My third chapter back! I have found my groove!
"That's my livelihood you idiot!"
"I-I'm really sorry sir!"
"Well sorry doesn't fix my stand!" Johanna watched the two man argue. The second man ran a car into the first man's stand, completely demolishing it.
"Looks like you could use some help!" Edward bellowed. Johanna groaned, hanging her head as she did. Edward had been dragging them around all day, using his alchemy in big, flashy ways. The goal: to get Scar's attention. So far it hadn't been working and only succeeded in annoying Johanna. "Good thing I, Edward Elric, State Alchemist at Large, happened by." He sparkled.
"This is so stupid." Johanna sighed, popping the oldest brother's sparkles one by one. She turned, looking at Alphonse, who was waving two celebratory fans. "Don't encourage him!" She fumed.
"I'me sorry! He's just very charismatic today!" Alphonse squeaked. Johanna sighed, watching Edward clap his hands with a flourish. In seconds the stand and the car were completely restored.
"Wow, that's amazing!" The stand owner gushed.
"Than you very much sir! Please, you have to let me pay you for this!" The driver told him.
"Pay me?" Edward asked, incredulous. By now a crowd had gathered. The Edward Show had obtained a sizable audience. "That's not necessary, Thank you!" He bellowed in his hero's voice.
The rest of the day passed like this. Edward would bravely bound in, fixing pots, buildings, canes, all the while signing autographs and sparing all subtlety. The trio had just sat down for lunch, their meal on the house (of course) when a dark town car pulled up next to the cafe they were eating at. It's window rolled down, revealing none other than Roy Mustang.
"When did you become so theatrical, Fullmetal?" He asked sourly.
"Colonel?" Edward stood. "Shouldn't you be in the hospital?" He hadn't counted on the Colonel showing up. It could really throw a wrench in his plans.
"Probably." Mustang agreed. Edward joined him at his car while Johanna and Alphonse watched, the girl stuffing her face. She was starving.
"I heard about Lieutenant Havoc. I'm sure Doctor Marcoh-"
"Hold on." Mustang interrupted Edward. "People are watching. Get in, all of you."
The trio did as they were told. Edward and Johanna piled into the front seat, next to Riza Hawkeye, while Alphonse crammed his way into the back. Edward tried not to think about how Johanna and his knees touched, and instead thought about how silly the Colonel looked, stuffed into the tiny space with his giant brother. It really was a site to behold.
It only took a few minutes of driving like this for Roy Mustang to change his mind, instead opting for a nearby alley in which to have their conversation. Once they'd all piled out of the car, Mustang spoke again.
"I sent Breda to find Doctor Marcoh last night. It seems the good doctor has gone missing." The Colonel informed them. Edward froze, letting that sink it.
They must have taken him. He thought, looking up at Johanna. She bit her lip nervously. He didn't like how closely whoever it was that pulled teh strings was getting to them.
"There's something else we need to talk about." The Flame Alchemist said, matter of factly. "I'm sure you've heard that scar is back, so what's with the showboat? Do you want him to find you?"
"Yeah, that's exactly what we want." Edward told him smugly. "I need to fight him and you can't talk me out of it."
"Have you lost your mind?!" Roy Mustang exploded. "Did you forget the way he tore you apart in East City?!"
"That's why we Johanna came." Edward shrugged. Roy Mustang's eyes grew wider, if that were even possible, and he rounded on Johanna.
"Edward!" She snapped. how could he just throw her under the bus like that?! "Now tell him the rest of the plan or I will!" Johanna threatened. Edward's face paled and Mustang's glare returned to him. The three of them began to bicker, Alphonse desperately trying to quell the argument.
Riza Hawkeye, however, was just about done listening to them. She went to say something when movement further down the alley caught her eye. She drew her side arm, cocking it loudly. Edward, Johanna and Mustang's argument ceased.
Johanna froze, as sort of cold terror creeping up her spine. Down at the far end of the alley stood Scar. She swore he seemed taller than the last time they met, bigger and more foreboding. She inhaled deeply, fighting off trembling hands. It was now ore never.
"You can still leave, Jo." Edward muttered from the corner of his mouth. The look of horror on her face was plain as day, she wasn't ready for this.
"Shut up." She shook her head, giving the boy a small smile. Edward grinned, there she was, the Johanna he'd been missing the past several days.
Scar made the first move, his arm lighting up the entire alley way. He wasted no time mixing frivolous words, immediately he threw his arm at the ground, causing wanton destruction. Edward ran forward, ready for a fight, and Alphonse clapped his hands, creating a wall between the oncoming battle and the rest of them.
"We're using Edward to lure out the homunculi." Johanna told a rather concerned looking Mustang. And explosion sounded behind the barrier. "He's too important to them. They can't afford for him to die."
"That's crazy!" Mustang yelled as another explosion rocked the city. Johanna fidgeted nervously, she hoped Edward was right about this, because right now it didn't sound like it. "What is the MP's get here before the homunculus?"
"You can stop that from happening, can't you Colonel?" Alphonse told him. Johanna watched the Colonel through narrowed eyes. She knew he wanted the homunculus captured by any means necessary.
"So now I take orders from you." The Colonel smiled, defeated. "You've got a lot of nerve." Mustang sighed. "You three had better plan on sharing what you catch!"
"Of course!" Alphonse and Johanna chimed together. The pair began to run when a tight hand grabbed Johanna's hand. The girl stopped, watching Mustang carefully.
"Those two are trained for this, Edward is military personnel, danger comes with the job. But you," He paused, frowning at Johanna. "You're a civilian."
"We both know that isn't true, Colonel." Johanna said, pulling her hand free. "I'm just as deep into this as they are." She smiled at the Colonel as another explosion came. "Is that all, Colonel? My boys need me."
"Be smart, Albrecht." Mustang told her with a salute.
"It's Allen, sir." She replied, returning the gesture. Johanna followed after the boys, joining the fray, as Mustang and Hawkeye made their escape. She shoved her hands in her pockets, feeling for the piece of chalk that lay there.
I wont be able to use that. She told herself, watching as both boys clapped, creating a barrage of ghostly, clay pillars. They sprung out towards Scar, putting some distance between him and the Elrics.
"Or maybe I can." Johanna told herself, drawing a circle on a nearby wall. She concentrated on a form, touching the circle confidently, as blue light engulfed her hand. Halberd. She thought, pulling the form into existence, her hand wrapping tightly around it's handle as she pulled it from the wall.
It was heavier than she'd thought, and as she pulled the weapon from the wall, the head clattered to the ground loudly, catching Scar's attention. Johanna felt her blood run cold as he looked up at her, pinning her to her spot with dark red eyes.
"I told you I would no longer spare you, little one." He spoke cooly, pointing his giant finger at her. Johanna steeled herself, lifting her weapon and pointing it at him.
"Good. I don't want an special treatment from you!" She sneered. Scar's eyes narrowed and he sprinted towards her, just to be knocked back by a well timed pillar of stone.
"The fight is right here, big guy!" Edward shouted, throwing another one at him. Scar was faster this time and he side stepped easily, throwing a charged fist at Edward's face. Scar missed the Eldest Elric, barely, as he dove to the ground. Again Scar took off toward's Johanna, but she was ready for him, and used her Halberd to vault to the side.
Scar, enraged, let out a low growl as he turned, grabbing for the Halberd's staff.
"I will not let you distract me this time!" He lunged again, but Johanna caught his ankles with the head of her weapon, tripping him.
"I am the distraction!" She taunted. Scar smiled, grabbing hold of her Halberd.
"Not for long." Johanna's face paled as Scar's arm lit blue. In an instant her weapon exploded, sending her flying several feet backwards. She hit the ground, hard, effectively winding her.
"Johanna!" The boys called in unison, Attempting to run to her side. Scar, however, was having none of it, and he threw another barrage of broken brick at them, burying them.
Johanna wheezed, trying desperately to regain her breath. Her lungs and sides hurt as she drew in air, obviously from being tossed to violently. She clawed for the chalk that was no longer in her pocket. Johanna cowered as her impending doom approached her, ever so slowly.
"I want you to know, I will take no pleasure in this." Scar told her, his hand lighting up. He began to run at her and Johanna panicked, she was a sitting duck.
Giving up wont do you any favors! Edward's words rang inside of her head. He was right, she couldn't give up. She wanted to live! Johanna clapped her hands, much to Scar's surprise, and threw them to the ground at her side with a mighty yell.
The familiar feeling of power coursed through her, but this time it was different. This time the power did not waver, it came in one, steady stream that she could feel pulsing through her arms. Her body was a conduit. With every fiber of her being, Johanna willed the street under her to life. It obeyed, letting for a powerful pillar of clay, one that struck Scar mid chest. His eyes grew wide as his chest exploded in pain, the clay strong enough to toss him several feet.
Edward watched, slack jawed, from where he'd just unearthed himself.
"She did it..." He whispered, his face falling into a deep smirk. "I bet you weren't expecting that, ya bully! Now we've got a fair fight!" Edward clapping, creating a raised pillar that launched him over Scar, and right in front of Johanna. She'd nearly recovered by the time Edward joined her and she gave the boy a sarcastic thumbs up. Edward grinned, turning back to the fight.
Scar growled, running for them again.
I have to slow him down. Edward thought, creating a series of pointed obstacles between them. Once done he helped Johanna to her feet, only to find that his spikes were not enough; Scar had smashed his way through most of them.
"Dammit!" Edward shouted, dragging Johanna down a side alley. Johanna froze.
"It's a dead end!" She cried, sparing a look over her shoulder. Scar was coming, fast.
"Just trust me!" Edward told her, clapping. Johanna nodded and Edward pressed his hands to the ground, projecting a large pillar that hurled the pair towards the rooftops. Scar, not to be run from, began to destroy the pillar as it grew from the ground.
The platform lurched underneath Johanna and Edward's feet. They screamed as the stone crumbled beneath them, sending them hurtling towards the ground.
Alphonse could only watch as his brother and his friend fell from the sky, right into Scar's waiting hands. The youngest Elric had to do something, and he transmuted a giant hand, catching Johanna and Edward mid air. Scar turned to him, a deadly glint to to his eyes.
For the second time in ten minutes Johanna's breath was taken from her. She coughed, stars clouding her vision, as she clutched her side. Her ribs were killing her.
"Nice one, brother. 'Preciate it!" Edward gave Alphonse a thumbs up, before returning to Johanna. He pulled her to him and she groaned. She was in pain. "Jo, are you-?"
"I'm fine, I'm fine." Johanna huffed, pushing away from him. Her body groaned in protest.
"Brother, we need to get out of here!" Alphonse called to him. Scar sent a bolt of destruction in Alphonse's direction. The youngest Elric easily dodged him, but the gathering crowd of MP's weren't so lucky. The calamity bowled them over, burying them in dirt and debris.
Slowly, Edward and Johanna descended the giant hand that Alphonse had caught them with. Johanna groaned, still holding her side.
"Ling still hasn't fired the signal flare yet." Johanna told Edward, seeing in his eyes how badly he wanted to run. "We have to wait!"
"We can't stay any longer. You can barely walk." Edward frowned at her. Johanna shook her head.
"I am not going to be the reason that this plan doesn't work." Johanna argued.
"I'm not willing to let you die here!" He snapped, silencing her.
"Scar!" Alphonse spoke suddenly, catching everyone's attention. He could see how tired Edward was, how Johanna couldn't stand. He had to buy them more time. "You say that you believe alchemists have defied god, but isn't that hypocritical?" Scar gave Alphonse all of his attention, narrowing his eyes at him. "You use alchemy just like we do!"
"I explained it when we met at East City; It's balance. Where there are creators, there must be destroyers." Scar's rebuttal came.
"That's a lie!" Alphonse challenged him. "You're using the name of your god to justify murder! Revenge is all that you care about!"
"It's true, alchemists have made some serious mistakes." Edward spoke calmly. Johanna groaned, hunching over next to him, hands on her knees. Edward frowned. "But despite what you think, that doesn't make what you're doing right and we can't let you continue!" The alley grew quiet and scar glared at him. Johanna, spent, slowly made her way to the building next to her. She sighed in relief as she leaned against the wall, all the while her eyes never leaving Scar. "You think you're so righteous, but do you remember two Amestrian doctors named Rockbell?" Scar faltered, his glared exchanged for a look of shock. "The order came down to end the uprising and exterminate the resistance, but that didn't stop them. They kept right on helping your people!" Edward's voice cracked and Johanna bit her lip, eyes burning.
"Wait! Brother!" Alphonse called, but Edward ignored him. Johanna turned to look at the youngest Elric, to find that Winry had somehow found them. Johanna gasped.
"Edward-!"
"Do you remember them? They save your life! and you killed them!" Edward growled. Johanna went slack jawed, glancing over at Winry. The girl's face froze into a look of horror. Slowly, Johanna reached for her, grabbing Winry's hand. Winry sobbed and Johanna glared up at the eldest Elric.
"Edward!" Johanna raged. Finally Edward closed his bog mouth, his eyes growing wide as he looked at Winry and Johanna.
"What are you talking about, Ed?" Winry asked, her voice hollow. Winry's other hand found Johanna's and she squeezed it tightly. The alley went painfully silent until she spoke again. "You mean... He's the man who... killed them?" Winry asked, looking up at Scar tearfully. "My parents?! He killed them?!" Winry sank to teh ground, pulling Johanna with her.
Johanna stared up at Scar with wide eyes, tightening her hold on Winry. Here she was, again, wrapped around someone completely defenseless as Scar bore down on them. Johanna's ribs gave a painful tweak and she hissed.
"They were my mom and dad. What did they ever do to you?" Winry continued, her voice barely a whisper. "They were doctors... They didn't deserve to die!" She whimpered, grabbing her head. "Give them back!" Johanna's attempts at consoling her all but failed. The blonde began to cry hysterics in. "Give me back my mom and dad you MONSTER!"
Edward frowned as Winry bawled in Johanna's arms. He's an idiot, this was his fault. Slowly, Winry reached out next to her, grabbing for one of the MP's discarded firearms.
"Winry, hold on, you don't have to do this." Edward whispered, talking her down. Johanna looked up, completely unaware of what Winry had been up to until it was too late. Edward's eyes darted to Johanna, stop her, they said. Johanna tried, really she did, but Winry caught her with a sharp elbow, casting the brunette to the side, where she remained, slouched in pain.
Winry grabbed the gun and Johanna watched, terrified, as she leveled it at the giant Ishvalan. It shook in the young girl's hands, as she stared at him through wide, frantic eyes.
"This girl is the doctors daughter?" Scar asked, staring at the gun in her hands. Johanna sat up slowly, returning to Winry's side. She made to reach for the gun, but thought better of it when Scar's eyes fell on her. "You have the right." Scar said finally. "Shooting me would be justified." The Ishvalan approached the two girls, staring down at them quietly. Johanna tensed, throwing her arms around Winry's shoulders. "Go on. Shoot."
"Don't do it Winry." Johanna begged, her eyes leaving the Ishvalan. "Please put the gun down!"
"You know you don't want to do this!" Edward told her, watching frightened.
"Shoot girl, but know that moment you pull that trigger there is no going back." Scar paused thoughtfully. "You will be my enemy."
"Scar!" Alphonse yelled, shocked.
"If you think I'll let you hurt one hair on her head-"
"Will you kill me?" Scar interrupted Edward's protest. "Fine with me. Until one of us dies, boy, this chain of hatred will continue. But don't EVER forget that it was the Amestrian's who first pulled the trigger in Ishval!" Scar raged. Johanna cowered next to Winry, her gun still pointed at the Ishvalan. "It was your people!"
Edward had to act fast, Scar was working himself into a rage, the girl in his warpath. He clapped at the ground, cracking it under Scar's feet. Johanna followed Edward's lead, creating a wall between her and Winry, and the angry Ishvalan. Johanna and Winry both toppled as the wall formed underneath them. Alphonse growled, jumping at Scar, kicking him back several feet with his own transmutation.
Scar bailed, blowing a hole in a nearby wall and ducking through it. Alphonse turned to his brother.
"Get them out of here!" He told Edward, chasing after the Ishvalan. Edward nodded, hopping over Johanna's wall, where he found both girls still clinging to each other, Winry still clutching the gun.
"Winry," He started, crouching next to them. Winry paid him no mind, simply continued staring off into the distance. Edward frowned at her, turning to Johanna to inspect her. The brunette gave him a small nod, before releasing Winry, flexing her hands as she did. They were sore from holding her so tightly. "Winry, let go of the gun."
Stay Beautiful, readers!