AnimeAvarice: I'm glad you like the chapter.
OBSERVER01:Thank you.
.96780671: Really?! I'm seriously honored you think so.
Also, I'm sorry that the first part of your screen name is gone; I don't know why they won't let it stay...
Fireminer: Which battle?
You'll see more soon enough.
Ed fought back a grimace.
He, Al, Sophie, Karen, Scar, Yoki, Mustang, Lt. Hawkeye, M. Armstrong and several other soldiers that the raven-haired officer managed to get on their side were currently on the south-western area of Valdolla. Winry had agreed to stay back in the church until the fighting was over, which Ed was immensley relieved about.
"As Sophie Bergman has explained, Zelguice of Purgatory plans to resurrect the witch Velza from her shrine. After Lt. Col. Rosemaria's little show, the shrine has come under her control. We have to break through their stronghold and stop these so-called priests before they carry out their plan," Mustang told them all. "Failure is not an option."
"Yes sir!" the men barked, saluting sharply before they went to their assigned positions.
"Fullmetal," Mustang said turning to Ed, "you will bring Sophie to the shrine. If what she has told us is reliable, then she'll be the only one who can put an end to this crisis. So don't screw up. We'll escort to as far as the shrine but then we have to join the the assualt ourselves."
Ed gave a wry chuckle. "Worry about yourself; I'm not the one with burn injuries at the moment."
However, he turned serious after a moment. "But I promise to protect her."
Mustang glanced over at Scar and Yoki. "As for the two of you, you will be coming with us when we get to the shrine. If you try anything, then..."
Scar fixed him with a stern scowl. "Ishvalans keep their word, Col. Mustang. But the moment that this is over, you and your comrades will face judgement."
Ed scowled at that; no way was he going to let Scar kill him, not when he still ha so much to do in this life. Yoki meanwhile was looking rather grey and with a bit of good reason on his part; he would be virtually useless in the fight, serving little more than an informant and cannon fodder.
"The best direction to go to the shrine is through the south-western streets just ahead," Mustang told them. "Avoid taking life if you can; these men are still apart of the Amestrian Military."
"I will make no such promise," Scar said in a flat tone.
"I know that; I was talking to Fullmetal and Kouzuki," Mustang replied before his expression became colder. "But for every man you kill today, I'll make sure your punishment will be ten times worse."
Ed grimaced; he never enjoyed talking of death, and this was taking it a bit far.
"It'll be easier to get through in smaller groups," Scar stated. "If two go each, then we can cover more ground by having one group go up first before signaling the others. When we come across other soldiers, we can use the first group to distract, the second to attack, then the third to make sure we're not followed.
"Hey, you're not in charge-" Mustang began.
"It's a good plan; I agree," Lt. Hawkeye stated.
"Indeed, it's both efficient and logical," M. Armstrong seconded.
The blond didn't want to admit it, but the Ishvalan's plan was really good; he couldn't counter it even if they weren't in a truce. "Okay, does anyone have any objections?"
Karen, Sophie, Al and Yoki remained silent.
Mustang twitched slightly but sighed. "Right then; Lt. Hawkeye, you're with me then."
"Of course sir. Scar and Karen, can you two work together?"
"Yeah," the red-haired woman said while Scar nodded.
"We can hold our own," Al said. "But I think that it'll be better if brother and I to support the others. I'll make sure Yoki won't die in the first five minutes."
"Wha- I'm right here!" the man cried indignantly.
"Please make sure he doesn't get hurt," Sophie said to the armored boy. "He's my friend."
Ed stared in surprise but Al replied, "I understand."
The blond glanced over at Sophie. "That leaves you and me."
Sophie nodded. "Don't worry; I can hold my own fairly well."
With that, the six of them went forward to the shrine as quickly as possible, avoiding soldiers if they could. However, after some time, the soldiers kept showing up more frequently. Al and Yoki were both on lookout, while Mustang, Lt. Hawkeye, Armstrong, Ed, Sophie, Karen and Scar alternated between battling the brunt and making sure they weren't being tailed. They continued doing this for nearly an hour before Ed could see the tip of the shrine.
"Ed, Sophie, move!" Al cried out from behind.
Ed glanced back to see a soldier take aim at him only for a rather high shriek rent the air as Yoki throw himself at the soldier and smacked him over the head numerous times with the butt of a rifle he picked up, tears running down his face from sheer terror.
"Thank goodness," Sophie breathed before smiling at Yoki. "Thank you."
Eesh...
Just you wait, you bastard, Ed thought as Zelguice flashed before his eyes, I won't let you do what you please!
"Um, Zelguice..."
The blond man looked back at Janice. They looked down from the top of the shrine, down on Valdolla as explosions rang out and smoke colored the sky. Before, the city was a casualty. Now, a battlefield.
"It's just us now, right?" the blonde woman said with a foreign nervousness in her stomach.
He nodded.
Gode and Leonid were both dead. She was the only one left of her comrades, the only one who would be there to greet Lady Velza when she was finally free. She didn't know what to tell her lady that they were both... gone.
I... I just never thought those two would die. I really thought we would all be able to see her again.
"Soon, Bergman's daughter will be here," Zelguice said. "I'll be having you sweep away her protectors."
At that, his hand reached out and gripped her shoulder tightly, making Janice wince. Even though Zelguice was only interested in Lady Velza being brought back, he didn't enjoy the defeats of the priests that were being handed to them as casually as a piece of candy being handed to a child.
"J-Janice understands," the wind priestess said, trying to keep the tremour of fear out of her voice but failing miserably.
"I don't care if you have to demolish the floor you'll meet them on; just keep them away from the array."
"R-right."
At that, Zelguice reached out carefully and took Janice's jaw in his hand, squeezing painfully. Janice fought back a shiver of fear as she looked up at him.
"No more mistakes. No more chances. Or I will kill you myself."
She nodded weakly, fighting back tears before the blond man let go of her aching jaw.
A kind-looking woman with pure white hair smiled before a crowd, her arms held wide to them. By her side were three people in white robes, who were smiling as well.
"Thank you so much, Lady Velza!" a man shouted.
"Please Lady Velza, help my family" A woman cried out.
"Lady Velza is a goddess...!"
She didn't say a word, simply smiling at them as if she reserved every drop of kindness for each person in the crowd. The three by her beamed.
She was manacled to a stone before an array, a man standing before. She was covered in bruises, dirt and blood as she struggled to catch her breath.
"You witch...! You've tricked every single person in Valdolla and even worse, you used bonafide witchcraft on them! You will pay for your crimes
A door opened to a prison, revealing the lady. Her robes were ripped and dirtied, her expression shadowed.
"Lady Velza, we're here to get you out!" one of them said, going to her side.
She remained silent.
"It'll be okay, Lady Velza," another said gently, though trying to hold back tears.
"We won't let them hurt you anymore," the third said sternly.
Unforgivable... Unforgivable!
I'll make them pay, all of them!
Unforgivable... THEY ARE UNFORGIVABLE!
Sophie cried out in pain as she gripped her head tightly, trying to ward out that hateful voice.
"Sophie? Sophie, please answer!"
Her eyes snapped open at Al's voice and she looked up. She, Al, Ed, Karen, Yoki and Scar were at the level where she and the latter three had found the stone and alchemy array after quite some time of battling.
"Al...?"
"Sophie, are you okay? What's wrong?" Karen asked, a concerned look on her face.
Even with the voice still in her ears, Sophie simply shook her head ans smiled gently. "Just a sudden headache is all; I'm fine now. Let's keep moving."
"Okay..."
As the group went across the balcony, Sophie remained deep in thought.
It's as I thought; that woman I saw was Velza. But why would that be appearing to me now? And how? Is it because of Velza, or something else?
She was given no more time to dwell on such things as they continued up the shrine swiftly, trying not to lose anymore time. Eventually, they came to an unfamiliar passageway that led to some stairs and daylight came from above.
Sophie felt her chest twinge as she remembered Leonid; just when she thought that the man would be all right, he had to die like that-! She shook it off a minute later, knowing that they were nearly to the room where the stone was.
They stepped into the room, still and musty like before. The stone was still there in the light but a man with brown hair and beard wearing a black coat with white fur trim over an Amestrian military outfit.
"It's about time; I was wondering what was taking you all," he remarked.
"1st Lt. Romeo Cragin?" Al said.
"What, what?!" Karen said, looking over at the Lt. "Who the hell's this guy and why haven't we seen him before?!"
"That's what I wanna know too," Ed said. "He was helping us investigate the priests but then disappeared yesterday. I guess this is where you went?"
"Indeed," he said with a smirk. "Now, I can bring this city to it's knees..."
Sophie's eyes widened. "You're working with them too?"
"Indeed."
The silver-haired girl's blood froze at the voice before Zelguice came out of the shadows, his expression calm but radiating smugness. He walked over to the pedestal and picked up the stone.
"Everything is in place," Zelguice said before turning to Lt. Craigin. "Thank you for your help, old friend. But I'm afraid there is nothing left for you to do."
The brown-haired man smiled simply. "Well, I already know I'm not exactly an alchemist, so-"
However, his reply was cut off as Zelguice moved at lightning speed and snapped his neck. The officer fell to the floor a second later, his eyes wide open in confusion. Sophie felt sick at the ease that the priest had killed the man in front of them.
"Now then."
Zelguice extended his hand out and fire sparked about, creating a bright light and smoke screen. Sophie's eyes stung from both substances before she heard some pained grunts and a shriek before she felt two muscled arms wrap around her waist and yank her away. As she was moved, Sophie saw it was Zelguice.
"Let me go!" she cried out, trying to break free.
As flames wreathed around the two of them, Sophie could only see Karen, Ed, Scar, Al and Yoki on the floor, covered in bruises. "No-!"
"That bastard!"
Al grimaced as he helped his brother up. Even though he couldn't feel pain, his body felt bent and battered. Zelguice had attacked so quickly and so utterly devastating, not even Scar had a chance to fight back.
"We have to help her!" Karen grimaced as she got herself and Yoki back up, a bleeding bruise on her cheek.
Scar said nothing but he looked so angry, Al was felt afraid.
"But where did he go?" Brother wondered as he looked around. "It doesn't look like there's any doors or stairs in here..."
"Maybe they're hidden?" Karen suggested as she felt around on the wall as much as she could.
Al quickly took her cue and started to run his hands over the stone before brother, Scar and Yoki followed their example. A few minutes later, Al heard a click and Yoki give a startled gasp before the stone rolled back, revealing stairs.
"All right!" brother said with a determined voice before he ran over to the stairs.
They went up them quickly, and Al began to notice the stones beginning to change from a dark grey to a rick dark brown to a sickly green-grey. Eventually, they came up to another room, only to see a woman... floating in mid-air.
"Oh, not you again!" Karen grimaced.
The woman chuckled childishly. "It's Miss Cow and the angry guy again! And Janice sees you brought some friends too!"
"... hey, Janice," brother said with a serious but thoughtful voice, "do you love Velza?"
Janice blinked and the playfulness seemed to melt from her face. "Of course I do; Lady Velza is the kindest in the world- she loved everyone, me, Gode and Leonid."
Her expression grew sadder now. "But then... just because they didn't understand Lady Velza's alchemy, they hurt her so much. They hurt us too, for following her."
"So, you're trying to bring her back so she'll be happy?" Al asked gently.
Janice laughed softly at that. "I guess so... at least, we can get that happiness back, even if it's not all of it..."
"That's ridiculous," Karen said abruptly, her expression pained. "You can't bring back the past and vengeance is only going to hurt you and everyone around. Believe me, I know."
The orange-haired woman sighed. "I know it is, but still... what if it doesn't work out in the end? I'm confused..."
She shook her head a moment later, clear determination in her eyes. "Either way, I can't let you get by!"
Al grimaced as Janice flew up higher, wing billowing around her. They didn't have time for this; they needed to get to Sophie!
"Karen, Yoki!" the armored boy said to the two. "Find some cover!"
"Hey, I've taken her on before and she was the one-"
"Don't argue! I don't want to see anyone die!" Al snapped, his voice harsher than he intended.
Karen grimaced but nodded before Yoki practically molded himself to her arm as the two quickly went over to the side. Janice threw balls of green crackling energy at the three alchemists, but they managed to dodge them for the most part.
Brother clapped his hands together, creating a cannon and firing at Janice. She dodged most of the shots but some still hit her. Al also clapped his hands and created crackles to throw at her while Scar made chunks of the ceiling fall down onto her via right arm.
Janice kept fighting though and threw wind and energy at them and causing more than a few injuries but nothing threatening.
"Not again... NOT AGAIN!"
She suddenly curled into a ball, glowing a bright green color as her power crackled around her. Karen's eyes widened before she shouted, "Stop it! You're going to kill yourself if you keep going like this! How do you think Gode died?!"
"SHUT UP, SHUT UP!" Janice screamed at the red-haired woman. "I can't lose here! I can't die before seeing Lady Velza again!"
"Stop it!" Brother shouted.
But it was no use. Janice unfurled her body almost limply as she tried to reign in her power. Suddenly, she flinched.
"Wha- what is this-?!" she began before a shudder went up her body and Janice screamed out in agony.
Al's eyes widened. "What's happening?!"
"I-it must Zelguice again!" Yoki rasped. "When Leonid lost to us last time, that tattoo he had started to hurt him. But Sophie was there to take it away..."
Janice fell a moment later but Karen suddenly went forward and caught the orange-haired woman in her arms before gently lowering her to the ground, cradling her head in her arms as the green shuddered all over her body.
"What are you...?"
"I don't like you," Karen said simply, "and I really don't understand you either. But I know how you feel, wanting to bring back someone you love."
!
Janice looked back at Karen before a small smile spread on her face. "I... I wish I could have seen her again but... at least I know... Lady Velza's here..."
She giggled slightly before the shuddering got worse and before she disappeared, got out, "I hope... you find... that... person..."
And Janice of the Hurricane vanished from Karen's arms. Yoki looked freaked out, Scar and brother said nothing but both grimaced and Al's fist clenched. It wasn't fair; all they wanted was to see the woman they loved and because of that man, Zelguice-!
Just then, they felt the tower shudder beneath them before white light filled the room.
Unforgivable.
Unforgivable.
Unforgivable.
She snapped the manacles binding her to that accursed stone and dropped down before getting back on her feet.
"At last, we meet, Velza of Valdolla," a man said impassively, but she paid him no mind.
She had a body. She could move again, after so many years. The pain was gone, leaving only hatred. She looked upon the city, upon those who had called her a witch after everything she had done for them.
"Unforgivable... I WILL MAKE THEM BURN, ONCE AND FOR ALL!" she roared before she slapped her hands together, clasping her fingers. Power coursed through her veins and she slammed them down onto the floor.
"What the hell...?"
Rosemaria looked out from where she, Trigger and Hammer were fighting the priest's soldiers with the rest of her troops. The shrine of Velza was glowing a bright white before a dark red and violet array decorated the sky and blue energy danced around the city.
Just then, Rosemaria heard a sickening crunch and as she and Trigger turned, they saw a thing with pale lavender skin and blue wings as it chomped down onto the stout man's entrails. Rosemaria's eyes widened in horror and anguish before she pulled out her firearms and fired at the creature before it disappeared, leaving Borris's body behind.
"Where did it go-?!" Trigger rasped in fear.
Rosemaria grimaced as she tried to catch sight of the damned thing, only for muscled arms to wrap tightly around her neck, knocking the gun out of her hands as it's mouth opened, revealing long, sharp teeth, it's breath reeking of death.
"St- Trigger!" she rasped, reaching out to her blond subordinate. "He-"
But the red rose of Valdolla was cut off as the creature tore into her flesh, silencing her forever. Trigger was already running away from the scene, his hands over his ears and his eyes squeezed tightly as tears trickled down his face as more and more of the creatures came forth from the array in the sky, the soldiers helpless to do anything to stop them.
His eyesight returned to normal as the light faded. What had that been?
Suddenly, lavender creatures with wings appeared in red and black energy, surrounding them all.
"Brother!" Alphonse Elric exclaimed.
"Dammit, we don't have time for this!" Edward Elric growled.
As he said this however, one of the creatures shot down towards them. Just as suddenly, a pillar with a very familiar face came up and smashed one of them into the wall. He turned to see the Strong Arm Alchemist run in, with his shirt off once more.
"Is everyone all right?!" he boomed.
"Major, how did-?!" Edward Elric exclaimed.
"When the shrine began glowing, I was ordered to come and investigate and provide support!" he answered before taking a fighting stance, pink sparkles of all things twinkling around his visage.
His eyebrow twitched.
"Er... right; you do that!" Karen said with a sweat-drop before she grabbed Edward and Elric and pulled him forward. "Come on!"
Edward Elric nodded and the five of them went past as crashes rang out and Armstrong kept bellowing for some reason. State alchemists...
They kept going up the shrine, more of those creatures turning up and but he could easily handle himself as he destroyed them one after another. The Elric brothers only stunned them and left them on the ground, he noticed. Even when they were against abominations, both were clearly opposed to killing.
...
They came up to the next floor and he saw Zelguice in the center.
"Zelguice!" Edward Elric barked, face twisted in anger.
"... what was the point of recruiting those three when they can't even defeat children?" Zelguice mused. "In the end, they were useless."
Anger twisted in his chest; even those three, whatever they were, did not deserve to be called such, not when he found out why they were fighting and saw how much they had wanted to see this Velza.
"You bastard-! Where's Sophie?!" the blond boy shouted.
Zelguice let out a short snort before he turned to face them. "Even if I told you, you're too late; Velza has come and Sophie is no more. Even as I speak, she inhabits that girl's body."
"You son-of-a-bitch!" Karen growled.
The blond man smirked. "Your anger will do you no good. I'm afraid this is as far as you all go."
"You wish! I'll make you eat those words!" Edward Elric bellowed.
Zelguice laughed at that as he gripped his fists. "Then show your strength to me, Fullmetal Alchemist!"
He raised his arm, fire crackling about. The Ishvalan grimaced as he shifted into his fighting stance; since this was someone who could use long-range attacks, it would be especially troublesome.
Then, Zelguice's eyes flashed behind them and she slammed his fists down, creating a wall of magma that a burst of flame smashed against. He turned around to see the Flame Alchemist standing at the doorway behind them, his left hand extended out from where his attack came.
"Col. Mustang!" Alphonse Elric exclaimed.
"What are you doing here?" the raven-haired Amestrian asked in a stern voice. "You're supposed to be stopping this Velza, not screwing around with this second-rate flame-user."
Zelguice's eyes narrowed. "You all insist on getting in my way..."
He raised his fist again but Mustang's fingers snapped again, burning his arm badly. Zelguice scowled as he made the flames dissipate, though it burned off his bandages and most of his skin.
"Get going, all of you!" Mustang barked as he faced the blond man.
"Got it!" Edward Elric barked. "Don't you dare die!"
She was free.
Finally, after so long, she was free. Free to finally lay waste to Vadolla and take revenge. Disgust boiled within her as she thought of them, those disgusting maggots who used her and threw her to the lions after everything she had endured and done for their sakes.
The stones that Zelguice set up in the room to help regulate her power buzzed faintly. She could still feel the renments of her priests power, even now. Especially that she had all the more reason to fight, if only to avenge them at least.
Yet within this vessel, she couldn't bring forth the full brunt of her anger for some reason; was it because of the body or the girl herself? Sophie Bergman was far too kind; she would not last long in this world where anyone could turn on you in an instant.
"Sophie!"
The voice rang out as multiple footsteps echoed inside the room. According to the girl's memories, the blond was Edward Elric, "Ed", Alphonse Elric, "Al", Karen, Yoki and Scar.
"Thank goodness!" "Al" said. "Sophie, are you all right?"
Velza simply slapped her hands together summoning her power through the girl. Red and black and violet crackled around the vessel as she floated just a few inches above the ground.
"Sophie...?" Karen said with wide eyes.
"Not Sophie; Velza," she spoke.
"Ed"'s eyes widened in shock. "Wh-what are you saying, Sophie?!"
"Brother... that's- that's not Sophie," "Al" said, his fists gripping tightly. "That's Velza of Valdolla!"
"But- how can that be?!" Yoki exclaimed, sounding dismayed. "That's Sophie Bergman right in front of us!"
"No; I am Velza," she spoke again, becoming irritated at their refusal of acceptance. "Thanks to that man, to Zelguice of Purgatory, this girl now serves as my vessel. Soon, you will all die and there is nothing you can do to stop it."
Her power flared deeply inside her as she projected her sight to the five before her.
Those screaming maggots rang in their ears as her children gorged themselves on their flesh.
A blonde woman, Lt. Hawkeye, with a firearms firing futility at one of her children.
"Isn't there anything that can kill them?!" she wondered. "Col. Mustang-!"
Her children pinning down a muscled man, M. Armstrong.
"Tsk, you're strong" he growled, "but you will still fall to the techniques passed down the Armstrong line for generations!"
Zelguice standing above a raven-haired man, Col. Mustang as flames wreathed the room.
"What was that about finishing off a second-rate flame-user, Col.?" Zelguice sneered.
"I won't lose here," Col. Mustang said determindly. "I'll keep fighting, no matter what!"
Zelguice gave a barking laugh. "Such conviction; it will make smashing you into the ground all the more satisfying!"
Col. Mustang's pained cries echoed in the space.
Velza sneered triumphantly at the expressions on the five's faces.
"Everyone-!" "Al" gasped, sounding horrified.
Yoki looked ready to faint, Karen was grimacing with anger and frustration and Scar was scowling deeply.
"There is no hope for any of you anywhere," she said. "You will all perish by my power."
"I get that you can't forgive what happened to you," Karen said with a stern tone, "but that doesn't mean you can take it out on people who's only connection to you is because of where they live!"
Her tone became more upset as she cried out, "I know you can't agree with this and that you don't want this; fight back- fight back, Sophie!"
Velza smirked. "She can't hear you any-"
However as she said this, her skull and heart began to pound and she gripped at them both. "Wha-?!"
It couldn't be; how could that girl still be fighting, even after all of that?!
"K-Karen..."
"Sophie!" Karen cried back, in clear relief.
Sophie Bergman was speaking. Velza couldn't get back the control, the girl was fighting to speak so hard, she couldn't believe it was happening!
""Y-you have to-" Sophie rasped, a sob in her throat. "Please, you have to stop her..."
"Sophie, please hang in there!" "Al" cried.
"I-" Sophie gasped out. "Please... I know that Velza has so much power, but the only reason she's angry is because of what happened to her... so please-"
She finally smashed through and retook control of her vessel. "ENOUGH!"
"Sophie!" Yoki cried out.
Scar's fist clenched tightly.
"You will all burn with everyone else!" she roared as she drew forth her power and blasted it at the five.
It hit home, knocking all five backwards and against the floor or walls. Scar slammed his palm against the wall, violet and red crackling up the wall and dropping stones toward her. Velza easily smashed them apart with her power before she concentrated and created a tunnel that started to suck them toward her. "Al" got close enough for her to slam her palm onto his armor only for "Ed" to suddenly appear above her and smashed his right fist against her head and pulling the other back.
Karen shot toward her from behind and tried to grab her, but Velza grabbed at her wrist and twisted it sharply. Karen hissed before she delivered a sharp punch to her stomach but Velza was barely able to feel it before she threw the red-haired girl back. Scar tried to attack her again, but Velza easily dodged his attacks; she knew their efforts were futile.
Karen tried to throw another punch before "Ed" aimed a kick at her. Velza blocked the first and dodged the second before throwing them both back. She then heard a shriek of fear and saw Yoki running at her like a wild thing, screaming all the meanwhile. She easily side-steppe the man and flipped him onto his back hard.
These poor, helpless worms can't lay so much as a finger on me-
Th-thmp.
Velza paused. What...?
The thudding in her chest became louder and she felt Sophie fight against her more insistently now. This girl didn't know when to give up-
?!
Velza stared in shock; why couldn't she feel the power from the crystals?! She looked around almost frantically before realizing they had all been smashed. "Ed" stood to the side with "Al", both holding mallets above where shards were scattered on the floor.
When I was focusing on one or the other, they smashed them apart-!
The throbbing became stronger and Velza realized that she was slowly but surely being overwhelmed by Sophie as she fought back.
No! NO! I won't-
Pain laced in Sophie's entire body as she screamed, the red stone shinning brightly as it dropped from her chest and thudded to the floor. She collapsed a second later.
"Sophie!"
Hands gently propped her up and she saw the faces of Karen, Al, Ed and even Yoki and Scar looking down at her, the former four with concern. "Everyone..."
"Are you okay?" Karen asked concerned.
Sophie nodded weakly. She heard a low humming and they all looked to see the stone glowing brightly before a figure rose from it. It was a red creature with a skull-like face, feminine torso and white hair. Wings spread on it's back and a mouth split on her belly. It's eyes were teal and white and it let out a roar.
"Is that... Velza?" Yoki rasped in fear.
Sophie nodded. "Even though she looks like that... she's the one who's suffering the most right now."
"... brother," Al said in a soft voice.
"Yeah, I know," Ed replied, grimacing sadly.
"There is nothing left for that woman in this world," Scar said in a grave tone. "All we can do for her now is to end her misery and deliver her to God' hands."
Sophie nodded. "I know..."
She could only watch now as the battle continued on with Yoki and Karen looking after her, she was too weak to move. Velza spewed magma and ice, harnessed wind and smashed earth as she tried to kill them. Scar and the Elric brothers fought on, throwing all they had at her, even as all four of them began to become wearier and more injured s time passed.
Al created walls and bindings on her arms and neck, and Scar and Ed alternated between attacking her arms and belly, the most vulnerable area of Velza's body. Velza either hurtled them back with her attacks or her arms. Eventually though, the three of them finally caused her enough damage. Vela let out a screech as her body was dragged back into the stone, black and red and violet crackling all over before it became deathly silent.
The red stone that Zelguice had made Sophie absorb hung in the air before clattering onto the floor. Ed fought to catch his breath while Al and Scar looked on. Yoki breathed a sigh of relief and Karen smiled slightly.
A few seconds later, the stone crackled with blue before a slouched figure appeared. White hair and blood-stained clothing with eyes glowing bright with power. It was Velza again, but no longer a monster, but in her human body. She let out an enraged roar and red light shimmered out from her before she slammed the three back with her power.
Edward and Alphonse managed to find purchase in the damaged wall by the outer rim of the transmutation circle. Scar steadied himself against a fallen pillar and Karen and Yoki flattened themselves against the floor to keep from being sucked in.
Sophie already knew what she had to do. She rose to her feet and walked with purpose to the woman.
"Sophie, what are you doing?!" Karen cried out over the crackling.
"Don't go near her!" Yoki shrieked.
But the silver-haired girl paid them no heed as she kept walking.
"Velza..."
The white-haired woman seemed to stiffen as Sophie said her same.
"Velza, please..."
However, Velza roared at that and the pressure around Sophie intensified before she was thrown backwards against the floor. She could hear the Elrics and Karen cry out but couldn't discern the words. She rose to her feet again shakily and felt blood trickle down her head from where she had hit it.
She smiled gently. This seemed to confuse Velza and she snarled angrily but did nothing to stop Sophie from walking closer.
"I... I understand your bitterness," Sophie said simply, "This world is indeed cruel, filled with selfish, callous people. But..."
Velza screeched before red energy crackled into a sphere in front of her and she blasted it out. Sophie could feel the burn of energy as it shot through her. But she stood her ground and looked up into the energy-white, hatred-filled eyes.
Her father, smiling so kindly to her.
Karen protecting her from the Ice Priest.
Scar shielding Karen from the debris.
The Elrics selflessly supporting one another in battle.
Yoki, who tried to hold off some soldiers with tears of fear rolling down his face.
Sophie looked up at Velza, tears of resolution trickling down her cheeks. "But this world is also beautiful, with many selfless and kind people as well!"
She threw her arms around the white-haired woman. "I'm sorry! I'm sorry that all you knew in the last of your life was pain and suffering! If it were within my power, I'd take it away!"
The tears trickled down faster as Sophie hugged her tightly. "I'd give you all of the peace and happiness that you deserve!"
Then, Sophie realized that the red glow and crackling noise was gone and she was aware of two slender, frail arms around her waist. Sophie looked up at Velza in time to see a single teardrop fall from beneath her shadowed expression and land on Sophie's face before sliding down her chin.
Then, Velza's body began to shimmer gold, just like her tattoo. The shadows beneath her expression disappeared, showing the kindest, most gentle face Sophie had ever seen.
"Thank you," Velza said, before her body disintegrated in the gold light, leaving nothing behind.
The red stone lost it's glow and luster as it became black and dull as coal before it split apart, a single speck of gold light leaving it. Sophie sighed as the tears continued to trickle down from relief and utter peace.
All over the city, the creatures that had been created were slowly dissolving away in the same gold light, their demonic expressions showing nothing but peace.
M. Armstrong collapsed on his back, an earth-shaking thud echoing in the hallway.
Lt. Havoc and 2nd Lt. Breda both groaned with sheer relief from where they had been firing back to back on the sandbag barricade.
Lt. Hawkeye's expression didn't change as the minion she was about to gun disappeared.
Now how do I get down from this roof...?
Zelguice looked out from where he stood. His body was covered in burn wounds but he barely noticed them now as he watched Velza's minions disappear.
"So, after all of that, we lost," he said softly, before looking back at the flame alchemist, sporting his own bruises as well, with a particularly nasty one on his right cheek.
"It's over; you've managed to win. There's no need for you and I to fight anymore," Zelguice stated.
The alchemist looked surprised at that before he winced, clutching his injured soldier. "What do you..."
The blond man gently covered his tattoo with his right palm. Even now, he still remembered when he first got it; he would always touch it just to see if it wasn't a dream. But now...
He ignited the fire within him and allowed it to spread around him. He was so accustomed to the fire, it gave him no pain even now. He looked down to the alchemist and smiled proudly.
"it's been nothing short of an honor to be able to fight with another fire-user," Zelguice said as he felt his conscious waver, "Farewell, Roy Mustang; and I wish you all the luck in the world in becoming this God-forsaken country's ruler."
And everything faded in fire, ash and smoke.
Ed sighed with relief as he was able to get back on his feet. The threat was finally gone for good; he really, really hoped it was gone.
"Al, are you okay?" he asked the armored boy.
Al nodded as he got back on his feet.
Karen immediately ran over to Sophie's side with a relieved and worried expression as she examined her.
"Is your head okay?" she asked.
Sophie gave a little nod and smile before she winced slightly, her fingers gingerly touching the wounds on her head. Scar was back up, gripping at where the violet tattoo used to be. Ed felt a low twinge in his chest and a few moments later, he realized what it was.
"Scar... thank you for protecting her."
The Ishvalan stared back at him, expression unchanged and silent. They looked out to the city where smoke rose from some buildings and the sky turned blue again. They had really done it, against all odds.
Still, such was the life of a state alchemist.
"The truce has ended," Scar stated in an impassive voice.
"Yeah," Ed said back.
Dammit, it was really hard to hate the man right now, especially after fighting with him even if for a few hours. Even if he wanted to kill alchemists, including him, Ed could tell that he was someone who wanted justice and hated people who abused their power.
Suddenly, Ed saw Scar raise his hand and smash it down onto the ground. Red and violet crackled about and dust was thrown into the air and Ed gasped as he went into a fighting stance but no blows or attacks came. When he managed to transmute the dust away, only he and Al were left.
"Brother, are you okay?" Al asked, running over to him.
Ed nodded before staring at where Scar had been. What the hell just happened?
Kallen looked back at Scar for the umpteenth time.
He made them all disappear into the smoke, leaving the Elrics behind to make their escape. Now, Valdolla was being rebuilt and the military took back their old position in Valdolla. They were back at the old church now, gathering up supplies to finally get out of the city.
"Promise that you'll visit soon, okay?" Sophie asked as she and the previously mentioned three walked to the gates in the shadows of the late afternoon.
"Yeah," Kallen said, smiling at the younger girl.
Scar and Yoki were silent. The former pensive, the latter apprehensive. Kallen didn't pay much attention to them as she and Sophie continued to talk by them.
She was so engrossed, so sure that it was over, that the red-haired woman didn't hear the sound of scraping steel, or the patter of footsteps. It was only when she noticed the shadow behind her and her arm being grabbed to keep her from escaping, that Kallen turned around to see a hooded figure holding a knife over her.
Shunk.
Kallen stared. Wasn't she supposed to be in pain? But she felt nothing. A few seconds passed before she became aware of who was in front of her. Yoki was shivering all over from where he had somehow come in between the two. Crimson began spilling through his back from the front where he had been stabbed. Kallen could vaguely aa few drops of Yoki's blood splattered on her cheek and forehead slid down.
He collapsed a moment later. The hooded man then stumbled away, mumbling under his breath. Scar was on him a moment later, his hand red crackling over his face before the man's remains splattered against the pavement.
Kallen sunk to her knees in an almost robotic-like fashion and checked the mustachioed man. There was no pulse underneath his wrist or neck and the blood was slowly painting the underneath of the stone bright red.
She didn't call Yoki a friend but a companion, yet the scene reminded her far too much of the last time she saw Lelouch alive. The blood, the closed eyes, how limp the body was-!
Someone had died because of her once more.
"No, not again!" she cried out in anguish, gripping the older man to her as tears trickled down, "Dammit, no!"
Scar said nothing, his expression blank as he looked back, his right hand and arm splattered with the man's blood. Sophie looked down at the scene with a curious expression on her face before determination sparked in her eyes as she walked over to Kallen and the dead Yoki and knelt beside them.
"Sophie...?"
She said nothing but set both her hands on Yoki's bloodied chest. A moment later, golden light shimmered beneath her hands and the tattoo glowed once more, before the light seemed to encase the entire city of Valdolla...
The first thing Yoki noticed was where he was. He was floating in a grey mass, much like storm clouds. Lightning crackled beneath him. He didn't understand, but he didn't feel anything.
Oh right.
I'm dead, aren't I?
How cliche; I, who have worked in corruption and bribery for so long, harming others, and my death results in saving someone's life?
It's like something out of a children's story.
Then, he saw something shimmering in golden light before someone materialized.
You're...?
She smiled gently at him before she floated over to his side. The lightning seemed to calm down and the clouds seemed lighter now.
"It'll be okay," she said gently, gripping his hand in her own.
What do you-?
"I've seen it," she said, "You cannot die here. You still have many years ahead of you, many things you must do."
At that, she seemed to get smaller as she slowly drifted away.
Wait, what do you mean?!
He received no answer before she disappeared behind the clouds where the sun was slowly setting.
WAIT!
Yoki's eyes shot open with a startled gasp before he shot up. He took in deep shuddering breaths before he saw the blood on his chest.
What- but how?!
"Oh thank God!"
The next moment, Yoki felt slender arms hug him close. Karen looked so relieved, it made the older man's insides clench and Yoki had never felt so confused in his life before he remembered.
This is impossible, he thought before he noticed Sophie.
The girl was still kneeling, but her light blue eyes were now vacant and unseeing. Scar was standing by her, arm drenched in blood. Yoki shakily went over to the silver-haired girl.
"I- Thank you," Yoki got out, barely capable of anything else, "Thank you for helping me..."
She didn't respond. A cold pit began to form in his stomach.
"Hey, why aren't you answering?" he almost snapped, shaking the girl's shoulders.
Still no response. Kallen quickly went over to her side and checked her pulse. Her eyes widened in shock before the tears started again and she hugged the silver-haired girl to her, sobbing.
No. No, it can't-!
"I didn't ask for this! I never asked you to do this!" Yoki's voice rose into a shout as he gripped the body's shoulder.
"Why would you do this?" he rasped, expression twisting in anguish, "Why would you choose to give up your life for someone like me...?"
She could no longer respond, no longer speak.
"SOPHIE!"
"... no way..."
Ed, Al and Winry stared at the silver-haired girl from where she was sitting in the hospital bed listlessly. They had found her like that just outside. Scar, Karen and Yoki nowhere to be seen.
The blonde girl hugged Sophie close to her, crying softly. Ed could say nothing but sadness and anguish bloomed in his chest. How could this happen? Why did it happen?
"Brother, you don't think that Scar...?" Al said with an upset tone.
Ed grimaced; he didn't know what to think of the Ishvalan; he could have easily killed her before but he hadn't and it didn't fit the man to leave Sophie in such a state.
"What can we do?" Winry asked, wiping her tears away.
"We wait," Ed said, grimacing. "Wait until she wakes up one day."
"It's... ll we can do now."
...
"...ow."
...
"Meow."
...
Beorn.
"Meow!"
...
!
"Karen!"
It all came back so swiftly, Sophie was nearly overwhelmed. But one thing she knew she had to do.
She threw off the covers of the bed and set her feet in the slippers by the foot and rushed out of the room, Beorn following closely behind her. She paid no mind to the nurses and workers she accidentally bumped into, nor the military officers she caught mere glances of.
Her feet padded against the stone pathways as Sophie ran as fast as she could to the south exit. Her chest ached, her breathing was uneven, her feet stung and she was freezing, but Sophie didn't stop running until she came to the exit.
"Excuse me!" Sophie called up to the guards atop of the lookout, "Did three people come by here at all?!"
"What did they look like?" the guard called back.
"Two men, and a young woman; one had dark skin and sunglasses, another with a black mustache and very little hair on his head and a beautiful woman with red hair and blue eyes!"
There was a few seconds silence before the guard replied, "I'm sorry, but we haven't seen anyone like that over here, kiddo!"
Sophie struggled to catch her breath as disappointment welled in her chest, nearly suffocating her. How did they feel, believing that they had left her in such a state? Now, she didn't even know where they were now!
She could only look out to the exit where the horizon laid. She stifled the tears, took a deep breath and shouted at the top of her lungs, "Thank you! Thank you for everything!"
Her words echoed out into the air until they faded away and Sophie could hear them no more. However, as she was about to turn, she heard footsteps behind her. Sophie turned around to see a few guards come to her, along with a man with black hair and eye patch, smiling gently at her.
The night sky was void of stars but the moon glistened brightly. Nina had run out of food days ago and couldn't go out to hunt or forage because of powerful storm that lasted nearly ten days. Once more, she could only rely on moisture to keep herself alive. A mouse nibbled at some of the fish bones and she tried to catch it, but it ran away.
"Tsk!" Nina hissed, her hands clutching at the wet dirt, too dense to become mud, even from the recent storm.
Hunger was Nina's constant companion once more and it gnawed at her being ever diligently. She couldn't even get enough water to quench her thirst, just enough to keep alive. She never told LL, but that day...
"Oh Nina..."
She felt warm and safe, arms wrapped tightly around. Her eyes opened a crack and she saw LL and what relief he had on his face, tears just shy of falling down his face.
"No... NO! What have you done?! What have you done?! That was my last chance to pass the assessment!" She heard daddy shout with an upset voice but there was something in his tone that was wrong, very wrong. "
You bastard-!" Ed began.
"You could never understand! You could never understand what it was like, living in the slums like that, trying to stay alive, never knowing whether or not you'd be able to feed or clothe yourselves! YOU COULD NEVER UNDERSTAND! NEVER!"
This is why he used mama, isn't it? Nina thought, her belly growling harshly. She sighed softly as she layed back down, eyes locked on the sky and moon.
... am I gonna die here?
A single tear pricked her eye. The only one who'd be really sad would be LL.
LL could feel his leg beginning to grow numb.
He couldn't do this much longer; no matter how well he tended to the wound, he just didn't have the right material to do so. Now, he had collapsed into the snow, with the military just a few miles behind him and a snowstorm was coming. The cave was only a few minutes away, but LL truly couldn't gather the strength to move anymore.
He was too tired, too weak, too numb, too... too sleepy...
The snow was beginning to feel warm, and soft, like a bed almost. LL almost yawned as he laid his face against the white powder.
Oh yeah... this feels like...
When LL opened his eyes again, he saw not the ceiling of the hospital but the ceiling of the room he was sleeping in with the Elric brothers.
It was still a few hours until Edward and Alphonse would have to get up and leave for Rush Valley. A moment later, he heard a light snore and he glanced over in the direction of the younger boy, fast asleep. Alphonse wasn't in the room at the moment, but LL couldn't imagine where the armored boy could be.
However, he was more concerned about the fact that Edward had rolled over and was teetering on the edge of his bed. LL quietly crept out of bed and walked over the the blond before rolling him back onto the bed before draping the covers over his tiny but muscled frame. As LL was about to withdraw, Edward mumbled something unintelligent before his hand seemed to reach out toward the raven-haired male before flopping back down, a slight grimace on his face.
LL carefully climbed into the same bed. When he slid by the boy and tentatively, Edward suddenly scooted in closer, a comforted expression on his sleeping face. The raven-haired male couldn't help the endearing smile spreading on his face before he gently tucked a loose bang behind the blond's ear before he felt himself start to drift off again.
His eyes closed fully, the noise dying down around LL as everything turned to white.
A moment later, she noticed something on the ground.
At first she thought it was a trick of the moonlight, but it still wriggled beneath her gaze. It was tiny and moving and there was more than one. Something surged in Nina and she forced herself onto her hands and knees as she dragged herself over to the worms almost thrashing about in the dirt. She grabbed a few of them in a tight fist and shakily brought them to her mouth.
They tasted bitter in her mouth, her teeth gritted against faint grains of sand and dirt and she still felt one of them wriggle as the worms slid down her throat, but Nina didn't care. She grabbed another fistful before the worms could burrow away and ate them as well. A shaky smile came to her mouth as the first nutrition sans water filled her belly. Another fistful of worms and tears trickled down her face as she felt strength return to her.
She wondered why this made her feel so happy. Was it because she was no longer hungry? Was it because she felt new energy for the first time in what seemed forever? Or was it because of the overwhelming urge to see her friend again, if anything else?
I don't wanna die. I don't wanna die. I don't wanna die.
The mantra echoed in her mind over and over again, making adrenaline flare in her veins, making tears trickle down her cheeks, making her smile and sob at the same time.
"Dammit! I can't just die here!"
A split second later, LL was back on his feet and plowing through the snow storm with almost unbelievable energy. His wound reopened and blood splattered and sank into the snow but he didn't care.
I still have so many things left unfinished in this world; I can't just give up on life!
He made it to his cave and reset the makeshift door he made from lashing sticks together to make a grate and tied one of his cloaks to it and set it against the cave entrance. He grabbed the timber materials and lit a fire in the corner of the cave protected from the snow and wind. He took out part of the cold rabbit he managed to catch a few days prior and sank his teeth into the cold flesh, uncaring for the texture in his mouth.
Nina panted from where she leaned against one of the poles of her lean-to before she heard something. She looked in time to see a bird flap through the air near her space before gripping one of the worms in it's beak. It flew away a moment later into the trees and it's nest.
Just like with the fox, bringing food to it's young, Nina thought, remembering the smell of bloodied meat.
Then, it clicked.
It was like someone had flicked a switch in his mind as the epiphany came before LL.
The fish wriggled fiercely but was trapped nonetheless. Nina brought it back to the lean-to and gathered the little wood that was still dried and almost frantically rubbed her fire-making sticks together. A fire bloomed a few minutes later, Nina feeding it carefully. She smashed a rock on the fish and it stopped wriggling.
She then grabbed the grate-like stick contraption she had made in the time she had during the storm and set it low over the fire before placing the fish over it, the greenery of said sticks preventing the fire from charring them. Nina was still hungry but unlike the last time she ate fish, she controlled herself and her powerful nose and kept from smelling until she was certain the fish was thoroughly cooked.
She stuck the stick into the fish and took the grate off the fire. After waiting yet another few minutes, Nina tore into the fish. The flesh was still hot but it didn't burn her mouth.
That's it, isn't it? LL thought, chewing the flesh thoroughly. Everything living relies on another to survive; animals who eat meat eat animals who eat plants before those die.
Father once said that rotting creatures become part of the ground and help plants grow and they're eating by other animals and it keeps repeating! Nina realized, most of the flesh had been stripped off the fish and Nina gnawed at the bones. If one of those things didn't exist; meat-eating, plant-eating and the stuff that rots need to all exist, or everything would be off balance and collapse.
That's it! That's what it 'all is one and one is all' is! The 'all' is the system, the 'one' is what makes it up!
The Valdolla saga is done!
I am aware that the whole four chapters are more or less an ass-pull but they were a necessary ass-pull that is over and done with.
Also, praise the stars; As of March 13th, or today, I am officially an adult of eighteen years of age!