A Pen or a Sword?

By: Bar-Ohki

Disclaimer: I own the characters in this story that do not appear in the Fullmetal Alchemist anime.

Recap: Jaxith is attending Flamel Academy and Roy Mustang gets to experience the humiliation of embarrassing baby stories.

Other Stuff: Picture of the Mustang Family on my deviantART account. It's the homepage on my profile. It is most awesome, do check it out. You can write your comments about it here or there.

Previously:

Ed snickered back. "Show me when you are done."

Jaxith drew two pictures during the car trip, the second one was of Edward sleeping against the car door.

Chapter 9: Goodbye Old, Hello New

"Well now that that's decided, I need to go back and enroll him…." Mary remarked as Mrs. Mustang rounded a corner much faster than Roy would have ever thought possible for the vehicle to perform.

Cindy raised an eyebrow as she glanced in the mirror to see Alphonse smash into her baby brother. "Yes, but make sure you do that before the day it out, we leave first thing tomorrow you know."

"Of course!" Mary huffed.

With the next turn Edward's limp form was tossed onto the unsuspecting Jaxith.

"Great-gram! Careful!" Jaxith called to his great-grandmother as she continued to drive like a maniac.

"I am always careful!!" She then somehow made the truck pop a wheelie.

"Are you trying to kill us!?" Roy shrieked from the back and was amazingly heard in the cabin. The poor man was flustered and paler than anyone had ever seen him. Mrs. Mustang then pulled the car into the driveway of the Hughes residence. Jaxith watched in amazement and Alphonse and Roy flung themselves out of the bed as if it was on fire. They both crashed to the ground and then ran away from the truck as fast as their legs would carry them.

Mrs. Mustang huffed, got out of the truck, and knocked politely on the door of the Hughes home.

"Hello." Gracia Hughes, a tall, kind woman with short brown hair and green eyes, answered the door.

"Excuse me ma'am, but do you have a gun I could borrow?" Mrs. Mustang asked as casually as one would if asking for a cup of sugar.

"Er-" Gracia hesitated, "what are you going to do with it?"

"I was going to fire a shot into the air to get my panicking son's attention." Mrs. Mustang explained, to her it was a normal occurrence. Gracia poked her head further out the door to look at who else was inside the truck that this strange Western woman had arrived in. She was mildly shocked to see what she thought was a very embarrassed Roy Mustang with a very asleep Edward Elric leaning against him. There were two other women in the car who were quietly conversing.

"You're a relation to Colonel Mustang?" Gracia asked, never having met Roy's family before.

"He's the son that's running amuck." Mrs. Mustang explained. Gracia was then confused.

"Then who's in the truck?" She eyed the embarrassed Roy-look-a-like.

"That's Jaxith, my great-grandson." Mrs. Mustang nodded. "Now do you have a gun or not?"

"I have a better idea." Gracia smiled. She disappeared into the house and reappeared with a pan and a spoon.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

"Come and get your apple pie!" Gracia bellowed into her yard. About a minute later Roy and Alphonse came back to the front yard, covered in foliage and mud.

"Ah! Food certainly does work for that." Mrs. Mustang nodded. "Are you two done making fools of yourselves?"

"Yes." They answered sheepishly, looking much like little boys.

"Roy Mustang! Why didn't you tell me your family was coming to visit!?" Gracia sounded offended and annoyed.

"Er- I was going to call you about that." Roy sounded panicked. "But I didn't expect mummy to drive us here right away…."

"You forgot that you showed me the way here didn't you?" Mrs. Mustang chuckled.

"…Yes…." Roy answered in a small voice.

"Well get inside and clean yourselves up." Gracia shooed the two inside. Mrs. Mustang walked over and stuck her head inside the truck.

"We're here y'all! Get out." Mrs. Mustang reminded them, pinching Ed's cheek to wake him up. The young alchemist let out an indignant squeak and bumped Jaxith's lips on his way out of the truck. The poor Skibbereen sat there, still flushed while everyone else exited the truck.

"So, who is everyone here?" Gracia asked as Edward walked by her into the house without invitation, stretching and yawning as he went.

"Hi, Gracia." Ed mumbled when he was about a step past her. Gracia shook her head at Ed's antics.

"Big brother!!" Elysia Hughes, a bundle of joy that had blond hair put up in two cute pony tails and glorious blue eyes, or so her father would have said. She ran up and greeted Edward, hugging his legs which made him trip.

"Ungh!" Ed moaned from the floor.

"Hello ma'am," Cindy stifled laughter at Ed's antics, "I'm Cindy Lynn Mustang, Roy's eldest sister."

"And I am Gracia Hughes. Roy was good friends with my husband." Gracia shook Cindy's hand.

"I'm Victoria Mustang." Mrs. Mustang gave Gracia an approving nod.

"I'm Mary Sue Skibbereen," Mary explained, "and this is my son Jaxith Skibbereen."

"It's nice to meet you ma'am." Jaxith bowed politely.

"Welcome to my home, come in." Gracia led them into her entryway. During this time Edward had managed to get off the floor and was now holding Elysia. Elysia waved at the new people and began her usual four year old chatter. All of the mothers made a little 'aww' and took their turns congratulating Gracia on her cute girl.

Jaxith wandered into the living area of the Hughes home and began to sketch the scenery. It was around then that Roy came into the living area. He had just stepped out of the shower and was now toweling off his hair. Jaxith's pencil paused as his onyx eyes swinging up to meet with his great-uncle's. Roy was now sporting some clean clothes he had left at the Hughes' house one time a while back.

"Hold that!" Jaxith pointed his pencil at his great-uncle who then stood very still, a little confused. In one fluid motion, Jaxith changed pencils and flipped his sketchbook open to a new, clean page. Soon there was the sound of a pencil scratching. Roy paused and stared, memorized by how intentional and graceful Jaxith made his pencil strokes.

After a few minutes of Roy standing still he was dismissed with a dramatic wave of the hand. Roy walked over, rigorously finishing the drying off of his hair as he did so. Jaxith smiled and showed him a picture of himself toweling off his hair. He looked handsome and alert. Roy's mouth opened into a large 'o' as his eyes opened in amazement.

"That's beautiful, Jaxith." Roy was still amazed by how well it was done. "Could I have a copy of that for my office?"

"Are you sure you walking out of the shower is something you want your superiors to see when they come in?" Jaxith pointed out logically, making Roy a little embarrassed.

"Er- no, you're right." Roy muttered.

"Here, try this one." Jaxith then showed him the picture of him snapping his fingers with the alchemic arcs. It was a dramatic picture that called you into the moment.

"Yes, that is a better choice." Roy nodded. It was about then that the other members of the Mustang family came in.

"Uncle Roy!" Elysia ran over and gave Roy a hug.

"Hello Elysia." Roy patted her head.

"Does this make her my cousin or something?" Jaxith asked wearily.

"Yup!" Elysia gave Jaxith a hug. "Why do you look like uncle Roy?"

"Well I don't know, but he's my great-uncle…." Jaxith explained.

"Ooo! So he's your uncle but he's extra great?" Elysia asked, but before Jaxith could correct her she went on. "Uncle Roy, could you be my great-uncle too?"

"Er-!" Roy wasn't sure how to answer that.

"Elysia, great-uncle means that Jaxith's grandmother is Roy's sister." Gracia explained as she came into the room with the promised apple pie.

"I'm off to find Al!" Ed announced and left.

"He didn't notice the food…." Roy muttered to himself, knowing that Ed would have stayed if he knew where the food was. But that was the reason Ed had left.

Alphonse couldn't eat and enjoy things like apple pie, it made Edward guilty. Since Ed had heard that Al had been traumatized by Mrs. Mustang's crazy driving (that Edward had amazingly slept through), he went to find and comfort his brother.

Alphonse was sitting on the back porch, still dirty, and very board. Ed opened the back door and shut it, making enough noise for Al to realize his presence.

"Hey…." Ed remarked as he walked over. "Looks like you did a number on yourself…."

"Yeah…." Al was a little embarrassed. "I can't clean myself very well."

"Here." Edward clapped his hand then touched Al's armor. Within moments and a few alchemic flashes, Al was clean and shinny.

"Thanks." Al got up and stretched.

"I'm going to stay out here." Ed announced and sat down.

"Ed?" Al was confused. His older brother sighed a little.

"They are lucky." Ed muttered venomously. "They have happy, complete families."

Al paused, now seeing why his brother left. He sat down next to Edward and looked at the stars.

"I miss mom too." Al remarked mournfully. Edward set his automail hand on Al's shoulder, it hit with an audible 'clack'.

"We'll get our bodies back, I promise." Ed told Al earnestly.

" 'Bodies back'?" Jaxith asked, staring with wide-eyes. Ed and Al jumped, startled by the Skibbereen's sudden appearance. He was holding two plates with apple pie on them.

"Ah-" "Er-" "Um-" The Elrics sputtered, unable to grasp words.

"Sorry to have disturbed y'all!" Jaxith bowed, dropped the plates and ran into the house, full of fear.

Crash! The plates shattered on the ground. Ed looked to his brother.

"What now?" Ed whispered quietly, afraid.

"I think we have to clear this misunderstanding." Alphonse looked out in the direction Jaxith had run worriedly.

"Before someone does something dumb…." Edward muttered and began to chase after Jaxith. Al shook his head, leave it to his impulsive brother to get run himself into a bad choice. Al paused, drew two quick transmutation circles, and fixed the plates and pie. He calmly walked into the living room where Ed and Jaxith were playing what appeared to be a game of tag.

"Get back here!" Edward roared, jumping over the couch in order to catch the panicked Skibbereen.

"No!" Jaxith yelled as he ran out of the room into the back parts of the unfamiliar house. Ed went right after him.

"Brother didn't break anything did he?" Al asked, a little bewildered.

"No, but I am wondering what Jaxith did to make Ed out for his blood." Cindy eyed Alphonse carefully.

"He called brother 'short'." Al lied. Roy and Gracia, both having known Al for a while, knew the boy was lying, they exchanged quick glances.

"Sensitive about his height, eh?" Mrs. Mustang chuckled. "Your papa was too when he was the boys' age."

"Really?" Roy's eyebrows raised up.

"Yes, your father was short for his age until he was 20, then he had a growth spurt that put him where he is now." Mrs. Mustang explained with a chuckle.

"Sorry Gracia, but I can't eat apple pie and brother's too busy playing chase to eat." Alphonse handed her the plates.

"Its ok Al." Gracia assured him and took the extra pie into the kitchen.

Thump!!

"I wonder what that was…." Mary Sue eyed the hallway.

-with Ed and Jaxith-

Jaxith unknowingly had ran into the guest bedroom. Edward chased him in, clapping his hands in the process. Ed grabbed the door and swung it shut, alchemic arcs flying off the now fused wall and door. Jaxith's eyes widened in panic.

"You're not going anywhere!" Ed pointed a finger at Jaxith, who immediately ran on the other side of the bed. Edward leaped across the bed and Jaxith dove left. Scrambling on his hands and knees, Jaxith galloped across the floor, whipping around the corner of the bed. Ed grumbled and clapped his hands again, alchemizing the floor so that it would ripple. Jaxith was sent skywards by this and landed on the bed with a 'thump'.

Thump!! Edward had leaped onto the bed, landing on Jaxith. It was an awkward position, as Jaxith was on his back and Ed was now straddling the boy's hips with both hands on either side of Jaxith's head. Jaxith blushed, then fainted after Edward scowled at him.

A few minutes passed and Jaxith awoke. Edward had adjusted his position so he was now sitting on Jaxith's stomach with his arms folded across his chest.

"Are you ready to listen to me?" Edward gave Jaxith an annoyed look. Jaxith nodded meekly.

"What I am about to tell you is a secret you can tell no one under any circumstances, get it?" Golden eyes flashed with seriousness. Jaxith again nodded.

-in the living room-

"Roy-baby I have to go back and enroll Jaxith." Mary reminded her uncle-in-law.

"Oh! Right…." Roy rubbed the back of his head sheepishly.

"Lets go!" Mrs. Mustang got up, grabbed her daughter and began to head out the door. Gracia watched, a little amazed as the rest of the Mustang family followed.

"We'll be back shortly." Roy assured her as he was pushed out the door by Mary Sue.

"Huh?" Al wasn't sure what just happened.

-in the guest bedroom-

"When me and Al were growing up we only had our mother. She was a wonderful woman. Strong, beautiful, and kind. We loved her a lot." Ed explained. "When I was ten, me and Al had just come home from a shopping trip to find her collapsed on the floor with a fever…. Mom never got better." Edward choked up a little on his words, the memories intense.

"I'm sorry." Jaxith muttered his condolences.

"Me and Al had been studying alchemy. Whenever we did it, it made mom smile. But after she died, we wanted nothing more than to see her smile one last time." Edward was quiet and melancholy. "So we studied hard for a year and tried to bring her back with alchemy."

Jaxith gasped. "But-"

"We didn't care if it was sin or if it was something we weren't supposed to do. We were confident we could do it and then be a family again." Edward touched his right arm. "And we were so, so wrong."

"What happened?" Jaxith asked, on the edge of his seat with the story, well as close as you can be when you have someone sitting on your stomach.

"We failed."

" 'Failed'?" Jaxith asked.

"I lost my arm and leg," Edward squeezed his automail, "Al lost his body."

"His body?"

"That armor he wears is empty." Edward explained.

"Oh." Jaxith was quiet. Edward got off of him and sat on the edge of the bed.

"So why did you join the military?" Jaxith asked.

"To use their resources to help us find a way to fix our mistake." Ed explained.

"Ah." Jaxith nodded. "You hurt everyday don't you?"

"What!?" Ed spun around to look at Jaxith whose gaze was pointed out the window.

"You're brother is stuck in an unfeeling body." Jaxith observed. "You're doing something no one else has done, or dared to. And you have no family besides Al."

It was Edward's turn to nod.

"I don't have any siblings." Jaxith explained after a long while. "My mother's womb got torn up really bad when she had the still born twins."

"Oh…." Edward was quiet.

"She's never told me what their genders where, I've never asked. It made her really upset, as if she had failed my father." Jaxith went on. "That's why she worries about me, I'm her only child and she wants me to be perfect."

"I see." Edward understood Mary Sue a little better, knowing she was suffering to due her own short comings.

"But," Jaxith sat up and looked at Ed in the eye, "the one thing she always did support was crying."

"Crying?" Edward was confused.

"A real man will cry." Jaxith explained. "But a coward will not, locking it all up inside and destroying themselves because of it."

"Hmm." Ed smiled a little.

"Let's go back to the party, I'm sure everyone's worried." Jaxith explained.

"Just tell people you called me 'short'." Ed spat the last word. "I really hate it."

"Ah, sure." Jaxith made a note to never call Edward 'short'.

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That was a good bit of fun! Hope y'all liked!