"I'm sorry for what happened. I can't say that I completely understand how you felt but I do have an idea what kind of pain you must have felt." The Fullmetal said, thinking back to when his arm and leg had been taken from his body when he and Al tried to bring back their mother.
"How old were you?"
"Twelve."
Chanticleer looked at him with a mix of bewilderment and disbelief. He wanted to feel like he was the only one who had ever felt in that kind of pain. Mainly because nobody deserved to have that happen to them, and yet at the same time he wanted to feel like he wasn't alone, that some one knew what true hard-core pain was.
"Chanticleer?" Al said softly. "Do you think that sometime we could meet your brother and friends?"
The Dawn's expression loosened a bit, then he smiled. The kind of smile you give when something is heavy on your mind but you try not to let it show to anyone else.
"I think I could do that. I plan to go back in a few days."
Ed stood up.
"Does, does it still hurt you?"
"What?"
"When those roosters were merged into your body, does it still hurt?"
"No."
Ed looked at Chanticleer like he didn't believe him.
"It only hurt when that man transmuted them to me. I feel nothing now."
"Then why did Nina have to be in so much pain?" the question was aimed more to himself than to the Dawn.
"Um, who's Nina?"
"Nina is a little girl we once knew." Al sadly explained. "Her own father transmuted her with their dog and made her a chimera as well, but her fathers' technique caused her pain. He did the same thing with his wife."
Chanticleer didn't say anything.
"That happened several years ago." the Fullmetal said quickly as though trying to change the subject. "People have been well known to abuse the power of alchemy for their own selfish reasons and to hurt others. Whoever did that to you might have been smarter but was just as cruel as Shou Tucker." Ed wasn't even sure if what he was saying made sense but the more the thought swirled around in his mind the angrier he became.
"Brother, I think you should calm down a little."
"Hey you two." The Dawn stood up next to Ed. "I think we need to go on and do something else with our day, something to get our minds out of this sad haze."
"You're right." Ed sighed. "I hope it wasn't too much or too painful to ask about what happened to you."
Chanticleer shook his head. "The memories hurt regardless. But I felt rather relieved that I was finally able to share the load with someone that doesn't already know."
With nothing more than a nod good-bye Ed and Al showed themselves out and tried to continue their day with a smile.
Five days later in Centrals main courtyard
"You have some really cool friends, Chanticleer. They really know how to redefine 'getting the party started'. Do you always have that much of a riot when you're with them?"
The night before last the Elric brothers had spent a wonderful time in the old warehouse making friends with the Dawn's 'family'.
"They seem like a really friendly and talented bunch, I just didn't like that song you sang near the end of the night."
Chanticleer thought for a moment then the light bulb clicked. "You mean It's Alright to be Itty Bitty?"
"YES! THAT ONE!" Ed yelled, angry that it was spoken out loud.
"It wasn't aimed at you! Why are you gnashing your teeth all of a sudden? After all you did mention it first."
Al looked up at the sky and acted as if he didn't know them. He found it surprisingly easy to become quick friends with Mark the twins and especially Brody. There was almost an immediate connection between Brody and Al. He had become certain it was because they were both the younger sibling and cared deeply for their older brothers.
"For the last time it was nothing personal!"
The Dawns' defensive tone brought Alphonse back to earth.
"Aren't you two done arguing yet?"
"Well you better be because the Colonel wants you." Havoc walked up the three of them. "He sent me out a while ago to look for you three. It took me so long to find you he's probably gotten the impression that I've forgot. So to help cover my butt I suggest you get to is office on the double." He said nonchalantly.
Ed glared at Chanticleer. "I'll get back to you later."
In Mustang's office
"I've got a new assignment for the three of you."
"Anything for the good of the overall community." The Dawn said with somewhat fake enthusiasm.
"I'm glad you feel that way because this is a rescue."
The three alchemists found themselves taken aback by the Colonels tone.
"Why do you say it like that?" Alphonse asked.
"Two civilians were kidnapped last night. According to people in nearby houses they heard shouts and all the noises of a struggle then saw a group of about six or seven teens trying to overpower two or three others. I say two or three because no one could actually get an actual count."
"Where was this?" Al asked.
"In a chain of old warehouses on the out skirts of town."
Ed felt his stomach drop and could only imagine how this news affected Chanticleer.
"So what exactly do you want us to do?" he said trying to hold back any uneasiness in his voice.
"The word is one of the kidnapers ended up getting kidnapped himself. After the residents were taken he was held back by whomever was left. What I want you to do is go there and interrogate him. See if he knows where the others were taken and if he refuses to tell you anything, bring him here."
"Yes sir." Chanticleer said quickly. He bowed and hurriedly left the room. The Elric brothers followed him.
(Down the hall)
"How could this have happened? We were there night before last so…"
"There was a day in between time for anything to happen, Al." The Dawn said flatly. "The question isn't 'how,' anyone can do anything if they put their mind to it. The question is 'why.' Why bust into a rundown warehouse and kidnap whomever you find?"
"Someone else is pulling the strings." Ed just now realized. "I'll bet those kids were told to kidnap anyone they could find knowing the military would get involved."
"Now we have to ask why do they want the military to get involved." Al stated.
"Or who they want to get involved." Chanticleer said with a small growl in his voice. Al looked at him.
"Are you suggesting somebody wants to get at someone inside the military?"
"Makes sense doesn't it, Al?" Ed asked. "Say I'm mad at you for something you did to me so I kidnap someone and won't return them until you agree to whatever challenge I come with and if I win you and the hostages die. Revenge is satisfied and you're dead. Get my drift?"
"Yeah but…"
"No 'buts!' Lets go and if you're slow don't expect any sympathy." Chanticleer quickened his pace and even Al had a difficult time keeping up.
Chibi me: peaks in head and looks around Hem hem! Hello everyone since my larger un-chibi self is nowhere to be found I shall be doing the preview, the way it's supposed to be done. (Clears throat)
The three friends are on their way to the warehouses where they hope to find the kidnapped kidnapper and sap all the information out of him as possible. But what will become of the abducted teens? Most importantly who was taken? Ohhhh! Even professionals like myself get the shivers once and a while.
Me: while chibi version is blabbing I sneak around holding a mason jar
Chibi me: What will the three alchemists learn from this stranger and…HEY!
Just slammed mason jar over Chibi me and quickly put on lid full of little holes
Chibi me: HEY LET ME OUT I'M NOT DONE!
Me: sigh Now I'll put it in the closet so it wont bother me. Well it seems like you've already heard the preview so I'll see you in the next chapter.
Chibi me: I DEMAND YOU LET ME GO! YOU'LL BE SORRY LET ME OUT!
