Fullmetal Alchemist Fan Fiction ❯ Descent ❯ The Price of Rebellion ( Chapter 24 )

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

By: ZaKai

Descent

Chapter Twenty-Four

The Price of Rebellion

As they neared the large field outside the main township of Rizembool, Winry sighed wearily. They'd come early, but there were still many people already there.

“I can hold that for you if you want,” Al offered, not for the first time.

The blonde mechanic snorted, shifted the bulky blanket in her arms, and said, “I don't want you carrying anything.”

“Come on Winry… my ribs rarely hurt at all anymore…” Al began, but she cut him off.

“Perhaps in a week or two you can start doing more, but I don't want you to strain yourself.”

“I'm telling you, I'm fine. In fact, I was thinking about maybe going to look for Ed soon,” he said as he scanned the crowd.

Winry's eyes opened wide in surprise and she stopped walking. Al…leave…? No… Pain formed in her chest and her throat constricted at the thought of him going away. She'd already waited all those years for Ed, how could she go back to waiting again for Al?

He turned around to look at her and said, “Winry…?”

Tears came to her eyes and she looked away quickly, trying to make them go away. It hurt to think of being alone again, of having to wait. How could he do that to her? How could he leave her again to a life of constantly waiting, constantly watching for him to come back? All those years she had worried, and now to go back to that…to not know if he was safe or not…

She didn't want him to go, but how could she tell him that? Ed was his brother! He had every right to want to find him; she had no right to tell him no. But… she worried about him… didn't he see that? Didn't he know how much she cared about him?

“Winry, are you alright?” he asked in concern.

She turned and gave him a forced smile. “Yeah, I just had something in my eye, that's all,” she lied quickly.

He was about to say something else when Pinako yelled from ahead, “You kids hurry up, you hear? I'll be dammed if I make it there before you, now get a move on!”

They looked at each other and grinned before hurrying to catch up to the old woman.

;-;-;-;-;-;-;

“Brother… are you really leaving today?” Fletcher whimpered, watching Russell pack the rest of his meager belongings.

“That's right,” he said shortly.

Stupid old hag... Russell thought angrily. How dare she stick her nose in where it doesn't belong? He shook his head. There wasn't anything wrong with his relationship with Fletcher! Maybe they loved each other a little differently than most brothers, but so what?

He didn't like thinking that he was going to be separated from his brother, but at least it was here and not in the middle of a war zone. At least he knew Fletcher would be safe… That was his only consolation in all of this.

His younger brother had a better chance of being alive when he came back here then in the East.

Russell sighed, sat down on the bed and stared at the shorter boy. At twelve years old, Fletcher was only four years younger than him(1), but still he worried about his brother. It had been for his own selfish reasons that he'd dragged the smaller boy to join The People's Army in the first place…

He hadn't wanted to be without him.

But Fletcher didn't belong there. Perhaps even Russell didn't belong there, but he loved the idea of a government run by the people; loved it enough to fight for it. His brother didn't necessarily believe in the ideals of The People's Government, but he believed in Russell…

“Don't worry, Fletcher,” Russell said, then softly ran a finger along the boy's smooth cheek. “I'm just going to Rizembool for a while to talk to Al, and hopefully Ed, if he's back by then.”

Guilt shown in Fletcher's eyes and he said, “I can come with you… I mean… I don't have to stay here…”

The taller brother shook his head, “You want to have that woman teach you, right?”

“Well…yeah, but…”

Russell put a finger over his brother's lips. “But nothing. I told you not to worry about it. I'll be back in a month or two to get you, so just concentrate on your learning while I'm gone, okay?”

;-;-;-;-;-;-;

Al scanned the crowd of people, then let his gaze stop on the newly built stage where the military representative would be speaking to them. The wooden platform was long and sturdy with a podium and microphone for the speaker. Where they had constructed it though… that worried him. The platform was built right next to, or perhaps better to say right under, one of the largest trees on the field…

“Al…why don't you sit down?” he heard Winry say from where she was sitting on the blanket. He sighed wearily and sat down after he felt her tug on his pants.

“I don't like this…” he muttered and looked around again.

“Well, there's not much we can do right now, but wait,” Pinako said, and puffed on her pipe.

He sighed and was about to say something when a mechanical rumble met his ears and he turned to see a military truck, filled with soldiers, driving toward the platform. Silence swept over the crowd as the vehicle reached the stage.

When the truck stopped, the occupants all stood, and there was a gasp when the crowd saw two soldiers roughly shove a chained and manacled Roland out of the truck. When the older man stumbled and fell to the ground, a tall soldier yelled at him to get up, then kicked him in the side.

“Well now… that's productive,” Pinako muttered around her pipe.

Several soldiers grabbed the man and dragged him roughly across the ground and lifted him onto the platform. At that angle it was plain that the man had been severely beaten. Soldiers filed around the platform, then one opened a door on the truck and a pale man with dark hair combed back stepped out.

When Al saw who it was, he gasped sharply.

“Al?” Winry quietly asked in concern.

“I know him… I mean… I've seen him before…”

“Who is he?” she whispered.

He was about to tell her when the man began speaking.

“Citizens of Rizembool,” he paused for effect, then continued. “My name is Colonel Frank Archer. The Fuhrer has heard of how loyal this part of the north is, and has decided, in his great wisdom, to send me to enforce marshal law to protect all of you good and honest citizens.”

“This man is scum…” Al whispered to Winry and Pinako without turning his eyes away from the colonel.

“Because we only wish to protect you,” Archer continued, “some of the rules will be strict, and so will be the punishment for defying them. Because the area of Rizembool is so spread out, we will send each homestead a copy of the temporary laws that will be put into effect, as well as posting them in the main part of Rizembool.”

“We will also be sending soldiers to your homes periodically to make sure you are not being held captive against your will by those who oppose the military. Someone like this man right here for example,” he said and pointed at Roland.

Al could hear the people around him begin muttering loudly to each other, but they were cut off when Archer pulled out his gun and fired it into the air. The crowd gasped, and a few people screamed, but after that there was silence except for the quiet sobs of little children.

“Now,” the pale man said calmly, as if nothing out of the ordinary had happened. “As I was saying, there will be periodic inspections. We expect your full cooperation in this. If there is any resistance, you can be sure the repercussions will be severe.”

He paused a moment, then continued, “There will also be a curfew. Anyone found outside of their homes after sundown will be shot without warning. It doesn't matter if it is a man, woman or child. This too, is for your protection.”

“Bullshit,” Pinako muttered softly.

“It has come to our attention that some of your male citizens have joined with the rebels. This must grieve many of you very much, because I know how loyal each and every one of you are. Although I know none of you would ever dream of supporting traitors, you must be aware of the penalties the Fuhrer has set up for anyone found supporting, aiding, or becoming a part of the rebellion.”

The colonel nodded at a soldier near the tree and the man nodded back before stringing a rope over one of the large, sturdy branches. An even deeper silence seemed to fall on the crowd, and Al swallowed hard, nervous of what was going to happen.

With the rope tied securely and a noose set, Archer nodded at a few other soldiers who then forced Roland over to the rope. It didn't take much, given that the man was already weak from whatever beating they'd given him.

“This man has been found guilty of treason, and for such he will hang.”

Roland was made to stand on a stool and the noose was slipped around his neck. The prisoner let his eyes scan the crowd and when they lit on Al they stopped. The man's gaze bore a hole into him, as if pleading with him, one last time, to join in the cause that he was about to die for.

I'm sorry... Al thought with tears in his eyes. I can't. I'm sorry...

“Watch closely, citizens of Rizembool,” Colonel Archer said menacingly. “This is the price of rebellion.”

Suddenly, the colonel kicked the stool savagely out from beneath Roland.

A collective gasp sounded and Al grabbed Winry, letting her bury her face in his chest.

;-;-;-;-;-;-;

“Don't worry. I'll be back,” Russell said, not for the first time.

Fletcher nodded, though he looked unconvinced.

Sighing, Russell knelt on the ground, and, mindful of the intimidating woman's presence, put his hands on the younger boy's shoulders instead of hugging him. “You're acting like you'll never see me again. It's only for a couple of months Fletcher.”

The boy nodded again, but his trembling lip gave away his feelings.

The tall teen shook his head and thought, forget the old hag, before wrapping his arms around his brother. “It's not goodbye forever, Fletch. Come on…don't be like this.”

“I know… I'm sorry. It's just that… I don't want you to go… I just have a bad feeling about it. You should stay here in the south like you're supposed to…”

The chemist shook his head. “If I can get Al, and Ed, to join our cause it will be worth it all.”

The small alchemist looked down, sniffled and nodded a third time.

“Alright, I'm going,” he said, and stood up. When his younger brother looked up at him with pleading eyes, Russell said, “Don't worry. I'll be fine.”

“Can't you at least stay until tomorrow morning? It's already evening… Just another hour until sunset…”

Russell shook his head. Izumi said she wanted him out tonight, and personally he didn't want to be around her for a moment longer than he had to. He quickly leaned down and kissed Fletcher on the top of the head before saying, “Two months… maybe three… though I doubt it. Okay?”

“Okay,” the younger boy said unhappily.

Russell started down the road that would eventually take him out of the town. Suddenly he stopped, turned around and waved one last time. Fletcher waved back and in that moment, Russell felt a heaviness form in his chest… a foreboding feeling that nagged at him to listen to his brother for once.

He shook the feeling aside.

His brother had always been a worrier.

;-;-;-;-;-;-;

After the rest of Archer's speech, soldiers began directing the crowd away from the stage. A few people spoke in low murmurs, but besides that there was quiet. Everyone seemed too stunned to say much. Archer had ordered them all to go back to their homes and not come out until the next day. This, Al was sure, was to avoid anyone from retaliating.

When Al looked up and saw Winry begin walking against the throng, toward the tree, he called worriedly, “Winry! What are you doing?”

When she didn't acknowledge him, he ran to catch up with her. As he came to her side, she looked at him with tears in her eyes, and said, “I just want to… I don't know…”

“I don't think this is a good idea…” he muttered and glanced at the soldiers.

When they reached the spot where Roland's body was hanging from the tree, a soldier held out a hand. “Stop right there,” he commanded them.

“I just want to pay some respect to the dead,” the blonde mechanic said tearfully.

“Please return to your homes. No one is allowed to…” the soldier began, but was cut off by Colonel Archer.

“What's going on here?” he asked flatly.

“Sir,” the solider said, and saluted. “These two civilians say they want to pay their respect to the dead.”

“Really,” the colonel sneered, then said, “what are your names?”

“Winry Rockbell…” Winry answered unsteadily.

Al hesitated. It was well known in Central that Alphonse Elric wore a suit of armor, and never took it off. What questions might come up if he answered? In the end though, he thought it better to be honest. “Alphonse Elric,” he said stiffly.

Archer raised an eyebrow and said, “Alphonse Elric?” When Al nodded, the colonel said, “Not brother to the Fullmetal, surely…”

It wasn't a question.

Al nodded again and pressed his lips together. The delighted grin that spread across the other man's face was enough to give him the creeps.

Archer waved a hand and said, “Let the woman `pay her respects'. You may go; I have business with this one.”

When the soldier saluted and left, Archer folded his arms and looked Al up and down. “Well, you don't look like you'd fit in armor that size…”

Al shrugged. “I don't care what you think.”

“Indeed? Well, none of that really matters, does it? What matters here is that you are a very talented alchemist… I could use someone of your skills…”

The tall teen sighed and looked to where Winry was standing by Roland's corpse, then returned his gaze to the unsavory man in front of him.

“I'm not interested in becoming the military's dog, colonel,” Al said.

The pale man gave him a flat lipped smile. “I'm not asking you to become a dog for the military. I don't think that someone of your talents should be used in such an unfitting manner. I want you to work with me, and the people under me. I have some very powerful alchemists…” he trailed off and nodded toward the truck.

A man with black hair cut short on his head and a long wrapped tail of hair running down his back was leaning against the truck. He was on the side facing away from the crowd, so Al hadn't seen him before.

Al frowned. He knew this man's face too, though he'd only read about him…(2) “Zolf J. Kimblee…The Crimson Alchemist…” he muttered.

“So you know of the lieutenant colonel(3),” Archer stated.

“Of course. He killed some of his own during the Ishbal war…but I thought he was…”

“Executed for his crimes?” Colonel Archer laughed. “Well, some things aren't always what they seem.”

“I'm aware of that,” Al said bluntly.

The colonel nodded, a knowing smile on his face. “I'm…sure…you are.”

The tall teen fidgeted a bit uncomfortably, unsure of how much the man knew, then cleared his throat before saying, “I'm still not interested in being anyone's dog.”

Truthfully, Al actually sympathized more with the rebellion than with the military. The idea of a people run government was intriguing, and if it could work that might be better than a militaristic government. Even then, he still didn't like the idea of fighting, didn't like the idea of war and having to kill people…

“Well…we shall see…” Archer said, the knowing grin still on his face as he turned around and headed back to the truck.

Al watched him for a moment, then moved his gaze to Kimblee. The man was returning his stare with a predatory one. The tall alchemist felt a chill, then turned around and walked over to Winry. She was holding a photograph and two pieces of folded paper. He looked over her shoulder and saw that it was a picture of Roland's family.

The blonde mechanic turned around and with tears in her eyes, said, “I never wished for this to happen to him… I just wanted him to leave you alone…”

“I know…” he murmured.

Gently, Al pulled the picture and papers out of her hands, and wrapped one arm comfortingly around her. Awkwardly he unfolded the first paper with his remaining hand and scanned over the words.

A letter from Roland's wife.

The paper was worn and was starting to tear at the creases from how many times the man must have folded it and unfolded it. The second paper was newer; a letter from the man to his wife…

Sighing heavily, Al tucked the picture and the letters into his pocket, then whispered, “Let's go home…” before guiding Winry away from the gruesome scene.

1- I don't believe any mention was ever made about Fletcher's age, so I've decided to make him four years younger.

2 - Just a reminder that this story breaks off from the series when Ed and Al go to visit Dante. Nothing out of the ordinary happened at that time, but it isn't inconceivable that sometime between then and now Archer was able to get a hold of Kimblee.

3 - As you can see he's been promoted.

Thanks to:

MasamuneReforged for being my beta.

Hm… I feel like I've forgotten someone…

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