Chapter 21: Final Confrontation

Disclaimer: I do not own Fullmetal Alchemist or the characters of said franchise.

The scent of a smoking mixed with the all familiar smell of blood and death, the smell of home to a mercenary like Sean, who could feel the adrenaline rushing in his brain just at the sheer smell of war. It was obvious that he had been from the battlefield too long, but it was unnoticeable by the way he moved up the stairs, taking great precaution to check his corners before proceeding onwards. Riza was, at the moment, a bit impatient from wanting to make sure that Roy was safe, yet she still wanted to make sure to be as professional as possible so she took point and had Sean keep a check on the corners. She couldn't help but compare his habits to that of a teacher she had once had who desired perfection out of anything and as such was known as the "Great Slug" for his slowness of getting into the fight because of it. The mercenary she was sending into combat, however, moved at a good pace that was only hampered by his flaw to know whatever situation was occurring in its fullest detail. Sometimes she just wanted to move him along with a pitchfork, but she hadn't the time to act on her many rage fueled fantasies.

"Okay, this floor is clear, now move out," barked Riza, which Sean complied with immediately, slipping into a covering position by the stairs leading up and just as he was about to go one of the enemy troops popped out and fired upon him.

The bullet cut his right cheek and didn't hamper his returning fire in the slightest bit as he raised the luger in his right hand and let out a single shot that hit the trooper square in the head, splattering his brains across the white wall. Havoc then led other troops up to give Sean and Riza covering fire as they ran up the stairs into the enemy lines. Riza ducked down half way to give Sean more covering fire since she was the best shot and as soon as Sean reached the enemy line he pointed both of his pistols at two troops and gunned them down before kicking one in the chest while pulling the gun on the other one. He waited for Havoc and his men to come and secure the two troopers before proceeding down the hallway of the floor, checking each corner. As soon as they had reached halfway down the hallway, an explosion rang out from above their heads.

"He's right above us," shouted Riza as she started running down the hallway and then back up the stairs, followed closely by Sean, who was pulling his wire out.

"Hey, wait up," called Havoc as he organized his men to follow him as they chase Riza ans Sean, but as soon as the two passed the steps and turned, a group of soldiers showed up and cut the line, isolating Riza and Sean from Havoc's troops. "Ah shit, prepare to give covering fire! We are going to catch up! Now!"

Sean ran down the corridor with Riza covering him with her own rifle as he made his way to the next door and then started providing covering fire for her as she ran to the next door, kicking down the soldier who was already in it. Sean then started running literally along the wall a bit, using his acrobatic skills and agility to run along the wall and side step the bullets while causing the soldiers to fire at the wall. There were only three of them, seeing as how they were over stretched and the others were being used to keep them isolated from the rest of the group. As soon as Sean jumped behind them and pointed his duel Lugers at the trio he felt something hot cut into his right arm. A warm liquid sprayed on his face as he soon saw that Guile was there and instantly realized that his right arm was on the floor in front of him instead of attached to his right shoulder. Riza shouted over the hail of gun fire that was occurring, but Sean was in a daze at the loss of one of the arms he put so much pride into it, almost a bit confused at the whole situation despite the evidence in front of him. Guile used this to his advantage to pick Sean up and slam him against the wall repeatedly before throwing him onto the ground and then kicked him in the stomach, just a few centimeters from his navel. The fire sword that was the trademark of Guile was raised over Guile's head as he picked up Sean and placed him in front of a window, ready to use the sword to knock him through, but before Guile could ever attempt it, a ball of fire hit him in the face. At the same time he reflexively pushed Sean right through the window, the glass shards digging a bit into his back and a few flying by and cutting both his ear and neck. Right before he left the window sill completely, Sean tossed the one grenade he had left, hoping to do something before he died.

"Hmm," said Guile as he saw the grenade and right before it blew up ducked back, but was unable to escape the full affect as some pieces of shrapnel hit him in the chest causing him to grunt in pain. He ignored the pain a bit and turned to the alchemist who had sent that burst of fire into his face. "Well then Roy, I've finally gotten you out of that little hole have I?"

"I think this is the time in which we can finish this," said Roy as he had his officer's sword out as well, always carrying it by his side after his fight with Bradley. He had also recently placed a saw blade on it so when the two swords collided, Roy's sword was set aflame as well.

"Well met, Flame Alchemist," said Guile as he raised his sword and went into full charge, swinging around wildly so that the flames would make his movements a bit fuzzy to the enemy by the smoke. Roy finally understood the truth behind Guile's swordsmanship and that was that Guile was very undisciplined as a swordsman, but made up for it by setting his flame on fire and using it to intimidate his opponents.

"I now see you for what you are," said Roy as he pointed his sword at Guile and then he charged Guile who came in for a large attack, but Roy side stepped it and attacked Guile. "You don't have any skills whatsoever and are trying to make up for it by inspiring fear in your enemies, but as long as our swords are the same you have nothing."

As soon as Roy did this, however, there was an explosion that racked the entire HQ and sent both men to the floor, which their swords happened to burn through, causing them to collapse to the ground. They both gained consciousness at the same time, but luckily, Roy was able to focus more since he had one eye. Both men lunged at each other and Roy was able to grab Guile's hand and thrust his own sword into Guile's stomach. He held it in there until Guile finally went limp and his eyes rolled into the back of his head. Roy finally rolled over and breathed a sigh of relief as Riza ran over to him, shouting his name as his eyes got heavier.

"Is that all you got," taunted Edward Elric as he stood behind a corner for cover and then looked at his brother who was right across from him. "There are two on one and those soldiers will be in here any second now."

He had tried getting close enough to attack Dante since he knew that the body she had was no match for his own automail arm and leg, but she had managed to keep him at a distance with spikes from the ground. He was surprised that she didn't try a transmutation circle on him, but he doubted that she thought much of him now that she had the Philosopher's stone in her grasp. With a clap of his hands, Eric brought up a cannon in the ground, using the rifles that he got from the fallen soldiers to make it, but he only had enough for two shots, since he needed metal for the cannon. The first metallic ball was caught by a massive hand that was made from the concrete of the battlements. The second burst right through and came close to hitting Dante who moved away at the right moment and turned in time to dodge Edward's punch. A smirk spread across her face as she started the transmutation circle and was using the Philosopher's stone to power up the alchemy and would have encased Edward in the concrete if a bullet hadn't knocked the stone out of her hand. Dante turned her head to see a grinning Vashov holding a smoking gun in his right hand while Lust used her longer finger nails to snatch the stone out of her grasp.

"Go ahead and give up already," said Edward as he stood before her with the knife in his automail arm extended and Dante just laughed.

"I do hat to say this because it sounds so idiotic and cliché, but you'll never take ma live," laughed Dante as the very same concrete that she tried to encase the elder Elric brother in wrapped around her, leaving her as nothing but a statue.

"That's the end of that bit then, but I'm just worried about the rest of the threat," said Edward as he started running only to be stopped by Vashov's grip.

"No need to tire yourself out, Guile is dead and Roy's alive," said Vashov as he let go of edward's arm and then sighed as he added, "But Sean has been gravely injured and it is unknown if he is alive or dead, all we know is that he went through the window out the window of the seventh floor with his right arm missing."

"Come on then we have to go find him then," exclaimed Edward as he ran, but was once again stopped by Vashov who gave him an all too serious look.

"Edward, even for Sean it is highly doubtful that he is alive," said Vashov as he made his way for the door. "What we should be worrying with now is how we are going to help any of those trapped in the wreckage and see if they will need help."

"Sorry, but I'm not going to let a good friend die like that," said Ed as he ran on. I cannot accept that Sean would die! He can't die after all that he's done! Where is his reward in all of this? Ed ran as far as he could until his own automail gave out from the strain and he looked and saw Sean lying there in a pool of his own blood, smiling at Ed.

"Careful there Ed, don't hurt yourself," said Sean before passing out from blood loss.