his flush a deep red as thoughts of Celes and Setzer together flooded his mind. He saw her sitting on his lap while he steered the airship, holding hands underneath the dinner table...
Locke grinded his teeth together. At first Celes had seemed unhappy being engaged to Setzer but now.. he was unsure.
"Ouch!!" he heard Celes yell
"What happened!!" Locke cried spinning around immedately
"I cut my arm on that shard of metal." Celes replied gesturing towards a twisted piece of metal near hidden by a doorway
Locke quickly took off his bandana and tied it tightly around the huge gash that was ripped through her left arm.
"Are you ok?"
"Yeah." Celes answered giving him a small smile "Thank you."
"Your welcome." Locke responded looking into her eyes "Stay close to me from now on ok?"
Celes nodded and allowed him to slip his arm around her shoulders. She seemed to refuse to break their eye contact.
Locke actually began to realize, that slowly but surely, she was inching closer. He tilted his own head, and when they were less then an inch apart, a huge earthquake like crack sounded through-out the Palace.
Locke grabbed Celes's good arm so she wouldn't fall over. Seiing she was alright he slipped his arm around her shoulders and the two began to run.
"I remember coming through here!!" Celes shouted suddenly "Were near the entrance."
Locke narrowed his eyes, trying to see through all the dust and grim that was floating around. The walls were just about to collaspe in on themselves.
"Over here!!" Celes squealed jumping over a pile of shattered glass, making her way towards a small hole in the wall where slivers of moonlight were poking through.
Hearing a noise behind him, Locke spun on his heel, just in time to see the huge wall of fire that had been following them, burst into the room.
"Celes get out!!" he screamed "This place is going to explode!!"
Seeing her white blonde hair, Locke reached out into the darkness and shoved her body through the hole. He himself took one last glance at Kefka's once great Palace, and dove through the hole.
Celes fell onto the ground with a dull thud. Pain shot up and down her wounded arm. "Wheres Locke!?" her mind screamed through the dull haze of pain "Where is he?"
She watched in horror as the entire Palace seemed to fall into its self. Collapsing like a mere deck of cards. She could make-out her other friends in the distance, but Locke and Setzer were both missing.
Tears started streaking down her cheeks. Hot and burning. "Locke!!" she screamed at nothing "Answer me!!"
"What?" a voice asked, it was more like a whisper, but it was real none the less.
"Locke!!" Celes cried crawling over towards his crumpled form, one of his legs was bent the wrong way
"Oh my God!!" Celes gasped "You broke your leg in the fall!!"
"At least I'm alive." he replied dully, his entire body covered in ash and tiny cuts. Celes realized she basically looked the same.
"Why were you crying?" Locke whispered, gingerly wiping some blood from his split lip.
"How could you tell?"
"The ash underneath your eyes is streaked." he answered looking concerned for her, but not himself "You look like a zebra."
"What a pleasent thing to say you ass!!" Celes laughed, tears if relif now flooding her eyes
Locke smiled up at her, and with some great effort managed to hold open his arms. Seeing what he wanted Celes quickly huddled close, glad for the protection.
"I'm so relived your alright." she breathed careful not to hurt her arm or his leg
"I was more concerned about you, not me." Locke responded staring into the distance
"Why?"
Locke's eyes widened when he realized what he had just said. "Because..be..cause.." he rattled off uneasily
"Because what?"
"Becau..because I Love You!!" he blurted, looking away quickly. He felt Celes stiffen in his arms.
Closing his eyes expecting the worst, Locke was soon surprised with a kiss on the lips. His eyes snapped open in shock, but within seconds he was eagerily kissing her back.
"Celes!!" an all to familar voice shouted moments later
The couple jerked apart. "Setzer?" Celes squeaked sheepishly, feeling guilty instantly.
"How did I know." Setzer growled, his gold eyes appearing to be on fire
"Setzer listen.." Celes began
"No!!" he interupted loudly enough to make them both jump "You listen to me."
"I should of known it wouldn't work out." Setzer admitted, rather calmly infact
"Your a free spirit and I saw the connection between you to earlier on. It'd be selfish of me to hold you back from true happiness Celes." he added
Grabbing the wedding band that was still on his own finger, Setzer pulled it off and tossed it towards Locke. "Take my ring." he commanded Locke "And marry her with it."
Celes couldn't even speak as Setzer gave her one last long look, and quickly blew her a kiss.
"Love you." he mouthed before turning and slowly walking away forever. Looking like a black cloud overtaking a colorful horizon....
