Chapter 10: Onwards, For Justice
"That's good news, I'll be able to leave before Colonel Mustang, Ed, and Al find out-"
"GEMSTONE!"
The former thief cringed, hanging her head.
"Well… Fuck." She muttered, seeing Roy, Riza, Ed, and Al all standing there, all angry.
"What the HELL were you thinking?! Taking on Scar without having any idea what he is capable of is beyond reckless!" Roy demanded.
"It's not like I was planning on facing him, Colonel! He just happened to be there after I'd finished saving a young girl's life! I had no intention of seeking him out and taking him on! I'm someone who enforces justice, not someone who's completely stupid!" She snapped.
"And you saw it fit to fight him by yourself, instead of calling for help?!"
"Who the fuck would I call to, Mustang?! There were no other soldiers there, and I didn't want to let him get into Central Headquarters!"
"You shouldn't have fought him!"
"Oh, I was supposed to let him kill me, then?! Like fucking hell that's happening, Mustang! A warrior of justice can't do a damn thing if she's dead-"
"STOP FIGHTING!"
Saphira and Roy turned their heads.
"Azura?! You followed me here?!" Saphira questioned.
"You know her, Gemstone?" Roy questioned.
"Not really. I met her moments before I fought Scar. But she's not as weak as she seems." Saphira replied. Roy raised an eyebrow.
"She can use a type of alchemy that lets her manipulate water as if she were controlling it with a metaphysical ability. She used it to force Scar into the sewers, and give me a preliminary treatment of my wounds." Saphira explained. Roy turned and stared at Azura.
"Umm… Well, Miss Saphira saved my life, so I wanted to repay the favor… To be honest, this country's confusing to me, so I had no real idea why they were fighting…" Azura admitted, scratching her head.
"Country? You're not from Amestris?" Riza asked. Azura shook her head.
"No, I'm from Himalia. I came here with four of my friends, but by the time we crossed the desert, I got separated from all of them!" She explained.
"Oh, so you're looking for your friends." Roy concluded.
"The desert… So she's from the East… But why come all the way to Amestris?" Alphonse wondered.
"Because we all sensed an incredible amount of dark energy from the West, and we're not the kind of people to simply ignore that. My four friends and I prepared ourselves, and we set out to figure out what was going on." Azura explained.
"Dark energy? What do you mean?" Ed questioned.
"In the world, there are incredible forces that oppose each other and keep each other in check. One of these forces is darkness, as is light. One simply cannot exist without the other. However, if one becomes too strong, the world will be thrown out of balance, and there's no telling what consequences would result from something like that, especially with forces as significant as light and dark. So when we sensed darkness overwhelming light in the West, we watched for a bit. When it escalated to dangerous levels and it was obvious that it wasn't going to settle itself-"
"You and your friends were sent to restore the balance." Roy concluded. Azura nodded, confirming her suspicions.
"That sort of thinking is interesting, and we can't deny that your talents saved Gemstone's life. Can I ask you for a favor?" Roy said.
"What is it?" Azura asked. Roy walked over, and knelt down in front of Azura.
"Could I ask you to stay by her side?" He asked. Saphira's mouth dropped.
"Colonel! You have no right to force me to take someone with me wherever I go! What I pursue isn't a game-it's dangerous-"
"And that's exactly why you need her. Two warriors can fight better together than separated. Besides, if you get hurt, she can at the very least buy enough time to get you to a hospital. She's not a burden, she's an asset, Gemstone." Roy insisted, cutting Saphira off. The blue-haired girl took one look at Azura, who had a pleading look in her eyes, and let out an exasperated sigh.
"Fine… But don't expect me to be her mother. I'm an alchemist, not a babysitter." Saphira relented.
"So, where are we heading now?" Azura asked.
"Major Armstrong wanted to meet me and talk a bit, and we'll see from there." Saphira replied.
"I wonder what he's like…" Azura trailed.
"Who knows, I've never met him-"
"SAPHIRA HAWTHORNE!"
The two young women were taken aback at the sound of the loud voice. They shivered when they saw the massive, shirtless man before them.
"A-Are you Major Armstrong?" Saphira stuttered, a bit shocked.
"Indeed! Major Alex Louis Armstrong, at your service!" He confirmed, offering his hand. Saphira nervously shook it, before quickly taking her hand back.
"Well, now that we have that out of the way… What is it you want to talk to me about?" Saphira asked.
"The Elric brothers are going to be heading up North to Fort Briggs as part of their journey. I thought that, as their childhood friend, you would want to know that." Alex replied, putting subtle hints in his tone.
"Fort Briggs… that's the Fort right on the Drachman border, right?" Saphira questioned. Alex nodded.
"Hmm… Then perhaps I should head up North." She mused. Alex raised an eyebrow.
"My Teacher spent quite a bit of time up North, studying abandoned mines and the mountains in general to help refine her work. Not long after she took me in, she disappeared up North for a few weeks, and then returned. She told me that when I graduated, I was to head up North to receive my graduation rewards."
Alex nodded in understanding.
"If you are going to head up North, then let me give you this."
He presented a simple-looking envelope with a bizarre seal on the back.
"It is a letter of introduction. In all honesty, it may not mean much in the end… but I believe it will help you get into the Fort, at the least." Alex said. Saphira huffed.
"Why? You're only a Major." Saphira pointed out.
"The officer who commands it… the woman who is nicknamed the Northern Wall of Briggs… her name is Major General Olivier Mira Armstrong."