Halfmetal Alchemist: Chapter 9

Destruction at Rizenbul

Ed leaned over Leroy's shoulder while his brother scribbled hastily on a sheet of paper.

Dear Mom,

Don't worry about us, Mom, we made it safely to a station in Rizenbul, and we'll be staying here for a few days. I think Dad is having weird nightmares, because he keeps waking up at night, so maybe you should write to him; it might help. Ed is leaning over my shoulder here, to make sure I write something from him too. Al and Alley are fine as well, but they've been really quiet lately, and so had Dad. Ed and I are actually getting a little lonely, with everyone in this kind of stupor. Ed and I decided to buy a little present for Maes, and it's in the box, so we hope he likes it. Also, say hi to Ilia and Maes for us, okay? We love you and miss you Mom.

Love, Your Sons,

Leroy and Edward

Ed struggled to wrap the box properly and plopped it on the desk that Leroy had written the letter on. "There! I hope Maes likes these water pistols." Leroy sealed the letter and stuck it onto the box, lifting it up and walking out the door of the small house. "Don't forget that we gave him a plushie too, and some flowers for Ilia. Want to come to the post office with me, Ed?" Ed nodded and followed Leroy out onto the street, where nighttime had already fallen. Ed looked around the town of Rizenbul, stopping here and there to examine shops and sign posts with interest. "What are you doing, Ed? It's already late, so we should get to the post office as quick as we can."

"Oh, it's just that it seemed like I've been here before." he shrugged. "Maybe it's just me." "Perhaps, Brother, but it says on this sign that if the next light is green, to turn left, and if red, turn right. I can't quite see the light, can you tell me what it is?" Ed squinted in the darkness and picked out the light in question. "Ahh… it looks green to me, but it is a little hard to see. So we should turn left."

Leroy made a beeline for the left fork and turned onto a, if possible, darker path. "Why is it so dark out here? I don't think it gets this dark at home, does it Leroy?" Leroy narrowed his eyes and looked around warily. "No, nor do I think that it gets this dark anyplace else. Be careful." Ed frowned at him and bolted ahead. "Come on, what could there possibly be to be careful of here? Squirrels?" he said, walking backwards. Leroy's hand shot up into snapping position as Ed walked back into something or someone, and he twisted around quickly. A menacing yellow-brown eye stared at him from inside a cloak.

"What are two boys doing here in Rizenbul?" Ed backed up to stand beside his brother. "We're just going to the post office, to send something to our mom in East City." The eye regarded them and turned. "The post office isn't this way. Go to the right. You shouldn't be here; it will be dangerous here, very shortly." Ed and Leroy backed away and ran down to the right fork as hard as they could. They slowed down when shops once more came into view, and gasped for breath. "W-what do you think he meant, that it would be dangerous very shortly?" Ed panted, hands on his knees. "I don't know, but one thing is for sure…" he looked Ed in the eyes. "You need to work out more!" Ed whacked him in the head and Leroy yelped, rubbing his head. "Be serious you moron! Honestly, you choose the worst times to be funny…"

"It was a bit creepy… maybe we should drop this off and go tell Dad?" Ed shook his head vigorously, a mischievous light in his eyes. "No way! Why go crying to daddy when we can go ourselves, Leroy?" Leroy frowned and fidgeted. "I don't know Ed, I don't think he was exaggerating when he said it was going to get dangerous. He looks dangerous!"

"C'mon Leroy, we got a chance to prove our worth! Let's go!" Leroy still looked hesitant, so Ed thought quickly for another way to persuade his brother. "Look, if things get too bad, we'll bail, okay?" Leroy nodded and dropped the package into a slot outside of the post office.

"Okay, you win. Let's go before he gets away!" Leroy sped off in the direction of the fork and Ed ran after him, reaching into his pocket and tossing Leroy his gloves. "Don't forget those, Bro. You'll be useless without em'." Leroy caught them and gave Ed a withering glance. "I'm better than half a hunk of metal; once that breaks, you'll need me to alchemize it back on!"

Ed grunted and kept running, realizing that he was probably the higher maintenance of the two of them. "Let's just go, okay?" "Alright… shorty!" A vein throbbed in Ed's temple and he sped ahead of Leroy. "I'M- NOT-DAMN-SHORT!" Leroy caught up to his brother and dragged him down into a bush. "Look Ed, that guy again!"

"But what's he doing?"

He had turned his automail arm into a long blade and expertly etched something into the ground in front of him. "It's a transmutation circle, Ed!" The man stood on top of it and pulled a shining red orb out of his cloak, holding it above his head as the transmutation circle glowed ominously. "Is it just me, or is it getting hot out here?" Ed asked, pulling at his collar. Leroy stayed his hand and pointed. "Look!"

The orb merged into the automail arm and he plunged it into the transmutation circle, deadly intent apparent in his eyes. "Ed! Get down!" Leroy snapped his fingers and threw a fire shield around them both as the ground erupted in front of the man. Lava gushed out of the tear in the ground and a wave engulfed the west of Rizenbul as Leroy and Edward watched in horror, helpless. The man lowered the cloak, revealing piercing amber eyes and long black hair. He turned and calmly walked away from the destruction, and spotted the two boys hiding in the bush. "I told you to get away, didn't I?" The two boys stared at him, totally helpless and at the mercy of the man who had leveled half of Rizenbul.

"You two should go back to East, while you can. If you want to tell anyone who did it… tell them it was Ultimus." he walked down the path that lead to the edge of Rizenbul and onto the road.

Mwahahahaha! One more chapter! And I can't believe I got so many more reviews in such short notice... thank you! Thank you! As for being in the military at the age of fourteen, it could be inferred, but I never said he joined right away. Being as horrible as he was at alchemy, it seems natural that Roy would improve before he even thought of becoming a State Alchemist (he couldn't even properly generate a spark!) Well, hope you liked this chapter, and I'm very appreciative of my constant reviewers like Tsunade-chan, and my newer ones who review on every chapter! Please continue to read!