Thirteenth Move

[king_of_flames]

[Video; Action for Olivine City]

[The feed is showing a scene in the Olivine City Gym. Roy is standing in front of the camera, with Jasmine on the other end of the battlefield.]]

I'm ready whenever you are. The sooner we get this battle finished, the better.

[Jasmine says something that's inaudible from the camera's vantage point, and sends out her first Pokémon -- a Skarmory.]

A bird, eh? No problem, I've got the perfect counter!

[But as Roy throws the Poké Ball, something different happens. The usual gym leader music gets overridden, and an extremely triumphant piece begins to play as a Charizard emerges.

Then, all is lost to the camera as the Charizard takes flight and begins blasting fire. Within short order, the Skarmory falls to the ground. Jasmine recalls it and sends out a Magneton. Charizard doesn't slow down, and it goes down quickly, followed by her Steelix.

But even her Steelix can't withstand the might of the flames. It, too, falls quickly.

Ladies and gentlemen, Roy may have just set a record for the shortest gym battle against Jasmine.

Roy calls his Charizard back and accepts his Mineral Badge. As he walks back over, he grabs the camera.]

Six down, two to go!

[Cut feed.]

Comments

[king_of_flames]

No. Nothing. Forget I said anything.

[derpsaboutfamily]

If you say so!

Two more badges, then? Which ones are left?

[king_of_flames]

Mahogany Town and Blackthorn City. They're home to the two strongest gym leaders in the region.

[derpsaboutfamily]

Ah! So I've heard.

[ If he remembers correctly, Kimblee tried his hands at Mahogany and did not succeed... ]

Ridiculously high leveled Pokemon, if I remember correctly?

[king_of_flames]

That's right. I watched Fullmetal challenge Pryce and knew immediately that I wasn't strong enough then. But I am now.

[derpsaboutfamily]

Edward challenged him? ... Did he succeed?

[king_of_flames]

He did. But that was before he disappeared and reappeared, so I don't know if he still has the badge or not.

[derpsaboutfamily]

I wouldn't be surprised if he did. They're quite ambitious, aren't they? The Elrics.

[king_of_flames]

They have to be. The goals that are set for them are so lofty that the average Joe can barely even dream of them.

[derpsaboutfamily]

[ a sigh, then a chuckle ]

No time to rest, even here, hmm?

[king_of_flames]

Nope. He's determined to get his brother's body back as quickly as he can manage.

...In fact, I know the outcome. But they shouldn't know, just in case it makes them complacent.

1/2

[derpsaboutfamily]

Roy Mustang, the fortune teller! Who would've thought!

[derpsaboutfamily]

[ The words "makes them complacent" sounds like they do actually find a way to get what they want. This makes Maes smile. ]

It seems this place has been good to them by giving Alphonse his body back! But they've got a long way to go back home.

If anyone can do it, I'm sure it's those kids.

[king_of_flames]

The hazards of being further down the river of time, I suppose. But yeah, they do more than most alchemists can even dream of.

[derpsaboutfamily]

Jealous~?

[king_of_flames]

Are you crazy? Why would I be jealous of all the crap they've had to deal with?

[derpsaboutfamily]

Of their abilities, I meant. [ Have a light chuckle. ... Nobody would be jealous of the crap they've had to deal with. ]

[king_of_flames]

...Trust me, there's no need.

[A bit of hesitation. This isn't a very fond memory.]

I was forced through the Gate myself.

[derpsaboutfamily]

The... Gate?

[king_of_flames]

[Roy runs a hand through his hair. No point in hiding the truth now.]

When an alchemist attempts to perform human transmutation, they're brought to...some sort of plane and thrown through a giant gate, where they discover...well, the Truth. In the process, they learn how to perform the clapping transmutation that made Fullmetal so famous.

...But they also have to give up something, as per the rules of equivalent exchange. Fullmetal lost his right arm and left leg, and Alphonse lost his entire body.

[derpsaboutfamily]

You were... forced to perform human transmutation?

[ How fucked up did things get, exactly? ]

[king_of_flames]

...I didn't even do it myself. Pride set it up so that I'd be forced through the gate, regardless of my own actions.

[derpsaboutfamily]

[ A sharp intake of breath. ]

Sounds like things really ended up turning into a circus.

[king_of_flames]

You can say that again. In the end, though, we won. And though the trip was long and hard, that makes it all worthwhile.

[derpsaboutfamily]

That's good to hear.