I worked VERY VERY hard on this chapter! So if anyone reads this PLEASE for the love of Ishbala review!
"So what was all the rush about? Why couldn't you just take the later train?" Sayla asked rubbing her wrist that throbbed tremendously. When Edward bolted for the train that was leaving the depot Alphonse had grabbed Sayla's wrist and dragged her along. Ed took a bite out of a piece of bread and sighed.
"I have to get to Central as soon as possible." He said glancing out the window. "I wonder what this Mustang guy is like." Ed said after a minute of silence passed between the three. A little girl from the next seat over peered over at them. Al waved at her giving off a small laugh but quickly lowered his hand and his head when she quickly ducked back into her seat.
"Am I scary?" He asked sadly.
"Awww, your not scary Alphonse." Sayla said taking his hand in hers.
"Yeah Al I mean your kindness in a can." Ed replied.
"Mommy there's a really strange man over there." The girl whispered. Ed and Sayla's confident looks were wiped clean off their faces.
"It isn't polite to stare Maron." Her mother scolded gently.
"But why is he wearing armor in a train. He must really like it." She replied.
Sayla suddenly got an irritated look on her face as she gritted her teeth and stood up. The entire train was staring towards them. Sayla's face softened as her cheeks flamed red.
"Nothing to see here, we're not suspicious or anything." She stated loud enough for the entire car to hear before sitting back down rubbing the back of her neck. A few moments later the little girl, Maron, reappeared this time waving happily.
"See Al, she likes you." Ed stated smiling at her.
The girl suddenly stopped as she glanced at Ed's auto-mail arm. He stared at the girl then his arm and back again. His face broke into a smile holding up his arm and even pulling down his sleeve a bit to show her.
"Cooler than skin, huh?" He stated still smiling. The little girl giggled as her mother made an appearance over the seat as well.
"Alright Maron you've bothered them enough." She said smiling at the three. In exchange they smiled back.
"I'm gonna take a quick nap." Ed stated lying down on his seat. "Wake me when we're in Central." He said closing his eyes.
"Sayla can I ask you a question." Al asked. Sayla had been staring blankly ahead but turned her full attention to Alphonse as he spoke.
"Shoot." She replied.
"When Majahal commended brother on my soul attachment you didn't seem the least bit fazed. Why is that?" He asked glancing at her. Sayla simply shrugged and looked at her hands.
"I don't know it just isn't a big deal to me is all. You are who you are, it doesn't matter what you look like." She stated. Al's dimly lit eyes widened and if he could he probably would have started to cry.
"I know why the two of you are joining the military Alphonse, I've heard you talking about it when you think I'm not listening. Haven't you heard any of the stories? It's dangerous and a taboo none the less." She stated. Al looked back out the window.
"I've only been like this for a little over a year but its hell. I can't eat or sleep, I don't breathe and I couldn't feel your touch when you held my hand Sayla. I'm beginning to forget what those things are like; I'm forgetting what it is to be alive; what it is to be human." He stated. Sayla sighed feeling his depression and sadness flow off of him in waves hitting her full force.
"Al you are still alive and you are still human but most importantly you are still Alphonse Elric and no one can take that from you." She said. Al turned his head back to her surprised.
"How old are you again?" He asked. His question caught her off guard.
"Uh, ten almost eleven." She replied. "Why?"
"You just seem older than that is all." He said. Sayla glanced off to the side and sighed.
"I've been through a lot and it's made me older than what I really am." She said.
"I know how you feel." Al stated. Sayla gave off a sad half smirk lowering her gaze further while Al looked back out the window. Al and Sayla looked to the aisle as a man with white hair in casual clothes stopped next to their seats.
"He's right there are two other people with him and one is really small." He stated. Ed's eyes flew open and his body tensed as he stood up flailing his arms screaming at the top of his lungs.
"WHO ARE YOU CALLING SO SHORT HE HAS TO BE SEEN WITH A MAGNIFYING GLASS!" Sayla, whom had only been present to one of Edwards previous 'shorty-rants' as Al called them, gasped and pressed against her seat wincing. Al laughed a little but it was short lived when two men quickly stood pulling out pistols. In a flash the first man who had approached them drew his gun as well but he was already out numbered. Al and Sayla stood up abruptly staring intently. One of the attackers struck the first man in the head sending him to the floor unconscious.
"Everyone stay quiet and put you hands over your heads. No one tries to be a hero, no one gets hurt." One of the attackers stated. Ed glanced back at Al and Sayla as they too raised their hands into the air. Gun shots could be heard from a remote part of the train as the attacker's walked closer to the three.
"Oh my god, what's that!" Sayla suddenly screamed pointing behind the man he turned allowing just enough time for Edward to knee one in the face as Al hit a heavy metal fist against the other's head. The three smiled at each other proud of themselves the passengers soon dampened it.
"What did you go and do that for? They would have let us go if you hadn't attacked them. They'll notice for sure that two of their men are missing." He shouted. The three stared at each other.
"What should we do?" Al asked.
"I'm not sure." Ed replied honestly. One of the attackers lifted himself up off the floor and pointed his gun at Maron and her mother. The woman moved to protect her daughter as Alphonse laid a heavy armor foot against his back as Edward grabbed the gun.
"Are you both alright?" Sayla asked concerned.
"Yes." The woman replied. Sayla nodded happy with the answer she had received and looked at the door to the other car.
"Hey sorry about that." She said turning back to Maron and smiled sweetly. "Don't you worry though because your big brother's and sister will take care of it okay?" She said. Maron nodded tearfully from the comfort of her mother's arms.
"You guys understand what you have to do right?" Sayla asked glancing at Ed and Al. Edward nodded.
"Yeah. Let's go Al." Ed stated.
"Right." Al replied.
"Hey over here." A voice said from further down the car. The man who had approached them before pushed himself out from a seat with his feet.
"So who are you guys anyways?" He asked as Sayla untied him.
"No one really just a couple of alchemists and their sister." Ed stated. Sayla glanced at him for a moment her face turning red again before regaining her composure.
"Is that so? I am Fahlman, warrant officer." The man replied.
"You're with the military? You don't look like one." Ed stated. Fahlman laughed briefly.
"There's a reason for that. There's a general in the front car, a few of us were assigned as his body guards." He replied. Ed gasped lightly.
"So that's what these hijackers are after. They've already have gotten too many innocent people involved." He said gritting his teeth as the anger seeped through his veins. He stood up and turned to Al.
"Al I'm going up top. You go with this guy and Sayla from below." Ed said. Al nodded his head once.
"Right." He replied.
"Ed wait, have you ever done anything like this before?" Sayla asked grabbing his wrist before he ran off. He looked at her feeling his face blush slightly at the contact before breaking into a cocky smile.
"Nope." He said running off towards the back of the car.
"Edward! Wait!" Sayla called after him attempting to run after him but was stopped. Al grabbed her hand getting her attention.
"When brother gets an idea in his head it's useless to even try and stop him." Al said sounding almost defeated. Sayla bit her lower lip nervously and sighed.
"Alright let's go then." She said walking past Al and opening the door to the other car. A man appeared before her with a semi-automatic weapon pointed right at her.
"Sayla!" Al yelled grabbing her hand and pulling her safely behind him.
"Please don't shoot." Al said. "If you do the…" The man fired only to be hit with his own bullet.
"I tried to warn you about the ricochet." Al said as the man gripped his leg and shouted loudly. Sayla peered around him briefly as a second man appeared.
"What the!" He shouted aiming his gun at Alphonse as Sayla hid behind him once more.
"No don't you'll only end up hurting yourself." Al said as the spray of bullets clamored off his armor falling to the floor as this man too fell to the ground while Al groaned inwardly.
"Come one lets go." Sayla said walking over the two men to the other car.
"Okay." Al said softly following close behind.
Ed walked the train up top his long braid whipping wildly in the wind. He timed his steps carefully with the jerk of the train keeping low. He gasped as an inevitable tree branch loomed into view. He thought about attempting to jump over it but by the time he decided on it struck him full force in the face sending him flying backwards. He screamed trying to grasp onto something as visions of his mangled body thumping under the train loomed in his head ominously. He closed his eyes tightly as he fell from the roof and was certain he had hit ground when he realized it was a person that had caught him and not the train's wheels.
"There's a real art to train walking you know?" The man said. "I'm impressed you made it this far." He said.
"Uh, yeah." Ed replied.
"I'm Major Hughes. You're Edward Elric, right?" Hughes asked.
"Uh, yeah." Ed said again.
"I've heard about you from Lt. Colonel Mustang." He said.
"You know the Lt. Colonel?" Ed asked surprised. Hughes smiled and looked up at the train's roof.
"Yeah Roy and I are old friends." He said. "Now let's get back up there shall we?" He asked. Ed simply stared at this man surprise more than just a little evident on his face. Hughes held onto Ed as they made their way towards the train's engine. He held onto Edward's ankles and lowered him down just long enough for a distraction. Ed did the only thing he could think of; stick out his tongue and make a face. The man looked as did the other that was with him and Hughes slid into the car through the opposite window. His silver dagger gleamed in the light as he sent it flying through the second attacker's hand. The other man turned angrily cursing only to receive an auto-mail boot to the head sending him to the ground as well. The two attackers looked up to see the train operators reeling back hitting them both full force with every once of muscle they had. Ed got hold of the ladder and moved to climb only to receive several bullets sprayed his way. He quickly ducked mutely hearing Hughes ask if he was alright but was also assaulted. Ed hastily drew a quick transmutation circle picturing just what he needed in his mind. He climbed on top of the train and fired the cannon. The man yelled and ducked back into the train.
"Hey! Don't mess with the tender; that's the train's life!" The operator yelled out the window at him. Ed glanced back as he slid his way around his creation.
"Right, sorry!" He yelled back. He glanced around him. "Tender?" He said aloud as his brain went into overdrive before the solution became clear and he couldn't help but smile mischievously.
"Testing, testing. Can you hear me everyone from the terrorist group? How dare you threaten everyone! Release the hostages! "
"You must be the guy that Mustang sent! If you interfere I will kill the hostages one by one!" The apparent leader shouted back.
"Oh, I can see you're full of determination. Then….Hostages please take cover!" Ed shouted as he transmuted the large water pipe into the door. The sound of rushing water caught the attention of Alphonse and Sayla both knowing what to do next.
"Alright then, let's have a look." Sayla said opening the car door. Three attackers spilled out and looked up as Al pounded his fists together.
"Welcome to the brig!" He said almost sounding happy. Sayla walked inside the car and shut the door behind her as sounds of metal connecting with flesh and the yells of the men filled her ears. She simply smiled to herself. She quickly ducked inside an empty compartment as a large man covered in a tan cloak stood up.
"You must be the leader." She heard someone say. She peered out momentarily to see this man fire a gun from underneath his cloak. Sayla clenched her fists together staying out of site as her heart leaped into over drive with frustration.
"Do not interfere, do not interfere." She repeated to herself softly over and over again as each minute it become increasingly difficult not too.
"What's wrong? Come on out!" The leader yelled to the other man. "I'll kill the general first and then every other passenger on this train." Sayla readied to pounce on this intruder when Ed came falling from the roof top.
"Stop it!" He shouted landing on the ground locking hands with the leader. He glanced surprised as the mans cloak slipped off revealing that his arm was in fact a mechanical semi-automatic weapon.
"An auto-mail arm, huh?" Ed questioned.
"A kid? The military uses kids now too?" The leader questioned just as surprised.
"Sorry for being a kid but I'm not being used!" Ed replied.
"Kid let me tell you something, I was in the military a long time ago. While I was there, I wanted to equip myself with something better but the military didn't like that idea. They feared the fact that I was going to become stronger so after I had the surgery they threw me away! That's why I plan on destroying the military. You understand right? If you have that arm you must have wished for the same thing as I did; to become stronger than everyone else." He said. Ed clenched his teeth as he began squeezing the other's hand trying to point it away from him.
"Don't put me in the same category as you and don't compare my arm with your cheap one!" Ed yelled as the other's auto-mail shattered under his grip sending pieces flying around the car. The man was then quickly caught by Alphonse whom proceeded to punch him dead in the face. He lay on the ground barely conscious as his face bruised an ugly purple. Edward sighed giving his younger brother thumbs up. Al was grateful to return it.
"Now there's something you don't see every day." Sayla said smiling to herself and shut the door behind her. "Now time to get changed."
"Don't kill anyone that's all I asked Bard and it seems as if you complied." A man in a military uniform stated as he walked up.
"You're Mustang?" The terrorist leader asked. A blade cut through his ropes easily and he charged at the Lt. Colonel. Mustang held up his hands snapping his fingers simultaneously an explosion of flame erupted around Bard engulfing him. Ed covered his face and stared clearly impressed.
"That was amazing!" He stated.
"I went easy on you." Mustang said once the flames had cleared and Bard sat motionless on the ground charred nearly beyond recognition.
"The damage done isn't nearly as bad as the pain is. I am Lt. Colonel Roy Mustang, hell you could even call me the flame alchemist. Just don't forget the pain." He said.
"He's Mustang?" Ed said aloud staring at the impressive man that stood before him.
"Sayla?" Al asked as she briskly walked past the brother's also wearing a military uniform and her hair pinned back on her head with a few spiky strands sticking up. She stopped in front of Mustang saluting him.
"Major Sayla Hosner reporting for duty sir!" She stated respect evident in her voice.
"Welcome back major." Mustang said his cocky smile softening at her appearance.
"Major?" Ed asked aloud before running towards them. "Lt. Colonel! You put us on that train knowing what was going on, didn't you?" He ordered more than questioned.
"We didn't know everything that was going on. Good news though, the general has heard of what the two of you did from Major Hosner here and it has been decided that you two will be allowed to take the state alchemy exam." Mustang said. Ed's eyes went from sudden confusion to shock as he pointed at Mustang.
"You said we could take it all along! That's the only reason why we came!" He shouted.
"Come on Ed, you really think the state just let's kids take the exam? It's only happened once before under special circumstances which reminds me, Lt. Colonel may I have my pocket watch back sir?" Sayla asked. Ed's eyes grew even larger as Alphonse walked next to him.
"Pocket watch…" They both said in unison as Roy took the silver watch from his pocket and handed it to her.
"Then that means that all this time she was a ……" Ed said still in shock. Sayla turned to them both and smiled sweetly but held a cocky air to it.
"Major Sayla Hosner, the singing alchemist." She said proudly. Ed and Al simply stared at her both speechless before Ed brought a hand to his head and sighed defeated. Mustang walked past him placing a hand against his shoulder.
"Of course it's your decision whether to take the test or not, it's up to you." He said walking away. Ed turned around and watched as he walked away clenching his fist.
"We'll take your test and we'll pass it too! You'll see!" He shouted after him.
"We were playing into these people's hands all along, from the very moment we left Resembool." Al said glancing over at Sayla who still stood close to them but some distance away. "I guess we'll never be the ones in control." Ed stared at Mustang until he turned a corner and vanished from site. He gritted his teeth turning his attention back to Sayla opening his mouth to say something when he was interrupted.
"There they are! Over there!" The voice yelled. The three turned their attention to the familiar voice and saw Maron and her mother waving at them.
"Thank you for saving me big brothers and you too big sister!" She called out happily vigorously waving at them. The three smiled and waved back at her until her mother finally led her away.