Fullflame
By: Bar-Ohki
Disclaimer: Still own nothing.
Recap: Envy has a plan that involves Roy's command. Roy now knows some stuff about alchemy, but has no practice; he also knows he has to get back to Central. Hohenheim Elric and Major General Armstrong are moving their own force of alchemists down to Central for a confrontation with Dante. Dante is moving her plan into the final stages.
Other Stuff: I am sorry for the late update. There are some large domestic issues in my house that are (hopefully) over now. I should be updating more regularly should the issues not resurface. And I also started a plushie making project which is taking up a lot of time, but is thankfully almost done.
Chapter 21: Reasons
Fighter Units have a very different training regime than a Sacrifice. Fighter Units spend their first five years of training becoming physically fit and studying spells. Spells are limited only by the imagination and power of a Fighter Unit; because of this all Fighter Units are forced to indulge in things like fine arts to encourage creativity. Also Fighter Units spend a great deal of time purposely using their soul energy to gain as much control over it as they can and also to increase the amount of it they have.
After the first five years, typically a Pair is united for the first time. The first month after their meeting is dedicated to bonding. Physical and intimate contact strengthens bonds. After the first month the Pair then undergoes combat exercises and specific endurance training. In the Fighter Unit's case: emotional to make less work for their sacrifice. In the Sacrifice's case: physical so that they can withstand large masses of pain that are associated with spell combat. They are also taught of ways they can sense their Other Half and interact to make their Name stronger.
Riza Hawkeye was thinking back on how long she and Jean Havoc had been bonding. There were much strength they had from their strong bond, but like anything else, there were some things they couldn't do because their bond was not mature enough. She then thought of Edward and Roy, and their bond that was spiraling out of control. With a sigh, she shook her head and sipped the tea the Fuhrer had provided.
"I think it would be best if I start this story from when I came into office." Fuhrer Bradley began.
-flashback-
King Bradley, the new Fuhrer of Amestris walked into his office, proud and content he had just gotten the ultimate promotion. Once inside there was a middle aged woman standing in there with a young man. The middle aged woman was dressed regally, her brown hair up and a tiara atop her head. The young man wore a skimpy shirt and a skirt, both made of tight, black material. He had long green hair and violet eyes. The woman's green eyes seemed inhumanly old and perceptive.
"Hello, Mr. Bradley." The young man greeted him. "As of today you are officially Fuhrer, congratulations."
"Thank you." Bradley didn't let these people unsettle him.
"Pride." The woman said after a while. "I will call you Pride."
"I beg your pardon?" Bradley didn't understand what she meant, or even who she was.
"I am Dante, and this is my homunculus, Envy." She smiled then turned to her companion. "Envy, would you go kill the old Fuhrer?"
"Sure thing, master." Envy slipped out of the room, turning into some nameless soldier on his way out. Bradley couldn't help but gasp. He heard a clap and watched as Dante set her hands on the floor. Within moments the floor came to life and a spike grew from it, positioning itself two inches from Bradley's neck.
"Now Pride, I don't have time to do all the little finer details of running a country, so you will do that in my stead." Dante walked up to him, in complete control. "And when I tell you to get things done, you will do them."
"Or what?" Bradley demanded.
"Or I will turn this country into a Philosopher's Stone. And don't say that's impossible, I've already done it once." Her smile was the creepiest thing he ever did see. "And I will gladly do it again…."
-end flashback-
"Dante caused the Massacre of Old Central?" Falman gasped.
"Yes." Fuhrer Bradley was quiet. "She's been holding this country hostage to force my hand in certain matters. She's been running the country behind everyone's back for centuries."
"How did you meet Edward?" Havoc asked.
"I purposely didn't tell Dante about Light until they disappeared. When I did tell her she told me to send men out to look for them. So I sent the men out." Bradley was thoughtful. "Eventually one of them had been walking through Risembol on vacation and saw Light at one of the local stores with their eldest child in tow. So I told Dante about the sighting in Risembol."
"Then what?" Fuery asked.
"Envy disappeared for a time. Then he returned with an unconscious Edward slung over his shoulder. The boy's been living in Old Central since." Bradley finished.
"It doesn't seem like he likes you very much." Breda observed.
"Would you like someone that spent every moment you knew them making fun of you and conspiring to do terrible things to you and the ones you love?" Bradley asked. "I was disillusioned by the thought that joining Dante and cooperating would give me some control of the situation. I was wrong."
"Then why did you continue to do that?" Fuery asked.
"That's easy!" Breda smiled. "You did it to lead her into thinking you were trustworthy so that you could later backstab her."
"Precisely. Unfortunately that involved taking out a lot of rage on Edward, to hold up appearances." Bradley explained. "I know what Dante is trying to do with that boy, and to save him and the rest of the country from that fate, I tried to kill him."
"What is Dante trying to do?" Havoc asked.
"She wants to become a Sacrifice and bind Edward to herself under the Name 'Meaning'." Bradley explained. "Doing that would kill Colonel Mustang, and give her access to terrible power."
"Someone as powerful as Edward is frightening enough." Riza looked pale. "We don't need him being led around by a psycho."
"Put agelessness into the mix and you've got something extremely frightening." Bradley told them.
"Wait, I thought the Philosopher's Stone could make you immortal!" Havoc exclaimed.
"Actually it does not." Bradley smiled. "What Dante does to keep herself alive beyond her years is transfer her soul from body to body, leaving one every time it grows old and frail."
"So she switches bodies?" Riza paled again.
"But there's a side effect to doing this, Hohenheim of the Light told me about it." Bradley smirked. "You lose a bit of your soul every time you transfer it."
"What does that mean?" Falman inquired.
"What it means is that her soul is now so weak and frail it can't support the body she's living in." Bradley grimaced at the upcoming thought. "Currently she's living in a body that's slowly rotting away. The next one will rot away even more quickly."
"Eww." Breda made a face.
"So she's physically not much of a threat." Havoc observed.
"This soul transferring and long living has only made her alchemy stronger and fiercer." Bradley warned them. "And though it is a comfort to see that her homunculus is not on her side any longer, it is not a comfort for me not to know where his loyalties lie."
"Why would that be, sir?" Fuery wondered.
"Because he is truly immortal." Bradley left it at that.
-break-
"I just spoke with Alphonse, he and Roy are headed here." Hohenheim of the Light told William as they put Edward back in his cell. Edward smiled, content.
"Did you speak with 'hen-hen'?" William asked, using Edward's pet name for his father to avoid confusion.
"Yes, Hen-Hen is coming this way with Major General Armstrong and their small force of alchemists." Edward gave the ghost-like man a desperate look. "Yes, your mother is with them." Edward then gave him a nod.
"So did you discuss the plan with Roy's subordinates?" Hohenheim asked.
"Yes, they know to pull Ed here off the circle if it comes to that." William explained. "They also got a good look at him too." Edward nodded to confirm the story.
"Well Dante doesn't suspect anything." Hohenheim looked smug. "She still doesn't realize those circles she uses to keep me out of rooms need to encompass the entire room, not just a spot on the wall. I mean, I can't really look at that part of the wall where the circle is, but I can see what's right in front of it."
"Kind of stupid of her." William chuckled.
"Well she never checked them, just assumed they worked." Hohenheim laughed. "I read through her notes last night. I'll need a little help altering the circle."
"Don't look at me." William remarked defensively.
"I was going to ask the Fuhrer." Hohenheim added. "He's been on our side for a long while, after all."
"That's true." William and Edward both nodded.
-break-
"We've got to go!" Roy told Alphonse urgently. Alphonse yawned.
"You ought to put on shoes first." Al pointed at Roy's naked feet. "And I have to talk with Granny and Winry before I go anywhere."
"Bah!" Roy muttered, realizing he was still wearing the tuxedo.
"You stay here, get yourself composed, then head back to the Rockbells'. I'll go on ahead and clear things up there." Alphonse told Roy as he walked out the door. "And don't forget to reveal your name when you climb over the fence!"
"I won't!" Roy called back, climbing up the stairs to change his clothes again.
Alphonse walked outside and observed that the sun was setting. He sighed, realizing that they were stuck in Risembol for another day. Quickly he ran down the hill, rolled up his pant leg, climbed over the fence, and continued his jog back to the Rockbells'. He arrived at the front door of the yellow house, and Winry opened the door to let him in.
"Where's Roy?" Maes asked when Alphonse and Winry came into the living area.
"Sorting out his affairs." Alphonse explained.
"Granny," Alphonse made eye contact with Pinako, "me and Winry have to go to Central with Roy."
"Go pack your bags then, I'll go down to the station and order your tickets." Pinako got out of her chair and began to leave. "Mr. Hughes, would you mind making sure these two pack and start dinner?"
"Sure?" Maes wasn't expecting for the old woman to suddenly put trust in him.
"And don't worry, I'll get you and Roy tickets too." Pinako grabbed her purse and left.
"Well, let's get started!" Maes clapped his hands. Alphonse and Winry rolled their eyes and walked up the stairs, motioning for Maes to follow.
-later-
Ka-boom! An explosion shook all the windows of the Rockbell family home. Maes, like any good investigator, ran outside to see what it was. Alphonse and Winry simply opened up a window and looked out into the night. There was another explosion coming from the Elrics' yard.
"Looks like Roy found his gloves." Winry observed.
"Gloves!?" Maes turned around and stared at the teens, stunned. "Gloves can do that!?"
"It's more the work of the transmutation circles on the back," Alphonse explained, "and the sparks pyrotex makes."
"What!?" Maes jumped when there was another explosion. Moments later they saw Roy coming down the hill, laughing like a madman.
"What the hell?" Maes demanded of his friend.
"Hughes, watch this!" Roy's eyes were glittering with childish joy. He held up his hand, snapped his fingers and a small explosion occurred beside the house.
"Ayee!" Maes jumped, shocked and frightened by Roy's somewhat psychotic behavior.
"No alchemy in my house." Pinako used that motherly voice that left no room for argument.
"Yes ma'am." Roy told her, looking sheepish.
"Is dinner ready?" Pinako asked Maes.
"Y-yeah…." Maes stared at his friend, unsure what to think.
-the next morning-
"Now all of you be careful." Pinako told them from the platform.
"Don't worry Granny, we're always careful!" Winry assured her.
"I wasn't talking to you." Pinako smirked.
"Hey!" Roy and Maes cried.
"Well give my regards to your brother and your folks Alphonse." Pinako waved.
"Sure thing!" Alphonse smiled. The train's whistle brew twice and the group of four found themselves heading towards Central, towards Edward, and towards a battle they had as good a chance of winning as they did losing.
---------
Roy likes fire…. So now we have the others headed to Central! Will they encounter more interference on their way? Will I ever get around to explaining Richard Hawkeyes's story? And drop a review and I'll update sooner!