Breath of Fire and all associated characters are the property of Capcom. All original characters are mine. All rights reserved. I take no profit from this, only perverse, sickening pleasure at the sight of mangled bodies and...eh, better stop.
This is a fic in no way related to my others. This is my own Breath of Fire story, dealing with a whole other era...
CYCLE'S CHILD
Prologue:
The Heart of the Storm
___________________
Heavy footprints are left in the mud as he walks down the path, holding the object in his arms. An object four feet long, wrapped in swaths and blankets, covered so the rain does not damage the precious cargo underneath.
Lightning flashes in the distance, thunder cracking in its wake.
It has been a long and heavy journey, he muses.
One that will not end anytime soon, he recounts with a heavy sigh.
He marches into the small village, raindrops splattering on his heavy cloak, occasional drops of water sliding into his eyes, but he marches on.
This is far too important for personal comfort.
He walks to the house he knows that will do. He knocks on the door, and waits.
A man with wings coming from his back, in a nightrobe and pajamas, answers the door...and freezes.
"Hello," the cloaked man says, in a heavy, weary voice, "Take it."
A winged woman with light brown hair walks over, looking from her husband to the cloaked man.
"Jacobi?", she asks, "Who is this?"
"I bring something for you," the cloaked man says, and hands him the object.
The woman slowly pulls down the swaths...and gasps as she sees the sleeping face of a young, blue haired boy.
"My work is done," the cloaked man says, turning, "We will not meet again, Jacobi."
"I...understand.", the winged man responds, "Godspeed. My Ladon watch over you."
"I doubt he will."
He begins to walk back into the storm, pulling his cloak tightly over him with his now free hands.
"Wait!", the woman yells, standing at the doorway, "Who is he? The boy?"
The man halts, turning slightly.
"Ryu.", the man says, "The child's name is Ryu."
A bolt of lightning, as if on command, lances from the sky, striking where the cloaked man stands.
When the blinding light clears, he is gone, a faint sparkle of energy in the puddle.
Jacobi urges her back into the house, closing the door, watching her undo the swatches and covers over the boy.
"Katalina..."
"He's our boy, now," she says, taking the quilt on the couch and wrapping it around the child as he moans, his head rolling about, "Jacobi, check if the soup is still hot. He must have caught his death of cold out there..."
"I doubt that, Katalina," he says, taking a wooden bowl from the table, "Is Nina still asleep?"
She looks up, sighing heavily.
"I think we built that other room for a reason," she says, smiling faintly.
He chuckles, smiling.
"I'm a firm believer in fate. Although I expected to be a bit older before we had a grown son-"
"J'tinra kuditz?!"
They both turn...and see the boy sitting upright, quickly standing, looking about the living room/dining room in a mixture of horror and fascination.
"H...hello, Ryu," she says, smiling slightly, slowly walking to him, "Ryu...my name is Katalina. This is Jacobi...we're the people raising you, now..."
He backs away, his green eyes flashing brightly, making the house rumble faintly.
"Jacobi," she says, gripping the table, "What-"
"I think...I think something is wrong..."
The shaking becomes stronger, more violent, his eyes glowing brightly as the chair at the end of the table crackes down the middle and shatters...
A ten year old, blonde haired girl walks out from the connecting hall, rubbing sleep from her eyes as she walks towards Katalina...and freezes, Ryu turning to her.
"Nina....", Katalina whispers, "Don't-"
The boy extends a hand towards the girl, the two adults frozen in place by some invisible force.
"Isharo jikon itrado!", Ryu growls, his face contorting into one of anger, energy gathering in front of his outstretched hand...
And a bolt of lightning shoots through the window, striking him and making him scream.
He collapses, unconscious, to the floor, bumping his head as he hits.
Katalina rushes over, gathering the girl in her arms, looking down at the boy and then back at her husband.
"He...he's harmless, now.", Jacobi says, walking over and checking Ryu's pulse, "The lightning erased his memory...well...Nina?"
"D...daddy?", the girl asks, "Dad, who's-"
"Nina...meet Ryu. I hope he didn't make too bad a first impression."
Chapter 1:
Childhood
__________
When Ryu awoke a day later, he had no memory of the events. Or any memory except his name and asking where his father was. In the windian language, not the odd foreign language he was using before.
He quickly attached himself to Jacobi and Katalina, learning from them. And learning quickly.
Ryu and Nina became fast friends, inseperable as they grew. They were considered the same age, and since they were never told what Ryu's true age was, they left it at that.
The only other person the couple told of the circumstances of Ryu's adoption was the village doctor, a dog-like forest clan named Erik, who simply nodded and told them he couldn't find anything out of ordinary with Ryu.
For the next nine years, they lived in their village, the small town of Kaghtin, a small landlocked community two miles from the ocean.
They were a tight family. For what affection Ryu lacked for his adopted parents he made up with his friendship with Nina.
The two went to school together in the town, did work together, did everything together. Despite the problems they had the first night, the parents were determined to give Ryu as normal a childhood as they could.
They talked of the near-massacre only in private, where they knew no one could hear.
And never suspected anything could bring it crashing down on them.
Nine years later.
He runs along the grassy field, legs pumping as he passes the fenced-off perimeter, clearing it with a single leap.
The wind is playing havoc with his hair, and the sweat is only causing it to matte even more.
He can see his target coming up ahead, completely oblivious to him.
Kneeling there, picking flowers at the base of the hill...
And shrieking as he grips her by the slender waist, turning her about. Her blonde hair twirls with her, running over his own blue hair, her smile beaming as her white, feathered wings slope back.
"Hello, Nina.", he says, returning her smile.
"Hello, Ryu.", she responds, placing her hands on her shoulders, one of her hands still holding a set of flowers.
In the years, they have matured. He has grown into a strong, able young man. She has grown into a beautiful, young woman, and they have still been inseperable. Friends as long as they can remember, her parents wonder when that friendship will blossom into something more...
He lets go of her waist, letting her wipe the dirt and soil from her full-body grey/blue dress, her wings returning to their normal height.
"You snuck up on me again," she says, "I wish you'd tell me how you do that."
"My secret, Nina.", he responds, chuckling, "C'mon, they're waiting for us to get back to supper."
She looks up at him, her eyes going wide.
"It's time already?"
"Yes. You've been here for three hours. I'm going to have to get you a timepiece for your birthday if you keep doing this."
"Doing what?", she asks, narrowing her eyes, smirking.
"Spending all day up here," he responds, "If I didn't know any better, I'd say you weren't interested in me anymore."
They laugh as he takes her wrist with his hand, starting to drag her back.
She yanks his hand, pulling him off his feet, taking her down with him as they fall to the ground. She rolls him onto his back, sitting on his stomach.
"Not yet," she says, "I want to show you something."
"Show me what?"
"You'll see!", she responds, jumping off him, running up the hillside, "Catch me if you can!"
He climbs to his feet, running after her...and stops, seeing the sun beginning to disappear into the distance, the sky painted with red, gold and pink. The hill they stand on ends as a cliff, going down a good half a mile into the water crashing on the rocks below.
"I guess it really is that late.", she says.
He smiles, wrapping his arms around her waist...
And lifts her up, hefting her over his shoulder as she shrieks, laughing.
"It is," he says, "And I'm getting you home before they start to worry."
And he carries her back, kicking all the way.
"If you must, please understand that we can go around the town, but it's far easier to simply make it into a fort."
Commander Jansen Maroen sighs, urging on the horse as the subordinate rides alongside him.
The quarter moon hangs over them, illuminating his gold-violet armor, the grey armored troops riding behind him, two dozen in all.
"And if the residents protest?", the grey-black armored subordinate asks.
"Well, we'll explain the terms," Jansen responds, "We'll explain the entire situation, and ask for permission to build the fort by the ocean. I have permission to have them heavily compensated. That should hopefully swing them to our favor. If, however, they do not go along with the idea, we simply build the fort somewhere else. It's just damned inconvenient...so, we simply hope for the best when we arrive tomorrow. Understood?"
The subordinate nods, grinning slightly.
"Understood completely, Commander."
Jansen nods, smiling, pulling off his sloped back helmet and shaking his flaxen hair loose.
"Good. I hope you remember how to sleep riding, then..."
And he simply rides, for much of the remaining night...
Ryu eases open the door, walking out onto the porch of the house...and smiles, seeing Nina leaning on the railing.
"Stargazing?", he asks.
She sees him out of the corner of her eyes, smiling as he stands next to her.
"Yeah," she responds, "It's nice out."
He leans against the railing, sighing as he looks up at the sky.
"Tomorrow's the weekend.", he says.
"I know."
"I'm planning on going for a hike," he continues, "Go up to that cliff. Climb down and see what I can find."
She turns to him, shaking her head.
"Ryu, that's a long drop," she says, "You could be hurt."
"I'll be fine. You want to come with me?"
"Come with-...Ryu, I don't want you to go in the first place!"
"I have the rope, I have the supplies. I've never been down that cliff, and I want to see if there's any shells I haven't seen, down there. Also looks like a good fishing spot..."
She rolls her eyes, smirking.
"Fishing?"
"I got that four pound flounder last week at the old late. Who knows what I can get at the sea?"
She sighs, leaning on her side, and shrugs.
"Fine. I'll go."
"Thanks. I like the company."
She smiles, turning back to the railing, placing her hand on his, looking back at the stars.
And they simply stand there for a while longer, until they finally go inside for bed.
Jacobi groans, an audiable crack coming from his back as he lies down on the blue sheets of the bed, stretching out his wings before folding them back behind him.
He turns as Katalina climbs into the bed, lying on her side as she wraps her wings around her nightgown, resting her arm around his chest as she snuggles up to him.
"I caught a peak at Ryu and Nina.", she says.
"Hm?"
"They were talking outside," she responds, smirking, "He's going to a cliff Nina found a flower patch at. Nina's going with him and they'll see what they find."
"Hm...sounds dangerous."
"Nina is perfectly capable of taking care of himself."
"Good. I was going to say the same thing about Ryu, so we have nothing to worry about."
She gives him a steady, skeptical look...and laughs, resting her head on her pillow.
"You like having a son."
"And I like having a daughter," he says, wrapping his hands around her waist, "And I like having a wife as lovely as you."
She purses her lips, raising an eyebrow.
"You're still a flirt."
"And I only flirt with you."
He leans over, softly kissing her, pulling her closer.
"They're both asleep...", he whispers, "And we tend to be quiet."
"Jacobi..."
He smiles, rolling her onto her back, lying on his side.
"You're still beautiful," he says, "We've been married for...how long?"
"Twenty wonderful years," she says, "And I haven't regretted a single thing about it."
She returns his smiles, pulling him over, passionately kissing him as their arms wrap around each other...
The rope touches the sand as Ryu lands on the soles of his boots, holding out his hands as Nina lands in his arms.
"Well, that went off without a hitch.", she says, smiling as she climbs out of his grip, straightening out her dress, "So...where's the fishing spot?"
"Not sure. I'm trying to pick it out."
She turns to him, watching him snap together his fishing rod, stringing along the line.
"Lovely plan, Ryu."
He gives off one of his mischevous smiles, laying the pole over his shoulder.
"Well, let's get us some fish.", he says.
"Yuck."
"You don't like fish?"
"Not really.", she says, screwing her face in disgust, "Mom always has to boil it. I'm just hoping Dad cooks it."
He chuckles, walking alongside her, absently putting an arm around her waist as they walk to the water.
The neigh of horses catches Jacobi's attention as he walks from the local store with a bag full of fruit, making him turn to the town gates as they open. Kaghtin is an isolated community. Self sufficient.
Visitors and outsiders are a rare occurrence for the village...and especially these visitors.
Soldiers.
He nods to Katalina as she walks out of their house, walking to the leader of the troops as the gold-violet armored man dismounts.
"Good morning, Jansen.", he says.
The armored man turns, pulling off his helmet...and smiling, widely.
"Jacobi," he says, "Jacobi Kirrick. I was wondering where you went to after disappearing off the face of the planet."
Jacobi smiles, shrugging.
"I live quietly with my wife and children.", he says, "I like it here. I'm retired, so if the Council sent you...well, tell them I'm not interested."
"Jacobi, I had no idea you were even still alive," Jansen says, smiling widely, "Much less living here. My mission is different. We're here to ask for permission to build a fort nearby."
Jacobi nods, smiling...and turns as he hears someone shouting for him.
"Dad!", Nina yells, waving and running from the other side of the small town, "Dad, we're done!"
Jacobi chuckles, turning.
"I thought you two were going fishing."
"We were, but the first fish that bit snapped the rod in two.", she responds, "He's not too happy about that, so we're going to be spending a while finding some harder wood."
He waves back, smirking as she walks back into the house.
"Your daughter?", Jansen asks, "Beautiful girl."
"Yes, that's Nina. She's pretty much taken.", he responds, "My son's adopted, and they're very fond of each other. We've all but announced a wedding date."
Jansen chuckles, smiling.
And the smile quickly fades as he sees another man walking to them.
Tall, matted, wet blue hair. Soaked from head to toe from what's most likely the fish trying to reel him in. He gives off a sheepish smile to Jacobi, Jacobi waving back, turning to Jansen...
And stepping back. Jansen's eyes are now glowing pale red. He grabs the hilt of the scabbard strapped to his side, pulling out a long, polished blade.
"The Boy!", the army commander growls, his voice suddenly inhuman, scratchy and cracked, "He is the One!"
With that, he plunges the sword into Jacobi's chest, running him straight through to the hilt, pulling out and letting the older man collapse to the ground, blood flowing freely from the mortal wound.
"Bring the boy!", Jansen roars, "Kill them all! Burn this village to the ground!"
And with that, the soldiers yell, and attack.
Chapter 2:
Fate
_________
It's an image that instantly burns itself in his memory.
The sight of the armored man running his adopted father through, the bloodied blade coming out the back, right between the shoulder blades.
He can hear his adopted mother and Nina screaming, as Ryu simply stands there, shocked...
And sees the soldiers, eyes glowing faint red, rearing back their horses and charging into the town, brandishing blades at the commander's orders to burn the place to the ground...
And to seize him.
"No.", he whispers, stepping back.
He sees the gauntleted fist striking out towards him...
And he grabs it, ripping the soldier from his steed, holding him up in the air by his gauntlet alone.
"No.", he growls, his eyes beginning to glow, the ground beneath him starting to shake.
He tosses the soldier, the soldier screaming as he flies through the air, past the town gate at the slightest motion from Ryu.
He clenches his fists, sucking in air with angry, ragged breaths...
Thu-thump.
His feet leave the dirt. The air whips violently as he hovers inches off the ground, eyes flashing bright green.
"NO!"
An invisible force seizes the necks of every one of the soldiers before they can strike down the fleeing villagers, lifting them into the air, grasping at their collars as their horses ride on.
One by one, they fly through the air, slamming into the ground at the feet of the commander, the red-eyed man watching dispassionately as his forces are tossed around by the young man.
Energy gathers at Ryu's outstretched hands, his face contorting into a snarl. His entire body sheathes itself in reddish gold light, pluming into a display of pure, raw power...
"Ryu! Stop!"
He hears Nina yelling. He hears a voice telling him to kill, telling him to maim, telling him to reap vengeance for this travesty...
Which is what Jacobi would not want. No bloodshed in this town...
"Go."
Energy whips from his hands, lancing across the town and wrapping around the soldiers, making them disappear in flashes of red light. Which is when Ryu falls to his feet, then to his knees, and collapses to the ground, the last image in his fading consciousness is his adopted mother rushing to Jacobi's side...
The greying-haired Plains Runner shakes his head, backing away from the bed as he looks over to Katalina.
"I'm sorry," Erik says, "I've done what I can. The blade went right through."
Jacobi nods, weakly, reaching over and gripping her hand.
Erik backs out of the room, as Jacobi looks over to his wife, his expression serene.
"Jacobi...", she whispers.
"It's...alright.", he coughs, "I saw this coming..."
"Please...", she whispers, "Don't...if we can get Ryu's powers to heal..."
"No...no, his powers...don't work like...like that...", he responds, "It's my time...Katalina. Tell Nina for me..."
She nods, tears forming in her eyes.
He smiles, faintly, closing his eyes.
"Good...", he whispers, "I've never regretted..."
She says nothing, biting her lip, as his grip starts to slack.
"I'm sorry," he croaks, "It was too soon...I'm only hoping...he'll finish this without....me..."
His eyes slowly cloud, rolling up. She calmly reaches over, gripping his limp hand, closing his eyes. She then sits back down, pressing her forehead to his hand, and begins to cry.
Ryu slowly awakens, feeling the bump on his head as he feels he furry hand on his shoulder.
He looks up as his vision clears, seeing Erik standing there, a long expresion on his face.
Ryu bolts up, running down the hall to the bedroom. Nina intercepts him before he can walk through, looking him in the eyes...
And slowly wrapping her arms around him, burying her face on his shoulder. Her wings wrap around him, her body shaking against him.
He looks over his shoulder, seeing his adopted mother sitting there, crying. Sees his adopted father lying there, eyes closed, blood staining the sheets. His chest is still. No signs of life at all.
He's dead.
He's murdered.
Murdered by those he had the opportunity to kill, but let run away...
He breaks Nina's embrace, running out, slamming the door to the house as he leaves.
Nina silently watches, turning to her mother, walking into the room as Katalina pulls the sheet over Jacobi's face.
"Let him go.", Katalina says, "He'll go off to find the killers and kill them himself."
"Mom..."
"Nina, you should go, to.", Katalina continues, folding her hands in her lap, "Erik will take care of the funeral arrangements. Ryu needs you more than I need you."
She slowly stands, her face unchanging as she eases herself up with the help of the armrests, shakily walking across the room.
Nina follows her as she walks to the living room, slumping down on the couch.
"Mom," she says, "You need me here. I have to help-"
"No."
Katalina slowly looks up, folding her hands in her lap.
"I need my children here," she says, "I have no children of my own."
Nina says nothing, her face going blank as her mother clenches her eyes shut.
"Nina, I never wanted to tell you this," she continues, "But you're not my daughter. Like Ryu, you were adopted. But far too early to remember it. When your father...when he and I were married for less than a year, her came home with you in his arms. You were a baby. Weeks old. He said you would need us to raise you...and I was too ready to agree."
She looks up, as Nina slowly sits down in a chair, shaking.
"It does not mean I love you any less," she continues, "But...I think you have to go. Ryu needs you far more than I do."
Nina slowly nods, swallowing hard.
"But...who's..."
"I don't know, Nina. I don't know."
Katalina walks over, placing her hand on Nina's shoulder.
"But maybe you should find out."
Ryu stops a few miles from the town, sitting on the dirt and holding his head in his hands.
Dead.
Dead.
His father, the man who raised him and saw him as his pride and joy is dead.
Dead because someone saw themselves as right to take a life and he let him get away with it...
Because he hesitated. Because he stopped himself. Because he thought it would be better...
"Ryu!"
He doesn't look up as she lands right in front of him, her wings limply hanging from her shoulders.
He slowly stands, walking past her to the forest in the distance.
She runs after him, running to his side and turning him to her.
"I'm going with you.", she says, firmly.
"Nina, they need you back there."
He tries to turn back, Nina's grip tightening.
"No. Mother wants me to go with you," she says, "Ryu, please. Listen to me. I know what you're going to do-"
"What am I going to do?", he snaps, "Kill them like they killed Father?"
"Yes."
He says nothing...and closes his eyes, hanging his head.
"No," he says, "No...no. No no no. I can't."
Tears begin to flow from his eyes as he clenches them shut, taking her free hand with his own.
"No...he taught me better than that," he says, "Nina...Nina, Mom needs you back home. I just have to-"
"Ryu, I'm going with you whether you want me or not," she snaps, "And that's final!"
He nods, slowly, wiping away the tears as he turns.
"Fine," he says, "Fine. I...just need to go, that's it. I need to see if I can find something, someone, anyone."
He resumes walking, Nina catching up and walking beside him.
"Why?"
"They could be back," he says, "I....I just have the feeling that I was responsible."
"Ryu, don't say that. They're soldiers. They're always like that. They let their power go to their heads and people suffer."
He turns to her, furrowing his brow.
"That's what...that's what Mother says," she responds, hesitantly.
He nods, gripping her hand firmly with his own.
"I could use the company," he says with a faint smile, "Thank you for coming."
She nods, smiling, leaning her head against his as they near the forest...
"The Boy! Take the Boy!"
They turn, seeing the soldiers charging down the road towards them, swords drawn.
He picks her up, his eyes glowing green...and he runs to the woods.
Runs faster than she knew anything could run, the landscape becoming a blur in his wake as he outruns the horses themselves, carrying her into the darkness of the forests.
He says nothing, not even looking back as the soldiers pursue them, his eyes glowing a bright, iridescent green as they pass tree after tree, vines barely missing her as he dodges and weaves the natural hazards with disturbing precision.
"Ryu!", she shouts, looking at his completely pale, emotionless face, "Ryu...what are you doing...?"
He skids to a halt, turning. She looks over his shoulder...and sees a gorge dozens, hundreds of feet deep.
She climbs out of his arms, turning...and sees the red eyes of the quickly approaching soldiers.
"Trust me.", he says.
She turns to him, then back to the soldiers...
And gasps as he quickly, forcefully kisses her, going limp against him.
"I'm sorry.", he says, his eyes returning to their normal color.
"Sorry...for what?"
His eyes resume their glowing, a faint smile crossing his lips.
"For this."
And with that, he pushes her into the gorge, screaming. He steps off the edge, his face serene, and disappears from view.
And far back, Jansen Maroen's eyes dim back to normal, quickly ordering his men to half.
"Hn...? In Ladon's name, where are we?!", he demands.
His subordinates mull about, looking about.
"Looks like the Ydrall woods, Commander."
"...oh.", Maroen says, and shrugs, "Well...this is...odd. Men, withdraw. Head back to base. Let's figure out what happened from there.
The other men agree, and follow him as they ride the horses out of the woods.
Ryu slowly opens his eyes, feeling the cold, damp soil on his face, on his hands. He lifts his head, looking about...and sees Nina, sprawled out on the ground.
He crawls over, taking deep, ragged breaths, turning her about...and sees blood matting her hair, a soft, pained moan escaping her delicate lips.
"Nina...", he whispers, "Oh God, Nina, no..."
Not like this...
First his father, now her...
He looks up as a twig breaks, seeing a massive silhouette approaching them.
He slowly rises, grabbing a fallen branch, holding it like a sword...and sees the weapon of his opponent.
A nine foot long halberd. Gleaming with the dew and blood of fresh kill, adorned with gemstones and a polished wooden shaft.
Ryu looks up, seeing the deep, blue eyes from the silhouette...and he collapses, sprawled out next to Nina.
And the last thing he feels is the massive hands lifting him up...