Mustang: The Road to Redemption

Chapter 36: Sent Back

"Brother what happened!?" Asked Alphonse as Akari saw Ed's automail completely destroyed.

"I managed to turn my arm into Sodium right as I punctured her. The chemical reaction when it made contact with her water caused the explosion." Said Ed, slowly standing up.

That was until the water began to form back together again much to everyone's shock as Sloth slowly regained human form again.

"Did you actually think I'd die so easily? You don't understand me at all." She said.

Suddenly, time had caught up to Sloth as she coughed up even more remains than before as she struggled to get up.

"It seems your timer has ticked away to zero. The remains that punctured you earlier have finally shut down everything for you. You can't even move anymore." Said Ed as he walked beside Sloth.

"Thanks to that, I can now take my time, and compose her into a different element." He said which shocked Al.

"Alchemy on a living structure? You don't know how to do that!" Said Alphonse.

"I remembered something back from when we read our father's notes. One time, he was able to rework a human body's chemistry to acheive different effects. Homunculi are more malleable than humans. That's their strength, and their demise." Said Edward as he clapped his hands and placed them on Sloth's body as eventually she began to emit a green glow.

"What's, happening?" Asked Akari.

"I started a chain reaction that's converting her liquid body into Ethanol. She's going to evapotate. Disappear into the air." Said Ed as the three watched as Sloth slowly evaporated into nothingness as the green glow got more and more faint.

Ed saw this and deep down felt terrible as he took a deep sigh.

Then suddenly, Sloth spoke with a much softer voice.

"Nicely done, sweetheart." Softly spoke Sloth which shocked Ed and Al as Akari smiled, knowing this time it was their mother Trisha speaking.

Ed and Al stood together watching their what was essentially their mom slowly fade away as she smiled at them.

"Clean up after yourselves and take care of each other." Said the homunculus.

Before the homunculus completely dispersed, she looked to Akari with a smile and spoke.

"Akari is it? Please. Continue to look after them. For my sake." Said Sloth as Akari was shocked.

She knew this wasn't Sloth, but rather Trisha Elric talking to her as Akari gave a smile and nodded.

"I'll do my best to look after them, Trisha. You can count on it." Said Akari as Sloth gave one last smile before she had finally vaporized away into nothingness.

The three all looked up to the roof as the reamins of Sloth faded away, her Philosopher's Stone landing on the ground before disintegrating away effectively ending her life.

Akari was glad that the boys were now finally at peace though that was until she saw Edward approach her as he said something that Akari didn't wanna hear.

"No offense to you Ms. Akari. I'm truly grateful for you helping me and my brother out, however what happened yesterday is something I just cant let slide by so easily regardless of whether or not Alex was lying or not. I hope you understand." He said, taking a bow as Akari sighed.

Turns out Edward still hadn't gotten over what had happened between him and Alex which Akari should've expected.

'How did I fix this?' She thought to herself before quickly thinking of a solution right as Alphonse speak.

"Brother. We should get going and inform the Colonel." He said as Ed nodded.

"Oh. Right. Thanks Ms. Akari. We'll be going now."

"Wait!" She shouted which caught their attention.

"After you two talk to that pyrohead, come meet me at the flower field nearby."

"Why?" Asked Ed.

"Trust me. I have something to show you two."

The brothers decided to trust Akari and agreed to go meet up with her as the two waved her goodbye and left the building.

After a while, the two would make it back to HQ where they'd inform Roy on what had happened.

The Colonel would congratulate the two on a job well done and would allow them a break for however long they wanted as the brothers were thankful for it.

After bidding Roy a farewell, the two would abide by their agreement and went straight to the flower field, eventually arriving as they looked around for Akari.

The moment they started looking around though, a rift would suddenly appear in front of them as out stepped out Akari which shocked the boys.

"M-Ms. Akari!?" Said Alphonse.

"Hi boys." She said in a gentle tone.

"H-How'd you get here so quickly!? What was that hole just now!?" Asked Edward.

"Oh that? It's just a rift." She casually said as the two were were immensely confused.

"Oh did I forget to mention? I'm a time goddess. I control time and space."

The brothers naturally didn't believe her as Akari sighed and expected this.

She then looked at Edward before speaking.

"Hit me. Don't worry I won't be mad." She said.

Ed just sighed and cocked an arm back before running up and throwing the punch.

Right before Edward hit though, he felt as if everything stopped around him for a split second before returning to normal as he stumbled and turned around to see Akari now standing behind him.

"W-What the!?"

"I stopped time right before you hit me and simply walked over here. To you and Alphonse though, it happened in an instant. Only I am able to fully perceive how long I freeze time for."

"Um, that's amazing and all but, was that what you wanted to show us?" Asked Alphonse.

"Well, part of it anyways. What I really wanna show you involves my time powers. Just bear with me okay? This'll take a minute." Said Akari as she snapped her fingers, the Admin Book suddenly appearing in her hands as she placed it down and opened it.

Akari would then close her eyes and hold her hands over the pink as she quietly began to recite a chant in Japanese.

Eventually, a large pink rune in shape of a Sakura Flower would appear on the ground as it gave a bright glow, blinding the Elrics and forcing them to cover their eyes.

After the light dimmed down, the brothers would uncover their eyes to see that it was now night time and that instead of being in the flower field, they were now in a weird run down location.

"H-Huh? Why's it suddenly night out?" Asked Alphonse as Ed looked at Akari.

"Where are we?" He asked.

"This is the Lastation Slums. Six Years Ago."

--------------------------------------------------------

Chapter 36: Complete