"Lavi...Lenalee..." Allen mumbled, stirring in his sleep. Everyone who was currently chatting in the room shut up and looked down at Allen curiously. His eyes slowly opened and his left one transformed once again. He sat up slightly and winced, looking around to see Roy's crew staring at him. He looked over to see Alphonse in pieces in a crate. He tried getting up, but Roy laid a hand on his shoulder and shook his head.
"So, Armstrong, I guess you're going with them then?" Roy asked and the huge man nodded. "You'll have to carry Alphonse and Allen. Is that alright? Should I send someone else?" Roy asked.
"Who else do you have to send?" Armstrong asked rhetorically. "Don't worry, Colonel Sir, I will protect them with my life!" He shouted, picking Allen up and sitting him on his shoulder. Allen winced and held his chest. "Hang on tight, Allen." He insisted.
"Wha's goin' on?" Allen asked tiredly.
"Armstrong is going to escort you, Fullmetal, and Alphonse to Risembool so you can all get fixed up." Roy informed shortly. "You best hurry, your train leaves in five minutes." Roy nodded. Edward stood up and followed Armstrong, who earlier picked up Alphonse, out of the room and out into the street. It was a lot more brighter out and Allen had to question how long he'd been asleep. It was raining pretty hard earlier. Allen laid across Armstrong against Alphonse's crate, sighing. Alphonse was dropped off into a different section and Edward went ahead and climbed on without further notice. After dropping Alphonse off in the luggage section, he then brought him to Edward, sitting him down next to him since Armstrong practically took up an entire seat by himself. Hughes stopped by to say goodbye and they were off. Allen's eyes slowly started to close and he became sleepy. Armstrong looked up from his newspaper at Allen.
"You should rest, Allen." Armstrong said. Allen narrowed his eyes and shook his head. "I'm fine."
"Do you want to switch spots?" Edward asked, staring out the window.
"No, I'm fine..." Allen muttered and looked away. His chest didn't hurt as much anymore, but he did wonder what happened after he fell unconscious.
"Switch me." Edward said, standing up and shoving him towards the window. Allen sighed and laid his aching head against the window, closing his eyes and slowly drifting off, dreaming of his friends. He missed them so much. Were they all okay? Did they find Cross? All these questions floated through his mind as he dreamt about the times he spent with them. Then his dream suddenly changed to black and then to Tyki, who was suddenly using his power to tear Allen's arm off. Phantom pain surged through him and he woke up, his eyes snapping open. He paused, looking around, only to see that no one was there. There was no sign of Edward or Armstrong...what? Where did they go? Allen stood up and grabbed a hold of the wall, making his way into the next cart, where there were a lot more people. He stopped by one of the seats, where a young man with long, greenish black hair sat, reading a terrible article about Liore being crushed.
"E-excuse me..." Allen tapped the boy's shoulder and he quickly whipped his head around, glaring at him with his reddish purple eyes.
"The hell you want?" He snapped.
"S-sorry, I was just wondering...where are we?" The boy stared at him for a long time, looking him up and down.
"You're injured." He observed. Nothing about his tone seemed caring.
"Ah, just a bit. Got into a fight...uh...I don't know, it was recently." Allen held his head. "Some scarred man came after me..." He muttered. "Anyways, do you know where-"
"Scar?" The man questioned, interrupting him.
"Y-yeah...he had a big scar on his face...that's what the Colonel called him anyways..."
"Are you...a State Alchemist?" He asked, narrowing his eyes. Allen blinked.
"Me? Oh no, not yet at least. Ah...mind if I sit?"
"Go ahead." He replied, grinning.
"What's your name?"
"You can just call me Envy." The boy replied, grinning.
"Okay, my name is Allen Walker." Allen introduced with a small smile.
"So, you're not a State Alchemist right now?" Envy asked, suddenly interested and very upbeat about him. It was a bit suspicious. Then again, it seemed like everyone reacted differently whenever it came to State Alchemists.
"Um...yeah. But the colonel said that if I get a new arm then I'll probably be able to become one."
"Probably?" Allen felt some of his confidence drop and nodded.
"Yeah...I'm not really from around here...I live...very far...the colonel said that if I get a job as a State Alchemist I'd have the funds and chances to explore and maybe find a way back home." Envy noted that something in Allen's voice said that he doubted that. "Still...I have to do something. I can't sit around doing nothing. I was actually with a few of my friends earlier ago, but now they're gone...maybe I slept too long." Allen huffed, rubbing his eyes. "Maybe I should call the colonel..."
"Next stop is a tiny little town called Risembool." Envy informed. "Nothing big. I'm on my way somewhere else. Nothing ever happens in a tiny town like that."
"Oh...really? That's great. I suppose I'll get a hold of him there." Allen said, uncertain if he should tell this stranger that Risembool was his stop. It was a relief that he was able to get there...at least he wasn't lost for once and actually knew where he was going.
"So what are you specializing in?"
"Ah...I don't know, honestly."
"Have you ever heard of Human Transmutation?" Envy asked, not looking at him.
"Oh...yes, I have..." Allen answered, looking away. The truth was usually revealed to those who performed it...but he didn't do Human Transmutation and could still not use a circle...was it because he turned his father into an Akuma? That was sort of like Human Transmutation, only without the alchemy. Envy's eyes glanced at Allen, watching him. He noticed how hesitant Allen had become and grinned.
"It's a taboo, you know. I have some friends who dared to try it. They didn't live long, though."
"Oh...I see..." Allen paused. Wait...Edward doesn't use transmutation circles...could it be...? "Envy...you seem to know a lot about alchemy...is it possible to use alchemy without circles without committing Human Transmutation?" Envy blinked.
"Why would that matter?"
"Oh...uh...I don't...I just thought-"
"You...you did it, didn't you?" Envy asked.
"What? No...I mean...I don't think so..."
"You don't think so?" Envy asked lamely.
"Well...I...where I come from...it's different...Envy...would you believe me if I told you I came from another world?" He asked, looking away hesitantly.
"I'm listening." Envy said, leaning forward in interest.
"Where I come from, instead of alchemy, there's these things called Akuma. They're machines that have to be destroyed, but in order to make one, you have to revive a loved one. When I was ten, I lost my father to an accident." He trailed off, unsure if he should be telling this to a stranger. But then again, there was no way Envy would believe him...right? "A man called the Millennium Earl approached me. He told me if I called my father's name, that he would come back to me; and I did...and...that's how you create an Akuma. His soul is attached to a killing machine and only an exorcist can kill it. At the time I wasn't an exorcist, but I did have a weapon to destroy it so I lived, but he cursed me. So, now I can see souls whenever they're bound to something." Allen informed. "Then, one night...I was in...danger. Really bad danger. I can't...remember what happened but after a fight...I woke up here. Now, no one knows where I even live and I'm starting to think...that I can never go back..." He paused as Envy stared at him with disbelief. "I...it's okay if you don't believe me...I know it sounds stupid and-"
"Interesting. So, you can clap your hands without a circle?"
"Yes...I suppose...my world of Human Transmutation is creating an Akuma."
"Human sacrifice..." Envy whispered to himself.
"What?"
"Uh, nothing...anyways, this is your stop, you better go. He gave Allen a wide grin. He was unsure why, but it sent shivers up his spine. Why did he suddenly have a bad feeling with this good guy? He shook his head and smiled.
"Thank you, Envy."
"Eh? For what?" Envy asked confusingly. Allen smiled wider.
"For listening."
"Uh...you're welcome? I think?" Humans are strange. He thought as he watched Allen walk off the train. I heard something very interesting. He thought to himself and picked his newspaper back up. It wasn't as interesting as the topic before. He felt like he should see Lust. Standing up, Envy got off the stop as well, deciding to wait for the next train to Central to come by. Allen meanwhile stopped by the nearest telephone and pulled the wrinkled up paper out of his pocket and dialing Roy up. He voiced the code the paper said and the call was transferred.
"What's wrong, Allen?" Roy questioned.
"Um...well...I'm in Risembool, that's the good news..."
"And the bad news?"
"I'm here alone..."
"Where's Fullmetal and Armstrong?!" Roy shouted.
"I...don't know...I fell asleep on the train and when I woke up, they were gone..."
"Great. Just great." He growled. "Okay, listen, if you walk for awhile, you'll find a path that's empty and long and at the very end of it is 'Rockbell's Automail'. Just knock on the door, introduce yourself, and tell them you're a friend of Edward. They'll see that you're missing an arm and assume that you're a customer, so don't be afraid to speak up. It's a small town so everyone knows them. If you get lost, just ask for directions. Wait there until Fullmetal and the others get there."
"Okay, thank you, goodbye." Allen thanked him and hung up. He sighed and walked off, asking a few people where to go and they all greeted him with friendly smiles and lead them to the right place. He really liked this place. It was beautiful, everyone was nice, even though he was simply a stranger, they didn't hesitate to help him. He always bowed in thanks when they helped him. They found the gesture odd, but accepted it anyways. He walked up the long pathway, stopping every once in awhile to rest his pained heart. He made it to the front door and froze, seeing a black and white dog sleeping there. He walked forward and shouted when the dog suddenly started barking at him. "There, there, nice doggy...I'm a friend..." Allen held out his hand, wishing he had two. The door opened and an old woman stared, watching as Allen backed away from the dog, scared. She noticed that he was missing his arm.
"Den, quit it." She ordered and the dog backed off, returning to the porch.
"Ah, thank you, Miss." Allen thanked. "My name is Allen Walker and I-"
"No need for formalities, boy, just get inside and we can chat after I make you something to drink."
"O-oh...thank you very much." Allen bowed and followed her into the house, sitting at the table and holding his chest. She made him some tea and sat on a stool across from him.
"So, what happened?"
"Hm?" Allen asked as he sipped from his cup.
"To your arm."
"O-oh..." Allen looked down at the brown liquid sadly. "I...was in some kind of fight...the person was strong." Allen mumbled, holding his arm. He shook his head. "I don't want to talk about it, honestly. But, I was travelling with-"
"A fight? You're not a military dog, are you?"
"What? No? I just..." Allen huffed. "Before I came here, I was separated from three people who were coming here to see you!" Allen said quickly before she carried on.
"Three?" She questioned.
"Actually, two...but the third is there for protection. But I fell asleep on the train and when I woke up, they were gone...so then someone helped me get here and told me to tell you that they were on their way and to wait until they got here and-"
"Who?"
"Uh...his name is Edward and the other one's name is Alphonse..." Allen informed. The woman sighed and smacked her pipe into the tray.
"Jeez, can't he call first?" She asked herself and stood up. "Better prepare everything."
"Ma'am? What is Edward to you?"
"He's a family friend." She replied. "And the name is Pinako."
"Oh, okay. Do you need any help?" Allen asked, standing up. She eyed him.
"No, but it looks like you need some rest. Have you looked in the mirror lately?"
"Ah...no...I've been on a train since I woke up." He informed and stood up.
"Go wash up in the bathroom and lie down. You need it." She snapped and walked to the kitchen.
"Y-yes ma'am." Allen replied and walked off, pausing. "Um, Miss Pinako? Where's your bathroom? Also...do you have any spare clothes? It's hard to sleep in these..." He admitted.
"Sure. There's some in the guest bedroom, bottom drawer. The bathroom is at the end of the hall."
"Thank you, ma'am." He bowed and walked off. He grabbed some clothes that he guessed were Edward's and and walked to the bathroom. He stared into the mirror for a long time. He looked like he was barely holding up. His bottom eyelids were red, there were bags under them, his hair was greasy, and there was a large bruise around his throat where Scar had grabbed him. She was right. He did look like a mess. He sighed and took off his clothes with a bit of difficulty before turning the shower on and getting in. He almost felt like he was imposing, but she did offer...
Meanwhile, Winry, who was currently working on a base prosthetic, lifted her head. What's grandma doing taking a shower at this time of day? She wondered, standing up. She walked into the kitchen to see her grandma sitting on a stool, smoking her pipe. "G-grandma? If you're there...who's...?" She looked back towards the bathroom.
"A customer." She explained briefly. "A friend of Edward's to be precise." Winry itched her head.
"A friend of Ed's? But he hasn't been here in a long time."
"He's coming back soon. Left the poor guy on his own, defenseless." Pinako grumbled. "He doesn't have an arm so I'm guessing that's why he was lead here by the military." The old woman guessed. "He's been through a rough time, so take it easy on him."
"Right...so is he getting a new prosthetic? We'll need to measure him..."
"I don't know." Pinako answered. "He never said." The water turned off and there was a ten minute time gap between before the bathroom door opened and out stumbled an exhausted Allen. He stared at Winry.
"Good afternoon, Miss." He greeted with a small smile. She stared back.
"Uh. Hi." She replied.
"Sorry about the intrusion, my name is Allen." Allen held out his hand with a smile.
"Winry." She replied, shaking his hand cautiously. He literally did look like he might fall over. "You should really get some rest."
"Ah, right...thank you for your hospitality." He bowed and walked off, laying down in what he guessed was Edward's bed. Alphonse's was the one across from the one he laid in. It looked like it hadn't been used in ages. Like no one ever dared touching it. He yawned and laid his head on the pillow, wondering why he'd been so tired lately.
Oh well...there's no point worrying over it, was his last thought before he fell asleep.
Allen woke up a few hours later to the sound of someone yelling...it was a feminine voice. Winry? He wondered and climbed out of bed. His legs cramped up from dehydration and he fell over, a loud thump resounding in the room. The entire place went silent. Oops? He thought and stood up, grabbing onto the bed to help him up. He couldn't wait to heal and get two arms. He wouldn't feel so useless anymore. Allen sighed and used the wall to walk down the hall and into the living room where Edward was holding his bleeding forehead and Winry was holding a bloody wrench. The scene kind of reminded him of Lenalee's dangerous clipboard. Armstrong caught a glimpse of him and tears formed in his eyes. "OH ALLEN WALKER!" He cried out, running over and grabbing the boy, squeezing him tightly. "I'm so SORRY!" He shouted. "We were so occupied with Dr. Marcoh, that I forgot all about you! I'm so happy you made it here on your own!" He cried.
"Uhuh...can't...breathe..." Allen whispered. Armstrong let him go and he lost his balance, nearly falling over if it wasn't for the wall behind him.
"Colonel Mustang would have my head if he found out!" Allen sweat dropped and looked away, rubbing the back of his neck.
"Actually...I kinda already told him? I didn't know where to go from the train station, so..." He trailed off. "Sorry."
"Don't apologize, it's his fault for leaving you on your own to begin with." Pinako scolded.
"O-oh...okay..." He mumbled. He never had a mother before...they sure are strict. Allen thought.
"Anyways, Allen, what are doing hanging with the military? Where are your parents?" Pinako asked.
"Oh, uh..." Allen trailed off. Edward and Alphonse also seemed to want to know the answer. That's right...the colonel didn't tell them about me... "Actually, I don't exactly have any parents. And I was far away from home when the Colonel saved me..."
"Saved you?" Edward questioned, crossing his arms. "He didn't mention this." The blond paused. "Actually, he didn't mention anything. Who are you anyways?" Everyone sweat dropped.
"Well, you see, I got into a really bad fight with a bad guy and after he tore my arm off-"
"HE TORE YOUR ARM OFF?!" Winry and Armstrong screamed.
"Um...well...not exactly tore off...it felt like that...but he used some kind of magic or something and then destroyed it...anyways, after that, he put a man-eating butterfly on my chest...I suppose that's how I got a hole in my heart...then, I blacked out and the next time I woke up I was in East Central Hospital." Allen explained.
"Why were you fighting someone like that to begin with?"
He was my enemy. Shouldn't I kill him? Tyki's words echoed in his head.
"He was my enemy..." Allen said softly. "But I was in pretty bad condition before I fought him so I wasn't able to beat him." Allen sighed. "There was no escape for me. I was too weak to even run away." Everyone was quiet.
"Magic, huh? So, some kind of alchemy?"
"Perhaps." Allen lied.
"Where did you live before?" Pinako asked.
"I lived with an organization." Allen replied. "I worked there, but I got shelter and food for free, so it was like home to me. Before that, my father died and I was raised by my Master, Marian Cross. That man...he was a very...horrible man..." Allen's gaze darkened. It was quiet for awhile until Alphonse spoke up.
"Allen, if you don't mind me asking," he started, "why are you wearing Brother's clothes?" Allen blushed lightly at the question.
"My clothes are uncomfortable and Miss Pinako told me I could...I'm not imposing am I?" He asked. Edward shrugged.
"I don't care."
"They fit you pretty nicely considering Edward's a shrimp." Pinako commented. Allen slapped a hand over his mouth. After that, her and Edward got into a small fight, calling each other different ways of short. Allen looked at Alphonse.
"Does this happen often?" Allen asked, looking down in the crate at the younger Elric brother. Alphonse nodded at the question. Allen looked at them and smiled. The two reminded him of him and Kanda whenever they go into it. He frowned. He even missed Kanda and his pissy attitude. I should find a way home soon. He thought. His heart yearned to see them. Almost as if fate had answered his prayers, there was a few taps on the window. He looked over and felt his heart stop at the sign of a familiar golden golem. "Oh my god." He whispered and quickly walked across the room, almost falling over a few times, and opened the window, letting Timcanpy in. Pinako and Edward stopped their rambling and looked over. "T-Timcanpy! How did you find me?! Are the others okay?!" He asked quickly. The golden golem was nudging his face, tears falling down it's body.
"Allen? What is that thing?" Alphonse asked, looking over. Allen ignored the question.
"Timcanpy, calm down...how did you get here?" He asked. The golem opened it's mouth, tears still rolling down it's cheeks. There was a hologram of a blond man and a short woman with orange hair...she didn't have hands though they were just lops of...whatever she was made of. They were following a green mist, murmuring to themselves. Timcanpy was following them and stopped when he saw a white light. He sensed Allen's presence from there and flew into it, flying around until he came upon a door with a gray door. Timcanpy slammed it's body against it and fell through. Allen watched closely as Timcanpy fell onto a puddle of old blood...is that...my blood? Allen wondered as Timcanpy flew around, following his sense of direction. "Okay, okay, so you went through a portal, and it took you here and then you followed your sense of direction to me...but...what about the others?" Allen asked. Timcanpy rewound the hologram to a boat where several exorcists were fighting Akuma. Allen watched intensely as they destroyed Akuma after Akuma, not even realizing that the others were watching. The tape fast forwarded to the others all on the boat, receiving new uniforms. Allen sighed with relief and almost let tears fall. "Thank goodness...they're all okay..." He whispered, hugging the small creature against his cheek. Timcanpy nudged back. It flew up and nudged Allen's left arm. "Ah, yes...it's gone..." He mumbled. The golem didn't seem pleased with that and smacked Allen with it's tail. "OI." Allen growled. It bit his port. "Ow, yes, I'm working on it, get off!" He shouted and pulled it off.
"Allen...what is that thing?" Winry asked.
"Hm? Oh. This is Timcanpy. He's a golem my Master gave to watch over me. He records everything that he sees."
"Sees?" Edward asked. "He doesn't have eyes. And what's a golem anyways?"
"They're mechanical creatures with a personality imported into them. There are different types of golems...ones for communications...my Master made this golem, though. You can't use him for communications, but he knows where all of his previous masters currently are and has a great sense of direction."
"What were those things those people were fighting?" Alphonse asked. Allen sighed and sat down. "They were Akuma. A soul is attached to a killing machine and forced to keep killing and suffer while it levels up. Exorcists, the people fighting them, are sent to destroy them and save their soul from suffering. I...was also an exorcist...until..." Allen held where his arm used to be.
"Wait...a soul...attached to a killing machine? Like soul binding?"
"Yes, but there is no price for the Millennium Earl and he can make as may as he pleases. All he needs is for someone to call out their deceased loved one's name and that person's soul will come back and go inside the machine. He then orders the Akuma to kill the person who called them back and wear their skin as a disguise."
"That's...sick..." Pinako whispered. Allen nodded.
"The souls are always suffering...we have to fight and protect our world from further destruction. I...didn't tell you about this because I thought you'd never believe me...but, even if you don't, Tim can show you the truth behind it all." Allen rubbed his face. "I honestly don't know how to go back, or even if I want to go back. I want to see my friends, but, without Innocence, I'm useless to them." Timcanpy smacked him with his tiny hand. "I know, Tim." Allen mumbled.
"Wait, so then...alchemy doesn't exist where you live..." Edward mumbled. He looked up and gazed into Allen's eyes fiercely. "How do you know how to perform alchemy?"
"Because..."
"Because...?" He asked, gesturing for him to hurry and answer. He was getting too anxious over this.
"Because...I turned my father into an Akuma."
Oops, I missed the Saturday deadline again...shh I was having fun and then had to work Sunday so today will do. Anyways, bunches of thanks to banapples2018, ultima-owner, DeeRoseWalker, Airashi Neko, The Moyashi Beansprout Midget, and Star Angel7169 for reviewing! It warms my heart ^^
Tyki: Your presence really unnerves me.
midnightstardust: Sorry, pal. I'm gonna be here for awhile.
Tyki: *sigh*