The Waters of Lethe
Disclaimer: I don't own FMA, I just like to play around in it's world and torture Ed for awhile
Author's note: post series semi drabbles. Some movie events may happen, but differently
Summary: Edward is finally captured after seven years on the run. He is first confined to the Angelika Nursing and Convalescent Home where he tries, and fails, to escape. The Thule Society takes custody after seven months. Edward tries to resist, but drugged and hypnotized, he has no will of his own and he opens a portal to the fabled world of Shambala. But the irresistible force of the Thule Army has met an immovable object in the form of one Rose Thomas.
Warning: Violence, death, really bad language and a zombie-fied alchemist.
Beta: Agent000
65. Occupation (Besetzung)
Time stood still while the two women faced each other and Alfons could feel the hostility vibrating in the cool morning air.
"Silence!" Eckart barked angrily. "I am Dietlinde Eckart, and the leader of the Thule Society. I claim this world for the German Third Reich as proxy in the name of Fuhrer Adolf Hitler."
But Rose Thomas refused to be cowed. "What part of 'you are trespassing' do you not understand, Miss Eckart?" Her voice was crisp and underlaid by a core of steel.
Alfons didn't have a strong understanding of the Shambalan language,though it sounded a lot like English. Rose spoke too quickly for him to catch every word but he understood she was telling them to go away.
"I do not care for your tone, Shambalan." Dietlinde curled her lip. "I am in charge now and you will do as you are told or suffer the consequences, understand?" She gestured to one of the platoon leaders and he stepped forward, pulling his pistol from its holster.
He pointed the weapon at Rose's head and cocked the hammer. "You will be the first example of what happens to those who defy me, Fraulein Thomas," Dietlinde said in a smug tone.
Barely had the words "Shoot her," left Eckart's mouth when there was the distant crack of gunfire and a puff of smoke from an apartment tower in the town behind the Lioran delegation. A neat, red hole appeared in the middle of the man's temple and he crumpled to the ground. Eckart looked furious and Rose grinned at her angry face.
"Did you really think we were helpless here? Now turn around and leave this place, the sooner the better." Rose put her hands on her hips and stared defiantly at Eckart.
"I think not, Fraulein Thomas," Dietlinde replied with steel in her own voice. She tugged on the leash held between the fingers of her left hand. Edward shuffled out from between the taller soldiers who had hidden him from view. Alfons looked on in dismay when Rose's face paled and her eyes opened wide.
"Edward!" she gasped before her eyes narrowed and she snarled at Eckart. "Take that collar off him! He's a human being, not a damn dog!" She called louder in the Puppet's direction, "Edward! Edward! Snap out of it!"
Even the large man looked stricken at the sight and he stepped forward. "Edward Elric!" He turned a stormy blue-eyed glare in Eckart's direction. "What have you done to him?"
"It's not important," Eckart swaggered forward a few steps, forcing Rose to yield an equal number. "Herr Elric is entirely obedient to my will and if you value your life and those of your people, you will follow his example. For killing one of my men, this will be your punishment!"
She tugged on the leash again and ordered, "Puppet! Destroy that tower!"
Edward's eyes narrowed and his face twisted, causing even the soldiers around him to back away at the sudden change in his demeanor. His teeth bared in a scowl, he raised his hands and clapped them together before he knelt down and slammed the palms onto the ground. Rose and the others leaped aside as a red light hissed along the sand to the town behind him. It struck the tower a millisecond later, and the building shivered before it collapsed with a loud roar.
Dietlinde threw a triumphant smile at Rose. "Do you want another demonstration, Fraulein? My puppet will destroy your entire town unless you surrender. But I will be generous, and give you until sundown to do so. Guten morgen!"
She tugged on the leash again, spun on one heel and walked without a backward glance toward her tent, leading a now quiescent Edward behind her. The other soldiers drifted away om twos and threes until only Alfons was left. He looked helplessly at Rose, who stood staring at the ground. Not knowing what else to do, he bowed and murmured "Fraulein", before he turned away and returned to his tent.
/
"That bitch! That damned BITCH!" Rose seethed with fury while she looked at the rubble of the destroyed tower. "People lived here, innocent people! Women and children!" She choked up and couldn't say anymore. Her hands were balled so tight, the nails scored bloody half-moons into the palms. Rose shivered and angry tears leaked from her eyes, rolled down her cheeks, and dripped on the shattered bricks.
Alex Louis Armstrong put two massive hands on Rose's shoulders and he tried to comfort her. Now retired from his military career as the Strong Arm Alchemist, he was the unofficial Mayor of Lior and worked tirelessly on reconstruction of the town. The condition of Major Elric disturbed him and he was ashamed to admit he had frozen in shock at the sight of his young friend.
It had been only six years since Mustang's Rebellion had thrown the country into turmoil. Fuhrer Bradley was dead, the Flame Alchemist was gravely injuired, and the Fullmetal Alchemist had vanished into thin air. For many months, civilization had been just hanging by a thread until the remains of the Amestrian government announced the re-formation of Parliament and elections were held. The country was now stable after the Prime Minister made peace with the border states of Creta, Drachma and Aurego.
Life was returning to normal - correction - it HAD been returning to normal.
Rose's shoulders shook as she gave into copious tears and Alex could feel his eyes welling up too. "Until now, I thought seeing Ed dead on the floor of the opera house was the worst moment of my life, but when I saw him looking like a zombie, and on that leash, like he was a damned dog...!
Rose turned to bury her face into Alex's chest just before she started wailing her sadness. But Alex's eyes, so close to tears a moment ago, had dried up like magic. Edward dead? WHAT opera house? Where? What was she talking about?
These questions and others whirled through his mind while Rose's body shook, but he would let them wait until she was done soaking his shirt. She was calm again in a few minutes and she raised a tear-stained face to look him in the eye. "Thank you, my friend."
At sunset, the Holy Mother decided to that in order prevent any further loss of life, the city of Lior would capitulate - reluctantly - to the invaders. Eckart and the Thule Army officers moved into requisitioned buildings as their headquarters. But before Dietlinde made herself comfortable, she ensured her two most precious possessions - the Puppet and the Rocketeer - were secured in Mayor Armstrong's home.
/
Alfons didn't pay attention to the click of the door lock behind him. He was still a prisoner, but he'd just moved up to a more comfortable sort of cage. He explored the room - single bed - small bathroom, wooden desk and two chairs. He sat down on the mattress and bounced to test its firmness. Only one window over the desk, but it was large and let in plenty of light. He moved over to it and watched the sun sink below the horizon. Shouts from below made him look to the street two stories beneath. The evening patrol was just setting out to enforce the new curfew of the occupied city.
A week after the occupation began, a tired and hungry teenage boy trudged into the eastern sector of Lior. The sun was setting, and the boy noticed the air was beginning to get chilly. He paused briefly to button his red coat and pull the hood up over long hair the color of warm caramel.
Author's note #2: Please welcome my new beta, Agent000! She is raking me over the coals for my many errors (usually misuses of tense in the same sentence and "wordiness"), but I need someone to to be tough on me.