Strange Maze, What is this place?
Hearing voices over my shoulder
Nothing's making sense at all
Wonder, Why do we race?
And everyday, we're running in circles
Such a funny way to fall
Tried to open up my eyes.
I'm hoping for a chance to make it alright
When I wake up
The dream isn't done!
I want to see your face and know I made it home!
If nothing is true!
What more can I do?
I am still painting flowers for you!
I heard everything you said!
I don't want to lose my head!
When I wake up
The dream isn't done!
I want to see your face and know I made it home!
If nothing is true!
What more can I do?
I am still painting flowers for you!
Painting Flowers- All time Low
Chapter 28- Father
Reality
I was then shot back into reality only to feel a crushing weight on my back. After hitting it that hard an hour ago, it doesn't feel to great. Plus I have my sickness, my ribs, and my arm to add on to the fun. Yay. Then I have freaking anxiety after seeing myself! Who wouldn't be a tad bit freaked out?! This isn't like looking in a mirror! "Athena! Athena!" I heard a voice call out. Under the weight I guessed it was Kaley. Wait! KALEY!? "Hey Athena where are you?!"
"Down here!" I screamed reaching my broken arm through the weight and grabbing her ankle. She screamed and jumped. I yelled in pain. "OW! Careful with that arm it's broken!"
"Ed! Somebody! Help me!" Kaley called out.
A hand then grabbed me by my bad wrist and pulled me back up. I yelled in pain and gasped for air. "Hey, I have to save a sacrifice now don't I?" A cocky voice asked.
I looked up and saw Ultimate with a smirk. In the background I could see Ed giving him a look that could kill. I growled and yanked myself out of his grasp. This of course lead to pain in my wrist. As I walked to Ed I had to fight the stinging pain in my wrist. "So where are we?"
"Dunno. Are you okay?" Ed asked.
Before I could answer someone else spoke. "This is some what surprising." It spoke. I turned my head and saw a man stepping out of the shadows. "People emerging from his stomach."
My eyes went wide at him. He looked like Hohenheim. They were identical. Was it really him or am I just dreaming things? "What the-? Hohenheim?" Ed growled.
"Steel appendage. .." He sighed looking at Ed. "An armored body." He then turned to Al. He toke a second before turning to me. His gaze was hard and icy. My blood then went cold. "And you have a steel appendage as well."
"And some of her insides are lost. She's the sacrifice I found the other day. Her name is Athena Black." Ultimate replied.
He then turned to Ultimate. "I see. Thank you Ultimate." He then walked to us with his finger on his chin in thought. "Are you two the Elric Brothers?"
"So your not really-?" I stopped my own sentence.
"Have you mistaken me for someone else?" He asked tapping his chin. "Wait a second... Hoh-en…The name you said! By any chance do you mean Van Hohenheim? And how is it the two of you are acquainted with him?"
"Well... He's our father." Al answered.
It toke a while for it to sink in to the man's head. When he realized it he inspected Ed carefully. "He's you're father! I had no idea he had children! Haha!" He chuckled as he patted Ed's head. Ed however wasn't to found of the attention he was getting. In fact he was annoyed severely. "If you indeed his prodigy, then why is it your family name is Elric?"
Ed tore himself out the man grip and backed away from him. "Elric is our mother's last name!" Ed yelled.
"Oh is that so, so where is he been spending his time?" The man questioned.
"Who cares! Just forget him! Who the hell are you? And why do you look exactly like him?!" Ed demanded as he pointed at him. The man turned away starting to talk freely only to get Ed more annoyed. "Listen!"
"Brother!" Al called out setting his hand on his bad arm. "This guy's the one who-"
Ed yelped in pain making a look of worry struck my face. I gently pulled his hand away and stared at it carefully. "You okay?"
"It would appear that you're injured. And you're missing your left hand, aren't you?" The man spoke now setting his hand on Al's arm hole in his armor. Doing this made a whole new armored hand be transmuted back to where it was. "There and how's that for you?" He asked now turning to Ed and me. He toke Ed's broken arm from my gentle hold and pulled it towards him. "Your arm is broken..." He then transmuted his arm which made his eyes go wide in shock. He tore off the bracket I made for him and moved his hand and fingers with ease.
"Uh! It's not broken anymore." He gasped. The man started to touch his chest looking for anymore injuries only to find his broken ribs.
"Few broken ribs as well." Father sighed now transmuting that part of his chest. Ed then started to touch the part of chest that was healed in shock. While I just stared with wide eyes. How did that even happen? "As for you." His voice boomed as he now inspected me. He healed my arm the same way Ed's was healed and I had an equal reaction. Just sheer shock. "After the transmutation you didn't receive any medical attention? Did you?"
I shook my head. "Not that I know of." I spoke now setting my gaze down.
"This must be a strain for you. Am I correct?" He questioned. This made me nod. How he planned on helping my cause scared me. I have no idea what he'll do and whatever he does will be a shock to me. He then drove his hand into my stomach making all the air inside me get knocked out and the taste of blood wash into my mouth.
"ATHENA! You bastard!" Ed growled now starting to storm to the man. But as soon as he started Al and Kaley held him back. His hand then yanked out of me making me stagger backwards and fall to the ground. My eyes were wide and my hands crawled to the part of my stomach which he dug his hand into me. There was nothing. Not even a wound. I can breathe easier, I don't feel exhausted like I would before! What was going on? Ed then sat next to me to make sure I was okay. "Athena! Are you okay?!"
I was shaking. I don't know why I was shaking, maybe I was scared. Maybe I'll never know. "I can breathe easier... I don't feel strained... There's not even a wound left." I breathed out.
"I consider the three of you to be vital resources you must remain alive and healthy." The man spoke.
I shook my head and looked down. Al and Kaley then walked to us. "This isn't right Al. He preformed a transmutation without any movement at all." Ed muttered.
"And he didn't even thin out my armor." Al added.
"There isn't any equivalent exchange!" Ed, Al, Kaley, and I gasped.
"You aren't human!" Ling growled now lifting his sword. "What are you? What the hell is inside you?!"
The man turned to Ling with a stare that didn't to welcoming. "I would ask who you are but I honestly don't care. You can go ahead and eat him."
"Okay!" Gluttony chirped.
"I don't think he wants to be back there." Hate sighed.
The man turned to Hate. "Oh hello Hate. Have you come to meet your fate?"
"Have you come to meet your fate?" Hate grumbled impersonating him. "Listen Pops, I really don't like you. I mean I REALLY don't like you so why would I come back here? Here's one, to give you your fate. Not to give you my farewell address. Sorry but my stone is safe."
"Wait a second!" I called out as Ed, Al, and I shielded Hate and Ling. Oh and for safe keeping I put Kaley behind me. "They're our friends so if you want to keep us happy then keep them alive!"
"But I have no need for him. You friendship doesn't make him any less unless to me. As for Hate she has to repay for her doings." The man muttered now walking away.
"Wait... What?" I growled lowly.
"Brother, Athena. The Homunculi keep on calling this guy Father. I think he was the one who created them." Al answered.
"Correct tin man! He's my daddy." Hate answered in a baby voice.
"But he did heal our wounds..." I muttered under my breath.
Ling then staggered forward. "He didn't heal mine. I don't like him. I can tell he looks down on humans and calls us fools."
The man stopped to turn to us. "When you notice an insect on the ground,do you stop to consider it a fool? The life of an insect is so beneath you, that it would be a waste of your time to even consider judging it. That would be a accurate summation on my feelings towards these humans."
Ed then clapped his hands and set them on the ground. A wave of stone hit the man dead on. "You may have healed our wounds but that still doesn't make us friends!" Ed yelled. "It's pretty obvious that you're the root of all this evil! I'm taking you down! I don't care how many cronies you've got!"
"Just who are you calling a crony, pipsqueak?" Envy questioned still in the beastly form.
"Pipsqueak!" Ed growled. He then transmuted a pip and tied the man up with it. "Got you now boss man!" The man broke out of the pipe's grasp with just a simple transmutation which made my eyes go wide. Ultimate then threw a punch at me which I skillfully dodged. I then upper cutted his sending his staggering back.
"I don't have time for your crap!" I hissed transmuting a cage around Ultimate. My gaze went to the man as I then a pillar at him. Doing this only made it crumble as it hit him. "What!? How is he doing that?!"
"He feels like he can transmute just by thinking about it!" Ed growled.
The man sighed and looked down. "This is a waste of time." He then toke a step forward which a wave of red sparks dance around us and out the room. After it was all over I tried to transmute something but nothing came. I stared at my hands in shock.
Ed and Al were doing the same thing. We then clapped our hands at the same time and set them on the ground. Again, nothing. "What's going on?" We shuddered at once. "I can't transmute!" Then Ed and Al were held down by Envy. Before I could move Ultimate broke out of the cage and held me down.
"Ed! Al! Athena!" Ling called out now running to us. This made Gluttony grab him and throw him under his weight. Kaley and Hate then hid behind some rubble for safety.
"What the hell did he do to us?" Ed growled trying to escape.
"I don't know." Al answered.
"Why can't we use alchemy!?" I demanded.
Ultimate and Envy barked in laughter. "You lower life forms never fail to amuse me! You get a speck of power and you think you own the world! And you don't even know what that power is!" Ultimate chuckled loudly in my ear. I growled and struggled against him.
"And then you have the arrogance to assume you the in control of the power! Your like a bad joke that keeps getting dumb!" Envy scoffed.
"What are you bastards planing?" Ed questioned loudly. "You promised to tell me everything if we got you out!"
"Huh?" Envy playfully asked. "Why I would never stoop so low as to make a deal with a worm like you!"
"Liar!" I shrieked.
"You talk far too much Envy." The Homunculi muttered.
"Oh sorry." Envy apologized now ignoring us.
The Homunculi looked to Ling with a hard stare. "You may prove to be rather useful to me after all. I could always use a new pawn in the rotation." He then tapped his forehead which made a purple eye open up and drip out a red liquid. A stone.
"Is that a Philosopher stone?!" Al gasped.
"A what?" Ling breathed out.
"Are you really gonna do that?" Envy asked.
"Do what?" Ed and I asked.
"He's making a new Homunculus." Ultimate answered with grin in his voice. "When a stone is added to the blood stream, if the body is able to survive then you got a human-based Homunculus. An example of one is me and Hate."
"I won't let you do that to him!" I objected.
Gluttony peeled off a bandage off of Ling's cut cheek making me struggle against Ultimate. "Why aren't we able to transmute!?" Ed asked trying to use alchemy to escape from Envy's weight. "You bearded bastard! He has people waiting for him to get back! Get off of me!"
I then remembered the guns Sam and Riza gave us. I whistled to Ed and mouthed 'The gun' to him. He then reached to the gun as I lifted my leg and slipped Sam's gun into my hands. The top of it hit Ultimate chin which snicker. He turned my gaze to him who had a look my father gave me. "Can you really shoot you father?" He asked. His voice then changed into a mix of my father's voice and his own. "Can you Athena?" I tore my gaze away and shut my eyes tightly.
"Don't shoot!" Ling demanded. My gaze went wide and I turned to him. In the corner of my eye I saw Ed in the same state of shock I was in. "This is what I want so stay out of it!"
"Are you serious?!" Ed asked.
"I came to this land to get a Philosopher stone! Now this guy wants to give me one! I'm not gonna turn this down!" Ling stated.
"Think about what your doing!" I argued.
"Well, this is new." The man spoke. "But we'll see if your body is as willing as your mind." With it said and done the man dropped the stone onto Ling's cut letting the liquefied stone seep into the wound. Looking at the reaction and the screaming in pain this is far worse then rubbing salt into the wounds. Ling screamed in agony as it looked his body was being shattered from the inside over and over in many different ways. I had to turn away from what I was witnessing.
"Don't you dare interfere! Stay back!" Ling demanded between screams. "I know what I'm doing! They're dealing with the future leader of Xing!" He then let out a loud scream which made my blood run cold. Was he dying? I can't watch or I might get sick myself. The endless amount of screams echoed in my ears until it went silent. I couldn't take it anymore. I turned my head and saw the red sparks disappearing and Ling's body twitching.
"L-Ling?" I whispered.
Ling turned to me. "Wha?" The voice that came out was completely different. It was deeper and rougher. That wasn't Ling anymore. "You mean this guy's I toke his body from? Sorry! Your friend just checked out and lent Greed this body!"
My eyes went wide. No. Not him! Anyone but Greed! Wait... I have a score to settle with him. "So your not Ling?" Al asked quietly.
"Did he say Greed?" Ed asked just as quietly.
Greed smirked now walking to me. Oh the pain coming in my head now. I can remember when he tried to hit on me during our fight and then ran away like a coward. I don't like him at all. Greed's hard grip went on my chin and he inspected me carefully. "Oh my. Who is this inviting woman?" He asked seductively.
"Hey! Stay away from her!" Ed growled. I could tell Ed was getting fired up that this man was flirting with me. Honestly I was getting irritated myself. I don't like this attention I was getting and I won't take it! I then slammed my forehead against his nose, and pretty hard too. Those head butting classes... They payed off!
Greed chuckled and turned to everyone. "She's a flower."
"A flower with poison!" I argued with rage in my voice. "Ultimate let me go so I can kick this guy's ass!"
"Nope! Sorry!" Ultimate chirped.
I blinked for a second. "Wait, is he the Greed from before?" I asked.
"Huh? What are you talking about?" Greed asked.
"You don't remember us?" Ed questioned.
"From Dublith?" Al added.
"You must have met some different Greed." Greed suggested.
"He was my avarice before you." The bearded man spoke.
"Ohh... I gotcha. That makes sense but if you want to hear it from me; no I'm not the Greed you met." Greed explained.
"But... Ling..." Ed whispered.
"He was an interesting kid. He gave up his body without any fight at all." Greed stated with a smirk.
Ed's eyes widen for a second before objecting. "Your lying! Ling would never do that! Answer me Ling! Ling!"
The door opened and what I saw in the light was a Chimera. I stared at it blankly. What was a Chimera doing here? Before it could move forward it exploded in blood and fell to the ground. Behind it stood Scar. I gulped at him. I don't have time to almost die again! Then there stood a little girl with black hair put into many braids and dark eyes. She gasped and hid behind Scar.
"What's the matter?" Scar asked hardly.
"That feeling... It's coming from that man. He's not human..." She whimpered.
Scar stood forward. "No he's not." He spoke now walking to us. "I don't think any of them are human."
Then a tiny panda that came from Kaley's direction ran to the girl in fear. "Shou May! Oh thank goodness!" She chirped hugging the tiny creature. "I was so worried about you!"
Greed applauded watching them. "Haho! Now that's a touching reunion right there!"
"And they've also got Fullmetal." Scar muttered. Then his gaze went to me. "And Frosted Fire."
"Where is he? Where is Mr. Edward?" She chirpped looking around.
Scar pointed in his direction. "He's right there."
The girl looked around with sharp eyes but instead found nothing. That and she wasn't looking hard enough. "Huh? He's not really here, is he?"
"I told you, that's him right there! That little guy is the Fullmetal Alchemist." Scar answered.
Ed got annoyed by that comment. The thing that surprised me is that he didn't go into a short rant. The girl stared at him for a second before gasping in horror. She looked horrified, heart broken, and shocked by this discovery. I could tell she had an expectation about Ed and that was just shattered. "HOW DARE YOU TOY WITH THE FEELINGS OF A MAIDEN, YOU HUMAN MICROBE!"
"And she proceeds to call him short." I sighed.
"WHAT'D YOU CALL ME, MICRO-GIRL?!" Ed yelled.
"That's the Ishvallen I never got to eat." Gluttony stated pointing at Scar.
"Another human with it's own plans." The bearded man sighed.
"Go ahead and eat him Gluttony." Ultimate answered. "He doesn't have alchemy to try and stop you."
"Okay!" Gluttony chirped now throwing himself at Scar. Scar then transmuted Gluttony with ease. He managed to attack Gluttony which shocked me. How is he able to use his alchemy?
"WHAT?!" Envy's questioned boomed.
"You'll pay for this!" The girl screamed at Ed. "You decived a young girl and you kidnapped Shou May! She then threw her kunais at a rock and made a huge fist hit Envy. "You'll suffer for this! ALL OF YOU!"
This freed Ed and Al from Envy. I then stomped on Ultimate's foot and slam the back of my head to his face. He staggered back releasing me. I found my way to the boys after that."Can you guys use your alchemy?" I questioned.
"No." Ed answered.
"We should probably run." I sighed before running away with Ed and Al.
"Our alchemy still isn't working!" Al screamed.
"But theirs is!" Ed muttered. Then he pulled us behind a bolder quickly to hide.
"This doesn't make any sense!" I sighed rubbing my temples. "How can they still transmute?!"
"I dunno... But I think this our chance to turn things around." Ed muttered running back into the open. "Scar! Do you want to know the truth about what started the war in Ishval?"
"In Ishval?" Scar repeated.
"Do you want to know the truth about who shot that child and started the war? He's standing right there!" Ed yelled pointing at Envy. "It was Envy disguised as a soldier. These guys orchestrated the entire war!"
Scar glanced at Ed for a second before turning his gaze to the Homunculi. "I'd like to heat more details about this... In between your screaming." Scar growled. Gluttony then jumped up ready to take a bite out of Scar. Scar then transmuted Gluttony with yet again ease. "Now tell me... What purpose did you chose to slaughter my people? Depending on your answer, I'll send you to join God!" Scar then started to attack the homunculi as he spoke.
Then he transmuted the whole ground making it crumble and create a labyrinth like place. I landed on a piece of rock next to Ed with ease. "He doesn't seem to happy." I replied raising my head.
Then we saw Greed and Ultimate wondering around us. I glared at them. I have Ling is still alive in there. We just have to bring him back. But if Ling is still in there doesn't that mean my dad's still alive too? And Red? This is something we HAVE to test. "I know your still in there Ling." Ed muttered lowly at Greed.
Greed looked up and grinned. "Nope, just Greed." He sneered now turning his hand into it's ultimate shield.
"Greed you handle him, I'll handle the lady." Ultimate replied.
Kaley's POV
Hate and I wondered around the ruble trying to find a way out. Soon enough we found ourselves nearby the girl who just had a huge temper tantrum. "I think we're safe here." I breathed out.
"I'm goin in." Hate snarled taking a step forward.
I grabbed her wrist to stop her. "Not a chance! Your not going in!"
"Kaley... If you value your hand I suggest you remove it from my wrist." Hate threatened between her teeth.
"I know him." The girl whispered looking at Ling/Greed. "That's Ling Yao. Of the Yao clan."
Before I could answer Gluttony came up behind us. The girl and I screamed. "Time to eat you!" Gluttony yelled now chasing after us.
"No don't eat me I taste terrible!" I whined loudly. Then I heard a loud boom near by. I gasped and turned my head in the direction. It was Scar landing on his back on a piece of rock.
"Mr. Scar!" The girl screamed now getting punched by Gluttony. He then punched me which made me fly and land near the child.
I then pulled out a seed bomb and sat in front of her protectively. "Stand back! Now!" I ordered. "I don't want to use this!"
"No... You need to run." The girl whimpered making me turn to her.
"TIME TO EAT YOU!" Gluttony screamed jumping for us. I quickly pulled the girl and the Panda into a protective hug and shut my eyes tightly. But nothing came to me. Not even a bite. My eyes snapped open and I saw Al in front of us instead.
"Al!" I called out.
"You alright?" Al asked.
"I'm alright now that your here." I sighed happily. "But we need to go, now!"
Al then lifted the girl and we both ran out of the room. "I never asked for you two to help me..." The girl muttered pained.
"You didn't have to." I answered.
"They kill people who they don't have any use for! We're getting you out of here!" Al explained now turning around the corner. But the only thing we saw were thousands of red eyes in the darkness. Chimeras... Marvelous. "There's too many of them!"
Scar and Hate then ran to us. Scar was holding his arm with blood on his face while Hate looked uninjured. "You three haven't made it outside?!" Hate yelled. I looked at the Chimeras and gulped. Hate then turned her head and we saw Gluttony and Envy walking forward.
"Scar... Can you make it to the surface with this girl and Kaley?" Al asked.
"Wait, what?!" I questioned.
"You would allow me to escape even when I'm the one responsible for the death of your friend's parents?" Scar asked.
"Yeah... I'd love to beat you senseless and it makes me sick to ask you for help. But right now we have to save this girl's life and get Kaley out before she gets hurt." Al answered.
"What do you plan on doing?" Scar questioned.
"I don't understand it... But for some reason I'm important to them." Al explained. "They're not going to kill me. They said they need me alive."
"I doubt I'll be able to get them safely to the surface with the condition I'm in right now." Scar stated and then he transmuted the water. "And I won't turn my back on this place just yet!" Steam danced around us making my eyes go wide.
"What are you doing!?" I demanded.
Hate then grabbed Al's head and threw it at a pipe making fire erupt. The girl was put into the armor and Hate stuffed me in with her. "Stay here." She ordered before running off.
Athena's POV
I threw a punch at Ultimate with a growl. He grabbed my hand and twisted it behind my back. This made me yell out in stinging pain. I then kicked Ultimate's ankles making him lose his balance for a second. This was my upper hand! I used the chance that he was down to kick his bowed head sending him on his back. I stood over him and started to punch him. He grabbed my fist with a snicker. "Let it go! You should give Ultimate!" I screamed.
"Why should I?" He questioned.
"Did you forget about everything Dad? Did you forget about me? Did you forget about Smith and Kaley? Did you forget about Mom!?" I questioned now able to punch him in the jaw. Blood trickled from his mouth and little tears ran down his cheeks. I was breathing heavy at this. "Tell me."
He shook his head. "No Athena..." My dad voice spoke softly. My eyes went wide at this. He was still in there! He was in there all along! That means Ling and Red are still in there! They aren't completely taken over by the Homunculi! "I never forgot."
My automail fist was shaking against his skin and my chin was quivering. Before I could react anymore a hard punch was thrown at me. I was flung back at the impact and hit a piece of ground that was sticking out. I hissed in the pain at my back. Ultimate grabbed my wrist and dragged me back. "Hey boss! I got her for you." He muttered. It wasn't my dad's voice now. It was Ultimate's again.
Greed was holding Ed down and telling the leader of the Homunculi the same thing. "Upstairs. I want him taken to Wrath." He demanded.
Envy walked in holding Al and dropping Gluttony. "You guys really made a mess out of thing, didn't you? If you behaved yourselves we would have let you go a long time ago." Envy grunted.
Ed and I walked to Al. Ed held his left hand while I rubbed my back. "Brother... Athena..."
"They're still in there." I answered turning to Ultimate and Greed. "Ling and Marcus. They're still alive."
Wait, waiting for a sign, crying to the sky
For love to come around so hope won't let me down
Shadows carry on, the light is all but gone
Your promise calls to me, a love so rescue me
There is a hope beyond this night
There is a Savior in the sky
Giving His life to set this world on fire
So as the darkness closes in
Know that the sun will shine again
Bringing salvation to a world on fire
World on Fire- Trading Yesterday
Chapter 29- Struggle of the Fool