IT'S SEPTEMBER!!
The Lovely Daaaarlings
TykiMickLover: Lol, I thought so! And yah, I'm not surprised XD
RyaneNight92: Thanks!! I'm glad you like the story, and Riley!
Kaijukote: Hehe, hm... What can I answer? All I can say about the sulfur alchemy is: If you know what sulfur is used for/in, that's a hint! And... What the hey, minaswell. She's not like a revived Christian or anything, but she does have religious Christian beliefs, because of her background(which'll be found out later). She's not big on it though. Get it? Like... She knows about Christianity and God's word, but she doesn't exactly go to church every Sunday.
FreeCream: Yeah, I didn't even notice until I reread the chapters! And haha, I'm homeschooled sucker! XP School's still boring, but it's shorter, and the farthest I have to carry stuff is into the next room XD
BlueRyuu: DX Oops.. I didn't even mean "long legs"! Haha! I just meant "legs". Wonder why I put that... I didn't even notice the "behind bars" thing and I proofread like twice! HAHA! And even though that part of your review was pointing my spelling errors, I busted my ass laughing! XD Lol, you got a point there! But even so, I don't think many people would have noticed her say "us". Hehe, you'll have to wait for that!! I honestly don't know when I'm going to blow her cover. I know how, just not when. Soon, hopefully XD
Aqemy Von Stein: LOL yeah overestimating Armstrong sounds good! I didn't even notice either the first four times I watched the episode. But when I write my brain kinda kicks into the "observation" mode XD Honestly I cracked up when you mentioned my "amazing spirit of observation"! You didn't sound stupid or anything, I just suck at observation! And it will follow the original series. There will be my own original plot here and there, but other than that, it follows the same line. So I suggest everyone watch the movie and the last episode before I get there o.O
Ria442: HAHA!! You're the first to bring that picture up!! I really wanted to have her hold it against him, but I had another idea with it, which it'll be in the chapter!
Want To Join The Lovely Daaaarlings? Review!
I'm here with the chapter for the end of September!! Why am I mentioning the first September chapter when I didn't for any other month, you ask? Simple!
September's my BiRtHdAy, September's my BiRtHdAy!
Hehe, not to mention all this:
AWA 14 was this month. I cosplayed as Reno 3 It was awesomeness
I had a concert this month.
West Memphis Three's court hearing was this month, and I'm very nervous for them, because the judge is the same dick they had in '94, so he's bound and determined to keep his pride instead of letting three innocent (now)adults free.
And lastly... All the good TV shows are coming back on! Mwahahaha! Supernatural, Bones, and Ghost Hunters!! XD
So, as you can see, I've been very excited about this month. XD
I Have Bad News Though... My laptop's internet connection's screwed up!! Wyah T.T Until my grandpa figures out what the hell's going on with it, I have to use the living room computer to get the script for the episodes. Because his computer has unstable connection, my grandma's has unstable connection, and mine has unstable connection. My mom's hasn't even been plugged up yet, so that's a no-go.
I'm sick!! Wyah T.T And because my grandma loves the cold(more than I do), I CAN BARELY BREATH IN THIS DAMN LIVING ROOM!! So I'm avoiding the living room. And the only stable computer is where? The living room! Ugh... DX
I don't own FMA. I do own my original content. The original content is anything in the story that is not from the anime, manga, games, or any other official FullMetal Alchemist material.
The Sulfur Alchemist:
Chapter Ten:
Secrets Revealed
Rain was pouring down as we ran across the street to the building. Of course I tripped on the curb which ended in a face plant on the concrete...
But anyways, I stood up and held my arms out to balance my dizzy self as Al asked, "What are we gonna do now?"
"I don't know Al. Let's just get some distance from that guy with the glasses," Ed answered.
I just managed to get my straight eye-sight back when we heard a dog barking. Just as I turned my head to the dog, Ed had pulled me to his side at the sidewalk, as Al and Marcoh hid beneath the bushes. I glanced back and saw the reason, military trucks. I looked back ahead and, noticing the two old geezers staring at us, I smiled nervously, shrugging a bit.
We watched the trucks drive by, and saw officers sitting in the back. I had a strong feeling Mustang was in one of them. If not, he was here or on his way at least. Ed looked to a woman who held a tray in her hands, "Ma'am?" She looked at him and he asked, "Do you got a back door?"
...
"What about Eastern Command, with the Colonel?" Al asked as we walked down the alleyway.
"Yeah, there's no way we can get there. And with the Brigadier General showing up like this, I get the sense not even Mustang could protect Marcoh right now," Ed answered.
"Oh yeah. All those people from Central are there," Al said. My ears perked slightly at this, but I said nothing. I don't remember seeing people from Central there...
I skipped down the hall of HQ, whistling the Wedding tune, heading for Mustang's office. I was planning on getting a job to do so Hannah and I could hit the road. "Hey Riley!" Maes exclaimed, waving at me as we passed one another. But I ignored him as I kept whistling and skipping, so into the Wedding tune.
Er... Never mind.
Marcoh gasped a bit, "People from Central have been deployed here?"
"Just the Furher and his entourage, yeah," Ed said, looking back at us. He was in the lead obviously and we were behind him.
"I don't understand. This is for me?"
Al waved his hand back and forth, "No. It's not like that. Don't worry."
We kept walking until we got out of the alley. Besides it was a small area where three little boys were playing tag, and one girl and boy were mud-pies. It was so cute! Why they were out playing in the rain was beyond me. Where were their parents? Unless they were homeless...
Ed smiled a bit at them before turning and walking away, so Al and I followed. When I heard no footsteps behind me, I turned and saw Marcoh watching the kids.
That sounded perverted, didn't it? "Marcoh watching the kids". It wouldn't sound so perverted if he was like, an uncle to the kids or something. But he wasn't. He was a complete stranger. Therefore, it's "Some guy watching the kids", and doesn't that just sound like a pedophile waiting to happen?
...
Anyways...
"Marcoh?" I asked him, trying to get his attention. This caused Ed and Al to stop though, and turn around to see why I was calling Marcoh's name.
"I can't do this," Marcoh said regretfully, "I've run away long enough. I won't do it now. I don't care if that man kills me. How can I, when it's something I deserve?"
I looked at the girls and my eyes softened as I saw them playing with the mud and anything else they could get their hands on. Doesn't that look familiar... I thought to myself as I clenched my fist subconsciously. "I'm missing the connection. Why do you deserve death just because he's from Ishbal?" Ed asked Marcoh.
"The Ishbalin War..," Slipped from my mouth instantly, and everyone looked at me. Damn my big mouth... That's the second time I let something just slip today! I glanced to Marcoh and asked, "Right?"
Ed and Al sighed or gasped or whatever you want to call it, and Al said, "Ed said Mustang was sad about that too. But why? Ishbal started that war for Independence, and lost lives, but so did the military."
"If all of us got revenged every time we lost at war, there'd be no end to it. A cycle without a point," Ed mumbled.
"You're not listening," Marcoh started, "That was no war. That was a massacre." He began to explain the war and I, of course, tuned out and thought back to earlier, when I blocked or countered or whatever, Scar's attack...
I was hand in hand with Scar. Red light surged from his arm to his hand, which traveled around my own hand. But that was where it stopped. The light just continuously moved around my hand before disappearing into it. And all I felt was a bit of heat as result. Glancing up from my hand to Scar, I noticed through the sunglasses that his eyes were just as big as mine and his pupils were just as small. I couldn't help but let my jaw drop a bit.
What was that anyway? I knew I'd been able to use alchemy without circles for a couple years now, but I never looked into it. I didn't want to know why I had this "ability", I was afraid of the answer I guess. But now... It may have something to do with why Scar's arm had no effect on me.
And how would I find out anyways? It's not like I can just walk up to somebody and ask about it. Maybe I was a deformed baby or something. I'll just find the hospital I was born in, and walk up to the doctor that helped my parents through labor and ask about it... Ok, so I can just walk up to somebody and ask about it.
My thoughts were interrupted when I heard a splash, and a girl shout, "What did ya do that for?!"
I looked up and saw the girl had mud in her hair. "One day during a house inspection, a military officer accidentally shot and killed an Ishbalin child. War broke out among everyone. Fighting started, and several people were killed. It became a rebellion that lasted seven years, until the Furher had had enough. He sent the State Alchemists in."
I began to tune out again, still thinking about my hands. "Most of the Ishbalins were wiped within a night. It was going well for the military, until the Rebellion Army showed up," Marcoh said, catching my attention yet again.
"The Rebellion Army?" Ed asked.
Marcoh nodded, "A group of people, alchemists or not, that started off originally hating the military's decisions and rules. They had made peace with a few officers from the military, but their opinions still didn't change. During the war, they were on the Ishbalin's side. They felt the military screwed up when they killed that child, and that the military never should have pried into Ishbal in the first place. They had fought when they felt necessary, up until the end, when the State Alchemists were sent in. Then they began to fight continuously, to save what was left of Ishbal.
"Just before the war ended, the Rebellion Army's leaders died. Ishbal lost hope. The survivors tried to leave, but they were killed as well," Marcoh ended.
"Ow, my ankle!"
We looked over to see one of the boys laying on the ground, holding his sore ankle. "Let me see," Marcoh said, grabbing the boy's ankle and using his stone to fix it. "During the war, there were doctors who treated the wounded. Didn't matter which side you were on, Ishbal or the State. If you were in need of help, they'd treat you. However, they were casualties too."
As he explained how Roy had killed them, and how he felt so terrible about it, I started to grow some respect for him. I guess he's not a bad guy after all... Though he sure acts like one.
"But why is he after you?" I heard Ed ask Marcoh.
"Revenge. His reasons are legitimate."
Ed glared a bit, "He's dragging in people who had nothing to do with it. How can you talk about legitimate? He's a fraud! He's on a tirade of personal vengeance and he hides behind an excuse of God's will so he can claim it's noble."
"Still..," Al started, causing Ed and I to look over at him, "If someone took you away from me, Brother, I think I might do the same thing. Isn't that equivalent exchange?"
"No!" Ed shouted, glaring up at Al angrily. "That's not how the principle works! Haven't you learned that yet?! Destroying lives doesn't bring lives back!" His expression calmed dramatically as he said, "We all just need to live and be content while we can."
We all stood there in silence for a bit, before Ed walked over to Al and fixed his cracked arm. "Ok... Um, not to rain on anyone's parade here," I paused a bit as the rain continued to pour down over us all, "figuratively speaking of course, but first of all, I'm tired of freezing my ass off listening to stories of the past. Secondly, shouldn't we go somewhere that's, I dunno, safe?"
They all looked at me when I began talking, and when I finished, Ed nodded. "Dr. Marcoh... Why don't you let us hide you in our hometown for a while? It's just three days on a train from here."
"Where?" I asked curiously.
Al scratched his chin, "It might be hard on us going back there though."
"Where?!" I whined, drooping my shoulders. How dare they ignore me like this!
Ed smiled wide, "Not at all! We have friends there, the Rockbells? They make auto-mail there."
"Where where where where where?!" I shouted, stomping my foot down as I tensed my shoulders, no doubt looking like a child as I did so.
"I'm sure they'll be glad to see us again!" Ed exclaimed. Sighing, I turn to Marcoh to start rambling about how rude the Elrics are, but stop when I see his eyes wide. It seemed Ed and Al noticed also, because they were quiet suddenly.
"Rockbell? No, I can't. I can't go there. I'm sorry!" Marcoh said before running off.
"Dr. Marcoh!" Al shouted, and then the chase began.
"Marcoh, slow down!!" I shouted as we continued to run.
Once the chase ended, we were in an alley again, and Marcoh was panting slightly. "Dr. Marcoh, wait!" Ed started, "It's your call. We don't have to go anywhere you don't trust. We're not trying to steal your research."
He shook his head, "No, Ed. There are other reasons I can't go there with you."
He was about to tell us, when we saw a figure jump down from the balcony above. Looking up, we realized it was Scar. He looked at us a moment, before darting to Marcoh. Al grabbed Scar's arm instantly, and Scar shouted, "Now I have an attack made just for you!"
All I saw at first was a red light. Once it died down, my eyes widened when I saw a huge piece of Al's armor missing, and in millions of little pieces. The thing that shocked me the most was that through the pieces falling through the air, I saw nothing.
Al was empty?
As Ed and I shouted his name, Al fell to the ground. Ed ran forward and threw several punches and kicks, which Scar dodged easily. Ed throws his auto-mailed fist, and Scar grabs it in his hand. "By clasping your hands, you make an array with your body and circulate the alchemic reaction within. I know your secret, and without this sinful arm, you can't transmute quickly! That is your weakness."
"Ed..." I mumbled. A mere second later, red light shot through and Ed's arm was, like half of Al's torso, shattered. Al shouted many protests to Ed as Scar walked toward the boy. My fists clenched and unclenched angrily, trying to resist the urge to attack on anger alone.
I could see Ed muttering something, but because of the rain and how far I was from them, I couldn't hear it. But I saw Scar continue looking down at Ed as he said, "Correct. By a State Alchemist."
As I tried figuring out what was being said, I suddenly heard Al shout, "No Ed! Just a minute ago you said that wasn't equivalent exchange!"
All the pieces were put together in my head, and my eyes widened. "What?! Ed, don't!" I began to run forward, but once again Marcoh placed a hand on my shoulder forcefully.
As I bent my knees, I heard Scar say, "I promise before God, I won't harm your little brother. But you should listen to him Fullmetal. Your life for another life isn't a fair exchange."
A second later, Scar placed his hand on Ed's head. "I'm sorry Marcoh," I mumbled, causing him to look at me, only to have an elbow shoved in his stomach. He coughed as he was forced to let go, and I placed my hand on the wall to my right.
Rock shot outward in front of me, which I punched and sent flying toward Scar. Hearing this, he spun around and Ed looked up quickly. Scar placed his tattooed hand on it and I rush toward him as he does. Just as the boulder disintegrates, I place my hand on the ground and push my right leg up to his face. He grabs my ankle just in time, but with the hand that could nothing. I threw my left hand forward when I saw him aiming with his tattooed arm. I clasped his hand and nothing happened. Before I could fall to the ground, I kicked off from his chest and landed safely on the ground. "Those moves," He starts, "Who are you?!"
I glared at Scar as I slipped one of my black alchemic circle covered gloves out of my pocket. Yanking my right hand into the glove, I stretch the leather down my hand as I stand straight. "Just because the officers that killed your people were States..." As I darted toward Scar, I shouted, "That doesn't give you the right!" He dodged my punch, so I threw my knee up. He twisted around my knee and charged his fist into the crook of my back.
Letting out a small hiss, I spin toward him and step back some. "What are you doing?!" Ed shouted at me from behind, but I ignored it as Scar glared.
"I'm getting tired of you, girl," Scar growled, which caused my eye to twitch. Why? Well if you remember the first chapter... That's why. "WHO ARE YOU?!" Scar shouted at me.
"My name is Riley Mauler," I answered simply yet firmly as I placed my bag on the ground, so I could move easier. Slowly, I saw Scar's eyes widened. I smirked. He knew. "So you are an Ishbalin..," I muttered before hitting the ground with the gloved fist. Ground shot up in front of me, blocking the red light that was just sent to me.
"What are you doing Riley?! Get out of this!" Ed shouted in a whisper from behind me.
I began to grow angry with him, so I glared as I said, "Back off shrimp!" I turned and, after destroying the rock wall, saw Scar right in front of me. My eyes widened, caught off guard, and I instinctively threw my right hand up. I managed to grab his hand as we both fell backwards. He slammed me against a wall and glared.
"I know now. My arm is only useless to those hands of yours. Anywhere else," He paused as he clinched my collar tighter, "And you're useless."
"Leave her alone! I told you, kill me for your brother's life! Keep her out of this!" We both heard Ed shout. I blinked a bit, surprised at his outburst, and heard Scar "Hn."
Seeing the red light form, I reacted quick, but it felt slow. "Riley!" Everyone shouted as I shoved his hand away, jumping to my right. Scar's hand ended up hitting the camera that hung at my neck, and the wall that was behind me. Wincing as I felt rock pieces of ground from the wall hit my legs and left arm, I land hard on my stomach on the wet concrete.
As I pushed myself up and onto my knees, Scar began to walk over. "The both of you..," Scar started, glaring from Ed to me and back again. "You both don't get it."
I looked down at my hands when I felt them stinging a bit. I looked down at them and could faintly see a pink circle on them. "What...?" I thought as I clenched them. When I heard Scar let out a yell of pain, I looked up to see him holding his arm. We all looked over and saw Marcoh with a glowing stone in his hand. "Dr. Marcoh?" Ed mumbles. "Don't you have any sense?! You should be long gone by now!" He shouts.
"I investigated some ancient texts while I was in Ishbal. I remember discovering the alchemic drawing you have on your arm. Maybe it has flaws, but it is a Philosopher's Stone and your arm is responding!" Marcoh explained.
"Don't say that, you know nothing!"
Ed looked confused and amazed at the same time. "Like an alchemic reaction... Dr. Marcoh, is there a different way to use the stone, what's going on?!"
Scar darted toward Marcoh, and as I tried to get up, Marcoh threw the stone. It sunk into Scar's hand and he let out a yell of pain again, before turning and running past Ed and me. We all looked back and Scar stood there still, with the military officers standing in front of him.
"Hurry up and do s-" I was interrupted when Scar created a hole in the ground, and dust rose around us all. Once we all coughed enough, and the dust died down, I saw the officers standing around the hall. Hughes was saying something to them as Havoc smirked.
Hearing Kain gasp, I turn my head over and realize he was staring at Al, who was now sitting against the wall. "Just say something Al! Are you still with me?!" Ed shouted, looking up at Al worriedly.
"You idiot!" Al shouted before punching Ed, causing me to giggle slightly. "Why didn't you run when I told you to?!"
Ed shouted back, "If I did, he would of killed you!"
"So you decided to die instead?! That's really smart!"
"Don't call your older brother an idiot, Idiot!" Ed shouted pathetically, which sent me into a fit of giggles, which stopped when Al grabbed Ed by the jacket.
"That's not how we do things. Live and be content while we can. Live to research more alchemy, so one day we can get our bodies back. That is how we do things Brother. Dieing? And dieing by yourself? And leaving me on my own? That's something I won't let you do!"
At first I thought Al was letting Ed's collar go, but when I heard the thud it made on the ground, I looked down to see it fallen off. Al goes into a rant about it, causing me to snicker slightly, and Ed smirks, "We're really falling apart at the scene, aren't we? Everyone must think we're a joke."
"Aw come on, you're not a joke!" I said, trying to cheer them up, when suddenly I felt a sharp pain in my left leg. Hissing a bit, I look to my left to see what it was, causing Ed and Al to look over at me curiously.
And there was a rock.
A big rock.
On my ankle.
I bust out into dramatic tears as I threw my head back, still crying. "EEEEEK! It hurts, it hurts, it hurts so baaaaaaad," I whined, wiggling my upper body side to side. Ed sighed and wrapped his only arm around the rock. I continued to wiggle and whine as he pushed. Finally the rock fell over and just as I was about to celebrate, I heard a very small crunch. "Eh?" I mumble, looking back to the rock. I paled dramatically when I saw the remains for my camera under the rock.
My face was blank and it was silent as they watched me react, knowing why the camera was so important. "Riley-?"
"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!"
As I whined TO my camera, picking up the pieces and putting them in my lap, I heard Ed mutter firmly, "If you just stayed back, it wouldn't have happened."
Glaring at Ed as I hugged my camera pieces to my chest, I shout, "I WAS JUST TRYING TO SAVE YOUR DUMB ASS FROM GETTING KILLED!!"
I continued to whine as Al shook his head, "She has a point, Brother."
"Wha? Since when did you two decide to gang up on me?!" Ed shouted.
"You," I growled, pointing directly at Ed, who now had wide eyes and a pale face. "You owe me a camera," I growl, glaring at him deadly.
Ed let out a sigh, knowing it was useless to argue, and suddenly he perked a bit, as if realizing something. And the something didn't seem to good. "I guess you want an explanation now..," Ed muttered, before looking up to me for an answer, only to see me still crying over my camera. "RILEY!" He shouts, gaining my attention finally.
I sighed and shook my head, causing Ed and Al to lean back a bit in surprise. "Human transmutation, right?" I ask, causing them to look away, Ed with a regretful look on his face. "I thought so. I'm not stupid, you know. It all adds up. You can do alchemy without a circle, and you've got auto-mail; and Al's empty on the inside, physically speaking." I shook my head, "You don't have to tell me anything, Ed. It's your story, not mine. We'll just keep it at knowing the basics, if you want."
Ed smiled at me gratefully, but I decided to ruin the moment. Why? Because that's just who I am.
Scratching my nose as I look to the side, I mutter, "Of course you'll have to buy me a camera if you want this to remain between us three instead if everyone at HQ..."
Amusement was brought to my face when I saw Ed's face pale when he realized what I meant. "Fine, I'll buy you a damn camera," Ed mumbled through his teeth as he glared at the wall.
"Great!" I shout before smiling cheekily, "I'll just come with you to make sure you get the right one, of course!" Ed groaned at this, while Al laughed.
"What's with the disappointment, Edward?"
"Nothing! It's just..."
"Just what?!"
"Forget it..."
"No, come on, what was it?!"
"Do you have to come? I'm perfectly capable of picking out a camera!"
"I actually want one that's nice, Ed! Not something cheap and crappy!"
"Ugh..."
Ladedadeda...
You know what's ironic? Twice before, I was at the computer, and I sneezed really loud, and suddenly AOL Spyware pops up on the computer and says, "No threats have been detected." Hehe XD
This is the longest chapter so far! Yayzers!
Be Responsible. Don't Flame and Drive. Rawr.