I: By your side

Disclaimer: I do not own any rights regarding Fullmetal Alchemist and I'm only doing this to improve my writing abilities as well as to have a little fun.

This is only Fan Fiction...

- By your side -

- Chapter One: The Attack in the Eastern Command. -

Eastern Headquarters

Though this place has its share of troubles, It's naturally peaceful nowadays.

But tonight, an infamous group of outlaws named the Blue Squad suddenly appeared and is currently causing havoc in nearby towns.

" Brigadier General Mustang, sir! The A squadron is in quite a bind, they've just requested additional back up! " A soldier said.

Roy sighed, " Again? Really...Just how many men must we deploy to catch a handful of outlaws? " He said lazily.

" Yes, sir...But they're quite powerful. Their Leader, Bald was reported to have an automail on his left arm, reinforced like a gun. They said that it's hard to just rush in blindly without getting shot..." The soldier said as Roy sighed again.

Then Roy stood up from his chair and went towards the windows of his office, " I see...so it can't be helped..." He said as he saw smoke rising from a distance.

Then he looked back at the soldier that was awaiting for his command, " Alright. Soldier, tell the A squadron that we comply to their request and we will send back up. " He said as the soldier saluted.

" Yes, sir! So we will make preperations to the B squadron and deploy them, Brigadier General? " The soldier said.

Then Roy shook his head, " No, that wouldn't be necessary..." He said casually with a smile as he closed his eyes, the soldier looked at him confused.

Then Roy opened his eyes and looked at the confused soldier, " I will handle this matter, personally..." He said casually.

Then he eyed his aide and saw that she nodded.

" Lieutenant Colonel Hawkeye! " Roy said as Riza stood up, " Sir! "

" Looks like we have quite a nice start...Let's head out! This matter has proved to be quite difficult for our new soldiers to handle...Let's give them a little demonstration on how we do things, Lieutenant Colonel. " Roy said as Riza opened a compartment on her desk and took some of her guns.

Then she moved closer to Roy, " Yes, sir! " she said as she stood beside him.

Roy nodded and looked at the soldier.

" But Brigadier General...Will you and the Lieutenant Colonel be alright with just the two of you, sir? " The soldier asked as Roy moved closer to him and placed his hand on the soldier's shoulder.

" Don't worry. We will be alright. Meanwhile, Soldier...I want you to watch this from here till we get back and handle things while we're gone. Such as calming down the soldiers from the Eastern Command and stay tuned from more further reports regarding this matter. " Roy said as the Soldier nodded.

" Yes, sir! " the soldier saluted as Roy smiled and made his way outside the office, " Keep it up, soldier. " He said as the soldier nodded.

Then Riza followed behind Roy and told the soldiers in the room to, " Stay level-headed, do not hesitate to let us know any major reports about this crisis. " She said as the soldiers saluted her, " Yes, ma'am! " They said in unison and went to work.

Then soon, Roy and Riza left the room and began making their way outside the Eastern Headquarters.
As soon as they reach outside, they went towards the car.

" So tell me, Lieutenant Colonel...Where have the outlaws hidden themselves now, based on our current reports? " Roy asked as he opened the door of his car and entered.

Riza too soon followed and entered the car, " Based on our latest report, Brigadier General...They're currently hidden themselves near the abandoned mines in the third district of the Eastern Command and it's relatively close to the Ishbalian slums..." She said as she sat down.

" Third...District..? " Roy asked as he fastened his seat belts.

Then he looked at Riza, " Isn't that where we get our water supplies...? " He added as he saw Riza fastening her seat belt and soon looked at him and nodded in reply.

" Yes, sir. There are plenty water tanks over there, and also there is a neaby lake near the abandoned mines. I would like to advice you to be careful, sir. Because they might used that to their advantage, when fighting against you. " Riza warned as Roy nodded and he soon started the car as they made their way to the scene of the crime.

" I know...thanks for cautioning me, Lieutenant Colonel. But anyway...you will watch my back, now won't you? " He said as he continued to look at the road as he drive.
Riza looked at him, " Of course, Brigadier General. " she replied as Roy smiled, his gaze still at the road.

" That being said...I want you to be careful too. Since you have got nobody to watch yours. Rest assured I will protect you...Stay close when we get there, Lieutenant Colonel. " He said reassuringly.

Riza smiled back and nodded, " Yes, sir! "

As they were nearing their target location, Riza decided to prepare her guns and make sure that they were well prepared and thoroughly cleaned. She made sure that all the barrels were fully loaded and she placed some of them inside her uniform, in the gun sockets just below her right shoulder and placed the others on her back and sides on her belt.

A little sooner, they have now arrived at the scene of the crime and just before they left the car, Riza watch Roy wore his ignition gloves and also wore a long black coat over his military uniform.

Riza also decided to wear her own long black coat, given by Roy, over her military uniform.

As soon as they were ready and were just about to open the door of the car, Roy asked, " Are you, ready to get going? "

Riza nodded, " Yes, sir! "

Roy nodded back and opened the door and moved out. He then closed the door and watch Riza do the same and soon went close to him after she was done.
Then as Riza was at his side, they soon made their way towards the location of the A squadron.

Then as soon as they got to the place were the A squadron lies, the current commanding soldier came towards the Brigadier General and saluted, " Brigadier General! Thank you for assisting us! " He said as Mustang nodded.

" The pleasure is all mine. Now tell me, soldier...Just what on earth happened, here? " Roy asked as the soldier looked at him.

" Sir! As for now the enemy group has no movements and remained stationary at the meantime. " The soldier said as Roy looked at him curiously.

" Then why don't you launch an attack, when they are still planning? " Roy asked as the soldier could not utter a word.

" Did something happened? " Riza asked, concerned.

Then as Roy and Riza were interrogating the soldier, a woman suddenly appeared and spoke from behind them, " Are you the, General? Can you please help me? Please I beg you, they took my daughter! " She said as Roy and Riza were shocked from what they heard.

Then Roy repeated, " Your...Daughter? " He asked as the woman broke down to tears.
That time, Riza decided to console her and held the woman's shoulder reassuringly as the woman looked at her.

Meanwhile Roy looked at the soldier and asked, " So did the outlaws took her daughter? "
" Yes, Brigadier General...During the outlaws escape, we chased them. Their leader, Bald took this parent's child that were innocently just passing by. and since they've captured the girl, they've been using her as a human shield...We...we cannot just exchange gun fires so aimlessly and carelessly. Denying our advance blindly..." The soldier said.

Then Roy got frustrated and clenched his hand tightly, " So they're using an innocent child in their foolish rendezvous..." He thought to himself.

Then Roy eyed Riza, then Riza realizing his gaze, understood and simply nodded.

" Listen carefully, everyone. Take this lady somewhere safe and go to a safe distance. We cannot guarantee her safety when the situation arises to the worst. Meanwhile you guys open your radio transmiter's on and wait for our command. We may need your help. " Roy said as the soldiers saluted. " Sir! " Then they made their move.

But the brunette mother spoke worriedly, " But what about my daughter? " She asked as Riza reassured her, " Rest assured, we will ensure your daughter's safety. But please, Ma'am...please go to a safer place till the situation is under our control. " She said as the mother looked at her.

Then Roy spoke, " Her safety is our top priority till then please, abide our orders at the meantime. We will save your daughter. "

Then the mother calmed down and looked at him, " Thank you..." She said as she and the soldiers made their way to a higher ground, Leaving Roy and Riza behind.

Once the soldiers were out of sight, Roy looked at Riza, " Lieutenant Colonel Hawkeye, are you ready? " He asked as Riza looked at him and nodded, " Yes, sir! " She said as she raised her magnum handgun by the side of her ear.

He nodded, " Stay close behind me, Lieutenant Colonel..." he said as he put his hand on his pockets, " Alright, Let's go! " he added as Riza nodded, " Sir! "

Then they made their way to the enemy's location cautiously, suspecting any frontal attack. Roy was slowly leading the way as Riza just close behind.

As they reach the center, they stopped to look around. At first glance...It all seemed deserted and no sound can be heard, only the faint sound of the howling wind which added to the ominous and tensed atmosphere that surrounds them.

Then suddenly, Bald the former high ranking officer, now leader of the Blue Squad appeared before their eyes and showed himself.

" Are you the commanding officer of the Eastern Military Headquarters? " Bald asked with a terrible grin.

Roy glared at him and crossed his arms, " I am...Now that I answered your question, answer mine...Just why are you doing this? " He demanded as Bald laughed menacingly.

Then Bald pointed at Roy with his right hand. " You should have an idea about it...We, the Blue Squad...Also known as the Eastern Liberation Front were simply a rebellion group..." He said threateningly as he paced around left to right and vice versa.

Then Bald looked at Roy menacing scowl, " But the former commanding officer, General Grumman...Managed to caught our former leader and ever since we lost him...We never got a chance to see him again. That's why...we will get our revenge, starting with you! The Former General's prodigy and his successor! " He said threateningly as Roy remained calm.

" So you fight for revenge...? I cannot stop you from going down that path...Because even I, was once blinded by it..." Roy said, then he eyed Riza.

" But I soon learned my mistake...with the help of my friends...I had got back to the right track..." He added.

Then Roy looked back at Bald. " To fight for vengeance...it's futile, it's a mistake...You will soon realize that it's simply foolish... " He said as Bald glared at him.

" And also, the only reason that why your leader was under arrest and was put to jail is because your group has has done a lot of illegal dealings, Robbery...even murder and kidnapping...Do you think we are that stupid to let him run loose? " Roy said as Bald laughed at him.

" Yes, no one would be that stupid, but you guys from the military are quite ignorant. Haven't it crossed your minds that our former leader has underdogs that can take over and destroy the military? " Bald said as Roy glared at him.

" Why are you so persistent in destroying the Military when you were once a part of it? " Roy said as Bald smirked at him.

Then Bald removed his brown coat and showed his left automail arm that was reinforced as a gun.

" Do you see, this? " Bald said as he raised his left automail arm.

Sensing that things may get hectic and dangerous...Roy signaled Riza to back off a little as He did the same, though he did not face his back to Bald.

Then Bald let out a menacing laugh. " Why are you backing off? You military dogs don't have a backbone! " He said as Roy simply ignored him.

" I wanted to become stronger...So I had my left arm replaced by an automail well reinforced to look like a gun...but as soon as I got the operation done and came back...You Military dogs threw me out like a scrap of garbage! " Bald said angrily as Roy crossed his arms and took a deep breath and closed his eyes.

" You guys were afraid that I was going to get stronger than anyone of you in the military...You guys feared the fact I can outrun the likes of you...That's why you got rid of me! " Bald said.

Then he pointed his automail arm at Roy, "...You fools were stupid for not thinking that I will come back to get you and take revenge? " He added.

Then Roy looked at him, despite Bald's threatening...He remained calm and collected.
" I admit that we have been Ignorant..." Roy said casually.

Then Bald grinned, " So you admit and realized? " He asked mockingly.

Then Roy smiled, " Yes, I have realize our mistakes...For not pulling the order for your suppression. How could they have let an insane criminal, a retarded madman, and power hungry idiot, that can never get anything in life, ran loose? " Roy said as Bald glared at him.

" Don't get cocky...You don't know who you are up against. You fool! " Bald yelled as some of his crew came out, dragging some of the eastern command's A squadron soldiers.

Roy eyed the wounded soldiers, but they don't seem to be in any fatal condition, but they are bleeding and if they do not get medical attention soon, it may risked their lives.

Then a soldier regained consciousness, then he looked up at Roy and spoke weakly, " B-Brigadier...G-General? W-What are y-you doing h-here? W-Where are the others? " He said as the other soldiers, also came to.

Roy just looked at him at first and then he smiled.

During that time, Riza manage to leave unnoticed and she decided to climb at a higher distance and prepared her sniper riffle and she carefully and silently took aim.

Roy knew this but he remained focused in distracting his enemies. " I've sent the others away...right now, Only the Lieutenant Colonel and I are present. " He said casually as Bald laughed.
" If a dozen of soldiers can't beat us...what can a couple of soldiers do any difference? " Bald said sarcastically as Roy just smiled at him, unaffected.

" You're right...Although, I would love to call our soldiers and scatter them around in this very field, in a far off distance..." Roy started as he slyly moved his head around the whole field.

Unknown to Bald that Roy was secretly glancing at Riza.

Riza saw this and she understood his glance, She decided to open up a communication channel with the rest of the A squadron.

" This is Lieutenant Colonel Hawkeye, requesting back up. Scatter all forces around the central field of the abandoned mines...Avoid detection. Over. "

" Order received, we will comply and be there as soon as we can. Ma'am! We will stay incognito till we received the order to shoot, Lieutenant Colonel. Over. "

" Alright, I will send the order for your soldiers to launch an attack. Please get here, now...Over. " Riza said as she closed the communication channel after she was done calling for support.

Concealed from the enemies line of sight. She carefully took aim once more and prepare for an upcoming attack.

Meanwhile Roy closed his eyes and sensed that the back up has already arrived. Then He smiled.

Soon he opened his eyes as Bald spoke, " Tell me, General...Just how much a couple of soldiers do? and you seem to be even too young to be a General...I wonder how much damage can you inflict against me? "

Roy looked at him and smiled, " I advice you that you be careful. I can inflict more damage than what you can ever imagine...Don't underestimate us, and even though you have higher number...Experience is more important and it can change the outcome more than a number of inexperience outlaws such as yourself..." He said calmly.

Irritating Bald and his men.

" Darn you! don't get cocky! " Bald said as he ordered one of his men to shot Roy down. " Kill him! "

Roy watched carefully as one of Bald's men took aim.

Then a shot was made.

" What? " Bald uttered as he saw one of his men to come down, his hand was bleeding as he let go of his loaded gun and his gun ended up hitting his knees. Forcing him to kneel down and groan in pain.

" What the...? " He suddenly said as he panicked then another shot was made and it scraped his automail arm.

" Surprised? Do not underestimate us...For I have the hawk 's eye with me...even if it's just her with me is a huge advantage for us..." Roy said calmly as Bald scowled.

" Get him! " Bald ordered as two of his men charge in towards Roy with their knives.

Roy smiled as he raised his right hand and flicked his fingers, " Too slow. " he uttered as a large explosion of fire exploded in front of the two attackers.

Once the smoke subsides, Bald was shocked as he saw that two of his men, though they were still breathing they looked like they've been barbecue'd.

" What just happened? " Bald uttered as the two burnt men fell down unconscious.

Then Roy neared them, " I have my own tricks as well..." He said as he flicked his fingers again, this time using his left hand, he used the flames to free the captured soldiers from their bounds.

Bald could only watch as the Eastern Soldiers ran behind Roy for protection.

" I am not only a Brigadier General, and the commanding officer of the Eastern Command... I'm also known as the State alchemist, Roy Mustang...the Flame Alchemist. " Roy said as he flicked his fingers once more causing sparks of fire hurling towards Bald's side.

" Darn you! " Bald said as he was about to launch his attack but stopped as Roy quickly snapped his fingers again causing another explosion and Bald has to used his automail as a shield.

" Remember that. " Roy added as he flicked his fingers again and the intensity of it has almost melted Bald's automail arm.

Bald cringed and he got desperate and decided to use his last resort.

As the smoke subsides...Roy was just about to bring in another blow, but he suddenly stopped. His eyes, wide opened from what he just saw.

Because what he saw rendered him vulnerable. He saw the poor little girl that was kept captive by the Blue Squad.

" Help me! " The young auburn haired girl said as Bald used her as a human shield.
The young girl was near to tears and it was evident that she is also very frightened from all that's happening around her.

Bald was nearly choking the girl, " What's wrong, Brigadier General? What are you waiting for? Can't risk a young girl's life and rather risk a whole city? Have you got no backbone? " He said as Roy glared at him.

" You're the coward! Using an innocent and defenseless child as a human shield...You make me sick! " Roy said angrily.

Roy can take insults, he can even take pain and suffering, but if an innocent person is at risk, it can really loose his temper.

Bald only scoffed at him, " Tsk! I prefer being called clever, why are you so soft? You're a soldier, a death of a single person can save more lives than the opposite... You have to save more lives than just one, right? Can't you think it more rationally? " he said.

" Do you have any idea just how low and pathetic you look like right now? " Roy said glaring at Bald.

Bald just smirked, " I'd say you have to cool down for a minute, Flame alchemist! " He said as he shot barrage of bullets, Not on Roy but something large behind him.

Roy didn't want to check what Bald just did as he has already suspected it.

It was a large water tank and all of it's contents went washing down on Roy's whole body.

He got so drenched and so pissed of. He was frowning as he glared at Bald.

Then Bald laughed at the look of him, " Ha! Ha! Looks like you're all washed up, Brigadier General! " He said as he and half of his men went towards the abandoned mine alongside the little girl that they held hostage.

" Kill him and follow us! " Bald ordered the other men that he left behind.

They were about to shoot when the A squadron beat them to it, Bald's men went falling down, wounded, but not killed as they groaned in pain.

" Brigadier General! " Riza shouted as she neared Roy.

Then Roy looked up to her and held his hand up to stop her in her advance, " I'm fine, Lieutenant Colonel..." He started as he sniffed, and a little later he sneezed.

" Listen to me...We'll split up, you take the higher route while I will take the lower grounds. Go on ahead we must not lose Bald and the others! " Roy said as Riza looked at him, concerned.

Then Roy saw this and added, " I'll be fine! Go on ahead, we must save the young girl...and don't worry, I'll send back up! " He said as Riza nodded, " Alright, sir! "
Roy nod back and whispered, " Stay concealed from enemy vision...Be careful! "

Riza nodded once more. Then afterwards, she made her way towards the abandoned mines, upper grounds.

Once Riza was nearly out of sight, Roy removed his wet gloves, he clapped his hands once and dried his clothes.

Yet even though he was dried, he continued to sneeze and sniff.

Then the A squadron soon went near him as all of Bald's men that was in the field has successfully been captured. " Sir! " They all said as they approached Roy.

Roy looked at them, " Listen, everyone...I want some of you to take the wounded somewhere safe and give them medical attention as soon as you can! " He said as a handful of soldiers saluted and followed his command.

Then he eyed the remaining soldiers, " Also, I want the half of you to make sure that the captured outlaws will be send to the authorities...While some of you follow me in the chase! " Roy ordered as all the soldiers nodded and saluted, " Yes, sir! "

Then Roy and some soldiers, hurriedly made their way towards the abandoned mines and chased after the remaining outlaws.

- End of Chapter One -