THE SCROLL OF DEADALUS

The two Alchemists followed Hawkeye up the narrow stairs to the roof. If was a clear crisp day and the air was unnaturally still. There were a few sharp shooters stationed around the perimeter but, other than those soldiers, the rooftop seemed empty. It wasn’t until they got in a little closer did they see the Colonel, Armstrong and a third Alchemist they didn’t recognize. The stranger noted their arrival first.

“Your boy is here Flame,” he purred at the Colonel.

Mustang shot the man a molten look as he turned back towards the dome. It was obvious Mustang found this new Alchemist not to his liking but he was managing to keep his feelings to himself. Edward didn’t even know the guy and he was beginning to see why the Colonel wasn’t too thrilled with him.

“That guy is creepy,” Alphonse whispered low and aside to Edward.

“I know,” Edward agreed.

The newcomer was casting an appreciative eye on Edward mentally undressing the young Alchemist and liking what his mind’s eye told him was there. Edward could feel those eyes on him and spat, “Stop looking at me like that you pervert!”

“Jade, leave him alone!” Mustang ordered and the Alchemist called Jade looked away from them finding the clouds suddenly very interesting.

Mustang met Edward and Alphonse as they closed on his position. “Ignore him,” Mustang said quietly to Edward and Alphonse. “Central sent him because we need his element for this Ritual. Come with me and I’ll explain.”

He took the two young Alchemists aside. He made sure they were out of earshot of everyone on the rooftop. “We’ve been given two orders from Central – cleanse this town of the insurgents and leave at once. Since the door-to-door war has been a lesson in futility, we’re taking things up a notch.”

“That etching on the dome…” Edward began softly.

“Yes, Ed. We’re going to use it but it requires five Alchemists- each representing one of the five elements – to activate. The two of you will complete the quintet.”

“Elements? But we aren’t Elemental Alchemists,” Alphonse observed. “At least, not like you are.”

“Every Alchemist has an element Al, whether they know it or not. You want to find out what yours is, them come to the dome and let it be revealed to you.”

Alphonse looked down at Edward, who shrugged unsurely. “Can’t hurt to find out Al,” was all Edward said.

The two brothers Elric followed the Colonel to the dome. They both made a point of ignoring Jade who Edward was planning on killing the minute they no longer needed him. Edward was beginning to think Mustang was a telepath when he remarked quietly into his ear, “He’s one of the Furher’s men. Try anything and there will be no way anyone can save you from the firing squad.”

“The guy is a fucking pedophile.”

“Amongst other sins,” Mustang agreed. “But he isn’t your problem.”

“He will be if he touches me.”

“He touches you and he’ll be looking up your friend Winry to build him a replacement for that hand….”

Edward looked up at Mustang his eyes wide in shock. The Colonel was smiling slightly at him. If Edward didn’t know him better he would have said the look was almost paternal. “Ignore him and do your job. Once we are finished here we can all go home.”

“What about….what about the scroll?” Edward dared to ask.

“Do you have it completed?”

“Yes, Al has it.”

“Good. I’ll give it to Jade when we leave. He’s taking it back to Central. They can decide what to do with it after their researchers check your work.”

“You aren’t going to look at it?”

“Something you want me to see Ed?” he asked as he knelt by the dome and motioned to Edward to join him. “Something you think I should know about so there aren’t any surprises?”

“Its not what you think,” Edward started to explain but again the Colonel saw through him and silenced him with a finger to his lips. The gentle touch of his hand sent a shiver through him. The guy barely touched me and I’m getting hard, Edward berated himself. Edward closed his eyes and willed his body to stop betraying him.

Mustang took his finger away saying, “Later Ed.”

Edward nodded and focused on the circle before him. Mustang motioned to Alphonse to join them and he took a spot beside his brother. “You both know how to charge a circle,” Mustang began and when they both eyed him expectantly he continued, “It is in this first step that the lynch pins – those symbols around the inner circle – will brighten and color up in response to your essence. Only charge the circle, do no more. Understand?”

When the brothers nodded the Colonel said, “Al, you go first.”

Alphonse followed the instructions and both brothers watched in awe as the circle glowed with a bright incandescent light and the element for Spirit glowed bright blue in response the essence of the younger Elric. “I’m a Spirit Alchemist?” Alphonse queried a little confused.

“That symbol can represent Spirit or Soul, and it is a logical element for you,” the Colonel said giving him a knowing smile.

“I guess…” Alphonse agreed.

After the circle powered down Edward announced, “My turn!”

The circle powered up differently under Edward’s guidance. The initial activation light was bright like the sun and everyone nearby had to turn away or else risk hurting their eyes. Edward was enjoying the feel of a circle again. Old school had a lot going for it, he thought to himself as he noticed the element for Air glowing the brightest white of all.

“And now we are all assembled,” Mustang said quietly as Edward powered down the circle. “Strong Arm is Earth, Jade Water, Fullmetal Air, Al Spirit and myself, Flame.”

“Now what?” Edward asked.

“Take a position opposite the symbol for your element. Once we are all ready, I’ll guide this casting,” Mustang told them.

The brothers got up and took their places around the circle. Edward was between Jade and Strong Arm, which made him feel a bit squickly. Jade eyed him like he was a tasty snack and licked his lips making Edward’s skin crawl.

“Bet you’re nice and tight,” Jade remarked at him.

That was Edward’s limit break. In an eye blink his Auto-mail arm was transmuted into the short sword and he was on Jade like a lion on a gazelle. If Armstrong hadn’t jumped in on time Jade would have lost his head. He pulled Edward off the other Alchemist and actually found himself straining to keep the incensed boy contained.

“Calm down Edward!” Armstrong said.

“I’m going to kill him! I swear I’m going to FUCKING KILL HIM!” Edward raged trying to get free of the huge arms that held him fast.

“ENOUGH!” Mustang roared and all action ceased at the sound of his voice.

Edward stopped struggling. He shot a glance at Alphonse who Edward was convinced just got pale. The Colonel was in his face in a heart beat and said in a low menacing tone, “Reign it in Fullmetal, or else.”

Edward didn’t need to be told what that “or else” meant. He couldn’t meet Mustang’s stern gaze when he meekly replied, “Yes sir.”

“Let him go.”

Armstrong released Edward and he went back to his place at the circle. Mustang glared at Jade and said icily, “Say one more word to that boy and I’ll fry you where you stand.”

“I didn’t know he was yours, Flame,” Jade stated the picture of innocence. “I know how you don’t like to share…”

Mustang grabbed him by the collar and was a barely inch from his face when he said so only Jade could hear, “Make one more crack like that and I’ll burn you from the inside out.”

Jade blanched. He knew Mustang had the power and control to do that so he backed off with lightning speed. Mustang let Jade go, but his eyes still were on him like two burning embers as he made his way back to his place at the apex. Jade resumed his spot and kept his eyes on the circle. Edward, Alphonse and Armstrong’s attention was on Colonel Mustang.

“When we simultaneously charge the circle, each of essences will unite to activate the transmutation. The exchange here is a simple one: our life energies will be the fuel to power this effect.” The silence was deafening for a long moment and Roy stated in a level tone, “This battle ends here and now.”

He placed his hands on the circle and the others followed his lead. As the circle came to life Edward could feel something pulling at him like an invisible hand around his heart. He had never felt anything like this before. He wanted to get away but he couldn’t. His whole body was rooted to the spot. The five elements of the circle were glowing and the colors they glowed produced wisps of smoke that twirled, coalesced and twisted into each other until all five were a great twisting tornado of motion and color. Edward watched as this column rose overheard dancing in the sky above them before exploding outward in a thunderclap and a flash of intense bright light. The wave of force produced fanned outward in a 360-degree circle moving across the city like a wall. Anything living it touched disintegrated leaving nothing, not even ashes to prove it had even existed.

Edward gasped as the sounds of buildings collapsing and the faint cries of terrified people filled the air. He left the circle and raced over to the edge of the rooftop to see what was going on. By the time he got there the wave of force was dissipating but the damage had been done. Much of the city lay in ruins and there wasn’t a sign of anyone. He watched in horror as the last remnants of the powerful spell did their work and bushes, trees and a lone insurgent, who was trying to escape the blast, vanished.

Only one thought raced through his mind.

Ishbal.

Edward closed his eyes and sank to his knees by the wall.

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There will be some naughty bits in the next chapter I promise