Metal Goes Mental
Chapter 1: "The Weight of Steel and Guilt"
Some of us are given steel wings in which to fly...
Edward Thomas. That was the name he was given.
Solidsteel. That was the name he was given.
Between these words that meant nothing, there was only one thing that truly meant something.
Elric. His last name. The last name of his father. Of his brother. Of his family.
The last name of Trisha Elric, his mother.
Edward glanced down at the grave. It had been so long since he remembered his mother's death. Her funeral was a mere fog in his mind, a memory not really a memory.
He put the roses he had in his hand down. He could hear the clink of metal against rock as his hand touched the gravel that was tombstone. He winced as a shock of pain ran from his right shoulder. He grunted and reached over to his arm, pulling down his shirt to see.
A prosthetic limb shone brightly as the solid alloy caught the sun's rays. He could see a screw almost pulled out of the hole. He reached over, tightening the limb.
His curse, and also his gift. He saw nothing good about it. It was a reminder. A reminder of what couldn't have been...
"Ed? You out here?" a voice called out. Edward rose, to see a boy a year younger than him.
Alphonse Brent Elric walked up to Edward, his light brown hair swaying in the wind. He wore a blue shirt, and brown dress pants too. He had white gloves on, two black circles stitched into the palm of the gloves.
"Hey," Ed said solemnly, looking back at the grave. Al said nothing as he joined his brother at the grave.
"It's all my fault," Ed whispered.
"Don't go with that again brother," Al said, "there was nothing you could have done." Edward's hands clenched.
"No..." Ed said through grit teeth, "if I was stronger... if I was better... I could have brought her back!" Ed stormed away, Alphonse following him.
"Ed, you know human transmutation is impossible," Alphonse said, "there is absolutely nothing – "
"Shut up Al!" Ed said. He turned around, his right fist shaking at his brother.
"Just because you've given up trying doesn't mean that I have!" Ed shouted. Al stopped, gazing at his brother. He'd heard this speech for years. Ever since their mother died. Ever since Ed tried...
"Ed, you know that it's impossible to bring the dead back," Alphonse stated quietly, "Life flows in one direction – I thought you learned that from your arm and leg." Ed stiffened, appalled that his younger brother would bring that up in their conversation.
Just because he didn't try, Ed thought, he is saying this. Just because he got away from this unscathed, is he saying such words.
"Only because you're fine," Ed said, "can you tell me this. Just because you're not lugging around pounds of steel as a substitute for your flesh and blood you dare tell me that, now, of all times." Ed grimaced, clenching both his hands.
"You think I got away unhurt?" Alphonse said incredulously. "Brother, do you know what I went through? I was just a kid!"
"We were both just kids!" Edward retorted.
"You didn't have nightmares in the middle of the night," Al continued, "you didn't scream in terror, unable to turn to mother because she wasn't there! You weren't depressed, you didn't have doctors prescribe drugs to you to make you feel better, you didn't have to go to psychiatrists for years to make sure you were fine!" Ed stayed silent. Al was right. He didn't go through all the things he had. But still...
"You're not a slave to a higher power," Ed said, "you're still in control of you life, Alphonse. I'm completely at the mercy of others. Do you know why?"
Al shook his head, even though he knew what his brother was about to say.
"Because I'm still holding on. I'll always hold on," Ed said, walking off.
He smoldered silently as he walked through his home of Resin Pool. The streets were almost empty. This quiet town hardly had anything exciting going on. Except for that one day, almost four years ago. A day Edward Thomas Elric remembered all too well...
Edward stepped off the curb, running into someone. He shook his head, looking up at the person he collided with.
A tall dark man stared down at him, his eyes hidden behind dark sunglasses. He said nothing, his mouth a grim slash. Edward stared back with the same look of disgruntlement, and walked off. The man stared at him for a while, before walking off in his yellow jacket.
"Edward!" someone called out. Ed turned to see a woman walk up to him, a broken toy in her hands. A bawling little girl was at her heels, clutching her mother's dress.
"Oh, thank goodness I found you," she said breathless, "Lyser is useless when it comes to these things, and he's an investigator for crying out loud."
"Grace," Edward said, "what's wrong?" She held the broken toy out to him.
"Some good for nothing hoodlum broke Elizabeth's toy," she said, "do you think you can fix it?" Ed looked at the shattered thing in her palm, and sighed.
"Al's a lot better at this kind of stuff," he said, "but I'll give it a shot." He took the pieces, putting them on the ground. He crouched, and put his hands together.
An electrical clap echoed in the street, a flash of blue light blinding Grace and Elizabeth. Edward disappeared behind the blue flash of light, reappearing as it subsided.
On the floor the toy was mended, cooling off as steam came off it. Ed let it sit for a while before picking it up.
"Thanks," Grace said gratefully, handing her daughter her fixed toy. Elizabeth smiled, going back to playing with it.
"I have other news too," Grace said, becoming a tad more serious. Ed shook his jacket, throwing back his braided hair.
"Yeah? What's that?" he asked.
"Lyser wanted me to tell you about a new man in town," she said, "he's supposed to be dangerous. A real killer." Ed rolled his eyes.
"Why does he want me to know this? I'm not a police guy," he said, walking past her.
"They say he uses alchemy," Grace said quickly.
Edward's footfalls stopped. He blinked, turning back to her.
"...alchemy?" he asked. She nodded.
"Mustang's been called in. He sent in an order for you, too," Grace said. Edward crossed his arms.
"And what does the punk want this time?" he asked agitated.
"You're to report to him in Command," she said, "and be ready to get your hands dirty." Edward said nothing, clenching his hands. He could hear the sound of steel on steel.
The sound of gritting will.
Part A – End
Author's Note:
Hey, Ashes2Steel here. How you doing? This is a second fanfic I'm writing. Here's the bad news: it's interrupting my Chrono Crusade Fanfic. Plus, since this is a weird fanfic – you can tell just the way I've introduced the characters. It's not your everyday Ed and Al adventure in Amestris. I'll explain as I go along – it might make sense, I'm not so sure. But anyways, each Part of the chapter will be divided, since I can't keep up with two stories. I also want to see what you all think. Do you like it, or am I wasting my time? Help me decide, please!