Final Fantasy - All Series Fan Fiction ❯ The Life of Erin Tribal ❯ Chapter 55 ( Chapter 55 )

[ P - Pre-Teen ]

The Life of Erin Tribal Chapter 55

A/N: Wow, I'm finally here... After 2 years of writing I'm finally at the end of FF6. Enjoy the conclusion of the game, and next chapter starts *drum roll* FF8 finally! Note: Yes, I gotta introduce two more original characters before FF8 (the actual game) can start.

Disclaimer: Square-Enix owns all characters seen in this story except for Erin, Relm, Harry, Serenity, Brian, and Tom, which are mine.

"Welcome, friends," a voice cackled from above them.

"Kefka," Celes whispered.

As if he was called on, the man appeared on the ledge in front of them.

"I knew you'd make it here someday, so I prepared some suitable entertainment for you!" Kefka laughed.

"How long are you going to keep on destroying the world!?" Terra shouted at the maniac.

Kefka ignored her. "I've tapped into the ultimate power! Observe!" Kefka said, using his powers to lift Sabin into the air as if he weighed nothing. "Such magnificent power! You're all insects compared to me!" He then proceeded with lifting Locke into the air while holding Sabin as well. "I'll exterminate everything and everyone!" He then dropped the two down on the ground, both landing with a thud.

"Kefka, it's useless! People will just rebuild what you destroy! They'll just rebuild what you take from them!" Terra yelled.

"Then I'll destroy what is rebuilt! Why rebuild things when you just know they will be destroyed? Why cling to life when you know you can't live forever? Your lives are just so meaningless!" the maniac cackled.

"It's not a person's result in life that matters," Erin stated. "It's their day-to-day struggles, concerns, personal victories, and the pure celebration of life! It's just enough if people can experience the joy that each day brings!"

Kefka looked down at the girl and laughed. "And have YOU found joy in this meaningless life?"

Another Quick A/N: The following lines are from the game, and cause there's so many in a row I don't really list like putting down all the names. Here's the order: Erin, Terra, Locke, Cyan, Shadow, Edgar, Sabin, Celes, Relm, Setzer, Mog.

"Yes, I have! We all have!" Erin replied. "I've met so many great people, made so many new friendships!"

"I myself have found what love is!"

"I've learned to celebrate life... and what it means to be living here today!"

"My family still lives inside of me."

"I know what friendship is now... And what family is..."

"I have a dream... To build a kingdom where I can guarantee freedom and dignity!"

"I've come to experience a new love for my brother."

"I've met someone who can accept me for who I am."

"My grandfather has always been there for me!"

"It's for my friend's airship... and her love."

"I have my friends here too, kupo!"

Kefka frowned at the large group. "So sickening. You all sound like a self-help book!" A smirk reappeared on his face. "Prepare yourself! My next trick.... Making you all disappear!"

"Kefka!" Tera shouted. "You don't know what your doing, stop!"

"I have the greatest power in the universe at my disposal," Kefka sneered. "You are all helpless to me! I'll destroy everything. I'll create a monument of non-existence!"

"Life will go on," Locke said. "There will always be dreams... And people to make those dreams happen!"

"No, I will destroy them too! Nothing shall be left!" Kefka laughed.

"We won't let you destroy another living thing!" Celes told him.

"Ah, but where's the fun in destruction is no 'precious' living thing is lost!"

"It's over, Kefka!" Edgar yelled. Kefka disappeared from in front of them and a statue appeared.

"Guys, we need to team up, get in an order! If one of us gets to weak, the next in line should come in and replace them!" Erin explained. They quickly worked out an order so that they could get this over with. The first five up were Erin, Edgar, Gogo, Celes, and Locke.

Yet Another Quick A/N: Okay, see that combination up there (minus Erin of course)? I refinished FF6 before I wrote this and that's my winning combo minus... Celes died quite by accident on the second to last boss and was replaced by Sabin (making Gogo lose Life 3). Yeah, okay, enough flashbacks, forward march.

Oh just incase your wondering, here's the full lineup (first to last): Erin, Edgar, Gogo, Celes, Locke, Sabin, Cyan, Terra, Shadow, Harry, Setzer, Mog, Relm, Umaro, Gau.

They approached the first boss and started pounding away at it. Erin worked on keeping everyone alive, and Celes helped with healing just incase any help was needed. Gogo was doing a mimic of Sabin's Blitz, Edgar was using his tools, and Locke was just attacking. Slowly, the group got onto the second story of statues. This set almost killed them with all the magic they were using, luckily they were able to keep healed up.

Eventually, they got to the last set, and Erin noticed something. "Guys, take out the thing in the back! It's healing him!" They listened and used everything they could to take it out and it easily fell. The group took out the front guy and he tried to take out a few of their people. Luckily, Erin was able to pull off cures on them before they got down too far. As they proceeded upwards, they soon realized what they had to fight next.

"Life... Dreams... Hope... Where'd they come from and where are they headed?" the man in front of them said. "These things, I will destroy!"

Erin looked at the man as the battle began. They began using the same tactic as before, pounding away at the insane person. After what felt like forever, Kefka said, "The end comes near... beyond the chaos." This confused everyone as to what he meant, but it soon become clear. "Let that chaos begin." The ground was shaking beneath them. They continued trying to kill him off, but it was near too late. "Goner."

Everyone got hit severely, and Erin and Celes brought everyone back up as Gogo, Locke, and Edgar beat away at him. Eventually, he finally did fall.

"I... I have been destroyed..." Kefka said, falling to his knees. "Magic... will now..." Before he could finish what he was saying, the man died in front of him. Erin looked around at the others and they just then realized what they'd done.

"We did it guys..." she whispered, and then realized something was floating up in the air. "The Magicite..."

"The tower is breaking up! We need to get back to the airship!" Setzer yelled to the group.

"Terra!" Celes shouted as the half-esper fell to her knees. "What's wrong?"

"Magic... it's disappearing!" Edgar explained. "Espers no longer exist."

"Terra?" Erin whispered, fearing for one of her dear friends.

"I will.. Lead you out with my last bit of strength," Terra said, getting up and running out ahead of them. The group followed close behind her, running into the occasional problem. As they ran across a path made up of several platforms, Celes dropped something and ran to go pick it up. The path started to break up behind them.

"Celes!" Locke yelled, running to go save Celes. He pulled her up. "You almost lost it there saving that little trinket."

They also ran across the path that had previously required stepping on the switch. Everyone began to cross over, but Locke and Edgar got stuck on the platform.

"These switches need to be hit together! Gogo, mimic me!" Celes ordered, and the mime did just that a little too well. When they had gotten safely across, the group left behind went to leave. Gogo began to follow and fell through a crack in the floor.

Eventually, everyone made it to the airship and they didn't have time to check for anyone that might have been left behind. Setzer immediately started it up and left the crumbling tower, having to dodge the occasional falling object.

"Come with me!" Terra said, and flew out ahead of the ship, still in esper form. They followed her and soon realized what was happening.

"Terra, your power is fading!" Celes shouted to the half-esper in front of them.

"Look, it's the last piece of magicite..." Edgar said, watching it disappear. After it disappeared, the world went white around them and everyone blanked out.

For several minutes they stayed that way until people started coming to their senses.

"Is everyone okay? Who'd we lose?" Celes asked, surveying the group. "Shadow, Umaro, and Gogo..."

"Wait, so then where's Terra?" Sabin asked.

"Ugh..." they heard from the front of the ship.

"Terra!" Celes said joyfully.

"Thanks Setzer," Terra moaned, and then went up to hug the man. "Saved me back there."

"Didn't I say once before that this was the world's fastest airship?" he smiled. For awhile longer, they flew over the land, watching as the first signs of healing sprang up.

----

Several months later, the world-famous group who had defeated Kefka had already parted ways, rarely keeping in touch. Just a month after Kefka had died, Locke and Celes decided to get married. However, Erin soon realized she wasn't going to be able to stay there much longer.

June 29, 1996

Wow, it's been so long since that final battle. It's also been so long since I last wrote in here. I've been living here with mom in Kohlingen. Well, I guess I can't just say mom now.

I haven't heard from Alexandria lately, and I'm almost half glad. I really like my life here now. It's so peaceful.

Everyone's been working to build a new world. Cyan's leading a project to bring Doma Castle back up to glory, and some of the others are helping to fix up towns that had been severely destroyed. Oh yeah! Terra's back in Mobliz helping take care of the children there, including a new arrival that was born shortly after we had defeated a Kefka. Terra said it was almost like the child was a ray of hope for the people of the run-down town.

Wait, I hear something in the other room...

Erin Marie Tribal / Erin Cole / Shiva til Alexandros

PS: Yes, it's official, Celes and Locke (mom and dad) have adopted me!

Erin set the journal aside and went to the door to see if she could hear what was going on.

"May I help you?" she heard Celes ask someone.

"We're here to collect Shiva til Alexandros, move aside," a guard said and Erin almost jumped.

'Beatrix... Mother... No, this can't be happening!'

"I'm sorry, but I don't know who your talking about," Celes defended.

"Oh I'm sure you do," the Alexandrian general said. "You may know her as Erin."

"I still have no idea who you are talking about. Now if you would, please leave this house," Celes ordered.

"Very well, we will be back soon to collect what is rightfully ours," Beatrix said, and the door closed with a slam. Erin walked slowly back to her bed and sat down on it, staring over at her journal. She heard her bedroom door open and almost jumped.

"It's just me," Locke said. "I'm guessing you heard all that.

"Yeah..." Erin sighed, almost wanting to cry. "The castle wants me back." She hugged her knees as her dad sat down beside her.

"Erin, we'll do whatever it takes to keep you here safe," Locke said.

"Alexandria will also do whatever it takes to get their oh-so-special princess back..." Erin sighed again, a tear falling down her cheek. "I'm not a person to them... I'm a thing, a toy that they can do whatever they want with."

"Don't say that Erin. They may think its true, but it's not," Locke said. "You're a person, just like everyone else." Locke hugged the child and she leaned against him, crying. Locke eventually got up and left, leaving Erin there alone in her room. Several minutes later, they heard a knock at the door.

"How may I help you?" Celes asked the visitor.

"We know your hiding the princess here, release her."

'Kuja...' Erin gulped, knowing there was no way to hide now. 'Mom, dad... Please don't resist him.' Erin hugged her knees again as she hid back in her room.

"I'm sorry sir, but..." Celes began, but Erin never heard the end. She heard something hit the ground and footsteps searching throughout the whole house. Kuja apparently decided to search her room last, but it didn't take long in the small house. The door opened and Erin was soon staring at the silver-haired man.

"You thought you could hide, my princess, but you can't run," Kuja laughed.

"What'd you do to Celes!?" Erin asked the man. "And for one last time, I'm NOT your princess!"

"It was just a simple sleep spell, princess. Now, come with me princess, you know how your mother hates to be kept waiting," Kuja smirked, walking towards the child. Erin's hand reached back for her journal, grabbing it, and she waited for the worst to happen. "Sleep." She heard him whisper, and she never knew what happened next.

A/N: OMG I never thought I'd see the day. I've finished FF6. And wow, what an ending to a great game! I seriously was about to cry at the end there, yet I was at the edge of my seat (near literally) writing this. What's going to happen to Erin now that she's back in the hands of Alexandria? Well, I think everyone has a slight feeling what, but I'm not saying!

Please, please, please review! This chapter means a WHOLE lot to me!