Full Metal Alchemist Fan Fiction

Strength

By Kraven Ergeist

A/N: I thought it might be interesting to try and get Edward and Riza together. For those of you wondering, Winry would end up with Al, and Roy…well, the title kind of gives that away.

xxxxx

Prologue: The Colonel's Last Stand

Roy was at his regular hangout, easing the stress of the day off his shoulders, one glass at a time. He was enjoying his date with solitude, until a familiar voice greeted him.

"Good evening, Colonel."

He looked up to see his second lieutenant, Havoc.

"I'm off duty, Havoc. It's just Mustang now. Drink?"

"Don't mind if I do."

The red haired officer sat down next to his commanding officer. Though they had been separated by rank, he'd always appreciated how little was between them, and all of Roy Mustang's "Scooby Gang" as they were sometimes called.

"Lieutenant Hawkeye just got back from the coast. The search for Full Metal is still underway."

Roy took in a deep sigh. "And I was having such a nice evening."

Havoc grinned. "Relax. Even after they find him, he'll probably have so much to answer for, he'll never get a moment free. You won't have to deal with him for a month, easily."

Roy raised his glass. "Well, I might as well enjoy myself while I still can."

Havoc raised his glass. "I'll drink to that."

They slugged down their drinks, and resumed a comfortable silence.

"So, how's luck with the ladies going?" Roy offered, knowing his question would make him uncomfortable.

"Not so well," Havoc sighed. "Much the opposite of yourself, I would expect?"

Roy noted how calmly he changed the subject of the topic. "Nothing more than usual."

Havoc sighed, resting his head on his arm in genuine anxiety. "How do you do it, Mustang? Is it your looks? Is it your charm? Is it your wit?"

Roy grinned. "A little of all three of those. Oh, and stamina. Don't forget. Gotta have stamina." Roy noticed Havoc slouch in his grief, and decided to try and cheer his comrade up a bit. "You oughta ask out that Scieszka girl."

Havoc looked up. "The librarian? Do you think it'd be a good idea to have a relationship with someone I know on a professional level?"

Roy laughed. "All the snide comments about me and Lieutenant Hawkeye, and you're asking me something like that?"

Havoc flushed and sat up straight, looking away. "That's just jesting. I'm talking about for real."

Roy sighed, shaking his head. "Havoc…let me let you in on some personal advice, man to man, off the record. Rule number one: Don't sweat the small stuff."

Havoc nodded, his interest honestly piqued. "And rule umber two?"

Roy smiled. "Rule number two: It's all small stuff."

xxxxx

They lasted a few hours, before stumbling down the road. They lived relatively close together (They had to, since Havoc was Roy's personal chauffer), and walked arm in arm (Mostly for balance).

"I'd say we milked this night for all it was worth, eh, Roy?" Havoc said, now on personal terms in his less than fully conscious state.

"Amen to that, Jean."

"I'd like to thank you for all your helpful advice."

"Quite welcome."

"In fact, I'd like to return the favor. Just a minute."

Havoc left Roy leaning against a wall, before rushing into a spirits store, and walking out with a bottle of Piper Heidsieck.

"Really, Havoc, after all we've had?"

"No, no, Roy, save this. Save it for…a special occasion."

Roy held the champagne up to look at it closely, before dropping it in his coat pocket. "Well, thanks very much, Jean."

"My pleasure, Roy."

xxxxx

Mustang rubbed sleep from his good eye, as his head was loathing every second that gravity was still around. Stumbling into his office, he glanced at Lieutenant Hawkeye.

It had been somewhat awkward between them every since his accident. She had, quite unannounced, made herself his personal caretaker until he was well enough to return to his duties. At first, the brass had wanted to fire him outright, but due the distinct lack of manpower available, he was returned to his original post on strict probation.

He knew that there was something there between them, but as knowledgeable as he was in the ways of interaction with the opposite sex, Riza Hawkeye had still befuddled him. She never, never, behaved out of conduct. Even when she was off duty, she just couldn't loosen up. Roy wanted so badly to get closer to her, but he never knew how to breech her calm, cool exterior.

And, to make matters worse, it was raining.

"Nice to have you back," Roy muttered.

Hawkeye, her cheeks a noticeable shade of pink, just smiled.

"No luck in West City?"

Riza shook her head. "No sir."

Roy sighed. "So, how long can I convince you to stay this time? A day? Two?"

Riza sighed. "I leave tomorrow."

Roy sat down in his chair. "Why does the bureau have to send my First Lieutenant in search of Full Metal? Can't we delegate the job to another board?"

Riza blinked. "With all due respect, sir…Full Metal is your subordinate."

Roy closed his eye. "'Was,' you mean?"

Riza shook her head. "Edward is still alive, sir."

Roy flinched. "I uh…meant that he quit his post. Remember?"

Riza nodded. "Yes sir."

Roy sighed. He placed his hands in his pockets, realizing that the bottle of champagne from the night before was still in his coat. "Well, I can see there'll be no convincing you to get reassigned."

Riza shook her head. "If you'd like, I could fill out a petition-"

"No, that's fine," Roy said, turning his chair around to look outside at the rain. He sipped gingerly at his morning coffee. "You're right. Edward is my subordinate. It's my department's responsibility to look for him."

Riza saluted. "Sir."

Lieutenant Hawkeye left the building, leaving Roy to stare out the window.

Barely hours later, the attack came.

xxxxx

They were a revolutionist group from North City. Having been upset with the rule of the government, they had been planning their inquisition for months. Now, that the government was weakened by recent events now was the perfect time to strike. And unlike the Ishbalians, this group of people did not oppose the use of alchemy.

"You wanna run that by me again, Lieutenant Fuery?"

The black haired soldier straightened his shoulders. "Sir! A giant tree is growing out in Central Square!"

Roy Mustang massaged the bridge of his nose. "Fantastic…"

It was still raining and all the water was increasing the growth of the tree tenfold. Perched atop the tree like a bird was a North City alchemist, his hands pressed firmly against the bark of the tree.

"You can't stop me!" he declared, manic in tone and visage. "None of you can stop my eternal tree! It will consume your entire city!"

The roots of the tree were growing through rock as though it were clay, breaking up the city's foundations like a sandcastle. Houses, markets, business centers, nothing could stand up to the huge growth of vegetation.

At the one end of the tree that hadn't grown as far was Alex Louis Armstrong, pounding rock after rock into the huge tree. It was dealing damage sure enough, but everything that was destroyed was immediately replaced by more vegetation.

Roy Mustang walked outside, rain immediately drenching him. He frowned, staring up at the tree, glaring at the raving alchemist sitting atop in delight. Every time one of the military would open fire, a branch would rise to protect him. Nothing could penetrate the deafening foliage.

"Colonel!" Major Armstrong cried. "What are you doing out here? Can't you see it's raining?"

Roy smirked. "Yes indeed, Major. And frankly…I'm tired of being considered useless in the rain."

Armstrong scratched his gigantic head in confusion. "Sir?"

Roy said nothing as he approached the raving alchemist in the tree before him, as it expanded outward.

"What are you trying to do?" The alchemist roared. "Play hero? Oh, you Nationally Certified Alchemists are so predictable!"

The alchemist's laughter was cut short as a champagne cork hit him square between the eyes.

"YOW!" he hollered, clutching his face. Instantly, the growth of vegetation stopped. "What do you think you're doing!"

Roy just smiled, holding up the misting bottle of Piper Heidsieck.

"Cheers…"

The Colonel slugged a mouthful, before hurdling the bottle towards the tree, splattering its contents with a satisfying shatter against the bark.

Slipping on a dry glove underneath his coat, Roy snapped his fingers. At the same time, he spat out the mouthful of champagne he had in his mouth at the tree, igniting the foliage in a blaze of fire.

"Gah!" The alchemist roared. "My beautiful tree!"

Only a portion of the tree was burning, though it was doing so on raw alcohol, despite the rain. But Roy just smiled, unconcerned, as he saw his second lieutenant pull up in a pickup truck, carrying several large barrels.

"Right on time, Havoc," Roy nodded. "Did you get the items I requested."

"Sir," Havoc saluted. "But why…?"

"Armstrong!" Roy hollered at the behemoth, not giving Havoc a word in edgewise. "Were you ever any good at the hammer throw back at the academy?"

Alex Louis took one look at the barrels in the truck. He noticed their labels: Military Grade Alcohol.

The big man's face flashed into a smile. "It would be my pleasure to give you a beauteous demonstration, Colonel!"

With that, the major began hurdling barrels of alcohol at the tree, each one bashing open, drenching the already soaking bark in one hundred proof alcohol, allowing the fire to spread.

Roy squinted with his good eye, watching the tree burn in flames. The rain was diluting the alcohol too much. Not enough was catching. Knowing that they would not get a similar chance at this, Mustang approached the tree, and began snapping his still concealed fingers, igniting more and more portions of the tree into a raging blaze.

"No!" cried the tree-growing alchemist. "What do you think you're doing? My beautiful tree!"

The insurrection alchemist tried desperately to regrow what had been burned, but the char was difficult to grow through, and more and more of the tree was being eaten away.

"You!" the madman declared, his failure eminent. "You've destroyed it! My beautiful creation! You monster!"

The impish alchemist leapt to the ground, his hands burrowing into the earth. Instantly, vines erupted from the ground, wrapping around the Colonel's body, trapping him in place.

The Colonel struggled to get loose, but the tree had already wrapped around his arms and legs. With a thump, he fell over, and the vines began to squeeze.

"You monster! You monster! You monster!"

Roy fought for leverage, but he had not control, and the vines were coiling tighter and tighter and tighter.

"Colonel!" came the cries of his comrades. He could hear Armstrong's voice, Havoc's voice.

And Hawkeye.

But already, they were so far away. Like a quiet melody ringing in the darkness, his grasp of the world around him began to fade. In his mind's eye, he saw Riza, looking as dazzling as ever.

And smiling.

Always smiling…

xxxxx

An hour later, the plant alchemist was apprehended, as well as the dozens of North City soldiers hidden inside the tree. But by the time they cut Roy free of the killer vines, life had already left his body.

He was given a hero's funeral, buried not far from his friend, Maes Hughes.

Once again, friends gathered round and cried for their fallen companion. He had been their admired leader, beloved friend, and chief motivational figure in their lives for the past many years.

And Riza was there, her eyes normally serious were now full of tears, her attire reflecting the black loss in her heart. It had nearly killed her that time he almost died once upon a time after confronting Archer.

Now, she wasn't so sure it was a "nearly."

And it was still raining, though her tears needed no alibi.

"Idiot," she muttered. "Just had to prove yourself, didn't you?"

Havoc wandered next to her and offered an umbrella and a comforting arm on her shoulder. "So…what are you going to do now?"

Riza sniffed back her tears and stared forward.

"I'm going to do what he ordered me to do." She turned around and walked off. "I'm going to find Edward."

xxxxx

Deep within the heart of a ruined church over a forgotten city, an alchemy array formed on the ground. Dust and grime curled and flew as static shook the earth and the gate opened.

A blonde haired man dropped out, landing on his knees, attached to two fully formed legs. Two fully formed arms rested his weight on the ground, and his damp yellow locks hid everything but the smile on his face.

"I'm back…"

To Be Continued…

xxxxx

I'm sorry for having to kill off Roy Mustang. I like him as much as the next FMA fan, but as it was, he stood in the way of my creative ingenuity, or so I delude myself. Critiques, comments, and threats to main and murder will all be duly noted.

I'm out.