The Life of Erin Tribal - Chapter 2

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A/N 1/25/07: Contains the old Chapter 3.
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Disclaimer: Square-Enix owns all the FF characters, I own the original characters.
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Erin found a seat in the back, across from a man with a silver-gray hair color. She scooted all the way over, keeping to herself. When she looked back outside, Kuja was gone and there was a young boy running towards the machine. He ran on and realized that the only free seat was next to Erin, which he seemed to be glad about.

The boy sat down next to her, and started talking with that man. Erin just ignored them, not wanting to hear what they said. The ship started up, and then started moving. She had to close her eyes as it started moving, knowing she might get sick from the sudden lurch.

When she opened her eyes again, they were zooming through space. She felt and saw the ship jerk in the direction of an unknown planet, one that, to her knowledge, wasn't even in the oldest Alexandrian books. As the airship approached the planet, Erin looked out the window in a brooding manner. They finally entered the atmosphere and Erin had to close her eyes as the ship shook and plummeted to the group, eventually coming to a screeching stop.

Erin tried to get out, but the boy next to her wouldn't move. "Excuse me, but could you move?"

He didn't even flinch. 'He has nerves of steel or something, messing with ME!' Erin grabbed her bag and pushed past him. He, once again, didn't even look up, but his friend did and grinned. Erin rolled her eyes as she neared the door and exited the ship.

A tall woman of about 5'7" ran up to Erin. She had long, flowing blonde hair that was free to blow. She also had on a light yellow colored vest with a purple tube top on under it. Her pants were the same color as the vest, with the boots being a sort of grayish color.

"Excuse me, but are you Miss Erin?"

"Yes, I am. Why would you even care?" she snapped back, still upset about this sudden departure from Alexandria.

"Could you please come with me?"

Erin glared at the woman, but did as she was told. This woman led her through the growing crowd and into a side building. As they walked, Erin examined the area and figured that they were in some kind of place with a palace. But it seemed too dirty to hold any kind of palace, she figured.

Without even realizing it, this woman had stopped outside of a small house, most likely one-room. They entered the room and the woman quickly closed the door behind her and walked up to Erin.

"My name is Celes Chere, and I will be taking care of you here. I guess one could say I've adopted you."

Erin glared at her when the woman said 'I've adopted you'. She totally was not expecting this. Erin had figured this would be some kind of training place, but a new mother? That was really unexpected.

"Hmm," Celes said, circling Erin, examining the girl. "You really do look a lot like me, but there probably are some differences. Your still a bit to young to tell that though." Celes bent down to look Erin straight in the eyes.

"Excuse me ma'am, but..." Erin started, trying to correct her.

"Please, do call me mom. I am sure I will be a much better mother to you than what you've had."

Erin could tell that if she were to go into a huge argument, she would tire herself out. 'What did that sickness do to me? It's been months now!'

"Fine then, MOM!" Erin shouted, forgetting about any weaknesses. "I already have a mother, and adoption is for kids who don't have parents."

"Okay little missy, but you are still my daughter here! I know you will be thankful for it eventually! Besides, you don't have any parents HERE!" Celes argued back, not really in the mood for fighting, but nature took over, causing her temper to rise.

"But...!" she tried to argue back but all works seemed to fail her, "Oh fine! Take me where you want to," Erin finally sighed, giving in.

Celes smiled, and then led Erin out of the room. They walked quickly through the smoky city, and Erin didn't even bother to look at her surroundings. She just followed Celes' lead into the building. When they finally entered the building, she took a quick look around, and it felt kind of like Lindblum in the sense that it was machine-filled. She could see men fighting in the distance.

They walked down a long hallway until they reached door leading to another room. Celes opened the door to reveal a surprisingly clean room, occupied by four other people. One was a girl with golden blonde hair that was held back in a high ponytail. She was wearing a strapless shirt, shoulder armor, glove on her arms, and a skirt. The other three occupants were men, and all of them appeared to be Generals or some higher-ranking status.

"This is the girl you requested, General," Celes saluted, then pointed over at Erin. The man she had been talking to asked for her to join General Leo, whom Erin soon discovered to be a tall man with blonde hair.

"Kefka, she's yours to deal with," the man said, facing towards the final man in there.

"Thank you, Emperor," the man named Kefka saluted. "Miss Erin, do you have a last name of your own? You most likely do." Erin frowned as her hand immediately clasped around her necklace that she was wearing. "Well? If worst comes to worst, you will take General Celes' name."

Erin pulled off her necklace and stared at the name on it. 'Erin Marie Tribal. Born January 27, 1989.'

"My name... is Erin Marie Tribal," she mumbled.

"What was that, I didn't hear you?" Kefka chided.

"Erin Marie Tribal," she said, louder this time. Kefka didn't complain, so she knew that she had done it correctly.

"Tribal? All right Miss Tribal. Please have Celes escort you to your room. Celes if you could," said Kefka, leaving his seat, then leaving through a room in the back.

"Erin, Terra, this way please," commanded Celes seeming a little weak.

The girl standing next to her mom turned around and followed her mom. Erin slowly followed after trying to keep her distance from the girl. One would have never guessed that within a few days time they would be soon become good friends.

Celes stopped in front of a door and Erin caught up. "This will be where you two stay. Please do make peace with each other. I will be the one in trouble if you guys argue. So please, whatever you do, don't fight with each other," explained Celes, opening the door and letting them in before she closed the door.

Erin walked in and heard the door shut behind her. There was very little lighting in the room and two pairs of wrist and ankle shackles at the back wall. She shook off her fears, grabbed her bag, and then dragged it back to one of the beds. The bag dropped and Erin collapsed on the bed. She was dead tired, but she wouldn't get much sleep. Little did she know that it was only a few hours until the morning bell rang to awake her.

Erin was slept until someone shook her awake. She looked up and it was Terra. She was standing next to her with her blonde hair in a mess. Erin sat up and looked at her. She grabbed a brush and started to comb out her hair. Terra bound her hair back with a small brush and a ponytail thing that seemed like it was more for younger kids.

Terra led her out and they walked up to what she recognized as Kefka's chamber. Terra slowly opened the door and led Erin in. They both waited for Kefka to come in. Erin turned around and her new mom came in, followed by the young general she had seen the day before, and then followed by Kefka. Erin turned back forward and waited for someone to speak. She could hear Terra next to her very nervous. Erin still didn't trust it, but had to admit she looked brave.

"Erin, Terra," said Celes, "Kefka wishes to speak with you two. Leo, this way please!"

Celes and General Leo, or so Erin guessed, walked out of the room. Terra and Erin looked at each other then up at Kefka. Erin looked into his eyes and could see evil in them. She sighed, then continued to start at him.

"Ah yes, Erin and Terra, please, come this way. Celes is waiting for you outside to train you for battle," explained Kefka, pointing to the door.

Erin walked out first. To get away from this evil man. All she wanted to do at that moment was go home. Go home to her sister. Go home to cleanliness. Go home to herself. She was feeling homesick. She just wanted to get out of here.

Erin walked into their room to find herself alone. She went to her journal, but couldn't think of anything to write. What she did think of, she didn't know how to express it in words. She decided to write later, when she couldn't think. Truly, she had a pounding headache.

At that moment, she heard a knock. Erin stood up and walked over to the door. She opened it to find a soldier standing there.

"Yes?" asked Erin, looking at him.

"This just arrived for a Miss Shiva Alexandros," the soldier explained, showing her a package.

"Yes, that's me. Thank you," replied Erin, taking the package.

Erin walked back over to the table, set the package down on top of her journal, and went over to her bed because she was feeling a bit tired.

Erin and Terra had both gone to sleep. They both slept while Celes and Kefka and gone away from they're room completely forgetting that they were there. Celes was still upset and might have been thinking about Erin but showed no sign of it. For being young herself she was very strong.