[Author's note: Well, already I'm starting a new fic. This one though, of course, is about my second favorite game of all time, and another heroine of which I highly admire. ^.^ This story kind of revolves around her before she joins the Returners, and events that happen and so forth. This is all origionally placed in my opinion. So, enjoy. ^.^ v Oh yes, also, the words within the // are inner thoughts of the character. ^.^ ]
Crystalline
She opened her eyes.
Her icy blue orbs scanned observingly the horizon, in the direction of the rising sun. Soft pallet colors of pink, purple and orange were painted across the early morning sky as a soft breeze picked up, sending her pale blonde tendrils dancing about her in tiny silver waltzes. She took in a clear breath, feeling the cool air fill her lungs. /Freedom./ Was her only thought.
She was perched on a stony, grey balcony, which was part of her childhood home in the imperial city of Vector, the capitol of the world. One hand was rested on the hilt of her sword, her treasured rune blade, which was casually strewn around her slender hips in its silver scabbard. It was decorated to match her uniform, which was made to befit the great general that she was. She hated it. It was a constant reminder of her vassalage to the empire.
She looked on at the endless beauty of the sky, craving for just a piece of its freedom. She was trapped. Raised as a child to the power hungry emperor, Ghestal, with no knowledge of her true family, she was injected experimentally with the substance known as magicite. The emperor wanted to create someone with prodigious powers, equal to that of the mystic Espers of long ago. He hopes to use these abilities to bring him to the height of power.
Fortunately, she is not alone. Three other people were "adopted" as well under Ghestal's wing, and were also injected with magicite. They each had their separate reactions, though. One had little reaction, and the other went nearly insane from the dosage. Either way, she still felt completely isolated. She was nothing but a mere lap dog to the emperor, who used her again and again in his wars.
She watched the sky as the colors slowly began to shift to a darker element, all the pallets turning slowly into a pale blue. She sighed deeply, lost in her thoughts. Her breath chilled before her in the air, and misted away slowly. She remembered the day before, when she walked through the lesser market surrounding the central castle of Vector. So many people stared at her cruelly, whispering little gossip about her.
/You see her, right there?/ One market woman said, in the thick, uneducated accent of the lower people, while pointing a dirty, boney finger in her direction. /I hear she slayed a hundred people in that last battle the emperor waged. Heard she killed 'em all off in less then an hour, I did. She's a heartless one. That's why the emperor favors her such as he does./
One woman pulled her child close, shielding his eyes. /Stay away from that woman.. She's as dangerous as they come. She has no emotions. She's never cried even, not even once. A heart 'o ice, she has./
Even while passing through the hallways of the inner castle, she heard the whispers of the little spiders that crawled about, serving the emperor's every whim. /You know what I heard about her? She gets crazy during the cry of battle, and mercilessly kills everyone in reach, wether they're on her side or not. She's as insane as that mad man, Kefka./ Then they'd snicker, endlessly and cruel.
/I'm only emotionless because of people like you../ She'd always think. /But you'd never understand. How could you, when I don't even understand myself?/
"Don't concern yourself so, Celes." A familiar voice came from behind her. She whirled about quickly, secretly tightening her grip on her sword. General Leo made his way in through the grey stone doorway. He was a big, powerful man, who contained the magicite in his blood, just as she did. He, though, had taken little effect of it. It only made him stronger physically, and gave him the ability to learn different magic spells.
He smiled warmly at her, and she instantly relaxed. She felt herself compelled to smile back, for it was near impossible to smile at his charming ways. He was very substantial, very tall and very intimidating. He was made for war, with a strong build and powerful voice. But his looks strongly betrayed his personality. He was basically a fuzzy teddy bear trapped in the body of a ferocious lion. He was very sweet and genial, and was considered to her like a big brother. He always looked for the good in a situation, and always tried to solve things as peacefully as possible. He hated war just as much as she did, but he always did as he was told by his leader, Ghestal, in hopes of finding a placid way to solve the emperors troubles.
-How I miss him-
A strange voice suddenly spoke from what seemed inside of her mind. /What? But he's standing right here in front of me../ She thought back in reply. Getting no answer, she shrugged it off and watched as the Great General Leo walked to her side, his great cape swaying side to side with each long stride, and his armor clanking softly with each foot fall. He stood beside her and gazed out at what was left of the sunrise.
"Ghestal, from what I have heard, has very good news to disperse to the people in his speech today. Perhaps it's the peace we've been waiting for, Celes." He said in his gentle, baritone voice.
She nodded her head in silent agreement. /Or it could be news of more war./ Was what she thought. She kept it to herself, though, not wanting to reject the kind words Leo was trying to offer.
"Imagine what this world would be like, finally in peace. No more war. No more craving aspiration for power." He continued gently.
-Or he could have something completely darker in mind-
The voice again. It baffled her, but she didn't want Leo to question her about it, so she played it off calmly. How could she explain something she didn't know the answer to, herself?
Celes leaned forward and rested her elbows on the hard stone of the balcony ledge. "I don't think the emperor would know what to do with himself if he called for peace." She said in a cool, nearly mocking tone.
Leo chuckled in amusement. "I think you're right." He then turned and headed back for the doorway, only to stop and gasp in surprise. "General Kefka. I didn't realize your presence. How-"
"Of course you didn't." A harsh voice interrupted sharply. "And who cares how long I've been here, or how I am today. Personally, I don't think the emperor would appreciate you talking behind his back like this."
[Author's note: Chapter one down, who knows how many more to go. ^.^ This fic won't be as long as my last one, so it should get posted fairly quickly. Reviews are always nice to receive, so I know if I'm doing good so far, or not. -.- Well, see ya in the next chapter. ^.^ v (hopefully.. o_o;;) ]
Crystalline
She opened her eyes.
Her icy blue orbs scanned observingly the horizon, in the direction of the rising sun. Soft pallet colors of pink, purple and orange were painted across the early morning sky as a soft breeze picked up, sending her pale blonde tendrils dancing about her in tiny silver waltzes. She took in a clear breath, feeling the cool air fill her lungs. /Freedom./ Was her only thought.
She was perched on a stony, grey balcony, which was part of her childhood home in the imperial city of Vector, the capitol of the world. One hand was rested on the hilt of her sword, her treasured rune blade, which was casually strewn around her slender hips in its silver scabbard. It was decorated to match her uniform, which was made to befit the great general that she was. She hated it. It was a constant reminder of her vassalage to the empire.
She looked on at the endless beauty of the sky, craving for just a piece of its freedom. She was trapped. Raised as a child to the power hungry emperor, Ghestal, with no knowledge of her true family, she was injected experimentally with the substance known as magicite. The emperor wanted to create someone with prodigious powers, equal to that of the mystic Espers of long ago. He hopes to use these abilities to bring him to the height of power.
Fortunately, she is not alone. Three other people were "adopted" as well under Ghestal's wing, and were also injected with magicite. They each had their separate reactions, though. One had little reaction, and the other went nearly insane from the dosage. Either way, she still felt completely isolated. She was nothing but a mere lap dog to the emperor, who used her again and again in his wars.
She watched the sky as the colors slowly began to shift to a darker element, all the pallets turning slowly into a pale blue. She sighed deeply, lost in her thoughts. Her breath chilled before her in the air, and misted away slowly. She remembered the day before, when she walked through the lesser market surrounding the central castle of Vector. So many people stared at her cruelly, whispering little gossip about her.
/You see her, right there?/ One market woman said, in the thick, uneducated accent of the lower people, while pointing a dirty, boney finger in her direction. /I hear she slayed a hundred people in that last battle the emperor waged. Heard she killed 'em all off in less then an hour, I did. She's a heartless one. That's why the emperor favors her such as he does./
One woman pulled her child close, shielding his eyes. /Stay away from that woman.. She's as dangerous as they come. She has no emotions. She's never cried even, not even once. A heart 'o ice, she has./
Even while passing through the hallways of the inner castle, she heard the whispers of the little spiders that crawled about, serving the emperor's every whim. /You know what I heard about her? She gets crazy during the cry of battle, and mercilessly kills everyone in reach, wether they're on her side or not. She's as insane as that mad man, Kefka./ Then they'd snicker, endlessly and cruel.
/I'm only emotionless because of people like you../ She'd always think. /But you'd never understand. How could you, when I don't even understand myself?/
"Don't concern yourself so, Celes." A familiar voice came from behind her. She whirled about quickly, secretly tightening her grip on her sword. General Leo made his way in through the grey stone doorway. He was a big, powerful man, who contained the magicite in his blood, just as she did. He, though, had taken little effect of it. It only made him stronger physically, and gave him the ability to learn different magic spells.
He smiled warmly at her, and she instantly relaxed. She felt herself compelled to smile back, for it was near impossible to smile at his charming ways. He was very substantial, very tall and very intimidating. He was made for war, with a strong build and powerful voice. But his looks strongly betrayed his personality. He was basically a fuzzy teddy bear trapped in the body of a ferocious lion. He was very sweet and genial, and was considered to her like a big brother. He always looked for the good in a situation, and always tried to solve things as peacefully as possible. He hated war just as much as she did, but he always did as he was told by his leader, Ghestal, in hopes of finding a placid way to solve the emperors troubles.
-How I miss him-
A strange voice suddenly spoke from what seemed inside of her mind. /What? But he's standing right here in front of me../ She thought back in reply. Getting no answer, she shrugged it off and watched as the Great General Leo walked to her side, his great cape swaying side to side with each long stride, and his armor clanking softly with each foot fall. He stood beside her and gazed out at what was left of the sunrise.
"Ghestal, from what I have heard, has very good news to disperse to the people in his speech today. Perhaps it's the peace we've been waiting for, Celes." He said in his gentle, baritone voice.
She nodded her head in silent agreement. /Or it could be news of more war./ Was what she thought. She kept it to herself, though, not wanting to reject the kind words Leo was trying to offer.
"Imagine what this world would be like, finally in peace. No more war. No more craving aspiration for power." He continued gently.
-Or he could have something completely darker in mind-
The voice again. It baffled her, but she didn't want Leo to question her about it, so she played it off calmly. How could she explain something she didn't know the answer to, herself?
Celes leaned forward and rested her elbows on the hard stone of the balcony ledge. "I don't think the emperor would know what to do with himself if he called for peace." She said in a cool, nearly mocking tone.
Leo chuckled in amusement. "I think you're right." He then turned and headed back for the doorway, only to stop and gasp in surprise. "General Kefka. I didn't realize your presence. How-"
"Of course you didn't." A harsh voice interrupted sharply. "And who cares how long I've been here, or how I am today. Personally, I don't think the emperor would appreciate you talking behind his back like this."
[Author's note: Chapter one down, who knows how many more to go. ^.^ This fic won't be as long as my last one, so it should get posted fairly quickly. Reviews are always nice to receive, so I know if I'm doing good so far, or not. -.- Well, see ya in the next chapter. ^.^ v (hopefully.. o_o;;) ]