Fullmetal Mermaid

Let me first start by saying that I do not own Fullmetal Alchemist or The Little Mermaid. This is loosely based on The Little Mermaid. When I say loosely, I mean I changed things to incorporate Fullmetal Alchemist aspects and to attempt to keep the important characters from the anime/manga in the fiction's plot. There is yaoi in this story. Boy love, boyxboy, whatever you call it… There is yaoi in this story.

It was the morning of the annual Mermaid Festival and Prince Edward was going through his usual teen-mermaid angst. Prince Alphonse was trying everything to get his older brother's mood to change. Alphonse knew that if Edward's mood didn't change, he'd wind up ruining the festivities like had had the year before.

"I already told you Al, I'm not happy. I'm not going to be happy. I don't want to see that Bastard's face. "Edward announced for the fifth time that morning."He's always making fun of my height!" Edward proceeded to click his tongue and roll away from his brother. As much as he loved Al, Ed wasn't entertained by his antics.

"But Brother!" Al protested, "Prince Roy is your fiancé! You're going to be marrying him!" Al immediately slapped his hand over his own mouth. Ed was going to get even more upset thanks to his big mouth.

"Don't tell me what to do! I'm not marrying that Bastard!" Ed fumed. They had been engaged against his will and he protested the engagement every time it came up. Edward turned to face his younger brother. "I..." Edward started but quickly shut his mouth.

"You what, Brother?" Al questioned, hoping to get Ed to continue.

"I want...Never mind it, Al! It's ridiculous!" Ed laughed awkwardly the coughed and returned to facing away from Al. He always went to this area of the sea when he wanted to get away from the palace. He enjoyed lounging on the flat slab of rock that overlooked a deep-sea trench.

"You aren't getting out of this that easily, Brother. Now tell me what's on your mind!" Al protested. Ed never wanted to share his thoughts with anyone.

Ed let out a deep sigh. It was a pretty heavy thought. He didn't want Al to overreact. Or worse, tell King Hohenheim, their father. That was the last thing he needed!

Al looked at his older brother expectantly. Please tell me, brother. I want to know! Al thought. It was a matter of just waiting now and hoping Ed would crack and spill whatever conflict was going on inside his head. Al knew Ed was stubborn, but he had enough patience to last against his older brother.

Ed felt Alphonse's gray eyes burning holes into his back. So he's going to play the waiting game, huh? Ed silently mused. Well two can play that game. With a smirk Edward continued to stare across the trench, and then switched his gaze to the surface above him.

The sun always seems so much brighter. And the people so much happier. They walk around on legs in the sun all day; laughing and joking and playing and working. That's what I really want. I want to live above the surface on land. No one would ever understand that, though. Not even Al... And especially not Father! Edward sighed in defeat. "Let's get back to the palace, Al. We need to get ready for the festival."

Al was shocked for a brief moment. Ed wanted to go back? "O-okay, Brother!" he replied awkwardly. Ed got off the slab of stone and swam towards their home and Al promptly followed.

Upon seeing his sons return, King Hohenheim shook his head in disapproval. "Are you ever going to learn to be civil, Edward?" he asked. Edward just bowed his head and didn't reply. Hohenheim took this as a sign to continue. "You're way too old to keep running away. You have a duty to your family and your country!"

Edward bit his lip and allowed himself to be preached to. He had heard this speech before, memorized it, in fact. That didn't change his mind, though. He would run away again and again if it meant his father would finally hear him out. He just wanted to explain his opinion for once in his life. He felt like his life was never going to really be his own.

Al felt bad as he listened to their father scold Ed. Edward wasn't bad, he just wanted to be in control. Their father just didn't understand Edward as well as their mother had. The boys had been devastated when she had died trying to save a pod of dolphins from a fishing boat.

Ever since then, Hohenheim had hated humans. They were dangerous poachers and not to be trusted. Yet Edward loved humans and longed to be with them. Alphonse didn't know this, though, and believed that their father was trying to prevent what had happened to their mother from happening to Edward.

Hohenheim finished scolding his son and turned away from the boys. "Prince Roy will be here soon, Edward. Don't keep him waiting." he added before swimming away to check on the final preparations for the festival.

Edward ground his teeth together but remained silent. This day is just going to get better and better, isn't it? he thought sarcastically.

Edward and Alphonse swam to where Prince Roy would be arriving. Alphonse could practically feel the negative energy flowing from his older brother.

Soon, Roy's water chariot came to a stop in front of the brothers. Prince Roy swam out through the door and was followed by his personal assistant, Riza. "Oh, hello, Prince Alphonse." Roy greeted the younger boy. "Have you seen my shrimp-like bride-to-be?" he looked around on the ground below them for dramatic effect.

Alphonse laughed nervously and Edward fumed before snapping. "I'M RIGHT HERE YOU BASTARD! AND I GREW THREE INCHES SINCE YOU LAST SAW ME, GODDAMNIT!"

Roy laughed. "Oh, sorry, Edward~ I didn't see you there~!" Roy replied with a casual shrug of his shoulders.

This just caused Edward to grow angrier. Alphonse desperately tried to pacify his older brother to prevent him from making a scene. Edward took a deep breath and tried to calm himself. He definitely didn't want to spend the rest of his life with Roy. Not now, not ever. The older princes continued to argue and Edward looked like he wanted to rip Roy apart.

Alphonse quickly interjected his opinion in an attempt to change the subject. "Let's all go see how the setup for the festival is going!"

Roy and Ed stopped bickering to look at Alphonse. "Good idea, Prince Alphonse." came Riza's reply. "Isn't that a good idea, my lord?" she calmly asked, more like demanded, Roy. He nodded in agreement.

The four mermaids quietly made their way to the festival grounds. Edward was indifferent towards the entire thing. He didn't want to be there and could care less what it looked like. Roy whistled at the sight. "It's certainly bigger than last year's festival!" he commented. Riza nodded in agreement. Al was grateful for the change in mood.

Roy seemed completely fine about the arranged marriage when he found out about it. Ed protested and caused a scene upon finding out. Roy smiled and made a comment in jest. Something along the lines of "We'll be together forever, sweetheart~!" That had set Edward off into another rant. Roy would never admit that the short blonde's words actually hurt him. He really was quite fond on the young prince. But he had too much of a swollen ego to even admit out loud to liking Edward.

Edward turned his gaze towards the surface of the water once again. He wondered if humans had arranged marriages. He doubted that such wonderful creatures could have such a thing. They were far too civilized for arranging marriages, he decided. Edward also decided that tonight during the festival, he'd sneak away and take a peek at the surface at night. If he was lucky, there'd be a boat nearby and he could observe some humans up close.

I would appreciate a little feedback on this. Criticize me. Edit things. Offer to be my beta. Not only is this my first time writing Fullmetal Alchemist fiction, this is my first time using someone else's characters to write yaoi. I'm actually in the process of writing a novel that involves two boys falling in love, so I'm not new to that.

I'm sorry if I sound super strict in my A/N.