Recently, I have been tempted to write this chapter. So, I finally did.
I do not own Fma (If I did Conqueror of Shamballa would never have been made. The way I see it is with the series, whey drove over it with a semi with the move they just dropped a nuke on the whole plot and destroyed it.)
Lydia watched with approval as Elsie wrote words on the broken slate with a piece of chalk. When Elsie had turned five a little over a year ago, Lydia had started to teach her how to read and write. She had already been working with Aaron for the last three years to make sure that he was educated as well. Being an intellectual man, Lydia's father had insisted that she had been taught well. And that was something that Lydia wanted for her children as well.
She smiled until she felt a small hand tug at the hem of her dress and turned to see three-year old Edgar standing behind her with as he looked miserable. Lydia knelt down and pressed her hand to his forehead and frowned. He was still as hot as earlier. She looked at the boy as she said, "Edgar, you need to say in bed and rest so you can get better."
Edgar hesitated, then nodded reluctantly as Lydia stood and reluctantly left the camp. Lydia walked quickly toward the town. besides the fact that she Edgar needed the medicine, Lydia didn't like leaving her children alone without her. She had always been concerned that someone would come across them and hurt them in some way. It was for that reason why she had waited so long to get the medicine.
Lydia walked quietly around Central as she made her way to get the medicine. The reason for being in Central was that she had been able to get work there temporarily as a cook. The pay was good for once, but Lydia still didn't want to stay for long. Money was never an incentive to stay someplace. Lydia smiled weakly, it was hard to survive with the little money she earned when she worked odd jobs, but she was happier than when she was the daughter of a mostly well off landowner. It was an odd coincidence that the money most thought would bring her happiness, had left her bored instead.
The door bell rung as Lydia stepped into the small shop. She looked around, and picked up only the things that her family needed. She carefully picked out food, and a small blanket. She hesitated besides soap, but left it behind as the blanket was more useful. Again, she hesitated beside the little boys jackets, but she couldn't afford one no matter how much Edgar needed one. Finally she got the medicine and was thankful that she had precisely the right amount of money to buy everything.
The man behind the counter smirked at her as he looked at what she had and said, "That will be thirty seven cenz." Lydia balked as she said, "But the price should be six and a half cenz less!" the man shrugged and said, "That's inflation for you. Now if you were to consider my offer, I might be able to cut the fee in half."
Lydia shuddered at the lecherous look he directed toward her. The man, Thomas she believed, was merely one of the men who had tried to manipulate her in such a way. Lydia swallowed and wished again that she hadn't been granted such a womanly figure. She looked at her supplies, the were desperately low on food, their blankets were worn out, and Edgar needed that medicine. But Lydia was unwilling to let a man use her body.
The man sighed and picked up the medicine as he said, "You'll be able to pay if you get rid of this." Lydia tried to grab the medicine as she said, "I can't get rid of that, I need it! Please, I'll give up the blanket but not the medicine!" The shopkeeper shook his head as he said, "That's life, some times you have to do without. However my offer still stands if you are willing to provide. I'll even throw this in for no charge."
Lydia watched the man walk off before she muttered absent-mindedly, "I can't give in to his desires like this. But my son! He needs the medicine! But how could I teach my children to defend themselves if I give in. But then my son might not even survive to learn that if I don't." Lydia stood silently as the shopkeeper came back.
As Lydia opened her mouth to give in, and hand on her shoulder silenced her. She turned around and blanched when she was an uniformed man behind her. The man who had a short, and scruffy beard along with slicked back hair looked at the man behind the counter and said, "So you're the shopkeeper who has manipulated young women into giving favors for what they need." The man ran out from behind the counter and out a door in the back.
The man watched and said, "He won't get far, I have two men at the back door already." He turned to Lydia and said, "I'm Lieutenant Colonel Maes Hughes. I've been trying to find this guy for a while now, but he was hard to locate. I'm sorry for what he tried to do."
Lydia nodded, and started to leave but Hughes put out his hand and said, "You should take those things and the medicine with you. As a parent, I understand how important it is to take care of your children." Lydia nodded and put the things in the bag before she left. She smiled lightly, she should have known that not all soldiers were bad.
Lydia paused for a minute as she passed by a car. She listened for a moment, certain that she had heard some familiar voice. She looked about until a familiar form caught her eye. Looking back to the spot, she saw a man in a white suit. When the man turned, Lydia's breath caught and her heart sped up. She blinked in surprise and called out, "Solf?
The man turned to look at her, and she smiled at the man who grinned and waved back. Lydia laughed as she ran over. She had found him.
I got Kimbley in the story. I also got Hues in the story because he is awesome and I wanted him in here. We'll actually talk to him next time rather than just see him. Please review.