This story belongs to me and my creative mind. However, most of the characters, names, and places all belong to their respective companies, so don't yell at me for copyright infringements! Remember, Italics represent a person's thoughts or the telling of past events.

Enjoy...

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:Faraway Dreams:

Chapter Fifteen:


"Well, I hope that you'll keep out of trouble and cut the heroics from your life." Dr. Harris insisted.

"Don't worry, it's not like I'm out to get my body burnt on a daily basis." Macky replied with a smirk.

"You'd think otherwise by the look of you." Harris shot back. "Now get going, and don't give me any more reasons to see you in my office again."

"Yeah yeah, I'll stay safe, old man. See ya." Macky waved, walking towards the double doors of the Regulator's Hall.

The brown haired man took a gentle pace towards his destination, Dr. Harris turning to leave with a pace slowed by age. Macky's ears picked up the sound of hurried footsteps from behind, and he looked back in time to see a white and blonde blur rush by. He spun back and saw the figure dash into the Hall, loud voices coming from within. Macky jogged towards the Hall's doors only to be knocked aside by Gerick and the other figure, both armed with weapons.

"Blast it all, can't you people watch it!?" Macky swore.

"Don't have the time! The Fire Bandit's at it again!" Gerick announced to his fallen comrade.

"He's causing all kinds of crap at Fabool Square!" The other figure, Cecil, added. "We gotta get there before he gets away again!"

"Well...have fun, the doc's ordered me to take it easy this week." Macky explained.

"Go get Illis and 'ta others! They're all at her house!" Gerick ordered.

Macky scrambled to his feet. "Now that's something they didn't stop me from doing, I'm on it!"

Gerick and Cecil took off running towards the Aircab terminal while Macky sprinted his way up the stairs and streets of the Theater District. After several minutes of intense running, Macky finally arrived at Illis' house and crashed against the door, knocking while gasping for breath. The door opened and Gordan was surprised to have the Regulator's representative fall into his arms.

"Macky?" Gordan started.

"No time!" He gasped. "Fire bandit...he's attacking Fabool Square! Gerick 'n Cecil are already on the way!"

Gordan's eyes widened in surprise. "Seriously? Come on, get inside."

Macky stumbled his way into the house, collapsing into a chair. Illis stood to assist him, but the exhausted man waved her off.

"Don't worry about me, you gotta go and help Gerick before the Bandit gets him!"

Gordan and Illis shared a knowing expression, and the nobleman faced the tired man. "Alright, you just rest here and we will take care of this!"

"You get Fedrich and go, I'll get Ruthy up!" Illis shouted.

"Right!"


People screamed in terror as fireballs exploded across the cobblestone, scattering carts and goods into the air. Lindblum Guards ran into the fray to try and stop the attack, but many of them were forced back by the sheer danger of being roasted in their scorched armor. Workers were assembling bucket brigades to help douse any structural fires, ignoring the dangers and working to limit collateral damage. At the center of the maelstrom was Elric, his face expressing a malicious grin and his eyes wide with the drunken pleasure of his work.

Come on...someone's got to alert them to this! You can't keep ignoring me!

From outside the fires of the Square, a whistling screech passed by Elric's ear and alerted him to a threat close by. He ended his fiery attacks against the marketplace, the flames parting to reveal Ruthy standing tall, her longbow ready with an arrow tensed. Further behind the forms of the other Regulators stood present, weapons drawn and ready.

Elric smiled widely "It's about time you came here, I almost got bored waiting for you!"

"What the hell do you want this time?" Illis asked, stepping forward to confront the bandit.

"You already know what I want, sister, so why should I bother repeating myself?"

"And you know what I'm going to say, so why should I bother to do the same?"

"Oh, just on the off chance that you might come to your senses and see that coming home is the best for everyone."

Illis growled, her frustration building. "Tell me, why are you so damned determined to take me home?"

"I've already explained myself to you, sister." He shot back.

Illis scowled. "Your explanation is weak, there must be another reason why."

"There is none."

"Yes there is, brother, you can't fool me." She smiled. "There's no way that you could have taken twelve years to find me when it took you less than a week in Lindblum to find my home. You could have taken me away any time you wanted, but you've just been taking all the time in the world to do so. No normal person would take this much time when he had the power to do it immediately!"

"Alright then," Elric spat. "You want to know the real reason why? Huh!?"

"It would make things interesting."

"The truth is that I wasn't sent out to look for you until a year ago. Up until then our parents and the elders made me go through intense training to hone and perfect my magical prowess, wanting me to make up for the lack of your presence. They saw how well I played the role as a Guardian of the village, so they granted me the title of Knight of Fire so long as I met one condition. Care to give a guess as to what it is?"

"To bring me and Ruthy home."

Elric chuckled. "Wrong, but good guess. The Elders were upset that you left, and they deliberated over your fate many times because of the importance it held. Before I left, the Elders came to a decision that was hard for me to believe. They wanted me...to..."

"To what?"

Elric's face grew very dark, his eyes reflecting inner anger. "Their orders were as follows: If Illis or Ruthy Killjoy cannot be willingly convinced to return to Ulura, then they are to be killed to prevent their heritage to be passed on, thus preserving the One Law."

Illis and everyone else's faces became ashen, Ruthy's hold on the arrow faltering. Elric grumbled to himself, crossing him arms and avoiding the shocked glares from the Regulators.

"What's the One Law?" A stunned Ruthy asked.

"The One Law is that no one within the village would leave for fear of releasing the incredibly dangerous powers that we possess, making our village a target for anyone who would want the power we have. It's to make sure that we are never captured and forced to use our powers for the wrong reasons."

"You...can't be serious..." She sputtered. "I though...I though that was just something to scare us into staying..."

"It is very real, sister, and that's why I'm willing to do anything possible to make you understand that going home is the best for you and all your friends here. That's why I've given you all the time in the world to try and come to that conclusion yourself!"

"But...you can't expect me..."

"I know it's hard, but you must think of the greater cause in it!" Elric explained further, interrupting. "I know that I've been harsh, unrelenting in my mission, but I never did it out of pure anger or for revenge. You are my sister, I could never truly hate you."

"Then why are you doing this to me!" Illis screeched, losing her control.

"I'm doing it because it is my duty to bring you and Ruthy home! Mother and Father both mourn over your absence, even to this day! Everyone wants you to come home, even the Elders, despite their orders."

"And you value your damned duty more than my happiness!?"

Elric hesitated a moment, but narrowed his eyes in determination. "Everything need to have order. Without order, chaos would reign supreme and life wouldn't be worth living. I cannot and will not let my emotions override my orders!!"

Illis drew her sword out and held it ready, eyes burning with anger. "Then it looks like someone's gonna have to die before this will come to an end."

Elric pulled his own broadsword free of its sheath, glaring back at his sister. "A battle between siblings where the warriors smiled. This will be a day to remember, our innocence defiled!"

Brother and sister charged one another, swords on high. The blades fell and hit, sparks from the metal shooting away as they entered into a deadly contest of skill. Fedrich started forward to help, but a firm hand on his shoulder restrained him. He looked back and saw Gordan by his side, face grim and serious as he watched the siblings fight each other with intense anger raging in their hearts.

"Why?" Fedrich asked quickly.

"This is something between brother and sister, I think it would be better if we stayed out of this."

"But what if Illis gets hurt?"

"Oh, do not think I have surrendered my blade just yet," Gordan replied, his grip tightening on the hilt of his sword. "If Illis falls to that damned Bandit, I will not hesitate to take her place."

Fedrich nodded his approval, then looked back to witness the fight he wished hadn't started.


Swords rang out loudly as the two warriors battled with their utmost, light flickering off the metal as they grinded against one another. Elric swung his sword out across the air, forcing Illis to duck the strike to save her own head only to feel the thick sole of a boot clip her nose. The dark clothed woman rolled backward, avoiding a downward stroke by Elric, and quickly got to her feet and lashed out herself. Blades again collided together, then recoiled and struck again as the two attempted to force openings into the others defense.

"Damn you and your stubbornness!!" Elric cursed, taking his sword down.

The swords hit one another and stuck in place, both struggling to force the other down. Elric, desperate to gain an advantage, brought a hand free of the sword hilt and tried to bring up a spell, his body quaking with effort to defend and gather strength. Summoning the proper power needed, Elric grinned and began to chant the spell, pointing his palm toward his sister's body. Illis, realizing the danger, stressed her muscles to their limit as she shoved Elric off balance, the bandit's arms going astray as the spell was cast, its aim sending the fireball into the stone walls of the buildings. Using the limited time she saw left, Illis then brought the sword back up in a strike that flayed open the flesh of Elric's chest, a bloody wound from his side to his shoulder. Elric's face registered the pain, but his mouth betrayed no words as he fell onto his back.

Illis pointed the sword down at the fallen Bandit. "Game over, brother."

Elric mouth moved, but his voice was so small that Illis couldn't make out the words. She leaned a little closer to try and hear, but she immediately backpedaled when she felt something tingle across her skin. Elric's arms snapped forward, his expression reverted to the anger he had moments before as he screamed out a very clear word.

"Fira!!"

The spell exploded across Illis' body, the flames roaring and consuming the obstacle it struck, knocking her body into the air and throwing it several meters away from where she once stood. The Regulators all leapt from their places to her aid while Elric struggled to his feet, uneasy fingers trying to hold a high potion to his lips, blue liquid spilling down his cheeks. He managed to regain his balance in time to see the first glaring accusations from the Regulators around his sister, the man's dark blue eyes filled with anger.

"You heartless demon..." Gordan started. "What could have possessed you to inflict such wounds on your own sister?"

"The same thing that possessed her to try and cut me in half!" Elric shouted back, forcing the pain back. "What? Are you upset about it?"

"Words alone cannot describe the ways I imagine your life ending this day."

"That's mighty arrogant of you, pretty boy."

"You are in no condition to ridicule my words when you can barely stand upright."

"I hear a challenge in that tone of yours." Elric grimaced, feeling his wound begin to grow numb as the potion helped to heal it.

"You are hardly worth it, wounded as you are."

Elric chuckled, regretting the action as the pain flared up. "This is a pinprick compared to the pain I've felt before. I should kick your ass for insulting me like that!"

Gordan turned to face the Bandit with his sword raised and prepared. "You will not pose a threat as you are, stand down."

"Oh, enough of this!" Elric insisted, drawing his sword up to meet Gordan's stance. "Forget the words and come at me if you want to die so much!"

"Then prepare yourself for the life hereafter!" The nobleman shouted, rushing to attack.

Elric held his ground, sword up and ready to block the coming strike. When the two blades connected, Elric felt his arms burn in pain as Gordan's fierce attack nearly broke his defense. After a second, the two broke stance and began battling, weapons crashing with the same intensity of the fight before. Gordan was surprised that the wounded Elric was able to keep up with the strain of the battle, blood actively staining his leather shirt and dripping onto the cobblestone. Further shocking the nobleman was Elric's powerful swing at the base of his sword, forcing the weapon out of his gloved hands and onto the ground. Elric grinned widely as he raised his sword and pointed it at Gordan's face.

"Goodness me, you really need to practice more often."

Gordan didn't respond, his eyes focused on the tip of the sword.

"Speechless? Good! I like it when people die in silence!!"

Elric pulled his arm back, but a shadow fell across his vision and alerted him to approaching danger. Stunning both, Fedrich's nimble form landed between the two, his short sword's momentum forcing Elric's broadsword out of his hand to clatter onto the ground. The shorter blade then snapped up and placed itself between Elric's eyes, barely a hair's breadth separating the two.

"Don't move." Fedrich ordered.

"You again..." Elric muttered.

"Don't even speak!" The Burman pressed. "If you so much as bleed the wrong way I'll split you open!"

"Fedrich..." Gordan started.

"Don't worry, he's not going to surprise me this time. Go get Cecil."

"...Of course." He agreed, running back to get the Guard Captain.

Elric watched as they moved about their business, then looked back at the Burman holding him hostage. "What are you going to do?"

"Cecil is the Captain for the Second Lindblum Security Division, and he's been ordered to stop your attacks on the people. All we're concerned about it capturing you, he's the one who will determine your future."

Elric snorted. "What's he gonna do? Lock me away in the dungeons? No room, no barrier exists that I can't escape from with a warp spell."

Fedrich's fur bristled at the truth in his words.

He smiled. "You should know quite well that no one is capable of holding me captive."

"Then I'm just gonna have to invent some new methods of containment for ya!" Cecil interrupted, walking forward to meet with the Bandit alongside Gordan.

"Cecil, I presume?"

"That's Mr. Cecil Sir, to you, pyro-boy!" The blonde ordered. "You've done a lot to piss me off recently, and you're lucky that the Security Council's even gonna grant you a trial! If it were up to me, I'd kill you here and now!"

"You're going to regret it if you don't." Elric grinned.

"I'll think on that, but for the time being, it's sleepy-time for you."

Cecil reached forward and pinched Elric's nose shut, then forced a vial of liquid down his throat as he gasped for breath. He let go of the Bandit as he coughed violently, slowly falling to the ground until he collapsed unconscious. Fedrich looked down at him, then at Cecil with a confused expression.

"Sleeping weed, it's not just for insomniacs anymore!" He laughed. "He'll be out for several hours at the least, enough time to get him to the armory and then the castle."

"So what will you do with him?"

"Like I've said, he's gonna get a trial, more than likely a sentence of life imprisonment, exile, or preferably death."

"So then...I guess our mission is finally over with." Fedrich commented.

"It most definitely is!" Cecil boasted, slapping the Burman's shoulder. "And I'll not forget all the help you and the rest gave to me! It's been fun!"

Gordan approached the man and offered his hand. "It has been a pleasure working with you."

"It's been nice working with you as well! I've got 'ta be going to the Armory to get this guy locked up."

Cecil leaned down and hefted the sleeping Bandit across his shoulder, then started out to the Aircab station. "Catch 'ya later!"

"Alright...see ya!" Fedrich uttered, waving the Captain off.

The two Regulators stood idle as they watched Cecil walk away with Elric's prone body across his shoulder, bystanders staring with wide eyes at the sight. Fedrich glanced back at Illis, seeing Ruthy and the others circling her body and administering potions and herbs to help with the burns on her body.

"Victory...but at such a cost." Gordan sighed heavily, echoing his own thoughts.

"At least Elric's been captured. Illis won't have to worry about him ever again."

"Still, his threats are very real. Unless the trial ends in execution, there is always the chance that he will come back and reap his vengeance on us all..."