Alchemist Chronicles

Chapter 14 - Oath

Roxy tosses her arms in the air. "What the hell does that mean!? Wait, why are your eyes blue instead of brown?"

Another knock at the door distracts them out their conversation. Lenny puts his hand up, stopping Roxy. "I'll get it." He says as he walks over and opens the door.

Ed - "Hey Lenny. Didn't expect to see you here-"

Roxy - "Eddie! Don't be a stranger! Get in here!" Lenny moves to the side, letting both Ed and Riza in.

Lenny - "Hello Miss. I'm Lenny, I own an automotive shop in the area. Stop by sometime if you can." He puts his hand out and she shakes it.

Riza - "Thank you. That's very kind of you." She then sees Janine. "It's good to see you in one piece, AJ. I was worried about you back there."

AJ - "You worry too much, boss. I'm staying strong just like you've always told to me too." She winks at Riza as Riza nods to her.

Roxy - "So if she told to jump off a bridge, you would do it?"

AJ nods her head. "No, but if Riza told me to shoot someone." She pulls out her gun and turns off the safety mode, reloading it. "Then I would do it."

Lenny - "What about you Ed, would you-"

Ed - "I would definitely do it, no hesitation."

Riza looks at him and laughs. Then pats him on the head. "That's a good boy,... Black-Hayate." AJ and Riza burst out laughing, leaving Ed boiling mad, looking away from them.

AJ calms herself down. "Oh my gosh, Riza! You are so awesome!" Riza thanks her for the compliment and apologizes to Ed.

Roxy - "Well anyway, uh Lenny could you go grab us some grub, I'm starvs. Oh and take Ed with you, he could use a walk." They leave. She waits a few minutes, then says. "So Riza, how long have you known Ari?"

Riza looks at AJ, AJ nods at her. "It's alright Hawkeye I told her about that and the kidnapping." She then looks at Roxy. "I was there in 1909 when Ari was held hostage by ..." Riza continues. "Adam."

Roxy - "Yeah, Ari told me all of that. I uh-I wanted to thank you and some dude named Roy for helping her through everything and always being there for her."

Riza smiles. "Well, you're welcome, Roxy."

Roxy - "So who is this Roy fella anyway, Bodyguard?"

Riza smirks and laughs. "He's my superior officer and a Lt General in the Amestrian Military." Riza then looks at Ari. AJ nods her head (no).

Roxy looks at the both of them. "Is there something else you need to tell me, Ari?"

AJ - "I told you. Let's rebuild our relationship first then I'll introduce you to my adopted mother."

Roxy - "You know something tells me that this Roy dude and your adopted mom are on the same page in your diary back home."

AJ - "Pa leese, Roxy. I haven't had a diary in years. All of my secrets I keep in here." She points to her brain.

Roxy - "I guess that makes two of us." They smirk at each other.

After dinner, they all call it a night. The following morning, both Roxy and Lenny leave for work. AJ and Ed borrow one of Lenny's cars from his place to take care of a few things. Riza stays behind at the shop.

When the afternoon rolls around when Roxy makes it back home. She opens her door and sees both Riza and Lenny sitting at the kitchen table, chatting away. Then she notices how clean the house looks from top to bottom. Ari coming walking to her. "Hey there. How's it going?"

Roxy smiles at Ari, walking up to her and pulls her into a hug. "Thanks for everything, Ari. I mean it." "Your welcome," Ari replies. Then Ed comes out of the bathroom wearing a towel covering only his waist after his shower. He then heads over to the guest bedroom to get dressed, not realizing Roxy and Riza staring at him. Once he closes the door...

Roxy turns and looks at Riza. "Damn Riza. Did you see that? Why the hell didn't I jump on that when I had the chance."

Riza smirks. "He's definitely not little anymore."

Roxy - "Ain't that the truth." They both then look at Ari.

Ari closes her eyes, nodding. "I'm not listening. Ain't none of my business." She then walks away.

Roxy grins. "Same old Ari."

The next day, Ari and Riza head over to Lenny's auto shop. He sees them approaching. "Hello ladies, what can I do for ya? Are there any problems with the car, Janine?"

AJ - "Nope. It's working just fine. But I do have a question?"

Lenny - "Ask away."

AJ - "What happened to the bridge that connected Schuylkill Falls to Table City?"

Lenny sighs. "You're better off asking Roxy about that. She'll have a better answer for ya." They leave right afterward. Later on, that night when Roxy comes home. She walks over to Ari tapping her on the shoulder.

Roxy - "My bedroom. We need to talk." Ari sighs, standing up and following Roxy. Once she closes the door. "So Lenny said you stopped by earlier," Ari replies. "Yeah. About the bridge." Roxy sighs. "Just so we are clear, this isn't why I'm pissed off at Ti. There's a whole other reason for that." "Ok." "Good. Now when Tiana had escaped, leaving me behind in Table City, she was chased by a few soldiers. Don't know if they were Amestrian or Cretian. One of them threw a grenade on it. Neither side has tried to fix it since." "Damn. That's crazy." Ari says. She then lays down on the bed.

Ari - "I gotta leave tomorrow."

Roxy - "It's gonna suck without you here." "Yeah," Ari replies. Roxy lays down next to her. "You know what?" Roxy asks. "What?" "Even after all the crap that the both of us went through. You're right, we are still alive." "Yup," Ari replies. A few minutes pass by. Roxy sits up and stands, dragging Ari by her arm to the bathroom. "Come on! Move it!" Shoving Ari in the bathroom, closing the door behind her. Then she runs over to Riza, grabbing her by her wrist.

Riza, with one her hand on her gun holster and the other locked with Roxy's wrist. "What do you think you're doing?" She asks Roxy, who then whispers in her ear. The both of them head over to the bathroom. All three began to wash up together. Once in the shower...

This is what Ed hears all the way from the kitchen. "Come on Marisol! Let me see how big you've gotten." "Don't say it like that!" "I don't see why you're being all shy when we always take showers together at HQ." "Damn Riza! You got some nice tits!" "Thank you, Roxy." Roxy's laughter is heard next. "Aww Ari, they're so small!" "Shut up!" "Give her some credit Roxy, she's still a growing girl." "Alright, alright." A few minutes pass by. Roxy asks. "So... Riza, since I go both ways. ... Can I touch your boobs?" Ed faints with a nosebleed.

Eventually, the girls finish and one by one they exit the bathroom. Ari and Roxy both head over to her room. Riza walks to the sofa, where Ed is. She taps him on the shoulder and when he turns his head sideways, she whispers to him. "Hey, Ed." " Hm." She tells him. "You didn't hear or witness anything." He replies. "I didn't see or hear anything. I wasn't here. Got it." She nods her head, walking back to Roxy's room.

The next day, before Riza and Ari, leave for the train. Roxy slips a letter into Ari's shoulder bag. She then gathers up her sister's stuff, placing it by the front door.

When they finally make it to the station. Roxy hugs Janine. "I'm gonna miss ya, Marisol." She frowns, Ari pouts back. "I'm gonna miss ya too Roxy." When they pull apart, Roxy starts to get teary-eyed. Ari gets emotional as well. "Aww come here tuxedo." She says, pulling Roxy back into a hug. "My little bowtie," Roxy replies smiling.

Once on the train looking out the window. Riza asks Ed. "So Edward, don't you have something you were supposed to do?" He rubs the back the head, looking to the side. "Yeah, yeah. I know Riza." The train whistle blows. AJ stands with her arms leaning on the window pane. "Hey, Roxy!" Marisol yells. She looks at Ari. "Està amaneciendo. No pierdas la fe." (The sun is rising. Don't lose faith.) Roxy looks at her flabbergasted. The train begins to depart, AJ then sits back down.

Roxy yells back but the sounds coming from the train make it impossible for her words to reach Janine once the train starts moving. Once the train is at a distance, Roxy starts walking back to Ed as he pulls something out of his pocket.

Ed - "So just to extend surprises for today. This is for you, Roxy." He hands her an invitation letter from Grumman himself as well as her passport. "From the Fuhrer of Amestris himself," Ed whispers to her.

Roxy - 'You're an ass, Eddie." He shrugs his shoulders. "I've been called worse." He replies.

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Sitting across from each other, Riza asks. "She didn't know that you speak Aerugian, did she?"

AJ - "I didn't tell her everything. Don't get me wrong I love her but I need to rebuild my trust and relationship her again. We're not kids anymore. Two completely different state of minds, ya know." Riza sighs. She knows that even though Janine is 16 years old and will be 17 in a few weeks. Being a military officer will cause anyone to grow up rapidly. She'd seen that first hand in Ishval and watching Ed grow up before her eyes. From a scrawny 12-year-old boy to an 18 year old man, who many saw as a hero.

AJ then opens her shoulder bag and sees the letter. "What the?" She pulls it out as Riza sits next to her. She opens it. It reads.

To Marisol:

First: Thank you for the house. I can't believe you thought of it. Haha! Anyway uh, it means a lot that you didn't forget our oath after all these years.

Second: The main reason why I'm pissed at Ti is because when I went to go visit her in jail. Her word got out saying you were dead from what happen over in Amestris a few years back from that red light or whatever the fuck that was. Not to mention she's one the reasons why your real father is in the state that he's in now. Your family lost that house. All of ya'll stuff. Gone. Trashed. Pictures and everything. Check your bag. I hid your parent's wedding pic in there somewhere. My bad for breaking into your house and taking it but with all of that shit going on between Crayton and Borgan, I got scared for you, baby sis. Aight.

Third: Speaking of your parents. Your real mom's name is Nara Rambo. Your real dad's name is Medesto Matos.

By the way: I took Ti's name off the lease. 'can't blame her for doing that' (AJ says to herself) She doesn't know that her name was on it. Nicole's is still on there. Haven't yet told her about it. Oh and she's definitely mad at you!

AJ sighs. "Damn it, Tori. You couldn't tell me this when I was there." She goes through her bag and eventually finds the picture. She starts getting teary-eyed when she looks at it. "All this time. All this frickin time I forgot about the both of you. I-I'm so s-sorry." She begins to cry as she covers her face with one of her hands and the other holds the picture against her chest. Riza pulls her into a hug.

A few minutes go by and she wipes her eyes. She excuses herself and leaves to get some fresh air. When she returns and sits down, Riza reaches over and holds her hand. AJ looks at her and thanks her.

AJ - "You know, When I was just out there. I remembered that my mother Nara died when I was seven." Riza looks at her sadly. "It was a disease that took her away from me. ... Roxy held my hand for the entire funeral, never letting me go." AJ leans back and stares out the window.

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When they finally make back to Central, AJ heads back to her apartment while Riza heads over to HQ. Walking into the office, no one is around and for that, she's grateful for. As she leaves the office and is waiting for the elevator. When the doors open, Roy is on the other side.

Roy delightfully says. "Well hello there Miss! Won't you please join me?" He extends his hand towards her.

Riza nods her head. "Never mind, I'll just take the stairs." Before she walks away at all, he reaches and grabs her hand, pulling into the elevator as the door closes. She pushes herself off of him. "Just What In Hell Do You Think You're Doing!" She yells facing him.

Roy, completely ignoring her, asks. "So when did the both of you get back? Speaking of her, Where is she?"

Riza - "Home. Leave her be. She needs some time to herself."

Roy - "So I take it she met her friend over there." The doors to the elevator open up when it reaches the 1st floor. She nods her head. "What happened then?"

Riza exits then turns around to salute the Lt General. "It was nice talking to you, sir. Have a nice night." And with that, she leaves and exits the building.

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Roy knocks on her apartment door. The door opens slightly, AJ says."Hello ... Ugh What!"

Roy raises an eyebrow. "Well, it's nice to see you too." She frowns, then walks away from the door. "Hey, talk to me. What happened?" He helps himself in, then closes the door behind him. AJ starts walking over to her room, with her back still to him. "Janine." She doesn't respond. "Marisol." She stops just a few feet from her bedroom door.

Turning around, she says. "I know my real parent's names." He stays silent. She sighs. "I'm not mad at you or her or anyone really. I'm just pissed off with myself. Like why? Why did I let myself forget about them? Why didn't I remember anything about them until Roxy brought them up?" She lays her back against the hallway wall, facing the other wall on the other side. She then looks at him. "Can't I just be by myself? Please?" He then leaves without saying anything.

When she returns to work, she heads straight to the Fuhrer's office who then sends her on a few runs post her trip to Creta.

Ed and Roxy's head straight to Grumman's office. Once Janine makes it back to HQ and drops off the paperwork, she heads home. The next morning, however...

As AJ is walking out of the elevator, she hears a commotion coming from Mustang's office. She then knocks on the door. Havoc answers and opens the door for her.

Havoc - "Well hello there, little ferret. Are you lost?" He rubs the top of her head. She removes his hand forcefully from her head.

She calms herself then asks. "Can I-" He interrupts her.

Havoc - "No you cannot have a cigarette." She glares at him.

Roy - "Let her in Havoc." Jean moves to the side. She still looks at him, mumbling to herself. Then she turns her head and sees Roxy sitting at the couch with Ed and Al next to her.

Roxy - "Holà hermana!" (Hello sister!) Janine stares at her with a confused expression.

End of Chapter 14

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

Yes the song by Cher Lloyd ft Becky G "Oath" inspired a few things in this chapter.

Nara and Medesto are based off my real parents who have passed away.