Chapter 6: Helpless


The voices of many students crowding into the gymnasium echoed off the walls. The annual class elections had arrived. Roy, seventeen years old, sat with several other students who were also running for class president. Even though it was his first time running, he felt somewhat confident with his chances.

Actually, Roy had never been good at preparing speeches, but after much begging, he had finally managed to pry Riza from one of her novels. With her help, the two composed a speech the night before. Roy could swear that parts of it must have come from excerpts Riza had liked in the novels she read. Actually, he knew one part in particular had come from a scene in The Prince of the Land of Pasta, where the Prince of Pasta was announcing the changes he would make to his kingdom for the betterment of the people near the end of the novel. Though, he could not complain all that much, for after all, she was helping him out with something he knew he could not accomplish alone

While reviewing the speech in his head, he hardly felt the gentle touch on his shoulder.

"Good luck, Roy." Riza whispered into his ear and gave his shoulder a comforting squeeze before she joined the rest of the student body in the bleachers.

After the other candidates each made their speeches, Roy stepped up to the podium. He felt his heart race nervously as he adjusted the microphone.

"Good aftern–"

Roy was abruptly interrupted as the dean of their school scrambled onto the stage. Roy quickly moved aside to make way for the flustered man. "Everyone, please remain calm as this announcement is made, and do not leave before I finish speaking. I am sure everyone is aware of the recent Amestrian-Dracman skirmishes that have been occurring in the Northeast and not far from our small town."

The mention of Drachma lead to many hushed murmurs across the auditorium. Drachma was a large aggressive nation to the north of Amestris and was notorious for its military's might and strength. Battles and skirmishes had always occurred along the northern border, but the recent ones had begun to creep closer to some Amestrian towns in the northeast, including theirs. Rumors about Drachman raiding parties attacking towns had also spread around the region.

The dean waited briefly for the noise to die down before continuing.

"Drachman scouts have been spotted on the outskirts of town. Classes are cancelled for the rest of today. The mayor of the town has requested that everyone return to their homes immediately. Everyone needs to head straight home. Once you arrive, pack some necessities and head straight for the safe houses around town with your family. Meanwhile, the local militia is being assembled just in case, and a military outpost nearby has been alerted and will be sending help. Everyone is now dismissed."

As the dean finished his final words, panic broke out among the students as they began to flood down the bleachers. Roy looked desperately for Riza among the crowds of students rushing down. Although she was not the type to panic, she could easily be trampled by the frenzy of students. Suddenly, Roy caught sight of her long blonde hair and her favorite faded green sweater briefly before she disappeared beneath the crowd.

Riza! Roy rushed towards the bleachers, shoving through the tide of students scrambling down. There she is! As Roy reached her trampled form, Riza was lying motionless on the ground with her arms wrapped tightly around her.

"Riza! Riza, are you okay? Are you injured?" Roy shouted anxiously as he lightly shook her trampled, dusty figure.

After several coughs, Riza nodded her head slightly as Roy helped her onto her feet. "Yes, I'm okay. Just some scratches and bruises, but I'm fine."

Roy sighed in relief that she had no suffered any serious injuries. "How did you manage to be the only one to get hurt?" He asked incredulously.

"When everyone panicked, my book got knocked out of my hands, but I managed to jump on it in time and protect it." Riza spoke proudly as she presented the undamaged copy of The Prince of the Land of Pasta for Roy to see. "I brought it with me as a good luck charm for your speech. I'm sorry you didn't get to give it."

"Are you crazy, thinking about that at a time like this? You could have gotten really hurt!" Roy grabbed Riza's hand and led her down the bleachers in a hurry. "Okay, never mind that for now. You heard the dean. We need to get home now!"

"But the book is unhurt…" Riza muttered, disappointed at Roy's lack of excitement in her accomplishment.

Roy sighed in exasperation. Riza had always shared a stronger attachment to books than he did although he had to admit that he probably would have done the same for that book in particular. "This way! I know a shortcut!"

He pulled Riza through the crowd and towards a less conspicuous door. Soon, the pair was running down the stone road towards their homes. As they ran, Roy felt dread creeping up his back. The dean's words about the militia being assembled just hit him, which meant his father would be taking up arms in defense of the town.

Riza noticed the worry on Roy's face as they ran. Although she had already reasoned out why, she asked anyways. "You alright?"

"Um, yeah. It's n-nothing." Roy forced a smile. "We'll stop by your house first, okay? I want to make sure you get home safely."

"You really don't have to." Riza protested softly.

"Roy!" Riza stopped abruptly, and the color drained from her face as she pointed towards a trail of black smoke rising in the direction of Roy's home. "Isn't tha–"

Before Riza could say or do anything else, Roy had sprinted ahead towards his house, jumping the stone fence and running through the fields. Riza tried to keep up but soon fell behind.

"Roy!" Riza yelled as loudly as she could handle through her gasps. "Wait up!"

She jumped the final fence that would have brought her to Roy's front yard. Riza gasped and stopped short in her tracks as Roy's home came into full view. The entire house was engulfed in flames. Roy stood silently in front of his burning house.

"Mom! Dad! Where are you?" Roy shouted as loud as he could before darting towards the front door. He leapt onto the porch and suddenly stopped dead in his tracks.

"Roy! What are you doing? It's dangerous!" Riza ran up behind him and reached out to pull him off the front porch but froze in horror.

The pair stood before the bullet-riddled body of Roy's father. Not far from the slumped figure laid one of the rifles assigned to the town militia along with several spent casings. Riza was frozen in disbelief, completely unaware of the fire consuming the house around them, and watched as Roy's face grew cold and distant.

Roy suddenly ran for the front door. Riza tried to shout for him to stop, but her voice choked with tears. Roy, no! Before she could go in after him, Roy had emerged from the front door, carrying his mother's limp body. Tears streaming down her face, Riza tried to speak. Roy hushed her with a cold stare as he carefully placed his mother's body on the front yard's grass before doing the same with his father's. Riza watched helpless during the whole grim process.

It was Roy's touch that finally brought her back to senses, as he yanked her from the burning porch and dragged her to where he had laid his parents. After bringing her to safety, Roy again ran back to the porch and came back with the militia rifle in his hands.

"Riza." Roy spoke softly and calmly, but his voice was filled with cold menace. "Go home, now. I have something I need to take care of."

Riza felt icy chills run down her back as she heard those last words. Although the deaths of Roy's parents had yet to fully sink in, the thought of losing anyone else close to her was unbearable. Oh please, don't go and try and get revenge. Please…

"Roy! Don't!" Face covered with tears, Riza had begun to chase after him frantically. "You'll be killed! Please! Don't go!"

"Riza, go home. Now. I'm not going to say it again. Just go." Roy shouted loudly, losing control of his temper.

Riza cringed as the violent words reached her ears. She watched helpless as Roy ran off with his father's rifle, leaving her alone. No, I can't lose you, too. I'm not strong enough to do anything. I need to get help for Roy. She turned and started running for her house. Dad's a master alchemist. If I ask him to help, surely he will be able to do something.

With tears shrouding her vision, Riza ran as hard and fast as she could towards her house, which was no more than a mile away. Knowing that at any moment, Roy could be killed. When she finally reached her house, Riza burst through the front door and headed straight for her father's study.

"Dad! Mr. and Mrs. Mustang. They are–" Riza gasped for breath as she choked out the few words she could through the tears. "Roy's going to…You need to. Help now!"

"Riza, say it again but slowly this time." Berthold Hawkeye spoke as he rose from his chair with concern.

"A Drachman raiding party is attacking the town. Mr. and Mrs. Mustang are…d-dead…" Riza sobbed as she tried to finish. "R-roy's gone chasing after them with a gun. He's going to be killed if you don't do anything! The rest of the town is also in danger! Please, Dad. Do something!"

"Lily…Robert." Riza's father spoke softly with remorse as he slumped back into his chair. "Riza, I'm terribly sorry, but there is nothing I can do."

"Nothing you can do! But you are such a great alchemist! You could save Roy and many others! Why are you just sitting there, doing nothing?"

"Riza, you don't understand. Alchemy is for the good of the people. When I took up alchemy, I swore to never use it as a weapon, no matter the situation."

"But, everyone in town is in danger! Why won't you use alchemy to protect them?"

"I'm sorry, Riza…" Riza's father remained motionless with his sad eyes fixed at something outside the window. The sight drove Riza further into hysterics.

"Well, fine! If you won't do anything, I'll just go help the town and Roy by myself!"

In desperation and anger, Riza stormed out of the house, slamming the door forcefully behind her. Her words had sounded brave when she had shouted them, but now as she ran towards the center of town where more black smoke was rising, Riza did not know what she could do to help. Why am I so helpless all the time? Roy is always protecting me, but what can I do? It doesn't matter. I am going to at least try. I am not going to sit around doing nothing anymore!

As Riza ran down the stone path, Berthold Hawkeye opened the front door to see his daughter disappear into the distance. With a sad sigh, he stepped back inside and closed the door.


Note: Sorry to end the chapter on such a depressing note. In all honesty, writing this chapter made me very sad, but my excuse is that childhood innocence cannot last forever. I will try to get the next chapter up as soon as possible. Sorry again, if I am causing any grief towards you.