A.C.: Weird chapter ahead, I hate school...
Summary: Upon finding the diary of the legendary Phoenix Alchemist, Edward is thrown into a plot long since launched into motion by the fabled war hero...
Timeline: Sometime before Hughes is dead.
Warnings: oocness, grammar/structure/spelling mistakes, spoilers?
"The Phoenix is a legend, he supposedly died sometime after the war."
"How do you know him?"
"After the war, we met briefly, Dante was trying to convince me to become a State Alchemist. He warned me in private not to join."
"Who was he?"
"A man, something of a legend,"
There was a bittersweet smile
"He was a phoenix."
Edward's eyes drew a blank.
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We're on the move, always on the move. We can't use animals for transport, too much supplies involved, so we make do on foot. Doctors work overtime trying to take care of us all, trying not to say increase the intake of fluids because we're in a desert. Trying not to say stay out of the sun because we're in a desert. They're nice people, only problem is with them taking in strays.
Ha, what am I saying? Ironblood is livid at the treatment of Ishivals doctors come across. He once gave a speech saying that we should not treat them like fellow human beings, that they're heretical and thus treated as such. Shoot on sight.
But what have they done to deserve all this? Even now, seven years later, battle worn veterans ask the same question. This war started over the blood of a child, why? Who shot the poor kid? Why weren't they punished for it? Where are they now?
-Ryan
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Stealth had always been more of Maes' thing. Roy can only hope that the same stealth will keep the family over the course of next few weeks.
They parted at an unimportant train station somewhere in the east. Hopefully at the furthest station, they will get off and make attempts to cross the great desert.
Roy closes his eyes as he heads over to his car.
The sun is barely rising against the hills of sand and gravel.
A bloody sun much like the one in Ishival.
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Questions come in thick and fast, visits from higher ups, disapproving glances from Hawkeye whenever she hears the pompous knocks. As the best friend and comrade of traitor Lieutenant Colonel Maes Hughes, he is taken in for inquiry over the last actions of the eccentric man.
Those who served under him, Vato Farman, Maria Ross, Denny Broche, and even Alex Armstrong have said to have been questioned. The questions are heated and fast, leaving the more less experienced co workers disoriented while the veterans try not to give too much away while explaining.
Roy is like a sturdy rock, remarking that Maes Hughes would have had a reason.
They are excused, but not spared the suspicious glances.
Roy Mustang promptly goes back to editing Edward's report, praying for the Hughe's family.
The office is unusually quiet that night.
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Scotch always. A glass, maybe two.
Lazy slurps of the burning liquid as they exchange news.
Sometimes sharing of photos too.
But tonight he's alone, he feels a twinge of regret. But at least he doesn't feel the stabs of grief tearing his heart apart. He drains his glass and asks for another,
The cup is already blurring.
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It's dark outside. Odd thing to say but I can think of nothing else to write down. I don't bother trying to keep track of the days I've been here. The marks on my bed frame have long since left alone. Other alchemists are similarly down trodden. The war is taking toll on us all.
No, not war, a massacre.
A complete eradication of a race.
There was a small boy...
He shouldn't have died.
-Ryan
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It isn't the usual field of greens and poppies they cross. In fact they're not on a train at all anymore. The railroad built to link Amestris to Xing has long since been buried in the Ishival sand. With the termination of the Ishival race, no one had enough man power to keep the rails in working condition.
Elysia squeals excitedly at the four horses pulling the wagon. Maes looks fondly at her, so does Gracia and the others in the wagon.
Roy...
If they ever get caught they would be tried for treason. The kindest thing they would do would be to kill them.
And Roy...
If he was caught and tried for conspiracy against the higher ups... Maes had seen the skeletons buried in the closet.
It wasn't pretty
Idly he remembered that it was Thursday, usually Roy would come over from the east to a random bar to drink with him.
Maes wondered who Roy was drinking with now.
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There was the mark of ouroborous on the bottom of his left foot. Contrary to his stolen limbs, his actual skin was pale, ghostly, seemingly dead. That made the bloody mark stand out even more. He is a homunculus, yet none like they had ever seen before.
A homunculus that can use alchemy... think of the possibilities.
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With killing people comes the desire to bring them back to life. Whether that is a hidden remorse at taking another life, desire to kill that person multiple times, a way of playing god I don't know. Perhaps it's redemption to wash away the sins, heavens know rain won't be enough to wash the blood away.
Sometimes if you heat the sand enough, it turns to glass. Add whatever elements to your flame, the source of heat, or even the sand, it becomes a different color. That's why whenever I combust something, it leaves a sheet of red glass so neatly covering up the horror that lies beneath. It could be an art form, but it's not. It's like a lie this whole war is, covering the mess up with a grander front, except the military isn't as transparent as my glass.
-Ryan
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Return of Envy, the one who turned Wrath away from them all.
Of an alchemist named Crimson, the one who should have died a long time ago.
A homunculus named Greed, who desires immortality.
His master's pain,
It's her blood on the floor.
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"Go to Dante."
"Teacher?"
A lonely alter, and blood, so much blood that covered the array on the island. His master's sin, and repentance. Her guilt of sending her child to an early grave, her guilt of killing her child twice. The guilt that is surely killing her as the missing organ is.
"She was my teacher long before your time... and she knew Hoenheim. If anyone can help you now, it'll be her."
"Will you be alright?"
There's still a trace of blood on the corner of her lips, blood and weakness she tries so hard to hide.
Hesitation.
"...Yes"
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They are being transferred to Central, had the higher ups guessed?
Roy's eyes harden at the thought.
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Deep in its lair, a lazy violet eye flickered open.