Disclaimer: This is a work of fan appreciation, and no more. I get no material compensation for this work, and I make no claim to the Breath of Fire world or concept. Both are the property of Capcom.


Breath of Fire: Decline

Chapter 1

Mika cursed, loudly, while his cousin roared with laughter. The young man looked up from the mess irritably. "You know, Ryu, you've been completely useless since we began this fool's errand. You could do more than make wisecracks."

His blue-haired companion's peals of laughter stopped almost immediately. "I'm sorry, Mika," he said kindly as the other youth kneeled to try to gather the rogue oranges- again. "Do you need a hand?"

"It would be helpful." Mika then snorted in derision as Ryu began clapping heartily. "Smartass," Mika said in a stage whisper, managing to pack the runaway fruit back in the crate and stand again.

Ryu smirked at him, nursing his own crate. "At least part of me is intelligent," he said airily. Mika glared, started walking again. Ryu jogged briefly to keep up, then fell in step with the other youth. "Seriously, Mika, I offered to take the broken crate. You insisted because you're stronger than I am and would be able to hold it better."

"I know," Mika said in a sulky voice, "but a mile seems like twenty when you've got fifteen pounds of oranges in your arms."

"I agree with that," Ryu replied wistfully. "'Character building' my ass. This is just punishment for being good civil servants."

If Ryu saw the slight smile this comment got from his cynical cousin, he didn't show it. Ryu hadn't had a choice in being a "civil servant". He was bound by Draconic law to become a Knight of the realm, and he was very close to his knighting. Mika, on the other hand, had been given a choice. In fact, Prince Aldin had gone out of his way to discourage the boy from choosing knighthood as his path. His arguments ranged from having too hot a temper to reliably perform his duties as a knight, to the fact that the orphanage needed good men like Mika to help the orphanage out. This resulted in a "debate" between the two that ended when Mika spat that if he was a good man, it was no thanks to Aldin.

Aldin then changed tacts, incensed by this illegitimate speaking to someone of high status such as himself, pointing out to the King, Kirai, and Ryu on three separate occasions that Mika was a bastard child whom, according to the letter of the law, was to hold no higher station than that of a slave. Ryu promptly went to the Commander in Chief, got Mika's application to the forces, and had his father and grandfather stamp it through.

Mika later observed that the arguments with Aldin were well worth it to see the look on the man's face when Mika was given his practice sword. Ryu returned with the observation that Mika was obviously much more mature than Aldin already, because ten years later, the rogue Prince was still trying to punish Mika for the humiliation of getting caught abusing his servants.

The two arrived at their destination; their task master grinned as the youths dropped their crates on the ground, groaning in exhaustion. Ryu sank onto the stoop stairs while Mika put his hands on his hips, trying to ignore the searing pain in his arms. The taskmaster poked the Prince with the butt end of his whip. "You know well as I do that yer father ain't got no worries with me treatin' you like any other fledglin' Knight," the taskmaster said. "An' it's a sight pathetic that yon squire can hold up better 'n his master can."

Ryu pushed the whip away from him. "Mika's only a few years younger than I, first off, and second he's been strength-training for longer than I have."

"Younger 'n you and training longer 'n you? Shameful!" the taskmaster wailed. "Just shameful! I can't even whip ya for that one! It's just pitiful! Shameful and pitiful! Hey now, what you think you doin', boy?"

Mika scowled hard, reflexively, as he sat down next to Ryu. "I'm sitting down so that you've got two people to poke at instead of bullying one," he replied in a snippish tone.

The taskmaster miffed. "Now see here, son, I ain't bullyin' noone! Secondly, you ain't to speak in that tone to me-"

Ryu stood abruptly, squaring his shoulders. "We need to speak in private, Taskmaster," he said respectfully, but his voice was commanding. Recognizing an order from his Prince when he saw one, the taskmaster aquisied immediately, following Ryu around the corner. The two spoke in quiet tones. Mika knew what his cousin was saying. Look, I know it's not meant disrespectfully, but Mika is a special case. Please don't call him 'boy'. It hurts him, and it hurts him on a level I don't think either of us could understand...

"I wish you'd knock that off," Mika commented under his breath as Ryu rejoined him on the stoop.

"Wish he'd knock what off?" The taskmaster said. "That's the problem with you youths today- you think everythin's your business. Well, I'll tell you, Mika, we talked in private, so you can be sure it ain't yon business, right? Let's just move on along our collective business now."

It might not have been his business, but Mika noted that his proper name was used in a place where "boy" would have been more natural for the taskmaster.

The taskmaster waited a few more moments before speaking again. This time, his voice was quiet and somber. "I ain't happy about this, boys," he said hesitantly. Seeing that Mika took no offense- he had addressed them both in affection instead of Mika himself in derision- he continued. "Prince, I received word from yer father- it seems that them damn Urkans have some kind of new weapon up their sleeves. Our people trying to help the Wyndians hold their city dare not fight 'gainst 'em new soldiers. They's too strong; fighting would cause too much destruction." A pained expression crossed the elderly man's face. "Right now, the Dragons are lettin' themselves be killed. It's lookin' like the Wyndian's is gonna fall."

Ryu's face went grim. "I've been recalled to Dragnier, then," he said gravely. "It's time, isn't it?"

"Aye, lad, it's time." The taskmaster's gaze slid to Mika. "I tried ta tell'em that you should remain here to continue yer trainin'. His Majesty wouldn't hear of it. 'Less Prince Ryu frees you from squireship, 'n that'll ruin your chances at knighthood anyway."

Mika shook his head. "I'm not going to let him go home alone," he replied, just as grave- and wondering if either of his companions felt the tight desperation in their chests that he did. "I am his squire. Who else is going to take care of him?"

"T'ain't as though you'll have to cross the plains," the taskmaster replied.

Ryu caught onto the implication first. "We're using the teleporters?" he asked incredulously. "Why? Young and training knights never use the teleporters!"

"You're not just a young knight, Prince Ryu," the taskmaster said heavily. "You're the Destined Child. And yer father and grandfather needs you in Dragnier now."

The three were silent for quite some time. Finally, the taskmaster turned away. "Get yer belongings 'n meet me in the teleportation bay. I'll be sendin' ye two off soon's yer there."

Mika and Ryu looked at each other as the taskmaster walked away. "So that's that," Mika mused. "They're finally letting you start on your journey."

Ryu averted his gaze. "Yeah." He stood, moving a little sluggishly. "I was worried they actually weren't going to let me do this."

"Let you? Like they have a choice. It's your destiny, right? Destined child, destiny...?"

"Y-yeah. Come on, Mika, we've got to get packing."

Without looking at his cousin, Ryu started walking away. Mika gaped at his back for a moment, then sprang to his feet and sprinted the small distance the Prince managed to put between them. "Wait just a minute. What's wrong?"

"Nothing's wrong."

"I see through you," Mika replied, bringing his hand up to his face and pointing it at Ryu. He wiggled the pointed finger as he spoke. "Nobody knows you better than I do and you're not happy with something. Spill it, man."

Ryu gave the youth a wry smile. "Can't get the obvious past you, can I?"

"Hey!"

The Prince laughed at Mika's reaction, then sighed. "It's just... this is going to be dangerous. I've heard that the last Destined Child almost died a number of times on his Cycle. In fact, his companions did die; if he hadn't mastered Infinity, he almost certainly would have failed. It was only because he did master Infinity that his companions were able to come back to help him fight."

Mika frowned. "They didn't die, Ryu. They were sealed in crystal and then it was shattered by Evan. Infinity didn't bring them back to life, it just undid the spell Evan used to seal them to begin with. Besides, you're just like the other Destined. You're going to have companions- including me."

Ryu stopped short, returning Mika's frown. "Aren't you listening?" He snapped. "The physics of what happened to those Destined doesn't matter! If the last Child hadn't mastered Infinity, they were as good as dead!" He immediately regretted his harsh tone, as his cousin's face darkened with hurt and concern. Rather than apologize, however, Ryu merely resumed walking. "I don't know who my companions will be. None of the Destined do."

"Well, I'm going to be."

"Absolutely not."

"You're kidding."

Ryu gasped in exasperation. "I'm not! Once again, Mika, did you listen? I'm mortal. I'm fallable. There may come a point where I can't protect you and I'm not willing to risk that."

"I can protect myself!" Mika protested.

The Prince smiled sadly. "I know you can. I'm still not willing to risk your life. Besides, you're n- you're not one of the Destined."

"You don't know that."

Ryu didn't respond. Mika brooded.

They arrived at the apartment complex the two were boarding at. As they ascended the stairs to their rooms, Mika suddenly brightened. "I know. We can ask Mirielle when we get to Dragnier. She'd definitely know!" Mika poked Ryu as the Prince swiped the key card. The door gave a soft click to indicate that it had unlocked. "Then, if she says that I am a Destined, you can rest easy that I'm supposed to be with you."

"No." Ryu pushed the door open and walked inside. Mika stood where he was in the hallway, thinking. Ryu was behaving extremely odd. This was certainly not the man Mika was accustomed to. Realizing that ruminating in the hallway over it wasn't going to get Ryu to get his head out of his ass, Mika entered the apartment and closed the door softly behind him.

Neither spoke a word until they had packed what belongings they needed to take back to Dragnier- Mika assumed that he'd be returning to Caer Xhan at some point to retrieve the rest of their things- and they headed towards the city gates.

The teleportation bay was actually a short distance from the city. It had been placed between the metropolis and the tiny village on the edge of the Wild Plains in order to serve both establishments. The villagers in Oasis vastly preferred a quiet, rural environment, and already complained bitterly about the noise and light pollution from the city.

Mentioning the building of the Sky Station over Caer Xhan still caused Prince Ryu to grimace and put a hand to his temple. Both boys would have sworn that the people of Oasis thought that the structure would both fall out of the sky onto them and cause them to randomly start giving birth to kittens. Thankfully, as the Sky Station proved to be both stable and a place for the noisiest of the research- and researchers- to go, Oasis calmed down.

As the bay came into sight Mika finally spoke. "Ryu." The Prince turned, still silent. Finding the words he needed, Mika spoke carefully. "This isn't just a random mission from the King," he said quietly, sincerely. "This is the fate of the world and, from the looks of it, the entire Draconic race. She doesn't mean to merely control the world this time, Ryu," he commented, losing his calm. "Myria's trying to kill us all this time! I can't stand by and watch that happen and I can't stand by and watch you walk right into her arms so she can have an easier time putting a knife in your back. I can't do that."

Ryu smiled sadly at his cousin. "Thank you, Mika," he said. "It really means a lot to me. But, like I said in Caer Xhan- I feel the same way about you." He hesitated, then turned away again. "This really is my problem to deal with. I can't let someone I care about so much get involved."

"If I'm a Destined, you have no choice," Mika said firmly, grimly.

"If you're a Destined," Ryu acquiesced. The Prince started walking again. "If you are then it doesn't matter if I leave you in Dragnier or not, you'll end up with me. So let's just see who is right, okay?"

"All right," Mika grumbled, appeased- for the moment, at least.

As promised, the taskmaster was at the bay. Their goodbyes were stiff and awkward. Of course, Mika knew why- the taskmaster had gotten attached to them. He did all of his students, according to Kirai. The Crown Prince had also cautioned them both that they were "charming young men who are immensely easy to get attached to. Don't go breaking that old man's heart!"

Judging by the sniffles Mika could hear as the taskmaster punched in the coordinates he wanted to send them to, Mika guessed that they actually had. The taskmaster's grumbling about allergies and the Plains blooming didn't convince him at all.