Hey, This is the first chapter to a story that's been mulling about in my head for ages. I already have the second chapter written, so that should be up in about a week. A wonderfully amazing human has let me bounce Ideas off of them and has also proofread and added things to the story. She is what made this whole thing possible. Send them some metaphysical love! (They didn't want me to share their handle.) Enjoy the story folks!
It was a humid day in Hinesville, Georgia; not that that was out of the ordinary. It smelled like warm soil and budding plants inside of the nursery. The last customer of Evelynn's shift had just left; the door bells jingling in reprieve. She wiped her dirt crusted hands on a green apron.
"Evvy, great work today, as always." A man with large round eyeglasses grinned.
"Thank you Mr. Fulton." The girl sent a blazing smile towards the spindly old man.
"The customers can really tell how much work you put into these plants. I reckon the plants can too with how beautiful they have been blossoming this season." He chuckled.
"Really sir, you flatter me. Are you sure it isn't your dashing good looks that has the flowers so rush with beauty?" Evelynn batted her eyelashes and frounced towards the back door.
"Flattery works very well on me, do go on." He stretched his right hand out and bowed, as if he were asking for a dance. Evelynn laughed.
"See you tomorrow!" She called out, almost at the door.
"Wait! I have something I need to give you." He reached into the pocket of his green apron and pulled out a silver chain, it had a small blue jay on it. The girl let out a breath, and looked at the dangling bird in awe.
"I know you don't like to have a big fuss made, so I thought I'd give you your birthday gift fashionably late." He handed the necklace to the shocked girl.
"Really, you shouldn't have. I really appreciate the gesture, but I just can't take it." She smiled softly and tried to return the gift.
"I'm not taking no for an answer missy, it's a special charm. It's supposed to help with clarity and to provide bravery in the most terrifying situations. Or something like that. I know you already have those skills, but sometimes a little something to lean on helps a whole lot. Now run along. You shouldn't be outdoors to long causing a ruckus when I can feel a storm coming. Old bones, they can sense these things." He nodded omnisciently
Evelynn giggled and gave a salute "Yes sir." She turned around and reached for the door handle, pausing for a moment. "I really do appreciate it sir, thank you" She shot a grateful smile over her shoulder and left the nursery.
A much too small teen rode home on her much too small bike, clasping a silver chain and sparkling bird in her fist. The wind whipped cooly against her face, making the heat a tad more bearable. The ride from work to home was twenty-five minutes, not nearly long enough for this young girl. After a couple of turns and one close call with a car, she was home. She latched her bike to the back gate and tried to slip into the house as quietly as she could. Maybe if she got into the house unnoticed she could start a book she'd been wanting to read. Maybe she could have some cookies and drink an Arnold Palmer on the rickety old back porch swing. Maybe she could-
"Evelynn Clare Valdez! Get your ass over here now!"
Dang. There go those plans.
"Coming Mother!"
The sweaty teen walked briskly through the kitchen, towards the front door and her mother. A hand tangled in Evelynn's hair dragging the wincing teen closer to the enraged woman.
"And what do you think you're doing? Huh? Trying to hide from me?!" The hand tightened its grip as her mother's words increased in volume.
"You're not getting off that easy. Don't think I forgot about your little stunt last Thursday. I mean really, how hard is it to do the things I ask of you. You are a part of this household. My child. You listen to me! I'm heading out for a drink. When I come home I want the house to be sparkling. I'm having a . . . guest over tonight" The matriarch snarled. "If even one thing is out of place when I return, you'll have hell to pay."
Evelynn was dragged impossibly closer to her mother's face. The bourbon hot breath stinging her eyes and clogging her nose.
"Do. You. Understand."
Her throat convulsed a barely audible "Yes Ma'am."
Evelynn was shoved to the ground harshly as her mother's hand untangled itself from her curly black hair. Her mother snorted.
"Ungrateful whelp."
The door was slammed shut, the bang echoing down the hallway.
'At Least that's over, it really wasn't too bad this time'
Rubbing her head and back the crouched girl looked out the window. A sunny sky met her gaze. Wait, no. Just there, over a few blocks were some gray clouds.
'Looks like Mr. Fulton was right, today is taking a turn for the better after all.'
If only she knew how wrong she was.
'I'm not supposed to leave the house, but really, when has that ever stopped me?' Evelynn put her shoes back on, slipped the necklace on, unlatched her bike, and set off after the rain clouds. She was pedaling so fast that the chains on her bike kept skipping. It didn't matter in the slightest to her. The only thing she was focused on was catching those rain clouds. This had been a game her Father taught her before he left. That when the sky is split in half; between the rain and sunshine you must pick a side. The best side to choose was the rainy one because it was always moving, and it could lead you somewhere fantastic and magical without you even noticing. Eventually the rain stopped, and when it stopped it would reveal what the clouds had been hiding the entire time, a rainbow, a mystery. The sky split in half is a fork in the road, and to just stand there and wait for it to merge is like giving up on your dreams. Quitting. No matter what life threw at her, Evelynn was not a quitter.
She was almost there now, she could feel the spray of not quite droplets on her skin, making her feel more motivated to catch those darn clouds. She could almost taste the freedom of finally catching up to those evasive drops. She looked down at her sparkling bird and gained more speed, determination setting in. The blood thrummed through her body, playing the part of metronome to the thunder and lightning concerto that was just ahead of her. She stood up hesitantly, the hill she was going down erasing her need to petal.
'I'll never be a quitter'
Her stance was taller and more confident. She leaned over.
'It's not good enough'
She reached farther, hips over handlebars. That's when she felt it, the rain cooling down her body in a great wave of chilling euphoria.
'I finally did it! I caught them!'
That's when it happened. A bright flash and a loud bang erupted. Didn't anyone ever tell her that metal and lightning don't mix?
Hot white pain turned into searing agony as the energy from the lightning tore at her cells. Then everything went black.
'Huh? What just happened?' She kept her eyes closed, trying to rub away the oncoming headache. It really felt like she bumped her head.
"Well, well, what do we have here? A mortal? How interesting."
Evelynn looked up frightened, but everything was so blindingly white it took a second for her eyes to adjust. She looked up to find a white humanoid static creature? With teeth?
'Oh nonononononono'
A white. Humanoid. Static. Creature. With teeth!
"Tr-Truth?"
Evelynn's throat spasmed in an attempt to swallow her surprise. Her eyes flitted to the large ominous gate behind Truth. A collection of murmurs was running through the room at a low buzz; coming from behind the intricately carved stone.
"It can't be" She shook her head vigorously, "it must be a dream."
"Oh, but it seems it can. This is quite real." Truth smirked
The sideways smile sent a shiver down her spine.
"In my attempt to humor this . . . situation, why am I here?" Evelynn questioned, shakily picking herself up off of the floor.
"Isn't that obvious?" Truths voice quirked like an upturned eyebrow. "You are here to play a game with me. Mortals are so predictable. I got tired of playing with the same ones. So I thought I'd bring a new chess piece to the board."
"That chess piece being me?" Evelynn motioned to herself.
"You are here aren't you?" Another smirk.
"Right, sorry" she winced. 'I really must have hit my head. This is all so crazy.'
"Assuming I get a choice in the manner; how do I play then?" Evelynn asked, taking an uncertain step back.
"Before that, I'll give you a choice. You can return to your side of the gate, or you can choose to proceed with the game." Truth paused.
"If you return to your side, the other will be completely unbalanced, and the timeline will be irreparably damaged."
"Wait a minute, which timeline?"
'This is starting to feel a bit to real for my liking. I know Truth is from the FMA series, but he really couldn't be serious about the other side of the gate. Parallel worlds is something I don't want to think about right now.'
"You recognized me so I assumed you knew about the Elric brothers and their role on the other side of the gate."
Evelynn gasped "Are you saying that the other side of the gate really is The Fullmetal universe? Or timeline?" she shook her head and brought her hands to her face, attempting to rub away her shock.
"That is correct. If you play the game, you can keep both sides balanced. If you win, you might even have a chance to return. You will not get a choice like this again, so choose wisely."
Truth gave her an appraising look.
'If I go back, I'll destroy one of my favorite stories, If I leave I might not ever come back. Not to mention how much mortal peril I would be in. Could I really just turn on everyone in the FMA universe? The series kept me happy and occupied. It raised me more than my Mother. It taught me values, and the meaning of true bravery and integrity. Is leaving really so bad? To have a break from my current life. From my mother? I can't just leave the nursery and Mr. Fulton. He'd have by head. But I could meet amazing new people. I could change something, really make a difference.' She clutched the charm around her neck, squeezing so hard it felt like it would break. 'I'm sorry Mr. Fulton'
"I'll do it." Evelynn said with a voice and head nod that was much more confident then she felt.
"Are you sure? This is your last chance."
Evelynn took a deep breath and relaxed her tensed muscles.
"How do I play?" She replied.
Truths face broke out into a wide grin with too much teeth. He stepped forward and splayed his arms wide.
"You'll catch on eventually." His face nearly splitting because of his murmurs went from a low buzz to a violent roar. Long black shadowy limbs reached from behind the gate and grabbed the quaking girl. Evelynn screamed and crumbled to the ground. Her whole body was shrieking in protest, as if it was being ripped apart and reassembled. Every thread of her being was scorched and pulled my the black hands, Dragging her back towards the gate like a worn doll. A blinding silver light emitted from the young girls tired form and outshone the white of Truths domain. She looked up with tear filled eyes and saw the hints of an unsettling smile before her vision flickered and faded into black.
