Fullmetal Kingdom ~ Chapter 131

Chapter 131: Dividing Responsibilities

In a white room, Axel had just entered and threw himself onto the sofa to relax. Just then, he heard someone speak to him, "Are you amused with yourself?" Axel opened his eyes and saw a blond girl standing before him with an annoyed look. Axel then asked, "Sheesh, I just got back, Larxene. Think you can cut me some slack for just one minute?" Larxene then said, "Shut up, you damn couch potato! You know EXACTLY why I'm pissed! Your little tussle with the Keyblader almost spoiled everything!"

Axel then asked, "What's up with the attitude? I didn't say anything." Larxene then explained, "You hinted him on his 'true' memories, and even after an hour of erasing his mind, Namine can't remove this suspicion, not without damaging the goods permanently! Now it's going to be harder getting him on-!" Larxene stopped for a minute, and then said, "For the good of the Organization, I'll take over the babysitting duties."

Axel laughed, "YOU?! (hysterical laughter) You hate kids; this has to be done by someone who can relate to the kid, not a snot-nosed witch!" Larxene smiled and said, "(tee-hee) That's why I'm taking over, because you're just like him." Axel wondered what she meant, so she explained, "You're not using the fishing rod correctly. His heart needs a stronger pull…otherwise; the trout will never slip into our net. I enjoy my work Axel, and the reason why I'm replacing you…is because you DON'T. You're too soft, and unlike you, I want this brat to reach out to Namine…and forget every little obstacle that gets in the way."

Axel was almost troubled by her heartless smile, so he advised her, "…don't break him." Larxene opened a dark portal and replied, "(tee-hee) That's not your call…after all, toys tend to break. I can't help it if I'm a bit 'rough' on him." Axel shook his head, stood up from the sofa, and said, "We NEED him Larxene…to overthrow the Organization-."

Larxene stopped her colleague from talking by tapping his lips with her finger. She then said, "…y'know, just because you're in on it…doesn't mean you can just spill the beans. Keep your lips tight, and nobody will suspect a thing."

As Larxene disappeared through the portal, Axel smiled and said, "…you would have been wise…to do the same…Larxene."

An hour earlier, back in Central, Mickey, Donald, and Goofy were outside the Second Branch Library…

"Crimson has returned and is gathering an army to destroy Amestris, Xehanort is alive, a traitor, and is currently on the run, and a hidden conspiracy seems to be responsible for Amestris's sorrows. I must see the master; his wisdom might shed some light on these dark situations." Mickey said. Donald and Goody were surprised by what the president said, so Donald asked, "Y-you're REALLY going to see HIM?!" Mickey nodded, "Trust me Donald, the master will know what to do."

Goofy stepped forward and said, "Well then sir, we're going with you!" Mickey shook his head, "No Goofy, this is a mission I set out to complete. Donald then reminded, "But don't you remember what happened when you set out alone?! Crimson kidnapped you and turned you into a snarling beast!"

"Ed told you that, didn't he?" Mickey asked.

Donald nodded.

Mickey sighed, "(sigh) Of course he did."

Mickey then said, "I'm not going back there anyway. The only way I would is if I had a way to change everyone back to normal. The master might also give me a way to do that, but time is of the essence, so I must be on my way. In the meantime Donald, stay here and keep Sora and the Elrics safe!" Donald was surprised, "W-what do you mean 'stay here'?! This place is a nightmare-!" Mickey then reminded his friend, "With a new Keyblade Master! He's still learning, Donald, that's why I need you to keep him from falling into the wrong hands! The future of Fantasia might be at stake!"

Donald sighed, and then nodded…

Goofy then asked, "Just wondering Mick, but if Donald has to stay with Sora and the Elrics, what do I have to do?" Mickey answered, "Head over to Destiny Islands in Aerugo, Chip and Dale should be almost done by now, but the chipmunks may require some additional help. Until they're finished, you need to do whatever it takes to get 'it' ready to fly!" Goofy saluted, "You got it Mickey, (ahyuck) I'll get the job done in a jiffy!" Goofy then rushed over to the train station while Mickey used his Keyblade to open a light portal to see his master…

"Mickey, I still want to know where the boys are." Donald said. Mickey looked at his friend and said, "We'll find them Donald…we'll find them." The mouse then hugged Donald and headed into the portal…

Now alone, Donald had a moment to think, Huey…Dewey…Louie…I can't depend on our own leader anymore. I'll do it, I'll go out and search the world for you! Donald began to walk away from the library, his thoughts filled with fear and determination, but before he left, he looked at the library and said, "…I'm sure Ed and Al can keep you safe, Sora, maybe someday, we'll meet again."

Donald began walking sadly away when suddenly; he noticed Ed and Al rushing out of the window!

"What the-, HEY, HOLD IT!" Donald then chased after the Elric Brothers…without noticing who was approaching the library.

Meanwhile, Sora stood by the office door, thinking to himself. He thought about Namine and her recent message about Kairi, and then he thought about Laboratory 5 and the 'Truth' Marcoh spoke of. "Secrets, this entire journey has one secret after another…first, secrets relating to the Philosopher Stone, then with the military, and even me…Namine told me…that we never met before. Kairi, I recognized you when I saw that little girl…alright, when I see you again, I'll hear the truth!"

(BLAM, BLAM , BLAM)

Sora heard the gunfire and wondered, "W-what the?!" Sora then knocked on the office door and called out, "Guys, it sounds like someone's broken into the library! I'll be back, so until I do, stay here-!"

(creak)

"Oh right, Ed forgot to close the door."

Sora opened the door, but when he did, he saw no one inside! "CRAP, WHERE ARE THEY NOW?! EDWARD, ALPHONSE, WHERE ARE YOU?!" Sora looked around the office and to his surprise; he found a rope made of curtains, leading down a window…

Sora looked at the rope and said, "They…escaped, but why would they-?!" Sora suddenly remembered, "Lab 5, that HAS to be where they went!" Sora grabbed the map and rushed out of the room!

(poke)

(CLICK)

"Get back into the office."

Sora walked backwards as a gunner pushed him in. As they came inside, the ceiling light gave Sora a better view of the gun wielder…

"…Kairi?"

Kairi closed the door, and then turned towards him…with red, cat eyes! A feeling of terror slid down Sora's spine as the girl looked into his eyes and said, "…S-Sora…" Just then, Sora noticed blood stains on Kairi's hands and left cheek…

"(gulp) Kairi…d-did you-…did you just kill the guards?!" Sora asked. Kairi slowly walked towards him, and gently touched his cheek while whispering, "…every…last…one. You should've heard them scream." Kairi suddenly kicked Sora against a wall and attempted to finish him with a quick punch!

(BRA-KOOOOOOOOOOOM)

Sora however, was quick to dodge! Kairi pulled her hand out of the wall and said, "(tee-hee) Why are you walking away, 'FRIEND'?!" Kairi kicked Sora again, and then Sora managed to dodge her next kick! Kairi continued, "We know each other SO WELL already, it's like we belong together!" Kairi lunged towards her prey, but was caught off-guard by Sora's martial arts training as he kicked her back, grabbed her leg, and chucked her out the window!

(CRASH)

Sora took this opportunity to leave the office and head down the main hall, which was filled with dying and dead soldiers! Blood stains decorated the walls and the floor, so much in fact that Sora began to feel sick and faint…

"N-NO…need…to keep…going…for the Elrics' sake!" Sora said as he rushed towards the exit.

But before he could leave, Kairi kicked him back inside! Kairi walked in and asked, "Since when do you run from a battle? Are you REALLY so worried about your friends? (sigh) And here I thought we were friends." Sora tried keeping his head in the game, but Kairi simply slapped him back down!

"I know what you're afraid of…I know you have Hemophobia, Sora. I know…you have a fear of blood."

Kairi then grabbed his wrists and held him down. Sora clenched his fist and said, "I'm not like before…I know my memories were erased…this feeling of awareness means I can remember." Just then, Sora kicked Kairi away and said, "They're faint, but they were still there. Memories of people who can do things normal humans couldn't. I remembered her nails when she tried to assassinate me-!" Kairi slugged Sora, and kicked him through a bookcase!

(BRAK-CRASH)

Kairi then took out one of her guns and attempted to shoot him, luckily, Sora dodged the bullets as they flew while saying, "I remember his tongue hanging out while trying to eat me!" Kairi suddenly ran out of bullets, so she grabbed the next gun, but before she could use it, Sora grabbed it and said, "I also remember fighting a girl who claimed to be my friend!" Kairi furiously head-butted him and kicked him away! As she did, Kairi unleashed even more attacks, so much that Sora couldn't see what was coming!

Kairi then ended her assault by morphing her arm into something huge and beastly, and then she used the beastly hand of hers to smack Sora through 4 more bookshelves!

(CRASH-CRASH-CRASH-CRASH)

Kairi started taking a few deep breaths before walking towards an enormous amount of dust, covering whatever was left of Sora…

"Kairi…you were that childhood friend."

Kairi then said, "YOU REALLY BELIEVED THAT?! HA, WHAT AN IDIOT! Can't you see I was playing with your feelings, 'friend'?! Your actual friends are gone, leaving you along to face the truth while they unknowingly do our bidding…and make the Philosopher Stone!" Just then, a flash of light came from the cloud of dust, and then Sora said, "Before I save them, I have to know, what 'truth' are you talking about?" Kairi answered, "What are you, stupid?! We were NEVER childhood friends, I NEVER cared about you, and I NEVER wanted to know a slave like you! The only time I've ever been happy with you is when I'm either listening in on your secrets, or attacking you with the intention of killing you!"

"You're lying." Sora said. Kairi shook her head, pointed her gun, and said, "This was the most fun I could ever have, being honest with a moron like you, and breaking your fragile human heart…If I could do it all over again, I would-!"

"Help me save them, please?" Sora's words disturbed the Homunculus, but Kairi said, "Take the hint, I don't CARE about you or the alchemy brats!"

Sora tried one more time to reason with her, "Kairi…this isn't you. This wasn't the same Kairi who wanted to restore a friendship I forgot. This isn't the same Kairi who spared Alphonse's life after he gave you advice. And this wasn't the same Kairi who had a grandmother…a grandmother I saw, which made you happy. You somehow felt like I was coming back to you, that I was starting to remember. Tell me once and for all, WHO ARE YOU?!"

The dust began to clear, giving Kairi a better view of Sora, so she pointed her gun at him and said, "Call me…Wrath."

(BLAM)

The room was silent…

Sora then noticed he wasn't shot anywhere on his body…

"You bitch…" Kairi said.

Sora looked at the gunner and noticed her hand was pushing the other hand (which had the gun) away from him! Sora was confused, so he asked, "Are you…struggling?"

(WHACK)

Sora suddenly went down, to Kairi's surprise! Behind Sora, Kairi noticed Envy standing there, with a disappointed look on his face. Envy then asked, "You're weaker than I thought. I knew we should've purged the girl, then inserted you in, but NOOOOO, our father and Lust wanted this, he wanted the easy way and not-!"

"Be quiet Envy." Lust said as she and Gluttony entered the library. Lust kicked Sora to the side to see his unconscious face, she then said, "Wrath did her job…so now we have our 'bargaining chip'. Take him, Gluttony." As Gluttony picked Sora up and carried him away, Kairi had a tear come down her face…

"…S-Sora…"

End of Chapter 131