In Exchange For A Miracle

by CrafterofTales

In the land of Amestris; conspiracy, corruption, and a war in secret stirs within the vicinity of Alchemists and Magi. A Ruler-class Servant comes as the mediator of the war for the Holy Grail, and her meeting with the Fullmetal Alchemist defines the fates that theirs, and others, have intertwined.

2. A Wounded Heart

Chapter 2: A Wounded Heart

The sky grieves at a time when a little girl and her dog were turned into a monster. It was in the middle of the night when it's downpour diminished, but roaring noises were still often, yet it was not the sky that was active. They were from a secluded place in the slumbering East City. Loud strike after strike, sparks flew, men grinning with battle eageness and bloodlust.

The journey of the Elric brothers enmesh with the Holy Grail War commences tonight.

Edward Elric can't sleep, no matter how many times he tried. Every attempt to close his eyes and let his mind wander, all he saw was Nina, playing with her dog Alexander. Smiling widely as if there was nothing wrong with the world. Edward and Alphonse were quickly won by her, and saw her as a friend.

Then he would see them mesh together, brown hair loose over the snout of the dog, eyes void. She wasn't human anymore, sewn together with Alexander by her own father. A victim of the mad alchemist's pursuit to keep his State Alchemist license. It was irreversible, Nina will live the rest of her life as a chimera, a body of a dog and a mind of a little girl lacking comprehension, but it will one day drive her insane, as it did for her mother. He can still hear the haunting sounds of the girl that was no longer human.

"Ed...ward."

Edward's eyes snaps open, he stared the ceiling with frantic emotions before realizing that he had just woken up from another nightmare. His panic quickly dies down into sadness and guilt. He turns and looks out the window. Drops from the rain slid down the glass, but it looked like the rain itself stopped. It was dark outside, so it must have been somewhere around midnight.

Shaken from the nightmares his guilty conscience always manages to cook up, Edward lies on his bed and glared at the ceiling, internally beating himself up. He should have protected Nina. He should have known something terrible was going to happen. He should have considered Shou Tucker to be insane enough to use his own daughter and turn her into a chimera, even if the concept itself was just incomprehensible.

He should have saved her.

Edward can't sleep at all. With this undeniable fact, he tossed back his sheets. One foot feeling the cold wooden floor as the other foot does not, Edward pushes himself off the bed. Walking out of his bedroom and down the hall, he reaches the stairs. Each step the quietest of creeks, yet his presence is immediately known.

"Brother?" Alphonse puts down the book he had been reading. A single lamp glowing in the living room. Alphonse remains sitting in the chair, waiting for Edward to speak.

"Hey, sorry, I…" Edward couldn't bring himself to explain, far too in dejection, but his brother knew. He knew without ever having to hear Edward and merely needed to see his expression, such is the bond of the Elric brothers.

"A nightmare?" Alphonse correctly assumes. Edward nodded. "Was it about…" The younger has a faint idea.

"…Don't worry about it," Edward said, attempting to smile, "I'm just having some trouble sleeping, that's all."

"Do you want to talk? It'll probably help you get tired."

Edward smiles, "Sure thing," he comes over and sat down on the couch near Alphonse, "What book is that?"

"Well…I'm not really sure. To be honest, I have no idea what the author was thinking when she wrote this. It's kind of a mess. I had to read it a couple of times just to understand," he chuckled in try. "Although, I do appreciate her effort in giving this story a happy ending."

Edward smiles. The brothers continues to talk for a while, somewhat lifting the mood even though the State Alchemist still feels tremendous amount of self-resentment, which makes his smile at the pleasant talk feel as if he had no care in the world, as if he held no regards to what happened to Nina. It was uncontrollable for him to feel this way, but he believes at this moment he has no right to smile. He frowns unconsciously.

"Are you okay?"

Edward jerked, and stuttered a reply to assure that he was fine. Alphonse didn't believe him. The younger brother decided to bring their troubled thoughts out in the open.

"…It's horrible what happened."

Edward stiffens for one second, and then let loose of himself. His true feelings revealed.

"Sometimes," Alphonse continues, "I keep getting angry at myself, for not being able to do anything."

The oldest hunches forward, intertwining his fingers, "I know how you feel, Al," he tightens his grip, "But…there may be a way to help her, maybe someday…"

"But is there?" Alphonse said, "Brother, I'm worried what the military will do to her. She's not considered a human being anymore, they'll…they'll treat her like a specimen. She'll be…they'll…" His armor shook in distress.

Edward shares his brother's feelings. They knew how this will be, Nina will be experimented on. Worst of all, it probably won't be something to help her get back to normal, it'll just be endless tests all for curiosity sake. The State Alchemist's fists trembled.

"…We don't know exactly what's going to happen to her," Edward said, grasping for the presence of hope that's nowhere to be seen, "In the morning, we'll talk with Lieutenant Hawkeye. Maybe there's something we can do…"

The brothers eyes met. Alphonse considered Edward's words and nodded, "Yeah. You might be right," there wasn't much enthusiasm in his voice, but he agreed with Edward nonetheless. He starts again, "Are you feeling tired now?"

The Fullmetal Alchemist sighs, "No, not yet," if anything, all this worry over Nina got him more awake.

"Maybe you should try lying in bed," Alphonse suggested, "And…count sheep?"

The older brother smiles, albeit it was strained, and not due to drowsiness that has yet to come, "Well I could, but I wouldn't mind talking some more."

Neither would Alphonse, beyond anyone's expectation. He shook his head however, "No. You need your sleep."

With everything going on in Edward's mind, he really can't, now more than ever. But not wanting to worry Alphonse, and despite the inner turmoil of having to leave his brother who's lack of a true body prompts him to never sleep and thus leaves him with lonely nights - much to his dismay and heavy regret, he goes back upstairs.

But with the thoughts of Alphonse's condition now taking lead in his mind, and it was quickly being followed by other troubling thoughts, Edward is no longer tired, he felt agitated. His mind raced and his emotions started to spiral.

"Still can't sleep!" He mumbles in frustration through the pillow. He twists and turns in his bed, changing his sleep position, but all this does is stir up his energy. Edward won't be able to get any rest like this. He needed to exhaust himself somehow. Punch something and never stop until he drops, exercise for a moment, or maybe go for a walk.

Yeah. That sounds good. Edward needs to take a stroll and organize his thoughts. He could get his red coat to help him be warm in the low temperature night and in case it might rain again, then after he gets his boots he'll go downstairs…

And tell Alphonse what he plans to do, which will have the Soul-bound Alchemist to join him. It's not that Edward won't appreciate his company, far from it. But at the moment, he needs to sort these thoughts on his own. Deal with his trauma over Nina, the endless leads of the Philosopher's Stone that seems to be going nowhere, thinking about Alphonse's condition and the question if he hated Edward for what was done to the younger brother.

He seriously needed to be alone. He'll climb out of the window so to avoid bothering Alphonse. He won't take long. Twenty minutes at most.

That is all the time he needs.

---

The air of the night tickled his skin with it's light cold touch. The environment damp and the ground littered with puddles of rainwater. Every building has it's residents sleeping soundly, evidently no lights were on except the streetlamps which illuminates the way as Edward solely walks along the sidewalk, taking a deep breath and sighing through the nose.

In this cold night, he began reminiscing all that has happened, the series of events that led to him and his brother where they are right now, and once again, self-depreciating himself in immense fault for how it all came to be. He looked at his automail hand, the constant reminder of his sin. His brother the biggest one.

Does Alphonse resented him for what Edward has done to him? Edward can understand that, he really can, and yet it's so hard to accept the idea of being hated by his brother. But Edward is going to fix this. He has to. He doesn't care if he can't get his limbs back, as long as he can get Alphonse's body back, he'll be satisfied. There may not be much evidence, but it is scientifically possible for a Philosopher Stone to exist, he just has to find it somehow.

But then, what happens if it turns out that the stone is all just a legend? Or if it's not really capable of bringing back Alphonse's body. Edward would be lying if he said that these thoughts didn't come to him these last few years. If it turns out to be the case, then Edward would have to live with this guilt and horror over what he's done, forever accept the passive hatred from Alphonse, and they have to live with these forms for the rest of their life.

Edward finds himself hating the idea with a passion. Clenching his fingers into a fist, he adds fuel to his determination in seeking a way. If the Philosopher Stone won't help, then he'll find something else that will, he doesn't care how long it will take, he will find a way.

But will he be able to reach something like that, to help his brother, when he couldn't even help a little girl?

The thought of Nina had his determination crumbled and his fist loosened, even though he told Alphonse that there may be a way to help her, with her being merged like that, it was something that science can't undo. At least not currently, but it may take decades before actual progress shows, and she might not make it until then.

Just as Edward had planned, exhaustion hits him like a crashing wave, albeit he is in a depressed mood. A good night sleep should help him though, that is if he doesn't get anymore nightmares.

Edward looks ahead of him and stops short. "Huh? Wait, what part of the city am I at?"

He probably should have paid more attention to his surroundings, his teacher would have berated him and beat him up for his carelessness, any kind of people could be prowling this late at night, not that he can't take care of himself. At least he's not lost, it just seems that he went much farther away than he planned to.

Edward rubbed his tired eyes, "Guess I should head back," he starts backtracking his way to the dorm.

Clatters of metal against metal faintly echoes throughout the quiet night.

Edward halted when he heard this, perplexed. He listens, wondering if there were any late night workers nearby. It could be, but the sounds were too odd and too far to discern what it was he is hearing exactly. He frowns.

Rationally, he should probably leave alone whatever it was, but Edward was a curious boy. Have curiosity and suspicion mixed together and there would not be anything in the world strong enough to push him away until he settles his inquisitive habit.

He walks towards the direction the noise was coming from.

With his ears leading him, Edward drew closer to the source, and the sounds were becoming more clear. Like plates of strong bulky glass clashing against each other in a competitive rhythm. The first thought that came to him was his teacher Izumi, remembering how she would cross her kitchen knives together in threatening fury when she found out the Elric brothers did something stupid. Edward pales at the idea of her finding out the taboo the brothers have committed, he did not want to know what she would do.

A block away from him is the Main Square where all shops are gathered and should be closed at this time. Edward slows his pace considerably, the song of clashes and collision just ahead. He snuck in, avoiding an empty glass bottle possibly dropped by some drunk and pressing his back against the wall. He leans forward, carefully peeking around the building.

A body of blue's feet skids across the gravel, a figure with green hair grinning eagerly.

Edward's eyes widen.

Two men were in front of the small clock tower at the center of the Main Square, and they were fighting. Each clutching a spear, and each wearing strange outfits. One held a red weapon with markings surrounding the staff and carved up to the blade, a blue skin tight body wear with white line designs around the ribs and limbs. Silver plates of armor over his shoulders, his silver earrings dangling as he moves in his light armor shoes with incredible agility. Blue hair with a spiky top, tied by a cylinder hair item into a ponytail.

The second man has green hair, with one bang nearly over the eye. Dashing in his silver and black armor with boots matching the design, black undershirt and pants with two belts around each leg, a red scarf tied around his torso with the fabric long and loose over his back, whipping the air wildly as the man dodges. His spear a steel blade and wrappings at the end of his brown shaft.

Brisk actions of crossing blows by thrusts and swings. The man in blue sprinted around his assailant as he swung his spear with such quickness. The man with green hair counters each attack, though a few hits reached his defense, and planted cuts, frighteningly, the green haired man grin only pulled further. He intersected his opponent's spear and pierced his shoulder, blood spills and stained the steel blade.

Are these guys trying to kill each other? Edward kept his cool, even though his instincts were telling him to leave this area immediately. But completely enraptured by the epic fight before him, and at his total cluelessness at what was even going on held him in place and continues to watch.

The blue man backpedals, avoiding another attack, and braced himself for the coming kick too instant to dodge, it sends him flying towards the tower. Adjusting his body position in midair, his feet landed the brick wall and he leapt towards the green haired man like being fired from a cannon, leaving a small crater.

These were the makers of the sounds, the song of a fierce battle as both assailants look to spill the other's blood with their spears the singers. The very ground cracking under the pressure of every pounce they make. The two men smiling in great enjoyment and their scowl so frightening it sends a shiver down to Edward's spine. Whoever these men were, they were immensely skillful and powerful.

The warriors separated, distance in between them by twenty feet. Their bodies stilled, their focus on each other. Edward observes silently, lowering himself to avoid being seen.

The man with green hair reached up and felt the cut on his cheek, he saw the blood, and slowly builds up a joyful laughter, "I can't believe it, you're actually able to cut me! This fight was fated to happen Lancer!" He lifts a finger and points, "But you're holding back. To me as a warrior and to you as well, that's an insult. If you want to make this a little bit more interesting, fight me to your heart's content!"

The blue man called as Lancer responds, "Believe me Rider. There's nothing more I want than to give you my all. But I'm on a tight leash here."

"A Command Seal huh?" Rider huffs, "What a terrible Master you have then."

"I can think up better words to describe him," Lancer spat at whatever vulgar figure he was referring to. "Sorry to say that I may have to eventually retreat."

"What a shame, you're the first I met who may actually have a chance against me," Rider rubs his chin, "It's going to be such a bore killing you easily."

"Like hell I'll let that happen. If I'm in a tight corner, then I'll have to end it right then and there."

"Oh? So you're going to use that?" Rider eagerly questioned.

A growl seeps through Lancer, "Just wait and see, Rider. Your armor won't save you from this!"

Rider widely grins as he prepares himself, "Bring it, Lancer!"

Edward watches as Lancer grasped his spear with both hands. The head of the weapon pointed downwards, one palm flat against the shaft. His red spear burst in a violent flame-like aura, and it was like the air sucked in. The State Alchemist's breath hitched, losing his sense of breathing, and stared in shock at the abomination before him. Dread overcame him by the killing-intent pouring out from the active spear, the face of it's wielder just as terrifying.

"What the hell…?" Edward whispers. The Alchemist is true to his title, and it can be certain that what he is seeing surrounding that red spear was not Alchemy. No such Alchemy is capable of such monstrous things, even for any the evil deeds done by the act, this was beyond science. He would have debated this thought, but at the moment his sight were so focused on the furious spear.

The imminent power from the spear spiked, Rider smiles in excitement as he prepares himself to take whatever attack was coming. The dread in Edward rapidly evolved to a drastic warning signal down to his core, telling him to leave now. It was even more apparent that what he was seeing was probably something he should not know about, and wouldn't dare test this by letting himself known.

He steps back instinctively, and his heel taps against a bottle with a light ding.

Lancer whips his head behind him, "Who's there?!" Rider looked as well.

Crap.

Edward stood there, body still as the two men now acknowledges his existence.

"A witness?" Rider's expression drops into that of someone who is seeing a troubling situation. The power in Lancer's spear quickly dies at the boy's revealing.

The Fullmetal Alchemist decidedly swallowed down his unnerved spirit, he steps out and allowed himself to be seen fully, "Hey, what's going on here?" He demanded, his voice steady though a few sweats have formed. He was part of the military, so obviously any illegal action that's happening in front of him - if he cares enough - he should respond to it. Yet somehow, he feels as if he was out of his element here.

Not that he hadn't dealt with illegal fights before, he's stopped rinks like that a couple of times, but it's this impending fact that he's somehow facing these guys like he's in his underwear even though he's a talented Alchemist with martial arts training - well he's wearing his pajamas underneath his red coat but that wasn't the point.

He has this feeling that he can't expect to fight these guys, and win.

Rather than answered, Lancer sighed in exasperation, "And it was just getting good."

"Damn, and you were about to show your Noble Phantasm. Wait, does this mean we have to…"

Lancer pointedly glared at Rider, "What else are we supposed to do?"

"Hey!" Edward spoke louder, peeved at how he was being ignored.

"Come on. Can't blame the little brat-" Edward twitched in anger at Rider's words, "-for walking in on us. Who's gonna believe him anyway?"

"You know the rules. We can't take any chance."

"HELLO?!" Edward shouts, the two warriors looked at him in surprised as if remembering he was right there, "Will either of you tell me what the hell is going on here?!"

The men blinked, glancing at one another. Lancer chose to be the one to speak as he spun his pacified weapon and rest it over his shoulder, "Listen kid…"

Why do people always call him kid? He's a teenager dammit!

"I can't really explain anything to you. But I need you to do something for me."

Edward frowned skeptically at Lancer's coming request. The spearman lifts the weapon off his shoulder and held it almost leisurely, his knees bended.

"Stay right where you are."

Edward didn't know how he didn't see it coming, but the red blade was already close to his heart. Reacting instantaneously in a panicked state, he swung his concealed automail arm and smacked it away. A second strike comes, and he blocks it with his right arm again. His sleeve tears apart as Edward was forced back quite a distance and painfully bounced twice. Hurriedly stumbling to his feet and pressing his palm against the gravel. He sees red eyes narrowed at him, a clear read of this man looking to kill the Alchemist.

Edward refuses to let that happen. His gaze hardens, his clap sounds a metallic ring as Lancer comes for him again, and he slaps the ground. Blue light sparks everywhere, a wall made of the material from the ground shot up before him. Lancer was unprepared for something like Edward's fantastical alchemy and was struck in the chest. The attacker flew, and landed with a crash. Broken pieces of the ground scattered.

Impressed, Rider whistles, "Is that this Alchemy I've been hearing about?"

Edward would have given thought to the peculiar question until Lancer got back to his feet. It didn't look like he hurt the man much, the only thing Edward seemed to have done was getting that guy away from him, and infuriate him.

Lancer's furious expression dimmed to a smirk, "Looks like I might get some fun out of this!"

"Hey hold up! You're fighting me!" Rider shouted. Lancer ignored him and went for the Alchemist again.

Edward ran back to create a distance and to properly fight the man in blue, creating another wall to attack. Not yet comprehending the situation he is in, but he was slapped awake when he witness Lancer easily slicing through the wall Edward made with just one swing of his demonic spear.

Edward looked on in shock, and tactically chose to keep running.

He ran through an alleyway, Lancer chasing in hot pursuit. The Fullmetal Alchemist clapped once and slaps the wall as he proceeds, creating a boundary spilling from the building beside him and hopefully slowing the man down. It did, for precisely one second. Lancer breaks through the wall easily, on the dog of the military's tail, though who was the real animal here? Certainly not the one being chased.

Edward turns to another alley, evading another attack and Lancer's weapon instead pierced a wall. Not a moment to celebrate, as it turns out the Alchemist ended up running towards a dead end, a single door resigning on his left and nothing else on his right but blocks of brick twenty feet high.

No other way around this then. He manipulates the matter of his right arm and it became like that of an average sharp weapon. Lancer had successfully pulled out his weapon and looked at the blade of his arm and the brave look on Edward in intrigued.

"Going to stand up to me?" Lancer reveals his respect etching across his feature, "You sure are no push-over, pipsqueak."

"Shut up!" Getting his temper over his height the best of him, Edward throws the first attack, which was casually slapped away by the spear. Edward is an experienced fighter, but Lancer beats him with years of surviving endless battles, is stronger and far more quicker than any opponent Edward himself has ever faced.

Edward honestly gave it his all to block Lancer's strike, but he was overwhelmed repeatedly. He manages to push the blade away from his heart again, but Lancer gives a kick instead, a return gesture to Edward's earlier attack. The Fullmetal Alchemist had the wind knocked out of him and he broke through the door of an abandoned building. His whole body skids across the floor as he tries and fails to stop himself. He was able to push himself out of the way from Lancer's pounce and his thrust out of force despite the pain all over his body.

Another use of his Alchemy, Edward summons a pillar-size from the ground and although Lancer blocked with the staff of his spear, he was pushed back outside. The Alchemist makes a run for it with a harsh gasp, a horrifying realization that whatever this man is, Edward was outmatched. He can't fight by himself.

As Edward with an aching chest dashed across the empty hallway, he comes to a hasty halt when Rider suddenly appears through the window with an annoyed expression. "You're not getting away from me Lancer! We still haven't finished our match!"

Edward would like to officially call these guys lunatics.

He sees an open door to his right and lunges himself into the room, empty of all things but cobwebs in some places and brittle paint on the walls falling off. There was another door at the end, leading to another hallway. He sprints for it, glancing back once and saw the two men meeting, their spears clashing again. Rider is intent to continue his fight with Lancer.

Edward proceeds. Dashing through, he lets out a shout when he heard a tremendous noise of concrete being destroyed by the second match of the two warriors. The floor itself shook and he tripped. He pushes himself back up and ran once again in haste, any late movement and he fears it will be his demise. He transmutes the wall beside him to create another obstacle just to stall either of the warriors and for him to have a chance at seeking a way to escape.

The clash of blades ringing behind him, Edward slips around another corner with another hall revealed before him. An open doorway in his peripheral. He stops abruptly and looks again. The room was small like a closet, there was no escape through there, but maybe…

Edward went in. He knelt down as he faces the doorway, his palms against the ground and transmuting the materials to rise in blue sparks, completely blocking his one way out. He transmutes again, pressing the blocked path and manipulated the matter to appear something different. From outside this closet-sized place, the blocked path matched the wall around it, completely hiding the doorway without any flaw or clue to show that there was even a room there where the Alchemist hides.

Edward understood he couldn't outrun Lancer for long, his only bet left to take is to stay here and wait for the guy to run by. Remaining his position and keeping his breathing quiet, controlling himself to not make a sound, he heard the hasten pitter patter of someone running, followed by another set, the second runner shouted at the man name Lancer, his demand to finish their fight refused to be ignored.

All went quiet afterwards. Edward took one minute until he was sure that no one was coming back, leaning in close to hear anything. When nothing is heard, he transmuted and recreated his way out, seeing through the window the light of the moon again, about to be overcome by the dark clouds of the rainstorm's return.

The path to where those two men went was empty, yet knowing that this is the way they went, it was as if every crack and brittle paint warns him not to take this way, spelling threat and imminent death by the end of that man's red spear. As a result, Edward ran the other way, back to where he was kicked into this building. Content to avoid the two men who can bring fear in the word monster.

He's certainly not going to be sleeping any time soon.

---

The Fullmetal Alchemist ran as if the spearman in blue was right behind him, boots splashing against the puddles, he ignored the wet feel to his ankles. Though it seems he lost them, he can't waste a second dawdling, he has to get word to Eastern Command. A few blocks from here there should be a public phone booth he can use. This needs to be addressed to the colonel himself, if he's still in his office. Well, he has to reach somebody.

Edward recalls the fight he witnessed right before accidently revealing himself, the two men were definitely trying to kill each other, an illegal fight to the death that must be kept secret if the man in blue's attempt to murder the Alchemist was anything to go by.

However, the strangeness of this situation is profound: two men dressed as if they were in the medieval times, the word Master, Command Seals, what are Command Seals? He's also pretty sure that Rider guy said something about a Noble Phantom or something like that, what was that supposed to mean? Most importantly, what in the hell was that power swarming that guy's red spear? It was not normal, Edward shivers just picturing it in his head and his heart throbbed that he was almost stabbed by the same spear, though this could be because of the kick he received - damn that blue guy.

There were so many questions, Edward was determined to discover and unravel this since he almost got killed just for seeing.

The adrenaline that zipped through his body dies slowly, not wanting to stop out in the open, Edward reaches for an alley that was a shortcut to where he needed to go. He presses his hand against the wall to keep himself standing and took deep breaths, his automail hand resting over a knee. As he regain stamina, Edward looks back to where he had ran from, no signs of anyone following so he was safe for now.

Staring into the empty road, Edward wipes away the sweats from his face and plans accordingly how he's going to explain this to Eastern Command, it'll be simple to say that he stumbled upon a fight and was nearly executed, then he remembered something annoying.

"I'm gonna have to give them the code," If Edward wants to reach out the military through the public phone booth, he has to recite the letters and numbers proving he does in fact work for them. He understands that it's to avoid random people from making prank phone calls but it can be seriously inconvenient. He starts walking through the alleyway, "Great, it's always such a pain in the ass giving some code when there's an emergency-"

Sharpness intrudes his chest.

Edward's words, thoughts, and movements stopped. Confusion swarms his mind as pain erupts, horror afloats when his own blood stains the front of his white shirt and pain was like he was shot and the bullet got stuck. This isn't possible. He's been wounded. But how? When? He was sure he evaded that man's attacks!

A warped color of red swirls over his chest, stretching across him, a red blade reveals. It expands to reveal the shaft, hand, and the full figure of Lancer, eyeing the boy with indifference, that this misfortune was a constant acquaintance which he has harbored a dislike to, but accepted its existence.

Edward stared at the "ghost" before him in utter disbelief, his skin paled as he loses blood. His logical mind trying and failing to comprehend the man's mystical arrival, but one more prominent signal shot his brain that at least was the only thing he understood. He has been stabbed.

"Sorry kid," Lancer said, "But you weren't supposed to see that."

Edward grasped the shaft with trembling hands. One action, just one more act, his last hope to survive by pulling out the weapon from his heart. He is a stubborn boy like that, even if doing this would have him lose more blood and that he can't get away from his attacker now, he refuses to give up. To spite the odds is in his nature.

But it was a futile effort, his fate is sealed the moment his heart was pierced by the spear.

Lancer pushed his weapon further, the tip of the blade exiting the back of Edward's red jacket. He swiftly pulls it out, the Alchemist drops onto the mucky ground, and distantly he said, "Curse at your luck or at me as much as you like, find peace with any regrets you have."

Edward clutches his chest in agony, tears dripping from his widened eyes. He spot the Lancer's feet casually walking beside him and stubbornly reaches out for the ankles, a desperate act to force some answers from the man. He barely touched the heel.

"Honestly, my first battle that started off decently, and I end up killing a kid," Lancer complains. Edward's focus remains on the parting Lancer, forcing out whatever sounds he can muster to stop him, but were weak and inaudible. "Some hero I am."

He watched as Lancer fades in a mist of gold.

Dark clouds shielded the moon from the saddening sight of the Fullmetal Alchemist bleeding to death, like the sky coming to grieve yet again. Edward sputtered words for anyone to hear, to cry out for help, but he was in too much pain and far too exhausted. Even as he managed to spell out "Help", no one could hear him. No one would come to save him.

Am I going to die?

It appears so, and it turns out, death was very painful, but not because of the wound. He thought of all the people he cared greatly, all the people who in turn cared for him. Alphonse, Winry, Pinako, Roy, Riza, everyone he knew. The pain of death was not how he was killed, it's what he's about to leave behind without his consent.

There were some acceptance with this, after all, what good was he when he couldn't help Nina? An innocent little girl, turned to a monster because he was oblivious and ignorant. There was also no way for him to survive, not unless some miracle were to happen. But the night was quiet, and Edward understood this.

Yet…

"I promise Al, no matter how long it takes. I will get your body back."

Dragging his automail limb, his fingers dug the ground as he clenches his hand into a fist and punched the ground once.

He can't die. No. He refuses to die right now. Alphonse needs him! He doesn't even know where Edward was, there is no way will the Alchemist let his little brother find his dead body in some alley! Not only that, Winry would kill him if he does die here, and if not, she'll cry, Edward doesn't want to make her cry or have Alphonse feel he's alone in the world. He. Will. Not. Die.

"I made a promise…" Edward began dragging himself forward, crawling with defiance, "I would get...your body back...Alphonse…"

He leaves behind a trail of blood.

"We've come...too far...I won't let it end...like this…" He coughed, red splatters over his chin, "I won't die...I can't die…"

His body drags across the gravel, the toes of his boots slipping and his fingers clawing the ground in order to pull himself. The light of the streetlamp just a foot away, he pushed himself, using his right arm for support.

"I can't…."

His body drops on the pavement, half of him under the light, and he went still. The night was quiet once more.

Though not completely.

One block away, footsteps of armored boots closes in where the tenacious boy lies. Her blonde locks tied in a single thick brain swayed with the wind, her pink bangs behind her steel headwear disturbed as well. Aquamarine eyes towards the sky, noting the coming weather, her attention reverts to what she had felt moments ago.

"A battle between Servants had unfolded in this city," she confirmed, "And just a moment ago, I felt the presence of one. What happened here?" The fight she sensed between the Servants had ended abruptly, but she sensed neither have died, yet this is not the strange that troubles the girl.

Jeanne's journey across Amestris led her with baffling findings, and the first sign of this anomaly, the amount of Command Seals she carries, with connections to Servants that far exceeds the expected Seven. Her meetings with the Masters and Servants had her to relay this fact, and watch with a neutral expression of horror etching their faces at her revealing this disturbing fact.

Though she was aware of this during her summoning, there are simply too many Masters and Servants spread across this country, and so many battles are happening in so many places, Jeanne can't hope to catch all of them at the same time even for a Ruler Servant. What's more, some of the Masters she had met were Alchemists who had no knowledge of the Holy Grail War beforehand.

What is going on? What has tampered with the system of this war? There should not be this many Masters and Servants, it was too grand, the Master rosters were beyond random, and she has no clear distinction in where the main battlefield will take place for all Servants to gather - to be frank, if there were none it would be better that way. With the amount of Servants there are, the crust or perhaps the mantle of the earth itself would not survive through their intense battle.

Jeanne wanders with these concerns over the anomaly, wondering what to do with this predicament. She reaches the intersection of the sidewalk, taking her surroundings into account to seek for the Servants and hopes that her appearance will draw them out as she wore her armor, that either opponents or Master can explain to her what has unraveled here.

Her eyes were upon the fallen form of a boy in a distinguishable red jacket.

Jolted at the sight, Jeanne came to his side instantaneously. "Are you alright?!" She hopes for a response, but there was none. She gently moved his body to have his front face the sky, and saw the pool of blood beneath him.

Jeanne inspects the wound. Whatever weapon was used had gone all the way through, his heart cut and struggles to keep pumping, but by the second it beat less and less.

Even with top-class medical help by the most brilliant surgeon existing, any work in saving this boy's life would not help. For the process to prevent this boy's death is to surgically replace the heart and stitch the tissues back together also requires for his body to heal on its own in time, which even with the procedure done, there was a curse embedded in the infliction. This curse would not allow any healing even by thaumaturgy, it was sure death.

Curses are not common among the citizens, Alchemists are non-believers of such things, and a Magus can cast one but this curse is much more powerful than any Magus can ever accomplish. A while ago, she had detected the battles between Servants not far from here, and she had just felt a Servant before his exit, mostly likely in his spirit form.

A Servant has done this, she deduced. It was done to a boy that had no markings of faded Command Seals so he could not have been a defeated Master. He was an innocent bystander, one that must have saw the Servant Battle, and in order to keep the war a secret, he was silenced.

"If only I had come sooner," Jeanne whispers regretfully. This was completely unnecessary, were either Servant's Master not qualified to perform a memory alteration spell to have him forget what he saw? Or did the Masters not attend, and the Servants were left to deal with this boy and do what they only could.

She adjusts her hold of the boy, and at last took a long look at his face. Recollection struck her. She met this boy before. The boy who had left her a lasting impression, helped greatly along with his travelling companion that is his younger brother. The brothers who had foiled and revealed the plot of a false priest to the people of Liore. The brothers who had desired to gain back what was lost.

Held in her arms was the famous or infamous State Alchemist, the Fullmetal Alchemist - a fitting title. Edward Elric.

Jeanne intakes a quiet gasp. She had said that she would have liked meeting them again, but she would never have thought it would be like this. What of his brother? Did he actually came out this late at night by himself? Does his brother even know he's here?

If not, then Edward is here without anyone knowing, and he who had the misfortune to walk in between Servants dueling, it was a such a depressing situation that Jeanne honestly wanted to cry.

"I...can't…"

The boy mumbled, surprising Jeanne. "What was that?" She leaned in, her ears close to Edward.

He spoke again, though it doesn't appear that he acknowledged the person holding him, completely out of it and barely holding onto the tiniest bit of his consciousness.

"I...can't...die...Alphonse…" He whispers for his brother.

Jeanne's heart could not take it, tears welled up as she understood what he is saying, recalling Alphonse's explanation.

"Now, we want to get our bodies back. Even though we may die on this journey, this is the path we chose together, and we won't stop. No matter how long it takes. All we can do is keep moving."

Yet such a resolved proclamation could only be strengthen by the companionship that is between these two brothers. Jeanne has a feeling that if one of the brothers lost the other, then it would be entirely difficult if not impossible to keep going. These brothers as she has seen cared so deeply for one another, they're family, one which Jeanne understood the importance of it.

They were all they had left, a reason to keep going.

Jeanne clenched the shirt in front of her heart, and her expression hardened with determination. Releasing, she settles her hand over Edward's wound, and closes her eyes.

"Oh Lord, I beseech you…"

A soft, warm glow swarms her palm. Jeanne knew that even if she were to go all out running to the nearest hospital, the boy would not make it, not with this curse upon him. She had to break it, and doing so, she will be repairing his heart by some of it. In her legend there was an account that she was wounded on the battlefield, and that the Lord healed her instantly. It is a miracle, one that was later scorned as witchcraft. Jeanne will transfer this miracle to the boy, though it will only be partly, she will at least heal him properly afterwards.

She prays quietly for the boy. Each second, the glow beneath her hand grew brighter, breaking the curse. The hole through Edward's back closes, and the inside of his chest began healing. Within a short moment, Jeanne did the best that she could, and Edward gasped. Greatly exhausted, he accomplished opening half a centimeter of his eyes, his savior a blurry image before everything went black, though he still breathes.

Jeanne sighed in relief, but her job is not done yet. However, before she could continue healing this boy, headlights of a coming car shone in her peripherals. She suffers with confliction, even in this world Thaumaturgy is kept a secret, though surely she can explain what she's doing is alchemy. Yet if one looks at it closely...She musn't risk exposing magecraft, but she cannot leave this boy while he still needs help.

There's only one other option. Her armor quickly vanished into her civilian outfit.

Roy Mustang was as usual dead tired, having to deal all night with the paperwork surrounding Shou Tucker and Nina - truly a case about the Devil's work. He just can't wait until he gets whatever hours of sleep he can gather, a shame he wasn't able to push it off but it wasn't a case which Roy could just slack off from, not especially with Edward and Alphonse deeply traumatized by it. It would be in a way insulting.

After a yawn, Roy looks forward to reach home and drop onto bed. He was completely exhausted, but when he saw someone franticly waving at him on the sidewalk, he became alert once more.

"Help! Help!"

Roy heard the girl's cry, and saw someone on the ground beside her. He stops his vehicle short, and steps out with the ignition on, "What is it?"

Jeanne lifted the boy into a sitting position, "This boy was attacked. He needs medical attention!"

Roy went closer to the pair, and realized in shock. Though not in his usual braided hair but a ponytail, Roy still recognizes that red coat and form. He hurries closer and lifts the boy's head, "Fullmetal?" He looks down at the red stain, "Get him in the car."

Jeanne did as he commanded. The tires screamed once Roy hits the gas and broke the speed limit on his way to the hospital. In the backseat, Jeanne has the unconscious Ed's head on her knees, her hand grasped his metal palm and settling it over his chest. She gazes worriedly at the Alchemist and prays continuously that he will make it.

"What happened?" Roy's questions was stern and supposedly level-headed, but deep in his core, there was fire building up. Someone had attacked Edward, his own subordinate. It's not a total surprise that enemies would build grudges after being exposed and beaten by the young State Alchemist, but to think someone actually tried to kill him and almost succeeded, while in Roy's jurisdiction at that. As he began plotting to set aflame to whoever tried to murder the boy, his mind drifts to questions. What was Edward doing out here in the first place?

"I was walking when I stumbled upon him. I did all that I could to stop the bleeding, but he needs a doctor," Jeanne explains. Clearly, she can't tell him that she was on patrol in search for a battle between fantastical reincarnated heroes, she hopes that this will be enough of an explanation.

Roy Mustang, at the moment, decides not to question the girl and her strange timing - not many people come out this late after all. Right now, he needs to save Edward. The hospital is in sight once he made a sharp turn, and parked right near the entrance, leaving behind lines of black tire marks. The workers outside were shocked at this display of recklessness, and had a mind to shout at the man until he stepped out and spoke, "I have an injured State Alchemist with me!"

Jeanne opens the door and helped the struggling Edward out, nurses gasped at the sight of his condition and some went to his aid while others went to warn the doctors of a coming emergency. As Jeanne watches Edward be taken from her and to a stroller for him to lie upon, mixed feelings of relief and worry swirls within her heart, but there was no point of it. She's done all that she can, she must now leave the rest to the doctors and to Edward.

After the workers hurries the stroller inside the building with Roy close behind, Jeanne leaves one long glance at the hospital before turning her heel, and walks into the night. There are still Servants and their Masters she must locate.

"Can you save him?" Roy looks over the doctor's shoulder as he follows their speed. Eyes on the gasping Ed with concealed concern, at least, the best as he could.

"This is a deep wound. He's not bleeding much but we need to get him to surgery and close this, beyond that he may have a chance."

A woman in white uniform stops Roy from following, "Please wait here, we have to prep him for the procedure."

Roy understood, he stood there silently gazing after the way his subordinate left. Witnessing the stroller pushed open the doors with an urgent smack. For a moment, he didn't move, as if debating to go on ahead or remain in place, and eventually found himself at the waiting room. There were plenty of empty chairs for him to take, but before he does that, he needs to use a phone.

Finding one inside the hospital, Roy picked up the receiver and dialed the number in quick precision. After two waiting beeps, the person at the other line answers.

"Hello?"

"Lieutenant."

"Sir?" Riza Hawkeye woke up diligently once she heard his voice, "What is it?"

"Fullmetal is in the hospital."

A sharp, quiet gasp sounds through the line.

"I was on my way home when a civilian waved me down and I found her holding up Fullmetal. He looked to have been stabbed through the heart."

"How is he?" Though Riza spoke evenly, Roy could hear the unease and worry.

"He's undergoing surgery right now, the wound is deep but they say he has a chance."

"Is Alphonse there?"

"No. Which is why I called you, I need you to tell him what happened and bring him here," Roy knows how little Alphonse is going to like this, he'll start running at the word of his brother's injury. "I'll be here waiting."

"Understood sir."

After parting words, Roy hangs up. As much as Roy desired to find the perpetrator, there really wasn't much to go by with his only witness the unconscious Fullmetal Alchemist undergoing surgery right now, and possibly-

The girl.

Remembering her, Roy hurries outside of the hospital and searched his surroundings. It looks like the one who found Fullmetal left unannounced, which would have not been so bothering were it not so sudden. Doesn't she think it best to stay behind for a soldier like him to question her further? To Roy, this abrupt leave is suspicious, or maybe he's just getting desperate. No matter, he'll find her if he needs to.

Right now, he has to wait and hear the condition of his subordinate. Taking a seat in the lobby and clenching his hands together as he frowns at the floor. He felt so restless right now, but he knew Fullmetal was a stubborn kid, he won't go down so easily. He better not, Roy would order him so. Refused to let him give up. Otherwise, the Flame Alchemist will be on a mass hunt for Edward's killer, and there would be no room to consider taking the attacker in "unburnt" and moving.

---

Alphonse completed yet another book for the third time this night. The loneliness was unbearable for a naturally sociable being like the youngest Elric, and though reading helps keep his mind busy, it would have been better having someone to talk to. With his lack of a body, there was no sleep, no way to experience the illusion of time going by quickly as he dreams and then wake up, ready to face the day, never having to face the boredom and disturbingly quiet, emotionally numbing environment. He figured that even an introvert would have problems not being able to hear a single voice for hours, it didn't matter if the voices were directed to him or not.

If Alphonse was feeling this bad, especially considering that this happens every night since the day his soul was bound to this armor, why would he not let Edward stay up and talk with him as much as he wishes him to? He couldn't, and simply wouldn't for the sake of his brother.

To have Edward stay up all night would exhaust the State Alchemist by morning, and he was already pushing himself into a workaholic for any new leads over the Philosopher's Stone - researching and beating up criminals almost daily. Alphonse had constantly tried getting Edward to slow down, and though he would receive reassurance that he is fine, Alphonse always catches him working late until the youngest had enough and dragged his brother to bed.

Edward had lost his arm and leg but he still had a body, one that needed food and rest, something which Alphonse does not, and he would not have his brother sacrifice his health over something that is considered to be selfish, even if it was understandable.

The loneliness can be soul crushing.

In this normally quiet time, there was a noise outside the front door of a car pulling up, surprising Alphonse. Boots tapped against the concrete, and his door was knocked three times.

Who could that be at this hour?

Alphonse rose with metal shifting against metal, clanking his way and opening the door. Riza Hawkeye stood before him, wearing a brown coat over her pajamas.

"Lieutenant? What's wrong?" He could see the subtle crease in her brows, something has happened, "Should I go wake up brother?"

The crease slightly deepened, his words confirming Riza's suspicions. He did not know Edward went out. "Alphonse, the colonel found Ed out on the street."

Alphonse was taken aback, "W-Why is he...Lieutenant, what's going on?"

Riza's eyes softened, "Your brother was attacked."

"What?!" Alphonse's armor shook as he abruptly steps outside, "Is he alright?! Where is he?!"

"He's in the hospital going through surgery right now." Riza motions herself to steady the shaken armored boy. Alphonse ignored Riza's action to calm him, and instead presses for a name of the hospital Edward is in. Once she gave a name, he took off.

Riza shouted for the younger brother, but Alphonse continues, dashing down the road, his thoughts swarming with the news of his brother's state. His older brother, attacked. Going through surgery. He could be dying. Someone tried to kill his older brother. What was Edward even doing out here? Why did he leave without letting Alphonse know?

Is he going to die?

No. He can't die! Alphonse can't lose him. They made a promise to get their bodies back together!

"I'm coming Ed!" Alphonse voices desperately, "Please, hang on!"

In between dusk and dawn, the sleep of East City's citizens were disturbed by the noise of a boy's substitute body, pursuing anxiously to reach his brother as the second arrival of rain lightly showers over the city.

---

It took a group of nurses, doctors, and Roy to hold back Alphonse from seeing his brother. By the time Riza arrived, the colonel manages to reason with the young Elric that Edward is going through surgery and has to be left by the doctors to handle him. After calming down, the younger brother and two soliders settles in the waiting room. Alphonse sat on the ground due to his body being too big to sit on any of the available chairs, his shaken hands grasped together, worrying greatly for Edward.

Riza and Roy sat beside each other, though Roy appeared calmer than Alphonse, he was itching to see what was taking so long. He needed to talk to Edward so to get a description of the attacker, Roy wanted deeply to seek out the bastard who dared harmed his subordinate. Riza is the calmest compare to her boss and Alphonse, yet she too is greatly concern for the Alchemist in surgery, after hearing more details from Roy, she's content to hunt the attacker alongside her boss and stop the perpetrator cold by a bullet through the legs.

Hours have gone by. The heels of a female nurse clapped against the tiles, "Are you all here for Edward Elric?"

Alphonse and the two officers stood up, "Yes, how is he?" Roy questioned.

The nurse smiled with assurance, "He's going to be fine. We managed to seal the wound just in time."

All tension were let loose, their shoulders slumped with relief. "Can I see him? I'm his brother," Alphonse presses.

"Of course, he should be coming to any moment now but try to go easy on him."

The group of three followed the nurse down the hall and took the stairs, reaching a room on the third floor. Entering, they see Edward resting on his back with a peaceful expression, breathing evenly. Clothed in a patient's attire, and medicine surging through the thin tube connected to a needle that is in his wrist. His automail remained attached, though looks quite beaten. Alphonse lets out a sigh, his brother is looking okay. His brother is alive. What a relief.

But even though Edward is alive, there were many unanswered questions.

"He's going to be fine, Alphonse," Riza smiles. Roy nearly scoffs.

"Of course he is, it'll take more than some shallow stab wound to keep him down." Now all he needs is for Fullmetal to wake up, and then he can start his hunt.

An answer to Roy, Edward stirs.

"Brother!" Alphonse came to his side. The Fullmetal Alchemist groaned before opening his eyes, "Al?" His mind was hazy with pain killers, his chest numb. "Where…?"

"You're in a hospital, Fullmetal," Roy answered, "I know how much you love to give us trouble, but you really scared your brother this time." Hiding his own worries or the fact that he had any, the colonel held to his snarky attitude against the boy. Edward tries to sit up, only succeeding a few inches before giving into the pillow on his back. "Do you remember what happened?"

"Sort of…" Edward rubbed his temple, "I was walking around when I heard something happening. I went to look…" He searches his memories, "These two guys were fighting at the Main Square, it looked to have been some kind of an illegal rink. One of them was using some…weird alchemy."

The memory is still fresh, and still, Edward cannot come to believe that what he saw was anything remotely alchemical.

"I kind of, accidently hit a glass bottle and they heard me. Then this blue guy lunged at me."

"Blue guy?" The colonel questions.

Edward nods, "He had blue hair, and wore a blue body suit. He came at me with a red spear," a shiver to his spine came but he bit it down, "The bastard was tough, I had to run. I tried to reach for a phone booth to get a hold of East Command, but he cut me off in an alleyway," the State Alchemist presses his palm against his chest. Though Edward is able to describe the basic that happened, there was an annoying lag in his brain that causes his brows to furrow. He was forgetting something. Hopefully, when he comes to adjust the pain killers, he'll remember things clearer.

A notepad in hand, Riza wrote down the description with ease; a man with blue hair is certainly not someone too hard to look out for. She shared a look with Roy, and a silent agreement is traded between them, they'll need their team on this and expand the search.

"Well, now that we have the look of our guy. Onto our next question," Roy pointedly looks at Edward, "What were you doing wandering at night by yourself?"

Edward flinched, "Uh…."

"He's right! Why did you go out without telling me?!" His worry and relief for his brother now put aside, Alphonse proceeds to berate the older Elric, hardly hiding his hurt at the secret action.

Edward flinches once more, mentally scolding himself for making his brother worry. "I'm sorry Al. I was too restless to go to bed, and I wanted to sort out my thoughts for a while, I didn't want to worry you so I snuck out."

"That was a stupid thing to do."

The Fullmetal Alchemist glared at the colonel.

"Regardless how skillful you are, you shouldn't be out this late, especially without telling anyone."

"Hey! I can handle myself just…Okay so this was a bad night for me!" Edward backpedals his argument once he remembers that he is in a hospital bed despite his training. His spunk decreased slightly and he looks away, "It's been bad for a while now…"

A moment of solemn silence, and the unreasonable action of the Alchemist wandering the night made much sense now.

"Try to take it easy Fullmetal," Roy resumes, "Do you remember anything else about the man who attacked you?"

Edward thought it over, and relayed any noticeable detail of the man as his brain comes to a wake.

"So this "Rider" called him "Lancer". Blue hair with a ponytail, red eyes," Roy repeats the description.

"I might remember something later, but that's the gist of it."

The colonel nods, "I'll send in a sketch artist later. Alphonse, do keep your brother from leaving here."

"Yes sir." Edward looked to Alphonse in shock at his quick agreement, his brother simply deadpans, "You're staying until you're better, Ed."

"I hate hospitals…" Edward grumpily complains.

"I'll make a call and start the search. You boys should be expecting some officers guarding your door. There's no telling if this guy might come back to finish the job."

"Great, so I'm getting babysitting too…" Edward comments unenthusiastically. Roy smirked at the boy and walks out of the room alongside Riza.

After their leave, a doctor came in and informed of Edward's condition, "You were very fortunate," he said, "Your heart wasn't pierced too deeply, and it's a miracle that you haven't lost so much blood. How are you feeling?"

"Like hell."

Taking it in stride, probably used to unhappy patients, the doctor spoke with Alphonse, "I'm gonna need a moment with him to do some check-up and make sure everything is alright."

"Alright then. Are you hungry brother? I can get you something from the cafeteria."

Edward made a face, "No thanks! Hospital food and me don't get along Al." His stomach grumbled, "…But maybe I could go for a cookie."

Alphonse chuckled. Even after almost dying, his brother remains the same.

Edward sat mumbling in contempt at his position as his doctor switches the bag of fluids for his system. The doctor began questioning how the State Alchemist feels, and with his constant answer of being fine, the doctor ends their session with another check-up in an hour and then leaves.

Edward was left with his thoughts. This has been an awful night, with nightmares haunting him, having to think over all of his regrets and realize just how many terrible mistakes he made, and to top it all on, some lunatic shoved a spear into his heart.

...Shoved a spear into his heart.

Edward frowns, settling his automail hand over his chest. The doctor informed that he only suffered a small pierce, and that not much blood was lost. Yet Edward is certain, Lancer had thrust his weapon all the way through, he's sure that the blade even exit his back, so how the hell could his heart not have been destroyed? How the hell did he survived that?

How indeed. Recalling the moment, Edward should have died. Even with Roy being able to find him quick, Edward couldn't have hoped to have been saved, and Lancer did not hold back.

"Sorry kid, but you weren't supposed to see that."

"Some hero I am."

He faded in gold particles.

Edward sat up instantly.

A warped color of red swirls over his chest, stretching across him, a red blade reveals. It expands to reveal the shaft, hand, and the full figure of Lancer.

Edward grips to his white shirt, remembering the details that had been lagging until now. It was incomprehensible. The way that man had appeared and went, he was like a ghost. How utterly absurd, obviously impossible, and yet it happened right before his eyes. What feats of Alchemy could do that? Was it even Alchemy? If it's nothing like what he knows best then-

Edward takes a deep breath and lies back down, resting his entire arm over himself. He has to calm down, there's got to be a reasonable explanation to what he witnessed. He needs to think, otherwise, he'll sound crazy if he explained this to Roy, he's not even sure if Alphonse would believe him.

That man's ability to manipulate the form of his existence like that, and then there was that moment when the vicious red aura swarmed his spear, it was unlike anything the State Alchemist has ever seen. What the hell was that guy? Edward stared at the ceiling in deep contemplation.

And witnessed a ripple on the concrete.

Before he could blink, Lancer comes through like raindrop and his spear shot for the Alchemist's heart, the red blade stabbed into his automail however, saving the shocked Edward from imminent death. The legs of the bed broke, the mechanics meant to support Edward toppled over.

"Damn, you're a stubborn brat!" Lancer said, complimenting really. Edward struggles to keep the blade from his heart, his automail steadily getting sliced through. The man in blue had him trapped, so the Fullmetal Alchemist goes for a kick, had it been his right leg, it wouldn't have affected Lancer, but with his left leg, he did surprise the assailant enough for Edward to twist his side and let the spear strike the ground, his automail arm had suffered, but his heart was left unscathed.

Lancer doubled back to regain his spear and Edward took his chance, quickly rolling out of bed, he felt the sting of the needle being ripped from his wrist, but ignored it as his eyes were on Lancer. He clapped his hands and slams them to the ground, Lancer backtracks when another eruption of the ground's matter appeared, avoiding it and watches it crash through the wall.

"Why are you trying to kill me?!" This was too much just to make sure Edward stays quiet, or perhaps it is beyond crucial that no one must know this man and his opponent were something that aren't quite human. "And how the hell did you just came through the ceiling like that?!" The man didn't just break through, his arrival was transparent. Just like before.

"You think I wouldn't kill you if I told you?" Lancer responds, "Look, this isn't anything personal, but I can't let you give out anymore of what you saw."

He had been listening, and he had been debating whether to just jump in for the kill and then run off, but Lancer decided to be patient, he waited for the right moment. Unfortunately he couldn't kill the brat in one strike, the luck of the boy was better than his own, which isn't saying much. But damn did the kid got spunk!

Edward slaps the ground, manipulating the matters and summoning a spear. "You think yourself a spearman? Not a bad design." Lancer quipped before his ferocity comes through, "But that weapon of yours will be dust once it gets a taste of mine."

He lunged for the Alchemist.

---

The phone hung back with a click. Roy had given the word about what happened to his team, at first they were speaking rather groggily, but once he told what happened to Edward, the team woke instantly, ready to return what happened to their State Alchemist ten-fold. As brash and irritatingly arrogant the kid can be, practically all of Eastern Command cared for him.

Riza had caught up with him once he ended his call, the team have been given the perpetrator's description and would be on the lookout, it's becoming a hunt for two men - Scar and a man with blue hair.

"Let's go Lieutenant."

Riza clipped her heels together, "Sir."

But their mission will have to be put aside. Destruction against concrete booms a few levels above them, the soldiers and those around them flinched at the sudden sound, feeling the faint vibration quickly crawled over their bodies. Roy looked to Riza, and they shared the same understanding that something more than problematic has happened. A dreadful idea concerning their young State Alchemist.

They ran for the stairs to return to Edward's room.

Alphonse had just gathered the snacks for his hungry brother when he too heard vicious activities happening on the third level, and he instantly thought of one person, "Brother!" He dropped the plate, cookies within their packets crumbled.

Roy slips on his glove with the transmutation circle drawn on the backhand, Riza has her finger on the pistol's trigger. The disturbance grew louder the closer they become. A grand noise like the wall being broken through, and afterwards, a chilling silence. The two officers reached Edward's designated room, they each took a side of the door, Roy made the initiative and kicked it open, his index finger and thumb pressed together, ready to snap and summon his flames. Riza aimed her pistol, sharp eyes surveying the room, looking for the perpetrator as well for Edward.

As they had suspected, evidence of a fight were distinct within the mess of a room. The bed completely torn apart and it's fluffy innards scattered everywhere along with broken pieces of the medical equipment, the floor severely damaged with it's tiles broken in chunks. The most noticeable show however was the large open hole through the wall to where a window once was, the sight of rain pouring. A makeshift small bridge, clearly hastily made, reaches halfway towards the building beside the hospital. The window in the second floor broken through.

"Dammit!" Roy had considered the chance that Edward's attacker would come back to finish the job, but he didn't think the guy would be this bold. Adding salt to the wound, it was done while he, his Lieutenant, and Alphonse were still present. The Flame Alchemist intends to make this act be the bastard's most regrettable one.

Alphonse had arrived, and gasped at the sight. "Alphonse, through there! They couldn't have gone far!" Roy shouted the young alchemist before he ran out of the room, his lieutenant chasing behind. Alphonse proceeds to the room's new open window and jumps down, his body would be far too heavy for the small bridge to hold up. Upon landing, he began sprinting for the building. Apologizing to the awaken residents stepping out after hearing a ruckus, Alphonse searches the entire second floor, and finds another hole broken through. From here, there will only be less and less signs of where Edward may have gone to, but Alphonse is determined to find him.

Another leap through, Alphonse resumes his search, "Hang on Ed!"

The rain repeatedly tapped against his skin, Edward's chest throbbed, the stitching coming close to break, due to his forceful movements to escape his attempted killer, or the sight of the red spear brought painful remembrance to his wound. It would be correct to assume either. Constantly transmuting boundaries to slow down his attacker and ignoring the pebbles sticking to the skin under his foot.

All there is for him to do in order to survive is to run, the weapon he had made broke against Lancer's strength, his martial arts skills ineffective, and his Alchemy mildly hindering Lancer. The man just wasn't human, he was too strong, and the idea that he might use whatever strange Alchemy he was about to unleash against Rider terrified him.

There's got to be a way to beat him. Edward thought up many possibilities he can try to beat Lancer, he could try and find Roy and Riza, his brother can help too, he is sure that with the four of them fighting this guy together they'll be able to win. But trying to backtrack would have him face Lancer, and though Edward is reckless, he's not stupid.

But maybe if he can somehow trap Lancer even for a brief moment, then that would give Edward enough time.

Recognizing the street he was in, the State Alchemist heads for the library. He's sitting duck if he remains out in the open like this, he'll get somewhere that would provide him a better advantage. The public library is like a maze for those who are new to it. Though once he goes inside, there's no doubt that if Lancer is perceptive, he'll track Edward down by the wet footprints. Which is what the State Alchemist needed to happen.

Bursting through the doors, Edward dashed for the bookshelves, and turning corners that may seem randomized, but are actually calculative. Edward has escaped the Lancer's sight. The spearman enters the library, he stops and observes his surrounding before gazing at the floor. Distinct wet footprints caused by the rain lead a trail to where the boy had run off too. What a desperate idiot, so thought Lancer.

He continues his hunt, following the foot trail into another room, he finds himself down the hall spotted the running Alchemist enter a room. He follows after, and finds the Alchemist trapped in this oddly empty room. It seems the boy's luck ran out. Lancer steps inside, and lunges for the Alchemist.

"I got you!"

Oddly enough, it wasn't Lancer who said this, despite having every right to. Edward swiftly dodged the spear, having quickly assessed the man's apparent habit to always strike for the heart. With a grin, his clapped hands slams against the wooden floor. The ground once again rose, Lancer merely needed to dodge them. "That's not gonna work now kid-"

His feet suddenly sunk into the earth, "The hell-?!"

Having been accustomed to East City for a few years, Edward spent most of his time in the library, one would say he knows this place better than he knows Eastern Command. Constant research for a particular legend, he would wander around the library to see if there were any hidden sections the librarian failed to mention. It was then he found this room, which currently is going through renovation for a flaw that only occurs whenever there was rain.

Rain would gather like pool over the roof, and fall through the corners like a thin stream, and mud would form beneath the boards. Truly, to fix this problem would be the work of an alchemist, but it was a problem that was just discovered, and everything had to be moved before any work could be done. Edward himself had offered to fix this problem, though with recent events, this hasn't been on his mind in a while.

Now, he decides to put it off until another day. With the floor manipulated to roll and reveal the muddy ground, Lancer sunk in deep like quicksand up to his waist, he could have gone out easily, but Edward made it difficult for him. The alchemist solidified the mud into a solid ground, like trapping him in concrete, and then manipulated the wood to surround him, covering his head at a triangular trap and basically blinding him.

Of course, it was hard enough having to know that this man could fade in and fade out of existence, but what Edward needed to do was keep him preoccupied and escape with his life. With this done, Edward bolted out of the library through the back door. This time, he'll have to be careful. He can't just ran out in the street like before, somehow Lancer had seen him, so if Ed takes precaution - make twists and turns, leave little evidence of where he went, then surely he will lose the Lancer.

Edward has a feeling that by this point, Roy would call in back-up. Going to the hospital is an option, but one which the Lancer himself will think of as well. He's sure that his brother must be out looking for him, so that will be what Edward will do. Though he has no idea where Alphonse is, it's an apparent thing between the Elric brothers that they always regroup no matter the situation.

Edward reaches a stairway that lead down to the river. Rather than waste any time, he hops over the railing and lands on his automail leg - as much of a sinful reminder his replacement limbs are to him, they certainly do have their perks.

He takes a deep breath, the rain has yet to cease, "There's no way he'll know where I am now."

"Don't bet on it."

Edward gasped, and threw himself forward. The red spear pierced the ground the alchemist once stood, Lancer landed without trouble.

"H-How...how the hell did you find me?"

"I have a knack in tracking people down," Lancer was trained in the arts of Runes, and with these spells, one of them includes the ability to locate a person even if they were far, far away. Even with little evidence offered, Lancer will eventually find his prey. Escaping him was never a possibility from the start. "You sure are a hell of a fighter, but this is the end for you."

Edward desperately transmutes another attack, rows of spikes shot from the ground to strike the Lancer. He constantly defends himself again and again, but his Alchemy, though a nuisance, is now hardly much to the warrior. With one last transmutation that was just a wall, Edward ran.

His wall broke through easily, "Your heart is mine!"

Edward sprinted with all his might, a few of his stiches broke and he bled again. Gazing behind, he watches in fear as the impending doom come as Lancer thrust his spear. This is it. This is sure death.

A figure clad in silver jumps over the railings, landed in between them, and clashed the red spear with a silver sword.

Edward trips and tumbled across the gravel. He stares in shock at the new arrival, not Mustang, Riza, nor Alphonse.

It was by a girl who looked so familiar. Her blonde hair in a thick braid danced in the wind, her silver armor shimmered as the rain made contact. Lancer had backed away, eyeing the new arrival with a frown. Whoever this girl is, she seems to share the same strength as Lancer, how else could she have simply strike away his attack? The girl observed the assailant, and once confirming that he will decidedly study her for a moment, she takes the time to look at the boy she saved a second time.

"Are you alright?" She asked kindly, her pink bangs glinted.

With her face revealed, the Fullmetal Alchemist remembers. "You're...you're that girl from Liore."

Jeanne D'Arc. A name he hadn't thought of in a while, but instantly recalled it for her impression on him was rather impactful.

"Oh Lord, I beseech you..." The faint recollection of a girl with noticeable pink bangs holding his body with a wounded heart. This was her, she was the one who saved Edward from death.

"Who the hell are you?" Lancer questioned, his senses telling him to be on his guard against the girl. Of course, that's not saying much since he has to be when up against enemy Servants, and this girl is in fact a Servant, but something doesn't seem to fit. Looking at her, she did not strike him as a Saber, or any of the seven classes. What's more, her Magic Resistance is incredible, when he thrust his spear for the boy and instead was intersected by this girl, the power in his weapon dulled considerably.

Jeanne looks back at spearman "I am a Servant of the Ruler Class, Jeanne D'Arc. Lancer, cease your attack on this boy! He is only a bystander!"

Edward recollected himself and starts getting back on his feet, cautiously eyeing the two people before him.

"Ruler huh? So you're the mediator," that makes sense, Lancer understood what a Ruler Class Servant is, and what this Class is entitled to. With many privileges so long as she upholds her duty as Ruler, a Servant that must act to ensure the Holy Grail War is progressing properly. "There's not much of a choice, he's seen me battle against Rider."

"Killing him and leaving him out in the open was unnecessary, and he works with the authority of this country, his death would only bring more unwanted attention," and Jeanne simply did not want Edward to die. "Where is your Master?"

"He's not here at the moment," Lancer answered rather vaguely, and before he could explain further, the carrier of his "anchor" spoke to him telepathically-like.

"Retreat, Lancer."

It seems his Master would not want him to cross Ruler. Being the keeper of his Seals, Lancer must obey.

"...Well, you've done what you wanted," Lancer drops his defense position and leaps to the railings. A simple leap and yet he manages to make such a height, it baffled Edward.

"Has your Master asked for you? Lead me to him."

"I can't. He prefers to keep himself anonymous, even from you," The spearman glares at the girl, though such a gaze would be enough to unnerve even the Fullmetal Alchemist, Jeanne was unaffected by them, "Don't bother using your privilege to get me to do otherwise. My Master has no problem cancelling them with his own Seals. Don't follow either. I won't hesitate to fight you." He glances at Edward who tensed under his attention, "Looks like your luck is a lot stronger than I gave you credit for. You better know how to repay that girl for saving you." With that as his parting words, he leaves.

Jeanne frowns at Lancer's leave, for his Master not wishing to see her can only be seen as suspicious, that this Master has something to hide. If Lancer is true to his word, than she will be fighting against the spearman if she wishes to pursue, it is certainly a thing to consider. She feels that there is someone who will give trouble, and her intuition - mended with her Revelation skill, is never wrong.

One of the reasons for a Ruler Class Servant to be summoned is due to an oddity occuring in the Holy Grail War, another reason would be a threat - either to the war, or because of the war. The amount of Servants there are is justifiably concerning, but it may not be the only problem. It was a faint yet unrelenting feeling, there is something, or someone who proves themselves to be an opposing force that will endanger everyone outside of the war. One of the reasons for a Ruler to come is if there is an opposing force that threatens this country - and to an extent, the whole world.

Perhaps it was Lancer's Master, it could be someone else, or maybe there are more than one threat left to be revealed. She should give chase in order to find out.

But she must deal with the boy first. She felt her arm grasped, not at all tight, but then again she is a Servant. Jeanne looks to Edward, the Alchemist's hair is nearly soaked, Jeanne worries that he'll catch a cold or if his automail would rust in this condition. But her main attention lies within his eyes, he held a stern expression that of course reveals his continuing recovery from escaping a near death situation, and one that desires an explanation, "What the hell is going on?"

Jeanne considers her options, she could have this boy's memory altered, then take him to the church for protection. However, her thoughts avert when her eyes fell to where the wound is, and finds blood staining Edward's new shirt, "You're bleeding! We have to get you back to the hospital!"

"Forget that! I want you to tell me who that guy was, how you know him, and what this Lancer, Ruler, Master thing is about!"

"I-"

The tires of multiple vehicles screeches as they sharply turn around the block across the river, and more beyond the railings, Jeanne instinctively grabbed Edward's arm, acting to protect the Alchemist again. Vehicle surrounds them, at their stop, many officers came out and pistols were drawn, "Freeze! Release the Fullmetal Alchemist!"

Oh dear, so thought the troubled Ruler.

"Fullmetal!"

"Ed!"

The boy called to turned and spotted the colonel, lieutenant, and Alphonse coming down the stairs. Roy and Alphonse were surprised when they recognized Jeanne, the Flame Alchemist diverts his attention however back to his subordinate. "Are you okay Fullmetal?"

"Yeah, I'm alright," Edward started, after a pause, he looks to Jeanne, "Thanks to her that is."

To show herself not an enemy as best as she could, Jeanne releases Edward, though he has yet to do the same, "Hey colonel, can you tell these guys to lower their weapons? It's a rude way to compensate Jeanne after she saved me," for that, Edward can't say he's ungrateful, but Jeanne knows something, and whatever she knows that gives reason to why Edward was nearly murdered by that spearman, then he wants to know too. "But we shouldn't let her off the hook either, she did had a chat with Lancer. Calling herself Ruler."

"Is that so?" Roy's tone was low, his eyes narrowed at Jeanne, "Then maybe we should also have a talk, back at East Command."

Oh dear... Indeed, this has become a lot more complicated.

---

More than one anomaly is apparent. What danger lurks with Amestris the center of it all?

A/N: Hello readers! Thank you for taking the time to read my new story. This idea has been on my mind for a while now ever since I've finished watching FMA: Brotherhood, and read Fate/Apocrypha Light Novel and I could no longer resist not to post this.

The curtains rise for In Exchange For A Miracle, get ready for a journey of alchemy, magecraft, friendship, romance, drama, comedy(the best that I can muster), and action!

Please Leave a Kind and Honest Review.