Miranda Shadowind
Celes blinked and opened one eye. The last thing she'd seen was Locke yelling out her name as she slipped from his grasp and fell from the crashing Blackjack. Now she was staring up at the rafters of a strange shack..
"Uhhh..." she murmered. She opened her other eye and looked to her right. Cid, the Magitek scientist who'd raised her back at the Empire, was at a desk writing something. "Cid?" Celes sat up in bed, a little groggy.
"Eh? Celes you're finally awake! It's a miracle!" Cid got up and ran to her side, wheezing.
"I feel like I've been sleeping forever!"
"A year to be exact. I've been looking after you since you and a few others washed up on this tiny island after the world fell apart," Cid replied.
"Others? Where are my friends? Where's Locke?"
"I only recognized you. The other people who washed ashore died from dispair or trying to swim away to the mainland.."
Celes started crying. "He's gone...Everyone's gone..." Cid put an arm around her, but she didn't seem to notice or care. Locke, the one man she truly cared for, that had vowed to keep her safe, was dead.
"But we have each other. You've always been like the granddaughter I never had.." Cid said softly, trying to comfort Celes.
Celes sniffled and looked at Cid. "My long-lost Granddad.." She got out of bed and hugged him tight. He wheezed again. "Are you sick?"
"Yes...*coughwheeze*..I started getting sick a few days ago when I skipped meals.."
"You poor thing, get in bed! What shall I get you?"
Cid smiled and did as he was told. "Well, if I ask for anything besides fish I won't get fed!" He laughed but immediately started coughing again as Celes headed out towards the shore.
Several fish were swimming close by. Celes took off her cloak and used it as a makeshift net to catch them. When she had caught enough, she brought them back to the house for supper.
This went on for a few days, but Cid wasn't getting much better. As Celes left his side to go fishing, he grabbed her by the cloak weakly. "Wait...*hackcough*"
"What is it, Granddad?" Celes turned around, concerned.
"I don't think...I'm going...to make it...raft...basement...good...bye.." With those final words, Cid closed his eyes and died.
"Granddad NO! Stop joking!" Celes shook his limp body, but to no avail. "Not you too!" She started to cry and ran out of the house.
As she ran, Celes remembered the second-to-last time someone close to her had died: General Leo. Locke had been there to hold her close and comfort her. Now he was gone..
Celes headed for the far side of the island, recalling something Cid had told her the day before. That a lot of the other castaways had climbed up the big cliff there and taken a leap of faith. "Perked 'em right up," Cid had said.
But to be "perked right up" wasn't what Celes wanted at all as she ascended the hill. All she wanted was to die and join her friends and family.
She raised her head to the sky, tears streaming down her cheeks. "I'm coming, Locke...wait for me..."
With that, Celes ran to the cliff's edge, then leaped off, tears flying as she fell. She landed face-down half in the surf and waited. Nothing. Hoping to at least drown herself, Celes kept her head down half in the water until she heard chirping.
Beside her was a bird, much like the ones used to send messages. A VERY familar dark blue bandana was tied around its wing as a makeshift sling. Seeing this, Celes quickly sat up and untied the bandana, stroking it gingerly.
"He's alive...Locke's alive..!" Her tears of pain turned to joy as she clutched the bandana tight and turned to the bird that had given her the sign. "Hey you! Is the person who healed you still alive? Where is he?!" The bird only chirped as it flew away.
Celes' hope was returning. If Locke was alive and well, surely so were the other Returners! She had to get off the island and look for them! Celes tried to remember Cid's last words as she re-entered the shack.
On his desk was an envelope. She opened it and found a letter inside. It read the following:
Dear Celes,
If you are reading this, then I must have passed on. You need to leave this island,surely the others are waiting for you! Downstairs I have built a sturdy raft you can use. I had hoped that we both could have used it together, but obviously that won't happen.Thanks for all you've done.
Love, GranddadSniffling a little, Celes pocketed the letter and ran down the half-hidden basement steps. A quick look around produced the raft Cid had mentioned in his letter.
Celes carefully dragged it up, out, and onto the beach. As she shoved off using a long branch, she whispered, "I'll make you proud, Granddad.."