It had been three months since the Elric's and Chiko played in the snow. The bond between the boys and Chiko grew and Roy was happy about it, when the Elric brothers left for their next mission. Roy and his team was assigned to one as well by the Führer a month after. It was a simple mission, a terrorist group's hideout was discovered and they were being sent to arrest them. Only problem was Monroe, he told Roy to set the explosives early or else everyone would suffer a bullet and Hawkeye will be taken advantaged of. This caused Roy to obey his command, though he noticed that Monroe injected something into his arm to make him weak. Chiko was with him, hiding in his hair but would come out sometimes to check on him. Roy and his team made to the location and that's where they'll split up. Roy looks at the building then at his team saying. "Everyone remembers the plan." "Yes sir. Havoc and Breda will provide a distraction, Fury and Falman will stay here as backup while Monroe and I will scope out the area around the place and receive the information and when that's done you'll use your alchemy and destroy the place."
Roy nods and says. "And we'll Rendezvous back here after I burn the place." Roy takes a deep breathe and looks at them. "Everyone ready?" "Yes sir!" Everyone said saluting and they went their separate ways. When Roy made it to the spot he got dizzy a little and clutched the wall for support. Chiko came out of his hair and looked at Roy with worry, he wasn't looking to good and she was concerned for her master. Roy was panting with sweat going down his face, whatever Monroe gave him it made him feel weak and sick. He took a few deep breathes and pushed off the wall and continued his way, he got to the Rendezvous point and waited. He coughed a little and wiped the sweat off his brow, trying to focus but couldn't. He shook his head to rid of the dizziness and tried to focus, he looked up and saw a shadow coming towards him but couldn't see.
As they got closer, Roy realized that they had a knife and moved away in time but not fast enough because they slashed his side. "Damn it!" He kept dodging the attackers attacks but he was too weak to keep moving and eventually, regretfully, he snapped his figures and this caused the building to explode and Roy thought that the attacker would flee but he came straight to Roy and kept slashing and Roy dodged him left and right. Roy suddenly collapsed and fell to his knees panting, he looked his attacker and they were about to bring the knife down but suddenly a gunshot was heard. Roy turned his head and saw Hawkeye at the entrance aiming her gun, when her eyes landed on Roy she got worried and ran to him putting her gun away.
She wrapped his arm around her shoulders as he said. "What're you doing here? You should be at the Rendezvous." "Can't leave a man behind sir." Roy shook his head and was about to speak but stopped and let out a cough. Hawkeye look at her CO worriedly and dragged him away to safety, Chiko came out of his hair and look at him worriedly. He wasn't doing so good. When they got back, the others including Monroe immediately started yelling.
Havoc: What the hell colonel!? You could've killed us!
Breda: Yeah! What the hell happened colonel!?
Falman: I agree the Lieutenant Breda and Havoc sir, what happened?
Monroe: Yeah sir! Me and Hawkeye could've been killed! Then she had to save your sorry ass! I don't why though?! It's your fault to begin with!
Fury: Sir? Are you okay?
Roy heard them all say and fury was the only one that asked what happened to him. Roy didn't answer as Hawkeye waved them off and continued to bring him to the truck. As they were all piled in, they continued to complain on how it was the colonels fault for the mission to fail. Roy was pretty sure Monroe was the one who started it but he didn't care because he was too focused on trying to stop the bleeding on his wound. Chiko moved to his shoulder and rubbed her head against his neck in comfort, he smiled at that and patted her head. He hoped to have sometime to fix his wound before meeting with the Führer.
When they got back, he indeed had sometime before meeting with the Führer. He was in his office with the door locked. He placed the bandages, scissors, a towel, tape, the needle and thread on the table and processed to take off his jacket and shirt. He grabbed the towel and placed it in his mouth, he grabbed the needle and thread. He then processed to look at the mirror that Chiko was holding, he took a deep breathe while closing his eyes and stuck the needle into his skin. He flinched as the needle hit his skin but continued with stitching himself up while doing this Chiko was very worried about Roy. After an hour, Roy was finished and bandaged the wound up. After he was done, he leaned back and took the towel out of his mouth sighing in contant. As Roy was catching his breathe, Chiko stared at her owner with her big black eyes with worry.
He was sweating like crazy and was holding his bandaged side in pain, his skin was beat red as sweat trailed down his chest and was breathing hard. After a few minutes, he calmed down and sat up holding his side and put on his clean clothes that he snagged. After putting on his jacket, he stuck his hand out to Chiko and she ran up his arm to his hair. He took a deep breathe and went to the door, he unlocked the door and opened it to see Hawkeye standing there looking worried. "Are you alright sir?" Roy smiled and said. "I'm alright Lieutenant, just tired." Suddenly Hawkeye placed a hand on his forehead, checking for a fever.
"You feel warm sir and your drenched with sweat." 'Shit. I thought I wiped it all off, I guess what ever Monroe injected me with still isn't gone.' "I'm fine Lieutenant, come along. We have to meet with the Führer about the mission." Hawkeye nodded in agreement and they made their way to the Führers office, when they got there Chiko hid into Roy's hair as he knocked. There was a 'come in' on the other side and Roy opened the door and they walked in. Inside was the Führer and Monroe, they walked to the desk and sat on the chairs. "Colonel Mustang do you know why your here?" "I believe it's about the mission sir." "Correct colonel. I have heard that the plan was to in filtrate the building, get back the information and then blow it up but I've heard that you did early."
Roy closed his eyes and nodded saying. "Yes sir I did but I was attacked by one of them and I was forced to snap, they had the upper hand." The führer raised an eyebrow and asked. "Really?" Hawkeye nodded and said. "Yes sir it's true. After the explosion we went to the rendezvous point and noticed that something was wrong, so i decided to go check it out and I saw the attacker standing over the colonel about to kill him so I shot him." "Is that so. I heard from an Anonymous source that you deliberately did it early and nearly injured your team." Roy's eyes widened at this, they knew they were coming. Roy suspected Monroe had something to do with it but he couldn't be sure, so he said. "I'm not sure what your talking about sir." "Are you sure? According to your plan you were supposed to do it later, not when they were still inside."
Roy didn't say anything and just looked down in shame, he knew that nobody would believe him. Then the führer said. "That's why for your rash decisions that you will be transferred to the north." This caused Roy's to look up with his eyes widened as well as Hawkeyes while Monroe looked like he just won the lottery. "I'm sorry Mustang but thanks to you the information has been destroyed and you nearly hurt your team." Hawkeye looked at Roy with worry because he was looking down, shaking with angry but then he looked up and said. "I have a better idea sir." He stood up and slammed his watch on the table saying. "Im resigning my state alchemist watch and military stats, effected immediately." He pushes off from the table and walks away.
He wasn't gonna let Monroe win this battle, not this time.
He made it to his office and ignored his teams questions about what happened, he slammed his door shut and went to his phone and dialed a trains number that Ed and Al were on. While it ringed Chiko came out of his hair and looked at him worriedly, she heard the entire conversation and was very worried about her master. She knew it was his dream to be Führer and change this Country but all his hard work was now drown the drain because of Monroe need of revenge against him and alchemist. After a few seconds the phone stopped ringing and Roy heard a familiar. "Hello?" "Edward." "Oh! Colonel whats up? If this is about my report, don't worry. We're almost there to central and then you can look it over." Roy sighed and said. "I won't be reading your report Fullmetal." "Huh? Why not? I'm positive that it's better then the last one! I even you a dictionary and didn't use any swears in it! Honest!" "I don't doubt that Ed. But this isn't about your report, it's something different."
"... What do you mean?" "(Sighs) He won Ed, he won. I'm no longer a state alchemist or your commanding officer. I'm sorry Ed, he won." "What!?! What do you mean he won!? We were so close into proving he was hurting you and threatened to hurt the others!" "Things change Ed, there was a mission that went wrong and well, Monroe told the führer I set the explosives off early on purpose and nearly hurt someone on the team. He was gonna transfer me to the north, I knew Monroe asked him to it to get rid of me and I knew that if he succeeded he would have won either way but I'm just so tired of this Ed." "... What do you mean?" "It means I'm done Ed. I'm done with the military, trying to be führer and trying to catch Hughes killer knowing It was a waste of time to begin with." "Colonel-." "Roy. I'm not you commanding officer anymore Ed, I'm sorry I failed you and Al. I know for a fact that I've disappointed Hughes as well." "Roy, please just wait for us and we'll help you prove Monroe is guilty!"
Roy smiled and said. "There's nothing we have against him Ed, I'm sorry. When you two get back, I have some information that you can have that's very promising about the stone. I'm sure you can figure it out. See you later Ed." "... See you later colonel bastard." Then Roy heard the dial tone, he chuckled a little at that and said to himself. "Nothing will ever change with that boy. No sir, nothing will change with Ed." Roy felt Chiko rub her head against his neck. Roy patted her head and got to cleaning out his desk.
At the train station, Ed was shaking with anger. Monroe had won, he had successfully broke Roy so bad that he'd quit the military. 'No. I won't let Roy quit that easily! I'll find a way to prove that Monroe is the bad guy and show it to the führer!' Ed thought to himself and went back to Al to explain what happened and his plan.
After Roy was done cleaning out his desk, he grabbed the box by his handles and left out the door with papers on the desk. He ignored his ex teams stares and walked out the door, with Chiko on his shoulder. He noticed that their weren't that many people around which was odd but it was almost closing time so that made sense. Roy went to the mens room and placed his box down on the bench, after he was done he washed his hands then washed his face. After he dried his face, he looked in the mirror. He had bags under his eyes and his cheeks look a little shrunken then before. 'I guess all the stress of everything that's been happening has finally got to me and I'm seeing the end result.' After Roy was done, he rolled his sleeves down and put his jacket back on. Chiko came out of his hair and sat on his shoulder, looking at him.
He didn't look to good, she knew that he hasn't been sleeping good because of all nighters he'd been pulling and whatever crap Monroe put in his coffee. He wasn't doing to good but now that he quit, maybe he'll finally get some rest. As Roy walked he was thinking about somethings. 'I think that was the first time Chiko has seen me use alchemy, I never really thought about showing her but I think she deserves to see it.' He makes it to his car and places his stuff in the back, he closes the door and walks to the gymnasium to show Chiko his alchemy. When they get there, Chiko looks at her master in confusion and gives out a confused squeak. "I've realized that you've never seen my alchemy before and I think now is the perfect time to see it."
Chiko looked intrigued about this and nodded. Roy takes a deep breathe and focuses, then he snaps his fingers. A trail of fire left his fingers creating a beautiful trail of fire, after the fire disappeared Roy looked at Chiko and saw her with stars in her eyes along with a little smile. Roy chuckled and asked. "You liked that?" Chiko looked at him and nodded. "Well I'm glad you did." He said then looked down and continued. "I wonder what'll happen now that I'm not in the military. Maybe we'll move to Resembool and I'll become a sheep herder?" She looked up and imagined what'll it look like. Roy wearing overalls with a hat with a piece of wheat in his mouth holding a stick along with her in a matching outfit. The image disappeared as she shook her head.
"Yeah that doesn't seem like a good image to me either. How about we pick fruit or vegetables?" An image popped into Chiko's head as she sees Roy and her picking apples with the same outfits on. She shook her head and Roy agreed with her. "Yeah, that doesn't seem like a good idea either. I'm sure we'll figure it out when we get there." Chiko nodded in agreement as Roy stroked his chin. "I wonder, what i'll look like with a bread." Chiko images what he'll look like with a beard and immediately shook her really disturbed by the image. "No, no, no, nothing like that. Just some stubby on my face, I don't even think I can grow a beard like that."
Chiko images it and nods her head. "Glad we agree on something there." As Roy was talking about what they should do, someone came out of the shadows and took out a blow dart. He blew into it and hit Roy in the back of the neck. Roy felt the prick and reached back to grab it, he looks at it in his hand and sees that it is a dart. "What the-?" Roy suddenly got dizzy and fell on all fours, he started panting as his vision started getting fuzzy. He grabbed his head and tried to shake the dizziness. "What the hell?" "Well look what we have here."
Roy and Chiko froze at the voice, they both recognized that voice anywhere. It was him, Roy's tormentor. Roy heard footsteps and saw a pair of boots in front of him. "The proud flame alchemist himself, on his knees bowing to his subordinate." Roy slowly looked up and glared at him, link Monroe. The man who ruined his life since he joined his team. "That's a good look for you colonel, bowing to the under dogs." Monroe said smirking as Roy glared at him with Chiko glaring at him as well. She even gave out a little hiss and her fur fluffed up as well but Monroe paid no heed to them, instead grabbed Roy's hair and lifted him to eye level saying. "This is what happens to people like you, colonel." Roy was suddenly kneed in the face by Monroe, then kicked away in the chest. He fell on his back and Chiko was pushed away from his shoulder, she shook her head, looked at Roy and saw that he was struggling to sit up.
Roy wiped under his nose as there was blood and glared at him. He slowly stood up and glared at him, saying. "I don't know what the hell is your problem but it ends today." Monroe chuckled and grinned evilly at him as Roy got into a fighter stance. Chiko stood in the background on her hind legs looking very worried about her master. As they did their stare off, Roy charged at him ready to throw a punch but Monroe dodged him and punched across the face. Roy staggers but gets back on his feet and glares, Chiko looks at her master very worriedly. Monroe chuckles evilly at Roy as he gets back in his stance and charges towards him.
After a few minutes of dodging and punching, Roy was on his hands and knees panting. He coughed a little before spitting out some blood, he was covered in bruises and he was pretty sure he broke some ribs. He had a black eye that throbbed, a broken nose, a cut on his left cheek, a bruise on his lower jaw on the right, he's pretty sure he cracked a tooth because he tastes blood, his ribs are bruised, one might be broken, his left wrist was broken as well and his wound had opened up. He groaned in pain and grabbed his side a blood started gushing out. Monroe laughed as he looked at Roy and said. "Oh my god! You got hurt on the mission didn't you! And no body bothered to ask you if you were okay! Ha!" Roy looked up at Monroe with a glare at said. "You called them, didn't you."
Monroe raised an eyebrow at that as Roy continued. "The terrorist knew we were coming because someone called them from my office and that someone, was you. Private Monroe." Monroe grinned evilly and said. "Guilty as charge, I needed someway to get you killed in action but your stupidly loyal Lieutenant got in the way and killed my friend but his sacrifice won't be in vain. I will kill the man that killed our fathers for his own pure enjoyment." Roy looks at Monroe in shock and whispered looking down. "What?"
Roy heard a click and looked up to see Monroe pointing a gun at him. "Colonel Roy Mustang, the flame alchemist, will finally be put to justice for his crimes, once and for all." Roy shut his eyes in fear of dying but snapped them opened when he heard Monroe. "OW!" He looked up to see Monroe trying to get something off his ear and Roy saw that it was Chiko, biting his ear while growl. Roy instantly felt proud of his Chiko. Monroe finally ripped Chiko off his ear and into his fist, Chiko turned her head and spit out part of Monroe's ear to the ground. Monroe growled at Chiko and said. "I've had just enough of you and your stupid rat!" Roy glared at Monroe as he continued. "Im going to kill you, but first gonna kill the one thing that stopped me from doing that."
Roy's eyes widened as Monroe started squeezing his fist tightly and then got a look of horror as he heard a crack inside his fist. Tears welded up in his eyes as he shouted in horror.
"CHIKO!"
To be continued