Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters except for ocs.
{Opening song}
~The Fifth Laboratory~
Al and Addie heard a noise and quickly turned to see someone jump down, attacking them as the sound of a blade hitting metal could be heard. Al pushed the blade back, only to have the guy continuously attack him. Al dodged each one with ease. After about the 5th swing, Al jumped back, putting some distance between them as Addie moved behind him.
"You move pretty well for your size. If you didn't though, it wouldn't be worth the effort to cut you down. Unknown man said. "Who are you?" Addie questioned. "Well, girly. I'm number 66. Well, that's the name they gave me to come work here anyway." 66 crossed his knives across one another. "I'm going to cut you up, nice and neat. All you have to do is stand back and scream!" He lunged at the two.
*Inside the Fifth Lab*
Ed and Whity continued walking through the hallway, coming across a huge room. As they walked in deeper, they saw the floor had a transmutation circle on the ground. "What is all this?" Ed asked. "This has to be where they made the Philosopher's Stone..." Whity said as she looked around the room. "Yes; that's right. I don't know who you are but you sure figured out a lot from looking at a transmutation circle."
Ed and Whity turned in the direction of the voice to see a suit of armor step out. "We're just good like that...who are you?" Ed asked. "Il the one in charge of keeping this place from brats like you. For the moment, let's say my name is 48...and believe me, I'm not your pal. My order ate to dispose of anyone who wanders in here, poke their nose where they don't belong...try not to take it personally, kids." 48 stated as he looked at the two.
"Alright, we won't." Ed and Whity both said as Ed transmuted his arm into blade. "And you try not to take it personally when these kids kick your ass!" Whity said. "You're alchemists, aren't you?" He charged at the two as he said. "Alright... let's see what you've got." He then swung his blade down at Ed, who moved quickly out of the way. 48 then swung his blade at Whity, who dodged it by moving at the right moment.
"Prosthetic arm, huh? No matter...my sword can pierce through steel as well as flesh." Whity managed to push the guy back some, and then kicked him, gaining some distance. The man in armor now stood in the middle of Whity and Ed. After Whity kicked him, the sound of an empty suit of armor being hit was heard. "My, my...what's this? I'm gonna go out on a limb here and say your hollow inside." Ed stated with a grin. "You're a perceptive one..." "I can tell from the sound; I spar against someone like you all the time." "And loses..." Whity muttered. "So there are people like me on the outside too? That's surprising..."
"Yeah; it makes me sick...to think, there is more than one idiot in the world who thought of bonding disembodied soul of armor." Ed said. "Perhaps I should introduce myself again." 48 said, lowering his sword but not loosening his grip, "...48 is the number I was assigned when I was on death row. Back when I still had a living body, I was better known as 'Slicer'. I was a mass murderer, you see."
"People like you make me sick..." Whity said in disgust. "So you were slated for execution then? So tell me something then, this laboratory, are they using condemned prisoners like you to make Philosopher's Stones here?" Ed said. "That I can't tell you, it isn't my area. They simply recognized my skills, gave me this body, and made me the trusting guard dog." "Interesting. I'm sure they gave you a seal too, to serve as a bond between soul and armor." Whity stated.
"Yes"– Slicer removed his mask and mouthpiece of his armor, revealing a circle of blood on the back of his head – "I have a blood seal. This is it, right here. If tot destroys this, the fight's yours." He said. "That's awfully considerate of you to show my your weak spot." Ed stated as Slicer said, "I like to give myself a little extra challenge during a fight, now and then." "As long as you're in such a giving mood, then how 'bout this: why don't you just let me go?" Ed asked. "Nice try kid." Slicer fixed his helmet as he said, "But what kind of mass murderer lets his prey get away from him that easily?" He tightened his grip on his sword. "Now let's fight."
*Central Headquarters*
"Did you hear what I said~? My dear little Elicia is about to turn three!" Hughes gushed over the phone. "Lt. Colonel Hughes...don't you think this could have waited? I'm at work." Mustang sighed, annoyed on the other end. "Oh, what a coincidence...I'm at work too! She's the cutest little thing! You should see her!" Hughes gushed again as he looked at a picture of his little girl. "I'm sure she's adorable...but stop calling me to gush over your daughter and on a military line to" "Not just my daughter Colonel..."
Hughes then pulls out a picture of his wife as he gushed over her saying, "I gush over my wife too!" Hughes then got serious as he said,"I know, I know...it's your turn now. Go ahead Colonel; I know you're drying to gush over your very own... scar-faced Ishvalan." "...We found many bodies on the site where he vanished...but they are all so decomposed that it's difficult to identify them. He hasn't been sighted anywhere in the East so, at present, many people think he is dead."
"If that's the case, then I should be able to lift the bodyguards from the Elric brothers and Rockbell." "Is Major Armstrong still in charge of them?" Roy asked. "He was...but a couple of his men have taken over."
*Elrics and Rockbell's Room*
"We're been played!" Ross shouted as she held the tied-up sheets they used to escape. "I thought it was suspiciously quiet in here..." "Ah! Major Armstrong is going to take his shirt off again and yell at us some more, isn't he?" Brosh said as he cried. Ross got angrier as she said, "They are going to pay...do that even think about how this makes us looks?! Let's go Sergeant." Ross headed towards the door as Brosh asked, "Huh? Where?" "Where else do you think, Brosh? To the Fifth Laboratory!"
*Inside the Fifth Lab*
Slicer charged at Ed continuously, each dodging the other's attacks, as Ed suddenly heard a noise come from his arm. "What happened? My shoulder doesn't feel right..." Slicer brought his blade down, causing Ed to quickly duck down and jump out of the way. "I have to find a way to end this quickly..." "Or else I'm dead!" Ed shouted as he ran at Slicer. Slicer used his foot to kick Ed back, causing him to hit the ground. Slicer then continued to attack Ed, eventually cutting his left shoulder. "Ed?!" Whity shouted as Ed was now backed into a pillar. Ed ducked out of the way from his hit and rolled away as Slicer said, "What a cute little monkey..." Ed got angry and shouted, "WHO'RE YOU CALLING LITTLE?!" Slicer chuckled and said, "it's been too long since I had prey that was worth hunting...too bad you won't last much longer..."
He then glanced back to Whity and said, "I hope you're better than this one." "No! You won't touch her!" Ed shouted as Slicer said, "Looks like someone is protective of his girlfriend. No matter...besides, right now, my partner should be finishing off your other sibling." "Is this companion of yours strong?" Whity asked. "Yes he is...but he isn't so strong as I am..." Ed and Whity laughed as Ed got up and said, "In that case, no need to worry. You see, we've been sparring partners for along time, and... I've still never beaten him."
*Outside the Fifth Lab*
Al had just punched the guy in the face, causing him to fly back. 66 got off the ground saying, "Damn it! Why can't you two sit still and let me cut you two up?! You big bucket of bolts!" 66 then charged at them as Al and Addie as he simply moved out of the way and knocked his helmet off. Al then got a shocked look as Al said, "You're empty...?!" 66 laughed as he said, "There's a story behind that...would you like to hear it? It's a pretty good yarn. You probably already know it though...it all starts with a man named Barry. Once upon a time, right here in Central, there was a butcher named Barry who loves his work. His favorite part was cutting up the meat into little, tiny pieces. But one day...he found out that beef and pork weren't enough, so he took to the streets and began cutting people instead, night after night...One day, he was caught but not before he has taken 23 victims. Naturally, after terrorizing Central for so long, he was sent to the gallows for his wicked deeds...and the world was happily rid of him. At least, that's what they believe. But our story isn't over yet...we haven't reached the good part. Barry isn't actually dead...he's very much alive; in charge of guarding a certain place, only without his body. Yes! He is standing before your very eyes! I am Barry the Chopper!" He then struck a pose.
"Sorry, I've never heard of you... I'm from a little town to the East so..." Al trailed off. Barry's face showed shock. "Well...even if you don't know me, shouldn't you be scared?!" Barry then started to take his helmet on and off. "Shouldn't you two be going Ah! Or, what happened to your body?!" He pointed towards Al. Al then removed his helmet as Barry shouted, "Ah! What happened to your body, you freak!"
"Now that's impolite..." Addie muttered. "Oh... I see...you were on death row too. You had me startled there..." Barry said. "Al then got angry and said, "No way. I'm not a criminal!" "Huh? Then what happened to you?" He asked confused as Al placed his helmet back on as Al said, "it's kind of a long story...I lost his body, my brother transmuted his soul and bonded it to this armor." "His brother...Haha! Of course!" Barry began laughing. "What's so funny about it?!" Al asked irritated. "Are you sure your brother and you are really related?"
"Well, I guess brother and I don't look much alike now..." Al says. "No, no, no! That's not what I mean. Are you sure you're not a puppet, controlled by this so-called brother?" Barry asked. "I was a real boy! My name was Alphonse Elric!" Al shouted. "Haha! How you be so sure of that?" Barry said. "I have memories; I remember who I was before..." Al trailed off. "And who is to say Rose's memories aren't made up?" "But my family and friends...they know me." Al said. "That's easy; they are in on it too. Silly boy...you were never alive, to begin with. It's as simple as that..." Barry said. "Then how do you know you were really alive?" Al asks. "I was trust me." He stated as an officer ran to the scene shouting, "This area is off limits! Don't move!" Barry took his knife and threw it at the man, killing him. "There...did you see that? There's nothing I love more than chopping up live people. I can't control myself!" Barry walked over and picked up his knife. "I kill, therefore I am. As long as I know that, it's enough to prove I've been alive."
*Inside Fifth Lab*
"Your brother and sister is that good, is he and she? Then I'll have to get rid of you two quickly so I can get to them." 48 stated as he took a fighting stance. Ed glanced to Aaliyah, then 48 as he thought, "I have to end this soon..." Whity, sensing the same thing, decided to help. "Go, Al! Do it now!" 48 quickly turned around to look for Al, only to have his helmet sliced clean off. "That was dirty!" 48 shouted angrily from the ground, his helmet still separated from his body. "There's no such thing as dirty in a fight!" Ed shouted back as he turned his arm back. Whity moved back to Ed and she congratulated him. "Great job Ed."
"Thanks; great thinking using Al." "What's the matter? You still haven't destroyed the blood seal I pointed out. Are you going to or no?" Ed picked up Slicer's head and said, "There's something I need to ask you about..." "The Philosopher's Stone?" Slicer asked. "Just tell us everything you know." Whity told him and he replied with, "Sorry, I can't." "Come on now...I did beat you at your own game..." Ed stated as Slicer said, "That's where you're wrong... I'm not beaten yet..." After that was said, Whity saw the other half of his body move.
"Ed!" She shouted, pushing him out of the way. Slicer's body swung down, slicing Whity's left side pretty deep. "Ahh..." "Whitney?!" Ed yelled as Whity brought her hand to grip her cut. "Look out!" Ed shouted as Whity turned only to see a blade she quickly slow mode to dodge his attack to only causing him to kick her with his foot.
The pressure from the kick sent the poor girl into one of the nearby pillars. "Gah!" Whity's air was knocked out of her. As she got her breathing back, Ed shouted, "You bastard!" "I forgot to mention something about this mass murderer, Slicer..." Slicer's body then said, "His crimes were really sneaky by a pair of brothers."
"An independent head and body...that's a dirty trick!" Whity spat. "Now, now...wasn't it your friend who said there isn't such thing as dirty in a fight?" Slicer spoke as his body said, "Are you ready for round two? It's about to begin..."
Slicer's body got into a fighting stance as he slowly walked toward Whity. Whitney tried to move, only to whine in pain. He got closer and closer as Whity closed her eyes. Instead of getting hit, nothing happened. She opened her eyes only to find that Ed was in front of her protectively, with his auto-mail arm outstretched, the blue from his transmutation fading. In front of him, lay Slicer's body in pieces. Ed soon sat back against the pillar, trying to catch his breath as Whity asked, "Are you alright, Ed?" He turned to face the girl as he replied, "Compared to you...I'm great." "How...?" Slicer muttered as Ed looked toward him.
"You reminded me of someone I don't like...and now, I've done exactly what he did." Ed said. Slicer's upper body started to move as Ed and Whity both screamed, "He's wiggling; that's freaky!" "As much as I hate to admit it...we've lost..." Ed started to poke the bottom half of the armor as Whitney asked, "So, you're not going to say you're really three brothers, are you?"
"No, no..." The upper part said as Slicer said, "Come on, you've won...hurry up and destroy us." Whity started to feel weak from the blood loss and laid her head on Ed's shoulder as Ed put his arm around her saying, "No...I'm not a murderer..." "With bodies like these...are we really even people?" Slicer asked. "We consider you people. If we didn't...then that would mean we didn't think one of our friends was real either..." Whity trailed off.
*Outside Fifth Lab*
"Come on! What's the matter, little puppet?" Barry taunted Al. "I told you, I'm not a puppet!" Al shouted. As Barry swung down at Al, who brought his arm to block it. Al managed to hold it back as Barry said, "You keep telling yourself that but how can you be certain you were really alive? There's only one way to prove it; you've got a blood seal, right? Destroy it, break it yourself...if you die, then you were a real boy all along; just like you want to believe..." "NO! There's no way I could ever do that!" Al pushed his blade back. "Oh no? Then I'll do it for you!" Barry shouted, attacking him once again.
*Inside 5th Lab*
"I know my brother is a real person and that means you guys are too. I will not take the life of another person." Ed stated as Slicer said, "Ha...my brother and I have been lying, cheating, and stealing all our lives and now that we're in this suit of armor...we're being treated like people...don't you see the irony? For that kids...ill give you a parting gift. I'll tell you everything; I'll tell you who made the Philosopher's Stone and who ordered us to guard this place–" He was cut off by something spearing him through his helmet. Whity and Ed went wide-eyed. "What was that..." Whity muttered.
"My...that was a close call...Number 48; you should know not to talk about things that don't concern you." A woman's voice said as she retraced the spear that went through Slicer's head, taking him with it. "Well...would you look at that! What are the Ice and Fullmetal Pipsqueaks doing here?" A man's voice said. He had long green hair and the woman had long black hair.
"Such troublesome kids...how'd you find out about this place?" She asked as she split the helmet in half. "Brother!" The body screamed as a sword was stabbed into his blood seal. "Quit your blubbering idiot! You were trying to kill two of our most important sacrifices...do you understand me? You could have messed up the entire plan! What would we have done then, huh?!" The guy continuously slashed. He then walked over to Ed and Whity as the woman followed.
Ed slowly stood with Whity as he asked, "What plan?" "What do you mean by 'important sacrifices' ?" Whity asked. "Oh my...the Pipsqueaks are raring to go! I think I made them angry." "Don't call me a Pipsqueak again..." Ed stated, angrily as the guy said, "Then what would you prefer..." He grabbed Whity and then said, "A pipsqueak." Ed tried to kick the guy, only to have him dodge. "Whoa now! There's no need to fight me. Wouldn't want her getting in an accident now, would we?"
"This is a fight you started! Leave her out of it!" Ed shouted, clapping his hands only to have a popping noise sound and his arm fall limp. "Ed?" Whity muttered as everyone glanced at him. "Technical difficulties...?" The woman asked as the green-haired man grinned saying, "Lucky me!" He then kneed Ed in the stomach. "Ed–" Whity was cut off by a blow to the stomach. He dropped her to the ground as she heard the woman say, "Don't kill the girl..." "She's not dead...at least I believe she isn't..." "They are useless without the other..." The woman then walked over to Whity and grabbed her face in her hands saying, "Remember, we allowed you to live." The woman let go of her face as she said, "We can't have them poking at this place again...it's too dangerous. It'll have to go...blow it up."
*Outside 5th Lab*
'What could brother have wanted to tell me..." Al thought as Barry brought him from his thoughts, "What's the matter, little boy? Something on your mind?" He charged at Al as he blocked saying, "Shut up! You're wrong!" Barry swung again, only to have Al block it once more. "Just accept it! It'll make you feel better!" He then swung at Al's chest, causing him to fall to his knees. Barry raised his knife up, ready to 'decapitate' Al. As a bullet flies through his hand. He dropped the knife to examine the holes in his hand as a woman's voice said, "Stay right there or the next one puts a hole in your head!" They turned to see Ross and Brosh standing with their guns pointing at Barry.
"This isn't going quite as planned..." Barry scratched the back of his helmet. The ground suddenly began to shake as there was an explosion. "Sergeant, get down now!" Ross commanded as pieces of the building started to fall. "Get away from there!" She called Al and Barry. "But Big brother and Big sister are still in there!" Addie told her as her eyes widened. "Ed and Whity are in there?!" "Hm...I know what this means..." Barry started as he then ran off saying, "Time to get out of here!" "Hey, you! Hold it!" Brosh called as Al called, "Brother!" "Whity !" Ross tried to pull Al and Addie away only to fail.
"There you are!" A man's voice said. Al and Ross turned to see a man with green hair, carrying Ed and Whity on his shoulders. "I've got two presents for you." "Brother! Ally!" Al and Addie shouted as he ran to the guy. The man placed them on the ground and said, "They're not in danger but they have lost a lot of blood, especially the girl. You might want to hurry and get them to a hospital. Also, you should keep a better eye on them so they won't take all these crazy risks; they are precious resources..." "But who are you?" Ross asked. "Lt. Ross, we need to go!" Brosh shouted as he ran up to them.
"Sergeant! Help me with them!" Ross called as he asked, "What happened?!" "We'll talk later...you should go too." She said to the man, only to find him gone.
Then the Central prison next door heard the explosion and shouted 'What's happening?!' One guard said, 'Calm down and get quiet!'
Kimblee's cell was shown. "What a lovely sound." Kimblee said, causing his guard to look up. "I know it well. That's the sound of a building exploding." The guard walked over to the cell door. "Close as it is, I'd say it's coming from next door, the fifth Laboratory. Ah, it's such a comforting sound. The way it reverberates your entire body."
"You keep it down in there, Kimblee." The guard said. "Oh, do excuse me." Kimblee said. "I was just recalling the Ishvalan War of Extermination." His hands with the transmutation arrays on them were shown. "And it put me in such a good mood."
Kimblee's grinning face was shown, but his eyes were shadowed by his hair. The building started to collapse as Brosh carried Ed, and Al carried Whity. Al glanced down at the girl in his arms, seeing her face pale and slow breathing.
"Are you sure you're not a puppet?"
Barry's words rang through Al's head as he thought, "Am I..."
"Are you sure you're not a puppet created by your so-called brother?" Barry's voice echoed in Al's mind before the screen went dark.
The screen lit up once more to show Central Command. Hughes was shown talking into a phone. "So things here in Central are pretty hectic. The senior staff in charge of State Alchemists are shorthanded, thanks to Scar's killing spree."
Mustang was shown, smirking on the other side of the conversation. "Oh?" He asked.
"Rumor has it a promotion to Central for one Colonel Mustang isn't far off." Hughes said.
"Central, huh?" Mustang asked. "Not bad at all."
"Watch yourself though." Hughes said. "You can't move up the ladder as young as you are without making enemies." "I've been prepared for that from the start." Mustang replied.
"Just a word of warning from someone who knows the game." Hughes responded. "You need as many people on your side as you can get your hands on now, Colonel. Which means," He passed before quickly whispering, "Get yourself a wife."
An angry Mustang slammed his phone down. "Seriously!" Hughes was shown staring at his phone while the secretary stared at her book with a deadpanned stare. "I don't get it. He hung up on me, just like that." Hughes said. The secretary looked away from her book to glare at Hughes. "Lieutenant Colonel, stop making so many personal phone calls, okay?"
"Oh, so sorry." Hughes tapped his head with the phone.
{Ending song}