Chapter 12: Liore

It turned out that the method to getting to Liore was the same: a train to East City, then a taxi to Liore. Unfortunately for the brothers, Liore had become so popular that getting a taxi to Liore was nearly impossible. So they were forced to gather provisions and walk the distance to Liore.

Ed sighed in exhaustion as Liore finally came into sight. "It's been a while since I've had to endure extreme temperatures… the areas around my automail feels like they're burning…"

"Are you going to be all right?" Al asked worriedly.

"Yeah, I'll be fine. Hey, remember the last time we came to Liore? Man your armour gave us hell. How many times did you sink?"

Al blushed slightly. "I think it was three or four times before you chased me the rest of the way…"

Ed chuckled. "That was because I was pissed and exhausted. It made the last leg of the journey a lot faster though, didn't it?"

Al nodded. "Not to mention we didn't come prepared… If you hadn't gotten mad at that taxi driver we wouldn't have had to walk in the first place."

Ed scowled as he rubbed the back of his neck. "Shut up, he called me short and a dwarf. He practically asked for it. What the hell else was I supposed to do?"

Al sighed. "You should have ignored it."

"Aw, who cares? It's in the past. Hey, let's have a race the rest of the way. It'll be just like old times." Ed said, grinning.

"You're on." Al grinned in response.

"Ready? Go!" Ed said, running as soon as the word 'go' was spoken.

Al stared in disbelief before quickly recovering and running after him. "Hey! That wasn't fair brother!" He yelled, chasing Ed towards Liore.

Both brothers panted in exhaustion as they collapsed onto stools at the food and drink bar in the centre of town like they had so long ago.

The absence of the gaudy golden statue of Armstrong went unnoticed by them, as Alphonse had been too busy to notice it on his last trip. An alchemist helping with the cleanup gratefully removed the statue while Armstrong was away at the owner's request.

The owner blinked in surprise at the two as they stared out at the people passing by. "Well I'll be… it's been a long time since I've seen you…"

Ed blinked in surprise, looking back at the owner. "Yeah, it has. I'm glad to see this place has rebounded so well." He said, turning back to watch the crowd.

"I agree, brother. I was afraid with that invasion that people would be too afraid to return to Liore, but I'm glad they did."

The owner looked at Al in confusion before remembering what Rose had told him.

"Can we have something to drink? It was a long walk and we need to save what we have left for the trip back." Al asked.

The owner nodded, before passing them what they ordered.

The brothers sat for some time even after they had finished their drinks before Ed sighed. "Well, thanks for letting us sit here for so long. Come on, Al. We need to find a place to stay."

Al nodded as Ed grabbed his suitcase and began walking away. "Thanks very much sir. I'm sorry that Ed's just as rude as ever." He said, bowing quickly before running after Ed.

"I wonder how Rose would react if she knew he was back… She wouldn't stop talking about him when she returned from hiding." The owner muttered before some drunken patrons came to try and get more alcohol from him.

The brothers stumbled upon the former Church of Leto, which had been torn down and replaced with a hotel.

"Well, it looks as though we found our accommodations for the night…" Ed said as he looked around. "Things are so different here that it's hard for me to believe this is Liore…"

"You'll get used to it, brother." Al said, chucking.

Neither of them noticed the large man charging up behind them until they were in his crushing embrace. "I had heard from General Mustang that you would be coming so I came to find you! How wonderful it is that you could come to Liore!" Armstrong said happily with pink sparkles flying around him.

Rose noticed him and smiled in amusement as she walked up behind him. His massive size hid the struggling Elric brothers from her view. "Lieutenant Colonel, I think you should let go. You may end up killing somebody accidentally if you keep doing that." Rose said, chucking in amusement.

Armstrong looked back in surprise before dropping the brothers, who knelt behind him gasping for breath as he turned to face her.

Rose's attention was on the Lieutenant Colonel as they struck up a conversation, so she didn't notice them.

Suddenly, blue jolts of alchemic reaction surrounded a surprised Armstrong before a cage encased him.

"Lieutenant Colonel!" Rose gasped in shock as Armstrong chuckled.

"I see you haven't lost your touch." He said, bringing out his alchemic gloves. He smashed the cage with ease, allowing the pieces to fall around him.

Familiar cursing finally made Rose look around Armstrong to whom he had been holding. She could only stare in surprise as she and Ed locked eyes before collapsing.

Ed and Al stood up as Armstrong knelt beside her. "Don't worry, you two. I believe the shock of seeing you caused her to faint. She will be fine with some rest. Come back with me to the Armstrong Manor. You can stay with me while you are here."

Ed and Al looked at each other warily as Armstrong picked up Rose with ease. "Come along. Don't make me turn it into an order."

Ed frowned, realizing Roy had told Armstrong everything. "Don't worry, we're coming."

Al sighed as he and Ed followed the large man grudgingly.

Rose didn't want to open her eyes. She thought what she had seen was a dream. Voices caught her ears, making her open her eyes.

Ed and Al sat beside her, talking to each other quietly.

"You really are here…" She said quietly as tears started rolling down from her eyes.

They looked at her with relief before she suddenly launched herself at Ed in a hug. The chair Ed was sitting on couldn't endure the shock that the sudden increase in weight caused. It collapsed, sending Ed and Rose to the floor.

"I thought you were…"

"You shouldn't have worried about me. I could handle myself no matter what happened. I'm just glad to know you've been doing well."

Al helped Rose stand before pulling Ed to his feet. As he did, Ed's sleeve slipped and revealed the skin plate of his automail.

Rose stared at it in disbelief. "What happened…? You…"

"It'd be too hard to explain Rose. I'm fine with it; I got what I wanted more than anything." He said, patting Al's shoulder.

Rose wiped her eyes before shaking her head. "You two are among the strangest yet bravest people I know…"

Before she could say any more, Armstrong's booming voice announced that dinner was being served.

"Do you wanna stay?" Al asked.

Rose shook her head. "I should be going home. My son's probably worried about me." She smiled as the brothers walked with her out to the porch of Armstrong's home. "I'll be fine, don't worry. Please don't be strangers."

Ed noticed her eyes glance towards him with her last words.

"We'll try not to be, Rose." Al said as she waved and walked down the street.

Ed sighed once she was out of sight, scratching the back of his neck in irritation. "I hope Noah's all right."

Al glanced at Ed and nodded. "I do too…" Al sighed as Ed walked off the porch onto the street. "Brother, why don't you tell Rose you don't-" His words were cut off by a transmutation flash. "Brother! What's wrong?" Al asked worriedly as he noticed the transmuted blade.

"We're being watched…" Ed growled.

Al cursed as he suddenly realized he couldn't remember anything the Gate had taught him.

It looks as though there was a toll when we crossed…

He thought as he looked around to see what had his brother worried.

Suddenly, a strange black dog-like creature lunged at Ed. Instinctively Ed rolled to the side and slashed at the creature. The creature vanished almost as soon as it was struck by the blade.

Ed blinked in surprise as Al ran over to him. "Are you all right?"

"I'm fine…" Ed said absently as he stared at the spotless blade. "First thing in the morning, we're leaving. We can't stay here anymore." Ed said as he grabbed Al and dragged him back inside.

"All right Ed. We'll have to leave before Lieutenant Colonel Armstrong wakes up to avoid getting questioned."

Ed nodded. "Come on, we'd better go eat before he comes looking for us."

Al nodded and followed his brother, warily looking at the door.

Outside, the shadowy creature reformed and growled angrily at the house before fading back into the shadows.