Chapter 3: Dangerous
"Come on boys! Breakfast!" Trisha called up the stairs. She heard groans coming from her eldest son's bedroom, but her youngest was out on the landing in a flash, trotting downstairs with a broad grin on his face. He was already dressed.
As he came to a halt at the foot of the stairs, facing her, she smiled at how tall he was. She was just below eye-level with her. It was surprising, considering he was only ten years of age. She patted his head, and led him into the kitchen, sending one last shout to Edward.
"Come on Edward!" she yelled, and heard a frustrated reply.
"Okay, I'm just coming!" Edward grumbled.
…
Alphonse sniggered as he and Trisha heard Edward walk a few steps, and then stumble, and slide down the rest. Trisha cringed as she heard an almighty crash. She immediately ran out into the hall, to find Edward in a heap at the foot of the stairs, having collided with the shoe rack at the bottom after his clumsy descent.
"Come on, you dafty. Let's get you some breakfast and a plaster for that," she pointed to the wound on his head, which was bleeding lightly.
…
"So, how was your lesson with Mrs Curtis yesterday, Edward? You got home quite late…" Trisha enquired while tending to her son's wound. He munched on his toast, and grinned.
"It was great! She taught me three new transmutations! And we did three hours of sparring. I'm definitely getting better!" He exclaimed excitedly.
Mrs Izumi Curtis was Edward's alchemy tutor. She also taught him sparring, along with a few curricular lessons, since Edward was a very smart boy. Trisha had taken him out of school, feeling that he wasn't achieving his full potential. She had considered using her savings to send him to a private academy, but then they had found Izumi. She was enthusiastic and noticed Edward's talent in alchemy. So, for two years now, he had been spending most weekdays at her home in Dublith, being taught how to survive by the stern but kind butcher's wife. Edward loved it, and that made Trisha happy, though she still feared that she would one day receive a phone call from either Mrs Curtis or Alphonse's school, to inform her that her child had collapsed while in lessons.
"So, what do you boys want to do today?" she asked. Both her sons blinked at each other, unsure.
"I'm going to go and play out the back," Edward hopped from his chair and ran out into the large back garden. Alphonse was about to follow his brother, but first turned and faced his mother, a bright smile on his face.
"Can we go to the lake today?" he asked hopefully. Trisha smiled in return.
"Of course," she replied. "This afternoon. You go have fun and keep your brother out of trouble." Alphonse nodded, and embraced her quickly before also running into the back garden, to play on the swing their father had made for them.
She watched them out of the window; smiling at how blessed she was to have such perfect boys.
She was about to begin cleaning the house, when a knock chapped on the front door.
She took one last glance to ensure that her children were okay, and then shuffled down the hall and opened the door.
Two military personnel stood on her doorstep, smiles on their faces. The fore, a man with raven hair held out his hand to greet her, while a young woman with blonde hair even shorter than the man's smiled a few steps behind. Trisha immediately recognised the man as the state alchemist who had enlisted her eldest son into the military in the alternate future, and glowered.
"Hello, I am Lieutenant Roy Mustang, and this is Major Riza Hawkeye. We have heard that there is a young and promising state alchemist in this area, and all of your neighbours have told us that your son has a talent in alchemy," the man spoke confidently, but Trisha was panicking inside. She glared at the two military soldiers.
"Well, they lied," she decided she would cover up her son's talent, to save him from being used by the corrupt military. The man sighed.
"May we come in, Mrs Elric?" he asked. Trisha looked away and nodded, stepping aside to allow them entrance to her home.
Once inside she offered them cups of tea, and told them to sit at the kitchen table. The girl glanced out into the garden, noticing two blonde boys running around, giggling.
"They are cute," she stated. Trisha followed her gaze and smiled.
"Thank you. They are my world," she placed the tea in front of the girl.
"Now, Mrs Elric, we know that you are married to the alchemic genius Van Hohenhiem, the only surviving link to Xerxes," Roy got to the point. Trisha flinched at the mention of her husband, but continued to sip her tea.
"Perhaps," was her short and vague answer.
"And every single one of your neighbours have recounted witnessing your son performing alchemy, even remarking that he attends tutoring with a Mrs Izumi Curtis in Dublith," the man continued regardless.
"This is why I hate you military types. You put your nose in where it is not welcome," Trisha hissed.
"Mom! Look what I found in the back garden!" Ed came running in, his hands clasped together holding something. He opened them upon reaching his mother to reveal a tiny frog.
"Beautiful, Edward. But frogs do not live indoors honey. Why don't you go and put it in the pond?" she suggested, and Edward nodded, and was about to run back outside, when Roy leant forward, gazing in awe at the boy.
"Blonde hair…golden eyes…you are of pure Xerxian blood," he stated. Edward gave the man a puzzled look, and blinked up at his mother.
"What is he talking about Mom? Is there something wrong with my hair?" he mumbled, looking concerned. Trisha smiled and shook her head, placing a comforting hand on her son's shoulder.
"Of course not sweetie. Just go back outside," she encouraged him, but Roy spoke up yet again.
"Are you able to perform alchemy Edward?" he enquired.
"Yes," Edward nodded. "Mom says I am really good at it, and my teacher Izumi says so too." Trisha felt like face-palming, but settled on sighing as her lie was uncovered. It was not Edward's fault; he was far too young to understand.
"That is very good. What age are you, Edward?" Roy asked softly.
"Um…eleven. Why are you being so nosy? My mom says never to talk to strangers, and you are definitely strange." Trisha smirked slightly at her son's remark, and the reaction it triggered in the Lieutenant. Roy went crimson, and sat back, not asking any further questions of the boy.
"We are only asking, Edward. We've been told to do this, and will get in trouble if we do not," Riza explained. Edward sent her a confused look.
"Like Mom when I do something bad?" he asked innocently, and Riza smiled, nodding.
"Exactly," she said.
"So you've been told to come from wherever you are from to here to ask me if I can do alchemy. That seems…stupid and pointless," Edward stated. Trisha knew she should scold her son, but she agreed with his words.
"We are from East City Edward, not far from here. Our mission is not pointless, because now that we have discovered that you can do alchemy, we may have a new state alchemist on our hands. It is a gift sent from heaven that we have not only a direct descendant of Van Hohenhiem in our midst, but a direct descendant of Xerxes as well. You are very special Edward," Riza stated, placing a hand on his shoulder. He looked at her hand, and then up at the older girl.
"Mom always says I am special. But this 'Van Hohenhiem' you are talking about…I don't know him…"
"He is your father, is he not?" Riza asked.
"My father is a waste of space. He deserted us when Alphonse and I were small. He doesn't love us," Edward growled. Trisha sighed; she was accustomed to her son's reaction to the mention of his father.
"Well, it is not him we are interested in – it is you Edward," Riza continued regardless of his small outburst. "Could you perform some alchemy for us?"
"Yeah!" Edward grinned, running off into the front room. He returned a few moments later, a stick of chalk in his hands. He then ran out into the back, onto the stone patio, kneeling and began sketching a transmutation circle after placing the small frog he had been clasping in the grass. The three adults crowded on the patio, watching the young boy with astonished expressions. Well, all except Trisha, who was smiling proudly, but inside she was growing concerned.
Edward clapped his hands together as he completed the circle. Placing them on the ground, the familiar sparks that were associated with alchemy twisted through the air, and the ground which had originally been the patio began to mangle and deform.
Edward removed his hands from the circle, and picked up the product of the transmutation, handing it to Riza.
"For you," he stated, grinning brightly. Riza stared at it, wide-eyed, her superior behind her equally stunned. There, in Riza's hands was a stone sculpture of a sparrow, in all its beauty.
Their eyes turned to Ed. They had had literally no idea that the alchemist they were coming to assess was not only a child, but was exceptionally talented at alchemy. A prodigy, perhaps.
"It is beautiful Edward," Riza stated.
"Brilliant," Roy agreed. "You would be the perfect candidate to become a State Alchemist."
Trisha was about to interrupt, when Edward piped up.
"Aren't I too young to become a State Alchemist?" he asked. Trisha smiled at her son's perceptive nature. He was wise beyond his years.
"There is no set age limit to being a member of the military. I have a feeling the Fuhrer would be very interested in you, Edward," Roy replied. Trisha glared, stepping in front of her son, facing both the soldiers.
"You are never making my son a pawn of your awful organisation," she hissed.
"But Mom," Edward whined.
"Quiet, honey. Go and play with Alphonse," Trisha commanded.
"No," Edward muttered. Trisha turned to face her son, gobsmacked.
"E-excuse me?" her voice wavered. She knew her son had a defiant nature, which he unfortunately inherited from her, but she had never expected him to publicly defy her.
"I said no. This is my decision, since it is my life we are talking about," Edward stated. "I would like to learn more about alchemy, and if I become a State Alchemist, I can give you money to provide for Alphonse, and follow your dream of becoming a novelist, Mom. We could get you a typewriter." He had inherited good nature from both of his parents.
"Oh, Ed," she sighed, smiling and lowering to his level. "I don't need to follow my dream, sweetie. I have everything I want here: you and Alphonse. I don't want you to join the military because people get killed every day as a part of it, and I don't want to lose you." She stroked his face and pulled him into an embrace.
"Mom, Teacher has taught me tons of sparring techniques, and transmutations to defend myself. I can stand up for myself in a fight," her son replied. "And, if I join the military, I can have a better chance of finding Dad and bringing him home." His reasoning was flawless, and it made Trisha smile.
"Fine, what do you propose, alchemist?" she turned back to Roy, who looked a little surprised.
"Well…"
A/N: Well, what did you think? Please review! Thank you to all who have reviewed, favourited or alerted this story! It gives me the confidence and drive to continue!
I know that Edward may seem slightly OOC, but that is because of Trisha's influence over him: she continued to live and therefore he didn't develop as much of the temper that he would have if she had died.
Also, I know it may seem that I am forgetting about my other stories: Tot Swap Part II and Babysitting Blues, but I'm not! I am writing them at the same time as this, and will update pretty soon!
Next time - A simple trip to East City turns disastrous, and leads her to believe she cannot prevent the future after all...
