Frozen Death Alchemist Chp 6
Ready, Set, Fly!
Hello it's me again! I hope you enjoy this chapter. The plot will just keep unravelling as we go along XD
Danny managed to hold in his annoyance. Edward had just gone along and turned a whole load of coal into gold just to give it to Yoki. He knew that Fullmetal would turn it back after he was done with getting the deed to the coal mines, but it was still illegal. Rubbing his forehead with a sigh he watched as Ed and Al turned the gold back to coal before taking their leave.
"This is illegal," Danny pointed out.
"You've been saying that the past hour or so," Ed grunted annoyed.
"Come on Danny, we just turned it back to coal," Al said in a much kinder tone.
Danny huffed and bit back a retort. Maybe he was just being overly fussy today… Or maybe it was the horrid thought of leaving Yoki's tolerable facilities for yet another train ride. Despite his train of thought the trio quickly found themselves making an overly dramatic entrance into a home. (Pun intended :D)
"Hi everybody, what a lot of gloomy faces! You're looking cheerful today!" Ed exclaimed cheerily as he held out the deed.
"What are you three doing here?" Kahyal asked with an irritated tone.
"Hey, hey, you shouldn't be speaking to the new proprietor of this fine joint like that," Ed replied smugly.
"What the hell are y-!" a miner yelled before he had Ed shove the paper in front of his face.
"Ownership papers," Ed began, "They confer on the holder the rights to mining, sales, distribution, and all subsidiary businesses in this town."
The man took the paper and looked over it in complete shock. "Hey! And it says it's been signed over to Edward Elric!" A chorus of shocked cries rang through the room.
"Correct! So from this moment on this coal mine belongs to me!" Ed exclaimed in a sing song voice before he paused to add affect, "Believe it but we're just a couple of vagabonds going from place to place."
"These documents would just get in the way," Al sighed.
"You want to sell it to us? How much?" the chief asked his voice going grave. The trio couldn't help but notice the man's distrust to their upcoming proposition. "
"What afraid you can't afford it?" Ed snickered happy to use the same line on the man. "If you want something you have to pay the price for it… How about the price of one night's stay for two at your place? Would that be fair chief?"
There was shocked silence in the room as Kayhal muttered something about equivalent exchange.
"Hahahahaha, you're right that is expensive. I'll buy it!"
"Sold!" Ed exclaimed as he handed over the paper and the people cheered.
As if on que Yoki walked in with a pile of clum in his hands. Ed snickered as he read out the deed. "Huh? The deed was given to me free of charge. See, you signed it! I says so right here," Ed pointed out with a massive grin etched on his face. He was secretly enjoying this way too much.
Danny watched in silent amusement as Yoki's men were finally put into their places. The man may have been a scum but he had worked up to his position whether or not it was done fairly. Danny knew that money and power was a fickle thing and this only reinforced it. But the true meaning of it all lied in how it was used.
"So we're finally on our way to East City. It's been a while," Ed mumbled.
"You don't like writing out reports do you?" Danny asked trying to hide a snicker.
Alphonse turned to Danny and sighed in his brothers place. "Brother has a thing against authorities," he informed Danny exasperatedly.
"I do not!" Ed growled angrily.
Alphonse smartly decided to drop the subject considering it was Ed he was talking to. Danny watched the interaction with a bit of amusement. Is this what it looked like when he and Jazz talked he wondered.
"Hey Al," Danny whispered," Make sure that you always stick together right."
Alphonse looked towards the young State Alchemist and wondered where this sudden emotion came from. Instead of questioning it he simply nodded only to get an indignant response from Ed.
"What's that all about?" he asked with a raised voice.
"Oh, we were just talking about how short you are considering you don't drink any milk," Danny replied casually to change the mood. Edward had to be held back by his little brother the rest of the trip. All the hollering and yelling from Ed's part just seemed to make the ride smoother for Danny. He wondered why it was that when he was alone and at peace that it was so uncomfortable. Why was it that the liveliness seemed to be a welcome retrieve compared to the peacefulness of a quiet trip?
"You shouldn't anger brother like that," Al sighed before he turned to the blond and tried to change the conversation.
"It's not my fault he has the temper of a child," Danny snickered quietly but loud enough for Ed to hear him. This just started the whole process of Ed being furious all over again. Danny put on a small smile as he watched the theatrics unfold. He usually wouldn't go out of his way to antagonise someone, let alone insult anyone at all, but he just felt the urge to do it to Ed.
"You're shorter than me!" Ed grumbled finally as he huffed and crossed his arms like a pouting child.
Danny laughed before retorting, "I'm still younger than you. I still have a long time to gr-"
The smile instantly wiped of Danny's face as he remembered he won't be doing any growing until he managed to rid himself of his immortality problem. Alphonse caught onto the sudden mood change and wondered what was wrong.
"Are you alright Danny?"
"Um- yeah! I was just wondering if I turned out to be like Ed and ended up being a shorty forever," Danny quickly lied only to make the mood light again.
"Why you!" Ed growled.
And it started all over again…
"Sargent Major Fuery, how's the radio?" Hawkeye asked as she went through the many files littered through her desk.
"The receivers are scrambled. It's definitely seen better days. I think I'm going to have to replace it," Fuery sighed. He hadn't ever had much trouble with radios and he could fix almost anything… almost. The one he was currently handling was impossible.
The familiar buzz of alchemy echoed through the room as Ed used his alchemy and instantly fixed the creaking old machine. It would be an understatement how much this humbled Fuery. He had come to realise a while back that there were many things someone with alchemy could do that some without couldn't. It didn't mean he had to like that Edward could do his job much better than he could.
"Oh it's Edward and Alphonse… Danny's here too," Fuery pointed out instantly forgetting the sudden ire he felt for Edward fixing his radio while he couldn't.
"Welcome back boys. Go on in the Colonel's expecting you," Riza replied curtly.
Ed clearly voiced his disgust as Danny wandered why exactly the blond didn't like his superior. Surely Roy wasn't as insufferable as Fullmetal thought.
"Well done on the Liore case you three. I didn't plan on having you two to be there but I'm sure you helped our latest recruit out," Roy smiled as he gestured for the boys to sit. "I appreciate you resolving the matter"
"No big deal, it's not like we did it for you," Ed replied back albeit slightly rudely.
"Right the philosophers stone… another false lead"
Ed perked up at the mention of the legendary stone. He didn't know why but at the mention of the stone he would always suddenly become giddy. It put his nerves on an end he couldn't quite place.
"Yeah even after all that the stone was fake. Although the power it gave Cornello was real enough. He transmuted this huge chimera in front of us," Ed reported.
"I wonder how he used the stone to do that. I'm not really well versed in the subject of bio-alchemy to understand it either," Danny put in.
"I'm curious about that too," Alphonse said before suggesting, "I think we need to look into it. Who knows it might help us restore our bodies"
"It might help if you consulted a specialist," Roy offered as he took out a file. "The Sewing Life Alchemist, Show Tucker. He's got some good results on chimera transmutation. I'll introduce you."
"You would do that for us?" Al asked with a gratefully shocked tone.
Ed instantly stood up and pointed an accusing finger at Roy, "Ok, what's the catch?! You want something don't you?!"
"Don't doubt my motives! I'm trying to repay you for the Loire case! Doing you a favour is better than being indebted to you," Roy grumbled.
"What about me?" Danny asked as he pointed to himself. If Ed and Al got a favour then he should get one too right.
"You only did what you were told and I happen to be given you food and shelter," Roy pointed out before muttering something about annoying teenagers.
Ed's eyes grew the size of a plate and nearly popped out of his sockets. He blinked a couple of time before he looked at Roy, then Danny, and back at Roy again.
"You're living with him!" Ed exclaimed pointing at the two with a comically surprised face.
"Yeah, why is it so hard to believe?" Danny asked. "I'm only a minor after all"
Ed slapped his face and pulled at the bottom of his eye with a long sigh. "The resemblance is uncanny," he commented before walking away with Al. Danny glanced at Roy and noticed how awkward it had suddenly become and decided it was time he took his leave as well.
"I'll just be leaving then," the immortal boy drawled as he pointed at the door with his thumb.
"Actually before you go I want you to check out a case for me. You don't have to today but maybe another day. I'm sure it directly involves you," Roy informed his charge as he took out a file and handed it to the raven haired boy.
Danny took it gingerly but didn't complain nonetheless. He wasn't going to antagonise the person he lived with. That would be plain stupid. He slowly opened the files and to say he was shocked would be an understatement. A picture of Isaac McDougal was enough to catch his sudden interest.
"You knew of him correct?" Roy asked.
Danny skimmed through the files and nodded. "Yeah, but judging from these files I'd say knowing him further would be impossible," he replied dryly.
"It was quite unfortunate that he died. He served the country well with his alchemy, which I'm sure you know a lot about. I would appreciate it if you found out why he suddenly decided to plot against the Fuhrer."
"He was in the Ishvalan civil war if I am correct?"
"Yes"
"Then it could simply be because of an ill state of mental health," Danny pointed out before he realised his mistake. "Not that I think you have anything wrong with your mental state," he quickly added.
"No offence taken but I agree with your point. However if it happens to be because of something else entirely then I want you to find it out. If you feel like the case is producing no fruit then we can drop it," Roy explained as he organised his cabinet.
"But it's filed under a closed case," Danny pointed out suddenly feeling like there was more to this then he initially realised.
Roy looked at his charge with a serious expression. "We are not doing this with Fuhrer Bradley's permission. In fact I don't want you to send reports via the normal mail system. Anything involving this case can be sent directly to me"
Danny looked at Roy with a suspicious gaze. He had only known the man for a few days and most of it was spent away from his company. He had no idea why he would suddenly trust him on a mission that if they were caught, would no doubt end in death or life in prison. He found himself wondering if his senior was using him to check out untested waters. If it weren't deemed safe then he would be paying the price after all. Still he didn't think the Colonel would stoop so low.
"I can see that you don't trust me," Roy pointed out with a sigh.
"Can you blame me? I don't know you very well and you're giving me a case which goes against the Fuhrer himself. You do realise that if I report you then it'd be more than your position on the line," Danny asked with a raised brow.
Roy did nothing to explain himself but simply gave a curt nod. He knew full well of the implications and consequences this could bring. Yet he knew there was something the currently deceased former State Alchemist needed to say that was important. And he also knew that Danny was the only one who could solve the mystery. He was the only one around here that knew Xingese Alchemy, and had a connection to Isaac, although it was a loose one.
"Can you understand why I would choose you?"
Danny simply nodded. He knew that his circumstance happened to be the best for this situation but time with Vlad had made him cynical. He couldn't help but wonder if there was some sort of underlying motive to this request.
"What I don't understand is why you trust me," Danny retorted mildly confused.
Roy looked at the boy and sighed. He had no idea why but he felt like he could. There was no explanation for the sudden trust but it was a gut feeling he couldn't pass on… And Roy never passed on a gut feeling.
Danny got into the car with Roy and the Elric brothers. He couldn't make up his mind on the Isaac McDougal case but he refused to be sitting around doing nothing until then. Plus he decided that his parents happened to be great Bio-Alchemists and probably knew this Show Tucker. If that man could give him a clue he wouldn't waste it.
"Two years ago, Tucker transmuted a chimera that could understand human speech. That earned his title as a state-alchemist," Roy explained.
"It can understand human speech? Wait you mean it talks- a chimera?" Ed exclaimed in awe.
"Yes supposedly but it only said one thing; I want to die."
This took Danny back. He remembered those horribly disfigured rotting bodies in the basement at his parent's lab. He remembered the moans of pain emitting from their decaying vocal chords. It wasn't an image easily forgotten. Their cries of pain simply tormented a few nights after the event but it had died down to a dull throb. He had nearly forgotten it until now when the healing wound was ripped right apart again.
"After that it refused to eat until it got it's wish"
The four Alchemists stopped in front of a large house-mansion. The tall home screamed old but somehow still felt slightly homey. Danny could admire it with a bit of haste before Ed decided to cause a scene… he always did.
"It's huge!" Ed exclaimed only to have a large dog suddenly pounce him out of nowhere.
"You ok there?" Al asked as he tried to help his pinned brother.
"Daddy, there are people out here!" a young girl exclaimed as she opened the door with a heart-warming smile.
"Nina, this is why I told you to keep the dog tied up," Tucker reprimanded.
"Why don't you come in?" he asked walking into the large house.
The four alchemists walked in. Danny couldn't help but notice the stale smell rescinding in the house. It was full of litter here and there but somehow it still managed to look empty. How the man had accomplished such a feat Danny would never know.
"I'm sorry about the mess. Ever since my wife ran out, I've hardly had the time to clean up. I'm not much of a house keeper," he apologised as he handed some tea to the four alchemists. "Now that we've gotten settled down let me introduce myself. I'm the Sewing Life Alchemist Show Tucker. I'm well versed in the field of bio-alchemy"
"Yes, the Elric brother would like to read a bit of your research," Roy explained.
"Certainly, I don't mind… However if you want me to show a trick out of my sleeve it's only fair that you show yours. It's the code we live by; equivalent exchange. Now why are you interested in Bio-alchemy?" he added.
Edward sighed as he started to explain the story. He didn't like relieving the memories but he knew the price he paid would linger with him forever. Constantly reminding him of his failure. So he spoke the truth and bit back the pride and replaced it with shame. He didn't deserve to feel proud of himself after what he had done after all.
"You so transmuted your mother at the age of eleven," he summarised with a bit of awe. "I can't see if it'll be any use to you at all but why don't you go look at my laboratory?"
Danny walked into the room and looked at the chimeras with sympathy. They mauled at their cages as if in pain or in need of something. He'd always agreed with a friend in school that animals weren't meant to live in cages… what was her name? Oh Sam, that's right.
"It's kind of embarrassing. I'm well renowned as the leading authority in chimeras but the truth is my research hasn't been doing well recently… Oh well this is my library," Tucker changed the subject as he opened the large door only to reveal a large library. Danny would have marvelled if it weren't for the fact that Vlad happened to own something larger.
"This is amazing!" Ed exclaimed as he instantly grabbed the first book he saw and started reading.
"I'll be heading back to work now. I'll send someone by to pick you up in the afternoon," Roy put in only to realise that the two boys had already become engrossed in their books.
"Those to have great concentration. I'm not sure they even know we're here anymore," Tucker laughed as he showed Danny and Roy out of the building.
Danny stopped at the door and decided he should at least try. He'd been putting it of knowing that Shou Tucker would be asking for something in return. He didn't like addressing the issue out loud but he would do it for a clue.
"I'm sorry to ask you this right when I'm leaving. I'm sure you're a busy man-" Danny began.
"-It's no problem at all. Go on," Tucker encouraged wondering what the silent raven haired boy wanted. He hadn't heard him speak this whole time but he did notice that he opened his mouth a few times only to shut it. It looked like he didn't know whether he should ask it out loud.
"Well my parents were also well known Bio-alchemists. Do you know of the Fenton couple?" Danny finally asked. Roy watched in mild interest as the conversation unfolded. From the looks of it he figured Danny didn't talk much about his parents.
"Yes, Maddie and Jack Fenton right? They'd always been an odd couple- no offence… but their work was amazing. However their work was classified and the only people who knew were directly picked by the Fuhrer himself. The rest of us only knew they were doing research on making another creature entirely"
"As in human?" Danny asked appalled.
"No from the rumours I heard it would be a new species entirely. Of course the fact remains that it is simply rumours. May I ask what has you so curious? If I'm correct they died in a lab accident."
"That wasn't officially reported," Danny sighed as he ran his finger through his messy raven locks.
"I see you're trying to find out how exactly it happened"
"Yeah, but no luck so far," Danny added hoping to have the conversation end. His parent's 'deaths' hadn't officially been reported. They were classified under 'deceased' but then there was nothing to say how they died. Until Danny could figure it out he would file them under 'unknown', after all he was immortal. What was to say they couldn't be as well? But the fact remained that their last known wish was for him to burn their research to the ground. It must've been horrible for such a strong reaction.
"Have you thought about the case I offered you?" the Colonel asked as he placed his coat on a hanger.
Danny nodded and took of his shoes as well. "Shou Tucker did not say anything I haven't heard already. I have nothing to go off on my parent's so I'll have nothing to do until then. I'll take the case," Danny explained.
"I'm sure you would. What do you have in mind?"
"My sister… Jasmine Fenton, has a long standing relationship with Isaac McDougal from my memory. Vlad had worked alongside the man and introduced him to my sister a while back. However after Vlad apprenticed I didn't have the time for social calls unless it begged me to be there. So I don't know much about Isaac myself," Danny explained as he walked into the kitchen. Roy had already started cooking and Danny was bent on helping. He wasn't simply going to stay here without raising a helping finger.
"So a visit it is then," Roy stated as he cooked the rice.
"It's not that simple," Danny sighed as he cut the capsicum as best as he could.
"Why not?"
"Because my sister has a habit of being over-protective, and she also has a thing against me being a State Alchemist. She will most surely not help me if I say I'm on business," Danny sighed again.
"Well why don't you just tell her you're trying to find out something on your parents?"
"Did I mention that she doesn't like that obsession either?"
Roy noted that this conversation was actually going nowhere. At least the fried rice was starting to look good…
"Look I really appreciate you having me here. It must be annoying having to take care of a teenager," Danny apologised trying to steer the subject elsewhere.
"It's not too much of a problem. You don't act like Edward in any case," Roy shrugged it off.
"I forgot to ask. Why do you two dislike each other?" Danny asked.
Roy froze as he began to wonder the same thing himself. He had no idea why but Edward had grated on his nerves far more than most. If it were anyone else he would shrug it off and act civil but when it came with the blond teenager he just lost his ability to remain calm.
"Hmm… it must've been bad first impressions then," Roy concluded as he set out the cooked fried rice on the table.
Danny ate a spoon or two and decided he'd had enough. Food wasn't really high on his list of bodily needs… in fact that list had somehow managed to become non-existent. The only thing he really did any more was take long baths. He didn't need to sleep, eat, or even take a shit. He suddenly found himself missing everything… even taking a dump. Of course this didn't stop him from tasting the food in his mouth. He silently thanked whatever force up there that his taste-buds hadn't died along with the rest of his bodily needs
Ok Curry-llama here.
I'm sorry for the very long time I took to update this. I recently started writing a time travel fanfiction for Danny Phantom called Bonds That Transcend Time. It preoccupied most of my time.
I'm also sorry to say that most chapters will take more than just a while to update from now on. I'm starting school and I'm in my senior year studying for my HSC so writing Fanfic will be the last thing on my list of things to do. But I'll try my best to update at least once a month.
