Okay, so when I first came up with the idea for this story, it was supposed to be a sequel to my other two, A Different Kind of Truth and A Test of Faith. However, only about half of the readers like Ed/Roy. So, I revised my original plan.
Setting: Eight years after the first anime, but Conqueror of Shambala did not happen.
Pairings: Roy/Ed, Al/Winry, and the rest wouldn't make sense (yet). Nothing too outrageous, I promise.
Rating: T, for violence, language, and slash. Nothing terribly graphic, but if you don't like Roy/Ed don't read!
Chapter One: Assassins
Night had fallen over Amestris's warehouse district. Two young men in military blues and a small girl waited quietly in the small studio apartment. The room was small; there was one door and one small window overlooking an empty alleyway. A queen sized bed dominated the main room and there was a small kitchenette opposite the window.
A small dark-haired warrant officer stood between the window and a small girl in foreign clothing. He sat quietly as he listened intently to a radio headset. If Kain Fuery was to be honest with himself, he would have to admit that he was brooding. While he understood the importance of the mission, he was more than a little bit upset about having to miss his date. Of course, Fuery would never let his two companions know this. It just wasn't his way. But damn it, it had taken him three weeks to gather up the courage to ask her out!
The girl was responsible for their late night escapades. She was a Xingese princess, small and delicate. Her clothing had once been exotic and expensive but it was now in tatters and there was a hastily wrapped blood soaked bandage on her left arm. Despite this, or perhaps because of all of this, the girl remained proud and defiant. She had originally come to Amestris to negotiate trade routes. However during her stay, her father—the emperor of Xing—had fallen ill and passed. She longed for a chance to be alone to mourn her father's passing, but she understood the danger that she now faced.
The room's third occupant was a freshly frocked major of the Amestris military. He was tall, reedy, and just barely out of his teens. He was handsome with soft blonde hair that fell gently to his shoulders. This was his first official mission with Brigadier General Mustang's team. As an alchemist it fell to him to keep the other two safe from the assassins hunting Princess May Chang.
The warrant officer's expression changed as a message came over the radio waves. His companions quickly noted the change and moved closer. Fuery shrugged off the headset and turned the volume up just loud enough for the other two to hear.
"Kate, how are you?" said a familiar man's voice. The tone was cheerful, but the trio was not easily fooled.
"Very well," Fuery answered struggling to keep the tone light. "Elizabeth had to leave early, but Fallon and Maeve enjoyed the show. Would you like to talk to them?"
May appeared confused. Clearly, this was some joke that the other two had failed to let her in on. She looked questioningly at the young officer and he mouthed 'code.'
"No, I won't keep you. Besides, Adora and I are on our way to that new club on Third Street," Mustang answered Fuery.
"Alright Rowan, don't stay out too late and call me when you get home," Fuery answered.
"Will do," Mustang answered and cut off the line. Fuery turned the volume back down and donned the headset once again.
"We just need to hold out a little while longer. The Brigadier General and Major Elric have found where the assassins are holing up," Fuery whispered.
"Then this whole mess will be over soon," the major whispered anxiously.
"It will be over for tonight," the small girl whispered dismally. "My father is dead and I have forty-two brothers and sisters. Some of whom are determined to ensure that the Chang heir does not reach the imperial city."
"I thought that you had no interest in the throne?" the blonde asked, clearly concerned.
May sighed, "I do not, but my opinion could impact who does or does not claim the throne. Clearly, someone is trying to bypass the selection process and take the throne by force."
The room fell quiet once again since neither man knew how to respond. The young officer jumped as a lone tomcat mewed in the alley below. Fuery laughed nervously, "If you're going to be part of General's crew you're going to have to get used to situations like these."
"I don't think I'll ever get used to nights like this," the young man remarked a little bitterly.
"Quiet!" May hissed sharply. Her eyes were quickly scanning the rooftop of the adjacent building.
The major pulled a stick of chalk from his pocket and began drawing transmutation circles under the window and just inside the doorway. He then emptied the contents of one of his belt pouches in the middle of each circle. He went to the corner of the room where he had scribbled some encrypted notes and symbols earlier. He used the guidelines to draw a third transmutation circle.
"Rowan and Adora have already begun operations. Jacqueline is en route, but he won't be here for at least another five minutes," Fuery informed his teammates.
The sound of a long range rifle tore through the night. "Hawkeye," the major whispered with a mixture of fear and awe. Three more shots accompanied the first and Fuery began talking rapidly over his radio headset.
"The Lieutenant Colonel took out three, but she's certain that more made it into the building," Fuery relayed quickly.
The major pressed an ear to the door and after a few short moments he heard muffled coughing. "They just passed the third floor landing," he whispered. "They triggered one of my traps."
Fuery raised an eyebrow. The older man was impressed; he had no idea that the young major had even set any. His thoughts were interrupted by a loud sneeze.
"Fourth floor," the major amended his voice shaky. 'Two more floors to go,' he thought.
The assassins abandoned any attempt at stealth and charged up the remaining stairs. There was a muffled scream and the major winced. "Sixth floor. Everyone stand back."
The young officer activated the transmutation circle beside the door and a mess of thick vines sprouted. Each was as high as the ceiling with thorns as long as the young man's forearm. "Don't touch the vines," he warned. "Those thorns are coated with a neurotoxin. You'd be dead before you hit the floor."
Thud!
The assassins had reached the door and were trying to force it open. The major moved to the window and activated the second circle. A plant strangely resembling a beanstalk broke through the window and cascaded to the ground. Fuery and May moved towards the vine, but the officer stopped them. "Also poisonous," he said and moved to the third circle. As soon as the alchemist touched the third circle, the floor fell away.
Looking down, Fuery noted that they were directly above a mattress. "You've thought of everything haven't you?"
The front door cracked and the major winced, "Not everything, apparently. Down, now!"
As soon as the trio was safely in the downstairs apartment, the alchemist activated a transmutation circle that he'd drawn on the ceiling earlier. The hole closed behind them, leaving no trace of their true escape route.
A few moments later they heard several bodies hit the floor. "What the hell?" said a strange voice. "Stay away from those vines!" The assassins never even heard Breda and Havoc come up behind them on the stairs. The two officers quickly disposed of the last two assassins.
Below, the major looked to the door and noticed one small kink in his plan. Beside the door was a battered pair of boots. "This apartment was supposed to be empty," he hissed.
"Funny," muttered a strange voice. "I thought the same thing." May squeaked as a cold steel blade was pressed against her throat.
XxxLine BreakxxX
I know, evil cliffhanger. Reviews make me update faster :P
Let me know if you want Ling to be a friend or foe.