Return to the Underworld
Chapter 4
Six months has passed. At last, the tension between Ed and Raquel has diminished, or at least toned down by a large degree, and he was welcomed into the family that has supposedly 'fostered' him. He grew more comfortable with himself since he didn't have to rely on alchemy anymore, and just like what Izumi had told him his use of his hands helped to strengthen and shape the way he thinks.
He was enthusiastic and always on top with his scientific studies at school, and his teachers noticed just how brilliantly minded Edward was. Maybe because the main reason they were so surprised by Edward was because of the childish exterior he seems to constantly show. No one would think that a cocky, stubborn and playful boy would be one of the smartest geniuses they have ever come across.
But there was one thing that constantly made Ed feel uneasy. It was his story of his 'true life', in Amestris with Al and Winry. He tried to tell the truth to Raquel, but she thought he was drunk at the time. He also tried to bring it up to Charice, but she thought it was just a story he made up from his overly active imagination.
"But it's true," he protested. "There is such thing as alchemy, chimeras and homunculus. I can perform alchemy-"
"Ed," Charice sighed, her arms flopping down her sides as she stood in a lazy stance. "Look, these stories are getting old now."
Ed groaned, suppressing a loud scream of despair from escaping his mouth. Instead he clenched his jaw tight. He balled up his fist and shook it at no one in particular. He stopped what he was doing before he took in a deep breath. "I'll prove it." He challenged.
Charice blinked. "What?" she said under her breath. "You're going to prove that you can do alchemy?"
Ed pointed at her, nodding his head as he did so. "Yes!" he cheered. "Yes, I am, Charice. I'm gonna prove that I come from another world!"
She smirked, crossing her arms at this strange but amusing gesture. "What, is this a bet or something?" she jeered, her tone playful yet aggressive. Ed shook his head, much to Charice's dismay. "Well, how are you going to prove it then?"
He curled his lip, his expression dumbfounded and lost. "No idea..." he trailed off. "But I will! You'll see!"
She shook her head, walking down to the library with the hope of attracting Roy's attention. Ed suddenly realised something, and he ran up to her. She gave him an annoyed look as she gave him a tilted stare. "What now?" she said, deadpan.
"I got it." He pointed a finger to the library. "I don't know the Roy Mustang in this world, but I know the Roy in my world. In my world he is very close friends with a blonde woman called Riza Hawkeye. I bet you that he will also have that friend who looks exactly like Riza."
Charice crossed her arms. "You're more off the rocker than my Nan," she commented dryly. "What if you're wrong?"
They walked into the library together, Charice tailing behind Edward. They were both at the information counter where Roy was situated. He was filling in forms about overdue books; his eyes slightly squinted in concentration. His eyes widened when he noticed Ed and Charice approaching him, the determined look in Ed's eyes slightly intimidating.
"Ah, Mr. Elric." Roy greeted. "What can I do for you today?"
"Roy, do you know someone called Riza Hawkeye?" he pressed, getting straight to the point. Charice observed both of them carefully.
Roy nodded. "Yes, she's a close friend of mine." Roy smiled to himself, but still slightly suspicious with this strange and sudden behaviour. "Do you know her?"
Ed shook his head. "No, just wondering. I could just recognise her," he sighed, trying to appear casual and cool. "She looks like someone I once knew."
Charice's eyes widened, gobsmacked at the possibility of an alternate world existing parallel to them could very well be true. A smirk etched itself into Ed's face when he noticed her expression. He could stop here, but Ed thought otherwise and carried on.
"Do you also know someone called Maes Hughes?" Edward said nonchalantly, an unreadable expression on his face. "How is he?"
Roy, once again, pondered as to how Ed knew the existence of people he would have not met. He scratched his chin. "He's fine as well," he paused. "You know him as well?"
"Nope," the blond yawned. "Just, he kinda reminds me of someone I used to know."
The young man looked over at the half Spaniard behind him, happy and content that Charice is finally starting to believe him. She shot him a smile, encouraging him to carry on. Ed obliged, smiling to himself.
"Roy," Ed muttered, low enough so only the three of them could hear his words. "Hughes got his wife pregnant yet?"
Roy glared at him suspiciously, studying the youth's features a little closer. Mustang nodded, curious where this conversation would go. "Yeah, nine months. Anytime now, the baby will be born."
Ed wiggled his eyebrows. "I bet you that the baby is going to be a girl. She's going to be eight pounds." Ed paused for a second. "Hey, what's the date?"
"Fifth of December, why?" Roy asked, leaning closer so he could hear well. Charice inched closer as well, absorbing all of the words that escape from Ed's mouth. The young Elric snickered, his face scrunched together in a sort of twisted satisfaction.
"She's gonna be born tomorrow," Ed stated. "Her name is going to be Elisia."
Roy blinked before he gave the young teen a laugh. He shook his head, tapping Ed's shoulder, and simply dismissed it as a sort of joke. "You really had me going there, kid." He mused, his mouth still twisted into an amused smile. "So, are trying to be a psychic then?"
Ed smiled. "Nope." He said, popping his lips at the word. "I once knew someone like them. They just remind me of them. That's all."
And with that, Edward walked off. Charice gave Roy a shy wave before she followed Ed outside. She hit him lightly on the shoulder, smiling gleefully. He soaked up the glory and compliments that radiated from Charice, and she suddenly started bombarding Edward with numerous questions.
Now that caught her attention.
- - -
Edward was reading a book in his room, the pages tinted orange from the outside streetlamp. He had two blankets wrapped around him in an attempt to warm him up. His hair was down as well so his neck would be warmer. Winter is nearing, and the change of seasons only reminded Ed that time is passing in this world. He needed to get back somehow, but he couldn't think of anything that didn't involve alchemy.
There was a knock to his door. Ed grunted as he rolled off his bed, opening his room door slowly so we wouldn't hit anyone outside. Charice was standing in the corridor sheepishly, dressed head to toe in thick pyjamas, with a large blue dressing gown to help bulge her out a little more. She grinned.
"Ed, it got me thinking," she began. "What happened earlier today, I-I'm sorry I doubted you. I thought you were pulling my leg at first, but although what you say sounds like a load of imaginary fantasy stuff, well, Y'know... It's-"
Ed coughed, his head slightly tilted to the side as he crossed his arms, and he tapped his fingers on his biceps as he waited for her to get to the point. She rolled her eyes, deciding to skip the formalities and just ask him.
"Can you tell me more stuff about your, uh, country?" she worded the question a little carefully. She sighed in relief when he opened his door wider, indicating that she could go inside. She made a small whooping noise as she walked in, excited to hear more about a world that is impossibly possible.
He began with his hometown, Risembool, and described all that he knew there. She was fully immersed, listening intently to every word he said. Ed decided to tell her that he lost his limbs to a car accident instead of the truth, his failed human transmutation, and proceeded with describing automail prosthetics.
"Did you get automail then?" she asked, curious like a child. Ed nodded.
"Yeah, I still have the scars though. It was painful to get it done." He explained, yawning slightly. She frowned, her nose wrinkled at the thought.
"Ew," she grumbled. "Hate the sight of scars. Makes me feel uneasy."
Ed felt slightly discouraged by her thoughts, as his body was full of scars from old wounds, including the pale rippling flesh that stretched over his right shoulder and chest. His left thigh was also heavily scarred, with many more cuts and lines where opponents have barely missed his vitals. It wasn't like he wanted to show his battle scars, but he didn't exactly wanted to be seen as something that was grimaced upon.
Charice yawned as she stood back up. "I'm tired now," she announced. "G'night."
The weary girl promptly left his room, leaving Ed on his own. He rolled his eyes at her abrupt manners, and reached out to grab the book he was reading earlier. The words seemed to dance across the page, giving him a headache, and he soon gave up.
"Maybe I should sleep too..."
- - -
The next day Charice and Ed visited Roy again in the library, with the news of Hughes baby girl a very hot topic of discussion as every single one of Ed's predictions were correct. Once again Charice praised Ed, who accepted his compliments smugly.
"Are you sure I haven't met you before?" Roy spoke out the question that has bothered him so. Ed shook his head, his mouth stretched into a thin line. The man sighed, returning to stamping a pile of books to his side. "It's just that I can't think of a logical explanation of how a total stranger can pull out something like that."
There was a moment of silence between them, and Charice squirmed uncomfortably at how awkward it felt. She heard Edward sigh next to her, and he shrugged. The teen turned around, walking off as he left the library wordlessly.
- - -
For the next two weeks Ed's mood seemed to have declined. He found himself become frustrated, and even annoyed at Charice, if she was near him. He avoided going to the library completely, not wanting to see the face he has recognised before as his commanding officer. Charice and Raquel noticed this, but it only annoyed Edward further.
"Seriously," she sighed, tying her hair in a ponytail. "Mum and I think that you're depressed. Is it because you're finding it hard to cope around here-"
"Shut up," he snapped, not letting her finish her sentence. "I'm not depressed. I've just- no, I'm a little angry with myself."
She slammed her hairbrush on the table noisily, not bothering to even hide her temper. "Don't tell me to shut up, ever." Her voice was low and threatening. "And being angry doesn't bloody give you an excuse to take any of it out on me."
Ed clenched his fists into a tight ball before her slumped into the sofa, dusting rising into the air from his movements. "You're right, I'm sorry," he trailed off. "I just don't know how to get home. I'm looking at all of these different theories, and I still can't find anything relevant to returning to where I came from."
Charice sighed. Silence hung in the air from then on, not speaking to each other until Edward decided to go to bed. She felt disappointed with him, and not to mention bitter, at the fact that he has to call this current place home for the meantime. From the way he described Amestris, it sounded like a beautiful place, but also incredibly dangerous to be in. Earth also has its own fair share of pleasantries, but unlike his world, here seemed much safer.
Here, Edward has no need to get himself into dangerous or life threatening situations.
- - -
"Hey."
Charice could feel someone squeezing her shoulders, large hands shaking her awake. She groaned, grabbing her mobile from her bedside counter so she could see the time. She shined the light from the phone at the person shaking her, seeing Edward Elric hovering above her.
"For fuck's sake, Ed," she snarled. "It's two in the fucking morning. What do you want?"
Ed smiled, and Charice thought that if he grinned any wider then half of his face would fall off. "I've had an epiphany!" He nudged her lightly so she would wake up a little more. "I think I've found a way to get home!"
- - -
Get ready for some fluff guys... cause it's coming!