NEW VERSION: [Final Fantasy VI] Fic: The Sleeping Beauty (Part 7 of 13)

[flonnebonne]

Title: The Sleeping Beauty
Fandom: FF6
Characters: Celes, Terra, Locke, Edgar, Sabin, Shadow, Cyan, Gau, Setzer, Relm
Genre: Drama, AU
Wordcount: 11,975
Summary: What if, after one year asleep, Celes still does not wake?

Important Note: This is a revised version of the story I posted on April 2.
The main changes are:
1) New material at the beginning and end of the story, with significant changes to the plot;
2) Removal of unnecessary lines to promote clarity and better flow, hopefully, throughout the story;
3) Splitting up the story into thirteen sections instead of two, because I realize this is a damn long story;
4) Chapter titles.

Hopefully the story is better now! I am leaving the old version up for posterity's sake, if you'd like to compare. Comments and criticism are welcome, always.

Part 7: Dancing Mad

Heya, General Celes!

(The smell of colour.)

Or should I say ex-General Celes!

(Blooming violets, verdant greens.)

It's me, "the kid."

(Earthy ochres, metallic greys, stony cobalts.)

Nice to meetcha again. I know we hardly know each other, but I'm here to invade your personal space like everyone else on this flying tub. Aaaaaaaand I'm gonna paint your portrait!

(Citrusy oranges.)

Heh heh. But don't worry, not like that. I already did a "special" sketch of you yesterday. Good thing, too. Distracted the mob long enough for me to get on board. You're a pretty hot commodity, ya know? Everyone in Jidoor is up and arms because Setzer "kidnapped" you. Again, apparently. But in a more skeevy way this time.

They're kind of right, you know. I've seen the way Setzer looks at you. Not sure if it's creepy or sweet.

(Bright vermillion reds.)

Anyway, I'm painting a real portrait of you this time. Gonna call it "The Sleeping Beauty." 'Cause you are awful pretty in that dress. And god knows we need a little beauty in our lives right now.

(Titanium whites.)

...I know where my grandpa is, Celes. When I was working for Owzer - he's the richest man in Jidoor, so he's really rich - I heard this rumour about an old man, an absolutely ancient guy, with crazy monster magic. Yeah, that's gotta be my gramps. He's, uh, with the Cult of Kefka. In their tower. Not Kefka's Tower, the other one.

So that's where we're going. To unbrainwash my grandfather, if we can. If we can't -

(Charred blacks.)

Oh, what am I saying? Of course we can. That's what I'm here for! Now, let's get this painting started.

(A rainbow.)

(Swirling across a palette.)

(In a world gone dark, the smell of colour remains.)

---

(Brushstrokes, muted.)

Uwaaooo~! Pretty picture.

She does have talent, I'll grant you that.

...You don't have to hang around here for my sake, you two.

(Coated with paint, not colour.)

I'm here because it's my shift.

Uooo...Gau like look at picture.

(The dip of a brushtip in water.)

I know you're all monitoring me. Trying to make sure I don't run off to Kefka's Tower. Like I'm that stupid.

(A brushtip being cleaned, set aside.)

...They may be overbearing fools, but they're worried about you.

Mr. Shadow, not talk now is good. Uoooo~

No, let him talk, Gau.

(The scrape of metal against wood.)

Let him try to comfort me. Let him tell me how it's okay.

(The scrape of metal against canvas.)

How we missed rescuing my grandfather by a matter of days, but don't worry.

(Scrape.)

Even though Kefka has him in his tower now, he's probably fine.

(Scrape.)

He might getting tortured or, or who knows what.

(Scrape.)

And while this is going on I'm supposed to sit here and paint!

(Rip.)

Hwaooooo...picture is...ruin.

This is your precious symbol, all right? Your Sleeping Beauty. She's not gonna wake up. Terra won't help her and Grandpa isn't here to even try. And you know what? If we kill Kefka and the Statues, Celes is going to die. She should have died a long time ago, when she was hit by that beam of light from the Floating Continent. The only thing keeping her alive is magic. We kill the Statues, we kill magic, we kill her. And all the Espers, and probably Terra too. Even if we win, we can never have the world back the way it was. So stop pretending. Just...stop.

(The silence of accusation.)

I want my grandpa back.

(Fragmenting into despair.)

Relm...cry is okay. Relm...Gau sorry.

Just, just give me something to do. I can't bear this room any longer.

(A tall man, kneeling.)

You haven't lost your grandfather yet.

(A young girl, raising her eyes.)

Shadow...I shouldn't have said all those things. I always talk too much.

(The wordlessness of regret.)

Let's go see Interceptor. You can give him a piece of meat.

Uwaooo~

...Okay.