What did the bartender say when oxygen, hydrogen, sulfur, sodium, and phosphorus walked into his bar...? OH SNaP!
...maybe it's a bit early to start with the jokes...maybe the beginning is a better place to start.
Alright so how do I want to start my story? A little tragedy never hurt anyone...that came out wrong.
To grossly oversimplify my life up to the point where it gets interesting; my name is Edward Elric...well actually it's Eden Elric, but I personally think Edward sounded more badass than a girly name like 'Eden' though given that I am a girl doesn't exactly help. I've got a brother named Alphonse Elric and a mother named Trisha Elric, or at least I did before she was killed in the riots.
Yeah, the riots; see, the people of this country actually believe that they can make a difference via protest...and don't expect the military to knock them onto their asses. I can respect the effort, but they're never going to get anywhere without actually doing something to make the government want to help. Hell, they could at least get a mascot, you know?
Anyway, back on track...actually, you wanna know the reason people don't straight-up revolt? The government has these people, these special soldiers called Alchemists who fight with some crazy voodoo stuff, at least that's how the public perceives them.
Okay, for real, back on track. So-
"How long are you gonna keep staring at the wall?" the blonde male across from me questioned. I lowered my eyes into a scowl.
"Eh? What do you want, Wes?" I questioned him.
"You might know if you'd been paying attention," he mocked me playfully, but that only deepened my scowl.
"Wes has a point, Brother. You have been zoning out a lot lately," Alphonse agreed from next to me.
"Don't tell me you're taking his side on this!"
Alphonse shrugged. I growled as i plopped my head down onto the table. "I swear the only reason that I put up with you is because you're a damn good mechanic for the leg I lost two years ago..." I muttered.
"And I only put up with you because you're a decent paycheck," Wes patted my shoulder with his free hand, twirling a small screwdriver with his other.
"Can it, greasemonkey!" I snapped childishly. "If you only knew what I do with my time..." I thought, rubbing my eyes and ridding them of sleep.
"And that's probably the reason," Wes accused. "When's the last time you got a good night's sleep?"
"What I do with my time is my business!" I claimed as I stood.
"Where're you going?" Alphonse wondered.
"To the library. I've got to research something."
With that I took my abrupt leave to go to exactly where I said I would; the town library, where I could study in peace. Study what you ask? Alchemy of course!
Yeah, yeah, I know I said it was crazy voodoo magic earlier, but it's actually a science. Granted, it a really cool part of science, but it's science nonetheless. I've already read through hundreds of books, including from the original Alchemist; Hohenheim of Light, the Philosopher of the East. His were the best because they just so insightful into the very essence of Alchemy.
Before I could read as much as I wanted to, footsteps approached my spot. I quickly closed the book and stuffed it into my pack, just before they came around. "Ed? There you are," Hughes popped in from around the corner. "Wes and Alphonse have been looking all over for you."
"You always were good at finding me, Officer Hughes," I teased him.
"Oh Ed, you know I gave up that title a long time ago," he reminded me.
"Why is that, Hughes?" I asked as I stood, falling into step as he walked out into the cold nightly air. "Why'd you leave?"
"Why? Well, a few reasons and not just because I'm a family man now. That Alchemy; it's...a corrupted art. Even if its 'laws' are true, why would you willing become such a dog? And even then, it's altering everything us humans stand for, promoting magic when us humans have always stood for progress and science."
"It can't be that b-"
"It's heresy," Hughes concluded. It corrupts the mind and I chose not to stand for it...so I left."
I chose to remain silent on the subject from then on. "Well, I've got someplace to be, so-"
"Wes wants you home," Hughes stated. I grimaced. "And you know how he gets when you're late for dinner."
A shiver went down my spine as I held my head in fear. "The breadsticks and wrenches...I didn't ever thinks he'd find a way to use both as weapons...I was wrong!" I exclaimed.
"Then you'd better run on home before he catches you avoiding him again," Hughes offered, but I was already tearing off toward our home, only hearing the jolly man's laughter behind me.
I dashed toward the back door, hoping to sneak in before he noticed I was gone, but as I reached for the knob, the door flung open into my face, forcing me backwards, and a wrench went flying into my face. I lurched backward and rolled backwards onto my butt a few meters away, only seeing the devil's silhouette in the doorway. The devil tapped a breadstick in his palm. "Finally decided to join us, Eden?"
I grimaced and just let the man drag me by my long hair into the house. However, he didn't stop at the kitchen, where Al was, but dragged me further. "Help me…" I whimpered, but he only chuckled.
I was placed into a familiar chair with my Automail onto the table in front of it. The rest was done silently for a while as Wes patched up my leg.
Eventually the silence became too much. "Wes…" I started.
"How many times have I told you to be home before dark?"
"..."
"How many?"
"...A lot…" I admitted.
He put a hand on my shoulder. "You know that when night falls, the torches rise. The riots are dangerous; you of all people should know that. With what it did to my parents and your mother…" Wes shook his head. "A-anyway, please just promise me that you'll be home sooner. It griefs me enough to send Hughes out to find you when you get too absorbed in...whatever you do when you leave."
"I know…"
"Hey," he lifted my chin up so my gaze could meet his. "I know you don't like it, but you're fragile, just like every one of us; you should start acting like it."
I popped my hand onto his head. "Yeah, yeah...you worry too much about me."
"Al worries more," Wes claimed.
I nodded. "I'll try to get here quicker than I have lately."
"Then that's all I can ask," Wes said as he finished repairing my leg. "Alright, I made your favorite soup; you ready?"
"Extra milk?"
"Extra milk."
