Rubble. Rubble was everywhere. The once brilliant and colorful town that gleamed with life was now nothing more than rubble and decaying buildings. And the corpses... god how you hated the corpses. The Ishvalen men, women, and even the children all shared the same fate.

???: Oi (L/n)!

You could care less about who spoke to you. What was the point in listening if it was just going to be more slaughter? How could you return home to your parents and younger siblings with your hands coated in the blood of so many innocents? 

???: I'm talking to you, Sergeant!

A hand gripped your shoulder and forcibly drew your attention away from the massacre. Your gaze met the cold one of the Lieutenant. You didn't care about his name considering almost every day you slap a transfer paper on his desk only to get denied.

Lieutenant: Those alchemists have arrived and I need you to lead the men back to camp.

(Y/n): Wait we're done, sir?

Lieutenant: Those pests have kept us held back for weeks, but now the alchemists are here to change that. Lead the men back and get them fed and rested. Our job might be done now, but there's always something to do during wartime.

 You simply nodded and adjusted the rifle on your back. You had easily gotten used to the weight of the rifle and satchels, but you weren't ready for the weight of the guilt. The guilt of having abided by while so many were slaughtered. Some by your own hands. 

???: Sergeant (L/n), sir?

You shook your head slightly as you looked up to see your legs had moved on their own. You and what was left of your unit of riflemen trudged back towards camp.

(Y/n): What is it private?

Private: How much longer do you think we'll be here?

???: Hopefully not long considering those alchemists fellas showed up.

Private: Yeah! Those alchemists will mop the floor with those Ishvalens and we'll be home in time for Christmas! 

(Y/n): Those alchemists are weapons in human form. To have your body augmented in such a way boggles my mind and for what? bloodshed?

Private: Do you not like the alchemists' sir?

(Y/n): I guess I just prefer traditional warfare. We could have easily have won with the rifles on our backs and the courage in our hearts, but no this government of ours sends in the human weapons to clean it up for us.

???: If it gets us home faster I could care less about how they take out those pests.

You could hear some of the men in the unit agree. It surprised you. You were a proud patriotic Amestrian yourself, but this... this was meaningless slaughter. And alchemists? Why did Bradley need to involve them in a military affair? Sure they were effective combat units, but didn't he trust his fighting men and women? The camp came into view cutting you off from your little debate in your head. The rest of your unit pushed forward quickly, presumably to fill their stomachs or nap after a long day in the heat. Adjusting the cap on your head, you walked into the camp watching the men dig into their meals or others playing card games till their turn out in the town came. You reached the barracks and laid your rifle down before sitting down on the bed and resting your interlocked hands between your knees, your head hanging low.

???: Sir?

You sighed. Not even a moment of peace, huh? You looked up with a blank stare to see a private practically shaking in his boots.

(Y/n): What?

Private: W-W-Well sir I was wondering i-if you could w-watch the prisoners f-for tonight...

(Y/n): Awfully brave to be asking a superior that private. Why?

Private: The L-Lieutenant has kept m-me on the watch for days. I-I'm r-really hungry sir.

You looked the boy up and down before nodding slowly.

(Y/n): Get yourself some food private.

Your gaze drifted to the rapidly darkening sky.

(Y/n): It's almost curfew.

Private: Y-Yes sir! Thank you, Sargent (L/n)!

The private hastily set the keys in your waiting palm and dashed off to join his comrades in the mess hall. You felt the aches and pains of the past few days as you rose to your feet. You stretch your arms before making your way to one of the few buildings in the camp. Everything in the camp was in tents from the barracks you resided in the mess hall the men ate at. There were only two buildings. The one was the higher-ups and now alchemists resided and the building holding the prisoners set for execution the next day. The door of the prisoner building swung open easily with a creak letting in the low light into the cells. Alerting and waking the Ishvalan's to your presence.  Stepping inside you got the usual looks of hatred or pure despair, but one caught your attention. It still had the same look of pure hatred, but there was a... how could you put this... a beautiful defiance? She was about your age, seventeen or eighteen, tan skin, stunning white locks of hair falling past her shoulders, and scarlet eyes. She looked like any other Ishavalan you had seen up to that point, but her eyes held something that truly captivated you.

(Y/n): You're a leader aren't you?

She looked truly shocked. How could you tell? She seemed pretty well hidden. Immediately others jumped claiming to be the true ringleader of the resistance cell. From young burly men to the most comical being a blind old woman. With a wave of the hand, they were silenced as she stood up and approached the bars.

???: How did you figure it out?

(Y/n): My Lieutenant use to have the same look before we got here. Before all of this slaughter began.

???: You call it slaughter? Many of your men who watch us claim it to be rightful extermination.

(Y/n): I don't have a bloodlust or appetite for war like my compatriots.

You pulled up a chair and sat down facing the Ishavalan girl. 

(Y/n): I was conscripted and thrown into a disorganized mess of troops that called ourselves riflemen.

???: And you blindly follow orders? 

(Y/n): I'm the Sergeant. It's either listen to orders and maintain control or lose my position and every hour you Ishavalans would be lined up against a wall. Now neither of us want that.

The girl grew silent. She knew you spoke the truth but she was still upset. How couldn't she be? You participated in the slaughter of her people. After a brief pause, she finally spoke in that silky and soft voice of hers.

???: What is your name?

(Y/n): You can call me (Y/n). My last name is classified. Now that I told you mine it's only fair I learn yours, right?

She stared you down for a moment before speaking.

Angela: You can call me Angela. My last name is classified.

You cracked a smirk at her temperament. You stuck your hand through the bars and offered her a handshake. She looked at you suspiciously and some other the others even looked ready to pounce, but eventually, she hesitantly took your hand. For such a feisty girl she had soft hands.

With that, the two of you spoke for hours. Talking about family and friends to what you had been doing before the war. The sneaky girl almost even got you to spill military secrets. Orange light began to fill the window at the far end of the building. Your heart sank and filled your chest with guilt as you knew what happened to Ishvalans every morning.

(Y/n): I have to be leaving Angela. Its b-

Angela: Don't leave.

She honestly looked scared. The fierce girl was terrified. She must have known what happens to her people that leave and don't come back.

(Y/n): It isn't my place to decide.

Angela: You are the Sergeant right?! You can get them to stop!

(Y/n): I'm just a private with a fancy badge.

Angela and her people were slowly losing hope until a glint caught her eye.

Angela: The keys... You can let us out! You can save us!

(Y/n): Do you think I'm that stupid?

You unhooked the keys and let them jingle in your hand. On the outside, you remained stoic, but on the interior, you were a jumbled mess. You did the one thing you shouldn't do in war. You humanized the enemy. You learned their past and about their families and now you struggled morally. But... she wasn't an enemy. They weren't enemies. Ishval was not your enemy! The jingle of keys stopped in your hands as you glanced at the bars and the window at the end of the building. But these were your orders! You listened to them or you were a traitor to your country! What would your family do? How would your parents react to hear their son became a traitor? With a quick intake of breath, you tried to calm the emotions raging inside you and decided...

To open the cell.

You unlocked it and threw open the door moving along to the other cells of the people you had grown to know over these past few hours. Angela still held a look of anger but gave you a quick hug.

Angela: We will never forget this... I will never forget this.

(Y/n): I've probably just made the worst choice possible, but it's too late for me. Go to the window and open it. There is a small drop and a ravine at the end. Follow it west and you should make it out of the city without the guards noticing. 

The Ishvalan's raced to follow your instructions as one by one they climbed out of the window and slid down into the ravine. You began to help Angela through the window when you heard the familiar creak of a metallic door and the cock of a gun. You didn't bother to turn around as you knew what was happening.

Lieutenant: I'm not surprised (L/n). You and I never saw eye to eye and you fought me on every decision since I promoted you. I knew if anyone would turn traitor it would be you. 

You heard several more people file into the room as rifles were loaded.

Lieutenant: This is what's going to happen. If you want any chance to redeem your military career you will take that pistol of yours and put that pest down right here right now.

You reached slowly for your handgun which you didn't know the Lieutenant had known about and lifted it up. You looked down at the firearm and inspected it's barrel and grip as well as it's factory number. You turned and looked up, staring at the group of riflemen and the Lieutenant as well as the few other figures who joined him. 

(Y/n): Even brought along your alchemist friends huh? My parents taught me a lot of things growing up. One lesson my father taught me in particular really sits with me right now.

One of the figures raised a scoped rifle and aimed it at you. Even under her hood, you could see her blonde hair and brown eyes. No alchemist, but clearly skilled. Which is what made what you were about to do a lot harder.

(Y/n): Being the librarian he was my father told me... never leAVE A GOOD BOOK UNFINISHED!!!

You raised the pistol and only managed to fire it once before the female sniper blew a hole in your hand. The bullet tore through the Lieutenants cheek as he stumbled backward. Things seemed to slow down. It seemed as if time itself wanted to savor the moment as the riflemen opened fired and a wave of flames rushed at you. The ground shook as you turned on a heel and shoved Angela the rest of the way through the window. Then bullets ripped through your shoulder and calf. Others flew past as another got a good hit into your hip. The flames licked at your back as you felt your flesh and clothes cook and your knees buckled under the shake of the ground. Using all the strength you hand left in your undamaged arm you tried to pull yourself through the window, but you made the mistake of looking back. Flames singed your pupils as your eyes sight turned hazy and then completely blurry as your cornea seemingly melted under the intense heat. However, your strength still prevailed as you managed to throw yourself out of the window and then tumble down into the ravine. Your back instantly cooling as it hit the water, but your body could barely function by this point.

???: -ve him!

???: He saved-!

You tried to reach up into the blur, but a tanned hand took yours as others lifted you up. The pain was excruciating, but you felt so sleepy. Just so sleepy. All the aches and pains were finally gone and now you could relax... Your eyes closed as you were carried off down the ravine.

A/n: There you have it folks I did my best and I hope you like it. If you enjoyed od leave a comment and you folks have yourselves a good night/good morning/ good evening!