-A Meeting of Actors-

Celes was always a very good actress. Cid used to joke on many occasions that if she wasn't such a world-class soldier, she'd make a world-class diva at the opera house. Celes knew when to use her hidden talent, especially when Kefka would start with his beatings. She could take a lot more than that maniac would normally dish out, but she learned to cry out in pain, hoping Kefka would be pleased and quickly grow bored with her. While the screams of pain weren't totally real, the bruises, like the one he left on her face yesterday, always were.

In her few private moments, she had perfected a costume of an old raggedy woman she used in her espionage missions. Gestahl had already ordered the future invasion of all the cities on the southern continent, with Celes herself leading most of the charge. She was always the most astute of soldiers and decided to take it upon herself to work reconnaissance of her future targets, but secretly it also got her away from Kefka's maliciousness. It was this old raggedy woman who now sat alone in a corner in the café at Albrook, feeling the stinging pain from the bruise on her face that even the best of disguises couldn't hide.

The instructions Locke received from Arvis still ran through his head. Returner spies reported that the Empire had appeared to start mobilizing its troops. The Empire had been keeping its army in check ever since the backlash that came from the massacre at Kohlingen, at least until now. However, if the reports were true, and the Empire was mobilizing again, it wouldn't be too long until some other poor town would be leveled. Locke was ordered to find out what could possibly be the next target. Albrook was one of the closest cities to Vector, and therefore one of the biggest hotspots for Empirical rumors.

He had hide himself as an elderly merchant remembering how close he came to being thrown in jail the last time he was in Albrook. While he seriously doubt anyone would remember him, it was always better to be safe than sorry.

Locke danced his way through the café, singing along to the upbeat piano music, a half-empty glass in his hand. The cafés were always the center point for rumors and loose tongues, but so far he hadn't come up with anything of value. Locke had been in town a few days now and all he had come up with was that there was a large celebration for Colonel Leo's promotion to the rank of General a few weeks ago, nothing at all worth any real value. He was becoming a little frustrated, but the treasure hunter was able to put it behind him in his normal cheerful mood.

Locke danced around laughing with a young girl, who was giggling at the "old man's" jolliness. Still laughing with drink in hand, Locke flopped down into the nearest chair, directly across the table from where an old quiet woman sat staring around the café, although Locke could have sworn she was really more lost in her own thoughts.

"Pardon me," Locke smiled at the old woman. "I hope you don't mind if an old man like me could take a rest here for a moment."

The old woman took a moment to even register that there was someone across the table speaking to her. "Oh… I-I'm sorry, what did you say?"

"I said, I hope you don't mind if an old fogey like me took a moment to rest here. These young'uns are so boisterous and full of energy. Us elders need to take a rest every so often don't we?"

It took Celes a moment to figure out what the old man was talking about, nearly forgetting that no one knew her true age. "Oh… yes… yes," she spoke quietly.

"Everyone here seems to be up and about having a good time, why be so quiet and lost in a corner?" Locke asked. This woman looked like she had something heavy on her mind, maybe the information that he was seeking.

"I just came to get away," Celes whispered again, turning her attention back to the crowd and not the man across from her.

"That's a nasty bruise you have on your face there. I might have some bandages in my collection here somewhe--"

"No!" Celes' voice jumped immediately, even surprising herself. She didn't want anyone near her to touch her face, fearing her disguise would show through. "I… I mean… no thank you, it's alright, honestly. Just… tough love." At least that's what Kefka would jokingly call it.

"Tough love? That doesn't really sound much like love at all."

"Why do you say that?"

"Love is supposed to be the greatest thrill in the world, not something that leaves bruises on your face."

"You're a merchant, a doctor, and now an expert on love?" Celes sneered.

"Perhaps a long time ago, life's been rather difficult on me in my old age."

"Then you really aren't one to judge what love is," Celes' combative soldier side started taking over. She didn't care about love, she just couldn't hold her tongue in front of this nosy old man.

"Oh, I had love a long time ago, bless her heart," the slight pain on the old man's face wasn't entirely an act. "But she's been gone a long time now."

"So you've been lonely for many, many years, and this is what you call the greatest thrill in the world?"

"All that and then some," the old man chuckled and flashed a slight grin. "All those years alone seem painful in comparison to the time when she was alive. But that pain is nothing in comparison to the years alone had she never been there at all."

Celes shook her head in disbelief. You live just for someone else, even if it is only for a few years? Nonsense! That's what will make her an elite general while these common folk and their love are only around to be her next target. But why was this man grinning while she felt in pain. The sting from the bruise on her face constantly reminding her of the correct way life should be lived. Physical pain heals, but emotional pain from losing someone, that's something that can never be corrected. And yet this old man was grinning at her, happily enjoying himself.

Suddenly all Celes could picture in her head was the image of the old man's broken body being crushed underneath an approaching magitek suit. She saw the old man again being burned to death by one of the suits beams. She saw him again being run through by one of her soldiers' swords, and then trampled on as her horde moved to the next violent act. That grin of his was piercing her; the thought of his horrible death at her hands was unbearable.

"I'm not sure there's anything in life sadder than a life without love," the old man finally spoke again, "which means we've still got some time to save you, even in our old age." Locke stood up from the table, extending his hand. "Com'on, there's still a few more dances to go."

Celes panicked. The old man's grin was breaking her down. She looked around the café, finally catching the sight of the sun going down outside. "I… I have to get home. It's getting dark soon." She stood up and quickly scurried past Locke, trying not to look back at him.

"Then I shall save this dance for you the next time we meet," Locke called out to her with a laugh, knowing that was a lie.

"I shall take you up on it," Celes lied right back. She hurried as fast as she could to the cities limit and started west towards Vector. She had to get back and rethink everything. No she didn't, she already had. There was going to be no massacre at Albrook and no unneeded bloodshed. She would even flat out refuse to poison the water supply as Kefka had ordered her too. The thought of that happy man's painful death made her start to lose her breath. She had all but forgotten the stinging bruise on her face.

PS: I know this story is a little far fetched, but the idea hit me and I just couldn't get rid of it. You know how it goes :)