A/N: ok everyone. whoo! over 100 reviews, i thank you all!! here's chapter 25! thank u all who have stuck with this story up until now. It makes me very glad. Thank you all loyal reviewers and readers, and i hope i do well with this next chapter... so yea, anyways on with chapter 25.

Disclaimer: I don't own FMA. simple enough

Chapter 25: Defeat the Dragon!

As Lizzie stood side by side with Russell, the two waited for Strider to make his move. They watched carefully as the dragon moved slowly around the dome, stomping his legs on the ground as he positioned himself. Each time his legs hit the ground, the two felt like they were going to fall. The dragon smiled, showing all of his 1000 small, sharp, teeth.

"Are you really thinking about trying to take me down? HAhahahahaha!! That's a laugh!" Strider roared, making both Lizzie and Russell cover their ears. His voice was deafening.

"We're not gonna try! We're gonna make you fall!" Lizzie said, clapped her hands, and slapped them on the ground. There was a sudden uprooting of the ground as a huge chunk was sent like a tidal wave to the dragon.

"Oh come on. Can't you think of anything new?" Strider asked, placing his own claw on the ground. His attack met hers, and the two clashed. There was a crash, and rock pieces were sent flying. Still, Strider continued his assault and sent out many ground spikes. Using her own alchemy, Lizzie made a shield for both of them as the stone spikes continued to crash into the rock wall. It was only a matter of time before the wall was smashed, but Lizzie remained to keep the wall up, repairing the dents already being made. Russell on the other hand, had a plan of his own. But as he began to run off, Lizzie grabbed him by the collar.

"What are you doing!? You're gonna get pierced!" Lizzie cried. Russell came back then and grinned at her.

"Trust me with this. I've got a plan." Russell said with a grin, whispering it to Lizzie. Finally, Lizzie nodded and let him go. As Russell ran out of the shield that protected them from the debris being created, he jumped up and rode on the spikes left from right, dodging all that came his path. While riding one of them that was very close to Strider, he stretched his hands in front of his body. Vines were sent forth as a multitude of them suddenly lifted from the ground as they wrapped tightly around the dragon's legs and arm.

"Oh come on! You really thank you can hold me down!?" Strider laughed, already destroying the vines and roots that held him down. The spikes started to end though, as Strider continued to struggle with the roots that didn't stop holding him down. How many were there? If he was this distracted, then he would give the alchemists a chance to attack him! And that wasn't going to happen. "You've forgotten about my tail you fool!" Strider roared as it was swung. Without time to react, Russell was hit as he was sent flying.

"Forget about me!?" Lizzie roared as she clapped her hands and created the dragon of her own. If she could control her creation, then maybe they had a chance. Luckily, Russell was able to catch himself as he ran away from the scene to think of some other ways to hold Strider down. Running behind the shield, he started to make his own creation.

"Oh please. It's not like your creation can take on the real thing!" Strider roared as he was ready to battle.

"Maybe so, but this time I'll become the real thing!" Lizzie cried and a part of her soul entered the dragon's body. Closing her eyes, Lizzie fell to the ground as Russell quickly retrieved her. Good, so if this plan of hers would work, Russell would be able to do a little bit of his own. There was a burst of light, and the dragon's eyes glowed a deep crimson color. It lifted its head, and roared as the many teeth were shown. The long body of the dragon slithered its way to Strider, wrapping itself around Strider's body.

"Is that the best you can do!?" Strider shouted, but struggled to break free. The orbs that were held in the dragons fourclaws were released as the orbs floated around both of them, sending out beams that connected themselves. Now Strider and the dragon were trapped in a prism. Snarling, Strider tried to break free as he bit into the dragon's snout, making it roar in pain. The claws though sank into Strider's shoulders (his automail shoulder being scraped deeply) and backlegs, and the tail started to wrap itself around his neck. Snarling, the beast tried to choke Strider, but had no luck once Strider's claw ripped the tail off. Roaring in pain, the tail was suddenly deconstructed, and Strider grinned.

"You're history!" Strider roared as he ripped the dragon's snout away, deconstructing more of the creation. Finally, he bodyslammed the creation until it was left in the dust. Panting a little, Strider's eyes seemed angered even more. "Fight me fair and square Elric! Or are you scared of losing?!" Strider angrily called. Once Lizzie was back on her feet, she grimaced as she clapped her hands and created a skateboard and steel pole for herself. Next, she turned the shield into a ramp.

"Lizzie! Attack when I give you a signal!" Russell said without warning, and created more vines that were sent. Strider immediately had his legs and tail held down, and also his snout. "NOW!" Russell roared, and Lizzie immediately gave herself a powerboost as she was sent flying from the ramp into midair. With the extra boost, Lizzie was able to send the skateboard flying as it hit Strider in the eye. Rearing his head back in pain for a moment, he found himself face to face with her on his snout, and then roared in complete agony as the pole was sent straight through his snout.

"RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAUGGGGGGGGGGGGGH!!!!!" Strider roared in pain as Lizzie slid her way down the dragon's back and tail. Angrily, Strider broke free and started to charge at Lizzie.

"This is bad!" Lizzie cried, and as she was running away Strider managed to open his mouth slowly, and send a burst of flames her way! "OH MAN! I DIDN'T KNOW HE COULD DO THAT!" Lizzie roared angrily as she transmuted a getaway for herself. Speeding away from the flames, she then rode over to Russell on her skateboard and created a shield even more powerful than the first. In a domelike position, the flames engulfed the tiny shield.

"AHAHAHAA! You think a puny shield like that can defend yourself forever?! Eat my flames you fools!" Strider roared as he advanced, ever so slowly, lowering his head as his flames started to engulf the shield. Behind the shield, Lizzie panted for breath as Russell found beads of sweat roll down his face.

"What do we do now? In a matter of moments we'll be burned to a crisp! And now you've trapped us!!" Russell cried. Lizzie sweated for a moment, but found an idea suddenly hit her.

"Russell, do you think you can make a cannon for me? Right now, in front of here?" Lizzie asked. Russell nodded, and as he did so Lizzie dug a hole that was low, and big for Russell to fit in. She even created a tunnelway that went away from the dome so he could escape once the flames were done. Once he was done creating the cannon, he turned to Lizzie and was puzzled. "Hurry up and get in the hole. When you don't hear any flames anymore, rise up to the surface by using this." she said, handing him a drill.

"But what about you? What's your plan?" Russell asked. Clapping her hands, Lizzie made her whole body engulfed by steel.

"It may be crazy, but if I-"

"Lizzie, you fool. Steel melts against the flame!" Russell said.

"Yes, I know that. But if I don't have a steel protection I'm gonna be on fire anyways!" Lizzie answered angrily. Shoving Russell down the hole, she started to pack it up. "My plan is to take him down, and have the whole cave close in on him. You'll see. Now stay down there until I give the signal for you to rise! I'll say this: 'time for you to meet your end!' Allright? Now don't come out until I shout that!" Lizzie commanded, and without another word she put herself in the cannon.

With one breath, she launched herself and burst from the cage, giving Strider a suprise. The flames surrounded her, and she felt herself having to land on the ground and jump up so the flames wouldn't truly get rid of her steel protection. Seeing herself have the steel melt away before her, she grimaced as she stared down at the pocketwatch. It was damaged all right. She couldn't even make out the front detail anymore, and it looked like the steel was melted so that the watch could never be opened.

"WHAT?!" he cried in disbelief as Lizzie made herself land on Strider's neck. Grabbing the back of his neck, Lizzie was pulling his head away from the dome as the flames were sent shooting upward. "GET OFF OF ME YOU LITTLE BRAT!" Strider yelled, giving her a small rodeo buck as the flames suddenly stopped.

"You aren't getting rid of me that easily!" Lizzie roared, holding on as she brought him back over to where he was before: at the entrance.

"I said let me go you insignificant child!" Strider angrily shouted as he made his tail give her a backlash from the scales. Groaning a little, Lizzie landed on top of his nose and without thinking she clapped her hands, and placed them on his forehead. He yelled a loud dragon shout as he felt himself being transmuted! "HOW DARE YOU!! HOW DARE YOUU!!!" he roared in pain as he swung her off. She landed with a loud thud and looked up. Strider found half his face metalplated, while the other half was suddenly without skin, showing pink flesh.

"Oh no.." Lizzie said to herself with a groan, feeling like she was going to hurl. What had she done? She definately wasn't telling Russell to get out of his hiding place yet. The dragon snarled in a bloody tone, teeth glistening and mouth twitching.

"You're going to die here and now Elric! I'll make sure of it! Now, NOW I AM A TRUE MONSTER!" he roared and lifted his head high. Then, he had it come crashing down so he would headbutt her hard. Getting out of the way quickly though, there was a huge smash and a long crater was made. There was a short pause, and Lizzie stared into Strider's metallic eye. The eyeball suddenly stared at her, and he lifted his head in a snakelike fashion and was ready to lunge. Watching his movements, Lizzie jumped when he struck, running up and down his neck. As she came to his wings, she transmuted in air two spikes that were sent flying. Rearing up in pain, Strider found his wings pinned to the groundwalls as he couldn't move.

"Damnit, I have to get back there!" Lizzie said angrily, realizing that she needed a cannon, and fast! Using the only idea she had, Lizzie jumped on Strider's head and held onto his ear as he tried to throw her off. Looking down, she saw that his throwing made her closer, and she jumped off away from him. Backflipping to where the cannon was, she clapped her hands quickly and created a cannonball. The only thing that made this idea flunk, was when Strider's tail came crashing down.

"You don't actually think I'm going to let you get away with this!" he shouted angrily. 'Crud! Not good!' Lizzie thought, and ran away from Strider as fast as she could, but not fast enough. Strider swung his tail so quickly, it lifted Lizzie off her feet and slammed her hard into the wall. The wall crumbled a bit, and she landed on the ground with a mighty thump! Blood was dripping down her forehead, and as she got up wearily Strider wrapped his tail around her body.

"Aaauggh!!" she screamed as he started to squeeze.

"Hahaha! You could've been great you know! You could've had it all! If you had joined, none of this would of happened! But you're a fool, to think that you cannot join and not get away with it!" he roared, grip tightening. He lowered his head to her now, the eyes staring at her madly. "It's not too late. You could join us now. Because then, I wouldn't have to crush you." he said with a low growl. Lizzie winced once, but opened her eyes to stare at him. Only one good shot she had.

"I... would NEVER join you!" she spat and it landed right in his human eye. Bullseye! Rearing back slightly, he let her drop and she quickly reached into her pocket, and drank some of the red liquid. It was her only chance. Growling, he stared at her angrily, but then horror suddenly struck. Lizzie's face was shown in pain as she got up, sparks flying around her. Her body glowed an ominous blue color, and without thinking she placed her hands out in front of her. Spikes were being sent flying now, all at him. Trying to dodge all of them, most of them hit his body. Others hit his tail while one chipped off an ear.

"AAAAUGH!! STOP! STOP! I GIVE UP! I GIVE UP!" Strider yelled, remembering from his past how Edward had his alchemic power amplified by at least in many numbers! She would certainly kill him if she didn't snap out of this! Without listening though, Lizzie continued her onslaught as she soon found herself starting to become drenched in Strider's own blood.

"LIZZIE! SNAP OUT OF IT!" Russell called, making the girl turn. As she stared at Russell, her alchemy was still pummeling the trapped Strider. "Remember your plan! Don't let the alchemy get to you! SNAP OUT OF IT! LOOK AT WHAT YOU'RE DOING!" Russell shouted, trying to get through to her. Lizzie stared at Strider for moments until finally, she remembered her plan. Not quite out of her alchemic transe, she created a huge cannon, and had it fired above. Strider, looking up, found all the rubble start to fall... ON HIM!

"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!" he screamed, and soon the dragon was under the debris, tail twitching until it was still. Lizzie, finally out of her transe, she found her eyes rolling to the back of her head as she was conked out.

"Lizzie! LIZZIE!" she heard someone shout before complete darkness consumed her.

About----15----Minutes----Later

Lizzie awoke to be held in Russell's arms. He smiled at her, and she got up quickly to swoon a bit before coming to her senses.

"Lizzie, you're all right. Thank God." Russell said with a short grin.

"What happened..." Lizzie wondered.

"You defeated Strider... He's somewhere under there." Russell said, pointing to the debris. Lizzie looke at the debris. They were at least 8 feet away from it all. She took a moment to have everything sink in. The last thing she remembered was... She suddenly gasped as images flashed before her of what she had done while under the alchemic transe after drinking the red liquid.. Shuddering, she closed her eyes painfully before re-opening them.

"I... I did.. all of that?" Lizzie said in disbelief. Russell nodded. "No.. NO! Damnit.. why did... how could I... Damnit all.. NO!" Lizzie screamed, punching the ground with her right fist, clenched as some of her blood plipped onto her hand.

"Lizzie, what's wrong?" Russell asked, alarmed.

"Why did I lose control like that! How could I do that?! I mean, yeah, he was a badguy but badguys don't deserve that much damage! Damnit all I even made his face become twisted and horrible! Damnit, damnit, damnit all!" Lizzie shouted, fist pounding as tears started running. Russell was by her side now, putting a hand on her back while the other gently stroked her shoulder.

"Sssh Lizzie, it's ok. You lost control, but that doesn't mean that you took down a great threat. It was either him, or every other innocent person. I understand your pain, but that doesn't mean you didn't do a good thing for others.." Russell said, trying to calm her down. Lizzie sobbed a little more before coming back to her senses. Getting up, she looked at the rubble, and then turned.

"Let's.. find a way out of here. The sooner the better." she said, starting to walk away. Russell nodded, and walked next to her. But as soon as they were 9 feet away from the rubble, there was a feeling like an earthquake was coming! Turning around, there was a whir of something black, a noise of something being torn, and then a horrible scream that filled the area.

Hagane-----no-----RenkinJutsushi!

Lizzie found herself on the ground, writhing in pain. She had never felt this kind of pain before! Never! It hurt so bad... it was like something had set her on fire, pain shooting like needles throughout her whole entire body. Russell stood in front of her, protecting her as he placed his hands on the ground. From underneath the ground there arose a huge flower that looked more like a viscious monster eating plant. As the monster-eating plant arose, it stared into the eyes of the dragon. Roaring in absolute pain, Strider found himself panting for breath as some blood ran down the side of his jaw. The only ounce of strength he had now was to stretch his neck out of the debris.

"There is no way.. I am letting her escape.. with that kind of alchemic power!" he roared. "It could be a threat to all of us if used like that! The girl had no idea what she was doing!" Strider screeched, talking to Russell.

"Even so! If you still have your hearing, you would have heard her shout in grief for what she had done! You heartless soul!" Russell said, gritting his teeth. It had happened so fast. No one had even seen it coming. Both Lizzie and Russell had their backs turned to the dragon, all to find out that he was still alive. The rubble burst from where his head was that shot out, and in a flash he had run by Lizzie and sunken his teeth right into her right arm. Pulling back, he had torn it right off. By now it was in the hideous beasts' stomach. If only they were 12 feet away from that monster.

"If you let her go just like that, and she somehow manages to drink that liquid again, she could turn on anyone! With no mind of her own in that kind of transe, she could kill thousands of people, and end up just like me!" Strider said, suddenly laughing at that thought. The dragon had lost some teeth, one of them his sharper ones.

"And here I thought you were thinking of others!" Russell roared as he sent his man-eating plant to attack. As the plant did so, Russell picked Lizzie up and ran over to the other side of the cave. Watching the battle, he started to mend Lizzie's wound with the liquid. Placing some on his hands, he sealed her wound as a sizzling noise filled the air, followed by a small whimper. "Don't worry Lizzie, we'll get you out of here. We'll even find you an automail mechanic. You'll see." Russell assured her. As he watched his plant suddenly wither and die from a short burst of flame, he grimaced.

"When I regain my strength, you will perish underneath my strength." Strider said, finally having his head hit the ground. Snapping out of his thoughts, Russell transmuted a small cannon for himself, and made an escape exit.

"Sorry, but by the time you regain your strength, we'll be already gone." he murmured. As he shot his vines up to hold onto a rock, he wrapped Lizzie tightly, and pulled both of them up. Little did they know, when they were both raised to safety, Strider's closest companions came to his rescue.

As Russell ran through the cave tunnel he had made with Lizzie in his arms, he dared not look back. They had to get out of here, and fast. "Don't worry Lizzie, we're almost out of here." he said to her.

"What made you... come after all?" Lizzie asked through grit teeth. Suprised, Russell was silent for a few minutes.

"It's... hard to say. What made me come... lots of people, and reasons, made me come." Russell said, closing his eyes, remembering. At first it was Lizzie, being so outrageous that he couldn't stand it. Then it was Mustang, and Lys. Even that though didn't make him face his fear. Though, a few minutes later, he was confronted with Victoria. Even Tom had a word with him. They were encouraging ones, and yet none of them truly reached him. Finally, Fletcher came to him.

---Flashback---

"Brother, I can't just sit back and watch any more of this!" he had said. "You need to snap out of... of whatever transe you're in! I know you've kept blaming yourself for the accident, but that doesn't mean we should just live like ... like molepeople in our little underground house while others out there are risking it all for the sake of Xenotime!" Russell began to listen, but not once did he have eye contact with Fletcher.

"We need to start acting like the leaders of Xenotime! We need to start right now! I won't just sit back and watch all of this happen anymore! Elizabeth has gone to fight off the rebels, and this isn't even her town! She's doing this for our people, for us, and for the sake of many who have fallen due to this war!" he shouted. "I'm... I'm sick and tired of doing nothing. Well Brother, if you won't pick yourself up from the sewers you have fallen into, then I will go and fight for my people! For my daughter, for you, for everyone!" he said. This time, Russell shot up from his desk.

"Fletcher. Don't you dare go out there." he had said, walking over to his little brother. Fletcher stared into his brother's eyes, and was suprised when Russell put a hand on his shoulder. "You're right. I've been... been so wrapped up in..." he trailed off. "But that doesn't mean I should push off my duties as the protector of this town! If I can't do it, then no one can..." he added.

"Brother, does this mean that you-"

"Fletcher. If I don't return, then I leave this town in your hands. Mine have already become... useless and unworthy... But that doesn't mean that I can't use them to save everyone. I will do my best, and this time I won't run away." Russell said, standing. He walked over to his desk, and took out a pair of transmutation gloves. "It's time I did something right. Something that hasn't come to my mind up until now. Fletcher, thank you my brother." Russell said, and without another word rushed off to where the rebels were.

End--of--Flashback

Snapping out of his thoughts, Russell saw a very faint light. He smiled, and ran even faster than he had before. "Lizzie, we're getting you out of here. And thank you, for all you've done. You really are the daughter of Edward." he said with a grin. Lizzie smiled as she closed her eyes.

"Then maybe you can tell me where to find him." she said, but before he could answer she had fallen asleep, and they had reached the exit.

Outside---the---Coalmines

As Russell came outside of the coalmines, he saw before him Ren, Leo, Roy, Fletcher, and Lys. They all looked concerned enough when they saw Lizzie.

"Don't worry. She should be fine. But we had better get an automail mechanic pronto." Russell said.

"There aren't any mechanics here. Maybe you should go back to Risenbool, then come back to Central?" Mustang suggested when he looked at Lys.

"I don't know... if mom's not there anymore, then I don't know who can make the automail." Lys said, worried.

"Hm. Let's bring her to Central then. I'll call the closest automail mechanic." Mustang then said.

"Mm." Lys nodded. "Sounds like a plan. I can always fill her in with the details about what's coming up soon Colonel." she added with a grim smile. Nodding, they all returned to the Tringham mansion, gathered the Elric's things, and put the two siblings on a train to Central. The rest of the crew would be there soon, as Mustang would make the call in Xenotime. On the way back to Central, Lys had Lizzie's head on her lap as she stroked her sister's hair.

"Here that Liz? We're going to get you fixed up." Lys whispered, staring out the window. "And then, we'll get ready for the Tournament." she added, and nodded off. Little did she know, as Lizzie slept she dreamt of the Gate again... and inside she was whisked away back to her dreams of where Munich, Germany was... as well as her father. The problem was, whenever she dreamed of the events her father was going through... the more she kept forgetting them.

E-N-D--O-F--C-H-A-P-T-E-R--25

End-----of-----Xenotime-----Saga

Me: wow! Xenotime sure was a long one! longer than the Central saga, that's probably for sure! and well, this was unexpected.. but i am going to do another chapter that has Ed and Al in it, saying what's happening now on the Other Side. but it will also have a small explanation of what is to be expected of the tournament. so, tune in next week to see the second appearance of Ed and Al

Lys: hey, what's the deal with this Tournament being held in Central?

Me: you'll see. once we get to the Tournament Saga, all the reviewers who pitched in to be state alchemists will RETURN! like i promised! so, until next time. bye everyone! and please leave a review if this chapter is worthy of it. oh yeah, i will be updating hopefully on a week time basis. so i should be updating either this sunday or saturday. next week... school starts for me... TT.TT darrnnn! -Silver