"Lieutenant Colonel."

No response.

"Lieutenant Colonel."

When she didn't get any reaction from him, Riza frowned in response. She had been trying to get her friend to talk ever since things calmed down after the war. Amestris succeeded and won against the Ishvalans. At the time she separated from Ana, Riza went on ahead and backed up Roy in the fileld. It seemed Ana had listened to her that day; the scientist hadn't come and that relieved her and Roy more than she thought at first. Julliana Hong became an important person in their life and it surprised Riza; especially when she knew her trust couldn't be earned with ease.

"Roy!" the door to the Flame Alchemist's brand new office in Central slammed open and revealed a jolly Maes Hughes who walked in like he owned the room. "I haven't seen you in ages!" the bespectacled officer stopped his eccentricities when he noticed the sullen atmosphere in the office. Both Riza and Roy didn't even look at their guest who barged in all so sudden in the alchemist's office. "Did I miss something..?"

Roy clenched his hands into fists at the question. He never did manage to introduce his friend to Maes, did he? "Second Lieutenant, if you please." Riza saluted and walked pass Maes who she nodded to and closed the door behind her as she left. The sudden click of the locked door then cause Maes to look at his best friend with a frown, taking a sit on the desk behind him. The alchemist tried to form some words, thinking of what he should say but the pain was still fresh. On top of everything he did in the war, the news he received from Private Fuery took the cake.

"Remember that person I told you about..?" the sudden confusion on Maes' face was apparent, and Roy knew that he was wondering why that would be of concern. "The one that got scouted by Führer himself you mean?" The alchemist winced at that but nodded nonetheless. "Yes, that one. I've been meaning to introduce her to you." The way Maes' eyes widened in delight just broke Roy's heart further. "I can finally meet the girl who caught your attention?!"

"I—" Roy breathed out shakily. "— that's the thing. She's been MIA in the last few weeks of the war." Realization flashed in his friend's eyes and to acknowledge that fact; the fact that Ana was missing brought a dirty taste in his mouth. The last he saw of her, she barely kept herself together. He remembered the way her body trembled in his arms, the tears that soaked his tattered shirt, and the sound of her hands clapping for her transmutation. She had killed so that his kills— his own kills wouldn't pile up right after one another.

The Flame Alchemist didn't even know who took more lives between the two of them. She had a weapon of devastating consequences in her hands and by utilizing her understanding of elemental alchemy— particularly gases— and energy; she was a force to be reckoned with. Ana cleared several areas in the East alone and she didn't even need backup. "Roy..." Maes' voice pulled him out of his thoughts and the sharp-eyed alchemist glanced up at his friend.

"I'll do everything I can, then." The grin that showed up on his friend's face startled Roy; that face full of hope made his heart ache. "I'll definitely find her. I can't call myself an investigator if I can't find a missing person, now, can I?" Still, that hope in Maes would be the only thing he would be able to cling to at the moment. The stress lines on Roy's face softened out as a soft smile curved up on his lips. "Thank you, Hughes. It... means a lot."

The bespectacled Major smiled at Rot's expression; even the alchemist knew he rarely shows that kind of face. What could he say? Ana was someone who was important to him and Roy would search every crook and cranny of this continent until he finds her. Ana wasn't a person who would die easily or disappear for now reason, at all. Something must have happened when she stayed behind at camp. "Well, what can I say? I want to see my best friend married and all."

It took a moment but when Roy realized what Maes just said, he choked on his own saliva. The alchemist had to pat his chest in shock. "Y-You— we're nothing like that!" Maes shrugged his shoulders and gave him a teasing grin. "From what you tell me about her— and from what I hear from Riza— it doesn't sound like you're just friends, Roy." Said alchemist hid behind his hands.

Ana and I... we're not like that, stupid Hughes! What is he even saying?!

oooOooo

A few months passed by after the war ended and a new year had began just a few days ago. Roy had been busy to think about anything outside of anything that didn't involve the military. In addition, he had been busy gathering people for his team. At the moment, the people he handpicked met his standard. All of them possessed unique traits and a diversity he aimed for when he planned on making his own team.

"Lieutenant Colonel, a letter has arrived." Roy glanced up from the documents he was working on upon the arrival of Riza Hawkeye, reaching out a letter in her hands. He raised an eyebrow but the sniper said nothing. The blonde simply handed him the letter and resumed back to her work. The alchemist eyed the envelope on his desk before he picked it up and ripped the envelope open. When he pulled out the letter, Roy almost lost his composure when he saw who the letter was actually addressed to.

"'To Julliana Hong‚' huh?" he voiced out his confusion. Unknown to him, his newly-formed team perked up at the name. Roy unfolded the letter, his eyes skimming over the contents before his breath hitched to a stop.

If you're reading this, Roy, that means something happened to me.

A snort left Roy at that but the incredulity of this letter just confused him further.

And I don't trust the military. Never have. Never will. I addressed this letter to myself and in the 'off chance I wasn't in,' this letter would be delivered to you. I'm not dead; I have too much to do to get killed easily so stop being a little shit and stop mourning. I'll beat the shit out of you if I find out you're mourning when I'm not even dead.

Roy blinked at that. The uncanny way she predicted his reaction served to make him uncomfortable in his own skin. Ana could be scary sometimes; Roy just didn't know the extent of it.

I just want to ask a favor, just one, but I'm hoping you could do it. Well, considering the lazy bastard you could be at times, I wouldn't be surprised if you held off this favor of mine. It's not urgent; I just want you to check on my munchkins when you have time. They'll be worried and they might do something stupid; especially those Elric brothers. Remember them? The kids I'm looking after? Just drop by every so often, check what they're doing, if they're doing alright and the likes. If they need money, could you lend them some? I swear I'll pay you back.

The remnants of a word 'sike' at the end caused another snort to leave Roy's throat.

And Roy, please make sure they don't do something stupid. They're brilliant alchemists but they're still children. I'm scared that they might do something they'll regret. Oh, and don't tell anyone about this letter, yeah? Burn this after you finish reading. I'll miss you being the little shit you could be sometimes.

And that was that.

The Flame Alchemist felt the eyes of his subordinates as he slipped on one of his ignition gloves, the letter and envelope trapped between his thumb and fore finger in his other hand. Roy eyed the handwriting before he snapped his fingers and the letter bursted into flames; leaving nothing but dark ashes. The alchemist looked uo from his desk and found his team— aside for Riza— staring at him with wide eyes. He raised an eyebrow at them. "What?"

"You just..." Fuery started, a bit unsure.

"Burned a letter just like that?" Falman added.

"Was it a love letter?" Jean inquired.

"I don't think that's the case." Breda stated as he flipped through the file in his hands.

Roy felt a vein pop at their nosiness. "Really, Havoc? A love letter?" the blond man shrugged his shoulders in response and resumed his work. "You look like a guy who receives that kinda stuff. I feel sorry for the girl who sent that to you though, being burned just like that." The Flame Alchemist sense an incoming migraine at Jean's words. "That letter—" Fuery suddenly spoke up. "— was it from Major Hong?" The techie was suddenly the center of attention and it caused him to squeak in surprise.

Roy froze for just a fraction of a second but it went unnoticed among his team. "No, unfortunately," he managed to say without stuttering. "It would have been best if that was the case."

An unasked question lingered in the air to those who didn't know Major Hong personally; who was she?

The alchemist blinked and ignored the tension in the air; he didn't want to talk about it anymore. In fact, even if he knew that Ana was alive somewhere out the there, the fact that she wasn't here with him and Riza worried him. He thought that once the war was over, the three of them would unwind down together and Roy could finally introduce Ana to Maes. His best friend had been looking forward to it. It seemed that it would be a while before that happens, however.

The sniper glanced up from the file she had been reading to take a peek at her friend and commander. From her eyes, Riza saw the tension in his shoulders lessened when he read the letter. That was good, at least, since the blonde knew that the idiot wouldn't function well if he was way too worried about everything. Whatever it was the letter said, Riza could only hope that it concerned their missing friend.

oooOooo

Edward huffed as he placed down a metallic basin at the center of a transmutation circle he had worked on in their basement. A few days more and preparation would be done. "Big brother, granny's calling us for lunch!" Alphonse called from upstairs. "Coming!" The blond dusted himself off dust and ran upstairs. He saw his brother by the front door and Edward grinned as he reached Alphonse's side. "Just a few more days, Al, and we'll be ready!"

The both of them started making their way to the Rockbell home. The older blond's words stirred uneasiness inside Alphonse whose lips curved down into a frown. "Is this really okay? I mean, there's a reason why it's taboo, big brother. I don't think big sis would be happy if she finds out. What if we fail? What happens—" he was cut off by a snort from the older Elric. "Sheesh, Al, you worry too much. I plan on triple checking our formula before we perform it. But I'm sure I've got everything down perfectly."

The young boy still couldn't shake off that queasy feeling bubbling in the pit of his stomach. "Besides," he perked up when he heard Edward sneering. "Why do you care what she thinks? It's not like she's here anyway so we can do what we want to do without getting scolded." The bitterness in the elder sibling's voice was apparent and silence brewed between the two of them. Alphonse didn't understand why his brother seemed to hate their big sis all of a sudden. It wasn't like she left them on her own accord, right?

That soldier said she'd gone MIA and Alphonse was sure that it meant that she went missing during the war not because she abandoned her post but because something happened to her. The young Elric just didn't understand why his brother felt that way but he wasn't about to get into an argument with him. If they were successful with their plan, then their mom could help them look for big sis Ana and it'll be like the old days again.

Still, what changed?

Alphonse missed the days when they didn't have to worry about anything. "I hope it works..." he muttered out of the blue. "Of course it will," Edward declared in confidence— rather, the younger sibling couldn't help but call it arrogance. "We checked just about everything. We're not going to fail, Al. There's no way we could."

The following days were spent prepping for the taboo they were about to perform. On the ninth day, the Elric brothers were finished. All that's left was activating the transmutation circle.

"You ready, Al?"

Hesitation flashed in his eyes for a second before his resolve hardened. "I'm ready." The both of them pricked their fingers and let a drop of blood splatter on the ingredients in the basin. The sound echoed in the silence and even heard despite the raging storm outside. Alphonse gulped as he readied himself. That tightness in his stomach was still there, as if telling him not to go with this nonsense any further. But he already decided, Alphonse would do this with his brother.

In the silence, the both of them slammed their hands on the edge of the chalk-drawn circle. Bright golden light glowed in the darkness and the same colored lightning crackled in the night.

They were performing human transmutation and they were sure that everything would go well...

... or so they thought.

Meanwhile in the roads leading to the Elric home, a car drove in the muddy path; the driver frowned as the storm fogged up the mirror in front of her. It was always such a pain driving in this kind of weather and that prompted a question she wanted to ask ever since they left Central. "Lieutenant Colonel, why are we visiting today?" Riza Hawkeye asked her commanding officer, whose attention focused outside. "A feeling, you could say. That and I heard those kids are gaining quite the reputation. Genius alchemists from what I heard."

Riza blinked at that. "She already told us that, remember? So why now?"

The Flame Alchemist sighed and turned his gaze to look at Riza through the car mirror. "A feeling."

"That doesn't answer much."

It took longer than expected; for such a rural place, Resembool seemed a lot larger than they expected at first. Up a hill, they found the house that they planned to visit. Roy put on his cloak and left the comfort of the car and headed straight for the door. He barely noticed Riza following after him. He knocked on the door, rather loudly because of the storm. "Edward Elric! Open up!" But no matter how loud he was, no one answered.

Dread filled the pit of his stomach. He shared a look of worry with Riza as he decided to break down the door. Even then, no one came in a rush to see the commotion. The alchemist marched inside, the tension making his gait stiffer in anxiety. He slammed every door but found not one blond kid. There was still one room left he hadn't checked and when Roy went downstairs, the monstrous sight that greeted the alchemist left him nauseous.

A humanoid creature— whose body resembled a rotting corpse— laid at the center of a transmutation cirlce— a human transmutation circle. His breath hitched to a stop, his sharp eyes focusing on the puddle of blood at the other end of the room. "Those kids—!" She was right, Roy noted with a grimace. He should have checked on her kids a lot sooner; he shouldn't have waited for this 'feeling' he had that morning. The Lt. Colonel rushed outside, walking passed Riza who followed right after him.

"The Rockbell's. We're going there." Roy could tell that the sniper had questions but reigned those in. As he sat in the car, the gravity of the situation settled in at last. Those brothers committed taboo; they committed something incredibly foolish that would have them on death sentence. A hand raised to caress his face in dread. From what he knew, performing human transmutation would end in a rebound.

There was a reason why it was forbidden because there had been no record of an alchemist successfully performing one. And the consequences that followed led to unimaginable punishment to the alchemist. It didn't take them long to reach the Rockbell home. Roy braved the raging storm and opened the front door without warning. A short old woman, a blonde girl, and a suit of armor greeted him in the living room. "You are? It's rude barging in someone's home even for a soldier like you."

The aged woman stared at him blankly behind those round glasses and Roy spared no time, only pulling out his pocket watch that told her his status. "Where are they?"

"'They,' you say?"

"Ana's kids."

Metal clanged from the corner and the suit of armor moved, much to the alchemist's bewilderment. "You... You know our big sis..?" a child's voice echoed from the armor and the hurt and longing that Roy heard broke his heart. The soldier stood his ground, saying nothing. He uttered not a single word and this prompted the armor to take another step. "Do you... do you know where she is..?" this time, Roy stared at the metal suit, his eyes hardened as if he was back in that battlefield.

"We saw that thing in your basement," the armor flinched at his words. "And Ana told me that you might do something foolish such as this." An exasperated sigh escaped his lips, the tension in his shoulderd disappearing as he relented. Roy knew he was, at some point, at fault here. Ana had warned him yet he still came to check on them far too late. "I've heard word of your prowess... and the military have been searchiny for Hoenheim for a long time as well."

Roy admitted his intentions. "We still don't know where their father is," Pinako Rockbell intervened, a frown set on her lips. "There are hurt peoole here. Go away." There was a minute of silence before the Flame Alchemist managed to blurt out the words in his mind. "If they have performed human transmutation and were able to escape with their lives, then I am more interested in then than their father." The diminutive mechanic's lips curved down some more, not liking where this was going.

"And what of Ana? You seem to know her."

"She's... a close friend of mine." Alphonse perked up at this, his glowing eyes shining just a tad bit brighter. "She trusted me to check up on her kids. Hoenheim might've been a goal of my visit here but that is my intention of visiting the brothers. I'm too late, as you've noticed." The young Elric stepped up, his feet clanging at that one action. "Do you know what happened to her?"

"I'm afraid not. We're still on the lookout for any sightings of her." The news made Alphonse's eyes go dim in sadness. Roy glanced at Alphonse and then at the child resting on the couch. Several thoughts ran through his mind before he arrived to a conclusion which would lead to his death in the future. "I am State Alchemist Lt. Col. Roy Mustang," he suddenly said in the silence. "Come pay a visit to Central. You'll make fine State Alchemist yourselves."

With that, he turned around and left, his eyes lingering on the brothers a second too long that Pinako noticed his stare as he closed the door behind him.

oooOooo

Alphonse stared at the night sky, no clouds in sight. With the storm passing and all that has happened in the past hours, his mind ran a mile a minute. It wasn't like he could sleep either. He noticed that a while ago when he felt no physical exhaustion and Alphonse concluded that with this new body of his, all fundamental requirements of a human body were no longer required for this one. And without sleep, he would be up all night for as long as he was in this armor.

An ocean of stars shined in the darkness of the sky as his thoughts wandered back to that State Alchemist that visited a few hours ago. He had mentioned their big sis Ana, even said that they were close friends, but the fact that he didn't know what happened to her made him disappointed. "I wonder where she is... big sis would probably kill us if she finds out what happened..."

"Al?" the armor jolted a bit in surprise, startled at the sound of Winry's voice. His friend sat down beside him. "Are you thinking about her?" The question made his shoulders sag. "Yeah... the Lt. Colonel never mentioned a possibility of her death... so I'm sure she's still out there somewhere. Big sis is too stubborn to be bested by someone. She's a lot like big brother in that sense. If it weren't for her different hair color, everyone would think that big sis had been a part of our family since the beginning."

Winry laughed a little and joined the young Elric in stargazing. "You're right... I'm actually more worried about what she'll do to you guys." the blinde girl admitted. Her words made Alphonse shake in terror. "I don't want to think about that much." The young mechanic smiled in a soft manner, reaching out to hold onto Alphonse's cold knee. "I'm sure she wouldn't hurt you guys," she paused before looking away with a nervous smile. "Too much, anyway."

"Hey, Winry?"

"Yeah?"

"... what do you think she's doing right now?"

The mechanic hummed, deep in thought as she answered with a,"Probably doing the best she can to come back home. Ed said she promised, right? And big sis Ana doesn't break her promises. She'll definitely come home."

"Yeah," Alphonse would have smiled at that notion. "You're right. She'll probably cuss out whoever and whatever it is that's keeping her from coming home."

"Imagine if a guy has her. I feel sorry for him."

"Ouch."

The both of them bursted into laughter. In that moment, they were glad to have something to laugh about, the heaviness on their shoulder disappearing in that fraction of time.

oooOooo

"All her research?!"

The news that greeted him prompted Roy to yell at the poor messenger, who trembled under the weight of his glare. "Y-Yes, sir! The cause hasn't been discovered yet and the fire had been put out before it could spread in the lab, sir!" Without even dismissing the poor bringer of news, Roy stomped his way inside Laboratory Three. It didn't make sense; none of it was. Just yesterday night, he found her kids committing taboo and barely survived it and now this? The alchemist would have to look into that stupid fortune Maes had been blabbering about.

His days were becoming unbearable.

A yellow line of tape with the words 'keep out' written in bold black letters blocked the entrance into Julliana Hong's office inside Laboratory Three. From where he stood, Roy could make out the desk, file cabinet, and chair inside; though, all of them were charred black and some parts disintegrated to ashes. He tore the tape apart and entered the blackened room while he turned on the flashlight in his hand. The alchemist examined the room. Nothing seemed out of place and nothing appeared to be the cause of the fire. Well, not until he looked inside the top drawer of the file cabinet, at least.

Inside was more than a handful of ashes, and from what he was told, there were no files in this drawer since everything was moved to the lowest one. So why were there ashes? "It was intentional..." he muttered to himself. But how could someone sneak inside the lab? This place had been heavily guarded since Tim Marcoh and Ana worked here; only two of the many individuals who have projects that the military personally gave them.

Despite orders, Ana had always told him of what she worked on and how much progress she made. To be aware of such weapon of mass destruction— well, death but he made his point— Ana assured him that she trusted him more than she trusted the military. He was flattered, really, but with her gone, he had thought someone would have already taken her research papers to recreate the virus—

— Roy turned around, just in time to make eye contact with a soldier that walked into his sight. "Hey, you." the random soldier flinched and saluted. "Y-Yes, Flame Alchemist, sir?"

"Did anyone move out anything from this room since last year?"

"I-I—

"Anything, at all?"

"N-No, sir! Major Hong sealed up her office with alchemy, sir! No one moved anything in or out aside from the Major!"

The alchemist dismissed the pale soldier as he further observed the charred room. The door for her office was gone, and yet, it had been sealed with alchemy. If Roy knew her, Ana wouldn't have used a wooden door— maybe metal or solid rock. And from the book data log of visitors at the main desk in the lobby was anything to go by, no other alchemist had been here ever since the war ended. A few clean up crews and scientists, sure, but alchemist? Roy was the first one in a long while, it seemed.

Exasperation painted his handsome features, a gloved hand sliding from his face down to his chin in disbelief. "Just what on earth are you doing, Julliana?"