Previously: Winry and Bella make their way to the clinic to the Elrics, Wyatt, and Luki. Armstrong and Hughes are obviously not happy that Ed is continuing his quest for the Philosopher's Stone and want to go with him. Ed convinces him that he's old enough to go on his own and he's getting help from his old alchemy teacher in Dublith. Wyatt and Luki convince Ed and Al to go with them to perhaps learn alchemy and help the brothers in their quest. Winry says she was going with them and they were stopping at Rush Valley. Bella speaks up and says she'll go with Winry so that she isn't alone while the boys go to Dublith. Back at the homunculi mansion, Wrath and Camile make Envy take her shopping and buy them ice cream. On their way to the 'shop' Envy is just about to kill Hughes but is interrupted when a sort of phantom hops off of the roof and tackles Envy to the ground. They're a good match until Wrath comes charging and the phantom runs away, leaving a pissed Envy and an unconscious Hughes on the ground.
A/N: I just now realized something…*facepalm* in last chapter Camile says she'll buy Wrath and Envy ice cream when he's the one that actually buys it. Ugh… :S so let's just say Camile had a blond moment and forgot that she doesn't have money and Envy mans up and buys it for them. And by 'buy' it means making the ice cream people so scared they pee sort of buy. Look, I was rushing when writing that so sorry…
BUT ANYWAY! I must warn you up front that next chapter will be long and I apologize up front if your brain explodes and eyes conbust! All I will say is that it's a serious kick-ass chapter. Nuff said. THANKS FOR REVIEWS YOU GUYS~~!
WARNING: Rated T for some slight graphicness plus language (which isn't really new I just feel some characters are OOC without it). Just a warning…
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Envy, Wrath, and Camile were on their way to through town where the clothing shop was located. The threesome was very much on edge after their encounter, especially Envy who was practically dripping with fury after he met someone who nearly overpowered him. That pissed him off to no end.
"Hey! Why is it closed?" Camile frowned pointing to the very clear "CLOSED" sign on the door of the shop. It was written in bright red; drabbled sloppily along a strip of cardboard and held up with planks and nails just as sloppy. It looked as though someone was sure in a hurry…
Envy snapped his head into the direction of her finger. "That's odd."
"Odd indeed," Camile agreed. "Huh."
"Where is everyone anyway?" Camile asked. Envy turned to face every direction. The grocery store: CLOSED. The drugstore: CLOSED. Even the Waldo-inspired barbor shop: CLOSED!
Camile frowned. "I want freaking new clothes…"
"Maybe we could break in." Envy walked closer to the clothing store and tried to pry off the boards.
"HEY YOU-!" A man's voice interrupted Envy from tearing off the chunks off wood from the door and windows. The threesome turned around to see a rather non-threatening man who was thin and appeared to be more distressed than angry. He looked like he had survived a fire.
"Oh, sorry ladies," The man said. Wrath and Envy looked quite bloodthirsty at that comment.
"Heh heh," Camile chuckled nervously, approaching the man. "Look…they aren't girls." She sweatdropped.'Too bad Envy didn't have time to turn into someone else…'
The man looked at the two boys, and they looked ready to kill, mind you, with surprise. "Oh! My apologies."
"Yeah, yeah. Just what's going on here?" Envy asked, crossing his arms.
The man sighed. "We're leaving. There's—something really bad going on here."
"Like what?" They all said in unison. The same words were on all three of their minds and they had blurted it out at the same moment. They stared at each other briefly before turning their attention to the man.
"Did you see a phantom on your way here?" The man said with sudden enthusiasm. A sudden flicker of fear appeared in his glazed eyes.
The three stared at each other once more.
"Yes, in fact he or she or whatever it was nearly killed us!" It was Wrath who spoke this time.
"Well," The man rubbed his balding head. "They've been terrorizing me and the rest of the townpeople for a few days now and we're burning things, hiding, doing whatever we can so they don't return. Hopefully, they'll leave us alone once they see we're 'gone'."
Envy honestly didn't care for pathetic human fear. All he cared was getting a good fight with someone his match—something he hadn't had in a long time. "What'd they do, exactly?" Envy said boredly.
The man suddenly started shaking furiously and stood there shaking his head profusely, inching away into the street.
Envy growled. "Just tell—"
Camile pushed him back. "Envy." She turned back to the man. "Well, there's a man out by the phonebooth just over there. His head got bashed in after the phantom came by us."
The man stopped shaking a little. "W-Well, y-you know…there's a hospital down the road. I-I'll get someone."
Envy gave Camile a weird look. He was wondering why they should help Hughes and not just leave him there. Besides, the injury didn't look too serious to him and figured he should wake up momentarily.
"Do you mind if we walk through your town?" Camile asked, changing the subject. It was obviously a little stupid to ask this guy permission to walk through his town but he was shaken so badly and didn't look very trusting of her or Envy, or even Wrath at the moment.
The man nodded before a boom interrupted him from speaking.
"O-oh no!" The man cried, covering his ears and beginning to sob violently. "T-the b-b-b-bombs! THEY PLANTED ANOTHER ONE!"
The threesome stared at each other. Camile walked up to man and put her hands on his shoulders trying to comfort him. He flinched but let her.
"We will check it out," Camile said firmly, staring straight into his eyes as proof of her seriousness. The man nodded and walked away, explaining he needed to go back to his family.
The group's attention was caught at the rising, dusty smoke coming from a building across the street. There were very few screams, strangely.
"Terrorist?"
Envy shrugged. The group made their way past an old building and onto the new street where fresh destruction greeted them in an air that slammed into their chests with a pang.
"This is…horrible," Camile breathed, frowing deeply. The need to cry was plenty; the urge to cry was near none.
"Not used to this kind of destruction?" Envy smirked.
Camile gave him a pretty scary looking glare. Even he was a little freaked out. "You don't know what I'm used to!" she said lowly and darkly. This was not a time for her to be reminded of things.
Envy threw his hands out in defense, expecting her to do something, but she already was focusing her new attention on the destroyed buildings in front of them.
"This is rather scary," Wrath admitted, staring up at a chunk missing from what looked like an apartment complex. Envy just stared around him, slightly amused at all the destruction—and he didn't even cause it!
Envy huffed. "This 'phantom' is a clever bast—"
"OH MY GOD!" Camile shrieked. There was a group of people huddled near a small body—or what used to be a body. It was practically remnants of what used to be a little girl. The girl was nothing but a pool of blood, dripping from every pore in her skin. Her limbs were severely lacerated and nearly hanging off from the white bones shining in the blazing sun. The smell—well you can only envision what that smelled like. And it was everywhere.
"Wha…?" Camile breathed shakily. She felt like vomiting up every single meal she'd ever eaten in her life. Blood…So. Much. Blood. So many bodies, some lacerated some nothing but a mass pile of flesh.
Everyone was running around in mass hysteria. Fires were blazing, smoke was poisoning people's lungs, and booms could be heard in the distance.
"We need to get out of here," Wrath said, yanking on Envy's skort slightly. Envy blinked down at the young and frantic homunculus.
"Too much to handle?" Envy said boredly. Camile glared.
"He's just a kid! I don't care if he's immortal…he doesn't need to be exposed to this regardless!" Camile shouted, flailing her arms at the teenage homunculus who seemed to be stoic.
A fresh body dropped next to them out of a window. The young man didn't look older than fifteen years old, and he already looked dead. His burning flesh gave off a sickeningly rancid aroma. The look on his face would haunt Camile for a long time-he resembled Wyatt.
"Envy!" Camile screamed. She was frozen now, her first instinct was to cling onto the stoic homunculus, but she couldn't find any movement in her feet.
..."Well, this is interesting."
The three flung their heads around to see none other than the cocky homunculus Greed. This time, he didn't look threatening. In fact, he looked rather shocked.
"Greed!" Envy hissed. Last time he saw that dumbass of a pervert he had to bring up the one thing Envy hated more than humans—his past.
Just as Envy lunged at him, Greed hopped out of the way, dodging jabs and punches and kicks here and there. "Hey! Look…I'm not in the mood to fight you!"
Envy didn't stop his attempts to injure Greed. "Oh yeah? That's a first."
Greed had no choice but to turn into his shield. "You give me no choice, Envy." Envy was too slow and his dagger hit nothing but the impenetrable shield of Greed.
Breathing vehemently, Envy stopped and glared at Greed. Greed only stood there, no weapons, no violence. Just stood there, turning back into his old form.
"What are you doing here?" His eyes shifted to Camile, who only stood there silently. She suddenly felt nervous and flinched a little, trying not to let her thoughts get the better of her.
Envy gave him the nastiest look known to Envy and got in a protective stance between him and Camile.
"Who's she?"
"A vampire," Envy hissed. "And she's of no interest to you."
Greed raised a brow. "A vampire, you say?" He smirked. "Do you bite?"
"I said she is of no interest to you! It's bad enough she can't tell us a damn thing because of amnesia!" Envy raised his dagger in defense, although it wouldn't be of any use if Greed turned into his shield again.
Greed sighed, ignoring Envy's fuming presence completely. "I'm guessing Dante is using you for research." Camile nodded.
"Well," Greed said, smirking. "If she gives you trouble, you can always come to me, sweetheart."
Envy lashed out at Greed only to have his hand grabbed tightly by Greed and thrown back. "Don't fool around, kid. She ain't yours…yet."
Camile fought the blush creeping up her cheekbones. 'Camile, this isn't right. You don't like him…but then again having Envy AND Greed fighting over you? Quite the show.'
"What exactly can you do?" Greed asked, not dropping the smirk that seemed stitched to his face.
Camile gulped. "I can, uh, freeze practically anything. It's very painful for a person, too." She showed him by freezing the ground at her feet in front of him. It amused Greed as much as it amused her—to think Dante gave her powers like that. Something didn't seem right…
Greed clapped his hands. "Very impressive. This will come in handy in dealing with the phantom."
Envy glared. "She is not dealing with any phantom!"
"Why is he defending me?" Camile accidentally thought out loud. Luckily for her, both men didn't even notice. The staring contest between them drowned out any other existing things outside of them.
Greed shrugged, suddenly looking saddened. "Well, they took something from me. My possessions. They. Took. My. Minions." His sharky teeth barred and he looked ready to punch right through anyone at anytime.
Envy crossed his arms, irritated. "Oh boo hoo. So why do we come into the picture?"
"I hope you know that they may as well take your possessions just as mine—you're not the only one dealing with this asshole, boy," Greed said, looking rather dangerous. He was unarmed and alone, yet Camile figured he could take on a whole army with his shield.
Envy scoffed. "Then let's all go on a scavenger hunt for a dangerous psychopath!" he exclaimed sarcastically.
Wrath cleared his throat. "He also kicked Envy's ass back there…"
Envy made a fist. "SHUT UP."
Greed made an amused grin. "Ah, did he now? Not Mr. Big Bad Wolf anymore are you, palm tree?"
Envy turned his attention to Greed. "SHUT UP, PERVERT! YOU HAVE NO IDEA HOW DAMN PUZZLED I AM ABOUT THIS!"
"Then how about we hunt down this annoying little brat together?" Greed asked.
"Ok," Envy rolled his eyes. "And you suddenly think I'm just going to let you come with us, willy-nilly?" Greed nodded smirking like the cocky man he was.
"Whatever," Envy growled. "I hope you know that this has nothing to do with you. I'm only doing this because your precious chimeras are dead and you have nowhere to go."
Greed smirked. "Good."
"Looks like Mr. Badass isn't so big anymore?" Envy smirked, looking back at Greed. Greed's smirk dropped and Envy chuckled.
~()~()~Dublith~()~()~
"I'm worried about Winry and Bella," Ed said, looking out the window as it drizzled steadily outside. One drop of water engulfed the other, and another.
"We should go get them brother," Al said, entering the room.
"Who?" Izumi asked, frowning.
Ed turned away from the window. "My friend Winry Rockbell and Bella Regan. They wanted to go to Rush Valley, well Winry did and Bella said she'd go with them. Of course, we would go and pick them up after our visit with you—but this whole 'phantom' thing has me quite freaked out."
"More than the homunculi?" Izumi asked, sitting down on the bed next to Al. Ed nodded and blinked at her.
"Well," Izumi sighed. "I have trained your two friends well. I am more than positive they will improve in their journey of alchemy as long as they don't—become dogs of the military."
"Still surprised they gained your trust so quickly…" Ed muttered.
Al blinked. "They don't seem like those kind of boys to do that, teacher."
Izumi smiled faintly. "I sense that. And I know they will aid you well in your journey with the Philosopher's Stone."
Izumi got up from the bed and stared at the two boys. "Besides, you are no longer my pupils. You are now my equals."
Ed nodded grimly. "Thank you for everything, Izumi."
Izumi gathered both boys in her arms and grinned widely. "Aww, my pleasure."
"I'm sure Wyatt and Luki are very grateful too," Al chuckled. "Even if they don't seem like it."
"Oh, Luki was thanking me left and right. Annoying, rather, but he is a nice boy."
"Where are they, by the way?" Ed said, making a weird face.
"Sleeping, I had my husband give them some food and they are fast asleep in the living room," Izumi said. "Edward, is the phantom really bothering you?"
"Well I know you probably wouldn't have a problem with the phantom," Ed started. "But I'm just worried…they're two girls alone in a pick-pocketing town. I shouldn't have let them go by themselves."
Izumi nodded. "Then why don't we go get them?"
Al and Ed stared at their teacher—no their equal with shock. "Y-you'd come with?"
Izumi smiled. "Sure. Besides, someone has to be around to keep your alchemy in check! Especially your friends."
The boys tackled her in a tight hug, surprising Izumi. She stood there for a moment before returning the warm embrace. They all pulled away smiling.
"Now that there's a phantom," Ed sighed. "I have two things to worry about!" He groaned and threw his head back.
"Brother, let's choose what to deal with first," Al suggested. He did have a point.
"He's right. If we go to Rush Valley we could well run into the mysterious killer. According to rumors, the homunculi seem weak compared to it."
Ed blinked and looked down at his feet. "Then let's track down the mysterious killer."
"TMK," Al said.
"'TMK'?"
Al nodded. "Yes. The mysterious killer is a little long. And besides, we wouldn't be suspicious if we abbreviated his name."
"TMK it is," Izumi said. "Now let's go get Winry and Bella."
~()~()~ Rush Valley ~()~()~
"Are you okay?" Ed asked frantically.
Winry whirled around with a wrench handy. Ed's face twisted in fear as she hurled the wrench at him.
"AGH!"
Al rushed to his brother's side. "Brother! Uh…UM! Are you okay?"
"EDWARD! HOW DARE YOU INTERRUPT MY PRECIOUS TRIP TO HEAVEN ON EARTH!" Winry screeched while raising an extra wrench above her head.
Bella gently grabbed her hand nervously. "Now, Winry let's not, um, kill him." Winry shot her a glare before finally softening and lowering her arm.
"GAH!" Ed said, sitting up and rubbing his now bleeding head. "GEEZ! I'm TRYING TO RESCUE YOU FROM A KILLER AND THAT'S HOW YOU REWARD ME?!"
Winry scoffed. "I'm perfectly fine here you over-protective alchemy freak!"
"Gearhead!" Ed shouted.
Bella stared at them, drinking a pint of milk. Edward shifted his eyes at the evil white liquid she had in her hand and made a retching sound, as it was almost gone.
"How can you drink that?" Ed shrieked at Bella. Bella just shrugged and smirked.
Luki, Izumi and Wyatt joined down the street to see three people arguing and poor Al just watching it all.
"What?" Wyatt asked, nearing the group.
"Izumi, this is Winry," Ed gritted. "She's my automail mechanic and friend. Winry, this was my old alchemy teacher."
Izumi reached out her hand. "Nice to meet you."
"Wow, Edward, she's not half as bad as you said she was!" Winry exclaimed. Izumi shot the boys an evil look as they sat on the ground laughing nervously and denying any foul words of their old teacher.
"Anyway," Wyatt rolled his eyes. "We should get out of here. Since talk of the phantom guy, this place has flooded with tourists." Wyatt shrugged. "Who knows if he/she is somewhere in the crowds?"
"He has a very good point," Izumi said seriously. She began to walk in the direction of the train station.
"OH no! Oh no!" A swarm of people came flooding down the suddenly barren street.
"He's gone MAD! HELP ANYONE! ALCHEMISTS? SOMEONE!"
The group felt their hearts lurch, as they only feared the worst. Was he here?
"What? What's going on? Who's mad?" Izumi stopped someone by their shoulders as they ran down the street.
"Uh!" They said. "Fuhrer Bradley! He's absolutely mad! Betrayel of the military! Trust no one!" And the ran.
The group stared at each other strangely.
"Fuhrer Bradley?" Bella asked.
"Head of the military in Amestris," Ed explained. "I never trusted that (censored)."
"We need to go," Izumi said firmly after she was done asking a nearby townie something.
Ed looked at the black-haired woman as though she'd grown five heads. "Are you INSANE?"
Izumi shot him a look. "Look, Colonel Mustang and his group are being crushed by Fuhrer Bradley. Almost nothing can stop him."
"MUSTANG?" Ed squealed. "That idiot can control FIRE and he can't even hold his ground with King Bradley?"
Luki spoke up timidly. "We should help…"
Ed looked up at the very tall boy. "AND WHO ARE YOU TO SAY WE AREN'T GOING TO GET CRUSHED?"
Wyatt approached him. "I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD LET AMESTRIS BE DESTROYED! OKAY, SHORTIE?"
"WHO ARE YOU CALLING SO SHORT HE COULD LIVE IN A DOLLHOUSE!" Ed exploded. "IF ANYTHING YOU ARE SHORT!"
"YEAH BUT I'M TALLER THAN YOU!"
"I'M NOT DONE GROWING! YOU'RE A YEAR OLDER THAN ME!"
Winry lifted her wrench and went over to Ed. "Don't make me use this on you again if you're going to fight!"
Al suddenly looked all around. "Teac—um, Izumi? Hello!"
Izumi was halfway down the road nearing the train station. "Idiots…" she mumbled to herself.
"Hey wait up!" Ed called, scrambling to his feet as Winry, Bella, Wyatt, Luki, and Alphonse followed.
Just as they were about to get on the train, Ed stopped Winry.
"I need you to go home, Winry," Ed said firmly, staring into her blue eyes.
Winry frowned. "Ed…just…be careful, all right?"
Ed hesitated a moment and then leaned in to plant the softest kiss on her lips. It was like a delicate flower and both of their faces matched a rose.
Winry stared at him wide-eyed as he bought her ticket to go back to Resembool.
"Call me and tell me you're safe," he said, before getting on to the train to South Headquarters.
Winry nodded and surprised him with a long-lasting hug, initiating the same feeling she had for him. He didn't want to let go, honestly, but had to pull away when Izumi nearly snapped his neck when she tugged on his braid to get on the train.
"Call me when you are safe, too, Ed." They both waved goodbye. Ed, his brother, and Izumi were taking their newbound friends on what was probably the most dangerous journeys of all time. But something inside of him comforted him and he knew it was going to be well worth it.
Me: Anyway, special thanks to Ishmael who is in fact my friend, the awesome person who created Bella! I told her to get an account but she's all like 'nooo my work is crap boo hoo'. Sad right? So sad. SO LET'S TELL HER TO GET AN EFFING ACCOUNT! I'M GOING SWIMMING AT HER HOUSE TOMORROW FOR ENVY'S SAKE!
Me: Review people! Let's pretend TMK came into your room and—nevermind, or let's say Greed-! No, worse. D: Uhmm…so just leave a review like a nice little boy/girl/it! Toodle-ooo~!