Chapter 1
Celina Zala
The war between ZAFT and the Earth Alliance had just got more brutal. Both of them send their best pilots to fight in space. Thousands of people died and thousands were injured. Neither side was winning or losing.
ZAFT was losing a lot of pilots; so only one substitute was left. The Council doesn't agree on putting the substitute in the war, and for one thing. Patrick Zala didn't approve. He couldn't risk it. His son, Athrun was fighting for his life out there. He didn't want to risk losing the substitute. But in the end, they have to put HER in. Here our story begins.
Celina woke up to see Chocho in her face. She smiled and said, "Hey, Chocho." Cho waged its little mechanical tail. Chocho said, " Cho."
Chocho started to chase its tail around in circles. It tried so hard, but tumbled over Celina's feet. She laughed. Someone knocked on the door. She said, "Come in." And Athrun walked in. He smiled and said, "Good morning, Ce."
"Good morning, Mr. Zala. I see you actually have time to drop in my cozy room." Athrun looked around the room. It was a total mess. He smiled, weakly.
"Hmm, what a cozy room." He came over towards her and sat down next to her. Celina said, "So, am I going to drive your Gundam?" Athrun looked at her carefully. He said, "Are you joking?"
Celina frowned. "No, I'm serious."
"Look, you just can't."
"Yzak and Dearka let me drive theirs."
"Well, they're idiots to let you."
"Then, tell me why?"
"Because –,"
Chocho started to ring, came in between them and then its eyes showed them a huge screen. Patrick appeared. He smiled, "Morning, Celina." She said, "Morning, Daddy." Athrun frowned. Patrick said, "I'll be expecting to see you at breakfast, all right?"
Celina nodded.
"Good. See you."
And the screen disappeared. Chocho barked. Celina frowned, and knew what was coming. Whenever, Chocho barked, it meant that Athrun was going to bring up the 'topic'. She said, "I don't feel like talking, now."
Athrun shook his head and said, "No, we have to talk. You can't keep calling him Daddy, Celina." Celina said, "I can say whatever I want."
"He isn't your father, his mine." She turned away. ' Here it comes', she thought.
"Don't turn away. You do very well know he isn't your father. Do I have to remind you who your real father is?"
She said, "No."
"Then, stop calling him your 'daddy'."
"Always remind me, dear brother. You always have to crush my morning mood."
She got up. Athrun said, "Celina."
"Just leave me alone."
He got up and touched her shoulder, but she moved. She said, "Just get out."
Athrun left the room and left Celina all angry up inside.
She walked over to the mirror and looked at herself carefully. She saw that her hair was a bit darker than Athrun's and her eyes were a bit bigger, but the same color as his. She looked at her hands and saw the thing that made them not look like siblings. Her hands were the same as the father she tried to forget about. The father that tried to kill her mother, when he found out that she was a Coordinator. And that his children might not be born as Naturals, but as Coordinators.
Celina went to her dresser and started to brush her long hair. Chocho came up to her and tilted its head. It said, "Cho?" She turned to Chocho. Celina said, to Chocho "Chocho, do you think I look like Athrun and Daddy?
Chocho nodded. Celina smiled. She thought, ' I forgot I programmed you to agree with me for everything I say.' She picked it up and Chocho wagged its tail like crazy. She hugged it.
Then, before she knew it she started to cry. Chocho looked at her sadly. And said, "Cho?"
Celina said, ' It's not fair. Why do I have to loose them?" Chocho held up a tissue for her. She smiled and took the tissue.
She said, "Thank you, Chocho." She kissed it. She putted it down. She walked over to her closet with Chocho close at her heels. She took out loads of clothes. She said, "Chocho, what do you think is the best one for breakfast." Chocho pointed at her blue jeans and her white t-shirt. She said, "Chocho, you always know what's best." Chocho nodded.
She changed and put her hair in a tight ponytail. She picked up Chocho and walked out of her room. She went through the hall and saw Nicol, Yzak and Dearka standing near the elevator.
She said, "What's up, guys."
Dearka said, "Oh, look its Athrun's little sister." Celina smiled. Dearka always said the right words to cheer her up. Chocho started to growl at Yzak. Yzak said, "Shut your little dog up, Celina."
Celina glared at him. She said, "It's Miss Celina to you."
Yzak raised an eyebrow. "Right, like as if I'll say that," he said.
"You should learn respect, Yzak. Cause you need to if you ever want to pass Athrun."
Yzak started to walk away. He said, "I don't have to hear that kind of stuff."
The elevator arrived. Dearka, Celina and Nicol got in. Dearka rested his head on the glass elevator wall. He said, "Are you ready, Celina?"
She looked at him. "For what?"
Nicol said, "For the war."
Celina turned to him. She said, "Of course, I am. Do you think I'd be here if I wasn't." Nicol blushed. Dearka said,"Are you sure?"
"Yeah."
Dearka sighed. He said, "I hope you are. I don't know what will if you aren't." Was he worried that she might die? She slapped him on the back. She said, "No body will kill me. Don't worry." Nicol turned away.
They both looked really sad. She sighed. "Guys, don't worry. This girl won't be going anywhere." Dearka smiled.
"That's much better. Let's just not think of the worst, but think of the best."
The elevator stopped. Celina said, "Where are you guys headed to?"
Dearka said, "To our beloved Gundams that we stole." They both sniggered. Nicol said, "I don't think its funny." Celina stopped. She said, "Yeah, I guess." They got out of the elevator. Dearka said, "Let's have a moment of silence for all the dead Naturals." Before Celina closed her eyes, Dearka said, " Silence done. Let's go and polish our Gundams, Nicol." Nicol sighed. Celina said, ' Dearka, you never take things seriously."
She walked away. Dearka said, to Nicol "What did I say?"
Celina said, "That guy never takes things seriously."
"Who doesn't take things carefully?" Celina turned and saw Patrick. She said, "Dad!" He smiled. "Is that me you are talking about?" he said. She shook her head.
"You just startled me, that's all."
He put his hands on her shoulders and said, ' Come, Celina. We're having breakfast with the Clynes." She noticed that tone. It meant that he wasn't going to look forward to it. She said, "Daddy, give Mr. Clyne a chance. After all, you are making Athrun marry Mr. Clyne's daughter."
He said, "How could I forget?"
He smiled at her and she saw the love in his eyes for her. Even if he wasn't her father, he still loved as if she was his daughter.
They went to dining room. She saw the Clynes sitting straight. They went over to them and shook hands. A man pulled a chair for Celina and she sat down. She was sitting next to the girl that had everything, looks, money and a great singing voice. Lacus smiled and said, " Morning, Celina."
Celina couldn't help, but feel jealous. This girl was an idol to everyone at ZAFT. Celina replied, "Morning." Mr. Clyne smiled. He said, " I hear, you are going to war. Is that right?" She blushed and nodded. He said, to Patrick, "I would kill myself, if Lacus was going to war."
Patrick said, "In a way it's killing me." Celina's heart melted. Patrick was sad. Lacus whispered, "Are you sure you'll do this?" Celina said, "I have to. No one else will go."
"I wish I had your courage."
Celina blushed. Chocho came on the table and started to jump from food to food. Patrick said, "Celina." She got up and said, sternly " Sit, Chocho." Chocho sat in the punch bowl. Then, Chocho started to jump like crazy. It was going crazy. Celina grabbed Chocho and turned it over. The screen on Chocho's stomach wrote 'ERROR!' She sighed. "Daddy, I have to fix Chocho, before Chocho explodes."
He said, "You can go."
Lacus got up and said, "I'll help her." They both walked out. Lacus said, "Did you program him?" Celina said, "It's not a he, it's a it. I don't like the idea of having a gendered dog. And yes, I programmed Chocho."
"How old were you when you made Chocho?"
"I guess, ten or nine. I don't know."
They reached her bedroom. Celina said, "Mind you, my room's messy."
Lacus said, "It's all right."
Celina opened her door and went in. She said, "Here it is. My cozy messed up room." Lacus went over and sat on the couch. She said, " Nice." Celina went through her tools and found a screwdriver. She sat next to Lacus.
She opened up Chocho and started to fiddle with its circuits. Lacus said, "It looks complicated."
"I know."
Finally, she fixed Chocho. Celina said, "Lacus, do you mind if I ask you a question?"
"Sure."
"Well, are you happy about being engaged to Athrun?"
Lacus smiled. She said, "I'm fond of Athrun. Why?"
Celina blushed. She said, "I was just wondering."
"Athrun is really nice to me. But I know he doesn't love and I don't love him."
Celina got confused. She said, "Then, why did you agree to marry him?"
Lacus turned away and said, "I just want to make my father happy, that's all. And I know that Athrun feels the same way."
"Engagements are crazy. I hope I never get engaged to someone I don't love."
Lacus smiled. She said, "You're the same age as us and you act like ten year old."
Celina laughed. "I guess, that when I stopped acting mature."
Chocho started to ring. Celina said, "Great duty calls." Patrick appeared. He looked devastated. Celina said, "Dad, what's wrong?"
He croaked, "You have to come down here."
And he disappeared. Lacus said, "I guess, it means time to go." Celina gulped. She changed into the uniform she was given. She let her hair down. And walked out of her room. She locked her door. She heard Chocho scratching the door. She bit her lip and walked towards the elevator. Athrun was there. She said, "Athrun." He said, " Yes?"
"I think I have to leave now."
"Excuse me?"
"I have to go."
The elevator arrived. Athrun pressed a button and the doors closed. They kept quiet, until they arrived in the Council room. The guards saluted them and they saluted back. The doors opened and the entire Council was inside. Lacus, Dearka, Yzak and Nicol all sat next to their fathers. An old man stood up and so did everyone else. He gestured everyone to sit down. He cleared his voice and said, " Celina Zala, please come before the council." She got up.
"You are Celina Zala. Daughter of Patrick Zala and sister to Athrun Zala."
"Yes."
He clicked a button and a screen of words was in the middle of the room. Then a face appeared. It was a brown-haired boy and he had purple eyes. The Council started to mutter. The old man cleared his voice, again. "This is Kira Yamoto. He's the only Coordinator on the other side. And he pilots the Strike Gundam." She gasped.
'This was the boy who used to be Athrun's best friend.' She thought. She looked Athrun and who seemed to notice how she was looking at him. He turned away.
"He was the one who killed Miguel Aiman."
Again, she was surprised. This boy killed Miguel, but he didn't look like a killer.
"We want you to go to the Archangel and to pretend to be a Natural,"
She said, "A what!"
"A Natural."
She stuttered, "B-b-b-but that means I have to act dumb."
The Council laughed, except Patrick, Athrun and the old man. They looked awfully serious. She said, "But wouldn't they know that I'm a Coordinator?"
"No."
She said, "When, do I leave?"
"Hold up I didn't tell you why you are going there."
"Lay it on me."
"You have to retrieve a box of old files of dead Coordinators."
And appeared a box of files.
She put her hands on her hips. She said, "So, I steal box of files on dead people."
He nodded.
She said, "O.k. I'll go, now."
"But we have to take you there."
"Fine."
And she walked out of the room. Mr. Clyne said, "Your daughter is extremely tough."
Athrun got up and went after Celina. He grabbed her hand. He said, " Celina." She turned and he saw that she was crying. She hugged him. She said, "Athrun, I don't want to go."
He rubbed her back. He said, "Don't worry. If you get hurt or anything by anyone call me and I'll knock those people out." He said, the exact same thing when she started a new school when she was young. And two boys had pinned her too a wall and she screamed out Athrun's name. Then, he came her knight in shining armor. She smiled at the memory. She said, "I will."
"There. You'll be fine. You're a Natural."
"Don't make me think about that."
"Don't worry."
An officer came and told Celina to get ready. Celina looked at the headquarters and hoped it wasn't the last time that she would see it. She changed into a kind of battered clothes and was told to go in a pod. She got in.
She saw Athrun and waved at him. Patrick was nowhere to be found. Dearka yelled, "Good luck!"
Yzak yelled, "You'll need it."
She screamed, "Shut up, Yzak!" Then, the door was closed on her. Countdown started. 5-'I might not return'-4- 'don't think of that, Celina'-3-'But what if I get caught?'-2-'No, I won't'-1. BLAST OFF!!!!!!!!!!!!
The pod launched and then she was high up. She pressed her face on the glass. Celina said, "There goes HQ." The PLANT got smaller and smaller, until it became too small to see.
She leaned back and said, "Well, I guess. My adventure starts from here."
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Author's note:
Readers beware this story has some spoilers from the series. If you keep on reading everything will be spoiled. I warn you.
Celina Zala and Chocho are my characters. The rest aren't. This story takes place shortly after Miguel Aiman's death.
I'll be switching some things that happen in the series.
I hope you guys like this chapter.
