Alchemist Chronicles

Chapter 13 - Melancholy Reminiscence

Continued from the previous chapter:

Roxy scowls. "You know what? Forget it. I'm done. Go back to wherever the FUCK you came from Janine. You two minus well go home as well." She starts to walk away.

Ari - "Forever Oath." Roxy stops walking. She then slowly turns to look at AJ.

Roxy - "What did you just say?"

Ari takes another deep breath, then looks at Roxy. "The sealed promise that we made to each other on that cliff with our pinkies locked. You called it "Our Forever Oath" and I replied with "Yeah, just between us." Roxy tackles Ari to the ground. Ari grunts when her back hits the ground.

Ed holds Riza back. She turns to look at him. "Let them get it out of their system. I think its for best that we don't intervene." She smiles at him. "Well Edward, you really have grown up, haven't you?" Ed blushes, looking away. "I uh-I guess so." She chuckles at him.

Roxy then stands up, grabbing Ari by the collar on her shirt, pulling her to her feet. "Tell Me! Tell Me Right Now, Ari!" She can't help the tears that fall from her eyes. "Why? Why Ari?... Whyyy?" She says as she starts crying and Ari pulls Roxy into a hug. "I'm sorry... I'm so sorry, Roxy. I didn't mean to leave you like that. You or Tiana. I'm so sorry! Please... please forgive me, Roxy!" Ari starts crying as well. The both of them fall to their knees still hugging one another, crying on each other's shoulders.

After several minutes, Roxy pulls back to wipe her eyes and Ari does the same. "Come on." She says as she stands up, hand out to Ari. "We need to talk and catch up on alot of shit, Ari." Ari smiles, then whispers. "yeah." She grabs onto Roxy's hand, pulling herself up. "Let's go." Roxy turns to Ed and Riza. "You two. Don't follow us." She then looks at Ed. "Ed. Show Riza around the city. I need to be with my friend." And with that, Roxy holds onto Ari's hand. They start walking away.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~(SS)~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Making it to the place that she brought for them almost a year ago when she was in Creta with Niko as her bodyguard at that time, Ari sighs as Roxy looks at her. "Jeez, it feels weird. I found out recently that my grandfather once lived in this house. I betcha that's why it was so easy for me to buy it. Glad that I did though. Its been almost a year since I last seen it. (She sighs) I uh- I meant to come back sooner Roxy. Things didn't go according to plan though." She puts her head down, squeezing the necklace in her pocket tightly.

Roxy walks up the steps and unlocks the door. "Come on, I ain't got all day, dawg."

Ari looks up at her. "Ard, Yo! No need to be all pushy." They look at each other, laughing seconds later. "Man its been so long since I spoke like that!"

Roxy - "Really?"

Ari - "Seriously. People in Amestris aren't used to hearing slang words from Creta."

Roxy replies. "Good to know." As the both of them walk into the house.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~(SS)~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

When Ed lets go of Riza, he turns his back to her. "All of you knew, didn't you? What am I thinking! Of course! The faces you and Roy made when I first mentioned Roxy's name should of been a dead give away. I mean come on!" He shouts, speaking that last sentence, throwing his arms up.

Riza sighs. "You have to understand. We are protecting her-"

Ed turns around quickly. "Protecting her from who? Me and my brother. We are not being chased by the homunculi anymore in case you forgot. I kicked that bastard's ass on The Promised Day. (Riza's eyebrow twitches and she glares at him) Each and everyone of them are dead. (He pauses briefly) Unless, you guys are protecting her from Adam-"

She grabs his chin forcing him to look at her. "Do not ever say that name in front of Ari, Ever! Are we clear? Do you understand, Edward?" He nods his head quickly. "That asshole scar'd her for life. You have no idea what we had to go through with keeping her panic attacks under control. Without medication, mind you." She lets his chin go and looks away from him.

He sighs sadly, looking down. "He kidnapped her, didn't he?" He looks back up, noticing she's looking at him. She frowns as she nods her head. "Damn." He replies.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~(SS)~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Sitting on Roxy's sofa in her living room.

Ari - "There's something I need to tell you, Roxy."

Roxy with a blank face, replies. "What? Are you pregnant?"

Ari stares at her shocked. "NO I'M NOT! I'm still a virgin! Hell, I haven't even kissed a boy... yet."

Roxy spits out her drink. "ARE YOU SERIOUS, ARI!" Ari looks away and slowly nods. Roxy starts laughing then stops. "Wait. Hold up." She points to Ari. "You kept your promise about that to me." Ari nods her head. Roxy stares her for a few minutes. She leans forward, her elbows resting on her knees. "Talk to me. Tell me everything that happened to you after that lady dragged you out of the store we were at in Table City." Ari takes a deep breath and starts.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~(SS)~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The both of them are sitting on a bench outside of the train station. Riza then looks at Ed. "So why did you follow us, hm?" Ed looks back at her. "Look I wasn't following anyone. The Fuhrer asked me to bring Roxy back with me to Amestris. I already have her passport and what-not. I just need to hand it to her, so we can get going."

She looks at Ed, confused. "Why does he-" He shrugs his shoulders. "Don't know. Didn't ask. (He chuckles) I admire him way more than I ever did Bradley anyway. Any woman or man who had our back that day earns my respect, automatically." She smiles at Ed.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~(SS)~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Roxy - "Damn. Just damn it to all, man." Ari sits there with her eyes closed and her hands on her lap. Roxy then sighs. "Alright. Well is there anything else?"

Ari - "Adam kidnapped me two times when I was thirteen." Roxy stares at her with disbelief. "The first happened when I didn't go back to the woman who was taken care of me instead two weeks before hand, I had put a plan into action to get on the train back to Table City from Central Grand Station. He grabbed me right before I even made to the station. Covered my mouth with something that knocked me out cold... I just- I wanted to see you again Roxy. Both you and Tiana. (She starts getting tearing eyed) I wanted to see if the both of you were ok. If-If you both made it out alive. I'm so sorry for leaving you both like that. I tried to tell that soldier about ya'll but she was ... and I was. Damn it." She starts crying, Roxy puts her drink down and pulls her into a hug, sitting down next to her. "I forgive you already, don't bring it up anymore, ok." Ari nods her head.

After a few minutes and Ari calms herself down, she finishes. "When I woke up the next day, I was wearing different clothes and I was chained up to a pole and a radiator against a wall. I thought I was in a warehouse but I later on found out it was the basement of a house."

(Flashback Begins)

(Ari's POV)

I slowly opened my was a gag in my mouth preventing me talking."Ah rise and shine little one. Time to wake up." I shiver at the voice that I immediately recognize, as he continues."Its so nice to see you again. It's been what? 3? No I believe 4 years. Hahahaha. Oh those memories of when you screamed when I shot that boy to death or when you cried when I whispered into your ear how I was break you and make you squirm and wither, beg me for mercy until I end your life." Adam tells me. Tears are already falling from my eyes. I could see a table in the distance. Different sized knifes spread out across it. I looked back at him. I will never forget what he told me at the same time he injects me with something. "The last time you will ever see me, (he chuckles) it won't be in your dreams or nightmares, but in the real world. I'll make sure that you will never forget me." I blacked out right afterwards.

(Ari's POV Ends)

(Flashback Ends)

With her eyes widen with focused, Ari continues, grinding her teeth and holding back her tears. "He tortured me for three months the first time. When I was finally found. There was a rope around my neck. I guess he was trying to kill me with strangulation or make it seen like I was trying to hang myself. Either way, I was in a coma for almost a month. Recovery was horrible."

Roxy - "Marisol." She says sadly. Ari blinks and takes a deep breath.

Ari continues. "The second time he grabbed me, he had hit me with his car. Making it seem like was an accident. According to witnesses, he picked me up and told who ever saw what happened that he was taking me to the hospital. Heck he even asked where the closet one was. The irony of all of it. Anyway he held me in a warehouse that time. I was gone for only a month. When I woke up, my hands were chained and tied up over my head. I fought him everyday, kicking and screaming. There was no way I was gonna let him repeat what he did to me the first time. Once the chains and ropes were loose enough, I broke free from it. When he came back. I was ready. I injured him and escaped. A few gentlemen found me a few days later when I was limping down a street in Central. That asshole dislocated my shoulder and broke my ankle. I was only down for a few months."

Roxy shakes her head at the thought. "Damn."

Ari - "You have to understand Roxy. I had nightmares non-stop, panic attacks that I still suffer from to this today and yet here I am, still alive."

Roxy - "Damn Ari. I wasn't ready to hear all of that like that."

Ari sighs. "I just wanted to be honest with my sister. She would of kicked my ass if I lied to her." She smiles at Roxy and Roxy smiles back.

Roxy grins. "Damn right." They laugh.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~(SS)~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Walking down a sidewalk in Table City.

Riza - "So how did you run into Roxy, anyway?"

Ed - "I ran into a dude named Lenny. I was trying to get out of Table City. You know so I could explore. Childhood habit. (Riza smirks) Anyway, Lenny said he knew a chick that could do it. He took me over to her house. She came out of it holding a knife." Riza looks at Ed, concerningly. "Oh she wasn't after me."

Riza - "Which is a first."

Ed - "Touche Hawkeye." He continues. "As I was saying. She was after an ex apparently. Do females always cause drama?... Except you, of course."

Riza - "You know Edward. Not everybody likes an ass-kisser."

Ed - "I'll kiss your ass over Mustang's any day."

Riza smiles. "I think I'll take that as a compliment, Edward." He nods.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~(SS)~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Roxy sighs. "Jeez." She looks at Ari. "I'm proud of you. I want you to know that." Ari smiles and they hug.

When parting, Ari asks. "So what about you, Roxy? What happened to you? Where's Tiana?"

Roxy looks away. "We waited until nightfall to escape out of that building. Didn't even realize the firefight until we turned the corner. Next thing I remember I was waking up at the clinic, with my father sitting next to me. I lived with him for a month before he sent me back to go live with my mother again. Told me that he nevered wanted any kids, regardless of gender. Me and my mom moved to Kingsley the following year. Lived there for 6 years before Lenny called me last year, telling me that there's a house that has my name on it here in Table City. I moved here immediately. Then I met a pretty cool chick named Julia Crictlon. She lives in Milos. You know, the slums under Table City." Ari nods her understandingly.

Ari - "Damn Roxy. (she pouts, then asks) So where's Tiana, then?"

Roxy - "In Jail in Cornwall Ridge."

Ari stares at her in shock. "She's WHAT!?"

Roxy - "Look. To put it short, she became involved with a married man. Got pregnant with three babies. Miscarried the first one, then aborted the second. Had the third one as a teen mom. Then for the most dumbassiness of reasons went after and killed the married man's wife. Got arrested and locked up and the baby went into the system. I don't have a clue if its a boy or girl." Before Ari could say anything, Roxy stops her. "Do not go after the kid or Ti. She put herself in the position, we all warned her about him. Me, Nicole, Lenny, and the rest of the crew. She can only blame her damn self." Ari nods and sighs.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~(SS)~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Grabbing a bite to eat at a local diner, sitting outside.

Ed - "So how much Aerugian did Ari teach you?"

Riza - "And here I thought you were still studying Alchemy. You wanna pick up on a new hobby, Ed?" (he only looks at her, unknowning if he should risk a bullet or not, she laughs) She's taught me only the basics, greetings and goodbyes, as well as some quotes."

Ed smirks. "Like follow your heart, not the road." She nods her head. "Maybe I should ask her to teach me as well?"

Riza - "She won't do it. You'll have to earn her trust."

Ed frowns. "Well, that makes sense."

Riza - "So Edward? Where does this Roxy live at?" He stares at her wide-eyed.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~(SS)~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Roxy - "Well anyway. That Fuhrer dude said you were adopted. So what is your new mom's and dad's name?"

Ari - "I was adopted by a single mother, Roxy."

Roxy - "Ok? So what's her name? And does she have any relatives?"

Ari sighs, then looks up at Roxy. "Just hear me out. I think its best for the both of us to first rebuild our relationship together. And then I will take you to go meet her. She's a private woman, Roxy. Please respect her wishes. Especially for everything that she has done for me."

Roxy sighs looking at Ari, then replying. "So... in other words, she's loaded. As in rich-"

Ari - "Dammit Roxy! Were you even listening?"

Roxy - "Ard, alright. Jeez Marisol! I'm just messing with ya! (She sighs) I heard you. I get it." A knock on the door startles the both of them. Roxy stands up and opens the door. "Ah! Lenny! My man! What's up bruh!

Lenny - "Hey chicka. Any luck with finding your friend? I just seen Eddie walking with some hot blonde chick. They looked like they were on there way here."

Roxy - "Thanks for the heads up. Come on in." When he enters, he notices Ari looking at him.

Lenny - "So who's that girl? Hold on, wait a minute. You look familiar. Were you here in Table City last year with some Drachmian looking fellow?"

Ari nods her head. "Yes, I was. He was my bodyguard at that time and his name was Niko."

Roxy - "Wait a minute you have bodyguards! Is it because of what happened to ya, Ari?"

Ari - "That does have a part in why I have them. Riza is my bodyguard this time."

Lenny - "This is your friend? The one that you've been looking for?" Roxy nods her head. "Its nice to meet you, I'm Lenny." Him and Ari shake hands.

Roxy - "So how long are you planning to stay in Table City anyway, Ari?"

Ari - "My boss gave me three days off. Also Riza as well."

Roxy - "Where do you work at over there anyway, Marisol?"

Ari - "I'm a personal messenger for the Fuhrer of Amestris." Roxy and Lenny just stare at her, not saying anything. "Look Roxy. No one made me do anything. No I haven't killed anyone and I'm not going to. Yes I am licensed to carry a gun though and Riza was the one who trained me on how to use it. No I'm not out for fame or money. I just- I just wanna make a difference, you know."

Roxy - "Is it a difference so that Amestrians can use war an a alibi to gain Table City? Did you forget that it was one of them who took you away from us in the first place?"

Ari stands up. "That's not the difference that I'm talking about, Roxy! Dammit! The former Fuhrer of Amestris, King Bradley. He was the who encourage wars, loved to start battles and abruse his power to do what ever the hell he pleased. The Fuhrer that is in Amestris now, doesn't want that. It's not his priority. He'd rather make peace treaties than wars. I want to be there when people are no longer scared of their fears and they no longer have to hide underground to feel safe. If I can be an inspiration to at least one person and be the change, that courageousness that someone looks up to for hope. That's why I joined. I'm not using false solutions or taking any short cuts just to become a hero."

Roxy - "Christ Janine. Seriously?"

Lenny - "So you're determined not to shed blood, but to provide water to those who need it."

Ari - "Yes! That's exactly what I'm talking about! Damn that's a very good metaphor. Nice one, Lenny." He smiles and nods.

Roxy smiles. "It's nice to see that even tho you went thru all of that bullshit, you still have your pure heart, Ari."

Ari laughs, leaving Roxy and Lenny looking at each other. "I have a Metatronic Heart, Roxy." She says smiling as looks out the window. Her eyes turn blue just like The Metatronic Stone around her neck.

End of Chapter 13

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~(A.N.)~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I already written the entire story arc of Ari's backstory with Adam. I plan on releasing it little by little. It'll get very graphic in certain parts. So I've decided to take my time with it.

Tiana is not based off of anyone that I personally know. She's just a fictional character in this story. Roxy and Nicole are inspired by two great young ladies that I personally do know and admire greatly.

When Marisol uses a high percentage of the stone's power, her eyes turn to the same blue as the stone's primary color. Yes some of her life force is used when it occurs.