CHAPTER 3
"What do you mean who am I?" The kid asked. I'm Edward Elric, the FullMetal Alchemist!"
Alchemy, L thought. That explained a lot to him. L had studied Alchemy, nothing in depth, but a little nonetheless. He had a small understanding that it is the basis of his own scientific system.
The important thing was that now, L understood what this place is based on. It was a shot in the dark, but it might just work…
"How about this," L said, trying to avoid further conflict, "I give you this piece of metal, and you answer a few of my questions. That is your principle, right?"
"Equivalent Exchange," Edward said, a little grin sneaking into his mouth, "that sounds reasonable."
L moved forward and walked up to Edward and tossed him the scrap. Edward caught it and looked up at L.
"Before I answer any questions," Ed said, "I need to know your name."
"My name," he responded, "is L. I am the world's greatest detective."
It was later, in a hotel room, when Edward actually decided to answer any questions. The table in the middle of the room had an arrangement of delicious desserts on it. L picked his way through, eating only the sugariest of the sugariest.
"Well," L said between bites, "my first question is the first one most in my possession ask." He looked up at Edward with his dark-rimmed eyes. "Where am I?" He asked.
Edward looked a little confused as to why he would ask that question, but decided to follow through and answer. "Actually," Edward answered, "You are in Amestieus. Now let me ask where you…"
Before Edward could finish his question, L had his hand in the air. "Let me finish my questions first." He finished swallowing, "okay," he said, picking up a piece of Strawberry Shortcake, "Why is that piece of mettle so important to you?"
"Ummmm," Edward stammered, trying to find the right way to answer, "Let's leave it at the fact that it belongs to my brother."
L thought about what that could mean. "Why is you arm mechanical?" L asked, only a few more to go.
"I uhhh," Edward said, trying to decide what story to tell him. "I lost it in the Eastern War."
L knew he was lying. Wrong question. L realized, as it had raised more questions then it had put to rest. Just one more. "Who," L asked, "is Agragoth?"
Edward looked surprised at first, then thoughtful as he racked his brain looking for that familiar name. Then he realized "Agragoth," Edward said, "I haven't heard that one in a while." Edward had a grin as he had become proud of himself because of the knowledge he had. "Agragoth is an ancient Alchemist. He was one of the people who helped theorize many of the Alchemy circles we use today. Some say he was also very good at detective like things and conclusions based on only a few facts, which was what made him so good at Alchemy. Legend has it, he studied Alchemy by himself in the countryside of Amesteius, but vanished because of an Alchemic reaction gone wrong."
To L, THAT answered some questions. L looked at Edward, who sighed in return.
"Okay," Edward said, "If you had to ask those questions, I have to ask you where you are from."
"I am from another universe." L said. He had managed to deduce that much.
Edward's mouth fell open. "What do you mean alternate universe?"
"I thought you were done with questions?" L said with a grin. He looked up at Edward. "Well, I started in somewhere called 'America.'" L said. "I found a warehouse in which there was a circular rune. I'm guessing that that was an Alchemy circle of some sort. Anyway, I went through the ground, and came out of a large stone door. The door was inside a large white void. Inside, a strange voice commented about a 'Child of Agragoth," or something. Then, I ended up in Amesteius two miles outside Central."
"That America sounds similar to a place called 'Amerika' here." Edward said, "and the Truth…" he said trailing off. He tried to come up with another question to ask. He couldn't think of any, when L spoke up.
"You said you have a brother right?" L asked, and Ed nodded in response. "Okay then," L said, "where is he?"
Ed looked at the ground. "He's lost." That's why the piece of mettle was so important; L thought, because it belonged to his brother, he was hoping it could bring in some leads…
"I will help you find him." L said suddenly, standing up from the couch close to the food he had been sitting on.
"Really?" Edward asked, suddenly stunned with confusion, "Why?"
"You gave me that food," L said, "I owe you one… what did you call it… equivalent exchange?" L peered at Edward, into his amber colored eyes.
"I'm gonna need all the help I can get," Edward said determinately, and smiled.
