Sorry about all the Point of View changes in this chapter but I felt it is necessary.

Disclaimer: Well, like most of the fangirls and/or fanboys on this sight, I do not own Fullmetal Alchemist and more then likely never will…

'This is thoughts'

ajnin a er'uoy

siht daer nac uoy fI

Heavenly Brothers

Ch.9 Military Men

The military was always looking for new recruits and Lieutenant Colonel Roy Mustang was at the brunt of it today. He was currently looking over reports for any alchemists mentioned in them. The reports were from all over Amestris: they were full of information people had gathered about talented people the military might be interested in. His assigned job, for now, is to find a few new alchemists for the military.

To say the least, Roy was bored. Was the East becoming so quiet that the only job worthwhile they could assign is to read through piles of piles of paperwork for a hint of talent mentioned in these half-assed reports? Most of the missions, that reports are on, are dull and uninteresting. He was falling asleep just reading about how this soldier had to check on a disturbance in bakery. Dull, dull, dull, dull, and dull.

Roy put down the report after finding nothing of importance. He closed his eyes and started to rub his temples. Couldn't someone have gone through these reports before they gave it to him? Half of these supposed 'talented alchemist' are just amateurs at best. The last report was just some one who just super heated the bread dough to cook it in a few seconds, even a child could do that, nothing special there.

"Sir, do you have a headache?" A stern female voice asked behind him.

"No, it's just that there is nothing useful in these reports. Agh! Why do I have to scout for alchemists? I mean if they want to join the military they can take the exam without someone asking them if they want to, and if they're too busy to find out how to take the test then it's their own damn fault!" Roy was getting a little irritable…or maybe a lot.

"I guess some need persuasion to join, Sir." 2nd Lt. Riza Hawkeye relied without missing a beat.

"Well even so," He stood up from his chair. "I'm going for a walk." He really wanted to get away from his paperwork but before he could move another muscle he heard a gun being cocked.

"I'm sorry, Sir, but you just got back from lunch twenty minutes ago." With out moving anything but his eyes he looked at the clock. He was sure it was hours ago he went to lunch, but Hawkeye's words rang true. He slowly sat back down so not to give her any reason to shot him. He let out his breath once he heard the gun un-cock.

"You should just pick one to look into, Sir. So you can take time to go to see them and investigate." Though she never really gave the Colonel advice on how to slack off, even she found it boring reading some of these reports.

"Wait," he looked up surprised, "I actually get to go and find the alchemist in the reports? Why didn't you tell me, like two days ago?"

"Sir, if you actually read the assignment you would have known." She said not looking up from her own paperwork.

Roy seemed to regain his energy trying to find the report that could get him away from work at least a few days. He had to find one or two worth while because he had to approve the trip with his higher ups. If it was someone that seemed useless they wouldn't let them go. As in them, that meant him and Riza.

Needless to say he found a few to investigate by the end of the day. They were out of East City by the next day.

"Well, I'd say he didn't want to join." Roy was rubbing his nose where the door was slammed in his face.

"He seemed fine till we asked if he was interested in being a state alchemist." Riza said thoughtfully.

Roy chuckled, "This is why I didn't like this mission to begin with. It's going to be hard to convince anyone to join the military as a state alchemist. People don't call soldiers 'the dogs of the military' for nothing, you know."

"Yes, Sir." Riza knew exactly what he meant, not many people liked the military.

"Now that leaves those small town alchemists. I guess they're brothers too. This says that they rebuilt an entire barn with alchemy like it was nothing, but it probably won't be worth the trip," Roy said shrugging his shoulders.

"Well then if you want, we could head back to headquarters, Sir." Riza commented.

"No, no, I think we can check them out. It is just in the next town over. What's it called again, Resembool?" Roy really just wanted to stay away from his paperwork a little while longer. Hawkeye knew this but still followed orders.

Soon they were driving down a small dirt road in a horse pulled wagon.

"I apologize for the bumpy ride," The old soldier driving said, "but here in the countryside automobiles are rare, indeed." The two officers have been riding the train and finding local transport through out the whole trip.

"It's alright. It has its own charm." Roy replayed.

"So what brings you to the Elrics' house, Lt. Colonel Mustang?" The man asked from were he held the rains to the horse.

"I've heard reports of two brothers with a gift for alchemy so I come to meet them myself." He replied smoothly.

"I see. Scouting for new state alchemist are you?" The man smiled and nodded his head in understanding. "But to send an officer from all the way from East HQ?"

"Finding and recruiting talented alchemists is part of my job." He said after Riza shot him a look telling him not to agree with the man. "To be honest, with all the losers we've taken in the civil war, we need all the new recruits we can get."

"I just can't wait to see the look on those kids' faces," the driver chuckled, "when they see such a high ranking officer standing at their door."

The Colonel froze at those words. "Did you just say…kids?"

"Yes, sir," The man said a little confused.

The Lt. Colonel grabbed the report about the brothers and read what it said. "It says right here…Resembool Village, Edward Elric, 31 years old…"

"No sir, he's eleven, and his brother's a year younger." The enlisted man corrected him.

"What is the meaning of this, 2nd Lt. Hawkeye?" He asked still looking over the report.

"Ether this document came through a time vortex, or someone made a mistake." She replied calmly in her monotone voice.

The man started to chuckle again, like he knew a joke neither of the officer did. "Just wait until you meet them, and then make your decision." He said cheerfully.

Roy remained quiet. At least it got him off real work for another hour.

Just then, they pulled up to a small white house with the address that they had. Apparently there was at least one promising alchemist that lived here. Roy stepped off and Riza followed. He went up the small stone steps to the door.

The Lt. Colonel went to knock but as soon as his knuckles hit the wood of the door it swung open freely. He glanced over to his Lieutenant just as she was glancing at him. Their eyes met and she reached for her hip laying her hand on the butt of her gun ready to pull it out as soon as it was needed. Mustang had his fingers in front or him ready to snap. They proceeded into the hall.

"Hello?" Roy called, no answer, "Hello, is anyone here?" again no answer. The two military officials took this as a sign to investigate the house. The Driver told them he'd check the back of the house.

They followed the hall to the first doorway. Roy looked around the corner into a dark living room. He scanned the room then whipped around the corner preparing to snap if anyone popped out. Still seeing no one, he flipped the light switch behind him on the wall. Once he could see everything properly he found that the room was indeed empty other then the old furniture. This happened with the other rooms they searched which included a bathroom, a small closet, and the basement: although the basement did contain lots of various chemicals and materials which was no surprise to find in an alchemist's house.

When they got to the stairs leading to the second floor they split up.

"You go up the stairs and I'll take the rest of down here." He said. Riza gave him a quick nod and headed up the stairs calling to see if anyone was up there.

Roy headed further down the hall. There was only three doors down this way, two on one wall and one on the opposite. He headed to the lone one, but it was nothing other than a closet full of mops, brooms, and cleaning chemicals. Next he turned to the first door behind him. He found a study on the other side of the door. Lots of light flooded in through the window above one shelf of books. The room was covered in a layer of dust except a few spots were you can see a few books have been recently removed. Thinking back he noticed a lot of the house looked untouched. What could have happened? Was this the right house?

He left the room and moved to the last door. He heard the Lieutenant yell that no one was up stairs and heard her foot steps coming down the stairs. He told her were he was and opened the door as she walked toward him.

The room was dark, and the light from the hallway just lit up a section of the floor. Roy froze. There was a transmutation in the middle of the floor, though he couldn't see most of it. There was a lot of dried blood in the middle. He felt dread fill him even before the lieutenant reached his side. He recognized that circle from after the war when he was desperate to right the wrong he had done.

"Sir?" Riza saw how oddly her commanding officer was acting and knew something was wrong.

"There's no one in the back…Maybe they…" the man came up behind them.

"Where are they?"

"Huh?" the man looked very lost at the Colonels harsh voice.

"Wh-Where are the Elric brothers?" He demanded, not moving his eyes from the circle.

"Well… as I was saying, if they aren't here, they're probably at the Rockbell's house."

In the dark, no one noticed the black feathers that littered the floor.

Winry's POV

It has been over a month now since Edward and Alphonse showed up after they tried human transmutation. Winry still woke up with nightmares of the brothers dead just like her parents. Although it seems Ed wakes up more then she does because of night terrors, but that seems like it's the only reaction that anything gets out of Ed these days. Even Alphonse has secluded himself, although he makes an effort to answer to her and Granny. Ed just stares blankly and doesn't even twitch at anything. 'Edward, Alphonse, I'm so sorry I can't help you more.'

This morning was no different. As she helped Grandma with the morning chores she peeked into the living room were Ed and Alphonse were. Both where in the corner, Ed was in a wheelchair and Alphonse was holding the handles that were used to push it. They had a sad aura around them and neither saw her looking at them in the doorway, even though they were looking right at her. It was pain full to watch both her childhood friends acting like this.

She was just about to walk in and tell them that breakfast was ready, even though Al didn't need to eat any more, when there was a forceful knock at the door. Winry turned around to get it when Granny Pinako waved her hand silently telling her that she would get it. Winry nodded and went to set the table, putting off talking to the boys because she knew it would take at least ten minutes to get even Alphonse's attention. She mentally sighed, hoping that her friends will get better soon.

As she just reached the cupboard to grab the plates she heard her grandmother answering the door.

"Be quiet, Den. Don't bark at our guests-Wha- hey you! What are soldiers busting in here for?!"

Winry ran to the hallway to see who it was. Just as she stepped in the hall a man with black hair and eyes to match pushed her aside. She stumbled back a little but righted herself as a young looking woman chased after the other intruder. Both of the Rockbells followed them, she stayed quiet but her grandma was yelling at them to get out.

The man, who she just notice was wearing military clothes, seemed to be looking for something. The lady, who was also in a military uniform, was trying to explain why they were here but Winry was too focused on the man to pay attention. As they were just about to go into the living room, Winry heard a part of what the military lady was saying.

"… where the Elric Brothers…"

Winry tried to hear what she said next but by that time they were already in the living room were Ed and Al where. She only got a glimpse of the brothers in the exact same place they were before cause the man stormed up to them and grabbed Edward by his shirt collar. Ed seemed mildly surprised that someone was actually doing that to him but his eyes still stayed the fogged mud color they have been for the last month. Winry couldn't tell if he was actually registering what is happening.

"We went to your house. What was that over there? What did you make? What did you do?"

Edward's POV

He had no idea how long it had been since they tried to bring their mom back. It could have been days, months, years, but he didn't really care. All he could think of was how he fucked up and how his brother had paid for his mistake. He was unaware when Winry would beg him to eat, he couldn't taste anything anyways, he only ever ate when ever Al's voice told him to. That cold, echo-y voice that his brother now had was the only tie he had to the world, anything else was lost.

So when he felt someone roughly grab him by the front of his shirt he was snapped out of his self-pity and loathing. The sight that met him was a man he didn't know or remember. He only had a second to wonder who this was before the man asked him a question that he had been repeating to himself over and over.

"What did you do?" Ed knew the man said something before that but he only caught that part.

'Why did I do that? Why did I risk that much for what I got? Why? Why? WHY? Alphonse, it's my entire fault. All my fault!' He looked down at the man's stomach, not wanting to meet his eyes any more. That's when he saw a gloved hand lightly grip the man's arm that was holding him up.

"I'm sorry, please forgive us, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, we didn't mean for it to happen, I…, we…" It was his little brother's voice.

'No, Al, don't apologize, it was my fault, not yours. Tell him, tell him, it was me, let him punish me and not you.' Ed said desperately in his head, wanting to say the words but he just couldn't vocalize them.

The man let him down back into the wheelchair he just realized he must have been in, in the first place. But again he didn't really care so he just kept looking down. He heard the man's voice again.

"You're," the man seemed surprised "That armor's empty isn't it? Please can someone explain what happened?"

"And my I ask what will you do to these boys if I do. I have heard that what they might have done is illegal, will you take them away if you find them guilty?" She was very careful not to say if Al and he tried human transmutation or not.

'Just tell them I did it, leave Alphonse out of it and let me rot in their prison.' Again Ed couldn't find the will in him to talk.

"I swear on my name that I will not turn them in, if they tried human transmutation or not. I just have to know, although just looking at him and his brother I can tell. Please I just want to help." The man's voice was softening a little bit.

"I can't say I totally trust you, but I guess if I don't answer I will probably get arrested, knowing you military dogs." Pinako said " follow me, you too, Alphonse. Bring your brother, and, Winry, get our guests some tea." At that Ed felt himself moving and saw the floor move from under him. This was the most awake and out of his own thoughts he had been in what felt like forever.

Roy's POV

Roy knew once he saw how the two boys acted when he asked what they did that neither of them thought that what they did would have turned out the way that it did, and both of them are truly sorry. Roy had no intention from the start to turn them in; he just wanted to help them recover. He knew if he didn't have Maes to help him through the time after the war, he would probably not be here.

He sat down at a small table with the old lady who addressed herself as Pinako Rockbell across from him and the two boys on the right of him. The one in the armor was still holding the back of the wheelchair not sitting down as the other was just in the wheelchair eyes still a little foggy. He had told the 2nd Lt. to stay in the living room and the old lady told that young girl to go make some tea for them so it was just them.

He started talking once every one seemed comfortable.

"This is a surprise. I heard there was a brilliant alchemist here, so I came to see him, but I never imagined a child like this could ever perform human transmutation, as imperfect as it was," He looked at the dead eyed boy, then to the armor, "and even bound a soul."

He looked back at Pinako. "He is more then qualified to become a State Alchemist." The old woman's face seemed to become more wrinkled as he said that but she said nothing, so he continued. "Once he becomes a State Alchemist, he will serve as a soldier, in the case of an emergency, but at the same time he will receive special privileges, and research of the highest level will become possible for him." He looked towards the two boys again and voiced a thought he hoped would motivate both of them to stop sulking. "They might even find a way to get their body's back, or-" then Mrs. Rockbell tapped her pipe in the ash tray cutting him off.

"After he came stumbling in here, covered in blood, I went over to their house. What was there-" She paused as her face scrunched up even more, "What was there wasn't even human! Was it alchemy that created that hideous thing?! I'm against it! Would you have these boys go through hell again?"

Riza's POV

The colonel told her to wait out here for him and she did not question it. She knew that he had his reasons and seeing how Mrs. Rockbell felt about the military it was understandable that the Colonel felt that having her in the room too might have made the old lady less corporative. As she sat there she didn't hear the young Ms. Rockbell approach.

"Here you are." The voice made her jump a little. The girl had a tray of tea held out in front of her.

"Thanks." The Lt. said as she grabbed a cup. The girl sat down beside her, knowing that it was best not to disturb the conversation in the other room.

'Smart girl,' she thought.

The girl was quiet for a second then turned to her but didn't meet her eyes. "Um, Lieutenant…?"

"You can call me Riza. Riza Hawkeye. Nice to meet you." Riza reached out her hand to shake with the young girl but the girl just looked down at the tray in her hands ignoring the gesture. Riza was a little confused at this but guessed that this family must not like soldiers or the military much.

"Miss Riza, have you ever shot anyone before?" He question had a hint of sadness in it.

"Yes," She decided she couldn't lie; she made that decision when she became a soldier.

"I hate soldiers. My mother and father were taken away to the battlefield, and they were killed there." She said the lowered her head to hide her eyes in the shadow of her bangs, "and now, you're trying to take Ed and Al away too."

Riza just answer with the truth. "It's up to them to decide whether or not they will go." The girl looked up surprised at her, "Yes, they will decide for themselves. Whether to move forward or whether to stay still. The boys will be the ones to decide."

Roy's POV

He had been talking to Mrs. Pinako for a while now so he decided to try talking to the boy.

"I'm not forcing you. I'm just offering you the possibility. Will you end your days in despair, or will you seek the possibilities and bow to the military?" He paused to stand up then continued. "If the possibility is there, you should move forward, in order to get your bodies back. Even if the way ahead is through a river of mud." Then he turned to Mrs. Pinako and bowed thanking her for her hospitality. Then walked out of the room.

Riza's POV

The girl seemed to understand; again she looked down at the tray. "Miss Riza, why did you become a soldier?"

Riza couldn't help a small smile as she thought of the reason. "Because there is someone I have to protect.

Just then the Lt. Colonel came out of the room so she stood up and started to walk towards him.

"We're leaving." He said.

"Yes, sir." She replied right away.

They left the house and the young miss followed.

"Well, goodbye, young lady." She said as she turned to her at the bottom of the front steps. The girl reached out her hand but kept her eyes on the ground.

"It's Winry." She said.

"Okay, Winry." She smiled and took her hand. "I hope we'll meet again."

Then she and the Lt. Colonel got in the car and drove away. She could see the Winry, Mrs. Pinako, and the younger Elric watching them leave.

"Will they be coming?" she asked him.

"Yes they will." He said with out a hint of doubt in his voice.

"That boy had a spiritless look in his eye." She said voicing how uncertain she was.

The Colonel just smirked at that. "You think so?" His smirk grew even more as he thought back to the boy. "Those…were eyes that had flame in them."

Another late nighter writing this… Oh well, I'm not tired! Not tired at al-ZZZZZ ZZZZZ…cookies…ZZZZZZZZ

(Suddenly wakes up) Oh and if anyone can tell me what that gibberish is up at the top I give you a virtual muffin!

Dying Heart Alchemist