Before all you die hard Celes fans jump on me for making her "Out of Character", please remember what AGE (hence the Celes: Age ** before each chapter installment) she is in this next chapter. When you're a kid, you get jealous easily and you want to win, always. So don't sit here and lecture me about out of character, because it isn't. If your going to sit here and say that Celes is so perfect that she never did anything petty, even as a child, you're blind, a fool and a liar to boot. The same thing for the other characters. Remember, hind site is 20/20; right now they are acting like assess, but they only express regret after they admit they did wrong things. Once again, this is before the game, extremely before the game, so please keep an open mind, and realize that just *maybe* they didn't act the same or share the same views as they did a decade or so ago.

Disclaimer ~ Final Fantasy is a trademark of Sqauresoft® and its respective owners, which does not include me. That translates to I do not own FF6 or any of it's characters.

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Flashback – 9 years ago. Celes: Age 10

Their training was excellent. Only the best would be acceptable for the future generals f the empire. Kefka and Leo developed into fine young men. For their age, both were strong, handsome, and great warriors. Despite the fact that she was a girl, Celes excelled. Because she was trained at a very early age at the same pace the boys were, she was more than able to keep up with them. In several areas she would surpass them. The three had even gone training out in the field. This was where Kefka and Celes surpass Leo. Leo always took the peaceful way to solve things. He would do what he needed to, no doubt, but always held compassion and sympathy for the other side. After all, they were against the mighty empire, so they stood no chance. And if they were kind and considerate, they would rebel less and accept the empire as their rightful ruler. Violence and death didn't seem to phase Celes and Kefka at all. They didn't enjoy doing it, but didn't hesitate to set a house on fire either, if the order was given. After all, it was what they were trained to do. This was war, and they didn't have the time to go picking daisies in a field of flowers.

"Come on Leo, lighten up," Kefka said, "Remember, we are doing this for the glory of the empire."

"Kefi is right," Celes added in, "If you let all the little things get to you, then won't be able to do your job correctly."

"I know that…" Leo stated remorsefully, " But I just think that we should do it a different way…"

The other two just shrugged. A guard signaled the pre-teenagers inside. They did as they were told and followed the guard to the 'thrown' room. Emperor Gesthal was sitting there with a look on his that ment they were going to do something. All three lined up in front of him and knelt. After a few seconds, they rose and looked at their leader expectantly.

"How are my aspiring young warriors doing?" he asked with a sincere smile on his face.

"Excellent, your majesty, all thanks to you," Celes answer.

"That is wonderful to hear," he replied.

At that moment a loud roar could be heard. It was inhuman, but at the same time, it almost sounded like someone was saying 'Terra'. The three kids were unfazed. It was more than likely just some stupid Esper again. Ever since they were in the cradle they could hear those beast crying from the magic tech factory, but after a while you learn to tune things out. Gesthal raised his hand and motioned one of the guards to do something. In a few minutes, the door opened and a couple of other guards were dragging a young, green-haired girl into to room. The girl was the same age as Celes. She was kicking, screaming, and crying, trying to escape her captors. The Esper's roar was much louder and clearer now – it WAS saying 'Terra'.

"NO! LET ME GO!" the girl screamed, "FATHER! FATHER! FAAAAAATHER!"

"Silence you half breed!" one of the soldiers screamed. He slapped her, trying to get her to be quite, but she just kept calling out to her father. Cid entered the room from the same door the girl came out of, and shut it immediately to muffle the noise a little.

"It's seems as though the girl regained a brief bit of her memory," Cid explained. He adjusted the spectacles on his face and continued. "I have improved upon the slave crown that I first made years ago to control this specimen. I have made it absolutely flawless. Before, if the subject had a strong will, it might have been able to fight back against the crown, as you people know."

There were accounts of this half-esper, half-human rebelling against them and the slave crown, much to the Emperor's chagrin. Such events would end up disastrous. She was extremely powerful, but Gesthal was determined to turn her into a useful tool instead of having her drained like all the others.

"Of course, the price for total control of the specimen will lead to complete memory loss. It's permanent. She won't ever be able to regain any of her memories."

Gesthal grinned evilly, "Then it truly is perfect. Go ahead and place it on her head."

The girl began to thrash more violently as Cid approached her. The crown was place on her head and the results were immediate. She stopped moving and was no longer screaming. Her tears had dried up and stood completely vertically, read for her first order. The commotion below was greater than ever. Another soldier ran to thrown room, out of breath.

"Sire!" he exclaimed, "that esper that was acting up before has broken lose! He is on a rampage!"

"Heavens man then contain the monster at once!" Gesthal yelled. "All of you, get that Esper under control!"

"YES SIR!" all the foot soldiers said in unison, giving a salute all the while.

"Wait!" cried Cid. "You must very VERY delicate with it. That esper is a Tri-element esper, the first one we have had. I want to try something different with it. I want to see if I can extract ALL his elemental powers, so you must be careful. I forbid you to harm it. The process I use to extract the elements will take much longer, and be much more painful than it would for a normal esper, but this one has a strong will, like his daughter. I think he will last. And if it works, just think of the scientifical discoveries we will make!"

The soldiers grunted, but had no choice other than to do what they were told. They filed out of the room neatly, like a bunch of ants, with Cid following slowly behind them. Celes took this time to glance at her companions. They were both staring at the new girl. She felt a twinge of jealousy inside her. Leo was looking at her with sympathy and Kefka with awe. The Emperor cleared his throat and Celes turned her attention back to him.

"Celes, Kefka, I have a special mission for you two. I want you two to take this girl and capture Maranda. I will be just the three of you, with no soldiers or Magitech armor. I know it's quite a feet to do, but I am sure you can accomplish it. I have high expectations for you. Also, this will be the trial run for our new 'ally'. I expect a full progress report on how she did during the battle. Celes will be the leader of this mission, and Kefka, you will be in charge of reporting everything our specimen does." He turned to Leo and began to speak. "Leo, I have something special in store for you as well. My chancellors have told me that you posses a gift of strategy. Come hither boy, and let us see if we can exploit that gift."

Leo and Gesthal exited the room, leaving Terra, Celes and Kefka behind. Celes and Kefka made their way out the doors, when Kefka spun around and said "Come along now Miss Terra, we have a city to capture." The girl, expressionless, nodded slowly and walked towards her new 'masters'. They waited for her and when she caught up to them, they began to walk side by side. Celes was slightly irritated and stopped.

"You walk BEHIND us," she said in a slightly agitated tone, "not beside us."

The girl nodded again, and let the other two get a few steps in front of her before she began to follow them again.

Conquering Maranda was quite easy with the aid of Terra. Neither of the two had to lift a finger while she was under the slave crown. It was in minutes that the city fell to her. Kefka was extremely impressed. Celes, on the other hand, was bitterly jealous. She was so used to being the best at everything, and just moments ago she was upstaged by some - - mongrel of a human. She couldn't stand it. This thing was far more powerful than she ever was, and it was stealing her Kefi's attention. Celes vowed to train harder, to become stronger than that mutt. She just had to! Back at HQ, Kefka gave the exact report of how everything went at Maranda. Gesthal was pleased. Celes and Kefka were excused, and they both left to go to their quarters. Kefka could tell there was something wrong with Celes.

"Hey, Celes, what's wrong?" he asked worriedly.

She stopped walking and pouted for a little bit and pouted.

"Kefi…" she said a bit hesitantly, "You don't think… that Terra girl is pretty… do you?"

A smile slide across Kefka's face. He knew what was going on inside the young girl's mind, and it seemed to him…rather cute.

"Not half as pretty as you," he replied smoothly.

Her face became flustered, and she tried to hide it, but it was no good. His smile grew into a big grin.

"You don't think she is stronger than me, do you?"

"OH she is definitely stronger, Celes, but you don't have to worry. She is just a brainless doll. You're way more important than she will ever be."

Celes turned back to her childhood friend, her face still slightly red. "Thanks Kefi," she said silently. Celes walked slowly into her room, then went to bed with a warm feeling of satisfaction in her.

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In case you couldn't tell, Celes was worried that her friends, Leo and Kefi (most of all) would like Terra better then her. She started feeling insecure about her looks and strength when Terra came into the picture. It's no big deal, something that all pre-teens and teenagers go through. :P She just needed an ego booster, which Kefka was more than happy to give. :D