So Ember's giving the Ed/Roy fanbase a real treat and posting this a little early. Don't look for updates all too frequently... Ember's only written seven chapters. *sadface*

In any case, written totally for fun by a confessed band geek, so read and enjoy!

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For the Love of Music

Prologue

All of the students in the award ceremony waited with bated breath, but none more so than Edward Elric. This was the moment they'd been waiting for. They would soon find out who their student leaders would be, the ones who would quite literally be the top of the band.

The director was about to announce the names of the drum majors for the next marching season.

Ed had never wanted anything more than he wanted this. He loved music, and he'd watched as several drum majors came and went. Their job was so prestigious, like the top of the marching world. He loved the idea of being in leadership for once (normally he shied away from responsibility, preferring to be a member of the group so that he could continue doing whatever he wanted).

The director finally began to speak in an agonizingly slow voice. "And the drum majors for next marching season will be…"

Come on, thought Ed. Get on with it.

"Edward Elric and Roy Mustang!"

WHAT?! Ed shouted mentally as the others applauded with more than a hint of laughter. The enmity between Mustang and himself was well-known; Ed couldn't stand Mustang's cockiness and womanizing ways and Mustang hated that an upstart rising junior could be equally as capable as himself, a rising senior. Luckily, their circles were very far apart, as Ed was something of a nerd (but with friends, thank you very much!) and Mustang was an athlete (he ran track when marching was over, if Ed remembered right). The only time they had to put up with each other (or not) was during band practices. For whatever reason, they both enjoyed the class (or Mustang seemed to, anyway), and so neither would drop it just because the other was there. This meant, however, that their quarrels were band legend; nothing was quite the same, however many people tried to reenact the scenes they made.

He would do it, though. Even though he hated Mustang with a passion equivalent to a thousand burning suns, he would do it. Why? Because he loved music more.

After the ceremony ended he and Mustang were both pulled aside. "Listen to me," the director stated firmly. "I'm sure you've been thinking that I have no idea what I'm doing, and that there's no way the two of you can do this together. Let me assure you that I know exactly what I'm doing, and that you'll find a way to work together in the month you have until band camp starts. Why? Because I won't tolerate leaders acting toward each other the way you two do. You'll work together like you want the band to work together, or I'll know why. Got it?"

A few mutterings of "Yes, sir" later, they were released, glaring at each other as they went their separate ways.

Ed sighed. This was quite possibly going to be the task of his school life. At least he had a month to figure out how to work with Mustang without killing himself in the process. He'd need every second of that time.