St Edward and The Dragon

Disclaimer: I do not own, nor ever will, Fullmetal Alchemist or the characters within.

Chapter 12

Storm n. 1.a violent weather condition of strong winds, rain, hail, thunder, lightning, etc. 2. to capture or overrun a place by a violent attack

--00--

He, too, must try
To win back to the lines, though, likely as not,
He'd take the wrong turn: but he couldn't lie
Forever in that hungry hole and rot,
He'd got to take his luck, to take his chance
Of being sniped by foes or friends. He'd be
With any luck in Germany or France
Or Kingdom-come, next morning...

Drearily
The blazing day burnt over him, shot and shell
Whistling and whining ceaselessly. But light
Faded at last, and as the darkness fell
He rose, and crawled away into the night.

Wilfred Wilson Gibson 1917

--00--

I will go there.

...So you keep saying.

I am going to make him pay.

...The costs are not yours to decide.

I don’t care about you. This is between me and him.

...I am him.

You’re just a ghost.

Winds roared and swirled in manic white violence. Cold ribbons of snow flew mindlessly upon the freezing winds. Debris hurtled past, before being flung away to shatter and break against whatever was solid enough to withstand the storm. The noise was incessant, a continual barrage that was as overpowering as the wind itself.

Carried on the white fury of the wind, weaving its way from one cold wave to the next the dragon flew. Circling back and forth, heaving itself relentlessly through the blizzard it kept moving. Ice clung to its body. Torn wings and broken scales were lined with frost and only the storm winds kept it aloft. It roared occasionally, a deeper tone that echoed beneath the screaming winds that carried it southwards.

I am coming for you.

“What’s wrong?” Roy asked as Edward again scraped his fork across the plate, moving the food from one side to the other. Edward had barely eaten anything and he had given up all pretence and was just playing with his food now. Roy watched him with concern. It had not been a good day for Edward and that was an understatement. It was to be expected that he wouldn’t be hungry or even interested in much around him. Roy had been surprised that Ed had even come down for the meal. With only the two of them here now and considering Edward’s feelings about the other Roy, he had expected Ed to stay as distant as the house allowed.

Edward paused at the question his hand tightening around his fork before he put it on the plate and pushed the plate away.

“Your cooking’s shit. You’d think out of two of you, one would have been able to manage the basics.”

He was staring blindly at his plate and Roy saw the moment when Ed realised what he had just said, because their eyes suddenly met and they both blinked. The insult was expected but the ease of the second sentence startled them both, Edward more than Roy judging by the wide eyes and flush that was beginning to appear.

“The housekeeper keeps me well supplied,” Roy said in almost blank voice as he tried to look away from Ed’s flushed face.

“Yeah, and you can’t even reheat it without ruining it. Or using half the kitchen in the process.” Edward’s voice was almost as blank as Roy’s had been as both heads turned to look at the utensils and pots stacked untidily beside the sink. Edward was still staring at them when Roy turned back to the younger man. Another memory perhaps Roy wondered but the usual signs were missing. He wasn’t shaking, he hadn’t frozen up and his breathing was staying even. A soft creaking had Roy looking down. Edward’s right hand was fisting tight.

“Fullmetal?” Roy made his voice as soft as he could and it was a long moment before Edward acknowledged him. The golden head turned and Roy was startled at the almost lost look on Ed’s face.

“Al’s not here.”

Ed sat at the kitchen table and stared at his plate. Yet another meal on his own. Damn those stupid meetings and damn Roy for going to them. Couldn’t he miss one of them? He knew Ed wasn’t going to be with Alfons tonight. Ed had made sure to mention it earlier. It was the perfect opportunity for them to spend some time alone, but the stupid man had obviously missed the hint and Ed had been too embarrassed to actually say the words.

“The other bastard would’ve picked up on it straightaway even though I’m not female,” Ed grumbled to the empty room. Ed let his breath out. He tried very hard not to think of the others. There was no way to go back and he was starting to make a new life here. Thinking of home disturbed his acceptance of this world. He sighed and stood up reaching for his half-empty plate. Al would have told him off for not clearing his plate and food was scarce again.

“I hate it here, Al.” He sat back down and put his head in his hands. Sometimes I really, really hate it here. Why aren’t you here, brother? His head sank lower and his hands covered his ears to close out the sound of the kitchen clock that sounded even louder in his loneliness.

“Ed?” A hand landed on his left shoulder, curving gently in a small caress.

“Al’s not here,” Ed whispered, still half-lost in his memories and not really aware of his words.

“That’s why I managed to get home early.” Roy’s voice had a smile in it.

“Al’s at Hawkeye’s,” Roy said keeping his voice gentle. Edward’s mouth moved as if he was about to say something but then he blinked and a frown creased his brow.

“I know that.” Ed’s voice had an accusatory edge to it. “It’s my fault that he left. I don’t need reminding.”

“No. This is not a time for blame. You both need some time to think about what’s happened.” Roy looked at the blond curiously. Had Ed just slipped into the memory state and not realised it? For a moment the black eyes had been unfocused and Roy wondered if Ed had been about to reply to something the other Roy had said.

“I don’t want to think about what’s happened. I want to be able to stop thinking!” Ed’s right hand, still fisted tightly, lifted and slammed back onto the table making the plates rattle. “If I have to be here, then I want the impossible and to have it all like it should be!”

“And what should it be?” Roy queried. “Al having the memories of those four years? And the last two forgotten for you? Or you dead in that other world you were in and Al here and searching everywhere for you?”

“If I had died like I planned, none of this would have happened. Al would have stopped looking eventually.”

“I wouldn’t be too sure of that. Alphonse is very stubborn and you are, quite frankly, what he wants most of all. He’d believe you were alive even if he saw your corpse.”

“You’re a bastard,” Ed said in disgust.

“I know, but you know it’s true. Ever since he’s been out of that armour, you are all he’s thought about. No matter what anyone has said, he has always believed you were alive and wandering around somewhere, unable to return.”

“Unable to return? Ha, that’s one way of saying it,” Ed attempted to scoff as he stared at his hands. Both were fisted now.

“Too many people have told Al of just how close you both were, so he had to have some reason as to why you weren’t here anymore. The thought that you were either dead or not wanting to be with him was just inconceivable to him. It was his way of coping with your absence.” Roy let his breath out. “I knew he thought you’d be able to tell him about what he couldn’t remember, but I didn’t realise he’d gotten so obsessed about it.”

“He’s my brother. Of course he’ll get obsessed over it. It’s what we do.” Ed sat up and began leaning back in his chair, dragging his hands across the table towards him with the movement. “I hate this. I fucking hate this. He’s my brother and I can’t do anything to help him. Just by being here I’ve managed to fuck his life up again. And I’m stuck here with you. Why didn’t it work? Why did I end up back here? This is not what I wanted.” He glared at his almost full plate and his fisted hands suddenly straightened and he brought them together in an angry clap.

Roy stared as alchemy flared between Edward’s fingers and the gloved hands landed back on the table on either side of his plate. Roy had a quick glimpse of Edward’s face and his eye widened before there was a sharp crack and a cloud of steam obscured his vision. An acrid smell had him leaning away from the table and he waved his hand in front of his face trying to clear the steam and smell. He needed to see Edward’s face again to confirm what he thought he had just seen.

The steam dissipated into shreds that wafted upwards and Roy almost wished it back as he saw what had become of Edward’s plate and dinner. A shuddering something sat on the table. It was an ugly shade of grey, steaming slightly and glistening in a most unpleasant manner. White spikes pushed up through the stinking mass and Roy thought they looked exactly like rib bones. Roy had to swallow hard as the grey mass heaved upwards and then sank back down with a hollow squelching sound. Roy looked at Edward who was staring at his creation with a strange mixture of disgust and longing on his face.

“This is…” Edward’s voice faltered and he pushed himself away from the table with an abrupt and almost angry movement. Without finishing his sentence, he left the room and Roy followed the sound of his footsteps. He let his breath out as he heard Edward go upstairs. He had half-expected the young man to leave the house.

Roy looked at the mess on his table. It looked disgusting and it was beginning to liquefy at the edges. A nauseating odour was starting to make itself known and there was something disturbingly familiar about it. Whatever this thing was supposed to be or represent had been a deliberate decision on Ed’s part and it made Roy queasy to realise that. Ed was simply too adept to have made a mistake. And Roy was positive that he had seen Ed’s eyes turn their original gold shade in that split second before the steam had blocked his view.

There was a loud burst of noise and the lights flickered. Roy was half-turned to leave the room fearing Edward had done something, when he realised it had been thunder crashing and froze with the sudden recognition. That smell and the sound of thunder.

He stood in the doorway of an empty room, water dripping from his coat to puddle at his feet. Jagged cracks ran across the floor and the whole room was in disarray. Books and papers had fallen from the shelves. Armour and what had obviously once been laboratory equipment was scattered and broken. A foul stench had him covering his nose and mouth with a wet gloved hand as he looked at the blood staining the large array drawn on the floor. Lines had been smudged and broken and he could only stare in disbelief at the intricacy of what remained of the array.

Even though it was half-destroyed he knew what its purpose had been although he had never seen or heard of heard of one this complex. Most arrays for this purpose were smaller and much less refined. Human alchemy was born of desperate passions. Alchemists tended to act first and then be too dead to regret what they had done. But this array showed cold calculation. This didn’t seem to be an act of sudden desperation. This array looked more like obsession and that was far more worrying. His search for a long-missing man had taken a turn that was very worrying.

As was the trail of blood that led past him and out into the rain. A survivor? Or an accomplice? He had to find out and he turned, going back into the rain that failed to wash the stench away.

After all these years he remembered and his stomach turned as it had then. He had never seen what the boys had created that night. The remains had gone before he had arrived and looking at the slowly dissolving mass on his table he was grateful that he hadn’t seen it if that was supposed to represent what had been there. And it made him worried as to just what was going on inside Edward’s head.

Edward stood in the middle of the hallway of the upper floor. He felt a need to return to his and Al’s room and take out that bracelet again, and it warred with an equally strong impulse to fall into Mustang’s bed and seek the sleep that was the closest he could get to the oblivion he wanted.

“That was…” he muttered unable to finish the sentence as he recalled that seething mass on the table superimposed over the one image he would give everything to forget from the night that changed everything. He trembled. Why the hell had he done that? It was as if something had reached through him and made it appear.

No. That was all you.

Edward shook his head. “No.” It was a thin whisper of denial. There was no way he’d want to recreate anything from that night and especially not that.

The alchemy is yours. The intent was yours.

“No.” Ed spoke a bit louder as his head shook again. “I would never want…”

Never want anyone to see what you did? Never want to remember what you did?

Ed groaned as the voice echoed in his head. He was never going to forget what he had done and seen that night. Mustang wouldn’t know what that… mess was supposed to be. He was fairly certain that he had once heard the Colonel saying he had never seen anything but the blood-smeared array that night. He didn’t think anyone but he had seen that … that thing. He had not given much thought to what had happened to it afterwards but it hadn’t been difficult to figure out once he had known what homunculi were. Al had taken him to the Rockbell’s and before Mustang had arrived, the thing that he had created had somehow disappeared. How long or even how it had developed, he didn’t know. Had the Gate taken it back and then spit it back out when it was fully formed? Had it hidden itself in the house until it had grown enough to walk, or slipped away in the night to find a safer place? He had even wondered if the other homunculi had found it through some knowledge or sense that only they had. He didn’t know and he knew he was never going to know. But through whatever means, it had become the homunculus they had called “Sloth”, and in the deepest part of his soul “Mother”.

Such a dutiful son, trying to bring her back.

Thunder rumbled suddenly and Ed jumped. He shivered as coldness washed through him. It was too reminiscent of that night and he looked around as if reassuring himself of his surroundings. He didn’t want to lose himself in those memories as well.

I’m getting closer, Edward.

Riza Hawkeye stood at the window and looked out at the storm. Behind her Al still slept. Even the thunder hadn’t disturbed him. After the day’s events she wasn’t that surprised by his complete withdrawal into sleep. He probably needed it more than anyone and she wondered if Edward was doing the same. She didn’t envy Roy the task of looking after Edward, not if half the things she had heard today were true and she had no reason to doubt it.

Life seemed to be increasingly unfair to the Elrics. One tragedy just led straight into the next. There was no respite for the boys and it saddened her. She half-turned to look at Al. Lightening lit up his face for a brief moment. One moment of light and then back into the darkness. How symbolic she thought and then frowned. It wasn’t like her to be so philosophical and looked out the window again. The rain was streaming down the window and blurring the nightscape and her thoughts kept returning to the sleeping boy behind her.

His world had been turned upside down once again and he wasn’t coping well any more. Whether it was his age or whether this was just one time too many she couldn’t decide. All she could see was that he was hurting and not able to think reasonably. Al had always seemed older than he was and Ed had been the immature one. This time it was the other way around, and if the circumstances had been different she would have welcomed Al’s immaturity. She let her breath out watching it fog on the glass. She couldn’t blame him for not being mature today. Even calm reasonable Al had a breaking point and it had been reached. It was just sad to see them both hurting and not be able to do anything about it.

Roy Mustang went up stairs after cleaning the kitchen feeling like an intruder in his own home. The thunder had moved away and only the rain remained. There had been no sound from upstairs and he was slightly worried as to what Edward was doing. He should be sleeping but Roy doubted Edward was doing anything so sensible. Despite Edward’s earlier declarations, Roy was fairly certain Edward was not about to disappear. Not until he had made things right by Al and that was the worrying thought. He knew how far Edward could go if he thought it would benefit his brother. Roy didn’t want to be watching the young man every moment of the day and Edward would strongly object if he tried.

Roy reached the hallway and walked towards his bedroom. He had his hand on the door handle when he paused. When had he started taking it for granted that Edward would be in his bed? He didn’t understand why Ed kept crawling into his bed anyway. Surely it would be the last place he’d want to sleep. Why don’t I mind him taking over my bed? Roy frowned at the thought and quietly opened the door, eye looking straight for the bed. It was empty.

He turned straightaway and headed to the other bedroom. He looked into the room and saw Edward sitting on the edge of his bed. Edward was looking at something in his hands and Roy stepped into the room before Edward suddenly looked up and saw him. Edward flinched backwards and gloved hands closed quickly but Roy had already seen. The small silver bracelet.

“Are you alright?” Roy asked as he kept his distance, leaning against the wall next to the door.

“What do you think?” Edward replied with thick sarcasm and Roy nodded slightly.

“If I don’t ask, you won’t say anything,” Roy pointed out and got a shrugged response.

Roy wasn’t sure what to say next and Edward didn’t seem to want to talk at all. The room became silent. It wasn’t uncomfortable, but it wasn’t an easy silence either. Roy wanted to break it but didn’t know how and the longer it went on, the harder it got to say anything. Walking away was his other choice but he didn’t want to do that. He didn’t want to leave Edward on his own. He watched the blond studying his hands as if seeing through the closed fingers to the metal band within.

“You gonna stand there all night?” Ed broke the silence and Roy met the slightly hostile gaze with a calmness he didn’t quite feel.

“Will you be alright on your own?” Roy kept his calm façade in place the moment the words left him. Roy wasn’t afraid to admit that he was concerned about Edward even as he knew that Edward didn’t appreciate it.

“I’ll manage,” and the sarcasm was back. It was the resigned expression that crossed Edward’s face that belied the words and Roy had to stop himself from moving closer.

“You know where I am if you need me, Fullmetal,” was all he said and he moved slowly away from the wall and out of the room. He went to his own room, leaving both doors open. Just in case.

Randall, the Stone Alchemist looked up as the compartment door slammed open and a frowning Colonel Lilk entered. He watched with an amused expression as his friend sat heavily on the other seat and glowered at him.

“North is still un-contactable.” It was as if the Colonel was accusing him and Randall began to grin.

“It’s not my fault,” he replied.

“I didn’t say it was,” Colonel Lilk snapped back. “But I don’t see you helping either.” Randall recognised the signs of frustration in the Colonel’s unreasonable words and smiled.

“I can’t do anything from here and you know it.” He tilted his head. “Did you get any sleep last night?” He already knew the answer. It was obvious from those red-rimmed eyes that were still glaring at him. “Idiot. You kept trying all night. You do know we have a sergeant that could’ve done that.”

“I spent some time talking to Central,” Lilk said, completely ignoring Randall’s comment. “There’s a junction station a day before North, and Central said they’d spoken to them, but everything beyond that point is silent. That storm… something has carved a line right through the middle of that whole Northern area. Central has been checking every communication line. No-one’s close enough to confirm what kind of storm this is. Some have said it can be seen from over ten miles away.” Lilk leant back and let his breath out, his glare fading. Randall could see the obvious tiredness. “It can’t be a normal storm, but the continued silence from Briggs worries Central. They should have had the emergency lines repaired by now.”

“No, it’s too soon,” Randall said with a light manner in an attempt to ease his friend’s worries. “Storms in the mountains can rearrange the terrain. If this storm is really that bad, it could take them a week before they could even leave the fortress let alone repair the lines.” Randall exaggerated the time and waited for Lilk to bite as he knew he would.

“A week? Three days at the most, Randall! That’s all it would take. Hell’s sake, they’re soldiers!”

“Exactly, and it’s only been two since they were cut off.” Randall grinned and Lilk groaned as he realised he’d been goaded.

“Bastard.”

“Yes.” Randall’s grin widened for a moment. “Look, you grab a few hours sleep while I go and terrorise a sergeant into ringing North HQ every ten seconds for you.”

“I can’t. We’re due at that junction station soon and I need to organise spotters for the way ahead.”

“When are we due there?”

“In about two hours.”

“Then you sleep until then and I’ll take care of the rest.”

“Randall…” Lilk looked uncertain and ready to protest but Randall could see the weariness bringing his shoulders down.

“What? You don’t trust me?”

Lilk sighed. He could see he wasn’t going to win this one. “Don’t frighten them too much, okay?”

“I’ll be the perfect Major.”

Lilk groaned again as Randall left the compartment with a grin that boded no good for the rest of their team.

General Roy Mustang got more looks than usual as he walked into Central Headquarters that morning. His uniform was it’s usual impeccable self, his demeanour was its usual bland snare and his stride never varied from its usual unhurried progress from front lobby to his office. It was the blond beside him that had people staring.

A Major from the insignia, a State Alchemist from the chain visible at his hip and a not very happy one judging from the dark expression that clouded a surprisingly young face.

“When I go, I’m taking you with me, Mustang,” Edward snarled under his breath as he caught sight of yet more people staring.

“You can try, Fullmetal,” Mustang replied with the confidence that had always put Edward’s teeth on edge. “It’s not much further to the office,” he added softly and Ed had to work not to grind his teeth together. He didn’t like this understanding Mustang. The bastard wasn’t supposed to be so sympathetic and nice. It irritated him and it reminded him too much of …him. The other Roy – his Roy - had been considerate and charming and it had all been lies. The Roy Mustang beside him was being genuine enough although Edward didn’t want to admit that, and he also knew that this Roy Mustang had always had an ulterior motive for everything he had ever done back then. It would be stupid of him to believe that a Roy, any Roy, could ever be completely honest. They didn’t change. Hadn’t he already learnt that lesson?

You will never learn, Edward.

The voice echoed in his head and he knew it hadn’t been his thought. When are you going to leave me alone? he asked silently.

I will always be here.

Something flickered in front of his mind’s eye. An array of tiny flames spun quickly across his vision and disappeared. He frowned, not sure what had happened. He didn’t recognise the array although he had only had a brief look at it.

Your circle has gone but we are still linked.

Edward looked straight ahead, not letting his confusion show on his face. What circle?

The circle of your sanity.

Edward stopped walking. I don’t understand.

You don’t need to understand…yet.

“Fullmetal?” Mustang had stopped walking as well and was looking at him, a small crease on his forehead the only visible sign of concern. Ed met the single dark eye with equally dark eyes.

“It’s nothing,” he muttered and saw that Mustang didn’t believe that. “Just a memory,” he added and saw the dark eye flicker. Now that, he knew was believable as Mustang turned away and started walking again. Ed let his breath out and followed the taller man. The voice echoed behind his ears.

It is all just a memory.

Colonel Lilk came out of his sleep with a start feeling something tugging at him and waved an arm around wildly.

“It’s only me, sleepyhead!” came Randall’s voice and Lilk blinked several times before he could see past the sleep lingering in his eyes. The tall alchemist was grinning down at him. “We’re just about to arrive at that little junction of yours.”

“Hekat,” Lilk mumbled as he sat up and began to stretch.

“Huh?”

“Hekat. It’s the name of the junction.”

“Ah, is that what that word was.” Lilk looked up and the smile he had heard was clearly visible.

“What?”

“Oh, nothing. Just couldn’t read your writing, that’s all. It was a bit hard to decipher that scrawl of yours, so we’ve been calling it the junction.”

“You’re annoying, and who’s ‘we’?” Lilk asked.

“The team and I. We’ve worked out a roster for watching and figured out the best positions for them.” Randall waved a piece of paper at Lilk and he took it with a sceptical glance. “There’s two of them up with the engineers in the locomotive and I’ve put one on the roof of the first carriage. They can change over every hour. The sergeant’s in the comm. room and no, there’s still no response from the north. Central says we’re to report the moment we sight the storm and then we can approach with ‘suitable margins for safety’.”

They shared a wry look. Neither man was reckless at the best of times. Lilk knew Randall was usually seen as too laidback and casual but the man was always careful. Lilk suspected that his caution arose from his innate laziness that hid a surprisingly strong perfectionist streak. Randall disliked having to do anything twice and took an inordinate amount of pleasure in being able to sit back and poke fun at other people.

Lilk scanned the page and nodded. “It seems solid so far. We can’t really do much until we sight it.” He looked at Randall who had a quick look at his watch.

“Let’s grab coffee. By the time we’ve got that, we’ll be arriving at Hekat. I’ve asked the engineers to slow the train once we get there.”

“Good.”

A knock at the door had them both turning. “Yes?” Lilk called as the door opened.

“Sorry, Sirs.” A young sergeant poked his head around the door. “The spotters have just sent word. They’ve sighted the storm.”

“Get the train stopped and notify Central,” Lilk commanded without hesitation. “The Major and I will begin investigating it.”

“Pulling the cord will be quicker,” Randall pointed out and reached for the emergency stop cord running above the compartment window. He gave it a sharp tug and a bell sounded. “Why aren’t you talking to Central yet?” he asked the wide-eyed sergeant in the door way. There was a sharp edge to his voice and the man took off like a startled rabbit forgetting to salute in his haste.

“That was unnecessary,” Lilk said mildly as they had to adjust their stances as the train began to slow.

“Looks like coffee is out,” Randall replied with a distracted smirk as he headed out of the compartment.

“We shouldn’t be able to see it yet, should we?” Lilk asked softly.

“No,” Randall’s reply was equally soft and neither man spoke as they began working their way to the front of the train.

Edward sat in Mustang’s office half listening to the man on the phone. Something about a storm up North and his attention wandered as he eyed the books on the shelves. Mustang was pre-occupied so Edward got up from the couch and began to scan the shelves. He knew that if he didn’t find something to read, the bastard would give him paperwork to do.

Edward understood why he had to be here and why he couldn’t stay at home but he didn’t like it. It was made harder knowing that Hawkeye wasn’t here because she had taken the day off to be with Al. She had rung soon after they had arrived in the office and Ed had spoken briefly to her. Knowing that Al had cried himself to sleep had given Edward an urgent desire to go and see his brother but Hawkeye had forbidden it and Mustang had backed her up. He had sat on the couch after that and hated himself for feeling relieved at not having to face his brother just yet. It was selfish of him and he knew it, but he didn’t want to face his brother’s condemnation again, even as he didn’t want his brother to hurt anymore. He was caught between the two equally strong urges and felt completely helpless and useless. Even that little voice seemed to have deserted him.

“Coffee, Ed?” Havoc’s cheery voice had him turning away from the books.

“Yeah. Thanks Havoc.” He grabbed a book at random and carried it over to the couch as he watched Havoc return with the coffee.

“The Chief’s going to be busy for awhile. You don’t think you could help out with Hawkeye’s paperwork do you?”

“Me?” Ed stared at the tall blond. “I was expecting Mustang to push paperwork onto me, but not you.”

“C’mon Boss. You’ll go crazy if you have to stay in here with him all day, and you know it.”

“I’ll go crazy with you lot out there,” Ed retorted. They had been so careful when he had entered the office earlier it had been obvious to Edward that someone – probably Hawkeye – had scared the curiousity out of them. But Edward knew that that wouldn’t last long if he sat out there for more than half an hour.

“Ed, we know you’re having a hard time,” Havoc said in an embarrassed voice and Edward blinked. Havoc rubbed at the back of his neck and looked uncomfortable shifting on his feet as a line of red appearing across his cheeks. “I mean, the Chief and Riz haven’t exactly told us much, and we don’t wanna intrude, but, you… well, you’re one of us, Boss.” Ed couldn’t stop staring as Havoc became more and more embarrassed. “We… we won’t ask, but we’re your friends, Ed and if you want to say anything or nothing that’s your choice, you know, and if Breda gets too pushy you can just transmute him into the wall or something.”

Edward stood frozen. Havoc was offering something Ed hadn’t thought to ever have again. Friendship without judgement and expectations. It took him a moment to realise something else. He wasn’t automatically refusing and it was that realisation that had his blood suddenly loud in his ears. He immediately identified the trap that acceptance could be and he looked at Mustang. He was still caught up in the phone call and Ed shook his head to clear his thoughts.

It was his decision to make, he didn’t need to have Mustang approve or acknowledge it. If Ed was careful then he could avoid the trap that getting involved with the people here and he would still be able to leave without regrets when the time came. Maybe if he helped out now, it would even make it easier for those left behind. They’d have some memories that they’d want to keep. Not like him. Ed closed his eyes for a moment and then opened them again.

“Sure, Havoc. I’ll help.”

Colonel Lilk and the Stone Alchemist stood on railway tracks in front of a stopped train and looked at the storm raging at least ten miles in front of them. Behind them they could hear the murmurs of the other people on the train staring and pointing but they stayed silent.

The storm was enormous. They could hear the thunder that rumbled hollowly over the distance. Lightening flashed in rapid shifts of flickering light. From the ground to high into the sky the clouds towered. And they could see it moving. Slowly, inexorably it grew larger as it came closer.

“I’ve seen sandstorms as big as this,” Randall murmured. “But not a winter storm.”

“Can you stop it?”

“No more than you can.”

“The train offers no protection and there’s no way to turn it around.”

“The storm’s moving too fast. You’d never get in front of it.”

“The same can be said for trying to go around it. The storm front’s too wide.”

Randall looked at the ground for a moment. “I can create a space underground and seal us in there until it’s passed.” He looked back up at the storm.

“Do it. I’ll send a message to Central to tell them what we’re doing.”

Randall moved away from the tracks and stamped his foot on the ground, nodding absently before he bent down, squatting comfortably. He looked at Lilk. “Gonna be a long walk home.”

“Yes,” Lilk agreed absently as he watched Randall begin to inscribe his circle on the ground. He turned and headed back to the train. Yes, the storm would tear the train apart and they’d be stranded here for a while but at least they were going to be alive. A soldier can’t ask for more than that, he thought as he waved to the Sergeant. “I need a message sent to Central and then get everyone off the train. Get them to bring what rations there are and gather over near where the Major is.”

The dragon roared as it flew on yet another cold wave of snow and wind. Its frozen wings flapped uselessly and ice cracked into fine webs over the ragged membranes before shattering and falling into the storm. Within a few hours the dragon knew the ice would have reformed. The frost had thickened around his scales and flakes of ice were swept away by the wind with every twist and turn of his sinuous length.

It didn’t feel the cold and the continual noise was ignored as it soared in endless circles through the middle of the storm. As high as the towering clouds, twisting between the shuddering lightening bolts, slipping from one turbulent wave to the next with an unconscious grace as it traversed the storm that was its home.

With the wind carrying it, the dragon moved towards to the leading edge of the storm. Since he had awakened, his vision had been greatly enhanced. He could follow the wind currents better, he could easily avoid any debris that was picked up and he could see through the driving snow and ice into the world beyond. It made finding prey easy.

I see a train.

...Should I care?

No.

...Then why mention it?

For a ghost, you’re very annoying.

...You won’t face the truth.

Because it’s not true.

...Your denials are getting weaker.

Shut up!

The dragon roared and pushed upwards and forward with a flick of its tail. Higher and faster it soared. Snow and ice followed and the dragon breached the leading edge of the storm. It flew for a moment with its own impetus but then began to drop towards the earth as the winds no longer supported it. Broken wings fluttered outwards and the long body began to turn in a slow spiral that became faster as it kept falling. The sound of the wind pushing past was different to the usual roar and it gloated as the ground seemed to rush up to meet it.

Before it could reach the ground it twisted to disrupt the spiralling, turning over with a roll to catch the cold updraft that suddenly appeared. Stronger than any natural updraft, the dragon was lifted easily and snow filled clouds closed around it as the storm caught up with it. The dragon roared and slipped up through the wind currents but this time it stayed within the confines of the storm when it turned and fell again. It glimpsed the train again as it spun towards the ground and noted idly that it didn’t seem to be moving. Stupid humans. As if that will save you.

Its jaw opened in what might have once been a grin, and long teeth gleamed as the dragon sought out the best air currents. Mindless violence was always satisfying.

...You are easily pleased.

Hmpf. The dragon didn’t bother to give a proper reply. The ghost, as he called it, would know what he was thinking anyway. He kept his eyes on the winds, checking often to make sure the train was staying still. His grin widened as he got closer and he dropped into the lower winds. The storm tore at the ground as it rushed beneath him. He moved to be over the railway tracks and could hear them being ripped from their fastenings as he passed. He paid no heed to them as he kept going forward.

Anticipation gleamed in his eyes and he was almost on the train when he felt it. His head whipped around and his body twisted abruptly. The single moment of distraction cost him his balance and he crashed into the front of the train. Steel crumpled around him, the engine was torn open and the resultant explosion swept the dragon with flame. Steam and smoke rose, swept straight up into the storm with fragments of the engine. Larger steel pieces buckled and snapped, and the broken locomotive heaved as if it was alive before it was picked up by the fierce winds.

The dragon pulled itself free of the metal wreckage, tumbling wildly in an attempt to regain its balance and to find the source of its initial distraction. It had to dive low as the rest of the train began to break apart under the pounding of the storm. Glass and wood mixed with steel flew in all directions.

Feeling the ground beneath its belly had the dragon heaving itself up to find a wind. He felt it again and turned, ignoring the wind as it tugged at him and he lowered his head to the ground. A tingling shivered down his spine and he studied the ground closely. Humping his body he pushed himself along, head turning to pinpoint the source of the tingling. Dirt scraped between his broken scales and his breathing was ragged with the exertion. After soaring on the winds for so long to be back on the ground was painful. He wasn’t meant to be on the land. In the air, or even in the water was where he could move the freest.

The tingling became stronger and the dragon growled low in its throat. With a strong heave and grunt it levered itself up for a moment, using the wind to twist its body slightly. With a small push it left the ground for barely ten feet and then deliberately fell. Dirt rose around it and the earth shook. The tingling spread all over its body and the dragon roared.

Alchemy!

With recognition came the reaction and the dragon’s scales blazed as arrays wrote themselves across the broken plates. It writhed as the sudden flush of power worked through it and spread on the ground. A circle appeared and the ground heaved beneath him. A crack appeared along one of the lines and the ground began to split open. Wider it opened and began to follow the line around until the dragon was left on a pillar of stone in the middle of a gaping hole.

The Stone Alchemist looked completely at ease as he sat on the floor of the hollow he had created. Legs outstretched and crossed at the ankles, eyes half-closed as if dozing and seemingly completely oblivious to all the muttering around him. But Lilk knew his friend was working constantly to keep them all safe. The hand that was resting on the ground hidden from the men and covered by his jacket, was placed squarely in the middle of an array.

Even through the ground they could hear the storm noises above. The hole Randall had hollowed out for them was close to twenty feet below the surface. Several pillars gave the ceiling extra support and the men were scattered around them. The earth was shaking before it had even hit and the sudden explosion had had them all jumping. Soil had loosened from their ceiling and the more anxious of them had been looking upwards and then to Stone to make sure they were going to stay safe. Stone’s relaxed appearance had eased most of them and they had fallen to speculation as to what it was like out there.

When an array began to etch itself upon the ceiling they stopped talking. Without a word they all began to move back, shifting to crowd against the walls. They looked at Stone as a line of blue traced its way from beside him up to the ceiling. He was no longer sitting calmly, he was kneeling, both hands sunk slightly into the earth. The light from his array lit his face in sharp relief and the closest soldiers could see sweat beginning to form on his brow.

“Stone?” Lilk queried as he kept looking from the spreading lines above them to his straining friend.

“Something’s trying to break through,” Stone replied through gritted teeth.

“Another alchemist?” Lilk asked, his mind going into overdrive as he tried to think of all the ramifications of having to fight against a rogue alchemist, as well as wondering just what kind of alchemist could command so large a storm.

“Obviously,” Stone’s voice was lightly sarcastic and Lilk nearly smiled. Randall never changed, not even at times like this.

“I’ll get the men ready. We can distract him if nothing else.”

The loud crack had them all looking upward and they saw the ceiling beginning to split open.

“Fuck!” came from Stone and Lilk turned back to him. With quick movements he was drawing another circle beside the one he was keeping going. A small line to join them and then Stone slammed his hand down on the second array. Blue light flared and Lilk had to cover his eyes against the glare. When he looked again, another line was running up the wall and trying to close the widening crack.

Faster and faster the crack grew and it began to get wider. Noise from the storm above came through and dirt and rocks began to fall. Lilk moved among the men, trying to settle them down. His team numbered six, including him and Stone and with another six men from the train he had limited options. Protecting Stone was his priority at the moment and he set two of his men near him. The train personnel he put to work on loading rifles and helping to arm the soldiers.

In the short time it took to organise them the crack had gone over three quarters around and had widened enough for them all to see the storm raging above. The noise was over powering and the sight of debris and snow whipping above them stunned them. The black heaviness of the clouds, the grey shadings as they moved and the white streams of snow made them dizzy.

It took Lilk a few minutes to realise that the winds were not reaching down into their hole. The storm stayed above them and it even seemed to bubble upwards just for the space over them. He moved back near Stone.

“I can’t stop it,” Stone said without apology.

“I know. Just be ready for as soon as he reveals himself.” Lilk looked upward. “He’s probably close by.” He let his breath out. “He’s got some balls to be able to do all this.”

“He’ll probably be near the edge.”

“Yes, he’d have cover and be able to see us. “

“In that case I can transmute the pillars to give you more cover.”

“Works for me.”

The ceiling groaned and they looked upwards. The crack had reached the beginning again and the gap widened further. The central pillar was now free standing and several rocks tumbled from it to smash on the floor. The gap was roughly five feet wide and everything paused for a long moment. Lilk was about to say something to Stone when the gap began to widen again. The edge began to crumble, falling straight down in a pattering rain of earth and stone.

“He’s on the centre pillar,” Stone suddenly said and Lilk looked at the pillar. There was a glow above it that could only mean alchemy in action. “I’ll bring it down. Get ready.”

Lilk made rapid movements to his men and they positioned themselves along the walls, spreading out to cover all the angles.

“We’re ready.”

Stone drew another circle and laid his hand on it. Lights flared and then a low rumble echoed. The central pillar began to move downwards sinking into the floor. A sudden rush saw it fall straight down and dust flew upwards as it reached the bottom.

The strange creature that appeared through the dust had them frozen until it roared and one young soldier opened fire in blind panic.

Soldiers fired at the monster that writhed in front of them. Bullets ricocheted wildly glancing off the scaly sides of the massive serpent. With a sudden lunge it moved and grabbed one of them between its massive jaws. A high pitched scream ended abruptly and blood dripped from its mouth. A quick toss of its head had the corpse flung towards several other soldiers and they scrambled to get out of the way. The monster lunged again and the soldiers scattered.

“Aim for its eyes!” Lilk yelled, trying to get some control over his frightened soldiers. He wasn’t about to admit he was terrified as they were. He had never seen anything like this before and he had no idea how to combat it. He acted on instinct. “Find the vulnerable points!”

Several soldiers tried to obey, but the monster kept moving and it was hard to get an accurate shot off. The long body whipped around and two men were too slow to avoid the tail that sent them flying into the wall. Dazed and stunned the monster was on them before anyone could save them.

“Stone!” Lilk shouted and the alchemist nodded. Hands to the floor to spark an array and the ceiling above the monster collapsed and fell on it. Another array had protrusions stretching out from floor and wall to grab at the long body. Lilk was already directing his men to better vantage points when the serpentine creature shouldered past the rocks. Roaring, it struck again managing to grab a trainman in those stained jaws.

Lilk studied the creature as he moved toward Stone. There had to be some way they could stop this thing and they had to find it fast. It had no legs and there were tattered wings down the side of its long body. Studying it now it was easy to see that the scales were damaged and that the creature bore the marks of heavy mistreatment. Probably from the storm, Lilk reasoned and shuddered. Even with the damage he could see on the creature, it was fast and agile. If the creature could survive the storm, then how the hell were they going to be able to kill it?

“Ideas, Stone?” he asked as he reached the tall alchemist.

“Just one.”

“You mean apart from the one that has you digging us a tunnel out of here?” Lilk joked lightly.

“Yes.” Lilk looked at Stone. “Get me close to that thing.”

“Why?”

“There’s an array on it. I might be able to use it to stop it.”

“How? I can’t see an array.” Lilk looked at the monster again.

“I saw it when it first came down but it disappeared once it started moving. I think the array controls it. I don’t know what this monster is, but there’s no doubt alchemy has something to do with it.” Stone turned to face Lilk. “You need to make sure someone can let Central know.”

There was a moment of silence between them and then Lilk nodded. He looked around. Three soldiers left and three of the trainmen. “If you seal them away they won’t be able to break out again so send a tunnel upwards from here. We’ll get the civilians out of this. Tell one of them what to say. I’ll send them to you and we’ll distract it until you’re done.” Lilk didn’t wait for a reply but moved swiftly to the first of the trainmen.

Stone swore at his friend’s back but turned to the wall and drew the array for the tunnel.

The dragon snapped its jaws at yet another human. The soldier fired at its face and it roared in response. They were aiming at his face more often he noticed and he knew they would be targeting the soft spots like his eyes or mouth, but he gave them few opportunities. Despite being grounded he was still fast and he twisted several times rapidly. Another man got tangled in his coils and the dragon ended his life with a savage tearing snap of his body. A quick turn and he could scoop the broken body in his jaws. Blood ran down his throat before he swallowed and he looked for his next prey. There was no real pleasure with eating humans but he did need to eat and to see the expressions on the others made it worth every bland mouthful.

There was an alchemist here and that was his main aim. These others were simply toys to be played with. He looked around at the flare of alchemy and saw the alchemist. Tall and thin, not much meat on that one but it wasn’t for food that he wanted him. The dragon twisted sending his tail into one the upright pillars and bringing it down. It blocked several of the men and the dragon heaved himself over the rubble to get to them. Shouts echoed around him and he ignored them as he reached for the closest victim. A bullet ricocheted close to his eye and he flinched instinctively, quickly recovering as he saw his prey escaping.

A rapid attack and he had the struggling man in his teeth. He spun around to sight the alchemist and saw him standing near what appeared to be a tunnel. Nice try fool, but it will not save any of you. With a toss of its head to manouevre the man in its mouth into a better position, he bit and swallowed the dying man. A soldier was running calling towards the alchemist as the dragon began to move.

Gunfire attacked its face and it roared, twisting to avoid the bullets without stopping. It could feel the rubble on the floor scraping beneath it as it pushed forward. A man threw himself in front of him and he didn’t bother to eat him, swinging his head to knock him out of the way. He would go back for him. The alchemist came first now.

He was startled but not worried when the alchemist dashed forward. There was a despairing shout from one of the soldiers but the alchemist sprinted closer. He veered to the dragon’s left side and the dragon turned to follow him. Jaws opened as the dragon prepared to lunge but the alchemist got to him first and hands slapped at his scales and the arrays burst into flame.

In Central Headquarters Edward Elric stopped mid-sentence as his mind was filled with a fiery array before he collapsed, alarming Havoc and Breda who managed to catch him as he fell.

The storm above them crashed, thunder booming to shake the earth and lightening smashed down to strike the dragon. The dragon roared arching upwards out-lined in lightening and alchemy. White and violet flares played out across the dragon’s scales. The arrays glowed in the sudden darkness as the storm closed in above.

Lilk stared in horror as the beast rose up. He couldn’t move and he could feel his heart racing as the air felt electrified with power and lightening. It was beautiful in the most terrifying manner to see that creature wrapped in such raw power. The arrays were the most complicated he had ever seen and he had no idea what they meant. The roaring of the beast was answered by another bolt of lightening and Lilk threw himself backwards as a shower of sparks cascaded brilliantly into the now dark hole. What the hell did you do, Randall? He looked at the monster again, seeking any sign of the tall alchemist.

Randall screamed in agony as the alchemy ignited and he became engulfed in flames. He tried to take his hands away but they were stuck fast. Violet flames of alchemy wrapped around him and bound him to the dragon’s side and when the lightening flared he felt them tighten further. The pain was intense as he began to feel the edges of his consciousness blur. The flames kept dancing across him and the smell of burning flesh had him writhing feebly until even that movement was restricted. Breathing became difficult and his vision dimmed.

The dragon roared again and felt the power running through him. His head lowered and he sought out the last humans. The darkness was no hindrance to his sight and he caught two in quick succession. Bullets ricocheted again and he followed them to the soldier. The continual flaring of alchemy and lightening was not helping them and he knew it. He could see where they couldn’t and if he tapped into the power coursing around him he would be able to pinpoint them all. More bullets and he lunged for the man.

Blood dripped from his mouth and his long slithering tongue ran the length of his teeth. He eyed the tunnel the alchemist had created and wondered if there was anyone in there. He moved closer as the alchemy ran down his back again. He couldn’t stay here much longer. He looked upwards. The storm needed to be moving again. And so did he. With a roar he called and the storm dipped into the hollow with a force that lifted both the dragon and much of the rubble.

Wind swirled and the dragon chose one to take him higher. A vortex of clouds circled with him as he rose. Alchemy sparked outwards and the lightening flared back. Power shifted between the storm and dragon in blinding flashes.

Alchemists are useful things to have.

...He will suffice.

There is only one alchemist I want.

...You have always been a simple-minded creature.

And you complicate things.

...That is my purpose.

Stupid ghost!

Edward opened his eyes and closed them again. His head hurt and the light was bright. It took him a moment before he tried again.

“Awake Fullmetal?” Mustang’s voice made him groan and he shifted slowly.

“What hit me?” he asked groggily as he tried to sit up.

“Nothing. You collapsed all on your own.” Mustang watched Edward feeling around his head. “Headache?”

“Yeah, feels like someone hit me.” Ed sat up straighter and began to wake up properly.

“You’ve been out for nearly an hour.” Mustang paused. “A memory?”

Ed went to shake his head and thought better of it. “No.” He tried to think back. “I was talking to Havoc I think and then it all went black,” he shrugged. “It’s not important.”

“Fullmetal.” Mustang spoke heavily and Edward sighed.

“I know what you’re going to say, Mustang and I don’t want to hear it.” The accent was thicker and the black eyes were tired.

“Then what do you think we should do? You don’t want us to be concerned and I don’t want to see you suffering.”

“Getting bored of babysitting?” Ed’s grin was a shadow of what Mustang remembered it to be.

“Not yet,” Mustang smiled back without a smirk and saw Edward frown. Mustang wasn’t about to let Edward brush away his concerns so easily and Edward was seeing that. “If you’re feeling better then I could use your help with something.”

“What is it?” Edward looked at with suspicion.

“Weather alchemy.”

Edward blinked. “There’s no such thing.”

“I know. I want you to prove that, either which way.”

“How the hell do you expect me to do that? And why would you want to?” Edward’s eyes narrowed. “This is to keep me occupied and out of the way isn’t it? You made it up,” he accused.

“No Edward, this is not something I made up.” Mustang lifted up a file on his desk and dropped it again. “There’s a storm that somehow seems to have moved from the Northern Districts to the Central plains at a speed and strength that is unheard of before.”

“Alchemy couldn’t do that. You should know that. You can use some of the elements in the air sometimes but they’re very unstable. To be able to calculate them to the point of creating a storm would be impossible.”

“Make a list of all you need. Use Havoc to get anything from the library.” Mustang saw Ed’s frown deepen and held up a hand. “I know, it would be quicker and easier if you were there, but I can’t allow that while your health, both mental and physical is so prone to change.” He spoke bluntly and Ed grimaced at him.

“Fine, but I want Schieska as well. She can tell me what's in the library.”

“Done. You can have a desk in here or in the other office if you’d prefer. All I ask is you stay near us.”

Ed nodded. He didn’t want to admit it, but if he did collapse again he’d rather it be amongst friends rather than strangers. He sighed. He could almost feel the trap thickening around him. It was tying him back to this place. It was trying to keep him alive and he was resenting how easy it seemed to be.

Let it bind you, Edward. I will cut you free.

Oh great, you're back, Edward snarled back

Did you miss me? There was an echoing derisive laugh in his head.

Not in the slightest, Ed snapped back quickly.

I am getting closer, Edward. I am coming for you.

Edward scowled. Stupid voice in his head. His sanity was in more doubt that Mustang realised and he let his breath out. “I’ll take a desk out there. I really hate your face.”

Randall could feel the pain but everything was black around him. He felt completely disembodied except for the lines of pain. He didn’t even know if he was actually breathing.

...You’re awake.

The voice had him looking around but there was no sense of physically moving and the pain shimmered in a line around his arm. Or what should be his arm if he could feel any connection to it.

“Where am I?” He thought he spoke but he didn’t hear the words.

...Somewhere, nowhere, call it the storm.

“Why… why?”

...Because you touched the array, because you’re an alchemist. Because you are human. Pick one.

“I don’t… understand.”

Pain blossomed around him and he was suddenly very aware of every nerve he had. As abruptly as the pain came it receded back to its distance and he lost all awareness again.

...You don’t need to understand. You just need to be.

Randall lost consciousness again.

The dragon slipped along the wind streams, roaring occasionally as it flew. The arrays were gone and the frost was encroaching on its scales again. Tattered wing shreds fluttered uselessly at its sides as it spun and circled through the storm. And on its side was the bound form of the Stone Alchemist.

-

Wilfred Wilson Gibson (1878 -1962 ): "Between The Lines"

Author’s Note: Yes, the Dragon appears at last… I know several people have been looking forward to his introduction… I hope you like him…

silken :)