Aria di Mezzo Carattere

"Aria di Mezzo Carattere" (translates to Air of Half Character) is an aria from the opera "The Dream Oath: Maria and Draco," written by Nobuo Uematsu for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System game Final Fantasy VI (released for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System in North America under the title Final Fantasy III). The English translation below, following the direct Japanese to English lyrics, is the work of the game's official translator, Ted Woolsey. The opera is mostly in the game for one's enjoyment but also features a small game element. Three times during the opera you have to pick the correct line for Celes to sing, failing to do so will get you kicked out of the opera and you must do a new attempt. Former Empire General Celes Chere must take this role to help the party get an airship from Setzer Gabbiani.

In the original Japanese version of the game, the music is closely aligned with the lyrics, although because of technical limitations no voice is heard except for an attempt at recreating a voice on the SPC700 sound format. On the album Final Fantasy VI Grand Finale there is a live version of the opera performed in Italian by Svetla Krasteva. This song is also found in the second full motion video included in Final Fantasy VI as part of Final Fantasy Anthology and Final Fantasy VI for the PlayStation in Europe and Australia with the same lyrics but a different musical arrangement. The lyrics for this version of the song are also found below. Though the live version in the album is only a portion of the song, the complete song can be found on the track "The Dream Oath" in the ultra-rare CD, Orchestral Game Concert 4 which was released only in Japan and consists of an Orchestra playing arranged versions of video game music. A unique version of this song is found in the ending full motion video, this is a "humming" version.

Scene 1
Impresario
 * The West and the East were waging war...
 * Draco, the West's great hero, thinks of his love, Maria.
 * Is she safe? Is she waiting...?

Draco
 * Oh Maria!
 * Oh Maria!
 * How I long to be with you!

 Impresario
 * The forces of the West fell, and Maria's castle was taken.
 * Prince Ralse, of the East, took her hand by force.
 * But she never stopped yearning for Draco...

Scene 2
Maria
 * Oh my hero, so far away now.
 * Will I ever see your smile?
 * Love goes away, like night into day.
 * It's just a fading dream.


 * I'm the darkness, you're the stars.
 * Our love is brighter than the sun.
 * For eternity, for me there can be,
 * Only you, my chosen one...


 * Must I forget you? Our solemn promise?
 * Will autumn take the place of spring?
 * What shall I do? I'm lost without you.
 * Speak to me once more!

Draco
 * Come, Maria. Follow my lead.

Draco
 * Ha ha ha ha...

Maria
 * We must part now, my life goes on.
 * But my heart won't give you up.
 * Ere I walk away, let me hear you say
 * I meant as much to you....


 * So gently, you touched my heart.
 * I will be forever yours.
 * Come what may, I won't age a day,
 * I'll wait for you, always...

Chancellor
 * Prince Ralse is looking for a dance partner.
 * Leave the past behind.
 * Our kingdom is adopting the spirit of the East.

Scene 3
Messenger
 * The survivors of the West attack!

Ralse
 * Impossible!

Soldiers
 * Attack!!

Draco
 * Wait!!

Draco
 * Maria!

Maria
 * Draco, I've waited so long.
 * I knew you'd come.

Ralse
 * Maria will finally have to become my queen!

Draco
 * For the rest of my life, I'll keep you near...

Ralse
 * It's a duel!