The Life of Erin Tribal
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A/N: Part-update to fix chapter numbering. Will be revised at a later date. Dated: 2/3/07.
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Erin leaned back in the seat as they made their way back to Balamb. She looked over at Serenity.
"Hey Ser, what'd you draw back there?"
"Another GF. I've done a lot of research on the known ones, and I noticed that I could draw it from that monster, so I did just that."
"Ah cool," Erin smiled, and looked over at where Selphie and Relm were sitting. A little while later, they docked back in Balamb and exited the boat, but apparently it wasn't fast enough.
As they left the boat, Seifer was meeting up with the rest of his gang and getting into the car they had taken here. They drove off, leaving the others stranded with nothing to do but walk back.
They did so in silence. Taking the paved path back, killing any monsters that dared to stray onto the path, they eventually did make it back. The group split up to go their own ways until the official announcement. Erin, Relm, and Serenity headed up the path, not talking much, and entered the building. Headmaster Cid nodded in their direction, smiling as they passed by, and they nodded back to him. Heading down the left path, they ran into Brian alone there.
"Hey Erin," he said, and they stopped. "So, what will it take for you to forgive me?"
"Don't be such a jerk, then we can talk," Erin told him.
"That's enough, Miss Cole," Cid said, walking up behind them. "Mr. Long, you realize that you helped make the decision to directly disobey orders, do you not?"
"Yeah, I realize that."
"Do you have anything to say about your actions?"
"No I don't."
"We will be taking out discipline later this evening, after the graduation ball. But first, go ahead and head up to the second floor while waiting for the official announcement for graduates, please," Cid explained to them, and then was ushered off by one of the garden workers. They decided to do what he had told them, and headed for the second floor.
They waited there for at least twenty minutes, and in that time the rest of the candidates appeared except for Seifer. Eventually, one of the garden staff appeared with a list in his hand.
"The following students are to report to the Headmaster's Office immediately," he said, and they looked over at him. "Zell Dincht." Zell walked off, whistling to himself. "Nida Norchett." A lesser known student followed the path Zell had taken. "Squall Leonhart." Squall followed the other two. "Selphie Tilmitt." The brunette also went down the path leading to the elevator. "Serenity Star." Erin smiled at her friend as she walked back down the hall. "Harry Tribal." Erin almost jumped when Tribal was said, and Harry walked down the path as well. "Relm Arrowny." Relm smiled to herself as she walked down the path as well. "And Erin Cole. The rest of you, better luck next time." Erin ran to catch up with the others, and the elevator took off up to the headmaster's office.
The garden staff lead them into the office, handing the list of names to the Headmaster. "Headmaster, keep this short."
"Right. Well, I must say to congratulations to you all. A well done job today by all of you."
"Headmaster..." the staff said.
"Alright, I will now hand you your certificate. A new uniform is now available in your dormitories at well." The headmaster went up to each student, whispering something in their ear and then handing them their certificate. When he finally got to Erin, he still had something to say. "Two gunblade masters in one year, but don't forget your martial arts as well. Stay with your friends, always." Erin bowed and took the certificate.
"You are dismissed." The group went back to the elevator and took it down to the second floor. Before they went to make their celebration speech, they hung around in the hall outside elevator for a few minutes. Erin went over to Harry, who was watching all the others.
"Hey Harry?"
"Yeah?"
"About your last name... Is it really Tribal?"
"Yeah, and same with my brother."
"What's your brothers name...?"
"Zidane, why?"
Erin frowned, and then realized something. "I've heard that name before, in Alexandria... Aren't you in that traveling performance act, Tantalus?"
"Yeah," Harry said. "Based in Lindblum, Gaia. And did you say Alexandria?"
"Yeah I did."
"The only people who see us perform there... Are the rich folk. I could've sworn I've seen your face in the crowd up at the castle." Erin started to sweat slightly when he said that.
"Nah, you must have me confused with someone else. I've just heard your name travel around the town, never been able to see you in person," Erin said, trying to make up the best excuse she could.
"Ah, I see..." Harry said, and then noticed the other were leaving. "Let's talk tonight, after the dance, okay?" Erin nodded, and they followed the others. Before they could go into the classroom, a crowd was there to greet them. First, Erin noticed Seifer was there now, and he started them off clapping. The others joined in, making the graduation crowd have to thank them.
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Erin pulled on her other boot and stared at her reflection in the mirror, still wondering about what Harry wanted to talk to her about. She shook it off, got up, and walked out of the room where Relm and Serenity were there waiting for her. They headed to the ballroom, where SeeD members could be seen all around.
"Hey guys!" a voice popped up next to them.
"Hello Selphie," Serenity replied.
"Any of you want to join the Garden Festival Committee? We need lots of members to make this years Garden Festival a blast," Selphie piped up.
"I'm already in," Erin told her. "Joined about a week ago."
"Woohoo!" the woman cheered, and then ran off to try and pitch to other people. Erin laughed slightly to herself about her energy on the matter, and then the three girls continued on.
Serenity left to go do her own stuff, what they didn't know, leaving Erin and Relm alone in the corner they'd found. "We should go out dancing," Relm suggested.
"What? With who?"
"Oh I don't know," Relm laughed, an idea in her head. "Hey Erin?"
"What?"
"Why don't you go dance with Harry?"
"What...? Why?" Erin frowned, not liking the idea already.
"Just for fun, I wanna see if either of you can actually dance, ya know?" Relm giggled. "Oh come on, you KNOW it'll be fun."
"Whatever..." Erin sighed, rubbing her left arm. "I know I can dance... Not so sure about him though." Both girls looked over at where the boy was standing, alone, watching the crowd on the floor. "I guess I could."
"That's the spirit!" Relm cheered. "Go on, go!" Relm pushed Erin away, smiling. Erin sighed, and walked around the crowd to where he was standing.
"Hey," she said to him. "Nice ball, huh?"
"Yeah, I guess," Harry sighed, looking over at her.
"Care to dance?"
"Ha, I wish."
"Ah come on," Erin pleaded. "You CAN dance right?"
"No."
"Sure you can, it's easy," the girl smiled. "Let's go do this!" Erin grabbed a hold of his hand and pulled him out away from the wall. He gave in and followed her out to an empty spot on the floor. "Like this," she nodded, and showed him the right position. They started out, Erin leading to show him the steps, but when she felt something step on her foot, the pair stopped. "Ouch."
"Oops, so sorry. Told you I can't dance," Harry sighed, trying to get away.
"Oh no you don't!" Erin told him, pulling him back. "You'll get the hang of it." Starting up again, she was leading and she finally could tell he was feeling a lot more relaxed. "See? Now let's actually go with everyone else, shall we?" He nodded, and they went into the same routine everyone was doing.
Ending in a lock together, fireworks could be heard. "That was... nice," she whispered as the fireworks crackled in the sky. Looking up she spotted Relm glaring at her. "I've... got to go."
"Erin," he said, stopping her.
"Hmm?" she said, looking back.
"Dormitory hall, ten minutes. Be there," he told her, and then she remembered... He still wanted to talk. Shaking it off again, she walked over to Relm was.
"You almost seemed like you enjoyed that," Relm giggled.
"Oh quiet. Hey, if you see Ser... Tell her I had to go do something, ok?" Erin asked her.
"Yeah, okay, I'll do it," Relm nodded. Erin smiled, and then dodged her way out and into the hallways of Balamb again.
Making her way to the dormitory hall, Harry was already standing there, waiting for her. "Come on," he said, and led her down the hall to a secluded part of the area. "Hey Erin, can I ask you a favor?"
"What's up?" she said, looking over at him on the other side of the hall.
"Well, it's a bit early but..." he sighed. "Next year, in Alexandria, I am rejoining Tantalus officially for a play that's being put on."
'A play... Next year...' Erin thought, wondering want he was hinting at. She knew what play he was talking about too.
"We will be performing in Alexandria for Princess Garnet's 16th birthday," Harry said. "We're looking for another female performer, and I was wondering if you'd be interested."
"I... uh... um..." Was all she could say. 'What am I supposed to do? I know that play... It's only put on for special occasions. I'm supposed to be in the castle then...' "Well I um..."
"Is something wrong?"
"No, I'll try and come but no guarantees, ok? I've got... obligations... that night, you see? I may be able to get out of them and come," Erin explained to him as best she could.
"Well, no problem. Let me know before I have to leave Balamb for sure, okay?"
"Yeah, that I can do. I'll probably have to leave and head back to Alexandria myself, so maybe we can talk on the way back."
"Sounds good," Harry nodded. "Now let's go, Zell wanted me for something anyway so I need to get going." The two walked back to the main hall, and each went their own directions. Harry heading off to who knows where, and Erin heading towards her dorm room.