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Descent	By : ZaKai Category: Fullmetal Alchemist > Yaoi - Male/Male Views: 14665 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Full Metal Alchemist, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
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Descent

Chapter Twenty-Four

The Price of
Rebellion

As they
neared the large field outside the main township of Rizembool,
Winry sighed wearily.� They�d come early,
but there were still many people already there. �

�I can
hold that for you if you want,� Al offered, not for the first time.

The
blonde mechanic snorted, shifted the bulky blanket in her arms, and said, �I
don�t want you carrying anything.�

�Come on
Winry� my ribs rarely hurt at all anymore�� Al began, but she cut him off.

�Perhaps
in a week or two you can start doing more, but I don�t want you to strain
yourself.�

�I�m
telling you, I�m fine.� In fact, I was thinking about maybe going to
look for Ed soon,� he said as he scanned the crowd.�

Winry�s
eyes opened wide in surprise and she stopped walking.� Al�leave�?� No��
Pain formed in her chest and her throat constricted at the thought of
him going away.� She�d already waited all
those years for Ed, how could she go back to waiting again for Al?

He turned
around to look at her and said, �Winry�?�

Tears
came to her eyes and she looked away quickly, trying to make them go away.� It hurt to think of being alone again, of
having to wait.� How could he do that to
her?� How could he leave her again to a
life of constantly waiting, constantly watching for him to come back?� All those years she had worried, and now to
go back to that�to not know if he was safe or not�

She didn�t
want him to go, but how could she tell him that?� Ed was his brother!� He had every right
to want to find him; she had no right to tell him no.� But� she worried
about him� didn�t he see that?� Didn�t he
know how much she cared about him?

�Winry,
are you alright?� he asked in concern.

She
turned and gave him a forced smile.�
�Yeah, I just had something in my eye, that�s all,� she lied
quickly.�

He was
about to say something else when Pinako yelled from ahead, �You kids hurry up,
you hear?� I�ll be dammed if I make it
there before you, now get a move on!�

They
looked at each other and grinned before hurrying to catch up to the old woman.�

;-;-;-;-;-;-;

�Brother�
are you really leaving today?� Fletcher whimpered, watching Russell pack the rest of his
meager belongings.�

�That�s
right,� he said shortly.�

Stupid old hag... Russell thought angrily.� How
dare she stick her nose in where it doesn�t belong? He shook his head. �There wasn�t anything wrong with his
relationship with Fletcher!� Maybe they
loved each other a little differently than most brothers, but so what?

He didn�t
like thinking that he was going to be separated from his brother, but at least
it was here and not in the middle of a war zone.� At least he knew Fletcher would be safe�� That was his only consolation in all of
this.�

His
younger brother had a better chance of being alive when he came back here then
in the East. �

Russell
sighed, sat down on the bed and stared at the shorter boy.� At twelve years old, Fletcher was only four
years younger than him(1), but still he worried about
his brother.� It had been for his own
selfish reasons that he�d dragged the smaller boy to join The People�s Army in
the first place��

He hadn�t
wanted to be without him.�

But
Fletcher didn�t belong there.� Perhaps
even Russell didn�t belong there, but
he loved the idea of a government run by the people; loved it enough to fight
for it.� His brother didn�t necessarily
believe in the ideals of The People�s Government, but he believed in Russell�

�Don�t
worry, Fletcher,� Russell said, then softly ran a
finger along the boy�s smooth cheek.�
�I�m just going to Rizembool for a while to talk to Al, and hopefully Ed,
if he�s back by then.�

Guilt
shown in Fletcher�s eyes and he said, �I can come with you� I mean� I don�t have to stay here��

The
taller brother shook his head, �You want to have that woman teach you, right?�

�Well�yeah,
but��

Russell
put a finger over his brother�s lips.� �But nothing.� I told
you not to worry about it.� I�ll be back
in a month or two to get you, so just concentrate on your learning while I�m
gone, okay?�

;-;-;-;-;-;-;

Al
scanned the crowd of people, then let his gaze stop on
the newly built stage where the military representative would be speaking to
them.� The wooden platform was long and
sturdy with a podium and microphone for the speaker.� Where they had constructed
it though� that worried him.� The
platform was built right next to, or perhaps better to say right under, one of
the largest trees on the field�

�Al�why
don�t you sit down?� he heard Winry say from where she was sitting on the
blanket.� He sighed wearily and sat down
after he felt her tug on his pants.�

�I don�t
like this�� he muttered and looked around again.

�Well,
there�s not much we can do right now, but wait,� Pinako said, and puffed on her
pipe.�

He sighed
and was about to say something when a mechanical rumble met his ears and he
turned to see a military truck, filled with soldiers, driving toward the
platform.� Silence swept over the crowd
as the vehicle reached the stage.�

When the
truck stopped, the occupants all stood, and there was a gasp when the crowd saw
two soldiers roughly shove a chained and manacled Roland out of the truck.� When the older man stumbled and fell to the
ground, a tall soldier yelled at him to get up, then kicked him in the side.

�Well now�
that�s productive,� Pinako muttered
around her pipe.

Several
soldiers grabbed the man and dragged him roughly across the ground and lifted
him onto the platform.� At that angle it
was plain that the man had been severely beaten.� Soldiers filed around the platform, then one
opened a door on the truck and a pale man with dark hair combed back stepped
out.

When Al
saw who it was, he gasped sharply.

�Al?�
Winry quietly asked in concern.�

�I know
him� I mean� I�ve seen him before��

�Who is
he?� she whispered.

He was
about to tell her when the man began speaking.

�Citizens
of Rizembool,� he paused for effect, then
continued.� �My name is Colonel Frank
Archer.� The Fuhrer has heard of how loyal this part of the north is, and has
decided, in his great wisdom, to send me to enforce marshal law to protect all of you good and honest
citizens.�

�This man
is scum�� Al whispered to Winry and Pinako without turning his eyes away from
the colonel.

�Because
we only wish to protect you,� Archer continued, �some of the rules will be
strict, and so will be the punishment for defying them.� Because the area of Rizembool is so spread
out, we will send each homestead a copy of the temporary laws that will be put
into effect, as well as posting them in the main part of Rizembool.�

�We will
also be sending soldiers to your homes periodically to make sure you are not
being held captive against your will by those who oppose the military.� Someone like this man right here for example,�
he said and pointed at Roland.

Al could
hear the people around him begin muttering loudly to each other, but they were
cut off when Archer pulled out his gun and fired it into the air.� The crowd gasped, and a few people screamed,
but after that there was silence except for the quiet sobs of little children.

�Now,�
the pale man said calmly, as if nothing out of the ordinary had happened. �As I
was saying, there will be periodic inspections.�
We expect your full cooperation in this.�
If there is any resistance, you can be sure the repercussions will be
severe.�

He paused
a moment, then continued, �There will also be a curfew.� Anyone found outside of their homes after
sundown will be shot without warning.� It
doesn�t matter if it is a man, woman or child.�
This too, is for your protection.�

�Bullshit,�
Pinako muttered softly.

�It has
come to our attention that some of your male citizens have joined with the
rebels.� This must grieve many of you
very much, because I know how loyal each and every one of you are.� Although I know
none of you would ever dream of
supporting traitors, you must be aware of the penalties the Fuhrer has set up
for anyone found supporting, aiding, or becoming a part of the rebellion.�

The
colonel nodded at a soldier near the tree and the man nodded back before
stringing a rope over one of the large, sturdy branches.� An even deeper silence seemed to fall on the
crowd, and Al swallowed hard, nervous of what was going to happen.

With the
rope tied securely and a noose set, Archer nodded at a few other soldiers who
then forced Roland over to the rope.� It
didn�t take much, given that the man was already weak from whatever beating
they�d given him.

�This man
has been found guilty of treason, and for such he will hang.�

Roland
was made to stand on a stool and the noose was slipped around his neck. The
prisoner let his eyes scan the crowd and when they lit on Al they stopped.� The man�s gaze bore a hole into him, as if
pleading with him, one last time, to join in the cause that he was about to die
for.�

I�m sorry... Al thought with tears in his
eyes.� I can�t.� I�m sorry...

�Watch
closely, citizens of Rizembool,� Colonel Archer said menacingly.� �This
is the price of rebellion.�

Suddenly,
the colonel kicked the stool savagely out from beneath Roland.

A
collective gasp sounded and Al grabbed Winry, letting her bury her face in his
chest.

;-;-;-;-;-;-;

�Don�t
worry.� I�ll be back,� Russell said, not
for the first time.

Fletcher
nodded, though he looked unconvinced.�

Sighing,
Russell knelt on the ground, and, mindful of the intimidating woman�s presence,
put his hands on the younger boy�s shoulders instead of hugging him.� �You�re acting like you�ll never see me
again.� It�s only for a couple of months
Fletcher.�

The boy
nodded again, but his trembling lip gave away his feelings.

The tall
teen shook his head and thought, forget the old hag, before wrapping his arms around his brother.
�It�s not goodbye forever, Fletch.� Come
on�don�t be like this.�

�I know�
I�m sorry.� It�s just that� I don�t want
you to go� I just have a bad feeling about it.�
You should stay here in the south like you�re supposed to��

The
chemist shook his head.� �If I can get
Al, and Ed, to join our cause it will be worth it all.�

The small
alchemist looked down, sniffled and nodded a third time.

�Alright,
I�m going,� he said, and stood up.� When
his younger brother looked up at him with pleading eyes, Russell said, �Don�t worry. I�ll be fine.�

�Can�t
you at least stay until tomorrow morning?�
It�s already evening� Just another hour until sunset��

Russell
shook his head.� Izumi said she wanted
him out tonight, and personally he didn�t want to be around her for a moment
longer than he had to.� He quickly leaned
down and kissed Fletcher on the top of the head before saying, �Two months�
maybe three� though I doubt it.�
Okay?��

�Okay,�
the younger boy said unhappily.

Russell
started down the road that would eventually take him out of the town.� Suddenly he stopped, turned around and waved
one last time.� Fletcher waved back and
in that moment, Russell felt a heaviness form in his chest� a foreboding
feeling that nagged at him to listen to his brother for once.�

He shook
the feeling aside.�

His
brother had always been a worrier.

;-;-;-;-;-;-;

After the
rest of Archer�s speech, soldiers began directing the crowd away from the
stage.� A few people spoke in low
murmurs, but besides that there was quiet.�
Everyone seemed too stunned to say much.�
Archer had ordered them all to go back to their homes and not come out
until the next day.� This, Al was sure,
was to avoid anyone from retaliating.�

When Al
looked up and saw Winry begin walking against the throng, toward the tree, he
called worriedly, �Winry!� What are you
doing?�

When she
didn�t acknowledge him, he ran to catch up with her.� As he came to her side, she looked at him with
tears in her eyes, and said, �I just want to� I don�t know��

�I don�t
think this is a good idea�� he muttered and glanced at the soldiers.

When they
reached the spot where Roland�s body was hanging from the tree, a soldier held
out a hand.� �Stop right there,� he
commanded them.

�I just
want to pay some respect to the dead,� the blonde mechanic said tearfully.

�Please
return to your homes.� No one is allowed
to�� the soldier began, but was cut off by Colonel Archer.

�What�s
going on here?� he asked flatly.

�Sir,�
the solider said, and saluted.� �These
two civilians say they want to pay their respect to the dead.�

�Really,�
the colonel sneered, then said, �what are your names?�

�Winry
Rockbell�� Winry answered unsteadily.

Al
hesitated.� It was well known in Central
that Alphonse Elric wore a suit of armor, and never took it off.� What questions might come up if he
answered?� In the end though, he thought
it better to be honest.� �Alphonse
Elric,� he said stiffly.

Archer
raised an eyebrow and said, �Alphonse Elric?��
When Al nodded, the colonel said, �Not brother to the Fullmetal,
surely��

It wasn�t
a question.

Al nodded
again and pressed his lips together.� The
delighted grin that spread across the other man�s face was enough to give him
the creeps.

Archer
waved a hand and said, �Let the woman �pay her respects�.� You may go; I have business with this one.�

When the
soldier saluted and left, Archer folded his arms and looked Al up and
down.� �Well, you don�t look like you�d fit in armor that size��

Al
shrugged.� �I don�t care what you think.�

�Indeed?� Well, none of that really matters, does
it?� What matters here is that you are a very talented alchemist� I could use
someone of your skills��

The tall
teen sighed and looked to where Winry was standing by Roland�s corpse, then returned his gaze to the unsavory man in front of
him.�

�I�m not
interested in becoming the military�s dog,
colonel,� Al said.

The pale
man gave him a flat lipped smile.� �I�m
not asking you to become a dog for the military.� I don�t think that someone of your talents
should be used in such an unfitting manner.�
I want you to work with me, and the people under me.� I have some very powerful alchemists�� he
trailed off and nodded toward the truck.

A man
with black hair cut short on his head and a long wrapped tail of hair running
down his back was leaning against the truck.�
He was on the side facing away from the crowd, so Al hadn�t seen him
before.

Al
frowned.� He knew this man�s face too,
though he�d only read about him�(2)� �Zolf J. Kimblee�The Crimson Alchemist�� he muttered.�

�So you
know of the lieutenant colonel(3),� Archer stated.

�Of course.� He killed some of his own
during the Ishbal war�but I thought he was��

�Executed
for his crimes?�� Colonel Archer
laughed.� �Well, some things aren�t
always what they seem.�

�I�m
aware of that,� Al said bluntly.

The
colonel nodded, a knowing smile on his face.� �I�m�sure�you
are.�

The tall
teen fidgeted a bit uncomfortably, unsure of how much the man knew, then cleared his throat before saying, �I�m still not
interested in being anyone�s dog.��

Truthfully,
Al actually sympathized more with the rebellion than with the military.� The idea of a people run government was
intriguing, and if it could work that might be better than a militaristic
government.� Even then, he still didn�t
like the idea of fighting, didn�t like the idea of war and having to kill
people�

�Well�we
shall see�� Archer said, the knowing grin still on his
face as he turned around and headed back to the truck.

Al
watched him for a moment, then moved his gaze to Kimblee.� The man was
returning his stare with a predatory one.�
The tall alchemist felt a chill, then turned around and walked over to
Winry.� She was holding a photograph and
two pieces of folded paper.� He looked
over her shoulder and saw that it was a picture of Roland�s family.

The
blonde mechanic turned around and with tears in her eyes, said, �I never wished
for this to happen to him� I just wanted him to leave you alone��

�I know��
he murmured.�

Gently,
Al pulled the picture and papers out of her hands, and wrapped one arm
comfortingly around her.� Awkwardly he
unfolded the first paper with his remaining hand and scanned over the
words.�

A letter from Roland�s wife.�

The paper
was worn and was starting to tear at the creases from how many times the man
must have folded it and unfolded it.� The
second paper was newer; a letter from the man to his wife��

Sighing
heavily, Al tucked the picture and the letters into his pocket, then whispered, �Let�s go home�� before guiding Winry away
from the gruesome scene.

--

1- I
don�t believe any mention was ever made about Fletcher�s age, so I�ve decided
to make him four years younger.

2 � Just
a reminder that this story breaks off from the series when Ed and Al go to
visit Dante.� Nothing out of the ordinary
happened at that time, but it isn�t inconceivable that sometime between then
and now Archer was able to get a hold of Kimblee.

3 � As
you can see he�s been promoted from major, which also happens in the series at
some point.

--

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