Seto'sgal29: Another chappie, knock yourself out! NNOO, NOT LITERALLY! Hehee.
Once Upon an Eastern Rebellion
By: Seto'sgal29
Chapter 3: Homecoming
Roy's tired hands tightly clutched his combat orders. After several months of successfully avoiding direct combat in Ishbal, the time had finally come for the "human weapons" to be called in. Sitting in the back of a large military convoy truck, he and several other State Alchemists sat in silence, they couldn't be far away now.
Roy observed the scene before him. He could understand why many feared the State's Alchemists. They were a frightening looking bunch. One man had on large round glasses the shown garishly ever time the sun's rays flashed over them causing him to look like some kind of insect. His dark hair was spiky, and he wore a large, black overcoat. All in all, Roy probably would have shit his pants if he met him in a dark alley. It was strange, these were his comrades, his fellow soldiers, but he barely knew any of them.
State Alchemists were solitary creatures. That's how they lived, and that's how they would die.
Roy shifted his attention toward the front of the truck where a greasy looking man was grinning oddly at Roy. His eyes flashed with anticipation, his smile seemed to grow with every inch the car moved toward their destination. Roy knew this man, the Crimson Alchemist, Kimberly. Roy knew being an alchemist was not a pretty business, but this guy had to take the cake when it came to the worst of the worst of alchemic skills.
He uses his victims as human bombs.
Roy could almost see the look of excitement in the higher up's eyes when this guy became certified, when it came to war, who wouldn't want him on their side?
"Excited Flame, this is your first real chance to kill."
Roy shifted his eyes toward Kimberly, his smile growing larger, his greasy hair painfully obvious in the light of the sun.
"I am ready to serve my Fuher, if that's what you're asking."
A few of the alchemists near Roy began to chuckle.
"You look nervous, don't worry, death grows on you, in fact, after a while the beauty of it becomes clear. You'll see." Kimberly's grin was almost haunting.
Roy looked out the window, they couldn't be far now.
Riza watched from her tent as the camp began the preparations for the alchemists. The camp laughed, dancing and slapping each other on the back, it wouldn't be long until they were home again. She heard rumors that they were going to be coming from the east road to the camp, so Riza grabbed her sniper and headed toward eastward. Maybe she would cheer them on as they came in on their grand golden chariots toward camp, maybe she would throw flowers, laughing and crying all at the same time.
Our heroes!
Riza walked up the hill to a large cliff over looking the eastern entrance to the encampment. She propped her sniper on a large rock, slowly closing her eyes. Home, home, I want to go home.
This is my home.
From high above the camp, everything looked so peaceful, from there it was easy to forget that they were at war. Maybe they were on a camping trip, you know, to boost moral. But one glance toward her precious gun, nonchalantly waiting to kill, and it all came rushing back.
"They're here, the alchemists are here!"
A shout was heard from the gate of the camp. Riza looked up toward the road, and sure enough three black convoy trucks were pulling into the camp. They quickly came to a stop outside the gate, and Riza watched as General Fargo, the Commanding Officer of the camp greeted a large, dark skinned man with a dark handlebar mustache, his uniform identified him as a Colonel. Turning her attention to the trucks, Riza watched as one by one the State Alchemists began pouring out. They were all shapes and sizes, some small, some large, some looked happy, some looked sad. Riza was taken aback by how, well, normal they seemed. And these were to be Amestris's saviors?
She watched intensely, hoping to see something special, something out of the ordinary, something brave, something stupid, anything at all.
Damn alchemists.
But yet the soldiers came out in full force, waiting to shake hands with one, waiting to exchange their welcomes. And the alchemists relished every last second of it. Their eyes lit up in glee, their bodies rigid and important, their chest puffed up. They smiled and waved, like rock stars addressing their many fans.
Well, all but one.
Riza's eyes scanned over a young looking man, with dark hair and pale skin, his eyes starring intensely at his boots, as if waiting for them to move on their own. He attempted to puff up his chest like his comrades, but only ended up making himself look foolish, like a child playing make believe, pretending to be a brave solider. But despite all this, Hawkeye couldn't help but notice how handsome he was. Handsome in the way that if she saw on the street she would watch him for a spilt second, hoping he would catch her eye, but looking away if he did. But they were at war, and these longings were far out of her mind.
Fraternization.
But she watched him for more than a split second. He couldn't be much older than herself, it struck her odd that someone that young could be a State Alchemist.
He must be very talented.
Riza could feel the sweat drip down her forehead.
And it was then she heard his name for the first time.
The General shook his hand, his face lighting up happily.
"Welcome to Ishbal Flame Alchemist."
Flame, fire.
The sound of screaming Ishbalan children filled her mind again.
Yes, welcome to Ishbal Flame, hope you enjoy your stay, and please make yourself comfortable. Don't mind the smell of blood, you get used to it.
As Riza walked away, she could have sworn she felt his gaze digging into her back.
Welcome to Ishbal.
Seto'sgal29: Yay! Next time, our two love birds meet for the first time. R&R!