This chapter is inspired by Emily Osment's song called "The Cycle." off of her 2nd studio album called "Fight or Flight."
Corniche R, Royce is a character from the 1st Fullmetal Alchemist video game for the Game Boy Advance. "Stray Rondo." Prequel to "Sonata Of Memories."
Thank you, Roxy, for including those little tidbits, sis.
Alchemist Chronicles
Chapter 50 - The Cycle
Hakuro walks into Central Headquarters and heads for the elevator, noticing Foxworth almost immediately once he walks in.
Hakuro salutes his fellow officer. "Good Morning, Dennis."
Dennis Foxworth, who in turn, returns the salute. "To you as well, General." He replies as the doors to the elevator close and it starts to ascend.
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Roy, who is sitting at his desk, staring at the pile of folders that Janine left for him to sign in regards to several recent military affairs with both Xing and Aerugo.
Roy sighs as he grabs the first folder and starts signing through each one, one by one at a time.
Once the evening rolls around, he leans back in his chair, takes a breath of relief then turns to Hawkeye, asking. "Any word yet from either of them." She nods her head, adding. "The both of them certainly did seem timorous before the send-off. I hope the Fuhrer knows what he's doing."
Roy sighs heavily. "Did it really have to be them out of everyone else?" Just then a thought comes to mind. Roy looks at Riza just as she looks back at him.
Riza quickly changes the subject, asking him. "Have you told her yet?"
Roy - "Hm?" He shakes his head afterwards. "No. I haven't told her yet and it shouldn't be a concern of yours."
Riza - "And what if she finds out through the roots?" Roy raises an eyebrow as she continues. "What if she also finds out about him or what really pertained to your blindness, General. Of course, I know my place sir, but-"
"I'll tell her when I'm ready in due time. That is all, Colonel." He quickly replies, cutting her off. He then returns to the layed spreadsheet in front of him, staring at it curiously.
A knock at the door takes him out of focus and he heads to it.
Roy opens the door and much to his surprise.
Hakuro - "Well hello there Lt General. Good morning."
Roy - "To you as well, Hakuro."
Hakuro - "May I come in and have a seat?"
Roy - "For what purpose?"
Hakuro - "It was suggested to me by Foxworth earlier that if I have any questions about several recent events, I should ask you about it and you would provide me with the answers in mind."
Roy sighs and replies. "Very well then." He steps to the side and lets him in.
As Hakuro takes a seat, he asks. "So how far along is the Ishval renovation proceedings coming along? I also heard of talks with Xing in establishing a railroad system between both countries through the desert is in the works."
Roy - "Don't know much about the talks with Xing but about Ishval, everything is going smoothly."
Hakuro - "That's good to hear. And our agreement with Aerugo?" "Still in the basics. Do you have any ideas that you could express in regards to our treaty with them?" Roy asks. "Since I do not speak their tongue, I feel as though my suggestions would fall on deaf ears. At any rate, I'm also wondering if Drachma would extend an olive branch sometime soon."
Roy - "Who knows if that meeting will ever take place or who will be present at it. I think it's more important to focus on what is currently at the helm."
Hakuro - "Good point. Well, we'll see hopefully (Hakuro then stands up) and it nice talking to you, Mustang." "Likewise, Hakuro." Both men then shake hands and Roy closes the door behind the other man once he leaves.
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The next morning...
Standing in front of the Table City Train Station, Ed and AJ who are with a group of four other soldiers, stare in a trance at a distance in the direction of the Manor, reminiscing of their memories from within the Manor.
Hakuro slowly walks up behind them and asks. "So the both of you are finally ready to head over there then, I assume?" Ed and AJ turn and look at him, as well as the other soldiers. "Your choice is here, Major. Get to it." Hakuro adds as he walks away from him. Ed stares at him, demurely before he sighs and walks over to the person walking out of the nearby post.
? spots him and shrieks with excitement, running over to him, pulling him into a hug. "Edward! Hey!" Ed smiles back. "Glad to see you too, Cony!"
AJ then walks over and introduces herself with her hand out. "Hi. I'm Sargent Janine Rambo. It's nice to meet you. Ed told me that you are an old friend of his from their journey." "Old?" Cony looks at Ed with a raised eyebrow and a scowl. "Really, Ed! I'm only twenty-one!"
Ed glares back at her. "And still as loud and dramatic as ever!" Gasping then turning her head back to AJ. Shaking AJ's hand. "Hey, I'm Corniche R, Royce. I am also a state alchemist named the Tuning Alchemist. You must be the Fuhrer's personal messenger I've heard about. So I'm confused. Why are you here?"
AJ - "The Fuhrer himself chose me for this mission and Ed. Who, he, in turn, chose you." "And yet I feel like I'm gonna regret it sooner than later," Ed adds, looking away from Cony.
Cony glares at Ed as he glares back at her, fiercely. AJ chuckles briefly before she turns to walk over to Wright, who is at the post station, about a quarter from the West District, saluting.
AJ - "Ma'am, we're ready to go." Wright salutes back. "Very well then."
She then calls for the other two. "Major Elric and Major Royce." They immediately head over and salute to her. "I want all of you to report anything and everything that you run into down there. Dead or alive to either me or Hakuro. I will be joining you momentarily after clearance from the Fuhrer but don't get hasteful and reckless. I don't want either of you to get hurt... again." All of them nod their heads.
Ama - "Another thing I'd like to add that the Fuhrer insisted on you, Fullmetal. Being the only with the task of collecting any information in regards to the-"
Hakuro - "Fullmetal already knows this, Colonel. No need to repeat what was already ordered." Hakuro raises an eyebrow at the same time he smirks at AJ. "Foxworth is expected to join us as well, shortly. Hope you will welcome him like always, Rambo." Hakuro tells her with a sly smirk.
AJ glares at Hakuro, replying. "A new day is dawning real soon, Major General. So I'll be glad too." 'Settle in state, Ari.' Blue tells her. Cony looks at Ed, noticing his fixed stare at Hakuro as well.
Tapping him on his shoulder breaking him out of his concentrated fix, Ed looks back at her. "What?" He asks, looking back at her.
Cony - "So what's the deal?"
Ed - "There's nothing to it. He's being an asshole. And that's that." Cony who still has her eyebrow raised then looks at Janine. Noticing her glare at Hakuro as well. Cony then sighs.
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Ed, AJ, and Cony, along with four other soldiers reach the front of the Manor. The Manor itself had since collapsed due to the damage from the fire as well as the fighting that previously happened, leaving the only entrance that leads to the basement visible but guarded by military personnel.
Standing in front of the opened hatchway, Ed leads the way, walking in first, followed by AJ, Cony and the other four soldiers.
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Several hours later, Al walks out of the train. Grabbing their bags as Winry exits the train as well. Walking over to the house in which Janine (still legally owns as since Table City is apart of Amestris, minors can't sign over property since they are underage although both her and Roxy have already started the paperwork to switch ownership.)
Making it to the house, Roxy opens the door, smiling. "About time! Ari said you both may visit sooner than later."
Al raises an eyebrow. "When?" "Don't worry about it, dawg. Just glad that y'all made it." Walking out she grabs one of the two suitcases and welcomes them inside. Once inside, Winry helps herself to the sofa. Taking a sigh of relief, she collapses and lays down on the sofa, falling asleep quickly.
As Al and Roxy are sitting at the dining room table, she asks him. "So how's Ari been? Didn't say much last night over the phone." "She's doing better, Roxy. But... " Al replies then sighs as he stares at the mug in between his hands.
Roxy - "But what?" "She's been thinking about her dad lately. Especially since her trip to both Ridge and Falls. She even told me that she doesn't know what to do if she sees him again. Do you know how much guilt she carries around because of her last words to him?" Al tells her as Roxy sighs sadly as she looks away.
Al continues. "I mean I get it. She knows and understands what she did and said was wrong. But if he really is out there, then where do we began to find him? Do you have any idea where to start, Roxy?"
With Roxy's silence lingering on, Al then asks. "If you know something, you need to tell her."
Roxy - "What if they lied to her?"
Al - "Huh? Who?"
Roxy - "The old block. Whoever she spoke to."
Al - "You think so?"
Roxy - "Maybe?"
Al - "Why do you think that? What if he's in either city? Or maybe what if he's down in slums here. Or maybe he's in Oakland? but then again how did he make it over there? Who helped him?" Al nervously scratches his head frantically in confusion. "Ugh! This is driving me crazy!"
Roxy then stands up and starts to walk away. "Where are you going?" Al asks. "Don't worry about it. Stay here with Win. I'll be back." Al watches as she leaves the house, closing the door behind herself.
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Olivier makes it Central Headquarters and heads immediately to the Fuhrer's office. She salutes, asking. "Pardon my intrusion but where are the Elric brothers and Rambo, Fuhrer Grumman?"
Grumman - "Well good evening to you as well, Olivier. To answer your question, I've recently sent both Fullmetal and Rambo out briefly. They'll be back shortly. As for Alphonse, I could request him here immediately."
Olivier - "Please do so right away, Fuhrer Grumman." Grumman smiles and nods as he grabs the phone on his desk.
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Once they make it to the Lab. Ed and AJ notice that the steps which lead to the secret passage and equipment are destroyed beyond repair. Moving into the next hallway near the broken elevator, Cony stops and looks up at the vent, which runs through the hall. Ed and AJ stop as well along with the other soldiers.
Ed - "What is it?" Cony shushes him quickly. A thud sound comes from inside of the vent up above them. Cony then rushes over to the spot, quickly clapping her hands against the aluminum. All stare in shock as the transmutation subsides as part of the vent falls, landing on the ground with a thud and then they gasp in unison once they look inside of it.
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Rushing out of the hatchway. Ed, who is holding a bloody covered unconscious Madison with AJ by his side as the other soldiers and Cony are dragging a body out of the Manor.
"GET THE HELL OUT THE WAY!" Ed screeches as he's running into the hospital. Nurses scramble around him as he slows down once he makes it inside. They then escort him to a room where he places Maddie on a bed.
One nurse checks her pulse, others quickly move Ed and AJ out of the room so they can properly examine her.
Ed leans his head against the wall across the way as AJ stares at the door to the room, sadly. She then walks over and whispers something to Ed.
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Walking out of the hospital, both of them make it to the tent and hear yelling through it. Once both of them walk in, Ama and Hakuro look is in there besides Foxworth and a few other soldiers.
Foxworth - "With all due respect sir, I've just arrived here and will need the both of them here when I head over to said location. No one knows the area but them. It would be-" The person on the other end interrupts him.
As Foxworth is on the phone, Ed and AJ head over to Ama, who is staring at the blood stains on Edward's clothing. They inform her quietly and she leaves with them as Hakuro stays behind with his back turned to them.
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The next day...
[Ed's P.O.V]
As I slowly start to open my eyes, squinting before I rub my eyes as I yawn afterwards. I look over and I see her still asleep in the bed. Everything seems to be normal from what the nurse told me last night. 'I should probably get her some food. (my stomach growls.} I chuckle to myself.' I yank the blanket off of myself and stand, sliding my boots back on. I look up again and also notice that AJ is gone.
Looking back at Madison again. I can't help but wonder about Nina. What kind of chance would she of had had if the circumstances were different?
I sigh and began walking over to the door. As I open the door slowly and look out. I see Janine just a few feet away, holding a tray with food and drinks, talking with a nurse. I slightly leave the door open as I start to walk over to her.
The nurse then walks away from her as she turns her head to me and says. "Good, you're up! Here. This is for you and Maddie." I grin, practically drooling at the food on the plate. Then I notice the demon in the corner. "That's for Madison, the orange juice is for you." She says upon noticing my glare at the abomination of a beverage.
[End of P.O.V]
A horrendous scream coming from Madison's room fills the air and both AJ and Ed take off back to the room. Ed pushes the door wide open with AJ behind him still holding the tray as Madison is walking back and forth, frantically.
She turns around, noticing both of them and yells. "Where's daddy!" Ed's face immediately becomes pale as he realizes that the body of the man that they found with her was probably him.
AJ takes a relaxed breath as she asks Madison. "So that guy that we found with you was him? Your fath-"
Madison cuts her off as she yells even louder. "I WANT DADDY! WHERE'S DADDY!" By then two nurses rush in, pushing past between the two. One of them then pushes Ed and AJ out of the room, grabbing the tray out of her hand and shutting the door hard in their faces.
Ed and AJ just stare at each other in shock at what just happened.
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After she is informed that Alphonse, Janine, and Edward are all in Table City, Olivier with Miles and several soldiers both from Briggs and Central head over there.
Miles, as well as two soldiers from Briggs and a soldier from Central turn and walk away in a different direction.
She makes it to the tent, seeing Niko outside talking to both Ed and AJ, both looking dismal and unpended.
Olivier - "What's the assessment of the provisions?" Niko excuses himself and stands up, turns around and starts walking towards the General. He explains to her what has happened. Turning to the two, She sees AJ immediately standing up and salutes as Ed's head is turned away from all of them.
Olivier then tells AJ and Ed. "The both of you will be the last ones on the last train. I'll take the girl to Central myself with the others. In the meantime Rambo, show me the index." As AJ tries to reply but is instantly interrupted. "Yes, you have his permission. Get to it." She then hands AJ a sealed letter from the Fuhrer.
AJ quickly grabs and rips open the envelope and reads the letter. "Well alright." She replies, tucking the letter inside of her jacket after reading it. Tapping Ed on his shoulder, he looks back at her. "You might wanna see this as well." She then walks into the tent with Olivier and the remaining soldiers following her in. Ed then stands up, following them in as well.
Walking over to the table as the others gather around, she then moves across and around the other side, grabbing a map that was leaning against the wall. She lays out the map of both Cornwall Ridge and Schuylkill Falls. Pulling out a piece of paper from the other inside side of her jacket, she then tells everyone in the room.
As she's laying the piece of paper, flat on top of the map, she starts. "As I was making way back to Table City, I came across two Cretian Military soldiers on the outskirts in the forest. One in which started telling the other about five locations within Schuylkill Falls and Cornwall Ridge."
She continues.
"Eraserhood Blueprint Plant." She circles the location on the map
"Rittenhouse Coffee Shop." Circling that spot on the map as well.
"Port Richmond Hall." Marked.
"Northern Liberties Building." Circled.
"Market Square Library." Lined by three-sixty.
All of them stare in shock at the map especially Ed as he starts. "So you mean to tell m-" Olivier cuts him off. "For how long?" "Only about a few months I've known. Only told the Fuhrer once I made back to him and made sure only he and I were in his office. Showed him everything first."
Oliver then says. "It's not our problem anyway. Don't go any further than you have already." AJ just only stares at Olivier. Ed, who is getting upset, asks. "And what if it does?" Olivier turns back to him but before she can say anything AJ steps in between them. "Wait!" Both look at her as she points to the map.
AJ - "I don't think it's the case as the both of you think it is." She continues as both of them look at her confused. She then lines up the indications, starting with the first. "It's not a circle nor a transmutation one at that. And to be honest it's looks more like a bird or a side rooted tooth if anything. Plus and this just came to mind, the highest point is north, so the point in which is facing... (She places her finger on the location of the Hall, walking along north in the direction until she makes to...)"
Olivier - "Drachma." "Exactly. Like footsteps leading the path to the hint." AJ replies then continues. "They also brought up about this boss of theirs having negotiations with individuals from Drachma soon. Don't know if soon has passed yet, though."
Niko - "It was only a matter of time before they stuck their foot of their zone and started traveling. Growing up, many upon many others wanted to escape the area. Now I see where they are were heading to."
Everyone then looks at Niko with confusion. He explains. "Creta has technology that many Drachmians want. Myself not included but a few people come to mind. People that I thought were dead from the betrayed strife."
Olivier - "We shall finish this later. Everyone resume schedules." Everyone nods their heads to her. Two soldiers from Briggs move and gather the map, rolling it back up. Ed and AJ grab their stuff as well as Niko.
As everyone is busy, the entrance to the tent opens up and both Hakuro and Foxworth enter. "Well hello there General Armstrong, it's nice to see you-" "The both of you are to remain here until further notice. Fuhrer's orders." Olivier tells them, cutting him off.
Hakuro - "Of course. I understand. But one more thing before you part for your return trip. An old acquaintance from someone on your squad would like to join you." He then moves out of the way as the curtain opens and reveals a woman walking towards all of them. Niko eyes grow wide as she walks in and stops near him.
? - "How very typical, predictable of you, Niko."
End of Chapter 50
Sorry for the wait.
The map in which has the layout will be put onto my Instagram and Twitter only. Same username. fulmetaltiger57 on both.
Thanks again for reading.