We now reach the beginning of the climax!
Liz: The very long climax.
Envy: And then it will be over.
Ed: And you will have no lives.
Al: Guys, be nice.
Lust: You're wasting your breath.
Wrath: Yeah, they're all mean.
Envy: I have no idea what you're talking about.
Spite: I enter in this chapter! So REVIEW
I had never before been in a war. Heard of them, yes. Been involved in one or even seen one, no. During the Ishbal conflict when I was much younger, we only heard vague rumors in our tiny village. I only knew about war from those old history books Thomas used to read so much and they hadn't seemed very interesting to me then.
Walking around a soon to be war zone was a surreal experience for me. I saw so many soldiers, loading their guns, checking to make sure their weapons were working properly. In the back of my mind I knew that many of them would die today. The thought made my heart lurch.
All because of Dante. All because we hadn't managed to kill her.
'Don't blame yourself.' Truth said. 'Her skills were beyond yours.'
"Thanks for the encouragement." I thought. "Now I have to go fight her."
'I said was.' Truth said. 'But she's weakening in her body. Her soul continues to grow weaker every time she jumps forms. That's why she's making more stones. So she can continue to do so. If we play our cards right, we can beat her.'
"We?" I though skeptically. "What are you talking about? I'm the one who's going to be working. You'll be useless as usual."
'Don't be so quick to underestimate me.' Truth countered.
I rolled my eyes. "Yeah, whatever."
"I'm just glad we won't be in the real battle." Al said, practically reading my mind. "I don't want to have to fight in any war."
"No one does I'm afraid."
We turned to see Mustang come up behind us. He motioned with his hand. "Come to my tent. I need to talk to you."
"A homunculus leads the approaching soldiers, isn't that right?" Mustang asked.
"Right." I said. "Arrogance. His ability is gaining peoples trust very easily. He's charismatic. I'm sure it wasn't very hard for him to convince Drachma to follow him to war."
"How annoying." Mustang rubbed a hand over his forehead.
"Actually if you think about it, it's very useful." Envy mused.
Mustang eyed him. "How so?"
"Well for one thing, that means that the Drachma soldiers rely heavily on Arrogance's leadership. Without him they will be more likely to surrender." Envy said. "And for another thing, Arrogance will greatly underestimate any human that goes up against him, or any homunculus for that matter. That is the way of pride."
"I've fought a prideful homunculus before." Mustang said. "Though it is not an encounter I enjoy remembering."
"You'll have more back up in this case." Ed pointed out.
"It's very likely that Arrogance will come looking for specific people that Dante has told him to target. Probably you." Envy said. "And that is when you will have an opening to kill him. From there you are likely to get surrender out of the troops. They'll be lost and confused. They'll run or give up."
"You're sure?" Mustang asked.
"Well no." Envy said. "But that's the best bet you have."
"Central forces outnumber Drachma don't they?" Lust said. "I was under the impression that Drachma wasn't expecting much of a fight."
"We do outnumber them but we would like to keep the casualties on our side to a minimum." Mustang said. "And settle this as quickly as possible." He looked to us. "Now let us discuss your job."
"We go find Dante." I said. "And kill her."
"Boy, you make it sound easy." Ed sighed.
"We don't want Dante to get too much power in her stones." Mustang said. "So deal with her as quickly as you possibly can. Her and all of her servants." He looked at all of us. "Now who stays on the field and who goes to find Dante?"
"I go to Dante." I said. "So to the brothers."
"And I go too." Envy said. "No way am I going to pass up a chance to kill that bitch."
Lust sighed. "Wrath and I will stay on the battle to offer assistance in killing Arrogance, should he show his face."
"What?" Wrath looked at her. "B-but I want to go with Liz!"
"They need us here. Arrogance is a tough one." Lust said. "We're immortal. We have a better chance of beating him."
"Don't worry Wrath, we'll be fine." I said.
Wrath pouted. "You'd better be."
"Well I'm staying on the battlefield too, with this guy." Lucy said, punching Brandon in the arm. "Got to make sure he keeps his promise to Kendra!"
"So the four of us then." I said. "Me, Envy, Ed and Al. Against how many?"
"Malice, Fear and Desire." Envy said. "And Dante."
"And if Spite really is on our side we'll have an extra hand." Ed said.
"An immortal hand." Al nodded.
"Then let's hope she is on our side." I said. "With her I think this is do able. But it's still iffy. Malice and Fear are especially tough. But Desire is pretty damn arrogant and I don't think he's the brightest. He'll be our easiest target."
Lust exhaled. "Killing four homunculus in one day. That will be quite a chore."
"Yeah. Even we didn't have to do that much when we were fighting you." Ed said.
"Yeah but we're better than them anyway." Envy shrugged.
"I should hope so." A familiar voice said as a looming figure stepped into the tent.
"Teacher!" Ed and Al cried.
"Aunt Izumi!" I said. "What are you doing here?"
"I heard about Drachma and decided to lend a hand with my alchemy." Izumi said. "Because my idiot students are apparently causing wars now."
"Hey! This is definitely not our fault." I said.
"Whatever." Izumi said.
Envy eyed her with amusement. "Honestly you'd be more accurate blaming me."
"Well, I can't very well beat you up, so that option is out." Izumi said.
"Yeah, let's not get into one of those long, earth shaking battles again." Al said nervously.
"Is this your kick ass aunt?" Lucy asked.
"The very same." I grinned.
Lucy beamed in a psychotic manner. "Awesome!"
"You four should get going." Izumi said. "I can hold down things here and make sure no one gets in trouble. And if need be I'll even kill Arrogance. But!" We all jumped as her voice rose in volume. "I have one rule. You better not die. None of you. If you do I will destroy you."
"Yes ma'am." Ed, Al and I chorused.
"The same goes for you." Envy crossed his arms. "I'm sure you're aware if you die I will destroy you in an even worse fashion."
"I would expect nothing less." Izumi said. She turned her gaze on Wrath, a bit of kindness popping into her eyes. "Well now, I suppose you'll be helping me then?"
"Yes." Wrath, mumbled looking at the floor.
"Good." Izumi said.
Outside a horn blew loud and clear. We knew the enemy had been sighted. Drachma would soon be upon us.
"You have to go." Mustang said. He looked at the homunculi. "If you help today and we win I clear you of all charges that might have been brought against you. And I'll forgive you for any grievances against me in the past. Is that clear?"
Envy's mouth twitched and he nodded. "Yes."
Lust and Wrath echoed his nod.
"Alright." Mustang drew in a deep breath and exhaled. "Good luck."
Once outside Mustang's tent we said our quick goodbyes.
"I'll see you soon Lizzie. Go kick ass." Lucy said, clasping my hand in hers.
"Yeah." Brandon slapped me on the back. "If you can take me on, you can take anyone."
"Thank you for that encouraging/ narcissistic statement." I muttered.
Lucy turned to Al, grinning. "I'll see you soon." She pecked him once on the cheek, turning his face tomato red.
"Y-yeah." Al stuttered, turning his eyes to the ground. "Of course."
"Good luck to you." Lust said. "Don't die alright?"
I nodded. "We'll definitely try not to."
"Yeah, definitely don't." Wrath said. "You really are like my big sister Liz. Really."
I smiled. "Thanks Tim- Wrath."
God, I've known that kid for years and I still get him and my little brother mixed up. Luckily, Wrath never got offended by this.
To my right I heard Envy and Izumi talking.
"I'm pretty sure you're the only blood relation Liz has left." Envy said. "So you are forbidden from dying."
"I know." A smirk came over Izumi's face. "You know, you told me to think on it for awhile to figure it out."
"Figure what out?" Envy asked.
"Figure out the other instance you wished you could bring someone back to life besides 120 years ago." Izumi glanced at me and I flushed. "I think I figured it out."
"Wipe that look of your face before I smack it off." Envy said lightly.
"We'll discuss it later." Izumi said. "After we're done not dying."
"Fantastic idea." Envy agreed.
We split then, Izumi, Lucy, Brandon, Wrath and Lust going one way and Ed, Al, Envy and I heading back towards the evacuated city in search of Dante.
Let the battle begin.
"Our scouts report armies!" the Drachma General growled. "You said we need not worry about that, Aaron!"
"Indeed I did, but it seemed I was mistaken." Arrogance said lightly. "Don't fret about that General. It will not be a problem. After all, isn't Drachma blood so much stronger and pure than that of Amestris? You'll crush them army. And when you do, you will no longer be the country with the short end of the stick."
The General's eyes widened greedily at this thought and he grinned, showing off his fake silver tooth. Arrogance smirked. The pitiful humans were so easily taken in by him, so easily inspired. It really did amuse him to no end.
The awaiting army just made things better. That meant more casualties and Arrogance did not care which side lost more lives. As long as much blood was shed he and Dante would be content.
"So General." He said, cleaning off his sword. "Are you ready to sound the forward march and show these spineless snobs who is the boss?"
The General drew his sword in response. "Let's go men! Give no quarter! We kill them all!"
Arrogance smiled broadly. Everything was falling into place.
Let the blood bathe the snow and frozen ground. Let the stench of death clog the air. Let the screams pierce the day.
Let the war begin.
"Where do you think she'd be?" Al asked.
"Don't know," Ed said. "Seems Spite wasn't kind enough to leave us with any specific directions."
"She said that she would find us." I said. "She's probably waiting somewhere."
"Knowing Dante." Envy said. "She's probably near the center of the city and I wouldn't be surprised if she's underground." He said. "So we should make our way inward. If Spite shows up, fine. If not, we'll find Dante another way."
I nodded eagerly. "Alright, good plan."
As we walked further into the evacuated city I noticed Envy's hand kept on going to his pocket. He seemed a little uneasy about something though I wasn't sure what. Right now didn't quite seem like the time to ask.
"God, I wish that homunculus would just show up right about now, trap or no trap." Ed muttered.
"You kind of insult me with thinking my note is a trap." A voice that sounded so strangely like mine called.
We turned to see Spite leap down from the roof and land in a crouch. She straightened and gave a mock bow in my direction. "So nice to see you again Liz. It's been too long."
"Hey." I returned the grin.
"Brother." Al murmured in a way that suggested he was creeped out. "They have the same smile. That's weird."
"Yes it is." Ed agreed.
Now Spite turned her eyes on Envy and the grin slowly faded. "Envy." She said stiffly.
I looked back at Envy who seemed to have gone frozen. He just stared at her blankly.
"You have them don't you?" Spite murmured, looking at the ground. "I can feel it."
Slowly Envy drew a small bone from his pocket.
"Good call."
What the hell?
And I'm being so very cruel again.
Envy: Shocker.
Ed: You love teasing your fans.
Liz: Yeah it's like you're holding a delicious food in front of them on a string and moving it every time they get close.
Am not! (Hides fishing pull)
Lust: Right...
Spite: If the author gets alot of reviews she'll update quicker since it's Thanksgiving!
Wrath: Yep! So REVIEW!
Al: And Happy Thanksgiving!
