Hello FanFic-ers! (........yes I've mad it into a noun. Don't judge.)
Anywho, sory for the dry spell, rehearsal and break and wrist issues and so forth. But it's here! The third-to last (don't hold me to it) chapter of the Fullmetal Alchemist Musical.
Disclaimer: It's chapter ten, you should know I don't own HSM or FMA. If I had any rights to FMA, Greed would still be Greed and not Ling, and there would be a lot more Royai and EdxWinry.
Soooo............
Chapter 10: Absolute Chaos and Bopping to the Top
(Setting: The theatre across from Central command. Envy is lounging on top of Sciezka's piano, checking a nonexistent watch.)
They heard Roxanne barreling down the hallway before they saw her. She swung around the corner, flying through the doubled doors, tripping over her shoelace and landing in a stupendous heap at the end of the aisle. Envy looked curiously over the side of the piano at the red Converse sticking out of a set of military robes.
"You're late," he observed.
Roxanne untangled herself and brushed dust off the front of her uniform. "Shut up," she said, mock punching his arm.
Sciezka stretched and began to warm up the two singers.
Outside the theatre, in the lobby, Winry and Ed were passing through to finalize some blocking points. Winry was humming to herself when she threw her arm out, hitting Ed in the throat. The alchemist gasped for air, "What was that for?"
The two blondes leaned towards the doors to the theatre. "Wow," said Ed, "they're good."
Winry peered through the window in the door and gasped, "We have to do something." She thought for a moment, "Ok, the callbacks are on Thursday. And the Alchemic Decathlon is on Friday."
"I heard Wrath saying that the homunculi were going to try and take over Central on Friday too."
Winry grinned, "Too bad these events aren't happening on the same day. At the same time."
Ed looked confused, "But then Envy and Roxanne wouldn't be able to make the-" his eyes widened, "oh."
Winry grinned evilly.
(The theatre. Winry is pestering Hohenheim and Sciezka is transposing the tenor parts down a minor third for Envy because he's a baritone. [A/N: MLIG.])
Sciezka looked up as voices from back stage grew louder. Mr. Hohenheim walked out followed by Winry, who was followed by Ed.
"For the last time," continued Hohenheim, "if you think that as drama club co-presidents it would be best for the production if we moved the callbacks to Friday, I might consider it." He walked down the ramp center stage and left the theatre.
Ed still looked confused, "I can never get a straight answer out of that guy. Is that a yes?"
Winry grinned evilly and walked away humming.
(The café the next day, Thursday. Sciezka is leaning her head against the bulletin board. The decathlon team and the homunculi minus Pride and Sloth enter.)
Envy was the first to notice the new addition to the bulletin board. "Callbacks the same time as out plan for takeover?"
"And the Decathlon," said Roxanne dismayed.
"Who did this?" asked Russell.
"I smell a rat called Hohenheim," growled Envy.
"Actually," said Sciezka, still facing the board, "two rats, neither of which are named Hohenheim."
Greed looked at her, "Do you know something about this, Bookworm?"
Sciezka sweat dropped at this remark, but continued, "Hohenheim thinks he's doing what's best for the theatre, but Ed and Winry only concerned with their selves."
"You know what I'm going to do to that half-pint alchemist and the automail mechanic?" said Kimblee threateningly.
"Nothing," Roxanne cut across him. "Except sing. Maybe. Bit it'll only work if we all work together."
The alchemists and homunculi shook hands in a temporary truce.
Roxanne grinned evilly.
(Friday. Mustang's Office)
Wrath, Envy and Greed walked onto the office, carrying flour, water, food coloring, sugar, eggs, milk, butter, shortening, chocolate and baking soda. Roxanne looked up from the array she was sketching last-minute. "What are you doing?" she asked.
"Just a little present," Wrath replied glibly.
Roxanne looked dubious when they poured the ingredients onto Mustang's already messy desk.
"Ok," Wrath announced, "stand back." He clapped his hands and the office was filled with blue light. When the light cleared, the papers had formed into a platter and on the platter was a frosted and decorated cake. Wrath pumped his fist, "Yes! It didn't explode!"
Roxanne looked at the array designed in frosting and tentatively placed her hands on the edges. Multicolored flowers bloomed from the surface of the cake and Wrath jumped in delight, "It didn't explode!"
Roxanne cut into the cake and distributed it to the rest of the Decathlon team and homunculi. "So," she said conversationally, "we all set?"
Envy grinned evilly.
(Fuhrer's Office. All the homunculi are gathered around Dante.)
"Ok," Dante said, "this is our last chance. This is our chance to get Central. If we fail, we're all going down. If we win, we focus on our next goal."
Envy was lounging on one of Pride's couches, toying with a split end in his hair. Dante sat down beside him. "I know I've been tough on you," she started.
"Oh, just a smidge,' said Envy sarcastically.
"But it's because we need you-I need you to succeed. This plan is all on you. I get that it's a lot of stress, but stress is good for you."
"Yeah…thanks."
"Anytime."
(Lecture hall. The Alchemic Decathlon team is politely greeting the team from Fort Briggs.)
"Hello Alchemists," said the announcer, "and welcome to the 15th annual Alchemic Decathlon between Central Command and Fort Briggs. If the teams will take their seats, the competition will begin in a moment."
The two teams sat at opposite tables with periodic tables, scales and various containers spread out. Roxanne looked over to Kimblee, who's eyes were closed, his palms folded serenely. As though sensing her gaze, he opened one eye and winked.
(Fuhrer's Office.)
Dante looked at the clock. It was 10:30. "Ok," she addressed the group, "it time to go. Gather up Pride and Sloth, hold them hostage. The alchemists will come, and we will destroy them. Understood?"
"Yeah," said Envy enthusiastically, "what team?"
"Homunculi!" replied everyone.
What Dante didn't know was that this exchange was actually a cue for Greed to hit the play button on a CD player. The CD started playing the sound of an infant crying. Wrath immediately tensed up, and ran towards the wall behind Pride's desk. He ran into the wall once, twice and on the third time, sank three feet into the wall, leaving his head and shoulders poking out of the wall like some ridiculous mounted head.
The others ran to the wall to try and calm down Wrath, but Envy slipped out the door after an assuring wink from Wrath, who was screaming about marshmallows eating him in the Gate.
(Lecture hall.)
Roxanne stood at the blackboard, racing to finish the array she was drawing. She added one last squiggle and pressed her hands to the circle. A palm tree burst out of the chalkboard, coconuts and all. She flipped the board over to display her work upright. The judges seemed impressed as they wrote down her score.
She looked at the clock, it was 10:35.
(Theatre.)
Various spectators filed into the theatre and Hohenheim strode to the front, addressing to small audience. "Casting the leads of a show is both a challenge and a responsibility. A joy and a burden. I commend these and all other young artists who hold out for the moon and stars." He seemed caught up in the moment, then continued, "Shall we soar together?" With his speech done, the audience clapped politely.
The curtain rose, revealing Winry in a sequined pink dress and Ed in black pants, a white dress shirt, a silver sequined vest and a fedora.
The music started as upbeat salsa music, then Winry took center and started singing, "I believe in dreaming, and shooting for the stars."
Ed crossed in front of her, "Baby to be number one, you got to raise the bar."
Winry poked her head above her partner, "Kicking and a scratching, grinding out my best."
Ed shrugged, "Anything it takes to climb the ladder of success."
The two began a step-step-step-ball-change motion, "Work our tails off everyday. Gotta bump the competition, blow them all away. Yeah we're gonna bop bop bop, bop to the top. Slip and slide and ride that rhythm."
Ed did a one-handed cartwheel, "Jump and hop, hop until we drop."
Winry did a very stylized jazz square, "And start again. Zip zap zop, walk like a mop."
Ed slid back to center stage, "Scoot around the corner. Move it to the groove, until the music stops."
The returned to their salsa/step-ball-change motion, "Do the bop bop bop to the top. Don't ever stop. Bop to the top. Gimme, gimme. Shimmy, shimmy. Shake some booty and turn around. Flash a smile in their direction,"
Winry posed, flexing her arms, "Show some muscle,"
Ed added, kind of ridiculously, "Do the hustle."
The duet moved in for their finale, and began climbing a ladder, "Yeah we're gonna bop, bop, bop. Bop to the top. Wipe away your inhibitions. Stomp, stomp, stomp, do the rump, and strut your stuff. Bop, bop, bop, straight to the top. We're going for the glory! We'll keep stepping up and we just won't stop till we reach the top. Bop to the top!" They struck a final pose.
The audience erupted in a spattering of applause. Hohenheim stepped onto the stage. "And this is why we love the theatre. Now, our next callback, Envy and Roxanne." No one answered. "Envy, Roxanne?"
Sciezka stood up, "They'll be here," she said.
"The theatre, as I have often pointed out, waits for no one. I'm sorry."
Sciezka sat back down at her piano.
Then the door slammed open.
Oh, cliffie!!!!!!!
Well, thanks for reading, and please review. Reviews are awesome.
For those interested, MLIG stands for My Life Is Godspell, my current musical. People who get it are Shiloh and Victoria, so if either of you guys comment, I love you very much. And He is often found in one thing small, conversely he is often missed in many.
Love you all, and see you next chapter!!
~Brigette Janine