Fullmetal Alchemist Fan Fiction ❯ This Time it's for Real ❯ Back to the present ( Chapter 4 )

1927, 16th August. Blood spurt from the Colonel's mouth as he was pierced suddenly by Lust's nails. He choked several times, coughing out a large amount of blood each time. Lust pulled away her hand; but not before twisting it out of the dying man with a terrible wrenching sound. His remaining wounds burst open as Lust twisted his flesh, and spilled forth another tide of blood. It seemed to take him an age to fall; his body curved in a graceful arc as he sank backwards, finally hitting the ground with a soft bump, echoing around the room. The two homonkulus grinned in triumph as he fell.

No…it can't be…no…Colonel…n o…NO…Riza's eyes widened in shock, her mouth half open in terror, as she watched the man hit the stone base. Riza stared at his body in a daze for a few centuries, it seemed to her; opened her mouth and screamed, eyes not seeing, skin not feeling, heart not beating…and loses control. She broke the cords on her hands and hurled her fist into Envy's abdomen before turning on Lust. Lust smirked and took a well-aimed swipe at Riza's chest. Blood poured out from the huge gash, but Riza could feel nothing at all; she was a powerful animal being set on fire. Her eyes seemed to have lost all color of reddish-brown, out of focus, her golden hair flying wildly around her tear-stricken face. She grabbed the silver dagger from the ground and swung it madly around, succeeding in setting a few deep cuts on the homonkulus' bodies. Lust backed off without any sign of alarm, but said tauntingly, `You're not going to be able to diminish me with these tactless swipes, honey. The key to my death is in my chest. You won't be able to finish me off without cutting it open, you know.' She watched on as Riza continued to slash away, impressed as she beat Envy to the floor for a moment, and was certainly surprised when Riza opened a cut below her neck. It revealed a network of veins and a bright red stone. Not one drop of blood spilled, because homonkulus didn't have any blood at all. They were man made humans. Lust then tried to avoid Riza, who was continuously attempting to reach the gash. Unfortunately, Riza forced her to a corner, forced open the wound, and put her hand inside to pull out the bright, red stone, the Philosopher's Stone, which provided the homunculi the ability to live. She pulled it out with a flourish, just like when Lust had pulled her own nails from the Colonel. Riza glared at the dead body, and crushed the tiny stone to powder with one bare hand, holding it high in the air and scattering it in the air. `Don't get too happy when you're done with only one enemy, woman.' Riza was knocked to the floor in one roundhouse kick to the backbone by Envy. He was smiling in glee when he saw her closing her eyes in tiredness, but he widened his eyes in shock when she opened a deep cut along his chest, a huge, wide cut that extended from the left to the right side. Envy staggered backwards, but the wound healed almost instantly, and was back on his knees in seconds. Riza was panting, awfully tired, and had numberless cuts and bruises that wouldn't heal for some time. Envy strutted over to her, looked toweringly down at her, and drawled, `Fight! I thought you had to avenge for him?' he jerked his head toward the dead Colonel, and a new stream of tears fell unknowingly from Riza's eyes. Envy thrust his foot into her stomach. Her chest raised and fell heavily, air rushing in her lungs, listening unknowingly to Envy. `Just a little poke and he falls to the floor. No use at all! Get up and fight, or are you going to die like the useless bastard?' Riza's eyes flashed crimson; she gripped the dagger, drove it right into the forehead of the homunculi and stuck it onto the wall. Envy's eyes were wide with shock and pain. But it was all over. They were dead. Finished.

Riza fell jaggedly on her knees, no sign of life in her eyes until she fixed them on the Flame Alchemist's face. His face had cuts here and there, and his usually neatly fixed hair was strewn messily over his face. Even in this state, he still looks dazzling, thought Riza numbly. She staggered painfully beside him on her knees, breathing heavily and still gazing at him. She caught the glint of the ring on his right hand, and slipped it off. She then put it on his left hand. She looked at her own, and exchanged it too. She couldn't hold on any longer. She collapsed, but still struggled and put her arm around his dark head, snuggled close to him, inserted her hand with the ring into his, and whispered, `This time it's for real. I love you too, Roy.' When she drew her last dying breath, she closed her eyes in peace, for she knew that he will be waiting for her at the end of the road.