Disclaimer and Legal stuff:
Fullmetal Alchemist®, including Alphonse®, Edward®, Fletcher Tringham®, Roy Mustang®, Riza Hawkeye®, Russel Tringham® and others are registered trademarks of Shonen Jump. Based on characters and comic books created by Hiromu Arakawa.
This story is written purely as a side-story to Fullmetal Alchemist® and not meant for any commercial profit or infringement on copyright. This story will immediately be removed if Shonen Jump wishes so.
The story, is copyright © 2010 by Jalon Dee Stock (ChaosDisorder).
Warning: This story is rated M due to mild course language, violence and sexual references. If you do not like yaoi, then don't read this story.
Trapper Soul – Chapter 11 – Palm-Tree Envy
"Al, right? Well... I was wondering..." Envy began as I bean sweating like a maniac, constantly chanting in my mind 'don't do something stupid, don't do something stupid, don't do something stupid' over and over again... "Are you a male or a female?"
How do I put it? THAT WAS THE LAMEST DAMNED QUESTION HE COULD COME UP WITH!! All of that suspense was all to ask if Al was a WOMAN?! I was fuming right now as sweat seemed to constantly drip off my head while a dark aura seemed to surround me. I had a feeling Al was gob-smacked... wait, was that giggling?
I turned to Al with a raised eyebrow and yes, Al was GIGGLING while Envy was smirking –nothing new there-. WHY WAS ALPHONSE GIGGLING?!
"I am positive I've never been asked that before." Al said with a smile before nodding, "I'm a guy, if you must know. Can I ask you the same question?"
"Saaaaame here~!" Envy said with a bright cheery face again, while I let out a sigh of relief and crashed back down to the comfy leaf-bed again.
Then a thought sprang to my mind just as fast as I sat up again and asked it to Envy.
"Say, what're you doing here?" I asked as Envy turned to me and grinned.
"Huh? Oh, I'm looking for Wrath. He's another homunculus, I broke him out when I jumped ship and we've been living here since. We're supposed to be playing hide and seek and then I get hit on the back of the head with a coconut~~" He whined before grinning again, "Then bam! Of all of the people I see, its chibi-chaaaaan~! I never expected to see you here chibi-chan!"
"Call me Ed... it's my new name until I get my old one back." I groaned as I rubbed my temples, while Envy just beamed at me and hugged me again –damned clinger!-.
"Edoooo~! Edooooo~! Edooowaaaaado!" He sang out as I gave him a look like he was some kind of freaky alien or something. I saida Ed, not Edo or Edowado. Moron!
"Envy, by any chance were you Auregese?" I heard Al asked as Envy raised an eyebrow, before grinning and nodding.
"Yup. Half Auregese and half Amestrian! I was raised in Aurego, but when I was 10 my dad and mum split and my mum brought me to Amestris, which was... 26 years ago. Then 12 years ago they released this whole 'capture and kill the alchemists' thing and since I was an alchemist once upon a time, they captured me and merged me with a stone. I then chose to become this adorable form~ and that's how my life turned out!" He said with a grin as I gaped at him, while Al raised an eyebrow, "Hm?"
"Wait, wait, wait... You're 36 YEARS OLD?!" I shouted out as Envy giggled and nodded.
"Yup, I've been around for a while, but since homunculi are forever young and immortal, it doesn't really matter. Ne, I hope chibi-chan gets to be immortal toooo, though he obviously ages." Envy said with a light shrug, "Say, can you still do alchemy, chibi-chan?"
"Not really. I can clap and make things happen, I guess. Al calls it alchemy. I only just learn it about a week or two ago. Alchemists scare me..." I said as I seemed to descend into my emo corner in a cloud of self-pity, "That Kimblee scares me..."
"Er... Is it just me or is Edo over reacting?" Envy asked with a raised eyebrow as Al chuckled.
"In the time I've known him, he tends to do that alot." Al commented with a smile before holding out his hand for Envy to shake, "I don't think I've properly introduced myself, my name's Alphonse Elric."
Envy shook his hand with a smirk before pointing to himself.
"The name's Envy, no last name. Hey, I think about ten years ago someone came into the institute called 'Elric'. Poor brat was always whining for some 'Al' guy, after the stone experiment about two months after he showed up, though, the wailing ceased. I shifted into a doctor to check it out, and it turned out the stone wiped his memory slate clean. Poor brat in room 5, we used to call him the half-blood for jokes. I met him once, he was pretty out of it, but he'd been there for 8 years, it was understandable. Though... he still had a temper. The kid wasn't completely broken, even if he was in a wheel chair..." Envy said to Al, though I couldn't hear him from my emo bubble, but I felt his gaze on me, "If you're smart you'll figure out who the half-blood boy is... Now... NE CHIBI-CHAN~~!"
"I don't speak Auregese, moron!" I snapped as I stood up, leaning most of my weight on my metal foot, "What in the world does 'chibi-chan' mean?"
"Aw, so cruel..." Envy said with a pout before smirking cruelly, "And 'chibi-chan' basically means in Amestrian... 'Small girl'."
"WHO'RE YOU CALLING SMALL YOU PALM-TREE WANNABE?!?!"
---
"Shit!!" I yelled out as I narrowly dodged the swing of the unknown guy's bat. I knew it wasn't Envy, because that guy liked being some kind of freaky acrobat when he fights. It's in his personality.
"ARGH!!" The man-thing called as I yelped as I was punched backwards into a tree. Where the hell was Envy and Al when you needed them?!
FUCK!!
---
"I... Am... Exhausted!" I said as I crash face-first onto the beach with a spear in hand and a fish flipping on the end. Ever since my leg was deemed well enough to remove the cast, I've been on survival duty just as much as Al. Not to mention I haven't seen Envy lately, after that one encounter he kind of just... well, vanished I think might be the right word for it.
"Aaaal..." I groaned out as I tried to lift my head, only to plonk it back down in the same position as before.
Day 18 it was and I was BORED. When will it end?
---
Scratching sounds were heard as I, with full eyes, carved in the point for day 22 and winced at the large bruise on my human arm flexed. I'm just thankful I haven't re-broken my leg yet.
"22 days... Anymore coconuts on the island, Al?" I asked with an obvious hunger in my eyes as he sadly shook his head.
"We finished off all the edible ones yesterday." Al replied as I groaned. I was sick of fish-hunting... and rabbit hunting. Poor animals.
---
Gulp.
"Do you really think we can do this, Al? I asked as he gulped as well while we watched the poor rabbit bouncing from the trap.
"We've done it before... we'll have to do it again." Al said with a sigh as he took the knife from my trembling hands, "Sorry little guy."
SQUELCH!
I had to turn away from the site as Al stabbed the rabbit, killing it instantly. Oh how I was sick of seeing things die.
---
Day 33... 2 days to go. I can't think coherently anymore. All I want is food... food and a bed and a blanket and food. I notice the trail of ants go by and I picked one up. I never thought I bug looked tasty until now... I wonder what it tastes like...
"F- ood..." I moaned drying as I furrowed my brow. We had two days to dissolve our quests, and obvious teacher thought the answer lied within me and Al. I wonder if Envy would have food... No, he was a homunculus, homunculi don't eat.
I furrowed my brows. Was my name really Edward Elric? If so, was Alphonse really my younger brother? I wonder... it all fits, I guess. Al told me what Envy had told him a few weeks ago and I think it just connects together, yes? Think about it, I showed up ten years ago, Edward Elric showed up ten years ago, I lost my memories and was fused with a stone, Edward lost his memories and was fused with a stone. It all makes sense... but... I still don't understand what I'm missing.
Was there really something more? What do I really want to do after I confirm my name...? That's the real question...
I... I think... I think I want to go back to the military, and shut down the facility. Yeah... that would be nice. I want to shut that no-good facility down for good. I want them to leave alchemists alone. Mustang... I think he wanted it too, fixing the military I mean. I have no idea if he's aware of the facility or not. He once told me he wanted to become Fuhrer and fix this rotting nation. What... What if... maybe... Maybe I could find a way to get him to the top? If Mustang became Fuhrer then I could have him shut down the institute... but he's only a Colonel... how to go about this...
I think I'll decide as I go. I wonder if Al has a picture of his family with him. Of Edward and his parents. Maybe if I saw Edward Elric, and if he looked like me, then I can finally say I found my name... and Al his—Wait, she wanted us to solve past ties and she meant they were in each other... This is probably what she meant! We're the answer to each other's question.
I just have to see that picture... then I'll know for sure.
---
"Alphonse?" I asked in an unsure manner as he raised an eyebrow at me.
"Yeah?"
"Do... Do you have a picture of your older brother with you?" I asked as he blinked before smiling and handed me a folded photograph from his dirty pocket.
"Here."
"Thanks." I replied with a smile as I hope the picture. It was of Al and his older brother.
Both boys had shorter hair than we have now, but when I actually noticed Al's old style my eyes opened wide and I dropped the photograph. My hands moved up to cover my mouth as I looked at Al, who was currently picking up the photograph and giving me an offended glare.
"Hey! Don't do that! It's the only photo I have left of my brother!"
"You..." I muttered before pointing to the photograph and then at Al, "It's you, you're the black figure. I'd know that face anywhere."
"What-?" He started but I snatched back the photo and pointed at him, he growled at me, but I didn't listen.
"Tell me if this is true. Did you call your older brother by the phrase 'brother' instead of his name?" I asked as his eyes opened wide, but he nodded anyway, wanting me to continue, "Chocolate hair, does it ring a bell?" He nodded again, "One more thing... Where you come from... is there a stream running through it where you went to as a kid when you were sad and your older brother would come to find you?"
"Yes... Yes! H- How'd you know all of that?" Al asked with teary eyes as I looked at the photograph. And smiled kindly at Al's picture, before chuckling at the mirror image of what I used to look like, before all of this happened.
"Alphonse... I... I think I might be your brother." I said as I held the image next to my head and smiled, "At least, that's what the evidence has to say."
Al, however, had fainted before I could get an answer out of him... well... this is weird.
---
"Ne, moyashi-cha, wake uuuup~~" I heard the familiar whine of Envy say as I groaned as woke up with Envy, not surprisingly, straddling my lap and poking a stick on my forehead. I feel sick, thanks to last night's beating from the brute, and it didn't help that cheerful moron was sitting on my stomach too!
"And what does 'moyashi' mean?" I asked with a groan as the half-auregese grinned at me.
"It means..." He started before standing up and poking out his tongue at me, "Beeeeaaaaansprout!"
I don't care how much pain I was in, I still got up and lunged at him, finally getting my well-deserved pummel-session with the incredibly annoying palm tree as we threw pointless insults at one-another.
We only stopped when we heard a few people coming our way as I forced myself to stand up from wrestling with the idiot –who gave me MORE bruises, dammit- right before I collapsed onto the leaf bed again with a yelp.
"Fuck! Twisted ankle!" I yelped out as Envy snickered.
"It'll go away eventually." He said with a shrug as I rolled my eyes.
"Whatever, old man." I said with a smirk as he poked his tongue at me immaturely, right as Al, teacher and a small boy with long black hair entered the clearing. The boy was currently clinging to Izumi's arm.
To say I started freaking out and hyperventilating was a major understatement. I really started to freak out so much that Envy had to hold me up otherwise I'd faint again. Yes, Izumi scared me that much, moving on please.
"How'd it go, brat?" She asked with a raised eyebrow as I smiled at her and Alphonse. My little brother... oh it sounded so great to be able to say that! I wish the chocolate-haired woman didn't die though, apparently she was our mother. Which means... I'm an orphan. Oh well.
"We tied past ends and are ready to move on." I said with a smile as Al smiled at me as well. It'd taken the whole day yesterday after al woke up to convince him I wasn't pulling a fast one, so I think he's starting to accept me.
"Did the leg heal well?" Teacher asked as I sweat-dropped and grumbled.
"No thanks to you."
"What was that?!?!" She yelled out as I began to sweat manically and, forgetting my pain, flailing my limbs about in defence.
"N- Nothing, I swear!" I shouted back as Envy was laughing cruelly at my pain. Again, what the hell's with this guy?
"You better hope it was nothing!" She growled as I pale even more and slid back a bit, before I felt myself pulled over someone's shoulder.
"Huh-?" I started before noticing the skort and pulling an annoyed expression. Of course it would be Envy, who else uses me like a doll for no apparent reason other than to just do it. Ugh.
"Well, mission accomplished, old hag." Envy said to I presume, Teacher before he chuckled and carried me out to the boat, everyone following behind us par Izumi, who was in front of us, fuming mad. Envy sure loved pushing people's buttons it seemed...
The thought made me sigh in annoyance before yelping as he almost threw me into the boat and sat next to me, beaming a BIG grin on his previously mischievous features. I wonder how many times I have to mention that Envy was weird...
When everyone was in the boat, including that wild-looking kid, we left the island and began to be rowed towards civilisation, making me grin excitedly. Hello~~ Nice bed~~!
That was when Al decided to make some conversation.
"So..." So much for making conversation, little brother –insert 'SQUEE!' here, because I just LOVE saying that-.
"Did you cut all ties to the past and are you ready to move forward?" Izumi asked as I sweat-dropped. Straight to the point, as always, it seemed. So much for small talk...
"If you meant my finding my name and him, his brother than yes, we did." I say with a proud grin as it was Izumi's turn to sweat-drop. What? It wasn't that obvious, was it? "You two were obviously related when I first saw you."
Of course, now teacher's invading my mind, too... Ack! If she can read minds then I'm so screwed right now! What to do? What to do?
Snap out of it is what! My internal voice shouted at me as I groaned and poked my forehead. Yeah, whatever.
"Wait, you knew the answer all along?" Al asked as I snapped out of my internal argument with my inner self and blinked at him. Expect Al to have a brain, of course. Good question Al!
If I said that out loud they'd all think I was some kind of idiot on crack or something. Of which I'm not, mind you.
"We all did, Edo~~" Envy said with a beaming grin and a wink as I jumped a bit in shock. I'd completely forgotten he was sitting beside me, really.
"How'd you know?" I asked with a raised eyebrow as he snickered and lifted up a bit of my hair that was currently left out –I lost my hair tie last week- with a grin. I blushed a bit and smacked his hand away, because I hate it when other people play with my hair... which had grown about an inch, too.
I have fast growing hair.
"Easy, you're so alike it's hard not to notice it." He said with a smirk as I raised an eyebrow.
"Just because we have long hair doesn't mean we're related." I dead-panned making Envy snicker, "What?"
"I think your little bouts of 'Al... No...' in your sleep kind of gives it away too." Envy said as I blushed a bit and scowled.
"I was having a nightmare, ok? And how do you know what I say when I'm asleep?" I asked, making Envy snicker –bastard palm tree-.
"I can shift into anything chibi-chan, so I decided to be your new cat." Envy said with a grin as I gaped at him. He was that incredibly cuddly and annoying cat?! "Ne, your pats were very nice, moyashi."
I just glared at him. Why the hell were all these freaks form my past deciding on NOW to invade my life and make me miserable? Well... sort of miserable?
"Oh! Right! This is Wrath. The kid I told you about." Envy suddenly said as he pointed to the boy, who was currently holding his right arm with a possessive grasp and glaring at me? What the? Then again, I can't help but notice his arm did have a bit of a different pigmentation to the rest of his body, it looked a lot like mine, actually.
This made me furrow my eyebrows in thought as I intently studied him and his arm, though since he was wearing long track pants, I didn't know if he had a different pigmented leg or not. If he did... well then I'd start to get really suspicious, after all, what did they really do with my limbs...?
A/N: Here's chapter 11! ABOUT TIME ED is all I can say XD I'm so glad to FINALLY be able to give Ed the privilege of knowing his name and that Al's his brother, and since I absolutely love Envy he gets to be a good guy in this fic XD I've been asked in a few reviews if Envy was 'on something' and I'd say he's 'high on life'.
Oh, and here's translations for those who did get it when they were Envy-tised in the fic:
Moyashi = Beansprout (Thank Yuu Kanda from DGM for my learning it)
Chibi = Small
There ^.^ Did I miss any? XD More Moyashi-chan goodness is coming up!!