Metal Vs Storm

Data Survival

The fidgid air blew clumps of ice and snow at the train's passengers as they exited onto the empty platform.

'Train will be departing and ten minutes, I repeat the train will be departing in ten minutes.' A woman's voice informed over the PA system

"Ay, this place is FREEZING!" Edward complained, rubbing his arms furiously as his fur coat wipped wildly in the wind.

Scar sneezed, all attention seemed to turn on him. "What?" He asked gruffly.

"Nothing, you just seemed human for a moment." Alphonse shrugged, a   glare from the man seemed to pierce his armour, " Nevermind, the moment's gone now." The armour shuddered.

"Can we seriously get out of this cold, it's bothersome enough already without you kids." Everyone seemed to forget that Yoki, the damned former general was still with them. "Besides we still need to get this girl to the doctor." Said girl, Mei, stirred in Yoki's arms, one of Edward's normal coats wrapped around her like a blanket to keep her warm.

"Yoki's right, night sets fast here, Vadim, where did you say Marco was?" Toshiro fired the question at Scar. Train signalled one more warning as it groaned and creaked as it departed.

"We were told that there was a building not far from here. That direction." Scar pointed opposite the train tracks.

Toshiro sighed roughly, "That's completely opposite the direction to Briggs Wall." He looked accusingly at Scar.

"What am I supposed to do about that?" Scar glared at the ice storm alchemists at the corner of his eye that seemed to be glinting red.

Toshiro returned the glare. "I don't know, find a new doctor?" The other members seemed to be frightened at the tension running between the two destructive alchemists.

Scar hummed thoughtfully, "How about we find a new chimera?"

"How about we find another red eyed alchemist?"

"Until next time Ace." Scar nodded at Yoki and began heading the direction of Dr. Marco.

"Until next time Vadim." He nodded at the man seriously before turning to the brothers and heading in the direction of Briggs wall. "It's time we left, we have three hours until sunset."

"What was that about?" He could hear  Alphonse asking Edward.

"That their kind of goodbye."

_________________________________

The wind blew relentlessly at the brothers and the Ice Storm Alchemist.

"Isn't there an easier way to do this!?" Edward yelled over the wind.

"Usually but with the constant snow lately, trying to get a snow van up on this soft ice would be like breaking the Briggs wall down with only a hammer." Toshiro trudged forward, keeping his eyes peeled for any danger.

"But-"

"Without alchemy." Edward seemed to slump futher. "Keep a lock on that arm and leg, it's gonna get harder to walk if it freezes."

Alphonse was oddly quiet, not that odd being naturally quiet but enough to be noticed. Edward turned to his brother, "You ok over there or have you frozen over?" He joked.

"Oh ha ha brother, no I'm just thinking of everything that has recently happened, I mean we just learn about human chimeras, homunculus, our leader isn't human and neither is Storm." The armor seemed to frown then shook his head wildly. "This is so fustrating!"

"I know, it's like having our whole world turned upside down, but come on, we're the impossible also, I mean, look at the things we've survived, the things we've managed to do!" Edward eyes shined, "We've saved lives, helped others."

"But how much more are we going to lose. How much are others going to sacrifice to-"

"AVALANCHE!!!!" Storm yelled as he began to skip towards them, decreasing the distance between, behind him a distance away, a sheet of snow amd ice followed. The brothers gasped and began running diagonally down the mountain, cursing their fate as they did so.

"Alphonse!" Edward yelled, his auto mail leg had turned stiff, he couldn't move it. The brothers reached out tp each other, inches apart and the snow almost on top of them.

"Brace yourself!" Storm's yell was the only warning before a body rushed past Edward, at the same time a thin wire-like rope was wraped around his stomach and yanked him out of snow and straight into his brother. The world seemed to turn sideways and blue sparks filled the air.

The snow began to settle and his view of the world cleared up, or just became more confusing. Beneath him, Edward could feel his brother's armour, ontop there was something warm like a coat. His eyesight however seemed to be blinded by blue and white. The 'coat' atop him moved and cursed, 'what, coats don't curse.'

The 'rope' around his torso moved and the real world suddenly made sence. Storm sat up, legs on either side of Edward and for some reason it didn't feel strange, the flap end on his tail close from where it shielded the gap in Alphonse's armor between his shoulder and head where the melted snow would had surely damaged the blood seal inside. The snow was held back by a wall of very thick ice.

"You know you weigh literally nothing right?" Was Edward's first words out of his muddled mind.

Storm punched him lightly on his chest. "Shut it Edward." A playfull scowl on his face.

"What caused that?" Alphonse's armor seemed to vibrate as he talked. Toshiro sild of both of them, keeping his head low as he peeped over the wall, the brothers following him right after.

"Him." Was the ice alchemist's only word as he pointed. The brothers gasped.

From a distance away, a building large, even by architectural standards stood proudly in its grey colour. The Great Briggs Wall itself.

Before it stood a man, broad shoulders taller than Alphonse and a mechanical right arm in the form of a chainsaw clamp. He was dressed in a military snow coat and his long hair in braids, a gold tooth shined as he grinned wickedly. A soldier of the North indeed.

"Who is that?!"

"That'll be your first test." The brothers looked at him in confusion and horror. "What to get in Briggs Wall, you have to get throught him." With that the ice storm alchemist tugged his hood over his head blending him with the snow and prepared to dash out. But, however, he yelped as a suddenly pain laced throught his back, he turned in irritation. At least Alphonse had enough shame to look guilty, Edward how ever didn't as in his automail hand he tightly clenched Storm's tail.

"What do you mean he's our first test, we have to fight him, I thought they knew we were coming, and don't you know him, tell him to hold off!!" Toshiro growled and tried to yank his tail away from Edward's hand but the grip was too tight.

"Just follow my my lead and the sooner we can get that leg changed." Toshiro growled, a firm scowl on his face. "And do me the favour of letting my tail go. Now." This time Edward did look guilty as he realized how tight the grip was and immediately let go.

The brothers nodded and prepared for the fight that will determine their next move.