"I still have too long a life ahead to get rid of these feelings, right? I want to try doing over the things I've left undone. I thought I was running after something carried over from my dreams, yet I'm stumbling into people on this narrow, winding road. It's not like I want to go back to the way things were back then; I'm just searching for the sky I've been losing. Here's hoping you'll understand. Stop making that sad face as though you were a victim. Sins don't end in tears; you have to carry the pain forever. Who am I waiting for in this maze of emotions with no way out in sight? I want to purge myself more simply, as if writing in a blank notebook. What is it I want to escape from? ...Is it reality? It makes me want to scream that we're alive for things to come true. Can you hear me? I can't put up with playing it safe. ...I've got nowhere to go home to! I'm always grateful for kindness; that's why I want to grow stronger (I'm on the way). I even welcome this pain for the things I miss."
—Yui, Again...
You and Ed stand at the base of the huge transmutation circle painted on the floor of the Laboratory. A small pillar rises from the center of it, a simpler circle drawn on its face.
Remnants of dried blood still encrust a few of the circle's points.
"What is all this?" Ed wonders aloud.
You gaze at the circle warily. "Probably how they transmute a Philosopher's Stone," you reply.
"Yes." A low voice drawls out of the darkness, the echoing nature of the room making it impossible to tell from where. "That's right." A large armored figure slowly steps from the shadows at the far end of the room. "I don't know who you are, kid, but you sure figured out a lot just by looking at a transmutation circle."
You peer at the approaching figure blandly. "Yeah," you reply, "I've been told I'm pretty quick. Now, who the fuck are you, pal?"
"The one in charge of guarding this place from curious brats." His sentence ends there, but the implied like you hangs heavy in the air, grating at your nerves. "For the time being, let's just say that my name is Number 48." As he speaks, he continues walking toward you and Ed. As he approaches, you can see that he has a massive sword in one hand, hanging lazily at his side. "And believe me," he adds warningly; "I am not your 'pal'. My orders are to dispose of anyone who wanders in here, poking their noses where they don't belong. Try not to take it personally, punk."
You sneer at him. "Don't worry; we won't." Together, you and Ed clap your hands. Ed sharpens the top of his automail into a blade, and you turn the ground beneath you first into to dust, and then into a solid black scythe, which you grip tightly in both hands. "Just don't you take it personally when these two 'punks' kick your ass from here to Briggs!"
The man seems unimpressed by your displays. "So you're alchemists, are you?" he hums. Suddenly, he lunges at the two of you, so fast that he is a blur. In an instant, he's in front of you, leaning his large helmeted head at your level. "Alright, then—let's see what you two have got!"
He swings his sword with lighting speed, and you hardly have time to go limp, collapsing to the floor to avoid being sliced in half while simultaneously contorting so you don't impale yourself on your own weapon.
Back pressed to the ground, automail arm pinned beneath you along with your scythe, the man's figure looms above you. He raises him sword over his head and brings it down, hard and fast. You raise up one leg and kick the hilt of his sword away as hard as you can. The force of your kick sends the blow to one side, but he moves with the momentum, spinning around and going in for another overhead hit.
This time, you don't have time to block or dodge, and time slows down. You squeeze your eye shut and wait for the ending blow.
At least I go down fighting.
YOU ARE READING
Stand Up and Walk
FanfictionYou were young when Trisha Elric found you all alone in the rain. She took you in, made you part of the family. When Trisha died, you, Ed, and Al tried to bring her back-and failed. You lost so much that day. Now, you're going to get it all back, o...