~ The Heart of a Soldier ~
Summary: With war on the doorstep of Amestris and a mandatory draft in place, Edward and Alphonse are forced into the military to fight for the future of their country. With perils around every corner and a family waiting for their return, can the Elric brothers endure the challenges that lie ahead?
Disclaimer: I do not own Fullmetal Alchemist or any of the characters.
Edward and Winry stood in front of the ominous door to the Fuhrer's office, their fingers laced together in an attempt to push away the dread and worse case scenarios.
"Ed..." she softly spoke, tightening her grip on his rough and calloused hand. After all the hell they had managed to make it through it was hard to believe something like this would happen; something as ridiculous as war.
"Win, its going to be alright." Ed offered, raising her chin with his index finger as her blue sapphires meeting his golden hues. He could still see the pool of emotions hidden behind her strength, the same worry and confusion that made itself present when the military unexpectedly showed up on their doorstep.
Wiping away the tear that escaped his wife's eye, Edward gave a small smile in attempt to cheer her up. "Let me see what this is all about, it might be that I'm not needed anymore."
Winry returned the smile, running her hand over his right shoulder while once again reminding herself that he had overcome every obstacle that threatened to stop him; he had kept his promise to himself and Al. The man that stood before her was strong and determined, and for that reason she knew that he would be successfully drafted into the military. Especially since it was an emergency draft that stole the right for a person to decline. One way or another her husband would see the perils of war.
"J-just make it back to me-, to us. Please Ed..."
The Elric brother slowly nodded before placing his hand on Winry's stomach, noticing that her baby bump had grown a bit bigger. "I promise."
Her fingers grasped his in a last desperate attempt to hold onto the love of her life, slowly letting Ed slip away. She had to remind herself that he was just going into the Fuhrer's office, not the battle field.
A tear paved its way down her soft cheek as Edward was stolen from her sight, the wooden door offering only worries and heart ache.
(())
Stepping into the office, Edward was greeted by several familiar faces. Fuhrer Grumman was sitting at his desk with Mustang, Hawkeye, and Al standing in front. At the sight of his brother, Ed's heart dropped to his stomach.
He was dressed in uniform.
"Ah, so you made it." greeted Grumman as everyone's gaze shifted to the origin of the welcome. The frustrated blonde ignored the greeting and walked up to Al, shaking his head at the sight he beheld.
"So they got you too, huh?"
Al gave a weak smile and nodded. "Yeah, who would of guessed we'd end up as soldiers?"
Ed turned and eyed the newly appointed Fuhrer. "So what's this all about?"
Grumman dismissed the irritation in the ex-alchemists voice and stood up, looking across the faces of those that stood before him. "I've called you here to brief you on what lies ahead." he paused for added effect, watching the eyes of the four. "As you know, this is a mandatory draft. I've called you to my office to discuss the issues at hand."
"Issues?" mocked Ed. "This whole ordeal better be something more important than damn issues!" his voice trembled slightly at the thought of Winry and Al. He'd be damned if he would risk his life again to solve the "issues" of the military.
"Fair enough." relieved Grumman as he proceeded to explain. "There has been a major security breach on the northern border of Drachma. They have successfully infiltrated the wall of Briggs and flooded into the northern region of Amestris, setting up camps and small bases to pool their troops and gain a foothold in this country."
"You mean-," Ed stuttered as he began adding ones and twos. "Amestris is at war?"
Grumman nodded and leaned back in his chair. "Precisely. Troops are being sent north as we speak to prevent the Drachman's from gaining an even larger foothold. With luck, we should be able to contain them within the northern area and keep them at bay."
"But," Mustang chimed in, throttling his forehead with his thumb and index. "With this kind of opportunity presenting itself you know very well that Drachma will put everything they have into this. Its not every day that the wall of Briggs falls." Roy eyed the man at the desk, his years as a soldier made him very hard to fool. "So cut the bullshit and tell us why we're here. Surely its not to inform us of a tactical play they we both know wont hold."
Their eyes locked, inviting tension to the room. Roy had made it through the hell of the Ishvalan war of extermination. If he was going to war, then he wanted the rhyme and reason for it. No shenanigans, no bullshit. Just the hard facts.
"Very well."
Riza glanced over to the Elric brothers. Alphonse seemed to be calm and collected, willing to hear the whole thing out. Edward, however, was just like Roy. She could see the tension in his shoulders and the frustration in his jaw as he kept his anger in check; he was, after all, speaking to the Fuhrer.
"I've called you here today because you will serve a purpose in the war. It is wasteful to have you merely exchanging shots with the northerners." Grumman turned to Roy. "Roy Mustang, I'm sending you to the north to help keep the Drachma's in check, hopefully driving their forces back. As of right now your alchemic talents are to be put to use as a weapon of war, protecting Amestrians and abolishing Drachman soldiers. With you I am sending Alphonse Elric to aid in your endeavors on the front line."
The Fuhrer's focus shifted to Al. "You, young man, are officially a state alchemist and on active duty as such."
Ed's fists balled with white knuckles. "You cant send my brother up north!"
"As for you-," Grumman continued, letting his authority over ride the out of place comment. "I am sending you and Riza Hawkeye to a camp being formed just north of West City. Three quarters of our western border is shared with Drachma, you two will keep an eye out for any border crossings."
"So we're just back up? You mean your sending me to an area that's not even classified as a war zone?" Ed protested, there's no way he would let his little brother fight on the front lines by himself.
"With all do respect-," Grumman countered. "You cant use your alchemy anymore, is that correct?" Edward froze, he had almost forgotten. "With that said-," he continued "Your brother and Mustang's talents are needed on the front lines. You and Riza will be better suited in the west. Besides, it means that you'll have a better chance at returning home to your loved ones."
Edward swallowed the lump in his throat. He hated to admit it, but Grumman was right. With him and Riza in the west it would mean that he was out of harms way, at least he hoped. It meant that he had a much better chance at returning home to Winry and the baby; to his family.
"Are there any objections?" the question was pointless. It wasn't like they could object the idea and walk away, it was only a symbol of authority.
"Good. Roy, Alphonse. There is a train here in Central that will take you north. Once there I want you to join the fight, you cant miss our camp. As for you Edward and Riza, there is also a train here in Central that will take you to West City. Once there I want you to travel north until you find our western outpost. Your job is to kill anyone attempting to cross our border. Simple as that."
Roy and Riza nodded, saluting as they received their orders. As for Ed and Al; they both froze. Kill? I mean sure it was a war... But it didn't quite sink in until their fear was expressed as an order. The brothers both slowly saluted the Fuhrer, following Roy and Riza out the door.
"Edward!" Winry cried as she arose from the hallway bench, running up and wrapping her arms around him. Her eyes met his before suddenly noticing Al.
"Al..." she whispered as she hugged him tight, pulling away and observing the clothes he was garbed in. "Y-your in a uniform..." She knew Ed was going to war, and to see him in a military outfit seemed unbearable. But Alphonse? He had just got his body back, they were just stating to enjoy the peace as a family. After all he had been though, being stuck in a metal prison for years, he didn't deserve this. Neither of them did.
"Yeah, I arrived in Central and they took me to get me outfitted. I didn't have much of a choice seeing how it was a mandatory draft." he tugged at the corner of his uniform as if to give them a better view. "Kinda weird right?"
Winry nodded. He had grown up so much, his features much stronger and healthier than when he was nothing more than a skeleton. His hair had grown longer since last time and his stance was broader. He was almost as tall as Edward now.
"Its not fair... why do they need you? Aren't there-," her eyes swelled up with tears while she fought to finish. "Other soldiers?"
Edward pulled her close as she sobbed into his shoulder, her arms wrapped tightly around his torso. She couldn't lose them, not now, not after all they had gone though.
"Don't worry, I'll keep Edward safe for you." reassured Riza, her heart breaking for the young woman.
"Yeah, and I cant let Al die on me anytime soon. He still owes me lunch." Roy added, grinning as he eyed the younger Elric.
Winry reappeared from Edward's shoulder with tear stricken eyes. "Y-you mean they're separating you two?" she looked to her husband for an answer, anything that would lift her sorrows. All he could offer was a soft smile as he wiped away her tears.
"It wont be for long, I promise. We'll be back together soon, back as a family."
She sniffled and gave a small cough from being so upset. Edward unwrapped her arms and squeezed her trembling hands in affection. "I have to go now, there's a train waiting to take me west. Plus, they're not even sending me to a war zone; I'm just keeping an eye out for border crossings. I'll be home before you know it."
With a gentle and loving kiss to her forehead, Ed said his goodbyes and promised to make it back home to her no matter what.
"At least promise me you'll write..."
"Promise." confirmed Ed with a smile. "I swear Winry, I wont leave you with letters as a memory-," He put his hand over his heart.
"I'll come home."
Edward tugged at his collar, unsure if he could survive a war in this getup. The uniform fit perfect, although it wasn't quite as tight as his black outfit he had worn as a teenager. But the material! If only he could have his soft and cottony clothes again.
"The military looks good on you Fullmetal."
Ed sighed while fiddling with anything that felt weird. "Yeah, well hopefully I wont have to get use to it." Everyone chuckled in an attempt to maintain high spirits, but silence soon settled in as they walked to the platform.
"Al..." spoke the elder Elric as they came to a stop in front of two separate trains. "Listen, I couldn't say it back there but I want you to know-," Ed paused and searched for the right words. "Just don't die on me. I need you to come home. I would be right there with you if I could but-," His words trailed off, prompting Al to place a hand on his shoulder.
"I know brother. I'll be careful, but its you who needs to return home to Winry. Just don't do anything reckless, okay?"
Ed turned a light shade of red and nodded. "Yeah, but I don't know what I'd do without you..." he trailed off.
Alphonse smiled and looked to his big brother, the person who gave him his flesh and bone back; who made him human again.
"If I- well If I don't come back then you need to live on for me; for Winry and the baby. You'll always be my big brother, but you have a family now; a family bigger than just the two of us. You have to be there for them, you have to make it home." Al sighed and shifted his gaze to the floor. "Besides, this war is a sort of redemption for me. A chance to repay the people who supported and died for me." A tear formed in the corner of his eye. "Its a chance to prove to myself that I was worth all the effort we put into getting our bodies back."
Ed stared at his younger brother, unsure what to even say. "Just come home, alright?"
Al nodded and wiped away the tear before it could leave his eye.
"Keep my subordinate safe Fullmetal." added Roy with a grin. "I still need her."
Ed chuckled and glanced over to Riza. "Nah, she'll be the one saving my ass. You can bet on it."
Riza suppressed a laugh and decided to add her farewell too. "I'll keep your brother safe Alphonse, just make sure Roy doesn't get too wet up north."
Mustang frowned and shot her a glare. "Why? So I don't become useless?"
Riza grinned and shrugged her shoulders. "Something like that."
"Damn... Why did they have to separate us? I mean... It makes sense military wise, but still." Ed and Al grinned at each other and shook their heads in unison.
"Because it would be way to easy." they said together. And they were right, if it was a hard and death defying job; they would get it. That's how it worked.
The four soldiers would have kept talking and delaying the inevitable, but a loud train whistle reminded them of their duty. There wasn't enough time to say what needed to be said, there never is. All they could do was wave and hope that the other knew what they weren't able to express. Even though the trains were only several feet apart, it felt as if they were worlds away.
"You've changed." complimented Riza while she took her seat across from Ed, the train getting ready to depart.
"How so?"
The hawk's eye grinned as she remembered a young hot headed alchemist she once knew, ready to take on the world and anyone who stood in his way.
"You've grown up and become a man. Your not a naïve little boy anymore. You have a wife and an impending child, I'd say you've made something out of your self."
Ed smiled as he though of Winry. Riza was right, he had changed a lot since his early days. "Yeah, so has Al. When I look at him now he's not the same suite of armor that would stay up all night and worry about ever eating an apple pie again. I guess, in a way, he was always the more mature one."
The train whistled and pushed off, slowly leaving the station on rails of dread. They were going to war. And when the time came, he would have to take a life; the very thing him and Al swore never to do.
"I just hope Al isn't shell shocked by the front line. I hope he'll be able to, you know..."
"Take a life?" Riza finished.
Ed slowly nodded and stared out the window, watching people pass by as they sat and waited. He was worried about Al, but what about himself? Could he take a life when it was necessary? I mean it was war, they are the bad guys. Right?
"I bet it's easier to do it in your head than in real life..." The fearful blonde quietly pondered. Riza watched as he lost himself in the passing scenery.
"It always is."
Edward didn't respond, all he could do was hope and pray he would make it back to Winry and Al.
"I'll come home." he whispered, fingering the wedding ring that sat on his left hand.
Phew! Finally got chapter one under wraps! I've literally been writing, thinking and adjusting this over and over again for quite a while. (Both in my head and in the document.)
So yay! XD
My updating will be periodically due to all the proofreading and adjustments I make, so stick around! Actually, (A little inside scoop) I spent three days on the segment where Ed and Winry are standing in front of the Fuhrer's door; I wanted to make sure it was just right XD
Hahaha, I better start writing chapter two! I gotta get all these ideas on paper before I loose em'! (Or would it be getting it on a computer?)
Anyways! If you liked it feel free to drop a review, it would be awesome to see your thoughts. Thanks so much!
Have a wonderfully blessed day!