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...

:Faraway Dreams:

Chapter Six:

Fedrich sighed, content. He stood at the gate to the Festival of the Hunt, ready to engage the swarms of monsters being released in the main street of the Business District. Forty-eight other Hunters stood at equal readiness alongside him, bearing their weapons and threatening one another with death or curses for failure. The Regulator ran his fingers down the leather scabbard of his sword, recalling the knowledge that could summon a dragoon spell within a mere moment if necessary. He smiled as well, the wishes and praise of comrades helping to keep his courage aflame.

"Wish me luck?" He asked

Ruthy shook her head, smiling as she gave him a quick hug. "You don't need it, everyone else will when they see what you can do."

"Victory is going to be mine." He chuckled, twisting his shoulders to loosen himself up for the fights ahead.

The other warriors looked just as itchy to start the fight as he was, but when a figure descended from the steps of the Aircab terminal in front of them, all noise and movement stopped. The Regent of Lindblum, Cid Fabool IX, followed by four royal guards in typical Lindblum uniform, brushed his cloak aside and lifted his arms up with a wide smile.

"Ladies and Gentleman! Hunters! I congratulate you all for achieving the distinct honor of participating in the Festival of the Hunt. This year has been marked by the incredible rise in technology and in trade with the two great nations we ally ourselves with. The people are happier now than they have been since before the bloody times of the Mist Wars." He lowered his arm, allowing the words to sink in. "On this day, the eyes of people from all across the continent, of all cultures and of all rankings, rest upon your shoulders. I ask only this of you, to do your absolute best in all regards, to do battle with the beasts as our ancestors did to ensure the freedom for their future generations, for us! Let not fear hold you back, but let it empower you to overcome any obstacle that hinders you!"

The Regent turned to the side, looking down the street and to where the Hunters would battle against the monsters therein. Lifting an arm up, he pointed a finger towards the sky. "The spirits of hunters long gone watch over each of you!" Thrusting his arm out to point down the street, it appeared as if the motion itself was the strike of the bells that began to ring. "Let the Festival begin!!"

Forty-nine men and women drew their weapons and charged down the street, screaming and yelling as the fervor reached it climax. They rushed by the Regent, who stood and grinned wildly as if prepared himself to go with them and take part of the coming slaughter. Immediately there was a separation between the swift footed and the cumbersome Hunters, Fedrich discovering that he held the lead with his impressive sprinting power.

It was two long minutes before the first signs of monsters appeared, overgrown Trick Sparrows and quarreling Fangs running through the main street for a means out and to their natural homes. Jumping as high as he could, he intercepted a Trick Sparrow in mid-flight and struck a wing off, taking the bird down with him. Landing with ease, he turned around and pounced on the downed bird, sword plunging through its narrow body and killing it. He searched across it's body, growing frantic but smiling once he found a tag with a four imprinted on it along with the emblem of the Regency. The first few minutes of the half-hour long Festival and he was already up by four points, good progress in his eyes. He looked around and saw a wounded Fang leap over a Hunter, heading for him with bloody teeth promising a painful wound. Instinct controlling his movements, he drew his sword up and dodged to the side, impaling the beast as it crashed onto the cobblestone. Searching a second corpse brought him another ten points, and Fedrich was confident that he could really win the Festival.

Goddess' luck! Fourteen points in the lead, I just have to keep it up and make for the prize monster at the end of the street! Those eighty points will be mine!

Fedrich's ears caught the sound of something cutting through the air, and his nimble feet took him to his left. The sound grew louder until a roar passed by his vision, landing and forming into a woman bearing a weapon. The woman stood quickly and lashed out, the large blade passing inches from Fedrich's chest as he skipped back from the blow. He settled into a confidant defense, wondering what she was doing coming after him.

"Who are you?" He demanded.

The woman stood up with an indignant laugh, shouldering her weapon. Fedrich immediately took notice that the weapon was an axe, but one so large that it seemed impossible for her to handle. Dressed in colorful attire that accented her buxom shape, she seemed more like a barmaid instead of a warrior.

"You are Fedrich, right?" She asked, tilting her head.

He narrowed his eyes. "What if I am?"

Her expression changed from casual humor to a deep anger. "Don't toy with an angry woman! Are you or aren't you?"

"...I am."

A second change, and her lips curled in anticipation. "Finally...I finally found you!"

"Should I know you? I wasn't expecting to meet anyone today..."

With a heave, the woman slammed her axe on the cobblestone with a metallic ring. "I'm only the most beautiful bounty hunter in the world! Lani, mercenary extraordinare!" She laughed at her own boasts. "And you, Fedrich, are my target!"

Fedrich lowered his stance to prepare for any sudden moves. "Did someone hire you to kill me?"

Picking up the axe with a single hand, Lani swung it once. "No, I'm here to exact my revenge on you! En guard!"

With a running leap, she spun the axe around and let the momentum carry her attack through. Fedrich moved back and eventually jumped to the wind, the axe cutting into the stone with a loud crack. Taking the battle in his hands, he swung out with his sword and the blade collided loudly with the axe-head. He was surprised, the woman had picked the weapon up enough to use it as a sturdy shield. Several more times he attacked, coming in from different angles and planes of approach, only to meet the jarring surface of the axe.

"Come on, this is too easy!" Lani laughed, then spun on her heel and nearly lopped Fedrich's arm off as he continued his offensive. Skidding still, she reversed her spin and managed to cut the Burman's torso with a metallic ring. He cried out in pain, jumping back to a safe distance. The mercenary could tell that it was just a surface wound, protected by whatever armor was in his vest, but dealt enough pain to stun him.

"Why are you attacking me!" The demi-human asked, voice strained. "I've done nothing to hurt you!"

Lani scowled. "Liar! You've done me more harm than if you'd cut my hands off!"

"Tell me what I did, then!"

She spat, hefting the axe to a defensive hold. "Several weeks ago you pursued a friend of mine through Treno and killed her! Claire the Demon Lance? You know that name, don't you?"

Fedrich froze in place, fearful memories rushing to his mind and instilling fear and anxiety. He stared at the mercenary woman, not recognizing her at all. It crossed him that it wouldn't be any surprise if she had bandit friends, but to have them follow him out to his home? Shaking his head, he shoved the unpleasant memories back. "Yes, I knew her. She was a traitor, tricked me into trusting her so she could get close to Setzer Gestahl and kill him! I chased her to Treno and brought her to justice."

"Justice my ass!" A finger pointed at him, angry eyes staring into his own. "You slaughtered her! Covered her in wounds and then ran her through like some dog in the street! My friend, one of my few friends...and you killed her without any mercy!"

"I didn't mean for that to happen!" Fedrich clenched a hand before him. "I was going to catch her at all costs, but not if it meant her death. Believe me, if there was any alternative, I wouldn't have fought her at all! I don't kill anyone if I can help it!"

"Lies! All of it!" She screeched, running forward and bringing her axe to bear. "I won't forgive you!"

The gigantic weapon hit the cobblestone and cracked it, the blade sinking into the dirt below. Fedrich's training took control of his movements, adjusting his sword and slapping the enemy hand with the flat of his sword. Lani reeled back with a yelp of pain, and Fedrich stepped forward and rammed her chest with his shoulder. The mercenary woman stumbled backwards and fell, head striking the stone and drawing another cry from her lips.

"I tell the truth, even if you don't want to believe it. If it wasn't for a freak accident, a slip while fighting, she would still be alive and I would be dead." He crossed his arms, careful to point his sword down. "Lani, you're fighting isn't going to bring her back, won't redeem her honor. There's no purpose to this fight."

Lani laughed, body quaking in spasms. Slapping her palms on the stone, she picked herself up and dusted her legs off. "I know that, idiot! I already said this is for revenge, and revenge doesn't need a reason!" She lifted one arm up and moved it through the air, finger twirling as if tracing a symbol in the air. A sparkle of lights spun around her limbs, then focused on her single finger that she pointed at the Regulator. "Drown my enemies in a hateful swell! Water!"

Immediately a huge ball of water appeared above Fedrich, and before the Burman could jump away, fell down to earth and knocked him to the ground. The ball exploded, rivulets of water soaking everything nearby, crushing his body and nearly choking him as well. Once the water parted, Fedrich pushed himself off the ground and coughed heavily, forcing the water from his lungs. His eyes opened in time to see Lani next to him, lifting the axe up and getting a solid grip on it.

"Now you're gonna pay!" She promised, taking the axe to it's zenith and pulling it down.

Fedrich rolled out of the way from the lethal attack, barely able to avoid the sharp edge. He scrambled to his feet and leapt into the sky, sailing through the breeze and as far from Lani as his legs could carry him. Landing, he skipped a few steps then turned and faced the mercenary woman.

"Listen, I don't have the time to fight you! We're in the middle of the Festival, I can't waste any more time or I won't have a chance at winning!"

"Damn coward! Don't you think about running from me!" She yelled, pursuing.

"If you can find me again once the Festival is done, then we can continue this!" Fedrich sheathed his sword, still tight in his hand. "Until then, goodbye!"

Looking down the street, he jumped towards the open-air market and to where the stronger monsters lay. Several more jumps gave his plenty distance from Lani, the bandit woman hurling threats at him with all her breath. He focused back to his leaping, only to see his legs land on the back of a bright blue Mu. The furry creature squawked as Fedrich knocked it to the ground, a loud crack echoing off the buildings as its back snapped under the strain of the incoming Burman. He slipped down and fell onto the cobblestone, giving his head a knock and scraping his palms. Getting back to attention, he searched the body of the fallen Mu and drew out a six point tag. Pocketing it, he searched the area and saw a majority of the Hunters nearby, fighting the monsters present and some fighting each other for claims to a monster's tag. He looked down the street, seeing the archway at the entrance to the Fabool Marketplace. A quick look at his watch showed eight minutes since the start, leaving little time to waste.

Dammit, I've got to hurry and find that prize monster before anyone else does!

He got to his feet and started running again, passing by numerous skirmishes and hoping that everyone else was content to stay and pick away at the smaller monsters for fewer points. A dark gray Fang appeared from a side alley and snapped at Fedrich's limbs, but the Hunter was quick to jump away from the powerful jaws. Lowering his body, he ran forward and jabbed at the wolfish creature, wounding its front leg. With several other thrusts, he dispatched the beast with little effort. He looked through its fur and mane, spotting the tag secured to its belly with another ten points to his name.

"Thirty! Gotta keep it up!"

Running again for all he could muster, he passed under the arch and saw a mighty battle taking place. Groups of Trick Sparrows were swirling around the center of the open square, diving together at Hunters and overwhelming them in sheer numbers. Several Hunters were retreating from the monsters, sporting wounds across their faces and arms from razor sharp beaks and talons. In a desperate choice, he drew out his sword and tried to focus onto the knowledge that it held, the instructions for the powerful dragoon magic it held. After seconds of intense concentration, the technique surfaced in his mind's eye, and he lifted his blade up and held it close to begin the attack. Waving it out, he felt the pull of strength flow into the sword.

"Summon the Reaper's winds! Cherry Blossom Storm!"

For the second time he saw the amazing work of the spell occur, pink lance striking the earth and exploding into a fiery tornado of cherry blossoms. The sparrows all cawed in terror, nearly a dozen of them falling to the earth as they were burnt into black ash. Fedrich's heart suddenly leapt in his throat.

"Ashes! The Tags!!"

He reached into his vest and pulled out the tags, seeing they were just thick paper cards with a metal loop. Panicked, he charged into the group of charred birds, looking through each body but finding only melted pools of metal by each of them. He growled and pounded the ground.

Dammit, you just had to overkill them, didn't you! You could've gotten forty more points at least, but you went for the easy out! Hell, this isn't good at all...

Suddenly his precise ears heard the flapping of many wings and the angry screeches of sparrows nearby. He stood and saw a group of them diving, and Fedrich brought his sword up and started swinging for all his worth. The birds all attacked, scratching his arms and head, jabbing at his fingers, even knocking his hat away. Once they passed, Fedrich winced as he felt several wounds on his body, only two dead birds his reward. He stooped over and picked up the tags regardless, gaining another eight points to his total, and also recovered his hat and donned it.

"Thirty eight now. I gotta find that prize monster! Where could it be hiding?"

Fedrich looked around the square, several small streets making the right choice impossible to choose on. Worse yet, the immense strain on his body to cast the dragoon magic left his arms and legs feeling twice as heavy and sore, breathing labored. He noted one warrior charging full speed down a street, holding a fishing spear in his hands. Legs moving without prompting, he started after the man with hopes that he knew something Fedrich didn't.

He managed to get his breathing under control by the time he entered the street the spear-wielding man had gone down. The man was at the moment using his weapon to fend off a Trick Sparrow, the bird darting around him and raking his head with its talons. Fedrich saw a Fang stalking close to the two, and he summoned a burst of speed to charged the monster. His sword gleamed in the sunlight and hacked at the wolfish monsters shoulder, a howl racing from its maw. Another similar swing at its neck severed the spine, and the beast flopped to the ground, dead. The spearman turned to face Fedrich, his luck changed for the better as he finally knocked the birds head and brought it down.

"Ach, dammit, why're you here?" The man scowled, gathering the tag from the bird.

"I thought you were after the prize monster. You're Ivan, right? Previous Master Hunter?" Fedrich asked, taking his own ten point tag to tally up forty eight points.

Ivan laughed, a grating sound. "So what if I am? You're gettin' in my way, kiddo, so scram!"

A sudden blast of wind buffered the two warriors around, a loud caw echoing through the streets. Ivan turned and peered into the distance, grumbling to himself.

"Aw hell, that ain't gonna be easy from the sound of 'im." He moaned.

"What won't?" Fedrich asked, taking deep breaths to soothe his lungs.

"Him." He motioned with his spear to the end of an alleyway. Standing on scaly legs and surrounded in a shroud of feathers was a massive bird, bald head bobbing up and down in confusion. In a sudden motion, it shuffled forwards into the open square and unfurled large wings, blue toned lengths stretching dozens of feet in either direction.

Fedrich sighed, equally tired. "That's one big bird."

"You seem keen on pointin' out the obvious, kiddo. You sit back 'an let me take the bugger on."

"We'll both take him."

"Hey, you aren't supposed 'ta be making this a team effort, now." He waved his arm to keep him back. "It's one on one single combat, so you shuffle off, he's mine."

"No way! I'm going to win this!" Fedrich restated, hefting his sword up and steadying his feet. That's gotta be the prize monster, and those eighty points are going to be mine!"

"Not if I have any say in it, they won't!" Ivan took his spear and aimed at the bird. "Have at it, you buzzard!"

With a mighty throw, the spear whistled through the air and pierced the bird's side, a loud squawk of pain coming from its beak. The bald fisherman ran down the street, intent on getting his weapon back before the monster could recover from the shock. He gaped in surprise as Fedrich leapt above him, then swiped at the bird's wing and hacked away several layers of feathers. Now thoroughly angered, the bird flapped it's wings and sent Fedrich back with a painful bruise on his chest, hat blown away again.

"Damn your thick head, it's gonna get away!" Ivan swore as he ran past Fedrich and scrabbled to pull his spear out.

Fedrich stood and tried to attack again, but the enormous bird managed to gain enough power to stand. Raising a taloned claw, energy circled around its wings and then to the limb. The bird struck the ground with that claw, and several whirlwinds formed and rushed outwards, knocking Ivan down and sending Fedrich rolling across the stone to bruise his already battered arms and legs. Stamping forward, it flapped its wings quickly, managing to barrel over the two Hunters and attain flight. Ivan rubbed his head and growled in frustration.

"Ah, I told you 'ta leave it to me!"

"It's a competition, isn't it? So it's free reign to do what we can to get more points!" Fedrich smirked as he recited the Festival law. "Consider it a test to see who's got it to win!"

Ivan merely spat out some blood, feeling his jaw for further hurt. "Cocky little rat."

Fedrich looked up and saw the large bird circling around the Fabool square, cawing angrily as it sought an escape from it's prison. The Hunter wiped his blade free of the blood on its edge, then ran into the square and looked for any places he could jump to. Spying one, he jumped through the winds and onto a rooftop, then waiting patiently as the bird flew closer to him. With a near horizontal push, he propelled himself into the wind and lashed out, blade cutting through flesh and making the bird falter in its flight. Fedrich turned his body about and landed on his feet, and the bird tried even harder to get into the sky.

"Got you now..." He grinned, confidant that one final strike on that wing would ground the beast and ensure his win. From behind, his ears picked up a sharp whistling, and another long pointed spear flew through the air and caught the bird's shoulder. Muscles torn and useless, the creature floundered to the cobblestone and cawed angrily. Fedrich began to look back, but a huge shadow struck the side of his head, whiteness and stars exploding in his eyes. His body winced as he crumpled to the cobblestone below, sword clattering loudly.

"Feh, I suppose it is every man for 'imself." The voice warbled and faded in and out, but Fedrich was able to recognize Ivan's thick tone before darkness swamped his consciousness.

.

Fedrich's eyes fluttered, and he opened them slowly to the bright afternoon sunlight. The first thing he focused on was a tabby cat resting next to his head, licking its chops. It hunkered down and meowed at him, reaching out with a nervous paw to inspect the Burman.

"Got any points?" Fedrich asked it, scaring the feline away. He sighed, testing his arms and legs to see if they worked. "Figures..."

With effort, he rolled over and pushed himself to his knees, then to a wobbly stand on sore feet. He bent down to retrieve his sword, sheathing it, then walked a ways to pick up his hat and put it on for a third time. He slowly walked down the street to the Fabool market, seeing no other monsters roaming around and only Lindblum guards present. One of said guards saw the Burman stumbling closer, and he jogged to his side.

"Sir! Are you okay?"

"I'm fine...I think..." He muttered. "What happened?"

"The Festival is over, sir, we're just clearing out any hideaways. You look hurt, there are healers with the lieutenant."

"It's...over?"

"Did you get knocked out? The Festival ended ten minutes ago, you can still get your points counted if you hurry."

That message made Fedrich wake up faster. "Where?"

"At the Hunters Gate, the Regent is present to award the winner his prize."

"Thanks! I gotta go!" Fedrich shouted in a rush, running back to the start of the Festival.

Oh man, what happened? I remember fighting off that massive bird, and Ivan threw a spear at it, then...nothing. Damn, what happened? Did the bird get me somehow, or was it Ivan?

Fedrich leapfrogged down the street, his legs sore and protesting the effort. He passed by the arch to the square, rushing by the stands he visited so often for snacks and by Lavilero's Inn, eventually skidding to a halt next to a battered but standing crowd of warriors. Brave citizens were also swarming the circle of Hunters, waiting for the announcement to be made.

"Hey, latecomer!" A man in official robes called, walking to the Burman. "Your points?"

Fedrich reached into his pocket, pulling out the collection of paper tags and giving them to the official. He counted them up, then slapped the Hunter's shoulder and smiled.

"Forty eight points! A decent run, lad, but not enough to win!" He walked around and looked at everyone. "Does anyone else need to be counted? Anyone else?" After a minute of waiting, he walked back to the front of the crowd and lifted his arms. "Hunters, you did amazingly well today! Out of the hundreds of monsters we captured and release, almost all were killed in battle. The prize monster, a vicious gigan eagle from the northern lands, was among the dead! It is my pleasure to announce that the winner of this years Festival of the Hunt, with a total of one hundred twenty four points, is none other than the esteemed Ivan Theend!"

The Hunters present applauded weakly, but the population of Lindblum present made up for their lacking with a roar of approval and thunderous clapping. Ivan walked up front and raised his arms, soaking in the publicity and laughing with pride. The official led the winner to the Regent, both of them bowing as he approached.

"Hunter Ivan, it is a pleasant surprise to see that you have again fought the odds to win this years Festival of the Hunt. In accordance with the rules of the Festival, you may ask of me a single gift to receive as reward for your skills. Speak! What is it that you desire?"

Ivan lifted his head a faction. "Your Regency, my only wish is to see my boat repaired from its dismal state of being. For too long it has been left to time, its sails are patched and the hull cracked. Without it, I cannot ply my trade as a fisherman, and to no longer traverse the open seas would be too great a pain for my heart to bear."

Regent Cid chuckled warmly. "Such a humble request for a man of your bearing, twice proven master of the hunt. Consider your wish granted! Stand, dear fellow, and we shall retire to the royal courts and present to you the title to which you deserve!"

Ivan stood at the request of the Regent, and together with the royal escort, proceeded to the Aircab terminal to travel to the castle proper. Applause and cheers followed them all, and eventually all the citizens and Hunters dispersed from the street to return home and chatter away at the result of the Festival. Many of the warriors grouped together to raid the local taverns to drink the night away, and many children ran among them for autographs and to play mock battles. Fedrich stood still as he contemplated the results, how he came so close to winning only to stumble and fall.

"Hey! Mista' Burmecian!" A little girl and two boys called, coming to his side and tugging at his pants while blurting questions. "Didya do good? How many monsters did you kill? Can I see your sword? Are you a knight? What's your name?"

"Hold on, hold on now!" Fedrich tried to calm the children down to little avail. "Yes, I did get a lot of monsters today."

"Wasn't it scary?"

"Yes, it was very scary and very tough." He answered with a smile.

"I'm gonna be a knight when I'm bigger!" One boy boasted, swinging an imaginary sword. "I'll teach those monsters! Bam! Smack! Pow! They'll never beat me!"

"That's good...here." Fedrich took the feather from his hat and plucked it into the boy's messy hair. "It's a lucky chocobo feather. If you wear it, then you'll be able to run twice as fast!"

"Really! Cool!" The boy jumped around, then started running to see if it would work, the two others pursuing and giggling.

Fedrich smiled at the simplicity of being a child, that a simple feather was enough to amaze them. He stretched his arms to try to work them into being only partly stiff. With a depressed sigh he turned for the Aircabs, the weight of trying to win the Festival gone and replaced with the greater weight of losing.