Chapter Ten: The Surprise Attack

Ed sighed and stretched tired of digging into the ground and trying to figure who the Iron Will Alchemist was. He had been here for a month already, and he hadn't found much out about the alchemist, other than what little the soldiers told him, which wasn't much. And he was sure that they were keeping something from him, which made him annoyed. He had asked Falman about him as well…

"Wait, so you're saying that the Iron Will Alchemist actually sought you out, and talked to you?" The Warrant Officer sounded shocked, and Ed rolled his eyes. What is it with Joseph seeking me out? He wondered in mild annoyance. He nodded, rolling his eyes and Falman smiled slightly. "I'm sorry, Ed, but I can't tell you much other then he has been looking for seven special people to save the country."

That had helped Ed a little, of course, but at the same time made him even more curious about the man. Why would the country need to be saved? And why only seven people? He stood up and wiped at his sweaty head and glanced at Hayate, who was staring at him with his head tilted to one side. He smiled slightly. He would have to thank Hawkeye later for leaving the dog with him; Hayate was sometimes the only living thing that kept him from going insane.

"This would have been done so much quicker if I had alchemy…" Ed sighed wearily. "Ah well… I gave it up for Al…" His head rested against the shovel and he closed his eyes wearily.

"Ah, so you don't have alchemy." A new voice said in triumph. Ed jumped, holding his shovel as a spear and automatically sinking into a fighting position, before he realized who he was. He let out a sigh of relief and relaxed.

"It's just you, Joe."

Joseph raised an eyebrow but smiled nonetheless. "Sorry about that. Although that does prove that you have fast reflexes." Ed laughed and rubbed the back of his head sheepishly.

"That's alright; I probably should have been paying more attention to my surroundings anyways." Ed said, forgivingly. Then he paused and thought over what some of the strange occurrences that had happened. "Hey Joe… some of the soldiers have told me that you don't go out of your way to talk to just about anyone… and Falman said something about looking for people… so why did you come talk to me?" Ed bent down and rubbed Hayate's back before standing up and looking at Joseph, who looked surprised.

"You've figured out that much, already?" Joseph raised an eyebrow, his tone bordering disbelief and Ed scowled. Joseph chuckled slightly. "Sorry. I can't tell you a lot either, but this country has been in danger for several hundred years. No, I don't know who is threatening Amestris," He cleared up and Ed assumed that he looked confused, "but there is someone. And it isn't Hormunculi, although I thought it might have been. There are six others like you; they are Compassion, Loyalty, Diligence-"

Suddenly a bell began to gong. Ed looked up in surprise, wondering why the bell was gonging. "That's the Warning Bell…" Ed muttered in confusion. "But why would it be…" He suddenly came to a conclusion and he sighed, feeling resolution build up in him and determination. "Get out of here, sir." Ed murmured quietly, his hand instantly going for the gun that he now carried with him. Joseph looked surprised and Ed smiled slightly. "There's a surprise atta-"

He was cut off by a yell and a Drachman soldier appeared, his eyes rolling in his head and a sword whirling around. Ed ducked as it flew over his head and drew his knife, holding it in his right hand steadily. The ringing clash of blade on blade sounded in the clearly as Ed met the soldier's sword. Ed let out a yell as the soldier tried to stab him in the stomach, but he was quickly pushed away. He stared at Joseph as the man parried every blow.

Then, almost as quick as light, Joseph stumbled and was holding his stomach. Ed stared at the man who let out a gasp and turned to Ed. Ed's mouth opened but then he shut it and grabbed his knife and he threw it underhanded at the man, before he scrambled over to Joseph and collapsed at his side, staring at the gaping wound.

"Ed," Joseph gasped and Ed's gaze instantly snapped to his face. "Listen… to me." Joe groaned and held his side and Ed felt his mind turn to panic.

"No, no, you'll be alright. You're not going to die. Joe, you're not going to-"

He was cut off by a weak chuckle. "We both know… that that is not… true. Don't try to deny it." Ed shook his head desperately, rubbing his eye with the back of his hand. Joseph smiled slightly, perhaps in content. "I've wanted this… for a long while."

"Don't say that!" Ed whispered fiercely, choking slightly. "I've already lost too many people!"

Joseph smiled sadly. "I have been the last of my brethren… for a long time." He suddenly turned to his side and coughed out blood. Ed looked at him helplessly. "I'm sorry, Ed…" Joseph groaned slightly and Ed felt like crying, but he held back the tears. "At first… I thought you were Compassion…, but then I realized that wasn't… quite right." A sigh escaped his lips and his eyes closed. Ed panicked and slapped the man's face. Joseph opened his eyes and Ed blinked. "Sorry… I'm just… so tired. Then I thought… that you might be… loyalty or diligence… in fact I thought you were at least once… every… one… but no… now I see the one true trait… that stands out the most… in your eyes. You are Hope. Thank you… Edward…" Joseph closed his eyes and Ed felt his own widen.

"Joe! Joseph! Wake up! Not you too!" Ed shouted, shaking his head. He heard a quiet gasp and looked up at the soldier that had confronted him about Joseph. Something in him hardened; perhaps it was resolution or determination, maybe even anger, or hope. "What are you doing Lieutenant, standing there?" Ed shouted. "Get out of here!" The soldier stared at him as Ed clapped his hands and slammed them against the ground. Blue light surrounded him, crackling with intensity and the ground crumpled. A spear flew into his hand as the hole that he had spent hours digging widened and became deeper. Almost as soon as it started, it finished and Ed knew that it would lead to Briggs.

Somehow around the raging headache that he had now.

"Go!" Ed shouted, lifting his spear up. Several other soldiers had appeared, probably because of the alchemic reaction. Hayate, who had been hiding previously, jumped into the hole, probably by instinct and that set the soldiers running. Falman appeared at his side, holding a gun. Ed spared him a glance but readied his position. The soldiers practically jumped into the tunnel, with the Drachman soldiers following them. Ed instinctively clapped his hands and slammed them against the ground, again. Great stone hands erupted and began to scope the enemy up into the air and back toward the now (probably) trashed camp. The Amestris soldiers seemed to be all in and Ed followed them, along with Falman.

He clapped his hands one last time and put them against the ground, gently. Stone hands built a wall of rocks and mud. Ed turned around and glanced at the several stunned soldiers staring at him. His headache suddenly came back, more viciously then before and he groaned, his flesh hand automatically reaching up to clutch his head.

"Ed?" Falman voice suddenly asked, sounding concerned. "Are you alright?"

Ed's head twitched. "I will be," he muttered, and then he collapsed.

Author's Note: Yes, I killed off Joe right after I introduced him... don't worry, I'll explain why in a couple of chapters... Chapter Thirteen: The Other Truth :D. Heh heh he he, I love that chapter... it's one of my favorites x-). Poor Ed's so confused in that one...

Oh and yes, Ed just used alchemy :D.