Jaz: Tee hee!! Yes I know Viachan… Roy died. You have each and every right to torture anyone who had anything to do with Roy's death.. (except me) o-o;; Anyhow… any Edward fans will like this chapter!! (I hope) gulp
And gosh darnit! Email Roy!!! Hes hogging up my tv!!!!! ;-; I didn't create his account for nothing!!!!
Roy: (glued on tv due to boredom and depression)
Roy's email: flamealchemist(underscore)Mustang(at)kaxy(dot)com
Sorry for the parenthesis and stuffs. Fanfiction won't allow you to write down emails.. so ya… big sorry.. Anyhow… hope you like my chappy!!!
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Family
Chapter 9: To Stand Alone
It's been six years since Gabriella left the Hughes'. She still walks on her two legs wandering around the land, as a fugitive.. known as the Flame Alchemist. But people were so naïve. They know nothing of who she was.
Her name was Gabriella Elizabeth Mustang; known as The Flame Alchemist. She was 18 years old. She had amber eyes like her mother, yet black hair as her father's. She wore a long black cloak and everything else was black. The only thing that stood out was the paleness of her skin and her gloves, inherited by her father, the original Flame Alchemist. She would walk town to town helping those in need. She wasn't a fugitive.. just a misunderstanding.
Her adventures have come across Central. Home to the famous ruler, King Bradley, and the military headquarters. Indeed, it was pretty risky… but she had nowhere else to go.
She walked though the deserted streets of Central. It was so quiet, all she could hear was the echoes of her footsteps and the distant sound of the church bells. It was so cold and foggy.. she couldn't see outside 10 feet in front of her. She breathed heavily as she saw her breath come out of her mouth.
She looked on a nearby street light with a WANTED poster stuck sloppily on it. Gabe ripped it off and read it aloud. "WANTED: Flame Alchemist. REWARD – 200,000,000 K…" She crumpled it up and threw it somewhere on the street. "Two million K, eh? Tch… they didn't even get my picture right…" She flinched as she felt a strange presence rush past her behind her back.
Gabe slowly turned around. No one in sight.
Suddenly, she felt a warm breath on her neck.
She stood there for a couple of moments as still as possible listening to the breath behind her until…
Snap!
She sent forth a blazing fire behind her but it dodged it. Gabriella took a few seconds to scan her opponent. "A chimera, eh? This'll be fun…" She muttered. She snapped her fingers and sent forth another blazing fire at it but it dodged it and fleed into the alleyways.
Gabriella ran moments behind it. After running through narrow passage ways trying to catch the creature, they came to a dead end.
"Well… I got you now.." She said to her opponent.
The chimera only growled at her.
"This is the end!"
She snapped her fingers countless times, sending forth endless scorching hot fireballs at the monster as fast as bullets.
The monster was burning alive in the endless giant ball of inferno.
She then watched silently as the chimera cried and roared in pain. She then held out her hand.
Snap!
A massive explosion of fire came putting the monster out of it's misery.
Gabriella smirked. "Another day saved…." She said. "… if only they knew…"
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Gabriella walked out casually out of the alleyway with her arms dangling by her sides. She then felt a drop fall on her nose. She took off her glove and held out her hand. A few raindrops fell on it.
"It's raining…" She said.
She stood in the same spot for 10 minutes until it started to rain hard. Her wet black bangs covered her eyes. She was soaking wet. "I'm useless in the rain…" She also hated rainy days too because it was the same type of day her mother left on.
Why couldn't she just forget those hard times and be stuck with the good ones? It's a burden… that's why.
Gabriella continued to watch a puddle form in her hand and water spilling out of it from the overflowing. She then heard sirens from afar. They were police sirens.
Before she could run away, the police cars hit on their brakes and slid on the streets until they stopped right in front of her. Almost all the officers in the cars jumped out immediately and aimed their guns right at her.
"FREEZE! In order of murder and fugitive.. we place you under arrest!!"
Gabriella took out her two gloves and threw them on the ground. She then placed her hands up reluctantly.
A couple of officers came and put the handcuffs on her wrists attempting to make the arrest.
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A short blonde-guy leaned against one of the car watching everything go smoothly. He rolled up a little of his sleeve to reveal part of his auto mail arm, getting pounded by the tiny droplets of the rain.
"So much rain…" He said. He looked up and closed his eyes letting the rain droplets fall on his face..
"Colonel Elric, sir?"
Colonel Elric looked at the man and glared at him with his gold eyes. "WHAT NOW!?" He said impatiently.
The officer seemed pretty intimidated. "Th-this is the murderer's weapon, sir.." He handed him a pair of fire gloves.
The Colonel's eyes widened. Could it be? Could the Flame Alchemist really be the descendant of Mustang? He smirked. "So, daddy's little girl is back in town…" He said. He looked back to the officer. "Hey, you… release those handcuffs off her wrists… I'll take care of her from here…"
"Y-yes sir!!" The officer hastily gave him a salute and went to do his orders.
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So, they arrived at Headquarters, the Military base… or something. It really hasn't changed over the last 14 years. It pretty much looks the same except with more fencing and security stuff.
Gabriella tapped her fingers on the Colonel's desk with a little made-up tune straight from her head.
"So…" Colonel Elric leaned over on his desk trying to read Gabriella's expression with his golden eyes. "You're the Mustang's daughter, eh? Trying to follow you're daddy's foot steps aren't you??"
It was quiet again. The only sound that was heard was the pounding rain outside and the tapping of Gabriella's nails.
"Well.. answer me!" Colonel started to get annoyed.
Finally, Gabriella looked into Elric's eyes. "And you're Colonel Edward Elric…. Also known as Full Metal Alchemist…. You know.. I expected you to be a lot taller…"
Edward slammed his fists on the desk and stood up. "What did you say!!??" Gabriella shrugged.
A blonde woman with blue eyes rested her hand on Ed's shoulder telling him to calm down. She also had a big bulging stomach – in which she was pregnant. She looked as if she was about to have a baby in the next few months.
"Edward… please.." She said.
Edward plopped into his seat that seemed a lot bigger than him. "Fine, Winry…"
It was silent again.
"So, why am I here again?" Gabriella said breaking the silence.
Edward smirked. "I saved you're butt remember? You know… from the police. But you know… I find it surprising that Mustang's daughter can actually be a fugitive…. A murderer.."
Gabe glared. "My intentions were good. It was a homunculus – the kind that kill people. That stupid government just made a cover-up act saying I murdered an innocent!!!"
"Heh… of course I know.."
"Alright… if you think you're so smart… answer my question. Why the hell am I here?"
Ed wagged his finger. "Temper, temper…" He chirped. "You probably got that from you're father…"
Gabriella was getting pissed off. "I don't care about my father, just tell me why I'm here!"
Ed's expression turned serious. "Fine… I'll tell you… Ready?" He cleared his throat. "I want you to join the military…"
Gabriella blinked. "Are you joking? Are you serious?"
"Dead serious… Would I lie to you?"
Silence.
Gabriella tried to read what he was thinking. "Alright… what's the catch?"
Edward leaned back on his chair. "Nothing.. I'm just interested in you're talent of Alchemy… that's all"
"Aand… if I don't join the military?"
Ed spun around slowly in his chair. "Well…. I guess you have know where else to go except the police…"
Gabriella frowned. "So.. The only option I can take is to join the military… You pulled a checkmate on me Colonel.."
"Exactly!" Ed smiled. "You'll make a great flunky – I mean, Lieuteniant…."
Winry frowned. "Ed!"
Gabriella rolled her eyes. "Fine then. Where do I sign up?"
Ed smirked.
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So, Ed and Gabriella talked for hours and hours in a long business conversation. Afterwards, she signed a few forms and she was finished. The only thing in her mind was the exam.
"Thanks for you're kind business Gabe. Gladly appreciate it.." Said Ed.
Gabe frowned. She hated being called Gabe. It made her feel like a child again.
"Mrs. Rockbell… will you please escort Miss Mustang out?" Ed asked.
Winry nodded. "Sure…" She rubbed her pregnant stomach which looked as if it was bound to burst. "This way…" She led Gabriella out the door.
"Oh, and one more thing, Miss Mustang…" Ed called out behind Gabriella before she could walk out the door.
Gabe turned. "What?"
Ed threw her back her pair of alchemy fire gloves. "You're going to need it…"
"Whatever.." She and Winry walked out the door closing it behind.
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Winry walked through the halls with Gabriella next to her. They've been walking for 5 minutes now, and they haven't said a word to each other.
"So.. when's you're baby due?" Gabriella asked out of the blue.
"Two weeks from now.." Winry said. "Ed and I are pretty excited about it…" She rubbed her bulging stomach.
Ed – Edward Elric. That was a name that Gabriella didn't want to hear right now or ever.
"I see…." Gabriella said. "Is it a boy or a girl?"
"It's a boy. Ed is looking forward to it…" Winry answered. "We're figuring out what to call him. Our best bet is Kai. If it turns out to be a girl, we figured on calling her Madison."
Kai Elric. Madison Elric Nice ring.
"Don't you think it's a bad idea for you to be walking around like this? I mean – the baby could be coming out any day…"
"Yeah. Ed is worried about that, too. But I'm not so worried about it like I should…" Winry said. "I'm not the type of person who can sit and be quiet. I have to keep on moving. I guess you can say I'm very energetic."
Energetic? I guess that's on thing Gabriella and Winry had in common. Charismatic? Not really.
They finally were outside of the building. It took Gabriella a while to realize that since she was so deep in thought.
"Well… I guess this is good-bye for now.." Winry said.
"Yeah.." Gabriella said. "See ya.." She walked down the steps and headed out.
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Gabriella was walking through Central. It was clear and sunny again and Gabriella could see the rain clouds going off elsewhere or yonder. The streets and sidewalks were filled with puddles due to the rain. Mostly everyone stared at Gabriella as she walked by. Thanks to Colonel Elric, she is untouchable by the police, but she is working under military.
Gabriella could hear people whispering about her. Gabriella ignored it. She didn't care anymore. She didn't care about anything. The way her life is going, she figured herself useless. No matter what she did or where she'd go, people would see her as a shadow. Maybe if her father hadn't died and her mother didn't have to serve in the war (in which who knows what has happened to her) or maybe if she hadn't left the Hughes, she could've had a normal life just like normal people.
But she couldn't give up. She couldn't just run away. Thing would get worse. She had to finish what she started.
"Life sucks…" She muttered. "Why can't I just die and burn in hell?"
Too much stress was pressuring her. First, she had to pass that alchemy exam and become a State Alchemist – "Dog of the Military" – just to avoid authority. And she had to find herself an apartment or place to live. Well, actually, money wasn't a big problem to her so it wasn't actual stress. Lastly, she was afraid to see Gracia or Elicia. She didn't want them to see her like this – as an 'unsure' fugitive.
"H-hey! Leave me alone!!!"
Gabriella turned – not surprised of the comment – to a young girl (probably at the age of 16 or 17) trying to avoid a man.
"C'mon Rice Cakes. Let's go somewhere where we can be alone… just to the two of us." Said the young man tugging on the blonde's arm.
"Geez, Drake, are you drunk or something? LEAVE ME ALONE!" Said the blonde girl.
"Hey, man. Leave the girl alone.."
Drake turned to see Gabriella. He scanned her from her black high-heel boots, to her black short hair.
"Look, girl. You're hot and all, but I'm dealing with someone else for a change so… get in line." Drake said with a stupid grin.
Almost everyone was staring at the situation.
"Look, do I need to repeat myself?" Gabriella said bluntly. "Can you just let go of her arm and walk away?"
Drake laughed. "Or what?"
"Or this!" Gabriella punched Drake in the face who fell unconscious with a bloody nose.
Gabriella cracked her knuckle.
Everyone stared at the unconscious man for a few moments, then they walked away.
Before Gabe could continue to search for an apartment, the young blonde girl jumped in front of her. "Hi!" She chirped.
"Hi?" Gabe said looking back at her.
The blonde girl's hair was tied up in two buns (like Sailor Moon's) and her bangs stuck out. She wore an orange tank top that showed her belly button and a green mini skirt. Last but not least, she wore black tennis shoes with really clumpy socks.
"My name is, Mika. What's yours?"
Gabriella rolled her eyes. It was Barbie all over again. "Gabriella.. now if you excuse me.. I have to—"
"Thank you so much for saving me from my friend back there!!"
"Friend?"
"Well.. uh… not anymore…. Hey! How about you be my new friend!?" She did a little jig.
"Uuuh… no.." Gabriella tried to walk past Mika who stopped doing her little jig.
"Sooooo…" Mika ran in front of her again.
Gabriella twitched an eye.
"WHATCHA DOIN'?" Mika asked.
And it went on and on throughout the whole entire afternoon.
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Muahahahahah! Colonel Elric!!! It sounds (and looks) funny seeing Ed sitting in Mustang's desk…
Ed: IN YUR FACE, DEAD PERSON!!!
Roy: (pissed off at both Ed and Jaz)
Jaz: And once again… please email Roy… If you do… I'll give you cookies!! (passes out imaginary cookies)
