Part Two- Trials of the Heart
"Congratulations, Celes! You did it! You won!"
"I WON!" Celes screamed happily, pulling off her fencing headgear and tossing it into the air. "I really did it!" She smiled as her fellow team mates came running over to her, Kefka included. They all grabbed Celes in a big hug as the referee came over to them, a glittering golden trophy in hand. Celes struggled to reach out and grab it when....
"Miss Celes?"
"Hm...I won, I won, nyah nyah nyah...."
"Miss Celes....please get up! It's morning..."
Celes moaned and opened her eyes, only to see one of the castle maids leaning over Celes with a stern look on her pretty face. Celes gulped and sat up, rubbing her eyes.
"Why so early...!?" Celes demanded grouchily, and pouted.
"Cid wishes to speak with you, Leo, and Kefka as soon as possible. He wants you to be ready to go out somewhere." The maid replied, and put her hands on her hips. Celes sighed and crawled out of bed.
"Why didn't Cid just wake me up himself?!" Celes asked as the maid turned to leave.
"He's busy in a lst minute discussion with Emperor Gestahl before he departs for Figaro today." The maid said. "Now, be a good girl and get dressed."
"Ok, ok, I'll get dressed." Celes said. "But let me wake up Kefka and Leo, ok?"
"Well, anything you wish Celes, but just make sure you three don't fool around and report to the conference room immeditately." She said, and left the room. Celes blinked and shook her head as she made her way to her closet and pulled out a small yellow sundress to wear.
".....It seemed improtant." She said to herself as she undressed and quickly pulled the dress over hear head. She ran over to her mirror and took her hair out of its braid, letting the golden waves cascade over her shoulders and arms. Her hair really was getting long, just like she had hoped for!
Celes bounded out of her bedroom and ran down the hall, bursting into Leo and Kefka's room. You could instantly tell which side was Leo's and which was Kefka's. Leo's was neat and tidy, and all of his bedding and furniture actually coordinating and matching each other, while Kefka's side was covered in all sorts of toys, clothing, and bright colorful pictures on the walls of clowns and exotic animals. There was nothing Kefka loved more than the wonders he saw at the Vector Circus every year, and he also loved creatures from fantasy books and beautiful women. He was...a real guy.
"Wake up, Leo, Kefka!" Celes exclaimed, running to each of their beds and shaking them. When Celes tried to raise Kefka, he sleepily reached out and smacked her arm.
"Leave me alone..." He moaned.
"Eww, you smell like eggs!" Celes cried, and ran over to Leo. "Leo, wake up..."
"Whaddya mean I smell like eggs?!" Kefka suddenly cried, and leaped out of bed, tackling Celes from behind. She let out a loud squeal and hit the floor, but giggled, causing Leo to wake up and glare at both of them.
"Geeze...what a sight to wake up to." Leo moaned, and scratched his head. "And what are you doing Celes? Normally, we're the ones who have to drag you out of bed."
"Cid wants us all up right now, because he wants us to go somewhere with him." Celes explained while shoving Kefka off of her. "At least, that's what one of the maids told me."
"Hmm..." Leo shrugged and got out of bed, going to his closet.
"I'll meet you downstairs." Celes said hurriedly, and ran out of their room, shutting the door behind her. She pounded down the stairs out of the tower she was in and into the main structure of the palace, towards the conference room.
I hope Cid isn't going to yell at us for sneaking out last night. Celes thought worriedly. I bet someone caught us and told him! We're busted if we did get caught...
Right when Celes made it to the conference room, the doors opened, and Emperor Gestahl walked out, all dressed in richly colored robes and a black hat to match. Celes didn't say anything as he stopped and peered down at her, a small smile curled on his lips.
"Hello there Celes." He said sweetly. Celes blinked and quickly came to her senses.
"Good morning, Emperor."
"Staying out of trouble, I hope?" He said, and Celes nodded quickly.
"Good..." He trailed off and gently patted her on the head. "Such lovely hair you have, Miss Chere. It's almost like corn silk..." He lifted his hand and began to walk away.
"Thank you!" Celes called out quickly. "Have a safe trip!" Before he could reply, she ran into the conference room and slammed the door shut behind her, her heart racing.
Why does that guy give me the creeps everytime I see him? Celes wondered silently. My first instincts are always just to run away!
"Celes, here you are!"
"GAH!" Celes cried, nearly jumping out of her skin. Cid blinked and walked over to her from the bookshelf he was looking over, kneeling down to her level.
"Are you ok?" He asked. He then smiled. "You're not used to being up so early, are you?"
"Heh, I guess that's it." Celes replied, and jumped into his arms, giving him a tight hug. Cid hugged back and picked her up, resting her on his shoulders.
"Where are Kefka and Leo?" He asked.
"I dunno." Celes said. "But what are we doing today? What's this all about?"
"It's sort of a surprise, I suppose." Cid said. "We have to go down to the harbor in Albrook to meet someone."
"Who!?" Celes asked.
"You'll see." Cid laughed and set her down as the doors opened and Kefka and Leo barged in.
"Here we are!" Kefka said huffily, still rubbing the sleep out of his eyes.
"Great!" Cid smiled. "Come on, our chocobos are all ready for us out front. How do you feel about having breakfast in Albrook after we pick up someone?"
"Cool!" Leo and Kefka cried in unison, and Celes cheered.
"Alright!" She exclaimed happily. "Lets go!"
The ride to Albrook by chocobo was fairly short, only about a half an hour. One they arrived at the city limits, they parked their chocobos outside with a whole bunch of others that were there and entered, heading straight for the harbor through the city.
"Lets go eat at the pub." Celes said. "They make good bacon there!"
"No, I want to eat at the new restaurant that they built by the inn." Kefka said. "Jerry at school said that a waitress there was gorgeous!"
"You and girls!" Celes exclaimed, thwapping Kefka on the head. Kefka thwapped her back.
"You're jus' jealous cause you ain't no babe!" Kefka snapped, and Celes shrugged, reaching back and placing her hands behind her head.
"I don't wanna be a babe." She said, and stuck out her tongue. "I want to be a princess."
"We'll call you Princess Cherry today." Leo joked, and did a slight bow. "Your highness."
"Hey, here we are!" Cid exclaimed, as they had reached the entrance to the harbor. After giving a clearance pass to the two guards stationed at the entrance, they entered, and sat on a bench that was near a newly-docked ship. Celes recognized men that were in brown uniforms as Imperial Soldiers walking about everywhere. She was just beginning to fidget and get unpatient when a tall imperial soldier walked over to them, his arm around a girl who looked even younger than Celes. She had light green hair swept up in a ponytail and wide green eyes that swept over Celes, Kefka, and Leo immediately. She was dressed in a red tank top and shorts, which revealed her very very pale complexion. She was a cute girl, but it seemed she didn't get out much.
"Is this her?" Cid asked as he stood up, and the soldier nodded.
"Yes sir, we made it here safely without any interference." The soldier replied, and saluted. "If you'll excuse me Cid, but I must be returning back to my post in South Figaro shortly, and the ship will be leaving any minute."
"Yes, have a safe trip home." Cid said, and the soldier gave the pale girl a slight punch on the arm jokingly and told her to behave and have fun. She stared back at him blankly for a moment before nodding. The soldier left, and Cid stood behind the girl, placing both hands on her shoulders as he turned her in Celes', Leo's, and Kefka's direction.
"Everyone, this is Terra Branford." He said warmly. "She's eight years old, just like you Celes!"
"...Oh!" Celes said, truly surprised she and the girl were the same age. She didn't really know what else to say.
"Hi Terra." Leo said.
"Yo." Kefka added.
".....Good morning." Terra said in a soft voice. Celes noticed that Terra was clutching her own hands tightly in her lap, making her knuckles turn white. She must have been very nervous.
"Are you hungry, Terra?" Cid asked, and she nodded, keeping her eyes on Celes. Celes gulped and shoved her hands in the small pockets on the side of her dress.
"Great, since these three couldn't pick a place to eat, I will." Cid said, and smiled. "Unless you know a place, Terra."
"...I have never been here before." Terra said, and finally looked away from Celes, her gaze on the ground.
"Well, come along then." Cid said, and began to walk off. "It's only a short walk from here!" Leo and Kefka ran after Cid, but Celes stayed behind with Terra, who was walking sort of slowly.
"Hi, I'm Celes Chere." Celes said, trying to break the ice. "How come you are here to visit? Do you have family here?"
"...No..." Terra said, and looked at Celes. "The emperor requested my presence here as soon as it could be made possible..." Celes blinked.
"But he left today, for Figaro." Celes said. "So I guess that means you'll be hanging out with us for a while! Well, that's ok! Leo and Kefka are pains in the butts sometimes, but they are really nice, and I am sure that--"
"....." Terra let out a deep breath, and Celes stopped.
"You don't have to pretend to be nice to me." Terra suddenly said. "I know...that I am probably like...a freak to you." Celes blinked and shook her head.
"But Terra, we just met!" She exclaimed. "I don't think you are...anything like that! I'm actually really happy about having another girl to talk to...even if you are just visiting for a while!" Terra stopped walking and Celes did also, turning to look at her.
"They didn't tell you anything about me?" Terra asked.
"...No..." Celes trailed off, wondering if someone had and she had just not been paying attention. "All I knew was that we had to pick someone up today in Albrook...and that it was you!" Terra swallowed and remained silent for a few moments before suddenly putting a small smile on her lips. Celes let out a sigh of relief and smiled back.
"I'm sorry." Terra said quickly. "I'm not used to being treated so nicely. What is that word...where you are afraid..?" Celes thought a moment.
"Oh, paranoid!" Celes exclaimed, and Terra nodded.
"Well, don't worry, Terra." Celes said. "I would be nervous if I were you too. But don't worry about being lonely or treated bad here. Cid is nice to all of us, and if you need a friend, then I'll be here, ok?" Terra smiled even more, her eyes sparkling.
"...Why thank you." She said, and looked ahead. "We'd best hurry, or else we will fall far behind your dad." Terra began to take off running, and Celes blinked.
"Hey, he's not my daaaaaaaaaad!" Celes tried to explain as she struggled to catch up with the girl. "You see, when I was little...."
**********
After a breakfast full of introductions, the group of 5 began their journey back to Vector. As Celes rode alone on her chocobo, she could not help but wonder why Terra had been so scared when they first met. She also could not figure out why Terra thought she was a freak.
I know she must have been nervous, but...not like that. Celes thought. She really was being paranoid.
All Terra had told the group at breakfast was that she had been training her combat abilities extensively for quite some time now at a small cottage on the Northern Continent that the great kingdom Figaro was on. Her only guardian was the Imperial soldier who had escorted her to Albrook. Terra had explained that her parents had died when she was 2, and too young to remember anything. In fact, she did not remember too much of when she was younger at all.
However, when they arrived at Vector, Terra let out a small gasp.
"Terra?" Celes asked as she hopped off her chocobo.
"I don't know." Terra said quickly, and smiled. "Celes, do you know what Deja Vu is?"
"....No, I speak English." Celes said, making Terra giggle.
"Well, it is the feeling that you have done something or been somewhere before, even though you really haven't." Terra said. "I just got that right now. And it is Englsh, by the way. Well...sort of."
"Oh!" Celes said. "Weird..." She shook her head but continued to smile back at Terra. "Hey, Terra, you want to go to the park with me in town? It's sort of small but..."
As Cid listened in on their conversation, he let out a small sigh and remembered that Gestahl did not want Terra distracted by becoming friends with Celes, Leo, or Kefka. He had been given specific orders to keep them seperated at all times...
"Celes, you can't do anything later." Cid said firmly, and Celes blinked.
"Why not?" She demanded.
"...You have fencing practice later." Cid said quickly. "You too, Kefka." That had been the truth, luckily, but he knew that it would have been better to be able to tell them the truth about Terra in the long run. He was disturbed by Gestahl's orders, although it was not for the first time.
"Oh, yeah." Celes said, and shrugged. "Sorry 'bout that."
"It's alright." Terra said. "I'd rather rest anyway. It's been...a long morning for me."
**********
Celes did not see Terra for the rest of the day, even at dinner with Cid, Leo, and Kefka. When she asked why, Cid merely replied that she had been feeling sick from the boat, looking down at his food the whole time he spoke. He was not used to lying to the kids who were like his own children. Leo and Kefka did not make any comments.
The rest of the week passed as if Terra had never even arrived at Vector. They never ate together, played together, or even ran into each other in the vast castle. Celes found herself become increasingly worried about Terra, even though they had not become remotely close at all. Everytime she thought she heard or saw someone pass her in the castle, she always did a double take to see if it was Terra. Cid refused to answer any questions reguarding her, as did anyone else she asked. Celes was becoming increasingly confused. It was like all of a sudden, she had been pushed out of a big, warm circle of security and sensibilitly.
She had never felt this feeling before...being ignored, and/or brushed aside for other things was foreign to her senses.
On the Sunday night that Gestahl was to return to Vector, Celes and Kefka were at a fencing practice being held at their school. The whole team was preparing for the big tornament they were entered into that was only a couple weeks away. Leo was on a more advanced fencing team, and therefore, did not attend practice with Celes and Kefka. Celes was waiting on Kefka to pack up his stuff in the now empty locker room of the school when she suddenly spoke.
"Kefka..?"
"Yeah, Celes?" Kefka looked up from his bag and peered at her.
"....Do you know where Terra went?"
"Terra? The green-haired girl? Nah...I haven't seen her around since we met her. But then again, you haven't been around either." Kefka stood up, slinging his bag over his shoulder and walking out of the school.
"What do you mean?" Celes asked quickly as she ran after him, the cool nighttime breeze hitting the pair as soon as they stepped outside.
"You haven't been with me or Leo all week unless it was at a meal or reading at night." Kefka explained. "We figured you were with Terra."
"I haven't been...I just haven't felt too good this week." Celes apoligized. "I'm sorry."
"It's ok ya know." Kefka said. "We're still friends."
"That's good!" Celes smiled. She was still too young to understand that their friendship bond could withstand a lot more than just being absent from the group for a few days, although deep down in her heart, she also felt that Leo and Kefka would always be there for her, no matter what...
"There you guys are!" Leo exclaimed as Celes and Kefka entered the castle. "Hurry up and get to the conference room. The emperor...wants to see all three of us. I think Terra is there too."
"...Terra is?" Celes asked, and followed Leo immediately, with Kefka behind her. When they reached the conference room, Gestahl welcomed them warmly, and Celes could see that not only Terra was there, but Cid as well. Everyone was seated down at the large table in the middle of the room, Gestahl at the head of one end and Terra at the other.
"How was your trip to Figaro, Gestahl?" Cid asked.
"It was very fine, very fine indeed." Gestahl said, smirking a bit. "Everything was done according to plan. And tell me, Miss Branford, how are you?"
"...I am well." Terra suddenly spoke up, and Celes stared down at her. Terra didn't look sick at all. In fact, she almost looked better then before.
"You've all met Terra, right?" Gestahl asked, and the group of children nodded. Gestahl smiled and brought his hands together.
"Terra, have you been training well?" He asked.
"Yes sir." Terra said, nodding.
"Why don't you show us a trick you can do?" Gestahl asked, and Terra promptly stood up, holding out her hands, as if she had been trained for this like a dog. Celes didn't realize what was going on until...
"FIRE!"
Suddenly, a roar of flame errupted from Terra's hands and flew across the conference table, almost frying the hair atop of everybody's head. Kefka and Leo stared with their jaws on the table, and Celes just blinked, not being frightened, but not exactly remaining calm inside.
What is that? Her mind raced. It's like something out of a fantasy book...it's like....
The flame came to a hault, and Terra sat down again, her heads hanging low.
"....That, my dears, was magic." Gestahl explained, and Celes, Leo, and Kefka all gasped. Cid did not seem too surprised.
"Magic?!" Leo cried.
"There is no such thing." Celes added. "....How can...."
"It is her natural gift." Gestahl said, and leaned his chin on his hands, peering at Celes, Leo, and Kefka one by one. "And isn't it a neat gift? Wouldn't any of you like to be able to do what Terra can?"
"I do!" Kefka exclaimed immediately. "That is SO COOL! I had no idea she could do anything like THAT!" Celes hesitated to answer, but Leo answered as well.
"....I don't like it." He said firmly.
"...Well, of course you don't." Gestahl smiled. "It was new, and frightening. Something you had never encountered before. I was also exciting too. What do you think, Celes?"
"....I don't know." Celes said, and looked back to Terra, who was still looking down.
Is this what she meant by being a freak...? She certainly is...different...
"What would you do if I told you you could be like Terra?" Gestahl asked, causing everyone to turn to him, including Terra. "What would you do...for the gift of magic?"
"Man, that would be awesome!" Kefka exclaimed. "I'd do anything!"
"I'd pass." Leo said.
"....." Celes kept quiet.
"Kefka...you've always shown...wonderful potential." Gestahl said, and suddenly stood up. Celes had no idea what he meant by that, as did neither Leo or Kefka himself. Cid stood up as well and approached Getahl's side. They began to whisper things that no one else in the room could comprehend. Terra brought her hands to the table, and Celes widened her eyes. Her hands remained flawless and pale, as if nothing like fire had ever graced them....
.....Such....tremendous power...
"We shall make him the first, Cid." Gestahl whispered as he looked to Kefka, the skinny, tall boy who was tipping his chair back so far that it was about to collapse from under him. Leo grabbed the arm of the chair and scolded him, making Kefka laugh.
"...Are you absolutely sure about this?" Cid cried in a hushed whisper back. "...This will be totally experimental, as it is the first time we have ever..."
"I am sure." Gestahl interrupted. "I can see that Leo may be a problem, and the girl will take some pushing. But Kefka is a perfect candidate....for my first ever Magitek Knight."
To be continued in the final part- The Invisible Enemy
"Congratulations, Celes! You did it! You won!"
"I WON!" Celes screamed happily, pulling off her fencing headgear and tossing it into the air. "I really did it!" She smiled as her fellow team mates came running over to her, Kefka included. They all grabbed Celes in a big hug as the referee came over to them, a glittering golden trophy in hand. Celes struggled to reach out and grab it when....
"Miss Celes?"
"Hm...I won, I won, nyah nyah nyah...."
"Miss Celes....please get up! It's morning..."
Celes moaned and opened her eyes, only to see one of the castle maids leaning over Celes with a stern look on her pretty face. Celes gulped and sat up, rubbing her eyes.
"Why so early...!?" Celes demanded grouchily, and pouted.
"Cid wishes to speak with you, Leo, and Kefka as soon as possible. He wants you to be ready to go out somewhere." The maid replied, and put her hands on her hips. Celes sighed and crawled out of bed.
"Why didn't Cid just wake me up himself?!" Celes asked as the maid turned to leave.
"He's busy in a lst minute discussion with Emperor Gestahl before he departs for Figaro today." The maid said. "Now, be a good girl and get dressed."
"Ok, ok, I'll get dressed." Celes said. "But let me wake up Kefka and Leo, ok?"
"Well, anything you wish Celes, but just make sure you three don't fool around and report to the conference room immeditately." She said, and left the room. Celes blinked and shook her head as she made her way to her closet and pulled out a small yellow sundress to wear.
".....It seemed improtant." She said to herself as she undressed and quickly pulled the dress over hear head. She ran over to her mirror and took her hair out of its braid, letting the golden waves cascade over her shoulders and arms. Her hair really was getting long, just like she had hoped for!
Celes bounded out of her bedroom and ran down the hall, bursting into Leo and Kefka's room. You could instantly tell which side was Leo's and which was Kefka's. Leo's was neat and tidy, and all of his bedding and furniture actually coordinating and matching each other, while Kefka's side was covered in all sorts of toys, clothing, and bright colorful pictures on the walls of clowns and exotic animals. There was nothing Kefka loved more than the wonders he saw at the Vector Circus every year, and he also loved creatures from fantasy books and beautiful women. He was...a real guy.
"Wake up, Leo, Kefka!" Celes exclaimed, running to each of their beds and shaking them. When Celes tried to raise Kefka, he sleepily reached out and smacked her arm.
"Leave me alone..." He moaned.
"Eww, you smell like eggs!" Celes cried, and ran over to Leo. "Leo, wake up..."
"Whaddya mean I smell like eggs?!" Kefka suddenly cried, and leaped out of bed, tackling Celes from behind. She let out a loud squeal and hit the floor, but giggled, causing Leo to wake up and glare at both of them.
"Geeze...what a sight to wake up to." Leo moaned, and scratched his head. "And what are you doing Celes? Normally, we're the ones who have to drag you out of bed."
"Cid wants us all up right now, because he wants us to go somewhere with him." Celes explained while shoving Kefka off of her. "At least, that's what one of the maids told me."
"Hmm..." Leo shrugged and got out of bed, going to his closet.
"I'll meet you downstairs." Celes said hurriedly, and ran out of their room, shutting the door behind her. She pounded down the stairs out of the tower she was in and into the main structure of the palace, towards the conference room.
I hope Cid isn't going to yell at us for sneaking out last night. Celes thought worriedly. I bet someone caught us and told him! We're busted if we did get caught...
Right when Celes made it to the conference room, the doors opened, and Emperor Gestahl walked out, all dressed in richly colored robes and a black hat to match. Celes didn't say anything as he stopped and peered down at her, a small smile curled on his lips.
"Hello there Celes." He said sweetly. Celes blinked and quickly came to her senses.
"Good morning, Emperor."
"Staying out of trouble, I hope?" He said, and Celes nodded quickly.
"Good..." He trailed off and gently patted her on the head. "Such lovely hair you have, Miss Chere. It's almost like corn silk..." He lifted his hand and began to walk away.
"Thank you!" Celes called out quickly. "Have a safe trip!" Before he could reply, she ran into the conference room and slammed the door shut behind her, her heart racing.
Why does that guy give me the creeps everytime I see him? Celes wondered silently. My first instincts are always just to run away!
"Celes, here you are!"
"GAH!" Celes cried, nearly jumping out of her skin. Cid blinked and walked over to her from the bookshelf he was looking over, kneeling down to her level.
"Are you ok?" He asked. He then smiled. "You're not used to being up so early, are you?"
"Heh, I guess that's it." Celes replied, and jumped into his arms, giving him a tight hug. Cid hugged back and picked her up, resting her on his shoulders.
"Where are Kefka and Leo?" He asked.
"I dunno." Celes said. "But what are we doing today? What's this all about?"
"It's sort of a surprise, I suppose." Cid said. "We have to go down to the harbor in Albrook to meet someone."
"Who!?" Celes asked.
"You'll see." Cid laughed and set her down as the doors opened and Kefka and Leo barged in.
"Here we are!" Kefka said huffily, still rubbing the sleep out of his eyes.
"Great!" Cid smiled. "Come on, our chocobos are all ready for us out front. How do you feel about having breakfast in Albrook after we pick up someone?"
"Cool!" Leo and Kefka cried in unison, and Celes cheered.
"Alright!" She exclaimed happily. "Lets go!"
The ride to Albrook by chocobo was fairly short, only about a half an hour. One they arrived at the city limits, they parked their chocobos outside with a whole bunch of others that were there and entered, heading straight for the harbor through the city.
"Lets go eat at the pub." Celes said. "They make good bacon there!"
"No, I want to eat at the new restaurant that they built by the inn." Kefka said. "Jerry at school said that a waitress there was gorgeous!"
"You and girls!" Celes exclaimed, thwapping Kefka on the head. Kefka thwapped her back.
"You're jus' jealous cause you ain't no babe!" Kefka snapped, and Celes shrugged, reaching back and placing her hands behind her head.
"I don't wanna be a babe." She said, and stuck out her tongue. "I want to be a princess."
"We'll call you Princess Cherry today." Leo joked, and did a slight bow. "Your highness."
"Hey, here we are!" Cid exclaimed, as they had reached the entrance to the harbor. After giving a clearance pass to the two guards stationed at the entrance, they entered, and sat on a bench that was near a newly-docked ship. Celes recognized men that were in brown uniforms as Imperial Soldiers walking about everywhere. She was just beginning to fidget and get unpatient when a tall imperial soldier walked over to them, his arm around a girl who looked even younger than Celes. She had light green hair swept up in a ponytail and wide green eyes that swept over Celes, Kefka, and Leo immediately. She was dressed in a red tank top and shorts, which revealed her very very pale complexion. She was a cute girl, but it seemed she didn't get out much.
"Is this her?" Cid asked as he stood up, and the soldier nodded.
"Yes sir, we made it here safely without any interference." The soldier replied, and saluted. "If you'll excuse me Cid, but I must be returning back to my post in South Figaro shortly, and the ship will be leaving any minute."
"Yes, have a safe trip home." Cid said, and the soldier gave the pale girl a slight punch on the arm jokingly and told her to behave and have fun. She stared back at him blankly for a moment before nodding. The soldier left, and Cid stood behind the girl, placing both hands on her shoulders as he turned her in Celes', Leo's, and Kefka's direction.
"Everyone, this is Terra Branford." He said warmly. "She's eight years old, just like you Celes!"
"...Oh!" Celes said, truly surprised she and the girl were the same age. She didn't really know what else to say.
"Hi Terra." Leo said.
"Yo." Kefka added.
".....Good morning." Terra said in a soft voice. Celes noticed that Terra was clutching her own hands tightly in her lap, making her knuckles turn white. She must have been very nervous.
"Are you hungry, Terra?" Cid asked, and she nodded, keeping her eyes on Celes. Celes gulped and shoved her hands in the small pockets on the side of her dress.
"Great, since these three couldn't pick a place to eat, I will." Cid said, and smiled. "Unless you know a place, Terra."
"...I have never been here before." Terra said, and finally looked away from Celes, her gaze on the ground.
"Well, come along then." Cid said, and began to walk off. "It's only a short walk from here!" Leo and Kefka ran after Cid, but Celes stayed behind with Terra, who was walking sort of slowly.
"Hi, I'm Celes Chere." Celes said, trying to break the ice. "How come you are here to visit? Do you have family here?"
"...No..." Terra said, and looked at Celes. "The emperor requested my presence here as soon as it could be made possible..." Celes blinked.
"But he left today, for Figaro." Celes said. "So I guess that means you'll be hanging out with us for a while! Well, that's ok! Leo and Kefka are pains in the butts sometimes, but they are really nice, and I am sure that--"
"....." Terra let out a deep breath, and Celes stopped.
"You don't have to pretend to be nice to me." Terra suddenly said. "I know...that I am probably like...a freak to you." Celes blinked and shook her head.
"But Terra, we just met!" She exclaimed. "I don't think you are...anything like that! I'm actually really happy about having another girl to talk to...even if you are just visiting for a while!" Terra stopped walking and Celes did also, turning to look at her.
"They didn't tell you anything about me?" Terra asked.
"...No..." Celes trailed off, wondering if someone had and she had just not been paying attention. "All I knew was that we had to pick someone up today in Albrook...and that it was you!" Terra swallowed and remained silent for a few moments before suddenly putting a small smile on her lips. Celes let out a sigh of relief and smiled back.
"I'm sorry." Terra said quickly. "I'm not used to being treated so nicely. What is that word...where you are afraid..?" Celes thought a moment.
"Oh, paranoid!" Celes exclaimed, and Terra nodded.
"Well, don't worry, Terra." Celes said. "I would be nervous if I were you too. But don't worry about being lonely or treated bad here. Cid is nice to all of us, and if you need a friend, then I'll be here, ok?" Terra smiled even more, her eyes sparkling.
"...Why thank you." She said, and looked ahead. "We'd best hurry, or else we will fall far behind your dad." Terra began to take off running, and Celes blinked.
"Hey, he's not my daaaaaaaaaad!" Celes tried to explain as she struggled to catch up with the girl. "You see, when I was little...."
**********
After a breakfast full of introductions, the group of 5 began their journey back to Vector. As Celes rode alone on her chocobo, she could not help but wonder why Terra had been so scared when they first met. She also could not figure out why Terra thought she was a freak.
I know she must have been nervous, but...not like that. Celes thought. She really was being paranoid.
All Terra had told the group at breakfast was that she had been training her combat abilities extensively for quite some time now at a small cottage on the Northern Continent that the great kingdom Figaro was on. Her only guardian was the Imperial soldier who had escorted her to Albrook. Terra had explained that her parents had died when she was 2, and too young to remember anything. In fact, she did not remember too much of when she was younger at all.
However, when they arrived at Vector, Terra let out a small gasp.
"Terra?" Celes asked as she hopped off her chocobo.
"I don't know." Terra said quickly, and smiled. "Celes, do you know what Deja Vu is?"
"....No, I speak English." Celes said, making Terra giggle.
"Well, it is the feeling that you have done something or been somewhere before, even though you really haven't." Terra said. "I just got that right now. And it is Englsh, by the way. Well...sort of."
"Oh!" Celes said. "Weird..." She shook her head but continued to smile back at Terra. "Hey, Terra, you want to go to the park with me in town? It's sort of small but..."
As Cid listened in on their conversation, he let out a small sigh and remembered that Gestahl did not want Terra distracted by becoming friends with Celes, Leo, or Kefka. He had been given specific orders to keep them seperated at all times...
"Celes, you can't do anything later." Cid said firmly, and Celes blinked.
"Why not?" She demanded.
"...You have fencing practice later." Cid said quickly. "You too, Kefka." That had been the truth, luckily, but he knew that it would have been better to be able to tell them the truth about Terra in the long run. He was disturbed by Gestahl's orders, although it was not for the first time.
"Oh, yeah." Celes said, and shrugged. "Sorry 'bout that."
"It's alright." Terra said. "I'd rather rest anyway. It's been...a long morning for me."
**********
Celes did not see Terra for the rest of the day, even at dinner with Cid, Leo, and Kefka. When she asked why, Cid merely replied that she had been feeling sick from the boat, looking down at his food the whole time he spoke. He was not used to lying to the kids who were like his own children. Leo and Kefka did not make any comments.
The rest of the week passed as if Terra had never even arrived at Vector. They never ate together, played together, or even ran into each other in the vast castle. Celes found herself become increasingly worried about Terra, even though they had not become remotely close at all. Everytime she thought she heard or saw someone pass her in the castle, she always did a double take to see if it was Terra. Cid refused to answer any questions reguarding her, as did anyone else she asked. Celes was becoming increasingly confused. It was like all of a sudden, she had been pushed out of a big, warm circle of security and sensibilitly.
She had never felt this feeling before...being ignored, and/or brushed aside for other things was foreign to her senses.
On the Sunday night that Gestahl was to return to Vector, Celes and Kefka were at a fencing practice being held at their school. The whole team was preparing for the big tornament they were entered into that was only a couple weeks away. Leo was on a more advanced fencing team, and therefore, did not attend practice with Celes and Kefka. Celes was waiting on Kefka to pack up his stuff in the now empty locker room of the school when she suddenly spoke.
"Kefka..?"
"Yeah, Celes?" Kefka looked up from his bag and peered at her.
"....Do you know where Terra went?"
"Terra? The green-haired girl? Nah...I haven't seen her around since we met her. But then again, you haven't been around either." Kefka stood up, slinging his bag over his shoulder and walking out of the school.
"What do you mean?" Celes asked quickly as she ran after him, the cool nighttime breeze hitting the pair as soon as they stepped outside.
"You haven't been with me or Leo all week unless it was at a meal or reading at night." Kefka explained. "We figured you were with Terra."
"I haven't been...I just haven't felt too good this week." Celes apoligized. "I'm sorry."
"It's ok ya know." Kefka said. "We're still friends."
"That's good!" Celes smiled. She was still too young to understand that their friendship bond could withstand a lot more than just being absent from the group for a few days, although deep down in her heart, she also felt that Leo and Kefka would always be there for her, no matter what...
"There you guys are!" Leo exclaimed as Celes and Kefka entered the castle. "Hurry up and get to the conference room. The emperor...wants to see all three of us. I think Terra is there too."
"...Terra is?" Celes asked, and followed Leo immediately, with Kefka behind her. When they reached the conference room, Gestahl welcomed them warmly, and Celes could see that not only Terra was there, but Cid as well. Everyone was seated down at the large table in the middle of the room, Gestahl at the head of one end and Terra at the other.
"How was your trip to Figaro, Gestahl?" Cid asked.
"It was very fine, very fine indeed." Gestahl said, smirking a bit. "Everything was done according to plan. And tell me, Miss Branford, how are you?"
"...I am well." Terra suddenly spoke up, and Celes stared down at her. Terra didn't look sick at all. In fact, she almost looked better then before.
"You've all met Terra, right?" Gestahl asked, and the group of children nodded. Gestahl smiled and brought his hands together.
"Terra, have you been training well?" He asked.
"Yes sir." Terra said, nodding.
"Why don't you show us a trick you can do?" Gestahl asked, and Terra promptly stood up, holding out her hands, as if she had been trained for this like a dog. Celes didn't realize what was going on until...
"FIRE!"
Suddenly, a roar of flame errupted from Terra's hands and flew across the conference table, almost frying the hair atop of everybody's head. Kefka and Leo stared with their jaws on the table, and Celes just blinked, not being frightened, but not exactly remaining calm inside.
What is that? Her mind raced. It's like something out of a fantasy book...it's like....
The flame came to a hault, and Terra sat down again, her heads hanging low.
"....That, my dears, was magic." Gestahl explained, and Celes, Leo, and Kefka all gasped. Cid did not seem too surprised.
"Magic?!" Leo cried.
"There is no such thing." Celes added. "....How can...."
"It is her natural gift." Gestahl said, and leaned his chin on his hands, peering at Celes, Leo, and Kefka one by one. "And isn't it a neat gift? Wouldn't any of you like to be able to do what Terra can?"
"I do!" Kefka exclaimed immediately. "That is SO COOL! I had no idea she could do anything like THAT!" Celes hesitated to answer, but Leo answered as well.
"....I don't like it." He said firmly.
"...Well, of course you don't." Gestahl smiled. "It was new, and frightening. Something you had never encountered before. I was also exciting too. What do you think, Celes?"
"....I don't know." Celes said, and looked back to Terra, who was still looking down.
Is this what she meant by being a freak...? She certainly is...different...
"What would you do if I told you you could be like Terra?" Gestahl asked, causing everyone to turn to him, including Terra. "What would you do...for the gift of magic?"
"Man, that would be awesome!" Kefka exclaimed. "I'd do anything!"
"I'd pass." Leo said.
"....." Celes kept quiet.
"Kefka...you've always shown...wonderful potential." Gestahl said, and suddenly stood up. Celes had no idea what he meant by that, as did neither Leo or Kefka himself. Cid stood up as well and approached Getahl's side. They began to whisper things that no one else in the room could comprehend. Terra brought her hands to the table, and Celes widened her eyes. Her hands remained flawless and pale, as if nothing like fire had ever graced them....
.....Such....tremendous power...
"We shall make him the first, Cid." Gestahl whispered as he looked to Kefka, the skinny, tall boy who was tipping his chair back so far that it was about to collapse from under him. Leo grabbed the arm of the chair and scolded him, making Kefka laugh.
"...Are you absolutely sure about this?" Cid cried in a hushed whisper back. "...This will be totally experimental, as it is the first time we have ever..."
"I am sure." Gestahl interrupted. "I can see that Leo may be a problem, and the girl will take some pushing. But Kefka is a perfect candidate....for my first ever Magitek Knight."
To be continued in the final part- The Invisible Enemy