Ice Prince Alchemist

9foxgrl

Protectors of the People

August 1st

'Hot…'

A desert bird was flying high about the sand dunes looking for it's meal.

'Hot…'

Spotting a lizard it swooped down.

'Hot…'

Screeching, it snatched up its prey.

"WHY DOES THE DESERT HAVE BE SO FREAKING HOT?" a young male voice screamed in agony.

The young alchemist fumed in fury as he nearly collapsed on the ground from the heat. Being so use to frigid temperatures, the triple digits in the desert was not helping him, and while he was wearing appropriate clothes to wear in the desert, he felt like he was melting. From under his cloak his ice phoenix familiar whistled weakly in agreement.

He was one his way to Liore where he was to meet with Rose, the unofficial leader of the city after the uprising ended, and friend of the Elric brothers. He had been tasked with a mission to help contain a cesspool of toxic acidic water that was endangering the drinking water supply of the town until a crew could come and deal with it.

Spotting the city in sight he weakly smiled and trudged on.

Al had told him that the people of the town were cheerful and working hard to restore the city. So finding the city nearly deserted was a warning sign, and the few people who were out were looking very ill.

"Where is everyone?" he wondered as he approached a group of hungry looking children playing with some chalk. "Excuse me, could you direct me to Rose?"

The children look hesitant until Zephyrus showed them his silver watch. "I'm a friend of the Elric brothers. I came to help."

"She at the hospwital." answered a little boy as he tugged on the scarf Zephyrus had worn over his head to block out some of the sun. "We'll twake you."

"Thank you." Zephyrus replied as they showed him to the building that was being used as a makeshift hospital. Turning the kids he thanked them and handed them a small bag of sweets.

"Ms. Rose?" Zephyrus asked as he spotted the haggard looking young woman fitting Al's description helping to tend to some of the ill people lying in cots.

"Yes?" she replied looking over to see the teen. "Who are you?"

"Major Zephyrus Armstrong; I was sent to help you contain the polluted water."

"Its a little late to contain it." Rose said as she struggled to carry a pot of porridge and some bowls at the same time. Zephyrus grabbed the bowls before they could teeter over and fall on the sterilized floor.

"What happened to the water?" he asked as he helped her give the food out.

"The bedrock that separating the drinking water wells had corroded away." she gasped as she sat to take a break, the first in days. "Before we warn everyone in the inner city though, a lot of the citizens had already drank from it."

Zephyrus looked at her in confusion as she offered him a drink of water before taking one for herself. "Obviously not all of them. Do you know which wells were effected first?"

"The main wells." Rose replied. "The ones on the exterior of the city are safe."

Zephyrus pondered on this for a moment. 'Well, my Ice Alchemy was going to hold back the toxins for a short period of time...Scientifically speaking…freezing is a way to remove certain toxins from water.'

Zephyrus swiftly left a befuddled Rose and heading to the spot where the main wells were. He grimaced when he saw that they were built around the ruins of the Church of Leto, once governed by the corrupt Father Cornello. Climbing up a crumbling wall, he looked down and saw that he ruins had been flooded completely with an acidic foul smelling water. Valkyrie squawked in disapproval before taking flight about it.

Clapping his hands Zephyrus took a deep breathe. 'Here goes everything.'

He jumped towards the water with the rush of his alchemy flowing around him. Valkyrie flew alongside him with a furious shriek.

August 2nd - 10 am

Fabian was walking the new perimeter wall of Ishval when he saw Miles looking towards the west with a concerned look.

"Is something wrong?"

"Oh, no. I was just checking to see if Zephyrus had already returned from Liore yet." The man replied. "After what happened last time…I don't think him being allowed to travel ten miles in the desert by himself was a good idea."

Fabian suddenly laughed sheepishly. "Oh yeah...I forgot to tell him how to cast a Cooling Charm didn't I?"

Miles just gave him a look before returning to the apartment building where the soldiers were staying in and found Zephyrus lying face down on the floor.

"So...you finally met your match in Mother Nature eh Hellion?"

Zephyrus just groaned into the floor. "So hot...I'm dying..."

Miles walked out of the room into the kitchen and returned with a pitcher of cold water. Grinning he tossed its contents onto the teen.

"COLD!"

August 4th

"After him!" Roy yelled as he and his team chased a thief who had just robbed the Central Bank. Easy to catch right?

Wrong.

The thief was also a freaking acrobat.

"Yoru Mousy! You're under arrest!" Roy yelled.

"You'll have to catch me first~!" sneered the dark haired thief.

"Crap! It's time like this I wish Fullmetal and Al to help us!" Breda huffed. Lisa took this as a sign to help.

'They can't…' she thought. '…but I can.'

Cautiously she slipped behind Riza into the adjacent alley. She scurried up the fire escape then raced to the ladder, the second her feet hit the concrete roof she was racing across the city rooftops.

"What is she doing?" someone yelled as they noticed the young Alchemist on the race across the roof towards the heavy cables that connected the power.

"CORONA WHAT ARE YOU DOING?" Roy shouted.

Lisa ignored them and cautiously put one foot on the cable then another. People on the street bellow watched with baited breath as she raced across the wire twenty meters off the ground with no way of catching herself if she fell.

"Impressive, you've got guts girlie." Yoru said in a flirty voice as he tried to kick her off the wire.

Lisa braced her hands on his leg and flipped over him. Yoru looked up and smirked as he saw her skort flutter a bit. "I bet you've got some cute panties there girlie."

Lisa paled then screamed. "PERVERT!"

There was a loud whack and slam as Lisa landed in a handstand long enough to swing her legs into Yoru's chest and sent him flying down to the ground. To everyone's disgust and shock as the paramedics took him away...he raised his thumb.

"That cutie is a feisty one!"

It took four soldiers to keep Roy from roasting him.

August 6th

"What? What do you mean some refugees were taken at gun point?" Ethan snapped. "Where were the Military Police?"

The snobbish looking military officer looked up from his lunch. "Look you brat here's some things that you're going to have to learn. WE have limits on out mission. It was our job to guard the train, not watch those desert barbarians."

Ethan yanked off his sunglasses and glared at the man. "I hope your judgement haunts you, you bastard."

Racing over to the depot, Ethan got a hold of a jeep which he would have stolen, had not Private Urey offered to drive him.

"Thank you for this." Ethan said as they raced over the sand dunes.

"It's no problem sir." the young soldier replied. "My father always told me that his part in the War in Ishval haunted him. If I can just do a little to gain some redemption for him...then this will be all worth it."

The two soon arrived at the outskirts of the bandit camp. Donning on sand colored cloaks they got closer with Urey carefully climbing onto a overlooking cliff with his rifle.

Ethan was grimacing as he saw the thugs surrounding the refugees. He peered out of the corner of his eye to see one of the younger children hanging onto an elderly man wearing the robes of a cleric monk.

"We have nothing to cause you grievance." the monk said as he tried to stay between the children and the kidnappers.

"Who says you haven't you filthy Ishvalans." the leader said as he revealed a automail arm and approached them. "You bastards took my arm."

"You were one of the soldiers who assisted in the genocide of our people." a younger one yelled.

"Shut up you." the leader yelled as he punched the young man. "We're going to have fun making examples out of you barbarians."

"Not on my watch you bastards!" Ethan yelled as he rushed forward. He punched the large one in the face so hard that he smirked as he heard his nose break.

The others bandits realizing they were busted surged forward to attack. Two of them were immediately shot in the back of the head by Urey.

"You brat." The leader yelled as he moved to punched Ethan with his automail arm. Ethan went into a boxing stance and weaved around the man's punches. Getting into his guard, Ethan punched him in the gut before following it up with another punch to his face.

By the time they returned to Ishval the kidnappers were beaten black and blue.

*~ (Central) ~*

Lisa had been walking down through the market district with Black Hayate. Her shopping satchel bumped lightly against her hip. She paused as she looked at one of the store windows when she unfortunately ran into some girls from her old school.

"Well, well if it isn't the weirdo." laughed the ring leader, a tall and rather shapely thirteen year old as she and the her little clique surrounded Lisa.

"Hello Diana." Lisa said dryly as she tightened her grip on Hayate's leash. She then looked at other girls and greeted them in turn. "Hello Mary, Jasmine, Madison. How are you?"

"I thought they finally kicked your unfashionable butt out of school for setting a fire." The second leader Madison sneered as she jutted out her hip and eyed Lisa's clothes then paused at her belt. "Ugh, what is it with you and orange?"

"I happen to like orange." Lisa responded.

"Like Oh My Gosh!" Mary gasped and pointed to Lisa's waist. "She has a Silver Watch!"

'Thanks for pointing that out genius.' Lisa thought. "I passed the State Alchemist exam."

"Liar!" Diana snapped. "Only the coolest and smartest of people could ever pass that exam."

"Yeah, like that super cutie Zephyrus Armstrong!" Jasmine squealed. "I just bet he's just so rich and stylish!"

Lisa couldn't help but laugh hysterically. "Stylish? He's more about practicality than style Jasmine!"

"And just how would YOU know that?"

"Because we're friends, Madison." Lisa deadpanned.

"No way someone as cool and rich as an Armstrong would ever want a weirdo orphan like you for a friend!"

Lisa twitched then reached into her handbag and whipped out an envelope of pictures that she just had developed. Selecting two she held it out to them.

One was of the Trio in Xing right before they came back for the Promised Day, it was when they made their pact to watch each others back no matter what.

The other was more recent at a restaurant where they all celebrated passing their exam. The latter having Lisa pulling the two boys into a hug, Ethan grinning while Zephyrus looked at the camera with a faint smile.

"See? Like I said, we know each other." Lisa snapped before putting the pictures back in her bag before walking away. She made it a few more blocks before she heard someone else call out to her.

"Lisa is that you?"

Lisa turned and saw Denny Brosh and Maria Ross walking across the street.

"Hey guys. How's it going?"

"Lisa…your hair."

"My hair?"

"Why is the bottom part black?"

Lisa looked at her reflection. Her now stylishly cropped blonde hair had black ends, from what Madam Pompfrey explained it was because of the intense feelings she had channeled through her magic that caused a permanent change in her hair. Even after it was properly trimmed and grew out some, the bottom still remained black.

"Never mind the change in hair style, how have you been Lisa?"

"I'm doing fine. How about you two? How was it being stationed in the East?"

Denny laughed. "It was great; I really got to work on my tan!"

Maria lightly slapped him upside the head then turned back to Lisa. "Oh yeah, I nearly forgot. I didn't give you your birthday present in June when you came by Ishval."

"Oh no, don't worry about it." Lisa laughed softly. "It's no big deal, really!"

Suddenly Black Hayate growled and started to pull Lisa towards an adjacent alley. Then stopped behind a dumpster; waiting for Lisa and the soldiers to catch up.

"GET IN THE VAN!"

Lisa's eyes snapped over to three men shoving girls into the back of a delivery truck at gun point. Their clothes were in the style of Creta.

Maria gestured for her to stay back.

"Stop right there!" Maria yelled as she and Denny took out their guns. Lisa waited until the men turned before activating a sparkler pellet.

The men yelled as the little flames burst and exploded beneath their feet.

"What a bunch of chickens." Lisa muttered before she took a step back then vaulted over the dumpster, landing behind the men. She hit the smaller one hard behind the knees like Riza had taught her.

The third man, closer to the girls grabbed her and slammed her into the truck, but was then taken down by two bullets courtesy of Maria. The second man had a gun and tried to out shoot them but Lisa used the transmutation circle on her bracelet to set his jacket on fire.

"Who are you?" the man asked as Denny handcuffed him.

"I'm Lisa Malfoy; the Corona Alchemist."

*~ (Central HQ) ~*

"YO ROY! How's it going?" Hughes yelled as he busted through the door into his colleague's office.

"Hughes, can you please stop doing that?" Roy asked dryly.

"Not a chance! I got three years to make up for!" the man laughed.

Everyone had been in shock when Hughes was revived. After they had dug him out of his coffin, they took him straight to Armstrong Manor where they could come up with a proper cover story and break the news of his previous death to him.

They decided on telling everyone that Hughes' death had been falsified due to his attempted assassin being a former high ranking officer gone rogue. Because of the danger they had to put him in witness protection abroad and could not tell his family due because it could put them in danger as well. They couldn't afford to bring him back until they made sure that everyone involved was either in custody or dead. Only the ones who had fought on the Promised Day knew the truth.

It was so heartwarming to see him be reunited with his family.

The door flew open again as Feury came running in.

"Sir! It's Lisa!"

"What happened?"

"Calm down, I'm alive." Lisa said as she came in with Black Hayate.

Roy's eyes zoomed in on the bandage on her cheek and the darkening bruise on her right arm where her body had made impact with the kidnapper's truck.

"What. Happened?" he asked.

Lisa sheepishly laughed. "Funny story- I was out in the market with Black Hayate and we ended up stumbling on a trafficking ring."

Roy fought the urge to slam his head on his desk. It was like he was dealing with a younger Fullmetal all over again!

*~ (Ice Prince Alchemist) ~*

*~ (Ishval) ~*

"Everything is looking so much better." Fabian commented as he met with the Ishvalan elders.

"Yes, thank Ishvala that our city had been rebuilt."

While Fabian's team was stationed in Ishval it was mainly for security since Ishval was slowly growing into a trade route for Amestris between Aerugo and Xing. Fabian had met with their leader Prince Claudio and helped to reestablish the trade now that Bradley was gone and no longer forcing the two countries to fight one another. Miles was back at Briggs permanently, but not before helping to train the new Ishvalan police force.

And even though Ethan was an alchemist he was accepted in the community since he admitted he only learned it as a way to protect the people.

"Yes, our people are now prospering back in the home of our forefathers." The Head Priest said. "It seems that the reopening of our home went fruitfully as well."

Fabian did his best to hold back a snicker. Many of the Eastern soldiers were entertained that day by seeing Miles trying to hide in the crowds from one very vexed Olivier Armstrong. In the end she managed to corner him on a rooftop where Roy and the other Eastern soldiers were having drinks, and then a very worn out, overheated Zephyrus snapped at them 'if they were going to act like a married couple then hurry up and tie the f*ing knot already'. Apparently the Ice Prince said very strange things when he was tired because the next morning he claimed to never remember saying it.

"Now, are there any new issues to discuss?"

"No Elder."

A monk in training came running in, gasping for air.

"Bandits sirs! Heading towards the city! Ethan is already moving to intercept!"

Without hesitation Fabian grabbed Elijah and another warrior monk then Apparated to the wall on the edge of the city.

While it had at first made them uneasy, the Ishvalans accepted Fabian's magic, some calling it a blessing from Ishvala; mainly because he used it during the civil war to keep the areas where a majority of the safe houses and orphanages were safe.

Unlike in other parts of Europe the few magic users could use their gifts openly as long as they did not harm anyone.

"Where are they?" Elijah asked one of the guards.

"Ten o'clock sir." The guard replied handing him his binoculars.

Fabian cringed as he could make out the silhouette of his son slowly walking towards the incoming jeep of bandits.

Down below Ethan calmly stood as the jeeps got closer.

"I would advise you to leave." He said calmly as the leader got out looking at him like he was a glutton for punishment.

"Listen sonny, the names is Bane, and we are the Black Spiders. And we are going to Ishval for some loot, so move unless you wanna die young."

Ethan blinked. He remembered that name. Prince Claudio had warned the Council about them; they were a gang of drug smugglers who went to new and old trader towns to spread their networks. They eventually would run those towns to ruin then move on.

"Nice to meet you. I'm Ethan Prewett; the Graveyard Alchemist!"

The men stood no chance as Ethan started to unleash a barrage of alchemy attacks to send the jeeps flying and then started to beat the crap out of them with his fists.

When he was done he headed back to the city calling over his shoulder. "If you think that was bad, then be glad that it was me and not the warrior monks."

*~ (Ice Prince Alchemist) ~*

*~ (North City) ~*

"Thank the Heavens! I'm home!" Zephyrus practically screamed to the dreary skies as he took in a breath of the frigid air. He loved the cold. It might have to do with his alchemy, but he couldn't stand the desert. Even the three days he had spent in Ishval for the final part of the Restoration Project had taken a toll on him. The Ice Prince could NOT STAND THE HEAT!

It was one of the hundreds of reasons that he would NEVER want to spend a summer in England. He heard from Luna how hot and muggy it could get, and he was not tempted to experience it for himself.

Right after he arrived in Ishval, he received orders to head south to Aquaroya again to help Fullmetal finish a new foundation for the floating city; it was similar to the one that helps keep Venice afloat. All he had been doing was redirecting the water into temporary reservoirs of ice while the canals were reconstructed and refurbished.

"Hey let go!"

Zephyrus turned his head in the direction of the yell and saw a young woman being dragged by a very drunk older man in the direction of North City's bar district.

"Shut up woman! I'll do wat I want!" he yelled as he roughly shook her.

"I would advise you to let go of her sir, it's very ungentlemanly to manhandle a woman." Zephyrus said setting down his travel bag for a moment.

"Wat?" the man hiccuped then faced Zephyrus. "Stay out of this brat, unless ye want ta get beaten."

To try and prove his point he threw a half empty beer bottle at him, but it smashed on the building side. Zephyrus didn't flinch.

"And here I was trying to be nice." Zephyrus sighed before darting forward. In a swift movement he shoved the man away from the woman and tossed him into a snow bank.

"Ye, gonna get it now brat!" the man snarled as he tried to get up and fight, only to slip back into the snow. Thankfully his buddies nearby had seen what was going on and took him away.

No one sane and sober wanted the wrath of the Armstrong family on them. The Ice Queen's alone was a death sentence in itself.

"Are you okay Miss?" Zephyrus asked.

"Yes, I'm fine." The woman replied as she gently brushed off the snow off her woolen skirt. "Thank you – umm...I'm sorry I never got you name."

"I'm Zephyrus Armstrong; the Ice Prince Alchemist." He then turned and head back to the main road. "Have a nice day Miss."

As Zephyrus left the woman's jaw dropped.

"So that's the elusive Phantom of Briggs." She whispered in awe.

When Zephyrus arrived at the outpost Alfred was waiting for him, while reading a newspaper sent to him by his friend stationed in South City.

"Hey Boss listen to this; Liore has created a statue and placed in the center of what has now been dubbed Angel Lake; the city's newest man-made tourist attraction."

"That's nice." Zephyrus replied as he climbed into the army truck.

"Mayor Rose claims that it was created in dedication to the Alchemist that came and healed the city from a plague."

Zephyrus twitched as Alfred showed him the picture that was in the clipping. It was a simply white marble statue of him in the desert clothing he had been wearing, but luckily the cape he had been wearing then was made to form a sort of hood to shadow his face.

"Citizens have stated that for ending the epidemic by his miracles they plan on naming this alchemist the city's protective saint."

Zephyrus' head then painfully met the dashboard.

*~ (Ice Prince Alchemist) ~*

"An escaped serial killer?"

"Yes, his name is Sirius Black. A wizard."

"Wizard?" Ethan repeated in confusion as he read the file. "Why would they ask us to help then? I know Dad mentioned that they have a liaison division with the M.O.M."

"Yes well, this man is not only a wizard and a killer, but he is also believed the one who gave away the location of the Potter's safe house to their murderer."

Ethan paled. "The Potters…You mean Zephyrus' birth parents?"

"Yes, and according to a guard Black maybe coming after Zephyrus next." Hughes said as he flipped through the file. "Since you could track down the Heir of Slytherin, I was hoping you could help in investigating Black. Apparently the liaison between the investigation branches is virtually non-existent, so they were hoping you could act as a go between."

"No problem." Ethan said as he closed his file. "Sir, this may be redundant, but what about Zephyrus?"

"Zephyrus is still assisting in the search for Flamel. He will be warned of the danger, but other than that he will not take an active part in this investigation. Sergeant Jones of Northern Command will be going with you as part of a two man protection detail. A British officer named Arthur Kirkland will be joining you as well in England. He's a wizard who works in the Royal Guard. Also there is one other thing."

"Yeah?"

"Has your father ever mentioned creatures called Dementors?"

Tension and fear spreads throughout the Wizard World as Sirius Black remains on the run and painful memories are forced to surface.

Next Time: Nightmares

"You learned to run from what you feel, and that's why you have nightmares. To deny is to invite madness. To accept is to control."

― Megan Chance

OMAKE- Ed Finds out

"Alright you bastard! Why did you call me out here?" Ed yelled as he was led by the butler into the sitting room. "You made me miss my train dammit!"

"Calm down Fullmetal, I called you here for a good reason." Mustang replied.

"Ed is that you?"

Ed's jaw dropped as he saw Hughes sitting next to Alex. He looked around then spotted his student.

Without hesitation he grabbed his pupil and slammed him into a wall.

"What. Did. You. DO?" he hissed murderously.

"I DIDN'T DO ANYTHING!" the teen yelled as he shoved the older one back.

"BULLSHIT! YOU COMMITTED HUMAN TRANSMUTATION DIDN'T YOU?"

"NO I DIDN'T!" Zephyrus yelled "I'm not an idiot!"

"Then how do you explain that!" Ed yelled pointing at Hughes.

"That?" Hughes repeated in disbelief.

"The Gate gave him back!" Zephyrus snapped back.

"Why the Hell would it do that?"

"Well apparently I did it a favor unknowingly, and gave it something similar to what I had given up in your stead!"
"So…Roy really didn't bury me alive?"

"FOR THE HUNDREDTH TIME NO!"

OMAKE –Birthdays

Al was enjoying his eighteenth birthday and laughing with all the guests. The only thing that would have made it better was if Ed and his student were here. He and Zephyrus were on their way up from Aquaroya where they had been sent on a mission.

SCCCRRREEEECCCCCCHHHHH!

They looked over to the road in shock as a bullet ridden; old Volkswagen van was flying up the road and then sharply turned. The sliding door slide off as it came to a stop near the Elric's house, and Ed flew out, landing in front of the party guests holding a very terrified looking cat.

"Happy birthday little brother..." Ed said dizzily as he got up and handed the cat to Al, then fell face first on the grass.

"What happened?" Winry asked as she helped her boyfriend up while Al, Elysia, and Curtis children fretted over the poor traumatized cat.

They looked up as the driver's door slammed shut, and saw Zephyrus who looked like he was torn between amusement, and annoyance.

"And why was Zephyrus driving?" Havoc added.

"Because he doesn't know how without driving into a ditch." The teen replied as he pointed at Ed.

"OH COME ON! THAT WAS ONE TIME!"

"Since when can you drive a car?"Riza asked.

"Please it's no different than driving a tank." Zephyrus replied.

Then the axles of the van creaked, and broke, causing the vehicle to fall to the ground and one of the tires started to roll away down the dirt road.

"…Mostly…"

Granny Pinako tilted her head curiously. "Where did you get that car? It looks like it was stolen from a junk yard."

Ed and his pupil blankly stared at her. "It was."

"But it was scheduled to be crushed anyway, so we shouldn't get arrested."

Hughes didn't know whether to laugh or wonder if he should be listening at all. "So what happened, and will there be any chance that you two are going to be in trouble for?"

Zephyrus then pointed at his teacher. "Long story short, we stopped in town to get Al his gift this morning, but were then grabbed by a group of thugs who took up to their hideout in the junkyard thinking that they could hold us hostage. While he and the cat beat them up and destroying their hide out, I was… appropriating us a ride back. Those guys wouldn't let Ed go easily so we had to use evasive maneuvers to get out."

"You drive like a mad man!" Ed muttered as the world finally stopped spinning.

"I do not."

"Oh yeah? Then why did you make me ride on the roof for TEN KILOMETERS before stopping to let me in?" Ed deadpanned.

Zephyrus looked up slightly to face his teacher at eye level. "You…are the one who jumped on the roof as soon as I got the engine running and yelled 'DRIVE! DRIVE!' at the top of his lungs!"

The teen then face palmed. "I…am never going shopping with you again Fullmetal. Every time I tag along on a 'simple errand' it turns into disaster!"

"It's not like I plan for them to!"

"You know…this has to be most amusing birthday party ever." Roy commented as Ed and his apprentice started to argue.

"Guys…about the car…"

"FIX IT AND IT'S ALL YOURS WINRY!" the two alchemists snapped.

A/N: Well my exam week is here. I am going to try and update once more before Saturday since my internet connection is shoddy in my poor little home town.

Al's birthday is never confirmed in the story line so I'm using June for the sake of the story.

If you want me to mention a Hetalia character name in this I can, just put it in your review or PM it to me if you want them as a soldier/alchemist/civilian or do a temporary appearance. Because I plan of have Zephyrus teasing Alfred & Arthur relentlessly whenever they argue!

Edited-February 19, 2014