Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters except for Aliyah and Lyssa.
"To think...you saw the it and manage survived; I doubt ever know impressive that is." Izumi said to him. "I-No," Ed said softly. Regardless! I can't accept decision you've made." she turned and looked at them seriously. "You're expelled." the four gasped, but Izumi's glared did nit falter. "But, Teacher-" Al started but was cut off by Ed. "...Al" " The trains are still running... get on one." Ed's lip quivered and he bowed. "Thank you for everything."
{Opening Song}
Chapter 13: Beasts of Dublith
Night filled the town as streetlampw lit up.
"Feel free to drop by when you're ever in town," Sig told the four as they were at the Train Station. "I'm not sure about that." Lyssa trailed off as Sig said, "You idiots! You're so busy pouting you can see what your expulsion means!" Aliyah and Lyssa stared at him blankly then Aliyah hit her head saying, "...I get it... you're saying that since you're not her students anymore,we can talk as equals." "Exactly... unless you're too chicken to try it..." Sig grinned. " Damn it Al, Aliyah and Lyssa... we haven't done what we came here to do in the first place." "Thank you Sig.. we're heading there right now." Lyssa stated as they all ran off. "Don't let her kill you." Sig warned.
*Izumi's Place*
Izumi sharpened a steak knife on a small piece of metal. "Teacher!" Aliyah and Ed stated as they walked into the kitchen, only to have a knife thrown between their heads into the wall. "Ah?!" they held onto each other as Izumi shouted, "WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING COMING BACK HERE?! AND YOU CALLED ME TEACHER! I DON'T TEACH SCAMS LIKE YOU! GET OUT OF MY HOME!" Ed, Aliyah, Lyssa, and Al all plot the ground as Ed said, "Teacher." "We came to you to find a way to get our bodies back," Al and Lyssa stated as Aliyah finished, "We will leave without your help!" "Get out now!" "We're staying!" they each said in unison.
There was a pause of silence as Izumi and the Trio glared angrily at one another. "...You idiots..." "Al, you didn't see the truth did you?" "No...I don't really know what means." "You must have lost your memories from the shock. We need to get Al's memory back; his entire body was taken from him... just think he must have seen." "Oh yeah... we only exchange parts of our bodies for what we saw, Al paid the toll with his entire physical being." Ed stated. "He must've seen more of the truth than either if us did."Aliyah trailed off as Lyssa looked at Al. "So, if Al can remember what he saw, then we'll get our bodies back?" Lyssa asked.
"...but...the memory of that thing..." Izumi trailed off. "That thing," Ed echoed. "What? Is it something bad!" Al asked worried. "No, it's more like, awful!" Izumi said, wiggling her arms like tentacles. "Yeah," Ed said, flailing his arms around like Izumi, "And horrifying!" "It was terrible!" Lyssa as well wiggling her arms like Izumi and Ed. "It could drive you insane!" "Or even leave you brain-dead!" "Or maybe go Crazy!" "Guys, stop you're scarring him..." Aliyah sweat-dropped at them. "That doesn't matter! If there's a chance that can help us, then I wanna do it!" Izumi put a hand on her chin and thought for a moment. "...Alright. I have an acquaintance that might know a way to retrieve your memory for you." The four got excited as Izumi said, "But let's eat dinner first. Give me a hand." "Okay!?"
"The rumors are true." a lizard-like man said, "he's able to transmute human souls." He began climbing higher and higher up the brick-walled building.
*East City, Eastern Command Center*
"There's only one week left until the big transfer, huh?" Grumman stated as Roy and he played chess. "Yes, sir," Mustang said, sitting across the small wooden table. "Just won't be the same without you, you brought a little color to this dreary desert." "heh heh... I'm boring compared to some of the stories I've heard about you," he said, moving one of his pieces. They sat there in silence for a few moments, each taking their turn to win the game against the other. "Well, all of your hard work has made my life easier. I finally got to relax." he moved.
"I feel like I'm grown as an officer, thanks to the variety of work you've allowed me to take on." Mustang took a piece and moved it in front of the white king. The man looked at the piece and picked it up. Mustang smirked. "Checkmate!" Mustang said. "Ah!" Grumman stretched. "It took me long enough to beat you," Mustang stated as he cleaned up the game. "You can consider that my going away gift." "Well, then, if you're in a gift-giving mood, There's something else I'd like."
"Master Sergeant Kain Fuery, Warrant Officer Vato Falman, Second Lieutenant Heymans Breda, Second Lieutenant Jean Havoc, Second Lieutenant Katelyn Glass, First Lieutenant Riza Hawkeye. Gather up your things," Colonel Mustang commanded, "all six of you are transferring to Central with me. And no objections. Understood!" they all saluted except for Jean who walked over to Mustang as and said, "I got a problem sir... See I just started dating this girl and I really like her." "Dump her," Mustang said flatly. Cruel! He thought, the other officers casually comforting him.
~Ishvalan Refugee Camp~
No one's Pov:
Scar sat in the tent he had been at for a while now, lifting weights made of concrete. The tent door opened, bringing light into the same place. "Come on! Not again...you wounds will never heal if you don't give it a rest." the young Ishvalan boy said. A bald man with a mustache made his way inside. Scar gasped. "Master?" "I was informed that you were targeting State Alchemist for execution. I know the animosity you feel...the State Alchemist are responsible for the burninf of our village and death of our loved ones but...your vengeance will only sow the seeds for further violence. What you're doing is senseless revenge, and it's feeding a fruitless cycle of death. You must end this cycle, once and for all." "Anyone home?" The three looked up to see two men, not ishvalan. "Well, what do ya know? He really is here. He's got the scar and everything." "Looks like you've got a deal. We'll split the bounty three ways with ya. What the?" He looked back, but no one was there. "Guess he didn't want the reward." A weak looking man then appeared from behind a huge rock as the townspeople said, "Yoki? How could you do this?"
"We took you in and treated you like family when you had nowhere else to go!" A woman yelled. "Shut up! I never even wanted anything to do with you ishvalans!" He smiled. "You lost your war, but I'll rise again! I'll rise up! And I will use my power to annihilate Edward Elric and Aliyah Daniels! Now then," he said to the bigger men, "Catch him, please, so we can fetch our money."
" it's obvious I'll cause more trouble the longer I stay here." "Thanks for making this easy." One of the men went to grab him, but his hand suddenly disappeared. "What'chu do to him!" he balled up his fist and threw it at Scar. He quickly ducked, bringing his hand over the man's mouth. "I'll give you a moment to pray to god. The man reached up and brought Scar's hand down just enough to say some words. "You should be the one prayin', freak!" Blue lightning coursed through his body. He swelled duo until blood spurted out of his nostrils, mouth, and ears. The young ishvalan boy looked fearfully up at Scar.
Scar began to walked up to Yoke's direction. "Please don't kill me!" he cried as Scar stopped and picked up a pair of sunglasses. "So you're leaving then? Your brother would be sad." Scar placed the glasses on as he said, "Still, it's too late to go back now." Yoki looked at the ishvalans and ran after Scar.
*Earlier in Evening/ Izumi's Place*
Aliyah's POV:
Ed and I were talking then I had a poker face and remembered something. "Um, Ed didn't we forget something?" Ed stare at her in confusion and remembered. "We forget to do our State Alchemist assessment?!" "Oh, crap we have to do that now." so they told teacher and Al, Lyssa that they have a assessment to do to stay as State alchemist and went to it.
We went on the train to head to Central for our assessment to stay as State alchemists. "I can't believe we forget it." Ed stated as I look at him. "Yeah, well lets just do it anyway so it over." I reply. "Yeah," Ed looked at me, I had concern look on my face as I lay my head on his left shoulder. "What's wrong Kitten?" l look up at him. "I have a bad feeling Lyssa and Al are in trouble but with what I wonder." I replied. "Kitten, they be alright. They can take care of their selves. Don't be worry." "Alright. But I have to worry. Like something bad happen." Ed smiled at me and kiss me on the forehead. "Alright, I'm positive they're alright." Ed looked down at me. "Alright Edo, if you say so." I reply as Ed smiled at me.
*Later*
Al's POV:
I was swept outside as Lyssa help me. Lyssa then heard something coming from the side of the building. "I'll be right back Al." she said. I look at her.
No one's Pov:
As she headed off towards where the sound came from. As she turned into the alley, she was grabbed. Whoever it was covered her mouth so no one could hear her. "Sh...it's"okay babe...I'll protect you...
Al's Pov:
"Lyssa sure has been gone a while..." I trailed off as I heard something fall next to me. "Hm...?" I bent over and picked up the piece of paper, reading it as my eyes widened.
*Devil Nest*
A man sniffed the air. "He's here," he said, standing up in front of the 'Devil Nest', with a machete hanging off his hip. "There you are," he said, as I walked towards them, "Bout time." his name was Dolcetto, and stood next to a blond woman, with green tattoos, Martel, and the small lizard man, Bido. "'We know you're secret'," I read, "meet at the Devil's Nest if you want to talk. Come alone and the girl will be stay safe...I'm guessing you're the ones who wrote this note? Where Lyssa?" I asked the group in front of him.
"Yeah we are; don't worry, we haven't harmed her...especially since boss has taken a liking to her. Anyway, we know a log about you." "Well that's good, 'cause there's a lot about me I don't even know." "And I'm the guy you want to talk to. Why don't you come with us?" "But my teacher always said I'm not suppose to do with strangers..." "...how old are you?" he asked, staring up at me. "Fourteen." I reply. "Well, come on then," he said, twisting his finger in the air. "I'd say fourteen is old enough to think for yourself, kid. You gotta act like an adult and start taking some risks."
"You think so? I should think of myself!" I asked, sounding shocked. "Yes! And you can start by coming with u-" as I kneed the man's face. "So I thought it over for myself, and I decided I should just make you tell me what I want to know." "So, you wanna so this by force...?" "Mmm!" I turned to see Lyssa tied up with her mouth covered. "Lyssa!" I shouted as my helmet was knocked off. As a girl then jumped in as I screamed, "Ah! You're inside of me?!"
"Hey! Be a good boy and keep still." she situated herself to where I couldn't move. "So what's it like having someone control you from inside?" "You can't stop me from moving!" I said, struggling to move my arm. "And you can't hold this up forever!" "You're right, but all I'm trying to do is slow you down a little." "For my turn." a strong man, appeared behind me. I threw my arm at the man, only to be caught and thrust to the ground within seconds. "You are alright Martel?" thegut asked the girl. "Oh, I'm wonderful," she replied sarcastically. "I've told you guys to watch how you handle my girl..." "Sorry boss; we needed her to catch him." "You people aren't human, are you?" I asked. "Good guess," another man said, wearing shades and a furry vest, "They're chimeras, and they happen to work for me." he picked up my head and smiled.
Aliyah's POV:
Ed and I made it to Central HQ. And went inside and head towards the front desk. "Hello, how may I help you?" the woman said to us. We saw our watches and said, "We're here for our assessments." I told her. She nodded her head and hand us the paper for the assessment and we wrote on it and to hand to the Fuhrer Bradley. We head to his office on our way we saw major Armstrong there. "Major Armstrong, you're here." Ed said, as he turn and saw us.
"Edward Elric and Aliyah Daniels. You're here for what I assume?" he asked us. "Ed and I are here to handed the Fuhrer ours assessment for stay as State Alchemists." I replied to him. "Well, the Fuhrer is here go ahead." Armstrong said, as we head inside to Fuhrer's office to know he was there. "Ah, Fullmetal Aqua it fancy to see you in Central. May I ask why you two are here for?" Fuhrer asked us. "We'll here to give you our assessments to you." Ed said.
"Oh, so hand them to me now." we handed him the assessments to him. He nodded his head. "Alright guys you're stay as State Alchemists." Fuhrer said to us. Ed and I sighed in relief. And we headed out to go back to Dublith. We went to the train station to go to Dublith. Ed got the tickets to go. Then we saw the Fuhrer and his mans heading towards us. "May I ask where you two are going?" he asked us. "We're going to Dublith to our teacher." I reply to him. "Is that so I'm going there too." Fuhrer said. Ed and I looked at him in confusion.
*Dublith's Train Station*
Ed and I walked towards teacher's house and don't see Al or Lyssa. "Where are they." Ed said. I shrugged my shoulders and we saw a brooms on the ground. "I have a bad feeling about this Ed." I said to him. "Me too. Let's go found them." Ed said to me.
*Inside Devil's Nest*
Lyssa's POV:
The man gasped. "Cool," he said, looking in Al's body, with that girl still inside, "You're actually hollow." he put Al's head back in place. "The name's Greed. And I wanna be your friend." "Then why don't you tell me what you people really are?" Al asked, as my and his wrists and ankles bond by iron chains and Ropes. "Huh?" "You're not chimeras...not possible; no one's made a chimera that can talk." "You can't believe everything the government tells ya kid. You've got all the proof you need, right inside you. The girl in there is part snake." He turned to face the others as he said, "And this big guy here...Roa, what were you made with? Cow?" "Yep." "I've also got a lizard and crocodile, and the little runt you took down earlier tends to lift his leg while he pees." "Only once!" "You're part dog." Al asked shocked. Al and I both thought back to Nina. "Yep; it not so bad." "I don't believe it...it's not possible. Who would even be cable of creating one?" "The Military," Greed stated.
No one's POV:
"You saying—?" "You got it; there's a shadow world beneath yours that's jam-packed with 'impossible'. Heck, I'm more uncommon then they are." He showed Al and Lyssa his hand. It had a red serpent devouring itself around the small triangles—the Ouroboros Tattoo. "I'm a homunculus." Lyssa's eyes went wide. "A homunculus..." "You know what that means, right? I'm an artificially created human. Really, no joke."
"Homunculus?" Al asked as Ed,Lyssa and Aliyah and he looked through a text book. "It's a person made from alchemy." "Doesn't it say you're not supposed to try and create people?" Aliyah asked.
"You're lying! A homunculus is just a theory! Nobody's made one!" "Oh man, guess I need to prove it." Greed then stood up and Roa knocked his head clean off. Lyssa eyes widened as Greed's body fell right next to her. She tried to scream the best she could as Al asked, "Why'd you do that to him!" Greed raised a finger as he stood, his head growing back. He popped his neck, wiped the blood from his mouth and said, "That's one time that I've died."
"No way!" Al muttered as Greed looked at Lyssa. "Don't look so shaken up babe." he turned to Al and said, "You get it yet? Noting is impossible, alright? I'm a little surprised you have such a hard time accepting that, considering you're just a soul in a suit of armor." "Who told you that?" Al asked surprised. "People like to talk in the shadow world, and I've got plenty of friends." Greed stooped down to Al and Lyssa eye to eye. "Well, let's skip this casual chit-chat. I'm more interested in hearing what it's like to have a body that'll never die. An individual soul transmuted and bound to an object! Sounds like that's the perfect recipe for immortality to me. Let me explain, see I'm Greed- I want everything you can think of! Money and women, power and sex, status, glory! I demand fine things, and of course," he said, clenching his fist, "I crave eternal life."
"Aren't you already immortal?" Al asked. "Well, I guess I was put together a little sturdier then most; I am nearly two hundred year old. But I wouldn't exactly say that I'm immortal. So, I've spilled my guts all over, told you my darkest secret, now it's your turn! How'd you get your body!" "Just make this easy and tell him unless you want your friend to get hurt." Martel stated. "I wish I could tell you, that would mean I actually remember how I got it. But even if I could, I'm not one who did it." "Thats not a problem...in that case; we'll ask your friend here. Let's have a little 'fun', shall we?" Greed asked as he walked closer to lyssa, who look at him as he was the most stupid person ever.
"Biacth, are blind. Because I am; I do not know how to transmuted a soul and bound to a suit of armor." Lyssa say it sassy.
*Outside Izumi's Place*
"Now where would a 7th tall suit of armor go...and Lyssa also missing..." Ed asked looking around with Aliyah. "I'd be happy to tell you where you could find them." a short guy said, walking from an ally way as he continued, "But first...tell me what his secret is!"
A metal door opened as Bid fell to the ground, unconscious. Ed and Aliyah walked into the room of chimeras. "Brother!" Al said." Ed, Aliyah!" Ed and Aliyah glanced to Al and Lyssa as he said, "Never really crossed my mind that you two could get kidnapped." "Ed,Aliyah! This guy's a homunculus!" Lyssa shouted as Ed said, "Are you serious?" "Way to ruin it babe..." Greed stated as Al said, "We might be able to get some leads from him on how to get our original bodies back."Greed showed Ed and Aliyah his hand and snickered. "An Ouroboros tattoo." "Aren't you observant. I was hoping that I'd only have to deal with the little armored giant over there, then have some fun with this girl here..." "Why don't you just ask your partners what you wanna know?!"
"Partners?" "Yeah, the rest of the Ouroboros gang from the Fifth Lab. They had a couple of armor-bonded souls with them as well." "Ya don't say? Well, it's kind of a long story, but we don't talk much anymore. I've got a little proposal for you. You guys are pretty desperate to get your bodies back, right? 'Cause I can teach you how to fabricate your own homunculus in no time at all. In return, all I ask is that you teach me how to transmute a soul. I tried to ask your friend but she give me sass." Greed said, as Ed and Aliyah glanced at Lyssa who still had the blade pressed to her.
"Classic Equivalent Exchange..." "I screw to god if you touched her I'll-" Aliyah said be was interpret. Greed turned to Al and said, "Hmph, but I really don't understand why you'd even want your other body back. Seems like you've got one that's perfect already—" "How dare you say that?! You don't know what he goes through!" Lyssa shouted as Dolcetto pulled her hair furthwe back, pushing the blade. "Ah!" "Hey! Let her go!" Aliyah shouted as Greed said, "Not until we get what we want..." "That's enough. Shut your damn mouth!" Ed screamed furiously. "SOUNDS GREAT TO YOI! IT SEEMS PERFECT! YOU DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THE HELL HE'S HAD TO GO THROUGH STUCK WITH THAT BODY! AND YOU WANNA KNOW HOW TO TRANSMUTE A SOUL!" Ed screamed at them as Aliyah who was stood next to him sweat-dropped at him for yelling. "YOU KIDNAPPED MY BROTHER AND FRIEND, AND YOU WANNA TRADE SECRETS WITH ME! I'M GONNA CRUSH YOU CREEPS! I'M SMASH YOU! END YOU! AND I WON'T GIVE YOU SLIME ANYTHING! In other words, there won't be an exchange with you SCUM!"
Greed clapped while the other chimeras looked at Ed dumbfound. "I guess we're doing this by force again," Dolcetto sighed as he took the blade from Lyssa's neck and charged at Ed. Ed jumped into and spun around in the air. "You're a lot slower than a prisoner I know!" Ed came back down, punching Dolcetto in the jaw. He clapped his hands and touched his metallic arm, bringing out his forearm blade. "Next?"
"Roa, get the armored kid and girl out of here. Guess we'll dismantle them." As Roa grabbed them on each shoulders. "Hey, hold on!" Al said helplessly. "Put me down!" Lyssa demanded. "Alright." they then ran out with and Lyssa as Greed turned to Ed and Aliyah. As Ed projected his arm at Greed, only to be blocked by an armored claw. They exchanged short, quick blows. Ed ducked and hit the ground, bringing up the stone stairs which he used to attack from the air.
Greed blocked once more. "Nope, sorry. That little hand-sword of yours is kinda neat, but it can't even scratch my Ultimate Shield." he ran at Ed. "Be Careful Ed!" Aliyah shouted as Greed looked at her and said, "Look at that your little girlfriend is look after you." Ed sent a barrage of spikes at Greed. He cut through the stone like butter, but Ed sent an assault of small stones quickly after. Greed blocked, but Ed was already in the air, coming down for his next attack.
Then some time being as they fight Greed. Izumi came in with unconscious guys. "You damn imbeciles!" she then some men at Ed, causing Ed to get thrown into Aliyah. "Two birds with one stone. You think its funny not to put the broom away?! I asked you too a question!" "No we're sorry!" they shouted, scared for life. "Thanks for your hospitality...they definitely needed the exercise." "Teacher! Careful; he's a-" Ed stated. "Yes, I know. I could hear you two all the way down the hall!" "Oh, give me a break...don't tell me you're going to start something lady; it's not fun-" Greed was cut off by Izumi running up to him, grabbing his face and using alchemy to weaken his shield. She then kicked him into a wall. "Haha...well now...what the hell are you?" he asked, getting up. "You ask what I am?" she pointed a thumb at her chest. "A HOUSEWIFE?!"
{Ending song}
(I hope you enjoy. Have a great day.) QueenZelda 17 is out.