Chapter 27 A Tragic Fall

When the doors opened, they saw a large machine attached to millions of empty tubes.

But Seven were filled with Espers, All different size and many color and shapes.

Celes informed them that she did not know how to free them. Locke smiled. "Not to

worry, mate! Eddie boy knows how, right?" He looked over at his friend and gave him

the thumbs up. Edgar made his way to the control panel and sighed, running his gaze

over the different keys and levers. His fingers glided over the keys softly. What do I

push? He looked down at a black button. That can't be a good one... He saw a green

one with a check mark on it, then a yellow button with a negative sign on it. Maybe the

green one...Please let this be it! He pushed the button down and closed his eyes tightly.

I messed up didn't i!? He asked the gods.

"Why to go, bro!" That was Sabin. "Yay! You rock, bugger!" Locke's voice rang in his

ears. "Yes, you did good Edgar." And that was Celes. He opened his eyes and saw the

green liquid in the tubes being drained. "Heh..I did it..." Edgar whispered to himself.

"Now free em, Ed." Locke said, walking over to him.

Now maybe we can free them and wake Terra. Edgar blissfully held onto that thought

with all his might as he pressed the button above the checked one. It had a black bird

on it. Suddenly the tubes rocked, then shattered into millions of pieces. A deep, but

calm and soothing voice filled their minds. Edgar felt a tendril of power touch his mind

and force him to listen to it.

Humans..Humans have come here...For us? Then you know our friends?

Edgar felt safe replying to the invisible Esper. Yes. We came to free you. Ifrit, Shiva,

Ramuh and the others have given their power to us. We need your help to free my

friend from her prison. The voice sighed. Then tell me young man, do you know

Maduin? Edgar told him no, and asked why he was speaking to him like this.

There is no other way with out being trace by our Magic level. But..I must ask you a

favor...

Edgar concentrated as hard as he could. Yes?

The male voice softened. I am Maduin, son of Hashmall, the Elder of the other Realm.

I need your help, then I and my fellow friends will lend out strength.

What is it, Maduin? Edgar felt compelled to use his name.

The Esper's voice hovered over a whisper.

There is woman who needs me. She is in Zozo. Please take me to her.

Edgar gasped. A woman? In Zozo!? Was he talking about Terra, their friend, or just

another woman. There must be hundreds of women in Zozo. Edgar didn't realize that

he paused speaking till the Esper asked if he was okay. Yes, I am fine. But, this woman

you tell me about. Does she have blond hair? And purple eyes?

Yes... Edgar knew it had to be Terra. So, will you help me?

Edgar smiled. Yes. I will help you, that woman is my friend, Maduin, and she needs

your help.

Then we must hurry. Will turn ourselves into Magicit! Step back!

Edgar opened his eyes and saw Celes, Locke and Sabin watching the Espers flew

around In the air. Suddenly the Espers screamed and flashed white and green, then fell

to the floor with a clink. Edgar grabbed three, while Locke took one, Sabin one and

Celes two. They gathered around in a circle and gazed at the Magicit.

"Maduin..." Edgar whispered, seeing biggest shard in the group.

"Who?" His friends asked, locking eyes with him. "We have to get to Zozo quick!

Maduin knows Terra!" Edgar said as they handed him the Magicit. They still had their

old ones on, so they didn't need the new ones yet.

"Uewee-he-he-he!"

They turned and saw Kefka and his fourteen men behind him. In his hands was his

staff. He gazed over their perplexed looks and smiled. "Oh, you thought I was..Gone?"

He laughed. "Those weak Espers couldn't take me out, I drained them of their pure

power earlier, now you just have weak, pathetic monsters in your hands!" Kefka

bellowed. Edgar growled. "We are leaving Kefka!"

"With my little, precious shards of magic? I think not, little king."

Edgar gripped his hands, hiding the new Magicit in his pocket. "We leave now!"

"NO," Kefka pointed to them. "You die now! Attack them!"

The men charged in, yelling their war cries. One knocked Locke down, raising his

sword to kill him. "NO!" Celes screamed, running over and sliding her Runic blade

through the soldiers back. The man fell. She looked down at Locke and smiled, lending

him her hand. "Need help, Locke?" He nodded, grabbing her hand and standing.

"Thanks...Celes." He smiled at her, chuckling when she blushed.

"Oh, how cute. What a PERFECT couple!" Kefka yelled, throwing his staff to the

floor. He raised his fingers up and laid them against each other. "To bad I want

zapped enemies to night!" He pointed his hands at Locke. "BOLT!"

A wave of red and blue lighting slashed through the air, heading for Locke.

Celes' heart stopped. No! Before she knew what she was doing, she ran in front of the

attack and gasped. Locke screamed, grabbing hold of her body when it fell backwards.

"Celes!"

Kefka laughed. Edgar and Sabin gasped, glaring at the evil clown.

Locke held Celes, his worried, steel eyes searching her frail, and limp body. He gasped.

A hole about an inch wide was on her abdomen. "..No...Not Celes.." She coughed,

standing up slowly on her feet, waving Locke aside. Locke grabbed her hand. "No

Celes. Your hurt, please stop. " She looked up at his lined face and smiled.

"Its time I protect you, Locke." She turned to Kefka.

Kefka laughed. "So, you are coming back, Celes? Good, now you can lead me to our

little Terra and she'll be back in our, perfect picture- Our family!"

Celes smirked at him walking closer to him, waving Locke's worried hands away.

"You think...I will...Come back to..You..After everything you did to me!? To Terra!?"

He narrowed his eyes and said, shrugging like it meant nothing. "You are my friend

Celes, Terra is my property. I care nothing for her, but you mean everything to me."

Kefka insisted, opening his arms for her to hug him. "Besides, what did I do to you?

Nothing. I had to keep Terra in her place- Which is below SCUM!"

Celes growled, jumping onto Kefka. They fell to the floor, screaming and hissing,

trying to get up and kill their enemy. She fell to her face when he knocked her off and

said. "I'll make you watch their deaths!" He turned to the Returners.

"NO!" Celes jumped up and knocked him down, rolling over the side of the bridge they

were fighting on. Locke gasped. "Celes!" A blinding light came, then a hissing sound.

The Returners gazed at the stone men and gasped. "She...Gave her life for us..."

Sabin whispered. Locke screamed, running over to the edge. "Celes! Celes!"

Edgar saw him about to jump over and swiftly grabbed him, pulled him back and

dragged him away. "She's gone, Cole. She's gone!"

Locke shook his head. "NO! NO! She needs our help!"

It took Sabin and Edgar to pull Locke away and down a secret elevator.