I don't do author notes very often, so please read this one.

Summary: When Alphonse got his body back, he became sick… really sick. The medicine needed to cure him is expensive, far too expensive for Ed; a mere major. Completely distraught, Ed seeks out Mustang who comes up with the perfect solution-get himself a promotion. Now Ed, possibly the worst solider in the history of Amestris, has to transform into the perfect military man. Even if he loses himself along the way… he has to do did. For Al.

Pairings: RoyxEd, Brotherly!EdxAl

Warning: Forced OOC

Okay, this will have some OCs, but their just there to help move the plot forward, not to hook up with anyone or anything. This is mainly Ed-centric though (with Roy, Havoc, Al ect) but, being realistic, the entire military will know who Ed is and the entire military is not in Brotherhood.

This does not start as soon as Al gets his body back; it starts later on in the summary you all (hopefully) read.

In the anime Brigadier Generals were simply called Generals (at least I think…), so that is what I am going to do. Edward is a Brigadier General here, meaning he has his own team (like a squad) like Mustang. I'm using the ranks based off of a Fullmetal Alchemist site I found. Also, the guys you see at the beginning here will probably pop up in later chapters, but they are not main characters in this story. EDIT: Okay, I lied… they kind of are. Well, Johnson is.

Normal disclaimer apply.

Now that that is over, on with the story!

Don't look up, just let them think
There's no place else you'd rather be

You're always on display
For everyone to watch and learn from
Don't you know by now? You can't turn back
Because this road is all you'll ever have

-Fences by Paramore

"Seriously," Johnson whined to Anderson as he sat down at his table in the Mess Hall, "have you seen the list of errands the General gave me?"

"Which General?" asked Bruno, as he joined the two.

"Who do you think?" Johnson said forlornly.

"Elric?"

"Elric."

"Its like he's trying to kill us!" Bruno exclaimed.

"Asshole, just wants a promotion," he agreed.

"Damn straight that's all he wants! Probably been trying to get into the Higher up's good books since he enrolled!"

"Whoa now, that's a bit rough. I heard he joined up when he was twelve," interrupted Anderson, finally joining in the conversation.

"Hey, I wouldn't put it past him."

"Yeah, have you seen the man? He's a complete work-a-holic."

"Its like he's not even human!"

"And if we have so much as a hair out of place, he freaks out."

"Okay!" Anderson cut in, "I get it! You don't like him! But the way the guys around here act towards him… it's just a bit extreme, you know?"

"Have you ever met him?" Johnson asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Well… no…"

"Then you have no say in this," he snapped. Both Bruno and Johnson had turned to look at the third member of their group, their eyebrows furrowed and there jaws set. Anderson, seeing a lost cause when he saw one, raised his hands in a metaphorical sign of surrender and said quickly, "Hey! I get it, I was just trying to get you two to give this guy a break."

"A break-" Bruno started.

"Ok, ok! You guys are the experts; I've never met him! Just… try stay open minded. Give him a chance," Anderson cut in.

"Why?" Johnson said, leaning back in his chair, "He's never given any of us one."

Anderson shrugged and looked strangely uncomfortable at the question, "In my experience, people usually have a reason to act as harsh this guy sounds to be."

"Whatever," Bruno scoffed. And, with that final word, the subject was changed.

Ed's POV

"I must say, Brigadier General, at first I wasn't too sure about you, but you are quiet amazing."

"Yes, the way you whip those Privates into shape! You don't take any crap, I like that about a solider."

"Never seen a more efficient man."

"Definitely. Good work, Elric."

"Thank-you, sirs," I said to them, flashing the smile I had perfected after hours in front of the mirror. "Your support means a lot."

The four officers (the ones that had called out to me as I passed them in the hallway, each much higher on the food chain than myself) grinned at me.

I hated all of them. They didn't actually like me. Not for who I was as a person, anyway. I was useful to them. I kept the younger and lower soldiers in line and if you had a job for me, I got it done as fast as I possibly could. I was, in their eyes, the perfect solider.

That was why at each complement and political comment they gave I had to bite my tongue to stop the younger, truer me from lashing out with some insulting comment that would, no-doubt, get me fired. That wouldn't work for long though. I could feel it; my patience was waning.

"I'm sorry if this sounds impolite of me, sirs," I said smoothly, "but I really should be going," I gestured to the heavy stack of paperwork in my arms, "I have a lot of work to do and I've been gone for a good half hour; I don't like leaving my team unmanned."

"How very prudent of you, General," the closest man to me praised.

"That's our Elric," the man next to him smiled, "Business first, a very good quality in a solider."

"And I must agree," said the man across from the first, "leaving soldiers unattended is just like asking them to procrastinate."

"Well, then," the last one interrupted the others constant dribble. "We shouldn't keep you."

"Dismissed, sirs?" I asked.

"Dismissed," he said.

I saluted them all keenly before refastening my papers and racing down the corridor, least one of them changed their mind.

As I walked, I was half-tempted to keep my head down and refuse to look at any of the other military officers I passed but I knew I couldn't. Those of higher rank were behind me, watching me retreat. Now that I had the perfect chance to further improve my reputation I just couldn't pass it up. So instead of running down the corridor back to the safety of my office, I slowed my walk to a confident swagger. I threw my head back proudly and made sure to look each person I passed in the eye. I somehow managed to survey dominance over each of them (as each was of lower rank) and look as though I was looking down my nose at them; even though I was shor- I wasn't their height. Not short! Just… not as tall.

I hated how each would shrink back from my gaze and lower their eyes. I made sure to portray nothing of this though, and instead displayed the Mustang-like smirk that had made me so freaking mad in the past. I was sure that was how each passing person felt when they looked at me.

That didn't matter though. I had worked so hard to become Brigadier General, I couldn't throw it all away for a few unkempt emotions.

"Look at him," I heard one person say to his companion, a Sergeant, as I passed. The Major obviously thought he was being quiet.

"I know! He's so full of it!" she, the Sergeant, agreed.

"I honestly don't know how he lives with himself," he replied.

I know the girl had said something back to the Major but I had stepped too far away to hear it.

I ignored their words, and continued on.

I lifted my chin a little higher and smirked a little wider on the outside, but on the inside I felt wounded by their words.

How did I live with myself?

Alphonse. That was my automatic response. I lived for Alphonse. He was all that mattered.

So I kept walking. I would continue with my insults and continue sucking up to those I hated.

For Alphonse.