"The Flame's Lament"

"Major General Armstrong is going to kill us", Fuery said as the five got into the fort leaving the snow behind. Breda and Falman gave him a nervous look since they were sure of that too.

However, they followed Roy who was running like never before through the hall. Around them, everything was destroyed; furniture, papers, doors, everything. Roy didn't think it twice, and began to destroy any obstacle in his way feeling how the desperation was eating him alive. He had been such a fool, but how can be this possible? Not even Kimbley would have known that boy was Edward, someone else identified him. Damn it!

If they were attacked, that could only mean that everyone went to the basement of the fort. Edward should be there, he should be. Roy ran was fast as he could hearing the echo of his owns footsteps and his crew's.

However, when he opened the access to the basement, the wind coming from inside made him feel even more anxious. He hurried downstairs until a shining light forced him and his crew to use their arms to cover their eyes.

"What is this?!", Havoc yelled fighting the force of the wind trying to push them back.

Riza almost fell back, but Falman helped her, "Nothing good for sure!"

Roy did his best to reach the source of the light, but when he saw unknown people running, he began to look everywhere trying to find the reason. His heart nearly stopped when he saw Edward in the middle what it seem to be a transmutation array with…Dr. Lyra? In front of him.

"Edward…", he said in low voice. But golden eyes met his and this widened in shock and he reacted finally, "EDWARD!!!!!!!"

The man tried to identify the transmutation array to see how he could stop it, but he didn't remember seeing it anywhere. He glanced around in the chaos and saw Kimbley watching everything with his arms crossed and a wide smile on his face. Roy hurried toward him and grabbed him from the collar taking the man by surprise.

"You son of a bitch, what the hell is this?!"

"You should be doing something to stop the transmutation or you could say good bye to him already", Kimbley told him almost bursting in laughs.

Roy's eyes widened and let the man go, trying to approach Edward, but the energy was too strong.

"EDWARD!!!"

The blonde bit his lip and heard the laughs of Lyra at his side. Of course he would not continue with his plan, not when Roy and his crew were there and she knew it. Ed tried to approach Roy, but a wall of energy didn't allow him to reach the man's hand.

"Edward, stop this!! Stop it!!", the Colonel yelled in exasperation.

The kid stared at the man feeling how the tears began to fall through his cheeks. He shook his head, "I can't!". His eyes suddenly widened and he fell on his knees clenching his fists in the floor, clearly in pain.

"EDWARD NO!!", the man then glared at the woman and tried approached her, "You better stop this if you don't want me to kill you once you get out of there!"

Lyra smirked, "Don't be mad, my Colonel. Once the transmutation ends, you won't be able to touch me at all"

All of the sudden, he heard a growl behind him and turned around to see his crew pointing their guns to some of the intruders ready to attack them using alchemy.

"MOVE!", he ordered as he snapped his fingers attacking the members of the Alchemist Union leaving them unconscious.

Riza then approached him folding his gun, "What can we do sir?!"

"I", he began, but the sight of Edward trying to hold back a scream was driving him crazy, "I don't know"

Havoc threw a small rock to the transmutation, but it disappeared, "Can't you stop it with your fire?!"

"I could hurt Edward", Roy eyes moved faster trying to find a hint of what he should do, "I can't take that risk"

"R-Roy-San!"

Everyone glanced at Edward who was in the same position, but he did his best to look up. Roy's heart squeezed noticing how much he was suffering.

"S-stop the tr-transmutation. She m-must not get what she wants!"

However, Lyra approached him and kicked him in the stomach so he would fell in the floor, "Shut up you little bastard"

Roy's face frowned and gritted his teeth in fury. However, the man saw confused how something began to take shape in the woman's hands, something small but full of energy. In the other hand, Edward was loosing consciousness, so he had to make a decision and quick.

"Move back!", the man ordered and raised his shaking hand. This was the only way he could think of to save the boy, even when the risk was too high. His crew did as told, and his face frowned deeply. And then, he snapped his fingers.

A big explosion of energy threw everyone against the wall, but Roy could hold still protecting his face with his arms. The transmutation had died and the remaining mist covered the entire place. He coughed and stood up trying to see through, but it was too dense so he headed to where he thought Edward should be. Golden hair stood out in the blurriness and Roy quickly fell on his knees and grabbed the unconscious kid. He was breathing, he wasn't bleeding, just small cuts, nothing to worry about. The raven-haired man sighed in relief and held him closer.

"I'm so sorry", he muttered hugging the kid apprehensively.

However, a shadow appeared at his side and he stood up carrying the boy. It was Lyra who had a smile on his face and a fist clenched holding something. "Yes, Colonel, he is alive. I never intended to kill him", she said using a suggestive voice, "Nevertheless, he will never wake up"

Dark eyes widened, "What the hell are you talking about?!"

"The transmutation sucked the power inside that kid, all of it. He will live, but jus that", she said with a small laugh, "In exchange, now I have the philosopher stone"

Roy blinked a few times, the voice of the woman echoing on his head; he didn't give credit to what he heard. The philosopher stone? That has the source of the power of Edward? That was what she had on his hand?

"You can give him my thanks", she continued raising her hand, "He gave his life in exchange so I could bring back his father"

Roy gritted his teeth and freed one of his hands ready to snap his fingers.

Lyra smile widened, "I would not do that. If you destroy the stone, Edward will die with it. Don't worry, bringing someone back from the death it's nothing for such a big stone like this one, so it will never disappear", she said walking around Roy, "So, you can have that doll for the rest of your life"

"You bitch, how could you do something like this to a little kid?!"

"The stone was Hohenheim's and mine in the first place", her smile faded, "Even when he left me for that woman, I know he always loved me. I'm the only one who could have figure out how to obtain the stone from his son, of course he wants me to bring him back"

"I'm sure your stupid followers know about your plans", he said bitterly.

Lyra crossed her arms, "Of course I will do something for them. Just what not they are expecting"

Millions of thoughts crossed Roy's mind. If what she said was true, he had to get that stone, but his crew was unconscious and he wouldn't risk leaving Edward alone. Never more.

"Of course I knew you were using us as peons"

The sudden voice caught both attention. It was Kimbley, walking towards Lyra with an unfriendly gaze. The woman raised her hand threateningly.

"Don't do it, Kimbley. You can't do anything against me"

However, Mustang noticed how the eyes of the woman widened in shock and panicked staring at the stone.

"Wha-what?!", she cried, "Why is it not crimson red?!"

The Colonel flinched. It was true, the stone was dull, almost black, not like the pictures he had seen of it where it was bright red and shinning.

Kimbley then stopped a few feet away and grabbed one of his supposed to be mates, "Maybe I can"

"NO!!"

Roy turned around to protect Edward from the explosion, but quickly looked back to see Lyra through the smoke in the floor; and the stone a few inches away from her. He hurried toward it, but Kimbley appeared much closer than him so he snapped his fingers. The Colonel heard a growl of pain and ran to grab the stone since Lyra was already trying to reach it dragging herself across the floor. However, he stopped when Riza took it pointing the woman with her gun.

The man smiled at her, and he noticed how his crew was handcuffing some of the intruders. It was when they heard steps approaching; a furious Major General and her subordinates finally appeared. The man threw her a look, so she just ordered everyone to gather the intruders and approached him staring at the boy.

"You didn't make it on time", the woman said stating the obvious, but also accusatorily.

Roy just closed his eyes and walked away signaling Riza to follow him. He had to get out of there or the sight of the screaming Lyra will make him lose him mind and do something he should not do. His eyes now rested in Edward. Anybody would say he was sleeping since his face was totally relaxed and breathing quietly, not as a 'living doll' as the woman said. Both remained silent until they got in Roy's bedroom and Riza closed the door behind her.

The man laid down the kid softly in the bed and stood there staring at him absently. Riza could see the pain on the man's face, his hands clenched into fists and shaking, not in fury, but in desperation. She bit her lip and decided to leave him alone, but when she was about to turn around, Roy looked up at her.

"Don't go, please", he begged like he never had before, "I can't break down, I need to find a solution to this"

She nodded sadly and raised her hand where she had the stone. Roy stared at it for a moment before grabbing it to examine the damn thing. So, this was the cause of Edward problems. Those years in the laboratory, the pain, the fear to use his alchemy when he should be showing the world what he could to at his age. That was reason he hadn't been a normal and happy kid.

He fell on his knees and hit the floor with one hand. He had failed him. Just like that. Now he wasn't sure if he would be able to help him since this knowledge was beyond him. The only option was to make that woman reverse the transmutation, but in hell he would trust her. Riza then kneeled at his side and placed a hand on his shoulder.

"I know you will find the answer, you always do", she said softly grabbing the stone.

The man head was hid between his shoulders, but still he shook his head, "I don't know this time. I don't know where to start looking for an answer". He then looked up and stared at Edward trying to hold still and don't break down, "I can't stand looking at him like that. I want him back"

"That's why", she continued, "I'm sure you will find the answer"

Roy glanced at her with a tiny smile, but the woman could see the pain on the man's eyes. This was killing him and this time she couldn't do anything more than be there for him.

"We have to go home, I have to look through my books to see what I can do for him", the man said running a hand through his ebony hair.

The door swung open in that moment and both stood up protecting the child, but Olivia was at the frame of the door, her face far from happy. Riza hid the stone discretely.

"I will find out what happened", the woman said flatly, "For now, you should take him away from here"

Roy nodded and quickly lifted the boy hurrying outside the room.

…………………..

"Sir!"

The Fuhrer looked up and saw L. General Raven with wide eyes closing the door behind him. The man laid down the folder he had been reading and frowned, "This better be good"

"Yes sir", the man said stopping in front of the desk, "Sir, our spies sent this information"

Bradley grabbed the sheet and read it fast. Raven got nervous when the man's face twisted in fury and stood up.

"Where are they now?!"

The L. Colonel gulped, "They don't know sir"

"Great, just great", the man snarled snapping the sheet against the desk, "They said Roy left the kid here!"

The man closed his mouth and just stared at the Fuhrer who had a hand on his forehead analyzing the situation.

"They have the stone, don't they?"

"Our spies couldn't confirm that sir, but we are afraid so", the man explained almost shaking.

"Find them! Now! We must know where are they!"

"Y-yes sir!"

Raven turned around and left the office as fast as he could afraid the man would stop him. Bradley clenched his fist around the document and threw it to the trash can, he then snapped his hand against the desk in fury. Mustang had played his cards well this time, he was indeed impressed. But he would pay for this and he would get that stone no matter what.

……………………

Riza opened the door and turned on the lights of the hotel room. She stepped inside carefully holding her gun ready to shoot if necessary. Behind her, Roy followed her carrying the boy in his arms, scanning the room too. He approached the bed and laid down the still unconscious kid. Riza closed the door and stood there with her gun raised while the Colonel took a look to the balcony.

The woman then lowered the weapon and watched Roy as he dialed up some numbers and waited until someone answered.

"Hi there", a known voice said quietly, "Everything's Ok?"

Roy sat in the bed next to Edward, "Seems so, Hughes. How's the situation over there?"

"Well", the man began, his voice deep, "They did a mess in your house, everything is upside down"

"Great", Mustang growled, "Did you find the book?"

A brief silence. Roy knew bad news were coming, "No. It wasn't anywhere, Roy. If they found it, they could prosecute your only for having it"

The man tapped his fingers on the bureau for a moment. Damn it, he had forgotten about that book until he saw the array which left Edward like this. In the train, he remembered seeing it on that book or at least one similar. "That's Ok, Hughes. Get out of there before they notice you"

"Want me to drop a visit over there?"

"No, tomorrow will be fine. I want to rest for now"

"Alright, don't hesitate to call"

"Thanks, Hughes"

He hung up and glanced at the woman who was staring at Edward sad, "He didn't deserve this", she said quietly.

"Go home", the man ordered her, "Have some rest"

The Lieutenant nodded, "Yes sir. See you tomorrow"

Roy just watched how the woman turned around and left the room, so he stood up and secured the door. He turned off the lights of the room leaving the table lamp on, which made the boy's golden hair almost glow. The man leaned on the wall and stared at him for a long time, his mind blank. He didn't want to think on anything, he was exhausted, but also, scared. If he couldn't come up with an answer, Edward would stay like that for the rest of his life and that scared him.

The kid was so quiet, sleeping like a little angel. Just that he wasn't sleeping. The man sat on the bed at the kid side and sighed. He was really exhausted, the trip back Central had been so intense, hiding the boy, the array spinning on his head, the scared face of the kid inside the transmutation…Damn, he wouldn't be able to sleep and he really wanted to. He needed to.

Roy turned on the TV hoping something would catch his attention and let his mind rest, but he gave up after a few minutes. He let it on, but he laid down in the bed and stared at the ceiling roof for what he felt hours. Then, the man glanced at Edward, the memory of the blonde holding his scream tormenting him.

Why haven't he been able to protect him? What else could have he done so this wouldn't have happened? He ran a hand through his hair and took a deep breath; that wasn't important anymore, he had to think how he would bring back Edward, because he would do it no matter what.

Then, Roy noticed something. The kid was screwing his eyes shut and moving slightly, so he jumped from the bed and waited expectantly. Maybe the transmutation wasn't complete when he stopped it and that was the reason the stone wasn't either. Maybe Edward just needed to rest to get back the energy lost. Maybe.

However, the man almost fell on his knees when he saw how the blonde sat up and opened his eyes. His usual golden almost shinning eyes, were now dull and lifeless, just a blank stare. The kid glanced at the man, but there wasn't any reaction at all, he just blinked and looked away.

This was Lyra meant with 'living doll'? Edward would live but close to be…empty? Roy covered his mouth with a hand in shock and leaned on the wall until he crashed in the floor. This couldn't be happening, it was just too much. No. It couldn't be. Ed was there somewhere, he couldn't be gone. The man approached the kid in desperation and grabbed him from the shoulder shaking him.

"EDWARD! COME BACK YOU DAMN MIDGET! I'M ORDERING YOU TO COME BACK!"

He was panting still holding him, but the kid didn't show any reaction beside a blank stare. Just nothing. It was when Roy lost it. He let the boy laid down on the bed and sat in the floor and closed his eyes. However, the kid sat up again and remained in the same positions for few minutes, just blinking. The man sighed and leaned his head back in the wall and screwed his eyes shut; he needed to concentrate. What should be the next step? Torture Lyra until she says something useful? He would gladly do that only if he wasn't supposed to be at Central right now.

Suddenly, the man flinched and snapped his eyes open when he felt someone at his side. He looked down and saw the blond sitting next to him staring at him with his big eyes, like he was curious. What did this mean? Maybe he had been right, maybe the fact that the transmutation wasn't complete did something on Edward at least. Still, those empty eyes were tormenting him like hell.

Ed stared at him emotionless, but Roy smiled warmly and put his arm around him drawing him closer. The boy just rested his head on him and closed his eyes, falling sleep immediately. The man undid Ed's braid and stroked his hair for what it seemed hours. He really missed his boy.

And he would do anything to get him back. This was far from over.