Chapter 2
"What?" The golden eyes gave an out a feeling of disbelieve and almost a faint trace of a joyful surprise. Roy smiled knowing what this was going to be like.
"The new Fuhrer thought it would show our undying thanks to the ' Hero of the People Alchemist who has long left the ranks of this military but lives on in the minds of citizens of this state." Roy sarcastically quoted the Fuhrer himself, finding satisfaction in Ed's comedical shock.
The alchemist recovered quickly and then found the situation slightly ironically. He then found himself snorting as he spoke. "Hated in life, loved in death, huh?"
The older man nodded his head sympathetically and then it hit him, he needed to find out a few things. "Where the hell were you, Fullmetal?"
Fullmetal took no notice at how serious the conversation had turned and just answered like the subordinate he was, a very bad one. "Funny that you would say hell…"
A slight angry flush came across the Bridger General's face as he found Edward to be just as bit as stubborn as usually but the hell comment did irk him a bit
"Fine." The alchemist didn't fell up to being screeched at for at the moment he felt the sensation of bugs crawling leaving paths of burnt flesh under his skin, coming on again. "Do you know what happened in the underground city?"
Roy nodded, for Rose had told him when she had brought in the younger; memory deprived, now human, Alphonse into Central headquarters. "Through the gate," Ed began, "is another world, you see…"
"Yes, yes, the Fuhrer told us about that," Roy stated as if it was common knowledge giving Edward a complete surprise. The Colonel noticing the goofy face Ed was giving out continued, "Apparently the new Fuhrer is prepping us for a sort of "investigation, integration" of this other world. But I will explain more after this party of yours."
The Fullmetal Alchemist really, really wanted to demand an explanation right at the moment, but the surprising truth was he wanted to crash his own death memorial so much more.
Ed awkwardly walked for he had quickly transmuted his leg giving it the ability to support he's weight but the knee and the ankle joints would not bend. It made he fell like one of those pirates he had learned about on the other side with peg legs. Roy felt the need to just keep walking at a normal pace through the city taking no notice of the other man falling behind.
"Colonel!" Ed tried to get Roy's attention.
Roy turned but just to correct him. "General, Bridger General, Fullmetal."
The slight twitch in Edward's eye was hardly noticed. Ed tried not to make a big deal knowing he was about to embarrass him self greatly and didn't need the "General" harassing him more then he would originally get.
"Umm…General?" Roy had already started to walk away from his subordinate but he felt some sort of obligation to stop and listen. He turned and stopped, looking at the alchemist with some sort of pissed of grumpy stare but soon found him-self annoyed.
For Edward had some how fallen backwards and sat on his butt looking down towards the ground in sort of a grimace. If Mustang hadn't of known by the way he was sweating and cursing under his breath, that Ed was in pain, he would have found this hilarious. He shook his head, his black hair lying across his eye patch in a lounged motion, as he walked towards the man sitting on the ground.
"What! Is your leg broken?" Roy bent over after compulsively throwing his hands in the air, inspection the plastic contraption. Ed just shook his head not looking at all into the eyes of General. Sighing, Roy tucked his arm under the boys shoulder, propping him up, allowing Ed to balance his weight between the two.
The truth was Edward's leg was just fine-well fine enough for a peg legged pirate. He would not dare look into the General's face as they made their way done the pathed streets of Central, that were oddly empty, for he was afraid that Roy would see through his lie and notice that Ed wouldn't dare stand up straight.
All of Central seemed to turn out for this special occasion, packing the whole center of town that was resident to a large clock tower. People gathered around the clock for a large wooden stage that seemed just to be built or maybe even alchemtized for that day.
Not only the people of Central turned up, there was a person in the crowd of all different colors. People with tan skin, like Rose, many citizens of the country Xing swarmed the street along a few woman bundled in furs the resembled the clothing the far north.
This is crap. How many people would really turn up, ignoring their normal daily lives just to see some boy tell them about how great his dead brother was, Ed thought. It wasn't really like I helped that many people, really…
They had made their way to a small bench in the back of the crowd with no notice and sat down. Apparently, most of these people really had no idea what so ever what Ed truly looked like at all which, of course, wasn't really a bad thing for Ed. He didn't particularly enjoy the thought of being mauled by an angry mob for impersonating the "Hero if the People".
"So, before the Ceremony starts, would you please tell me about who this bloody Fuhrer is?" Ed was talking from his side of his mouth hoping not to be overheard by noisy townsfolk. Forbiddingly the sky seemed to darken a bit for a cloud had moved over the sun.
Roy looked up wishfully, hoping the sun would come out again for it had grown cold in the park. "It was a surprise when he became the top dog, never heard of him before you see." Ed listened intently trying to hide the waves of pain that seemed to get stronger every time his heart beat. "I knew all along that after the fight with Bradley there would be no way they let me become head of state. I was surprised the higher ups even let me live. I had no idea I would be kept has a Brigdar General. For a while it was almost as everyone had forgotten what had happened."
The man sighed heavily, as if something seemed quite off for him. "Until, one day a man named Tom Riddle came into Central headquarters one day claiming that King Bradley had named him the next Fuhrer of Ametris. I was sure nobody would believe him. You know how it goes, Fullmetal?"
Ed nodded and said something he found to be much of his liking, "Extraordinary claims, call for extraordinary evidence, Colo…I mean General." Scoffing at almost being called Colonel again he continued.
"Yes, yes, you have learned that well haven't you…" It fell silent for a moment between the two men. During that moment Roy noticed how much Edward had grown up. If they had this conversation a while back Roy would have called him short and Ed would have gone into an incoherent rage by now. The silence seemed to become to awkward to carry on to the Flame continued, "Well, whatever he had shown the commanders who had interrogated him convinced them of his claim. The Fuhrer Tom Riddle has been accepted ever since."
"Sounds suspicious to me." Ed said bluntly stretching out on the bench, soon finding he completely regretted that move.
"I know, it was to me even the second he said that. I mean, King Bradley being homunculus and all." The thought was mutual between the two quick-witted men.
Ed looked at Roy giving him a devilish grin. "Now tell me "General", do you have plan yet?"
At first Roy was quite taken back at the turn of the conversation but almost immediately regained his pose. "Now, now, Shrimp, don't you have any common sense? I'm the devious basterd that conspired against the last Fuhrer, why wouldn't I have a plan to knock off this one?"
This caused booth of them to chuckle in to deep voices that seemed to have a melody of their own that was interrupted by the sound of a microphone's static. The both swung their heads around to see that a boy had taken front and center. He was tall, blonde, and dressed in the clothes that once adorned Ed.
Edward let out a gasp as he recognized who it was. A smiled played across Mustang's face as he saw Ed's reaction.
Alphonse Elric stood in front of the crowd.
He looked nervous, hell, he felt like puking on the crowd but he stood there steady like. Approaching the microphone, he saw many familiar faces in the crowd all gleaming up at him giving him courage.
"Hi!" he smiled, as the crowd grew quiet. "I'm Alphonse Elric, Edward Elric's little brother. I would like to thank you for coming here today but I would also like to apologize." This confused the majority of the crowd. " I know my brother would think this is utterly ridiculous waste of time and money that could be used for better things. So, I'm going to try my best to respect his wishes and not cause a whole big deal about this day or whatever happened on it. This may confuse or go against some of your believes, but brother didn't believe the lives of others should stop when someone die because the world keeps on going anyway."
Al backed away from the edge of the wooden stage and turned back to get off. Everything had grown quiet for the crowd had no idea how to react, well, accept for one.
One cheer came from the crowd that consisted of "tell it to them" and "I love you brother". Al stopped and looked at that person in curiosity.
It was like seeing a ghost to him. A ghost that seemed very alive.
Running, sprinting, were the only two words Al could think of as he jumped of the side of the stage running through the crowd. He could have flattened the people in front of him but luckily they all moved.
Ed just sat there as his brother ran frantically through the crowd that was still in a daze from the speech. He couldn't have willed the power to get up anyway, the squirming feeling had came back with sharp pains cutting into his stomach like a dull sword. But he had assumed he could still speak, so he called out for Al. He opened his mouth but the only thing that came out was blood.
Falling wasn't a sensation that Edward enjoyed at all and as he hit the grown in an unconscious state he dreamt of how Winry would punish him for completely losing her automail.
Well, this is the second chapter. It took me so long to update because my friend just had to write a chapter to her other story ARRGGGG!!!! I have a few Author notes that will annoy most. The extraordinary claim phrase is actual quoted from some famous author that I can't remember is name at the moment. Quite famous, right? Now the thing is I will be concentrating on this fanfic the most so expect updates!!!
We will get to the Harry potter stuff so be patient; I'm creating a plot here.
