Right on Key

Violet watched in horror as the two homunculi charged at Ed.

“Ed!” she screamed as she tried to get to him. She just fell forward. She pushed herself up, her arms trembling.

She looked back up to Ed. He stood there, pushing back against Envy. Behind him, Lust was closing in.

“Brother!” a voice cried out. Violet heard the sound of clanking metal. She watched as Al slid to a halt with his back to Ed. Lust’s attack was stopped by him.

“Nice timing, Al.” Ed grunted, before shoving Envy backwards.

“Anytime, brother.” Al responded, pushing Lust back.

Violet felt a tear escape her eyes. They were both okay. She watched as the boys and homunculi traded blows.

‘I’m useless.’ she thought, ‘I couldn’t even more to save Ed. If it weren’t for Al…’ her thought trailed off.

“Violet! Look out!” Ed’s voice rang out. Violet snapped back to reality. Her eyes met Ed’s before following them. She looked off to her left. There, emerging from the shadows, was Gluttony. Violet pushed herself to her feet. Ed and Al couldn’t help her now, they had their own fights to finish.

Bang! Bang!

Gunshots rang out. Violet looked to the entrance of the alley. There stood Maes Hughes, beside him were Colonel Mustang and Lieutenant Hawkeye.

“Yummy, food.” Gluttony drooled. He had two bullet holes in his forehead that were now closing over.

“Full Metal! Al! Ivy! Down!” Mustang yelled. The three hit the ground as a roar of flames flew over them. The screams of the three homunculi filled the air.

“Curse you, Mustang.” Envy heard Envy hiss.

“Come on!” Hawkeye yelled as soon as the flames subsided.

Violet looked up, seeing the regenerating corpses of the homunculi.

‘Am I really like that?’ she wondered.

“Violet, come on.” Ed exclaimed as he pulled her to her feet. Ed pulled her out of the alley, taking glances back over his shoulder.

“This is over.” Lust hissed as she ran away, Gluttony right behind her.

“I’ll be back for you, Pumpkin.” Envy called out before he, too, disappeared behind Lust and Gluttony.

Violet’s knees gave as she continued to tremble.

“Violet!” Ed cried as she fell to her knees. He put his hands on her shoulders. “Look at me.”

Violet lifted her gaze to meet his. Tears were forming in her eyes. She gave into her emotions, falling into Ed. He was in shock for a moment, but wrapped his arms around her.

Violet had been so terrified. The things Envy planned to do to her, Ed almost dying because she couldn’t move, and watching the homunculi regenerate before her eyes all had her scared witless. Sure she had seen the regeneration back home when she uses to watch Full Metal Alchemist all the time, but this was different. Not only was she seeing it, she could hear their skin crawling back over their bones and smell their burnt corpses. It was sickening. But what scared Violet the most was that she was a homunculus like them.

“Brother? Is she okay?” Al asked as he stood over the kneeling figures of Ed and Violet. Violet looked over Ed’s shoulder. Hughes and Mustang were talking; Hawkeye standing by the Colonel in silence. Then Mustang turned and walked toward them.

“I want you three in my office now.” His voice was stern and edgy. “I think we have some things to talk about, Ed, Al, Ivy. Or should I say Violet?”