Hey! Sorry it took me so long to update! I was busy with my Ed costume and my homework (friggin teachers don't even give me a break on halloween!). Well, this chapter's a bit longer than my other ones, so enjoy!
Chapter 11: Central
She could feel the camera once again fall to the ground. She could feel the pieced of steel and glass impale her, as the force of the explosion sent her crashing into a wall, and felt Gabriel's hand slip from her grasp.
The man who had made the first cab explode ran over to the cab behind it, and destroyed it before her family could escape. Jade watched as she saw herself get up, and tear the glass and steel out of herself. People were running around and screaming in panic and fear. "Gabriel!" Jade felt the reminiscent ghosts of her blood and tears as she watched herself run to the flaming wreck.
"NO!!! Don't die Gabe!" She watched herself drag a charred, bleeding body from the cab. All of Gabriel's left side was mangled and burnt; his left limbs nothing more than stumps. His blonde hair, darkened from blood and fire, was draped over a face deformed and contorted in pain. In some places, bones and remnants of the vehicle protruded through his bleeding flesh and charred skin.
Winry, Ed, Al and Jade watched the events in horrid fascination and silence. Jade felt tears slip silently down her cheeks. "Gabe….don't die. Don't you die on me Gabe!" Her voice was no more than a harsh, pleading whisper. "Gabe…stay with me!" The blonde's eyelids flickered and began to shut.
"Gabe…Gabe you'll be okay, j-just hang on…I promise you'll be okay…" Gabriel raised his one hand to his lips in a silencing gesture, and then reached his hand out to her face. Jade watched as she saw herself lean closer. The boy's voice was almost lost over the cries of a panicked square, and blaring sirens.
"Jade…I-I'm s-sorry….I…can't protect you….any…more…..I…l-love… you … be safe … sister …" his arm went limp, and his eyes blank. Gabriel was lost to the world forever.
The household was silent as Pinako came down to have breakfast. Ed, Al Winry and Jade had no interest in eating with Pinako. "What's the matter Shorty? I've never seen you not eat before," The old woman knew that there was something afoot.
Pinako left the four in silence, to ponder about the disturbing things they had just seen. No one dared to break the silence, not even Den, who had crept into the room to lie by his mistress's feet.
"I…I could have done something…"Winry, Ed and Al looked up at Jade, who was sitting on the couch, staring at her hands as if they had somehow betrayed her. "I could have saved them…"
Al walked over and sat next to Jade. "There's no use in beating yourself up over what happened. I know it's hard to accept, but what's done is done." She sighed and hugged her knees into her chest.
"It's not just my family…I could have saved Cassie. I could have moved her out of the way. Her mother…her mother committed suicide three days later, and her Dad died from alcohol poisoning. I could have saved them all…" Ed knelt down in front of Jade and held on to her shoulders.
"Look at me Jade. Look at me square in the face," she hesitantly obeyed. "It is NOT your fault. Your family and friends loved you, and I'm sure that the only thing they would want from you now is to move on. We all make mistakes, trust me, I know. I know what it's like to loose loved ones, we all do,"
"My parents were killed in a war when I was a child. I used to always think, that if I had convinced them to stay here, maybe they would still be alive. But they did the right thing; they were doctors and saved many lives," Jade looked up, surprised to hear what Winry had just told her.
It was now Al's turn to speak. "Our father left Ed and me at a very young age. I don't even remember him really. And our mother died when I was only ten, and when Ed was eleven."
"Trust me, we made many wrong decisions, but we couldn't let guilt ruin our lives. We won't let it ruin yours," Jade was so moved by what the three of then had just said.
"You know, you guys are just like them. It's like, I've been given a second chance…" she threw herself into Ed's arms. "Thank you all so much!" Somewhere in the house, a phone rang.
"I'll get it!" Pinako picked up the phone. "Hello, Rockbell's Automail," she stood there for a moment, and then came into the living room. "Ed, there's a Colonel Mustang on the phone for you." Ed grumbled and went to go get the phone.
Al sighed. "Well, I guess our visit is over, Winry."
"Why do you say that?" Jade was about as lost as a penguin in Africa.
"Brother's probably being called back to Central for a new mission. Colonel Mustang is probably on the phone with him."
"Ed's in the military?" Al and Winry nodded. Jade heard shouting from down the hall, and the angry sound of a receiver being slammed down. Shortly after (no pun intended) Ed came storming into the room.
"Let's go Al. Colonel Bastard wants us back in Central A.S.A.P." Ed grabbed his coat and went upstairs. Winry stood by the door, not wanting to see the Elrics leave.
"Winry, are you okay?" Jade knew that she was feeling sad. Cassie used to always look that way when she was sad. God, why do these people have to look so much like them? Winry sighed.
"I just hate to see them leave. They put themselves in so much danger. I…I just, can't help but feel that one day, their luck will run out…"
"Luck? There's no such thing as luck! Al and I are the best there is!" Ed had his suitcase slung over his shoulder and headed out the door. "Well, are you coming?" Jade looked up in surprise as Ed addressed her.
"No, I mean the invisible person next to you. Of course you! Do you want to come? I mean, there's a huge library at Central and maybe, well maybe you can find some answers." Jade knew exactly what he meant.
She grabbed her bag and hugged Winry. "Thanks for all you've done! You've been very generous. I swear, I will make it up to you!" She waved goodbye, and ran to catch up with Ed and Al. Winry sighed again as she leaned against the door frame. You have no idea how lucky you are Jade…They're letting you in…including you. I only wish they could do that for me…
Ed yawned and collapsed into a seat on the train. They had managed to get the earliest train to Central that they could make. Ed took the window seat, and Al sat opposite to him. Jade pulled up next to Al, since Ed had made himself quite comfortable in his seat.
The conductor blew his whistle, and the town of Risembool disappeared into the rolling hills and green pastures.
"So Ed, how did you get your automail arm and leg anyways?" Ed sat upright and fixed his golden eyes onto her emerald ones.
"You remember what Al said about our mother, right?" Jade nodded. "Well, after that, Al and I found ourselves a teacher who would be able to properly teach us all there is to know about alchemy. Well, almost everything. One we had learned all she could teach us, we went back home, to try and accomplish our goal, the real reason for finding ourselves a teacher…"
Jade was leaning over in her seat. Al had to practically hold her back, or else she might have fallen over already. "We…Al and I…we tried to bring our mother back to life." Jade gasped. "We had everything we needed to form a human body; sulphur, water, iron, carbon, you name it. Everything, but a soul.
"The night we tried to bring her back, something horrible happened. The Gate opened, and little black arms reached out for us. They took my leg, but they also took all of Al. Using a suit of armour in the corner, I was able to attach his soul to it in exchange for my arm."
"And now, we're looking for the Philosopher's Stone, so be can get our bodies back to the way they were before." Jade looked at both of them. When Ed had held her earlier that day, she had seen some of this, just like at their house. But she thought it better if they tell their story themselves.
"I'm sorry for your loss" She turned to Al. "So, you're empty?" The suit of armour nodded and opened his chest plate a little. Sure enough, there was nothing to be seen.
The rest of the train ride passed without incident. Ed slept most of the time while Al told Jade of their adventures. As time flew by, it wasn't long until the train stopped at Central.
As soon as Ed stepped off of the train, he froze and tried to run back into the train. "Ed, what's the matter?" Jade looked up and saw a very tall, bald, moustached man in a blue uniform heading their way.
Al went up to greet the man. "Major Armstrong! How nice to see you again!" Pink sparkles dances around the man's head.
"And it is wonderful to see you again, Alphonse Elric! I trust your travels back home went well," Al nodded. "So tell me, where is your brother?" Al pointed at the train. Armstrong went to the train and saluted at the young blonde.
"Hello again, Edward," Ed grumbled and got off of the train. "Your vehicle is waiting just outside of the station with Lieutenant Havoc." Ed shrugged.
"Thanks Major. Oh, and you get to ride shotgun." Armstrong stared at the boy in confusion. "Why is that, Mr. Elric?" Ed walked up to Jade and slung his hand around her shoulder.
"Because Jade's coming with us!"
(Later in Roy's office)
The Flame Alchemist was in his office, procrastinating and staring longingly out of his window into the beautiful early autumn day. The leaves were changing colours, and the days grew shorter. But unfortunately, he was stuck in his office for just as long every day.
"Sir, will you please focus on your paper work?" Riza, his loyal subordinate sat at her desk, polishing her gun. Probably to shoot me no doubt. The only thing she's more protective about is that Black Hayate! The little black and white dog was lying quietly underneath Riza's desk.
Roy heard the rumble of a car and the protestant squeal of the front gate. Sigh Well, at least I get to delay some of my paperwork… Within a few minutes, Edward and Alphonse opened the door and trudged into the office.
"Hello there, Ed. Nice of you to finally drop by. Of course, with those short legs of yours, I guess for anyone as short as you, it would be hard to get anywhere on time!" Roy leaned back into his seat, and waited for the 'little' blonde time-bomb to explode.
"WHO'RE YOU CALLING SO SMALL THEY COULD HARDLY CATCH UP WITH A TURTLE!?!?!?!" SLAP!! Roy was shocked as he felt his cheek sting. Not only that, but he was surprised to see that it was not Ed, but rather a dark haired girl who had given him a bright red five star on his cheek.
Please bear with me! I think I'll end this story soon and make a sequel, or else the title just won't work! What do you think? Oh, and another question; If you could recieve a free hug from a stranger, would you rather get it on a Monday, or a Friday? I NEED TO KNOW!!! Danke! Ciao!
