Author's Note: This is the last chapter for Inner Demons. Thanks for your support.
Disclaimer: I don't own FMA.
Inner Demons
Chapter Three: Inner Strength
- Roy's P.O.V. –
I could hear fire crackling, there was a fiery atmosphere and a warm temperature.
I slowly opened my eyes, I still remember the fall, the aftermath of falling down in complete oblivion.
It was horrible but it seems like I have hit dry land.
Though the question is… " Where am I now? " I asked as I tried to look at the scenery.
It hurt when I did, I wasn't awake when I fell down on this land. My whole body, including my face was covered by bruises and dry blood.
But though my body was aching, my body was still attach, maybe a few broken bones or so, but regardless… I am still alive.
I do not know how high I fell to, so I'm lucky to have survive… or am I?
I tried to lift my head, and gaze at my surroundings, but once I have done so, what I've seen was somewhere that I should have rather been better off.
I was on the very heart of what we people may come to call an Inferno or even Hell.
I was on a large, almost circular rock, no path was open for me to leave this place, because as I see it, beyond this border is magma, I would easily be burned to death if I ever fall. I could even hear the faint sounds it does.
I flicked a pebble into it, as it hits the magma, it didn't even take a second to turn it to ash. I gulped as I saw this.
Then I tried my best to look around some more, I manage to do it, but what I saw was still not pleasant, I saw large bent spike rocks, torn like rocks that was probably made by hardened lava. I saw it's cracks release a powerful fiery steam, some lava was also oozing out from it.
I could also see magma forming high pillars of magma jumping off. Like a water geyser but this was lava.
From the walls I also saw magma oozing out from the cracks. With all the lava, it seems like this was a volcano. A volcano, that is ready to erupt any minute now.
Because I saw the magma, surrounding the rock I was in, is rapidly rising. If I don't find higher land, I'll be burned to death in matter of seconds.
I then tried to get up, I used my hands to push myself up, but I couldn't and fell back down. I groaned as I tried again and fell back down to the ground.
I was tired, completely exhausted, I could feel all my strength leaving my body as I fell back the third time. I could feel my mind and body giving in…
Then someone spoke, " So you're still alive, I see… "
I vainly tried to look at him, my gaze weakened as I saw the truth smiling ominously at me.
I glared at him for a second but even my head fell back down to the ground, my eyes were slowly closing. I forced myself to keep it open.
" You must be exhausted from what has happened, It's fine, go and lie down. But I won't be responsible for what is about to happen if you don't move. Take a look around you… Don't you see the lava is slowly rising? " The Truth said.
He was right… If I don't get myself out of here, I'm really done for…
I tried to get up again… But my hands kept trembling, My whole body felt limp as I fell back again.
" You already made it this far, don't tell me you're giving up, Colonel Mustang. "
I ignored him, I was letting him insult me as I was bothered by my own thoughts… " Of all my life I've never felt this useless… "
" Why don't you stand up? Hey, Roy can't you hear me? Are you still there? " He added , But I ignored him once more, hell, I couldn't even think anymore…
I already feel like that this was the end of me, my eyes were getting fogged and I couldn't think or feel my body anymore.
Is this really happening? Am I really just going to give up? Then I'm nothing but a useless person…
I let out my own thoughts, words that I couldn't have said until now, words that I have long hidden inside of me, until this moment were I'm dying...
" I have no power, I'm too weak to stand up and protect somebody…
I look like an idiot, weakened by my own dreams…
I don't want to think anymore…
All of the things I've worked hard for, was all in vain…
Maybe… Maybe it's best for everyone if I just gave in…
To go on the path of death and to give up all hope.
Besides… Just what am I fighting for? "
I could barely keep myself conscious. I could feel the heat of the magma getting closer, it means that the lava is just a few meters away from me.
As much as I wanted to stand and get out of here… I couldn't even feel my body anymore…
" The Flame Alchemist, Colonel Roy Mustang. Is that really all you got? Are you really going to give up now? " The Truth said mockingly.
" I… " I uttered as I closed my eyes and tried to think. " Am I really done for? " I thought as I opened my eyes.
Just when I could feel my eyes were starting to close, In fear that it may never open once more, I could hear the exact words I thought of awhile ago, echoing deep inside me.
" I have no power, I'm too weak to stand up and protect somebody…"
" If you wanted to protect everybody, you have to reach the top. "
I opened my eyes wide as I heard that voice. It was Hughes, his word echoing on my mind…
" I look like an idiot, weakened by my own dreams… "
" Do you think you can reach for the top, looking like that! "
This time, Havoc's voice was echoing on my mind.
" I don't want to think, anymore… "
" An Alchemist continues to think as long as he's alive…"
I heard, Master Hawkeye's words echoing in my mind this time.
" All of the things I've worked hard for, was all in vain… "
" Darn it, Colonel! That's not what you've been working your head off! "
I suddenly smiled, I could remember those words so clearly. The moment I heard, Fullmetal's voice. I tried to move once more.
Using my hands, I've used up all my strength to forced myself to kneel.
I saw the Truth smirked at me and spoke, " I see you regained your determination… But how will you defeat me? Give it your best shot. " He said mockingly.
" Maybe…Maybe it's best for everyone if I just gave in… "
" What you're trying to do isn't for the sake of everyone, You're just trying to dispel your own fears… "
" She's right… Just what was I doing? " I thought as I heard her voice.
The moment I heard those words, Using my own blood, I drew the flame alchemy array on the remaining land just beneath my feet.
Once I was done, I looked at the Truth, determined to get out of here. Even if I have to face the truth, itself.
Then I tried to stand up, ignoring the pain with both my will and determination. Using all the hidden strength I found within me.
I managed to stand up on my own two feet once more and saw the Truth, looking at me.
I looked at him, too. Determined to defeat him to get back to where I belong and end this nightmare.
Then I closed my eyes and calm down as the last words I thought of, when I thought I was dying, echoed within me, once more.
" To go on the path of death and to give up all hope. "
" Please don't go on the path where I can't follow. "
I took a deep breath. Using my new found knowledge, I clapped my hands together once and channeled all the strength I can get from both the flame alchemy array beneath me and from deep within me, my inner strength.
I've summoned all my power as my flames scattered and shrouded me protectively.
I can't give up yet, not just yet… Not now. There is something that I have to do. Not now, not until I fulfill my goal.
Because now, I realized what I'm fighting for…
" It's because I got someone to protect." I said in unison as I heard the Lieutenant's voice echo from within me, giving me the power I needed to defeat the Truth.
" And we're fighting for the future. I can't let you beat me now. " I added as the Truth laughed.
" So you're fighting to protect someone. And you're fighting for the future. " The Truth said seriously as I opened my right eye, my left eye can't, I saw him looking at my eyes deeply.
Then he smiled, " Give it all you got! " The Truth said as I prepared to attack.
Unaware to me, that a large eye opened from behind me. Then I could feel the black hands coming out to get me once more.
"I have the answer of what I wanted to know. " The Truth said. Rather than wondering about what he said, I launched my attack, using all the strength I had on me, on him.
Then the black hands surrounded me once more and pulled me out of the Inferno like place.
As I was being pulled out, at a distance I saw the place where I was standing on awhile ago turn to ash. Everything turned to ash, Including the Truth.
Then I looked up, I was being pulled up towards a bright light. A light that was so bright, it was blinding. I closed my eyes and let the hands pull me. To let them get me out of here.
When I regained my vision, I was surprised to see that I've returned to this white room and staring at a large gate.
I look at my hands and held my wounds. Though my body was aching, I'm back to my old self and the wounds inflicted to me on that nightmare were gone.
I'm back to what I was before all of this has happened.
" You've pass and conquered your past… " The Truth said as I flinched and looked back at him.
" You..! " I uttered as he smiled. I was still a little out of it, but I did realize that my voice was also back to normal... But I can't help but realize that my vision was getting a little fogged.
" But that was only a challenge. A test to see If you are worthy to face the truth. Since you haven't willingly done Human Transmutation. " He said as I looked at him. I realized for some reason, I'm having a hard time seeing anything.
" As I saw your will and determination in facing those challenges, I saw that you are more than worthy to see the truth… For that I congratulate you. " He added as I felt my eyes burn.
" What is this..! " I uttered as I groaned in pain as I held my eyes. I could feel it burn and the pain was unbearable.
" Being able to acquire the knowledge as well as the truth, even if you haven't done it willingly has its price. " I heard him say as the pain on my eyes slowly subsides.
Once I did, I tried to open my eyes… I know my eyes were open but, why couldn't I see anything? Was I transported to another place, without me realizing it?
Or am I still at the same place?
Then I could feel that someone grabbed me, no, not just one but there was many. It was probably the black hands.
" Where are you taking me! " I demanded, yet he ignored me and spoke.
" The Fifth and last sacrifice, The Flame Alchemist Colonel Roy Mustang. I gave you the power and knowledge as powerful as its price. With what you loss will also become your strength. It will be hard but there is still a way to regain what you loss when you overcome your next challenges. "
" What are you talking about! " I yelled, I don't know where I was being pulled into since I couldn't see… but I could feel that a gate was opening and the hands were pulling me inside.
" With your friends you can see the future, with the right person beside you, you can still be able to fight. You've got something to protect… So do your best and fight for it. " The Truth said before I heard the gate close.
That was the last of what I've heard of him. I was still being pulled out from somewhere by those hands.
Then I felt like I was falling again, but this time, it was short. I groaned when I fell to the ground.
" Colonel! " I heard someone call me. I know it was Fullmetal, But I couldn't see where he is. But I felt him assist me.
I was confused…Just where am I and why can't I see anything. But I quickly realized why.
I was brought to the Truth, with the new strength I have, the price that I paid was my vision. I was rendered useless, unable to aimlessly attack, I'd risk hurting the people I must protect.
I was sent into a battle blindly, not only does this darkness cloud my vision to fight, it also prohibits me from seeing the outcome of all our efforts.
Be that it may be, I won't give up. Like the Truth said, there will always be a way, even if all hope is loss. I just have to believe in my friends and believe that all will be well.
There will always be a way as long as you're alive.
- The Truth –
A being you call Earth, God, The One, The Truth and You… A superior being that cannot interfere on what is about to be done.
It's up to the five chosen candidates to save their land and protect the one's close to them.
Van Hohenheim, A person who loves his country ends up losing everyone close to him in an instant.
Izumi Curtis, A devoted mother who will do anything to revive her child, ends up not only losing the child she hold dear, but also loss the chance to bear another.
Edward Elric, A headstrong and intelligent boy that wishes to see his mother beside him, ends up losing his most cherished brother and losing his left leg to stand up on his own.
Alphonse Elric, A gentle boy who wishes to feel his mother's warm embrace, ends up losing his entire body to be unable to feel warmth.
And Roy Mustang, a man who desires to protect the person close to him and to protect the country he holds dear, ended up losing his vision to see the future he has worked hard for.
Brutal I may be, but their loss will also become their strength. Because they have each other and their friends to stand… to stand and conquer their fears and face their Inner Demons.
With their will and determination, with the new found strength I gave them. They have the power to do so.
For everything has a price, and that is the law of the universe.
After all, If you want something, you have to work hard on it. And that is the law of Equivalent Exchange.
- End -
- Inner Demons by 11KairiMayumi11 -
Author's Note: Well, that's it. I don't know about you but this story has given me quite a headache. It was hard to tie the pieces together. But I did enjoy myself and proud of what it has become.
Please leave a review and tell me what you think. This story is based on Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood, but of course, I've changed it a bit. It is still only Fan Fiction. :)
Thanks for reading, I'll work on my other stories. This is part of the 100Themes-100Stories I made on DeviantArt. This is the first so I still need to finish 99Themes. XD
