Chapter Five: Disclaimer

To start, we would like to apologize to Flametongue. Your shout out got deleted in the upload. As Lor had been saying, your review may or may not have inspired an event in a later chapter.

Dustin: What? You're expecting something funny here? Well too bad. All you're getting here is the disclaimer. None of that fancy entertaining stuff.

Lor: the point of you writing my disclaimers, was to entertain people with your usually genius ideas.

Enaru: you just called him a genius

Lor: genius and amazing are two very different things.

Dustin: Two very different things that go hand in hand. But I still don't see why I have to entertain them. I mean can't they do that themselves?

Lor: if these people could entertain themselves, I wouldn't have reviews. Or almost 500 hits (happy dance!). And well...there'd be no point in writing this.
((Dustin's note: After we wrote this, we found out we broke 700. Yay for us!))

((Lor's note: once this chapter was finally finished, we broke 900))

Dustin: You hear that readers? She just called you stupid. Now I obviously have enough respect for you guys to refrain from such insulting behavior.

Lor: I did not! Don't listen to him! He knows nothing!

Enaru: but you called him a genius.

Lor: that doesn't mean he knows anything! He doesn't even know my middle name!

Enaru: you don't have one.

Lor: shh that's not my point...

Dustin: Well there you have it folks. While Lor tries to strike down the invincible beast that is my ego, I shall move onto the disclaimer.

All character are created by the person or people that created them. The settings places, blah de dah, are also owned by those who made them. The idea for this fic however, is all ours. You can't take it.

Lor: its a horrible, ugly beast...

Dustin: Shush, no one asked you. Now, on with the fic!

Chapter Five: Detour

Once entering the marketplace once again, Link wandered off by himself with the letter in hand. Ed and Al stared after him, wondering just how serious the situation was. They could take care of themselves for a few minutes, Link reasoned. Hopefully stay out of sight long enough for him to figure out what he needed to do.

Sliding into the partial shadows in the market alleyway, Link gently lifted the wax seal on the letter. Her writing hadn't changed very much over the years, and her signature was as he remembered. Leaning against the stone wall, he seemed to lose touch with the city as he looked over the Hylian script.

Dearest Link:

It's been a long time since we've seen each other, hasn't it? I apologize for not speaking to you in person, but I've sensed dark clouds rolling over Hyrule once more. I thought it best that I left the country immediately and wait for your assistance.

Impa aided me as far as the Kakariko village before returning to wait for you. I intend on going past Death Mountain to whatever country lies behind the misty boarders. I will wait for you there. I took with me no possessions, leaving the night of my premonitions.

I pray for your luck and safety, and hope to see you soon. I'll be waiting. Godspeed.

Sincerely,

Zelda.

Sighing, Link peered to the sky, cobalt eyes searching for some sort of answer. She had some magical capabilities, if he remembered correctly. But the Ocarina of Time was still in his possession. And the past ten years were nothing like the seven she had spent hiding from Ganon's tyranny. Zelda was not Sheik anymore. If one were to be technical, she never had been. The skills were something that took years of hard work, and the Princess was…a Princess. A young woman raised to lead her country, not to defend it like a soldier.

Link folded the letter up and put it away, brushing his blonde bangs from his eyes. He needed to find her before someone else did, and come up with something from there.

"What's wrong?"

Link looked down at Navi. "Same old…" He tried a weak smile.

"Is Zelda okay? Is Ganon back?" Ever the impatient one, Navi bounced up and down, flying into the side of his head until he answered her inquiries.

"I don't know," Link replied vaguely, folding his arms. He sighed, closing his eyes to think. "Zelda and I sealed Ganon away a long time ago. There doesn't seem to be a reasonable way for him to have become freed unless one of us did it. The only explanation is that someone has similar ambitions…someone else wants Hyrule."

"Well you can do it!" Navi encouraged firmly as she took her place under his hat. "Nothing can beat you!"

"Perhaps but…it may be useless if harm comes to Zelda. I realize that her father has many years ahead of him, but even those are numbered. It won't be too long before it's her turn to rule the country. It isn't ready for change, not just yet…"

"But you're not just going to save her for Hyrule right? I mean you want to save her! Right?" Navi, unable to keep still for long came back out and hovered in front of Link's nose, waiting for an answer. He stared at her before looking off.

"That isn't important…our destinies to protect Hyrule are."

Navi giggled childishly before zipping out of his reach. "You liiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiike her!" she teased, glowing pink for a second before darting out of his grasp. The tips of Link's pointed ears were red and his cheeks were following suit.

"Stop talking like that Navi." He wanted her to be serious. "There's no one I can think of that could cause this trouble."

"Well…there isn't much we can do now…" She seemed to settle down. "Hey? Where did those boys go?"

Panicked, Link peered around the corner to where he had left them. Of course they weren't there. No one took Link seriously these days…

"Hey, Al…" Ed held his hand to his stomach, making a grim expression. "I'm hungry."

"Brother…" Sighing in response, Al made a small gesture to the restaurant in the distance. "Remember what happened last time?"

Ed wasn't listening.

There was a bakery close, with some of their goods on a windowsill. A pie, some scones, bread… Ed's attention had fixated on it.

"Eddddd…no…. We're going to get in trouble," the younger pleaded, knowing it was going to end badly.

"Aw come on Al!" Ed rubbed his nose and smirked. "I won't get caught! Besides, pointy ears is taking too long and I need something to eat. Just watch." Helplessly the large suit of armor stood off behind an old house as Ed snuck his way over to the bakery. He ducked under view when the woman came to check. When she went away, he reached up for whatever he could grab.

He felt the plate of something and drew it toward him. Taking the contents he dashed off like a mad man. Only, he wasn't watching where he was going, so he stepped in a bucket and face-planted the stone road. It didn't help that something blunt also found his head an easy target.

He turned, and looked into the pure evil that was the face of the baker. The profanity had barely left his lips did another rolling pin come his way. This one missed the intended target as Ed ducked and kicked off the bucket. He dropped the baked goods and dashed off. He couldn't see it, Al didn't say it, however he knew there'd be an I-Told-You-So in the near future.

Funny, the guards must have been psychic too. They were already blocking roads for Ed and Al. Time to improvise. With a bright flash of light, the young alchemist had built Al and himself a bridge over the city. If he was careful with his landing, he might not break anything. Or maybe he shouldn't jump at all. Ahh, decisions, decisions…

"Get them!" "Pillagers!" "Thieves!" rang out behind them in angry cries. Some words of an unknown language followed. Ed transmuted the gate down to the ground, decided jumping was a stupid idea and he needed his real leg to make it to Winry's. After all, he had grown, and his automail didn't fit him.

By the time he had reached outside, there were guards heading up. With a snide, childish glare Ed turned the gate back to what it had originally been.

"Archers! Fire!"

They missed.

The guard stuck on top of the gate fumed. Furiously he pointed in Ed's direction. "At the little one!" Wrong choice of words.

"Ed no!" Al picked him up. "We're in enough trouble! Just let it go!"

"WHO ARE YOU CALLING SO TINY YOU'LL MAKE HIM HIS OWN DRAWBRIDGE!"

It was a good thing Al was over twice Ed's size. And that they were far enough from the tall stone walls to hear what Link was compromising with the guards.

He sent an ugly look down to the brothers before turning back to a stoic expression. "I apologize, sergeant, for the trouble they've caused. They aren't from Hyrule. I intend on escorting them back to their own country, so you won't need to worry about the city any longer." Before anymore comments could be made, he continued.

"Two kids," guided Navi from the hat.

"They're both just children, even the large one in the armor. The shorter one…"

"Has an injury," she whispered.

"He acquired a head injury during an accident. I promise that he isn't a threat to anyone." Link smiled to the officer before jumping from the top, landing on the grass with little more than a roll. There wasn't much that could be said to Link. Crazy kid.

Steam was practically rising from Edward as Link made his way over. As the city militia dispersed, he snatched Ed's collar. "Are you stupid?" It was a lot calmer than he was acting.

Glaring up defiantly, Ed clasped Link's wrist with his right hand. "What's your point?"

"My point, Mr. Elric, is that you can't go around doing things as you please in Hyrule. When evil is in the air, it changes the attitudes of many people, whether they realize or not. If you had tried pulling such a stunt anywhere that Hylians did not make up the basic population, you'd be faced with an impossible fight." He didn't flinch when Ed tightened the metal grip.

"Secondly, we're making a slight trip through the mountains."

Al looked to the fairy as she lingered around them. "Is the princess okay?"

"As far as we know…" Navi trailed off, not entirely certain herself. "But in her letter, she said she went through the mountains. So maybe she's still there."

Link released his hold on Ed, adjusting his gauntlet. "She explained that she left as soon as she could – I'm going to assume she wasn't dressed for hiking, and that there are monsters up near the volcano as well. Magical abilities or not, she could be injured and the sooner we find her, the sooner my priority moves to my promise. I'll help to get you two home."

"Whatever." Ed was still sour. "As long as we get there."

- - -

"Lieutenant!"

Riza took a deep breath and looked toward him; he had just decimated a part of forest. "Yes, Major?"

The situation was almost pitiful. Kain had fallen, spraining his ankle. Falman had run out of ammo, and was now taking turns with Riza to help Kain. Armstrong was even starting to lose faith in what they were doing. Forest, forest, more forest.

"We've come back to a starting point." Beyond where he had gotten rid of the trees, the pond with the tunnel sat.

"Lovely." Riza set Kain down, walking to the alchemist. "Then we'd be stupid to continue forward."

"Agreed," Armstrong boomed. "We need to think of a new approach."

"Lieutenant…" Falman saluted her, before making a nod toward her gun holster. "How many shots do you have left?"

She didn't want to check, it was written all over her face. "Not many Falman." How many days had it been? And there hadn't been any sign of either Elric nearby. Going in circles, the forest was under a constant nightfall.

"Lieutenant?"

She broke from her thoughts. "Yes?"

Kain pointed past them. "We….we may have a slight problem." He was white as a sheet, trembling.

They turned, staring into the glowing yellow eyes of the skull children that haunted the Lost Woods.

- - -

The paved roads were slick and dreary, as was much of central Amestris. Rain drizzled down over the country steadily. Almost as if tempting the people to do something crazy to entertain the military.

"Hey Mustang…" Havoc lit up a cigarette before yawning and putting his feet up on the table. "Have you heard the rumor?"

"Which one?" Roy gave a half hearted smile.

Havoc smirked. "I overheard a few generals saying that the Fuhrer was having a bit of a power struggle with another alchemist or something. Imagine what kinds of problems the state will have if there's an overthrow. As if we don't get low salaries as it is." As expected, Roy suddenly became interested.

"It's rather admirable how you speak of your loyalty to the country," Zelda remarked softly, before Roy could ask anymore questions. "I'm rather surprised that many of the men in this establishment haven't been hung for talk of treason…"

"Hey, duchess, there's only a few men in this military that I'm loyal to. Mustang happens to be one of them," he retorted sarcastically.

"Settle down, lieutenant," Roy growled, flipping through a stack of paperwork. "Where she comes from, modern science doesn't exist. Just help me keep her secret for now."

Holding the cigarette between his teeth, Havoc raised his arms in peace. "Chill, Mustang. I'll take it to the grave." He raised his eyebrows when Roy handed him a folder. "What's this?"

Sighing, Roy folded his arms and looked out the window to the hazy street. "Ever hear of a city called Heira? It's a mining city to the southwest. It's very industrial. About fourteen years ago the military was forced to invade because of vigilantes. There's a privately owned metalworking shop there. They used to make household items and in the past ten years have become extremely focused on weaponry. That same metal shop was where a vigilante base of operations was held."

He waited for Havoc to skim through the information. "Everything made in Heira was shipped around the country until about a few weeks ago. An undercover investigator mentioned that several people skipped the city. Particularly a pair of siblings who own the metal shop. Their father was killed when we stormed the city. We don't have more than a brief description of the two, but they're at least twenty years apart in age. Several nearby cities have had military attacks on them. Anything related to the Amestris militia, and the state alchemists, has been under heavy arsonist attacks. We're thinking that the two of them have done it, but there haven't been witnesses. I wanted to hand this case over to Fullmetal. If he gets shot he can usually be fixed. He's one of few alchemists with any knowledge on metals and arson."

Havoc nodded, putting out the cigarette and pulling out another. "Everytime I hear the word arson, Mustang, I think of that nut Kimbley."

Zelda looked confused. She was trying hard to look indifferent, but she wasn't overly successful. "Arson?"

- - -

Leaving the horse next to the outskirts of the city, Link ascended the stairs. "When we get closer to the city, don't touch the cuccos," he advised. Upon closer inspection, this wouldn't be a problem for him, or the brothers. Half of the Kakariko village had been buried under the debris of a rock slide.

"Hey, we'll go try and fix some of these houses…" Ed looked over to Link. "If this happened recently, there might be some people still alive…you go see about the Princess. Al and I will do what we can." Link nodded and they split up.

"What happened here?" he asked a young woman holding a small chicken in her arms.

"There was an explosion, and it set off a rockslide in the town," she told him quietly, looking like she might cry at any second. "Most of the houses on this side were buried."

- - -

"The use of explosives in an attack, basically," Havoc replied shortly. "At least that's what the point here is. Are they alchemists, Mustang?"

"No idea. Our investigations led to history of a relative of theirs practicing it, but she lost most of her memory after we invaded. Anyway, Havoc, I need you and a few other soldiers to go undercover to locate them." He ignored the look of fear in his eyes. "Normally I'd send Hawkeye, or Falman, but no one has heard from them yet. If there's someone in particular under my command you'd like with you, I'll assign it."

"Yessir," he mumbled, not liking the idea of going after arsonists. "Is it possible for me to get access to anything Kimbley studied when I take some of the rookie alchemists with me?"

"Possibly…"

- - -

Link looked back as houses were being reconstructed on the spot. Listening to the guard's report of the last several days, his blue eyes clouded. "The woman in the cloak had a letter from the princess? And there was no sign of her after the accident?"

"No. She may have taken cover with the Gorons, but if not, then I believe it's safe to say she was caught in the landslide." He held his spear in front of Link. "I can't allow you to go up there, while the ground is still shifting. According to estimations, the debris spreads far beyond the usual path."

"Please keep looking," Link asked seriously. "I have a suspicion that this woman was Zelda herself. You don't need to tell anyone that, but please, keep looking." Zelda has Farore's magic…she could have gotten through with some work…be safe, Princess..

- - -

Is someone calling me? Abruptly Zelda stood up and pulled on the long jacket that Roy had purchased her. Reaching for her umbrella she left the room. She needed some air, a little peace, somewhere to think. By the time she looked around to where she was headed, she was standing out in the courtyard on her own. Perhaps not the best way to keep from drawing attention to herself…

"Miss Adele?"

She turned quickly, faced with Marie Ross, the woman who had watched over her the earlier afternoon. "Lieutenant," she greeted with a nod. "Pleasure to see you again. Is something the matter?"

"There's a man from the Fuhrer's office looking for a woman by your description. I was just wondering…" She broke off as Zelda's eyes widened.

"What man? What does he look like?"

"Tall, broad shouldered…"

"Blonde hair? Green clothing?"

"No, he appears to be from Ishbal…Miss Adele!"

Without even a word of explanation Zelda took off. If it wasn't Link, he wasn't someone she wanted to meet. Now, it wasn't that Zelda's appearance was uncommon. In fact, there were many women with blonde hair and blue eyes. It was too coincidental with the current circumstances, for her, to assume that this was someone she could trust.

- - -

"No luck?" Ed asked, dusting off his jacket when Link approached them. He had fixed whatever wouldn't cause a bigger mess. Many of the houses were standing as they were before.

"No." He wasn't looking quite as confident as he had before. "Zelda left several days ago, hopefully out of the way of the accident. If you're done, I'd like to leave. I've never been to any countries beyond the mountains…"

"So she could be in Amestris by now," Ed finished. "Let's head off then. Mustang probably sent someone to find us, so maybe an officer found her."

"We can hope. Let's try to make it to the Kokiri forest by nightfall…we don't have time to waste."

Navi lingered behind as Link went to fetch his horse. "Is he in love with her or something?" Ed asked, pointing at the receding green-clothed back.

What should she answer here? Her own ideas, or just the fact so far? "Link and Zelda haven't spoken face to face in a long time. But they've also known each other for a long time. It's natural that he's worried. Now stop dawdling, kid!" She followed Link out o the village.

"I hate fairies!"

- - -

"Princess…" Roy was standing at the end of the alleyway she had taken cover in. "If you want my protection, you need to stay where I can protect you without looking conspicuous. With the both of us running off, there are several people following us. What are you doing?"

"The lieutenant informed me that someone who was not Link, was seeking a woman by my description. I will not stay in a place where someone is searching for me."

Roy walked closer. "Stop being so presumptuous. I said that I would take care of you. I will. Don't worry about it."

"I feel evil in your city, Colonel, particularly from the military establishments. You don't seem to realize the extent of the force Hyrule is fated to combat against."

Roy took both of her shoulders. "I told you not to worry," he repeated, softer this time. "The things you describe seem to correlate with entities the military has dealt with recently. I will protect you."

"Colonel Mustang!" The voice came from down the street.

"Time to act your part," he whispered, glancing back with narrowed eyes. As the officer passed the alley, Roy tilted up her chin and placed a soft kiss on her lips. Until I become Fuhrer, you'll have to learn why I do things this way…

END/CHAPTER

Lor: sorry that took sooo long x.X writers block. I sure hope that no one, you know, died or anything cause I got lazy OO

Havoc: smoking again

Lor: you're like a j-rocker. Never without a cigarette.

Chaney: J-rock? Where!

Havoc: ...this is my last one, damn...

Lor: if you call a j-rocker they'll probably donate a cig.

Havoc: O.O get me this j-rock!

Chaney: can I call a j-rocker?

Lor: um…no. I can't responsibly let you talk to a God, with the chance of facing the (j-rock) exorcism frying pan in the next disclaimer…

Havoc+writing to Miyavi+ Dear J-rocker…

Chaney: Miyavi doesn't smoke anymore…

Havoc: -.- +presses backspace+