General-says-what? (An Edward Elric love story) {To undo what has been done}

We came to a train that REALLY succeeded in pissing me off! I mean, seriously, I WORK for you, you mo-fo’s , and THIS is what you do?! YOU CAPTURE ISHBALAN’S YOU FUCKING ASSHOLES! WHAT THE HELL IS YOUR PROBLEM!!!!!?

Edward ended up clapping his hand over my mouth so that I’d calm down because, damn it, I was ready to blow a gasket. So, he let me alchemically alter the water pump with a large smile. I managed not to cough, too, which is the most wonderful thing that could have ever happened because it meant I wasn’t going to get caught! So, with a smile and hop to my step, I dodged under the trains and hurried over to Edward and Alphonse.

Havoc and Fury were there, so was Riza and too many people to bother myself with naming. Hell, civilians were here, too. Havoc and Fury talked about the difficulties that were going on as I told the boys that I had done it.

“That should delay the train for a while,” Al said, happily.

“Yeah, I can’t believe our good luck, discovering this train of Ishbalan’s half way through our trip”—I shoved my fist into his shoulder, glaring.

“Be nice, jack ass, these people can kick your ass, even with your alchemy.”

“Yeah, so I’ve heard,” he grumbled, rubbing his arm with his automail hand, like he could actually feel it.

I started yelling (only, without yelling) at him in Ishbalan and he turned, reciprocating almost perfectly until I called him a sinner and he called me one back and Al was left, staring confusedly at us.

“Are you two done yet?” One of the boys there asked.

“Edward,” I hissed and clapped a hand over both their mouths as Havoc and Fury walked by. I pulled back and Ed sighed, deciding we’d get back to it later as he turned to them, asking what they did to get thrown in there.

That earned him another punch and I turned my nose up at him when he asked me what it was for.

“We’re innocent, ok?” Rick said hissing it.

“Some troops took us by surprise and packed us in here,” Rio explained.

“That’s awful,” Al pointed out.

“Really? Sounds like the Military to me,” Someone in the back gave me a stare and I knew exactly what it meant. I sighed and sat down with my legs crossed, looking the other way.

“The way the state treats you is dead wrong, but you should have seen it coming,” Ed pointed out. “If you leave the camps, they’re going to round you up. Listen, we could really use your peoples help. Scar told us the Philosopher’s Stone was made in Ishbal thousands of years ago.”

“We’re looking for someone to fill us in on the details. You guys were pretty close to him, weren’t you?” Al asked with that innocent voice of his.

“We aren’t friends with people like him! You won’t be getting any information out of us.” Rio refused. “Why don’t you ask Aquaria?”

“Because I don’t know any more about it than you do,” I explained. “You know my past, don’t you? I didn’t have the luxuries you do.”

“Child!” A woman stomped her foot and I fell silent again.

“None of us can help you, but there’s an elderly man outside of Kessha that can help you discover the information that you seek,” A sage said as he walked forward.

“But-!” Rio tried. “But Chief!”

“These two young men will take you to meet him.”

“I don’t wanna go to that place again,” Rick complained.

“Look, we don’t make very good chaperones,” Edward tried to defuse the situation.

“We have to exchange something for their information,” Al said, resignedly, but it really wasn’t that noticeable. “We’ll give these two their freedom.”

“Equivalent Exchange, though it’s not one of my peoples philosophies, I admire its attempts at balance.” The Sage agreed with nothing but well-ease in his voice.

“We’ll go, Chief,” Rio resigned, clearly not wanting to in any way, shape, nor form.

“Maybe I can give you guys some heat relief , too.” Ed smirked and at that precise moment, the water load gave out and began to rain everywhere.

“Get those people off the train!” Havoc ordered. “It’s not safe in there!”

With screams, the Ishbalan’s unloaded instantly.

We snuck away in the commotion, but ran into Fury. Edward shoved the heel of his metal hand into his chin and the man went down. Another man came around the other side of the train, gun slung over his shoulder and I cracked a smoke pill, throwing it at him and casting him into disarray as Winry appeared with a tractor.

“Where’d you get that? Did you steal it?” Al asked.

“Of course not!” She refused. I sighed—I was kind of hoping she had, the goody-goody. “They said I could have it if I fixed it, but I don’t think they were dealing with me.”

Havoc ran around the side of the train this time.

“WONDERFUL!” I yelled at the boys as I sprinted forward, jumping into the back of it. “WHILE WE COULD BE GETTING AWAY, YOU’RE ATTRACTING MORE ATTENTION!”

“Only because you’re yelling!” Edward refused, stock still and not even realizing he was there.

“Move your ass you jinghi-kai-doe!”

“What the hell?!” Havoc finally got in as they both ran forward, climbing in. Ed sat behind the motor and the cap came off, slamming him on his head as we drove off.

I got a well placed kick-to-the-shin that I deserved after calling him a sinner, so I brushed it off.

“Next stop, Kesshua, straight ahead,” Winry said, happily. “This is too easy.”

“She was great, wasn’t she, brother?” Al congratulated.

“I need to know how much longer you plan to tag along, Winry,” Ed replied. I stood up and repositioned myself so that I was back to back with said blonde.

“If it weren’t for me, you’d have been captured by now.”

“I had it under control!” She laughed. “That’s not the point; I don’t want you out here with us.”

“Then who’s going to fix up your automail? You break it about once a week.”

“I don’t want you here, either, Winry,” Al admitted in a small voice. “We may have to do some bad things. I wanted to rip the limbs right off that homunculus boy, but I couldn’t. Not in front of you, Winry.” I tilted my head up to the sky, watching it whiz by without a cloud.

Makes you feel kind of small, doesn’t it?

“Oh, please, you wouldn’t have done it anyway,” she tried to defuse it.

“I agree; Al wouldn’t do that. But that doesn’t matter, because I can and will,” Ed’s voice was thoughtful and hard and rash like the man he is, but I wasn’t paying attention to it as much as I should. “I met someone once, who thought it was easy to kill, once you’d done it once. Maybe it was inevitable, but I crossed that line. I killed an alchemist named Mahjo.”

“That was an accident, brother. You were trying to save him.”

“Even so, at Laboratory Five, I came so close to killing all those prisoners. When it meant getting Al’s body back, their lives seemed like nothing.”

“But you couldn’t bring yourself to do it.”

“And now, when I face Scar, if he tries to hold me down, like Greed did, I’ll have to do the same to him.”

“Cool, you’ll really kill him?” Rio asked.

“What are you saying?” Rick refused. “His niece is right here!”

“If you wish to speak of m, then speak of me any way you please, but not as niece,” I said, catching them off guard as I still continued to stare at the sky. “Niece is not a tone with a ring to it but yet a tone that brings nothing but pain as we speak. He is my Uncle, and yet his niece, I am not.”

“Aqua, what are you saying?” Ed’s voice caught me off.

“Huh?” I jumped and faced him. “What? I was in my mind, what were we talking about again?”

“You were saying that Scar’s your uncle, but you’re not his niece.”

“Oh,” I looked away, shutting up. It took me a long moment before saying “It’s nothing. Really. I was just in my mind, like I said.”

“What were you thinking about?” Winry asked, especially since she would be the only person who actually cared.

“The other side of the Gate,” I explained. “What’s truly there? Is it only waiting for us to die or for our hands to be bloodied as we force it open? When will that moment be? And how will it happen?”

“Why do you care?” Edward retaliated and I didn’t have to look to know his brow was arched.

“I don’t know. It seems as if time is moving twice as slow for me than it is for everyone else. I haven’t the slightest clue as to why, but I do know that that’s what it feels like, and I cannot explain it any more than you.”

“A simple answer, please?” He sighed and patted his hand against my shoulder, meaning something much more than that. I looked up and smiled at him, nodding.

“I’ll keep it quick,” I rolled my eyes and settled back and looked at the horizon again. I imagined my life, everything from the moment I can remember and beyond.

“But, Rio, why would you agree with Edward while he tried to kill him?” Rick’s voice brought me back.

“He’s a traitor; it’s ok to kill those guys.”

I stood up and tapped Rio’s shoulder, getting his attention.

“What? It’s true-!”

I shoved my foot into his face so hard his eye was already starting to puff and his nose was bleeding and broken instantly.

“WHAT THE HELL IS YOUR PROBLEM YOU LITTLE BRAT?!” I yelled, even after Ed had his arms around me, holding me back. “HOW THE FUCKING HELL DO YOU THINK THEY WOULD FEEL IF THEY HEARD YOU SAY THAT?! HOW WOULD YOU LIKE IT YOU NO GOOD-“ I listed off a few good curses in our home language, yelling at the top of my lungs until my face turned red and my knees buckled from the exertion.

“Why are you defending a guy like him?!” He retaliated. “He uses alchemy! He defies the laws! He kills people with no remorse!”

“WHERE’S YOUR PROOF?! WHERE’S YOUR PROOF THAT ALL TRAITORS ARE LIKE THAT?! HOW DO YOU KNOW THAT EVERYONE IS AS SOULLESS AS HE IS?! WHY THE FUCK DO YOU THINK THAT YOU NO GOOD, ISHBAL-HATING LITTLE BASTARD?!”

“GUYS!” Winry caught us off guard, effectively killing the argument but not my anger. “We’re here.”

We hid it and looked out over the camp. There was a ring of ash, hiding one side from the other. There were camps to the right of it and some officers standing out in about, around a smoldering fire that, no doubt, was heating the place up a lot hotter than it needed to be. “It looks like a battlefield,” Al pointed out.

“We’ve never seen a battle, how would we know?” Ed retaliated.

“No. This place is too neat,” I agreed, crouching back on my heels. The place was… nostalgic… and I couldn’t help but chuckle as I recognized the burn pattern. “It’s definitely him. He saved a lot of lives to do this, didn’t he? Instilled fear, that one.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Never you mind,” I shrugged them off. Ed spotted a hideout and we started advancing towards it, but they stopped shortly into it. I kept moving breathlessly.

“What’s the matter?”

“I don’t want to go,” Rio refused. “I’ve seen it all before. It’s exactly the same.”

I didn’t hear the last of it as I dodged inside and started looking around the pile of garbage filled “house” but when they entered, both the Ishbalan’s and Winry weren’t there.

And then the shots rang out and I dodged under the bullet as Ed and Al barely made it.

“Alright you two, come out peacefully,” Riza’s voice demanded.

“I’d like to point out that I didn’t get caught sneaking in here,” I said, opening the curtain and smirking at their faces. “Just saying. Gotta boast about something, y’know. Crummy week and all.”

“Just get out of there, Br-“

“Already out, Lieutenant.”

Ed was the one who made a noise next. “What did you think you’re doing!? You could have killed us!” He yelled.

“You think missing was an accident?” I teased, winking. “Riza’s the best sharp-shoot I ever met and I don’t quite think that you’re going to-“

“Would you shut up?” Ed asked, looking at me. “I thought you said you’d keep your explanations to a minimum!’

“Oh, yeah, my bad!” I laughed, rubbing the back of my head. Riza glanced at me, side-ways, and I knew she was secretly happy to hear me laugh so lightly again.

Edward has changed me, hasn’t he?

“And why did you shoot if you knew it was us?!” Edward demanded.

“That shot was for the bruise you gave Fury.” The boys looked suddenly guilty and I smiled to myself. They were so naïve it was funny. The only problem was they were naïve—this is an adults world we live in, and they aren’t ready for what it has to entail.

As we were walking towards the military camp, I pulled up next to Riza. “They don’t know,” she muttered to me.

“Of course not,” I muttered back. “What gave you the clue?”

“He told you to shut up—directly.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” I smiled up at her. She stared there for a few moments before turning forward again.

“Just watch your back here. These people aren’t in the habit of taking to visitors kindly.”

“Hey—these are the people I grew up with.”

~!~

Riza and Breda were sitting at a table across from the Elric’s and I stayed close to Riza and Al as I stood beside the table, admiring the topographical map and some reports up on it, getting caught up on all that I’ve missed as I idly paid attention to them.

Ed asked where Roy was, and Breda explained that he went back to Central with Falman. Ed made a snappy remark about him leaving them to clean up his mess and I slipped off my shoe, tossing it at him with only the slightest of breaths. Riza took it with ease and started interrogating him about if that was what this entire thing was about—his treatment of Ishbalans (which, I’ll attest to, he really does treat them better than most—example A, me) and attacking the train. Al tried to get them to stop suppressing them (One point Al) and I caught my shoe as it flew over my shoulder again.

Riza pointed out that there were no casualties on either side after he stepped in (two points Roy!) and that they were the ones that had been killed first. From their own side, even—apparently, it was Yoki, form Youswell. And a simple snap stopped it, because Roy is awesome like that (minus one me) and he was able to finish as quickly as possible.

That’s when Breda pointed out that he was only dogging on Roy because he was military and reminded him that he was one, too. I walked around and slapped my shoe against both their heads, first with Ed and then Breda. “We’re all military here! Get the fuck over it and hurry up with the civilized conversation—EDWARD!”

“What’s that supposed to mean?! You and Al aren’t in the military!”

“Yeah, well, we should. Now, pull up your big boy pants and get on with civilization, you no-good jinghi-kai-doe.”
“Watch who you’re calling a sinner, Aquaria, you’re one, too, you know!”

“Yes, but I can say it in a different language, which makes everything better.”

“What? Since when!”

“Since I said so!”

“Children!” Riza snapped. I looked at her, a startled look on my face for a moment before laughing.

“You’re right—sorry. Stop yelling, you’re doing nothing but giving us headaches. I thought we were just talking about you being civilized blah, blah, blah.” I shrugged and smiled at her, walking back around and going back to my board.

I ignored them until Ed, Al and I all were escorted to a chained area where Breda had to undo five different locks. “Security’s tight around here,” Ed pointed out like the smart guy he is. “Do you really think the old man did it?”

“The old man? No, he isn’t a suspect. But we are protecting him.”

I moved closer to Breda until we were practically touching. He noticed it and glanced down at me for a moment.

“From who?” Ed didn’t seem to notice my movement.

We turned around to see four men, all in hand cuffs and all Ishbalan. “Those are Ishbalan’s.” Thanks for the newsflash, Al! We couldn’t figure that out ourselves!

“They all attacked him,” I explained. “Called him a heretic and an exhile.” One of the men looked at me and I almost turned and high tailed it. I couldn’t help the flinch, though. “He’s banned from his own people.”

“I don’t believe it!” Al almost yelled. I couldn’t believe that any of them believe me! “The Ishbalan’s have been outcasts for so long! And now they’re cutting themselves from their own people! Why?”

I sighed and stepped back. They wouldn’t understand—not without seeing first hand.

“Hey! Mr. Rioska!” I yelled, walking toward the tent. Breda stared, shocked at me as the boys hurried to catch up. “You in there?” There was a pause. “No Kao Mon?”

“Shi mon kao eye. No di-dye-kay.”

“I ain’t going away,” I replied and ducked in, smiling. “Long time no see. Have you seen my Uncle by chance?”

After he got over the whole shock at seeing me, he turned to the boys, who had been admiring his walls—which were covered in different Alchemic markings—and started talking about the Philosopher’s stone.

I left as he explained about exiles. “Aquaria,” he caught my attention.

“I know,” I admitted, not bothering to hear what he had to say as I walked out. Breda noticed me and gave me a smile. I stood there a moment before walking towards him and half hiding behind him.

“I don’t want to be here, Breda.” I admitted.

“The looks?” He proposed.

I nodded. “They haven’t changed. If anything, they’re worse. I wish I could make them stop.”

“You know you can’t.”

“Doesn’t mean I don’t wish it.” I pointed out.

I leaned my head against his shoulder until the boys came out.

As we were walking back to the tent, the worst thing that could have happened, did. The four people that were in chains broke free and I was suddenly off my feet.

The first thing that hit my ears were the words “You fucking heretic!”

Wow, imagine that.

I was on the ground, fighting against the four men and getting more banged than I was banging them up. I coughed and kicked and flailed and punched and rolled and felt myself get pinned down. Tears chased each other on my face and my glasses broke, my hair fell aside, draping down my back.

And my whole world exploded.

Literally.

I rolled out of the fire, my glasses half hanging on my ear, both of the lenses popped out. My cloak was frayed, my hair brushed aside and I knew that there was a thin line of sweat soaking my skin where my tears weren’t, making the star on my forehead stand out that much more brightly against my skin than normal. But my eyes were fixed on the fire.

Four more people.

Four more people.

Four more people…

Four more people!

FOUR MORE PEOPLE!

Riza was there, her arms around me, but I wasn’t. I wasn’t there. I was on the battlefield. I was in Ishbala. Her arms tightened, but I took barely any notice.

“Aquaria,” she finally pulled me back with her voice. “Aquaria, take a deep breath. A deep, slow one.”

“But- But- four… four more people….” I muttered, my tears starting anew.

“Aquaria,” she repeated, taking my shoulders in her hands and making me look at her. “Take a deep breath.”

“But….”

“Now.”

I took one, but I didn’t feel any better.

“YOU’RE AN EXILE?!?!?!” Rio didn’t help at all.

I closed my eyes, pushing him away enough to close my eyes, stand up, and disappear in the trash heaps.

I returned about half an hour later with slightly puffy eyes and an empty stomach. Ed was waiting for me, and the moment I walked in, he caught my attention and walked up, fixing my bangs so they hung on either side of my face. “Next time, just tell me,” and he pressed his lips against my forehead, making me blush.

I was kind of curious as to why he wasn’t yelling, but I couldn’t help smiling as he did it. Wait, what did he mean, next time? What the hell is he talking about?

We walked back to the others and I sat down in one of the chairs, pulling my legs up and ignoring them until Riza was standing there over me, her hand on my shoulder and the phone in her hand. “She’ll be on in precisely five seconds.”

It was timed perfectly, since five seconds later, exactly, the phone was against my ear and he was talking, “Hello? Aqua? Are you there?” I didn’t answer. “Just… hum if you’re on.” I hummed. “Lieutenant Hawkeye tells me what happened. I want you here as soon as possible, do you understand?” again, I hummed and I heard him mutter “And the boys got you so far away from this state earlier. Great, now it’s just reset.”

“Can still hear you,” I muttered and hung the phone up. It would be the most I would say before I fell asleep against the side of the tent.

I woke an hour later and stood up, sweeping the ashes together to perform a “proper burial” even though everyone was yelling at me to no bother with something like that—that they’d do it themselves.

I ignored them.