The 'END' of the Story's End.
By: Ichi-chan (DaRkNeSs4IcHi)
Disclaimer: I do not own FMA (though I wish I do…), respecting FMA, I will do my best to make this Fic' realistic and acceptable. Hope you guys enjoy it! ^_^
Chapter 11 – Just a Little bit More.
Winry heard the front door creak open, making her pause from what she was doing to look up in time to see Riza and Hayate come in.
"Oh, welcome back Ms. Riza." She greeted, removing her working goggles.
Riza smiled warmly at her, "Sorry it took so long to walk Hayate." She answred, releasing Hayate form his leash. Hayate ran towards Winry, wagging his tail in the air as a greeting. "Hi Hayate, did you have a nice walk?" Winry asked, rubbing Hayate behind the ears. Hayate let out a, "Woof!" in response as Winry continued to ruffle his fur.
As Riza changed into slippers she noticed that the groceries she had left by the shoe rack was gone, she looked up to see that the room was tidier than when she left, she turned to were Winry sat before saying. "Winry-chan, I told you, you are a guest here, you don't have to clean."
Winry just shrugged as she crouched back down to her work, "I didn't have anything else to do anyway." Riza smiled a bit as her eyes trailed to the coffee table where Winry hovered, concentrating on her work. "Retuning his automail again." she guessed as she placed her coat on the rack. "Please try not to force yourself. It's really okay, you don't have to tidy up my place."
"No, no, it was nothing, really. It was th e least I could do for you after you let me stay." Winry smiled as she looked up at Riza before replacing her work goggles on. Riza smiled back at her as she followed Hayate to the kitchen to unpack the grocery bags from earlier while Winry went back to tweaking the automail arm again.
Xxxxxx
A week ago Winry came home from her visit to Rose all fired up with a plan to head for Rush Valley, but decided to stop by at her house to get some clothes and stuff for the trip as well as to inform her grandma about her plans to head for the Holy land of Automails. She wanted to learn more about how she can improve her work and craftsmanship, after all a very important customer was about to return.
"Grandma? I'm home!" She called as she went through the front door. Den came rushing to her side the minute she stepped in. "Hi Den!" She greeted, ruffling Den's fur as she laid down her bag.
"Winry? You're back early! Good thing too! Come in the kitchen, there's someone here too see you!" Pinako called from inside the house.
"Who could it be?" she thought before heading for the kitchen, Den heading ahead of her. As she passed the door frame a familiar face welcomed her with a soft smile, "It's been a long time since we last saw each other. Neh, Winry-chan?"
Winry blinked in surprise. "Ms. Riza?" she asked rushing towards the table where Riza Hawkeye sat, Den on the other hand headed for Pinako and lied down lazily by her feet.
"What brings you here?" She asked as Pinako handed her a cup of tea, urging her to sit down. Absentmindedly she sat down and took the cup while still staring at Riza from across the table. "I came to pick you up on the Fuhrer's orders." She answered kindly as she placed her empty cup down.
"Huh?" Winry replied as Pinako filled up Riza's cup with tea again, earning her a polite, "thank you." From the Brigadier General.
When Riza looked back at Winry her smile was still gentle as she answered, "Everything is going well with the Fuhrer's plans and he sent me to personally pick you up. He assumes you would want to be there when Edward-kun and Alphonse-kun returns."
"Ms. Hawkeye here arrived yesterday; she stayed here last night, waiting for you to come home." Pinako explained setting down the tea pot.
"Wait? So those that mean the Fuhrer would get them back soon?" Winry asked as she glanced from Pinako to Riza.
"Yes. In a matter of weeks the Fuhrer will reopen the gates. He sent me to get you so~" Riza stopped short as Winry suddenly stood up, startling her. "Winry-chan?" she asked, worry creased her face. Pinako and Den also looked up to stare at Winry while she shuffled from her seat and headed towards the hall. "Winry-chan, where are you going?" Riza was on her feet as well as she called after Winry, her voice filled with confusion and worry.
Winry stopped in her tracks as she reached the door and turned to look at Riza, "I'll just pack my bags and finish Ed's automail before we leave." She beamed at Riza, Pinako grinning with her as well. "I'm sure he managed to break his arm or leg by now."
Xxxxxx
Winry sat back down on the couch, exhausted from all the work she had done on her new automail model for Ed. She heaved a well deserved sigh of accomplishment before glancing at the clock on Riza's living room wall.
2:44 am. It read.
She frowned at the time and tried to recap what she had done the whole night that caused the time to fly. "All I did was retune his automail" Winry thought, still trying to force the hours and work to paint a picture.
Still unsuccessful to figure out where all her time went to she sighed again and crouched back down towards the coffee table where her work was scattered. "Ms. Riza must have gone to bed a few hours ago," Winry suddenly realized, noticing how quite it was while she chunked her tools inside her tool box. Not bothering to put each one of them to their rightful places. "I wonder if I was too absorbed with my work that I didn't notice her go to bed." She mused as she closed the lid of the box.
Winry glanced back at the table, admiring the automail she has just retuned, "Just a little bit more…"
Mou sukoshi…..
***
"Damnit! What do they want know?!" Edward hissed through gritted teeth as the pillar they hid behind got showered with bullets.
"Brother, who are they?!" Alphonse asked, his was voice strained. His hands half covering his ears as the roar of bullets felt like drums being played against his skull.
"They're members of the Thule Society." Edward's words were caked with a healthy coating of distaste. "I remember that guy." He jerked his head towards the direction of the only door as Alphonse's gaze followed the gesture, his eyes zeroed at the man nearest the exit that had his black hair slickly combed back against his skull. "That bastard is Rudolf Hess, one of Eckhart's men." He paused, seeming to suddenly remember something, "You know I still owe him a punch across the face." Edward's eyes narrowed maliciously at the thought of being able to pay Hess back the punch he owed him.
A few minutes ago Edward and Alphonse woke with a start as Hohenheim nearly pulled them to their feet saying something about they were under attack. They barely got oriented when Hess's men barged in and started showering them with bullets.
"How come they're shooting at us?!" Alphonse's voice sounded strained as he edged closer to Ed, trying not to get shot.
"Hess! Don't kill them! Seize fire! Seize fire!" A gruff voice rang accompanied by 6 pairs of thundering footsteps running towards the scene, Edward exchanged a quick glance with his father who had hid himself behind the stone pillar to Ed's immediate right, his back was pressed against the pillar like Ed. The pelting bullets immediately stopped from showering at them.
"Haushofer! Did you not see him?! He came back from the dead!" Edward peeked at them in time to see Hess's frenzied look as he turned to Haushofer, who was relatively calmer than Hess but also had the terror Hess had in his eyes.
"It must be because of his Alchemy!" Haushofer responded, ordering his men with just a twitch of his hand. Nearly a dozen men filled into a semi-circle, their aims pointed against the pillar where Ed and Al hid, and some pointed at Hohenheim's post.
"Who's that, brother?" Alphonse whispered, his voice sounded strained as worry creased his face. "I think it's Karl Haushofer." Answered Ed, not entirely sure that he got the name right.
"Van Hohenheim, Edward Elric, I know you that you are hiding behind does pillars." Came Haushofer's strangely calm voice, Edward wondered where the terror in his eyes a moment ago had gone too. Neither Ed nor Hohenheim stepped out from their hiding place, Haushofer continued. "It's been a while Hohenheim," He came again, still in that calm voice. "The last time I saw you, I thought you were already dead."
Hohenheim stepped out from behind his pillar before answering, "Yes, it has been quite awhile. I thought I would die at that time as well." His voice was calm and unreadable matching his poker face. Ed sneaked a quick look at Hess and Haushofer.
"I'm glad you still remember us." Haushofer stared back at Hohenheim, his expression didn't show the enthusiasm his words were implying.
"Yes, I remember you well, and of course how can I forget Hess? He's the craziest of the lot." Hess glared at him and yelled
"You demon! How did you manage to survive?!" Hess snapped his head towards where Haushofer stood, "That dragon bit him in half! How could he be alive?!" Hohenheim took advantage of Hess's distraction to move closer towards the pillar where Ed and Alphonse sheltered.
Haushofer ignored Hess's outburst, "Edward Elric. Show yourself or else we will shoot your father's head off." His voice shrill and demanding as his men removed the safety of their guns, now aiming at Hohenheim.
Edward grunted from behind the pillar about to step out when Alphonse grabbed at his arm and hissed, "Brother wait! He might shoot you!"
"Don't worry Al, I won't let that happen." He assured him as he pushed Al back towards the shadow of the pillar, "Stay here." He added firmly before joining his father at gun point. "You got me out, S'now what?" he asked throwing a hostile glare at Haushofer. Ignoring Hess as well, as he continued to yell at his men, "Don't let your guard down!"
"Easy with the eyes Elric, you wouldn't want me to make my men shoot you, do you?" Haushofer's voice was still sharp as his piercing gaze settled on Edward.
"So what do you want from us Haushofer?" Hohenheim asked, not bothering to even spare Hess a glance as he shouted things between the lines, "They're demons!" or "Don't let them out of your sight!" while he and Edward stood at gun point.
"I'm really surprised to see you alive," Haushofer just answered, "You know, when Hess and I decided to track down your son I didn't expect to run into you like this."
"What do you want from me?!" Edward demanded his fist clenched tight as he continued to glare at Hess. "When will that idiot shut up?!" he thought furiously, now watching Hess as he retreated back towards the door when Hohenheim finally gave him a glare.
"The Thule Society lost their influence and power because of your interference with our mission to conquer Shamballa a few years back." His voice was cold with distaste. "If it wasn't for your meddling interference we would have been able to conquer Shamballa and the Thule would not have been hiding in the shadows as we speak."
"Shamballa doesn't exist! It wasn't Shamballa on the other side of the gate! It was MY world!" Edward yelled back, his voice shaking with fury.
"LIES!" Hess bellowed, Edward forced himself to not launch himself at Hess while the paranoid man pointed an angry finger at them saying, "You demons just want Shamballa all to yourselves!"
"Shamballa or not the Thule is still interested to conquer it." Haushofer explained, the way his voice wrapped around the words reminded Edward of Greed. "Hess, calm down," Haushofer said, finally turning to pay him mind. "Everything is under control."
"And what do you need Edward for?" Hohenheim asked as he placed a restraining hand on top of Edward's shoulder seeing that Ed had a 'I-wanna-knock-his-lights-out' look on his face.
"I knew he had the ability to open the gates to the parallel world," He turned to face them again, "and if we capture him we'll be able to conquer the world on the other side." Haushofer smirked as Edward's face contorted with rage.
"So I presume you are the new head of the Thule?" Hohenheim's voice was dead serious as his eyes zeroed on Haushofer's grinning face.
"Yes and no, you see, Hess and I leads the Thule together now."
"You know we owe it to your son, If Dietlinde had not died we would be still working under her." Hess jeered.
"BASTARD!" Edward spat at him, his explosion of fury merely got him a smirk in response.
"Hold your tongue boy, you are useful to us, but if you don't behave I'll have my men kill you without hesitation."
"How did you find us?!"
"Hess was tracking down your son for a year now, he was tricky to find but good thing we thought of looking for him here. I had my men search for you in towns and villages where rumors of you float around. I'm really quite surprised to find you here, good thing someone saw you return to this town a week ago, it was only a matter of searching each house to know where you were." Haushofer answered for Hess as he took in the appearance of the abandoned building before asking, "Why are you here anyway?" his voice was trying to hide the curiosity he felt.
"That's none of your business you asshole!" Edward snapped making Hess scowled while Haushofer didn't even flinch.
"If you do not want me to kill you punk, you will have to start answering politely." He warned while his eyes nearly narrowed into slits.
"Edward," Hohenheim cautioned, Edward didn't turn so that their pursuers wouldn't notice that Hohenheim was whispering to him, "It seems that the Thule seek to conquer our world still, and since Haushofer and Hess personally came to fetch you it means that they will not take no for an answer."
Edward's eyes narrowed, "what do you suggest we should do old man." Edward hissed through the corner of his mouth as Haushofer went on with his monologue.
"I require your ability with certain matters, and I think I have made myself clear that you will work for me even if it is against your will." Haushofer went on nodding his head toward his armed men, not noticing the conversation Ed and Hohenheim were having through Whispers.
"When I say 'now' take cover on Alphonse's pillar and wait for me to clear the path before you and Alphonse head straight for the door, go board the rocket while I open the gate." Hohenheim laid out the plan in a rush.
"What are you planning?!" Edward hissed back, not tearing his gaze away from Haushofer as he continued to blab on and on about their plans to conquer Shamballa.
"Edward this is not the time to argue!" Hohenheim hissed again fearing that Haushofer would get to the point soon. "If you want to go back to our world now is the time, and it might be your only chance." Edward took that in, his mind racing through memories he longed for to relive. "Just a little bit more!" he thought as Hohenheim looked up when Haushofer started addressing him, his speech almost done, "And it's truly lucky to find you still among us, you will be a very useful pawn."
"I appreciate the offer to be your toy Haushofer, but as you can see I'm quite busy catching up with my son." He answered, leaving out the existence of Alphonse as he still hid behind the pillar.
"You don't understand Hohenheim," He called back as he made an about face and started retreating towards the open door, about to leave Hess in charge again.
"Edward, head for the rocket and prepare it for launch, I'll go ahead of you and activate the circle." Hohenheim whispered to his eldest son as Hess's men waited for their bosses order. "Don't turn back, keep on going." He ordered firmly.
"What about these thugs?! We can't just leave without taking care of the~"
"Edward, without me and without you they will never be able to open the gates, when you and Alphonse get back to Amestris close the gates there, I'll try and do as much damage as I can to destroy this building~"
"But~!"
"No buts Edward." He cut him off firmly, "It's now or never." Hohenheim looked down at his son, his face fierce with determination while Edward's was torn.
"So Edward, Hohenheim." Haushofer called as he stood directly under the door frame. "Are you willing to help us?"
Edward snapped his head towards where Haushofer stood, his face filled with loathing and disgust, "LIKE HELL WE WOULD!!"
"Very well," Haushofer scowled, "such a shame". He thought, "Open fire."
End of Chapter 11– Just a Little bit More.
Ichi Notes: Waiiih! Sorry this chapter took so long!
I had to revise the story on this chapter, trice! , and I just can't seem to force everything in! *so this chapter is absolutely another cliffie! Sooo soooorrrry!*
The good news is that Chapter 12 is nearly done, I just gotta tweak it a bit more.
Waiiiih, I hope this chapter's not too dull! , (sorry again!)
+this weeks been pretty busy for me+
Yossssh! Special thanks to!!
Nahmae! ,
(thanks for helping me with the editing and stuff! Ty ty!)
Midnight Hikari,
Here's chapter 11! Hope you enjoy it! (can't wait for your update as well!)
Kurozu Elric,
Thanks for the awesome review! That got me totally fired up! ^,^
Yukithesnowprincess
Thanks for the support! ^,^
And many more! I would also like to thank my fellow forumers in Mangafox for checking out my Fic!
Thank you everyone! You guys are such an inspiration to me! ^,^
Watch out for Chapter 12– The Fake Gate.