Metallic Hearts [FullMetal Alchemist Part Twenty-Five: Words Of Farewell
A younger Maes Hughes walked down a hall, and knocked on a door. A tired stricken Roy Mustang answered the door. p
Maes: "This is an apple pie I got my girlfriend to bake for you. Want it?" Roy let Maes in and he looked around. Alchemy books covered the tables, Transmutation Circles covered the floor and the ceiling, bucket of red liquid were set on the floor. "Roy..." p
Roy: "It's just like you see. It's called a taboo." Maes grabbed Roy by the front of his shirt. p
Maes: "I don't understand Alchemy... But there is one thing I do know. Those who commit a taboo…" Roy set his hand on Maes' upper arm, which let go. p
Roy: "Don't worry, I haven't done anything yet." p
Maes: "But you were going to." Roy slipped his hands into the pockets of his military uniform. p
Roy: "A lot of people died. I mean, I killed a lot of people, after all." p
Maes: "It was a war." Roy turned away from his handsome friend. p
Roy: "You weren't there." Maes closed his eyes and sighed. p
Maes: "You're right. If you didn't want to kill the enemy in a war, you should've requested a desk job like I did. Did you think that you would help if you became a State Alchemist and revived some of the dead people?!" Roy closed his eyes for a moment and then smiled. p
Roy: "I don't know…" Maes punched Roy sharply in the cheek; Roy reached up and touched the bruise that was forming. p
Maes: "Is a taboo so easy to commit that you only need to study for a little while? Or did you want to die?" A revolver sat on the table beside Maes and Roy just stood there. "If that's the case, there are easier ways out." p
Roy: "I couldn't do it, since I was afraid of dying." p
Maes: "Of course." p
Roy: "That's the kind of human I Am." p
Maes: "Everyone is like that!" p
Roy: "But even if a life like mine will have some use. Maes, I've decided…" p
Maes: "Let me here it, Roy." Maes Hughes laid on his desk, his head down, dreaming. p
Scieszka: "Lieutenant Colonel, excuse me. Lieutenant Colonel!" p
Fuhrer: "It's okay. I will wait." Maes' golden eyes slowly opened and he looked up. The Fuhrer King Bradley was standing behind Scieszka and he lifted his hand. p center a target"blank" img src"http://i36. border"0" alt"Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting" /a /center p
Hughes: "F… Fuhrer!" Hughes jumped up and saluted. p
The Fuhrer stood by the window and the sun shined down on him. p
Fuhrer: "You seem to be conducting an investigation on the high command of the military." p
Hughes: "Yes. I was investigating a matter related to the 5th Laboratory." p
Fuhrer: "I took direct command of that case and found out there may be a possibility that Brigadier General Basque Gran may have teamed up with some Ishbal remnants to conduct dangerous research. That is the conclusion I came to. Are you not satisfied with that?" p
Hughes: "Well, um … I'm not." p
Fuhrer: "Does it have to do with the Philosopher's Stone?" Hughes looked up shocked. p
Hughes: "Yes. I assume that there was research within the military to create the Philosopher's Stone and there were many illegal acts involved with it." Hughes took a few steps closer, taking out a folder. "This was not done by Brigadier General Gran alone. At least Dr. Marco's superior officers were involved." He handed the Fuhrer the folder. "There is a high possibility that the people listed there were also involved." p
Fuhrer: "Major General, Brigadier General, Colonel… All these people?" p
Hughes: "Yes. During the past year, those people have passed away or turned up missing. But the fact that the 5th Laboratory was active… And just a few days ago, someone hired some mercenaries to attack some Ishbal refugees. If we assume that the people responsible for this are in the military then…" p
Fuhrer: "So what you are saying is that there is still a faction in the military that wishes to create the Philosopher's Stone? If such a thing become apparent the military will lose its authority." Bradley smiled. "I'm kidding. Investigate it fully. They secretly preformed illegal experiments on humans and tried to get rid of the evidence with assassins called Homunculus. I cannot allow such outlaws to be out on the loose. We must extract the bad part out." Hughes smiled and saluted. p
Hughes: "Thank you, sir! Another thing, Fuhrer… p
Fuhrer: "About Marco, right?" p
Hughes: "I wish to ask him a few questions." p
Fuhrer: "Juliet." He turned to his secretary, Miss. Juliet Douglas. p
center a target"blank" img src"http://i36. border"0" alt"Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting" /a /center p
Douglas: "Please go to Central City immediately." p
Fuhrer: "Only she knows where Dr. Marco is hiding out." The Fuhrer explained at Hughes' confused expression. "It prevents me to leak information to the enemy if I was to be tortured." p
Hughes: "I see… Then please show me where he is…"
Farwell Ceremony
You: "So the higher-ups that are assumed to be involved with the 5th Laboratory either died or turned up missing." p
Hughes: "The criminal with the tattoo of the Ouroborus weren't on the list." p
Bloch: "It sounds like they're talking about something important." The blond officer had his ear pressed to the door. p
Ross: "I don't want to get into anymore trouble, so I am not going to listen." She put her fingers in her ears as proof. p
Armstrong: "But the scientists who worked under Dr. Marco should still be alive. If we can find them…" p
Hughes: "Just leave it to me." You and Ed looked at each other and shrugged. p
Ed: "Um, about that…" p
You: "We don't care about that anymore." They all looked confused. p
Winry: "What are you two talking about?" p
You: "Let me repeat for ya, Blondie." Winry glared at you. "We don't have to deal with dangerous stuff like the Philosopher's Stone or Homunculus anymore. We thought it would be better if we found a different method." p
Armstrong: "It is better, but…" p
Hughes: "If it were that easy, you didn't have to go through all of that trouble." p
Al: "We know of one person who may know." p
You: "Our teacher. She lives in the south, in a place called Dabris." p
Ed: "We're planning to go there." p
Armstrong: "But…" Hughes held up his arm to stop him. Winry gasped and everyone looked up. p
Winry: "Here, on the way to Dabris." She was shaking all over. p
Al: "Is something there?" p
Winry: "The Mecca of auto mails, Rush Valley!" She started spinning around and jumping on the bed. "I wanna go there! Please take me! Please take me! Take me!" You were about to object. p
Ed: "Go on your own." You blinked in confusion; you would have thought that Ed would want her to go. It would give them some alone time. p
Winry: "Who'll pay for the travel expenses though?" p
Ed: "You're trying to make me pay?!" p
Al: "I think it's fine. It's on the way, anyway." If Al had a mouth, you would have Duct Taped it by now. You glared at the armor that looked at you, very scared. p
Ed: "Fine." p
You: "Don't say that." You glared at the ceiling. "Why don't you just kill me?" p
Bloch: "So they finally decided not to stick their heads into dangerous things. They probably understood what we, their bodyguards, had to go through. That's my bet." p
Hughes: "If they really did, it would be perfect." p
Armstrong: "It's to avoid making us the next victims." p
Hughes: "They're just kids, yet…" p
Hughes watched as you brushing your finger through the top of your head, making your bangs bend, making you look much older, and prettier. 'I hope Elysia will grow up to be like her one day.' He could see you in a wedding dress, Elysia the Flower Girl. Hughes arm around her, walking you down the isle as your Father figure. That was his dream, he knew of your background with your parents, and he would be honored to be that Father. You and the others waved as the four of you got onto the train. You gave Elysia a kiss on the cheek and she smiled at you. Tears filled Maes' eyes as he watched you climb onto the train; it was like sending a child off to collage. He knew he would be doing that with Elysia one day, this was just practice. Smile and wave, don't show pain. They all waved and you found seat and leaned out the window and waved back. p center a target"blank" img src"http://i36. border"0" alt"Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting" /a p /center The train disappeared and they all left. p
Winry: "You're not going to Dabris?" p
Al: "But we'll go to Rush Valley." p
Winry: "Then it's okay." p
You: 'Of course.' p
Winry: "But why? I thought you were going to ask you're teacher for a way besides using the Philosopher's Stone." p
Ed: "If we do that. We'll be killed." p
Winry: "Killed?" p
Al: "We haven't told her that Brother and Lita have become State Alchemists. If she finds out we tried to perform Human Transmutation… I want to live longer. I wanted to at least fall in love, Brother." You laughed at that. p
Ed: "And even if we put those issues aside, I believe we shouldn't ask her." p
Winry: "Then where are we going?!" p
You: "'We were' going to a Ishbal refugee camp in the mountains in the south where we think Scar is." p
Winry: "You're going after Scar?" p
You: "The Philosopher's Stone was said to be created in Ishbal. But Alchemy was never taught to them. In fact, their culture rejected it. So, we believe that they created it, using a different method." p
Ed: "I'll beat him up, and make him spill the secret." p
You: "Yeah, just like last time." You said sarcastically. p
Ed: "He's a murderer who uses Alchemy. I can't forgive him for that."
With Scar
A younger Scar led a group of Ishbalans through the desert. Explosions surrounded them and Scar whipped around. p
Scar: "Brother! Master!" A black cloud surrounded him and a man shrouded in blue appeared in front of him. p
???: "Hello." p
Scar: "Who are you? You are not from Ishbal." p
???: "Where are my manners? I forgot to introduce myself. I am the State Alchemist in charge of annihilating this area." He opened his palms and a bright light blew Scar several feet. p
Scar sat in the tent, lifting a heavy lead weight, thinking about that day. p
Grandpa: "You have a guest." A man walked into the tent. p
Scar: "Master!" p
Master: "I am glad to see you safe." p
Scar: "Where have you been?" p
Master: "There are a fair number of our people in the mountains in the south." p
Grandpa: "We were planning on heading out there, too." p
Master: "We have succeeded in evading the military in our mission to pick up our comrades in Central City. On our way, we heard rumors about you. You seem to be killing State Alchemists these last three years. State Alchemists burned our houses. I understand why you them…" p
Leo: "Yeah, she was really hot too, she was all over me…" p
Biker: "Are these guys from Ishbal?" p
Biker 2: "Is it safe for you guys to be wandering around here? You're only supposed to be in the designated camps." They revved up their bikes and rode into the crowd. p
Master: "But your revenge… Is it not just taking out your anger on strangers? Revenge only leads to more revenge. Remember Ishbala's words. 'Even in pain, you can sleep. But if you inflict pain, you can never sleep'." Scar walked out of the tent and watched as the bikers wrecked their reservation. One rode by him and he grabbed onto his arm and he used his Alchemy to explode it. He grabbed onto another ones head and imploded his brains. He slammed his body into the grab and the other bikers ran; in fear of their lives. "That arm… Is that your brother's arm?"
With Roy
Roy: "Why did you not tell me they were hospitalized?" p
Hughes: "What? I didn't tell you? It's not that big of a deal anyway." p
Roy: "Not that big a…" p
Hughes: "More importantly, your transfer to Central City might become permanent soon. Hurry up and become more important to give us an easier time. Oh, and get a wife…" Roy slammed the phone down. p
Riza: "Colonel put the phone down quietly." p
Roy: "Lieutenant, book me a train." p
Riza: "To Central City?" p
Roy: "Something is happening…"
With Hughes
Gracia: "Mustang cares about those two, too." p
Hughes: "There is no reason for him to worry about something he doesn't need to. And he doesn't need to know about the trivial things. And there's a possibility that our line is tapped. I'm sorry I have to investigate something." p
Gracia: "Yes, please be careful." p
Hughes: "Daddy has a lot of work to do. Bye bye." He tucked Elysia into bed.
At the office
Hughes: "Get me the papers on Lior's riot! The drawing of the Transmutation Circle in the 5th Laboratory." p
Scieszka: "Where is it?" p
Hughes: "Get me the fourth and fifth volume of the Ishbal rebellion." p
Scieszka: "Am I getting paid overtime for this?" p
Hughes: "I'll give you a picture of Elysia! Ishbal, Loire, and Mugear mine. They perish when they get close to the Philosopher's Stone… That's weird. If they want to motivate the people into making the Philosopher's Stone… Why did they start a rumor that says those who get to close to the Stone will perish? Is it because they will erase the evidence? No, could it be, the opposite? If everything is opposite then… Wait, the cause of the outbreak of the war in Ishbal was… a squadron called Douglas. I've heard that somewhere." p
Scieszka: "Excuse me. It's a call from the Fuhrer's secretary." p
Douglas: "Yes, Dr. Marco is in Central City now. He'll be waiting at the hotel." p
Hughes: "Thank you, I will head there right now." He hung up the phone. "Wait. Douglas… Juliet. Scieszka! Put all the books back! After that, you can go home. And you're fired. Never come here again."
Later
Hughes: "Thank you for doing this. Ms. Secretary. Ms. Douglas. Are you aware of the Ishbal War?" p
Douglas: "No. I have done desk work all this time." p
Hughes: "Me too. I had to look up some stuff recently. Did you know that a soldier that was staying there caused the rebellion? He shot a helpless Ishbal child. And that soldiers name was Juliet Douglas." p
Douglas: "It's a common name." p
Hughes: "It gets interesting here. The soldier with that name should've been dead two years before the Ishbal rebellion." p
Douglas: "Strange." p
Hughes: "Douglas should've been dead. But the name Juliet Douglas was never removed from the military list. Not only that, a soldier with that name received a promotion in the last two years." p
Douglas: "She was selected to be the Fuhrer's secretary." p
Hughes: "Who are you? Were you in Ishbal? Or did you use Douglas' records to sneak into the military?" p
Douglas: "The doctor is waiting." p
Hughes: "Is Marco behind this door?" He went to open the door and Lust came out of the other door, he nails stopped at his neck. p
Lust: "Nice to meet you. Or should I say, goodbye?" p
Hughes: "You have a cool tattoo there, babe." She extended her fingers but he ducked and threw one of his knifes at her forehead. Ross sent gunshots they're way and they ran. When they left, Lust pulled the knife out of her forehead and blood continued to run down her face. p
Lust: "He's pretty good. Sloth, teach him." p
Hughes: "Ross, the enemy has gotten close to the Fuhrer and has infiltrated the military. Their goal is not to create the Philosopher's Stone, but…" He stopped running and looked at Ross. "Never mind, follow me." p
Ross: "Sir." p
Hughes: "Damn it, this is so time consuming." While he was pulling coins out of his pocket he dropped a picture of him and his family. "What? He's gone?!" p
Falmon: "He went to Central City, with Lieutenant Hawkeye. Did something happen?" Hughes hung up. p
Hughes: "You could head to the top with this information!" p
Ross: "Anyway, let's go to a safe place." p
Hughes: "Yes, it's not like I've lost any clues. Now, tell me some things." He pulled out his knife and put it to her neck. p center a target"blank" img src"http://i36. border"0" alt"Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting" /a /center p
Hughes: "The Lieutenant has a mole under her left eye." p
Ross: "Really? I was careless." She turned around and brushed under her eye and a mole appeared. p
Hughes: "That's amazing." She reached for her gun and Hughes slashed her throat swiftly, she gasped for breath but she only got blood as she fell backwards. "Forgive me. I have a wife and child waiting at home." As he turned his back she stood up fully. He gasped as he saw his wife, Gracia, standing behind him. p
Gracia: "Then maybe, this is a more fitting end." She pulled the trigger and Hughes froze as the bullet pressed through his skin and through his heart. He thought back to what Roy had told him. His final thoughts… p
Roy: "I'm going to become the Fuhrer, I will change how this country runs. That is the only thing I can do." p
Maes: "To do that, you'll need someone who understands and supports you. I'll work under you, stay close to the higher-ups and help push you to the top."
The Funeral
White stones covered the ground as a group of blue military uniforms stood in front of a vacant hole. A couple men in black placed a polished cherry casket in the ground and they grabbed shovels, pushing the dirt into the hole. Elysia grabbed onto her moms hand. p
Elysia: "Why, mom? Why are they burying daddy? Why are those people burying daddy? Why?" p
Gracia: "Elysia…" p
Elysia: "Make them stop, I don't like it! Daddy has a lot of work to do and if they bury him he can't do it when he wakes up! Mommy, stop them!" p
Gracia: "Elysia…" She reached down and wrapped her arms around her daughter. Tears began to fall down Armstrong's face as he listened to the little girls words. p
Elysia: "Don't bury him, Mom! Daddy!" Roy stood in front of Maes' grave, everyone had left after the services. p
Roy: "Killed in action, and promoted two ranks for it… Brigadier General Hughes, eh? The guy who said he would work under me and assist me… went above me. How absurd. Fool." p
Hawkeye: "Colonel." p
Roy: "I have built a theory for Human Transmutation before. I was trying to remember it just now. Alchemists are such sick living things. Why did he not tell me if the Elric Brothers were involved? There was no need for him to do this alone." p
Hawkeye: "Maybe he meant it for your own good." p
Roy: "How so?" He turned to his blond assistant. p
Hawkeye: "When those two are involved, sometimes you can't make calm decisions, Colonel. Brigadier General Hughes kept the information about Edward and Lita to himself… So you could head to the top, without any setbacks." Roy brushed back his hair and put on his military hat. p
Roy: "It's starting to rain." His voice was shaking and a tear escaped his eye.
With You and the Others
Ed took a bite out of the pie that Gracia had made for them and looked down at it. p
Ed: "Is this what you call a Mother's Taste?" You smiled from across from Ed. p
You: "I love the Hughes' Maes, Gracia and Elysia are such wonderful people. They treat us like family." p
Ed: "The Lieutenant Colonel is obsessed with his kid and likes to stick his nose in other peoples business. He's annoying." You smiled. p
You: "He came to see us several times when we were in the hospital." p
Ed: "He only wanted to see you in that hospital uniform." You gave him a weird look. "Why does he do so much for you, anyway?" p
You: "Oh, thanks Ed." You started laughing. "We so have to go say thanks to him when we come back to Central." Your eyes glowed white and you looked out the window. There was a Hughes, in a suit with a bouquet of white roses in his hand. He was waving at you with the biggest smile on his face. The train whizzed past and you leaned out the window, trying to see him, but he was no longer there. p
Ed: "Lita? Did you see something?" You blinked and your eyes went back to their silver color. p
You: "No." Ed shoved the rest of the pie into his mouth and smiled at you. You looked down. "Maes?"