Descendant of Death (FMA FanFiction)

17: Youswell and We're Well

Maeve POV:

We got to Central in the morning, and were excited to go check out the library to find Dr. Marcoh's research. However, when we got there all we found was a burnt down building. Ed and Al were kneeling at the charred edges of the site, and I smelled something among the smells of burnt wood. I could smell the vanilla and jasmine of Lust. She was most likely responsible for this.

I straightened up, and looked around. No other buildings were burned. Just this one. She had to have had a reason for doing this, and the fact that I was wanting something, something that Dr. Marcoh had hidden from the military, made me suspect that she had somehow heard about our visit with him. I glanced back at Ed and Al. 'Or maybe it's got nothing to do with me at all. If Lust knew I was here in Amestris, she would have come out to bug me, along with Envy. No, she didn't burn THIS building down cuz I was interested in it. But cuz THEY were interested in it.'

"Oh man! This was our last lead!" Ed exclaimed angrily. "Well, maybe not brother. Dr. Marcoh had figured it out, maybe we can too. But I think we'll have to post-pone our research into it. Here come's Mr. Hughes. He said something before we left that there was a mission for us for when we got back to Central." Al whispered to Ed.

He was right, Hughes had his business face on. "Fullmetal, Apex. Mustang wants to see you both. Now."

—————-LATER in Mustang's Office———-

"We have to leave already?"  Ed asked. He was standing in front of the desk. He was too nervous to sit down. Al had to wait outside cuz he's not a State Alchemist, but I let him listen in through my ears. I was relaxing on the desk. Mustang didn't give me grief for it, not after I shot him a bored "You really gonna pick at me for this?" look. He settled with ignoring my presence.

"Yes. You're a fully certified State Alchemist. Which means you need to be ready to leave at a moments notice. It's our life. Be grateful that your going to have Maeve with you on this one, she can help you get used to it. Lt. Hawkeye."

"Yes Sir." And she walked to Ed, handing him some papers. She's going to follow Mustangs lead in ignoring me. Pooey. "Here are your order's and case file."

Ed read it over and asked, "Is inspecting a coal mine really a State Alchemist's job?" I get how he'd be confused about that, but still I couldn't help but to wonder what exactly he thought State Alchemist's DO.

Riza answered. "It entails inspecting the mine resources. As an Alchemist you do have extensive knowledge of minerals, don't you?"

I wasn't appreciating the attitude from her, but I made sure to keep that feeling just between Al and I. "Since it's your first mission, I've decided to keep the training wheels on. But that won't mean you can take it easy." Mustang said, with a grim smile.

"Ok, I get that. But you said I was going to have Maeve with me. But this say's that it's for Fullmetal. What does that mean?" Ed mused. It clicked in my head what Mustang meant for me to do, and so I responded to Ed myself. I had just as grim a smile as Mustang. Ed was now an adult, and would have to be treated as such. No matter how his feelings are. And that meant that he can't depend on anyone but himself, not even me. To an extent. I would always do what I can to save his life. But now that's all I can do.

"I'm going to be there to judge and watch what decisions you make. I won't be helping out at all. If you some how fail, I will not help you out. That's what this means."

We left Mustang's office, and met up with Al. "So where do we go now, Ed?" I asked. I hadn't read his order's, so I really didn't know. "We're off to Youswell. Lets go get a train ticket. Might as well leave now." And that's what we did.