Everyone still didn't know what exactly had happened in Ishval that made Zira as upset about it as she was. They knew it must've been something that happened there, but what it was, no one but Zira knew.
--- Meanwhile ---
"Colonel!" A female voice exclaimed, running up to the man and the blonde standing beside him. "Yes?" He quizzed. "There's something you should know about..."
Riza and Roy exchanged looks of worry, then turned back to her. "There's going to be an attack on Central... Unless something is done..."
---
"What?!" Ed yelled. "What do we have to go to Ishval for?!" "We've received information about a certain group... They plan on attacking Central," Roy explained.
"Myself, Riza, you, your brother, Havoc, and Zira will be going, along with some of the other state alchemists."
They all began preparing to leave. Al went to Zira, just to check on her. They were going to Ishval, where she lived before the war happened... She might be a bit shaken up about this... He thought.
He came in, covering his eyes when he saw she was only in a tank top and pants, quickly assuming she was changing. "Sorry!" He said.
"It's fine Al, I've got a shirt on," Zira said, laughing softly at Al. He came in. "Are you okay...?" He asked. "With what? Going to Ishval?" He nodded. "Yeah... It's a little weird to be going back though.."
He then noticed a scar, going from the left side of her neck, to the right side of her shoulder. Zira realized he was looking at it, then turned around, grabbing the shirt she was going to wear over her tank top.
She also had two scars on her back. One that clearly went farther down her back than what was showing, the rest hidden by her tank top... And another, smaller one, going horizontal, starting right at her left shoulder, towards her spine.
She pulled her shirt over her head, putting her arms in the sleeves, and pulling it down. She looked back at Al.
"Please don't ask... Or tell anyone Al..." "Don't worry... I won't tell anyone Zira..." "Not even Ed?" Zira asked, making sure he wouldn't. "Not even Ed," he repeated. "Thank you, Al." "No problem..."
Al left her room so she could finish getting ready...
---
"If you don't want to cooperate, you'll just have to pay the price," he said to the young girl. "Nicole, get me my knife." "But, don't you think that this is a bit harsh on her, she's only a kid after all Toza... Can't you--" "Nicole! If you're going to act like that then maybe I should punish you as well!"
The woman flinched, then hung her head in defeat... She grabbed Toza's knife, bringing it to him. He burned the tip, quickly cutting Zira. She cried out, tears forming in her eyes. Another man grabbed her, turning her around, while Toza cut her back. "Stop Toza, that's enough!" Nicole yelled. She managed to keep Toza from hurting Zira anymore... Allowing her to escape...
