Ed: Why are you even putting these up? You didn't before.
chi-ji-dragon: I had nothing to say in a author's note and I got bored.
Ed: Where are we anyway?
Bizzare looking man with a long nose (aka Igor from P3/P4): This place exists between dream and reality, mind and matter.
chi-ji-dragon: Can it. Go back to Persona 3 or Persona 4.
Igor: He merely asked and I was just giving an answer.
chi-ji-dragon: Whatever, alright placed everyone! Stories starting!
Crystal: If you make me cry again I will personally see to your grave...
chi-ji-dragon: I'm not going to live until my next birthday...
"Damn..." Crystal cringed under the sound of bullets and death screams. Shouting came from The Devil's Nest indicating the massacre had started. "Why..? Your stupid caring and kindness rubbed off on me." Crystal thought of her parents. "I've seen all of this before. Massacre in the north. War. Why... why only now do I feel any sympathy..?" Crystal muttered. Her raven bangs covered the melting ice in her eyes. She stood on the roof of The Devil's Nest. "Greed... maybe... maybe we could've gotten along. Not that it would've mattered. His death would've come someday. But I'll meet him again. As for Al, what's going to happen to him..?" Crystal wondered out loud. Julius still being in Central and hopefully not killed by the homunculi or a hunter. Her thoughts wandered back to her vision the previous day. Al had been in a room of white with tapes of memory's and many other things flowing around him. He had reached for someone in the sea of white and then it blanked out. The problem was Al was human and ten or eleven. A vision of the past or a lost memory of Al. Confusing for Al indeed. Crystal recognized the tapes seen in the vision as the ones described by the first generation of Seer's. During the transmutation they had seen it and all described excluding the Northern Seer. She had never spoken of anything. "... Wait, what am I doing?! Nobody can get close to me! It'll only hurt them more then me! I don't want to do that!" Crystal scolded herself shaking her head. She could almost hear someone saying 'Tell that to Izumi, Chika. and Cici. They don't give a damn!'. Crystal sighed. In that moment Alex Armstrong walked out of The Devil's Nest carrying Al. "He's unconscious! But he can't sleep!" Crystal exclaimed with fear lacing her voice. Crystal immediately mentally slapped herself.
"Al?" Ed asked his little brother unaware of Crystal's gaze. Crystal stared unfazed by a Martel's dead body inside Al's armor. She had seen worse. They had covered Martel's body when Al awoke with surprise. Ed having shouted Al's name several times at this point. Crystal could feel a rush of relief at Al still alive but slapped herself immediately again afterwards.
"I can't feel compassion! It's against everything the Northern Seer is!" Crystal shoved the bit of compassion she felt deep inside her letting her cold eyes freeze ever so slightly. What she didn't realize is the Northern Seer stand for 'lost and then found'. Lost at first but now Crystal was close to being found. A part of her was scared at someone getting close to her. But it made her happy to, that she might not be alone. And that maybe with that little thing she could learn to love. Hopping down from her perch she quietly walked away to avoid the Fuher. Just because he knew and there were plenty of witnesses should he try and dispose of her he just might kill everyone else. Plus, there was hopefully a slight chance that just maybe the homunculi thought she had already left.
In Central,
Julius landed turning human with the message. It had been a long two day flight but so it goes. He walked through the streets and could see a small girl crying while her mother comforted her. There was something familiar about the two. He listed the people off in his head not thinking about anyone Crystal may have known.
"I want daddy to come back!" The small child wailed loudly.
"I know. I do to, but he can't." Her mother spoke softly. Julius stared sadly. 'Her father must've died.' The girl continued to cry. Without a moments hesitation Julius reached into a brown leather satchel he always carried around. He rummaged through it before pulling out a small harmonica. It was made of iron. Lovely carvings was etched into it. It was polished and shined every now and then. Once a gift for him after his grandfather had died. He missed him terribly. The harmonica was a gift that originated from a long time ago. Whoever had it would give it to someone upset in hopes of cheering them up. He had carried for a year or two now. It was time it went to someone else he decided. He walked up to the child and mother. It was then he recognized them. The wife and child of Maes. Crystal had spoke of them and Julius conducted his research.
"Why don't you sing your father a song? He may not come back but he'll always be with you. No matter what." Julius smiled gently at the child placing the harmonica. Elicia stared at him with tears. Gracia shook her head in wonder. She had a hard time with calming Elicia but this stranger had done so.
"But, if I can't see him where is he?" Elicia asked wide eyed and still crying. Julius pressed his hand on her chest.
"He and everyone you care about will always be with you through memory and spirit. Just because you can't see it doesn't mean it's he's not there. Well, I have to be on my way. Take care." Julius patted Elicia on the head and stood up.
"But that harmonica must've been expensive! You should keep it!" Gracia told Julius who chuckled.
"That harmonica is a gift from someone I knew. It actually has always been a gift. A long time ago someone forged it and gave it to a child in despair. When the child got older they gave it to someone else who was upset. It's been an item passed around for a very long time. I'm only continuing the cycle and if you would like to repay me, then when Elicia is older have her give it to someone else. Also, if it gives you peace of mind I'm a good friend of Crystal! At least that's what I like to think." Julius assured her and left without another word. Julius found the Cat's Claw with extreme ease.
"State your name and business!" The guard ordered.
"I come bearing a message from Tera Cryssilas for Aidria! My name is Julius and I was an assigned falcon to Tera!" Julius told them in a stiff voice. The guards nodded and allowed him entrance. Aidria at this point hearing a message was for her was at the front door. "Crystal sent a message for you ma'am. She wanted you and only you to read it." Julius handed the letter to Aidria. Aidria took the letter and read it. She laughed slightly.
"I approve of Crystal's request to lift the law. The Elric's will not be punished for reading the book." Aidria patted Julius's head with a smile.
"But ma'am! That law has stood since the beginning of the clan's!" Julius blurted out.
"Julius, we have little choice in the matter. Crystal is the only Seer alive. We will all follow her until the new Seer's are born. Besides, I find myself agreeing with her. We won't be able to continue the same sheltered life we have in less then two years time. I think it would be best if we lift the law now. Besides with the rise of homunculi we are becoming less sheltered with the rise and setting of the sun. Have you ever known a point in our history when so many people knew? It's even more bothersome that it's the military to. But we'll survive." Aidria's voice carried a unfamiliar darkness in it. Julius's eyes widened.
"Everyone is going to change, aren't they..? I don't want change. Everything was fine the way it was!" Julius said bitterly.
"Change will always happen. No matter what we do. Nothing lasts forever. Aidria's voice was different. Regret...? Julius thought sourly. This was not how life should be. Breaking the laws and changing tradition.
"I see you have not left." The voice made Crystal freeze. It was the Fuher. "I suppose that makes things easier. We need only wait now until the circle is complete." Bradley continued with a smile. Crystal turned confused.
"How can that make it easier? I can destroy your plans!" Crystal wondered.
"You know about our attack. We were able to get some answers out of one of the Stag's. When your fifteen, the memories will come back. Including the ones of when the alchemist and the Seer opened the gate. It was to risky to keep all of the Seer's but you should be just fine. If you leave we'll have to find someone else to open the gate. We've been considering a variety of people. Including Roy. Although if you leave or intervene, the Clan's we'll be under arrest for treason." Bradley threatened calmly. Crystal gasped.
"You wouldn't! They can't fight you off! It's unfair!" Crystal shouted. A foreign object trailed down her cheek.
"To think that the Northern Seer could be reduced to tear's with just the simple thought of all the clan's being killed gives us the advantage." Bradley gave a dark smile. Crystal wiped then tear away.
"We will not let you get away with this!" Crystal told him.
"I like to believe we already have." And with that Bradley left.
"I have to get them out." Crystal said determined but with little strength. Despite the little strength she felt Crystal continued walking, although instead of heading for Izumi's home like she initially was doing, Crystal left for the edge of town and walked just a bit further. Wondering if maybe the Clan's could survive out of Amestris just for a short while. It was late night before Crystal returned to Izumi's home. Izumi was waiting with an angry look.
"Where have you been?" Izumi demanded.
"I was looking around town again." Crystal told her with a stiff tone. IT was silent for a minute before Crystal bowed down and didn't get up. "Please let me continue my travels with the Elric's! I promise I'll come back!" Crystal asked but was sure she wouldn't get the answer she wanted. Izumi's eyes widened at the promise. The words echoed in her head.
Izumi flashback,
"Izumi!" A voice cheered from behind the nineteen year old Izumi. Izumi turned to see the familiar silver haired girl.
"Mia! What are you doing here?" Izumi asked the girl. Mia wore a loose white shirt and shorts. Not really what most would wear but it made Mia happy. Mia was the current Northern Seer.
"Well, I came to talk to you! What else silly!" Mia laughed.
"Your hiding something." Izumi declared right away. Mia stiffened for a moment before sighing. Mia was silent for a minute.
"My twentieth birthday is coming up and I'm going to have to leave." Mia started in a sad tone. "I won't be coming back ever. The next time you see me I might be someone else completely!" Mia paused before bowing.
"Then stay..?" Izumi told her. Mia cringed slightly.
"I don't have a choice, which is why I'm begging you here and now. Please don't be upset! Please don't chase after me! I promise that everything will work out! But I have to do this!" Mia almost shouted. Izumi stared wide eyed.
"This has something to do with the Seer curse, doesn't it?" Izumi asked. Mia nodded. Izumi would need time to take it in but unfortunately she didn't have any time. "You promise you'll do everything in your power to stay alive?" Izumi compromised. Mia nodded. Izumi sighed. "Fine." Izumi's voice was reluctant. Mia looked up before hugging Izumi.
"Everything will be fine! I promise I'll come back!" Mia smiled. Izumi nodded hearing the empty promise.
Izumi flashback end,
Izumi and Crystal were both silent. The empty promise echoing still in her head.
"Mia's promise may have been empty, but I know she did everything she could! You have to trust us!" Crystal pleaded. Izumi could sense the truth in her words and could almost hear her old friend.
"Fine. But I will chase you to the ends of the earth if you don't come back!" Izumi warned. Crystal nodded.
"Thank you!" Crystal smiled. Izumi could see the faintest image of Mia. She remembered from Hope's words, the Eastern Seer, that Crystal was cold to everyone. Drastically different from the the fourth generation but Crystal had a soft side to.
Here was Crystal now talking to a strange man. In Rush Valley. After Ed nearly get killed by Winry for breaking his auto-mail yet again, Al found a collapsed Xingese man. After feeding him the man had two bodyguards fight Ed and Al. Much to Crystal's amusement.
"So your name was Ling, correct?" Crystal asked in a friendly tone.
"Yup!" Ling smiled with his eyes closed. He was eating hid third dessert. "So do you know anything about the Philosopher Stone?" Ling asked.
"I may know a thing or two, but the secret to immortality is pretty costly. Not even I would do that and I have no problem killing anyone right here right now. Including the Fuher. But that may just be because I hate his guts." Crystal said bitterly.
"Hrmm?" Ling was confused as a nearby building was blown up.
"I wonder if I'm gonna get more entrainment." Crystal though aloud.
"Eh?" Ling asked shoveling more food in his mouth.
"Ed came here to have his auto-mail repaired! If he ruins it worse then it already is she's going to murder him!" Crystal chuckled. "Oh well, Ed will live. But still. I find it hilarious how angry Winry gets over it. Still, the pipsqueak could stand to break it a lot less." Crystal smiled. Julius ran up to Crystal.
"What are you doing here?!" Julius demanded.
"Ed got his auto-mail damaged so we came to visit Winry." Crystal told him. Julius went white as a sheet.
"What. Did. You. DO?!" Julius shouted outraged.
"I may or may not have sent you on the delivery to get rid of you while I talked, warned, and nearly fought two different Homunculi." Crystal coughed in her hand hoping that Julius didn't hear what all she said. But Julius did and resisted the urge to strangle her. "SOOOO THEN! What did Aidria say?" Crystal changed the topic.
"Oh yeah. She is going to accept your request." Julius was bitter.
"Great! Now the idiots won't die!" Crystal smiled.
"I'll go get the cold medicine." Julius commented.
"I'M NOT SICK!" Crystal shouted whacking him on the head angrily.
Crystal: SOMEONE START HANDING OUT FUNERAL CARD'S I'M GOING TO KILL HER FOR MAKING ME SEEM WEAK AGAIN!
Winry: It's not weak! It's just feeling emotion! We all cry, we all get angry, we all laugh! It's okay if you cry! *holds Crystal back*
chi-ji-dragon: Oh do you hear that?! It sounds like the cat's are hungry and want some attention! I think I'll go play with them! I'll be back in about a week virtual time! BYE! *runs away*
Al: I'll come help! :3