The Winged Alchemist: Blood Lines

A/N: I must say I am very sorry about all the grammatical errors in the last chapter. I recently reread it and found myself very disappointed. So I will try not to let so many slip next time. :)

Chapter Five: Born of Blood and Light

"Where am I?" Edward asked aloud as his golden eyes opened. He could see nothing but white and it made his head hurt. He shielded his sight with his metal arm and attempted to look around, to spot something that wasn't brightly lit. He found nothing in his search and sighed, letting his arm fall back to his side. He was sitting down, clad in his usual outfit, red coat pulled comfortingly around him. He stared at it a moment, wondering how he ended up wearing it. He didn't remember having it on when…

"Do not panic, Edward Elric." Ed looked up and sucked in a deep breath as Sabina approached him with a graceful gate, a fluttering sky blue dress covering her body. Her long, chestnut hair flowed around her and she smiled. He stayed sitting, struck by her beauty as he was the very first time he saw her in the alley way. "You're where you need to be." She said.

"Where?"

"You're here." She knelt down in front of him and pointed to his heart. He gave her a confused look and she held out her hands to him. He took them, standing up and walking beside her. He felt like he was walking in place, nothing changing around them. "You're inside yourself. In your heart. In your soul. In your memories." Her walk was gentle, her feet never making a noise. He felt slightly embarrassed by his noisy steps intertwined with the sound of metal clinking with every step he took.

"I'm dead." He spoke softly. She glanced down at him and shook her head.

"No. Not anymore." Another confused expression answered her and she stopped walking. The alchemist watched her close her eyes a moment before her pearl colored wings burst from her back. He staggered to the side a bit, taken off guard, but she kept still. Her wings enveloped around her and she raised her arms over her head, spreading her fingers wide. Ed began to fidget, wanting to do the same, but not understand why. She looked so free, so wild, he was almost jealous. "Do as I do, Edward." She whispered.

Hesitant, Ed closed his eyes, willing his wings to burst from his back…but nothing happened. He peeked an eye open to look at her. She was facing him now, her wings stretched as far as they could go. She placed a smile back on her face. "Take your time." She said. He sighed heavily, feeling doubtful. He felt like something was restraining him, holding him back from his true potential…but what was his true potential? What did that even mean?

"Why do I feel so weighed down?" He asked himself, an assumption forming in his brilliant mind. He closed his eyes again, thinking back to the very day everything started. A flashing of light made him twitch and he felt his body sway from an unknown wind that swirled around him. He could hear Sabina near him urging him to continue whatever he was doing. So he did. The wind grew stronger and he felt a pain forming in his torso. He winced, grabbing his sides and struggling to stand.

"Open your eyes, Edward Elric." He did so, gasping at what he saw. He was surrounded by what looked like windows that played memories. His memories. He could see him and Al playing in the fields near his childhood home in Resembool. His mother's smile when they created something for her with alchemy. His father leaving without turning to say good-bye. Human transmutation, the gate, and binding Al's soul to the armor. He watched everything he experienced up to Lee killing him, his eyes remaining wide and his mouth slightly ajar. But when he saw all of his memories, the windows merged into one and suddenly he was looking at himself, staring at the window. His reflection turned and looked at him and smiled. Sabina approached, laying a hand on his shoulder. He put his hand against the window and his reflection watched him, doing the same thing. He could feel warmth from the hand he touched and he remained standing like that, staring into gold eyes.

"What is this?" The reflection did not speak as he did, it only continued to smile.

"This is you, Edward. This is your soul. Look closer at it, the hand you're in contact with." Ed did as she said and looked closely. He was holding his flesh hand up to the reflection, ungloved. The reflection was doing the same, only with his right hand. He felt his jaw drop. "No automail…"

"That's right. Your soul is here to tell you something, to show you what will be when you awaken in the human world again. Pay attention, Edward."

The reflection, or soul removed his hand from Ed's and took a few steps back. Slowly, he closed his eyes and raised his arms in the air, wings coming forth from his back. But the wings with not the regular ebony black. They were pure silver, with a shine that seemed almost metallic. His soul opened his eyes, which were no longer gold, but silver as well and came closer to the window. Ed watched in silence, the background twisting into an image familiar to him. It was the basement in Eastern HQ. His soul was suddenly lying down on the floor, a blanket covering him. But he rose from under the blanket, screaming in pure agony. Ed winced, the pain he felt moments before returning to him. He staggered away from the window and watched as his soul ripped the blanket away and stood, his muscles tense and his arms outstretched, as if he was reborn. His silver wings were stretched out once more and he seemed to be staring at something Ed could not see. And before the image could appear, the window vanished.

Ed turned around and blinked. Sabina was no longer next to him. He was alone in the world of white and all went silent. He wobbled on his legs, the pain inside him growing worse. "What the hell is this?" He dropped to one knee, allowing a small shout to escape his lips.

"Close your eyes, Edward. It's time." And his eyes closed, wind swirling around him and whisking him away from the world of white.

. . .

"You bitch!" Roy shouted, rage overtaking him at the news. Edward was dead…Fullmetal was gone…He snapped his fingers, the basement filling with fire. Riza shielded her face, peeking to see if he had hit his mark. But a shrill laugh escaped the heat and Roy was thrown back against the wall, a crack filling the air. He crumbled to the ground, blood trickling down his chin. Riza glared into the flames as Lee emerged unscathed, a smile on her twisted and inhuman face.

"Damn it!" Riza took aim and emptied the magazine, watching the bullets penetrate the demon's chest, but making no impact. Lee continued to walk forward towards her, licking her lips.

"Bullets will have no effect on me." Lee said, throwing her arms up and sending Riza hurdling into the wall next to Roy. She gasped, the wind being knocked out of her. Lee was already in front of them and she picked Roy up by the scruff of his neck. He screamed out, struggling to get away, but an invisible force held his arms to his sides, leaving him helpless. "You smell so…delicious…" Lee nosed at the side of his throat and sighed, her tongue grazing his skin and lapping up the salty moisture that settled on his skin. He winced away from her touch, growling in frustration.

"What have you done?" Roy asked through clenched teeth. Riza sat frozen at their feet, looking up at them with fear in her eyes. Lee glanced down at her and chuckled.

"You'll see." She took her free hand and grabbed Riza, hoisting her up and shoving her against the wall. "I have an idea." She squeezed her hand around the Lieutenant's throat and watched her face turn blue. "I'm a woman who enjoys her meat tenderized. And the only way I can do that is by beating it both physically—" Roy watched in terror as Lee allowed her nails to sink deep into Riza's throat, blood running over her hands. He cried out, trying to free himself to help his Lieutenant. "—and mentally."

"NOOO! LET HER GO!"

"What will you do, Mustang? You're powerless against me." Lee cackled, throwing Riza down to the ground and focusing on him. "For a feisty soldier, she didn't put up much of a fight." She traced a talon down the length of his face. "How a macho man like you could go for a woman like that, well…I guess there are stranger things that could happen." Roy stopped struggling. His gaze was fixed on something across the room. Lee stared at him a moment, wondering what had him so fixated when a terrible scream filled the air.

Lee whipped around and her face paled. Edward Elric had awoken and was on his feet, screaming out as the final stages of his transformation took place. His muscles were flexed and his arms held up as silver wings surrounded him. He opened his eyes, the once gold irises now as silver as his feathers and his gaze locked on hers. She let the Colonel fall to the ground and approached him.

"You've changed faster than I anticipated." She admitted aloud, walking boldly up to him. Edward looked at her and cocked his head to the side, as if he didn't understand. She scoffed at him. "What?" But she stopped, realizing his eyes were not on her, but on his comrades behind her. She played with her food too long.

Without warning, she was pinned to the ceiling, Ed standing below her with his right hand outstretched. He stared at his arm a moment, stunned it was flesh and bone, but focused back on her. His eyes glared at her and his lips turned into a frown. "What the hell is going on, demon?"

"I have a name, Edward." She said, feeling testy despite her current situation. He made a fist with his hand and she coughed, no longer able to breathe.

"That's not the answer I'm looking for." He relaxed his hand and she sputtered for breath.

"It's lunch time." His hand went back into a fist and she gasped out. He was in her face now, clinging to the ceiling over top of her. She looked away from his intense gaze, feeling the raw power that enveloped him. It made her feel scared; something she wasn't quite used to.

"I should kill you." He muttered to her, his teeth sharp and bared. She made herself meet his eyes and swallowed hard.

"You need me." She watched as he thought about it for a moment before jumping back down to the ground, but he held her there as he went to Roy and Riza's sides. He frowned as he did, wishing he had woken up sooner.

Roy was cradling Riza in his lap, tears streaking down his cheeks as he rocked her. Her eyes stared lifelessly at the ceiling, her throat torn open and made into a bloody mess. He knelt down by his Colonel and placed a hand on his shoulder. Roy looked at him and flinched at the sight of his wings billowing around them. "It's ok, Colonel. She's gonna be fine." He said. He moved his hand to Riza's neck and for a moment, all went silent. Roy watched as he moved his hand away and Riza blinked. The man shook as she met his eyes and trembled.

"Colonel?" She looked up at him with shock and he gathered her in his arms, hugging her tightly as he sobbed into her shoulder. She hugged him back, unsure how she was alive again. Ed stood and returned to Lee, who looked down at him with annoyance.

"A boy like you shouldn't have such power."

"Shut up." He told her, and she did. With a snap of his fingers, she fell to the ground and cursed. "You will tell me what the hell is going on. And you will tell me what Bradley is planning."

"This is out of the ballpark." Lee retorted, brushing off her dirtied white suit. He rounded on her, making her look away again. Somehow it seemed he had grown taller and more intimidating. She wanted him to drop dead.

"The Fuhrer didn't want any harm to me. He wanted me trained as a demon to destroy what's left of this world so he could gain power. So why is it his lacky decided to help me?"

"I told you, it was a contract. I'm bound to Sabina to do her bidding to help a fucking brat like you."

"Not good enough." Edward walked her into a wall, her back hitting it and making her flinch. She was trapped. She was also very annoyed at how powerless she now felt. Even now, without him making any moves, her powers were suppressed, leaving her almost mortal. She would have to wait for a pivotal moment to make her move and take back control of her life. "TELL ME."

Lee sighed. Aside from being annoyed and intimidated, she couldn't help but feel attracted to his newfound strength. She met his silver eyes and smiled. "Alright, fine. But we should do it while moving. Right now, both your brother and your girlfriend are in a shit ton of trouble."

. . .

Roy couldn't believe it. Somehow, Ed had come back to life and brought his Lieutenant back to him. Even now, as he held her close to him, he couldn't even begin to understand how. All he could do was cry into her bloodied skin as she clung to him, attempting to calm him down. "I thought I lost you, Riza." He said, feeling her stiffen with surprise. He had never once called her by her first name. But it wouldn't be the last.

Riza pulled him back far enough to reach his lips with hers and kissed him. When they parted, she stared at him, her eyes full of fear and love; fear at what was going on, but love for him and love for newfound life. He hugged her again and started to calm down, knowing he couldn't sit in a basement and cry all day. There was still much to be done, and much more to learn. He picked Riza up and together they stood. It was then Roy noticed his wounds had been healed as well and he remembered Ed putting a hand on his shoulder. He must have healed me then. He walked him and the Lieutenant up the stairs, Ed and Lee nowhere in sight.

The halls were still empty and they headed for the exit. "What now, Lieutenant?" He asked her, taking her by surprise again. She kept her eyes ahead of them.

"If I'm not mistaken, Lee had mentioned to Edward that Alphonse and Miss. Rockbell were in trouble."

"Then we need to find any means necessary to help them."

"Sir." Roy stopped walking and kissed her again, cupping her face in his hands.

"Call me Roy."

. . .

Alphonse was growing far too impatient. He knew something was terribly wrong. He could feel it in his soul. But what disturbed him the most was he felt something coming to him. "I'm not safe here." He began to look out the windows, expecting to see someone or something. It had been too easy to follow Winry, even if he was a train behind her. With everything that had happened in Central, security should have been heavier. He should've been followed by soldiers, even if he wasn't going to Eastern. No, something was not right.

"I have to get out of sight." He moved to the front of the car, opening the door and stepping out. The clacking of the train was loud as he shut the door behind him and he tucked himself against the side of the door so that he was out of sight. He waited, knowing someone would come for him. And he was right. In a matter of minutes, the car lurched slightly to the side as something jumped on it. Something strong. He had a bad feeling.

Faintly, he could hear the back entrance to the car open as someone entered. He turned his head to face the door he stood by and counted the seconds. "Oh, Alphonse!" Al froze.

That was Envy! What is he doing here? He needed to move, fast. As swift as his armor allowed. Al climbed to the roof of the car and began to walk towards the front of the train. He knew the homunculus would follow. What he didn't expect was for Envy to be directly behind him.

"Did you really think you could outsmart me?" Envy shouted, making him whirl around in surprise. The monster grabbed him and hurled him off the train, sending him rolling down a hill. Al screamed, trying to stop himself as he hurdled down out of control, his body gaining momentum the longer he rolled. The hill was deep and ended at the base of a river and he gasped. If he fell too deep in the water, he would be in danger.

"I've gotta stop!" Digging his hands into the soft earth, Al slowed himself down and at the last moment, stopped as his feet hit the water. He pulled himself up and looked around, Envy nowhere in sight. "Did I lose him?"

"You wish." Envy leaped out of the water and landed on top of him, holding him down against the ground. Al yelled out, drawing a transmutation circle and slamming his hands on it. The array created a dirt fist that collided with the homunculus and sent him flying back into the water. Al got up and ran, heading back up to the tracks. He knew Envy would catch him, it was only a matter of time. He was powerless by himself. He needed his brother. He needed Ed.

. . .

Oh man, it took me way longer than I thought it would to write this chapter! I must have wrote it a million times before deciding it was passable for y'all to read! Anyway, I hope it was to your liking! The next chapter will start back up with Al and then we will see what's been going on with Winry. This story should wrap up in two or three more chapters, so be ready for action, blood, death, the works! Review!