Metallic Hearts -FullMetal Alchemist- Episode Thirteen: FullMetal Vs Flame/MetalCat Vs. Iron Blood

The rain continued to fall as you all stood outside the gates of the East City Head Quarters.

Ed: "We're here."

You: "Yeah." You both let out huge sighs.

Al: "What's wrong?"

Ed: "Can't you guess? I have to listen to the Colonel's long and sarcastic remarks again. 'So the Philosopher's Stone in Lior was fake as well? How long are you going to use the militaries funds on this wild goose chase. Oh, where's Edward?' I'm here! 'I'm sorry, I'm sorry. I couldn't see you over my piles of paperwork.' Then he started laughing deeply. You began to laugh at Ed who smiled at you. "But as you said, we're here... So I guess I have to face what I must. Let's go." You looked over to see Al had disappeared. "Huh? Al?" Ed looked over to see him crouching on the ground. "Al!" He stood up holding his stomach.

Al: "Sorry."

Ed: "What are you doing?" There was a loud scream coming from Head Quarters. "What was that?"

Flame Versus FullMetal

Breda: "Dog!"

Havoc: "What's wrong Breda?"

Breda: "Havoc! Be careful! That...That!" They looked over to see a puppy sitting on the floor.

Hawkeye: "What is this?"

Falmon: "I believe it's a dog. Carnivora Canidae. It's scientific name is..."

Hawkeye: "I didn't ask that, Warrant Officer Falmon."

Falmon: "Excuse me, Lieutenant Hawkeye."

Fuery: "Sorry." He walked over and picked up the puppy. "I picked him up this morning."

Havoc: "You're going to take care of it?"

Fuery: "I wish I could, but you know, Lieutenant Havoc...Animals aren't allowed in the dorm."

Hawkeye: "We can't take care of it here in the office, though."

Fuery: "It was shivering in the cold, and I just couldn't stand it. Can someone take care of it?"

Falmon: "I live in the dorm, as well."

Breda: "No. I hate dogs." Havoc took the puppy by the skin on the back of his neck.

Havoc: "Then I'll take it. I like dogs."

Fuery: "Thank you so much, Lieutenant."

Havoc: "I heard they are good when they are stir-fried. In the East, they raise them for consumption. Red dogs in particular are..." Hawkeye grabbed onto the dog and handed him to Fuery.

Hawkeye: "Let's find someone else."

Fuery: "Yes."

Havoc: "I was kidding." The dog yipped as you opened the door. You and the Elric Brothers peeped your heads in.

You: "Excuse us for interrupting..."

Hawkeye: "You've returned?" There was a meow and Al looked afraid. Ed and everyone looked at you.

You: "What? It wasn't me."

Hawkeye: "What was that?"

Ed :"Al, come over here!"

Hawkeye: "Ed, your report?"

Ed: "I'll give it directly to the Colonel." He gave a salute and shut the door. "We're not in a position to take care of any animals. You shouldn't have picked him up."

Al: "But he was shivering in the cold...I can take care of him, right?"

Ed: "No, put it back where it was." Al then smacked Ed so hard he flew into the air.

Al: "Brother, you're cruel! You're not even human!"

Ed: "Don't run! Think if the kitten."

Al: "I am. I'm the only one who is!"

You and Ed sat in Roy's office.

Roy: "Looks like you gather information where ever you go."

Ed: "You mean in Lior City? You were the one that gave us fake information on the Philosopher's Stone."

Roy: "But I didn't tell you make the priest loose his followers."

You: "And as a result, East City has another city to take care of. Wait, don't tell me you were planning on this from the beginning..."

Roy: "I heard in Xenotime, Mugear's mansion was destroyed and that he is currently missing."

Ed: "Really? Where is this Xenotime?"

Roy: "Can you do a report on the red water, too. Also, I recieved a call from the police in the tourist city Aquroya. So, is it true that the Psiren under the mask is beautiful?" Ed blushed and looked away.

Ed: "You've made your point that you know everything we did..." Mustang gave you a look.

Roy: "Not everything..." Ed gave him a discusted look. "Full Metal one, why not settle down for a while?"

Ed: "You want me to listen to what you say here? We have a purpose."

Roy: "The Philosopher's Stone, eh? But after years of searching you haven't found it." Ed stood up and receahed to help you up. You smiled and grabbed his hand and he lifted you up.

Ed: "I'm going to find it, no matter what." Ed turned around agave a small bow and turned to leave. "Colonel...does the name Marco ring a bell? He's a doctor in Xenotime who showed up five years ago. He is also an Alchemist. He cured the poisoning cause by the red water that no one else could with Alchemy. If he's that good, I would think the military would at least know his name."

Roy: "The name is unfamiliar to me. But I will look into it." Before Ed could say anything back the door opened and Hawkeye stepped in.

Hawkeye: "Company, Colonel." At least twenty military personal walked in front and center.

You: "Lots of company..."

Roy: "This is an unexpected suprise, Brigader General."

Gran: "As of today, we will be making this office a temporary Central Headquarters."

Roy: "Temorary Central Headquarters?" There was a laughing sound and the people stepped aside to clear the door.

Fuhrer: "I'm sorry for the trouble. Let's be optimistic here."

Roy: "Fuhrer, sir..."

Gran: "The Fuhrer and his men will be inspecting the East."

Fuhrer: "Ah, so you are the MetalCat Alchemist. It is nice to finally meet you Lita." You smiled and shook his hand.

You: "Thank you, sir. It's an honor to meet you as well."

Fuhrer: "I suppose you have meet the Brigader General?"

You: "Yeah, we've met." You glared at Gran who stared back."

Break

Breda and Havoc looked through the window to the mess hall at all the new arrivals.

Breda: "Look at those chains. Those are the silver watched given to the State Alchemists. So most of these guys are State Alchemists?"

Hughes: "Look, look." He showed you and Ed a picture of Elysia on a tricycle. "Elysia can ride a tricycle, now. And she follows me around wherever I go!" He kissed the picture.

Ed: "You haven't changed at all Major..."

Hughes: "I have more. Want to see?"

Ed: "Uh, maybe later, we're kinda busy. Anyway, you should have told us that you were coming here."

Hughes: "I wanted to see Mustang suprised face. Oh, and now I'm a Lieutenant Colonel. I do investigations for the militaries court."

Ed: "Then shouldn't you be in Central City?"

Hughes: "It can't be helped. All the important people have run away from Central...Um, no, uh...How are things going with the Philosopher's Stone?"

Ed: "I think I'm a little closer to it now. I'm looking for a person called Dr. Marco, but the Colonel won't tell me anything."

Hughes: "Maybe he really doesn't know."

Ed: "No, I'm sure that guy is hiding something...!" A shadow covered the two and they looked up. Brigadier General Basque Gran stood infront of them.

Gran: "Did you just say Marco?"

Hughes: "Brigadier General Gran..."

Ed: "The Iron Blood Alchemist..."

Gran: "Are you talking about the coward Marco?"

You: "No one asked your opinion." You walked up behind him with your arms crossed.

Gran: "I'll have you know, six years ago, many Alchemists gathered for the rebellion in the East. But Marco ran away from the battlefield before the battle ended. And he has been missing ever since."

You: "Well, it's obvious who's the smarter of you two."

Break

Ed sat in the library as did Al and yourself.

Ed: "Dr. Marco, Dr. Marco... Damn it! All records of him have been erased. The only way now is to beat up the Colonel to get him to spill the information."

Al: "Beat up? Brother, please..." A meow came from Al's stomach.

Ed: "You still have that?"

Al: "You know it's still raining outside."

Hughes: "Hey. I forgot to tell you something important back there."

Ed: "What is it?"

Hughes: "This year's assessment will be held here, instead of Central City."

Ed: "Assessment?"

You: "The one to renew one's State Alchemists Qualification?"

Hughes: "I'll let you know what the rules are later on..."

Ed: "Wait, Major..."

Hughes: "Lieutenant Colonel!"

Ed: "I have an assessment method I want to try out."

Hughes: "Huh?"

Ed: "Right?" He looked at the two of you, Al looked down while you smiled evilly.

Fuery: "Battle assessment? There is such a thing?"

Havoc: "Alchemists commence in a mock battle, and the match itself becomes the assessment."

Falmon: "And Ed requested it himself?"

Breda: "For an opponent, he chose the Colonel? I wonder who would be stronger if they duke it out. I think the Colonel." Havoc: "The Full Metal one is quite good himself. But if we take into consideration the rumors we've heard about the Colonel's performance during the Eastern rebellion..."

Fuery: "But why would Ed request such a thing."

Hawkeye: "I heard that if he wins the Colonel has to take care of a cat."

Fuery: "A cat? Then I'll have to give up on asking him to take care of this dog." The door opened and Roy walked in. He marched up to Fuery and glared at him, he picked up the puppy and held it up in the air.

Roy: "A dog?" He glared at it for a minute. "I love dogs!" Fuery got all starry eyed.

Fuery: "Really?"

Roy: "Of course. Its loyalty is most admirable. It must listen to it's master's orders. You can treat it horribly and it wont once beg for a paycheck! Yes, it's a human slave! Oh Thou Canine How We Salute Thee."

Havoc: "By the way, Colonel, are you going to accept Edward's challenge?"

Roy: "I cannot become serious against a child. It is a shame that you cannot see my gallant performance, though."

Break

Fuhrer: "That sounds interesting. I approve of this battle assessment."

Roy: "But..."

Hughes: "You can use the entire parade ground. You wont have to worry about damaging the surroundings that way."

Gran: "Do not tell me you are not confident."

Fuhrer: "Fight...the Full Metal Alchemist." There was a knock on the door and you walked in.

You: "Good day, Fuhrer. I was wondering, had you approved of Ed and the Colonel's fight?"

Fuhrer: "Why yes. I just did. And what will you be doing for your assessment?"

You: "I was just thinking about that. If Full Metal gets Flame. I want Iron Blood."

Hughes: "The Brigadier General!"

You: "Yep!"

Roy: "You have no idea what you're getting into."

You: "Probably not, but I'm gonna try anyway."

Fuhrer: "Are you sure?"

You: "I've never been more sure of anything else in my life."

Fuhrer: "Fine. You have your match. The day before Full Metal and the Colonel's match." You smiled and bowed.

You: "Thank you, Fuhrer." He nodded and you turned around. "Good luck, Brigadier General." Sarcasm dripped from your voice like venom. "Try not to cry in front of your men." And you shut the door behind you. Roy followed soon after, heading the opposite direction with Hawkeye and Havoc.

Roy: "I will abide with them for now... Until I become Fuhrer and gain control of the privileges of the military."

Hawkeye: "I think you should refrain from making any improper statements."

Havoc: "But why do you have such a high goal?"

Roy: "A stupid question. When I become Fuhrer... All female personal in the military...will have to wear mini skirts." Hawkeye sighed and Havoc got a nosebleed. He walked up and wrapped himself around the Colonel's leg.

Havoc: "Colonel, I'll follow you wherever you go."

Roy: "Good!"

Break

You, Ed and Al stood on one side of the parade grounds, Basque Gran facing you.

Al: "Are you nervous?"

You: "Yes." You took a deep breath.

Ed: "Don't worry. If anything goes wrong, I'll kill him for you." You smiled and hugged him.

You: "Thanks."

Ed: "No prob." He leaned over and gave you a kiss on the cheek. "Good luck." You blushed as the two brothers got into the stands.

Hughes: "Ladies and Gentlemen. Welcome to today's entertainment. Getting right to the gruesome action in the red corner we have the Brigadier General and Iron Blood Alchemist, Basque Gran!" No one dared to boo, so cheers were heard in small parts of the stands, most didn't even bother to cheer. "And to my right in the blue corner, the living legend of the people, the Metal Cat Alchemist. Lita Nitro. You lifted your hands up in the air and loud cheers filled the stands. "All right, combatants. Ready, steady, go!" And he put some space between himself and the two off you. Neither of you took your eyes off of each other. Gran used his Alchemy to transmute his hand into metal. The hole in the middle glowed violet and he shot a ball of energy your way. You flipped over and ran towards him. You went to kick Gran in the side but he just grabbed your leg. You smirked and jumped up, you spun around while he still held your leg and hit him in the side of the head. You flipped back so that you were doing a hand stand. You crouched down, your knees bent and pushed up, sending your feet into his chin. He flew backwards and crashed into the ground. Within seconds he was back on his feet.

You: "Dammit!" You thought for a second and then reached back and kicked him right in the groin. A lot of the crowd turned away and groaned. Ed cheered as Al just giggled at Ed's reaction.

Kain: "Oh, man!"

Havoc: "Right in the balls."

Roy: "Something tells me she's done that a few times." He said as he looked down at your smirking figure. You raised your arms in victory. Al cheered as Ed looked on in horror.

Ed: "Lita! Behind you!" You turned around as Gran's metal hand collided with the side of your neck. You flung all the way across the arena in you crashed into the stone barricade. You hit it so hard that it crumbled. Basque aimed another shot at you as you laid there helplessly. Ed jumped out of the stands and ran over to you. He transmuted his auto-mail arm into a shield and blocked the shot just before it hit you.

Fuhrer: "That's enough Brigadier General Gran." Iron Blood transmuted his hand back and turned away. Ed looked down at the ground, small spots of blood covered the ground. Ed rolled you onto your back and gasped. There was a huge gash on your neck, blood pouring out of the wound. Ed looked over at Gran to see him slide something into his back pocket. Ed's golden eyes caught a small gleam of silver and he growled. He wanted to jump up and pummel Gran but he had to get you to a hospital. He picked you up bridal style and carried you into Central's Hospital. They wrapped up your neck to stop the bleeding.

Al: "How could he do that brother?" Ed and Al sat next to your bed. You hadn't woken up since yesterday. Ed's match was in a minute. He didn't want to leave you, but he knew he had to.

Ed: "Watch over her okay?" Al nodded as Ed grabbed his red coat off the back of the chair and threw it on.

Break

Hughes: "Ladies and gentlemen! By the way, this is..." He pulled a sheet off of a large structure behind him. An overly large picture of his three year old daughter, Elysia hugging a teddy bear, sat behind him. "My daughter, who turned three this year!" The soldiers started throwing things at Hughes. A tin bucket hit the back of the picture and it began to tilt, heading towards Hughes. "Elysia!" The picture fell on him and some soldiers were ordered to lift it off of him. "Moving right along! Today's main event! In the red corner, the Flame Alchemist... Roy Mustang!" Half cheered and half booed. "And in the blue corner, The FullMetal Alchemist... Edward Elric!" Ed completely ignored the short comments.

Ed: "Today is an important day, a day to prove that I am better then Mustang. He treated me like a slave, threatening to reveal our secret. I'll win this one for you, Lita. I don't care about the assessment. If I win, you're giving me information on Dr. Marco. And you're going to take care of the cat."

Hughes: "Now then... Ready, fight!" He sprinted away from the two.

Roy: "Too slow." Roy snapped and flames bursted from the air and exploded the ground around Ed. Ed fell backwards.

Ed: "Damn it, that was sudden!" He ran as more flames headed his way.

Roy: "Soldiers need to act quickly. It means in battle, you need to attack quickly, and end it quickly."

Kain: "Flames are arising in midair."

Havoc: "Oh. It's your first time seeing the Colonel's moves? His right glove is made form special cloth called Ignition Cloth. It creates sparks when he rubs it strongly enough. Then he adjusts the oxygen concentration in the air ... and boom it goes."

Ed: "Hot! Hot! Hot!" Ed jumped up and hit Kain in the head while running through the crowd. "Sorry!" Roy walked up to the crowd.

Roy: "Now... It's fairly hard to strike a target when it's so small." Ed flipped and jumped up.

Ed: "Don't call em small!"

Roy: "Anger the enemy to disturb him. Do not give into the enemy's provocation's." Half the crowd turned white when Roy snapped. The floor below them exploded and the crowd and Ed were sent flying.

Ed: "You've got to be kidding!"

Roy: "Looks like I overdid it." He looked around and noticed a shadow in the smoke. "There!" The smoke cleared and there stood a dummy of Ed with his tongue sticking out.

You stirred and Al looked up from the kitten he was playing with. You opened your eyes and look at Al. It hurt to breath and you tried to say something to Al.

Al: "Don't try to speak, Lita. When Gran slashed your neck it hit your vocal cords. You wont be able to speak for a while." You mouthed 'Where is Ed?' "He's fighting, Roy right now." 'Can you take me to the fighting grounds?' Al's conscience fought against it. He knew Ed wouldn't like him taking her there. But he couldn't just let her sit there in suspense. He handed her the kitten and he kneeled down. She sat on Al's shoulders and he walked out to the parade grounds.

Ed came up behind Roy and slashed his glove.

Roy: "Damn!"

Ed: "You can't use your flames now. I have you now!" He clapped and set his hands on the ground. When the bright light cleared, Ed was sitting on a huge earth made canon. Roy chuckled and lifted his hand out of his left pocket to reveal a second glove. "What!" Roy snapped and the canon exploded. When the smoke cleared, Ed stood up from under the rubble. "Ouch!" Ed looked behind him to see Roy standing there.

Roy: "Soldiers must deceive. Attacking someone by suprise is a valuable attack, Full Metal one."

Ed: "Finish me off."

Roy: "I will." He lifted his hand but stopped and looked scared. Ed lifted up his arm so his sword was pointing towards Roy's neck.

You: "Stop!" It hurt so much to scream but you did anyway, both men looked up to see you running towards them. Ed opened his arms as you ran into them. "Please, just stop."

Ed: "Shhh. It's okay."

Fuhrer: "That was a splendid match!"

Roy: "I am honored by your compliments."

Ed: "Wait." He stopped as you squeezed him gently. "Thank you." Ed gentle ran his fingers through your hair as the Fuhrer continued to speak.

Fuhrer: "If you continue fighting... Cleaning up will be more troublesome."

Break

As the sun set, Ed and Roy continued to clean up the grounds.

Riza: "They have to do it alone... Since they were ordered to clean up the mess together." Roy stuck his shovel in the ground and sat on a rock.

Roy: "That's why I didn't want to do this." You held up a sign that said. 'Ow...' Ed chuckled.

Ed: "Maybe that will teach you to stay in the hospital next time." You turned the sign over and it read. 'Are you sure you don't want me to help.' He walked over to you and set his hand on your head. "What I want you to do, is sit there, on that rock, and don't talk til we're done." 'What are you my father?' "Someone has to be. As of this moment you are in time out." You rolled your eyes but threw the sign away and sat down. "Colonel. Why did you go easy on me? The last attack. You had more then enough time to finish me off."

Roy: "It took place many years ago... There was a rebellion in a place called Ishbal."

Ed: "The one that took place in the East where the Ishbal people clashed with the military?"

Roy: "I saw a lot of unpleasant things." Flashback of Roy in a room with a little kid is what he saw. A teenage boy with brown skin and red eyes sat infront of Roy, his hand on a gun. They both looked scared as they faced each other. The boy picked up the gun and shot it at Roy, who snapped and flames filled the room. "Dr. Marco, who ran away from the battlefield was the sanest of all of us. I still believe that."

Ed: "Is that why you didn't say anything?"

Roy: "Maybe you should see him, as well. Marco, that is."

Ed: "He's still alive?" Roy turned to Ed and nodded. Ed stood there and smiled. "Colonel, I still haven't heard the reason why you stopped at the last attack. Never mind."

Break

Riza: "If there is no one else that can take him, I'll take him on."

Kain: "Really?" The puppy jumped out of Kain's arms and went to the bathroom on the wall. "Hey now, you can't do that just because you have a home... Riza took out a gun and shot around the puppy. He was up against the wall with his paws in the air.

Riza: "I discipline strictly. See? This is the bathroom. Got it, Black Hayate?"

Kain: "Black Hayate?"

Break

Roy and Hughes sat in a quiet bar, talking quietly.

Hughes: "About Lior in Lita's report. Did you know that General Hakuro's unit has been dispatched there? A horrible civil war is taking place there now. Lita wrote that the head priest fell, and the people could finally open their eyes. The head priest is still in power ... and he's leading his people to fight with the military. I'm not sure if this is the same priest Ed defeated, though. We should ask them to reinvestigate."

Roy: "They think they saved that city. Let's let them believe that for a while. They will learn the truth eventually."

Break

Ed: "We gained information about Dr. Marco from the Colonel. I can't ask him to take care of him as well... It would go against the principle of Equivalent Exchange."

Al: "Yes." The cat meowed from inside the box Ed had put him in.

Ed: "Sorry, this is all I can do for now." Ed transmuted the box into a nice comfortable cradle. And the three of you walked away. Ed slipped his arm around you and let you rest your head on his shoulder.

Break

Roy: "Can you tell me what's going on now? This isn't an ivestigation, is it?"

Hughes: "The brass convinced the Fuhrer to escape here. In Central City alone, five State Alchemists and related personnal have been killed."

Back In The East

A man held a soldier aboce the ground by his head. The soldier grabbed onto the man's arm and began to struggle. There was an explostion and the man dropped the soldier. Blood covered his white shirt and face. He took off his sunglasses and and looked up to the moon. His red eyes stared to the sky as he spoke.

Man: "East City..."