Chapter Nine: The War Zone

Ed let out a sigh as he sat on the train, staring gloomily at the rapidly chilling landscape. He was glad that the train was well insulated, the last time he went to Briggs the train ride up there was horrible. He flesh hand was absentmindedly stroking the cloak of his warm, bright red coat. That was one thing he wasn't going to give up. The door slid open and Havoc peeked in.

"Mind if I sit with you?" The heavy smoker asked. Ed just shrugged.

"No one else will," he replied. "And I don't mind."

Havoc smiled wryly and moved over to the seat, lighting his cigarette. Ed watched as he stuck it in his mouth and exhaled. Little circles appeared.

Ed let out a sigh of relief once they got off the train. It had taken them four days to get to North City and he hadn't really been able to get out. Somewhere along the ride, Hawkeye, Mustang and the rest of the team had joined him and Havoc, and while he wasn't complaining about that (in fact, it was better than facing the loneliness), it got to be a bit… stuffy, although Ed had been rather amused when he realized that Black Hayate, Hawkeye's normally obedient dog, had somehow gotten stowed away in the luggage. The dog ended up becoming attached to Ed's side though, which he was not amused about, but the others were. Especially Mustang and even Hawkeye had a bit of trouble getting him away from Ed.

The dog loyally walked right behind him and Ed smiled slightly, and then frowned as he stared at the Fort. "Well," he murmured to himself. "This is it." He felt a hand on his shoulder and looked up in surprise at Mustang, who was staring ahead determinedly.

"No turning back now, Fullmetal… I wish that things were different." The Lieutenant-General said sighing slightly, and then he turned to Ed, who looked at him in mild confusion. "Once we get into that fort, I'll be your superior. I won't be able to protect you either, if a higher ranked General orders you to go out to the war zone." Ed swallowed slightly and Roy sighed. "Stay safe, Edward." Then he briskly marched forward. Riza paused and looked at Ed, biting her lip slightly. Ed was astonished that she looked so worried, let alone Mustang, whose reputation, was the complete, bipolar opposite (in Ed's mind).

"Black Hayate, stay with him." She firmly said. Black Hayate whimpered and she smiled and patted him on the head then glanced at Ed, standing up. "You're in the safest area," she said, her voice hushed and quick, "but I only said the safest. It'll still be very dangerous there. Keep Hayate with you at all costs. I'm going with Mustang to protect him, so naturally he'll be in the most dangerous area, Fort Briggs itself."

Ed frowned slightly. "But isn't Briggs the safest?" He asked in confusion. Her lips twitched slightly, before she put her emotionless mask back on.

"No. Drachma will target Briggs first and foremost. Mustang has enough influence to keep you safe, Zao wanted to post you at Briggs, but you'll be separated from the rest of us, except for Falman, who'll be going with you to the East Camp. Fuery will be going to West, Breda to the East while Havoc will be in the North." Ed gasped slightly and Hawkeye let out a sigh. "Zao has an eye on you," Riza added, glancing around. "That is bad. The only reason that he let you go with Fallman to the East Camp was because of Mustang's influence. But the disadvantage to East Camp is that most of the soldiers don't like you. Yes, they've heard of you, but they don't… well, know you. You'll see. In other words, they won't respect you. So that means no shouting at short comments." Her tone was deadly serious and Ed smiled sheepishly, rubbing the back of his head.

"I'm not as short as I was."

"But they'll make them, probably to test how you react. I'm sure you'll be fine though," she added worriedly. "You did win over Briggs." Ed sighed heavily then sneezed. He hated snow. Riza smiled sympathetically. "It's going to be a long winter."

Ed smiled at her bravely. "You got that right," he said sarcastically. "At least my ports aren't aching… yet."

"Stop being so pessimistic," she said cheerfully. "We'll probably be back before spring even comes around."

Ed laughed. "See you later then." He replied, and was reminded of Al telling him almost the same thing. Hawkeye smiled and patted the dog one last them before walking briskly after Mustang. Hayate whined and Ed sighed softly. "Yeah," he said softly. "See ya later."

Hawkeye had been right. About the soldiers. Ed's eye twitched slightly as he was asked how old he was. Several soldiers had mocked him about his height (behind his back and openly). At least he hadn't lost his temper, yet.

"Don't listen to them," a quiet voice said, interrupting Ed's train of thought. Ed turned in surprise to see a man maybe thirty years old looking at him in sympathy.

The only thing that Ed could say was, "I don't need sympathy."

The older man chuckled. "Of course you don't," he said somewhat drily, his expression amused now. "I'm Joseph Meadows, the Iron Will Alchemist." Ed smiled slightly.

"Iron Will? Nice name. I'm Edward Elric, the Fullmetal Alchemist."

Joseph chuckled. "I think I like your name better. Why Fullmetal though?" He sounded curious and Ed shrugged. Something about the man screamed that he could trust him with his all of his secrets and his life. Hayate pawed at Ed, who reached down to pet him.

"I lost my arm and leg in the Eastern rebellion," he replied easily. "So I have metal limbs. That might be why, although Al says that I've got a will of metal, whatever that means." He shrugged and straightened up. "When did you become a state Alchemist, Joseph?" He asked curiously. Joseph grinned.

"When I was twenty-five, so six years ago, also, call me Joe, Edward."

Ed grinned, rubbing the base of his head somewhat nervously. "Alright then, call me Ed though." Joe chuckled and saluted, disappearing. Several of the officers stared at Ed though, which in term made him shift and lean down to pet Hayate. One of the more pleasant soldiers, one that only talked about his height openly walked over to Ed, his eyes full of something that resembled awe. Ed felt even more uncomfortable, he didn't like being awed at. Oh sure, when he was younger he had dreamed of being awed at, but not so much anymore.

Of course, he liked to be recognized but not awed at.

"What?" Ed asked, somewhat defensively. The solider seemed to ignore his tone.

"He came up to you? And asked you to call him Joe? And saluted you? And actually talked to you?" The solider asked sounding absolutely surprised.

"Yes, why?" Ed replied, now a little confused. What was the big deal? The solider had a calculating look in his eye as he stared at Ed.

"Fullmetal… the Iron Will doesn't go out of his way to talk to just any soldier, alchemist or not. He's only talked to a few that…" he paused and his eyes widened. "Oh."

Ed was now annoyed. Really, what was so special about being talked to? "So?" He asked, knowing that he sounded rather annoyed. "What's it to you?"

The soldier paused, as if evaluating what he was going to say carefully. "The Iron Will Alchemist… he's known that for a reason. He sensed something in you that… called him to you."

Ed looked at him in surprise and the soldier shrugged and walked away. Ed frowned, slightly calculatingly. "What do you think he meant, Hayate?"

Author's Note: Its turned out to become more tilting toward mission... I need to redo the summary =_=... and add "bending of alchemic rules" to the warnings... :P x) *Troll face*