BoF 3- Garr VS Ryu, a breath of fire fanfic

Disclaimer: I don't own any of the stuff from FF3. *notices her mistake, starts laughing* Or BoF 3 for that matter!

Author's Notes: Several times, I've been playing a game, gotten to a really great bit of the story, and after it's over I find myself screaming- "It needs to be longer!" Or... there needed to be more dialogue, or someone just needed to write it up in a bit more detail. That's the reason for this ficlet. Oh, and please be kind, I wrote this a few years ago and it may still need a bit of revision.

Garr VS Ryu; Round One

Ryu began the transformation.

If I can change into a dragon, he thought, I may have a chance. Garr's eyes flashed. He brought the spear up over his head, and down. Ryu never saw the blade. One blow and he lay broken on the ground, his sword had never cleared its sheath.

The audience was stunned. The fight had lasted only fifteen seconds.

"And so, the fierce battle waged by these two mighty warriors comes to an end," the announcer said lamely. Garr glanced briefly at her, one eye-ridge quirking in amusement. He strode past her to the boy's side, went down on one knee and felt for a pulse. It was faint, but there. Garr looked up at the sound of running footsteps, it was the child's friends.

Nina ran to Ryu's side, heedless of the guardian, while Momo approached with more apprehension. The blonde girl force-fed Ryu an herb and looked up at Garr. Her small face was defiant, waiting for him to be angry at her action. A voice spoke and her anger dissolved into terror, looking over his shoulder.

"Congratulations, Champion," Bailo said, putting an arm around the announcer's shoulders. "What will you have for your prize? Gold, perhaps? Jewels? Name it and it will be yours."

Garr watched tears form in the child's eyes. Momo overcame her fear and knelt beside Nina, wrapping her arms comfortingly around the younger girl. Garr reached down and picked up the boy in one enormous arm, then turned to Bailo.

"Anything I wish is mine for the asking?" he asked. Bailo nodded, smiling widely. "Then I ask for the boy and his friends." The girls looked up slowly. The gangster's long face dropped in shock. He hurried over to Garr.

"That's not what we agreed on," Bailo whispered angrily. "If you want kids," he said, leaning forward, "I can get you kids, it's no problem-"

The Guardian's eyes flashed, insulted that the gangster would suggest such a thing. "I thought," Garr said, cutting him off, "that the winner of the Contest of Champions got whatever he wanted."

"Well...yes, but-"

"If this prize is not available, I could take," between one heartbeat and another, the razor-blade edge of Garr's spear was pressed to Bailo's neck, "your life. Yes?"

Bailo swallowed carefully against the blade. "No, no. If you want the kids, fine, take the kids." He pressed a hand to his neck as Garr removed the blade. He walked out of the stadium, ignoring the announcer's attempt at closing remarks. Nina and Momo, afraid of what Bailo would do if they remained, followed Garr like tiny shadows.