Disclaimer: I do not own any of these characters. I do not profit from this writing.

Author's Note: This is part of the What If series.

Prompt 011

Party

If Celes had gone crazy instead of Kefka.

From the journal of Terra Palazzo; March 19th

Today is Celes' fourth birthday! Kefka has a ridiculously ornate party planned, somehow having wrangled Leo into dressing up like a clown of all things. Leo, however, absolutely adores our little girl, so I don't foresee it being an issue. "Uncle Leo" is a rather popular household name when he is here, which I do wish would be more frequent. Since Leo took the crown, the Empire has made a turn towards a brighter and significantly less violent future. Gestahl's reign of terror ended only four years prior, and while I suppose I was too consumed by my own affairs to realize it, the Empire really had begun to slide quickly downhill. Leo has turned all of that around, though; we have valuable rapport with other lands now that isn't based solely on fear and intimidation or promises of nightmarish magics.

The gap between the mystical world and ours remains mostly closed still; Espers have begun to re-emerge, albeit very, very slowly, from the gate. We offer them safety, now; none of us have forgotten my past, nor that of my husband nor the adult Celes, and we strive very hard to maintain the trust that the Empire before us broke so long ago. It does sadden me to think of parents that I did not know, but some of the Espers who have emerged have been willing to share with me their knowledge. I do understand a general sense of disappointment in me – or perhaps it is misplaced and lies instead with my father – but some that have been willing to speak more candidly assure me that I was loved as much as my parents were capable of loving me. That's all I really suppose matters, in the end.

I do write this entry with sadness in my heart that is not reserved for just my own shortcomings as an Esper-Human hybrid; this also marks the fourth year of the passing of my darling daughter's namesake. It pains me immensely to think that she will never meet her Auntie Celes, though she has heard all sorts of fantastical tales of her bravery even now. Kefka has insisted to begin at the beginning, although at my request he has edited some of the details down to simple, meaningful phrases that don't leave her wondering if she will be tortured by some crazed mechanic in her sleep. A mother's work is not complete if she has not sat up for several nights a month with a child convinced that there is something in the closet or under the bed (despite having locked the closet and put a gentle mage-light under the bed).

Little Celes is an endless source of curiosity for most who reside within the palace still. She is every bit as unique as I am or as Kefka is; one-quarter Esper and something else entirely. I attempted to sit down and do the math to determine what she is when a particularly curious Esper requested it of me, but such a fine definition seems to bother Kefka; he says that she is a child, and that is all that she is, and that is all that anyone needs to know of the matter. I wonder sometimes if he is too protective of her, but perhaps that my own foolish nature telling me that things will be okay so long as we do not make the mistakes of our past again. Given what we are building up and away from, he does have a reason to be so private about her; he is more battle-hardened than I and thus I let him operate his own way in terms of her safety. Arguing with him is... pointless.

I have just been notified now that the two princes of Figaro will be arriving shortly. I am grateful for their support considering what became of their own kingdom in the past due to my Empire's actions. Gestahl has once again proven himself to be useless in everything save destruction, and even that in the end did him no good as one of the very creatures he forced to be produced slew him with his own wants and desires. I recall how swiftly the Magitek armor could reduce a man to ashes; seeing it first hand is not a sight that will soon leave my memories. But I digress... Edgar and Sabin have been the pinnacles of integrity now that Leo has taken the throne. Perhaps it is because our new king has the wisdom to back up his ideals, I wonder? I was but a child when Gestahl had a hand in dismantling their family, but I know enough to know their presence is meaningful.

I cannot help but be eternally curious of what lady Edgar will have accompanying him this visit. In the past, he tried his flattery with even myself, but it had no impact on me. Perhaps I am not normal; I have seen my share of women fall victim to his charms, married or otherwise, but to me he is just Edgar, handsome and silly and ambitious. Kefka has found this a thing of great wonder, as even he saw fit to tease me about Edgar's wiles. Perhaps my husband is on the market for another lesson about how I can better focus my attention elsewhere and away from him. I do believe it is time I have another Moogle; I think Celes is old enough now that she can appreciate the care one requires so long as I'm thorough with teaching her.

He's never gotten over his aversion to those things. He's lucky I developed an allergy when I was pregnant, or I would have surrounded myself with them if only for the sake of annoying him to get even for my horribly round state of being. I do realize now that he did not exaggerate about their shedding issue, though. I actually had to change rooms due to how much of it had gotten embedded into the nooks and crannies of the old room; even a decently proportioned cleansing spell could not rid the room of all of the loose fur.

The day draws on, and still more guests arrive. I must stop now, as Celes is demanding to put her dress on for the party. It's a beautiful thing, made of the lightest lavender coloured silk. It makes her blue eyes seem almost indigo in the light. It figures she'd get his eyes; they are easily her most-complimented feature. I do hope she got my wit, though, or she's doomed to a life of silly puns and the laugh reminiscent of a plains-beast. I do love her father, but he does not come without his... quirks.

I shall make another entry soon. I am sure there will be much to discuss after this pastel-themed ordeal has ended.