Chapter 5
The Landing
Keeping out of sight from behind a boulder and dried-out, old tree with Hawkeye and Sheska, Mustang heaves a drawn out sigh as he shuffles his hands in his pockets. The material of his gloves reassures him of both his status and reputation. On the other hand, Sheska is nervously jittery. She can’t believe how easily he was able to get away from town without an escort. Hawkeye may be here, but she doesn’t seem as so sure of that as support. While Sheska’s lost in thought, Mustang breaks the silence. “That one over there looks like the commander.” A nod of his head indicates the man he’s talking about. What strikes the girls is how similar he looks to a certain alchemist that complains about being called short. That would be Edward Elric. This man looks like a taller version of the boy. Except he’s wearing a green uniform with yellow highlights and his hair is more silver in color.
Hawkeye takes a closer look at the troops as they are being ordered around. “It’s a clear military structure, sir.” Mustang nods. “Yeah. I don’t like it.” Then Sheska has something to say as she points out a short, rounded-out man in proper suit and tie. He looks civilian. “He seems out of place.” Hawkeye quickly grabs her and pulls her back into a safe hiding spot. “Ssh. We don’t want to be noticed.” Mustang smirks and chuckles. “Not yet at least.” As he says that though, the civilian-looking gentleman and commander exchange a few words and look to where they’re hiding. The three of them quickly try to conceal themselves better using the vantage place they’d chosen. “Do you think they spotted us, sir?” Hawkeye gives Mustang a concerned glance, and she notices him nod his head.
As the gentleman and commander move towards the three of them, the civilian looking one puts on a pair of shades, effectively blocking his eyes from view. The commander speaks up, in a coarse, war-torn voice. “You can come out. We were expecting some onlookers, and we have no hostile intentions.” Hawkeye then hears and sees exactly what she’d expect and fear, Mustang and his usual, quick tongue. He comes into clear view, hands in pocket, in an almost mocking manner. “Is that so?” He pauses. “…and with such an interesting advance force? Might I know the name of the man I have the pleasure of speaking with.”
The fact that the request was made as a blunt statement brings a smirk to the commander’s face as he hears his own soldiers rush with weapons ready. When they see a sign from their commander to stand down, they reluctantly do so. Mustang notes that not a single one hesitated for more than an instant. That confirms that he’s definitely talking to the top brass of this outfit. That’s when he hears the commander speak up again. “I would be General Spartan Isovar, also Reagent of Corsair.” Before Mustang can respond, Isovar continues. “You appear to be Lieutenant Colonel Roy Mustang, Flame Alchemist of the Alchemy State, and Lieutenant Riza Hawkeye, his personal liaison and assistant. Let me introduce you to my personal liaison and assistant…” He pauses as he indicates the civilian gentlemen. “…Lucifer.”
Chapter 6
Cruel Fate
Ed wears a scowl as his fists hit the table he, Al, and Noa are sitting at. That brings additional attention to them from the already wary tavern patrons. Not exactly wanting the attention, the two try nervously to calm him down. “We still have some time to think, brother.” Noa pauses, feeling the scornful eyes from those around them. She can’t find the strength to speak as she slowly closes her eyes and sighs. “Yeah right!” Ed’s outburst brings her out of her trance. “If he thinks we’re going to scare that easily, he’s got another thing coming!” “Edward?” He gives Noa a questioning look as she calls him. “What if he’s right?”
Ed just blinks and stares at her for a moment, dumbfounded. “Wh…?” He stumbles for the right words. “What are you talking about?!” As Noa’s about to respond, the table reverberates with the obvious thumb of a fist against it. Ed, Al, and Noa look up to see the tavern owner standing there, fist still on the table with a slip under it. He’s wearing a scowl as he plainly looks at Noa. “I think it’s time for you to leave. Now pay your tab and get out!” “What for?!” As Al stands abruptly to reprimand the proprietor, he sees Ed stick his arm out as a sign to stop. “It’s okay, Al. We’ll leave. Noa.” She looks at him with a surprised blink. “Could you pay the man?” The proprietor gives a growl. “The Gypsy’s money’s no good here!” Ed smirks. “I guess it’s okay then. You see…” He pauses as he glowers at the man. “It’s my money, and she’s so kind to keep track of it for me.”
It was an obvious lie, but the tavern owner was put in a spot where he had to take the money. Of course, Ed has the biggest smirk on his face as he leaves the tavern with Al and Noa. “Now why’d you go and do that, brother?” Ed’s smirk turns into a frown as a scowl takes his face. He shuffles his feet as the three of them walk away. He kicks up some dust as he answers the question. “I just hate seeing faces like that. Her money’s as good as ours.” Noa smiles. “Thanks Ed.” Al sighs and shrugs. “You just don’t ever change, brother. What if you just made things worse and a scuffle broke out?” To this, Ed has the perfect answer and that witty smirk on his face. “I’d just have to punch all their teeth out and squash them like bugs!” To this, he also makes childish faces and gestures almost like he was imitating what he just said. This gives both Al and Noa a chance to cheer up, even if a little, and giggle.
As they are walking down the street with no destination in particular, they happen upon a Church. The structure appears old and worn, and an obvious replacement is under construction down the road. They can see inside. “It’s strange, Al.” This of course gets his attention, and Ed just continues. “I won’t pretend I was ever religious, but at least I understand one thing. That Cross at that Alter wasn’t supposed to represent this.” Noa smiles and bows her head. “No, Ed. It doesn’t. I think…it confuses people. ‘How are we supposed to love?’ I think people ask when their lives have hardships.” She looks at the brothers with a sad smile. “After the War, this country just deteriorated, and the people looked for somebody to blame.”
Ed scratches the back of his head. He hadn’t meant to depress Noa. They’re in Germany now, though. There are constantly contemptuous glares coming her way. Even the brothers couldn’t escape that gaze. “Yeah… I guess that Adolf person isn’t exactly helping morale around here, either.” Ed knows that person all too well thanks to the Gate. “I just think people need to look forward to the bright future!” Noa suddenly looks up with slight astonishment towards him. Ed continues as his fist clench. “I may not understand why Envy says that forbidden element will end the terrible things that are about to happen, but I do know war just brings more death and hardship.”
Noa smiles and takes Ed’s tightly clenched hands into her own. He looks at her a bit surprised. “I think Envy’s right.” Ed and Al blink in surprise, and Ed draws his hands back as he just stares at her. “What are you talking about?!” Then he notices the tears that are welling in her eyes even as she wears a gentle, genuine smile. “I think it’s the way humans are. We can’t quite understand, but we try our best. Even if it’s the wrong path, shouldn’t we at least try it?” Ed is left speechless. He has no idea where this is coming from. As he tries to muster something to say, he hears Al in an outburst. “Are you saying it’s okay for this to happen?” Noa shakes her head. “No. I just think that if we are to head into a bright future we need to stumble along ourselves…”
Ed’s mouth is agape as Al is taken back. “Noa…” Ed clenches his fists again before releasing them in something like surrender. “Are you sure about this?” Noa wipes her eyes with a shake of her head and a serene smile. “No.” He smirks as he looks her in the eyes. “You know we can’t take you with us.” She nods her head. “I think I’d like to see this world’s bright future.” He shrugs in a seeming nonchalant manner. “We’d be leaving you to a cruel fate.” She nods again. “The world is about to change, so ‘fate’ might just catch its sails on a new wind.” Al just stares at them with a rather classic, confused expression on his face. The “Huh?” might even be read in his eyes.
Chapter 7
The Island State
Sheska has a confused look on her face as she sees Mustang chuckle and smirk. It’s seeing Hawkeye roll her eyes that has her worrying all the more. Mustang removes his right hand from its pocket and holds his arm in the air in an insulting manner. That half-shrug of his gives a smug appearance as his smirk broadens. “I’d say you had me at a disadvantage…” He pauses for a moment to glance Isovar and Lucifer’s expressions. It’s the plump gentleman who unexpectedly speaks up though. His tone is low, not quite masculine and not quite feminine which gives it a slight annoying tinge despite not being whiney. “It seems my information was wrong, Isovar.”
Lucifer has the full attention of Mustang, his entourage, and Isovar just before the shuffle of startled feet against the sandy earth has everybody, including Isovar’s soldiers, looking in the same direction. As the soldiers raise their weapons, Mustang sighs and looks down slightly amused. He has only one thought as he looks back up, and he states it aloud. “That girl always finds the right time to make some mischief.” He turns to Isovar. “If your mission really is diplomatic, don’t raise your weapons on civilians!” Lucifer has an expectant smirk on his face as he points. “It’s her! That’s Winry Rockbell!” Isovar seems pleased to hear this information. “Then he should be nearby?”
Winry just blinks in bewilderment. She’d been identified by some stranger…just after nearly slipping. That had revealed she was coming, and she’s still recovering from the loss of balance. “Who…? Who are you?” Isovar and Lucifer begin to move towards her, but Mustang and Hawkeye step in front of them to block their path to her. Mustang even has his gloved, right hand raised ready to snap his finger at a moment’s notice. Hawkeye has her gun trained on Isovar. With their commander threatened, the soldiers don’t know if they should raise their weapons or not. It’s obvious Mustang doesn’t much approve their approach towards Winry, especially as anger enters his tone. “What do you think you’re doing?”
Isovar doesn’t hesitate to raise his arm in a gesture for his men to stand down. That’s when Lucifer tilts his shades down to take a better look at the group. What’s seen in those eyes brings shock to Mustang, Hawkeye, and Sheska and fright to Winry. Hawkeye even re-aims to center on that accursed eye. There’s only one thing for Mustang to exclaim as he carefully considers his options. “A homunculus?!” The symbol of the serpent eating its own tail is clearly evident in Lucifer’s right eye. “Ah.” The calm response from Isovar might be the most unnerving thing to the group. “I see you’ve dealt with his kind.” He pauses for a moment as he looks down to his companion. “I find it interesting I heard nothing of this.”
Lucifer takes another step forward, and Mustang purses his forefinger and thumb together with a bit more force. Lucifer sounds confident as he responds to the seemingly accusatory Isovar. “How else do you think I’d have known about Edward Elric, the Full Metal Alchemist, from our small, island nation?” “Edward?” comes the bemused stammer from Mustang. When Lucifer takes yet another step, he snaps his fingers and sends flames hurtling towards the homunculus. Winry looks from Lucifer, who seemed too easily engulfed in flames, towards the strange aircraft. It’s almost like something makes sense to her. “’island nation’? It makes some sense…”
What Winry sees in the aircraft astonishes her and brings that curious glint to her eyes that even the Elric brothers feared. These craft are made of technology completely different from anything available in the State. Unlike what came through the gate, these aircraft appear capable of vertical flight, most likely for taking off and landing. That would make sense for an island nation. The limited space they have available plus reliance on watercraft would have pushed development in such a direction. The design isn’t the most aerodynamic in the world, so these things probably were a pain to fly. In essence, the pilot would have to be strong and well trained.