AN: this has been in my head for WEEKS and i've finally got the rest of it down so since the first chapter has been sitting there for ages, i've decided to get it out there to try and motivate myself to finish it! hope you enjoy!

all place names are related to scottish places/words. my country really hit the jackpot with magical sounding places so i decided why not?

the geography is correct, although i changed some things for this au (eg the distances between places – the distance between stonehaven and torridon is roughly 170 miles but 200 was a nice round number lmao)

"alba" is the gaelic name for scotland and the name of the continent in this au

once in a lifetime, you live and love

once in a lifetime, you die

once in a moment, the sun goes down

protect and survive

The wind swirled around the three wizards, trapping them in the vortex of magic, thanks to Bradley. His air magic created hurricane-level winds that battered the other two wizards around the small room where their fight was taking place. Riza was trapped upright against the stone wall behind the altar holding the almost complete portal, being pushed and pulled by the air. It was so violent, her hair was ripped from its ponytail and swirled around her face, obscuring her vision. However, there was only one thing in her mind's eye, and that was how to get out of this, defeat Bradley, and save the kingdom just like they were tasked to do.

This room was not what Riza expected to find in the crypt Bradley had retreated to when Riza's army had cut down his forces quicker than anticipated. Throughout his earlier monologue, the so called "king" had told them all about the power the land in the north possessed.

That was why he wanted his hands on it.

Her land.

Riza's eyes lifted to meet her partner's, who was currently face down, being pushed to the ground by the force of Bradley's magic. The wizard towered over him, leering, acting as if he knew the fight had already been one. Bradley's cronies remained outside the hurricane, watchful eyes on the two intruders but ready to battle at a moment's notice.

That's when Riza made her decision. They had talked about this before, but Roy was adamant she never use it, but she - no, they - had no other choice.

It was either use this spell or doom the entire kingdom and continent to the dictatorship Bradley strived for.

Their eyes met and Roy stilled, stopping his struggle against Bradley's magic as it pinned him to the ground.

The widening of his eyes told her he understood what she was about to do.

And he wasn't happy about it.

"Hawkeye-!"

His cry was cut off as she begun to glow, a soft green light emitting from her body. Riza closed her eyes, unable to bear seeing the anguish in Roy's eyes. She blocked it out, concentrating on lifting all her magical energy to the surface of her skin and focussing on moving it to one point; her hands.

"Hawkeye, don't!"

Too late.

With all her might and her last remaining reserves of magic energy she lifted the stone from beneath Bradley's feet, the roots that ran deep in the dirt below them shattering through stone like a brick through glass. It broke Bradley's concentration long enough so Roy could break free and jump to his feet.

Then she extended her arms towards Roy, eyes opening to meet his petrified ones, as he made to sprint towards her, instead of launch his attack against their enemy.

"Riza!"

She threw the ball of energy towards him, hitting him square in the chest, and ultimately causing him to stumble backwards and out of the magical circle Bradley had created. It left him outside, with Bradley's cronies, unable to penetrate the magical barrier, and left Riza inside with the man who now had the opportunity to kill her there and then.

But Roy had absorbed the energy she had given him.

Riza's magic - earth based with control of the soil, roots, and foliage - was not strong enough to best Bradley's, she could only restrain him, which she had already done prior, only for the bastard to break through it with his own magic power. Roy's fire magic, however, would be able to beat him. The wind would only fan his flames which now would be even stronger with the addition of Riza's magical energy.

So, like countless times before, Riza put her faith in him as she collapsed to her knees, head bowed forward as all her energy was now sapped from her being. Heat surged in the room, breaking her out in a sweat, but she smiled as her eyes closed and she passed out.

If the heat had reached her it meant Roy had broken through Bradley's magic.

She was left vulnerable, incapacitated, and would be without magic for an extended period of time. With Roy fighting Bradley he wouldn't be able to watch her back, but that was okay. She understood the risk and could see the picture for the greater good. They had to save the kingdom, and this was the only way to do it.

"Riza, promise me you will never use that spell," Roy begged, clasping her hands in his. Riza glanced down at them, noting how his hands were soft, having never truly felt the weight of sword. His fire magic was strong enough that he didn't need to wield a blade in battle. Riza, however, worked with vines, trees, and their roots. She could handle them, direct them to fight for her or craft weapons from their materials. Roy's fire wasn't a solid object, so he had no reason to use his hands.

"I don't –"

"Promise," he demanded, gaze hard as he stared her down, challenging Riza to deny him of this.

But she couldn't agree to it. It would be a lie.

This spell – the one her grandfather had taught her before he was murdered by Bradley – could transfer the user's magical energy to another person. It was an absolute spell, there was no measured quantity the user could send, it used all their magic energy, leaving them spent and without the ability to perform magic until it recharged.

It left the user vulnerable in a fight, however, could save someone's life when they needed it most.

"Riza."

"You know I can't promise that," she whispered, casting her eyes down. The grip on her hand tightened and Roy inhaled. He wasn't happy.

"You must."

"I can't, Roy. You know why."

Roy shook his head. "You are the only one who can destroy the portal," he reminded her, releasing her hands and turning back to face their makeshift campfire. He ran a hand through his hair as Riza stole a glance at him, noticing how the fire danced in his eyes, but his expression betrayed how exhausted he was.

"You could do it too," Riza replied earnestly, her words stilling Roy's agitated movements. "All you need to do it focus on the centre and blast it with your fire. With that spell I can give you enough energy –"

"Enough," he barked, expression darkening. "You're not using it."

Riza felt her anger spike. "You forbid me?"

"Yes," he snapped, standing from his seat beside her. He paced in front of the fire, Riza's eyes watching his every move. "I won't allow it."

Riza laughed un disbelief. "You won't allow it. Mustang, what the hell–"

"I'm not arguing about this," he hissed, whirling to face her. "I need you alive and fighting, not incapacitated. If you use it, then you leave me to face Bradley alone." He stopped his agitated movements, his next words turning Riza's blood cold. "Don't take the cowards way out."

Stunned silence filled the cave as the two stared each other down. "Cowards way out" she repeated in her head. Who the FUCK –

Roy scoffed, leaving the cave and entering the snowstorm that whirled outside. His body begun to glow, hints of red and orange surrounding him. The snow turned to steam as it neared his retreating form, the heat of his anger literally burning away the precipitation.

Riza seethed.

purposefully written so that the "present" happens first, then the "past" happens second

the chapters will be relatively shorter too (the overall story isn't complete but i'm only at 4.5k words at chapter 5) but updates will be relatively quick