Chapter 16- Resolution
Celes spent the rest of the afternoon preparing for her big evening. After slipping into her beautiful dress, and tying on her bandana, the maids helped set her hair in gentle curls that danced around her face. Celes was so bright and cheery, no extra color was necessary to add to her face. Finally, Celes was ready. She beamed at herself in the mirror, and thanked the maids for all their help.
"Have a fun evening!" They all called as they left her room. Celes pulled out a delicate paper fan that once belonged to Edgar's mother and fanned herself with it from being so hot and anxious.
"I'm so glad Edgar let me borrow this." Celes murmured, and snapped the fan shut after a few minutes. She looked out her window, and saw that evening was falling fast.
She also saw Setzer's parked airship out in the Figaro deserts, and let out a soft sigh.
"Setzer..." she murmured, and shook her head. "I'm sorry it had to be like this....but....I can't lie to my own heart..."
With that, Celes hastilly turned away from her view of the airship and left her room. She met up with Sabin in the entryway, who was helping load up her and Locke's supplies onto the airship. It was decided that Locke and Celes would just leave from Jidoor onto their next destination, wherever that may be. So, this was goodbye...
Celes followed Sabin outside wordlessly as he entered the airship for a moment and then came back out, empty-handed.
"Where is Locke?" Celes asked, finally breaking the silence.
"Oh, I don't know, prolly still getting dressed." Sabin joked. "No, seriously, he said he's just going to be a little late. Him and Edgar are having a talk of some sort."
"Hmmph." Celes snapped, and put her hands on her hips. "Men are always like that."
"How would you know?" Sabin laughed.
"Because, I had to travel with a whole bunch of 'em." Celes pointed out, and Sabin smirked some.
"Good point!" He exclaimed, and now smiled warmly. "Celes, promise to come back and visit us soon, ok? You can't keep yourself away from us anymore!"
"Yes, that's right!" Celes agreed. "I will again, I promise! Hee-hee."
"You look very nice!" Sabin said, and tugged on a curl. "You don't look like the Celes I know anymore, though!"
"Aww, no?" Celes asked with wide eyes. "Then who do I look like?"
"Heh, you look more like an adult now." Sabin offered. "It's a nice look though. You and Terra are growing up so fast. Heck, before I know it, even Relm will be comming over again, and she'll look like you guys!"
"You sound like a dad." Celes smiled. "Have you ever thought about settling down, Sabin?"
Sabin turned red. "Martial arts is my first and only love!"
"Heh, that's funny." A voice said from behind them. Celes and Sabin turned around to see Setzer standing at the entrance of the airship.
"Setzer, I didn't know you were there." Celes said calmly.
"Yep." Setzer said, and nodded. "Celes, would you come in for a minute?"
"Sure." Celes said, and looked to Sabin. But he was already on his way back to the palace. Celes gulped, and got into the airship, where Setzer closed the door behind him, and bolted it shut. She leaned up against the door as he stood before her.
"Did you want to talk about something?" Celes questioned.
"Well, just wanted to compliment on your appearence tonight." Setzer said, and Celes smiled a little.
"Hey, thanks." She offered, and prepared to leave. But, he cleared his throat, making her turn back around.
"I meant what I said before!" Setzer cried suddenly.
"You mean, back in the dining room?" Celes questioned, and felt her heart drop.
"Yes." Setzer said, and ran his fingers through his hair. "Every word of it."
"Setzer!" Celes cried, and shook her head. "Setzer, this cant be true!"
"Oh, but it is..." Setzer said softly, and took a step towards her.
"Setzer, I'm sorry, but I'm afraid I'm involved with someone." Celes said, and smiled softly. "But we will always be friends....and my goodness, I'm sure Maria is falling for you. You know that Maria is...."
"Celes..." Setzer said. "You arn't really involved, are you?"
Celes looked down, embarassed.
"Well...no. But I would like to be..." She said softly.
Setzer nodded, and all of a sudden, he was the Setzer that Celes had known before. The Setzer that only had eyes for Maria...
"I see." Setzer said softly, and smiled. "I know what you mean, Celes. And, you have my blessing!"
"What?" Celes asled, surprised.
"....Yeah!" Setzer said, and smiled more. "I hope you have lady luck on your side with whatever you do!"
"Thanks." Celes smiled, and the two hugged. "I'll do my best!"
"Great." Setzer said, and smiled. "Now, lets get you outside to say goodbye to Edgar and Sabin..."
So, Celes and Setzer stepped outside, and found Edgar, Sabin, and Locke standing there, waiting. Locke looked at Celes and immediately looked down. But, Celes, however, could not keep her eyes off of him. He was so handsome, and looked so...she couldn't find the words for it, even in her thoughts.
Edgar came over to Celes, and embraced her tightly. "Take care, and remember, you are always welcome back here!"
"Yes, thank you." Celes said softly. "I appreciate it."
"Same goes for you, Locke." Edgar said.
"Heh, thanks." Locke said.
"Yes, please be careful." Sabin smiled.
"Come on, lets jet out of here." Setzer said. "I have to get you guys there before the perfomance, or Maria will be furious!"
"Does she have a temper?" Celes asked.
"Uh-Huh!" Setzer cried, and shuddered. "Something that none of us will be able to tolerate."
"Well, by all means, lets go already!" Locke said.
With that, the three boarded the airship, and Celes peered out of one of the tiny windows and waved goodbye to the Figaro Brothers. Edgar saw her and waved back, elbowing Sabin to do the same. The ship rumbled and began to shake as Setzer started the engine, and soon, they were lifting off the ground in majestic-like glory. Soon, the desert became smaller and smaller, until it was a mere pool of sand in the view of the window. Celes sighed happily, and turned, only to see Locke behind her.
"Locke, you scared me!" Celes smiled.
"Heh, sorry." Locke said, and stepped beside her to peer out the window.
"Is something wrong?" Celes asked, and looked at him strangely.
"Oh, no." Locke said softly, and continued to gaze out the window.
"Are you sure?" Celes pressured, and yanked on his black tuxedo sleeve. He turned to gaze at her with those comforting brown eyes, and she blinked.
"Yeah...pretty sure..." Locke said. "Do you have a problem?"
"Me?" Celes asked worriedly. "No..."
"Then, could you maybe leave me alone for a while?" Locke asked, and Celes took a small step back.
"Yeah.....sure...." She said, and ran out of the room, droppping Edgar's fan by accident as she slammed the cabin door behind her. Locke stared after her for a few moments before walking over to the fan and picking it up. He looked it over, and slipped it in his pocket to give it to her later. He let out a soft sigh, and kicked at the dust on the floor.
"Man..." He muttered.
Celes climbed to the mid-deck of the airship, which was where the party used to meet for strategy meetings and important announcements when they were fighting Kefka. Celes looked at the couch where she would always sit and stare mindlessly at her surroundings when she wasn't fighting. She found herself drawn to it now, and sat down on the rather soft cushions, memories pouring back into her mind from that grand adventure...
She looked up, and saw the flower painting hanging across form her. That painting was the one she would always stare at when she was alone, which was often. At first, no one in their party had liked her very much. But, it was understandable. Here she was, a traitorous Magitek Knight, joining up with the group whose members she had once hunted down and annihalated without a second thought. Celes had never stopped to think about what kind of lives those Returners had behind the war they were fighting. She didn't think that any would be a sensitive, lost girl, like Terra. Or, a noble King and his brother fighting for the country they loved, and for the parents they lost to the Empire, like Edgar and Sabin. And she never thought that...well, Celes, General of the Empire, would ever fall in love with a Returner.
But there had been a lot of surprises. Really, by this time, the truth was, Celes should have been dead. But, thanks to Locke and the Returners, she was alive and well. She had a lot to thank everyone for, but she still didn't know how to do it. Celes found herself wondering about these things all the way to Jidoor, with no interruptions, as she gazed at that lovely painting.
Meanwhile, above deck, Setzer was piloting his beloved Falcon, the wind whipping through his long, distractingly-gorgeous silver hair. He smiled as the familiar sight of the Opera House appeared below him.
Celes spent the rest of the afternoon preparing for her big evening. After slipping into her beautiful dress, and tying on her bandana, the maids helped set her hair in gentle curls that danced around her face. Celes was so bright and cheery, no extra color was necessary to add to her face. Finally, Celes was ready. She beamed at herself in the mirror, and thanked the maids for all their help.
"Have a fun evening!" They all called as they left her room. Celes pulled out a delicate paper fan that once belonged to Edgar's mother and fanned herself with it from being so hot and anxious.
"I'm so glad Edgar let me borrow this." Celes murmured, and snapped the fan shut after a few minutes. She looked out her window, and saw that evening was falling fast.
She also saw Setzer's parked airship out in the Figaro deserts, and let out a soft sigh.
"Setzer..." she murmured, and shook her head. "I'm sorry it had to be like this....but....I can't lie to my own heart..."
With that, Celes hastilly turned away from her view of the airship and left her room. She met up with Sabin in the entryway, who was helping load up her and Locke's supplies onto the airship. It was decided that Locke and Celes would just leave from Jidoor onto their next destination, wherever that may be. So, this was goodbye...
Celes followed Sabin outside wordlessly as he entered the airship for a moment and then came back out, empty-handed.
"Where is Locke?" Celes asked, finally breaking the silence.
"Oh, I don't know, prolly still getting dressed." Sabin joked. "No, seriously, he said he's just going to be a little late. Him and Edgar are having a talk of some sort."
"Hmmph." Celes snapped, and put her hands on her hips. "Men are always like that."
"How would you know?" Sabin laughed.
"Because, I had to travel with a whole bunch of 'em." Celes pointed out, and Sabin smirked some.
"Good point!" He exclaimed, and now smiled warmly. "Celes, promise to come back and visit us soon, ok? You can't keep yourself away from us anymore!"
"Yes, that's right!" Celes agreed. "I will again, I promise! Hee-hee."
"You look very nice!" Sabin said, and tugged on a curl. "You don't look like the Celes I know anymore, though!"
"Aww, no?" Celes asked with wide eyes. "Then who do I look like?"
"Heh, you look more like an adult now." Sabin offered. "It's a nice look though. You and Terra are growing up so fast. Heck, before I know it, even Relm will be comming over again, and she'll look like you guys!"
"You sound like a dad." Celes smiled. "Have you ever thought about settling down, Sabin?"
Sabin turned red. "Martial arts is my first and only love!"
"Heh, that's funny." A voice said from behind them. Celes and Sabin turned around to see Setzer standing at the entrance of the airship.
"Setzer, I didn't know you were there." Celes said calmly.
"Yep." Setzer said, and nodded. "Celes, would you come in for a minute?"
"Sure." Celes said, and looked to Sabin. But he was already on his way back to the palace. Celes gulped, and got into the airship, where Setzer closed the door behind him, and bolted it shut. She leaned up against the door as he stood before her.
"Did you want to talk about something?" Celes questioned.
"Well, just wanted to compliment on your appearence tonight." Setzer said, and Celes smiled a little.
"Hey, thanks." She offered, and prepared to leave. But, he cleared his throat, making her turn back around.
"I meant what I said before!" Setzer cried suddenly.
"You mean, back in the dining room?" Celes questioned, and felt her heart drop.
"Yes." Setzer said, and ran his fingers through his hair. "Every word of it."
"Setzer!" Celes cried, and shook her head. "Setzer, this cant be true!"
"Oh, but it is..." Setzer said softly, and took a step towards her.
"Setzer, I'm sorry, but I'm afraid I'm involved with someone." Celes said, and smiled softly. "But we will always be friends....and my goodness, I'm sure Maria is falling for you. You know that Maria is...."
"Celes..." Setzer said. "You arn't really involved, are you?"
Celes looked down, embarassed.
"Well...no. But I would like to be..." She said softly.
Setzer nodded, and all of a sudden, he was the Setzer that Celes had known before. The Setzer that only had eyes for Maria...
"I see." Setzer said softly, and smiled. "I know what you mean, Celes. And, you have my blessing!"
"What?" Celes asled, surprised.
"....Yeah!" Setzer said, and smiled more. "I hope you have lady luck on your side with whatever you do!"
"Thanks." Celes smiled, and the two hugged. "I'll do my best!"
"Great." Setzer said, and smiled. "Now, lets get you outside to say goodbye to Edgar and Sabin..."
So, Celes and Setzer stepped outside, and found Edgar, Sabin, and Locke standing there, waiting. Locke looked at Celes and immediately looked down. But, Celes, however, could not keep her eyes off of him. He was so handsome, and looked so...she couldn't find the words for it, even in her thoughts.
Edgar came over to Celes, and embraced her tightly. "Take care, and remember, you are always welcome back here!"
"Yes, thank you." Celes said softly. "I appreciate it."
"Same goes for you, Locke." Edgar said.
"Heh, thanks." Locke said.
"Yes, please be careful." Sabin smiled.
"Come on, lets jet out of here." Setzer said. "I have to get you guys there before the perfomance, or Maria will be furious!"
"Does she have a temper?" Celes asked.
"Uh-Huh!" Setzer cried, and shuddered. "Something that none of us will be able to tolerate."
"Well, by all means, lets go already!" Locke said.
With that, the three boarded the airship, and Celes peered out of one of the tiny windows and waved goodbye to the Figaro Brothers. Edgar saw her and waved back, elbowing Sabin to do the same. The ship rumbled and began to shake as Setzer started the engine, and soon, they were lifting off the ground in majestic-like glory. Soon, the desert became smaller and smaller, until it was a mere pool of sand in the view of the window. Celes sighed happily, and turned, only to see Locke behind her.
"Locke, you scared me!" Celes smiled.
"Heh, sorry." Locke said, and stepped beside her to peer out the window.
"Is something wrong?" Celes asked, and looked at him strangely.
"Oh, no." Locke said softly, and continued to gaze out the window.
"Are you sure?" Celes pressured, and yanked on his black tuxedo sleeve. He turned to gaze at her with those comforting brown eyes, and she blinked.
"Yeah...pretty sure..." Locke said. "Do you have a problem?"
"Me?" Celes asked worriedly. "No..."
"Then, could you maybe leave me alone for a while?" Locke asked, and Celes took a small step back.
"Yeah.....sure...." She said, and ran out of the room, droppping Edgar's fan by accident as she slammed the cabin door behind her. Locke stared after her for a few moments before walking over to the fan and picking it up. He looked it over, and slipped it in his pocket to give it to her later. He let out a soft sigh, and kicked at the dust on the floor.
"Man..." He muttered.
Celes climbed to the mid-deck of the airship, which was where the party used to meet for strategy meetings and important announcements when they were fighting Kefka. Celes looked at the couch where she would always sit and stare mindlessly at her surroundings when she wasn't fighting. She found herself drawn to it now, and sat down on the rather soft cushions, memories pouring back into her mind from that grand adventure...
She looked up, and saw the flower painting hanging across form her. That painting was the one she would always stare at when she was alone, which was often. At first, no one in their party had liked her very much. But, it was understandable. Here she was, a traitorous Magitek Knight, joining up with the group whose members she had once hunted down and annihalated without a second thought. Celes had never stopped to think about what kind of lives those Returners had behind the war they were fighting. She didn't think that any would be a sensitive, lost girl, like Terra. Or, a noble King and his brother fighting for the country they loved, and for the parents they lost to the Empire, like Edgar and Sabin. And she never thought that...well, Celes, General of the Empire, would ever fall in love with a Returner.
But there had been a lot of surprises. Really, by this time, the truth was, Celes should have been dead. But, thanks to Locke and the Returners, she was alive and well. She had a lot to thank everyone for, but she still didn't know how to do it. Celes found herself wondering about these things all the way to Jidoor, with no interruptions, as she gazed at that lovely painting.
Meanwhile, above deck, Setzer was piloting his beloved Falcon, the wind whipping through his long, distractingly-gorgeous silver hair. He smiled as the familiar sight of the Opera House appeared below him.