Author's Note: I wrote a lot more then I usually wrote in the previous chapters because this is my favourite characters. I put Ling, Lan Fan and Fu on Ed and Winry's side, so they kind of look like bad-guys in this story. But I still think they're cool, okay? And also to add, I don't know if Breda is Second Lieutenant, or something else. If I got it wrong, please tell me before I write the next chapter, okay?
CHAPTER FIVE
A Fighting Plan…Teamwork Success
It was the day after their meeting with Mei Chang and the other Xingese people. The sun was just setting when Mei Chang and Xiao Mei, the last person/animal to arrive, arrived. She was racing towards the waiting people near the entrance of the restaurant. Ling had complained that he wanted to eat so dearly, but Al said that they would feast after their success. After Al and Envy realised that Ling was on Winry and Ed's team, they decided to play with the game. According to Mei, "Ling, Lan Fan and Fu are planning to turn against you during the battle. So it'd be best that once the ambush begins, you'd have to fight them as well as Winry and Ed."
Of course, both Al and Envy needed more help than just Mei Chang and Xiao Mei, so they decided to visit Paninya, Colonel Mustang, Riza, Barry the Chopper (if they could find him), Denny Brosh and Maria Ross. Envy had suggested that they ask for the other Homunculi to help as well, but the only one who wanted to help was Wrath, which was weird, because Al thought that Wrath wanted to spend time with his wife and son. Paninya told Al that he'd have to pay for her helping, and so Al told her to put it on Ed's tab so Ed could pay at his next visit in the automail shop. Colonel Mustang was eager to join as he wanted to "burn some shrimp". Riza, on the other hand, didn't want to join until Colonel Mustang persuaded her to do so. Both Al and Envy could not find Barry the Chopper, but found Second Lieutenant Breda and Alex Louis Armstrong and they both wanted to join the team straightaway because they didn't want to work all night doing boring stuff. Denny was too busy to join, but Maria wasn't, so she also allied with them as well. "This should be fun," she had said. "But promise me that Edward won't kill me afterwards, because I don't want to die."
The team (known as Team Revenge, because Al thought of that name, seeing that everyone wanted revenge for nothing), after greeting each other and some time chatting, headed off straight to the hotel. The plan was that Maria would lure the couple out of the hotel and into the city, where they could start their fight. Then Envy would sneak up to Winry and capture her. At that time, Ed's sight would've been blocked, and so Envy would have enough time to give Winry to Riza, who would tie her up, and shape-shift into Winry, and then leap back into battle. By that time, Ling, Lan Fan and Fu would've turned against them, so Paninya would use her machine gun in her leg to blast it at them. That would give Riza, Maria and Breda plenty of time to grab them and tie them up. If not, Paninya would blast at them again and again until they finally do, and then they would all retreat with the real Winry and the three Xingese betrayers.
"So I lure Edward and Winry out of the hotel to that alleyway over there?" Maria asked, pointing towards the darkest alleyway closest to the hotel. Al had tried to think of the best place to lure them, but he couldn't think of a place until Greed suggested the quiet alleyway near the hotel. What Al was worried about was that the noise would be too loud and would attract attention, and that was the last thing Team Revenge needed.
Al nodded. "But when we fight, make sure that there isn't too much noise," he warned. "It would lure attention towards us and then it could lead to trouble. And when Ed does his loud shouts and stuff, cover his mouth tightly and make sure that we do that to Winry too." Team Revenge murmured their agreement and Maria hurried into the hotel. Ling was glancing at the hotel, grinning, and Al was certain that Ed and Winry also had plans too. But the rest of Team Revenge knew how to stop those plans, because Al made sure that they came prepared and ready to win. He gave the team a thumbs up, and Envy led the way to the alleyway.
Envy gestured Ling, Lan Fan and Fu towards the walls of the alleyway where it was darkest. It was the most hardest place to fight, because there was no cover. He put them there because they were used to seeing in the dark and it would be easier for them to ambush Ed and Winry. Riza, Breda, Mei Chang and Xiao Mei were positioned behind the bins, and after Maria came she would be hiding there too. Paninya was up in the top of a building, where she would leap down and cover Ed's eyes when Envy grabs Winry. Then she would leap onto the bin and start battling from there. Colonel Mustang and Major Armstrong were seated in front of a green door that led to a house. He had spoken to the owners of the house and told them that there would be a lot of noise tonight. They looked scared, but didn't argue or ask any questions why. Wrath and Al were outside the alleyway, leaning against the wall. Their main goal was to seal the alleyway with alchemy so that Ed couldn't flee. After Envy shape-shifts into Winry, then Al would remove the 'alchemy' wall so that Ed and Envy (as Winry) could escape. Envy himself was with Paninya on the top of the building, but he jumped down first to get Winry. While he jumped, Al would quickly grab Ed and Paninya would cover his eyes. Colonel Mustang, Wrath and Major Armstrong would deal with Ling, Lan Fan and Fu.
"Get ready, Team Revenge," Al announced, a little softly in case Maria had already come out of the hotel with Ed and Winry. Ling and Lan Fan gave him a smile, a little bit too evil, Wrath nodded curtly, Envy smirked, Colonel Mustang and Riza did a salute, Major grinned, Breda, Paninya and Fu did a thumbs up and Mei Chang and Xiao Mei waved at him. Al suddenly remembered that he had to talk to Mei about Alkhestry, because he eagerly wanted to learn Xingese alchemy.
Just then, just faintly in the distance, the team could hear the sound of voices coming from the entrance of the hotel. Al and the others knew that Ed and Winry were coming. "…need to speak privately about this," Maria told them. "This is pretty important. Colonel Mustang and Major Armstrong are here too. Fuhrer Bradley is with us…oh, and Alphonse Elric, your brother." She gestured towards Al, who waved at them. Ed scowled and Winry gave him a disapproving look, but Al didn't mind. He was going to face a lot more of that after the ambush.
"Colonel Mustang and Major Armstrong are in the alleyway," Wrath informed them, pointing towards the alleyway. "Your brother Alphonse Elric will have to seal the alleyway up, because what we have to talk about is really, really dead serious."
Ed was surprised. "Is it that serious that you have to seal the alleyway up?" he asked. "No joke?"
Al shook his head. "If you want proof, then go ask Colonel Mustang and Major." He nodded to Maria, who led the way into the alleyway. Ed and Winry glanced at each other, confused, but followed her anyway. Al led the rear and clapped his hands together. A big blue spark appeared from his hands and he pressed them against the floor. Instantly a giant wall blocked the light from outside, and it was totally dark except for a small light far off in the distance. It was still hard to see though, so Al had to feel his way to catch up with Maria and the others. Once he reached them, Maria had already opened the light of the lamp, making it easier to look around.
"So, what is it?" Ed asked as they finally stopped walking. "Why does Winry have to be part of this as well?"
Wrath blinked. "Well…how shall I put it…?"
"The Ishbalans are attacking," Maria explained, lying in each word. "I hear they are going to ambush a town called Youswell in the east." She sighed. "We have sent military troops over, but most have died, and some have spotted Ishbalans over here in Central. It would be good for you if-"
"If we stayed put and hid somewhere?" Ed asked. "That's just lame. Well, Winry should do that, but I should be helping with the fighting…right?" He glanced at Wrath, but he said nothing, only rubbing his eyes as though he was tired. But Al knew he was tired only because he was impatient. He wanted to start the ambush already. Al had the same feeling of impatience as well, but they could only start once Mei Chang threw her kunai in the air. It was a signal that the rest of the team were ready, and that the fighting could start. It seemed that someone wasn't ready for the ambush yet.
Ed was disappointed when the Colonel shook his head. "This is dangerous for kids," he replied, smirking as the words sank in. Ed quivered with anger, but Winry gave him a warning look, showing that he should just act formally and be polite. "Plus, you might want to protect that girlfriend of yours. After all, if something happens-"
"I'm not his girlfriend!" Winry snapped. "I'm just a childhood friend."
"Uh-huh." Colonel Mustang grinned. "Yeah, that's right. You're a childhood friend. Yeah, yeah, I get it now."
"You don't believe me?" Winry looked angry herself. "Well-"
WHOOSH!
The kunai flew in the air, and Ed looked up. "What was that?" he wondered out loud.
"Attack!" Envy screeched, and Maria quickly blew out the light from the lamp. Everything was dark, but Team Revenge knew where Ed and Winry were.
Wrath flew headfirst into Ed, knocking him down and giving him a few punches while looking at Ling, Lan Fan and Fu every now and then. Envy grinned when he saw Ed look up and glare at him. "Liar!" he hollered. "There is no such thing as Ishbalans attacking us, right? RIGHT?"
"This is revenge, big brother," Al replied, towering above him. "Sweet, sweet revenge." He grabbed Ed by the waist and began swinging him around and around until Ed's vision was blurry. The main point was that Ed couldn't see much happening, so he wouldn't know that Winry got captured and that Envy replaced her. Mei Chang kept on punching Ed's face saying, "Fake dreams! Fake dreams!" Al was pretty sure that she meant that she couldn't believe it when she first set eyes on him that he was so short. So all her dreams about him were all fake. Al couldn't blame her, because he wanted revenge too.
"OUUUUC-"Ed began to scream, and then it became muffled when Wrath covered his mouth. "Mmm-mmm-mm!"
"You're too loud, Edward Elric," Wrath explained to him. "If you make too much noise, then the whole of Central will wonder what the heck is going on here." He released Ed's mouth and glanced at Ling, who was creeping up on Al. "Hah!" he exclaimed, swinging his blade towards Ling's sword. It snapped in two and Ling glared at Wrath. "What are you doing?" he asked, outraged. "Fighting your own comrade?"
"Don't show such manners to the Young Master," Fu added, and Lan Fan took out her kunai.
"You shouldn't be pointing the sword so dangerously towards Alphonse, Ling Yao," Wrath replied steadily and calmly. He could feel the presence of Colonel Mustang and Major Armstrong behind him. "Have you betrayed us?" He pointed the blade towards Ling's neck, but Ling refused to look stupid.
"Kyaah!" he yelled, kicking Wrath in the stomach. The Homunculus staggered backwards, coughing out blood. Colonel Mustang clicked his fingers and a small blast of fire appeared from right next to Ling. "It seems that I can't make too big fires here," he sighed, disappointed, so instead he kicked Fu, who was rushing towards Ling. Major Armstrong punched the floor and giant spikes came out at Lan Fan. She gasped and leaped backwards, but was a little bit too slow, and received a scratch on her arm. Fortunately for her, she wasn't bleeding, but her mask broke because it fell off her face and crashed into the spikes once they shot up. Wrath grinned and taunted, "You're losing now, Xingese prince." He found a rock on the floor and threw it directly in Ling's face. Even through the dark Wrath seemed to see so well. Ling's cheek was coated in blood, and that made Lan Fan really pissed, for she lashed out at Wrath with her kunai. "Eat this, King Bradley!" she shouted, throwing it at Wrath.
He ducked quickly before it reached him. Major punched Lan Fan in the face and kicked her in the stomach. She gasped in pain and fell to the floor. "Never underestimate us Amestrians," he told the Xingese people. Ling hurried over to Lan Fan and checked her over for injuries. Fu just growled, but he too ran over to Lan Fan. She, fortunately, didn't have any blood on her, but there was quite a few scratches over her face.
"Hahahaha!" Ling looked up to see Mei Chang laughing at them. She approached the Xingese people. "You three really are weak. Ling Yao, you don't deserve the title as Emperor at all!" she spat the last three words out anger. "I'd like to deal with the rest," she added to the Colonel, Major and Wrath. "That is; if I'm allowed to, of course." Wrath nodded and walked towards Ed, who was still struggling to get away from Al. Colonel Mustang and Major Armstrong shrugged and caught up with the Fuhrer. Mei glanced at Ling's cheek. "Ooooh, Ling Yao just got injured," she mocked. "I hope you die soon so that I have one less enemy to worry about."
"I've had enough of your mockery, Mei Chang!" Ling bolted towards her and tried to land a punch on her, but Mei Chang was already prepared for it. Xiao Mei quickly leaped on Ling and bit him on the finger, while Mei Chang landed a few blows on Ling's back. Lan Fan had already stood up and raced towards Mei, Fu just behind him, but with her Xingese alchemy, she transmuted a big fist that flew up in the air, bringing Ling, Lan Fan and Fu with it. They flew right into the air and crashed right into the ground.
"Good job, Mei!" Al called from where he was standing. Mei blushed. So he was watching the whole time? 'Ohh Sir Alphonse!' she thought lovingly.
Ed was struggling wildly now. "Winry!" he yelled. "Where are you? Ling! Lan Fan! Fu!"
No reply.
There was no reply because Envy had dragged her to where Riza and Fuery were. "Where's Maria?" Envy asked, as he handed Winry over to them. She was struggling madly, and Riza muttered, "Sorry" at the same time that Fuery replied, "She's gone to join the fighting. Maria will come back soon and then I'll send the signal that Paninya can do her part of the battle."
"Okay," Envy answered, and he shape-shifted into Winry. "Geez," he muttered. "The battle is way longer than I thought. Oh well," he sighed, shrugging. "I guess it can't be helped." He walked back out into the fighting and snapped his fingers to Wrath, indicating that he was Envy, not Winry. Wrath nodded and passed the signal on to the others before beating Ed up more. "I seem to be enjoying this," Wrath murmured as he kicked Ed.
"Owww!" Ed complained. "If you're going to kick, kick a little bit softer, will ya?" He looked up and saw Envy. "Winry! Are you okay?" he demanded, as he blocked Wrath's punches. "You don't look injured."
"Did you think that they would hurt a girl?" Envy asked questioningly. "I could sue them for doing that, you know?"
"This is no time for jokes," Ed replied. "Now hurry up and free-"
BOOOOOM!
Paninya had used her machine gun.
"Quick!" Maria gasped as she dragged Ling. Riza took hold of Lan Fan, who seemed to have passed out, and Breda had Fu with him. They carried the Xingese people out of the fighting and tied them up quickly. Maria looked through the smoke for Paninya. "No more!" she cried, and she heard Paninya's voice as she replied, "'Kay! Everyone, RETREAT!" All of Team Revenge ran off out of the alleyway and bolted down the street that pointed away from the hotel. The only one who stayed behind was Envy, of course.
Once they were well out of sight, Mei stopped running and began to pant heavily. The rest of them also stopped and gasped for breath as well. Riza dropped Winry to the floor. "Geez," she muttered. "You're too heavy for me…" Winry glared at Riza as she spoke, but said nothing offensive, only asking, "What are you all doing? Why did you ambush us? What's going on?" She turned to look at everyone, who was staring at the ones who were tied up. Al didn't know what to do. Mei came up to Ling, Lan Fan and Fu and demanded, "Why'd you betray us?"
"We just wanted to," Ling replied. He glared at his rival. "I haven't grown any weaker just because I lost to you, okay?"
Mei smirked. "Sure, sure," she told him in a disbelieving way. Ling hissed angrily and Fu spat, but then Al interrupted them. "I think that's enough," he said to Mei. "We should just let them rest. How about you go heal their wounds?" At first, Mei didn't want to treat to her rival's wounds. But seeing that Al wanted her to do it, she would do it for him anyway, seeing that she was totally in love with him. She nodded, and Al left her alone as he walked up to Colonel Mustang and started asking him questions.
"Don't you dare heal me," Lan Fan spat, "because I can do it myself!"
"I'm doing it anyway," Mei replied calmly. "So just stop arguing and let me heal you. It's either healing you or another kick in the ass."
While the Xingese people argued, Riza had explained the ambush to Winry. "We just want revenge," she finished. "Well, at least, most of the team want revenge, anyways. I'm only part of it because the Colonel wanted me to join the ambush, because he wanted to burn some shrimp. We'll release you not long afterwards," she added. "That is, if Al wants you to anyways."
"That's going to be a while afterwards," Al replied evilly. "After I do some torturing."
I hope the story met your expectations! Please review!
"After I do some torturing," Al replied evilly.
He approached Winry and started strangling her.
"Al!" Riza screamed. "What in the world are you doing?"
"I'm torturing her," Al explained. "It's called strangling."
"That's not how you treat a girl!" Colonel Mustang hissed. "You're too rough on ladies."
"Shut up!" Al cried, and he dropped Winry, who was half-dead.
"Stop this at once!" Author commanded, and Al looked up, grinning.
"You're going way too far, Al," Mei said. "I mean, I like you and stuff, but this is so bad; treating a girl by strangling her."
"He needs to be punished," Author decided. "How should we punish him?"
"Strangling him?" Paninya suggested.
"Are you stupid?" Wrath hissed. "He's a suit of armour; he can't die!"
"Well, he can," Mei put in quietly. "What about the blood seal?"
"That's too great for a punishment," Major Armstrong pointed out, showing off his sparkles.
"Then we'll just lock him up in a dark room or something," Author said.
"That sounds good," Riza and the Colonel replied at the same time.
"Okay." Author turned and said, "You shall be…punished?"
Al was gone.
He was running away, crying for the third time because Mei hurt his feelings.
THE END