The Phoenix and His Demons

Fianlly! After a long awaited break I am finally able to update. Sorry for the delay and I hope it hasn\'t cost me too many readers. Life has been a bit hectic, but I promise I haven\'t forgotten about this story and it shall continue. I still love to hear from my readers so please review and I hope you enjoy!

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Complications

“Damn it! Why can’t kidnappers ever make any sense?” Edward cursed under his breath as Fletcher watched the pair examining the house and its grounds. They had been at this for almost two hours and so far nothing had been found that gave them a clue to Russell’s whereabouts. “They didn’t take any research, didn’t take anything valuable, just him. It doesn’t make any damn sense unless…” He didn’t dare finish that; Fletcher didn’t need to know what kind of condition they might find his brother in. “Why can’t we ever get a simple assignment? Just once?”

“Well brother, if it were simple they wouldn’t waste our time on it, so in a way it’s sort of a compliment.”

“Leave it to you, Al, to find the bright side of things.” He sighed and walked around the lab again, stopping suddenly and kneeling as he pulled off his left glove. He picked up something from the floor, rubbing it between his fingers as he examined it.

“Did you find something Ed?”

“I’m not sure Al. It looks like mud and moss. Might’ve come off someone’s shoe. Hey Fletch, you guys are the plant experts, do you recognize this?” He held the dried clump out to the youngest boy between his thumb and forefinger.

“Moss? There’s no much moss that grows around here except in the mines, but they’re all boarded up.” Nevertheless, he took the clump and examined it, rattling off its name and properties.

“Yeah, yeah. That’s all very interesting but where does it come from?”

“Well that’s hard to say. It could’ve come from the miens but it would have to be a shaft that hasn’t been used in a long time, though…”

“Though what?”

“Well, it’s rare but sometimes you can find this kind of moss and algae in basements or cellars if they’re kept dark and are kept pretty damp.”

“You think there could be any houses in this area that fit that description?”

“Not likely, you’re more apt to find something like that in the out-lying farms who have pump houses near their homes or in the larger cities in basements near the sewers.”

“You know Ed, we should’ve known that. Remember the mess Aunt Pinako had in hers that one time because we left the hose running after our sparring?”

“Yeah, she was just shy of killing us.” He chuckled, giving a smile at the memory. “All right then, let’s go. We’ve got a lot of area to cover and not much time. Fletcher, you need to come with us; you know the area a lot better than us, and we don’t need to go more astray than necessary.”

“Got it. We don’t need to worry about the area near the tracks and station. It’s all grassland and woods with no farms or houses for miles. However, if they came through the mines, there are some farms on the other side of the hills, that’d be a good place especially with some of the underground rivers going through the mountain.”

“Then come on already. We’re wasting time. Mine areas first and if that doesn’t pan out, plan B.” Edward dusted off his hands and pulled his glove back on before he headed for the door.

“Wait up Ed, what’s plan B?” Somehow Al was afraid he knew the answer to that already.

“Well, there isn’t one yet, I’m hoping we won’t need it.”

“I just hope plan B won’t involve blowing up the mountain.” Fletcher muttered just loud enough for Al to catch but Ed was too far ahead. The younger Elric snickered and nodded in agreement; both well aware of Ed’s tendencies to overdo it a bit.

“Hurry up you two and what’s so funny?” He narrowed his eyes and crossed his arms over his chest in annoyance.

“Oh nothing brother.” That made Edward huff and storm off eliciting another round of snickers from the pair who weren’t quite close enough to make out his muttered cursing.

Several house later the three boys stopped at a cross section in the mines. “Ed, I think we’re lost.”

“We’re not lost, just…detoured. Who’s brilliant idea was it to go ‘through’ the mines instead of around the mountains anyway?”

Both of the younger boys looked at each other with resigned groans. “It was your idea brother. Maybe we should go back…”

“No, we’re not going back. Whatever took Russell is probably using these mines as a hide out or they’re using them as a covert way to sneak to and from their hideout. We’ve got to keep going.”

“Whatever you say, Ed. I just hope you’re right and not just being stubborn. After all, Russell’s life might depend on it.”

“I know Al. I promise we’ll get out of here. I just…I have a feeling these mines are the key.”

They both nodded and trudged on. Edward was muttering to himself yet again, Fletcher was running his fingers along the walls looking for anything remotely close to the algae and Al was watching he shadows. Something felt ‘off’ to him and he was starting to wonder if Ed wasn’t feeling it as well; hence his desire to continue searching the mines. A flicker of their torchlight against something metal stopped both State Alchemists in their tracks.

“Ed?”

“Yeah, I saw it Al. Fletcher, stay behind Al in case this gets ugly.” He clapped his hands together before drawing his left out in front if his right-arm; the alchemical energy transmuting a blade along the forearm of his automail limb. Edward didn’t see it, and if he had, his jaw would’ve dropped for Al mimicked his brother; clapping his hands together and holding one over the tracks in the mine from which he drew a newly created spear and held it out defensively. It would seem the younger alchemist had remembered or discovered the secret of array-less alchemy. Fletcher nodded to Ed’s command and moved a few steps behind Al and to the side. He wasn’t sure what was going on, but they looked ready for a fight. “I think it went off to the left, come on.”

The trio took off at a jog hoping to catch a glimpse of the shadow they were chasing. Soon the glint of metal flashed again and they were off down yet another tunnel.

“I think we’re gaining on it Ed.”

“Yeah, but I’m getting really tired of playing cat and mouse.” Al groaned; that likely meant his brother was going to remedy the situation in a potentially disastrous way. Sure enough, Ed clapped his hands and knelt touching his hand to the ground. A blast of energy raising the ground in a line from his hand down into the darkness of the tunnel exploded as the mountain around them rumbled. Down a distance in the dark shaft, Ed war rewarded for his efforts with the echo of a loud cry and the distinct sound of something large and fleshy hitting the ground. “All right! Fullmetal 1, mouse 0. Let’s see what we caught.”

Bolting down the corridor, they came upon two bodies, not one as they’d expected. Two men lay across the tracks; one was unconscious and appeared to have been for a while. The other was groaning in pain as he sat up to find Al holding the tip of the spear at his throat.

“All right, pal. Who are you and what the hell are you doing running through these mines?” Ed crossed his arms as their captive took stock of the three. Meanwhile, Fletcher had wandered around the back of the man, having seen something familiar.

“Hey Ed, check out his boots; they’re covered in what looks like mud and slime or algae. From here,” here being a couple of feet away as he wasn’t willing to get too close to the man yet, “it looks like it might be the same stuff you found at the house.”

“Oh yeah? Then tack on ‘Where’s Russell?’ to that list of questions buddy and hurry it up. It ain’t like we got all day or anything.” Al emphasized the point by pushing the razor sharp tip a bit closer to his neck creating a dimple in the soft flesh and quite possibly drawing blood.

“Kill me if you desire, other will continue you work for the Sacred Flame of the world beyond will rise as prophesized and his followers will consume this world for all eternity.”

“Say wha…”

“Well, that was…different.” Al looked at his brother who was looking between him and Fletcher. All three wore an expression of utter confused and seemed just as dumbfounded as the next. This however, gave the stranger the few moments he needed to bolt, transmutation circles glowing on his palms before the tunnel collapsed on all of them.

Dust filled the air causing the three to cough and choke as it stung their lungs. Quick thinking on the brothers’ part had given them a stone shield created from the shaft’s walls.

“Everyone okay?” Ed coughed as he swiped at the dust trying to clear his field of vision and locate his brother and Fletcher.

“I think so, but we lost the torch.” Both brothers were relieved to hear the other. “Fletcher?”

“Yeah,” came their answer, followed by a fit of coughing. “I’m okay, but now we’re trapped.” He fumbled around in the dark, trying to find the unconscious man who’d been left behind and check on him. “Hey! This guy is still alive!”

“Good and we’re not trapped. I thought you’d have a little more faith in us than that.”

“Ed’s right, we’ll get out of here easily enough but we let our best lead get away.”

“Ugh! Don’t remind me Al. Now give me a spark so I can relight our torches.” Al snickered, striking at the rock wall with his spear while Ed used his alchemy to shroud the tops of the torches in flames until they lit.

“You know Ed, we should ask the General if he’ll give you one of his gloves.”

“Not funny Alphon…” he was interrupted by Fletcher’s scream. Both alchemists whirled around, weapons at the ready, to see what was the matter. What they saw was Fletcher staring at the crushed, bloody remains of their suspect who had been caught part in the wall they’d created and part by the cave in he’d caused. It wasn’t a very pretty sight at all.

“I guess he didn’t get away after all.”

“I guess not. Look away Fletch...we’ll clean this up.” Fletcher nodded and turned away as Ed transmuted a tunnel that fully uncovered the body and gave them a way out while Al put up a small wall around the body, obscuring it and protecting it at the same time. When that was finished, Al gathered up the unconscious man. “We’ll have to leave the body here until we can get someone to pick it up and take it to town where we can examine it.” Al nodded in response and once more the three, now four with their baggage, were back to trudging through the tunnels in search of an exit.

It was some hours later when they finally saw the faint rays of light that indicated an exit. All three were relieved and while their bodies were tired, they still ran to escape the darkness they’d been wandering in for so long.

“Fresh air! I can’t believe how much I missed fresh air.” Al chuckled at his brother exclamation as he laid their stray down just outside the mineshaft.

“It’s dark already, we should rest here tonight and get started again in the morning. Any ideas on what we’re going to do for food though?”

“Leave that to me, I’m the plant expert after all, remember?” Happy to finally be of some help, Fletcher darted off before they could respond and came back a few minutes later with some breads, berries and even a couple of fruits.

“Damn Fletch, I knew you guys were good but that’s…”

“That’s better than Ed could do on a good day,” Al interjected with a chuckle while his brother scowled at him. Fletcher snickered and thanked him for the compliment as he passed out the meal. It wasn’t fancy but it was better than nothing and they got water from a makeshift well Ed made. All in all it wasn’t too bad for a campsite and soon enough they were all off to sleep, fairly exhausted from their trip through the mines.

The hot sun of the next day beat down upon the young man; it felt as if he’d been walking for ages, but it had only been a day and a night. Hunger, exhaustion and pain ere beginning to overwhelm him, and if he didn’t find shelter soon he’d be as good as dead. Thankfully, his only saving grace had been that he had done well in guessing a direction to walk in. When the sun set and the stars emerged, he’d been able to get his bearings a bit. Astronomy wasn’t his strong suit, but he had dabbled in it enough to pick a few constellations familiar and while he didn’t now exactly how far he was from Xenotime, he knew he was headed in the right direction.

“I should’ve been there by now. I should,” Russell didn’t get to finish that statement; he stumbled and dropped to his knees, instinctively putting his hands in front to catch himself from the fall. He regretted it immediately. Pain shot up his arms and proved to be the last straw for the injured alchemist. Darkness took him as he passed out in the middle of nowhere, under the hot sun.

“Ed, it’s almost midday now. Are you sure we’re still headed in the right direction? I haven’t seen but one house out here since we exited the mine and I really don’t think that old lady’s basement is what we’re looking for.” Though at least they had found a place to let their injured baggage rest while she called for help. The man hadn’t yet woken that morning and it worried them.

“Yes Al, I’m sure. We’ve just got to keep going. The further out we go, the more remote the area and the better for these guys to do what they do to people.”

“Okay, but I hope you’re right,” Fletcher hadn’t been paying a bit of attention to their conversation. He swore he saw something in the field and when the sun hit off something golden he bolted for it. “Hey Fletcher, wait up!”

“Huh? Hey! Where the hell do you think you’re going? Get back here!” Ed took off after Al who was chasing the boy. When they finally caught up to him he was kneeling tearfully next to a battered, shackled and unconscious Russell.

“He’s alive, but…he’s in really bad shape. He needs water, please!” They could only nod at his tearful plea and set out to work. Water came first then shade. Other than his exhaustion and mild dehydration they determined his only real injuries were his hands and a few scrapes and scuffs. They could afford to wait until nightfall or the next morning to move him. The most important thing was, he was alive and all three could breathe easily once more. Edward never stopped working though. While his brother and Fletcher attended to the elder Tringham, he ended up pacing or poking at the ground with the stick, mulling over what the dead guy in the shaft had said while they waited for Russ to wake up. He needed to talk to him more than ever now as he was sure Russell could lead them back to where he’d been held and the potential for clues to this mess in that place had him antsy beyond belief.