A.C.: I had such a hard time writing this... I actually started to write backwards... from the conclusion to the later chapters --;;
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?
"EDWARD!"
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The smell of uncut grass is sweet to his nose, easy and warm to lie in. The sun breathes down, not too hot but hot enough that he feels comfortable in the evergreen field. His fingers pull at the green one by one, idly waiting for something to happen. The sky is welcoming, an open blue that is reflected in his eyes. Dreaming of shadow shaped clouds, he closes his eyes.
A hand is placed on his head, of his mother, a sister, a friend, a brother, a lover, a teacher, a student...
...a father...
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"Sleep..."
His eyes feel like they've been pinned down by needles.
He can't open them but he can see the light peeking through the cracks of his lids.
There's a heavy hand and coolness, all in one, on top of his head.
He's bare and naked beneath the sheets,
He squirms a little, trying to stick a leg out.
"M..."
A gentle hand brushes his hair.
"Sleep and recover..."
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Scar's missing an arm now, Kimbley laughs derangedly before collapsing into a heap.
Alphonse tries to run but finds that the mad bomber has attached himself to his armored foot.
"It doesn't matter now..." the gold eyed man whispers, rubbing his face against the cool metal. "You'll make the perfect bomb."
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Strings of fear curl themselves around his feet, they have a good hold, they will flourish.
It is daylight, he finds Al. He gives Al a cuff to the head (which obviously won't have any effect) to make sure that he is there. They are now surrounded by sand, and soldiers.
Something is wrong.
They flee, leaving the desert behind them.
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Later Ed realizes that the journal is missing. All they have left of their search for the philosopher's stone lies within Alphonse, a series of notes and the torn page in Ed's pockets.
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"You alright?"
"I'll be fine."
"Roy... you can't do this."
"She told you?"
"Yes but that's not the point. Roy... this isn't even your country, why the hell would you want to save it."
"It is my dream Maes, I cannot let it go that easily."
"Then you'll choose death?"
"Yes."
"You fucking bastard..."
"Maes, why did you come back?" the dark eyed man turns, buttoning up his shirt. "I thought I told you to run, coming back here... you're endangering your family."
"Your mom is tough enough to take on the army, they're in Xing, they won't be able to move freely there."
"It hasn't stopped them from corrupting the government thoroughly here."
"Roy..."
"Why did you come back Maes?"
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'I came back because of you.'
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"The Elrics have betrayed the military."
Roy can feel a migraine coming on. He leaves for one night and already Elrics have done something near impossible to reverse. Frank Archer is currently in critical condition, no additional information has been released yet.
The fuhrer gazes at him at him silently, awaiting his response.
"I know where they are."
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"I forgot to tell you, there was no time but I don't trust the lines anymore than the next person."
A piece of the notepad waving in his face. Black ink tracing an array around...
"This is..."
"Didn't you notice? This is just a smaller one. They have created a larger, around all of Amestris." Hughes shakes his head, "Roy you cannot stop this, escape while you can, this isn't your country. There's nothing you can do to help."
"I'm still here, there are too many people depending on me."
"Then you and your crew can hightail out of here, the Elrics are smart enough to figure everything out."
Roy stares at him, pulling on the stiff blue.
"You... you can't just throw your life away. You saved mine, now I'm going to save yours. Come with me dammit."
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"It's an array for the philosopher's stone." Edward's eyes glimmer in wonder, brushing a hand at the iron chest of Alphonse. "This... this is it, we found the way to create the stone."
The ripped paper is laid beside the notes in a bright contrast. The words seem sharper against the yellowing paper, like a black hole that will try to consume them all.
A smile breaks out, Ed cannot explain why.
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"No."
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Finding the Elrics was surprisingly easy, too easy. The trails were all too clear for them to follow and despite minor setbacks including Havoc and Fury, he and Armstrong are able to immobilize them through an alchemic teamwork, similar to one used in Ishival.
Roy smiles grimly as he approaches the Elrics.
The older of the Elrics glared at him defiantly. He was pretty sure that's how he must have looked when he became a State Alchemist.
He shakes his head,
"Why did you run?" Roy hisses angrily, Ed tense. "Why didn't you ask me for help!"
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"The fuhrer, I've seen his eyes. He's a homunculus."
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"Why must you make everything so difficult?"
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Explanations and all else later, they are at the Rockbells. They meet the legendary alchemist Hoenheim Elric. The reunion is bitterly sweet, Ed is furious but Roy can sense something else underneath. Roy declines entrance out of respect for the family. Riza goes in to wash. Second Lieutenant Ross and Sargent Broch are sworn to secrecy before being dispatched back to Central.
Night falls quickly and before long he exchanges a few words with Hoenheim Elric. Not surprisingly, Hoenheim knows that the present fuhrer is a homunculus. Roy briefly wonders why the blond man hadn't done anything until now. The bigger man yawns before replying. Roy decides against asking the reason for his leave.
Roy notices the unsettling gaze upon his arm.
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"Ah here it is... the records!" Winry presents him with the records spraying a plume of dust onto the blond's face.
"Ack Winry!"
But the girl happily hums along, flipping through the crinkled pages before ending it with a frown.
"Funny, I could have sworn I saw his name somewhere..."
Her eyebrows furrow and Ed quickly scribbles something onto a notepad.
"Find anything interesting?"
"Noo..." the word almost came off as a pout, "wait yes..." there's confusion written across her blue eyes. "Roy Mustang? Was here... a long time ago for... I can't read the words."
"What!" Ed swipes the records off of Winry's hands despite the protesting calls of her and Al.
He finds the page where Roy Mustang is listed as one of the patient in automail parts.
Something clicks in his brain.
Roy was Xingese... or at least part. According to eastern custom, you put the last name in front of the first.
"Ryan Mogust."
"Brother?"
"Ed? What's wrong?"
"Mogust Ryan."
Already the words are straining, scrambling, unscrambling, twisting around until it grabs hold of words he can recognize...
He tastes the name on his tongue and knows them to be right.
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"If there is a reason why I'm doing this, you know it lies buried in my past. I owe so much to this land, the people, my friends, mother... and you. I can't leave this place, not when... not when I can save it instead. Understand Maes, you promised to push me to the top, now I'm nearly there. Don't let me down."