Chapter 4

The streets of Liore were eerily calm. The people were few and far between, and those that Rose saw who were not warriors patrolling the streets with their weapons at the ready seemed odd. They smiled, some waved or nodded, but it all seemed stiff, like their hearts were not really in it, like it was all just an act. The stress of the prolonged war, Rose supposed. All the more reason that they needed to reach the Prophet as quickly as possible. He needed to know what had happened on the front, so that he could properly lead the army of God to victory.

The trio made their way towards the church in relative silence. Occasionally Elizabeth or Rikan would whisper something to the other, but otherwise there was no conversation. Rose did not wish to intrude upon their conversation, which they obviously wished to keep to themselves, but she could not help but become curious as to what they were talking about.

~…~

"Stop fidgeting, you're going to get us noticed."

"You would not understand," Rikan hissed back, "you do not know what it is to hold the truth of God in your heart. I cannot help but feel wrong, here in this city of heresy."

"Stop that," Riza said to the Ishvalan, grabbing his arm and whispering in his ear, "if you are overheard then all of this was for nothing."

"Get off of me."

"What? Am I that horrible a wife?" There was a teasing tone to her voice as she let slip a subtle smile. The ruse had initially been her idea, partially because it gave an ironclad excuse to anyone as to why a combat able man would not participate in the fighting and instead stay by her side constantly, and partially because of how uncomfortable it made him. Their feelings for each other, far from positive, were quite mutual after all.

"Enough," he said, pulling himself away as casually as possible, "let us simply get this done so that I do not have to live this charade any longer."

"Which charade would that be? Having to pretend to be a Letoite, or pretending to be married to me?"

"Both are equally detestable."

~…~

They approached the entrance to the church, which at once seemed simple and grand, a suitable dwelling for God's greatest servant. The men at the door seemed reluctant to let them pass, but once Rikan growled that they had come from the front lines with urgent news, they relented. They were ordered to remove all weapons before being ushered into the Prophet's presence, which turned out to be a point of contention.

"Miss, please give us your gun."

Elizabeth clutched the pistol to herself, as though it was something precious. Rose recalled that she had called it a memento, and for the first time she wondered of what. Looking at it, she thought she could see something scratched into it, but before she could tell what Elizabeth shifted, blocking it from sight.

"Please," Elizabeth pleaded, seeming vulnerable, "I… I don't like parting with this."

"We cannot allow you to bring a weapon into the presence of the Prophet."

"This is pointless," Rikan said, "just let us through."

"Your wife will have to relinquish her weapon first."

"Please, don't take this from me."

"Brother Cray," Rose said, hesitantly interjecting herself into the confrontation, "if you just inspect it, you'll see the weapon isn't loaded. And you can search us for ammunition. What harm can a gun do if it doesn't have bullets?"

The man considered her words for a moment, before nodding.

"Very well. Give us a moment, and then we will take you to the Prophet. Just don't waste his time."

"Don't worry," Rikan said, "we will make this as quick as possible."

Rose smiled at Elizabeth as they were ushered into the building. While she didn't say anything, Elizabeth smiled back, mouthing the words thank you to Rose.

~…~

Roy Mustang grimaced. The march towards Liore was proceeding unimpeded, but they had been delayed by the run in with the Ishvalan, so the entire unit was taking a cautious pace, knowing that if any survivors had escaped then they could very well have reached the centre of the uprising and given them a chance to prepare themselves for the arrival of the Central forces.

Objectively, Roy could see the stupidity of his actions. He had endangered all the men under his command, and given the enemy time to regroup. A key aspect in the battle strategy was surprise; if they could move fast enough and ensure that no survivors could retreat to bring word of it, they could sweep out the Letoites with relative ease. Because of what had transpired, now their duty was considerably more difficult to accomplish.

Still, Roy did not regret his actions. The specifics of this mission mattered little to him. It was, all things said and done, a means to an end. Accomplishing this would earn him respect among the senior staff, perhaps not much, but he had make use of every little bit of sway he could get his hand on.

Which was why the rumors flying around the camp the previous night were something of a mixed blessing. Of course the men had seen her, and they were informed enough to know that a blonde woman who could stand against a State Alchemist could only be one person, even if they didn't know of her shared history with this particular alchemist. Already, men were whispering about how the Angel of Kanda had fought her way past men who were twice her size (which may have been an exaggeration, but Roy would not have doubted that she could have). The idea that the notorious woman who had been the salvation of the Ishvalans, who had stood against the Crimson Alchemist himself and not only lived, but had dealt him a blow from which he had never truly recovered, was now fighting for the Letoites was a sensational one. Should they be victorious, it would only make the men who fought look braver.

And of course, the man who felled the Angel would win himself eternal glory. That was the problem, Roy thought. While he was glad that his men were not the sort to fall to fear over confronting an unexpected enemy, he could have done without them being so eager. Should Riza actually be involved in the upcoming battle, she would be the prime target, second (possibly) only to Cornello himself. And of course, it was expected that should she show herself, the resident State Alchemist would be ready to retaliate. There would be no room for another deception.

That was the grim thought that haunted Roy Mustang as the city of Liore came into view and the troops began to prepare themselves for the battle ahead. Should he and Riza Hawkeye meet again in those streets, he could not spare her. If the Angel and Demon should meet, only one would walk away alive.

~…~

Rose had walked these halls before, back when Father Cornello had first come to Liore and founded the Church of Leto, back when she had been among one of the faith's first followers. But despite her familiarity, she could not help but feel awe over the holiness of this place. The men that that led her, Rikan, and Elizabeth were silent with reverence. Elizabeth was withdrawn, having drawn her hood up, and Rikan tense, both of them obviously moved by being in the holiest ground on Earth.

Finally, they reached the doors to the Prophet's chambers. Two of the men in front of them walked forward, one taking each door and opening them with ceremony. Two who had trailed behind them stayed behind, standing watch as the doors closed.

Of their group of three, Rose was the first to enter. She rushed forward, heedless of the men standing with study staves to each side (even his closest followers were not permitted to wear firearms in the presence of the Prophet). When she reached the man for whom she held such respect, Rose fell to her knees. Clutching his hand, she kissed the ring upon it, watching the red jewel shine even here in this dark room.

"Father Cornello," she said, falling back instinctually to the name which she knew from so long ago. The bald man smiled warmly down at the girl at his feet. In his priestly garb he seemed fatherly and kind, a figure of authority in whom anything could be trusted.

"Rose, it is so good to see you again."

"Father," she said, looking up with concern in her voice, "we bring troubling news from the front lines."

"Do not be troubled, child," Cornello said, laying a comforting hand on her shoulder, "we are the chosen of the Sun God. Leto has willed that we shall be victorious."

"But Father, the military has sent a State Alchemist! I have seen him myself, it is the Demon of Ishval! He wiped out all along the front lines, and now he and his forces are advancing on Liore."

For a moment, a stern look passed over Cornello's features. If it had been any other man, Rose would have thought it was frustration, but Cornello carried with him the assurance of Leto, so of course he had no cause to be frustrated. Surely he was simply pained by the actions of the heathens, so against the will of God.

"As I said, child, do not be troubled. We are protected by Leto. We need only have faith and-"

Cornello was cut off by a sound which tore through all of Liore: the sounding of a military trumpet, and the thunderclap of gunfire. Cornello's face paled, and from behind her Rose heard the voice of Rikan, saying something she never expected.

"It would appear that Leto's protection is not all you have promised."

Rose stood and turned in horror. How could he say such a thing? Was it simply a poor joke? Yet as she turned to face him she saw no mirth in his expression. He simply glared at Cornello while his wife's eyes drifted between the two almost lazily.

"Rose," Father Cornello said, "who are these two?"

"They… this is Rikan, and his wife Elizabeth. They are faithful servants of Leto and-"

"No," Rikan cut her off, "I have, and always serve Ishvala, the one true God."

At this Cornello let out a laugh. "Oh? And do you intend to convert me, Ishvalan?"

"I'm afraid not," Elizabeth said, and then did something that only heightened Rose's horror. With no hesitation in her movements, she fluidly brought her gun up to bare against the Prophet.

"I apologize for having deceived your followers," Elizabeth said coolly, "but then again, you've been doing that for some time. Please move away from the Father, Rose."

"Elizabeth, what is going on?"

"I should think it obvious my child," Cornello said, moving the girl to one side so that he could look at Elizabeth with nothing in the way. The smile on his face seemed harsher now, and Rose could see the strength of the Sun God in his glare.

"These two are obviously Amestrian spies that have infiltrated the ranks of the faithful. While their forces assault us from the outside, they have been sent to kill me."

"Father," one of the men who had entered with them said, "we inspected each of them. That gun is unloaded, and they have no ammunition."

"Thank you Brother Cray. It would seem that the military hasn't thought out this attack as well as they thought. Take them."

Eight men, six who had been in the room beforehand and the two who had followed them in, began to surround Rikan and Elizabeth, staves at the ready. Neither of them paid this any attention, both of them still staring at the Prophet. Elizabeth still had not lowered her weapon, and with the force with which she talked Rose almost forgot that it was a harmless threat.

"I am going to give all of you one chance. Stand aside and let us take the Father. Otherwise I cannot be held responsible for what happens to you."

The men surrounding her did not respond, or else simply smiled at the empty threat. Brother Cray stepped forward, paying no mind to the barrel now pointed at him. Confidently, he walked towards the woman, raising his weapon to strike her down.

Elizabeth expression shifted into a rueful smile, and she pulled the trigger.

Rose did not understand how or why, but suddenly an explosion ripped through the air. She was thrown against a wall, and blackness overtook her and she knew no more.

~…~

Cornello had seen the signs. He had not immediately put together all the pieces, but it finally stuck him in time to put up a wall with alchemy to protect himself. It hadn't been enough; the explosion tore through it and flung him back, through a wall and into the next room. The priest coughed as he pulled himself up and wondered what would have happened if he hadn't reacted.

Several sounds from the same direction caught Cornello's attention. Faintly, he could hear sounds of a struggle, very probably the Ishvalan dealing with those of his followers that were not caught in the blast. Closer, he heard light footsteps making their way towards him, occasionally crunching debris underfoot. He looked up to see the woman, the one whom Rose had called Elizabeth. The explosion hadn't touched her, of course, but it had blown back her hood and loosened the bandages that had been hiding her identity. Both of her eyes were in view now, as well as her short blonde hair and mostly fair skin. The right side of her face insistently drew the eye for being so different. A burn marred her features, old and partially healed. It featured most prominently on her cheek, but extended back behind her hairline and down her neck. Where an ear would have been was simply a mass of scar tissue.

"So it is you," Cornello gasped. "I had my suspicions, and now you've gone and proven them."

The woman did not answer, simply stared down the so called Prophet. Slowly, she raised her weapon, covered in what Cornello now recognized as alchemic formulas. Ever the performer, he could not help but exclaim what he had come to realize as men poured into the room to investigate.

"You're Riza Hawkeye, the Flame of Ishval!"

~…~

A/N: By way of apology for not updating for so long, have another chapter!

I'll probably need to justify myself to someone here, so let's just say this right away. I feel it's pretty well implied (and if not, it is then my firmly established headcannon) that at least in the manga universe, anyone could, theoretically, become an alchemist. Some might not have the talent for it, much like not everyone would have the talent to shoot a sniper rifle or make automail. But if anyone could pick up on alchemy late in life, I think that the daughter of the man who developed Flame Alchemy would be the one.

I'll probably be slowing down with my updates for a bit, but I'm still going to keep going so don't worry! There's still a bunch of the cannon that I haven't defiled!