Chapter 7: First Train West Bound

Dawn broke over Ishval as a train made its approach into the largest city of the Gunja region. A weary traveler dozed in his bench with his head leaning against the window. He had been traveling for an extended period of time and was finally returning home for the forts time in a few years. In his hand he held a photo of his wife and her pet panda who he left behind in Xing. He stirred as the train blew its whistle signaling that it was about to enter the tunnels that passed through the mountains that surrounded the city. He peered out the window and then did a double take, but before he could realize what he saw his vision became black as his car vanished into the darkness of the tunnel. He sat back in his bench and shook his head. "No it couldn't have been", he muttered to himself "I'm just still not fully awake. To think I saw giant beings off in the distance. It's laughable and scientifically impossible." With that he chuckled and looked around the car. It was fairly packed as most trains were once the railroad between Amestris and Xing had been created. It opened traffic and commerce, immigrants were coming in and out every day from either side and businesses were expanding, but that did not matter to this traveler. He was a scientist and only wanted to learn and spread new findings of Alchemy and Alkahestry. Sitting in front of him was a young Amestrian mother and her child, a little girl who could not be more than five or six years old. He nodded to the mother when their eyes met and smiled to the little girl. She waved at him and he waved back, he then took a small piece of wood out of his briefcase and clapped his hands together, in a flash of light the wood had turned into a small wooden pony. He offered the small pony to the girl who took it beaming from ear to ear. Her mother smiled and told the girl to thank the man which she did. The man thanked her before pulling out a small book which he began reading.

It was an about an hour before he felt the deceleration of the train as it made its final approach to the station. Buildings that were whipping past had slowed to passing by at a slow speed. He passed markets, temples and homes before he saw the station. The train rounded a bend and entered the terminal. When it came to a stop the traveler stood up and stretched. He gathered his briefcase and suitcase, he allowed the mother and child to exit first and as they left for the exit the girl turned around and gave one final wave to the man. He set his suitcase down and waved back. Just then a large shadow loomed over him and a voice he had not heard in a long time greeted him. "Alphonse Elric! How good it is to see you again after so many years. Here let me take your bags."

Alphonse turned around in delight. Looming before him was the tall muscular form of his good friend Alex Louis Armstrong. "Major Armstrong!" Al exclaimed, "It's so good to see you again."

"Ah hahaha my dear boy, do you not remember. I have retired from the military and now help rebuilding Ishval to its former glory through economic methods passed down the Armstrong family for GENERATIONS!" sung Mr. Armstrong.

"Uhhh" said Al, "right I will remember that. Mr. Armstrong it is then." Mr. Armstrong picked up Al's suitcase and motioned to follow him. Al did and when they stepped outside Al shielded his eyes for a second to get used to the brightness that was Ishval. He removed his coat and folded it over and arm. "I forgot how hot it can get here, being in Xing it is never this warm but it can get humid."

"Ah yes my boy", replied Mr. Armstrong; "We are also in an abnormally warm summer at that. It will effect some crops but it should be no matter. Ah right my car is parked just up a head. You must be very tired. Please join me at my manor for supper and the night."

"Well…" started Al but before he could finish Mr. Armstrong stepped in.

"I know my boy, you hate to be a bother and reply on other people, but please won't you join us. You can get on the morning train for I know you want to get to Resembool to meet up with your brother. It is his birthday tomorrow isn't it? My have the years have flown since you were children."

Alphonse could not help but chuckle, he had not realized how much he had missed the eccentric personality that was Alex Louis Armstrong. "Alright, alright", said Al through bits of laughter. "I will be glad to join you. Just then the ground started shacking and both Al and Mr. Armstrong staggered a few steps before the regained their balance. "What was that? An earthquake?" asked Al.

"It can't possibly be." Replied Mr. Armstrong, "We are not in an earthquake area." The ground rumbled again and then there was the sudden sound of a building exploding and screams echoing from down the block. People started running away from the explosion as more started to happen. "What a terrorist attack? Thought Mr. Armstrong out loud, "I know some were not happy about the reforming of Ishval but they had mostly been dealt with. No, maybe a gas line."

Al looked at him, tossed his briefcase into the car; "Either way we have to go help!" Al then broke into a run towards the smoke and now fire that was erupting into the sky. Armstrong tossed Al's suitcase into the car as well and then bent over the passenger side as he pulled a box out from under the seat. He opened it revealing a pair of spiked gauntlets that had transmutation symbols engraved into them. He placed them on and then followed after Al.

"It's a good then I never got rid of these", he said as he caught up to Al. They continued running down the street as the passed people screaming in the opposite direction. They rounded the corner to the block that was explosions came from and both came to a halt in their tracks. Standing before them was a street that more looked right out of a battle field. Fire burned on either side, rumble was strewed everywhere and bodies littered the street. At the far in was something that would give any normal man nightmare. A gathering of gigantic beings with no clothes. They ranged in height from three meters up to sixteen. "What in God's name are those?!" exclaimed Armstrong.

"I have no idea", replied Al; "But we need to stop…." Al cut himself off as his eyes widened in horror. Before him a couple of the giant being had picked up the bodies of some of the humans. To his horror Al saw that a couple were alive. They were struggling in the grasps of these creatures as they were lifted up into the air. The monsters opened their mouths and then bit down hard on the bodies. Al heard the screams right before the mouths closes and a shower of blood rained down on the earth. He turned to Mr. Armstrong and said, "Get to a phone, call the military, call central, dammit, call anybody. We need to evacuate the citizens and stop these things! Go now!"

"You're right" replied Armstrong, I'll be right back then." Armstrong ran off to the side where there was a house still standing. He busted down the door and ran inside picked up the phone. He dialed the number for Eastern Command, when the operator picked up Mr. Armstrong spoke into the receiver. "This is Alex Louis Armstrong. Military code: 53881234dfe. I am located in the market quarter of Gunja near the train station. We have just been attacked by an unknown enemy of type. Humanoid in form but they are not. We have no idea what they are but request immediate military support."

The operator responded. "Please confirm, request military support in the market region of Gunja is that correct?"

"Dammit! YES! That is correct. Hurry up we have civilians in danger!" replied Armstrong.

"Roger that." Responded the operator, "We'll have support mobilized and rolling out soon. We'll alert all military personal in your area to assemble at your position…Welcome back to the military Major, where do you want the forces to mobilize?

"At…At my manor replied Maj. Armstrong, we will use it as a forward command post since it is near the front."

"Copy that Sir", the operator said. Then the phone went silent. Major Armstrong dropped the receiver on the table next to the phone. He looked out the window and saw Alphonse creating a wall out of Alchemy in an attempt to pin in the monsters.

Outside, Al had just finished the wall. He stood up and took a quick look around him. He then stopped and stared at the foot of a collapsed building. His eyes widened in horror, for at the foot of the ruble was a pool or blood and extending from the ruble that was on top of this blood was a small arm and in the hand was a small wooden pony. Al let out a scream in anguish, anger, sadness, and immediately retched onto the ground. As he retched the wall he had built exploded as the monsters started moving towards him. He recomposed himself and started using his alchemy to create spears which he hurled at the beings. Many exploded on impact and those that did cause damage only stalled the advance of the ones he had hit. They stopped as steam erupted from their wounds and as suddenly as they wounds had appeared they were healed. "What!? No, Homunculi?" AL thought. That can't be. He continued to hurl anything he could use with alchemy at them, but they still advanced. Just then one of the large ones swung its hand out and made contact with a building near Al. It exploded in rock and wood. Al staggered as the force of the blast concussed him. His ears were ringing and he felt a warm wetness on the side of his face. He reached up and touched it, it was sticky and has he drew his fingers away he saw they were covered in blood. He looked around dizzyingly and saw Maj Armstrong at the window yelling. Al could not hear what he was saying. Mar. Armstrong punched through the glass and continued to yell. AL thought he heard his name being called as his hearing started to return. He then felt a rock him and he looked up just in time to see a large part of the structure falling right where he was standing. He raised his arms to cover his face for it was too late to move out of the way. He then fell to his knees as the building came crashing down on top of him creating a thunderous sound and a cloud of dust. All Maj. Armstrong could do was stand there shocked before gathering himself up and retreating back towards his car which once he got there he climbed in and drove to his manor to create a plan of attack. As he drove tears filled up his eyes and he let them fall.

When he arrived he saw that a battalion of men and women were standing ready for him. He stopped his car and got out. He then shouted in his thunderous voice; "We are under attack by an unknown enemy with incredible strength and regenerative powers. We do not know why they attacked or what they desire. They show no mercy and eat people. These are the facts that I…wit…that I witnessed. I cannot guarantee your survival, and I can..." Maj. Armstrong took a deep breath and sighed, "I cannot promise victory. Many of you have family here who are going to be instructed to evacuate from the south west railroad station. Others will flee on foot or escape in their vehicles. It is up to you all to make sure they all make it out safely. We will deploy you all in areas to lead a safe evacuation, however in light of the facts at hand, if any of you would rather leave right now to get your family and escape, I will not draw you up on charges of desertion. I'll give you thirty seconds to decide." As soon as the time was over not a single soul moved.

The commanding officer of the battalion stepped forward and saluted. "Sir, we are with you till the end, till hell and back." Just then the battalion erupted into a cheer.

"Thank you Col." Replied Major Armstrong; "I know it must be hard to take orders from a person of lower rank. Now please take charge of your men and appoint your most able bodied officers to lead each section. We must draw up a plan of action. Get me maps of the surrounding area, of the city, of the underground, anything you think would be valuable from my library and set it up in my office. Set up as many phones and desks as you can in there as well. I'll be right back." With that Maj. Armstrong strode off into his manor to go pull out an old uniform that had been gathering dust. As he changed into his uniform he opened his pocket watch and looked at the time. It was stuck on the time that Al and Ed had saved the world all those years ago on the Promise Day. "Alphonse…" Maj. Armstrong said to himself as he snapped his alchemist watch closed; "I will find you or avenge you, whichever it comes too."