Warning; this chapter is mostly manga-point and lack of Envy/Alphonse apart from being mentioned.
If you see a Kid!Envy, Baby!Envy or Alphonse!Envy running around in the anime or manga, then I own them, but since you do not, I do not own Fullmetal Alchemist or any of the characters. So enjoy.
Edward didn't know what to do, it had all seemed to happen so fast. Envy disappeared after leaving Fort Briggs to go down to North City, which his disappearance in turn allowed Kimblee to do as he pleased. Because of the fact he was now, under Fuhrer's orders, to do what he wanted. Because Kimblee could do what he wanted, Winry was basically a hostage now and Ed had three orders;
He had to find Scar and bring him to Kimblee so the Crimson Alchemist could kill him.
He had to find Doctor Marcoh and bring him to Kimblee where he would probably meet the same fate as Scar if Ed brings them to Kimblee.
Third, worst of all, he had to carve the Blood Crest into the mountain. In other words he had to go on a mass murder.
But he had already gone through the first two, sort of, and he had already agreed. Now he had two of the soldiers Kimblee brought with him, who were revealed to be chimeras, captured, along with Scar. As well as a plan.
Winry was going to get out of the North with Dr. Marcoh, May, and Scar. Along with the two Chimeras. Though it took a bit of effort with the Chimeras, and Ed had to get them not to lose hope by explaining them his own brothers situation.
Also, surprisingly, Yoki ended up with a bright idea to use the tunnels to get them out. Everyone, including Ed, thought he was a useless idiot, but guess the time he spent in that mining town paid off.
Though Edward was very pissed off to hear the plan of Scar taking Winry hostage. Pissed off was actually an understatement. But it was Winrys idea which made it even harder to digest. But he was impressed by her determination and willing to risk her own life to help others. He was once again thinking of how the hell someone as pure and good as Winry, could fall for a disgusting monster like Envy.
But now wasn't the time to be remembering that Envy and Winry were together,instead, now it was time to execute the plan.
He allowed himself to be thrown out of the window, landing in front of Kimblee. Mustering up all the rage he could, it was quite easy. He quickly rose to stand and glared at Kimblee.
"Fullmetal Alchemist?" Kimblee asked.
Ed glared at him, "Kimblee you bastard!" He screamed, "Why weren't you watching over Winry at headquarters!" He demanded and he watched Kimblees eyes widen in shock.
All attention turned to the top of the building he came out of. On top was Scar, and in his arm was Winry who seemed to be unconscience.
"Feeling nostalgic, Kimblee?" Scar asked, "It was the other way around when we first met," He reminded.
Ed noticed the enraged look in Kimblees eyes that boarder insanity. Then again he was already insane, "Don't. Look. Down. On. Me," Kimblee growled out, making Ed wonder if all villians had that 'Don't look down on me' thing. Because now he's seen both Kimblee and Envy have that look.
Thinking of Envy added more fuel to his fire of rage and he grabbed Kimblees coat, "Kimblee! The main group was supposed to be looking after Winry!" He snarled but Kimblee didn't even look at him. "Why was she here?! We had Scar right where we wanted him and now he escaped with Winry as his hostage!"
Miles now walked up with Briggs soldiers behind him, "Kimblee! Are you so incapable of keeping tabs on a single child? You squad was in charge of watching Miss Rockbell," Miles said but he was more calm about it then Ed's not so fake rage.
"Out of my way," Kimblee ordered.
"Eh?" Ed asked and watched as Kimblee raised his hands and it was at that moment Ed realized Kimblee was about to blow him up. "S-Stop!" Ed said in surprise, grabbing Kimblees arms to keep his palms from hitting Ed. What was Kimblee doing? Wasn't he working for the Homunculi? So why was he trying to kill Ed when the Homunculi needed him alive?!
"Get out of my way," Kimblee ordered, glaring down on Ed with a look that said he didn't care if he killed Ed or not.
Ed glared back at him, "Have you lost your mind, Crimson Alchemist?!" He demanded, it was rhetorical, Kimblee had lost his mind a while ago he assumed.
Both had forgotten Scar was up at the top of the building before he used his deconstruction technique to destroy part of the building and make the two Alchemist have to jump back to avoid debris. Ed knew that Scar was making his escape to the tunnels now with the others, though he was unsure if the diversion was for just Scar, or possibly both him and Ed.
"Get back here, Scar!" Kimblee shouted but was held back by a soldier telling him that they needed to retreat from the crumbling building.
Ed jumped back to stand by Miles.
"That was very realistic," The Ishvalan Soldier commented.
Ed didn't let his gaze leave Kimblee's, "I wasn't acting," He growled as he followed them into a safe house to wait the snowstorm out in.
He waited in another room as the soldiers starte discussing Scar, assuming him to still be in the city. Idiots, he was probably far away by now.
Ed growled a little as he thought of how Winry was there, Scar killed her parents, how was Ed supposed to be certain he wouldn't kill her? Then there was Envy, he just vanished, and the damn homunculus was the one who was supposed to carve the blood crest! Kimblees job was to locate and capture Scar and Marcoh, Envy had the Blood Crest and getting Sloth back to work he assumed. The missing-probably dead- General Raven was probably just a superior officer to give them more authority.
But Envy vanished, putting Kimblee in charge of carving the blood crest, and he gave Ed the job. Thankfully Ed had already gotten Scar and Marcoh out of the picture, but that just left the Blood Crest and Kimblee was probably still expecting him to commit mass murder.
And for the first time, Ed wished Envy was here. Envy could do that and then give Ed even more reasons to hate Envy and not himself! It was selfish, but then he would find it even easier-if that was possible- to bring himself to kill Envy. Also, Winry would lose whatever feelings she had for him if he committed mass murder!
But no, he had to vanish.
Ed was brought out of his thoughts when Miles came in.
"We have a problem," Miles said, "It seems that Major General Armstrong was sent to Central, and a large group of Central Soldiers have come to Fort Briggs," He said and Ed nodded, it seemed that the homunculi weren't that happy that Envy didn't do his job and were sending in soldiers to speed things along. He wondered if they knew Envy vanished.
"You're an alchemist," Miles added, "Tell us what you know about Kimblees Alchemy," He demanded.
Ed nodded and took a deep breath before he began explaining.
XxXxXx
Yoki had done a surprisingly good job in leading them through the mining tunnels, though he tended to milk them for praises whenever he could or act like he was better then them because of his mining knowledge.
Looking around, Scar looked at Yoki, "You go on ahead, we'll wait here while you find an exit," He ordered
"A-Alright," Yoki said a little uncertainly.
Marcoh sat down after Yoki left, stretching a little as the others followed suit and sat down as well. "Maybe we should begin with the research notes?" He offered, looking at Scar for an affirmitive.
Scar nodded and Marcoh took out the papers and began reading, "This word...Rasaayana..." He started but Scar spoke up answering the question.
"It's an herb, it rejuvinates the body, increasing longevity," Scar explained.
Nodding, Marcoh reread the sentance, "Perhaps it's referring to the Philosophers Stone," He mused, "Can turn base metals into gold and return an old mans health. What does Aurlian mean?" He asked.
"Gold," Was the response from Scar.
"Which makes this sentance 'Gold is the foundation for eternally extending the bodys life,'" He read out loud.
May nodded, "This stuff is all about Gold and Immortality," She said with a smile, "Because SCar's brother learned all about Xings Alkahestry!"
Turning to Winry, May smiled, "They say the man who taugh Xing Alkahestry had golden hair and eyes. That's why they thought he was immortal!" She said.
Winry blinked, "Golden hair and eyes? Thats just like Ed and Al," She commented.
May gave a happy sigh, "Alphonse," She said with a dreamy look on her face, "What ever happened to Alphonse?" She asked looking at Winry, of course she hadn't learned about what happened to him, everyone in the tunnels but Yoki, Marcoh and May had heard about it. Scar only because he was there when Ed told the chimeras.
To be honest, Scar had been shocked to hear that Alphonse had been merged with a Homunculus. Winry was sure that Scar had a pitying look in his eyes when Ed told them. But right now, she wasn't sure what to tell May.
Might as well do this quick, she decided. "Al...he's...well Al's a homunculus now," Winry said.
She watched as horror filled Mays eyes, "What? Alphonse is a homunculus? But how!?" She demanded.
Winry would have laughed at the fact that the ones they loved, for Winry it was Envy, and for May it was Alphonse, were now combined, if it wasn't so saddening.
"Well...their Father, the Homunculi's father, not Ed and Al's, he kind of put his Envy in Alphonse," Winry began, "From what I understand, when their Father removes one of his Seven Sins, he makes a Homunculus. He killed the Homunculus Envy and remade him by using Al's body as a container."
Winry had to admit, the details confused her, so she just explained what she understood about it.
May looked down, eyes starting tear up, "I..I hope Alphonse is able to get rid of the Homunculus in him," She said.
Winry offered her a smile, "Hey, I'm sure Envy and Alphonse will get sperated soon enough," She said, at least she hoped so, that was along her hopes of Ed getting his arm and leg back, and Envy getting his memories back.
"Hey, guys," Yoki said walking up, "I found an exit!"
"Bout time," Jerso muttered as they walked out. 'oohs' and 'too bright' followed as they got out of the tunnels. "We need to get to a train station or transportation quick. Sooner we get out of the North the better," He said.
Yoki noded, "Everyone follow meeeeoooooooooooow!" His 'Me' turned into an 'ow' as he fell in the snow that went up to his knees.
Jerso just looked down on him as though he was an idiot, "Snow's a lot deeper then it looks," He explained as he started walking.
Zampano looked at May and knelt down a little, "Get on my back, young miss. Your half way burried in that snow!"
May smiled and climbed onto his back, saying something about 'such a great person he was'.
"It'd be best if we walk ahead and pack the snow down into a path," Jerso said and Winry noticed how considerate he and Zampano were being towards them.
Winry nodded, "Let's get moving then," She said, she hoped that Ed was doing alright where he was and that where ever Envy went, Al woul be able to talk him out of doing something stupid or bad.
With a sigh, she realized that she was going to put a lot of faith in Alphonse if she expected him to keep Envy from killing, or making a complete idiot of himself.
I hope you enjoyed, don't worry, next chapter we'll be back with Envy and Alphonse. Don't be shy, review with your thoughts on this chapter or if you noticed any errors (spelling or gramar).