・┈➣ ﹕┆lurking homunculus °˖➴

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⤷ .𖥔 ݁ ˖ ┆𝘾𝙃𝘼𝙋𝙏𝙀𝙍 [ 004 ] ᯓ

𝐒𝐌𝐎𝐊𝐄 𝐑𝐎𝐒𝐄 𝐅𝐑𝐎𝐌 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐓𝐑𝐀𝐈𝐍 𝐀𝐒 𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐘 𝐅𝐈𝐍𝐀𝐋𝐋𝐘 𝐌𝐀𝐃𝐄 𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐈𝐑 𝐅𝐈𝐑𝐒𝐓 𝐒𝐓𝐎𝐏 𝐓𝐎 𝐑𝐄𝐒𝐄𝐌𝐁𝐎𝐎𝐋. Getting off the train Ed glares at the major.

Glancing around, the tall man began to walk forward. "Are you ever gonna tell us what's going on?" Jogging to catch up with the major. "This is starting to feel a little too much like a kidnapping." You sighed.

"I haven't been fully informed on the details, my only orders were to retrieve you and [y/n] to rendezvous here." He claimed. "Rendezvous? With who?"

Looking ahead to seeing a thicker man with auburn ish brown hair. Standing up he saluted. "I'm glad you made it alright major armstrong sir! Huh? Hey, sup big guy."

"Lieutenant Breda!" Ed irked. "I didn't know you were bringing the pirate cutie." You tossed your hand out and held your cheek a compliment.

"Aw you're too kind! That compliment will be 100 cen's."

The two blondes laughed and breda looked confused. "Money? For a compliment!?"

୧ ‧₊˚ 🍊 ⋅

The sun beat down onto you, causing your cover to make you sweat. "Colonel never said we'd be crossing a border. Tight lip bastard." Ed complained.

Riding on the back of horses through a desert wasn't new to you, except they were camels last time.

"Mr. Han, how much longer do we have left?" Breda asked. "We've almost made it. Look, you can see the ruins ahead." Pointed forward to their destination.

—

Entering the ruins you and Ed quickly dive into a pool of water where the horses drank from.

"My automail almost seared through my skin." The blonde mumbled into the water.

Steam coming off of the water from the burning metal. "Get out you're making the water warm!"

"Who's idea was it to bring the kids?" Fu asked. "It was a direct order."

Getting out you rung out your hair, feeling content with the wetness of your red, green, and yellow halter top and black jean shorts keeping your skin from boiling.

(From Strong World movie)

Turning your head you watch the blonde ring out his shirt.

A light blush came onto your face, but it could be convinced to be a developing sunburn.

"So this is Xerxes, huh?" You hum out, looking at the white rock ruins of the once prosperous civilization. "Looks just like the fable described it." Ed commented.

"Did you say a fable?" Fu asked the blonde. "Yeah, the eastern sage. It's a story about the origin of alchemy in Amestris." Ed Claimed.

"It claims the entire kingdom of Xerxes was destroyed in a single night and that the only survivor wandered into Amestris shortly afterwards. He was the one who went on to spread the science of alchemy."

"How interesting. We have a similar legend in xing about a drifter from the west. It's said that his teachings were combined with our ancient techniques to form the Alkahestry we practice today."

Fu compared. "Alkahestry Is primarily used for medical needs, isn't it?" You recall, standing next to the short blonde.

"Yes. He guided this process, and we greatly revere him. We knew him as the western sage." The xingese man explained. "So the west in his title is supposed to refer to here?"

Breda picked out from the explanation. "It is believed so, yes." Fu confirmed.

"But if Xerxes was such an advanced society, how were they wiped out in a single night?"

"It could very well just be a legend." Ed came to a stop.

Following his gaze you both stare at what seemed to be a transmutation circle or some sort of blueprint on one of the ruins, only the top part broken off.

"What are you gawking at?! Come on!" Fu yelled. Taking one ast quick glance you both run after the others.

The screech of a hawk echoes through the Xerxes ruins, the five of you going deeper into the destroyed civilization.

"We're going in pretty deep now, aren't we?"

"Edward!" A female voice called out. All of your gaze around, before spotting a figure standing on one of the larger ruin pieces.

The blonde's eyes widen and major armstrong twitches in shock. "Damn colonel." Ed grinned.

Major Armstrong stripped his shirt, joyous tears streaming down his face. "Lieutenant! Thank the heavens!" He exclaimed, chasing the woman around, trying to snatch her into a hug.

"There really wasn't any place in Amestris we could safely hide a dead girl, especially one that's still alive you know?"

"So the colonel knew that lieutenant ross was innocent all along?" Ed questioned.

Breda smirked. "I must say, that was pretty smart." You grinned watching the major finally catch the lieutenant.

—

"After Madame Ross was prematurely freed, the young lord made a deal with Barry the chopper. The order's i've been given are to personally escort this woman to the east to take refuge."

Fu explained his part of the plan. "So we all agreed to rendezvous here in one big effort to aid the lieutenant's escape." Breda added.

Major Armstrong crossed his arms. "I see."

"You've gotta be joking." Ed said skeptically. "I can't believe the colonel was able to pull one over on us like this."

"He knew it'd be easier to convince you if you actually saw lieutenant ross, and leave a better impression on your lady friend."

Watching how he explained it, not trying to pay you anymore money. "Fine, I'll admit it alright? He actually knew what he was doing this time." Holding his hands up in surrender.

"He mentioned something else." Breda started making the blonde look up.

"He said he didn't want to take a chance on some hot tempered kids endangering the operation. So, he sent you and her out here."

"Hot tempered kids?!" You two exclaimed. "You said oreration, is there a phase beyond liberation lieutenant ross?" Armstrong asked.

"Indeed. He's got a plan to reel in the puppeteer. The one that's behind the conspiracy."

"No one calls me a!-" You fist collides with Ed's head making him shut up. "Wait, what'd you say?" You said with interest.

The blonde glared at you and rubbed his head. "You remember Barry from the fifth lab, right? He went on one hell of a rampage. They're bound to send someone to reclaim him."

—

"I've got nothing to do with this. Silch. And yet here I am stuck in the middle of it and framed by homunculi."

Armstrong sketched away in his notebook. You hold a finger up to your chin. "'Homunculi.. That sounds familiar." you claim.

Looking down at the pictures placed on the ground. A transmutation circle, an ouroboros tattoo, a man in a crop top, and a woman with long land.

Your brown eyes land onto the last one, a man with shorter hair in a fur collared vest. "I know him!" you exclaimed, grabbing the picture. "You do?" Ed raised a brow.

"Yeah! He tried to hit on me and Robin at Water 7!" Accidentally gripping the picture. "Opps." Straightening it out and placing it back down.

"Well, we've collected a fair amount of intelligence, and once we properly piece it together we'll have the general's killer."

"I promise you this lieutenant." Armstrong spoke to maria. "We will absolve you of this crime." He said determinedly.

Ed's browns frowned slightly. "Lieutenant col- I mean General Hughes. It's just hard to accept that he's dead." He admitted sadly.

"And what shall you do now, Edward Elric?"

The blonde took a glance at you.

If you were gonna stay with them for a while he guesses you're gonna find out eventually.

You've been almost everywhere, you've had to at least heard of what it was before, right?

"Al and I committed a taboo, we still have people that help us. Some people get angry at us, others ignore us silently. Each one has tried to help me keep my promise to my brother."

He squeezes around his automail wrist.

"So I have no choice. I can't turn back. Which means all I can do is move forward, right? And I'll protect everyone I can along the way. I refuse to let another person become a victim while I'm alive."

Looking down at his hands.

"I know that's a hard promise to keep. It's hard enough just trying to take care of myself. I think that I'm even capable of it, maybe I'm just arrogant. But it's the only thing I can think of, so I have to do it. I have to."

Everyone smiles at the boy and places a hand onto his shoulder.

Tensing up he quickly relaxes.

Turning to look at you with a small inward gasp, the sun peeking through breaks in the shaded part of the ruins, illuminating your smiling figure.

Did your hair always shine like that? Was your smile always so bright? Why did your touch suddenly feel more comforting than it did before?

"And you lieutenant, where do you intend to seek asylum?" Armstrong asked maria. "Well, I think that I'm gonna give Xing a shot."

—

Exiting the ruins the sun had begun to set. "Any parting wishes? Shall I tell your parents?" The major questioned.

"No sir. As much as I want them to know I'm okay I'm scared it would be too much of a risk. I just don't want to put them in that kind of danger."

"Very well." He hummed.

"Major Armstrong, Lieutenant breda. Please deliver a message to the colonel. I need him to know how grateful I am for what he's done. If there is any way I can help him, tell him to send for me. I owe him a great debt and I am willing to put my life on the line to repay it."

She saluted, the other two military men saluting as well. "Right."

Ed looked down, raising his hand to salute as well. Maria walked forward and held her hand out with a smile. "Goodbye Edward, take care of yourself okay?"

"I still owe you. For slapping me that is." He said. "You can get me next time." she laughed, shaking his hand.

Stepping over to you she saluted. "Lieutenant ross." You grinned. "It was nice to meet you cat burglar [y/n]." You laughed at the name.

Getting on their horses Maria, Fu, Mr. Han, and a few others made their way to Xing. "Alright, next time then."

୧ ‧₊˚ 🍊 ⋅

Left at the Xerxes ruins, you and Ed make way back to the large transmutation circle like symbol you pasted by before.

"I thought so. It's like the transmutation circle from the fifth lab. A two headed dragon, and the sun." Groaning, he furiously rubbed his head.

"Dammit! Why does the top part have to be missing?!"

Footsteps sound from behind the two of you. Ed simply dodges and you kick off to the side, assembling your staff.

Taking the attacker's arm the blonde disarms him and pins him to the ground.

"What do you want? I don't have any money and she won't give up without a fight so you've-" Cutting himself off taking in the man's features. "You're an Ishvalan."

Many other Ishvalans come out from behind the ruins circling around you and Ed.

"Excuse me young man, I'm afraid that we're gonna have to take you and your girlfriend hostage until your military returns our holy land to us."

An Ishvalan with a big scar on the left side of his face stated. "They're not gonna return squat, not over a single kid."

Ed smirked looking over his shoulder at the Ishvalan.

"It was the death of a single child that triggered an entire Ishvalan civil war, so you really shouldn't doubt your significance in the eyes of history."

You frown. "I hate talking about the death of children."

"That's enough of your sinful behavior." A rough voice spoke.

An older Ishvalan woman stepped up with the help of a child. "Madame Shan."

"Look at you fools. Are you all trying to dishonor the name of Ishvala?" The man gasped.

"Look, he won't try to attack you again, can you please just let him go now."

Ed glanced around before you yanked him off of the man. "You heard the kid!"

"You stood up for me, I don't get it. I always heard that you hated Amestiran's." Straightening his coat.

"Despite the atrocities your country has committed, I know that not all Amestrian's are bad." Madame Shan stated.

It was hard to find people with her views on society.

"Madame shan and I were both injured during the civil war, but then we were saved by these two Amestrian doctors and this woman from the coast. To be honest I do hate you but the three of them saved me and you two deserve the same treatment."

The younger Ishvalan said. "Wait a minute you're not talking about the rockbells are you?" the two gasp and glance at each other.

"Are you saying you're a friend of doctor rockbell?"

"Yeah."

"That coastal woman, did she wear a marine uniform?" You stepped forward, earning a nod from the Ishvalan. "You know her?"

Small smiles spread into their faces. "She was my mother."

"They saved the lives of countless Ishvalan, all throughout the course of the entire war."

"No kidding, they were like an aunt and uncle to me." Ed claimed. "They refused to abandon their post. It didn't matter how much the fighting escalated." Shan praised.

You glanced around. They all looked just like him, but they weren't.

These were innocent refugee's who just wanted their land back, not a vengeful man with an 'X' scar or tattoos over his arms.

"How did- how did they die? The rockbells I mean." Tensing up with wide eyes the two war survivors frown.

"They were killed. They were both murdered in cold blood and it was by the hand of an Ishvalan they saved. Years later I heard the same happened to the military marine once she quit, by the hands of the same man."

Your staff clatters to the ground as you cover your mouth, tears welling up in your eyes. "I'm so sorry. There was nothing we could do to stop him."

"Tell me who did it!" Ed shouted. "His face was wrapped in bandages. But he was an Ishvalan monk and his right arm was tattooed." She stated, turning away.

—

After calming down and picking up your clima-tact, you two left.

Receiving an apology from madame shan about bell-mère, and a message to give to the rockbell with their own apology and thanks.

Looking out onto the setting sun you grabbed onto your upper arm, over your tattoo and light scars.

The man who had killed your mother under the order of Arlong didn't do it under his order; he did it for his own revenge.

And he killed the parents of one of your new friends. The people who saved him.

'I'm gonna kill him.'

Note: I will say which arc or movie the outfit is from so that you and either look it up or try to picture it entirely.