SHONEN ALLIANCE
BOOK OF THE SHADOWS
EPISODE 27
A Declaration of War
Opening Theme: Hologram (Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood)
As Mustang was discovering the truth about Bradley, Ichigo and his team arrived in Central.
"Hey, shouldn't we have sent a Princess with Vine so they could get here quickly? It'll take a couple of days for them to get here if they come by train," Ichigo declared.
"Don't worry, Vine has a wireless radio with him, so once he's done, he can radio Roy and we can go get him," Shantella replied.
….
"What do you mean we have to take the train back!" Ali whined as Vine, Ed, and their team marched towards the train station.
"I can't call for someone to come and pick us up, because," Vine replied holding up the shattered remnants of his radio, "someone, who shall be nameless but is also heightless, broke my radio."
"Hey," Ed shouted angrily, "if you hadn't lost some of the parts we could have fixed it again using alchemy."
"If you hadn't broken it in the first place, we wouldn't have to worry about it!" Vine shouted back in reply.
"It's so nice having everyone back together again," Ali said happily as Vine and Ed continued to squabble, "at least until Carrot-top gets ahold of Shorty. By the way, why're we making Big Guy ride in a box?" she asked looking over at a large box that was sitting with the luggage to be loaded on the next train to Central.
"I'm not In the box, Ali," Al replied, "I'm not the suit of armor anymore."
"Huh? Hey wait, you're Big Guy!" Ali shouted, "but you're not much bigger then Shorty!"
"I swear, I'm never having kids," Ed declared firmly.
"You know, last I checked, Ali's only 3 years younger than you are," Vine replied, laughing a bit. Suddenly, he expression changed from a pleasant one, to a serious one as he turned and looked up at the roof of a nearby station building. Edward and Alphonse both did the same. Standing on top of the building… was another figure wearing the same cloak that the three Homunculus had.
"Now what," Ed wondered.
….
Back in Central, a similar figure standing on top of a roof had caught the attention of Kakashi Hatake and Ichigo Kurosaki. It stood on a tall building looking over the city, however it didn't seem to notice them.
"What do you think?" Ichigo asked.
"There's no doubt about it," Shantella replied, "that guy up there is emitting the same energy as a Homunculus."
….
High above the city, Wrath the Furious stood looking down over the crowds of humans in the streets below him. "So much garbage just waiting to be cleansed. I'll be able to harvest a fair number of souls in this town," he declared as he allowed his cloak to be blown away by a burst of wind. He was a tall man with jet black hair and a very muscular body. An eye patch covered his right eye. "Let's begin!" he shouted as he jumped off of the roof and descended towards a young family of four who were walking down the street and his entire arm transformed into a razor sharp blade. "You shall be the first of my harvest!" he shouted as the father looked up at him.
"GETSUGA TENSHO!" Ichigo shouted suddenly as his attack slammed into Wrath, knocking him flying. Ichigo landed between the downed Wrath and the family he'd been attacking, Zangetsu resting over his shoulder.
….
Back at the Risembool Train Station, Team Edward continued to watch the Homunculus, who seemed to have taken no interest in them. Instead, it was looking around at all the people on the platform.
"What do you think it's planning?" Ed asked.
"I've got a bad feeling we'll find out soon enough," Vine replied as he pulled on his gloves. Unfortunately, he was right. The figure leapt from the roof. It's hand emerged from its cloak as a black substance crept across the hands and the figure cut down three security guards patrolling the platform instantly.
"No way… that's…" Vine stuttered.
"The Ultimate Shield! It can't be!"Ed shouted as he charged at the Homunculus who had finished with the security guards and now turned its attention on the waiting passengers, leaping and preparing to cut down a nearby woman. However, a slash from Ed's Automail blade forced the Homunculus to jump into the air.
"Well, it is my lucky day," Greed declared, "here you are, after all."
"That's a woman's voice!" Ed realized as Vine jumped up behind the woman and slashed, cleaving the cloak in half. The Homunculus herself landed in front of Ed. She was an attractive young woman wearing a golden pair of earrings, several valuable looking rings, and an expensive looking evening dress.
"I wasn't certain," Vine declared, "but she definitely dresses like I'd expect Greed to."
"Yeah, but… a female Greed? What's going on?" Ed asked.
"We already established that these aren't the Homunculus we're used to," Vine replied, "at this point, nothing surprises me."
"My, are you boys saying you know a different Greed, aside from my beautiful self? My that's certainly interesting, however, I doubt this Greed is one tenth as beautiful as I am," Greed declared.
"Unfortunately… I can't argue with that," Vine replied.
"This lady talks too much! She's just like the squinty-eyed, Greedy guy!" Ali whined.
"Yeah, unfortunately, that's not Greed… that's Ling," Ed replied.
"My, are you all ganging up on me?" Greed asked, "you're not very Gentlemen-like, are you?"
"Hey! I don't have to be a gentleman, cause I'm a girl!" Ali shouted, "same for Mizore!"
"Mizore?" Greed replied, obviously confused. There was only one other girl present, and she'd been under the impression that she was the Elric's friend, Winry. Her confusion turned to surprise when her entire body was suddenly encased in a block of ice. Mizore stood calmly, leaning against the wall of the station building, looking quite proud of herself for having snuck up on the Homunculus.
"Your Shield may be as hard as diamond…" Ed declared.
"…but in this condition, it'll be as fragile as glass!" Vine finished as the two alchemists charged, smashing through the ice and shattering the Homunculus.
"Is it over?" Al asked.
"Based on what you know of Homunculus, what do you think?" Vine replied. Unfortunately, he was right. No sooner had he spoken then Greed's entire body began to regenerate until the woman once again stood before the Alchemists and their comrades.
"You little brats," she declared, "I'll remember that, I can assure you."
….
"My, a silly human swordsman wants to take their place as the first of my sacrifices?" Wrath asked as he faced Ichigo, "I admire your courage boy, but you have no idea who you're dealing with."
"I think I know full well what you are," Ichigo replied, "you're one of the Homunculus, though I'll admit, I don't recognize you as one of the seven I'm familiar with. Who are you?"
"One of the seven you're familiar with? I don't know what you mean by that, but I know this. My name is Wrath, and that is the last name you're going to hear!" Wrath replied.
"What!" Ichigo replied, his eyes showing his surprise. He remembered his fight against Wrath the last time he'd been in Amestris, but this man wasn't Fuhrer King Bradley.
"I hope you're prepared to die, boy!" Wrath shouted preparing to charge.
"If you really are Wrath, then I can't afford to hold back here!" Ichigo shouted, "BANKAI!" he shouted as he was engulfed in a black aura. "Tensa Zangetsu," he said as the aura faded, revealing him in his Bankai state and wearing his Hollow Mask.
"Here I come!" Wrath shouted as he charged at Ichigo. His blade arm swung for Ichigo who stepped backwards and swung at him with Tensa Zangetsu, only to have it be deflected by the Homunculi's other arm, which had also turned into a blade. "You move better than I anticipated, but you're still nothing I need to worry about."
"I'm just getting started," Ichigo declared as he kicked Wrath in the stomach and jumped into the air above the Homunculi. "Getsuga Tensho!" he shouted firing his crescent blast into the grounded Homunculus, engulfing him.
"Piercer of the Heavens, eh," Wrath declared as he emerged from the attack, several deep wounds were rapidly regenerating across his body, "not bad. I might actually have to get serious!" he declared as he reached up and grabbed his eye patch.
"I won't let you use that Ultimate Eye!" Rukia shouted suddenly as she drew her Zanpakto, "now, Dance! Sode no… guhh," she gasped suddenly. Wrath was nowhere near her, but even so, she dropped to her knees.
"Rukia!" Ichigo shouted.
"Rukia! What's wrong! What did he do to you!" Renji shouted running to his comrade's side.
"What… what is this!" Rukia asked out loud as she pressed her hands against her face, "what is… this voice in my head!"
"What!" Ichigo replied, the image of Rukia's hollow mask suddenly becoming vividly clear in his mind.
"Darn you, Roar, Zabimaru!" he shouted releasing his shikai and swinging it at Wrath who raised his arm and blocked it.
"Not good enough!" Wrath shouted as he prepared to remove the eye patch. He was stopped, however, as his arm was suddenly sliced from his body. "What in the…" he gasped as the arm disintegrated and a new one grew in its place. Rukia stood before him, her sword drawn and held out as though she'd just slashed. Her head was hanging to the ground and her hair hid her face from view. "You little witch," Wrath shouted angrily as his arm turned back into a blade and he raised it as though preparing to strike.
"Rukia!" Ichigo shouted, charging towards the Soul Reaper and Homunculus. He was too slow and Wrath swung down… only to have his arm blocked by Rukia's sword.
"What!" Wrath exclaimed.
"Dance," Rukia said in a voice that made Ichigo's skin crawl, "SODE NO SHIRAYUKI!" she shouted raising her head and glaring at the Homunculus. Half of a hollow mask covered the left side of her face!
"What the…" Renji stammered.
"No… Rukia!" Ichigo shouted.
"Hakuren!" the hollowfied Rukia shouted as she performed her second dance and fired a massive avalanche of freezing energy at Wrath.
"What the…" Wrath shouted as he leapt to the side, preventing all but his left arm from freezing, "that was close."
"Rukia! Stop your attack!" Ichigo shouted as he realized that the attack was headed towards several innocent bystanders who were standing nearby, but it was apparent that Rukia was not in control of her actions, and this Rukia's only concern was destroying the enemy in front of her… just like it had been for Ichigo when he had been under the control of his Hollow Mask when he first acquired it. Ichigo knew there was nothing he could do to save the civilians and watched, horror struck, as the attack approached them. Suddenly, a burst of red energy shot in front of the civilians and a giant flame erupted, intercepting Rukia's dance.
"That was pretty careless. Good thing I happened to be in the neighborhood," a familiar voice declared as a second burst of flame overwhelmed Wrath. Roy Mustang approached the team, accompanied by Ling.
"Mustang?" Ichigo shouted as Rukia turned her attention to the Colonel.
"Interesting mask, Kuchiki, though I don't think it suits you," he declared snapping his fingers and firing a pin point blast of flame into the cheek of the mask. The mask shattered instantly and Rukia was flung onto her back. Renji was instantly by her side.
"Rukia! Rukia are you hurt?" Renji shouted as Rukia slowly opened her eyes.
"Owww," she said, sitting up and rubbing her cheek, "why does my face feel… hot?" She noticed Mustang, but the colonel pretended not to notice her.
"Naruto and Luffy aren't here, so I'll say it for them," Rukia declared, "You really are the 'Friendly Fire Guy."
"You say that as though you were leaving me a choice," Mustang replied, "now, where's the Homunculus? There's no way that that was enough to finish him."
"You will not find him, Colonel Mustang," a woman's voice declared from behind him. Mustang and Ichigo both turned to the source of the voice, prepared to attack, and were faced with an ominous looking black figure.
"Who are you?" Mustang demanded.
"That is none of your concern, Colonel," the woman replied, "Greed!"
"What do you want, lady?" Ling/Greed replied rather rudely.
"I was not referring to you," the figure replied.
….
Back in Risembool, Ed's team faced the same figure.
"What the heck is she talking about?" Ed wondered.
"She was just talking… like Mustang was here," Vine replied.
"I understand, Mother. We'll finish this another day," Greed declared as an ominous black cloak engulfed her. When the cloud vanished, Greed was gone.
"What the…" Ed exclaimed.
"Surprised, Fullmetal and Raging Blast?" the woman asked, startling the two alchemists, "I'd imagine you are. Allow me to explain, this message…"
….
In Liore, Audrey and Rose looked up in awe at the same black figure who was standing on top of the church house.
"…is being carried throughout all of Amestris, on the wings of my dear son, Pride."
"Pride?" Audrey repeated, confused by what was happening.
….
Far in the North in Briggs Fort, General Olivier Armstrong stared angrily at the figure that had appeared in her office.
"You filthy humans have been allowed for far too long to simply do as you please. We have sat and watched as you…"
….
Elsewhere in Central, Selim Bradley hid fearfully behind his father as the same figure stood before them.
"…have torn apart your country through your wars and aggressions. You have abused the meager powers that have been allotted to you, and as such…"
….
In Ishval, several Ishvalan men and women had halted work on repairing the buildings of their city to stare in awe at the figure that had appeared in their streets. Closest to the figure, an angry looking, scarred Ishvalan glared angrily at the woman.
"…we have passed our judgment upon you, and found you in desperate need… of extermination."
"Extermination?" a man asked.
"What does she mean?" an Ishvalan woman asked as Scar continued to glare at the figure. His eyes widened as seven more figures appeared, two women and a small cloaked figure on her left and three men and a second cloaked figure who looked far more menacing then any of the others.
"Meet the instruments of your demise."
….
Back in Risembool, Ed's team continued to watch as the rest of the town's attention was soon drawn to the woman.
"Lust, Greed, Sloth, Greed, Gluttony, Wrath, and Pride. My Seven loyal Homunculus," the woman replied, "your end is soon coming. All of Amestris, will burn at their hands."
"I'll give you this, you're certainly a lot more talkative then the other Homunculus we've dealt with!" Ed shouted suddenly.
"I'd say the reason why is obvious," Vine replied, "you know full well that we've beaten your kind before and we'll do it again! Why don't you cowards come out and fight! We'll see who fate decides needs extermination!"
"Filthy Darcsen! How dare you…" Lust began to shout but Mother silenced her.
"You think you can resist?"
"We know we can resist!" Colonel Mustang's voice suddenly shouted.
"Is that…?" Vine asked.
"The Colonel?" Ed finished.
….
In Central, Mustang and his team faced the figure.
"It's just like Vine said. We've already beaten your kind before, and there's no reason we can't do it again!" Mustang shouted.
"That's right," Ichigo declared, "if it's a fight you want, then you've got it!"
"If you're looking for a fight," General Armstrong's voice suddenly shouted, "then just set foot in Briggs. My men will be happy to show you the fight you're looking for."
"If you think you can intimidate us, you're wrong!" Audrey's voice shouted.
"Everyone, don't listen to them," Rose pleaded, "we'll stand against them!"
"If you want war, Homunculi, then you'd better be prepared for what's to come!" Scar's voice shouted.
"Oh yeah! Bring it on, I'll show you the difference between you rejects and a real Homunculus!" Ling/Greed shouted proudly.
….
Back in Risembool.
"General! Are you listening!" a familiar woman's voice shouted.
"Is that… Alicia?" Ed asked.
"Yeah, I think so," Vine replied.
….
In a large room in a tower just outside of Central, Alicia Melchiott faced the seven figures as well.
"I don't care if I am supposed to stay here because of this Valkyrian Incarceration Thingy. If you leave me out of this fight, I'll never forgive you!" she shouted.
….
"Valkyrian Incarceration what?" Ed asked.
"You're looking at me? I've forgotten as much as you have, remember," Vine replied.
"You filthy Homunculus!" Fuhrer King Bradley's voice suddenly shouted.
"Was that Bradley?" Ed asked.
"More importantly, did he say filthy Homunculus?" Vine replied.
….
In the streets of Central, an enraged Bradley faced the seven figures.
"You dare to march into my country and threaten its people! If its war you want, then you'll find Amestris to be more then capable of giving you just that!" Bradley shouted. His shouts were met with roars of approval from villages, towns, and cities all across the country of Amestris. Mother clenched her fist angrily. This was not what she had anticipated. Her declaration of war had now increased the human's determination. Perhaps she had underestimated them.
"Worthless fools. Your deaths could have been quick and painless, but now that you have determined to fight, you will die slowly and painfully! Every last human being in Amestris, whether they be Gallian, Valkyrian, Darcsen, Ishvalan, or any other race, is going to be exterminated!" she shouted angrily, "wait patiently for your fates, because they're coming soon." With that, the apparition ended and the seven figures faded from view.
….
"Shantella, I think now's a good time to go get Raging Blast and Fullmetal," Mustang declared calmly.
"Right, I'll be right back," Shantella declared as she vanished from sight.
….
"All men, prepare yourselves, your country is now at war!" General Armstrong shouted as the men of Briggs ran around preparing weapons and equipment.
….
"Heh, doesn't feel like all that long ago, we were defeating Corruption and his Homunculus," Vine declared.
"Let's make sure we take these guys down just like we did them," Ed ordered.
"I'll stalk them all and freeze them solid with my ice," Mizore declared.
"And then I'll melt them all with my flame!" Ali shouted energetically.
"I'll do what I can too!" Al shouted.
"I'm sure Ed'll go through plenty of automail during the fighting, so I'm sure I'm going to be busy," Winry sighed.
….
Somewhere just outside of central, Van Hohenheim stood, staring up at the sky, his eyes wide with dismay and despair.
"That voice…" he gasped, "it couldn't be…"
Ending Theme: Ano Kaze ni Notte (Valkyria Chronicles)
