Since today (9/5) is my birthday, I decided to post not one but two chapters! Enjoy!
Tango - a military term for an enemy.
Foliage is another word for plant.
Alchemist Chronicles
Chapter 23 - Divided Foliages
The day after the wedding. Inside of the Rockbell family home, Janine gets herself ready to head back to Central. Al knocks on the guest room door. "Come in." She replies. Al opens the door. "You ready?" "Yeah." She grabs her bag, putting it over her shoulder. "Let's go." Standing out front of the Rockbell residence along Roxy, Paninya, Mr. Garfiel, Rebecca and Sophie. Al then walks out of the house.
Sophie - "Thank you Pinako for letting us stay here. You're too very kind." Every one of them respectfully bows to her.
Pinako - "You're quite welcome. All of you. Feel free to stop by again." The girls nod their heads.
Walking up the road to their grandmother's house, Ed and Winry are holding hands as she has her arms wrapped around one of his arms. Both are in smiles. Maria and Denny, who are looking back at the newlyweds.
Denny - "So the rumor is true when you get married. That glowing thing that Gracia talked about yesterday."
Maria - "Yeah, I've never seen Ed so happy like this." "Must of been a hell of a night." Jean adds in. " Riza looks back glaring at him. Jean flinches.
When they make it to the house, the girls and Al are already outside waiting for them. " Good Morning ladies and Alphonse. Good Morning Madam Pinako." Alex says, respectfully bowing to her. "That's very sweet of you, Alex." Pinako replies, smiling.
Before they head into the house to grab their luggage for their trip to Xing, Ed and Winry sneak a kiss to Pinako's cheek, who lets out a chuckle.
Awws and giggles are let out from the group of girls at what just happened. Al blushes at the scene.
Walking to the train station, they all make it back to Central by mid-morning. Roxy makes to the west train on time before it departs to West City - Table City. Before she walks onto the train, she turns around and tells Ari. "I'll try to find him for you, Ari. No promises tho." "I understand. Thank you, Roxy." Roxy pouts at Ari, then tells her. "I'll miss you." "I'll miss you too." Ari replies.
Roxy - "No pierdas la esperanza." (Don't lose hope)
Ari - "No la hare." (I won't) They hug one last time and then wave to each other as the west train is pulling out of the station.
Sophie boards the north train back to Valdora. Izumi, Sig, Mason, Paninya and Mr. Garfiel head south back to Dublith and Rush Valley respectablely.
Garfiel, who's looking out the window of the train before it leaves. "Remember, Winry dear. I can only cover you for a week, okay. You two have as much fun as you want until then." He says with a wink to the newlyweds.
Meanwhile, Ed, Winry, Al, Jerso, Zampano, Heinkel, and Darius are on the east train that will take them to where Ling, May, and Lan-Fan are at, who are already at the East City station. Roy, Riza, Jean, Kain, Breda, Falman and others stay behind in Central. Both Janine and Alex escort the family to safely to Liore for their trip through the desert.
They switch trains and make to Liore before mid-afternoon. Stopping by the Stand Owner's place for lunch, he asks Edward. "So anything new, Ed? Or are you one of those self-journeying kind of dudes now." Ed chuckles. "Nope. I already have a new journey that I'm starting on. And it's not with my brother, but with my wife."
Stand Owner - "You're Married Now? Since When?" "As of yesterday. We got married in our home town of Resembool." Ed replies. "And you didn't invite me?" "Oh, sorry." "Na, I'm just messing with ya. Congrats. Whose the lucky lady?" Ed excuses himself briefly and grabs Winry by the hand as he walks back to take his seat. "Ah, Miss Rockbell. Congradulations, to the both of you." They thank him before paying for their meal and leaving a tip.
Walking to the edge of town, May stops when she sees someone walking towards them. Ling recognizes the person. "Mao, my friend. What brings you all the way over here?"
Mao, who smirks. "I heard my fiance was in attendance of a wedding so I figured she was collecting some ideas for our own nupitals. Hello dear." He walks forward and tries to plant a kiss on May but she turns her head so he ends up kissing her on the cheek instead.
Mao steps back concernly. "Is everything alright, May dear?"
May ignores Mao and asks Ed and Winry. "Are you two ready to go? Are you as well, Alphonse-sama?"
Alex notices Al tensed reaction towards May. He then places a hand on Al's shoulder then turns to look at Mr. and Ms. Elric. "Edward and Winry Elric, would you mind if I borrowed your younger brother while you are on vacation for the time being. I'll see to it that he will be placed under the Amestrian military protection. You have my word." Ed sighs unsurely before he looks at Al.
Al then walks toward to Mao, putting his hand out towards him. "Nice to finally meet you, Mao. I'm Alphonse Elric." Mao bows first before he grabs Al's hand and shakes it. "Hello, Alphonse. My name is Mao Xianyong. I am a descendent of the Xian Clan." Al makes a welcoming smile. "Welcome to Amestris." Mao smiles back. "Thank you."
Ed turns to Ling. "Well we're ready, Let's get going then shall we?" He helps Winry onto the horse. Mao jogs over grabs their luggage from Ed. "Here, let carry this for you so you can ride with your wife." Ed and Winry thank him.
Mao then turns back to May. "May, sweetheart. Our guests are waiting to start their honeymoon. Let's not keep them waiting any longer." May turns her attention to Al.
Before May could even say anything, Al tells Alex as he turns to look at him. "Sure. I'll help you out, Colonel. But (He rubs the back of his head) I'm not sure if I'll be up to par."
Alex -"No need to feel worry some young Elric, I'll appreciate the help, regardless." AJ smiles at Al.
May looks at Al with a hurtful expression. Mao walks over and grabs her hand. She looks back at Mao. "Let's get going, May." He says.
The eleven of them (Ed, Winry, Ling, Lan-Fan, May (with Shao May), Mao, Darius, Zampano, Jerso, and Heinkel) head off into the dessert. Al, AJ and Alex wave goodbye to them until they can no longer see them.
Alex - "Well let's get going then." The three of turn around and start walking back through Liore.
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A bit further down the road, Al stops when he sees a little boy across the way. "Huh?" 'Isn't that the little boy who threw that grenade?' AJ stops as well when she notices Al sudden behavior. She then looks in the same direction he's looking at. Alex stops and turns back to them. The boy then looks up. 'It is him' Al says to himself.
Scared, the little boy starts running away from them once he sees Al. AJ and Alex look at Al concerningly. Al sighs.
Shortly when they are on the train back to Central.
AJ - "So that's the little boy that you were talking about a while back." "It would appear that he remembered you, Alphonse." Alex adds in. Sighing, Al says. "I just wonder where he got that grenade at and who taught him how to use it?" AJ and Alex look at each other, wondering about that as well.
Stepping off the train at Central Station, they make it back to the headquarters. Alex heads back to where he's station at, as AJ and Al head up to the Fuhrer's office.
AJ hears a familiar voice when she knocks and then enters the office. The first person she sees is Roy. Looking at him confused with a smirk. "Avoiding your paperwork again, I see." She says. Roy nods his head (no). "I'm saving it for you." She rolls her eyes as she enters with Al behind her.
Grumman - "Ah! Alphonse. How nice of you to stop by. I assumed that you would of went to Xing as well. Any perticuliar reason you decided to stay behind?"
Al looks down sadly for a moment. "May's fiance and our chimera friends are escorting my brother and Winry to Xing as well as Ling, Lan-Fan, and May herself."
Roy and Grumman look at him surprised. "Ohhh! Quite a surprised it must of been, my boy." Grumman says. Al sighs sadly. "Don't worry about it, young one. There are still other cute girls out there. (Al's face turns red) Ask for their numbers and date the ones that interest you. Don't wait too long, though. The girl that you may ignore may also be the one you are meant to be with. Isn't that right, Janine?"
Blushing profusely, she nervously replies. "Uh u-um." Turning to Roy with a 'What the hell was that!' expression. Roy chuckles a bit.
Grumman - "Which reminds me, Alphonse. Did Colonel Armstrong give you the message?"
Al raises an eyebrow. "Message?" He then looks at AJ, who's eyes are closed and her hands are at her side. "No. But he did ask for my help."
Roy - "Hence the message, Al."
Grumman - "I recently sent Colonel Armstrong out for an inspection in New Hiessgart. I was not pleased with what he reported back me when he returned."
Al - "What happened?"
Grumman - "It seems that another alchemist has established themself within the city. The Colonel also reported seeing more chimeras there than what was last reported under Bradley's reign. That is where I am asking for your assistance, Alphonse Elric. I understand that you and FullMetal are most familiar with the previous situation that happened there."
Al sighs sadly thinking about Armony again. Before he could give his reply.
Grumman sighs as well. "But unfortuately your brother retired from the military, is currently on his honeymoon with his wife and can no longer use alchemy. I cannot ask for his help at all. That is why I am asking you. You will be compensated for your help of course."
Al - "When do we leave?" His answer surprises everyone in the room. After a chuckle out of the Fuhrer. "Tomorrow morning is when all of you will leave."
Exiting the Fuhrer's office and making it back to Roy's office, he goes over the plan with Al, AJ, and Alex (once he arrives shortly after)
At the end of the day, everyone parts ways for the night. "Al, do you have a place to stay the night?" Roy asks him.
AJ - "Yeah. I asked him to help me out with something, so I figured he could crash at my place for the night as well."
Al - "Well there's that and it's dark out so I offered to walk her home." The both of them wave goodbye as they head over to AJ's place.
After diner, AJ brings out the paperwork about the Ibis and the both of them go through it until they call it a night.
The next morning, making it to the office. Al and AJ arrive at the same time as Jean, Breda, and Hawkeye. Good mornings are exchanged as Roy finally enters. The four of them leave soon afterward, heading over to the train.
Making it to Old Heissgart first, they open the gates. Alot of the houses that were once there are now leveled. Only a few still remain standing. and even they are heavily damaged. The hydrant that his brother made to put out the fire is almost entirely gone with just the bottom part remaining. Al can't believe his eyes.
Al - "What the?" "I believe the new chimeras are responsible for what has happened here. Who ever this alchemist is, leaves destruction behind them as a warning." Alex replies.
AJ - "Or marks of territory." Everyone looks at her unsurely. "What? Oh, come on! The signs are all-" She stops, turning her head directly to the middle after she hears what she believes is a growl.
Roy looks at her questionably. "Janine?" "I thought I heard something." The rest of them look at the middle as well. After a few minutes, Al looks back at her. "Are you s-"
Boom!
A smoke cloud forms in the distance of Old Heissgart as a chimera's roar is heard. Startling everyone at first, Janine pulls out her gun, loading it up and preparing herself. Both Alex and Roy are set and ready to fight. Al claps his hands, pressing them against a pole and creates a sword.
AJ whistles softly. "That was seriously cool, Al." She says smiling. Smirking, he says. "Thanks, I learned it from my brother."AJ then looks at Roy, awaiting orders.
Roy - "Colonel, I want you and the Sargent to take east. I and Al will take the west. Let's get moving."
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Walking through the first part of the middle and heading in each direction, Alex and AJ make it to the upper suburbs within the city. The chimera's roar is louder this time. Alex places his hands on her shoulders when he sees her flinch at the other roar. "Relax." He whispers to her. She then takes a deep breath to calm herself.
Roy and Al, on the other hand, are walking through a street, Roy notices something on a wall. Stopping and taking a quick glance at it before continuing on. When they pass Wilhelm's old house is when they hear the chimera's roar.
Making it to the wastelands, they turn around and see Al and Roy running up to catch up to them. "Anything yet?" Roy asks the both of them. They nod their heads. Al then points to the alleyway that leads to the lakeside.
Heading through the south to the north, They notice the damage around them. "Jeez, this place is trashed. What does the Fuhrer want to do with this place, anyway?" Al asks them.
Every one of them stays silent. They make it to the north of the lakeside, Al stops in the middle before they passed the stream. "Well, at least this place still looks the same."
AJ notices something. "You know. Is it me or did it just get a little too quiet all of a sudden? Like I don't even hear the birds chirpping anymore." Roy agrees. "No, you're right. It is too quiet."
Al looks back at her confused. "Where are you hearing birds at?" AJ then turns to Alex. "Hey uh Colonel. How many from last time?" He replies. "A dozen. No, wait probably two to three times that. Why? Did you just think of something?"
A few debris from the mountain top lightly falls into the water. AJ looks up at the top of the waterfall. "Tango." "Huh?" Al says confusedly. Roy and Alex are both looking in the same direction that she's looking at. Roy tells him. "Look up, Al." He looks up and spots the figure himself.
Al - "Who are you?" The guy laughs. "I thought it was you. Glad to see that you finally got your body back, Alphonse." Al stands there in shock recognizing the guy's face. "No way." He whispers.
The guy jumps down from the cliff, landing right in front of the group.
? - "Didn't expect to see you back here again. One of the last things that I heard about you and your brother, was about the both of you taking care of that alchemist lady and her goons over in New Hessigart years back. It's good to see you again, Al."
Al smiles. "It's nice to see you again as well ... Fletcher." Fletcher smirks. "So what brings you all here? I recognize the big guy from before. Weren't you here not too long ago?"
Alex - "Indeed I was. Do you know who is creating these chimeras and what are their plans?" Fletcher nods his head. "No. I only came here to look for someone."
Al - "By the way where is your brother, Russell?" "I could ask you the same about yours. Still getting into trouble, I assume?" Fletcher asks. Al nods his head. "Nope. He's on his honeymoon right now in Xing with my new sister-in-law." Fletcher jaw drops. "ARE YOU SERIOUS!" Al laughs at Fletcher's reaction.
Roy - "Hate to cut the reunion short, Al. But we have things to do."
Al sighs. "Well, it was nice seeing you again, Fletcher. I gotta go." Al starts to turn and walk away. "Wait!" Fletcher yells. "You guys don't mind if I tag along?" Roy, who looks at Fletcher unsurely, asks him. "Just answer this question." "Sure, a-alright." "We heard a chimera's roar in the city but didn't see it. Care to explain?"
Fletcher - "It's a chameleon." They all look at him surprised. Fletcher sighs before he explains. "A few years ago after when that light in the sky happened. Me and Russell got into an arguement. He wanted to continue to this desert city to the east called Siam-Sid but I wanted to continue south."
Al looks at Fletcher with a stern expression. "Don't go there, Fletcher. Stay away. Trust me." Fletcher looks at Al confused. "He's right. Heading there will do you no good. Only ruins remain. Nothing more." Alex chimes in as well. "So where is this brother your's at?" Roy asks him.
Fletcher looks down sadly. "He's the person that you're looking for, right?" AJ says. Fletcher nods his head to her. "Who are the rest of you, anyway?" Fletcher asks. Roy tells him. "The young lady with us is Sargent Janine Rambo. The big guy is Colonel Alex Louis Armstrong. I'm Lieutenant General Roy Mustang. I am also a state alchemist known by the name, Flame."
Fletcher - "Nice to meet all of you. I'm Fletcher, Fletcher Tringham." He shakes their hands.
Roy - "You didn't answer me about that chameleon chimera? What do you know about it?" Fletcher takes a deep breath. "I lost track of Russell when we made it Bord'wan. I didn't follow him in. Didn't like what I saw." Al looks at Fletcher with a stern expression. "Continue." Roy says. "Anyway. I made it to New Heissgart after running into a girl alchemist. Said her name was Lyra." Al looks at Fletcher surprised, recognizing her name.
"Get to the point, Fletcher. We don't have all day." Roy tells him. "She told me about the chameleon chimera. Said it was made to protect it's master and the city. Didn't tell me who though. Said they were taking over the city by running these three elemental alchemists outta town. I've only fought one of them and he was controlling a suit of armor as well." "Which one?" Al asks. "He was using electricity against me." "Good. Now that that's settle. Let's go." Roy says.
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Walking into New Heissgart, they make it to Central Plaza. Fletcher takes them to the Station Plaza after putting the crank in. Al can't help but smile at the memory when both Ed and him had to chase those thugs for it. Making to the fountain in the middle, Al sits on the edge of it to take a break. Sighing at the same time AJ walks over to sit next to him and they start chatting for a bit.
Roy and Alex look around the area before moving to the big double doors. He calls over both Al and Fletcher while ordering AJ to stand guard at the entrance. Finally getting the doors open, all of them head over to gardens.
Fletcher - "So Al?" "Yeah?" "Since Ed has a wife now, do you at least have a girlfriend, hm?" Al blushes greatly before glancing at AJ as she's whispers something in Alex's ear, earning a chuckle out of Alex himself before Al looks back at Fletcher. "I'm taking my time regarding that. And you?" Fletcher blushes lightly. "Yeah well, haven't found a cute girl ya know?" The both of them sigh depressionly.
Fletcher looks at AJ briefly and whispers. "What about her? Janine's her name, right? Do you know if she has a boyfriend? She is kinda cute." Al glares at Fletcher. "What?" He asks. "Leave her alone." Al whispers back. "Oh, so it's my fault for why you haven't made a move yet?" "T- That's not it. It's- It's just complicated." Al says sadly. Fletcher looks at Al with worry.
Al then asks Fletcher. "I'm guessing that you two no longer live in Xenotime, huh?" Fletcher nods his head. "No. After when they found out about us lying about who we were and although they did forgave us, they eventually asked us to leave even though both Elisa and Belsio begged them not to. We were travellers, just taking odd jobs here and there until brother went to take a 'quick walk' as he called it. Came back differently." "Differently?" "Yeah. He started going on and on about wanting to jump back into the research that we had on the red stone and all of that. I just wanted us to find us an alchemy teacher that would teach us how to just better with our alchemy and with ourselves. Kind of like the way the both of you train with your teacher." Al laughs. "Trust me, Fletcher. You and Russell would of gotten your butts whooped with our teacher." Al and his other friends laugh.
When they make to the Alchemyworks Gardens, Al notices the poorly patched up hole in the wall where that huge chimera crashed through it. AJ, who is standing next to Alex and Roy with Al and Fletcher behind them, when the chameleon jumps down, landing in the middle of the area. AJ points her gun at it as Alex has his fists up. It then turns invisible as it surries behind some bushes and slowly walks around the plants.
Roy - "Damn it! Janine, if you see it, fire! Armstrong, I want y-" Before Roy is able to finish that sentence, the creature charges at Armstrong, ramming itself into him and up against a right wall in the gardens. Alex groans and rests a knee on the ground, catching his breath as the beast back jumps away from him, it then turns it's attention to AJ. She starts shooting at it.
Fletcher claps his hands with his gloves still on, creating thorns out of the ground as they grab onto the beast's legs and tail, binding to the ground. It sheeches in pain. Then uses its tongue to grab AJ, wrapping it around her arms and waist, forcing her to fall to the ground. It begins to drag her towards it as Al runs over and cuts it's tongue with his sword, saving her.
The chimera screams in more pain. AJ rips the reminits of the tongue off of herself before Al helps her up. She thanks him. The creature breaks the thorns and corrects itself. Armstrong transmutes some rocks into shard spears, aiming them at the beast and hitting it as Roy snaps his fingers, burning the skin of the beast.
The beast who is now serverly wounded and panting. It turns its head to the side when it hears someone coming through the damaged wall. "That's enough. All of you have had your fun." A man says as he walks around the chimera and stands next to it.
Fletcher's eyes widen with happiness when he recognizes the guy's face. "Russell!" He shouts. Everyone stares at him with surprised looks. Russell looks at his brother with a dissatify expression. "How disappointing. And here I thought you were once someone I could call a brother." Fletcher's smile drops as he begins to frown and runs towards his brother.
Russell claps his hands and places one against the beast and himself, transporting them away from there. Fletcher stops when he reaches where his brother and the beast were just at. "No! NO! NO! NO!" Fletcher says as he looks around himself, confused and unsure of what to do next. He then jumps over the broken pieces of the wall, running away from them.
Roy announces after making a decision. "Let's head back and report to the Fuhrer. I think we just found our alchemist."
Al sighs after looking in the direction to where Fletcher ran off to. AJ pats his back as they walk away.
End of Chapter 23