Sorry it's been a while since I last updated. Been quite busy with school and stuff. Hope this chapter satisfies you :)
Disclaimer: I don't own Fullmetal Alchemist in any way. If I did, Hughes would still be alive and bragging.
A blonde-haired boy dashed through the bushes of the undergrowth. Heart pounding, chest heaving, he ran. Looking behind, he couldn't see anyone following, but he didn't dare slow down. The people after him were dangerous. Pursuing him because of what he could do. Tracking and hunting him like an animal. From country to country, city to city, they were always behind him like a shadow. But for all their efforts they hadn't succeeded. He'd managed to out-smart and elude them every time.
This time was different though. It seemed like they were pulling out all the stops, and were after him with a vengeance. All because he was different. He knew when he was a child that he was special. He could do things no other kid could. Communicating with animals, changing forms, and ordering people around were just a few of the talents he'd discovered. But it wasn't the usual way of doing them. He didn't talk or use his voice to do it. He used his mind.
Along with doing these things he was also an empath of sorts. He could sense people's moods around him, and could project his own emotions to influence people. His physical abilities and endurance were a marvel. He could run faster and jump higher than any human. This made him a master in all sorts of martial arts. Able to command elements with only his thoughts. Wind, water, and earth, he'd mastered. Fire was one that he couldn't command. It was a wild card that doesn't give its power and control to many.
Some would say he was unique, but that was an understatement. The shadows after him definitely thought so. A god among mortals. Powerful, valuable and one of a kind.
But even so, these things didn't seem to help him escape these people. It was almost if they knew exactly what all his gifts were. As if the people after him weren't human. But that couldn't be possible. He never used all of his gifts during his services. He used his gifts to help out individuals that had problems. Helping local police find serial killers, and locating missing family and pets were the main things he used his abilities for.
But it was all done with a bit of deception. He never showed his real face to anyone. When the grateful populace went to thank him, he was gone. A ghost that moved when the wind blew. Leaving each town every few weeks. He didn't want anyone to know who he was. What a monster he truly was. Trying to atone for his sins.
Somehow though, he'd failed in that regard. The shadows were on his tail, and his sins weren't atoned for. He couldn't seem to escape the shadows, no matter what he did. His abilities helped him naught in his plight.
His latest escape had led him to the Carpathian Mountains. He had felt an urge deep within that told him to come here. He didn't know why but he was determined to find out.
As the boy passed a large, ancient tree, he slowed down to a stop. Sharp golden eyes scanned their surroundings, deemed them safe before closing in relieved exhaustion. He lent back against the tree, slowly sliding down its old frame, until he was reclined at the base of it. He pulled his left knee up and lent his left arm on it. His right arm covered his eyes as he let out a sigh and seemingly fell asleep.
The forest was busy with life. A lone male deer went about its life, the normally shy creature strangely content with the two-legger in its path. It took a moment to study the unusual creature resting by the tree. It was quite small for a two-legger but it didn't look like a young one. It had a long tail on its head, the color of the sun, tied up in a two-legger made rope. Bits of lone tail framed both sides of its face. If that wasn't strange enough, it had weird tight, black fur over its light skin. The deer had seen two-leggers before but this one was . . . different. The deer lifted its head and scented the air. The creature's scent was that of the forest. It had none of the blood smell that the two-leggers that'd passed through had. The deer couldn't sense the hostility or blood lust that came with them. It smelt like deer, but also that of all the other creatures in the forest. The deer lifted its head and scented the air again. The creature also smelt of things it had never come across before. This two-legger was a very strange one indeed.
Sensing something the deer froze and pricked up its ears, listening. The resting two-legger moved then, an elegant act of grace, like that of a jaguar. Startled the deer started to flee, but not before seeing that the creature's eyes were that of a feline. Golden beams that picked up every move. Unnerved even more, the deer sought the sanctuary that the forest provided and left the two-legger.
Sensing evil, the boys eyes snapped open. Swiftly standing he probed the area with his mind. Something was coming from behind him, and whatever it was, it was approaching fast, too fast. Having no time to retreat, he crouched in a fighter's stance. Legs spread, left arm in front of his body, right bent at his side. He readied himself for the unavoidable fight.
Edward Elric was in trouble.
Roy ducked as one of the vampires swung at him. Using his supernatural speed he feinted a right punch and when the undead dodged his left, Roy plunged his left fist right through its chest cavity and seized the rotten heart, ignoring the pain the acid-like blood provided. He Knew that the only way to kill a vampire for good was to destroy the heart.
The vampire screamed at him and clawed at his face, a last ditch effort to save its putrid life. Roy pushed the meager pain to the back of his mind and with a move of his incredible strength, ripped the vampire's heart out. Summoning his element of fire, he quickly burned the heart - so it couldn't crawl back to its master - until none remained, before doing the same to the rest of the creature. The vampire screamed in agony as the scorching flames melted its heart, screaming one last time as the dancing flames did the same to the rest of him. Roy took a quick glance at the ancient, but it hadn't moved a muscle.
The hesitation cost him as white-hot pain made itself known, as the other two pawn vampires latched onto him. One biting into his neck, ripping Roy's flesh as it viciously drank. The other trying to dig its hand through Roy's chest to his heart. Still emotionless, Roy grabbed the vampire on his neck, and in one swift move, ripped its heart out as he threw the undead away. It shrieked as it realized its foul life hung in the balance, and lunged at Roy, hatred in its red eyes.
Fire danced as Roy commanded it, circling the heartless vampire before consuming it, its dying scream cut short. Face straight, he threw the heart into the inferno.
Knowing it didn't have much time now that its comrades were gone, the remaining pawn hastened its excavation for the ancient hunter's heart. Slicing through his flesh the vampire made a triumphant sound as it found its target. It never got to grab it, as Roy seized the undead around the neck, in a bone-crushing grip that broke its neck. Spluttering, and gurgling, the vampire once again tried for the heart. Having more than enough of this, he called the flames to do his bidding and the undead was no more.
Taking a deep breath, he regained his composure as much as he could, with a gaping chest wound and blood pouring by the gallon. The ancient regarded him with a grin, and a smug, leering gaze. His usual smirk in place, he glared down at the vampire in front of him.
"They don't make them like the used to do they? One hit and they're history. A century ago, killing a vampire was a challenge that got my blood pumping. Now it's nothing more than a chore. Either I'm getting far too good for the likes of you, or you just suck at choosing good underlings"
The ancient's grin disappeared and was replaced by a look of loathing that made Roy's smirk widen.
"Aww, turn that frown upside down. It makes you look uglier", Roy taunted. The vampire only bared its teeth in anger and hissed angrily at the hunter. A grotesque sound, like nails on a chalkboard. That didn't deter Roy at all.
"Wait a minute. Is that even possible?", he added as an afterthought, one hand holding his chin in a thinking pose, looking like he was doing just that, while he stared into space. Enraged at being mocked so, the ancient tried to gain the upper hand.
"What's possible?" it hissed, "that you don't have a Lifemate? I'd say that it's not possible, but certain."
Roy lost his taunting look in order to fully regard the ancient. His face carefully masked, charcoal eyes cold and ruthless. The true face of 'The Dark One'.
"It seems I've struck a nerve. What's the matter, hunter? Actually think there's a Lifemate for you? A 'light to the darkness'?" it mocked. "Ha! Don't make me laugh. I've got news for you hunter and it ain't pretty."
Roy just stood there, jaw clenched against the ancient's onslaught of words.
"You're just like us. You think you're superior but you're nothing more than a pathetic puppet. Sent to 'destroy the vampire threat' weren't you? Isn't that what the prince told you when he sent you?"
Roy's eyes widened for a second, too fast for a human to see, but the ancient sharp eyes saw.
"Oh yes. I know all about that, hunter. I was sent out too. The prince's so called noble-sacrifice that he was 'willing to make for the good of his people'. What bullshit was he on about? Good for who? Certainly wasn't us. We did all the work, we served him, obeyed him, and what did we get for our troubles? Nothing! That's what. Absolutely fucking nothing!" it spat, spittle flying, its eyes crazed. "I'll show him how to properly lead our people! I'm free now! I don't take orders from nobody, and certainly not him! By the time I'm finished with him, he'll be wishing he was the one sent out! Join me hunter and we can take him down together!"
Roy just looked on with a slight sneer on his face. The only visible reaction to the creature as it ranted insanely. In the distance, the sun was beginning its daily trek up the mountains. Time was running out fast. He needed to end this now. A victorious smirk lit his features as he thought of a brilliant, but risky plan.
"Our people?" Roy echoed, "You mean my people. You are no longer Carpathian and have no place in this world. As for taking on the prince? Suicide. You would be destroyed before you could even touch him. You have no honor."
"You dare call me a disgrace?!" it roared. Too busy yelling, it failed to see the rising sun.
Roy shrugged as much as he could in his condition, smirking.
"Well, if the shoe fits . . .", he trailed off.
"I've had it with your insolence! We finish this now!" it shrieked, completely insane. "Take a good look around hunter, because this is your last look at life!"
The once proud Carpathian warrior took to the air for a powerful aerial attack on the injured hunter.
'Like a lamb to the slaughter. Just another predictable vampire', he thought.
As it passed the safety of the tall trees on its ascent, the sun hit the creature full on, disintegrating it. Its piercing cries of agony and hatred tore through the forest. Startling birds into flight, and small mammals into the safety of their burrows.
On the ground, Roy Mustang blocked out the ear-splitting shrieks and prepared to make his way to ground to heal. His wound had already started to heal but he would need the rejuvenating Powers of the earth to fully heal.
Just as he was going his senses flared as a vampire used its power, making itself known in the area. It wasn't alone. Someone was with it. It was human, but it wasn't. He looked up to the sky. He had about an hour before the lethal sun would pierce even the thick forest. With all haste, Roy made his way through the dense forest to confront the undead and its mysterious companion.
Wat'd ya think? Will they finally meet or will fate intervene?