Ehards29: Hey there everybody! Holy freakin' God, it has been literally like a year since I've last updated this fic, to all those loyal fans out there, I am soooo sorry. I honestly didn't think that I was going to continue with this story, since I switched my focus to Narnia, but I can't deny my FMA roots. So I'm going to finish what I started (in a timely matter). So without further ado, the next installment of Once Upon an Eastern Rebellion.
Once Upon an Eastern Rebellion
By: Ehards29
Chapter 5: Death
Roy chewed absentmindedly on his ham sandwich, attempting to ignore the fact that it tasted of something akin to wet cardboard. He watched Riza's eyes as they studied the setting sun, struggling to pinpoint exactly what it was she was thinking about at the moment. The Major inwardly smiled, he liked how mysterious she was, how much effort he had to put into getting to know her. Like putting together a puzzle. He enjoyed the distraction the pursuit of her provided him; he liked asking questions about her instead of thinking of how many sons, daughters, fathers, mothers, aunts, uncles, friends he killed that day. He enjoyed their little tradition. Since the day they met on the overlook, they had met everyday for dinner. They had been meeting each other for several weeks, but for Mustang, everyday felt like the first.
"So what did Doctor Marco have to say?"
Roy looked up. "Nothing, just some business from Central."
Riza cocked her eyebrow. "Really."
Roy fiddled with his red stone-clad ring. "Yeah."
Riza turned once again to the sun. He was lying, she always knew when he was lying. He could never look in the eye.
"Colonel Gran gave me a new assignment in the western part of the city. He says it's really dangerous and that I should take along an escort…"
Riza's eyes shot in the Major's direction. And Roy, suddenly realizing the mistake in word choice he made, attempted to redeem himself.
"I mean, an assistant, a bodyguard, a-you know what I mean!"
Riza smiled, it was fun to rustle the young alchemist's feathers. "Of course I'll help you sir."
The assignment seemed easy enough. The large tavern in the western section of the city had to be demolished in order to make room for a new base that was to be built. The Flame Alchemist and Staff Sergeant Riza Hawkeye were to check for any Ishbalans in the building, kill them, and burn the building to the ground. The two stormed through the double doors into the building, Roy's fingers at the ready, Riza's gun loaded and aimed carefully toward any potential threats. The two began their momentous task, the dead silence of the tavern becoming more and more oppressive as the minutes ticked by. But soon they became comfortable with it, the dead quiet of a dead city. The combed the structure room by room, until they reached the last room of the third floor. The silence was replaced with a slight whimper coming from the room; the pair exchanged glances as Roy kicked the door in, Riza's gun aimed with deadly precision. The eyes of a thin Ishabalan woman went wide with terror as she stared down the barrel of a HI 237 series sniper rifle. The young child suckling on her breast began to howl with fear.
Kill any Ishabalans found in the structure.
No.
Insubordination.
Roy's mind raced a thousand miles a second as he struggled for the right answer. Riza seemed to give it to him as she lowered her weapon. The woman began to wail in a foreign tongue, her eyes welling up with tears, her child crying painfully loud.
"We can't do this."
"I know."
Riza began to try to calm the woman, explaining that she and her child needed to leave the building, but it did no good. Whether or not the woman even understood her seemed to be a moot point, as the woman would not stop howling. The woman's crying was suddenly stopped as Roy's hand flew over her mouth. The stairs below the third floor creaked.
"Flame Alchemist, Staff Sergeant Hawkeye?" A deep voice resonated from bottom of the building.
Riza's eyes went wide with fear. "Colonel Gran."
"Shit." Roy replied. He turned to the Ishbalan. "You have to stay here and be quiet."
She seemed to get the message as her sobbing stopped and her child was quieted by her soothing cooing. Roy and Riza ran down the stairs only to meet the displeased face of Gran.
"Why didn't you answer me when I called you?" He eyed them suspiciously.
"We apologize sir, we didn't hear you." Roy reasoned.
"Well, is the building ready yet Major?"
Roy and Riza exchanged looks. "With all due respect sir," Riza began, "we need more time to make sure the tavern is clear."
Gran looked disgruntled. "Have there been any signs of any Ishabalan activity in the tavern thus far Staff Sergeant?"
"No, none yet sir." Riza's eyes were downcast as the weight of her lie bared down on her.
"Well then I don't believe there to be any reason for this fruitless pursuit to continue, Major," Gran's eyes shifted toward Roy, "burn it down."
"Now, si-sir" Roy stammered.
"Are you questioning my judgment Flame?"
"No sir."
Roy and Riza followed Gran out the doors of the tavern like two obedient puppies, the sound of the young woman's crying baby still fresh in the Major's mind. The three stood before the structure.
"Lock the doors Major." Gran stated flatly.
"But why sir, we already established that there isn't anyone in there." Roy responded, desperate.
"Just as a precaution." Gran's eyes flashed playfully.
He knows. Riza realized.
Roy moved sloth-like toward the doors, they taunted him with the realization of the crime he was about to commit. They closed with a deafening squeal. Roy backed up, unable to meet Riza's eyes.
"Now." The Colonel commanded.
"Sir-" The Flame Alchemist whimpered.
"Now!"
The building erupted into a fire the likes of which Riza had never seen. Though she had known Flame for about two weeks, it was the first she had seen of his alchemy. The intense heat of the flame sucked all the moisture from her face, burning it with its intensity. It wasn't comforting like the fire she sat by on a cold winter's day, it wasn't beautiful like the fire of a candle, it was frightening.
"Well done Flame." And with that Colonel Basque Gran was gone leaving Roy Mustang alone with Riza and his thoughts. Ever the loyal military dog, Hawkeye stayed with her superior until the building was finally nothing more than an indiscrete pile of ash. And as the ashes swarmed around Mustang's skin like a hive of poison bees, he feel to his knees and began to weep.
Ehards29: The next chapter is gonna by my last for this story, but it's going to be good and juicy, so don't worry. Also there is going to be an epilogue. Anyways…review folks, make my comeback to the world of FF worth it!