Kaoru Kagome here. This is an old fan fiction of mine from the game of Breath of Fire III. I have decided to completely rewrite it, for the most part (especially since I started replaying the game), and also because I have matured greatly as a writer and now this story makes me cringe. So there are some things I'm keeping the same, and everything else is going to the Recycle Bin. Certain things are still valid, of course. Rei and Momo had a thing going and the game never got around to it. So I did. Originally, I had changed Ryu's name into Ladon and fluke of flukes you actually ran into THE Ladon later. At the time, I kept the name change because I liked it better and for plot purposes. Well, I've grown (and the story has changed), so his name stays Ryu (even though I still think it's stupid to name a dragon, Dragon—actually in the latest time of me playing I named him Shen—and I really like that much better…pity I can't use it). I hated what they did to poor Teepo in the game. So… I fixed it. Just so it is noted, this is a Rei/Momo and Ryu/Nina story. Yes, it's a romance. There will be HENTAI scenes in the original. I know some sites don't allow hentai, so I am deftly removing those scenes for those sites. If you wish to read them (ecchi), you should look me up at the website: http/dusks-witch. You'll find the full story there. Be warned, there are spoilers of the game in the story—and spoilers for Breath of Fire IV. Well, I hope you all who liked those characters and the game will enjoy my fan fiction. Enjoy! J
Breath of Fire III
Walking Upon the World
After a Great War, those with power, guardians of the earth, became lost.
God had ordered their destruction—and they were destroyed.
Time slept. Power faded. Ages passed.
A new God was born into a mortal body—born into a race of gods.
He being mortal, made a family, made friends. Fell in love.
He began a journey to find the truth of a time long ago.
He came to those whose power had been lost—those who had been destroyed by God.
Unto Him they bequeathed their power—making Him a God.
At the end of the earth, He found God and faced Truth.
There, He destroyed God.
And became God Himself.
Prologue: Waking Moments
Rei followed Ryu and Nina, still a little perplexed at the situation he found himself in. In all the years following Balio and Sunder's attack on Ryu, Teepo and himself, Rei had never gone any farther east than Mount Myrneg. He'd stayed in the Western part of Wyndia, consumed by one thing. Revenge.
It had hit him hard, running into Ryu again. And the way it happened. Ryu had been alive the entire time and looking for them. He'd never believed that they were dead. Rei realized then, that he should've never given up hope that Ryu and Teepo might have been alive. He should've searched for them.
Teepo was gone. Rei looked ahead at the young man Ryu had become. His spiky blue hair bounced with his step. At least Ryu was all right. He shook his head, banishing the thoughts.
Rei looked around the Plant, wondering why anyone would eat 'enhanced' food. What was wrong with plain old food? And now, apparently, the enhanced crops were going bad. Rei couldn't help but wonder if they were ever good.
He went over in his mind how it was they had ended up here again. They needed a passport to get to Rhapala, so they could get to Angel Tower and speak to God. But Ryu was on the king of Wyndia's bad-side because the king believed Ryu to have kidnapped Nina, back when the whole Balio and Sunder thing was going on. According to what he'd heard last night at camp from Garr, the princess had runaway so she could travel with them. They had actually left on good terms with the king for saving the princess, before she decided to accompany them.
Anyway, they needed to get on the king's good-side again, so helping the princess with the weird stuff going on at the Plant would be a sure-fire way to do that. Or so they all hoped.
Rei wasn't too sure about it himself.
Right now, they were getting a good look at the Plant, going through everything, talking to the workers. Apparently, Dr. Palet, the guy in charge, has gone missing. Looks like things're getting worse.
Rei watched Nina interrogate one of the workers. Ryu was trying to have on an intimidating face, but Rei could tell that the young man was trying not to burst out laughing at the panicked looked of some of the workers when confronted with Nina. The little princess was quite a piece of work.
Nina gave this one spacey-looking guy a glare. "So, what do you think about the situation here? Have you seen Dr. Palet? Do you have any idea why the crops are all dying and the machines going haywire?"
"She's so beautiful. She's always with the machines, fixing them… I don't think she'd ever notice me. But she's still so beautiful… Oh, Momo…" the guy murmured with a longsuffering sigh.
Rei gave him a look of total confusion. "What?" He looked to Ryu and Nina, only to see the princess giggling behind her hand and Ryu grinning with a shake of his head.
The hell? "Ryu…?"
Ryu chuckled. "Sorry, Rei. Haven't you been paying attention? Momo's—"
"The person who's been fixing the machines. Yeah, Ryu, I was paying attention. But I don't see how it's funny. Especially, when this is supposed to be a serious situation over here?"
Nina giggled. "That's because Momo is also a friend of ours. She helped us get to Wyndia and saved us from Balio and Sunder once. It was just funny to hear him say something so different."
"Despite the fact that he didn't answer a single one of your questions?"
Nina looked over at the sighing man as he wandered off. "I don't think we're going to get much more out of him, do you, Ryu?"
Ryu shook his head and started to head toward another conveyer belt. "Though now, I'm curious. I didn't think Momo could produce that kind of reaction in someone!"
Nina started to follow him. "Ryu, that isn't very nice. Momo is very pretty. Why shouldn't someone sigh and pine after her?"
Rei saw Ryu give Nina a confused look over his shoulder. "Nina, Momo was never one to be, well… altogether there…"
Nina chuckled. "True. But just because she was a bit spacey, doesn't mean that she wouldn't be pretty and look after herself. I'm sure even Momo could make a man sigh after her. Even without paying any attention to him."
Rei looked back at the man they'd left behind as he got on the conveyer belt, after the two laughing people. "I feel bad for the guy who falls for her," he muttered.
Ryu and Nina continued to ask people questions about the Plant, but were already making it pretty obvious that they were looking for this Momo person. More than likely, she'd be able to tell them more about what was going on in the Plant, especially since she'd been working there for a while, trying to fix the machines.
Ryu spotted her first. He pointed her out to Nina, who tried to call out to her, but there was no response. Rei followed the pair all the way down until they were standing right behind the woman in question. All Rei could really see of her was two huge red braids—damn, that's a lot of hair—a blue overcoat, frayed, feathered ears, and a funny-looking hat. She was crouched down on the floor, dirt on that large blue smock of hers, and what was probably a lot of grease. A small copper-colored bot that had been standing beside her looked up with empty eyes and scurried to their side.
"Hey, Honey," Nina said, affection apparent in her voice.
The bot called Honey patted Nina's hand and then returned to the crouched woman's side. "Hmmm… What is it, Honey?"
She stood up and turned to face them, a determined glint in her large reddish eyes. Rei blinked. She was beautiful. On her small nose dangled a pair of round spectacles. Her lips were full and pouty, and her skin a clear, creamy white. Her cheeks were rosy from being out in the sun too long and working. The red hair framed her cream-colored face, creating a devastating contrast. There were smudges of dirt and grease on her skin, but it only made her look more enchanting, rather than not. Her ears faded from cream to a dusky gray to black at the frayed tips. They twitched lightly as she gave the three of them a once over. "Oh, the repair tools! Just leave them there, and thank you!" She turned back around and continued working on the machine.
Rei blinked in confusion and turned to Nina and Ryu. Nina was sighing and shaking her head. Ryu had dropped his face in his hand. Rei's eyes narrowed. Looks like the old friend didn't recognize them at all.
The little Honey-bot ran between them and Momo almost in an exasperated and agitated manner until Momo looked up again. "Hmmm… What is it, Honey? No tools?"
"Momo," Nina began. "It's us! Ryu and Nina!"
The redheaded woman blinked for a moment and then her ears perked up with realization. "Oh! Oh, my! It's been such a long time since I've seen you. Sorry, for not paying attention." She gave the machine behind her a glare and then turned back. "I've been so busy trying to fix all the reactors here at the Plant. Wow! I haven't seen either of you since Ryu died at Angel Tower!" She smiled. A moment of silence passed before she blinked and then stared at Ryu. "Oooooooh…!"
Rei smacked his hand onto his forehead and groaned.
Nina had her head down against her knees, arms wrapped around her legs and was sitting in the far corner of the tent, when Momo walked in. "Nina?" She went over to the younger girl and sat down next to her. "What's wrong?"
"I was so stupid, Momo. At some level I knew that even if Ryu helped me with the Plant—I knew my parents still wouldn't forgive him. Even though, he never did what they think he did. That's why I asked Rei to come instead. I should've known better."
"Well, I heard the plan was working fine there…"
"For a little while. I shouldn't have given Rei the tour of the castle. I really shouldn't have. I should've just stressed to my father to get the passport so you guys could go. But then what would've happened? I probably still would've sneaked out and tried to go anyway. And then Mother and Father would've hated Rei too."
"Things worked out though, didn't they?"
Nina looked up. "All that worked out, was that we got the passport! That's it!"
Momo blinked. "There was more that you wanted to work out?"
"Yes! No! …I don't know…" Nina sighed. "I wanted Mother and Father not to hate Ryu anymore. I just found him again after not seeing him in ten years! I…I wanted them to like him, like I do. That I'm the one who ran away and that it wasn't his fault. I wanted…" Nina dropped her head back onto her arms and knees. "I wanted my friends to be accepted by my family. I wanted to leave with you guys without having to run away again. I wanted to be able to be Nina, and not just Princess!"
"That's a lot of 'Wants' there, Nina."
"I know… I could've been smarter about it—I know it. But, but…"
Momo rubbed Nina's back and gave the young girl a smile. Must be rough, being a princess. "Was there anything about being back home that was good? I know, that when I'm feeling bad about something, I try to think something funny or good about it, and I feel better. Can you think of anything?"
Nina was quiet for a little while. Momo gave her a little squeeze and waited. Sometimes, it was hard to think of one of those funny things.
Nina suddenly gave a little giggle. Momo grinned and leaned her head down to look into the princess's lovely eyes. "What did you remember?"
"Rei," Nina said and then giggled again.
Rei? How was he funny? Momo blinked at her. "Eh?"
Nina straightened and grinned. "Rei was really funny, while we were there. He said the funniest thing to my father, and when I was showing him around the castle and we went to my room, he tried to go through my drawers."
Momo's mouth dropped open in shock. "What! How rude! Looking through a ladies' drawers!"
"He said it was a bad habit. Remember, Rei's a thief."
"I know…but still…"
Nina giggled. "And a couple of the maids whispered to me how handsome he was. One even said that maybe she should go out and find herself a good-looking man like I did! It was funny and embarrassing."
Rei? Handsome? Well, he was but… "Embarrassing?"
Nina nodded. "They were all acting like he was my boyfriend or something. I kept thinking to myself how silly it was because the one I was really supposed to bring…" She trailed off, flushing a brilliant red.
Momo smiled. "Ryu is the one you wanted them to say that about."
Nina put her hands to her cheeks.
"It's okay, Nina. Ryu is handsome too!" Nina gave a nervous giggle and Momo smiled. "It's okay to like Ryu, Nina. I think he likes you too. After all, he definitely liked you when you guys were little, why wouldn't he like you now?"
Nina looked up at Momo. "How do you know he liked me when we were little?"
"Well, it was obvious! He did so much to protect you, and sometimes when he looks at you, and gets caught by either Rei, Garr or me, he looks away and turns red." Momo giggled. "He's so cute!"
Nina's cheeks were still a flaming pink. "Really?" she whispered.
Momo nodded. "Really!"
Nina smiled and stared down at her fingers. "But, even though we like each other, all the messing up I've done with Mother and Father… Well, they'll never let me stay with him."
"He could stay with you…" Momo ventured.
Nina shook her head. "Mother and Father would never allow it." Nina sighed and looked over at Momo. "What am I going to do, Momo? I really, really like Ryu, but Mother and Father will never let me be with him. This may be the last time I ever get to be with him again. And what if…what if… What happened last time at Angel Tower happens again?"
"I don't think Garr is going to try to kill Ryu again."
"No, I mean… God wanted the Guardians to kill Dragons. What if God kills Ryu, because—because he's a dragon…"
Momo couldn't believe the line of questioning. It made sense, which was what scared her. They'd never even thought of that before. Momo gave Nina a fierce expression. "We won't let that happen. This time, we're all going with Garr and Ryu. This time, if God tries to kill Ryu, we'll all fight to save him!"
Nina smiled and threw herself at Momo, startling the older woman. Momo blinked for a moment, smiled and then hugged Nina back. "Feeling better?"
"Mm-hmm. I just don't know what to do when we all come back. How am I going to get Mother and Father to like Ryu…"
Momo stroked Nina's hair. "How about we not worry about it until it happens? We still have a whole adventure ahead of us. When we come back home, then we'll worry about it, okay? I'll even help!"
Nina was silent for a little bit before nodding and then snuggling into Momo. "Okay. I'll worry about it after we're all safely back home. Until then, I want to enjoy every minute I have with Ryu."
"Good for you, Nina," Momo whispered and put her head on top of Nina's. She looked outside, through the open door of the tent and saw Ryu and Rei laughing about something. She felt her cheeks heat up as she looked at the taller tiger man. He was good-looking. She shook her head. She would deal with that when they got back. Right now they had to focus on getting through this. Momo looked at Rei and Ryu one last time before closing her eyes.
They're both handsome, Nina. "We're in big trouble," she mumbled to herself and a sleeping Nina.
