Chapter Two: Everything Changed
"Interesting, a world of magic." Edward smiled. The idea fascinated him. He could only imagine all the different kinds of spells and curses that existed. Maybe there was a spell to get his body back…..
He quickly perished the thought. He couldn't get his body back without Al—and who knows where he is. Ed wasn't sure if Al travelled to this world as well, but he had to find his way back to him somehow. He looked down at his gloved hand, remembering the automail underneath. It reminded him of the goal he and Al had, and the reason they started their journey.
"Oi." Lucy said, after a few moments of silence. "Why are you acting like this is all new to you? I mean, everybody knows magic exists."
Ed looked down at the ground. Once they arrived back in this Magnolia, Lucy treated him to a meal at the local restaurant. She was reluctant to use her sack of money, but Al hadn't eaten in a while. She was being unusually nice to someone who just replaced one of her friends. Then again, he had information she wanted.
"What is going on?" Lucy asked.
"It's a long story." Ed said…
Earlier that day (in Central City, Amestris)
"Oi, get back here!" Ed shouted, rounding the corner. He jumped over some cluttered garbage and spun around a pedestrian. The man was slipping through his fingers, and the Colonel would kill him if he loses this guy. Edward clapped his hands together and slammed them against the ground, the pavement crackling. A wall of concrete rose around the man, creating a giant box. In little time, the man busted a hole in the side and escaped and darted up the nearby alleyway. Ed cursed and slammed his hands on the brick wall next to him, creating another wall at the end of the alleyway. The man slowed down, now cornered.
"The Fullmetal Alchemist." The man muttered and turned around. At the same time, Ed transmuted his automail arm into a dagger. "And to what do I owe the pleasure?"
"Calder Whiterose." Edward responded. "Ex-State Alchemist who went missing shortly after the Ishval war. Suddenly, all these years later, he shows up again. It would strike anyone as suspicious."
Calder cracked a smile. "It's the old man, isn't it?"
Edward gritted his teeth, remembering the instructions King Bradley told him:
'Bring him back. Dead.'
Calder let out an obnoxious laugh. "Well, I guess he would want to shut me up at some point."
"What?" A flash of confusion spread across his face.
Calder cracked his knuckles and spread out his fingers. "Oi, Fullmetal….I assume you know my alias when I was still working as a dog of the military?"
"The Jeweled Alchemist."
Calder smiled. "That name brings back so many memories." Calder slammed his hands on the brick wall, revealing the transmutation circle tattoo on the back of his hand. Bricks flew out of the wall and Ed jumped up and maneuvered around them, although one got him in his side. He stumbled backwards, barely missing a hit by a second brick. Calder picked up a brick and a blue light was emitted, and the brick turned into a ruby.
"So you turn objects into gems."
"Ah," Calder said, and then he smashed the ruby with his hand. "however, they are about as real as the object that is transmuted." He then dug into his pocket and pulled out a piece of coal. "But, if the object is similar in structure." The piece of coal turned into a diamond. "It can be highly effective." Calder merely flicked the diamond, and in an instant, it whizzed by Ed's face.
Ed jumped up towards Calder; however, Calder quickly turned around and slammed his foot into Ed's face. Ed was pushed backwards.
At the same instant, Calder was propelled upward by a sudden rise of the earth. Calder fell on his side, coughing. He looked up, as the giant knight slammed onto the ground.
"There you are!" Ed exclaimed.
"Sorry, it took a little while than expected." Al replied.
"Alphonse Elric." Calder smiled. "The Body-less Boy."
Ed and Al both turned to him, a flash of anger went through both of them. They hated when their mistake was brought up, especially by those who were on the opposite side of the law. For some reason, it gave criminals the right to think that they were better than the Elrics because at least they didn't break taboo.
Calder took out two more pieces of coal and transmuted both into diamonds. He launched both of them, and they embedded themselves into Al's armor. Al merely looked down at the two diamonds, and pulled both of them out.
"So the rumors are true, you can't feel anything." Calder laughed. He took out some more pieces of coal and turned it into a diamond dagger.
Ed launched himself at Calder, who deflected the automail with the diamond dagger. "I will ask you this once. What did you do over the past couple years? Why did you suddenly leave the military?!"
Calder chuckled. "Do you honestly want to know." He threw Ed aside. He then looked up. "It seems there is a third guest in our presence."
"Third guest…?" Al looked up and on the top of the building, but was unable to see anything.
Riza Hawkeye leaned back against the wall, out of Calder's sight. Despite the fact she hadn't shown herself yet, Calder already knew she was present. She had forgotten that on top of his Jewel Alchemy, Calder had excellent sensory abilities. She clutched the rifle in her hand. King Bradley's specific instructions was to kill Calder Whiterose. However, he naively sent the Elric brothers after him. He should know by now that neither brother would turn to the life of killing. So, of course, the Colonel is making her do the job for them.
She turned around and leaned over the edge, watching as Ed and Al were easily being taken care of by Calder, who hadn't moved an inch since realizing her presence. Calder simply turned the diamond dagger into a shield and deflected everything. He was also able to slash and cut things with it was well—both a defensive and an offensive skill. She leaned her rifle over the edge, getting Calder in her vision. Just as she had him targeted, he whirled around and Ed came into the view of her scope. She cursed, as she was unable to shoot. She would have to wait until the Elric brothers stopped fighting.
No matter what they did, Al nor Ed were able to even land a hit on Calder. Al slammed his hands onto the ground, shooting large stones in Calder's direction. Calder put him his shield and the stones fell harmlessly to the ground. Ed would whirl around and try to kick him at the same time, only to slam his attack into the shield. Despite Calder's weird alchemy, it was quite powerful.
Calder whirled around as Ed came in for another attack and grabbed his arm. He threw Ed into Al, who both fell to the ground.
"Come on, I expected a better fight coming from the two famed brothers."
Ed wiped some blood from his check. This was problematic, as there was no way they could win at this point. He looked up to see a rifle being aimed at Calder. Suddenly realizing the situation, Ed jumped up.
"Al, stay back!"
"Why?!" Al turned around. He then looked up to see what Ed was looking at and saw Riza.
"Oh, is that your plan?" Calder smiled. He looked up at Riza, who had him targeted now. All she had to do was pull her hand on the trigger and—
And in that moment, everything suddenly changed. Ed's vision became bright and his body began to glow. Calder stood there, stunned for a second, trying to process the situation. Ed turned to Al, and although he couldn't tell if Al was glowing as well, one was just as confused as the other.
"Calder Whiterose" A voice said. Calder whirled around to find himself staring at a broad shouldered man in a business suit. He carried a red, leather bound book in his hand. The symbols on the front of the book were glowing, and getting brighter.
"Who are you?" Calder demanded.
"You will know soon enough." The man replied. "I have a favor to ask you."
Calder looked over his shoulder at the Elric Brothers. "What are you doing to them?"
"I'm surprised you care." The man smirked. "Don't worry about them. Soon enough, they won't be a problem."
Calder looked back at the man and shrugged. "What is it that you want?"
"Follow me, I think you will be quite happy." And the two teleported away.
As they were teleporting, the white light died down.
The pink, spiky-haired Natsu perked his head up and looked around. "Where am I?" The alleyway was deserted, but people were starting to look in, wondering what all the commotion was about.
"Lucy!" Natsu called. "Happy!"
There was no response from either of them. Natsu scratched the back of his head, confused. He then caught a whiff of something…or, someone familiar. He turned around and found himself staring at a familiar face…