I don't own Breath of Fire, but I still hope... Someday!

Hey I got my review that I wanted and it made me really happy, so I can post the beginning of the story. Umm... I hope that you like it. So on with the story! And please R&R! I just love reviews and they give me the super juice that I need to keep writing.

Chapter 1

An evil sect of priests had secretly taken over the temple of summoning where the Divine Dragon has slept for five thousand years. The sect planned to seal the dragon in the temple and then take over the throne of Muujin Tak the 261st emperor. The sect had almost succeeded, they had stolen the pendant that would call the dragon and had all of the ancient scrolls sorted out, but when they attempted to permanently seal, Ryu's own power was greater than was expected. The force that played on the priests was too great and soon their spells were raging out of hand. So the priests who were still alive ran leaving Ryu to deal with the spells. The great dragon woke and found that his power was dwindling, much of it being sapped and locked away by the partially done seal. But the way that things were going the spells would likely feed off of his power and soon destroy the temple and pretty much everything in the area. With one last great effort Ryu directed the spell at himself, surely thinking that he would be destroyed by his own power. But the spell instead turning into a portal that transported him somewhere...

Ryu woke to find himself in some forest, totally lost. He tried to use his power but felt that a barrier had been put in place. The effort had also left him sick to his stomach and a pounding headache. The great dragon then looked at the predicament at hand. He was in his most meager form and with out the use of much of his power. The weather was turning foul and he did not have anything that would protect his skin from the elements. He was in an unknown forest that would possibly be filled with animals that could easily waste him in this form and being that he was in an unknown forest he had no idea where he could find help. So the best thing that he could do right now would be to find someone before the storm. But in the state that he was in there was no way that he would get very far.

Ryu steeled himself with determination and started walking. Never before had the great dragon had to do anything of this sort but it was refreshing a bit to live like the people that he protected. But Ryu could feel his strength waning as he walked so to keep his mind off it Ryu contemplated how the sect was able to have magic that was powerful enough to weaken him this much. No doubt they summoned a creature from another plane to give them the magic back up. But where did they get the summonings from? So many questions and Ryu was no where that he could see to get the information. The forest that he was in did not look like it was part of the Empire. The terrain and foliage there was different and gave off a different aura compared to the great Dragon's current environment. During Ryu's ponderings a downpour of sleet started, which drenched him to his bones. It was bad enough that he was restricted to his meager human form, but he was unable to summon clothing or such to protect himself from the worst of nature's wrath.

Ryu was starting to fade fast, his breath coming in short quick gasps, and he was shivering uncontrollably. The worst was that is mind was starting to get fuzzy. There were great gaps were the Dragon was unable to remember what had taken place. Ryu knew one thing, that if he didn't get out of the rain fast, he could very well die. It was that thought alone that kept Ryu going, that keep him alive. Ryu's body had given out and he lay there in the middle of the forest under a great tree. His skin was turning blue and he could not feel his fingers, Ryu could feel it; he was dying.

Might it be the luck of dragons, but there was one soul that was out in that very area during the storm. A young woman was running through the rain trying to get back to her home in the woods. She had stayed to late and would have to come up with an excuse to tell her father, but the first thing would be to get home. The young woman's name was Mu, and she was the caretaker of a small temple at the crossroads. She had to go in and clean and set out new offerings and collect the offerings. Mu also was meeting her 'friend'.

So Mu was caught in the storm but it was lucky that she had dressed warmly and had her cloak with her. She had been running for a while trying to get home when she saw that there was a form laying sprawled out on the ground. Mu caught up with curiosity and worry ran over the person wondering, 'What would someone be doing out here in the middle of a storm?'

Mu got close enough to see that the person was not wearing any clothing! Immediately she went to check his pulse and found that the person was barely alive. She took off her cloak, seeing that the storm had almost passed, and set it on the young man. She sat under the tree with him on her lap, trying to warm him up. It was not before the young man started to shiver and the blue pallor left his skin. The timing could not be more perfect, the storm had stopped and there were rays of sunlight peeking through the clouds. Mu still couldn't understand the strange weather that plagued the lesser continent.

The young man that Mu had found still did not look like he was going to wake up; Mu groaned as she realized what she was going to. She wrapped her cloak firmly around the youth, she then picked the boy up, carrying piggy back style. Mu was not far from her home, and soon the girl was entering the gate. She was surprised at how light the youth was and how quickly she was able to get home. Mu was not a warrior woman, she was still pretty strong, but never had she gotten home that quickly. So many things to ponder about.

Mu called out to her father to help her. As she called, a big burly man ran out from the house. He was about to jump on his daughter and berate her for being so late and being caught in the storm. But when he saw that she had someone else with her, he thought that the person with her required more attention. "Papa please grab him and we have to lay him out in the extra bed room. I found in lying in the middle of the forest during the storm. I thought he was going to die, but I was able to warm him up a bit. But he still needs to recover; I'll go inside and get the room ready." Mu said.

Her father who's name is Risho just went to pick up the boy. But as he was able to grab him, the boy's eye's fluttered open stunning both Mu and Risho with the color. Never before had the either of them seen eyes such a stunning blue that was edged with gold. Ryu spoke a few words that Mu and her father were unable to understand before he fell back into unconsciousness.

Ryu woke to a warm bed, and obviously he was alive and very hungry. He was lying in the bed in naught but his skin, but that meant nothing for he still had his life. Ryu thanked the great god that watched over the whole universe. Ryu had spoken with him a few times and now thanked him fervently for watching over him. Ryu looked around to survey his surroundings; he noticed that the room and the exterior were made of wood, a lag cabin. The room was warmed by the sun that was setting in the west, the sun poured light onto the small bed that Ryu was sitting in. A thick cover lay at the foot of the bed and there was a thin sheet that covered him.

Ryu swung himself out of the bed and tested his legs on the floor. His legs were a bit stiff and his body sore but everything else was fine. It was a strange thing for a great guardian god of the world to be thinking such humanly thoughts. Ryu walked over to the door and listened to see who was home. The great dragon heard foot steps of two people in the other room; Ryu decided that he should at least introduce himself to his saviours. He opened the door and saw that an older man was pacing with a young woman who was sitting in a chair by the fire. "Father please... he was out in the storm..."

"Umm... Mea Equmious... Gatkita Muta. Hageowil muetro. Gatkitas Mutayea." Ryu said in the language of the Empire.

Risho and Mu looked at each other trying to figure out what the dragon had been saying. Mu was the first to speak up, "I am sorry stranger but I'm afraid that we don't speak your language."

Ryu looked on and listened to the strange language that these people used. Ryu was a god so he was able to understand what they were saying but he was thinking to himself, 'This is not the language of the empire.' Ryu started again, "I am sorry, I know so many different languages that I used the wrong one. But I meant to say, Thank you, I would have died. So thank you the both of you."

"Well sure thing, I couldn't leave somebody stranded in the middle of the rain and sleet. But how the heck did you get out there with a stitch of clothing? You should know that this area is famous for it's freak rain storms." Mu said.

Ryu was having to come up with a story that would please this young woman and older man who had to be her father. "I am not from here. I live in the Empire as an acolyte to a temple. I was an apprentice to a Priestess and one of her spells back fired and I was seemingly sent here in a portal." Ryu thought that the excuse was a good one.

"Ah you adept with spells and such are you?" Risho asked.

"Not really sir. I was just beginning my apprenticeship. My skills are very meager. I can probably just start a fire or cool a drink." Ryu replied thinking that he could do more but these people did not have to know.

"Good, I don't like having any unnatural people in my home. So don't be doing anything funny now."

"Oh Papa, don't listen to him... you know I never got your name. I am Mu and this is my father Risho." Mu said starting the introductions.

"Oh forgive me, my name is Ryu, yes it is Ryu."

"That is a nice name. So what are you going to do now? I mean like are you going to go back to find your master?" Mu asked.

"I guess that would be the best thing but I need to know a few things. Like where are we? And how far is it to the Empire? And who is the guardian god here?" Ryu said rattling off many different questions.

"Woah slow down! Here we are in the middle of the forest, with the Empire on the other side of the small ocean. We would have a lot of trading but the small ocean and it's seas have become so violent, no seaworthy craft could transverse it." Mu answered.

"How long would it take to get back there?" Ryu asked still rattling off the questions.

"You sure do ask a lot of questions kid, well we are about six weeks from the coast and to go around the ocean will take months by foot or horse. You could take a boat to skirt the edge of the sea that might cut your time in half but you would have to have a stroke of luck to have a ship to take you that far. Also we have gotten word that there is something in the water that is causing a great number of whirlpools. Traveling has become almost impossible." Risho said finishing.

"And we do have a Guardian Dragon!"Mu said excitedly, "She was not one of the original dragons that were summoned but she has done a great job protecting this continent. I think that if you are wanting to see her you can go to Tamuril with us in a week! You see we are having to go to the market anyway to get supplies and stuff.

"You were out in the rain for-oh!" Mu called out and ran out with her hands over face.

"What's the matter?" Ryu asked Risho after she had run out.

"I think that I will be needing to get you some clothes. Then we will talk about how the hell you got here, all the way from the empire I presume. Here you can use one of these shirts I have in here." Risho said gesturing toward the chest at the edge of the bed then walked out of the room. "You should finish sleeping, you look a bit worse for wear." was Risho's last comment.

Ryu looked down at his naked form and thought to himself, 'Did I real do that badly with my form?' Ryu looked in a floor mirror that was in the corner of the room and thought that the form he had chosen was pretty good. Maybe a bit young for human standards but he thought that he looked nice, healthy and not too short. He had long blue hair , something a bit strange but he liked the look on him. 'Maybe it's my face.' Ryu peered in closer into the mirror and looked at his face. His eyes were a bit unnerving being the blue with the gold rim, but Ryu liked that, he looked at his nose and mouth and made sure that they were not out of place. 'I wonder what I did wrong.'

He then went to the crate and saw that the chest was full of clothing that was just a bit bigger than him made for a young man. 'Hmm, why would then have clothing for someone like my build, when it is obvious that they are the only two living here? Oh well, I guess that I should be thankful, especially when those stupid priests have locked most of my powers. Let's see how much power I can tap, hopefully enough to read the summaries of the people and maybe to have a meager dragon form.'

Ryu concentrated slightly and a series of bluish markings covered part of his back and shoulder, 'Damn, I hope that will be enough.' Quickly that markings faded and Ryu put on some of the clothing that he had found. He then looked at the bed, all that he had gone through had weakened him and he could not reach enough of his power to do much more, so he decided that a quick nap would not harm anyone.

Ryu woke by a faint knocking on his door. "Ryu are you awake? I have finished dinner." Mu's voice came from the other side of the door.

"Yes, and is that an invitation to a meal?" Ryu asked wittily.

"Yes silly, now come on." Mu said as she opened the door.

Ryu was sitting up on the bed rubbing his eyes. "Are you coming, or will papa have to eat your meal too?"

"No, I am still a bit tired, and thank you for the clothes. I don't know what I would have done if I had to go around with nigh but the skin on my back." Ryu said before giving a slight bow.

The gesture was lost as Mu's eyes clouded up for a brief moment. She took a little bit to compose herself before saying, "Well you must be hungry, come on."

Mu walked out of the room. Ryu sighed, ' I didn't think that she would be affected by such a statement. But now food!'

Now one must realize that Ryu and most Dragons don't eat regular human or animal food. The Dragons rely on a substance that is called ambrosia, which is lethal to all but dragons for it is a great strength giver and is too much for a normal human. The thing about Ambrosia is that it has very little taste or smell, leaving the experience of eating a much lacking thing. Thus it was caused Dragons not to have created the delicate pallet that humans have and when they do leave their station as god they immediately eat some regular food.

The meal they ate was nice and warming. But to Ryu it was one of the finest repasts that he had ever eaten. Twice in his life time had he ever eaten human food this being the second. But Ryu knew that he had to try to keep his joy from getting to him so he only had four helpings. Risho at one time explained, "My, that time travel must have really taken it out of you, I hope that you like to eat like this all the time! It is good for a young man like yourself to eat all they can so they can grow strong and be healthy."

Once Risho and Ryu had finished their meal Risho started questioning. "So boy, how did you get to that clearing? Mu said that she saw a great flash of light then you were there. And tell me a bit about your background."

Sticking with his previous excuse Ryu explained, " Well as I said I live or lived in the Empire working as an acolyte in the temple that is dedicated to the Great Dragon god. Well I guess that it was today that I was working with one of the Head Priestess who is in charge of all magic usage and discovery. I really don't know what she was doing but something back fired and I was sucked into the portal, and well ... I ended up here. I tried to walk to find out where I was but that storm hit and I was not prepared. I must thank you for saving me."

Mu was listening intently, and Risho seemed to agree with the story that he had come up with. "Well what ever you like or are into you are welcomed to stay here with us, and when we leave for Tamuril you may be able to get a word into the Guardian. She is a kind dragon and might answer your prayers." Risho told him. "But we are working people here and you will have to pull your weight if you want to stay."

"Yes sir, and thank you for letting me stay. I hope that I do not cause to much trouble." Ryu said very politely.

Mu just smiled and went to finish collecting the dishes. "Here this will be my first job, let me help you with those, Mu."

So the two went about cleaning up everything, while Risho went to his spot next to the fireplace and went about reading the weekly journal that he would receive from the town. The burly man went about reading the journal while he contemplated the arrival of the newest member of their household. The story that he told seem convincing enough, because there are a great many mages and sorcerers to be found in the Empire, or so it was said. Also the effect of having so many dragons to watch over the large continent, may be the reason that he was working at a temple. But his name that he had given them; everyone knew of Ryu the Divine Dragon, and Risho thought that there had been a law that left that name to be forbidden to use except in reverence, never for a common child born name. Also, when the man had lived in the Empire, he did not remember blue eyes much less blue/gold eyes as being a common trait among people. This boy, as seemly truthful his story seemed, it didn't not seemed to fit. There was something that was just not right about the whole thing.

While Risho was contemplating over the validity of Ryu's story, the dragon and Mu were in the kitchen washing and drying the dishes. The two were talking amiably, just about everything. Ryu had asked Mu about the guardian dragon of the area, and he was able to get a great deal of information. It seemed that the summoning was done a great deal after his. But there were a few disturbing things that Mu had told him. How were the summoning scrolls and tablets found for summoning a new dragon. He had made sure that he had separated the information among different holy priestess temples and different locations that he had chosen. He knew that summoning a dragon for personal purposes was a danger to everyone. The people out side of the Empire were lucky that they were able to have a summoned dragon that was so kind to her charges. Even Ryu had trouble dealing with Ragnok and Makada and having them put to watch over their area. But who ever had these summoning skills also must have been associated with the ones who were trying to seal him. What ever it meant, nothing good was to come out of it.

"So have you ever seen the guardian dragon, and are there any more for this area?" Ryu asked.

"Well, I have only seen her once , and she has the most beautiful form that I had ever seen in a woman. It is strange though, because I always expected the dragons, well to look like dragons."

"Mu, what you need to know is that dragons have so much magic that they may have different forms." 'Like the one that you are talking to now' Ryu thought to himself. "That form must have been the one that she chose to see you in."

"Maybe, but she was really pretty. Umm, I only really know about our guardian, but I think that there is another big dragon that looks over the whole world. Papa has told me about him. The Divine Dragon was the one who created the Empire and looks over the rest of the world."

Ryu got a bit uncomfortable with how close the topic was getting to himself so he decided to change it. "So do you know how big the area where you live is?"

"No, you should ask papa about that. He has been everywhere, he used to live in the Empire for a while."

"So you have never been to the Empire? So you wouldn't know any of their history?"

"No."

"Oh, okay. So how long have you lived out here in the woods? You and your father seem to live out quite a bit from the rest of society. I would think that it would be hard for only two of you to live so far out, also dangerous." Ryu commented.

"You don't know Papa. He is really strong and has won several tournaments for fighting and with the money that he has won we are able to live out here. Besides it is really nice because we don't have to deal with the sounds and smells of the city, especially the noise. No I don't like the city, but there are a few things that I do like about the city. Like when they have the circus and going to the market. There everyone seems lively."

Mu was going on like a happy

"Well that seems to be nice." Ryu said as they finished their chores. "I think that I am going to retire now. I am really starting to get sleepy. So good night Mu, tell your father that I say good night."

Ryu walked out of the room and headed to the room that he had slept in earlier. He had learned much from the girl. 'I never even realized that the humans would come this far outside of the Empire. I guess that it doesn't help that I have been out of commission for a while. But I can't do much until the rest of my power is unlocked; so until then I guess that I will live like the rest of my charges, this will be interesting...'

Ryu entered his meditative state and relaxed his mind for the night.

Well that is chapter 1 I do hope that you liked it. I thought that having a bit of role reversal would be different in this very Auish story. I hope that you do review! I love reviews! Also I need a beta. I can write but my skills are well... cough... lacking. Okay I'll try to get the next chapter done soon, and reviews make give me incentive! Hint hint... Oh well I am working on the next chapter so stay tuned. Please Read and Review