And their world changes...

[plant_alchemist]

There had been an earthquake weeks earlier. It had frightened the citizens of Central and had been talked about for days. But it was mostly agreed that something like that wouldn't happen again for a very long time

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[notashortbean]

Ed's on the move through Central, dodging various pieces of debris and building as they fall apart around him. It's easier to adjust to the new weight and stability of the automail than he thought it would be, and he's glad for it - he needs to be in the best condition possible if he wants to make something better out of this fucking dire situation.

His eyes are on the sky as he moves, and he's calculating quickly in his head how to get up to one of the airships. Once he gets up there, he can get closer to his goal, but it's a matter of getting from here to there. It's a wonder that he's not tripped over anything yet, but he has damn good reflexes. They'd only fail him if he let himself stop to think about the fact that this is his home breaking to pieces, and how much danger everything is in.

But he's here to prevent it, not think about it, and if he stopped to do so, he might break. So there he is. Dodge, dodge, stare. Dodge, dodge, stare. Think. Think. A large piece of building falls and nearly hits him on the head - he claps his

[plant_alchemist]

Russell is a few blocks away from where he used to live, from where he had been forced to watch his home collapse upon itself. He had tried to stabilize the walls, but the vines hadn't held and he'd had to stop Fletcher from running inside to find the cat.

Then there had been the people running away from one direction, shouting about large objects in the air. Screaming, crying. And it can't just be a coincidence that this is all happening only a short time after his meeting in the church. When the door to the lost city was opened again.

He's trying to put that out of his mind right now, as he searches the deserted streets for his brother. He'll have time later to figure out what to do next.

Drawn by the shout, Russell rounds a corner, stumbling over the rubble of a building, thinking that someone is calling out for help.

Russell stops at the sight of blond hair and feels himself staring stupidly because no, it can't be who he thinks it is. Even as much as Russell wants it to be, when did he even get backHe walks forward,

[notashortbean]

"Cowardly bitch," Edward directs towards the sky, his voice carrying loud and far. "Not even man enough to face things directly, you've gotta stay in the air where nobody can reach you!" It's obvious he's frustrated. He's had his automail replaced, he's good to go - but he's not where he needs to be.

He tosses his ponytail over his shoulder as he looks around for ideas, and this directs his vision from the sky to the area around him. He's still adjusting his brain to alchemy again, and he's processing whether he can use it to get himself up there - he's too deep in thought to notice Russ yet, but he's being enough of himself that it can prove that he really is here, can't it?

It's not your imagination, Russ, nor is it an explosion-caused hallucination. Edward Elric is here, and he's pissed.

He even shows it by kicking at some rubble with his metal leg.

[plant_alchemist]

It's as if Ed's yelling has somehow woken Russell from his state of shock so that he picks up his pace - almost running - to close the distance between them.

"Ed how..."

He stops, trying to settle on one question, made more difficult by the many things he wants to say.

"What has been happening?"

It's understandable that this is the first thing he can think of.