Yo.
So this is the beginning of a lot of crap.
After watching (and later playing) the absolute beauty that is Life is Strange, I decided to make this. For those of you that have seen Life is Strange, Edward will have the same powers that Max has in the game. Also this takes place right after Ed performs human transmutation to escape Gluttony's stomach. However, to everyone else, it takes place when Ed is hospitalized right after he broke into Lab 5.
Time travel is confusing, I know.
Ed clapped his hands as he performed the transmutation. Using Envy's stone as payment, he'll have to pass through the gate once more to escape Gluttony's stomach.
The ground glowed an ominous blue/purple color, the exact same as back then, when he and Alphonse attempted human transmutation on their deceased mother. Several pitch black arms emerged from the ground and latched on to everyone in the room. They were attempting to pull them into the doorway of truth.
"Ling, jump in!"
Hesitant at first, Ling stared at the blonde alchemist before shouting with bravery, "I'm counting on you!" After that, it was all a blur.
Edward's eyes shot open and he perked up in bed so fast his head was spinning. He tried to calm down for a second, take a moment to remind himself to just breathe.
He pulled him arm up from the sheets of the white, soft, bed and placed it on his head to-
Wait, bed?
Ed looked down to see that, yes. He is laying on a bed. A hospital bed, with bandages around his shoulder and chest, hospital clothing, and a dented automail prosthetic.
The hospital? He thought to himself. How long was I out?
He looked ahead of him, and face palmed to remind himself how stupid he was for not noticing the giant suit of armor in front of him. How dumb was he to not notice his own brother in the room!?
"Al!" Ed attempted to get up out of the bed, but quickly stopped himself due to the sudden sharp pain in his side.
Al perked up at Ed's sudden outburst. "Brother, you shouldn't sit up so fast, you're wounds haven't healed yet."
Ed was about to reply with a smart remark, but decided not to. This was his brother and sure enough, he was right. Instead he simply put his hand on his head in an attempt to get rid of the headache. "How long was I out?"
Al thought back for a moment before replying with, "Not very long."
"What about Ling?" As much as he didn't want to admit it, Ed had begun to see the Xingese prince as a friend.
"Who?"
"Ling. You know... that Xingese guy with the servants following him around; the girl and the old man."
"I'm sorry, brother, but I have no idea who you're talking about."
"You're kidding me, right? You don't remember May either? The panda you put in your armor?"
"Nope. No idea who those people are."
At this point Ed was sure he was just messing around. No way could Al have forgotten the guy that occasionally breaks into their house and steal their food. Ed wasn't worried about Ling anymore, though, because if his brother would joke around about him like that then it means he's perfectly fine.
"The Major and Lieutenant Colonel should be here soon." Ed could tell Al simply said that to break the awkward silence between the two of them, but he couldn't help but wonder.
Lieutenant Colonel? No way...
He began to think back to the things Al had said. His strange behavior, suddenly forgetting about Ling and May, mentioning the Lieutenant Colonel like he was...
Edward's eyes shot open and he perked up in bed so fast his head was spinning. He tried to calm down for a second, take a moment to remind himself to just breathe.
Wait a minute, that sounds familiar.
Ed looked in front of him and, sure enough, Al was right there.
"Al?" Ed didn't bother getting out of the bed this time.
Al perked up at Ed's confused tone. "Brother, you shouldn't sit up so fast, you're wounds haven't healed yet."
Ed was even more confused at this than he was last time. "Al, you already said that..."
This just sparked even more confusion between the two brothers. "I did? I don't remember..."
As unscientific as it sounds, it's the only explanation he has right now.
Thank god no one can read my thoughts. If I'm going all out right now I might as well test it. Can I really go back in time?
Ed looked around the room and saw a table with a notebook and pencil on it, along with a cup of water.
He held up his hand and placed it next to the cup, spilling the contents onto the notepad. "Whoops," he said blankly.
"Ed!? What's gotten into you?"
"Sorry, Al. I wanna test something."
He began to concentrate real hard about what he was doing. He looked over to the table, spilled the water...
Edward's eyes shot open and he perked up in bed so fast his head was spinning. He tried to calm down for a second, take a moment to remind himself to just breathe.
No way. No fucking way.
Drawn to the movement, Al looked over to find his brother freaking out.
"Brother, you shouldn't sit up so fast, you're wounds haven't healed yet."
Ed couldn't help but let a smile plaster across his face. He was a time traveler. A real life time traveler! How cool is that!?
"Uh... Ed? Are you okay?"
Most people would be freaking out in this situation, but it's no surprise this just stroked Ed's already huge ego.
Ed sat back with a cocky smile. "Oh, I'm perfectly fine."
This is so awesome! I don't have to worry about making mistakes! I could just go back and fix them! If I break my automail I can just rewind to when it was never destroyed! I'll be able to dodge every attack that comes at me!
"Uh... okay then... The Major and Lieutenant Colonel should be here soon."
Suddenly, Ed's cocky smile was immediately replaced with a shocked, and pained look.
He was back far. Really far. So far that the Lieutenant Colonel was still...
He wasn't sure whether or not he should be sad, reminded of the death of a good friend, or joyful that he would be able to see that good friend again.
"H-Hughes..."
"Uh... Yes. Hughes. Lieutenant Colonel Hughes..." Al was worried for his brother. He was acting awfully strange.
"Ed? Are you alright? Is there something bothering you?"
Edward turned his head to reveal the pained expression on his face. "Hughes... is coming here..."
"Yeah... he and the Major are coming to ask you about Laboratory 5."
Laboratory 5!? I'm that far back!?
The door opened and Major Armstrong along with the Lieutenant Colonel walked in.
"Hello, Edward." The Major was a towering figure. He almost looked like an alien with his muscular shape. "We've come to hopefully get some questions we've had answered."
"I don't remember anything that happened after this guy kicked me."
Ed tried as hard as he could to remember what happened at Lab 5 without accidentally going back to when he actually was there.
"Human souls trapped in artificial bodies, used as guards... 'Human sacrifice...' allowing you to live... an individual named Envy..."
This was exactly how Edward remembered the Major replying to the story. It's almost unreal.
"Meanwhile we have Dr. Marcoh creating a stone for use in the Eastern Civil War... The ouroboros tattoo... and a transmutation circle for the philosophers stone... There are too many mysteries for this to be simply an experiment to produce the stone."
"And the laboratory is a dead end because it's been reduced to a pile of rubble."
Ed attempted to suppress his will to latch out and give Hughes the biggest hug attack he's ever had while listening to his voice.
"Hmmm..."
Outside of the room, Sergeant Brosh was listening in on their conversation with 2nd Lieutenant Ross right next to him, fingers in her ears to prevent herself from listening.
"Whatever they're discussing in there sounds really complicated."
"I'm not listening- I don't want to get involved," replied the 2nd Lieutenant. "I've had enough of these dangerous assignments!"
"Excuse me," began an old voice down the hallway. "But is that the Fullmetal Alchemist's hospital room?"
The 2 officers looked in the direction of the mysterious voice. "Yes, this is the-"
Maria Ross couldn't even finish her sentence before they both immediately freaked out over who the voice belonged to.
"We might be able to find something if we go through the criminal records at the investigations division."
Ed couldn't believe he never realized how much help Hughes was offering the brothers back then. He let a small smile escape the corner of his lips. "Thanks..."
"Hey, it's no sweat, don't even worry about it! Major Armstrong will see if he can track down anyone who may have assisted Dr. Marcoh with his research."
Suddenly, their conversation was interrupted by a knock at the door.
"I hope I'm not interrupting?" The president of Amestris was standing at the door.
"Fuhrer President King Bradley!" Almost everyone in the room shouted his name at the same time.
"At ease, gentlemen. There's no need to make a fuss."
"Yes, sir..." Everyone made way for the president, except for Ed. Partly because he had nowhere to go.
Mostly out of disgust.
"Mr. President, what brings you here...?"
"What brings me? Why, to visit him, of course! Do you like melons?"
"Uh..." Ed swallowed and tried to put on the best act he could manage. "Thanks."
"I hear you've been doing quite a bit of snooping into military command, Major Armstrong."
"Huh!? That is... I mean..." The Major was sweating bullets. "How did you...?"
"Don't underestimate my information network, Major. And you, Edward Elric..."
Ed looked up at the president's face and tried as hard as he could not to show how badly he wanted to rip that eye patch off and expose who he truly is.
"You're searching for the philosopher's stone, are you not? How much do you know? A great deal depends on your answer..."
Everyone in the room was immediately alarmed. Ed was sure he could hold up that act any longer. Bradley was testing his patience.
"Just kidding! Don't be so uptight!" He let out a loud laugh, surprising everyone in the room. "I know that there has been some suspicious activity going on within the military lately, and I want to do something about it." The Fuhrer noticed the papers lying on the table next to him and picked them up to analyze them. "What have we here?"
"Uh... That's..."
"Hm... It's a list of all the researchers who were involved with the stone. You've done quite a job finding all of these names. But you see, the whereabouts of all of these individuals are currently unknown. They disappeared a few days before the explosion at Laboratory 5. The enemy is always one step ahead of us. And presently, even with my vast information network, I don't know our enemy's motives... or the extent to which they have infiltrated the military."
Oh, the irony...
"Sir," Hughes began. "Are you saying it could be dangerous to continue investigating this matter...?"
"Yup."
The Fuhrer looked up from the papers and focused on the individuals in front of him.
"Lieutenant Colonel Hughes, Major Armstrong, Elric brothers... I have decided that you are all individuals whom I can trust. I am giving you this order for your own safety. I will not allow you to speak of this to anyone or stick your neck in this matter any further! This is truly a case where you cannot tell friend from foe. Trust no one! You must be discreet in your actions and assume the the entire military is the enemy!"
How did I not see this sooner? Damn Fuhrer... You just don't want us to find out, do you?
"However, when the time comes, I will call on you, so make sure that you are prepared."
"Yes, sir!"
Suddenly, voices were heard outside the room. "Mr. President! Has anyone seen President Bradley?!"
"Oh no! My pesky body guards are back! I slipped out earlier without them noticing! Now I must leave!" Bradley waved at the soldiers in the room as he climbed out of the window. "I'm sure we'll meet again. Farewell."
Everyone could only stare in shock as the most important man in the country just climbed out of the window like a child.
The door opened once again to reveal Winry walking in. "Huh? What's wrong with you guys? Even the two people standing outside are acting weird."
Edward let out a sigh, relieved to have Bradley finally gone. "It's nothing."
Winry held out cards. "I bought those train tickets you wanted."
"Oh, thanks."
"Must you rush?" The Major asked. "Your wounds haven't completely healed yet."
"I hate hospitals..."
"Ed, you're such a kid." Winry held out the tickets and examined what was on them.
"Where are you going this time?" The Lieutenant Colonel asked. "Dublith?"
"Where's that?"
"Uh..." Al pulled out a map and laid it on the table. "It's right around here, in the middle of the southern region."
"WHAAA!?"
Winry pointed to a town close to Dublith. "Look! Here, right before Dublith!"
"Rush Valley?" Ed didn't even bother to finish his sentence before he immediately knew what she was about to say.
"Rush Valley, the Automail Engineers' Mecca! I've always wanted to go there! Take me! Take me! Take me! You better take me!"
Ed let out a sigh, immediately knowing that no matter what he'd say, the result would be the same. It doesn't take a time traveler to figure that out.
Well, maybe it does.
"Oh, all right..."
"Yippee! I was planning to go right back to Resembool, but this is worth a change in plans! I'm gonna call Granny!"
Winry skipped out of the room with the most joyful expression on her face.
"She sure is energetic," Al remarked.
"Yup, she would make someone a great wife," Hughes replied. "Not as great as my wife, of course..."
Rather than lashing out, Ed smiled at what Hughes had told him.
Yeah...
Welp, this was long as hell.
Most of this chapter was just me reading through my manga books and copying everything in there and adding occasional remarks. Hopefully next chapter will be a lot more fun to write, considering that's when Ed screws with the timeline.
Next time:
Don't worry Hughes... I'm coming...
The Fullmetal Pipsqueak!?
He knows too much... But how?
Damn... That was close...
As unscientific as it sounds, I need you to believe. I've seen it happen. I know what happens...