Opera "Maria and Draco"

The Dream Oath: Maria and Draco is the name of the Opera written by Nobuo Uematsu and Yoshinori Kitase that features in Final Fantasy VI.

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.

The Aria di Mezzo Carattere, one of Final Fantasy's most famous musical themes, is sung within the Opera.

In Game
In order to establish contact with Setzer, the owner of the only functional airship in the World, Celes impersonates the opera singer Maria, with whom Setzer is in love. Although Celes successfully poses as Maria for the majority of the opera, Locke discovers during the performance that Ultros is planning on dropping a gigantic weight on Celes from the rafters. The attempt to stop him ends with Locke, his allies and Ultros plummeting to the stage, knocking the actors playing Ralse and Draco unconscious. Locke thus attempts (and somewhat succeeds) to improvise this into the opera, and after battling Ultros, Setzer appears and kidnaps Celes as per the original plan.

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; it is quite easy to guess which line is the correct one, however. The Opera scene is considered the most beautiful cutscene in the game and is repeatedly voted as one of the most stirring moments in gaming history according to many sources.

Plot
When the West lost the war against the East, the Western Princess, Maria, is forced to marry the Eastern Prince, Ralse. During a ball, the survivors of the West, led by Draco, Maria's love interest, launch a surprise attack. A duel ensues between Draco and Ralse, in which the latter is defeated. Maria and Draco then live together happily ever after.

English version lyrics
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GBA version
Part 1

Impresario
 * The war between the East and the West
 * Was growing more violent by the day...
 * Draco, a soldier from the West,
 * Thinks of his love, Maria,
 * Back at home...

Draco
 * Oh Maria!
 * Oh Maria!
 * My beloved, do you hear
 * My words whispered in you ear
 * As if I were by your side

 Impresario
 * The Western armies were defeated,
 * And Maria's castle fell into the hands of the East.
 * Forced to wed the Eastern Prince Ralse,
 * Maria still thinks only of Draco
 * As she gazes at the stars each night...

Part 2

Maria
 * O my hero, my beloved,
 * Shall we still be made to part,
 * Though promises of perennial love
 * Yet sing here in my heart?


 * I'm the darkness, you're the starlight
 * Shining brightly from afar.
 * Through hours of despair, I offer this prayer
 * To you, my evening star.


 * Must my final vows exchanged
 * Be with him and not with you?
 * Were you only here To quiet my fear...
 * O speak! Guide me anew.

Draco
 * Come, Maria! Dance with me...

Maria
 * I am thankful, my beloved,
 * For your tenderness and grace.
 * I see in your eyes, so gentle and wise,
 * All doubts and fears erased!


 * Though the hours take no notice
 * Of what fate might have in store,
 * Our love, come what may, will never age a day.
 * I'll wait forevermore!

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

Part 3

Messenger
 * The survivors of the West attack!

Ralse
 * Impossible!

Soldiers
 * Attack!!

Draco
 * Wait!!

Draco
 * Maria!

Maria
 * Draco,
 * I knew you would return to me my love

Ralse
 * Insolent rouge!
 * Knave of the Western Horde!
 * You would address my queen to be Maria

Draco
 * Never shall you have Maria's hand
 * I would die before that day comes

Ralse
 * Then we duel!


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SNES version
Part 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...

Part 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.

Part 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!


 * }

Darkness and Starlight
Because the opera scene ended abruptly with the kidnapping of Celes, just before Draco and Ralse' duel, the whole lyrical content was unknown until The Black Mages' third album, The Black Mages III: Darkness and Starlight, was released. The album featured the complete opera scene in a rock rearrangement which, while slightly deviating from the original version, was made to be as faithful to the original opera as it may.