The Armored Alchemist

Chapter 3: Jailbird

Fan fiction by cCatclaw

Hello everyone. Sorry sorry sorry, it's been forever since I've updated. I am NOT on hiatus or anything. If I was, I would tell everyone. Although it may seem like I am since I haven't updated in like forever. Junior year, kinda time consuming. Looking at colleges and majors is kinda stressful too. But yeah. Also, if it isn't too much trouble, I'd like some more reviews on Armored Alchemist (or anything else of course). I thank those who reviewed, and those that followed or added this story to their favorites, or just took the time to try reading my story. I really much appreciate your support, and I'll try as hard as I can to update more consistently next time.

Well, this is just great, Edward thought to himself as he gripped the ice cold metal bars of the cell.

The Drachman guards seemed to have no intention of letting him go or more or less listening to what he had to say.

"Come on! Don't I get a phone call or something?" Ed protested.

One of the bulky guards barely glanced at him.

Ed sighed, "Oh, come on".

"Keep quiet Amestrian," the guard grunted, "Youse is the one who got himself inta this mess. Ya just had to go pokin' around our history, didn't ya? I don't answer to spies, especially Amestrian ones".

"Well, you did just answer to me," Ed said, like the smart ass he was, "And by doing that you're implying that I am not an Amestrian spy. So how about that phone call?"

The guard's face turned red with irritation, "Think you're funny, huh? Ya just earned yourself extra days here, Amestrian".

Damn, I can never keep my darn mouth shut, Ed thought with frustration, What to do, what to do...

Ed really wished he still had his state alchemist pocket watch on him. But obviously, because of his inability to perform alchemy due to the sacrifice he made for Alphonse, he was no longer a state alchemist, or an alchemist at all. He was simply a researcher, a traveler of the world. He studied alchemy but could no longer perform the miracles he used to.

Ed didn't regret his decision, but that pocket watch came in handy for situations like these. He had had to use it for similar ones. He found it amusing when tall, intimidating looking adults would apologize continuously and salute to a kid.

Ed thought about calling up the General, meaning Roy Mustang, who had been promoted by the new Fuhrer Grumman a few months ago. But he was never in the mood for any back sass from the good old flame alchemist.

Al would be the most logical choice for this matter. But what if he'd left Xing by now? He wouldn't be anywhere near a house phone. He would probably try calling Ed's hotel number and get no answer, and then hopefully come to Drachma to see where his brother went.

But what were the chances of Al knowing anything in the slightest of what happened to him?

They were brothers, and they knew each other quite well. But Ed had a hard time finding Al around three years ago when they were dealing with the Promised Day. But they did happen to run into each other. Not the best reunion, but at least they did.

Hopefully this will be no different.

So Ed waited, impatiently leaning against the cold iron bars of the cell. But efforts were futile since the use of alchemy was not possible. It was as if he was in another world...

Alphonse boarded the train and was headed for Milos. Emperor Ling and the new Fuhrer Grumman had arranged an alliance of Xing and Amestris. There were now train tracks in between the two countries going through the scorching hot desert.

Kairu and May had both packed him a lunch to go. Al, knowing this would be his last time tasting Xinghese cuisine for awhile, ate it slowly and cherished every bite.

Al sat down and skimmed his newspapers that he purchased at the station. The interesting thing about Xing's new train station was that it was international. There were newspapers regarding the events of almost every country surrounding Xing. They had Amestris, Creta, Drachma, Aerugo, Xing of course, and many more. Al had made sure to get one for Creta, since Milos was part of that country, Amestris so he could see how his country was doing, Xing just because, and Drachma. He was curious to find out what was happening in the country his brother was currently in.

Al found the Drachman newspaper and flipped it open to the first article. What he found there was so nerve racking and shocking that he had to read it again multiple times over to make sure he wasn't seeing things:

AMESTRIAN CITIZEN ARRESTED FOR SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY IN LIBRARY

Librarian Jane Saltz called the police station regarding a suspicious Amestrian man who had been coming to the library every day since his arrival in the country. Saltz claims to have let it slip multiple times until Mr. Edward Elric, the Amestrian researcher, asked to take out books on the forbidden topic of water alchemy. All of these books had been cleaned out of the library and burned, apparently. But Mr. Elric managed to find two remaining that the county had missed.

Mr. Elric was found the following morning in his hotel room, filled with "borrowed" alchemy books from the library and various notes on alchemy. The police force immediately rounded him up and took him to the Alpine County jail and that is where he is presently.

Al immediately folded up the paper and shoved it back into his backpack. This was no good, no good at all. He wanted so badly to rush to Drachma at that very moment and bale his brother out. But he was currently on a train going somewhere else. It was too late to get off since the train had just started moving about ten minutes ago. He was already headed in another direction.

Al sighed, so be it then. He would have to wait until he arrived at the next train station so that he could take another train to where Ed was.

Part of Al wanted to be angry at Ed. It wasn't right that he stole some books, sure, but he had specifically asked to take out the two water alchemy books knowing that Drachmans kept strictly quiet about it. The one time Ed decided to do the right thing he gets thrown in jail. Good grief.

Al sat back and sighed again,

This situation is gonna rub off on him so badly that he won't ever be honest again probably.

Al was surprised that Ed hadn't called him yet. But then again, the newspaper article said he had been arrested only yesterday. Had they given him a phone call? Al hoped he hadn't called Winry and worried her with this. But he most likely didn't. As thick headed as Edward was sometimes, he didn't like to burden Winry with his problems.

Al folded his arms and tried to get some rest. He knew he would need it if he was going to run around between train stations.

Just hold on a while longer, Ed. I'll get you out of there.

What did you guys think? Chapter 4 I hope to have done by the summer at least. But I'll try to have it done as quickly as possible. Good writing also takes time, but I promise, I'll be posting again soon!