Okay guys, the last chapteroftheyear! I wish I had started writing chapter forty-three sooner, then maybe I could have finished the entire story exactly three years after it was started. But oh well.
ANNOUNCEMENT. ANKÜNDIGUNG.
So to officially make this statement; this story will be ending very soon. I plan on chapter fifty being the last chapter. Then this story will move onto the Conqueror of Shamballa plotline, which will be posted as another story. I repeat, the Conqueror of Shamballa plotline will be posted as a sequel to The Sulfur Alchemist. Don't worry about adding me to Author Alert just to find out when it will be posted – I'll be posting Chapter Fifty the same day I post The Sulfur Alchemist: Conqueror of Shamballa. So when you get "Story Alert: The Sulfur Alchemist" in your inbox, you will know I have posted the Conqueror of Shamballa.
END ANNOUNCEMENT. ENDE-ANKÜNDIGUNG.
The Lovely Daaaarlings!
IceFire Dragon Alchemist73: And that's exactly what Riley wanted to do, I'm sure! Her sense of timing is horrible.
Scaaagirl: Thank you! And yes! Finally! 8D
CloudEnvyKunoichi: Haha! I love that play-by-play! I felt almost shell-shocked just writing it. Unfortunately his reaction isn't in this chapter – but it'll be in the next one. Promise.
Fma gal: Finally, she did! Thank you! Glad you like it!
AliceInNeverLand: Yeeaah, I'm really sorry for not updating for like, two months beforehand. The holidays had me busy! (And have fun at the Avenged Sevenfold concert. They're awesome live~) And thank you!
SummoningShadows18: No! I'm not dead! Aww, haha, miss me that much? Here's the next update! 8D (Really? Haha, my first episode was when Ed… You know. How sad is that? I began watching an anime, already knowing how it ended.)
katsekala: Exactly. You have to just kind of work that in there with his schedule.
Yumixjaganshi: FINALLY! Haha, right? She's horrible at timing. Aww, I love the Cheshire Cat. I was some.. Decapitated, vampire, zombie thing. EDLEY. I love that.
Bloody Bonez Alchemist XD: Oh, his heart most definitely soared!… And then he soared, when Sloth punched him. 8D
The Emo OtakuLani: RIGHT? IT TOOK HER LONG ENOUGH. America FTW. I'm still a huge fan of Germany and Prussia. (Which is exactly why I got necklaces with Germany on them for Christmas, haha.)
Jyro: You were there!… In my mind. Lawlz, I know, but I was bored! XD
Xkyo: I actually don't hate her anymore. She's just… Okay, now.
Ausumist: That's true, but there will still be awkwardness, my friend! Aww, thank you. I'm glad you think so. Ed is one of my favorite characters to write out, so that means a lot. And I'm glad you like Riley. She's been molded at for three years now, haha.
StrawberryLily88: Yep! Now we just need Ed's reaction. o.o
YaddaGirl: Riley lives for bizarre times. Thank you, I'm glad you like it! XD
rainbowdragongirl101: Believe it. She confessed!
And about Hannah being Envy… Well, read forward.
Brotherhood already ended? (That shows you how far behind I am. x.x)
The Esper Alchemist: Oh, okay~ Welcome, officially, to FF. xD
XjipushihotaruX: Seriously! Fort-three freaking chapters! Haha, that's just how Riley rolls.
TallerThanThou ShorterThanThou: Oh God, I love that. I'm going to be singing that for the rest of the year now. 8D
Want to Be a Lovely Daaaarling? Review! Bwahaha…
Merry Christmas, Happy New Years and all other holidays everybody! I hope you guys had a great year. I definitely did, even if I am sick~
Did you get anything you were really wanting? I know I did. (Cuddles with camera equipment.)
Originally, Ed's reaction to Riley's confession was going to be in this chapter. But I miscalculated how long it was going to be, and I wound up moving it to the next chapter. I'm sorry for that, because I was really looking forward to posting his reaction soon, but I need to write four episodes into seven chapters. I have to spread things out as much as I can!
You know that blond kid with the red coat and the missing limbs? Yeah, I don't own him. But that awesome brunette chick that kicks ass? Yeah. I own her. So back off, pal.
Chapter Forty-Four
One Big Freaking Reunion
"I can't believe she's gone…," Hannah mumbled under her breath as we walked between all the machinery. The exit was in sight.
Sighing, I refused to look back at her. My face was emotionless and I didn't want her thinking I didn't care. "Don't blame yourself, Hannah. We all know what we're risking. So did she."
"Then again, that's what traitors deserve." My eyes narrowed. Hannah's voice had become much bolder. It almost sounded like… I gasped slightly at the realization, and spun around to see Envy standing there. He smirked down at me and before I could react, his fist slammed into my cheek. The impact shoved me backwards and against a machine where I hit my head. My vision blurred as I fell to the ground.
Just before I blacked out totally, I saw a bloodied Hannah not too far away from me.
With Ed and Al.
Ed and Al stood side by side as they looked down at homunculus. Wrath, on all fours, sobbed loudly at the death of Sloth. His 'mother'. It was a sad sight, but the two had goals to accomplish. They couldn't be affected. "Edward! Alphonse!"
Turning around in surprise, the brothers saw Winry standing in the doorway. "Is that you, Winry?" Ed asked curiously, and somewhat confused. What was she doing there?
Al voiced Ed's thoughts, asking, "What are you doing here? Did something bad happen?"
Looking down, Winry shook her head. She gave them a small smile as she explained. "I came because I was worried about you. But I see you finally beat her."
The two went quiet. Al shifted, going on alert, as Ed's eyes narrowed. "You're not Winry Rockbell," He stated firmly.
Al began advancing toward her, when she shouted, "Alphonse, you're the one I've always loved!" He paused momentarily, in turn allowing 'Winry' just enough time to sweep around him and grab his arm. She swung it behind his back and kept him in place. "Well that was easy," She remarked, smirking as her voice became bolder.
"It's too late! I am the Philosopher's Stone!" Al exclaimed.
Turning her head to look down at him, she replied casually, "Yeah, that's what I've heard." Smirking more maliciously, she transformed into Envy. "Why don't I give the new you a test drive? Now that you've become the stone, let's see how much your cute little seal job can take!" He said as he reached his fist into Al's armor. Finding the seal, he punched it and watched as the insides of the Elric glowed red.
"Leave my brother alone, you bastard!" Ed shouted angrily, stepping forward.
Envy glanced back at him. "I know how you love being protective, but relax. I'm just taking him back to my master."
Glaring, Ed concluded, "That must be who Lust was talking about… She said he's just using you to get what he wants, not caring about you homunculi!"
"So what?" Envy asked with a small scowl, "I don't care. Besides, you shouldn't talk about my master like that… You two go back quite a ways."
Ed's wides widened. Did that mean…? "He knew about our mom's death, and helped her become a homunculus. There was only one other person who could know about that… Then that means…"
"No, Ed, don't say it!" Al protested, "Dad would never do that!"
Growing bored, Envy tossed Al over his shoulder. "We've talked enough," He commented as he turned and began to walk away.
"Al!" Ed shouted, rushing forward. When he saw familiar black and silver hair, his body froze. Radley Blackburn stood there, Riley hung limply over his shoulder. "Riley!"
Radley and Envy ignored the boy and walked off as Wrath attacked him. "That's how you do it, Blackburn…," Envy said with a large smirk planted on his face.
"By leaving their friends alive for your pure amusement?" Radley asked before snorting slightly, "I prefer just doing the job. I guess that's the difference of our maturity." Envy glared at him angrily, but said nothing. He already had someone to unleash his anger on and for the time being, she was completely defenseless.
With Riley
I groaned as I began to come to and instantly felt sharp pain on the back of my head and all over my face. At first I couldn't remember what happened but the pain brought it back. Envy. Noticing a shoulder shoved in my stomach, I opened my eyes and saw the back of a black coat. Black and silver hair swayed in front of me and my eyes widened. Blackburn, too? Trying to look around, I saw nothing but trees. I could hear an extra set of footsteps, as well as moving metal. Al? Did Envy get him too?
Slowly and quietly, I moved my elbow and slammed it into Blackburn's back. I heard him gasp from the impact, loosening his grip around my waist. I grabbed his back with one hand and, with the other, pushed off of his head. I rolled off him and caught my balance, stumbling slightly as I tried to keep standing. Unfortunately, I was disoriented. Blackburn took advantage of this and slammed his hand into my cheek, sending me to the ground.
Before I could stand, I felt a food slide its way under my neck and push my head up. I winced as tree roots pulled at my arms. The two forces contradicted one another, leaving a stretched pain in my neck as I was forced to look up at the owner of the foot. Envy smirked down at me. "You've been causing some trouble, brat."
I knew I shouldn't, but… You know me. I can't resist. Looking up at him, I rasped out, "Get used to it."
His foot smacked into my face almost instantly after the words escaped me. I fell away from the impact, causing the roots to constrict tighter around my arms. He stepped forward to continue his torture, when a large white blur attacked him, throwing him toward the ground away from me. I watched in curiosity and surprise as a familiar man stood up off of Blackburn. He turned around to see me and gave a small smirk. "Do you have any idea how long it took to find you, Kid?"
Another man stepped out of the shadows from behind him, looking down at Envy. "Guess we just had to follow that scum around," He muttered with a scowl. My eyes widened at the sight of the both of them.
I opened the door to Greed's shack to see his two men, Dog Boy and Big Guy, charging at Lust. Bad idea. She smirked and raised her hand. I knew it was then or never. Running forward was like a race with her nails. A battle with time and speed.
I clapped my hands together and leaped forward, grabbing her nail closest to me, and shoving it into the other nail. I slammed them both to the ground and she screamed as I melted the wood and, basically, glued her to the floor. Smirking, I looked up at her and charged. This was going to feel good. "This is for the last time we met, bitch!" I shouted, socking her right in the eye. She let out a yelp as her nails were pried from the floor by the impact. Hearing Gluttony come at me, I spun around, kicking him on the chin. "THAT'S FOR TRYING TO EAT ME, YOU SICK-O!" I screamed, panting as he stumbled backward.
Knowing I had used up enough time, I looked over my shoulder at the two men. They stood, blank looks on their faces as they blinked simply. I pointed to Lust and Gluttony, "I'll, um... Let you two finish this up then." What that said, I ran out of there to find Greed and Al.
"Y-You two!" I exclaimed, surprised they were still alive.
Dog Boy looked over and grinned, "Told you she'd remember us, Law."
Envy glared at us all as he had to grab Al, who tried to escape his grasp. "Damn it, Blackburn, do something!"
Blackburn seemed reluctant to follow an order from Envy, but darted toward us anyhow. Before he could reach me, Dog Boy slammed his shoulder into Blackburn's stomach, causing Blackburn to fall against a tree. "What are you two doing here?" I finally managed to ask.
Big Guy, Law, knelt down beside me and ripped away the roots from my arms. He helped me stand as he explained, "We've been looking for you to thank you for that time. As well as catch your name…?"
"O-Oh, I'm Riley," I answered simply, forgetting about the fact Envy stood only a few feet away from us.
He nodded. They were both still fashioned in military uniforms. His white facial hair hadn't changed since I had seen him last, nor had Dog Boy's spiky hair. "I'm Law. This is Dorochet," He replied politely.
I was about to speak once more, but Dorochet cut me off. "Where's Greed and Marta?"
Oh shit.
Faltering, I shook my head slowly. "Greed was killed then. And Marta… The Furher found out we were hiding her and killed her," I explained softly.
Their eyes widened, but it was Envy who made the next move. "Stop chatting, all of you!" We looked over at him and Dorochet was thrown against a tree by Blackburn, who recovered from Dorochet's attack. Law turned around to see what happened, only to have Blackburn charging at him as well. Law sent his fist toward him and he dodged, punching the man in the stomach. My eyes widened as he coughed up blood.
I stepped forward to stop Blackburn, but Dorochet moved in front of me. "Go, get out of here," He said as he glared at the opponent.
"What? He'll kill you both!"
He nodded firmer. "That's what we're willing to risk. You did the same for us that day. Now get out of here! We've got this."
I didn't want to, but I knew it was a losing argument. They were set on doing this and Envy had escaped. I needed to save Al. Sighing, I nodded finally and glared at them both. "You better make it out alive!" I shouted before turning and running off. Hopefully they would make it…
. . .
"You've really grown up, Edward…"
This was the first thing Hannah heard when she came to. Slowly opening her eyes, all she could see at first was a blue blur. Her eyes narrowed as she tried to adjust and remember where she was. It all suddenly came back to her harshly. Riley! Hannah tried to stand, but her arms and legs were weak from being stationary so long. Crumbling back to the floor in a heap, she looked up to assess where everything was. It was all still a blur, but she managed to start crawling her way back into the main area.
"Grown up?… I thought I'd grown up when I was certified as a State Alchemist but obviously I still had a long way to go from there."
That was Ed's voice. Hannah knew it was. So then he was okay? Maybe, then, that meant Riley was too.
"So what do we do now?"
But who was that? She knew it was a woman, and it was familiar, but she couldn't recognize it.
"Well the way I see it, there's only one of the homunculi left that we can account for, that we know where to find."
Were they leaving already? No, they couldn't. Not without her! They couldn't just leave her! Not again, anyway…
"I take it you're talking about the big one. Furher Bradly."
Finally Hannah reached the area, and was able to make them out. Ed stood there, that she already knew. But the other woman was no longer a mystery. Izumi stood across from him. Hannah reached out, trying to speak. Her voice was raspy and cracked the first few times, too low to be heard. Breathing in, she let it out as loudly as possible. "Ed! Izumi!"
Hearing a voice, Ed looked past Izumi and immediately noticed Hannah. Eyes widening, he took off around his former teacher and ran toward the girl. "Hannah!" He exclaimed, bending down to grab her. As Izumi rushed over, Hannah looked up to them weakly. "Riley… E-Envy got her…," She said, her voice getting stronger the more she spoke.
Ed slowly helped her to her feet and Izumi grabbed her other arm to help. "I know," Ed nodded, his face turning sour, "He got Al, too." The three left the area, Izumi cleaning Hannah's wounds.
. . .
Finally reaching Central after finding my way out of the forest, I began walking through the town. People stared at me oddly, which I didn't blame them. Blood was dripping down from my forehead and back of my neck, where I hit my head; not to mention the bruise forming on my cheek and small cuts along my arms. Who wouldn't stare? I didn't know where exactly it was I was going, but I knew I had to find someone. Be it Ed, Al or even an officer I could trust.
"P-Please, what's going on?"
Looking over to the sound, my eyes widened when I saw a group of officers leaving a bookstore. In their grasps were two blondes I hadn't seen in a long time. What's with the reunions all of a sudden? "Don't act like you don't know, Elric brothers!" The officers exclaimed. Fletcher and Russel struggled against the officers, who threw them in the back of a truck.
Elric… Brothers? He was at it again? That idiot must not have gotten enough the first ti- Wait, why was he even there in the first place? Curiosity grew inside me and I took off after the vehicle after I lifted a bike from a kid (…Don't judge me.)
. . .
I walked along the gateway of Central Headquarters quietly, trying not to bring attention to myself. It was a long journey there but I managed it. The car I was following had probably arrived far before I did, leaving me to assume Russel and Fletcher were already in a cell. Sneaking my way around to the side of the building, I transmuted a bit of the gate wall and created a hole just big enough to squeeze through. I peered in to the other side and slipped through the gate when I made sure the area was clear. God, was I feeling Deja Vu that day. Running across the area, I reached the building wall and created another hole. The light appeared and as it died down, a bit of the wall disappeared. And there was the building hallway!
…And an officer. Oh shit.
"H-Hey!" He shouted, stepping back in surprise at the sudden alchemist coming from the wall.
My eyes widened when I saw him turn to alert the others. Leaping forward, I landed hard on his back and snatched his gun from him, knocking him out with it. I winced when I heard the thump, but I knew I had to do it. One more crime wouldn't hurt my now never ending list. Holding the gun securely in my hands, I looked up and walked down the hall, checking every corner for an officer. A few minutes into sneaking around, I reached a hallway. Looking around it, I ran across the gap when the officer down the hall wasn't looking. I walked along the side of the halls and, just as I began to pass a door, it swung open. My eyes widened as my body froze.
Shit. Shit shit shit…!
Slowly glancing up from the side of my eye, I almost jumped for joy when I saw Maria Ross standing there. Gasping slightly, she stepped back in surprise. "Riley?" She exclaimed before pulling me into the room. "What happened to you?"
"It's a long story…," I replied as I looked around the room, just relieved she hadn't put me in handcuffs yet. Block sat at a table not too far away, and two blondes sat across from him. "Fletcher, Russel!"
The little boy looked over and grinned when he saw me. "Riley?" He jumped down from the chair and rushed over. "It's so good to see you!" Then his face fell. "…What happened?"
"It seems that midget failed to protect his partner." I looked up to see Russel walking over, smirking at the fact he already had the chance to make fun of Ed. Normally I would have laughed, but seeing as I had just confessed my love to the midget, the word 'partner' sent me into a fit of blushing.
My face went red entirely and Fletcher freaked, thinking it was more blood. "B-Big Brother, she's bleeding all over now!" He shouted, flailing his arms around in concern.
As Maria Ross grabbed a first aid kit, Russel stepped aside to let me sit down. He ignored his brother and turned serious, sitting across from me. "What did happen, Riley?" I sighed, shaking my head before indulging into the story as Russel took the first aid kit from Maria Ross and tended to my wounds. For an identity thief, he was surprisingly gentle about it.
. . .
"Quit making excuses!"
"Let it go!"
Sighing, my expression turned deadpan as I rested my cheek on the palm of my hand. "Yep, that's them." Russel glanced back to me and nodded before looking toward the door. He had drawn a transmutation circle on the wall, creating a large vine. Fletcher and Block held the vine as Maria Ross was positioned by the door.
The footsteps outside the wall grew louder, until they were right in front of the door. Maria Ross swung it open, letting Fletcher and Block throw the vine out the door. When they pulled it back, Izumi, Hannah and Ed came tumbling into the room. I sighed in relief at the sight of Hannah – she looked as though she recovered well. Maria Ross shut the door as Russel used alchemy to remove it. I watched as the three rubbed their sore bodies from hitting the ground, and Block smiled nervously. "I hope you're not injured, FullMetal."
Ed looked up and first noticed Russel and Fletcher. "It's you guys… The imposters!"
Russel scowled, raising his fist to the shorter of the two. "I have a name! Russel Tringham!"
I couldn't help but snicker at this. Looking away, I muttered out, "Though imposter suits you better."
Turning, Russel opened his mouth to scold me but Ed, having finally noticed me, rushed to the table and firmly gripped my shoulders. I could see Hannah looking at me over his shoulder, just as concerned as him. "Riley! Are you okay? How'd you wind up here?"
At first I said nothing. The position he put us in was… Well, awkward. Finally realizing how close he was, he blushed and yanked himself away from me, tripping over the floor in the process. I scowled at this. He didn't have to act like I was a germ, jeez… "I woke dangling over Blackburn's shoulder and managed to get off of him." Pausing, I glanced away as I added, "Two of Greed's friends found me and fought Blackburn off so I could leave."
He was definitely surprised by the answer, especially about Dorochet and Law. It was quiet at first, partly in remorse of Greed. Finally looking up, Ed glanced to the Tringham brothers. "And how'd you two get here?"
"Some MPs arrested them because they thought they were you and your brother," Maria Ross explained simply.
Looking away, Russel turned around. "Honestly, I don't know how they could get confused. You're only about half as tall as I am!" Russel commented, waving his hand for added effect.
Instantly, Ed exploded in Russel's face. "What did you say?" Fletcher stepped in to stop them, but wound up only adding one more person into the argument. Hannah, being Hannah, tried to speak up to stop them but only went by ignored. It brought a smile to my face, seeing Ed get so irritated. I hadn't made any short jokes in a while… And all my other jokes, he just ignored. Was Ed learning how to deal with me? Did he… Grow immune to my jokes? Oh God, the horror of that thought. I was nothing without that.
Hearing yelling outside the room, I finally snapped out of my thoughts. Ed looked down to Fletcher and smiled a bit. "In all seriousness, it was really good seeing you guys again. But we have to go now."
"Where to?" Maria Ross questioned.
Izumi turned to grin at Maria Ross. "We're going to pay the Furher a little house call," She mused out. Maria Ross gasped a bit.
Ed remained blank. "We have no other choice."
"Oh yeah, I almost forgot!" Everyone looked to Fletcher, who was searching through his pockets. Finally finding it, whatever it was, he slipped out a piece of paper and handed it to Ed. "Take this."
Russel moved his gaze to Ed. "It's an exert from our father's journal. There's some information about Central that you might want," He explained.
As Ed began to read the paper, I stood and made my way over to look over his shoulder at it. Both of us almost gasped in surprise. "Teacher!" Ed exclaimed, looking up. Izumi ran over and looked at it as well.
She was just as surprised. "This means…"
Before anything else could have been said or done, one of the walls were blown in. I blocked my face from rubble and dust before lowering my arm. The dust died down to reveal Archer standing there. But there was something different. His entire left side was auto-mail.
A Robot Archer.
And to think I hated the first version.
Be Responsible. Don't Flame and Drive! Rawr.
