Fullmetal Alchemist Fan Fiction ❯ Homunculi gone wrong? ❯ Past and Present ( Chapter 3 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

WARNING: This chapter has some child abuse in it. If you feel uneasy about that, then you might want to stop reading the fic now. If not well thanks for reading, from here on out it'll be getting darker.

Chapter Two: Past and Present...

Ishval

Roy Mustang, age nineteen, was bent over wiping his mouth with the sleeve of his stained uniform. He was breathing heavily, recovering from just getting sick. The smell of burnt flesh still clung to the air. /I burned them... I, I just killed them. / He thought fighting the urge to get sick again. /It shouldn't have been like this. I should have gotten a desk job like Maes. Like that would have happened I took the test. Now I just have to follow orders. / Roy Mustang fought breaking down knowing it wouldn‘t be long before he snapped. Roy Mustang, the Flame Alchemist, couldn‘t afford to break down. The young Alchemist stood unsteadily staring at the contents of his stomach as if by looking at it, the memory of what he had just done would go away. /I have to get back to Central after this. Show Maes up. / He thought looking up slightly as he heard the sound of gunfire getting closer. /One of the others must have let a hole open up.../

A pretty blonde walked up to him touching his shoulder. "Hey, Mustang you okay? You don't look so hot sir." She said looking up at him with her blue eyes.

"Jan! Thought you agreed to stay back until this was over. What am I going to do if my wife keeps running off into danger?" The young man, in his early twenties, who ran up looked at the woman, who didn’t seem much older than eighteen.

"Sorry Jordan, I was trying to find more supplies for the medics. They were running out of gauze. I saw Mustang here getting sick and thought I would try to comfort him. I‘m sorry Husband." She looked down slightly hiding her cold eyes. “I didn’t mean to worry you dear. I’ll return to the tents as soon as I’m done here okay?”

Roy straightened; "you won't find anything here." Mustang turned to go, not really knowing either Jordan or Jan very well. What he did know threatened to make him lose his stomach again. Dark blue eyes looked the two over as they had bantered. Luckily they were far enough from the main fight that they could relax a little. The sound of the battle did sound like it was getting closer though.

"What happened? Crimson didn't do this did he?" She asked standing. "I know he's a little unhinged." Jan glanced at her husband, who scowled slightly. She returned it and he stomped off.

Roy shook his head and continued to walk away. "That bastard's causing chaos in another part of this hellhole."

She was glad his back was to her as she smiled. /Pity you're not having fun with this. They deserve it for not giving in./ She thought looking back at the building. /Looks like he really won’t like what we've been commanded to do to the ones that handed themselves over. / She licked her lips thinking about what she'd do to them.

"He's too soft for this." Jordan said as she walked to him. The blond nodded.

"And too bad we can't play with him. I think he'd be fun to break. I'd love to see those pretty eyes of his in pain." She whispered back wrapping her arms around his shoulders.

"So that's why you've been stalking him." Jordan nodded.

"It's okay; there were a few little ones that I can break... I found where they were hiding. They believed me when I told them that I'd help them escape. Right now they’re sleeping in our tent love." The woman’s blue eyes went cold as she spoke.

Roy frowned hearing them talk but not quite hearing what they were saying. /Can’t they keep their bedroom talk off the battlefield. You’d think they’d be serious. He should have left her at home; this is no place for a woman. / He thought as he left them behind. Both were another Alchemist’s trouble, his job was to look out for himself. /Further away from those two the better. /

Adrian snuck up behind Jan and Jordan, "So, you two want to go after Flame?"

"You know how my wife gets when she sets her eyes on something. I'm not one to make her unhappy."

Jan looked at her. "Adrian... I thought you were tagging along with the others cleaning up?"

Adrian grinned toothily, "oh, that, they're as good as dead...being as knowledgeable about poisons...the only thing is I think I hit a few of our Men...oops..."

Jan grinned. "The ones that were balking at this I hope. We do not need weak fighters in the military."

Jordan pulled Jan closer as the sounds of the other lower foot soldiers came, screaming for back up. "Looks like it's back to work." He gave his wife a quick kiss.

"I'm still going to have my fun." Her eyes seemed to glow as she thought about the pain she was about to cause.

Adrian grinned, "tell me if you need any of my special venom..." And with that the Black Widow Alchemist took off, a strange mix of horse, wolf and spider coming to her side.

Jordan shuddered seeing the three chimeras. "Love, you'll never try to make those will you?" He asked running to catch up with his more fleet-footed wife.

Jan had run off flashing him a faint smile. "If I did, I wouldn't use spiders Love. I'd want something more obedient." She jumped onto a perch throwing some of her poisoned darts before jumping to another perch before anyone could track her movements. While not a good enough Alchemist to take the test, she had earned her place in the military with her quick reflexes and thinking, always seeming to stay just a few steps ahead of her opponents. It had also caused her to be jumped around from unit to unit until a few months ago when in a quick ceremony she had married Jordan.

Jordan opened fire on some of the people trying to escape her darts, backing Mustang up as needed. The sniper managed to get himself into a small cubby, taking out targets with ease.

Roy shuddered slightly seeing that the two were near him again. /At least they're not focusing on me at the moment. / He ducked a fist returning it.

Roy wasn't quite sure why the married couple unnerved him, but they did. It bothered him a lot, but what bothered him more is how BlackWidow would talk with them. He distrusted her, and disliked her. Something about the woman rubbed him the wrong way, and usually a woman was the last thing to irk him.

Mustang hit the ground with a grunt, as something hit him, snapping him out of his thoughts. He rolled ready to snap in the direction of his new opponent. Dark eyes went wide as he saw the clawed foot of a Chimera come to his head...



...Roy woke up with a start though most people couldn't read him so they didn't notice. He glanced at Hughes who was cuddling a picture of Elysia in the front seat, clearly having had dozed off.

Riza was looking over the file on the situation they were going into, seated beside him. "Good morning Colonel. Havoc says we'll be there soon." She said tucking a lock of hair out of her eyes as she slipped her glasses off tucking them away. She rubbed the bridge of her nose. "I should really stop reading when he drives... I swear he hit every bump between here and Central..." She grumbled under her breath.

Havoc glanced back in the rear view mirror. "Hey, it's not my fault. These roads suck." The light haired man said in his defense. He looked back to the road to pull his attention from the only woman he was actually scared of.

Roy shifted in the seat, uncomfortable, and unable to pin point why, "Good. I'm sure FullMetal will be as short as Ever." /Could it have been the dream. I have tried so hard to forget about those days.../ He thought looking at the people he could think of as his friends and family. He knew that he’d take a shot for any of them at any time. /How long has it been since I started to think of them as friends and not just co-workers? /

The car hit another bump making Hawkeye fall from her seat to the floor. "Damn it Havoc!" She drew her gun leaving the safety on, but still placed it to his head. Her eyes closed a little as she growled low. "Hit another bump and we'll be cleaning your brains out of the dash."

Falmon bit back a snicker seeing the anger in the woman's face. He knew better than to laugh at her expense. Everyone in the car knew that the woman wouldn’t really shoot Havok.

Roy snickered, "Easy Hawkeye." /Glad she at least left the safety on. We don’t need him pissing his pants. / He added in thought.

She sighed. "Yes Colonel." She put the gun away slumping back into her seat. The other men relaxed a little.

/She must be on her period. She's getting more irrational by the minute.../ Falmon thought as he sighed looking back out the window. "Sir, you think that Fullmetal's gotten into trouble by now?"

"Probably," Roy said with out any emotion. It was time to get back to work. He shoved the dream to the back of his mind to think about later.

Havoc snickered, "Yeah, the Boss has a habit of doing that..."

"He'll be fine though. It's not like he hasn't dealt with things way over his head before." Riza Hawkeye grimaced at her pun. "Anyway, we should be ready for anything when we get there. Knowing him, we'll be lucky if we don't have to fill out a ton of paperwork. I still haven't gotten Colonel to finish the last batch from the last situation." She shot Mustang a small glare. /Not that I can blame him for not wanting to do it. We should start making Elric do the paperwork. Maybe then he wouldn‘t get into so much trouble.../ She did feel sorry for them though. The boys had been through a lot in their short lives so far, and she figured it would just get harder for them.

Mustang coughed, "Right; anyhow...I think that's the place...." He pointed ahead.



In town



Ed opened the door looking at the major, "is there a problem?" He asked shutting the door, determined not to let them inside. /Al can handle it right. As long as I keep them from entering, maybe it will give them time to hide her. / He thought watching the seven men and a woman who was hanging off Jordan’s shoulders with an evil look in her eyes.

The blond woman pulled away from Jordan. "This is the Alchemist they sent? He's so cute, kind of looks familiar doesn't he Boss?" She asked as she toyed with a band on her wrist. Unlike the one that Ed had taken off the girl, this one was leather and full of darts. “Something about him reminds me of another pretty Alchemist we knew a while ago.”

Jordan smiled. “I knew you’d catch that dear. He does look a little like him doesn’t he?”

Ed narrowed his eyes, "is there a problem..."

"We have word from higher up that we're to collect the girl to make sure she stays in our custody until the Colonel arrives. Seems that the powers in charge don't want to trust a brat with protecting her." Jan said calmly, looking down at him.

Jordan smirked. /I'll let you handle things. Considering you're so good with children. / He thought. "Why don't you just let us get her? If you're afraid she'll be hurt, you're welcome to come with us." He nodded and his men moved to surround the young teen.

Ed barked with laughter, "That is the biggest load of BullShit I've ever heard, and by looking at her injuries...I'm not inclined to listen." Ed was ready to clap and form his arm into an arm blade or to block the door with stone.

"Get in the church for her. Jan, you think you can handle him?"

The blond woman nodded as she threw two of her darts towards him. "He doesn't look as fast as some of the others they sent." She smiled. "Go fetch our toy again Love."

Ed blocked with his Automail arm, clapping quickly and slamming his hands on the ground, a big wall erected between them and the door.

Jan smiled. "Ah, the pretty one has some tricks." She threw another dart at him jumping up on the fence. "Show me what you can do boy."

Three of the men had split off going for the back door.

Ed rolled out of the way clapping again transmuting his Automail arm into a blade, not saying a word. His eyes were narrowed and a smug grin was on his face. He was confident this was a fight he would win.

She smiled at him standing on the wall. "Come little boy." She said reaching for an acid dart wondering if it would eat away his barrier so that the others could get in. /I can get it in the wall and distract the boy long enough. It's been too long since we've really killed. / She thought with a purr.

Ed charged at her, clapping his hands together creating a path up to the wall.

She threw the dart past him and flipped down from the wall grinning as she touched a rose vine sending vines out for him.

/That's my baby... keep him occupied.../ Jordan watched the wall start to crumble as it was being eaten away. /Three more minutes should do it. / Jan thought as she jumped back again running off to the lure him away from the church.

Ed tried to fend off the vine that had shot out at him with his auto mail arm, growling slightly.

"Oh, the little baby getting frustrated already? Pity, I was hoping for a challenge.

"I'll give you a fucking Challenge," Ed snarled ripping through the plants and aiming at her with his blade.

She watched him easily judging his speed and dodging out of the way. She laughed as she danced out of the way, leading him further away from the church.

Ed smirked and clapped his hands, "Have fun." He slammed his hands on the ground and a hole opened up in the ground dropping her in it.

She yelped as she fell back. "Fair play." She pulled herself out hoping that she had bought her husband enough time.

Ed was already booking it back to the church.



The boys stayed by the door. Father Rem went to them, pulling them back. "Go stay with Mitsuko. Ask her to seal the door."

"My brother won't let them in." Al said helping usher the boys into the bedroom.

Mitsuko promised to seal the room and started to work on the array that would melt the door into the wall. The two boys found a corner and sat down waiting for it to be over.

Al went to the door hoping to see what his brother was up to. /Ed, be careful, please.../

Father Rem checked all the doors finding them locked. He started back to the altar when he heard a backdoor crash open. There was a yelp as another door was thrown open. Both looked at each other then ran for the room.

Mitsuko was thrown aside hitting her head on the wall. Her array was almost done, but not enough to use. She tried to go for her ink. The boys screamed as they were grabbed. Her hand clutched the inkbottle and she tossed it into the face of one of the men, he batted it away with a growl. /Damn... missed his eyes.../ She tried to get up to claw one of the boys free, only to be shoved down again.

Ritsuko moaned slightly, but didn’t wake.

/Father must have drugged her... Means I’m on my own to finish this.../
The three men quickly took care of the two boys, slitting their throats. "You'll behave now won't you brat?" They looked at Mitsuko. She whimpered biting her lip. She looked at Ritsuko and hissed as one of the men grabbed her arms holding them tightly.

"No!" Mitsu screamed as she pulled free and touched the array hoping to call up a barrier to protect at least Ritsuko. Light flashed as the array flared to life, but nothing happened. "Father!" She screamed knowing it didn’t work and she couldn‘t fight all three of them on her own. One of the men grabbed her before she could scramble to her feet completely.

"I'll deal with her; you two help with the other two."

Rem started to run to the room, only to stop when the doors opened.

"Let me go! Don't..." The girl screamed. There was another shot and she screamed; though it was more out of fear. Two men came out carrying the sleeping woman, who still hadn't woken.



Jan touched the ground and vines wrapped around the fleeting figure. "We aren't done yet boy."

Ed growled, "we are if I say we are..." he snapped before going to cut the vines with his automail blade.

The vines cut into his flesh tightly. "No, you see boy. It's impolite to actually run away from me. Unless you like pain." She walked up to him as the vines tried to pin him to the ground

Ed continued to try to cut them cursing before clapping his hands together and moving to change the composition of the vines.

She watched as he did and smirked. "By now it's too late. You all mad because you couldn't save the girl?"

He changed the composition of the vines turning it to dust before he stung his automail arm low.

A gunshot rang out from inside the church and Mitsuko screamed out obviously trying to get free. "Father Rem!"



"Fuck," he swore before scrambling to his feet and throwing a punch at Jan with his real arm.

Jan yelped backing up. She held her jaw where his hand had connected.

Ed turned around and sprinted back to the church.



Mitsu was struggling to get free from the man who was tying her down to the altar. A rag had been stuffed in her mouth to silence her. Al was nowhere to be found and the Priest was trying to get up from the floor holding his side where blood was seeping out from between his fingers. /Mitsu... No... God, don’t let her be punished as well as Ritsu and I for Yashiro’s mistake... Please, she’s only a child.../ He silently begged fighting against screaming out as the bullet worked it’s way out of his side.

The man tore the child’s clothing off using his body to hold her down. She struggled against him the best she could remembering what they had done to Ritsuko a few times when she had been bound down. Something pressed against her bare stomach. “You know, it’s a pity he wanted to save you bitch.”

Mitsuko turned her head away, her eyes catching Rem’s silver ones as the Priest crumbled to the floor. She screamed through the gag hoping someone would help her. /Father... Sis... Mick and Jase.... / She closed her eyes as the man tightened the bindings so she couldn’t move.

“Now just sit tight a while...” He laughed as he set the two bodies of the boys in the pews closest to her, opening their dead eyes so that they were looking at her.



Ed chased after the two men carrying Ritsuko. He caught up easily going for the closest of them with his blade going for the thigh.

The other man took the woman, holding his knife to her throat. "Keep it up and we'll kill her now..."

"You do realize what rank I am don't you," Ed growled realizing he was not talking to who was in charge.

The man looked scared but held his ground. Ritsuko groaned starting to wake.

"Let her go, and the blame goes on the officers back there." Ed said evenly.

Ed growled, "let her go and I'll let you go...understand?" He hated it when people ignored him.

The man still held onto Ritsuko, who opened her eyes, still looking out of it. "I... I'm dead if I go back empty handed..."

"Josh..." His partner whimpered trying to stop the bleeding.

Ritsuko's face twisted in pain as she felt it from the man Ed had hurt.

"Don't go back then," Ed said simply taking a step forward. "Least you'll not go back with blood on your hands."



Havoc pulls up to the church. Roy frowned and went to get out.

/No. Stop looking... Please stop looking.... / She silently begged seeing the eyes on her. Muffled shouting told her that Al was somewhere. She tried to work her wrists free only to stop when the bindings cut into her flesh. She gave up lowering her head. /Father... help me please.../ Tears fell from her eyes.

Pounding on the door told her that Al could move. The men scattered heading towards headquarters hoping to meet up with the others.

"Mitsu..." Father Rem struggled to get to her to free her. He couldn't see what happened to the boys buy could tell from her muffled sobs it wasn't good.

Roy walked out of the Military van quickly, going to the Church entrance. He saw the child hanging above the altar slowly raise her head...

...Roy stumbled into a building, taking cover. He just wanted to scrub off of the smoke off of him.

Jan laughed as she finished gutting a small child that her husband had hung. She saw Mustang and yelped slightly.

Jordan was across the building dealing with the child's parents.

Roy's eyes widened, "...y...you..." he took a step back getting ready to run and tell Colonel Grand.

Jan quickly threw a paralyzing dart at him. "You tell and I will kill you Flame."

Roy's eyes darted up to the child then back to her still backing up, "You killed a child...a helpless child...."

"That's our job poor little Flame... We're here to take out these people... Or have you forgotten your orders." She licked the blade of the knife she had used to kill the girl with.

Dead red eyes looked out from under red hair as he looked at the body again. Roy turned pale, "But...she wasn't even five."

Jan purred. "And does that make a difference pretty, pretty Flame?"

Mitsu saw the figure's shadow in the doorway and whimpered trying to get free. /Don't let them be back... please... Be Edward.... / She begged lifting her head slightly. The rags holding her cut deep into her skin, blood dripped down her arm slowly. She fought he urge to struggle, not sure how deeply she had cut herself.

Hawkeye found the remains of the fight in the yard. She drew her gun looking at the church. /Who would fight in a church? /

Falmon watched the two. He too drew a gun moving around the other side of the building from Riza to make sure it was clear.

Havoc came out of the van and looked around holding his shotgun.

"No. No," He whispered slowly backing up before shaking his head. /No. It‘s not her... This isn‘t that hellish place. / He calmed himself down and turned to Hawkeye not wanting to go closer, afraid that the child would be beyond saving. Roy covered his mouth, "Riza...help her...now..." He stumbled outside before he could get sick.

She nodded going to the child. Riza saw the two boys and quickly took off her jacket to wrap around the child once she was free. The blond woman felt the child cling to her sobbing as she took the gag out of her mouth. /Roy.../ She glanced back to the doors making sure the girl wouldn’t see what had happened to the two boys.



"He owns this town... There's no way we can get out of here alive unless he has her back."

Ed frowned, "then don't stay here...anyhow once I get back to central, they won’t be in charge of a pile of shit."

Ritsuko's eyes shimmered slightly as she fought tears. The coward threw her at him and went to help his friend. She cried out stumbling into him.

Ed caught her and pulled her close clapping his hands together and his blade retracted. "Come on let's get you back to safety ok?"

Ritsuko nodded leaning heavily against him. She didn't talk; trying to stay focused on staying awake.

Ed picked her up and started to carry her back to the church figuring that would be the best place to try to figure out what was going on. /What the hell did Mustang send me out on this time? / "I'm carrying you, debate over, I win," Ed said dryly glance around to make sure no one was coming at them.

The woman gave a small nod figuring it was best not to argue with him. “I start to get heavy put me down though...”

/I put you down and you’ll be in pain... I’m trying to avoid that.../ Ed said trying to hide worry from her. /She feels lighter than a kid.../ He heard her stomach grumble and saw her cheeks go red. “Don’t worry about it. Just hang on okay? If you need to sleep again go ahead...” He shifted her in his arms a little glad that she was a small woman.

She rested her head on his shoulder biting her lip to keep from screaming out in pain. She closed her eyes tightly.

Ed carried her till he reached the church.



"Hush, it's over okay?" Riza said letting the girl cry. It was clear that she had no idea how to calm her.

Roy walked over to a door hearing a thump against it, "Where's FullMetal?" He looked up, angered, at the armor bound brother.

"He, he went outside to try to keep everyone in here safe." Al looked over to where the red head was being carried by Riza over to them. The girl's eyes were scouting for the priest. "I'm sorry, I couldn't be of much help. They took her sister. I. I allowed them to lock me in there to prevent them from killing her."

Roy nodded frowning, "I see, Riza, Falmon, Hughes...Hughes... HUGHES! Stay here..." Hughes jumped from his position of looking around. "I'm going to take Havoc and Fury to scout around see if we can find FullMetal."

Havoc looked around as Fury started looking to see if there was any sign of what happened. Brenda was seeing if there was any one on the outside of the church.

Falmon walked up to the doors. "What ever happened seems to have left."



Mitsu pulled away from Riza and grabbed Al's leg. "I don't see Father..." She whimpered pawing at her eyes with the backs of her hands. He scooped her up holding her.

"He's in here somewhere." Al spotted the man lying between two pews and wrapped his arms around her to protect her from seeing it. "Lieutenant Colonel Hughes... Could you check over there?" He asked nodding to where the body was.

"Right Alphonse Kun...." Hughes went over to help the man.

Roy went out side" Fury, Havoc let's go..."



Jordan went to gather his wife knowing that his men would be able to handle any situation that came up.

Jan and Jordan both watched from the shadows smiling faintly. "So, we get a chance to play with Flame..." She whispered quiet enough for him to hear. He nodded as the two of them took an alley down a block then headed for their home.



Father Rem moaned slightly hearing the strangers' voices. When the large man started for him he blinked slightly.

"You ok?" Hughes asked offering a hand to help him out.

"I. Other than being shot... I think so... Mitsuko..." Silver eyes fell on the metal man holding the small girl. "She's not hurt is she? I'd never forgive myself if she was..." He tried to stand. /This isn't going to help. Hopefully she'll stay quiet about it. / He thought hoping he wasn't healing too fast.

Al had managed to calm the girl down some more. She stayed curled up in his arms shivering still. /I'd hand her to someone else, but she might panic again.../ He thought seeing her tears still falling. He tried to keep himself in the way of the boys' bodies.

Hughes looked at her, "She looks scared but ok..." /Who ever hurt hat poor little girl’s a sick bastard.../ Hughes thought tying not to look too upset.

He nodded staying kneeling on the ground. "Thank God." He breathed softly. “They didn’t do what I feared they would to her...”

Ed entered the church, "Is every one..." He blinked, "Hughes? Hawkeye? Falmon?" /What are they doing here? Means He’s here. / He thought with a growl. The girl in his arms shivered slightly and he instantly regretted growling seeing the tears trek down her face as her eyes stayed closed.

"They killed Mick and Jase..." Mitsuko sobbed sill clinging to Al.

"FullMetal." Riza relaxed slightly seeing he was okay. "Falmon, could you go see if you can find the Colonel?" She moved to help Ed with the small woman he carried.

"You sure you two can handle things?" Falmon looked to her and Hughes.

Hughes nodded, "Yep go tell Roy Ed-kun's returned." /Just wish we had gotten here sooner.../

Ed made a face, "do you have to? I'm not really in the mood to hear his sarcastic remarks..." He mumbled laying the sleeping woman down carefully.

Al set Mitsu down and she ran over to them holding Ritsuko crying. "I'm sorry... I couldn't protect them... I... I got scared and couldn't do anything..."

"Would you rather look at Elyssia?" Falmon asked ducking out of the room to avoid seeing the pictures, not catching what the girl was ranting about.

"NO!" Ed snapped at Falmon.

Hughes smirked, "I got several new pictures with me..." /Might help change the mood since they missed her birthday.../