Disclaimer: I don't own FMA, Naruto or the majority of the characters used in this story they belong to Arakawa-sama and Kishimoto-san as well as their respective creators.
Additional Warning: Violence, language, gore, and death.
A/N: This is my attempt at a War/Army fic, though with a supernatural twist. Dedicated to Curpricanka and Siameze whose encouragement and support keep me working on this story.
Change is inevitable and with the turns of time all things must come to an end in one way shape or form . . .
Chapter 27
The Following Day . . .
Chaos was a good way to describe the scene and events taking place, the sounds of guns going off was a constant background noise and seemed to chase all of them around as surely as their own shadows. Through sheer strength of will and instincts that pushed all of them above and beyond their limits many were still alive. The devastated remains of the city were reduced to even more rubble than before casting the atmosphere in a dusty haze that would not depart and permeating the death stained air they breathed in harshly with the scent of dirt and blood.
Tanks patrolled through the city blowing apart any remaining building that could be used as a shelter but pieces of buildings and rubble still provided the smallest bit of cover and so many were crouching behind them trying to stay out of the line of fire. As guns rang through the city and cries of anger or pain echoed endlessly no one was fully aware of the ones that still remained and the ones that had perished in this gruesome battle.
The air rang with electric energy as alchemists used their strength to try and push back their attackers only to have it countered with magic that lashed out and attacked at those around them. Sasuke had the air knocked out of him from the backlash of a powerful attack as he was thrown back onto his back to stare unseeingly at the cloudy sky. It was going to rain soon and even though that was a welcoming thing to occur it would do little to truly wash the feeling of death from anyone's skin. With a grunt the raven haired fighter got to his feet and his entire body buzzed with adrenaline as the sounds of bullets ripping through the area around him surrounded him, a sharp, white hot pain blazed through his shoulder momentarily blinding him with the agony of it but he shoved it back and took stock of what was going on around him.
From what he could see he was within reach of taking cover behind the remains of a building where the entire group he had travelled with had spent most of the previous night sleeping in preparation for this battle taking place. He hastily made his way to the building ducking and picking up speed as he felt the earringing noise of bullets pass by him missing him only by a chilling amount. His left hand came up to clutch at his shoulder as he sat down on the ground with his back against the wall. Already his clothes were torn, his face marred with cuts and scrapes as much as the rest of him, burns made their tracks along his right arm from a vicious show of magical force in retaliation to his alchemy but it was the wound in his shoulder that blazed anew and raw with pain that kept his attention.
He looked up suddenly, tense and his right hand tightening on the butt of his gun still holstered at his side when someone moved towards where he was. A flood of relief that made him realize why he had felt more on edge than before rushed through him at the sight of the exuberant blond that joined him. His blue eyes were clouded with sorrow but once they noticed the wound they filled with concern that darkened his eyes and caused a frown to form on his face.
"Are you alright Sasuke?"
"I'm better than most," Sasuke answered taking in the blonds' status as well, at least Naruto wasn't seriously injured. Grazes and as many cuts, scrapes and brusies as anyone but otherwise unharmed. His green uniform pants and the white t-shirt he was wearing were covered in dirt and grime and spots of blood but upon closer inspection at the sharp pang of worry Sasuke found that the blood was not his. His clothes were mostly gray and brown and when Sasuke looked into his eyes he could see how dull they were, Naruto never did do well in battlezones where death was all that kept constantly at your side.
"How many do we still have?"
Naruto's entire expression darkened and he looked away, "It's too insane around here to know for sure. The only reason none of us have been completely overwhelmed is because Roy, Ed and anyone else with any amount of devastating power keep taking out those drones and soldiers left and right. We've got about twenty of our soldiers still alive because Gaara, Neji, and Temari are defending them with Kiba and Hinata's help. But that was hours ago and its nearly dusk now so there is really no way to know unless we head the way they went."
They were interrupted by a shower of bullets overhead and Naruto ducked just in time to keep from having his head blown off. Sasuke hunched down even more as Naruto covered his head with his arms defensively and both of them looked around them even as the bullets kept coming and Naruto motioned with two fingers that Sasuke should head the way he had come while Naruto headed in the direction that Sasuke had been coming from. The raven nodded and with a wince he shifted so that he was kneeling on the ground on his heels so that he could move quickly.
Naruto brushed his hand over a pale neck as he moved past him to kneel at the ravens back. Sasuke looked over his shoulder at him with a smirk and mouthed the words, 'Stay alive,' to which the blond nodded and said with a serious expression on his face and a hard look in his eyes, 'You too.' As soon as the bullets fell silent both of them jumped up and ran Sasuke's eyes gleamed red with the Sharingan as he stopped in the middle of the street and with a deep breath exhaled a powerful display of magic encased in bright orange, red, and gold flames. He ignored the pain filled screams and the sounds of gun powder and ammunition going off as the magic faded as he turned away and continued to run.
Once he was at the end of the street and about to turn to try and make it to the building he knew everyone else had moved towards further into the confines of the decimated city he smirked as he saw a shock of blond hair disappear over the tops of the piles of rubble making it even harder for him to be hit with the bullets that bit at his heels.
Shikamaru stood his ground before the army of drones before him. Alongside Neji, Gaara, Kiba, Hinata, and Temari it wasn't as though he was fighting alone. But that didn't mean he liked it, this took up too much effort and energy for his liking. He didn't know where anyone else was or how they were, he had yet to see the main players for quite some time and while he didn't look forward to the moment when they would truly be separated from one another he still wished this battle would come to a close.
With a sigh he concentrated his energy and pushed his shadow out and away from him, something the drones did much like any living thing in the sunlight was cast a shadow. Shadows were his expertise and he used as such to stretch and pull and wrap his shadows among theirs to immobilize them. Kiba moved in then with his overdone direct attack destroying all the drones he had managed to trap. That took out at least a company's worth which only left about . . . twenty more companies.
With an exhausted and irritated sigh he began again, it seemed that he could work with Inuzuka rather well even if he preferred the company of the quiter ones amongst their group. He did wish that someone amongst them could take out a bigger number but the numbers they managed were about the same as the teamwork between him and Kiba managed. Besides, the buildings' remains behind them was the only place safe enough in the decimated city that could harbor their forces and those who were injured.
Gaara was on his knees pouring his energy into the ground and calling forth all the sand that he possibly could to nulify the attacks from the cannons, guns, and any drones that thought lunging towards them was a great idea. Anyone and anything caught in the folds of his sand were promptly crushed to dust and thus added to the supply of sand in his arsenal. Temari's assistance with her wind abilities kept anyone away from him should they try to attack him from behind.
Then there was Neji who was working alongside his cousin and who were single-handedly taking down tanks by draining the energy of the soldiers inside them. They did not go near the drones but that was because their energy was poisonous to the Hyuga's. Therefore the two were simply taking care of any soldiers their efforts as a group did not take care of. But the sun was beginning to set and they were more than worn out. In the back of his mind he did worry on whether or not anyone would be caught when the time came for those who volunteered to be diversions so that the remainder of their forces could get out of Germany safely.
Ed slammed himself into the wall just in time to dodge the canon of the tank he had been closing in on and planned to destroy let loose. The pile of rubble to his right exploded in an angry explosion that sent rocks, metal bars, and part of the street flying into the air and crashing down with a deafening sound that couldn't be heard because of the loud noise the tanks' gun had made beforehand. He winced as he felt sharpened rocks cut jagged lines along the skin of his face, neck, arms, legs, and chest. They were momentary pains that didn't bother him anymore than the grazes, scrapes, cuts, and burns that already marred nearly every inch of his skin. He was covered from head to toe in dust, dirt, and spots of blood from his own injuries and the injuries he inflicted on his enemies.
He knew that Roy was still alive and there was no way that Alyssa could be dead because he was still capable of coherent thought. He knew from just a hours ago what it would feel like if Alyssa died, there had been a very close call that had frozen him stiff when he felt her energy waver before falling dangerously. He'd rushed blindly back to her side in time to see Tsunade and Winry working together to save her life. Alyssa was since then confined to defending the lives of the soldiers that had no reason to be in this battle against things that shouldn't exist.
As he caught his breath and gathered his thoughts he glanced to the sky overhead. It was dark, nearly night, but he could make out a bit of the actual sky in the distance that told him that it was already approaching dusk. With a muttered curse he clenched his fists at his side, somehow this had to end before nightfall, they would really be in for the fight of their lives if night fell and those damn minion demons surfaced and started attacking.
He took in a deep breath, he had to find those that had volunteered to act as decoys, now was the time to get everyone that had no business in this fight on the move. He wanted to save as many lives as he could and the border out of Germany was so close he could taste it but he had the feeling that he wasn't going to be getting out of Germany regardless of how much he wanted to and didn't want to have to part ways, it just wasn't going to be in his hands with the way this was going.
He ducked when a stray bullet zipped past him scorching a burning line across his cheek and embedding the bullet into the remains of the wall he had taken cover behind. He knew he wasn't completely safe from being shot at but his main purogative was trying to keep the tank from firing at him. He tensed as he noticed that it had fallen deathly quiet around him and finally turned his gaze upwards in the direction the shot had come from, his eyes narrowing dangerously at seeing the silhouette of Balenst standing a top debris only twenty feet from him.
He straightened at the sight of the man looking down at him with a challenging sneer on his face and bristled wanting to lash out but barely stopping himself from acting so carelessly when the man spoke to him from where he stood. "It seems that no matter what we throw at you, you just keep coming back for more. It must be some trait that runs in the family . . . " Ed's anger blazed red at the implications those words held but still he stood where he was never taking his heated gaze from the arrogant and dangerous bastard before him.
"Your father is foolhardy to keep allowing you to go on breathing, I think its' time I rectify that," Ed couldn't even blink before he found himself slammed into the ground with a heavy weight over him and a unrelenting grip on his throat. He hadn't even been able to draw in a gasp of surprise and it took a moment for his head to clear form the stars that danced before his eyes before his hands lifted to claw at the hand gripping his eyes were narrowed to slits and his teeth were bared in a silent snarl that couldn't make it past his throat because of the choking grip there.
He twisted and pushed with his entire body to try and dislodge Balenst but his grip only tightened to the point where Ed could feel the bones in his neck straining under the pressure. Balenst grinned coldly and victoriously, "Not so strong now are you boy?" Ed felt anger and the need to live burn straight through him igniting a flame inside him that flowed through his veins and outwards forcing the officer to pull back with a pain laced snarl and Ed took in gulping breaths of much needed air as he rolled away to put some distance between them.
He jumped back, still out of breath when Balenst lunged, fists raised and striking out at him but Ed was quicker and ready for it so easily moved aside. It wasn't until one of his own counter attacks hit Balenst sharply across his right jaw that Ed realized something was odd about this fight. Why was he suddenly able to keep up with the bastard and better yet why in the hell did he feel like he was regaining his energy instead of losing it as he moved, dodged, and countered each blow?
He jumped back startled when a wall of flame suddenly came between them and looked around to see Roy standing not too far away from him, his hand raised and poised, ready to unlease another alchemic burst of strength. Ed's eyes locked with dark ones and Ed gave a slight nod before he made his way towards Roy saying as he went, "What the hell took you so long bastard?" A smirk was his only answer and then another blast of heat and Ed turned to see that Balenst was moving, slowly and painfully, but stubbornly towards the pair despite the flames that licked at his skin and threatened to devour him where he stood.
Ed moved around and behind Mustang as the older man continuously unleashed a flurry of fire at the damnable General and Ed turned so that they were back to back so he could at least cover Roy. He noticed the army of drones, the tank blown to pieces but another coming up the road, and the familiar movements of those Ed knew instinctively were the replacement humonculi. With a grimace he clapped his hands and slammed them into the ground pouring energy into the earth below and pushing it forward to create a wave of concrete to try and crush the approaching enemies.
He managed to take out a few of the drones from where he was, at least a platoon's worth, but they still continued to make their way towards them. He glanced back at Roy to see him steadily setting Balenst aflame but it was doing little to nothing to the humunculus other than slowing his movements down. It would probably take near to fifteen rounds of burning the man alive to actually kill him, maybe more, maybe less, it depended on the size of the stone he had really. Ed gritted his teeth in frustration, he hated battlefields, he was forced to pick what actions to take and whether or not to trust those around him to take care of himself or to save the masses.
They needed to get the soldiers and as many of their people out and across the border before nightfall if they were to have any hope of getting anyone out alive. A snarl escaped his throat as his fathers' silhouette came into his view, he was standing on top of the moving tank behind the first one looking at the devastation and death with what Ed could swear was a delighted smile on his face.
"Don't die Mustang or I'm going to bring you back and kill you myself," Ed said over his shoulder before running towards the coming army. Mustang didn't answer, staying focused on the task at hand but he still felt that bit or worry and concern eat away at him the same as it had ever since this insane circle of uncontrollable events had started. He really hoped that Ed wouldn't do anything suicidal but the blond persisted to try and beat impossible odds. Another round and another and alchemy was thick in the air as the fire alchemy he cast continued ceaselessly and with little regard to how much energy the caster was using. He would not let Balenst close in on him, he would finish him and then assist Ed in ending this fight once and for all. Finally, only ten feet away Balenst fell to his knees, gasping for breath, his skin healing only to be cast in furious flames again and again and again until he was on his hands and knees and looking at Roy with such hatred in his eyes that the flame alchemist daringly returned.
"No ones' really immortal General, not even you," and a resounding snap echoed through the area at the power behind the finishing alchemy that finally reduced Balenst to dust, but the stone that lay in those ashes glowed brightly and before Mustang could step forward to destroy it it glowed brightly and all the color drained from Roys' face at the screeching cry of agony that seemed to freeze time and silence everything as Roy instantly heard and echoing cry he knew to be Alyssa's.
He turned as if in slow motions, his mind numb with shock and horror and his hands fell uselessly to his side as his gaze fell to Ed on his own hands and knees before the army approaching him. It wasn't until he looked up to see Hoenheim standing a top the roof of a tank, his hand fisted around something the glowed sinisterly that the rage consumed him and he moved to run forward, to get to Ed's side, to try and stop what he was sure would be Ed's death but a sharp, cutting pain sliced along the length of his back and he fell to his own knees under the brunt of it only to turn a shocked and enraged gaze to the humunculus Pride holding a sword out in challenge.
He pushed himself to his feet only to have to roll away as a downward thrust swept through the air and another times he was forced to jump back as another came for him. Though he was worried about Ed it took all his concentration to avoid the deadly blows and swipes of that sword cutting through the air. The momentary distraction of hearing three battle cries and seeing three comrades moving to Eds' side was enough to permit Balenst to thrust the sword right through Roys' gut, cutting deep and running through but narrowly missing anything important as the blade embedded itself into his flesh just above his left hip. With a snarl of anger laced pain Roy closed his hand around the blade and shoved it away hissing through clenched teeth as he did so and rolled to his feet and away.
Before either of the fighters knew what had happened blood splayed across Roys' face and clothes as Balenst was beheaded from behind and as the humunculus fell to the ground he was grateful to see Sasuke's form standing there and moving in to deliver the finishing blow. But another bright red glow emitted from Balenst and both ravens stepped back cautiously as the stones' power regenerated Balensts' decapitated head, the man stood and cracked his neck and Sasuke let out a cry at the slash that cut long and deeply into his chest at the Generals' sudden movement.
Roy was forced backwards and further away as some of the slashes were aimed at him, slicing his arms and grazing his chest but luckily not landing as directly at the wound in his side had. Sasuke put himself purposely between Roy and Balenst when Roy winced as his side pulled and burned with pain raising the blade of a blood rusted katana just in time to block what would have been a killing blow. He hissed irritably at Roy over his shoulder as he shoved Balenst back, "You need to get a move on Mustang, now is the best time while we have them distracted."
All the color drained from Roys' face but he gave a numb nod and moved away, even as Balenst snarled and yelled for him to come back and fight. Sasuke kept the man at bay and fighting him instead. It tore at him with every step, not the pain, but the distance he was putting between himself, Ed, and Sasuke, but it was something that absolutely had to be done. There were more lives at stake right now and he had to trust them to get through this alive and make it back. He looked back towards where Ed was and found relief wind through him at seeing the power and determination was rekindled in Ed as he continuously attacked every drone and humunculus before him with the help of the only others that had agreed to put themselves at risk so others could get out.
Mustang and Naruto and anyone else would have gladly volunteered but they were sworn to protect everyone and get them out, it was pointed out that it would be pointless and make any and all sacrifices and losses in vain if none of them got out of Germany alive and so some of them that could stay needed to go to defend those that needed to get out of the country. Roy knew that with every step he took that he was leaving Ed behind and Sasuke and there was no way to know when or if he would see them again and that made him pause torn, how could he turn away from them like that? He really couldn't and he looked up, surprised when a small hand enclosed around his own to see that his feet had led him back to where everyone else was without needing the help of his mind.
Alyssa looked up at him, her eyes clouded with dread and concern and it made him want to run back and pull Ed and Sasuke out of that fight but he knew he couldn't and Alyssa did as well because she tightened her hold on his hand. "We have to believe in their strength, even if they are caught they won't be killed and they will refuse to die."
Roy looked up when he heard hurried footsteps and noticed Temari, Neji, and Riku making their way out of the building. Riku paused and looked to his sister before looking to Roy with those chilling, crystalline green eyes. His voice was soft but firm as he said, "When those three come back you get going or none of this is going to mean anything."
He looked to Alyssa again, "Take care of yourself little sister and make sure everyone stays alive long enough to make it to Britain."
She nodded and released Roys' hand to run to her brother who immediately pulled her into a tight hug. He said something softly in her ear and kissed the top of her head before he set her down and let her go. Another passing of hushed words and Alyssa nodded with a sad smile and then Riku turned and ran off to catch up with the other two. Alyssa turned to Roy with a determined look on her face and called out, "Everybody get a move on, we move out now."
Roy smiled despite himself and when she took his hand he felt just that tad bit comforted, at least with her by his side he would know that Ed was still there, he was still in this world because the two shared such a strong length with one another that they couldn't survive without the other. He cleared his throat and a commanding tone and trained officers' impassive mask fell into place as he called out to everyone, "Anyone that can move get your supplies together and assist the injured. We are departing in less than five minutes."
It was no more than those five minutes later that everyone was heading out, packs on their backs or comrades and it was with heavy hearts that they left their comrades behind hoping they would see them again and that their lives wouldn't be lost just so they could live. Hinata held Kiba's hand as she focused on the path ahead and Winry held Grey's as she walked silently next to Naruto who looked how Roy felt, both of them had left their lovers, their most important people behind to fight a battle they knew couldn't be won just to save the lives of those around them. If not for the faces and lives at stake as they moved out of the city then nothing would have been able to force them all to step forward again and again.
It was with an alarming display of power from Mustang, Gaara, and Kakashi that broke through the blockade stopping them from leaving the boundary of the city. The three of them along with Nara stepped forward as one to face the soldiers that survived the onslaught of fire, sand, and earth overpowering them. Shikamaru knelt down calmly placing his hands to the ground and Roy watched with interest as the shadows on the ground grew and stretched and reached for the soldiers aiming their guns at their group. As one each soldier the shadows touched turned around and fired on the men around them and before the soldiers left could respond lightning ripped through the sky with loud crackles of energy and blinding light to cut through the tanks and barricades placed before them.
Kiba and Naruto lunged forward, teeth and claws bared in snarls as they moved with blinding speed and feral grace and power to take out the battalion that was moving towards them because of the commotion. Roy snapped and cast flames on anyone that aimed their guns and screams and power tore through the air. In a rush of elemental prowess and displays of strength no human could ever possess the opponents threatening to keep them from leaving Germany were nullified. There was no time to hesitate to kill, no time to do anything more than to move forward. If they stopped they would die and if they hesitated then lives would be lost. They all had promises to keep and fulfilling those oaths had to be done before they could turn back and try to put their minds at ease about their loves ones.
They moved on silently, Kiba and Naruto moving on ahead to make sure the coast was clear and after they had left the confines of the city behind and were about to come to the borders they found an abandoned truck and van left deserted along the dirt road. Winry set to work in getting them moving and within only the stretch of two hours both vehicles were took to driving the truck as Roy transmuted the outcropping for a canopy on the bed of the truck and then a canopy itself out of the offered packs of the men.
They moved quickly and unease settled over them as night fell, too many nights of fighting those demons, of fearing their appearance for any of them to forget about them. Heavy hearts and minds kept everyone silent as they moved and they were surprised by the lack of security as they finally breached the border and left the stretch of Germany behind after hours of driving. When the original drivers, Havoc and Riza tired then Roy or Grey would take over driving. Continuously they switched and the worry and dread grew as the hours passed, the day rose and they finally stopped to rest and stretch and refuel within a small outskirt town in the Netherlands.
Still the stifling silence stretched on and they all just moved forward and put more distance between themselves and the ones they left behind. Things were beyond out of control and nothing they did could change that, they had to get everyone to safety before anyone crazy enough to turn back did. If those that put themselves at risk did manage to escape then they would catch up, Ed had promised that if any of them could make it back to them, if they could somehow run away and get out of Germany alive then they would.
But the underlining thing was, get out alive, Ed had been adamant to point out after the four that had volunteered said they would act as decoys that there was a very likely chance they would be overwhelmed, caught, sent to those camps, and probably be held prisoner for a few years to come. But they had resigned saying a few years in captivity was worth the freedom and safety of others. But damn it, Roy wanted to be at Ed's side, he didn't want to be leaving him behind knowing that it was so very likely he wouldn't be able to see him or know how he was for possibly years. How was he supposed to cope with that, how was he expected to keep going?
Alyssa shifted where she sat next to him in the front seat of the van while Riza drove, "You just will, you have to because Eddie wants you to really trust him to survive and come back to you."
Roy sighed, "I am aware of this, however-"
"They didn't make it out, but that doesn't mean their fates are sealed. Each and everyone one of them already proved that they were strong enough to survive whatever was thrown at them . . ." Even as her words trailed off she couldn't completely release the clenching of her heart or the aching pain that told her Edward was suffering even with the distance that was put between them.
She knew more than anyone that should Edward be killed once she made it across to Britain that would be the only thing that she would be able to tell because it would be the end of her own life. Once she crossed the body of water and put hundreds of miles between herself and the one she loved like an older brother she would no longer be able to speak with him even mentally nor would she know just how much he suffered. The lack of their seemingly unbreakable bond was already tearing at her more than she let on, it felt as though she was leaving a part of her very soul behind and that was the only way in which she could describe it.
To be continued . . .
