A.N.- Wo-ow. We're into the double digit chapters, now. Thanks for sticking with the story so far I know it's been a drag but thanks- It'll speed up. Oh yeah, I've also decided to add the Shou Tucker and Nina arc into this story. I'm cutting up the plots of the original FMA and FMA Brotherhood and dropping them in a blender with my ideas. This will be interesting.
A shout out to Jess, who posted a guest review- I know right!? It seemed like such a long year but it was actually so short! Enjoy 7th grade, we are survivors! *DJ Plays Eye of The Tiger remix*
Enjoy!
The Sunset Alchemist, Ch 10
"Wake up! Ed, wake up!" Someone was shaking him. Not fun. Edward rolled over with a polite, "go-the-hell-away-I'm-sleeping," grunt. Then Alphonse dragged his older brother off of the couch by his automail foot and held him by the heel six feet off the ground. Sadie grabbed a spray bottle and sprayed water into the alchemist's open mouth. Edward spluttered and choked himself awake.
Al dropped him for good measure. On the couch, of course.
After much swearing on Ed's part and much scolding on Al's, the trio set off to find breakfast.
"Don't forget," Ed warned Sadie, "We're finding you a new hotel room, too. I'm not sleeping on the couch again." Sadie just smiled sweetly at him, which made his insides crumble. They stopped at a bakery and bought two Danish sweet rolls. Ed and Sadie devoured them in a second.
"Now we've got to go get this damn piece of machinery fixed." Edward grumbled. Sadie had forgotten how Envy had maimed Ed's automail arm when Ed protected her the day before.
Now she felt guilty.
There was a small automail servicing shop that Edward ducked into, leaving Alphonse and Sadie outside. They nonchalantly perused the kiosks along the street, avoiding screaming merchants and shouting hagglers.
"Look at these, Sadie!" Alphonse exclaimed, dragging his companion to a booth selling candied nuts and strange brooches. Al made Sadie buy a bag, much to the lady running the booth's delight, and asked her how they tasted.
"I dunno," She mumbled through a mouthful of nuts, I guess they're good-"Alphonse produced a notebook from the depths of his armor and opened it.
"Candied nuts," He muttered, scribbling it down furiously, "I'll eat these, too when I have my body back." Sadie peered over Alphonse's shoulder at the notebook. He had written down things such as
Blueberry tart,
Grilled Salmon, and
Mrs. Hughes' Apple Pie.
"God, Al. You're going to gain a bunch of weight when you get your body back." Al appreciated that she said when- not if.
"Alright," Ed said, emerging out of the shop and resting his arms behind his head. "Where to next?"
"That was fast," Sadie commented. Ed scowled.
"There were only a few cut wires. That bastard could have completely destroyed-"
"But he didn't, so let's keep looking around!" Alphonse supplied cheerfully, trying to keep the mood light. Sadie walked silently behind Alphonse and Ed, rarely answering his falsely enthusiastic questions. Edward just scowled and grimaced at all the happy tourists passing by.
A brown haired military officer sprinted to the Elrics and saluted.
"Fullmetal, Colonel Mustang has requested your presence at Central Command at the most convenient moment." He gasped, almost out of breath.
Edward scowled again.
"What the hell does he want?" The panting officer gave an undignified shrug.
"He said it was urgent, and that 'convenient moment' meant now." Ed shrugged,
"I'll go see him when I'm ready. I don't have to come at his every beck and-"Alphonse scooped his brother up and threw him over his shoulder in a most undignified way.
"Put me down, Al! Now! You can't force me to see that Military bastard!" Sadie snickered, and Ed turned his view to her.
"Why the hell are you standing there?" He hissed, "Don't let him take me to Mustang!" Sadie could actually see underneath Edward's pliable anger certain tenacity to confront the Flame Alchemist.
"It'll be fine," She said to the squirming State Alchemist, "I'll be your backbone, today." At this Ed went limp and Alphonse set him back on the ground.
"Fine, but I'm going because I wanna; not because he wants me to." He huffed, sounding much like a child wanting for an excuse. The terrified young officer then proceeded to shakily lead the Elrics and Sadie into Command.
"There you are, Fullmetal." Mustang greeted the three alchemists when they arrived. "About time you got here. I have paperwork due."
"Save it," Ed growled, bristled and riled- completely prepared for a Mustang conversation and interrogation. "Why'd you call us up here, now?"
Roy's hard stare softened, and he clasped his hands together on his mahogany desktop.
"We're reopening the case."
Al and Sadie gasped, overjoyed and surprised at the same time; but Edward was in shock.
They were reopening the case.
Reopening.
Finally.
"The encounter with the Homunculus Envy the other day aroused the Fuhrer's interest. When I presented the information we had gathered he agreed to resume the inspection." Mustang explained. A small smile tugged at Ed's mouth. "On one condition," Roy continued, "Fuhrer Bradley requested that Sadie join the military as a State Alchemist." Ed grinned,
"Sure, whatever you say. I'm assigned to the case, right?"
"Yes, but I was telling Miss Adams of the Fuhrer's condition." He stared pointedly at Sadie, warning her of a career of servitude. She caught his glance and understood it entirely; but this made Edward so happy- and then she could also study and perfect her alchemy while fulfilling her promise to Ryan.
What promise? She thought, I don't remember any of that, just that night… Mustang snapped his fingers with an ungloved hand. Sadie jumped.
"Your decision, Miss Adams?" Sadie looked at Edward, who was bouncing on the balls of his feet with enthusiasm, and then turned to Alphonse.
"Should I?" The empty suit shrugged.
"It's your choice. I won't force you into anything you don't want. Neither will Brother." He cut a look to Ed, he didn't see it.
"I will," She said strongly, "I accept the Fuhrer's terms." Mustang sighed dejectedly, and Edward let out a whoop.
"Al, we're back on the case! We're going to nail that goddamn son of a bitch to the wall! We've got him!" Alphonse laughed nervously. The young officer who had escorted the three to Mustang smiled.
Perfect.
"Brother, aren't you acting a little too excited? It's Winry's murder." Al asked Edward as they strolled down the white Central halls. Ed laughed carelessly.
"Of course not, Al. This is great news! We can deal with Envy once and for all…" He continued on, and his younger brother couldn't help but feel sorry for him.
Brother hasn't opened his eyes yet to what the case being resumed really means, He thought, He's going to be slammed with grief again as soon as the euphoria wears off. Al sighed; he'd be there for Ed, especially when it happened.
"I wonder how Sadie is." The suit asked, trying to distract Edward with a question. As soon as she had given her answer Mustang had received orders to send her to the Fuhrer's office. The girl had gone compliantly, but she cast a terrified glance back to Alphonse before the double doors swung shut behind her and the officer. Edward shrugged again.
"Dunno, but hey, even she's happy. She got accepted as a State Alchemist- what she's wanted for a long time now, right?" If Al's suit would have allowed him to frown, he would have.
"I don't like how Fuhrer Bradley just accepted her as a State Alchemist; I mean she didn't have to pass the qualifying test or anything like what you did."
"Maybe the requirements have changed." Alphonse shook his head.
"I doubt it, Brother, I really doubt it."
Sadie followed quietly behind the blue clad man in front of her. They passed other soldiers in the halls; they all pointed and whispered about her. She knew it.
I guess you can't keep secrets, not even in a place this big. She thought monotonously. The soldier threw open mammoth floor to ceiling doors and escorted her into a vast lobby. He steered Sadie up to the desk where a receptionist was filing papers.
"Sadie Adams to see the Fuhrer," He stated for her. Sadie cut her eyes to him. This guy was weird, she couldn't exactly explain it- but he was weird. The secretary admitted them to another room even larger than the lobby.
Sadie gasped.
"I'm glad you like it," said a smooth voice. Towards the towering windows there was a large desk with an even larger chair behind it. The chair spun around, revealing its occupant to be a middle aged man with an eye patch over his left eye.
"Welcome, Miss Adams." The Fuhrer smiled at her. Sadie gulped. This was the Head of the Military- the King of Amestris. He could have her killed with one nod of his head. The Fuhrer seemed to read her thoughts because he laughed and said,
"Don't be afraid, Miss Adams. I don't bite, come and have a seat." He pointed to the couches adorning the space between them. Sadie sat timidly on the edge of the cushion of the couch closest to the grand desk.
"Sir," She began, "Why-"
"Why did I accept you as a State Alchemist? Simple," He waved his hand in the air, "Colonel Mustang informed me of your strong alchemy. I believe that with training your alchemy could become more controlled and stronger. We would be privileged to have you in our ranks." Sadie shifted, this couldn't be right; wasn't there a test to pass? A demonstration, maybe?
"Sir, isn't there a test all State Alchemists have to pass to receive their certification?" Bradley paused for a moment, and then he smiled.
"Of course, I'm sorry; I almost forgot to mention that. Miss Adams, would you please show us an example of your alchemy?" Sadie nodded and stood, painfully aware of the young soldier and the Fuhrer of Amestris watching her intently. She took a deep breath and pressed her hands to the plush red carpet.
Multicolor sparks flew and danced around Sadie's hands as the floor began to melt and rise. At a glance from Bradley, the officer drew a sidearm and rushed her. Sadie looked up from her work and shouted at him. Her forming item shifted suddenly into a staff as she whipped it up and caught the man a blow to the side of the head.
"Shit," She heard him mutter as he stood from the floor.
"Are you alright?" She called to him, not daring to relinquish her staff just yet. Bradley laughed and clapped.
"Miss Adams, I am pleased to say that you have passed our State Alchemy exam! Now for a name…" Sadie fidgeted, glancing back and forth between the Fuhrer and the boy on the ground. He was stumbling into a corner, muttering to himself, and Sadie was afraid she had done him mental damage.
"How about the Rainbow Alchemist?" The Fuhrer suggested, he laughed at the ill-concealed look on Sadie's face. "No- I suppose not. Something to offset those sparks you put off during your transmutation…."
"Sunset?" Sadie supplied timidly, Bradley smiled and nodded.
"Sunset it is. Welcome, Sadie Adams- the Sunset Alchemist!"
"What the hell, Wrath! She beat the shit out of my head with her fucking stick!" The officer complained, staggering around the Fuhrer's office. "Do you know how hard it was to keep from healing in front of her? Why the hell did you make her demonstrate that way?" His short brown hair lengthened and spread, tinting itself with evergreen. His blue eyes darkened as maroon shot into them surprisingly fast.
"Patience, Envy." Bradley scolded, "It's all in Father's plan. Now that we have Fullmetal's new Rockbell under our control and supervision the rest is all too easy." Envy rubbed his head.
"Fucking idiot," He muttered. "You didn't admit her into service for her alchemy- that's just a sidebar." Bradley had his back turned and was looking out the windows into the courtyard. There he could see the newest State Alchemist run to greet the Elrics. Together they left.
"All too easy," He whispered.
A.N.- Meh. I know, what kind of effing Exam was that!? But remember, Bradley didn't admit Sadie for her alchemic talent (of which she has very little at this point), he did it to trap her close to him, like what he did with Riza for Mustang- almost. I'm giving too much away as it is, sorry. Do you think Ed is too happy for Winry's case to be reopened? I do. It was a mistake making him so euphoric but I'm too lazy to go back and change it so I'll just do more work tearing that euphoria down. * evil laugh *
Ed: Oh my GOD!
Al: *shudders*
Sadie: Run, run you fools!
Me: AHAHAHAHA! Comment and review please! I need feedback and critiques. Love you all!