It was warming up in Kiva. The ground had softened. It was the perfect time of the year for plowing the fields and planting the seeds. And that's just what the residents of Odissa were doing along with the help of the Amestrian military.

Roy Mustang was in the field with another farmer helping him plow the field. The farmer was leading the horse while Roy was guiding the plow. At the end of the day, Mustang's body glistened with sweat, his shirt long discarded. Though he was older, he had made sure to stay physically fit, and his abdominal muscles were proof that his efforts were not in vain.

Mustang stood shirtless in the field that was fully plowed with the evening sun beginning to lower. He heard some giggling behind him. He turned and saw some of the young women blush and turn away from him. He could still hear them speaking in hushed tones and girlish squeals as they hurried along their way. Mustang smiled. At least they were happy, and he was glad to give them a show despite being a married man.

A loud whistle was heard from far away followed shortly with the sound of an engine. The train had returned with more supplies. He headed to the showers to rinse off and get ready to see what the train had brought.

Meanwhile, Edward was on another farm just outside a barn. He was holding a sheep and showing the women and children how to shear it. They had sheep before the famine but it had been mostly the men that had sheared them. With Mila's help, he explained it. He also told them of the annual sheep festival that was held in his hometown of Risembool. He reminisced over the sheep shearing contests and the food that was there. The residents enjoyed this and were thinking they would do their own next year. Edward was glad to hear it.

Breda came over to the fence and shouted "Mail call!"

Edward jumped up and ran over to Breda, who handed him a thick envelope. "Thanks!" Edward opened it while leaning against the fence.

There was a letter but the first thing he looked at were the pictures. Nik was on all fours looking like he was ready to crawl. Edward smiled. Nikolai looked like he was thriving under Winry's care. There was another picture of all three kids and Roy's son at the zoo. There was some artwork from Lucy who drew a picture of their family. Next was a paper written in a child's writing "I miss you dad." This made Edward miss them.

"Hopefully it won't be too much longer," Edward said to himself. He then read Winry's letter. She told him about their trip to Central and the zoo. The kids really enjoyed it. And that she missed him.

This little town was recovering. It had seen such horrors but now the was a more positive air about it. There was hope when there was once none. Edward figured their time here was almost done.

At their nightly gathering around a fire, Edward came with a smile. He saw Roy already sitting on a log. He came up behind him and flashed the pictures in front of Roy's face.

"Hey! Look at my kids!" Edward yelled.

Mustang jumped and spilled his drink. "Fullmetal, what the hell?!"

"Oh come on Mustang. You should've known it was coming. The train came today with the mail and the supplies."

Mustang's blood vessel pulsed on the side of his head. "Can't a man get some peace and quiet?"

Edward chuckled. "Here. Look at this one. Your son is in it too."

Mustang looked at it. "I see. They had a good time. That's what Riza's letter said. She sent a photo too."

Mustang pulled the photo out for Edward to see. They started passing the pictures around. Their fellow soldiers were happy to see that their honorary member, Nikolai, was doing very well. He looked healthier and happier in the pictures.

When Edward had his photos returned to him, they began discussing what would happen in the next few weeks. It seemed like their job was near complete.

Edward once again brought up the sensitive topic. "What I still don't understand is why Drachma let us come help when it seems like they wanted to exterminate these people."

Breda wondered "It doesn't make any sense."

Havoc put his hand to his chin "And what about the young men that were taken away? When will they return? All the ladies are looking lonely and seemed to be wondering the same thing."

Fuery snickered "Well they don't have to be lonely. You can help with that."

Havoc snorted "I've got a girl back home. And she might be a keeper."

Edward sighed turning the conversation serious again "What if the young men don't come back? What if they're already dead?"

The team looked downcast into the flame.

Edward continued. "It would make sense to get rid of the young men first. They would fight the hardest."

Mustang agreed. "That's true. Though it would be devastating. The population rate would plummet, which would lead to another set of issues."

Mila spoke quietly "It's another way to do genocide but long term."

The teams continued gazing into the fire contemplating what the future of this village might be.

The next day, Fuery was listening to the radio for updates. He heard a transmission that was broadcast in code. He deciphered the code using the book the military had provided. He listened to the repeated transmission again to make sure it was correct. He couldn't believe it. Fuery immediately ran to find Colonel Elric or General Mustang to tell them the latest broadcast transmission that included orders from the Fuhrer.

Fuery ran out of his tent and found Roy in the kitchen getting ready to help with dinner. Fuery's breathing was so ragged from running. He bent over with his hands on his knees. He handed Mustang the transmission that he had deciphered on paper. "From…. The Fuhrer…."

Mustang read it and his eyes widened. "Are you sure this is correct?"

Fuery stood up still trying to catch his breath. "Yes,…. I listened to it multiple times."

Roy saw Grey in the kitchen and commanded him "Go find Colonel Elric and bring him here immediately. It's urgent."

Grey saluted and went to retrieve Edward. He found him in the field, planting seeds with the farmer. "Colonel! The General needs to see you immediately."

Edward stood up and put his hands on hips. "What now? I swear he can't wipe his own ass." Edward followed Grey lightly jogging behind him. He was in no hurry to get to his commanding officer.
Grey urged Edward into the kitchen with Mustang. "What now?" Edward casually asked.

"Read this. Fuery deciphered this transmission in code from the Fuhrer." Roy handed it to him.

Edward took it and read it. And then read it again. "What the hell? Is this accurate.?"

Fuery nodded. "Yes sir."

Edward turned to Grey "Gather the team. We have new orders effective immediately. Go find them quickly and bring them here." Grey stood there. "GO NOW!" Edward yelled.

Grey went and Fuery also left to gather the team. Edward and Mustang went over the new orders and came up with a new plan on how to effectively carry them out.

Once the teams were gathered in the mess tent, Mustang went over their new orders. "Today, we received a transmission that was coded. It was a broadcast by our Fuhrer. Amestris has been invaded by Drachma. Fort Briggs has been taken over. We are to leave at 0500 hours tomorrow morning to defend North City from Drachma. We must gather our supplies and get ready to leave. Those assigned to kitchen duty, please continue making dinner for us and the residents here. Do not speak of the invasion to them. If they ask, then tell them we have been ordered to go back to Amestris. That is all. Start packing now."

The soldiers went to their duties, taking down tents and serving the last dinner to the Kivians before leaving. The Kivians had no idea of the invasion and were surprised to see the Amestrians leaving so suddenly. But the Kivians spoke of their gratitude to them during dinner.

Edward met up with Mustang in private after dinner. "So what are these people going to do now? I know they are better off than when we got here but still food is an issue."

"Come with me. I have something to show you." Mustang took him to the head villagers barn. He held a lamp up and showed him several crates that had food in it. "It's not much but it's the best we can do."

Edward nodded. He was grateful that Mustang had thought of that. The head villager met them at the barn. Edward asked him to watch over the children that were on the farm outside of town. The head villager agreed and complimented on Edward's Kivian. Edward had been learning it and using it on a daily basis with the villagers.

Edward and Mustang walked back to their tents for their last night in Kiva. No campfire tonight. Everyone was too busy getting ready for their early departure.

Edward asked bluntly "So you think Kiva was a diversion for us? So that while we are here, they have the advantage of attacking of Amestris?"

"It seems that way, though I don't think that was the original plan," Mustang replied.

"Oh?" Edward was intrigued.

"Well, I think this was meant to be a genocide but Kiva didn't die as quickly as they wanted. And when we asked to help them, they were slow to accept. I think they didn't want to expose the genocide but at the same time, because part of Amestris' forces are absent, it was seen as a good opportunity to attack."

"That's bullshit. Taking advantage of an act of kindness."

"Well, they didn't care about Kiva. They just wanted us out of the way. And it worked. Fort Briggs has been taken because their soldiers are here."

Edward hated politics. He knew Mustang was right. He hated Drachma even more. The genocide. The invasion. It was the hunger for power that was to blame. Edward slept uneasily that night.

The Amestrian bugle played the morning taps to wake up their members. They packed away their tents into the train and were on it. Edward watched the sun rise over the horizon. It was unbelievable that now Amestris was being invaded, and they were all being dragged into war. He thought this mission would only be a short humanitarian one but now in the blink of an eye, it had changed into a darker and most certainly more violent mission. His stay in Kiva was over but he wasn't going home.

'Home. I hope Winry and the kids are okay," Edward thought. He couldn't imagine how his family must be feeling right now. And he wasn't there to help them.

Welcome back readers! I completed several stories and works of art for 503 week. I hope you got to see them. If you want to see the art I posted, then follow me on Tumblr. My pen name is also my user name on there, which is Elvenstar146.

I have been true to my word and have returned to this story. Did anyone figure out that Drachma was using Kiva as a distraction? Just curious. Anyways, please comment if you like it.