How Kin Become Strangers
Chapter 2
By: Crystalis Blade
It had been a long day…probably too long. I was cranky, Locke was tired, Celes was on the border of killing Locke and Edgar, well, he just did what he did best: led the group with his dopey smile and acted like everything was okay. He was good at that—deceiving people. But that was Eddy. Anyway…we were all headed to the Opera House; we were on a "mission" to get Setzer's airship. At that time, we had NO idea what we were going to do; but that was nothing new. We always made up plans as we went along.
Anyway, we had all entered the main gallery, and it was lovely. I hadn't been to the Opera House since I was about…oh…twelve? I guess I didn't remember it, but again, it was gorgeous. We all walked up those velvet red stairs to an open foyer. The lighting was soft and illuminated the crushed velvet carpets. To the left, was the dressing room. To the right, was staging area. The stairs led up to the balcony and straight ahead was the seating. The marble pillars held the aging wonder together.
I stood admiring the whole place like a child; Edgar only shook his head.
"Impresario!" Edgar said in almost an authoritative matter. It's kinda funny to listen to him like that. I dunno…maybe it's a brother thing…
"Ah! You again," Impresario said when he saw us…again. We'd already met at Jidoor in accordance to a letter we had found. "The Wandering Gambler" was coming to kidnap Maria, the lead in the opera. Now we had a stroke of luck…and you're all probably wondering where I'm going with this, aren't you? Please, bear with me, it is going somewhere…I just like to tell stories. Heh, I guess some things do run in the family…
Nevertheless, Locke, our blue bandana bearing thief, decided to be our peace ambassador. Ay…
"I read that letter," he said coming out from behind my brother. He was kinda short, now that I remember. Sorry; he continued. "Setzer's coming to steal her, isn't she…"
Impresario rolled his eyes and threw up his arms; we knew his secrets. He spoke in a low voice. "He'll probably appear right at the climax of Scene I. He loves an entrance..." So true. Now, to make a long story short, we had the crazy idea to switch Maria and Celes, and let Setzer kidnap Celes instead of Maria and…I know, it's confusing. Blame Eddy. But this, this is the fun part. I promise you.
***
Celes was on the stage as Locke, myself and Eddy sat in the balcony. I looked over at Edgar, "soo, why are they singing again?"
He shot me a look, then laughed. "Only you, my brother…Only you." He asked me that once, when we were sitting in that same balcony fifteen years prior. I hit him at the "ignorance" of his comment. No musical knowledge…he isn't my brother at times. He truly isn't. So, that's our little joke.
Anyway, our mirth of memory was interrupted when Locke ran back up and said something had happened; I hadn't even noticed he'd left. So our merry men left to the catwalk to find…Ultros! Yes, my favorite octopus. Okay, so…some nasty words, a couple fights and…vwa-la! Bye.
After a lovely flying lesson, who else races in at the twelfth hour but, Setzer! We rolled our eyes as Celes yelped.
"Does it ever end," I asked Edgar as the two of us hightailed it off the stage.
"Never," he yelled proudly.
"Come on guys! Lets move," Locke said rushing ahead of us.
"Hey, we're old here," Edgar yelled as I lagged in the back. I was always slower.
"Ri-ight…Now, come on," Locke yelled as we all rushed it to the airship. We climbed the rope and found Celes waiting for us. We gave her back her clothes.
"You three, over there…" she pointed to the front of the card table. I leaned in the middle, Locke hopped on top and Edgar…well, I had to smack him.
"Don't, Edgar…" I told him.
"Hey," Locke yelled.
"Thanks Sab," Celes said walking over. She and I got along together well. Hell, I got along with just about everyone, but my brother, of course. Anyway, we all had a curious question.
"Where's Setzer," Locke asked.
"He's coming," Celes said as we all looked at the clicking of boots behind the door.
"Apparently…" Edgar mumbled. Like I said before: we were all tired, and this had just begun.
I'll always remember Setzer, at least the first time I saw him. He burst through the door with his long black and gold coat swaying at his feet. His beautiful white ruffled shirt and vest; cards in hand. His long silver hair was almost as long as my brother's and his pink scars gleamed a little in a light. He was cool, and he knew it.
"Wait…who…who are you?!? You aren't Maria," Setzer bluntly pointed out.
"Please Setzer, we need your help," Celes said walking up to him in her little way.
"Look, nothing against you. But if you aren't Maria, I don't want you here…"
"Wait! We were told your ship is the finest vessel in the
world."
Locke hopped off the table raising a brow. "And that you were the world's most notorious gambler..." Setzer perked up.
Finally, my brother decided to throw his weight around as king. "I'm King Edgar of Figaro. If you cooperate, you'll be well rewarded." Setzer looked Edgar up and down.
"You're no older than I…"
"You're no more ignorant than I…" Edgar huffed. Setzer smiled.
"I like you, but don't misunderstand me. I'm still not sure if I'm going to
help you." He started to walk out of the room and we continued to follow, pleading for our lives; I never said a word—if you have nothing nice to say, don't say it all, right?
Finally, Setzer got irked by our little brigade of merry nuns. "Enough! If you... If Celes… becomes my wife, I'll help. Otherwise..."
Heh, can you guess what Locke did? "WHAT! Are you insane!?"
"We haven't any choice," she said shrugging.
"Yes you do, they're just bad ones," I chimed in. Thank you, Capt. Optimism.
"Yes!" Setzer exclaimed. "It's settled, then…"
"Hold it, Gambler Boy. I have conditions..." Celes said smirking; Setzer raised a brow. She had something up her lack of sleeves. She began to walk over to my brother; he shared her mirth in his eyes. "Edgar, if you please," she said holding out her hand to him. Edgar reached deep into his pocket and procured a small gold coin rather smugly. I wondered… "Thank you," she said walking back over to Setzer. " We'll decide with a coin toss. If it's heads, you'll help us.
If it's tails, I'll go with you. Well, Mr. Gambler...?"
He crossed his arms and nodded.
I suddenly saw a flash of myself.
What's the catch…If it's heads, you win, and you get your freedom…but if it's tails, I get mine.
"Eddy," I breathed more as a hiccup, but the coin had already landed. Celes bent down and looked at it. "I win! Now, honor your part of the bargain!"
Setzer suddenly picked up the coin. "How...unusual! A coin with identical sides...!"
I smacked Edgar as hard as I could muster at that moment. "Ow!" he yelped.
"That! coin!! Edgar…how…I don't believe you…" I stormed off.
"What's with him," I heard Setzer ask.
***
Insert anti-suage statement here.
