Author's Note: As stated on the summary, this story will take place near the end of Brotherhood/Manga and it will mostly be about Roy's struggles during the aftermath of the Promised Day. I decided to go along with the anime's epilogue for an added drama in the hospital. It should already be obvious to most of us, but I still won't disclose much more detail here since I'm well aware that there's still a number of people who haven't really finished watching or reading Fullmetal Alchemist thanks to that new live-action adaptation since I personally met some new fans to the series. So as a precaution, I'll just say for another safety measure that if you do not want to be spoiled about the ending; Please do not read this. You have been warned. XP
Anyhow, if you hardly care about spoilers or you already know about this post-promised day content, then I would just like to say, Thank you so much for taking the time to read this. I honestly haven't really written anything in awhile so this story is mostly just for practice purposes since I feel like my writing muse has become quite rusty. That being said, I hope you'll still enjoy this story of mine.
Disclaimer: I do not own Fullmetal Alchemist and it's characters.
~~~~~ Night's Embrace ~~~~~
Chapter One: Shrouded in Darkness
- Central City Military Hospital, nighttime -
His mind was hazy- but regardless, he steeled his resolve and move forward. Though his eyes desperately tried its best to take in their surroundings- he could barely make out anything. Wherever he turned to look, it was almost pitch black.
Where was he? He wondered. Then he let out a soft grunt and he felt his side hit the edge of a seemingly brick textured wall.
The impact caused his head to ache so he closed his eyes for a moment. When he opened them a moment later- he was quite surprised that he could now see a little more clearly.
...It seems like he's in an underground passage way...
He finds himself wondering why he was in such a place as this right now, but his thoughts were cut short as the atmosphere felt cold and hostile all of the sudden.
Feeling unnerved, he slowly turned to look back as he felt someone was watching his every move. Nobody greeted his eyes but rather was met by another endless passageway that leads to who knows where. Squinting his eyes, he saw the road gets darker the farther down it goes.
He then turned to look back and saw that the road ahead seems familiar to him but uninviting at the same time.
Regardless of that, he soon decided to just move forward as it was slightly brighter in that direction.
Maybe there's an exit at the other end?
And besides, moving forward is most likely better than staying around with your back seemingly out in the open in such a seemingly hostile territory.
Walking around aimlessly in the dim-light underground passageway for a few moments, he soon took note that there was a fork-road ahead. One pathway brighter than the other.
But before he could consider his options, his body suddenly jerked back in surprise as he suddenly saw a quick flash of light from a corner. Then came a series of audacious sounds that seemed to be like gunshots and clashing metal- ' Was there a fight? ' He thought to himself as he that It came from the path that was ominously darker...
A part of him wanted to choose the other way around, but... he felt like something or someone was calling out to him so he pressed on, none the wiser.
He quickly regretted it midway as traversing this path was difficult since he could barely make out anything from this darkness.
' How could anybody fight in such a place? Perhaps the room where they're in is more illuminated by light? ' As he got closer, he took note that the surroundings had indeed been getting more visible. He could see the faint, rough edges of the brick walls again.
...And he could hear the sounds of gunfire and metal clashing louder and louder with each step. Was it really a good idea to move there in such a state he's in?
He felt tired and definitely confused.
Worryingly, he could barely move his legs for some reason as well. He was trying so hard to calm them from shaking. Was it just from the cold or is he gradually being paralyzed by fear? Why was this familiar place... very unnerving to him?
...No matter, he thought as he decided to press on, all the same. He had nowhere else to go.
As he walked a few steps more, a blinding light suddenly shrouded the entirety of the room forcing him to close his eyes.
Then there was silence.
A couple of seconds pass before he could open his eyes once more and again, his vision was hazy. Slowly his eyes began adjusting to take in the sights and he was shocked- no, terrified upon realizing what was the the first thing he saw on the floor.
There was blood, so much blood.
A brief flashback of his best friend came to mind for a moment. ' No, this was different. This wasn't that telephone booth... '
He begrudgingly looked further up and saw a man dragging the source of it and his throat went dry. " Lieutenant! "
Then it hit him. This unnerving familiarity.
' No, not again! Not this cruel nightmare over and again again! ' His mind internally screamed. But all thoughts pushed back as the scene unfolded- with him still playing his usual part.
He once again saw that same gold-toothed man grinning at him deviously, " It seems you are late, Mustang. Even with this vial, I'm afraid I could do nothing for her any longer. "
Immobilized upon the dread of finding her unresponsive upon first calling out to her, he soon felt weakness wash over him and felt his knees give in. He pushed his arms down in a final attempt to stop himself from landing face first to the floor and looked up, glaring at the man that stood in front of her lifeless body.
Why had he felt this way? This wasn't real. This was a nightmare born from his fears.
" Why don't you transmute her then? The results doesn't matter anyway since you'll probably join her before this day is over. "
But hearing that and seeing her look like that. Time and time again- was just too much. This needed to change. He glared at the man as it begun to laugh maniacally.
" You Bastard! " He had uttered before his gaze fell to a fallen, bloodied rapier at his side.
Without hesitation he took the weapon in his hands- fueled by rage and desperation; he stood up and rush forward to the gold-toothed bastard with weapon in hand, wanting to pierce that annoying grin of its face.
Before it could make contact however, the doctor suddenly turned in to a black mist, disappearing- but not before letting out another laugh of contempt that is.
Cursing to himself upon the situation, he begrudgingly moved back towards her and felt his gut tighten with each step.
He knelt before her and picked her up gently, afraid that if he applied any more pressure she'll disappear in a similar black mist all too soon.
" Lieutenant... " His voice was strained as his eyes felt warm and heavy as he gaze upon her pained look and lifelessness. Trembling, he let out a sharp scream of both frustration and disappointment in himself as he couldn't help but held her tighter in his arms as he closed his eyes to stop the tears threatening to fall in his eyes.
He felt her slowly turn cold for a moment and soon, he could barely feel her at all. Fear of not seeing her again, he slowly willed himself to open his eyes but was immediately greeted by the same shrouding darkness he was in earlier.
There was no sounds and not a single shed of light in his sights. He even felt nothing but weakness. It was not unlike what he had been earlier.
Like it was happening all over and over again.
He soon finds himself walking aimlessly once again- But he knew that he let out another frustrated scream as he slammed his fist to the brick wall on his side before all sounds drowned out when he heard another shot of gunfire.
The piercing sound echoed in his head painfully over and over again, which in turn made him involuntary sat upright with a sharp gasp.
His throat was dry and he was seemingly taking in silent pants of air as his heart beats wildly for a few moments like he had run a marathon.
Then he looked down as he felt something wet fall from his face to his bandaged hands. He was crying? Or was it just a bead of sweat?
Whatever the case, he inwardly curse to himself as he realized that he had just woke up from yet another nightmare.
Though has he really woken up? Or was he still in one?
...Drip, drip, drip, drip...
He could hear that faint sound though. It was impossible that it was just his tears... If he was even crying. He then wondered if it was rain or just a sink's broken faucet? He honestly couldn't tell.
...Drip, drip, drip, drip...
In truth, he could hardly care about it. His mind was occupied with more pressing thoughts.
He was bothered with a lot of questions that he cannot answer himself.
What was happening around him? What time was it? Where were the others? Are they safe? And where is he know? When had he got here? Was he alone? If not, Who is he with now? Was he even awake? Or is this just a dream...? Or rather... Is he even still alive?
Honestly, he couldn't tell. How could he? He couldn't even tell if his eyes were open or closed right now.
All he could see was darkness.
He then tried to move as it was starting to get suffocating with all these questions in his head tormenting him. He really felt like doing something, anything. Desperately needing to know if what he's going through right now was real or not.
He knows he was still sitting up, he felt something wet fall from his face once more and confirmed that he had indeed shed a tear from the ordeal earlier so with a soft grunt, he tried his best to move his numb hands up to his face to attempt to dry the remaining sweat or tears forming just below his eyes.
The slight pain he felt from his shifting his tired body made him believe that he was indeed awake and this was real.
He took a deep breath and slowly let it out. He then moved his head side to side. First to his right, then to his left. He knows he moved his head as he felt it. He believe he was conscious. He knew his eyes were open because he felt them blink. But... why couldn't he see anything?
In desperation, he clenched his eyes closed and opened them for several times.
But despite the effort, All he could still see was darkness.
Deep down, He knows the answer why he couldn't see. But he still couldn't accept it and if he was more honest with himself, he would share his dilemma.
But he couldn't show weakness. So this darkness is actually his only company that truly knows how he's feeling.
...And it was now slowly driving him crazy.
When he felt his back fall down to the bed did he let his eyes close. ' What's the point in even opening them? ' He wondered to himself. It didn't made any difference anyway.
He felt like giving up and with his eyes now closed, he soon felt like drifting.
Drip, drip, drip, drip... A few moments later, the sounds soon fell distant. He was probably now fast asleep once more.
Silence quickly followed.
But the peace of mind he had, however, was short lived as another memory seemed to have surfaced in his dreams that he has to relive.
" Have you had enough of this? " A voice ringed from his head as his eyes opened wide. He tried to look at the direction he felt where the voice came from- but all he could see at the moment was this bright flash of Light.
White Darkness. That was the last thing he remembered his eyes seeing. It was a room opposite to what he saw in the nightmare he experienced earlier and right now, it was blindingly bright.
Then he recalled seeing this large gate in front of him. Moments later, the gate opened and jet black hands quickly approached him, pulling him closer as the gate slowly closed as he was pulled in to the darkness.
But before the gate could fully close from behind him, he looked back just in time to see an ominous smile, unnerving him. He also remembered feeling the excruciating pain in his head as he felt like he was being broken apart one by one and with another flash of light, he soon felt like he was also being reconstructed a moment later.
...With the gate now fully closed, all he could ever see was nothing but darkness.
" A man who has visions for his country ends up losing his own sight." He heard the voice say. It was cold, like it pierce straight to his chest as he added, "Do you think I was fair in giving your punishment? "
" ...Punishment? For what? " He voiced out. " But I didn't do anything. "
"You're right... you didn't do anything. You also didn't do anything to stop it from happening. Perhaps you were also curious to where you'll be led? "
" What do you...? " Before he could finish his sentence, he felt a searing pain from the tip of his eyes and to the back of his head. It hurts so much that it was nearly enough to make him faint.
" ...But regardless of that, Losing your sight might let you uncover more knowledge which you could learn within you now rather than seeing them yourself with your own eyes in the future. "
As soon as he heard that ominous voice, his mind was filled of many visuals that runs pass by him in incredible speed that he could hardly make out anything from it at all. His brain felt like it was about to explode with all the information racing from his head.
He felt like shouting for being so deep in pain- but try as he might, no words came out of him.
" I'm also aware that they didn't gave you a choice. You were forced to experience this. But as I said, you were powerless enough to didn't stop them from doing this either. "
" Stop... " He managed to say, but because of the excruciating pain he's feeling, his voice lacked the conviction it needed.
" I'll give you the power to stop them. I'll let you experience all the knowledge in the world in tandem to the price you've paid. Equivalent Exchange, as you call it, isn't that right, Mr. Alchemist? "
After what felt like an eternity, he soon felt the pain on his head slowly subside and the images from his head slow down to the point that he can now tell what was flashing before his eyes.
" What is... " He couldn't finished the sentence as a blinding light suddenly flashed before him.
" It's the Truth. It's the strength you needed. Your apparent downfall will be their own undoings. "
When the bright light that engulfed him slowly died down. He finds himself staring back at the gate. He didn't know what was happening around him but he turned around as he felt an ominous stare on his back.
What greeted his eyes was that same ominous smile. "Find the strength to survive this nightmare. To do that, you need to find the Light. "
" What are you..? " His question was again cut short as he felt the tip of his eyes burn. It's pain was searing into his very soul and he saw the bright room he was in was slowly breaking down to darkness.
The last thing he could make out was that damned ominous smile as it spoke one last time. "Once you find the answer to that, you'll come back, I'm sure. I don't care what price you'll pay... I just want you to realize your true goal. " There was a short pause before it added, " I'll be waiting for you, expecting an answer, Flame Alchemist."
He clenched his eyes shut as the pain escalated. A moment passed by and the burning feeling soon turned to pierce through his eyes like ice.
It felt cold. As cold as the silent darkness that engulfs him.
Exhausted, he soon felt like he lost all consciousness.
Soon after, the darkness and emptiness around him made him feel like it was drowning him.
...Drip, drip, drip, drip...
Feeling shallow inside, he was starting to get tired with it; The feeling of uselessness, the uncertainty. He wanted to see something- anything to keep his mind sane.
Despite his exhaustion, he thrashed around frantically, desperately searching for something to grasp on to and soon forced his eyes open.
He finally managed to wake up from his nightmare and started panting heavily. Then he groaned in frustration as his right hand curled into a fist and slammed it down hard on the side of the bed, ignoring the throbbing pain that came with it as his mind was on other thoughts.
...Drip, drip, drip, drip...
He knows his eyes were open...
...Drip, drip, drip, drip...
But all he could still see was the same darkness. It infuriates him, but he soon gave up his anger with a hard sigh. He didn't know what good that would do to him, after all.
He then just decided to place his attention in regarding if he was truly awake right now or if he was he still living in a nightmare...
...Drip, drip, drip, drip...
Apart from the darkness that seemingly always accompanied him. That blasted dripping sounds that he keeps hearing was now clear to him.
...Drip, drip, drip, drip... It first started out faintly, but all of the sudden it then fell down hard, like a gushing waterfall.
It was definitely rain.
Darkness and Rain. Two words that collide well together to remind him how useless he feels right now.
He felt so... Alone. It just feels like he was constantly being cradled tightly by this cold, suffocating darkness.
Right now, he didn't know what to do. He then took a deep breath and sighed heavily. He was starting to feel cold now as well and it was no thanks to the heavy drops of rain that was pouring down outside.
Unfortunately, It was also getting stronger with each passing moment. This was going to be a long night for him.
He was so distraught and lost in his own thoughts that he failed to notice that there had been sudden movements to his right. He also failed to notice that someone was now staring down at him. Dreaming or Not... He could care less now anymore. He couldn't even tell his own feelings.
He was so... lost. Tired and feeling miserable he let things unfold and let fate had his way with him in defeat.
- End of Chapter One: Shrouded in Darkness -
Author's Note: If you read my other stories, you'll see that I normally don't write this way- nor do I write angsty fics too often, but then I thought that this would be a nice change of pace for me. Though if you're looking for a very dark and gloomy fic, I'm afraid that this is not it. This story is going to get lighter on the next part. Despite the lighter direction it may go- could become ridiculously fluffy too...! or not- But know that it'll still be a heartfelt and meaningful one.
Though you'll be the judge of that, of course. :)
By the way, this is Cross-posted from Archive of Our Own (Ao3) and this story is the first to be posted there. I do not know if I'll be posting my older fics but it's high likely that if I do post them there, it would be the heavily revised versions as most of the stories I have now need some serious editing. I'll be focusing on new fics however. Starting with this. I'll be posting the next chapter a little later tonight. For now, thank you so much for reading.
