So, I had a dream about this. It's really over used, but I couldn't help putting the FMA into the Hunger Games. It's addicting. So, basically, this takes place before Alphonse get his body back. They go through District 12.
Two figures seemed to blow in with the wind and sun of District Twelve. They appeared to be a blonde teenage boy with a red coat, and a curiously tall suit of armor, which seemed to be at least seven feet tall. The boy looked tiny while next to that object of contrast. The morning that they arrived was hot, at least 90 degrees Fahrenheit. It was a very unusual temperature for the spring. The heat didn't seem to be affecting the suit of armor, but the smaller boy was complaining profusely as they entered the streets.
"Al, remind me why we had to come here. There's really nothing but trees. And dirt," he said, turning to stare somewhat accusingly at the suit of armor. The armor shrugged, or rather, moved in a way that suggested a shrug.
"Leads on the Philosopher Stone, I guess. But brother, look at the people. Have you ever seen anyone so…so…so beaten down?" It was true. The people who were walking around the town looked exhausted and hungry, the lines of age on their face prominent, and their clothes all a little loose on their frames. The walked around talking quietly or going into buildings.
"I guess Youswell came close," the boy said, sounding a little tired. "I just hope they have something to eat. I'm starved." Al (or so the armor was called) sighed.
"Ed, we can't just barge in here and demand food," he said. Ed shrugged.
"I don't see why not. I think my automail is melting." He pulled up his sleeve to reveal only steel underneath, no flesh. If this was strange in any way, Al didn't seem to think so.
"Brother, don't let Winry hear you say that," Al cautioned. Ed let his metal arm fall back down by his side. A cloud of dust erupted where it hit his side.
"Right. So, do you see anything, or should we just leave this dust ball and get out of h-," A rough hand grabbed Ed's shoulder, cutting him off.
"Brother!" Al cried taking a step towards him. Ed held out a hand for him to wait.
"Hey, what the hell do you think you're doing?" Ed practically snarled, pulling away from the hand. He turned to face a hulking man in a white uniform.
"At this time, all people of the District are to be in town square for the Reaping," the uniformed man growled. Ed cocked his head.
"Reaping?" He asked. The man nodded.
"You know," he said. Ed frowned and turned to stare at Al.
"Do you know about any Reaping?" He asked.
"No," Al said. The uniformed man rolled his eyes.
"You boy know what the Reaping is. Don't play dumb," he snapped. Ed frowned again, then seemed to get an idea. Al seemed to realize this as well, because he let out a tiny groan.
"Okay. Take us to this "Reaping" you speak of," he said brightly. The uniformed man was, to say in the least, confused at this sudden change of personality in this tiny kid.
"Um…okay. Follow me," He said. He took off through the streets, leaving Ed and Al to hurry after him.
"Brother, this 'Reaping' might be a bad thing. Maybe we should just leave," Al cautioned.
"Only one way to find out, and that's to go there," Ed said. He was a little surprised at how empty the streets were.
"Maybe the people are all at the Reaping," Al suggested. Ed nodded.
"Probably," Ed said absentmindedly. Al knew his brother was thinking, and sometimes it was best to leave him alone.
"Here we are," the uniformed man said, stopping in front of a large square surrounded by shops and filled with people who were separated by roped areas. There was an air of grimness to the place; everyone looked a little scared.
"Cheerful," Ed whispered to Al.
"Well, go on you two," the man said. He watched the two boys leave.
"Where do we go?" Al asked.
"I dunno, maybe over there," Without waiting for Al's reply, Ed took off towards a table with a man in the same uniform as the man they had seen earlier.
"Oh Ed," Al said softly, following his brother. The guard at the table was talking to Ed.
"Okay you, how old are you are what's your name?" He said in a bored tone, without even looking up at Ed.
"Edward Elric, I'm fifteen," Ed said, imitating his voice. The guard looked up and scowled at Ed.
"All right, go stand with the other fifteen year olds," he pointed Ed in the direction of one of the roped off areas.
"Now you." Al jumped as the guard turned to glare at him. The guard's eye widened when he saw the armor, but he didn't say anything.
"Oh, um…I'm Alphonse Elric, and I'm fourteen," Al said. The guard raised his eyebrows when Al said fourteen, but he let it go.
"Okay. Go over there," he pointed in another direction. "Next!"
Al hurried off to go where the guard had pointed. He looked around for Edward, and spotted him in a group of older kids behind him.
"I'm fine," Ed mouthed. Al nodded and turned his attention to a large stage in front of the crowd. Three people occupied it. A balding man with glasses, a slumping man with scraggly black hair, and a woman with a pink wig and lavender suit. The balding man stepped up to the podium and began to read of a piece of paper. It was something about the history of the country or whatever. Ed wasn't listening. Instead, he was watching the people around him. Most of everyone kept to themselves, though now and then someone would glance in his direction. They looked fearful; a few of them had their eyes closed. Ed noticed for the first time two glass balls on the stage. They looked as though they were filled with paper slips. This whole Reaping business was getting more interesting by the second.
The man on stage was now talking about something called "The Dark Days". Edward suddenly found himself listening. An uprising of "Districts", something called the Capital winning a revolution, the Treaty of Treason, and The Hunger Games. What were the Hunger Games? Ed was getting more interested by the second.
The man introduced the slumping man, calling him Haymitch. Haymitch didn't move; he just kept slouching in his chair. He almost looked drunk.
"Please welcome Miss Effie Trinket," the man said. Now the man stepped away from the podium, and the pink haired woman strode up.
"Welcome, welcome! Happy Hunger Games, and May the odds be ever in your favor!" Edward was taken aback by her chipper attitude. It was starting to sound like the Hunger Games were a good thing.
"Now, the time has come to select one young man a woman to compete in the 62nd annual Hunger Games!" A hush fell over the crowd. Edward was very curious as to what would happen next.
"Ladies first," Effie said. Her hand swirled over one of the glass bowls and Edward realized he was holding his breath. Effie's hand snapped downward and brought up one paper slip.
"Lilly Banks," she read clearly. A tiny cry sounded from behind Edward's back, and he turned to see a woman bury her face in her hands, her shoulders shaking. A man put his arm around her shoulders. A girl with short brown hair walked stiffly up to the stage and stood next to Effie. Conflicting emotions crossed her face, and she looked as though she was finding it hard to breath.
"Any volunteers?" Effie said brightly. The crowd was silent. Edward had a feeling being picked for the Games was not a good thing. The girl, Lilly, straightened up in an attempt to look brave. Edward noticed and couldn't help admiring her strength. He bowed his head to her, although she most likely didn't notice.
"All right! Time for out male tribute," Effie's hand reached into the boy's bowl and pulled out another slip of paper.
"Evan Barnett," she read. A tiny child stepped out of the crowd and walked down the aisle. Edward stared at his back. He couldn't be much older than eleven. As he walked up the podium and stood next to Effie, Edward noticed the color of his hair.
It was dark blond.
Like Al's body.
Edward's eyes widened and suddenly he could see an image in his mind. A memory. One he wished he could've forgotten.
A room filled with dark light. Hands were reaching up out of the ground, grabbing at Al. Various powders and liquids were spilled and laid on the floor where younger versions of the two children lay.
"Brother! Help me! Please!" Al reached for Ed, his body disappearing, the hands pulling him away, the powers of alchemy breaking down his body.
"Alphonse! Alphonse!" Ed's hand almost reached Al's when he fell. To his horror, his leg was being pulled away from his body. This wasn't supposed to happen!
"Brother!" Al screamed.
Edward snapped back to reality at the sound of Effie's voice.
"Any volunteers?" She was saying. Without really realizing what he was doing, Edward lunged forward, pushing through the surprised crowd.
"I volunteer!" He yelled, raising one hand. The crowd was silent for a moment. Even Effie looked a little shocked.
"Brother?" Al's voice asked, filled with confusion and terror. Edward swallowed with difficultly.
"All right then. Come up here," Effie said, regaining her professional attitude. Edward walked past the rows of people. They all turned to stare at him, at his fire-y golden eyes, at his proud expression. He walked up the stage and stood next to Effie.
"And your name is?" She asked.
"Edward," Ed said.
"Just Edward?"
"Edward Elric," Ed said. Effie nodded.
"Please give these two tributes, Lilly and Edward, a round of applause!" Silence. The only sound was a soft murmur from the gathered crowd.
"What was he thinking-,"
"Shouldn't have volunteered-,"
"Who is he-,"
"Little runt like him won't last long-,"
Edward's head snapped up.
"WHO YOU CALLING A MICRO-SIZED PIPSQUEAK RUNT?" he yelled at the speaker, who cowered under his fierce gaze.'
"I didn't mean anything like that," he said. Edward was barely listening. Did he say he wouldn't...last long?
Haha. It got REALLY LONGGGG. Sorry 'bout that. More is coming. Probably.