Cast Iron Alchemist

Chapter 4: A meeting with the Fuhrer

Staring over the latest report of the group calling themselves the "Fullmetal Brigade," the man read over the report of the destruction of the central weapons factory, including the unfortunate death of Head Warden Fang. Following their activity on a map, he was easily able to conclude that central was their next target. He yawned, rubbing the sleep from his red eyes. "Well, if they're on their way here, I should probably get some sleep." he stood up and picked up his sword, snapping it onto his belt. "I'm no good tired."

Anthony layed back in the cushioned seat of the train's private cabin, the other three enjoying a warm pie they purchased from a bakery. Jennifer hungrily reached for a second piece, crumbs from the crust on her lips. "yum, it's been a while since I enjoyed food this good."

Alicia smiled and finished her second piece. "This is almost as tasty as Grandma Winry's apple pie."

Trevor was already on his third piece. "Man, I wish mom could have cooked like this."

Anthony smiled at the three friends he had made. Once the meal was finished, Anthony pulled out a blueprint of Central HQ, courtesy of General Feury. The four looked over it for weak points in construction or some hidden path in. Finding none, they sighed. Anthony layed back again, feeling hopeless. "The place is an impenetrable fortress, breaking in doesn't seem to be a possibility. We'll have to find a way to sneak in undetected."

Alicia nodded. "If only we were in the army like the fullmetal alchemist was. Then we could just stroll in."

Anthony stared at his pocket watch, running his thumb over the bumps and grooves. 'what would you do?' he thought to himself. He shut his eyes and thought. It hit him like a brick. He stood up, slamming his hands down on the table. "The sewers. There's no way they would patrol there."

Trevor nodded. "True, but there are no human sized sewage drains inside."

Anthony pointed to a wall on the blueprint that looked suspiciously out of place. "Well any logical being would have created an emergency escape in the basement of the building, seeing as there are no other free escape routes above ground. And assuming there is an escape route in the basement, it's more than likely that it converges with the sewer lines somewhere. Since this wall was blocked off one can assume that the entrance is hidden and the 'liberators' saw no need to keep the basement open. So they sealed it off."

The three of them just stared blankly at Anthony's long explanation. Jennifer smiled and adjusted her glasses. "Wow Anthony, that's amazing. How did you figure out all that." Anthony smiled back, blushing a bit embarrassingly. "I um...I was going for a construction scholarship back in my world. I guess I was just born to create, like my grandfather."

Trevor nodded. "So we'll get a hotel room and start planning our attack. Hard to believe it all came together so quickly."

Anthony nodded, yawning. "Three weeks. When I came here I knew nothing of this land, But thanks to you guys I feel like I've lived here all my life."

Alicia smiled and brushed the hair out of her face. "Your grandpa's stories layed the foundation, we just build from what he layed down."

Anthony nodded as the train came to a halt in Central. The four got out and stretched their legs, looking around at the scenery. Looking at the tall buildings and bustling streets, he felt as though he was home, a warmth wrapped around him he hadn't felt since Risembool. The four checked into a hotel and started unpacking their things. Anthony put on a change of clothes and walked to the door. "I'm going out for a bit, I'll be back by dinner." He left without another word.

Following the descriptions in the note book, Anthony stopped at the now dilapidated laboratory 5. Ed had been very detailed about his experience here, about the brothers he met, the slicer brothers forced into armor. He walked through the gate, his hands in his pockets, staring at the rubble, he shut his eyes to pay his respects. This was the first of many destinations he felt he needed to see.

The next on his list was the grave of an old friend. "Brigadier General Maes Hughes, killed in the line of duty." Anthony read it to himself many times. An entire two pages in the note book was dedicated to this man, whom Ed blamed himself for the death of. Standing here, in front of the grave, he could feel the air of nostalgia, even though he was never there. A woman in black approached him. "Excuse me."

Anthony gasped, leaving his mind and returning to reality. "Oh, sorry, i was deep in thought."

he stepped out of the way to let the blonde woman step forward, she set a bouquet of flowers on the grave. "You seem too young to have known him."

Anthony nodded, looking away. "He was an old friend of my grandfather."

She nodded, smiling. "he was very friendly during his time. It seemed like all he knew was a smile."

Anthony nodded. "So how do you know him?"

She smiled at him, brushing her hair away. "I'm his daughter, my name is Elicia."

Anthony looked surprised, he never imagined the young girl he read about would look so lovely. A smile went across his face. "I see, I've heard a bit about you miss Elicia."

she giggled. "Seems like everyone has. When he was alive my father would always flaunt pictures of me to everyone he knew, like I was the greatest thing in the world."

Anthony put his hands in his pockets. "So I've heard, it's good to see that you're in good spirits."

She blushed and nodded, smiling. "You remind me of someone I used to know. You even look a little like him."

Anthony nodded. "And who would that be?" he asked, though he was sure he knew the answer. "The Fullmetal Alchemist. I remember when he would come over to see me and my father, in fact my mother told me that he helped deliver me. I'm happy to know my father had such kindhearted friends."

Anthony let out a chuckle and scratched his chin. "He was an amazing person, to be a state alchemist at such a young age."

A man called to Elicia from across the graveyard, she waved at him and blew him a kiss. "I have to go, it was nice talking to you."

Anthony nodded and smiled. "Hopefully our paths will cross again."

She nodded in response and ran up to the man, kissing him softly before the two left the graveyard. Anthony smiled and moved on, feeling as though he had gained the closure Ed so desperately wanted to achieve.

One final destination was on his list, Anthony made his way to an alleyway. The alleyway still had the blood stain of an innocent chimera. Anthony walked up to it and pressed his hand to the dried blood stain. "Nina." he said silently.

He felt closer to his grandfather's past here than anywhere else he had been. "You don't know me, but you know my grandfather, 'little brother.'"

he smiled and ran his hand across the wall. "My mother, Nina Elric, was named after you. I think she'd be honored to bear the name of such an honest, caring little girl. I wish you could be here, that I could talk to you."

Anthony sighed and stared at his hand, he clenched it into a tight fist. "For the sake of you, for the sake of Hughes, for the sake of the slicer brothers. Izumi Curtis, Roy Mustang, Winry Rockbell, Russel and Fletcher, Rose. For the sake of all those who stood by my grandfather, and for the sake of the Fullmetal Alchemist's reputation, I vow to turn this country to the land my grandfather fought for it to become."

Anthony returned to the hotel room, more determined than ever.

Alicia walked down the sidewalks of the sewers, plugging her nose as she groaned, Trevor following her. "Why did I get stuck with sewer duty?"

Trevor sighed. "We drew the short straws, let's just get this over with already. According to Anthony's pseudo schematic of the sewers we should be right underneath Central HQ. There should be a door of some sort close by."

Alicia sighed and dragged her feet along. "The sooner we find it the better. Lucky Anthony taking the above ground job with Jennifer."

Trevor growled and turned to her. "Is whining and complaining all you're good at?"

Alicia glared back. "Well walking through the smelly sewer isn't my idea of a fun time alright?"

Trevor growled more and turned his back, looking around for anything that might resemble a door. As he walked, he found it. It's design resembled a bank vault door, and the edges were sealed with alchemy to hide it's identity. Trevor drew a quick circle and opened the door. Using the light of the torch he looked around the room on the other side. This was clearly the old basement of Central HQ. The walls were lined with boxes and crates, each labelled and sorted. Trevor smiled and looked around the room. "Jackpot."

Alicia sighed and smiled. "good, now let's get back above ground and let the other two know."

Trevor started exploring the room. "Hold on a second, there might be stuff down here we can use."

Alicia sighed and sat down, resting her feet. "May as well take your time then."

Anthony and Jennifer were able to climb onto the wall of Central HQ from a nearby tree. Though she requested no mask, Anthony made her one with a medical plus carved into it. He felt safer in numbers when it came to brigade activities. Staring out at the grounds, it was clear that they were serious about security. Guards were posted everywhere, each carrying at least three visible weapons. "Geez, for a Fuhrer who hasn't shown himself for more than 18 years he's really serious about security."

Jennifer nodded, staring out. "We could create some sort of distraction with smokescreen or flashbangs."

Anthony nodded. "right now let's just take notes about the locations of the guards and keep an eye out. We need to know the maximum and minimum numbers at any given time, and also how frequently the guards switch out. Judging just from first glances, we may end up in a fight for our lives. You'd better get your gauze ready Jen."

she nodded, not liking the thought of her new allies bloodied. "I promise you'll all stay alive, even if my hand goes numb from drawing."

Anthony nodded. "I know you will."

Jennifer blushed a bit behind her mask. She wasn't used to so much trust. After a few hours of recon the two returned to the hotel room and met up with Trevor and Alicia. If only they were aware that the whole time they were being watched by a pair of red eyes across the courtyard.

Trevor and Alicia were waiting for them in the hotel room. Anthony took off his mask. "Any luck?"

Trevor nodded, a proud and victorious smile on his face. "Hell yeah, we found the room, and we even brought back gifts."

Trevor opened his backpack, full of medical equipment. Alicia did the same, hers was full of fireworks. Anthony smiled, it was as if they had read his mind. He took out the blueprints and started marking off guard patrols. "the guards patrol in groups of three, most had two to three lethal arms visible, since some had two and others had three we need to assume for our own safety that they have any number of concealed weapons. If we get in a bout with anyone during the mission, it's kill or be killed. Our target is here..."

he drew multiple circles around the large office building they were across from. "This is where Fuhrer Simon's living quarters are. He has no home address, no records since he became Fuhrer. We can only assume he spends all of his time in this building. Once there we need to find out just what's become of Fuhrer Simon, if he's even alive. From there we'll see if we can negotiate with him, convince him our point of view. If he turns hostile, we'll have to take him out."

the four nodded along, taking in every word. Alicia crossed her arms. "What's the plan Anthony?"

he pointed to the fireworks. "We'll enter through the basement and go separate ways. Trevor will take the fireworks and go to the side opposite the target, setting them off. This will be ample distraction for me and Alicia to break in and meet up with the target. Whatever goes down we leave together, and meet up back in the basement. If we can't make it to the basement, our secondary rendezvous will be the graveyard. There will be a twenty minute wait limit before we return to the hotel. Jennifer will treat our wounds and we'll work from there as needed. Hopefully we'll be able to change the country tonight."

the three nodded, understanding their roles inside and out. Anthony put his hand forward, and they all put their hands together on top of his. With a roar of pride they spoke in chorus, "Alchemists for the people."

Feeling fully rested, the young man got up, styling his blonde hair as he always had, sweeping it to either side out of his eyes. He drew his swords from their sheaths, slicing back and forth across his practice dummies. Every elegant strike was precise and planned, like a ballet of steel gliding through the air. His speed and skill were the result of years of practice and enhancement. Seeing his abilities had not diminished with a lack of training partners, he sheathed his swords once again, prepared for the foe he was destined to cross paths with. He stared out the window of his room, down at the courtyard. "Well, Fullmetal Brigade," he spoke to himself, "I hope you can give me a challenge, it's been so long since I had one."

Tonight was the night, Everyone was preparing. Jennifer sorted out the medical supplies into a medical kit for quick access. She had also been given a pair of white medical alchemy gloves from Alicia, making it easier to do her medical alchemy. Trevor packed the fireworks tight in his backpack, each loaded with a different time fuse so he could snap once and they would systematically go off, giving him quick escape to join the others. Alicia loaded smokescreens and flashbangs into her jacket, along with two pairs of gloves. She put on a special pair of botanic alchemy gloves she had made, plant seeds were hemmed into the stitching. It was uncomfortable, but it was functional. Anthony's jacket was packed tight with equipment. Besides the typical smokescreens and flashbangs, he also had a combination smoke and flash grenade, something he had prepared specifically for this night. After his bout with Fang he decided that an explosive eliminating all three tracking senses was the best way to go. He put his cast iron armor over his right arm, staring as the black metal glistened in the light. The four nodded to each other and put on their masks, ready for this mission. With their arsenals complete, they headed out, leaving Jennifer to wait to fulfil her duty.

They snuck into the sewers under cover of night in the park, going top speed across the walkways to the door. It was no effort breaking into the basement, but they knew that would be the easy part. Trevor had split up with them already to set up the fireworks. Using some portable radios they kept in communication. Anthony and Alicia waited in the basement for Trevor to give them the signal. He waited until the guard patrol passed, and he climbed the tree to get up onto the wall. He took the fireworks out, lighting them all. He got back to the base of the tree just as the first one went off and ran for the nearby sewer grate. He turned on his radio. "They're all lit up, get moving, I'll rendezvous with you guys in the basement."

Anthony answered as he opened the former basement door with alchemy, closing it as the two left. "Copy, guard the escape route, we can't afford to lose it."

it was easy making it through the halls as the guards haphazardly ran to inspect the commotion. There was something they hadn't counted on though. It appears the Fuhrer was a bit paranoid. He had eight guards posted outside the door to his building, ordered to seal the doors with alchemy at the first sign of danger. They had to get in before they sealed the doors. Thinking quickly they devised a plan. Alicia tossed a flashbang down the hallway to draw the guards' attention. Six of them went to inspect the situation, leaving only two to take out. Anthony transmuted his wrist sword and ran out. Alicia transmuted a sword of rose thorns from the seeds in her gloves. With the six down the hall they posed little threat, they focused their efforts on the two in the way. Anthony ran headlong at one and sliced the man's hand before he could draw his gun, then kicked him against the wall. Alicia came in close and bound his arms with vines. They didn't count on two being inside, shutting the doors from that end. They saw the doors closing and the six guards coming closer. Alicia turned to him. "Cast Iron, go now!"

Anthony stood next to her, ready to fight. "I'm not going to leave an ally behind."

Alicia nodded. "I know."

she quickly tripped him with a vine, catching him and pushing him through the door. "Ali-...Botanic!"

she watched as the door closed. "No matter what."

the doors shut and were sealed. Alicia prepared herself for a hard fight. Anthony stood up, he stabbed both guards through the stomach to incapacitate them and began running up the stairs. He counted the steps as he ran, keeping the building's architecture in his mind. He calculated that the Fuhrer's chamber was one more room up.

He opened the door to the floor below it, and was surprised at what was inside. Carved into the pillars were statues of every Fuhrer of Amestris, along with a portrait next to it. Roy's statue was turned to rubble, his painting ripped apart. He stopped at the middle of the room. Something didn't feel right. Since the ground floor he hadn't encountered a single guard. It seemed strange, even with the door sealed by alchemy. He clapped his hands and transmuted his wrist sword again. He heard clapping from the end of the hall, putting his guard up. A man walked forward, two swords strapped to his waist. "So the tales are true, the leader of this little musketeer show, the 'Cast Iron Alchemist' can perform alchemy without a transmutation circle. Or can he?"

Anthony said nothing, holding a combat stance, he tried to keep a calm bravado, but as the man stepped into the light he stepped back. This man who stepped forward, this unknown adversary, was a perfect resemblance of the picture he had seen of Fuhrer King Simon, aside from his blood red eyes. "Just...Just who the hell are you?"

The man looked at him and sighed. "Have you really not heard of me? I supposed that means you've never heard the phrase 'know one's enemy' either. I am President Fuhrer King Simon Watson."

Anthony shook his head. "That's impossible, Fuhrer King Simon would be in his thirties by now."

Simon nodded slowly, counting on his fingers. "In a month I think it'll be 38, though with my unaging body, it's hard to keep track."

Anthony couldn't believe his ears. To think that this young man, who looks no older than himself, could be the leader of the rebellion group that became Fuhrer. "H-How? Are you a homonculus or something? Or are you like Dante?"

he couldn't help but let out a chuckle as Anthony guessed at his origin. "I assure you I'm no homonculus, I have no need for that sort of immortality, though my body has homonculus qualities. As for Dante, no aswell. Though philosopher's stones are the root of it. Only a fool would make their core a philosopher's stone. When you make a stone your core, It feeds off you just as much as you feed off it." Simon explained as he raised his hand and layed it on his thin stomach. "If you ingest them, however, your body will convert it into power, into nutrients. My muscles, my blood, everything. Philosopher's stones are pumping through my veins."

Anthony was panicking, he never expected to see something like this. Simon put a hand over his eye. "There are some minor side effects, but nothing I can't live with."

Anthony shivered and shuddered. "You are...a monster!"

Simon cackled, staring at him with his bloody eyes. "Am I really that different than your precious Fullmetal Alchemist? His life goal was to gain this stone, just so he could do the same thing that I'm doing now."

his last statement drove Anthony over the edge. He ran straight at his enemy, his anger driving his wrist sword. "He is nothing like you!"

Simon was calm as he kicked Anthony's arm up and drew his sword, driving it into his stomach in one fluid motion. Anthony gasped in pain as the sword broke through his skin. Simon took Anthony's armored hand and looked at the transmutation circle on the palm. "As I thought, you are nothing but smoke and mirrors. Unfortunate, I thought I had a challenge."

Anthony struggled against his foe, weakened from the last blow. "I will...kill...you..."

Simon chucked and tossed anthony against the wall, pulling the sword from his waist and driving both through Anthony's arm, straight through the tough armor, one in the palm and one closer to the shoulder. Anthony let out a cry of pain. Simon cackled and licked his lips. "How do you plan to beat me Cast Iron Alchemist? Tell me!"

he pulled the sword from Anthony's upper arm and drove it deep into the shoulder. "You can't kill me, no one can kill me!"

Anthony put his hand to the wall behind him, driving a spike through Simon's neck. Simon looked at him with surprise and went limp. Anthony smiled, thinking he'd won. But then he heard a cackle as Simon pulled off the spike, red light of alchemic reaction around his neck as the wound sealed. "You don't listen very well do you?"

He pulled the sword from Anthony's shoulder again, smiling a demonic smile as he targeted Anthony's neck. "I cannot die!"

Just before the sword collided, Simon was knocked back by a pillar of wood, his sword flew through the air and embedded itself in Fuhrer Bradley's statue. Alicia ran over to Anthony and pulled the sword out of his palm. He fell weakly to the ground, losing blood. Alicia picked him up. "Stay with me, You're going to be okay."

Simon stood up, coughing up some blood as he picked up his sword. "How annoying, an ally hiding in the shadows."

Alicia looked over and couldn't believe her eyes as she had Anthony on her back. "I-it can't be..."

Anthony pulled two flash smokes from his jacket and tossed them, whispering to his savior. "Alicia...close your eyes and run..." The grenades went off, sending Simon senseless. Without thinking, Alicia began running with her eyes closed, Anthony guiding her left and right with tugs on her jacket. He hung in for a long time, but finally passed out when they got to the ground floor. "Anthony...Anthony hold on, it's only a little further!"

that was the last thing he heard before he fell unconscious.

Anthony's palm landed flat on the circle, and it began to glow. He stood up, both palms on the circle, an eye opened up beneath him. Anthony couldn't believe his eyes as, suddenly, tendril arms grew from the eye and grabbed him. He resisted as best he could, but the arms pulled him in beneath the eye. Anthony struggled as best as he could, but he passed out. He regained consciousness momentarily, and saw the eye in front of him. "you..." it said, "you have Amestrian blood. Could you be from Amestris?"

Anthony was too weak to reply. "I can see inside your mind's eye. You seek your grandfather don't you?"

Anthony nodded slowly. "I can bring you to him. But it comes at a cost."

Anthony was reminded of the story of the alchemist who tried to bring his mother to life, and shook his head. The eye stared at him. "so then, you wish to travel across the truth? Being Amestrian, I cannot stop you."

the tendrils began breaking apart Anthony's body, he screamed and struggled, and eventually passed out again.

Anthony woke up slowly, staring at the ceiling of the hotel room. He turned his head and saw Jennifer, doing vital checks. She looked at him and smiled. "thank goodness, we were all worried about you Anthony."

Anthony smiled and began to sit up, but it was painful to move. Jennifer helped him sit up. "you have to be careful, medical alchemy can seal your wounds and fix your muscles, but only to an extent. You still need to rest and give yourself time to heal. You lost a lot of blood, after all."

Anthony nodded and looked around the room. Trevor was sitting on his bed, a gunshot would in his shoulder. "What happened?"

Trevor looked over. "got caught off guard helping Alicia carry you out. I'm fine."

he took another look around. "where is Alicia?"

Jennifer put away her medical supplies. "she snuck back into the base to get painkillers for you and Trevor. She was able to get out unscathed by some miracle."

Anthony nodded and the group waited for her to return. When she returned she forced Anthony to take some of the painkillers and he looked around the room. "now that everyone's here, there's some information I need to relay to you."

they all sat down, paying attention. He told them about what he had learned from Simon, and also about his dream from his past experiences. After he told them they all looked sick to their stomachs. Alicia could barely take it in. "So all those arrests, cracking down on crime and hiding away...he must be using prisoners to create philosopher's stones and then ingesting them to give himself eternal life...that's...that's horrible."

Trevor clenched his fists tight. "My father died for this? So this jackass could use this country for his own selfish needs?"

Jennifer couldn't believe it, how close she came to death. "Was that...my fate also...? the fate of everyone in that weapons factory...?"

Anthony stood up sluggishly, feeling the painkillers start to kick in. He walked over to the wall, using it as a substitute chalkboard. "right, so here's the plan." Anthony said, writing as he spoke. "Priority one: destroy all the headquarters belonging to the Amestrian army. Priority two: obtain a philosopher's stone that has already been created. Priority three: use the stone to find a way to break down the elements of a philosopher's stone and destroy it's power."

Alicia walked forward and started writing. "Priority four: find a way to get you home Anthony."

Anthony looked at her and nodded. "We'll deal with that after we've taken care of this country."

the four nodded and began planning, looking over a map of Amestris. Anthony crossed out the entire eastern side of the country. "General Feury didn't mention anything about the production of philosopher's stones under his rule, we don't have to worry about opposition from the east. That just leaves the south, west, and north."

The three nodded and Alicia smiled at him. "So what's the plan fearless leader?"

Anthony smiled back and pointed to north headquarters. "North HQ. Then we'll rotate counterclockwise across the country. Everywhere we go we'll leave our mark, build an army, let Simon know we're not to be messed with. By the time we return to Central, we should have more rebel factions than the army has soldiers."

the four put their hands together over the map and looked around at each other. With one final roaring blast they said aloud, "Alchemists for the people!"