(Disclaimer and Author's Notes)

I do not own Breath of Fire. The only things I own are the original characters of Lee, Saiyo, and the Servants of Judgment.

I hate people who take someone else's work for their own. Please do not plagiarize. If you want to post my work or use it, ask first.

Ideas on adding or changing are welcomed. Please do not hesitate to review or IM me.

Common grammar notes.

" " speech

/ / thoughts

Thanks to people who reviewed recently.

Ryu Gunslinger: Loved your fiction! I like the whole Western Idea too very creative. ^^

Chris: Thanks a bunch for reviewing. You should write stories some BOF stories yourself. You never know how good they may turn out.

Master Dragon: Thanks for the tip about the naming thing. It was an interesting fact to know. I'm glad you like my personality for Ryu.

Crow Magnum: What can I say you've got true talent. Your story is definitely original and creative and I'm honored that you liked my fiction as well. Keep up the good work and please do keep reviewing! ^^

Notes

1) Sorry I've been away for awhile. I've been thinking of so many ideas for future chapters. As a consolation I've made this chapter longer than the others.

2) Hehe I'm really trying hard to work on extending the length of chapters.

3) The word Ignus is Latin for Fire. Just to let people know an interesting fact.

4) I've decided to future chapter overviews. To give a little taste to what's coming up.

Searching for Someone Special   

 "So tell me about yourself Ryu. What brings you to Wyndia?" Nina asked while they sat down. Ryu looked up into her eyes sadly and smiled.

     "I'm looking for someone….someone I lost a long time ago." Ryu said softly. He stared down into his callused hands and sighed. Nina observed his gesture and felt a bit depressed as well.

    "Oh? Someone you lost?"

    "Yes, someone very special to me." Ryu replied solemnly. Nina felt her heart fall a bit. Disappointment filled her mind. /Someone very special to him…/ she thought. She imagined a maiden with beautiful eyes and hair that shimmered.

    "Could you tell me about it? Tell me the story?" Nina said but then immediately put a hand to her mouth. "I'm s…sorry for asking like that. It's incredibly rude and intrusive of me to ask. You don't have to tell me if you don't want to." She quickly apologized. Ryu smiled and shook his head. He looked up at her.

    "It's alright. I…don't mind telling you. You seem to be a very sincere and kind person that I can trust."

    Nina blushed slightly. She laughed and said he was exaggerating too much and that Ryu was just flattering her. Ryu laughed as well and began his story.

********

      "I lived in the quiet village of Lune, located on another continent in the mountains. It was nice living there. The village was always full of joy and happiness. Children's laughter could be heard just about anywhere and the people were always talking or working. My family was very large you could say. I had many relatives and many friends. However, I believe that I had the best relationship with my sister. She was very dear to me and I always talked to her about everyday things. It was a good life and nothing could possibly disturb this Eden of ours. But then…I suppose all good things come to a bitter end."

    "What happened?" Nina asked.

   "It began as a normal morning; I went out into the mountains with my sister to gather some wood. We were gone for nearly the whole day but we finally started to head home. As we approached our village, we noticed…smoke. Frantically, my sister and I ran toward the village. Our people ran desperately. Strange men had arrived and were slaying…the people. Some fought back though, but in the end…they lost there lives as well.

   My sister and I hid from the danger. The bloodied corpses of our mother and father imprinted in my mind and I cried. My sister reassured me saying that everything would be alright.  She then heard nearby cries and quickly told me to stay quiet. She said she wanted to help the remaining people and that I should stay and hide until she came back. At that time I argued with her saying I would never do such a thing. The look she had given me forced me to obey her word. I can still…remember how she kissed my forehead and ran from our hiding place."

  Ryu stopped and began looking down at a glass cup in his hand. He traced the carved figures on the porcelain with his thumb. Nina at this point was wondering if she could bear to hear another word of this awful tragedy. Just as she thought it was over Ryu began once again.

   "I waited all night for her…but she never came back. It began growing cold and I was scared but still I waited. Finally, the morning rays of the sun flowed across the now barren land. I hesitantly crawled out from our makeshift hiding spot. What greeted my eyes surprised me. There were no bodies at all, just marks of blood and heavy smoke and soot. I searched the remains of the village to find my sister. The day went by and still I looked. Finally after giving up I remember falling to the cold ground and sobbing."

   At this point Ryu paused once more. A single tear slowly ran down his cheek. Nina took his hands in hers and gave them a reassuring squeeze. Ryu managed a smile and continued on.

   "I remember a gentle breeze caressing my shivering form. I looked up and in front of me, lying in the dirt, was a pendant of some sort. I picked up the strange thing and examined it. It had carvings of a Dragon upon it along with many other things. The central jewel shimmered in the dark night. It then dawned upon me that the pendant belonged to my sister. Something about the pendant brought forth a small ray of hope. My sister wasn't dead…she was only taken by them. This is what I believed. I stood now and looked up into the night sky. It was there and then that I made a vow. I was going to find my sister and avenge my people no matter the cost."

   Ryu sighed and his story was finished. Nina looked back at him with tears and clasped a hand to her mouth.  "I'm so sorry Ryu. It must have been so hard for you." Nina whispered.

  Ryu shook his head and smiled.

   "Please don't feel sorry for me Nina. The pain is less now and I know that everyday I'm one step closer to finding her."

   Nina nodded and took a sip of her tea. Ryu did the same and soon followed what seemed to be an awkward silence. However, it was broken by Ryu's voice.

  "Enough of this depressing talk, I think I'd like to here a little about yourself. For instance, what's it like to be born into family like this?" Ryu asked as he gazed around the beautiful surroundings. Nina placed her cup down and let out a sigh.

  "Most people think it must be great to be a Princess and Royalty. I mean you have servants to wait on you and you have wealth and power. But…I can't stand it. It's hard to make friends when you're usually confined to the castle.  There's no…"

  "Freedom?" Ryu finished her statement. Nina looked back at him and nodded. "It must be hard being confined. You want to explore the world and see what's out there am I right?"

   "Exactly, I'm constantly reprimanded for wandering outside the castle with Lee. I try to say it's all right buy my mother and father think otherwise."

    Ryu chuckled softly and then asked again. "What about your friend Lee? You two seem to be around together a lot."

Nina shook her head. "Lee is different. You see he and I are childhood friends. His mother was the midwife for my mother during childbirth. If had not been for her my mother and I may have died. My mother and father thought it would be wonderful if I took Lee under my wing." Nina sighed and shook her head again. "They're good people but sometimes they can get a bit haughty."

  Ryu laughed and nodded in agreement. The two continued their conversation with ease and relaxation.

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A maid walked down the hall while carrying a small tray of food for Lee. She began ascending the stairs when suddenly pillar of fire appeared at the top. The maid was frozen in shock and could only stand as the pillar of fire slowly began dissipating. A red-robed figure walked out from the flames and stared down at the maid. It began walking closer and closer but the maid still couldn't move out of fear. Each step the figure took left a deep black mark in the white marble stairs. Finally, the figure was barely a few inches from the maid.

   "Where is he?" The figure asked. The maid at this point had finally snapped out of her trance and began backing away.

   "Wh…what are you talking about?" She stammered. The figure took another step.

  "Where is the dragon?" He whispered venomously. The maid had reached the end of the staircase and fell backward. The tray she had held clanged against the floor spilling its contents everywhere.

   "I don't know what you're talking about!" The maid cried out and the figure drew close to her once more. Tears welled at her eyes and she shielded her body with her arms. "P.pl…please don't hurt me." She whimpered. The figure kneeled down and took the maid's chin in one of his hands. His deep crimson eyes met hers and he whispered against.

   "Sweet maiden…dear dear sweet maiden, if you have nothing to tell me I'm afraid I have no choice but to kill you." A glowing ball of flame began forming in his other hand. The maid cried out as she awaited her death. 

    "Ice Blast!" Shards of ice struck shot toward the figure. However, the figure had sensed them and quickly melted them with its own spell.

    "Simoon!" The flames ate at the ice and all that was left were puddles of water. The figure gazed up at the top of the staircase.  Out of bed but panting with breath, Lee glared down at the figure.

                                               ********************

Ryu and Nina's conversation was ended abruptly by a clang and a maid's scream. Nina stood and dashed to the origin of the voice with Ryu quickly following behind.

                                              *********************

  "Flare." The figure called out as a wall of flame approached Lee. He jumped to the side and unleashed another Ice Blast spell. The figure began growing irritated and released its hold on the maid. It flew into the air and directly faced Lee on the upper level.

   "Foolish child, such simple magic will not stop me." The figure raised its hand and focused on his energy. "Sirocco."  Huge flames and gushing wind barraged Lee and he was knocked off the upper level onto the hard marble floor. Severely burned and bruised, Lee tried to stand but collapsed to the ground. The figure jumped down and stood before Lee.

  "Your efforts proved futile now suffer the consequences." It raised a hand to strike Lee in the heart. Suddenly, a gust of immense wind blew the figure back a few steps. The hood of the figure's robe blew back to reveal a man. His long red hair matched his eyes well. He stared at the girl at the other end of the grand hall. Nina kept her hands forward and was preparing another spell.

   "Leave him alone!" She yelled as another gust of wind rampaged toward the man. This time though he avoided the attack and shot a flare spell at Nina. She backed away just in time as the marble floor near her began melting. The man looked to Nina and then back at Lee who was still struggling to get up.

   "I am here to collect the Dragon and nothing more. Why do you two interrupt me?" He asked.
   "What Dragon!? There is no such thing living here!" Nina yelled back angrily. The man merely waved his finger at her.

   "Tsk tsk, don't lie to me now. I can sense his power here. Now tell me." The man stepped toward Nina. She raised her arms to cast another spell but as tried her concentration suddenly was lost. Nina tried once more but received the same effect.

   "I've Silenced your magic and connection. It's a simple task for dealing with such trifles." The figure continued. Nina began panicking as he drew near. A pained cry came from him though and whirled around to see Ryu stabbing him with his sword. He looked at Ryu and knocked him back toward a pillar. Ryu slammed into it and fell to the ground. The man glanced at the wound in his side and merely smiled.

   "So I have found you at last my little Dragon." Ryu glared daggers at him as he started speaking once more. "I am Ignus, one of the 9 servants of Judgment. I have been searching for you a long time my little Dragon." An aura of flame formed around Ignus and his clothing reformed itself.  "How you have eluded me these past years has puzzled and greatly displeased me. But now, I have you and I…" His words were cut short by a chain of lightning. Ignus blocked the spell with his arm but found that it was now paralyzed. Lee had risen and was apparently not ready to give in yet. Ignus looked at the boy for a bit and then lowered his arm. A pillar of flames began circling Ignus and he turned toward Ryu.

   "Be warned for you cannot escape us. Your life blood can make our lives eternal. I bid you farewell for now little Dragon." The pillars of flame roared and quickly dissipated. Ignus was nowhere to be seen. Nina felt the hold on her magic released and she quickly ran toward Lee.

   "Are you all right?" She asked as she scanned his body for severe injuries. The flame had certainly been painful and Lee's body was living proof of it. Lee breathed heavily and just nodded.

    "I'll be fine, help Ryu." He motioned toward the blue-haired youth. Nina was about to comply but Ryu quickly stood and moved towards the two.

    "Don't worry about me. Worry about yourself Lee, your injuries need care this instant." Ryu said with concern.
    In no time the doctor was called once more. Ryu and Nina stood over Lee as his wounds disappeared. All that was left were the scars from the battle. Ryu tapped Nina and motioned for her to follow him. She complied and the two shut the door quietly as Ryu began speaking.

    "I'm sorry for the trouble I have caused you Nina. I let you and Lee become involved and endangered both of your lives. I'm going to leave Wyndia tonight. It's become too dangerous for me to stay here."

   Nina frowned and shook her head. "I won't let you. What happened today isn't your fault. It was that Ignus or whatever his name is. Anyways I don't think you've been completely honest with me Ryu, tell me who was he and why is he after you?" Nina asked. Ryu let out a deep sigh and turned away from Nina.

   "His name is Ignus, one of the 9 servants of Judgment. He's been after me for quite some time now and I thought I had finally escaped from him."

   "Okay, but then why are these people after you? What did he mean when he called you little Dragon?" Nina pressed further on.

    Ryu hesitated at first but the look that Nina gave him forced him to continue. "As far as him calling me little Dragon, I'm not really sure. However, I have feeling that he and the Servants of Judgment are related to the destruction of Lune."

    Nina nodded and it suddenly was clear to her. For reasons unknown, Lune and its people were an important target for the Servants of Judgment. Ryu had survived and now they were searching for him. However, Nina could not help but wonder if there was something more significant involved. She was brought back to reality by Ryu shaking her.

   "Nina is something wrong?" He asked.

   "It's nothing. So what are you going to do now? If you're going to leave Wyndia I immediately object."  Nina crossed her arms over her chest and stood firm. Ryu tried to explain to her but she would not change her mind. As his rambling continued though, an idea came to Nina's mind.

    "If you have to leave then, I'm coming with you." Immediately, Ryu began protesting.

   "No way, I can't let you get involved. This doesn't concern you Nina."

   Tears began welling up in Nina's eyes and Ryu became surprised.  "You're wrong Ryu. I am involved in this. It started with me meeting you. It continued when I heard your story and when we fought Ignus today. I'm not letting it end like this, there's no way. I've become involved and will stay involved until the very end; and I am coming with you whether you like it or not." Nina was crying now and Ryu felt a bit ashamed of himself. It was indeed true that she was now a part of this. That had been Ryu's mistake of letting it happen. Now he was pushing her away and she felt horrible about it. Ryu wrapped Nina in his arms and let her cry.

   "I'm sorry Nina, for doing this to you. I won't leave until tomorrow morning alright? Then you can come along with me." He reassured her while rubbing her back. She stopped and nodded while wiping her eyes.

    Unknown to them, Lee had heard the entire thing before he laid back and fell fast asleep.

                                             **********************

    The sounds of the night were soft as the hooded figure ran from the castle. /I'm sorry Nina but I have to break my promise to you. I just can't let anything happen to you, Saiyo would never forgive me. / He continued running and finally reached the road leading East. He reached inside his cloak and pulled out a pendant. It shimmered in the luminous moonlight and Ryu looked up to the stars. /Saiyo…I'm coming to find you. Each day brings me a step closer to our reunion. I hope you can hear this sister. I'm searching for you and I will not stop until we meet again. /   He gripped the accessory hard before replacing it back in his cloak. Just as he took another step forward he was stopped by a voice.

   "You miss her a lot…don't you?" Ryu turned to his right and saw Nina sitting on a boulder. He gaped at her while she looked up into the night sky. The moonlight bathed her and she looked so calm sitting there. The golden hair that cascaded down the sides of her face and her blue eyes were intensified due to the light. Her delicate, white, wings were also spread and the overall image was quite stunning. It reminded Ryu of a picture of an Angel. Nina turned toward him and then frowned. She jumped from the boulder and coldly stared at Ryu. "You said you weren't leaving until morning."

   "I uh…thought you were still sleeping." Ryu stammered. Nina eased a bit on the glaring and turned toward the road.

    "That's not the point and you're changing the subject." She replied. Ryu stepped toward her and began apologizing. "You should be sorry." Nina said. Then however, she began giggling and whirled around to show a cheerful smile. "Aw what the heck, I forgive you Ryu. Now come on!" She started running down the road while her giggles turned to laughs.

   "Catch me if you can Ryu!" Her voice echoed. Ryu couldn't help but smile at the Princess and started running after her. "Hey no fair you got a head start! Wait up Nina!"

Author's Notes

Well the adventure is really starting to begin now. I hope the extended length of this chapter compared to others was better. Review me and tell me your thoughts and Ideas.

Next Chapter Overview:

A dramatic experience overcomes our young heroes as they embark on their journey. Already their enemies have come to hunt them down and the trials and tribulations they face are only getting more difficult. But what happens when there friend undergoes a severe change for better…or for worst.

Next Time: Ryu's Revelation

(A long hidden truth that becomes reality.)