Their presence was felt more than heard. It was like standing in a cold mist, the biting chill permeating down to your bones, sending spasms up and down your spine. Edward froze. Soldiers were just moving out onto the rooftops above him. They too stopped as they sensed something in the air.
Then it came. Their voices carried forth as if by a gentle breeze. But the gentle breeze grew into a gale forcing its way through the bowels of the tunnel and winding through the remains of the collapsed building, shaking its pitiful foundation and the ground Edward stood on.
Help me!
Let me out of here!
Release me!
Don't look at me!
Mother! Where are you?!
Where am I?
He'd heard those voices before and they had the power to stop him cold. He finally pulled himself together, trying to block out their voices… and the memory that he had successfully managed to do unless he was asleep. But he wasn't asleep now. There was no waking up from this.
"Hurry!" He yelled to the soldiers on the rooftops. His harsh, loud voice broke the frightening spell and they quickly took their positions. Edward clapped his hands together and with a flash a blue light wall grew from the ground closing the last gap between two buildings. He ran back - stumbling along as the ground continued to shake - to find Al.
He rounded the street corner and skidded to a stop. He heard the commotion coming up from the tunnel entrance. The scratching, the pitiful wailing… his heart was nearly beating out of his chest like it wanted to escape and flee from danger. He put his hand across his chest trying to calm himself and went to find his brother.
"Ed!" His panicked brother shouted meeting him in the middle of the street where the homunculi were sure to pour out into. They clung to each other to help themselves and each other stay on their feet. "I've never heard anything like it before."
"I have," Edward said unemotionally which was in direct contrast to his fluttering nerves. It was too difficult to block it out. He wasn't stuck within Envy's body very long when he was only sixteen; but it was long enough to make an impression. He had froze then too but managed to snap out of it. He knew what they needed to do. The souls needed to be released. They were in agony attached to foreign bodies. But with so many it would take some time... or a very large transmutation. "Stick with me, Al, okay."
Al nodded. He looked scared. So did Edward.
"I hope those three are alright down there," Al said trying to keep his voice steady.
Then like a volcano spewing ash and lava the ruins before them burst forth with pale, thin naked bodies, jumping, leaping, scrambling... they emerged fast and violent, their feet hardly touching the ground.
"Oh, shit," Edward breathed as he clapped his hands together, swallowing his panic as he watched the horrifying sight before him.
"Wait," Al said keeping his brother from even completing the transmutation. "Wait for them to..."
But he was cut off as several homunculi rushed them.
"No time!" Edward shouted and his brother knew he was right.
Al didn't want to use alchemy until all the homunculi were above ground. But they were fast and they were already surrounded. Together with Edward, in perfect harmony, they put their hands together and slapped them on the ground simultaneously. The homunculi around them began to sink into the ground; but not all of them. More came leaping over the heads of those being dragged under. Shots were heard all around them. The homunculi hit didn't fall. Instead they turned their attention towards the source of their pain.
That hurts!
Why?
Don't hurt me!
Let me go!
I'll kill you!
Come here!
No, I don't want to die!
Let's die together!
Stop this pain!
Homunculi were already nearing the barriers Al had created behind him and Edward. With inhuman speed and agility they began to leap, climb up the barriers towards the troops on the rooftops who were already adjusting their aim.
"Ed, look!" Al shouted pointing at the troops that were rapidly firing down into the faces of the homunculi coming for them.
"Do what you can?" Edward said shoving his brother towards them. He didn't want to separate but they needed to divide their forces. "I'll draw any homunculi away from Mustang, Jean and Lin!"
Al nodded and ran to help the troops, pushing aside his doubt and fear. Edward made to run towards the collapsed building but something stopped him. A pale, strong hand held onto his ankle tight. He tried to kick it off and yelled in horror as the arm grew until a shoulder emerged from the ground followed by the round top of a bald head. He fell, the side of his face smacking against the pavement. Directly, no more than two inches in front of his eye, a finger tip emerged followed by the finger. He lifted himself and clapped his hands together. He grabbed hold of the homunculi wrist - making sure he touched it with his right not his left hand - and like a hot knife through butter his metal hand went through the wrist, separating the created hand from its arm. The homunculi's mouth was formed above ground and released a squealing cry of pain. "Whyyyyyyyy?! I just want to play!"
Edward wanted to cover his ears - its words invoked memories he didn't want paralyzing him - but had no time as he scrambled up as even more hands from the buried homunculi began to rise out of the ground grabbing for something to hold onto. There were more homunculi coming from the rubble of the building. He slipped Mustang's borrowed glove back on his hand and snapped his fingers. The homunculi blocking his path erupted in a fireball. Once the flames died down enough for him to pass he ran through quickly, watching as the charred pieces of flesh and ash already began to reform.
Once he reached the ruins and began to make his way down he saw more homunculi coming his way. He couldn't see beyond them. He snapped his fingers again, adjusting the flame to take out the homunculi only within five feet directly in front of him to conserve his energy. Then clapping again he passed his left hand over his right arm. He formed his blade and sliced through the rest of the homunculi as he worked his way down.
Mustang, Havoc and Lin had pressed themselves against the wall, several feet away from the tunnel entrance. Several girders of iron crisscrossed in front of them and to the side, providing some cover.
They waited, holding their breaths as the tunnel seemed to burst with struggling bodies all trying to emerge at the same time. It was like a swarm of locusts spreading all over the place. Hopping, climbing through the mess of iron girders and wood support beams that cracked and splintered at their slightest touch. It only took seconds for the first wave of the homunculi to head up towards the surface. Then it felt like they just kept coming.
Once the tunnel entrance was clear finally, they inched closer hardly noticing the flash of light above them.
Mustang was the first to peak through, his arm out in front of him ready to snap his fingers. Nothing charged. He motioned for Havoc and Lin to follow. He went in deeper, still deeper, walking carefully to keep his steps quiet so he didn't attract any unwanted attention.
Havoc stepped through next without incident. Just as Lin took a step in he felt the air stir to his left. Then a low, rumbling laugh echoed in his ear.
"Where do you think you're going, Emperor?"
Instinct took control and he ducked as a black claw swiped through the air where his head had been a half second ago. But Greed kneed him in the stomach. He fell forward gasping knowing it could have been much worse.
Havoc heard Lin gasping behind him. He turned and saw Russell – or his body at least – looming over the Xing Emperor. He went to help but Lin looked at him. "Don't, just keep going!"
Havoc didn't want to leave Lin alone but knew he and Mustang had to hurry before they were followed and stopped. Without a word or even the slightest acknowledgement to Lin, he made his legs – despite their protest and sense of honor to stay and help - run to catch up with Mustang hoping he hadn't left the Xing Emperor to die.
Greed grabbed Lin by the neck. "I've decided I'd like your body for my own once again," he sneered with Russell's face, his eyes greedily looking the Xing Emperor over as he was lifted off the ground, his legs kicking uselessly at Greed, already protected from the waist down with his Ultimate Shield. He then threw Lin back out of the tunnel.
Lin fell against a wood beam still standing somewhat upright, hitting the back of his head. Greed spun before him and he shook his head trying to refocus. "My body will be no use to you if you kill it," he rasped his throat sore after nearly being crushed.
"I won't kill it," Greed said coming for him again. Lin tried to scramble away but Greed caught him by the foot and dragged him back then kicked him in the stomach. Lin curled up in a ball gasping for air that wasn't coming. "I just don't want you causing me any trouble taking you back so I can switch," Greed taunted getting close to Lin's face. "Once I'm in your body again your wounds will be healed; though you won't even feel it since I'll have crushed your soul by then."
Lin was finally able to force air in and out of his lungs. Furiously, he tried to think of something to do but knew he was at a disadvantage. Greed had the shield. Greed had the ability to heal from any wound inflicted on him. All Lin had with him were some cracked ribs, a horrible headache and hidden weapons that were useless against a nearly undefeatable homunculus.
Greed grabbed him by the front of his shirt and threw him onto a pile of rubble. Lin hit his head against a large concrete block and everything in front of him began to fade just as he heard someone shout his name. He tried desperately not to pass out. His whole body hurt, his head was throbbing. He turned and saw someone leaping down towards him. It was Edward. He wanted to yell at his friend to forget about him, to destroy the homunculi swarming the street but he could barely manage to think straight. Talking would take more of an effort but he had to try, he wouldn't let himself be defeated so easily or let Edward do all the work.