Author's Note: Revised, and changed to chapter one!

C H A P T E R O N E

Fallen Idol

The mahogany table shook slightly as a cell phone danced across the glass top, vibrating and playing it's ringtone loudly. It's owner was roused slowly, and eventually, a hand clapped down on the phone, stopping it's jumping around and stared at the caller ID before flipping it open.

"This had better be good, you woke me up." Edward Elric rasped.

Saturday nights were his night off, meaning he could freely do whatever the hell he wanted starting at seven. Tonight he chose to sleep, considering he had been pulling all nighters a couple times during the long week.

"So that's what you've been doing for the past five hours? You lazy son of a bitch, I'm jealous." Cody Miller mused on the other end. His voice was much deeper than Edward's even though he wasn't that much older than him. "Anyways, I'm calling about the Coleman's case; that billionaire's mansion we were just at earlier today?"

Edward massaged his left temple, "Yeah, what about it?"

There was a heavy sigh, "The Investigations and Intelligence Department came up with a few leads. I went over them already, but since your head of this case you need to come into HQ and take a look."

"Basically you want my permission to go hunt down some possible suspects." Edward glanced at the clock, "Whatever, I'll come in. Oh, by the way, your stupid mutt devoured my pillows."

"I always did think your house needed some redecorating… And she's not a mutt, she's a purebred German Sheppard."

Edward rolled his eyes, "I want your dog out of my house, Cody."

As if on cue, a black dog plodded into the room carrying a tennis ball in her mouth. Edward scrunched his nose up as it was dropped to his feet. Slobber melted to the wood floor below.

"Bring Sam with you then, I will just have to leave her at Damon's house or something while my apartment is finished up."

"Good." Edward stood up, plucking the royal blue leash from the table his phone had previously been resting on and clipping it to Sam's collar. "I'll see you in ten."

"I'll be waiting outside your office." Cody replied and hung up.

Edward flipped his phone shut as he lead Sam toward the front door. The Sheppard gave a whine and attempted to drag Edward back to the tennis ball. Since he was just relieved to be getting the dog out of Alphonse and his town house he relented and allowed Sam to lead him back to the couch and grab her ball.

The first few weeks with getting Sam's leash on had been a hassle, but eventually she had warmed up to him and was being surprisingly good, however, Cody had warned him about her high spirited nature and how she liked to run off on walks if there was another dog. Which was why Edward was taking Sam to Headquarters in his car instead.

Edward didn't bother changing out of his faded jeans or his long-sleeve navy blue button up for two reasons. One, he hated that ridiculous military uniform. Secondly, it was actually not too cold out, even with November approaching. So, he was content in what he had on. Did he care if someone bitched him out for his lack of appropriate attire?

Definitely not.

Writing a quick note for Alphonse on the center island in the kitchen, Edward lead Sam along beside him as he put on his shoes and grabbed his car keys out of his black overcoat that he had worn earlier to Headquarters. When he got outside and was prepared to let Sam jump up into the new sleek black G37 Infiniti Coupe.

"So, there are a few rules to riding in this car," he began, though Sam was hardly listening. She was too concerned with dropping the tennis ball on the driveway and catching it before it bounced off. Edward continued, convinced that he could get through to the Sheppard. "No peeing, shitting, puking, slobbering, or ruining anything. Period. If you do, you're dead." He warned, jabbing his left index finger at Sam.

The Sheppard stared up at him with her head canted off to the side, seeming clueless.

"Good, glad we cleared that up."

Edward unlocked his car as he lead Sam around to the passenger side of the car before he pointed at him again. "No barking either, I've heard enough of it over the last few weeks."

Sam looked at him puzzled again, except this time she added a lively bark as if to be a smartass.

With a sneer, Edward opened the door. While he moved a few boxes of files from the front seat to the back he set Sam's leash down underneath his foot just to make sure she didn't run off.

Suddenly, another bark filled the air, and when Edward pulled his head out of the car to look he saw a car passing by with a gray mutt hanging it's head out the window. He looked down at Sam then, only to realize that she wasn't there. Instead, she had darted off after the dog that was in the car.

"Fuck!" Edward shut the door and took off down the sidewalk. "Sam, sit!" he commanded. It didn't work. Sam kept on going with an excited bark, already cutting the corner to chance the car as it turned on to the main road that lead back toward downtown.

Edward was officially going to kill this animal. He thought it would make for an interesting story; having to kill Cody's dog after seeing it as a necessary punishment for causing complete and utter chaos the last few weeks. Honestly, the dog's name should've been called "Calamity" instead of Samantha.

Pumping his legs as fast as he could, Edward found himself exiting the neighborhood and passing the first building that towered ahead; marking the first street of downtown Central. Rounding the corner, Edward once again, hollered ahead at Sam, listening as the people he passed on the street chuckled or gasped, mumbling about how unfortunate it was to be chasing a dog, or muttering insults about how the Sheppard should be better trained. The last remark didn't make him feel as bad considering Sam wasn't his dog.

Soon enough he came to it; Vine and Windsor—one of the busiest intersections in downtown Central. He shouldn't have been worried about Sam getting hit, she was already weaving in and out of cars and was safely on the other side of the street. No, he should've been worried about himself getting hit, but his selflessness took over and instinct drove him out into the street. The first sedan he dodged barely, and the van in the next lane stopped just in time to avoid hitting him.

"S—!"

BAM!

Something had rammed into his side, shattering his ribcage with such force that when he hit the ground he swore he could hear his head crack open on the cement. Blood gathered in his mouth as suddenly people were standing over him, asking him stupid questions like, "Are you okay?" or "Do you need an ambulance?". He couldn't speak; the pain seemed to have vanished; as if his body had done him mercy and had canceled it out. But he knew that wasn't true…he was dying…this was the end. Who would've thought that something so typical like this would happen to someone as untypical as himself?

Everything was slowing down and melting together. He didn't understand anything anyone was saying to him now, and there were no recognizable faces. All he could recognize was the thick taste of iron in his mouth.

Someone shook him, but it didn't help. In fact, he only closed his eyes tighter. This was it, the end, and here he thought alchemy was going to be the true cause of his death. But fate had other plans… Plans that would expose the strong, and punnish the sinners.

Edward coughed up more blood from his lungs, turning onto his side and allowing the crimson liquid to seep from the corner of his lips and to the street below. Reality seemed to far away...so unreal that he knew he was gone. His body was shutting down, and he could feel it as his thoughts, movements, breaths, and ultimately his heart, stopped.