This is one of my favorite anime series, so I am ecstatic that I got the inspiration for a story! Please R&R, thanks!
Disclaimer: Canon isn't mine.
Chapter 2:
Edward bounces his knee nervously the entire way to Central. I'm just glad it's not with the metal leg or he'd probably break through the floor of the car. Alphonse simply stares out the window as I practice my sign language. It didn't take us long to realize my speaking ailment was permanent so my brothers bought me some books on sign language. Right now, while Ed is looking away, I'm signing the word for "Short" and pointing to him. Al looks back at me, deciphers my signs, and gently cups a hands over the grille in his armor to keep from laughing. I let out a soft chuckle, however, and that catches Ed's attention. He looks at me with a scowl.
"What were you saying?" He asks, but the scowl flickers for a moment and I see through it. Ed is in a good mood. How rare. I repeat my sign even though I see Al frantically shaking his head in my peripheral vision. Well, Mama did always say I have guts.
"Who you calling so short you can't express it in words?" Ed boils, but not as much as he generally would. I laugh before pulling a deck of cards out of my bag. I sign the word for "game", before telling my brother not to cheat. He looks offended, but Al and I both see through it easily. Ed huffs and crosses his arms.
"Just start dealing." He mutters.
FMAFMAFMA
We get through several games, Edward attempting to cheat of course, before we pull into a layover station with a puff of smoke. As we walk to a hotel, I rap on Al's shoulder, wincing when it echoes hollowly. It fulfills my goal, however, and gains Al's attention. When he's looking at me, I sign "Never explained to me", and he sighs.
"While you were out of it, a man from Central came and expressed his surprise that all three of us had survived human transmutation...Albeit not whole. He thought maybe Brother had a shot at becoming a State Alchemist." He says ruefully as my metallic arm glints in the dying light. I nod understandingly. The sudden shouts draw our attention to Edward, who is trying to bargain with the clerk at the front desk of the hotel. Al sighs and slaps an extra 1000 Cenz onto the counter. As the clerk places it in the cash register and hands the room key to Ed, he and Al start bickering over money.
"Why did you do that, Al? I almost had her down to a reasonable price!" I sigh and lift my bag, glancing up at the stairs. Oh, why must they be so steep? I'm lucky my brothers haven't heard the rattling as my metal arm and leg shake from fatigue.
"We're all exhausted, brother." But it doesn't pass my attention when he discreetly points to me. Ed pauses long enough to hear the rattling as I combat the stairs. With a sigh, he comes up next to me and snatches my bag away.
"You should have mentioned you were tired. I would've taken your bag sooner." He snaps at me and I respond in kind.
"How could I with you two arguing like schoolgirls over which boy is the cutest? Besides, I am not helpless, no matter what you or anyone else may happen to think." I sign angrily and snatch my bag back before ascending the stairs two at a time. When I finally reach the room, I'm breathless and trembling like a leaf. Unfortunately, Ed has the leaf so I have no option but to wait for my brothers to appear. I try to curse under my breath, but it takes too long so I just resort to banging a fist against the wall. When I hear a crash, I look. Like the idiot I am, I used my metal fist to release my frustrations and punched a hole in the wall. I sigh and my flesh hand accidentally brushes back against the wall as I turn away. There's a flash of light behind me and I jump, startled. The hole in the wall was sealed, with no indication that it ever existed in the first place. I gulp and slide down the wall to the floor. My brothers find me like that, squinting at the wall in shock and half-asleep. Instead of getting me up on my own two legs, Al scoops me up and lays me on the couch where I promptly fall asleep.
FMAFMAFMA
"I don't like him." I mutter as Colonel Mustang leaves. Edward grunts in agreement, still worn out from yelling about how he's not short, but Mustang just smirked through the whole tirade.
"Didn't you once say we shouldn't judge a book by its cover, Ashley?" I grin sheepishly before becoming properly abashed.
"Yes, Alphonse." I get to my feet. "But the pages I snuck a glimpse of seem stained with tears." He and Ed look at me oddly. I sigh. "You didn't feel it, did you? He's had to be too strong for too long." At that moment, Colonel walks back in, coming to stand in front of me.
"You never told me your name."
"She can't speak." Edward interrupts, but I scowl, effectively shutting him up.
"A-Ashley Ellllric." I curse my disability at speaking as Mustang looks at me.
"And are you planning to become an alchemist with your brothers?" I nod the affirmative and he sighs. "Great, more paperwork for me." My brothers and I let our confusion show at that statement. "There's a different entrance exam for females hoping to become a State Alchemist. So far, none have passed. Do you still want to try?" I nod vigorously and he offers me his hand. When I take it, he pulls me to my feet and starts pushing me towards the door. "Say goodbye to your brothers. You won't be seeing them for awhile."