Future Hope And Trust

"Locke, don't believe him! I'm not a traitor!...You believe me...don't you...?" I pleaded with him.

I stood in front of him. In the room where all of the espers had agreed to come with us. Kefka suddenly using my presence to turn my friends against me. I would not let that happen.

"Celes...I..." Locke said. He looked so confused.

"Locke! You know me! I would never do that! You saved me, remember? Why would you think I'd betray you?!" I desperately tried to get Locke to believe me, but he didn't look like he was going to give in. How could I do that to him? How could he think I'd do that to him?!

"Locke! Please believe me! I'm true to my word!" I said, I don't know why my eyes were starting to sting.

"Celes, I don't know!" Locke said in confusion and frustration.

"Time is wasting, Celes! Collect the magicite and dispose of these rodents!" Kefka shot out at me.

I sneared at him and turned back to Locke. "Locke, please..." I pleaded once more.

"Celes...I'm sorry..." Locke looked to the ground.

It was no use, he would not believe me unless I proved it to him. "OK, well, I'm not lying Locke! And if this is the only way to show you then ... so be it. I hope that now, Locke, you will believe me!" I said and stepped back from him and over towards Kefka and who ever he had with him.

"Celes...!" Locke shouted to me, I ignored him.

"Warp!" I said as I casted the magic to warp Kefka and I away so they could escape. In less than a few seconds, we disappeared.

"Now look what you've done you little brat!" Kefka screeched at me.

"Well, at least you're away from my friends, even if I have to put up with you! I know it's worth it!" I said and turned from him.

We had landed in Gestahl's dining room of all places. What a lovely place for myself to be captured and punished. Probably even put to death, but I knew it would help save the world, so I didn't mind much. I figured my life was just a waste anyway. The only thing or one I would actually miss is ... Locke ... Whether I liked it or not, I cared for him a lot more than I gave credit for.

So I awaited for the Almighty Emperor Gestahl to come and judge my inexcusable actions of a traitor as Kefka would call it. Oh, how I hated this. I hated being here. All I wanted to do, was go back with Locke and the others. I didn't want to be here or anywhere else. Just with Locke. What am I saying? Thinking? I'm acting like I said I wasn't! I realised what I was thinking and was surprised.

"You know, just because Locke saved you, that doesn't mean he loves you ..." Edgar shot at me while we were walking up towards the esper with the others.

"What? I'm a General, not some love-starved twit!" I snapped at him and went on. I was almost sure I heard him say something else.

"Geez, what a cold one Locke brought along ..." I'm sure Edgar mumbled to himself.

I felt like saying something else, but decided against it. I didn't want people thinking the worst of me before they knew me. I wondered what Terra was trying to say while we lagged behind. I never understood it til now ...

"So you can use magic, it's a great gift isn't it?" I asked Terra as we walked.

"You can use magic too?" Terra asked me. She didn't seem to remember me. I knew her, but didn't bother to say anything.

"When I was a baby, I was artificially injected with magic from the essence of an esper. I was then raised to be a magitek soldier and became a General," I explained to her as if I was rather proud of it and made it to be a big deal, which I hadn't really meant to do. I was sure I heard someone say something though, but I didn't know who.

"You don't have to make such a big deal about it. It's not the greatest thing in the world. It's actually quite horrible ..."

I really felt like saying something to that person up ahead, but then I heard Terra say something ...

"So ... have you ever loved someone?" Terra asked me.

I was quite puzzled with that question. I started thinking of him. How I loved him, how he betrayed me ... I kind of took the question as an insult because of my experiences in the past and was bitter to her. "...What's that suppose to mean?" I asked her and then went on.

"She seemed a little astonished and hurt by that. She was only wondering what love was like. I didn't know that at the time. I thought I had lost her trust already. After I did that, I knew it was a mistake, but didn't have time to apologize. She ran up ahead of me towards Locke and stayed with him. All of the rest of the time, I was thinking how stupid I was acting. Then Cyan came along. I knew he would probably never trust me ..." I said to myself. I thought I heard Kefka say something, but paid no attention to the sniveling cry baby.

Why did I have to say those things? Sometimes I think I'm too much like my own ice magic ... I thought to myself and then was stopped by Cyan.

"Don't think for a moment that I trust you," He said it as if he meant a threat.

I sent the threat right back to him. "Fine, look with your own eyes, then see," I simply said to him with the same force he gave me. I then hurried on past him.

"He doesn't seem to have a problem with me any longer ... Not that I think he trusts me yet ..." I said to myself out loud, drawing Kefka's attention.

"What are you babbling about you good for nothing traitor!?" Kefka yelled at me.

I scowled at him. "Nothing to worry your little head about!" I said icily to him, not that he liked it.

"You shut up! You ungrateful brat! You'll pay for that! I'll torture you myself!" Kefka shrieked at me like a little girl, then laughed that idiotically childish laugh. It sent chills down my spine. It sounded so horrible.

We waited for hours for Emperor Gestahl to come back. We had no idea what was taking so long, not that I cared. I was just bored. So bored, that I started taunting Kefka until he threw me in a cell down in the dungeon.

I scrounged around seeing what anyone else might've left in there. They had stripped me of any and all things I had. I found an iron helmet and an old sword and a sprint shoes relic under loose bricks in the floor. "Probably hidden in case there was a way to escape someday ..." I said and then equipped them.

A while later, I felt the whole place shake! I was barely able to get up and look out the small window over the bed. Massive destruction was going outside as I thought. "Locke and the others must've opened the Esper's Gate!" I said. Everything was going up in flames.

Everybody in the base were starting to panic in a mad rush. I was stuck in a cell while everybody else was trying to escape. This went on for a few hours. I took cover under the bed in the cell. My cell partly caved in by the time it was all over.

I finally got up and out from under the bed. My cell was a mess. The whole back of it was caved and I could escape. I was just about to when some soldiers said something that interested me.

"The emperor's talkin peace! Can ya believe it! I don't get it!"

"No way! Are you serious?"

"Peace? Why would the emperor be talking peace? Unless it's some scam ... But we can always hope ..." I trailed and then heard something else.

"Let go of me you idiots! I do not belong in a cell! My class is too good for it! Now let me go this instant!" I heard Kefka scream.

"You, Sir, are going into this cell, and hopefully will get executed!" A soldier said while pushing Kefka into his cell.

"Oh, this is so hilarious. Kefka, in his very own home furnished cell!" I started to tease him and laughed hysterically.

"You shut up! I'll be out of here in no time at all!" Kefka yelled at me.

A soldier opened me cell door. "Man, this cell in caput! You have to be moved!" The soldier said as he grabbed my arm.

"Hey! What do you think you're doing! Let go!" I screamed and hit him with the sword I had and took off down the hall.

While on my escape down the hall, I bumped into General Leo. "General Leo! You won't take me! I'm getting out of here!" I said stubbornly and tried to run past him.

"Celes, please. The emperor has no intentions of harming you or anyone else. There is talk of peace. Please, just wait in the weaponry room until I come for you. You know I would never lie to you Celes," General Leo said it with a heart and a half.

I had always trusted him. He took care of me at times. We were ... close. He wasn't much of a looker, but he had heart. I suddenly remembered the time I had fallen in love with him ... I always thought it had been a stupid thing to do.

"Leo, promise me ..." I said to him.

"Promise you what?" Leo said to me as he held me in his arms. He was only five years older. I was only fifteen. I didn't care. I loved him. He was the only one who understood me.

"Promise me ... that you'll always be with me. That you'll never leave me. That you'll always ... protect me?" I said pleadingly.

"Celes ... you know we can't ..." Leo said.

"But you said it yourself. You love me. You know it, I know it. Please, Leo, I love you. I need you. You're the only one other than Cid that has ever understood me. I know I can be cold at times, but it's only because of the magic stirring in my veins. You know I didn't want this. I want to be with you forever. Please promise me," I said to him. I remember the tears that fell on my purely white skin.

"Celes, my angel with a soul as pure as the newly fallen white snow. My dove that I love so dearly. I do love you. I don't want you getting hurt. This is war, I may die ... but I will promise you that I will do these things for you until the day I die ..." Leo said to me lovingly.

I was so happy. I kissed him. The first kiss tasted in my life. Then, I thought of Terra and pitied her. She was Kefka's play thing and I knew it very well. Terra had no idea how evil Kefka really was ... She loved him ... I pitied her. Of course, she doesn't remember now ...

"General Leo...You abandoned me...How could you...?" I uttered, not meaning to say it out loud.

"Celes, I'm sorry ... But I have my own beliefs. I'm hoping that we can still be friends. Don't judge me by my wrongs," General Leo said to me pleadingly.

"Of course, but I will never forgive you for hurting me in that way," I said icily.

"Celes, it happened almost a year ago. You brought the title of a traitor upon yourself. Don't blame me for your own mistakes!" Leo said to me.

"I became a traitor because what the empire is doing is wrong! Completely evil! Unacceptable! Don't judge me by my rights!" I said to him and walked off to the weaponry room.

Leo didn't bother to follow me. I was angry, that meant to leave me alone. Everybody knew that by now. My temper was ferocious. I couldn't help but think more on what had happened. I had nothing better to do ...

"Leo, please, don't side with Kefka! He's evil! He is not doing this world any good! How could you! You promised me!" I said to him as tears fell on my cheeks, now holding scars of war.

"Celes, you brought this upon yourself! I'm trying to persuade Emperor Gestahl to just keep you in captive. I don't want them to kill you. I still love you. This is for the best. I'm truly sorry," Leo said to me and turned away.

"What? No! Leo! Come back! Don't leave me! You promised!" I shouted as tears fell. The soldier in there with me, slapped me.

"Shaddap, you traitor! You don't deserve mercy!"

"For so many months, Leo came to visit me, tell me the news. He fought to keep me alive for six whole months. The more I saw him come and go, the more I began to turn my love for him into hate. A week before I was saved, I held no more love for him in my body. I didn't even know if I trusted him ..." I said to myself. I knew that wasn't true. A small partial thing in me, still loved him. No more as an ally, however.

"Celes, I have bad news ..." Leo said, his head bowed towards the floor.

"Oh, what is it this time? I wish you would just leave me be. I already suffer enough without you here ..." I said coldly to him.

"Please, Celes. Don't be this way towards me," Leo said looking up at me.

"Why shouldn't I be? You never even tried to stand up for me! You never protected me! You left me alone! I loved you! Now I can do nothing but hate you!" I screamed at him as bitter tears fell.

"You die next week," Leo said to me suddenly and left the room just as suddenly.

I couldn't speak. I couldn't do anything. For a few minutes, I just stared blank. "You coward! You can't even save me from my death sentence! I shall never trust you again! I hate you! I hope you die! You hear me! I hope you die by your own master's hand!" I screeched and then cried. I never bothered to wipe the tears away.

"I eventually calmed down. I accepted my fate. I wanted to die ... I had nothing to live for anyway ..." I said, staring blankly at something.

As I hung in chains, a soldier continued to slap and kick me until I fell and got back up again. I was covered in scratches and bruises and I couldn't move my right leg very well.

"I'd hate to be in your shoes tomorrow!" the soldier said to me.

I knew if I said anything, I'd get a beating worse than I already had. However, I still persisted to air my thoughts, no matter how much trouble it would get me in. "How can you work for those cowards...?" I asked quietly. I should've stopped there, but didn't. "Isn't it true that Kefka is going to poison the people of Doma?" I asked accusingly. It was a horrible thing. The time I heard of it, was the last I was known as General Celes.

"SHADDAP!" The soldier said and kicked me

I fainted after that. I didn't know and didn't care what would happen while I was asleep.

"Locke ... you saved me ... I still don't understand why you did ..." I said, remembering how sweet he was to me.

"And who might you be?" I asked him accusingly as he helped me up.

"I'm Locke, I'm with the Returners. I've come to save you, let's go," He said to me.

I was shocked. "I used to be General Celes. Now I'm just a common traitor ..." I said to him.

"Well, that's OK, but we really have to go before that guy wakes up," Locke said to me hurriedly.

"Thanks but no thanks. I can barely walk," I said to him stubbornly, limping my way up in front of him.

"Hey, don't worry about it. I promise I'll protect you!" Locke said to me.

"I really think I'm better off here ..." I said to him, not really wanting to die but not caring either.

"I told you, I'm here to save you from certain death, so please just come on before this guy wakes up!" Locke said, trying to push me out the door ...

"I agreed after that. I really didn't know why he wanted so much to save me. He reminded me so much of Leo ... I guess I accidentally fell for him ... But I can't trust another guy ... Love is a waste of time ... I don't want to get hurt anymore ..." I said, realizing that I really was falling in love with Locke.

"Not that it matters anymore ... He probably doesn't even trust me anymore ..." I said, losing hope.

"Oh, what does it matter! I can't love! I AM NOT a love-starved TWIT! I don't need love! I'll be just as cold as ever! Locke deserves it after hurting me in that way! Just like Leo ..." I said suddenly. I then just awaited for Leo to return.

Eventually, General Leo did come and told me all about what had happened during my waiting. Locke and the others were actually here. He said that Doma and South Figaro were liberated and now free. He then told me that Locke and Terra had went off to Albrook to catch a boat to get to Thamasa. He told me that him and I were to go there together and meet them there. I agreed. What else could I have done?

We eventually got to Albrook and soon after we found that Locke and Terra were coming our way. I didn't say anything. Locke seemed surprised to see me.

"Celes ... I ..." Locke started.

I, however, had no interest. How could you even think of talking to me after accusing me of being a spy for Kefka! I thought to myself, then I went out in town and walked around to clear my head.

I stayed away from where I thought any of the Returners might be for hours until it began falling into night. I then went back to the ship where I saw Leo leaning on the railing of the boat. He noticed me.

"Celes, how come you're not resting up?" He asked me.

"I can't sleep. No need to worry, I'll be fine for tomorrow," I said icily to him and then headed up towards the Inn. I didn't bother to go in, Locke and Terra would be in there.

How could he think I was a spy for that dirt bag, Kefka!? He saved me, I owed him. I would never do that! I thought to myself.

"Celes..." I heard from behind me. I looked over and saw Locke. I turned again and watched the water.

"Hey, c'mon, why won't you speak to me?" He started.

I didn't feel like saying anything. I stayed quiet under the tensity of the air.

"Celes...I'm sorry..." Locke said, bowing his head to the dirt.

Good, act like the scum you are! I thought and then turned to leave.

"Celes!" Locke called, I paid no heed. I gave him the cold shoulder.

I went back to the ship after a while. Leo was still there. "I saw what happened between you and Locke. You know, if you really want to keep the friends you have, maybe you should act more kind and less cold. I know you're not this cold, Celes. You're just pushing them all away from you. If you keep doing that, you'll realize it much too late," He said.

Before I could say anything as a come back, he went below deck. That really got me thinking. "...He's probably right..." I said after long minutes of referring back every thought I had and how I had been acting. "He is right..."

The next morning, I waited for Terra and Locke to come out. General Leo explained the plan. We were to split up in groups. I was to go with Leo. Terra, Locke and Shadow were to go to Thamasa and find out where the espers might be hiding. Just before Locke left, I decided that I would apologize.

"Locke ..." I began.

He looked over at me with a sour face. Terra looked over as well, wondering what was going on. Then, to my surprise, he just walked on without saying anything to me. "C'mon, Terra, let's get going," was all he said.

Terra looked at me for a moment and then headed off with Locke. I hung my head in guilt out of my own idiotic actions. What could I do now? Locke hated me. He returned the cold shoulder I had given him. I knew what that meant. It meant, leave me alone, I would rather not associate with you anymore. It was what Locke said exactly ...

During the voyage, I stayed perfectly quiet and stayed in my dorm most of the time. I saw no reason to even try to speak to anyone, they wouldn't listen anyway. Locke, Terra and Shadow headed towards Thamasa. We headed in another direction to look for espers. The trip seemed long and dreary in my mind. I just wanted it to end.

Soon after, Locke contacted Leo and said that they had found the espers and were heading back to Thamasa. That was when General Leo decided to get back to meet them. By that time, I ran into Setzer on the way in. He had the airship fixed, so I decided to go in and not bother with Locke anymore. I just sat down at a table and was bitter the rest of the time.

I spent countless minutes just staring out the window of the airship. I started thinking of all that had happened in my life. I was beginning to welcome life a little. I wasn't always cold. I actually liked the people in this group called the Returners. I wondered if I would still be welcomed as a part of them. Locke and many others seemed to dislike me. All because I was a General in Kefka's army. Stereotyping me because of the way I was raised. I couldn't help that. Why do people suddenly think that just because I was part of the empire at one time, that I'm just as evil? Why do they suddenly assume that? I don't understand ... I thought to myself.

"Locke told me a lot of the stuff that went on between you two ..." I heard Setzer say behind me.

"Oh?" I said, with no interest what-so-ever.

"You shouldn't get angry with him, Celes. He's a mixed up guy. Kefka can really do that. He did that with you and Terra. Before you know it, this grudge between you two, it'll blow over," Setzer said and then left me alone.

"Maybe he's right ..." I said to myself.

All of a sudden, I was broken from my thoughts by some kind of earthquake. I fell down and soon tried to scramble to my feet. "What's going on?" I asked Setzer as he came into the room.

"I don't have a clue. Maybe we should go check?" Setzer asked me.

"No, I'll go. You stay with the airship. We may need to take off at any time and it would be helpful if you stayed and got prepared," I said to him and walked through the exit and towards Thamasa.

I ran to Thamasa and went near the entrance, only to find magitek soldiers blocking the way. I managed to climb a tree high enough to be able to see what was going on. However, if I jumped down, the magitek soldiers would obliterate me.

Down below, I couldn't believe my eyes. Locke, Terra, and two others I didn't recognize was unconscious while General Leo was fighting Kefka. I watched worriedly. I had no idea why I was worried, but I was. I found myself fearing for Leo's life. "Leo ... please win ... don't ... don't die ..." I kept saying to myself.

As the fight went on, Kefka disappeared and Emperor Gestahl had appeared. "Oh no, Kefka is trying to trick him! Leo! Get away from him! He is not what he seems!" I shouted, but he didn't seem to hear me.

"I am merely going to put you down for a long sleep now, General Leo," Kefka in disguise said.

"But my liege!" Leo defied.

Then, out appeared Kefka. Leo was struck down. After this, Kefka started collecting the espers. He bottled them into stones, killing each and every one. "You disgusting monster!" I shouted in frustration. I wanted to go in there and help, but I wasn't able to get in because of the magitek iron heads below, and I couldn't fight them alone.

Soon after Kefka was done collecting espers, him and his soldiers left. I ran into the town and right to Leo's fallen body. "Leo! Can you hear me? Wake up! You have to wake up! Leo! Leo? Leo, please!" I started to cry.

I still loved him. I had just realised it. General Leo was a good hearted man. Kind, considerate. I had no right what-so-ever to insult him the way I did. Now, I couldn't even apologize ... If this could happen to one of the greatest men in history, then it could happen to anyone. I didn't want that to happen. If Locke were to die, then I'd be all alone again. I couldn't stand it again, I would keep my feelings secret. At least until the war was over. If Locke didn't perish during all of this, I would tell him. My future is decided.

Before anyone woke up, I decided to go back to the airship as if I had no idea that any of this happened. Setzer asked me if I had seen anything, all I said was that Kefka had taken the magicite left of the espers and I couldn't see anything else. He seemed to accept that, so I was satisfied.

I would allow Leo's death to make me become stronger than ever before. I would and did have hope for this world. We would save it. Locke eventually got me to talk to him and he apologized for how he acted. I apologized as well. I had no right to do or act that way towards him. We then laughed it off and all was normal again.

Afterwards, any trip we would make to Thamasa, to stay at an inn, I would always get up in the middle of the night and go to visit Leo's grave. I would stay there for several minutes. I would remember the times we shared. I would remember all he had done for me, and I would thank him. I would always secretly buy a tulip, and put it there on his grave. Tulips were his favorite ...

Kefka would not get away with killing him. Kefka's actions were and forever will be unacceptable, and we Returners will stop at nothing to make him pay for what he's done to espers and humans alike. I swear on my very life, that I will stop Kefka with the help of all of my friends and friends to come. This world will be at peace again ...