Chapter One: Mourning Locke
By Hippo
The February sun had set on the Castle Figaro. The castle was usually happy and full of excitement, both not today.
Today was a day for a ceremony, and a sad one at that. Friends were seated n a room in the castle that Edgar would
dedicate as a memorial to Locke, who was lost when the Falcon suddenly crashed. He was not found, so it was
decided that a simple plaque would be dedicated in his memory. His friends would speak to the plaque, for final
goodbyes.
The first to speak was one of the first to encounter the late thief. It was Terra, who no longer had any magic powers,
but still maintained her rightous heart. "Locke, I'm so sorry. I was the one who got you into this mess. You saved me
in Narshe, and because of that you joined the quest. You were so good to me, Locke. I don't think I'll ever have
another friend like you."
The green-haired girl returned to her seat. Two people now stood up. A grandfather, and his granddaughter.
"Locke," choked Relm, "you did so much for me. You saved me from a burning building that nobody I know would
go in. If you didn't come to my village, I would have never met my father. Locke, please tell my father I love him."
Strago was the next to speak. Locke, if you hadn't brought Terra to my village, all the townspeople would have
forgotten who they really were. And you had the bravery to enter a burning house to save my dear little Relm. And
you taught me to be young again. Thank you." The family sat down. Another individual stood up. Tragedy to this
man was not new, he had seen his wife and son die before his very eyes. He was Cyan.
The chivalrous old man began to speak. "Locke, at first I was shocked that thou had protected Celes and Terra,
because they were originally Imperial soldiers. Apologies to you. Thou taught me to forgive,
Locke. Please take care of my wife and son."
As Cyan sat down, Setzer was the next to eulogize. "Locke, it should have been me who went down with the
Falcon, not you. You helped turn me into a sleazy gambler into a caring man. You showed me the true
happiness of life. Shalom, good friend. You can never be replaced."
The gambler took his seat as the royal twins stood up simotaniously. "Locke, you befriended me early; you were the
first friend I had as king," said Edgar sadly. "If it weren't for you, Figaro would have been destroyed by the empire
long ago. Your cunning tactics save the kingdom. Good-bye, my friend." "Locke," said Sabin, "my brother said just
about everything I wanted to. But I just want to say that if the Empire did conquer Figaro, an act that you helped
prevent. Farewell."
The twins sat down. Mog was the next to speak. " I miss you, kupo. I saved you from the Narshe guards, then you
saved me from that Lone Wolf. If it weren't for you, I'd be feeding the worms, kupo! Rest in peace, friend."
Mog sat down and Gau stood up. "Gau sad. When first hear of you, Gau think you bad person. But you not. Gau
miss you."
Gau sat down. There was only one person who hadn't spoke yet. Everyone turned to face her. She stood alone,
apart from the others. Her head was hung in sadness. Edgar approached her, but his brother stopped him. "Leave
her alone," he whispered. Edgar nodded.
The rest of the group walked out of the memorial room, but Celes still stood there, alone. For the first time in her
life, she really felt alone. Tears began to stream down her soft face. Finally, she spoke to the plaque.
"Oh Locke......I just don't know what to say. When your first rescued me from the dungeons of South Figaro, I didn't
know what to say then, either. When you were protective of me, I had though you either had a crush on me or were
just crazy. But when I learned of what happened to Rachel, I understood how dangerous life really is. Thank you for
coming with me to Vector. And I never did forgive you for doubting me. But I forgive you now, I understand that
your were pressured by the rest of us. But Locke, you gave new hope to my life. Shortly before the Empire jailed
me, I had planned to end my life. I wasn't born, Locke, I was grown in a lab. My birthday is the anniversary of when
I was removed from the incubator. I was raised for eighteen years to be a heartless soldier, not to love, not to enjoy
life. Locke, you changed that. I had never heard music before the opera. I never knew what grief was until you told
me about Rachel. And Locke *sniff* I am feeling an immense ocean f it right now. You taught me love, and..I...love
you, Locke. But it's too late now, Locke. Now I know how you felt. I too have lost *sniff* somebody I love. Locke,
you were the most important person in my life. But I know, despite my *sniff* dearest wishes, I can never be with
you again. I am going to leave Figaro Castle for good now. I don't even know where I am going, but I will never
return. Good-bye, Locke." With than, she turned around and headed for the exit.
By Hippo
The February sun had set on the Castle Figaro. The castle was usually happy and full of excitement, both not today.
Today was a day for a ceremony, and a sad one at that. Friends were seated n a room in the castle that Edgar would
dedicate as a memorial to Locke, who was lost when the Falcon suddenly crashed. He was not found, so it was
decided that a simple plaque would be dedicated in his memory. His friends would speak to the plaque, for final
goodbyes.
The first to speak was one of the first to encounter the late thief. It was Terra, who no longer had any magic powers,
but still maintained her rightous heart. "Locke, I'm so sorry. I was the one who got you into this mess. You saved me
in Narshe, and because of that you joined the quest. You were so good to me, Locke. I don't think I'll ever have
another friend like you."
The green-haired girl returned to her seat. Two people now stood up. A grandfather, and his granddaughter.
"Locke," choked Relm, "you did so much for me. You saved me from a burning building that nobody I know would
go in. If you didn't come to my village, I would have never met my father. Locke, please tell my father I love him."
Strago was the next to speak. Locke, if you hadn't brought Terra to my village, all the townspeople would have
forgotten who they really were. And you had the bravery to enter a burning house to save my dear little Relm. And
you taught me to be young again. Thank you." The family sat down. Another individual stood up. Tragedy to this
man was not new, he had seen his wife and son die before his very eyes. He was Cyan.
The chivalrous old man began to speak. "Locke, at first I was shocked that thou had protected Celes and Terra,
because they were originally Imperial soldiers. Apologies to you. Thou taught me to forgive,
Locke. Please take care of my wife and son."
As Cyan sat down, Setzer was the next to eulogize. "Locke, it should have been me who went down with the
Falcon, not you. You helped turn me into a sleazy gambler into a caring man. You showed me the true
happiness of life. Shalom, good friend. You can never be replaced."
The gambler took his seat as the royal twins stood up simotaniously. "Locke, you befriended me early; you were the
first friend I had as king," said Edgar sadly. "If it weren't for you, Figaro would have been destroyed by the empire
long ago. Your cunning tactics save the kingdom. Good-bye, my friend." "Locke," said Sabin, "my brother said just
about everything I wanted to. But I just want to say that if the Empire did conquer Figaro, an act that you helped
prevent. Farewell."
The twins sat down. Mog was the next to speak. " I miss you, kupo. I saved you from the Narshe guards, then you
saved me from that Lone Wolf. If it weren't for you, I'd be feeding the worms, kupo! Rest in peace, friend."
Mog sat down and Gau stood up. "Gau sad. When first hear of you, Gau think you bad person. But you not. Gau
miss you."
Gau sat down. There was only one person who hadn't spoke yet. Everyone turned to face her. She stood alone,
apart from the others. Her head was hung in sadness. Edgar approached her, but his brother stopped him. "Leave
her alone," he whispered. Edgar nodded.
The rest of the group walked out of the memorial room, but Celes still stood there, alone. For the first time in her
life, she really felt alone. Tears began to stream down her soft face. Finally, she spoke to the plaque.
"Oh Locke......I just don't know what to say. When your first rescued me from the dungeons of South Figaro, I didn't
know what to say then, either. When you were protective of me, I had though you either had a crush on me or were
just crazy. But when I learned of what happened to Rachel, I understood how dangerous life really is. Thank you for
coming with me to Vector. And I never did forgive you for doubting me. But I forgive you now, I understand that
your were pressured by the rest of us. But Locke, you gave new hope to my life. Shortly before the Empire jailed
me, I had planned to end my life. I wasn't born, Locke, I was grown in a lab. My birthday is the anniversary of when
I was removed from the incubator. I was raised for eighteen years to be a heartless soldier, not to love, not to enjoy
life. Locke, you changed that. I had never heard music before the opera. I never knew what grief was until you told
me about Rachel. And Locke *sniff* I am feeling an immense ocean f it right now. You taught me love, and..I...love
you, Locke. But it's too late now, Locke. Now I know how you felt. I too have lost *sniff* somebody I love. Locke,
you were the most important person in my life. But I know, despite my *sniff* dearest wishes, I can never be with
you again. I am going to leave Figaro Castle for good now. I don't even know where I am going, but I will never
return. Good-bye, Locke." With than, she turned around and headed for the exit.