Disclaimer: I do not own any characters except ocs.
A light on the ceiling was shown before half of Douglas' face was shown. Followed by his face, half of Maria's face appeared on the screen. Henry picked up a bag and turned it upside down. A smashed-up bullet came out of it.
"This is the bullet that killed Brigadier General Hughes. It's a .45 calibre. The killer used only this one bullet." Douglas told her.
"I'd say it was a good shot, but it was at point-blank range." Maria's arm was zoomed in on to show her prison bracelets.
"Close enough that even a poor shot could have done it." Douglas said.
"Now tell me. What is the calibre of the gun that you carry?"
"It's a .45, sir." Maria replied.
Douglas picked up a paper and showed it to Maria. "Here we have a copy of your requisition form for addition ammunition. Does this look correct?"
Maria nodded.
"It says here you fired exactly one shot. What was that round used for?" Henry asked.
"It lists the reason right there on the form. I fired my weapon in defence of Edward Elric and Whitney Rockbell, while in the Fifth Laboratory." Maria said. There was a flash before Maria and Denny appeared on the screen, pointing their guns at Barry, who was staring at his hand. Douglas was tapping the bullet. "But the Fifth Laboratory is no longer operational. It remains unmanned."
"It was definitely not unmanned." Maria said.
"Sure. According to your account." Douglas replied.
"Shall I send someone to search for this bullet you say you fired?" Douglas asked.
"There was an unexplained explosion at the site. The Fifth Laboratory is now a pile of rubble." Maria replied.
"So, the place you claimed to have used your gun was unmanned, and if we looked for the bullet, all we would be able to find was a pile of rubble. Is that what you are saying?" Douglas asked.
"But Lieutenant, we have eyewitness testimony. You were spotted leaving the scene on the day of the murder at the same time as the shooting." Douglas said.
"That's impossible!" Maria cried.
"Calm down, Lieutenant." Douglas said. "Fine then. What were you doing at that time?"
"I had the day off. I was at my parents' house visiting." Maria replied.
"Please, check with them. They'll tell you."
"All you can offer us is your family's testimony. That is not admissible as an alibi!" Douglas said.
Armstrong stood outside the building, facing two saluting soldiers.
"Second Lieutenant Ross is being questioned." One of the soldiers said.
"No one is permitted inside to see her."
"I see." Armstrong said. He turned around to leave.
Brosh ran over to Armstrong as he finished walking down the stairs.
"Major Armstrong!"
"Sergeant Brosh." Armstrong said.
Brosh saluted him. "I'm glad to see you here, Major."
"Mm-hmm. Is this about Second Lieutenant Ross?" Armstrong asked.
"Yes, that's right, sir." Brosh said as Armstrong continued down the path with Brosh following him. "Major, I can collaborate her story. Lieutenant Ross and I both fired a round from our weapons at the Fifth Laboratory to defend the Elric brothers and Daniels Sisters."
"You did?" Armstrong asked.
"Yes, and it's all written in my report, but everyone's ignoring it, sir." Brosh explained.
'Are they trying to frame the Second Lieutenant for this?' Armstrong thought.
The flag of the country was seen blowing in the wind.
-Cold Flame-
Winry helping polishing Al's Armor. "When you look closely, you're all scratched up, aren't you?" Al was polishing his helmet while Ed laid on his bed.
"You're having a rough time of it, huh?" Winry asked.
Al chuckled. Winry stood up and looked over at Ed. "So, what have you got planned now?" Ed was shown, staring blankly at his covers.
Winry appeared on the screen, staring sadly at him. "Well, Ed?" Ed lifted his automail hand, staring at it.
"What are we going to do...?"
"Yeah, it's hard to believe that's he's gone." Whity said sitting on the bed with Ed.
~Flashback~
An image of the five standing outside of Gracia's apartment was shown with Elicia saying, "Mommy, please don't cry."
~Flashback end~
Ed's hand curled into a fist while Winry went back to staring at Al's back. "What do you think?" Whity asked. Winry looked at her, surprised. Ed rolled onto his back, lifting himself halfway up to stare at her blankly. "What's with the face?" He asked.
"I-I'm just surprised. You two never asked for my advice before." Winry said.
"Yeah,what's your thoughts out it?" Whity asked.
Ed blinked. Al appeared on the screen. "Oh." Ed said.
Winry drew a gloved hand over Al's back. "I'm scared, you know. You guys have been off somewhere fighting and digging up information." Ed was shown to be lying on his bed with his hands folded under his head, but he watched Winry form the corner of his eyes. "Information that could get you killed like Mr. Hughes. Whenever I think about that, it terrifies me."
Ed's eyes moved away from her and narrowed as a sad tone entered the scene. Al's helmet appeared on screen before Ed was shown again. "I mean, you could die, but still be here...and just suddenly, not be there anymore." Winry's eyes closed halfway in sadness.
"Like my mom and Dad."
"It's almost more than I can handle, thinking about that. Honestly, sometimes I wished you would just give this whole thing up." As table filled with mugs and papers was shown. "I do want you to get your bodies back, but I also want you to stay alive and safe."
Winry bowed her head. "It's just...I don't know...Sorry." She turned to look at Whity and Ed. "I'm not sure what I think you should do. I really don't know."
"You're sure being nice, Winry." Al said teasingly.
Winry turned back to Al frantically, blushing. "W-w-why do you sound so surprised?" Ed appeared on the screen, watching the two as it was heard that she hit Al.
"I'm always nice! Take that back, Alphonse Elric! Take it back!" She screamed as she continued to hit him. "AH!" Al screamed. "Stop it! You're adding more scratches! I already have enough!" Ed gave a small smile as he watched the two.
The city was shown as the sun began to set. A sink full of dirty dishes was shown. Barry put down a chess piece. "Your move." He said.
Falman raised a hand to move a piece when a voice shouted, "Evening edition!" Falman twisted around on his stool.
"Oh, it's here. Excellent." A paper pushed under a door was shown as Barry said, "What? The newspaper. Again?"
"I'm stuck here babysitting you all day." Falman said as he picked it up. "This is the only entertainment I get."
He looked at the paper in surprise before running over to the phone. "Lieutenant Falman, calling on an outside line. Please connect me to Colonel Mustang. Yes. That's right. My code is..."
Barry got up and walked over to him. "What's got you so excited?" He saw the paper which had Maria's picture on it.
"Airam, George, Oliver, Four, Six, Four, Nine." Falman said.
Barry picked up the paper, surprising Falman. "This is the lady from the laboratory."
The military dorms were shown once more. The table in Ed's room was shown still covered in papers and a mug. Ed was shown lying on a couch, with Whity lying on top of him, looking in his travelogue. 'The Philosopher's Stone. People with the Ouroboros tattoo. The Homunculi.' The ceiling fan was shown. 'How are they...' Ed's thoughts were cut off when Al slammed the room door open.
"Brother!" Al and Abbie yelled. Ed and Whity screamed.
"What the–"
Abbie held a paper out to him. "Here." Ed leaned on the couch, throwing his arms over the back of it as he stared at his brother. "Don't scare us like that."
"Al, geez don't scare us." Whity said as she calm down her heart beat.
"The newspaper, Ed." Al said, holding it out to him. "Read the front page." Ed perked up. He took the paper.
"What is it now?" He sat back on the couch, staring at the paper before gasping in horror. "What? 'Second Lieutenant Maria Ross convicted of Brigadier General Hughes's murder?"
Whity was next to Ed saw the newspaper in Ed's hand and show Lt. Ross' face and she was framed to murdered Brigadier General Hughes. "What that's what it says it can't be her!" Abbie shouted.
Ed, Al, Abbie and Whity walked through the lobby. "I can't believe this." Al said.
"Maybe the Colonel or the Major will know something about this." Ed said.
"What about Winry?" Whity asked. "We'll explain it to her later." Ed replied.
When trio turn the corner, we see three figures. They see Maria Ross and Ling.
" Second Lieutenant?" Ed ask confused, she looks at Ed concerned.
"Ling!?" Al shouts confused.
"Hey guys." Ling says cheerfully.
"We don't have time for this!" Barry shouts, Ross looks to Barry. "Down there sweetheart, the shadows will hide you nicely." Ross looks from me to the ally and back at me. "GO!" Barry shouts at her, she gives a pained look and disappears into the darkness. Then a hear the explosion.
"Edward wait!" Whity shout at his back but he continues to run, until he meets with Mustang.
"Hello there, Fullmetal." The Colonel says coldly. Whity see Ed's anger fire up.
Ed stared in horror at the burnt bracelet on the body's wrist. "What happened here?" He asked, hands clenching in anger. "What happened here, Colonel? Tell me!"
Mustang stared coldly at Ed.
"Why, Colonel? Why was Hughes murdered? Why would SecondLieutenant Ross...?" Ed ran at Mustang and grabbed him by his coat. "Why didn't you say anything!?"
Mustang's eyes narrowed even more, surprising Ed, before he was suddenly punched across the face.
Ed crashed into the ground, while Mustang straightened his jacket.
"Threatening your commanding officer, you forget your place Elric." Mustang snarls icily at Ed.
Whity see Ed lung off the ground toward him but she grab him and hold him back.
"Let me go Whity!" Ed shouts
"No." Whity whisper softly in his ear, Whity hear Al's clinking armour come up beside her.
"What's happening?" Al squeaks quietly.
"This bastard killed Ross!" Ed fights Whity's arms, but Whity hold him back.
"Why did you do that Colonel!?" Al shouts at him to, but his stare isn't on Ed or Al it rest on Whity; Whity see the cold black eyes shimmer in confusion. As other soldiers arrive on scene, Whity hold the Colonel's gaze.
"You can let go of me now Whity." Ed's voice is so quiet, but Whity can hear the fury behind it. Whity let her arms fall to her sides as Ed slides down the wall, his golden orbs caught fire trying to burn a hole through Mustang.
Whity hear him repeating the orders to shoot to kill and everything else he has to tell the military to make his story more believable. Whity kneel beside Ed and turn his head to finally look at her, Al looks up to Whity.
"Why did this have to happen to her?" Al whispers sadly, Whity look at him and pat his armoured head.
"This is very frustrating!!" Addie said as she frowned at this.
"I have to see the autopsy report." Ed snaps and grabs Whity's hand dragging her there, Al and Addie clinking closely behind them.
...
"Checking the dental records, this is indeed Maria Ross." Dr. Knox grumbles. "It's a shame what he did to her, turing a beauty like her into a pile of charcoal. You must have held quite a grudge on her, didn't you Colonel?" Knox says snidely, Whity feel Ed's hand crush into a fist around her hand. Mustang just sits there coldly staring at the Doctor than Knox scoffs.
"The great hero of the Ishbal civil war, going out of his way harm a little girl." He snarls and walk away.
"It's ok Ed, I know your angry and I understand" His eyes lose his flare as they gaze into mine. They Whity hear Armstrong lose it on the Colonel, Whity watch the anger and hurt on such a strong man. Mustang stands and looks at the Major.
"You should take some time off Major, to the east. where there is no big city noise and beautiful woman." He walks off icily, the Major slumps onto the bench and buries his face in his hands.
"Let's go..." Ed puffs and begins to walk with Addie and Al at his side, Whity look to them then at the Major. He is so strong but has the biggest heart, he'll be so much happier soon... even if it is just for a little while.
"It's ok Major, everything thing make sense soon. I promise it will get better in the end." Whity smiled at him, Armstrong looks up at her and his big teary blue eyes and offers them a smile.
"Thank you Whitney, such a lovely young lady. I appreciate your sincerity deeply." he booms and Whity gives him a big smile.
"Ill see you very soon Major Armstrong." Whity salute him and hurry after Ed, Addie and Al.
"Till than Whitney!" He shouts behind her.
"What did you say to the Major?" Ed asks curiously.
"Nothing really, just wanted to make him smile." Whity smile to myself and takes Ed hand in mine.
"What made him smile?" Al pipes in. "I would like to know because it could make me smile and I need to also." He whispers.
"I just told him that everything will make sense soon, and that everything will be better in the end."
"That does make me feel better." Alphonse smiles.
"Me too..." Ed whispers under his breath.
Ed was shown to be lying on a couch in his room with Winry, Addie, Whity, and Al sitting around him.
A knock sounded at the door, catching Ed's attention. "Yeah? Who is it?" He asked as he opened the door. "What are you–" He froze, looking shocked as Armstrong raised his arm to punch him.
The ceiling fan of his room was shown before Ed was shown with his metal arm raised in defines as he skidded across the ground. When he stopped, he sat halfway up and glared at Armstrong. "Major! What the hell did you do that for?"
Armstrong towered over the boy. "You listen to me, Edward Elric." Edward gulped before Armstrong picked the boy up by his jacket and moved his automail arm around. "Hmm, this is no good, no good at all. Your automail seems to be broken."
Uh...Okay." Ed said.
Armstrong put Ed down. "Yes, this is a serious situation indeed. We'll have to repair it at once. There's no time to waste. Allow me to escort you to Resembool for repairs." Ed deflated.
"Uh, Major, what's up?"
Winry and Al leaned out the doorway watching. "What's that?" Winry asked.
"You're going back home to Resembool?" Al asked. Ed moved closer to them, waving a hand. "I have no idea of what he's talking about, Al." Armstrong leaned into Al's face.
"And you, Alphonse Elric, you would stand out too much, so you remain here in Central." "Okay." Al said. "Oh, Whitney you have to come as well." "Uh... Okay." Whity said.
Huh?" Ed said as he was dragged off by Armstrong with Al and Winry watching. Winry was pointing at herself.
"But isn't that suspicious since Winry is there?" Al said confused.
"We need to make arrangements for transportation right away! Come along, Edward and Aliyah." Armstrong said.
"Cut it out, Major." Ed said weakly as Armstrong walked through the lobby, carrying Ed under his arm. "Put me down."
"I'm afraid I can't do that." Armstrong said. Ed stopped whining, looking surprised. "These are my orders." Ed tilted his head up to look at Armstrong. 'From him...' Mustang's office was shown once more. "Okay, I got it." One of the soldiers said. "Roger that." He put his phone down and stood up. "Major Armstrong, Edward Elric, and Whitney Rockbell have gotten aboard the train, sir."
"Okay." Mustang said before smirking. 'Finally, everyone's out of the way.'