The Same Coin

Chrollo and His Book

Izumi regained consciousness an hour later but, by that point, Sig had already briefed her and Illumi about their plans. They had arrived as Izumi and Sig had been finalizing their own plans regarding the Promised Day.

They had previously made contact with Miles at Briggs, and now they would be heading north to meet with the Briggs forces before descending on Central...where soldiers would be trying to usurp the homunculus Fuhrer Bradley. Sig had told her that she should consider leaving Amestris immediately to return to Heavens Arena.

"I need to speak to Hisoka," had been Illumi's response to her questioning glance.

An operator had put their call through to Heavens Arena, where it had been plugged through to Hisoka's suite. He'd listened intently while Illumi had explained the situation — the Promised Day — before having Illumi hand the phone to her.

"Was Fuhrer Bradley the one who interrupted our little chat after you almost killed that Ishvalan?" had been his question. The only thing he'd asked. She'd told him yes. "I'd said there was something unusual about him. Let me speak to Illumi."

Whatever he'd told Illumi, Winry didn't know. But after he'd hung up Illumi had lowered his head slightly before saying, "We will assist you with the Promised Day, after certain conditions are met by Winry."

They seated themselves around Izumi's square kitchen table and planned through the night. Before Winry realized it, dawn was spilling through the windows and across the table's white finish. Then they parted ways.

She was behind Edward now, no matter what he had said to her in Resembool. No matter what had happened at Briggs. No matter the bitter resentment that she still harbored for being taken for granted and kept in the dark. The Promised Day was bigger than either of them, or anything that had happened.

During the train ride, however, she'd finally had the opportunity to mull over what Illumi had said about Chrollo. From what he'd told her, she knew now that the day she'd meet Chrollo Lucilfer on the airship that he'd been trying to steal her power — and that he'd somehow believed her ability with machines had come from Nen. It would have been flattering for him to have tried if the prospect of him succeeding wasn't so frightening. If her mechanical abilities had relied on Nen, then she would have been stripped of them entirely, and there would've been no one to blame except herself for handing them over like a fool.

Winry also realized she'd never wondered before what Chrollo's Nen ability was. She'd never even seen him use Nen. A part of her had known that his control must be masterful even though it had never been a conscious thought. He was, after all, a Floor Master, and even Hisoka coveted the opportunity to fight him. Did Hisoka know what Chrollo's Nen ability was? Did he know what kind of abilities Chrollo had stolen from other Nen users?

Did Hisoka stand a chance against Chrollo and his book of abilities?

"What kind of Nen user is Chrollo where he can steal abilities?" Winry had asked Illumi.

"He's a Specialist, so his abilities are skills that do not fall into any of the other categories."

The depth of her thoughts had lulled her to sleep until the train had arrived in Central, shortly before noon. Illumi disembarked ahead of her, glancing left and right as they climbed down to the platform. Everything felt different now...To know what they had made themselves a part of. That they would be trying to stop the Promised Day, and usurp King Bradley.

There was a pit in her stomach.

Izumi had told them to have trust, that things were already in motion and the rest was inevitable. As Winry left the station, she turned her head in the direction of a vendor's stall beside the road where a radio was playing. A small crowd had gathered.

"Reports are confirming that the train involved in the accident late last night was that carrying Fuhrer Bradley. The whereabouts of the Fuhrer's wife is presently unknown, but there are reports of fighting between soldiers in the industrial district — five wounded, but no one dead."

So it had already begun.

"Where is this address?" Illumi asked, handing her the slip of paper Izumi had given him.

She surveyed it, then glanced around at where they were. "This way," she said, already moving.

The city hadn't fallen into chaos yet, but the energy was changing. People were beginning to crowd near doorways to listen to the radios scattered around the stores and vendors that lined the street. Winry could feel the air becoming electrified, positively humming as the charge built. They didn't have much time — if they took too long, soldiers may arrive to reinforce their intended point of entry.

"It should be around this corner."

For a moment she considered if she should pause and peer around the corner to survey how guarded the building was, but rapidly decided against it. If the area was under any surveillance, it would immediately draw attention to them — far less than if they were to continue walking past its doors like any other pair of bystanders if necessary.

"Edward said there was one armed soldier, with razor wire and booby traps," Izumi had said. Illumi responded, with surprising reassurance, that those would be no issue.

They rounded the corner and Winry moved to walk close beside him, placing herself away on the side by the street, and wrapping her arm around his to hold him. There was a skip in his step of surprise, and he glanced down at her but he seemed to realized the ploy and didn't push her away.

There wasn't one soldier; there were three. Winry was dismayed, but not entirely caught off-guard — the Promised Day was here, and they were prepared to protect themselves. Illumi didn't change course. Were they going to engaged they soldiers on the street?

Illumi waited until they were almost across from the entry to Laboratory 5, when he suddenly disengaged his arm from hers and made his move. He dodged swiftly around the three guards, plunging a needle into each of their necks. Their eyes went wide then glassy.

"Are there soldiers inside?" Illumi asked them.

"No."

"Is there anyone else inside the building at all?"

"No. Everyone has left to go headquarters."

"Unlock the door, then resume your position. Do not let anyone else from the government enter this building."

"Roger that," a soldier responded. "Too easy."