Serah woke up as she felt Ed jolted awake, the alchemist sat up, his hand tightened around the fabric of the lining. Serah's arm rested over his stomach, she groaned as she mumbled his name while sitting up, Ed's expression was horrified and shocked. The Ishvalen lifted a hand and rested it on his shoulder, as she leaned against the cold metal of his arm. Just offering him comfort and understanding, Ed placed a hand on her hip and pulled her close to his embrace. He welcomed the comfort and support she was offering silently. He leaned his head against her temple, letting out a heavy sigh before he gritted his teeth in anguish and grief as he pulled his auto-mail leg to his chest.
"….It hurts…." The Alchemist mumbled under his breath as he closed his eyes, Serah just gave his shoulder a squeeze. She didn't know what he dreamt about, but for him to feel this way, it was clear that it wasn't any good. The Ishvalen could clearly sense the despair and hurt and sorrow reeked of him. There wasn't anything that she could say to make everything better, all she can do right now, is to show Ed that he isn't alone, the Alchemist have his brother and her.
Later, the trio stood in front of Mustang's unit's office, Ed held tightly on Serah's hand with Al beside his brother. They stared at the doors for a long moment before Ed turned around and pulled Serah with him, not letting go of her hand.
"Edward!" A voice stopped the trio from walking further away from the office, Hawkeye had stepped out, holding a black coat over her arm.
"First lieutenant Hawkeye."
"What's wrong? You two are up early this morning." Ed looked away from the lieutenant while Serah turned to Hawkeye.
"We were wondering about what will happen to Tucker and Nina." The Ishvalen explained to the female lieutenant, Hawkeye stared at the Ishvalen with a neutral expression before letting out a deep sigh.
"In addition to having his license revoked, it was planned for Mr. Tucker to be put on trial at Central, however… The two of them died…. Officially they were killed. I'm telling you this because even if I had lied, you would probably figure out what happened eventually." Hawkeye moved past them, their expression was the same, shock, confusion, and disbelief. Ed followed after Hawkeye, pulling Serah with him while Al walked behind them.
"No way...By Who!?"
"I don't know, I'm heading off to the crime scene now."
"Take me too!"
"No."
"Why not!?" Ed begged for the reason why she wouldn't want them to come with her to the scene, the Lieutenant stopped and turned around to look at Serah and the Elrics
"It's better if you didn't see it," The Lieutenant turned to look over her shoulder, directly at the Ishvalen.
"While I won't allow you boys to come with me, Lieutenant Colonel Hughes have requested for Private Serah Hughes to join him at the scene." The Ishvalen blinked, a bit confused for why her foster father would want her at the crime scene. Serah could sense the disbelief and confusion coming from Al and Ed, she doesn't want to see Nina's and Alexander's bodies even if they were still human and dog. It would hurt but Hughes have requested for her and while she could say no, she shouldn't, it won't help her in the long run so she reluctantly nodded and pulled her hand from Ed's before she went over to Hawkeye's side.
"I will find you later." Ed stared at Serah as he put his hand into the pockets of his pants, hating the fact Serah was ordered to help out at the scene. And that there is nothing he can do to change it, Serah is a Private and the order came from someone with a high rank in the Military, it won't do well for him if he were to disobey a direct order. Al looked between his brother and the Ishvalen, not liking it either but thinking the same as Ed, there isn't anything they can do.
"Take care." Serah waved a hand back at the Elrics as she along with Hawkeye walked away from them.
When the Ishvalen and the Lieutenant arrived at the Tucker household, Serah stopped at the front entrance. She stared up at the house, already dreading going inside the building. Hawkeye glanced at the Ishvalen; the Lieutenant disapproved of Colonel Lieutenant Hughes' decision to bring Serah along to the crime scene. The Lieutenant does understand that as the Ishvalen is a member of the Military, she should get used to look at crime scenes but still… Serah is still young, even with the horrors that she has already seen in her life, Hawkeye firmly believes that Serah deserves to live without more horror and death. The Ishvalen ignored the Lieutenant behind her, so she could focus on not puking or turning to run away from the house and back to the Elrics.
The rain poured down heavily from the dark grey sky. The Ishvalen clenched her fingers around the handle of her crutch, the air was heavy with dread, death, and….
Hawkeye glanced back at the shade-wearing Ishvalen; a bit concerned for the young Ishvalen. Even with all the Ishvalen have experienced in her short life, she is only still a child. Hawkeye sighed as she opened the doors to the building to belonged to Tucker, stepping to the side, allowing Serah to walk inside first. Serah turned her head and stared at one of the spots where a guard was murdered, the rain had washed the blood away but the Ishvalen could still sense the pain and death that was faintly lingering outside the building. She took a deep breath and clenched her fists on the handle of the crutch before stepping further inside the building, running a hand against one of the walls in the hallway. She let the sense of hatred, pain, and iron guide her through the house. She blinked as she stopped in front of the lab, the air was heavily filled with iron, rage, pain… and sorrow. Serah frowned, not understanding how she could sense sorrow, it didn't make sense to her. The doors to the laboratory were opened, the rest of Mustang's unit, Armstrong and Hughes was inside the laboratory. Hughes stood up when he noticed his daughter standing in the doorway, Mustang folded his arms over his chest, frowning at the sight of the Ishvalen. It was clear that Mustang have been arguing with Hughes about bringing her to the scene, she sensed the frustration and pity from the Colonel and happiness and joy from her foster father.
"Serah." Hughes greeted the Ishvalen, she gave a short nod. Hughes started to frown, seeing how tense and still she held herself.
"Why did you request for me?" Serah kept her eyes on Hughes, not wanting to see Nina and Alexander for the moment otherwise she would break. Hughes stared at his daughter, concerned and a bit confused. He didn't know that Serah knew the Tucker family, Mustang hadn't told the Lieutenant Colonel about it. Honestly the Flame Alchemist didn't know how to tell his friend that Serah had spent time with Nina and Alexander for the past week.
"I thought that since you are in Central, it would be a good idea for you to learn how to look at a crime scene." Serah could understand that but still, it's Nina and Alexander, the Ishvalen turned her gaze to the floor. She took a deep breath and stepped around Hughes. Mustang along with Hawkeye kept their gaze on the Ishvalen, they were concerned for the Ishvalen. They didn't want her to do this, didn't want her to see. Serah gripped the bracelet after pulling it of, that Nina had made her, it was simple, the beads were colourful and in different sizes.
"Serah, you don't have to do this." Mustang spoke, the Ishvalen glanced at the Colonel from the corner of her eye.
"I know, but I wanted to see them. Even if they aren't themselves anymore." Hughes turned around, feeling confused over Serah's words, not understanding. Mustang and Hawkeye glanced at each other, concerned while Armstrong looked firm and neutral in his expression.
"What are you talking about? Serah" The Ishvalen frowned, able to sense Hughes´ confusion and worry. She turned to Mustang, with a neutral expression while she stood with a straight back and tense shoulders.
"You didn't tell him." It wasn't a question but a statement, Hawkeye turned her head away in slight shame while Mustang kept his gaze on the Ishvalen.
"No, I haven't, honestly I didn't know that he had requested you." Hughes moved his eyes from Serah to Mustang and back again.
"Tell me what, what are you talking about?" Hughes immediately turned to his best friend, half glaring, half concerned.
''That I knew Nina and her dog Alexander.'' Hughes' eyes widened before he narrowed his eyes as he glared at Mustang, angry over the fact that he wasn't told about that. Serah kept her eyes at the covered body of the chimera, Mustang lowered his eyes to the ground.
"Why the hell didn't you tell me about that, Roy!"
"I didn't know how to and I had no idea that you asked for her, Maes."
''Maes, enough." Armstrong turned his head fast back to Serah, the Ishvalen had knelt down in front of the body. The crutch laying beside her, she is going going to feel the strain from kneeling later. While her foster father either didn't hear her or he ignored her, he continued to argue with his best friend. Armstrong and Hawkeye were the only ones to play attention to the Ishvalen as she grew more upset and frustrated, Armstrong walked so he stood right behind the silver-haired teenager. She clenched her fists as she glared at the ground, her shoulders were tense as she straightened her back.
"Colonel Mustang, Lieutenant Colonel Hughes, I think that's quite enough." Mustang and Hughes turned to the Major who were glaring at them, Serah sighed, her glaze stayed on the covered body of the Chimera.
"You are disrupting their journey into the afterlife." The words were all but a whisper, Hughes and the rest heard her as the room was silent.
"Serah, you don't have to-" Armstrong shielded Serah from Hughes coming closer to her, Hughes turned his glaze to the Major, looking shocked and slightly angry.
"Step aside, Armstrong, now." The Major shook his head, keeping his eyes on Hughes.
"No, I will not."
"She's my daughter! You can't keep me from going to her!"
"That may be but in the eyes of Ishvara and by our laws, she is already an adult." Hughes looked like he was slapped, Armstrong would remember the hurt and worried expression Hughes had for a spilt second before it turned into a neutral expression. Mustang and Hawkeye glanced at each other, Serah reached out and gripped the fabric of the sheet that covered the Chimera. Hawkeye noticed the focused and sorrowful expression Serah had; the blonde sniper took a half step forward.
"Serah! don't!" the Ishvalen tightened her fist and pulled, the sheet flew of the Chimera. Hughes, Mustang and Hawkeye stared at the teenager in shock and slight horror over the action. Armstrong glanced at her with sorrow, pride and understanding in his eyes, Serah let out a sigh, sensing their emotions around her but she ignored them. Serah kept her eyes on the Chimera's head, not wanting to see the wounds on their body. The Ishvalen made a choice before she went inside the house, that no matter how much it would hurt, she would only view the Chimera as what it is and not who it used to be. Otherwise, it could break her.
"Their souls can't reach the afterlife if their body is covered, it's an old Ishvalen tradition to have a deceased person uncovered so their soul can join the afterlife." Serah reached out and placed a hand on the Chimera's head, closing her eyes. The colorful bracelet was in her hand, as she rested her hands in her lap while bowing her head slightly. Armstrong was quick to follow suit, he lowered his head in respect. Since ever Hughes had adopted Serah and ever since he had met her, Armstrong had looked into and researched Ishvalen traditions and ancient ways of their region in respect of her. Hawkeye saw Armstrong's action and followed suit, bowing her head. Mustang and Hughes copied the action, Serah let out a soft sigh. She could sense the emotions of the people in the room, it felt heavy and yet kind. It bought her some kind of comfort, but it wasn't the same kind of comfort that the Elric brothers could bring her. Serah stood up, after praying to Ishvara to take care and protect Nina and Alexander in the afterlife. Hughes reached out and placed a hand on her shoulder, Serah watched as Armstrong kneed down and pulled the cover back over the Chimera.
"Serah, I'm so sorry-" The Ishvalen glanced over her shoulder, the look in her eyes caused him to stop talking, he never wanted to see that expression in her eye again, ever again. It's going to give him nightmares again, Mustang turned his head away from Hughes and Serah. The flame alchemist had seen the look in the silver-haired teenager's eye as well, it reminded him of when he first got a glimpse of her, years ago in Ishval during the war. It's the haunted expression of someone who had enough, her eyes were empty and blank. Mustang closed his eyes; just how many times of trauma and loss will it take before she breaks. Just how much more can she handle?
They watched her leave the lab; Hughes ran his hands down his face before turning around.
"Hughes, you are not to blame for this." Maes' shoulders were tensed as Armstrong spoke gently; Hawkeye stepped closer to her Colonel as they watched the other men speaking.
"How am I not to blame for this!?" Maes snapped, throwing his arms out beside him.
"I requested for her to come here, but I should have known that she knew those people!"
"You can't control everything, Maes." Maes turned to Roy, a glare in his eye. Roy didn't flinch at the look, Riza tensed her shoulders slightly.
"Get it out, Maes. Let it all out, I didn't tell you. I am partly to blame for this, for bringing pain to Serah." Maes opened his mouth and closed it a second later, he reached up and pull his glasses off before pinching the bridge of his nose. He didn't want to be angry or frustrated with Roy, Maes knew that if Roy had known that he requested for Serah. Roy would have told him that she knew the Tucker family and would have stopped the request immediately.
"Maes, I never wanted to cause Serah pain. You know that." Maes sighed, folding his arms after he placed the glasses back on his nose.
"I don't blame you, Roy but if there is going to be another time like this. Tell me about it before hand, I'm not asking, I'm telling you."
Serah saw them, sitting on the steps of a bell tower, she sighed in relief as she slowed her run to a walk.
"Ed! Al!" The Ishvalen called out their names, they immediately turned to her. Ed stood up and reached for her, she greedy grabbed him and tightened her fingers in the fabrics of his coat. She buried her face in the crook of his neck, his eyes widened in shock and surprise before softening as Serah trembled. With a small frown, Ed wrapped his arms around her and held her tightly, leaning his head against her temple. The young Alchemist guided her to sit on the steps beside him, Al had stayed seated, knowing that Serah for the moment needed Ed more than she needed him. A short while later, a military police officer came running towards them, he looked relieved that he had found the trio.
"Oh! There you are, Mr. Edward! Mr. Edward Elric!" The officer passed a man in a beige jacket with white stripes and black pants, he too was wearing a pair of shades.
"…Elric….?" The man mumbled under his breath, Serah's glance turned to the man, her brow narrowed. There was something about him, she focused on the air around him before her attention turned to the officer who walked closer to them.
"Thank god you're all right! We've been looking for you!" Ed along with his brother and Serah stood up from the steps, as the officer stopped in front of them.
"What? What do you want?" Ed asked a bit confused, not understanding why a military police officer would be looking for him.
"You are to return to base at once. The truth is that there's been a serial killer in this…" The officer felt a presence behind him, Serah stepped back in fear as she felt the depth of the hatred and rage from the air around the tall and shade-wearing man behind the officer.
"Edward Elric…. The Full Metal Alchemist!" He gave off, a hateful and raged feeling, not just to Serah but also to Ed who flinched at the hatred and furious rough voice. The officer immediately reached to pull out his gun.
"! The man with the scar on his…!" The officer shouted.
"Stop!" Ed screamed at the officer; Serah immediately ran towards the officer; thinking quickly. She placed her hands on the ground and kicked at the officer's heel, causing him to fall down in the same moment The shade-wearing man reached for the officer's face with his right arm and missed his mark. Serah inhaled sharply as she threw a throwing knife at the dark-skinned man, he leaped out of the way and back from Serah. The young Ishvalen reached out and grabbed the collar of his jacket, Al leaped to help his friend. He grabbed hold of the collar, pulling the officer back along with Serah.
The guy is dangerous, he tried to kill an officer without blinking. The bell tower started to ring and caused Ed to flinch at the sound, the older Elric gestured to his brother to run as Al picked Serah up in his arms, he knew that she wouldn't be able to run with her wound. She held back a flinch and gritted her teeth together as the man immediately went after them, leaving the officer alone.
"Shit…. What the hell was that? Making enemies of people is something I do a lot but that doesn't warrant killing me!"
"Brother, Serah, over here!" Al called out for his brother, standing in an ally. He had put Serah down the moment they came into the ally. Al quickly drew a transmutation circle on the ground with a piece of chalk while kneeling.
"What do you think is going to happen to us if we get into an alleyway?!" Ed demand to know as he glanced over his shoulder at his brother, while Serah leaned against one of the walls, she panted heavily as she tightened her fingers around her thigh.
"Just come on!" Was what Al gave for an answer to Ed as he transmuted a wall from the ground, Ed turned to Serah who looked pale and sweat covered her brow as she panted while supporting herself against the wall behind her. The Alchemist moved closer to her as if he could seal her from the dangerous situation, they got themselves in.
"Now he can't follow us!"
"Ohh!" Ed glanced at his younger brother with a hint of pride in his voice, it didn't last long as a crack appeared in the middle of the transmuted wall. The man held out his right arm as he destroyed the wall and stepped through in the rambles of the wall. Ed and Al took a step back in fear and horror, Serah wasn't able to move because of her injury but she sealed her eyes with her arm from the dirt and small rocks. Al immediately reached for Serah and pulled her into his arms again, before he and Ed started to try to run away from the man. The man rested a hand against the wall and scarlet red energy crackled around his hand and the cracks moved along the wall, Ed noticed the crimson red energy from the corner of his eye. It caused an explosion in front of them, Al turned a bit around and tried to seal Serah from the explosion as ramble fall, keeping them in place. Ed held an arm up in front of his chest, staring at the ramble in horror and shock.
"This is a joke...Right…?" The trio turned around; their expressions were different. Ed had a look of horror and terror in his eyes, Serah's expression was fear, pain, and confusion while Al looked scared and horrified.
"What the hell are you? Why are you going after us?" Ed asked as the man stepped towards the trio, the shades hiding his eyes.
"If there are creators then there are also destroyers." His voice was deadly calm as he spoke to the trio,
Ed clapped his hands before grabbing a pipe on the wall, transmuting the pipe.
"So, you're telling us, we have no choice." Energy cracked around the transmuting pile turning it into a long dagger, Al placed Serah down on the ground away from the man, keeping her behind him and Ed. The younger Elric moved into a fighting stance while Serah supported herself up against the wall.
"You've got guts…." He grinned; his eyes glanced at the girl leaning against the wall for a moment before turning to the Elrics.
"Let's go!" They lunched at the man who moved forward towards the pair, ducking down as Ed and Al went high in their attack, Serah shallowed hard, the move the man did, looked familiar somehow to her.
"But you're too slow!" He destroyed the side of Al's armor, glancing at the empty inside of the armor. Al tried to lift himself up as Ed screamed his name. Serah glared at the man, as her brow narrowed in thought, there is something about him….
"You son of a bitch!" Ed screamed, holding the dagger high in his hand as he went at the man again.
"Don't!" Serah screamed in terror and fear as the man grabbed Ed's right arm in his hand tightly.
"I said you're too slow!" Serah clenched her fist as she stared hopelessly while he tried to destroy Ed's arm but it backfired on him, it caused Ed to fell to the side on the ground. Ed immediately pulled his coat off along with his glove, revealing his automail arm.
"Damn it!" He growled as he got to his feet, glaring at the man.
"Auto mail…. I see, it shouldn't have been destroyed through 'human destruction.' And that one over there, I thought that I would destroy his body because I tore apart his armor, but he doesn't have a body. You are a strange bunch…" Ed clapped his hands, glaring at the man.
"Haven't I wasted enough time thanks to you?"
"I'm not nice enough to play by your schedule!" The older Elric transmuted his automail arm into his favorite blade while Al tried to push himself up.
"Brother don't…. run away-…" Al turned to speak, Serah had managed to push herself up on her feet and slowly moved along the alley while leaning against the wall.
"You idiot! You think that I can just leave you behind and run away?!" Ed hissed angry at his brother, staring at him. Ed hated that Al wanted him to just run and leave him and Serah on their own, with that murder. They are a team, the three of them, he can't just leave them!
"So, by putting both of your hands together, you form a ring and use the cycled energy to transmute? Then…" The stranger lifted his arm and cracked his knuckles slightly as Ed lifted his automail and lunched at the shades-wearing man with an angry shout. He gripped Ed's automail arm tightly, Serah screamed in terror and horror at the sight while her eyes watered. The fear of losing Ed, flared high, she can't lose another, she refused to acknowledge that fact.
"The first thing to do is to have his annoying arm….destroyed." Red energy crackled around the automail, the metal turned into smaller pieces, destroying the automail arm. Serah collapsed in horror as a tear rolled down her cheek, Al pushed himself further upon his arms. Ed grabbed his destroyed shoulder where skin met metal, as he fell down on his knees.
"Bro-Brother!" Al shouted, seconds later lightning cracked loudly in the rain.
"I will give you time to pray to God."
"Sorry, but there isn't a God I want to pray to," Ed spoke with his head hanging towards the ground, Serah sobbed as she tried to move to her feet while the man stared in front of him, into the air.
"You're only after me, right. My little brother Al and Serah…. Are you going to kill them too?"
"If there are obstacles, I will remove them. But for now, the only one I have business with is with the Fullmetal Alchemist… only you."
"Really? Then promise me…. That you won't touch my little brother and Serah." Serah screamed in disbelief and horror; Al stared at his older brother in disbelief.
"Bro…"
"I will keep my word."
"What are you saying…...? Brother, what are you doing!? Run Away!"
"Ed! Get up! Run! Please!"
"Get up! Run!" The man reached for Ed's head, Serah clenched her teeth and pushed herself up on her feet as she grabbed a throwing knife from the pouch on her hip. Keeping it tight in her hand, waiting for the right moment.
"Stop… Stop it!" Al continued to scream, Serah threw the knife at the man, it stuck in his wrist. He turned to glare at her while pulling the knife out, she smirked. A gunshot could be heard through the shouting, stopping the man from going after Serah.
"That's as far as you go." Mustang stared at the scene, Ed was kneeling on the ground, Serah leaning against a wall in the alley while Al was laying on the ground. Hawkeye and Havoc were standing behind the Colonel, The female lieutenant pointed a gun at the stranger while Havoc loaded a rifle.
"That was a close call, Fullmetal, Scarlet." Serah sighed in relief as she slid down onto her knees beside Al.
"Colonel! This guy's…" Ed rested a hand on his shoulder, looking over to the unit.
That man is a suspect for the serial murders of state Alchemists but there's no doubt it after taking a look at the present situation. So, you're also behind the murders at the Tucker residence?" Mustang asked the man, Serah turned sharply towards the man with a glare as she sneered. Ed glared at the stranger; the anger was clear in his eyes.
"Alchemists are those that twist the natural state of creation to a degenerate form…. That is, in short, a sacrilege to our creator, God. As messengers of God, we are those that carry out God's judgment." The stranger lifted his fist in front of him, as he growled lowly. Serah narrowed her eyes as she stared at the man, his words sound kind of familiar to her, as if as she has heard them before or at least sentences with the same meaning. No no no, it isn't right, the one who had spoken the words is long gone.
"That's something I don't understand, there are many alchemists, but why are you targeting only those that have state licenses?" The murder glared towards the Colonel.
"No matter what, if you intend to interfere, I will eliminate you too." Mustang glared at the stranger, as he threw his gun over his shoulder, Hawkeye grabbed it in her hands.
"Interesting!"
"Colonel Mustang!" Colonel pulled a glove on with transmutation circle on the fabric, Serah sighed, watching as the Colonel took a few steps towards the murder. He of cause have forgotten that it is raining.
"Don't lay a finger on him."
"Mustang as in the State Alchemist?"
"Indeed! Roy Mustang, the Flame Alchemist!" Serah sweat dropped, the Colonel really had to tell the guy who he is… Dumb ass.
"For one that turns against God to come in person to receive judgment...Today is a good day!" The stranger tensed his shoulders as he stepped towards the Colonel, Mustang lifted his hand, pressing his fingers together in a snap.
"You know that I am the Flame Alchemist and yet you dare to fight me! You Fool!" Hawkeye kneed down with a hand on the ground, she swung her foot against Colonel's ankle. It caused him to fall flat down on his ass, Hawkeye immediately turned her weapons to the stranger and started to shoot at him. He leaped out of the way, dodging the bullets. Serah had shifted in a sitting position, leaning against the wall. She watched the others from her position, alongside Al who was still laying on the ground.
"Hey what do you think you're doing!?"
"You're worthless when it's raining, please stay back, Colonel!"
"Oh, yeah. When it's as wet as this, you can't make a spark." Havoc spoke, Colonel, gaped at his unit members in disbelief as he took a hint to his pride.
"And in addition to you coming here, it's nice how you can't use your flame. State Alchemists! And those who are obstacles to my mission! I will annihilate everyone here!" He grinned maniacally at the Colonel and his unit members; Serah glared at the stranger. Region really does bring out the worst in people, Serah sneered.
"Then try to." A voice spoke from behind the stranger, Armstrong launched at him. He managed to dodge the attack from Armstrong.
"Hmmm… to be able to dodge my attack means that you are… quite good. Oh, you fiend who commits wrongs against the State. You said that you would annihilate everyone here? How Absurd! Then first! Best me in combat! I, the strong-armed Alchemist… Alex Louis Armstrong!" Armstrong glared down at the murder as he stepped closer, Serah snorted as she tightened her fingers around her wound. During the run earlier, she tore at the stitches.
"…. They keep coming one after another, today… this way I can save time, is this divine protection?" Armstrong threw a broken brick into the air.
"Haha… So, I see you will not withdraw. Very well, then I will respect your courage! By showing you the Alchemy passed down to generation after generation of the Armstrongs." The major threw a punch against the large brick, forcing the murder into fighting with him. Serah watched the fight between the pair with deep interest, Ed glanced at the female Ishvalen.
"Major! Please don't destroy too much of the city!" Havoc shouted at the Major, Ed gaped at the Major as he stood up before turning back to Serah and darted over to her in a half run.
"What did you say!? Behind destruction, there lies creation! Behind creation there lies destruction! Destruction and creation are two sides of the same coin! Destroy and create! For this is the law of the universe!" Serah huffed as Armstrong gripped the fabric of his shirt and tore it off, Ed kneed down in front of the female Ishvalen. He frowned as he pressed his palm against her cheek, she leaned into his touch with a sigh.
"Why did he take his shirt off?"
"And why is he using such powerful Alchemy?" Hawkeye and Havoc mumbled under their breath to each other, looking at the Major.
"What….? As an Alchemist, you wouldn't think it was that powerful, isn't that right, Scar?" Mustang had walked over to Ed and Serah; The young Alchemist was staring at the Ishvalen.
"An Alchemist… you mean he's also an alchemist!?"
"Yeah, I thought so."
"If you break them up, the three major parts of transmutation are knowledge, deconstruction, and recreation."
"Ah-ha, so that guy is stopping transmutation by using the second part, deconstruction."
"He's also an Alchemist…. So, isn't he the one that's defying God just like he said before?"
"Yes… And the ones he's targeting are always those who have state licenses, just what is he…?"
"Hmmm…. A combination of light footwork that doesn't match that large build…. Superhuman destructive power. And Alchemy, he might be a little hard to handle but…" Armstrong and Scar kept fighting each other. Scar landed with his back against the wall with Armstrong in front of him, the Major lifted his arm and was about to throw a punch at the murder.
"You're cornered!" Scar cracked his knuckles and reached for Armstrong's side, the major pulled back and away from Scar. Hawkeye was kneeling on the ground with a rifle in her hands, pointing it at Scar, and fired a shot. Serah stared towards Scar as the shot fired, he was forced a bit back with a growl. He moved his foot to stay balance as his shades hit the ground and shattered.
"Did you get him!?" Mustang asked his lieutenant.
"He's fast. That one shot only grazed him." Scar lifted his head and glared at the unit while tightening his fist, he turned his head towards the Military unit with a glare. Serah gasped as the air changed entirely from hatred and anger to shock and horror, Ed tightened his hold on her.
"Red eyes and brown skin!" Armstrong shouted with disbelief, Mustang stared at Scar in confusion and disbelief.
"An Ishvalen!" Serah shallowed hard, hearing that. Her glance turned to the male Ishvalen, he's one of her people! Her eyes were sad as she came to understand the reason behind the murders on the State Alchemists, she was right in that the suspect came from the desert and part of a war but she didn't realize that it could be one of her countrymen.
"Just as I thought, I'm at a disadvantage against this many opponents." Serah pushed herself up with the aid of the wall beside her, Ed stood up along with her. He pressed a hand onto her hip, helping her keep her balance. The young female Ishvalen took a deep breath as she made an instant decision, her glance locked on the male Ishvalen.
"Não faça isso!" He turned immediately to Serah, staring at her with widened eyes. The shock and confusion were clear in his expression.
"Quem é Você?"
"Eu sou Ishvalen como você."
"Como você está vivo, sendo um membro do exército sendo um Ishvalen?"Serah didn't get a chance to answer as military police officers surround Scar, the young female Ishvalen wrapped her fingers around the fabric of Ed's shirt. Her eyes watered the longer she stared at the other Ishvalen, she knows him. Serah leaned against Ed, desperately seeking the comfort, that he is able to give her.
"Hold it! You don't believe you can get away when you're surrounded, do you?" The police officers pointed their guns at Scar, he lifted his hand as red energy crackled around his arm. Scar slammed his palm into the ground, destroying the ground around him. The Ishvalen disappeared through the ramble, Ed pressed him and Serah back from the new-made hole in the ground along with a few of the officers.
"That bastard went into the sewers!"
"Don't follow him."
"No way I'd follow a guy that dangerous." Mustang turned to Armstrong as Hawkeye moved closer to the Colonel, keeping a hand on her rifle.
"Sorry, you gave us enough time to surround him, but…"
"No, no. Rather than buying time, I was trying my best to not get killed." Hughes peaked out from his hiding spot in an alleyway, having stayed there throughout the fight with Scar.
"Oh? Is it all over?" The lieutenant colonel asked, Armstrong, turned to Hughes with a neutral expression.
"Lieutenant Colonel Hughes, where have you been until now?"
"I was in hiding! And besides I brought medics." Serah glanced over to her foster father for a moment, before turning back to Ed. She pressed her forehead against his, Ed gripped her hip as she wrapped her arms around his neck. Just relaxing for the moment, before she leaned back and turned to Al. Ed fall to his knees in front of his younger brother, Serah moved to stand behind the Elric Alchemist.
"Alphonse! Al! Are you ok? Hey!"
"….you…." Serah's eyes widened before she took a step to the side, sensing the tense emotions from Al, she didn't want to get caught in the crossfire between brothers.
"Stupid brother!" Al hit his older brother, which caused Ed to gap at Al.
"Why didn't you run away when I told you to run away!?"
"Because I can't just leave you and Serah behind and run away…" Ed tried to weakly defend his actions, Al hit Ed again.
"That's why i called you stupid!"
"What's up with you!? If I was the only one who got away, you and Serah might have been killed!" Al noticed for the second the pain and hurt in his brother's eyes before it disappeared. Serah turned slightly to Ed, sensing the emotional change in the air around the Alchemist.
"I might not have been killed! How could you do something stupid like choosing to die when you could keep living!?"
"Don't go up to your big brother and say he's stupid!"
"I'll say it again and again! You might find a way to restore our bodies if you survive and learn more about alchemy…! And you might even find a way to save a poor girl like Nina! But how could you toss away that possibility and pick death? I absolutely won't forgive you if you do that!"
"Ah" Al's right arm fell off and landed in Ed's lap, Serah gently took the arm from Ed's lap and laid in front of Al.
"Aw, my right arm came off! Brother, you moron!" Serah leaned up against Ed with a soft sigh, staring at Al. She understands where he is coming from, losing Ed is something she doesn't even want to think about.
"Ah… we're all beat up, there's no way we can suck this much."
"But we're alive."
"That we are."
"Yeah, we're alive." Ed agreed, Serah glanced at the hole in the ground for a long moment before tearing her glance from the spot and to Ed and Al. Hughes called over the medics, who he had gathered before coming to the scene. Which was why it took him so long to get to them, she let out a sigh, feeling a sense of confusion, lost. She felt torn between wanting to confide in the Elric brothers and keeping quiet as she didn't want to worry or burden the brothers.
Later, Ed, Serah, and Al were resting in their motel room. Serah has changed the bandages around her thigh and arm and cleared the wounds after she had taken a shower. Ed stared at her as she dried her long hair with a towel while sitting on the bed in the room, Al was sitting on the floor, next to the bed. Ed laid with his arms outstretched, turning his glance to the roof. The Ishvalen turned to look at the Alchemist, laying the towel to rest on her shoulders. Ed noticed the blank expression in Serah's eyes, it felt like she was far away, lost in thoughts where he couldn't reach her. He hates feeling helpless and useless, he just wants her to confide in him so he can help her with whatever is going on.
"You alright?"
"Yeah."
"Don't lie."
"I will be." Serah fell on Ed, laying on top of his chest with her head near his heart. Ed pressed his fingers into her hip and pulled her closer, she let a sigh as she closed her eyes. The Alchemist leaned his head against the Ishvalen's with a sigh of his own.
Take care and stay safe, till the next chapter.
Não faça isso – don't do it.
Quem é Você? – who are you.
Eu sou Ishvalen como você – I am Ishvalen like you.
Como você está vivo, sendo um membro do exército sendo um Ishvalen? – how are you alive, being a member of the military, being a Ishvalen?