Ice Prince Alchemist
9foxgrl
Parting of Ways
Pushkin, Drachma
"So Mustang will be taking over in a few days' time, and you haven't found out who will succeed General Armstrong in taking command of Fort Briggs." Growled a well-kept man as he poured himself another shot of hard liquor.
"Yeah. Why is he being so secretive about it?" asked a rather portly man as he scarfed down his food. "Are you sure your contacts in Central aren't being lazy?"
"No. In fact a third were assassinated by an unknown assailant." Replied a weedy man wearing spectacles on the far side of the bar.
"What did you expect? With all the trouble stirring along the border towns." Replied a buxom brunette wearing rather provocative scarlet clothes despite the cold temperatures. "He wants to make sure no one with ill intentions will try to assassinate there number one choice beforehand."
"Ha! In that case they must be some spineless puppet for Mustang to use." Laughed the portly man.
"Not necessarily Boris." Replied the weedy man. "If the rumors are correct: the Ice Prince is the most likely candidate, but the more traditional members of Parliament are trying to filibuster that decision since he's so young or they simply don't like his progressive parents."
"Well than Izzy why don't we just go and shoot the brat?" Boris snapped as pieces of his food flew out of his mouth making the woman sneer in disgust. "Save ourselves some trouble!"
"Because you lard ass, the boy is more than likely under heavy guard until the official announcement." The woman replied for the bespectacled man. "Especially since you let your men have a bit too much fun in the Capital's outskirts last week."
"Venus is right." Izzy quipped.
"Oh yeah? You're one to talk bitch! You're squad tried to burn down the cathedral while the Tsareina's family was there." Boris retorted. "You can't lecture to me about acting out."
"What did you say?" Venus yelled as she grabbed the whip at her hip.
"Enough! Even with those two overdone eyesores, the Tsar and the Fuhrer are well aware that a rebellion is in the works." The well-kept man snapped as he slammed his empty tumbler on the bar.
"So Romeo, what do you think we should do?" Izzy asked
Underneath the bar, the owner of the establishment was trembling in terror. His wife laid dead by his feet. Boris had killed her once she had served his large order of food.
"Don't concern yourselves about Ice Prince. Remember; Stalin's associate already plans on dealing with him and those friends of his when the time comes for us to claim the border." Romeo replied as he stood up and put on his jacket. He grinned. "I can't wait to see old Vladimir's face when I destroy the city walls."
"What about him?" Izzy asked as he pointed to the frightened bartender.
"Shoot him and burn this place down." Romeo replied.
"No! Please! I promise I won't say anything!" the man cried as Venus un-holstered her gun. "Please!"
"It's so pathetic to see a grown man cry." She sneered as the .22 bullet tore through the man's cranium. "So unhandsome."
The small group left the bar with Izzy throwing a Molotov cocktail over his shoulder as he passed through the threshold. In the shadows of a nearby building a figure frowned.
'This is bad, I must warn the Dmitri.'
*Ice Prince Alchemist*
Eastern Command HQ
"Major Prewett, are you sure about this decision to enter the reserves?"
"Yes sir." Ethan replied confidentially.
Colonel Mason read over the proposition once more. A few days after graduating Hogwarts, the Graveyard Alchemist had entered a request to enter the reserves in order to attend Central University for Medical School. His reasoning was that it would make sense for him to become a combat medic, as his style of Alchemy was more suiting for supportive defense rather than offensive.
"Very well, I will approve your request Major Prewett. However it will not be able to go into effect until after the new Fuhrer's inauguration ceremony."
Ethan sighed in relief. "I understand. Thank you sir."
"Is your team aware of your decision?"
Ethan blinked in confusion. "Team-sir? I you are referring to Ice Prince and Corona, they aren't my team."
It was Mason's turn to look confuse. "They aren't?"
"No sir, they are my friends." Ethan replied with a grinned. "And they were the ones who encouraged me to do this!"
*Ice Prince Alchemist*
Northern Command HQ
Zephyrus was examining the files of the Military Academy's upcoming graduating class, Eren and Gilbert sat next to him looking at the files as well. Or rather, Eren was reading through them, and Gilbert was whining about being tricked into doing 'desk jockey' work. One of the cadets was going to be selected to replace 2nd Lieutenant Isabel Marshal on Squad 4 as she was to go on maternity leave soon.
"Man...I rather be out getting chased by Ivan carrying a chainsaw than doing this." Gilbert grumbled as he lazily stared at the papers. "None of these folks stand out!"
"What were you expecting? A familiar pyromaniac? A well-known sociopath? Get your head into reality Gilbert. The EOD is hectic enough with Vinny as your Department Head." Zephyrus dryly replied. For crying out loud the man's motto was 'when bored, go blow something up'.
"But this is boring! I'm no desk jockey!" Gilbert whined.
"If administration is too dull, a month long assignment can be easily arranged." Lieutenant General Lange replied when she quietly walked up behind him. "Granted through it will not be full of explosions, but a working as a waiter at a host club would be interesting."
All three males tensed up for a minute. Lieutenant General Henrietta 'Hetty' Lange was the overseer for the Northern Command. However she was also supervisor for many undercover operations, and had a habit of borrowing Briggsmen for some of her operations since many of them hardly left the desolate area except for holidays and military drills.
And many of those missions included a makeover and death threat if they get blood on the borrowed clothing.
"Umm...no thanks...Maddie would kill be if I made myself eye candy for someone who isn't her..."
"Hmm, another time then." Hetty replied before taking a seat at another table with her tea cup in hand.
"What about Private Saya Cosmin?" Eren asked.
"What about her?" Gilbert replied before looking at a special notation on the file before grinning. "Chief! We have to get her! Having her on our side would be a great asset, and honestly, how often do you run across a freaking Vampire on the battlefield?"
"I'll think on it."
"Chief!"
"I'm not questioning her usefulness, I'm worried about her losing control and becoming a liability."
"Isn't that the Pot calling the Kettle black, Ice Prince?" Hetty asked airily as she stirred her tea. Eren hid his face behind some papers and snickered at the poleaxed look on the young Mage's face. Gilbert showed no such restraint and openly laughed until he fell off his chair.
"What did your agents have to say about her?"
"You assume my agents have time to look into every little rumor."
"According to this, she was recommended by you to be sent to Briggs the moment she joined the Academy."
Hetty smiled. "Ah you saw that? Very good Little Prince."
"Please stop calling me that. I'm not a child anymore." Zephyrus deadpanned as his team mates snickered.
"Saya Cosmin is the third of five children, her family emigrated from Romania three years ago, intelligence speculating it was due to the attempted abduction of her younger sister Sonja by mercenary Venus Rosemarie."
"Rosemarie...that name sounds familiar." Eren muttered before his eyes darkened. "Oh yeah, she was that high ranking officer whose death is the reason I was made a Prison Rat!"
Hetty patted the soldiers shoulder in sympathy. Like many Prison Recruits, Eren had been charged with a capital crime, however during the court martial hearing of General Clemin and Edison there was a revelation of a possibility that many of the Prison Recruits involved in the Ishvalan War of Extermination were merely snatched off the streets and charged without any evidence. As a result the higher ups allowed for them to be used as expendable cannon fodder that the lower ranking officers could systematically abuse as they pleased. When the war started winding down, the Rats were taken into Central to be executed until by miracle Eren was rescued by Olivier.
"Chief! Can we please get Cosmin on Squad 4?" Gilbert asked as if he was a child begging for a new toy. "Please?"
"Phobos shut up!" Eren snapped.
"Make me Orion!" Gilbert replied.
"BOTH OF YOU SHUT UP!" Zephyrus snapped.
"So is that a yes or no?"
"I rather not make that decision until we meet Cosmin in person. There is only so many things you can learn about a person just from paper." Zephyrus groaned. "So...Go back to the dorms and get ready...we'll be going to the Academy in two days."
"YES! FIELD TRIP!" Gilbert screamed.
"God, no wonder some people don't believe you and Ludwig are related." Eren muttered as the man became hyperactive.
By the time Zephyrus returned home he was so tired he didn't expect to be mowed over by a little blonde blur.
"Phryus!" Melody squealed as she hugged him.
"Ah! Help the Rabbit is attacking me!" Zephyrus whined as he 'struggled' to escape from her as Melody giggled and placed kisses on his cheeks.
"I'm so sorry Young Master." Cried out a maid as she ran out of the foyer, nearly stumbling over her feet and falling into the grass. "The Little Miss escaped her nursery again."
"Again?" Zephyrus asked bemused as he helped her up, he turned to look at the toddler still wearing her nightgown and clutching her favorite stuffed animal. "Rabbit, have you been running Mey-Rin around again?"
Melody giggled. "Uh huh! We have fun!"
"I'll take her back to bed, you can retire early Mey-Rin." Zephyrus stated as he spun Melody around, making the toddler shrieked with laughter. "I haven't had any chance to spend time with her lately."
"Thank you Young Master. Your parents will be returning at ten o'clock." Mey-Rin sighed as she headed indoors.
"Phyrus play with me?" Melody asked as they climbed up the stairs. "Please?"
"Hmm...Play what?" Zephyrus played along. "Let me guess...Cinderella?"
Melody made a face and tugged on his hair. "NO! None of the prissy games!"
"Ow! Easy!" Zephyrus yelped. Melody giggled and tugged on his hair again. "Melody! No pulling big brother's hair!"
Melody giggled. "Phyrus hair pretty."
He cringed as her eyes lit up. "We can play dress up!"
'...Oh no...' Zephyrus cringed. "How about something else?"
Melody gave him the dreaded puppy eye look. "Please big brother?"
*Ice Prince Alchemist*
Central City-Parliament
"Yesterday we received world that the time has come for Tsar Vladimir V to officially coronate the Tsarvich who will succeed him." Grumman announced to the assembled nobles and military officials.
"Hmph! It's about time!" grouched one of the nobleman. "What took that bastard so long?"
"Politics." Deadpanned Lord Ingel. His grandniece and heiress apparent Harmonia gave him a questioning look at the blunt answer. Lord Ingel had been the one to host many of the political events during the treaty ratification.
"We will be sending a diplomatic envoy to Tsarskoye Selo, Drachma for the Tsesarvich's coronation. This will be taking place a week before Mustang succeeds me so it is absolute that the team who is sent with the diplomats are tactful."
"If I may slip into the vernacular sirs, don't send those idiots in the top box who cannot keep the hinge on their mouths properly secured." Added Hetty on Miles's left. Olivier held back a snicker as the more traditional and nonconforming members growled at her bluntness.
"So who would you suggest?"
"We should use fear tactic." Hetty replied. "Send someone they will know right away can't be turned on us and would be a danger to make an attempt on. Like the candidate you bureaucratic fraidy-cats are stalling from taking command of Fort Briggs."
"I still say he's too young!" shouted Lord Ziegler. "We have many other, much more worthy candidates."
"Yes, but how many of them are Alchemists who can use the environment of Briggs as a shield? Well respected by the soldier already stationed there? Can work with the numerous Prisoner Recruits and feared by certain parties of Drachma?"
"Those Rats are an infestation and should have been exterminated after Ishval." Someone muttered.
"Are you just saying that because you honestly hate them for their crimes or because your son was among those who tortured the 124th battalion?" Olivier asked. She had been mortified at the sheer physical and mental damage the recruits had endured. It took Eren months just to trust anyone at Briggs.
"In case you forgot General Horace, there is over a thousand Prisoner Recruits in the North Province alone." Miles dryly replied.
"A thousand less if that bint over there didn't interfere nine years ago." Shouted one of the conservatives.
"Care to say that again?" Olivier asked as she placed a hand on her sword shaped charm. Her husband halfheartedly placed a hand on her wrist to restrain her.
"Enough!" Roy shouted to try and regain order, but even he couldn't hide the disgust on his face. "The final decision for the commander of Fort Briggs is not to be taken lightly. Not with the recent rising in border skirmishes and the possibility of a civil war breaking out."
"Then hurry up and announce it already."
"Has it occurred to you, that we haven't announced it due to a security threat?" Roy snapped.
The meeting lasted only an hour before Roy kicked everyone before a bloodbath could breakout. He left mumbling about wanting to spend time with his family and not a bunch of duffers. Miles nodded in agreement and gently escorted his wife home before one of conservatives said or did something that would piss her off even more.
When the two returned home they were dumbfounded to see Zephyrus with his hair in knots and Melody attempting to decorate it with her small collection of pretty gold star and rabbit barrettes.
"Err...Hi..."
"Hi Papa! Hi Mama!" Melody shouted before hopping off the bed to hug them.
Miles couldn't help it, he broke down laughing. Olivier shook her head and picked up her mischievous daughter.
"It's not funny." Zephyrus muttered.
"It kind of is." Miles replied with a snicker as he watched his son attempt to undo the thick tangles in his hair with little success. "What was Melody trying to do to your hair anyway?"
"Braid it." Zephyrus replied as he tried to tug at particularly thick knot, only to nearly yank out his scalp. Miles shook his head as Zephyrus swore aloud before taking a pair of scissors and hacked off the hair making it choppy and uneven.
"It's going to grow back." Miles deadpanned. Sure enough Zephyrus's Veela gene kicked in, and the hair grew to his shoulders again.
"Just my luck, the only part of the Veela gene I get prioritizes vanity."
"It could be worse, you could have that Allure your friend spoke of."
"Only female Veelas with an active magical gene can utilize Allure." Zephyrus replied as he recalled Fleur's lecture on the genealogy.
As one the two males turned to look at Melody who was now sitting in her mother's arms being read a bedtime story.
"Has she shown any sign of magic yet?"
"No."
"Why do I have the feeling we're going to be fighting off boys before she hits the double digits regardless?" Zephyrus asked. Isaac Elric and Adrian Mustang already said she was pretty.
"Not if I teach her jujitsu first." Miles replied.
Olivier looked up at his comment and smirked. "Melody, are you a princess?"
"NO! MELODY IS A KNIGHT!" the toddler yelled.
"..."
"...I'm still teaching her jujitsu."
*Ice Prince Alchemist*
Little Hangleton, UK
"Ron, are you sure that this is where Dumbledore told you that it would be?" Hermione asked as she and Ron carefully poked around the charred remains of a cottage. She jumped as a rat as big as her hand darted past her foot.
"Look, Dumbledore showed us that this used to be You-Know-Who's ancestral home." Ron snapped. "So shut up and help me look!"
"I know." Hermione replied as she carefully moved around a broken support beam. "But I don't see anything here that could have been once used to house a soul fragment. Especially not that ring."
"Just keep looking Know It All." Ron replied. "The sooner we find it, the sooner you can go track down your Mum and Dad and undo your spell."
Hermione bit her bottom lip nervously. Last year Dumbledore had taken Ron and herself aside in order pass onto them some critical knowledge in defeating Voldemort. After beating around the bush for several weeks they found out about his Horcuxes and the possibility of their former classmate Lisa being connected to Voldemort as well.
They didn't know where to start about hunting down the things after the Headmaster's death. Hermione did her best to shield from the truth, so she erase their memories and sent them to the safest place she could think of.
Amestris.
There were three Mages there, and hopefully, just hopefully. They would be safe.
*Ice Prince Alchemist*
Amestris Military Academy
"Did you hear the news?"
"Some soldiers from Briggs are coming down to meet with the graduating class." Another cadet whispered excitedly.
"Not just any soldiers! The Ice Prince Alchemist is with them!"
"Seriously? The Ice Prince?"
"He fought a dragon when he was fourteen right?"
"Yeah in that tournament that Scotland was hosting."
"How could I forget? The upperclassmen that year were lucky enough to go watch the finals in person!"
"Look there, here they come!"
Several students lined up on the edges of the courtyard as the Briggs soldiers came walking through the gates towards the administration hall. Escorting the Ice Prince were three other soldiers and the head instructor.
"Holy shit, it's true, Ice Prince really does look like a girl!" someone shouted.
The cadets cringed as a visible aura briefly shrouded the Alchemist. His companions however didn't seemed bothered by it, mainly because they knew it wasn't directed at them.
"Check it, those two have red stripes. They're Prisoner Recruits!"
"No way, they're Prison Rats?"
"Forget the stripes. Look at that squadron badge on their sleeves."
"A black crescent moon. No way! That's-"
"Squad 4, the Ice Prince's personal team." A young woman coolly replied as she joined her classmates.
Immediately they stepped away from her. Saya kept her cold façade, but inside she felt hurt. Since someone in Administration let slip that she was a Vampire many of her classmates, even the instructors were wary of her. Despite her reassuring them that she was not going to bite them, they distrusted her.
'It's okay! I'll show them that I'm not a monster!'
Over the day several members of the graduating class were called to the administration building. A few cadets looked rather excited as they came back with signed orders and others a little disgruntled but apparently Ice Prince had listened them out and gave them a suggestion on how to use their strengths. Neither of them however could confirm if they had earned a spot on Squad Four.
However there was one cadet though who apparently could not hold their tongue about working with the numerous Prison Rats stationed at Briggs and was promptly thrown out of the conference room.
"Cosmin!" shouted one of the instructors.
"Sir!" Saya replied.
"Report to the third floor conference room!"
"Yes sir!" Saya replied before taking off. When she approached the door she shuddered as her senses felt the abnormally strong presence in the room. She jumped when the door flew open revealing a tawny haired exuberant man whose face fell when saw her.
"Huh...you don't look like a vicious Vampire. More like a bookworm."
"Thank you." Saya replied as she pushed her glasses up. Her fellow cadets often underestimated her physical abilities due to her bookish and meek appearance. She still yelped as the man dragged her into the room where the infamous Ice Prince were waiting. Saya jumped to attention.
"Private Saya Cosmin, reporting as requested sir!"
"At ease." Zephyrus dryly replied. "I'm Major Zephyrus Armstrong, you've already been acquainted with Sergeant Major Gilbert Beilschmidt over there."
"Yo!" the man yelled as he sprawled onto a chair. "I'm from Brigg's Explosive Ordinance Unit!"
"I'm Corporal Eren Yeager." The brunette said more politely as he kicked Gilbert's chair out from under him. "Combat Field Medic."
"I'm 2nd Lieutenant Isabel Marshal, Communications Officer for Squad 4." The woman said with a laugh as she shifted a little in her seat. Saya's eyes were drawn to woman's round stomach. Noticing this, the woman smiled and rubbed her belly.
"Seven months and two weeks along. My husband I are thinking the name Levi for a boy or Ariel for a girl. Cute names huh?"
"Uh! Yes!" Saya replied.
"No need to be so stiff." Zephyrus said nonchalantly. "We merely wanted to meet you in person before making our decisions on the new recruits who requested their first deployment to be at Briggs. Your name was endorsed by the instructors for immediate transfer post-graduation."
The widening of Saya's eyes was the only sign of her surprise.
"However, the fact that you are a Vampire does give sign for concern."
"So you think that I am merely a blood thirsty monster as well?" Saya asked coldly.
"I have heard of the psychotic bloodlust a Vampire can go through if they become mortally wounded." Zephyrus replied. "And considering out unit sees more direct combat than any other station...that possibility would be a major cause for concern."
"I am more than capable of controlling my Bloodlust sir. I am a Mature staged Vampire after all."
"There's a difference?"
Saya nodded. "A major difference. The sight and smell of blood would not affect me, nor drive me into a hunger. I have supplements."
"So you're positive that you can control it?"
"Yes sir."
Isabel smiled. "Well in that case..."
"Is it safe to assume that you give the okay?" Gilbert asked.
Zephyrus nodded. "Private Cosmin...welcome to Squad Four"
The time has come for the father and the daughter to wage war. At stake; the future of wizard-kind.
Next time...Light vs. Darkness.
Power is of two kinds. One is obtained by the fear of punishment and the other by acts of love.-Mahatma Gandhi.
*trumpet fanfare*
Marauder's Theather
BOOM!
Remus: what the bloody hell was that?
Fred & George: ...did anyone not Sirius-ly read the label on the Fireball Gumdrops, 'Do not consume with alcohol?"
*static*
We interrupt our usual Marauders Theater for this special segment.
9foxgrl Rant
9foxgrl: Welcome everyone to our very special Q&A segment featuring my special guest Zephyrus! *plays tape of audience clapping*
Zephyrus: Hello...Why am I doing this again?
9foxgrl: Sirius, ate a Fireball Gumdrop before taking a sip of some vodka and burned down the Marauder's Theater. He's currently unconscious. *dramatically throws skit idealist into a filing cabinet* Now without further ado, let's go on with this session! First we have Kenka: What would Zephyrus look for in a woman?
Zephyrus: *groan* 'Maybe if I answer this I can get some of those fan girls off my back.' Hmm well...I actually like girls who are kind of shy but still go out of their way to help people and are dedicated to their values. I look initially at personality not looks.
9foxgrl: What about Hermione? Or Luna?
Zephyrus: Granger? She's too brash and insensitive. Not to mention her worship of teachers leaves her mental state in questionability. As for Luna; we got more of a sibling relationship than romantic.
9foxgrl: Next is Jostanos, ooh we got multiple questions from him! First: Have you interacted with Lt. Col. Jostanos 'Sonic' Silver since the incident concerning a certain alchemist in France, Spain, and elsewhere?
Zephyrus: I didn't get to meet him when I visited Spain since he was working overtime working identifying those children. We didn't meet until the World Cup. Although I think Teacher has a correspondence with him.
9foxgrl. Next question: If you had a choice. Would you either; a).Play Quidditch for an Amestrian team, b). Play Pranks with the Weasley Twins? C). Join 'Sonic' on a singing tour of the world? Or d). Write a story of your own?
Zephyrus: Quidditch is more of a hobby for me, besides I sort of destroyed my broom saving Ethan from that giant. Hmm...Playing pranks is fun...I don't like signing in public and I prefer drawing to writing. I guess that would be option B.
9foxgrl: TIS A LIE! Before the Theater burned you were due to sing in a concert!
Zephyrus Shut up.
9foxgrl: NEVER! If you were able to travel to another realm where may it be and why?
Truth: I'm afraid that is a probably in his future.
9foxgrl: Truth! You're possessing Zephyrus again?
Truth: Calm down kitsune before you entangle your tails...But yes to answer your question; Zephyrus's debt to me will include traveling to other worlds to take care of some issues.
9foxgrl: I think that should explain the chill Jostanos. We need to fear for the world(s).
Truth: Whether or not 9foxgrl will record them is the question.
9foxgrl: That's still in debate right now. Thanks for stopping by!
Zephyrus: Huh? Did I just doze off?
9foxgrl: Nope, you just had an out of body experience again.
Zephyrus: What?
9foxgrl: Last question form Jostanos; Are you and Lt. Col. Sonic going to join forces again?
Zephyrus: I don't know, it's possible.
9foxgrl: Next we have blackknight99: Who would you rather be locked in a room with? A drunken Alex or Umbridge on a Monday morning?
Zephyrus: Uncle Alex. He very rarely gets drunk and when he does he's one of those lightweights. A few shots of hard liquor, a few rants full of cursing and he's out cold within an hour or so.
9foxgrl: Really? Next is killerkougar1; dear Zephyrus, what is one treat you absolutely love but don't get to have very often?
Zephyrus: Chocolate. It made me so hyper when I was little that it became an unspoken rule among the soldiers to have me banned from it while I'm on base, even to this day. And considering I grew up at Briggs I very rarely got to have any.
9foxgrl: O.O Just how bad were you?
Zephyrus: Bad enough I made a harden Drachman spy have a mental breakdown...Now that I think about it that's probably where the 'Demon of the North' stuff started from.
9foxgrl: Okay...They wouldn't let you have chocolate but they let you have coffee?
Zephyrus: It's an oxymoron, I know. They blamed it on the fact that most of the confectionary makers in Amestris use pure sugar.
9foxgrl: Next we have ultima-owner: How many times have they used Olivier's cooking as weapons?
Zephyrus: Only a few that I know of. The first time, it was when she attempted to make pancakes for me when I was about four. She ended up setting the kitchen on fire...twice.
9foxgrl: O.O
Zephyrus: *nonchalantly takes a sip of coffee* Then there was the fruit cake incident...As a joke they used it for a cannonball and...Well the Drachmans left us alone for six months after we accidentally created a crater the size of a small locomotive... The only other person besides me who ever had to suffer through those fiascos and actually have to eat the food was Dad since he would be in the wrong place at the wrong time. Like the time with curry incident...we ended up fighting over the pitcher of water...before we tricked Roy into eating it of course.
9foxgrl: Next we have Casacade Alchemist: Would you rather be hugged by Alex or listen to Rebecca Black's 'Friday' for two hours?
Zephyrus: I rather endure the hug, at least that torture would end quickly or I could escape from it.
9foxgrl: What's your favorite song?
Zephyrus: Our Solemn Hour by Within Temptation, but mainly rock and alternative.
9foxgrl: ...?
Zephyrus: What? Just because I'm from a noble family doesn't mean I can't appreciate good music!
9foxgrl: Do you know anyone by the name of Toshiro Hitsugaya? He has a sword and ice powers too and if for some odd reason I could picture you two getting along. Just don't imply that he's short or looks like a grade-schooler (he's older than he looks) and, under no circumstances, hurt his friend, Momo, because if you do, he will fly into a murderous rage and will attempt to violently kill you.
Zephyrus: No...But if his temper is anything like Teacher's then I will avoid the height issue...And why would I hurt his friend?
9foxgrl: Next we have PrincessFireBug; Hi Major Z. Armstrong! I have to wonder: Do you have a crush on anyone? What's their name if you do?
Zephyrus: *twitch* Why do people care so much about my love life? Not even my parents are this pushy!
9foxgrl: Because you got the qualities a lot of girls go for. Now answer the question!
Zephyrus: No. Not right now. Did in the past, didn't end so well.
9foxgrl: Next questions come from Scaehime; Iced tea, hot tea, or hot chocolate?
Zephyrus: I'd prefer coffee, but of the three; hot tea. I'm not allowed hot chocolate...on base any way.
9foxgrl: What's it like for you when Death takes over? Are you aware of what goes on, or are in a pseudo-sleep state?
Zephyrus: WAIT! Is that's what happening when I just end up at the Gate for no reason? Do you know how freaking boring it is to sit there in a complete white void?
9foxgrl: Yes, now next we have NotYourNormalFangirl: How does a "blood adoption" work?
Zephyrus: From what I understand it's a special ritual used when a magical family adopts a child that is not of any relation to them, and the child's magic recognizes their adopted caretakers as their true parents. The ritual replaces the birth parents' genes with that of the adopted parents. Ergo; why I got my Mother's eyes and my Dad's hair.
9foxgrl: *reads letter and snickers* Next we have Utasaki N:I loved the extras of the dating advice but want to know if you will make one where everybody is wondering about Zephyrus love interest or more the line does he bats for the other team because I like to see the Briggs Bears go all "YOUR NOT WORTHY OF CHIEF!" or protect of him because I will just die of laughing myself to death but will laugh twice as hard if it where men flirting with him and will they ever find out about his gender change. Your guards haven't been chasing off love sick men/women before have they?
Zephyrus: I have no interest in dating men. I do have some friends who 'bat for the other team' but that's them. Frankly my parents wouldn't care if I did. What's worse, Grandmother told me that if I was preferable to men, just to ensure an heir by either blood adopting a child or use the gender swap potion and give birth to one myself.
9foxgrl: *spits out soda* O.O...
Zephyrus: I know. That is one conversation I seriously tried to Obliviate out of my head, but it didn't work. Thank Ishvala that the potion can only work up to 12 hours!
9foxgrl: What about the whole 'Briggs Bear's chasing off wannabe suitors' or those finding out you were gender bent in France and at that ball?
Zephyrus: Uh...I lost count in '94. The first time what shortly after I turned 14...I had my hair down when I was in North City to deliver some documents to the Command Center, damn hairband snapped in the wind. Some bastard was loitering by outside a tavern and he tried to proposition me using very lewd language. Next thing you know a bunch of soldiers and acquaintances were chasing him down the street and screaming "YOU'RE NOT WORTHY!" and "PROTECT CHIEF'S INNOCENCE!"
9foxgrl: *giggles*
Zephyrus: Although I think the worse was during the New Year's ball with the Drachman delegation when I had to go as a girl because of Lisa. Briggs Squad 4, which is normally the team I work with, was part of the security detail, so they were intermingling with the guests. One realized who I was...and soon the entire squad knew. They nearly beat up one of the nobles when he tried to get fresh with me.
9foxgrl: Good luck kid. Next we have Lolita Power: I'm going ask what we're all probably wondering, are you going to grow a moustache?
Zephyrus: No I prefer the clean shaven look.
9foxgrl: Did you have to take on any other missions as a girl?
Zephyrus: ...Yes...When I had to get Harmonia to bring her back to Amestris. I earned her trust by entering her school as a girl. God help me, there was so much pink...
9foxgrl: Oooh, we have some interesting ones from Wrath of The Heavens: I have some late questions you might want to consider at some point as points of curiosity later. Don't worry, I haven't finished the chapter yet, so it's still acceptable.
What was a typical week of apprenticeship to Edward Elric like i.e. schedule habits, sparring practice, Alchemy Research?
Zephyrus: Hell, especially if Ed is having some of his 'moments'. Most mornings we would start with a spar, followed by breakfast, practical lessons, lunch, and then more practical lessons up until dinner. Research was a day all to itself, especially if we were near the major libraries. I had to be careful not to study Transfiguration in front of him or he would be trying to dissect everything about the one transformation. Don't get me started on the mouse to mirror incident.
But if Ed was helping Al with his rehabilitation I would help Mrs. Pinako around the house or with her work.
9foxgrl: What changes has Ed made to the Military compared to before the Promised Day?
Zephyrus: He made the Alchemic branch pass a lot of ethics laws and every year either He or Al teach a special seminar at the universities and for the State. Also, he proved that people who are downright insane...make pretty good researchers. The Eastern branch is full of them, I can't step in there without someone trying to convince me to help them defy the laws of nature.
9foxgrl: How's Ling doing being Emperor?
Zephyrus: Lisa and Ethan have had more contact with the Xingese embassy than me, I last saw him at Ed's wedding. He was doing okay, trying to get some of the other warring clans to settle their differences.
9foxgrl: How's May doing? I don't think you mentioned much of her.
Zephyrus: She's dating Al. Ed is trying to get him to man up and pop the question already.
9foxgrl: From CrystalOrion3: Hmmm... Q and A you say? If I were to ask something to Zephyrus, I'd like to know all the flaws in the British ministry he can point out and what could've been a better solution... In ...Say... 4 paragraphs?
Zephyrus. Even better, I can summarize it to one. "Learn from your mistakes and think for yourselves already! If you have a problem with the idiots in power, step up and do something! Don't just let yourselves be cattle carted away to the slaughter because you're too afraid to speak up! GROW A SPINE YOU SHEEP!" Look through their history of Ministers and take a look at what happened when they had those corrupt Ministers were in office! For crying out loud Fudge was a combination of Unctuous Osbert and Hector Fawley combined!
9foxgrl: Who? Oh wait a second. Gotta break the fourth wall for a minute here. *logs into Pottermore*
Zephyrus: Technically aren't you already breaking the fourth wall?
9foxgrl: Hush Zephyrus. I am a Trickster, we break the fourth wall more often than a one goes to McDonalds.
Zephyrus: ...
9foxgrl: Ah! Uncctuous Osbert: widely seen as too influenced by pure-bloods of wealth and status. Hector Fawley: Undoubtedly voted in...Differences...did not take sufficiently seriously the threat presented to the wizarding community by Grindelwald. Paid for it with his job. Fudge does sound like them. Hey...
Zephyrus: What are you looking at now?
9foxgrl: Umbridge's backstory...that woman seriously needs to talk with a psychiatrist.
Zephyrus: *reads Umbridge's biography on the screen* They knew she had issues early on and they sent her to a freaking SCHOOL!? Don't they have a psych exam they have to take?
9foxgrl: *saves laptop from the coffee table flip of doom* Thank you everyone for taking part of this special edition of the 9foxgrl Rant. Special thanks to Zephyrus for taking part.
*crazy music followed by small explosion*
*Too much gun powder guys!*
Welcome to this special educational segment sponsored by the 9foxgrl. I am Private Saya Cosmin and assisting me is Corpral Eren Yeager, welcome to Vampirism 101.
Saya: Vampirim, is a genetic mutation that can be traced through many ancient Romanian families as far as 700 B.C to the original Hungarian House of Corvinus with similar origins to Lycanthropy. Instead of transforming however, our power is transmitted through our blood. A Vampire can be born like me, or turned by infecting someone. We look like normal human, minus the fact when we 'fang out' we have red irises with no pupil.
Eren: Whilst it is true Vampires do drink blood, it mainly acts as an energy source, not a primary food source. Even more startling, if a Vampire bites a person with a particular strong genetic gift they can get that ability too as long as they feed off that one person over time...Saya, you better not be thinking about biting Chief.
Saya: Relax, I won't. It's against our laws to drink the blood of Mages...Wouldn't put it pass the more power hungry ones to try though.
Eren: ...
Saya: Before we move onto the traits of Vampires lets clear up some misconceptions about us. Vampires can be in the sunlight. Whoever came up with that 'we glitter in the sunlight; or 'burn into ash' must have been smoking something. Decapitation and a stake through the heart; that can kill anyone.
Eren: Vampires are essential the same as humans, minus the need for blood of course.
Saya: Vampirism's traits are called the Cadouri de sânge, the Blood Gifts. They fall into five categories. Sânge de fier (Iron Blood), Umbră pas (Shadow Dart), Rezistență (Resistance) and the rarest two; Oglindă (Mirror), Iadul ochi (Hell's Eyes). Vampires who are born have the chance to get two of these traits whilst those who are turned have a chance at only one unless they ingested a great deal of their sire's blood. Personally I have the Sânge de fier and Rezistență. It makes my skin significantly unaffected by physical damage and have slightly above normal strength. For example a bullet would have no effect on me, but a missile is another story.
Eren: Slightly above? Saya I've seen you punch through a reinforced concrete wall!
Saya: Well...slightly above for a Vampire, because of my two Blood Gifts my skin and muscles are strengthened to undergo more strain than the human body can handle. My brother Claude is stronger than me. He tends to bench press large vehicles for fun. I can just barely pick one up.
Eren: ...Okay...Memo to self, stay away from your family reunions. Vampires have three stages of development. Fledgling, Awaken and Mature.
Saya: A Fledgling is a newly turned Vampire, or one who has ingested blood for the first time. Their physical trait many of the mundane associate with them are the retractable fangs. Fledglings are usually more incline to drink blood as a primary food source because their bodies are building up the energy for the Blood Gift making this the most dangerous stage. However it is also their most vulnerable state as they are too weak to hunt and usually need the Sire to help them. However in 1698 the first documented American Fledgling by the name of Thaddeus found an alternative to this after his Sire was killed not long after he was turned. He had enough self-control to feed off a willing person until their Awaken stage.
Eren: An Awaken is a Vampire whose Blood Gift has activated. In a born Vampire this can occur by the age of ten. In a newly turned Vampire it occurs usually within one lunar cycle. Once they pass the Awaken stage, a Vampire usually begins to hunt and discover any blood preferences. However they are more vulnerable to undergo what is known as a Blood Lust which is similar to 'puberty'. They are emotionally distraught, in the cases of newly turned Vampires they can become territorial and start leaving their Sire for long periods of time. In the case of Thaddeus, when he became territorial it was towards his lover and the area of Pennsylvania they lived in.
Saya: Finally there is the Mature. No one can call themselves a Mature Vampire until they can overcome their Blood Lust, lose their human canine teeth and grow in their adult fangs. A Mature Vampire is also the most likely to Sire and successfully turn a normal human without them into a Reckoner.
Eren: A Reckoner is a human who was unsuccessfully turned into a Vampire, mainly due through the fault of the Sire being a non-Mature or the Fledgling not getting enough energy to support the Blood Gift. They have no human form, but instead a grotesque mutation similar to Werewolves. They don't have the need to drink blood for the energy, but for the thrill of the kill. There is an understanding between Vampires and Werewolves regarding Reckoners, in which they are to be killed on site due to the fact they are dangerous to both.
Saya: As many of you may or may not know. Vampires don't necessarily have to drink human blood. It's just more preferable to animal blood since we get more energy from humans than old Bessie in the barnyard. We also have ways of suppressing our needs. For example; Blood Pops. Yes, those were created with Vampires in mind. They are sort of like...energy shots for us. A good temporary pick me up but don't last long. I'm more preferable to blood capsules though, I can covertly ingest them and say they are just vitamins.
That's all for Vampirism 101. Thank you for taking the time to view this educational segment. If you would like for more segments to occur in the future please review or PM. Have a good day.
YES I FINALLY FINISHED!
Recognize some of the new characters? I got the second edition of the FMA art book and looked to that for some inspiration. -9foxgrl.
Sorry for the delay, but they changed what shift we worked at the beginning of December so what I thought was going to be my weekend off, I ended up working third shift and threw my entire schedule off. Including my need to sleep.
HOPE EVERYONE HAD A MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A
HAPPY AND JOYOUS NEW YEAR!