Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters except for Aaliyah.
{Opening song}
~*3*~
No POV
Scar stood upon the roof, his bloodied arm bandaged, as he had a glaring match with Kimblee. "Tell mesomething Kimblee...you remember when we first met? It seems we've changed places!" Scar shouted asKimblee shot back, "You shouldn't be so confident!"
-Daydream-
Aaliyah's POV
"Kimblee! Damn you...!" Ed shouted as he grabbed the man by the collar. "Tell me why...why is Winry here?!We finally had Scar cornered and she's been taken hostage because of you! Who's knows." "Stand back..." Kimblee muttered, removing his gloves. Kimblee ignored my yells and my demands and just started removing his gloves. "Stand aside." He ordered ina deep and calm mutter as Igasped. "What the hell are you doing?!" I shouted, running towards Kimblee.Ed grabbed his left arm while I grabbed theright to stop him. "Stop this now Crimson Alchemist!" He ordered loudly. "Can't you see Winry areup there?! We won't let you attack!" I shouted, holding his arm's back. "Why can't you just stay out of the way..." Scar lowered his hand to thebuilding, destroying the front of it as he made his get-a-way. "Not so fast Ishvalan!" Kimblee shouted, aboutto run but was held back by a soldier. "It's too dangerous to get to the building." "Fall back! It's a snow storm!"
"Winry..." I muttered. "Come on Kari, we have to get to shelter before the stormhits." Ed stated, helping her up. As I give him a side-eye and said, "Do you think he buy it?" "Properbly."
~*3*~
No POV
"That was a great performance..." Miles trailed off as Ed said, "It wasn't a performance...I'm every bit angry as Isounded back there; I feel worthless...having to put on this stupid charade." Aaliyah held onto Ed closer as Miles, Ed,Al, a few soldiers and she, walked through the upcoming storm.
Winry then stood in front of Scar while glaring daggers at him. "Why? Why did you kill my mother andfather?""There's nothing I can say that won't sound like an excuse." Scar started off with his tone a little bit calmer. Ohhell, that is the understatement of the freaking century! "And nothing can change the fact that I'm responsiblefor their deaths." He clenched his fist that was held down by frozen restraints. "I killed them..." There was asilence as he calmed himself again and let his hand relax. "Young girl, you have every right to pass judgementon me." Winry turnedaround and walked over to a few boxes, grabbing a piece of cloth, and walked towards Scar. "You're arm...you'll die if we don't bandage it..." Winry muttered, wrapping Scar's cut arm.
"Winry...?" Ed exclaimed,speechless, as Winry said, "Shut it Ed...I think...this is what my parents would have wanted. After all, Mom andDad did save his life before...there has to be a reason for that." "Does that...mean you're forgiving me?" Scarasked. "Don't get me wrong, I don't forgive your continuous murdering!" The room stayed silent until Winrystood, Ed muttering, "Winry..." "It's all right; I won't cry." As She smiled and said, "Didn't I promise that next time I cried...they would be tears of joy?" As I smiled at her and give her a side hug. "Alright, promise." Winry nodded and said, "Promise." Ed then turned to Scar as he said, "Listen Scar, nomatter what Winry says, I still want to beat you bloody and drag you to the Rockbell grave to pay yourrespects." Scar simply closed his eyes and looked down.
"Major Miles?" Scar called out. "Can I ask you something?""What?" He questioned."Earlier you said that I was one of your people." Scar reminded."Yeah, that's right. I'm part Ishvallen on my grand father's side." Miles stated showing off his red eyes. "I wishwe didn't have to meet like this, red eyed brother of mine.""How can you bring yourself to be part of the military?" Scar asked in a hard tone.There was a pause from this. It was eerie and uncomfortable. I couldn't help but hold my breath and wait forsomeone to speak. "My objective is to work from the inside to change the people's views on Ishval." He statedwhich made Scar's eyes widen in shock.
Scar recovered quickly and stared up at Miles. "I don't think that task will be easy to accomplish.""Who knows how long it'll take. But still, mixed blood does give me a slight advantage." Miles replied firmly."I'm an Ishvallen pebble tossed into the ocean of the Amestrian Military. Maybe in time, the ripples I createwill become waves." Miles then set his glasses back on and continued to speak. "And do you want to knowwhat the most ironic part about this is? It was an Amestrian who set me on this path in the first place."Scar lowered his gaze and stared at the floor. "Look at me..." He sighed. "I have a wound of hatred from theIshvallen war. I am thankful that there is someone like you out there.""Major." An officer called out holding a phone for him.
Miles took the phone without a word and spoke. "Copy, Major Miles here... We captured Scar and holding himin area D. Inform Kimblee." He ordered now handing the phone back to the officer,who hung up. "No matterthe circumstances I cannot let you go. You must accept judgement." Footsteps wereheard as a voice spoke, "Hold on!" "Who's there?" Miles asked. May and Marcoh looked around the corner ofthe door as Al shouted, "May!" "Dr. Marcoh..." Ed finished. "Please don't take Scar as you're prisoner, we needhim." Marcoh spoke.
~*3*~
No POV
"This doesn't look good...the weather is changing." A soldier stated as Kimblee, Kari and the others walkedthrough the snow. "The clouds are moving in fast...a storm is headed this way." Kimblee grunts and said, "Hurry then."
Aaliyah POV
"Deceiver notes?" Miles repeated."Yes!" May answered. "It's ground breaking research that tried to fuse Amstrian Alchemy with XingeseAlkahestry." "But all the important parts are written in ancient Ishvalan. Scar's the onlyone who can make sense of it, don't you see?" Marcoh spoke glancing at Scar for asecond then went back to Miles. Miles hummed in thought and turned to Scar. He stared at the man then turned back to May. "So your theAlkahestry girl? I have orders to bring you back to the fort." He stated.May then started to freak out. "Me?! What do they want with me?!" She exclaimed fearfully then hid behindMarcoh. The red head's eyebrows rose at her then turned to Miles."Don't worry, you'll receive a warm welcome, I'm sure." Miles reassured and cupped his chin. "Now, let methink, Scar needs to be kept free, and it would be just as bad if they found out Doctor Marcoh was with him.Alright, I think it might be best if we brought him back to Fort Briggs to hide you from Senior Staff."I stepped in front of Miles with a look of protest. "Hold on! What are you saying? We can't bring montser with us!" I stated.
"We have to deceiver those notes, right, Martin." Miles stated in a hard tone."There is not a damn thing I want that guy's help with!" Ed objected. "Just hand him over to Kimblee!""The Transmutation Circle." Miles stated making my eyes go wide."The one this country was formed to make. I heard all about it from General Armstrong... Weknow something is about to happen that will effect all of Amestris and its people.. we need to know what the notes say.That's more important than anything else." I grunted at this. "I was also told that their using the Rockbell girl as a hostage against you... If we actnow we can outsmart Kimblee and hide herin a place where theywon't be touch her." As I sighed at those homuclus and 'Father' are get a real hurt coming. "Listen up Scar, if your willingto work with us, I'll postpone your judgement."
"It doesn't look like I have a choice." Scar sighed. "I'll help you decode the notes.""I have your word on that." Miles promised."You do, I swear on my Ishvallen blood." Scar swore. "You can trust me, my red-eyed brother." "We have a deal then." Miles stated now lowering his gun. "My apologize Miss Rockbell you have to wait awhile before we can punish your parent's killer."Winry nodded. "Fine." Then the two chimeras we fought started to come to now finding themselves tied up. "Oh yeah, I've forgottenabout them. Dispose of them." Miles ordered
"Hold on a second!" Ed yelled with disapproval."You don't have to kill them!" Al and I countered at the officers now raising their guns."I see no reason to let them live. Kill them." Miles ordered. "No! A life is a life! What better reason do you need then that!?" Al questioned. "Hmph, showing us mercy, how adorable..." Jerso stated. "You're just a sentimental fool! We didn't askfor your help, did we?" Zampano stated. Al turned to the two, speechless as Jerso continued, "Look at ourbodies, what kind of future do we have? If you're going to kill us, then do it!" Al stepped up to the two as hesaid, "I don't understand...don't you have families, loved ones?" "Sure we do," Jerso stated as Zampano finished, "But as soon as we got these bodies, they were all told we were dead...and to them, we are."
"Don'tyou want to see them again?" Al asked. "Even if we did, how could we go back to them like this?" Jerso asked."...so, you don't want to get your original bodies back? You're content the way you are now, is that it?" "No!How could we be?!" Zampano shouted. "Of course we want our true bodies back!" Al pointed a finger to themas he said, "There's your answer...I don't want to hear a bunch of nonsense! Why not live and find that chanceto get your bodies back?" Jerso turned saying, "How could you possibly know what we're going through?" "...and what chance do we have going back?" Al removed his helmet, showing them his seal as he said, "...wellI'm going back. No matter how long it takes! I won't give up!"
"Major!" a soldier called from the window. Miles walked over, asking, "What is it?" "It's not good...a snowstorm." "We can't pull off a snow ward march with this equipment. We have no chance of reaching the fort.""What do we do now?" Winry asked. "This is a mining town, isn't it? Why don't we just go through theunderground tunnels?" Yoki stated nonchalantly. Everyone looked to him as he started to panic. "Huh? What'swrong?! This is a pretty large mine, right? So there's got to be a tunnel to lead us beyond the mountains...Ithink?"
"That's it!" Al and Ed shouted. "Mr.Yoki!" "Give me some credit! This is what I did for a living!" "He's right; the tunnel's lead past the mountains." "Right..." Miles began to jot something down, then handedit to Marcoh saying, "Once you get to Briggs, hand them this."I'veexplained our arrangement so you shouldn't have any trouble with them." "Thank you." Marcoh stated.
Marcoh then turned to face Winry as he said, "But there's still the situation of the young Miss Rockbell. she cannotaccompany us to the fort of course...But when word gets out that she missing, won't the brothers and MissMartin be the first person they suspect?" "We can handle ourselves." Al stated. "I hate to brag but I've got a pretty smoothtongue..." "No, this is Kimblee we're talking about. He's automatically going to be suspicious of what you tellhim." "...um, I hate to be the one to suggest this but...what do you think Kimblee would do if I was takenhostage by Scar?"
Ed and Al looked to the girl dumbly. "You want him to kidnap you?" I asked. "Hold on Winry...you're sayingyou want us to let him go?" Ed asked, pointing to Scar. "Right, Scar runs away, carrying me. Then you and theothers try desperately to stop him...at least, that's what you pretend to do. You understand?" "You can't dothat! You're crazy!" "I don't have a choice, do I?! I'm a hostage either way so I might as well choose my captor!Besides, if we were to do anything else." "He's a masked murderer!" Al yelled. "Al's right! There's no reason for you to be ricking yout life!" Ed stated as Winry said,"Don't you three get it? It's time you realize you don't have to do everything alone!" The two looked to herspeechless.
"Make up your minds, the storm is coming in. If we don't hurry, we won't make it out." Miles stated as Ed andWinry glared at one another. "I can see Kimblee's forces now..." Edgasped as he suddenly became angry. "DAMNIT! Scar if you hurt her I'll-""I won't harm the girl; I keep mypromises."
Ed freed Scar as Jerso said, "Us to! You have to take us with you, I know you don't trust us, so Iunderstand if you want to keep us tied up." "Kimblee will show us no mercy for failing our mission. One wayor the other, we're dead. Besides...we don't want to give up either." "How do we know you mean that?"Marcoh asked. "You realize if you do anything to get in our way, this whole country could be destroyed...including your families and everyone you care for." The two gasped as Jerso said, "Wait! What are you saying?!The Central forces weren't told anything about this!" "Please! We need to know more!"
The two chimeras were turned into their human forms. The toad creature's name was Jerso and the other wasnamed Zampano. They put on their jackets and had their wrists tied up. "Are you sure about this?" Milesasked."Yeah, I'm sure everyone would feel better if we were tied up." Jerso stated.Miles turned to Scar with his firm stare. "Give us a good performance." "I know what I'm doing." Scar growled."And you will keep your oath. Your solemn word as a true Ishvallen." Miles muttered which made Scar nod in response.
~*3*~
When the explosion erupted I quickly ran out of the puff of smoke. I was coughing the whole way whilecursing under my breath. Then instead of warm yet suffocating smoke I was greeted with cold and freezingair. "D-damnit!" Ed cursed loudly as he followed me out. "We've finally got Scar cornered, and now he's taken her hostage. Because of you!"
~Time Skip~
Outside, a blizzard was blowing. You couldn't even see an inch outside. Ed and I sat next to each other asAl sat a little ways off.
"It was so boring with Kimblee...I pretty much just looked at the scenery..." "And how was it?"Ed asked sarcastically. I sighed, close my eyes and looked at Ed as his brought his lips upon mine, which soon turned into an open mouth kiss. Once we remembered where theywere, we quickly got a hold of themselves.
No POV
"I worried about what happened to Zampano and Gerso." "Two possibilities, Either Scar did them in or they're out there in the snow."Two of Kimblee's men stated. "The storm should keep Scar trapped, too!" another soldier stated. "We knowhe has to be somewhere in this town, sir. Since we're stuck here, we might as well start planing our next search." Miles continued to stare out thewindow, thinking, 'We were lucky this storm really saved our hides please let them reach the fort safely...' "Excuse me, Major, Briggs is on the line for you." Miles grabbedthe phone, speaking, "Yes, Miles here...what'd you say?!" his eyes widened.
(Underground)
"So it's true then? You're actually the daughter of the Rockbells?" Marcoh asked. "Yes...did you know myparents, Dr. Marcoh?" Winry asked. "Of course I did! There wasn't a single doctor in Ishval that didn't knowyour parents' names. They did their duty without any regard for themselves." Winry smiled as Scar watchedfrom behind.
'I don't forgive your wanted murdering!' Winry stated. 'This is something you must abide...' "But how could I forgive the Military for all they've done?" Scar askedtheir master. 'I said nothing about forgiveness...there is no forgiveness for wanted murder. Any good manmust always condemn it...but still you must abide it. You must sever that chain of hatred once and for all.''If hatred and fear where allowed, then this world would be swallowed by them...but if we can reach ultimateunderstanding, then it can be reached. We may still have a chance to be saved from ourselves. That's mymotivation. That's why I study alchemy.' Scar's brother stated.
Scar soon came from his thoughts as they entered a small room. "Yep! This is it alright." Yoki stated, shiningthe lantern through the area. "What is this place?" Zampano asked. "The mine staff room...we need something from here..." Yoki stated,looking though a few things. "Now let's see...Ah! There it is!" Yoki picked up a piece of paper and placed itonto the table saying, "Here's a map of the tunnels in detail." "Looks complicated...I can't tell what's what..."Jerso stated. Yoki pointed to the map saying, "We'll go through here...here...and here, and we're out."
"Yousure know how to read a map." Zampano stated. "Oh, it's nothing~" Yoki sung as Jerso said, "At this rate, we'llmake it across the mountain faster than we thought." "Um, excuse me Dr. Marcoh but...do you think therecould be some hints to getting our original forms back?" Zampano asked, hope in his eyes. "At the moment, Ican't say. It's a possibility but this is an alchemy I know nothing about." Marcoh stated. "I'm sure you'll find away Doc! Ah~ I can't wait to see my family again!" Gerso stated with a smile. "Are you really that eager to getback to the old ball and chain?" Zampano chuckled. "I'm sure you miss your daughter but not your wife.""What about you? You were such a drunk your own son didn't like you! You think you'll be able to face himnow?" "...you have to bring that up?" Zampano muttered.
May looked sadly at the map as Marcoh noticed and asked, "May, what's wrong?" "It's just...my entire countryis waiting for me but...I don't think I can return to them..." Silence filled the area as May continued. "ThePhilosopher's Stone is created by sacrificing human lives...no one should be allowed to create something soawful...if our king found out how to make one, he wouldn't hesitate to do it. He'd be willing to sacrificemillions of our people to make it...but we need it. What am I supposed to do now?" "It's possible these notesshow a humane sercet to helping you. Let's hurry to the fort and translate the notes." May gave Marcoh a smilesaying, "Right..."
Baschool*
"What do you mean the fort is no longer safe?" Ed asked as Miles said, "I mean General Armstrong has beensummoned back to Central Command. Central forces have now taken over the fort in her place. There's nodoubt they're following the Crimson alchemist orders. While back at the fort, I remember him making ratherfrequent calls." "This is bad...without General Armstrong there..." Aaliyah trailed off as Miles continued.
"A commander hand-picked by Bradley. will be posted in her place" "What do we do about Winry?" Ally asked. "Hiding her andthe others will be difficult...if they're not careful, they bound fall into the enemy's clutches." "We have to find a way to warnthem!" Ed stated, walking around the room. "There's no way we can rcatch up them in a storm this bad." "So we sit hereand do nothing?! I'll go tell them." Ed stated, looking out the window. "You can't Ed! It's too dangerous outthere! You could die in that storm!" Ally shouted as Ed clenched his fist. "There is a way... Listen." Al suddenly spoke. Everyone turned to Al as he continued, "Send someone who doesn't have a body. That storm won't freeze meto death."
~*3*~
"...this is worse...than I thought..." Al stated as he struggled to walk through the snow storm. "Let's see...themark, the mark..." he looked to the map for help. "There!" Al stated. He tried to keep going, only to have thewind stop his movements. "I can't see anything at all!" Suddenly, Al was surrounded by white. He gasped atwhat he saw in front of him. There was a huge stone door and before that door stood a blonde haired,nutrient deprived boy. The boy held his hand out to Al, who reached his hand out as well. Al's hand went totouch his, only to have him disappear. Al's soon snapped out of it to find himself back in the storm. "What wasthat? Was it my body...? But how...?!"
"A body can't survive with someone else's soul shoved into it."
Barry's words rung inside Al's head. "A body...a body that shouldn't have a soul...it's being rejected?!" Aldropped to his knees. "Does this mean my body is pulling on my soul?" Al held his head as he said, "Stop it!Snap out of it!" He quickly rose as he said, "I have to hurry..."
Beneath Central Command*
"Alphonse Elric..." Father placed the figurine down. "Then there's Edward Elric and Aaliyah Martin..." He placedthe two figurines in the same spot. "...there's also Van Hohenheim." He placed another. "Izumi Curtis...she's apossibility..." he placed another down, only to place it on its side. He looked down at his board as he stated,"...that leaves one more...
{Ending song}