Ok, so this chapter is making me DREAD a few down the road. I'm really enjoying writing this story so far though! I also went back and fixed a few things in earlier chapters- nothing too dramatic, so no need to go back and reread, but if you want, I fixed it up so it hopefully reads smoother.
EDIT: So I edited the flashback dream of Linor- I fixed her age; for some reason, I was thinking she was a child, but she was more in her teenage years when the alchemists were called into Ishval. Also, her real name (Linoja) is pronounced Lin-OH-yah.
The sky was dark with smoke, debris and the smell of death filled the air. The once golden sand was stained red and littered with the bodies of many white-haired Ishvalans- children and elders alike, no one was safe from the slaughter. Young crimson eyes stared onto the city of Ishval, wide and shaking with fear; the once beloved homeland of her people now demolished and up in smoke. Legs shaking, dirtied hands covering her quivering lips as she stood paralyzed.
"Linoja!" A deep voice barked over the sounds of screaming, explosions, and gunshots, snapping the teen out of her trance. "We need to go, now!" A small group of Ishvalans were able to flee the massacre and now hastily traveled as far away from the burning city as they could. A young monk and his elder brother led the pack, the former being the one to rush over to the adolescent and grip her wrist tightly. "There's no time!" He screamed, tugging her through the sand as she stumbled trying to get her trembling legs to work. Before they could reach the group again, the earth under the sand shook and burst in front of them, sending the screaming girl flying in the opposite direction of the monk and their kin. Spitting the sand out of her mouth, the young woman looked up to the alchemist that hovered over her. His long, black hair whipped violently in the wind and his gleaming blue eyes stared down at her viciously. As if her terror excited him, a devious smirk crawled onto his face.
"Please, stop!" A scratchy voice called, an old man rushing in front of her. "Why are you doing this?" He asked desperately, shielding the man's terrifying gaze from her. "You've driven us from our homeland, isn't that enough?" He shouted, the Amestrian's hand quickly gripping the Ishvalan's wrist tightly.
"Don't blabber to me, old man. I'm just following orders." He muttered calmly, a bright light emanating from the alchemist's palm before he let go. The woman shuffled backward as the elder stumbled, soon exploding on the spot and sending blood and guts onto the teen and sand below. Breathless, the girl shook uncontrollably, watching the soldier turn his eyes onto her again.
"Linoja, run!" The monk screamed, rushing over to her. With heaving breaths, the youth scrambled to her feet and clumsily stumbled across the sand. Her kin screaming and scattering, the young Ishvalan ran as far as her weak legs would take her. Behind her, she could hear the agonizing screams of the Ishvalan monk and she tried covering her ears as she ran, tears finally running down her dirty, blood-covered face.
The screams morphed into the loud blaring of the train whistle and Linor's eyes shot open. Her breathing was labored and a thin layer of sweat formed on her face and palms. Looking up at the ceiling of the train car, she realized her glasses had worked their way down her nose and she quickly pushed them up. Hearing the train whistle again, she hastily wobbled up and with luggage in hand, departed the train. The Central station was packed- many people conversing with their loved ones as they arrived or prepared to board, several food stalls along the side for travelers, and others filling the station benches as they waited for their own train to arrive. A bit overwhelmed, relief washed over Linor as a familiar voice called out to her.
"Major Ziegler!" Seeing a casually dressed Hughes waving to her across the crowd, she smiled and approached him. "Welcome to Central! How was your trip?" He asked boisterously.
"I slept most of the way," Linor answered honesty, feeling Hughes' hand on her shoulder and pushing her forward with him. "It's busy here," She remarked as they left the station, seeing outside was just as crowded.
"Oh yes, but Central is a nice place once you get used to it." Leading her to the car parked along the side of the road, Hughes swiftly grabbed her suitcase from her and put it in the back seat. Ushering her around the vehicle, he opened the passenger door for her to get in which she obliged with thanks. When he appeared back on the other side and slid into the driver's seat, the long, conversation-filled drive began.
"The Elric brothers are actually here," Hughes mentioned halfway through the trip, after a few topics such as; 'How's everything in Eastern Command?' and 'Has Roy gotten himself a wife yet?'.
"Oh, really?" Linor quipped surprised. "Those boys are always on the move…" She mumbled, wondering if Edward would even acknowledge her if he saw her. Hughes flicked his gaze to her for a moment when she went silent before returning to the road.
"I'm sure he won't hold it against you." Hughes suddenly said, getting Linor to look at him. "Sure, he's stubborn, but he'll forgive you. He and his brother have their own secrets, I'm sure he understands. It just came as a shock to him." Linor sighed and returned her gaze to the window.
"I hope so," She murmured, the car becoming uncomfortably silent. Deciding to give the relentless talking a rest, Hughes kept quiet until they reached his household. When they pulled to a stop in front of the house, Hughes heavily insisted on carrying her bag inside. As they walked through the door, the man set the suitcase down and held out his arms.
"Daddy's home!" He boomed, immediately getting a response from a giggling and excited girl dashing out of one of the rooms to jump into his embrace. "Elicia! My darling little girl," He cooed, rubbing his face on hers, only serving to intensify her laughs as she wailed from his beard scratching on her soft skin. As Elicia struggled to get her father's bearded chin away from her, a woman who Linor could only assume was his wife came from the kitchen and approached her with a warm smile.
"Hello, you must be Major Ziegler," Her soft voice greeted, "I'm Gracia, it's so nice to meet you." Linor smiled kindly as she shook the hand Gracia held out for her.
"Nice to meet you too, thank you so much for allowing me to stay here."
"Of course! Any friend of my husbands is a friend of mine." Linor paused for a moment when she mentioned 'friend' and looked over to the bubbly man next to her. A breathy laugh left her lips- did he really consider her a friend? "Maes mentioned you'll be staying here to help him with the ruined case files," Gracia added, earning back Linor's attention. "Thank you for helping him, he's been terribly busy lately."
"It's no problem," Linor assured, her face turning a bit red from how kindly the woman was. "Anything to help Lieutenant Colonel Hughes." Getting a grateful smile from Gracia, the mother's eyes widened and she sheepishly rubbed the side of her face.
"Oh, look at me babbling," She mumbled, a bit embarrassed. "You've had a long trip, let's get you settled in. Dinner is almost ready. Maes, honey," Gracia called, the enamored man finally looking up from his daughter. "Could you please show Miss Ziegler to her room?" Releasing his child, Hughes bounded up to his wife.
"Of course, my honey bunches!" He cooed, placing a sickeningly sweet peck on her cheek and going over to pick up Linor's luggage again. "We have a guest bedroom prepared for you," Hughes informed Linor as she followed him. Pushing open the door to her temporary room, the man flicked on the light and flourished his hand out. "Tah-Dah!" The room was the epitome of 'homey'- decorated with nice, calm colors of beige, brown, and some blue, Linor couldn't help but smile. "I hope it's comfy enough for you, Major," Hughes said, placing her suitcase by the door.
"It's perfect, thank you, Lieutenant Colonel." Linor breathed, giving him a genuine smile.
"Call me Hughes," He insisted, mimicking her expression. "We're going to be spending a lot of time together and Lieutenant Colonel is too long." He joked with a wave of his hand. "Now hurry and get your stuff unpacked, Gracia is making dinner and she is the best cook!" Hughes gushed, leaving Linor to unload when she gave him a laugh of acknowledgment. Taking her luggage over to the neatly made bed, the smile that graced Linor's face refused to go away. At first, she was hesitant on coming- her last visit to Central was when she took her exam, and that left a bad taste in her mouth. However, the more she thought on it, the more she realized it might not be that bad; the Hughes family was almost unbelievably kind, she got to get a change of scenery and pace from her workaholic life in the East, and even better- nearly two weeks without Lieutenant Colonel Archer. After mindlessly having put all her casual clothes in the dresser, her uniform hung up neatly in the small closet, and the files for Hughes placed precariously on the nightstand, she plopped down on the springy bed. The housing in Amestris was nothing like hers in Ishval, but the way everything was set up- the wallpaper and carpeting used, the smell of fresh wood- it all made the atmosphere very calming and comfortable in a way.
"Major," Linor heard Gracia call politely, "Dinner's ready!" Hearing her motherly tone made Linor's heart skip a beat and her chest clench slightly. How long had it been since she was addressed in such a tone? Shaking the ill thoughts from her head, Linor pushed herself off the bed and left the room to go join her host family in the kitchen for what she was sure was going to be a lovely meal.