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(FMA / GW) The Braid
Title: The Braid
Part: Chapter One – The Sound of One Hand Clapping
Warnings: Gundam Wing x Fullmetal Alchemist Crossover. FMA spoilers through 50, GW spoilers upto but excluding Endless Waltz. Definitively AU for both stories, diverging from points in FMA 50 and GW 49. Pulls in elements from GW manga Episode Zero, but AUs a bit of it. Heavily Ed and Duo centric. *Heavily*. However, this is also non-slash.
Pairings: None, except those in the canon of the series, and even then only unobtrusively so. This is so *not* a romance story.
Words: 4843
“All right!” Edward Elric said, rising to his feet. “Here we go!”
Four months had passed since that dark and stormy night when the Elric brothers had gathered their materials and made an attempt at transmuting their mother. Four months since they had arrived at Pinako Rockbell’s doorstep, Alphonse’s body gone and Ed’s in tattered pieces. Four months since it first became obvious just how terrible an idea it had been to let the two wander their road freely. Pinako was not sure she would ever forgive herself for allowing the two of them to go and learn alchemy when she knew that Ed had considered this possibility. Still, there was nothing that could be done for it now.
The road to recovery had been a long one for the diminutive blond. Dealing with an amputation wasn’t an easy thing for anyone, but it had been particularly troublesome for one as young and active as Edward. Giving the boy time to do nothing but brood over his troubles certainly hadn’t been on Pinako’s list of preferred options for him, but his convalescence had given her little choice in the matter. The nerves had to heal at least partially before the automail port could be installed. The port needed to be installed for weeks before the automail itself could be attached. During that time, Ed, with only one arm, one leg, and fierce pride that had never been diminished, had not been capable of going anywhere.
It was, the tiny woman reflected, a vast relief to see the boy up and about, looking for all the world as confident as he had the day the Elric brothers had left with Izumi Curtis to train in alchemy. The first few days after the failed transmutation had been the most worrying. Ed had lain nearly motionless, unconscious most of the time, silent and in pain when awake. His eyes had given him away the entire time, though – guilt and sadness filling their far reaching depths to the very bottom. Alphonse had not left his side once, had neither needed nor wanted to do so… which, all things considered, was probably for the best.
Pinako could still remember her own surprise when the boy at last spoke. His first words had been a request for automail, so that he could become a National Alchemist. For a brief moment she had been undeniably tempted to deny him, fearing that even the loss of his limbs and his brother’s body had not gotten across to him the face that such things simply should not be done. But no, some sense remained in the boy. The pipe dream he clung to now worried Pinako in its own way, though. Edward had already proven he was quite literally willing to give his right arm for his brother. Alphonse would never survive on his own if Ed ever found a way to do what she had no doubts that he planned.
Still, better for Ed to dream, Pinako thought as she watched him testing his new leg and arm. Dreaming impossible dreams would keep him alive long enough to gather more realistic hopes for his future. For the moment, that was enough.
“Are you ready, Al?” Ed asked as he allowed his weight to rest fully on his new leg. A cheerful grin lit his face for the first time in several weeks. The years that had grown on him during his convalescence faded a bit in the brilliant sunlight of that fair fall morning. The giant suit of armor nodded.
“Are you sure this is okay, brother?” Al said. The younger boy turned towards Pinako, the question of his voice echoing as best it could in the armor’s face. She said nothing, merely took a drag from her pipe. “Don’t you want to get used to your automail first?”
“Nah.” Ed answered. He glanced away momentarily as his brother spoke, then looked back with a smile covering his feature. “Besides, you remember what Sensei always taught us.”
“Yes.” Alphonse replied, but his voice remained softer than it might otherwise have been. Ed frowned for a moment before lightly tossing his head.
“C’mon Al!” He said brazenly, putting his hands on his hips as he straightened his shoulders and let his chest puff out slightly. “Even with my automail I shouldn’t beat you too badly.”
“Brother!” Alphonse exclaimed, his voice rising in what could almost have been called a squeal. The corners of Ed’s mouth quirked into something that bore a vague resemblance to a smile. What difference did it make, though? Nothing had been quite real since mother… Ed shook his head.
“Let’s go!” He said, and steeled himself for the first exchange of blows. It would be interesting to see how he faired against Al now. He took a running leap at the suit of armor before him. Armor, god, armor with his brother’s voice and soul attached to it.
The skirmish between the two brothers did not last as long as it once might have. Illness had already diminished Ed’s physical strength. This, combined with Alphonse’s sudden expansion of skill therein, could not have resulted in any other situation. Still… Al worried slightly. Ed’s moves, which had started off smooth and flowing as was their wont, had quickly lost the tight sense of control that the now long haired boy had.
Alphonse watched the loose beams of golden sunshine as they chased after his brother’s head when the older boy turned toward him after a flip. That long hair was yet another reminder of what they had lost, of that which was gone. Alphonse and Edward had cut each other’s hair from the time their mother was too ill to do so. Since that night, Al had only attempted cutting Ed’s hair once. His hands, though, nothing more than metal, were too large, too rough for a task as fine as hair cutting. Consequently, the one cut he had made had left Ed with a jarring set of bangs, poorly angled and clearly not the same length as the rest of his hair. Still, Ed had steadfastly refused to let anyone else touch his hair, claiming that he would simply where it long until Al was restored to normal and could take care of it for him once more.
Ed launched a flying kick at Al’s helmet, hair fanning out behind him. It landed. Ed watched, his expression faintly askew, as Al’s head detached itself, sailing through the air and away from its body. He came to a complete standstill, face cast towards the ground. His back went ramrod straight as the steel of his right hand clenched tightly upon itself.
“Here, Al.” He said as he walked towards it, slowly and stiffly. “Let me get it.”
“Brother…” Alphonse replied, his voice trailing towards the end. The word was softer now, quieter somehow. Ed studiously avoided glancing at the eyes of helm as he retrieved it from the ground and carefully replaced it on the suit of armor. A faint hint of entreaty entered his voice as he repeated, “Brother…”
The smaller being turned his head, allowing wispy strands of corn to block his rust colored eyes from view. The usual golden hue had been dimmed by a core of sadness too strong to be ever completely covered from the world. The rigidity of the boy’s frame held itself tight.
Metal met flesh as Alphonse’s large hand came to rest upon his brother’s arm. Ed glanced up, confusion flashing momentarily across his face before being erased as quickly as it had come. Alphonse held his elder brother’s gaze as long as he could, struggling to convey all that was within him. Ed focused only for a few seconds before he turned his back to the one who knew him best.
“I think that’s enough for today.” Ed remarked, throwing his hands behind his head. “Man, you sure are strong. Much stronger than you used to be. It’s gonna be harder for me to beat you now. Geez.”
Ed started to walk towards the house, never once looking back at the solemn suit of armor that held his brother’s soul. Alphonse watched him go, never once stepping after the now much shorter boy. He had been so excited by the idea that he might someday be the tallest in the family… Alphonse rather supposed that just went to show where wishes got you. Even at that, he found himself wishing his brother would turn to face him. Lessons, it seemed were not something either boy learned easily.
“Hey, Al!” Ed called, glancing quickly over his shoulder after he realized that Alphonse was not clanking after him. He directed his gaze at the river about five meters to the left of Al’s head. “Aren’t you coming?”
“Hm?” Al responded, his voice lilting up in a questioning manner. Then he shook himself slightly, before nodding distractedly. “Oh… yes! Coming!”
Alphonse followed in his older brother’s wake, jogging a bit to catch up before slowing his pace to allow Ed to remain in control of their destination. As Alphonse came up behind his brother, Ed clapped his hands. There was a slight ringing echo that followed in the motion’s aftermath.
“I can’t wait till dinner! Hey, Auntie Pinako –“ Ed began. However, his voice came to an abrupt halt as he brought his hands back to rest against his sides. For a moment there was a steady, horrible silence. Ed’s eyes dimmed slowly. His body, no longer held upright by its owner, began to slowly tilt backwards limply.
“Brother!” Alphonse exclaimed, rushing forward to catch the small body in his own gigantic hands. Winry poked her head briefly out an upper window, then jolted away. Pinako, for her part, rushed forwards. “Brother!”
Ed’s eyes glazed over and stared motionlessly at the sky.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
“What…?” Ed began, groaning in pain as he blinked his eyes open slowly. Above him, the sky showed itself a steely cold gray. Beneath him, the ground felt rough, chill and harsh despite the day’s warmth. The blond propped himself up on one elbow, steadying himself as he lifted his other hand to rub at his temples. Damn, Winry must be better at automail then he had thought to have outfitted him with something that allowed him to feel the cold concrete beneath him. He glanced at his new arm.
“What…?” Ed repeated, shock and wonder creeping into his tone. He stared at the flesh and blood arm that was attached naturally to his shoulder as with a gasp he drew his weight off it and sat straight up. “What the…?”
The blond marveled at it for a long moment. He was stiff, yes, of course he was stiff – he had apparently been sleeping on the ground – but aside from that… Quickly, he reached down and pulled up the left side of his black pants. There, as real and solid as the arm, was an honest to goodness human leg. Slowly, as though afraid that either would break or vanish, Ed brought the flesh of the two into contact.
Aside from a light sense of pressure, nothing happened. They were real.
“Hey, Al!” Ed exclaimed excitedly, jumping to his feet. “Al! Where are you?”
The boy looked around himself eagerly, trying to ascertain his brother’s location. His glance cast itself first left, then right, then left again. Carefully he began to peer around the assorted crates that he had fallen asleep near. Listening carefully, Ed strove to hear his brother betray his hiding place either by a giggle or small motion. The clinking of his armored body would never quite manage to seem quiet. Perhaps though… if his arm was flesh…
“Al!” Ed called, louder now. He began to throw the lighter objects from side to side, the crates moving easily. Slowly, then faster, he tossed them to the different sides of the alley. Where…? “Al!”
“Hey kid, knock it off, will ya?” A voice called. Ed spun around to face the wall behind him, noticing for the first time that it had a doorway on it. Standing in the entrance way was a tall shopkeeper, his hand wrapped firmly around the handle of a long broom. He glared disapprovingly down at Ed, his short brown hair falling into his face as he did so.
“Who…?” Ed began, letting the crate he’d been about to toss slip gently to the ground. The man glanced about the alley way at the scattered crates which had once been piled neatly. The faintest hint of rose tinged Ed’s cheeks. “Ah, sorry about those, mister.”
“Listen, kid,” The man replied, eyes still narrowed at the boy before him. “I don’t care if you wanna sleep out here. Wouldn’t be my first choice, but you’re off the main drag and won’t be scaring my customers away if you do. If you’re gonna mess with my stuff, though…”
“Sleep here?” Ed asked, ignoring the warning as the man’s voice trailed off ominously. “Why would I…?”
The man shook his head before studying Ed, carefully looking him over. Ed’s eyes followed the man’s gaze, taking in his tattered apparel. The shirt he wore was clearly dirty, the pants ripped at the knees. His shoes had clearly seen better days, that could not be denied. Never before had he looked so unkempt to his own eyes, not even right after mother… but no, that wasn’t the point.
“Look.” The shopkeeper said. Ed’s head whipped back to the man. The lines around the man’s brown eyes were softer, less tightly held together than they had been. He waited to be sure he had Ed’s attention before continuing. “Look,” he repeated, “I know you’re not a bad kid. I know life isn’t easy for any of you orphans, and while I don’t really understand why you won’t go to one of the orphanages and get some help, I don’t mind that you prefer to stay here. I can’t let you stay here if you make a commotion like this, though.”
“Have you seen my brother?” Ed asked, pleased that someone at least seemed to know what was happening.
“Brother?” The man repeated, his voice lifting in confusion. He shook his head. “Are you feeling all right, kid? I’ve known you a good two years now, and if you have a brother, I’ve never seen him.”
“You’ve never…” Ed’s eyes widened. He glanced down again at his body. Orphans… Without his notice or permission, the whisper escaped. “Al…”
Without answering the questions clear in the shopkeeper’s winded gaze, Ed stumbled carelessly towards the exit of the alley. Al… Al wasn’t here… Life isn’t easy for any of you orphans… Where…?
“Kid, are you sure you’re all right?” The shopkeeper asked. Ed ignored him, wandering unsteadily away. “Kid! Hey kid!”
The man watched as the boy wobbled from the alley, never once looking back. With a shrug and a sigh, he turned and went back into the building. Maybe tonight he could offer the boy any leftovers they had, just to make sure he got a good meal. He’d seemed paler than usual after all. Resolving not to let it bother him, the shopkeeper returned to his usual daily activities.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
How long he wandered aimlessly through the streets of the unfamiliar town, Ed couldn’t say. He ambled from street to street, pulled by the drift of the crowd without ever once choosing a destination. Truthfully, he didn’t know where to go… What had happened? Where was Al?
“Watch where you’re going, shorty!” A tall businessman shouted at him as they collided. Ed looked at him for a moment, blinked twice. The man gave him an irritated sigh before pushing past him. “Little brat.”
Ed stared after the disappearing gray suit, eyes wide. The crowd closed between them, and still Ed didn’t move. For a moment the crowd flowed around him as people tried to be polite, but it wasn’t long before people were again bumping into him, jostling Ed this way and that. At last, the blond boy was shoved hard enough that he stumbled forward, allowing his momentum to carry him forward as he began walking again.
A bit later, Ed found himself no longer caught in the rush of people. He paused for a moment, blinking several times, before realizing that he stood in a park of sorts. A set of children’s swings was situated across the way, as well as a slide and several benches. For lack of a better idea, he wandered over towards a bench and sat, allowing his head to drop back so that he was staring up at the sky. Far above him, the light of day had begun at last to dim.
What had happened…? Al and I were just practicing like usual… and then… How could I have come to be here? Where could Al be? Ed stared blankly at the sky, which neither offered nor asked him anything. Instead, the newly arrived stars merely twinkled merrily, harmless but silent. I walked towards Auntie Pinako, and was going to ask her about dinner. I clapped, and then…
Edward struggled to prevent himself from calling out in pain as images dashed haphazardly across his memory. The gate… He remembered that gate. How could he ever forget it, forget that horrible night? Its imposing structure had etched itself onto the very fiber of his being, the eye of its center gazing endlessly back at him. The gate… The gate had opened! Even Ed, stoic as he was, could not stifle the gasp that slipped from him with that realization.
Is this the other side of the gate? Ed wondered as he looked back down at his hands. Did that explain the mystery? Had that… thing decided that his arm and his leg weren’t payment enough? He could recall all too clearly the sense of being somehow crushed or compacted, of being tossed and thrown from side to side… and finally of colliding with the very body from which he now found himself seeing the world. How do I get back?
Ed focused his gaze on his hands. A memory drifted across his mind of a shrewish woman with a violent temper. Sensei… She had done alchemy without the use of a transmutation circle… by clapping. Was that what had caused this new reaction? Could he just clap himself back to the other side of the gate, and wake up with Al, and Winry, and Auntie Pinako there, as though nothing had happened… Slowly, he brought his hands up, and swung them towards one another.
No! The mental exclamation was harsh and unbending. Ed’s hands froze in mid air, merely fractions of an inch apart. Slowly, they lowered to his sides. He had no way of knowing what would happen, had no way of offering the gate its toll this time. It had already taken what he held most valuable from him, surely getting that back wouldn’t be easy. And Al… Al still needs me to get his body back, like I promised I would.
Ed’s left hand gripped the right one, ascertaining once more that there really wasn’t an automail there. He gazed up once more at the sky, staring into the vast horizon of space. The night had been clear, but clouds were starting to form on the horizon. Ed sighed, his brow furrowing. A night in the rain…
“What is that?!” Ed exclaimed loudly, jumping to his feet as something passed overhead. High above him, in amongst the clouds, floated a definitively man made object. Ed scrambled onto the bench, straining his neck in an effort to get a closer look at the strange craft.
“Hey, Kid, look out!” A voice shouted at him moments before a ball collided with his right arm. The pain was oddly reassuring. Jarred from his thoughts yet again, Ed turned towards the newest interruption into his day. Before him stood a man with relatively short, light brown hair and crystal blue eyes. His clothing was all in black, and around his neck hung a symbol of sorts that looked like a lower case t.
“What?” Ed remarked, glaring down at the man. The corners of his mouth quirked in silent amusement for a moment, before disappearing as Ed carefully considered the person before him. He looked rather like a priest… but perhaps he would know what those things had been anyway. Still… Without compromising his dignity, Ed jumped gracefully to the ground.
“Sorry about that, are you all right?” The man asked quickly.
“Yeah, I’m fine.” Ed replied. He looked the… priest over once more, than turned his face skywards again. The man beside him looked at him intently for a moment, than allowed his own eyes to follow Ed’s gaze.
“Beautiful, aren’t they?” He queried. Ed quirked an eyebrow and glanced at him for a moment before looking sharply towards the ship. He edged slightly to his left, putting a bit more distance between himself and the man, who seemed not to notice. “The stars always seem to twinkle more brightly just before a weather cycle.”
“Weather cycle?” The question escaped before Ed had a chance to quash it. He cursed his native curiosity as the man gave him an unusual look.
“Are you all right, kid?” The man asked, his brows furrowing together as a tiny frown appeared on his face. “It’s just a weather cycle, you know, where it rains for a bit to make sure the vegetation on the colony continues to grow properly.”
“Colony?” Ed’s features became stormy for a moment before he schooled them into a semblance of normalcy and glanced skyward, pretending not to have spoken at all. The man took a step towards him, reaching out his arm.
“Yes, Colony L2. Is something the matter?” The man paused before continuing, “You didn’t think we were on Earth, did you?”
A quiet gasp resounded in the night air as Ed’s face shifted swiftly to shock before being carefully schooled again. The priest tilted his head to look at the shorter boy for a moment, nodded once, then glanced back to the stars. Ed resolutely focused his gaze on the heavens, even as the clouds began to obscure the stars from view.
“Listen kid, you want a bit of free advice?” The man asked patiently, his gaze never flickering towards the child that stood at his side. “Wherever you’re from, wherever you’re going doesn’t matter right now. L2 can be a dangerous place if you’re not careful, shorty.”
“Who are you calling too short to take care of himself?!” Ed said, turning immediately to glare at the man with all his might, shouting at the top of his voice. For a moment he began to swing his arms at the man... His left fist went forward in an upper cut motion, as such things tend to do when swung. Ed’s face flickered with surprise again for a brief moment, before he withdrew the arm and crossed it with its mate in front of his chest. He stood stock still for a moment, the said calmly, “I can take care of myself.”
“I don’t doubt that you can.” The priest said, throwing his hands up in a no harm no foul sort of gesture. Ed glared at him ceaselessly for a moment, before looking up once more. The contraption could still be seen at a distance, its lights flickering more and more. The man in the black outfit seemed to consider topics of conversation for a moment before remarking, “Are you a fan of space travel?”
“I wouldn’t know.” The blond boy replied, refusing to look at the man again. He continued, “I’ve never done it.”
“Really?” The man replied. His voice had a bit of a lilt to it, not quite disbelieving but at the same time acknowledging that what was said might not have been the whole truth. “Listen – “
The man took another step closer to Ed, who instinctively jerked from his reach. The boy looked at the priest standing before him, then glanced again at the sky. He turned his head back towards the street, looked at the priest once more, and then took off down the road.
“Kid!” The man called running after him as the heavens opened. “Hey, c’mon, don’t be like that!”
Ed dashed back down the streets he barely remember, going this way and that. Once his pursuer had been successfully shaken, he slowed to a walk. As he wandered idly, Ed eventually noticed he was in an area that looked vaguely familiar. A quick glance down an alley assured him that he was indeed in the right place.
The blond boy walked into the alley, then seated himself in the protective overhang of the doorway. The rain fell just so, narrowly avoiding the small boy in his hideaway. Ed shifted slowly from side to side restlessly for a few minutes before settling at last, his head tilted back against the doorway, body turned inward.
“Here.” A voice said as the door opened, Ed falling in with it. The man from earlier that day stood looking down at him. In his hands, he held a bowl of soup with steam still rising from it. He stuck the bowl in Ed’s hands, and watched as Ed stared at it. “We had extra.” The man continued in an easy going manner. “If you don’t drink it, we’ll have to throw it away.”
“Thanks.” Ed said, smiling slightly at the man towering above him. He sipped the soup slowly, allowing it’s warmth to seep through the bones that he had not as yet even noticed the cold controlled. After all, Ed reflected, it counts as equivalent trade if by drinking the soup I spare them the effort it would take to get rid of it.
When he was finished, the shopkeeper took the bowl back from him, and shut the door. He did not offer any form of garb to keep the chill from returning, seemingly aware of the fact that it would be rejected instantly. Ed nodded in satisfaction – equivalent trade. He curled against the door once more and fell asleep.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
“Kip Kierland, you get back here!” A cheerful voice shouted with mock anger. The owner of the voice, a tall woman with grey eyes and long brown hair bound tight in a braid, leaned carefully into the rain. “Kip, come back!”
“But Sister Helen!” A tiny ball of energy dressed in jeans and a warm blue pullover turned around for a mere moment before bouncing further into the wet weather. “Sister Helen, there won’t be another storm for weeks! I gots to enjoy this one while it’s here, right?”
“Kip, really, I don’t think –“ She began. However, the rest of her thought was cut off the distant appearance of a lone figure walking back towards the house whose doorway Sister Helen occupied. The woman bit her lip for a moment, then turned and went inside, calling as she did, “Kip, come now, or else you can explain to Father Jacob why you’re all wet.
“Thanks Sister Helen!” The boy, as the ball of energy now revealed itself to be a child, flashed a toothy grin in the woman’s direction before proceeding to jump into a nearby puddle. He continued in that manner for some time, leaping from one puddle to the next, making the biggest splash possible each time.
Slowly, steadily, the man walked down the road to the house. The house itself was fairly non-descript, its white paint and blue shutters truly nothing to remark upon, save if one wished to comment on their current state of semi-disrepair. Around it stood a wrought iron fence, a mere three feet tall with a gate that latched at the tip top. Beside it to one side was a church, rather old but nevertheless serviceable. To the other side was a graveyard. A basic plague over the door read in simple, black lettering, “Maxwell Orphanage”.
“Guess what, Father Jacob, guess what?” The small boy exclaimed, violet eyes flashing with delight as the man at last entered the gate. Kip rushed into Father Jacob’s waiting arms as the man bent down to scoop him up. He grinned widely with delight as the man placed him gently on his shoulder before proceeding to the door.
“What, Kip?” The man replied, smiling at the child. His crystal blue eyes flashed sadly for a moment before returning to joy. Kip, oblivious, threw his arms around the priest’s neck.
“It’s raining!” The boy exclaimed jubilantly. Father Jacob laughed for a moment as he closed the door behind them.
“Why, so it is, Kip.” He replied, a sad smile quirking the corners of his mouth. “Why, so it is.”
Part: Chapter One – The Sound of One Hand Clapping
Warnings: Gundam Wing x Fullmetal Alchemist Crossover. FMA spoilers through 50, GW spoilers upto but excluding Endless Waltz. Definitively AU for both stories, diverging from points in FMA 50 and GW 49. Pulls in elements from GW manga Episode Zero, but AUs a bit of it. Heavily Ed and Duo centric. *Heavily*. However, this is also non-slash.
Pairings: None, except those in the canon of the series, and even then only unobtrusively so. This is so *not* a romance story.
Words: 4843
“All right!” Edward Elric said, rising to his feet. “Here we go!”
Four months had passed since that dark and stormy night when the Elric brothers had gathered their materials and made an attempt at transmuting their mother. Four months since they had arrived at Pinako Rockbell’s doorstep, Alphonse’s body gone and Ed’s in tattered pieces. Four months since it first became obvious just how terrible an idea it had been to let the two wander their road freely. Pinako was not sure she would ever forgive herself for allowing the two of them to go and learn alchemy when she knew that Ed had considered this possibility. Still, there was nothing that could be done for it now.
The road to recovery had been a long one for the diminutive blond. Dealing with an amputation wasn’t an easy thing for anyone, but it had been particularly troublesome for one as young and active as Edward. Giving the boy time to do nothing but brood over his troubles certainly hadn’t been on Pinako’s list of preferred options for him, but his convalescence had given her little choice in the matter. The nerves had to heal at least partially before the automail port could be installed. The port needed to be installed for weeks before the automail itself could be attached. During that time, Ed, with only one arm, one leg, and fierce pride that had never been diminished, had not been capable of going anywhere.
It was, the tiny woman reflected, a vast relief to see the boy up and about, looking for all the world as confident as he had the day the Elric brothers had left with Izumi Curtis to train in alchemy. The first few days after the failed transmutation had been the most worrying. Ed had lain nearly motionless, unconscious most of the time, silent and in pain when awake. His eyes had given him away the entire time, though – guilt and sadness filling their far reaching depths to the very bottom. Alphonse had not left his side once, had neither needed nor wanted to do so… which, all things considered, was probably for the best.
Pinako could still remember her own surprise when the boy at last spoke. His first words had been a request for automail, so that he could become a National Alchemist. For a brief moment she had been undeniably tempted to deny him, fearing that even the loss of his limbs and his brother’s body had not gotten across to him the face that such things simply should not be done. But no, some sense remained in the boy. The pipe dream he clung to now worried Pinako in its own way, though. Edward had already proven he was quite literally willing to give his right arm for his brother. Alphonse would never survive on his own if Ed ever found a way to do what she had no doubts that he planned.
Still, better for Ed to dream, Pinako thought as she watched him testing his new leg and arm. Dreaming impossible dreams would keep him alive long enough to gather more realistic hopes for his future. For the moment, that was enough.
“Are you ready, Al?” Ed asked as he allowed his weight to rest fully on his new leg. A cheerful grin lit his face for the first time in several weeks. The years that had grown on him during his convalescence faded a bit in the brilliant sunlight of that fair fall morning. The giant suit of armor nodded.
“Are you sure this is okay, brother?” Al said. The younger boy turned towards Pinako, the question of his voice echoing as best it could in the armor’s face. She said nothing, merely took a drag from her pipe. “Don’t you want to get used to your automail first?”
“Nah.” Ed answered. He glanced away momentarily as his brother spoke, then looked back with a smile covering his feature. “Besides, you remember what Sensei always taught us.”
“Yes.” Alphonse replied, but his voice remained softer than it might otherwise have been. Ed frowned for a moment before lightly tossing his head.
“C’mon Al!” He said brazenly, putting his hands on his hips as he straightened his shoulders and let his chest puff out slightly. “Even with my automail I shouldn’t beat you too badly.”
“Brother!” Alphonse exclaimed, his voice rising in what could almost have been called a squeal. The corners of Ed’s mouth quirked into something that bore a vague resemblance to a smile. What difference did it make, though? Nothing had been quite real since mother… Ed shook his head.
“Let’s go!” He said, and steeled himself for the first exchange of blows. It would be interesting to see how he faired against Al now. He took a running leap at the suit of armor before him. Armor, god, armor with his brother’s voice and soul attached to it.
The skirmish between the two brothers did not last as long as it once might have. Illness had already diminished Ed’s physical strength. This, combined with Alphonse’s sudden expansion of skill therein, could not have resulted in any other situation. Still… Al worried slightly. Ed’s moves, which had started off smooth and flowing as was their wont, had quickly lost the tight sense of control that the now long haired boy had.
Alphonse watched the loose beams of golden sunshine as they chased after his brother’s head when the older boy turned toward him after a flip. That long hair was yet another reminder of what they had lost, of that which was gone. Alphonse and Edward had cut each other’s hair from the time their mother was too ill to do so. Since that night, Al had only attempted cutting Ed’s hair once. His hands, though, nothing more than metal, were too large, too rough for a task as fine as hair cutting. Consequently, the one cut he had made had left Ed with a jarring set of bangs, poorly angled and clearly not the same length as the rest of his hair. Still, Ed had steadfastly refused to let anyone else touch his hair, claiming that he would simply where it long until Al was restored to normal and could take care of it for him once more.
Ed launched a flying kick at Al’s helmet, hair fanning out behind him. It landed. Ed watched, his expression faintly askew, as Al’s head detached itself, sailing through the air and away from its body. He came to a complete standstill, face cast towards the ground. His back went ramrod straight as the steel of his right hand clenched tightly upon itself.
“Here, Al.” He said as he walked towards it, slowly and stiffly. “Let me get it.”
“Brother…” Alphonse replied, his voice trailing towards the end. The word was softer now, quieter somehow. Ed studiously avoided glancing at the eyes of helm as he retrieved it from the ground and carefully replaced it on the suit of armor. A faint hint of entreaty entered his voice as he repeated, “Brother…”
The smaller being turned his head, allowing wispy strands of corn to block his rust colored eyes from view. The usual golden hue had been dimmed by a core of sadness too strong to be ever completely covered from the world. The rigidity of the boy’s frame held itself tight.
Metal met flesh as Alphonse’s large hand came to rest upon his brother’s arm. Ed glanced up, confusion flashing momentarily across his face before being erased as quickly as it had come. Alphonse held his elder brother’s gaze as long as he could, struggling to convey all that was within him. Ed focused only for a few seconds before he turned his back to the one who knew him best.
“I think that’s enough for today.” Ed remarked, throwing his hands behind his head. “Man, you sure are strong. Much stronger than you used to be. It’s gonna be harder for me to beat you now. Geez.”
Ed started to walk towards the house, never once looking back at the solemn suit of armor that held his brother’s soul. Alphonse watched him go, never once stepping after the now much shorter boy. He had been so excited by the idea that he might someday be the tallest in the family… Alphonse rather supposed that just went to show where wishes got you. Even at that, he found himself wishing his brother would turn to face him. Lessons, it seemed were not something either boy learned easily.
“Hey, Al!” Ed called, glancing quickly over his shoulder after he realized that Alphonse was not clanking after him. He directed his gaze at the river about five meters to the left of Al’s head. “Aren’t you coming?”
“Hm?” Al responded, his voice lilting up in a questioning manner. Then he shook himself slightly, before nodding distractedly. “Oh… yes! Coming!”
Alphonse followed in his older brother’s wake, jogging a bit to catch up before slowing his pace to allow Ed to remain in control of their destination. As Alphonse came up behind his brother, Ed clapped his hands. There was a slight ringing echo that followed in the motion’s aftermath.
“I can’t wait till dinner! Hey, Auntie Pinako –“ Ed began. However, his voice came to an abrupt halt as he brought his hands back to rest against his sides. For a moment there was a steady, horrible silence. Ed’s eyes dimmed slowly. His body, no longer held upright by its owner, began to slowly tilt backwards limply.
“Brother!” Alphonse exclaimed, rushing forward to catch the small body in his own gigantic hands. Winry poked her head briefly out an upper window, then jolted away. Pinako, for her part, rushed forwards. “Brother!”
Ed’s eyes glazed over and stared motionlessly at the sky.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
“What…?” Ed began, groaning in pain as he blinked his eyes open slowly. Above him, the sky showed itself a steely cold gray. Beneath him, the ground felt rough, chill and harsh despite the day’s warmth. The blond propped himself up on one elbow, steadying himself as he lifted his other hand to rub at his temples. Damn, Winry must be better at automail then he had thought to have outfitted him with something that allowed him to feel the cold concrete beneath him. He glanced at his new arm.
“What…?” Ed repeated, shock and wonder creeping into his tone. He stared at the flesh and blood arm that was attached naturally to his shoulder as with a gasp he drew his weight off it and sat straight up. “What the…?”
The blond marveled at it for a long moment. He was stiff, yes, of course he was stiff – he had apparently been sleeping on the ground – but aside from that… Quickly, he reached down and pulled up the left side of his black pants. There, as real and solid as the arm, was an honest to goodness human leg. Slowly, as though afraid that either would break or vanish, Ed brought the flesh of the two into contact.
Aside from a light sense of pressure, nothing happened. They were real.
“Hey, Al!” Ed exclaimed excitedly, jumping to his feet. “Al! Where are you?”
The boy looked around himself eagerly, trying to ascertain his brother’s location. His glance cast itself first left, then right, then left again. Carefully he began to peer around the assorted crates that he had fallen asleep near. Listening carefully, Ed strove to hear his brother betray his hiding place either by a giggle or small motion. The clinking of his armored body would never quite manage to seem quiet. Perhaps though… if his arm was flesh…
“Al!” Ed called, louder now. He began to throw the lighter objects from side to side, the crates moving easily. Slowly, then faster, he tossed them to the different sides of the alley. Where…? “Al!”
“Hey kid, knock it off, will ya?” A voice called. Ed spun around to face the wall behind him, noticing for the first time that it had a doorway on it. Standing in the entrance way was a tall shopkeeper, his hand wrapped firmly around the handle of a long broom. He glared disapprovingly down at Ed, his short brown hair falling into his face as he did so.
“Who…?” Ed began, letting the crate he’d been about to toss slip gently to the ground. The man glanced about the alley way at the scattered crates which had once been piled neatly. The faintest hint of rose tinged Ed’s cheeks. “Ah, sorry about those, mister.”
“Listen, kid,” The man replied, eyes still narrowed at the boy before him. “I don’t care if you wanna sleep out here. Wouldn’t be my first choice, but you’re off the main drag and won’t be scaring my customers away if you do. If you’re gonna mess with my stuff, though…”
“Sleep here?” Ed asked, ignoring the warning as the man’s voice trailed off ominously. “Why would I…?”
The man shook his head before studying Ed, carefully looking him over. Ed’s eyes followed the man’s gaze, taking in his tattered apparel. The shirt he wore was clearly dirty, the pants ripped at the knees. His shoes had clearly seen better days, that could not be denied. Never before had he looked so unkempt to his own eyes, not even right after mother… but no, that wasn’t the point.
“Look.” The shopkeeper said. Ed’s head whipped back to the man. The lines around the man’s brown eyes were softer, less tightly held together than they had been. He waited to be sure he had Ed’s attention before continuing. “Look,” he repeated, “I know you’re not a bad kid. I know life isn’t easy for any of you orphans, and while I don’t really understand why you won’t go to one of the orphanages and get some help, I don’t mind that you prefer to stay here. I can’t let you stay here if you make a commotion like this, though.”
“Have you seen my brother?” Ed asked, pleased that someone at least seemed to know what was happening.
“Brother?” The man repeated, his voice lifting in confusion. He shook his head. “Are you feeling all right, kid? I’ve known you a good two years now, and if you have a brother, I’ve never seen him.”
“You’ve never…” Ed’s eyes widened. He glanced down again at his body. Orphans… Without his notice or permission, the whisper escaped. “Al…”
Without answering the questions clear in the shopkeeper’s winded gaze, Ed stumbled carelessly towards the exit of the alley. Al… Al wasn’t here… Life isn’t easy for any of you orphans… Where…?
“Kid, are you sure you’re all right?” The shopkeeper asked. Ed ignored him, wandering unsteadily away. “Kid! Hey kid!”
The man watched as the boy wobbled from the alley, never once looking back. With a shrug and a sigh, he turned and went back into the building. Maybe tonight he could offer the boy any leftovers they had, just to make sure he got a good meal. He’d seemed paler than usual after all. Resolving not to let it bother him, the shopkeeper returned to his usual daily activities.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
How long he wandered aimlessly through the streets of the unfamiliar town, Ed couldn’t say. He ambled from street to street, pulled by the drift of the crowd without ever once choosing a destination. Truthfully, he didn’t know where to go… What had happened? Where was Al?
“Watch where you’re going, shorty!” A tall businessman shouted at him as they collided. Ed looked at him for a moment, blinked twice. The man gave him an irritated sigh before pushing past him. “Little brat.”
Ed stared after the disappearing gray suit, eyes wide. The crowd closed between them, and still Ed didn’t move. For a moment the crowd flowed around him as people tried to be polite, but it wasn’t long before people were again bumping into him, jostling Ed this way and that. At last, the blond boy was shoved hard enough that he stumbled forward, allowing his momentum to carry him forward as he began walking again.
A bit later, Ed found himself no longer caught in the rush of people. He paused for a moment, blinking several times, before realizing that he stood in a park of sorts. A set of children’s swings was situated across the way, as well as a slide and several benches. For lack of a better idea, he wandered over towards a bench and sat, allowing his head to drop back so that he was staring up at the sky. Far above him, the light of day had begun at last to dim.
What had happened…? Al and I were just practicing like usual… and then… How could I have come to be here? Where could Al be? Ed stared blankly at the sky, which neither offered nor asked him anything. Instead, the newly arrived stars merely twinkled merrily, harmless but silent. I walked towards Auntie Pinako, and was going to ask her about dinner. I clapped, and then…
Edward struggled to prevent himself from calling out in pain as images dashed haphazardly across his memory. The gate… He remembered that gate. How could he ever forget it, forget that horrible night? Its imposing structure had etched itself onto the very fiber of his being, the eye of its center gazing endlessly back at him. The gate… The gate had opened! Even Ed, stoic as he was, could not stifle the gasp that slipped from him with that realization.
Is this the other side of the gate? Ed wondered as he looked back down at his hands. Did that explain the mystery? Had that… thing decided that his arm and his leg weren’t payment enough? He could recall all too clearly the sense of being somehow crushed or compacted, of being tossed and thrown from side to side… and finally of colliding with the very body from which he now found himself seeing the world. How do I get back?
Ed focused his gaze on his hands. A memory drifted across his mind of a shrewish woman with a violent temper. Sensei… She had done alchemy without the use of a transmutation circle… by clapping. Was that what had caused this new reaction? Could he just clap himself back to the other side of the gate, and wake up with Al, and Winry, and Auntie Pinako there, as though nothing had happened… Slowly, he brought his hands up, and swung them towards one another.
No! The mental exclamation was harsh and unbending. Ed’s hands froze in mid air, merely fractions of an inch apart. Slowly, they lowered to his sides. He had no way of knowing what would happen, had no way of offering the gate its toll this time. It had already taken what he held most valuable from him, surely getting that back wouldn’t be easy. And Al… Al still needs me to get his body back, like I promised I would.
Ed’s left hand gripped the right one, ascertaining once more that there really wasn’t an automail there. He gazed up once more at the sky, staring into the vast horizon of space. The night had been clear, but clouds were starting to form on the horizon. Ed sighed, his brow furrowing. A night in the rain…
“What is that?!” Ed exclaimed loudly, jumping to his feet as something passed overhead. High above him, in amongst the clouds, floated a definitively man made object. Ed scrambled onto the bench, straining his neck in an effort to get a closer look at the strange craft.
“Hey, Kid, look out!” A voice shouted at him moments before a ball collided with his right arm. The pain was oddly reassuring. Jarred from his thoughts yet again, Ed turned towards the newest interruption into his day. Before him stood a man with relatively short, light brown hair and crystal blue eyes. His clothing was all in black, and around his neck hung a symbol of sorts that looked like a lower case t.
“What?” Ed remarked, glaring down at the man. The corners of his mouth quirked in silent amusement for a moment, before disappearing as Ed carefully considered the person before him. He looked rather like a priest… but perhaps he would know what those things had been anyway. Still… Without compromising his dignity, Ed jumped gracefully to the ground.
“Sorry about that, are you all right?” The man asked quickly.
“Yeah, I’m fine.” Ed replied. He looked the… priest over once more, than turned his face skywards again. The man beside him looked at him intently for a moment, than allowed his own eyes to follow Ed’s gaze.
“Beautiful, aren’t they?” He queried. Ed quirked an eyebrow and glanced at him for a moment before looking sharply towards the ship. He edged slightly to his left, putting a bit more distance between himself and the man, who seemed not to notice. “The stars always seem to twinkle more brightly just before a weather cycle.”
“Weather cycle?” The question escaped before Ed had a chance to quash it. He cursed his native curiosity as the man gave him an unusual look.
“Are you all right, kid?” The man asked, his brows furrowing together as a tiny frown appeared on his face. “It’s just a weather cycle, you know, where it rains for a bit to make sure the vegetation on the colony continues to grow properly.”
“Colony?” Ed’s features became stormy for a moment before he schooled them into a semblance of normalcy and glanced skyward, pretending not to have spoken at all. The man took a step towards him, reaching out his arm.
“Yes, Colony L2. Is something the matter?” The man paused before continuing, “You didn’t think we were on Earth, did you?”
A quiet gasp resounded in the night air as Ed’s face shifted swiftly to shock before being carefully schooled again. The priest tilted his head to look at the shorter boy for a moment, nodded once, then glanced back to the stars. Ed resolutely focused his gaze on the heavens, even as the clouds began to obscure the stars from view.
“Listen kid, you want a bit of free advice?” The man asked patiently, his gaze never flickering towards the child that stood at his side. “Wherever you’re from, wherever you’re going doesn’t matter right now. L2 can be a dangerous place if you’re not careful, shorty.”
“Who are you calling too short to take care of himself?!” Ed said, turning immediately to glare at the man with all his might, shouting at the top of his voice. For a moment he began to swing his arms at the man... His left fist went forward in an upper cut motion, as such things tend to do when swung. Ed’s face flickered with surprise again for a brief moment, before he withdrew the arm and crossed it with its mate in front of his chest. He stood stock still for a moment, the said calmly, “I can take care of myself.”
“I don’t doubt that you can.” The priest said, throwing his hands up in a no harm no foul sort of gesture. Ed glared at him ceaselessly for a moment, before looking up once more. The contraption could still be seen at a distance, its lights flickering more and more. The man in the black outfit seemed to consider topics of conversation for a moment before remarking, “Are you a fan of space travel?”
“I wouldn’t know.” The blond boy replied, refusing to look at the man again. He continued, “I’ve never done it.”
“Really?” The man replied. His voice had a bit of a lilt to it, not quite disbelieving but at the same time acknowledging that what was said might not have been the whole truth. “Listen – “
The man took another step closer to Ed, who instinctively jerked from his reach. The boy looked at the priest standing before him, then glanced again at the sky. He turned his head back towards the street, looked at the priest once more, and then took off down the road.
“Kid!” The man called running after him as the heavens opened. “Hey, c’mon, don’t be like that!”
Ed dashed back down the streets he barely remember, going this way and that. Once his pursuer had been successfully shaken, he slowed to a walk. As he wandered idly, Ed eventually noticed he was in an area that looked vaguely familiar. A quick glance down an alley assured him that he was indeed in the right place.
The blond boy walked into the alley, then seated himself in the protective overhang of the doorway. The rain fell just so, narrowly avoiding the small boy in his hideaway. Ed shifted slowly from side to side restlessly for a few minutes before settling at last, his head tilted back against the doorway, body turned inward.
“Here.” A voice said as the door opened, Ed falling in with it. The man from earlier that day stood looking down at him. In his hands, he held a bowl of soup with steam still rising from it. He stuck the bowl in Ed’s hands, and watched as Ed stared at it. “We had extra.” The man continued in an easy going manner. “If you don’t drink it, we’ll have to throw it away.”
“Thanks.” Ed said, smiling slightly at the man towering above him. He sipped the soup slowly, allowing it’s warmth to seep through the bones that he had not as yet even noticed the cold controlled. After all, Ed reflected, it counts as equivalent trade if by drinking the soup I spare them the effort it would take to get rid of it.
When he was finished, the shopkeeper took the bowl back from him, and shut the door. He did not offer any form of garb to keep the chill from returning, seemingly aware of the fact that it would be rejected instantly. Ed nodded in satisfaction – equivalent trade. He curled against the door once more and fell asleep.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
“Kip Kierland, you get back here!” A cheerful voice shouted with mock anger. The owner of the voice, a tall woman with grey eyes and long brown hair bound tight in a braid, leaned carefully into the rain. “Kip, come back!”
“But Sister Helen!” A tiny ball of energy dressed in jeans and a warm blue pullover turned around for a mere moment before bouncing further into the wet weather. “Sister Helen, there won’t be another storm for weeks! I gots to enjoy this one while it’s here, right?”
“Kip, really, I don’t think –“ She began. However, the rest of her thought was cut off the distant appearance of a lone figure walking back towards the house whose doorway Sister Helen occupied. The woman bit her lip for a moment, then turned and went inside, calling as she did, “Kip, come now, or else you can explain to Father Jacob why you’re all wet.
“Thanks Sister Helen!” The boy, as the ball of energy now revealed itself to be a child, flashed a toothy grin in the woman’s direction before proceeding to jump into a nearby puddle. He continued in that manner for some time, leaping from one puddle to the next, making the biggest splash possible each time.
Slowly, steadily, the man walked down the road to the house. The house itself was fairly non-descript, its white paint and blue shutters truly nothing to remark upon, save if one wished to comment on their current state of semi-disrepair. Around it stood a wrought iron fence, a mere three feet tall with a gate that latched at the tip top. Beside it to one side was a church, rather old but nevertheless serviceable. To the other side was a graveyard. A basic plague over the door read in simple, black lettering, “Maxwell Orphanage”.
“Guess what, Father Jacob, guess what?” The small boy exclaimed, violet eyes flashing with delight as the man at last entered the gate. Kip rushed into Father Jacob’s waiting arms as the man bent down to scoop him up. He grinned widely with delight as the man placed him gently on his shoulder before proceeding to the door.
“What, Kip?” The man replied, smiling at the child. His crystal blue eyes flashed sadly for a moment before returning to joy. Kip, oblivious, threw his arms around the priest’s neck.
“It’s raining!” The boy exclaimed jubilantly. Father Jacob laughed for a moment as he closed the door behind them.
“Why, so it is, Kip.” He replied, a sad smile quirking the corners of his mouth. “Why, so it is.”