***Assessment Day***
Central, Amestris, March 1920
"Brother has barely been home at all," the younger Elric confided in Riza, nervously rubbing his palm with his opposite thumb. "He had to go to all those ceremonies and for the past week he's basically lived at the library getting ready for this."
They were standing amongst the team and the Tringhams this morning in the sundrenched parade grounds, but the flat outdoor space was obscured by Amestrian Blues. It was covered with military personnel, even more soldiers than Riza remembered had attended Edward's assessment by combat against her then-Colonel years ago at Eastern Command.
"I'm sure he's been busy preparing," Fuery assured the younger Elric.
"So you have no idea what he is going to be showing the committee?" asked Riza surprised. It was strange to not have the brothers on the same page; usually, they were inseparable.
"No, none. Do you know?" Alphonse asked Riza and Russell. "You two spend more time with him than I do."
"Hmm," she replied considering his words. She supposed that was due to him starting at Central University a week before her General and Edward had returned. She and Alphonse looked over to Russell for any insights; perhaps Edward's new boyfriend would know what he had planned.
"Al, I rarely see him. We've only had dinner the one time since he got back, and we didn't do a lot of talking," Russell admitted shyly to a blushing younger Elric.
"I haven't any idea either," Riza added quickly to save Alphonse any more embarrassment at the implied activity his brother had been participating in. "No, whenever Edward is in the office, he works diligently on his paperwork, and when he is done, he's transfixed on his notebook, scribbling away," she commented, remembering seeing random notation, sketches, and doodles over his shoulder that she had no way to interpret. She knew enough from her father's work to never attempt to decode an alchemist's trade secrets.
"At least, it sounds like he's been hard at work, above and beyond waving to his adoring fans," commented a calm voice that barely covered the speaker's contempt.
"Major General Hakuro, sir," Riza and the team saluted the square jawed man with grey hair and a circular notch shot out of his earlobe while the non-military alchemists all nodded to him.
"At ease," the older General dismissed their respectful welcome with derision. His secretary, Gladys, was meek on his heels with her notepad and pen out. "He's been out of the game for so long; he better not embarrass me any further."
Hakuro's open dislike for Edward set Riza's teeth on edge. Ignoring the group, the Major General turned and walked away.
"Is he still like that?" Alphonse asked, sharing concerned looks with Riza.
The team murmured their confirmations as she pursed her lips into a thin line. She thought back to when she had first met the Elric brothers. A terrorist group had attempted to use the Major General in a prisoner exchange during which he had been shot in the ear, leaving that circular defacement. The Elrics had saved Hakuro's life. Actually, the brothers had also protected the General's wife and two young children, if Riza remembered correctly.
The Major General had been so grateful that he had sponsored Edward for the State Alchemist's Exam. Of course Edward had passed, but ever since then Hakuro had complained about Edward's conduct and its poor reflection on him.
That had always confused Riza, as Edward's service record was littered with commendations and words of praise from those he had helped along the way as he searched for the Philosopher's Stone. In fact, he had turned down a number of promotions throughout his career, only becoming a Lieutenant Colonel and then a Colonel because he wasn't there to contest the additional stars and bars. She never understood Hakuro's resentment for the Fullmetal Alchemist, and it worried her.
Riza made a quick sweep of the audience. From her 9 o'clock position around the edge of the assessment space, she noticed Dragon and Lotus were also in attendance. The royal siblings were sitting on a slightly raised dais almost straight across from her party, at roughly the 2 o'clock position, that afforded the pair a view of the entire arena.
Most of the other Generals on the Council, including her own, stood between the foreign dignitaries and those on the committee for today's assessment. The Xingese diplomats' platform was not as high, however, as the stage located at the 12 o'clock position of the encircled test area where Grandfather and Brigadier General Avro were observing from with the other committee members.
They sat talking amongst themselves. Brigadier General Francis Avro was a thin man in his mid-forties with wide eyes and a broad nose. His propensity to turn up the ends of his dark brown goatee and eyebrows was always subject to lunchroom jokes, which he took goodheartedly. He wore his blue military beret over his close cut dark hair. Grandfather sat indulgently on the raised platform next to Avro, as befitting the Führer of Amestris, with a warm smile for the crowd; his dress hat sat above his round gold-framed spectacles and his grey tuffs of hair.
"Führer Grumman, honored guests, ladies, and gentlemen," Brigadier General Avro's voice called her attention, carried over the masses by microphone. He nodded to the leader of Amestris and visiting dignitaries, then addressed the crowd. "Thank you for coming to the annual assessment of our State Alchemists. As required of their status, these talented specialists must be reevaluated once a year by the Office of Alchemic Affairs. Of those certified in March, we have three here in Central: The Watershed Alchemist, The Clover Alchemist, and The Fullmetal Alchemist."
Grandfather sat comfortably observing the process as Brigadier General Avro began to speak directly to the State Alchemists whom Riza noted were each in their best blue dress uniforms at the 6 o'clock position. That is, except for Edward; he was in unassuming brown trousers with a matching brown vest over a white button up shirt all under an open brown trench coat. He was sporting his customary white gloves, too.
'At least his sleeves are rolled down,' Riza thought to herself as she sighed, remembering his cuffs pushed up his arms while in the office, hard at work on his research.
"We will begin by having each of you perform a transmutation from the raw materials provided to show ingenuity in the field," he explained indicating the center of the arena. There was an ice mound leading to a small stream of water bordered by a stone basin on each side with mounds of dirt covered in trees and a variety of other vegetation across the remainder of the acre lot. "Next, you will show evidence of progress in your chosen area of alchemic study. Lastly, you will indicate future directions you wish to take your research. First, we will evaluate The Watershed Alchemist. Please step forward and begin when ready," Avro instructed.
Riza watched a man with dirty-blond hair in his thirties step forward, wearing military blues but an additional leg harness with metallic accessories inscribed with alchemic array inlays. He saluted the Führer and Avro (oh, she hoped Edward remembered to do that) before he walked towards the display set up in the center of the grounds.
He subtly brushed his hands across the inscribed arrays on his right leg and slammed his right foot down dramatically. Blue sparks erupted into a straight line, crackling as they rammed into the stream. The peaceful water rose up into a wall as the people watching gasped in awe.
Watershed then rose his arms above his head and leaned to the left, and the wall of water followed his movement. He leaned to the right, and the liquid façade obeyed. He spread his hands wide and the wall parted. The crowd watched the display with awe as Watershed then lowered his hands and the water fell to the ground in a downpour, no longer holding a shape.
Riza reminded herself to watch out for this man around her General, as Watershed could render Mustang's flames useless on a dry day, given enough water.
"Well done, Watershed," called Avro's voice over the crowd's instant cheering. "And now, what have you been working on?"
"My research on the rearrangement of water molecules has been ongoing. My arrays allow me to reorganize these molecules into any shape I desire, so my work has boundless possibilities in application.
"For instance," he said turning back to the wet ground while touching the array on his left leg. The water rose up from the dirt tainted in blue light and began to form a cloud above the arena. "I have been able to create cloud formations from which I can then," he heaved his left leg down into the ground sending another round of blue crackles, "make it rain." The alchemically created cloud began to release its water content. "My future research will be in using this skill on a larger scale to reduce droughts in rural areas that do not have access to adequate irrigation." The crowd held their breaths as Avro considered the man.
"Yes." With a nod, the Brigadier General agreed, "Watershed, that will be an excellent use of your alchemic talents. Congratulations on your progress." Cheers went up around the man and Watershed saluted Grandfather and Avro again then retreated to his start position.
"Next, Clover, please step forward and begin when ready," hailed Avro.
The crowd's excitement cooled as they waited for the chestnut haired man walking to the center of the parade grounds to start. His dark tawny-red hair reached the collar of the loosely fitting blue uniform, but his leather bound forearms that peeked out below the cuff were held tightly beneath his regalia jacket. The arrays that Riza could glimpse were scrawled into the rawhide intricately and were beautifully done.
He saluted Grandfather and Avro then proceeded to the edge of the field. Bracing his forearms, then touching the ground, blue sparks appeared again, but this time, they encircled the growing fauna. The grass grew taller, the bushes filled out more and the trees began to flower. The crowd acknowledged the changes with awed murmurs, but were not as impressed as they had been by Watershed's display.
"Good, Clover. Now please discuss and exhibit your research thus far," Avro called.
Without standing, Clover again braced his arms and then touched the ground. Blue lights danced along the dirt as the transmutation took shape. When the light cleared, the grass and shrubbery had vanished. In their place were rows of what looked like vegetables.
Riza heard Russell and Fletcher murmuring their praise, wondering in front of her at Clover's interspecies transmutation of vegetation. Well… that was as much as she understood from their complicated discussion.
"I have been working on plant growth for a while now," Clover stood and claimed, "with promising results." He pointed to the flowering tree lightly swaying in the winter wind. "My research into plant trans-species modifications have begun to pay off. These plants are edible varieties of root vegetables, as you see. Future plans revolve around expanding into fruits and other edibles so that when little food is available, transmuted varieties may be substituted."
"This is an excellent course of research, Clover. I am sure those in hard to farm areas may appreciate your findings as you progress," Avro praised. The crowd applauded, but were less enthusiastic than they had been for the first, flashier alchemist. The Clover Alchemist noticed and was slightly ruffled, embarrassed that his success had not garnered him more acclaim. He saluted the Führer and Head of Alchemic Affairs then walked to his original position.
"Now, Fullmetal, please step forward and begin when ready," Avro ordered as the Führer sat up straighter and a hush fell among the gathering. Riza was sure the large throng assembled was here to witness what they thought would be the main event. Regardless, she was interested to know what her colleague and friend had planned.
Edward stepped out into the grounds, and saluted the Führer and Avro in a sharp snap of his right arm. Riza breathed a sigh of relief at his professional address. He continued to the edge of the provided alchemic materials. With a swift clap of his hands, he threw them to the dirt and the crowd held their breath and covered their eyes as they were nearly blinded by the size of the transmutation.
When the blue light faded into white and then nothing at all, there was stunned silence. Every eye took in the intricate display in front of them. Edward had used the entire amount of material available to compose an elaborate gateway. Four metal Amestrian dragons pulled a wooded manned chariot atop a brick gate supported by five oblong stone pillars. Water bubbled through inlaid fountains cycling water at the base of each column.
Avro was stunned and Grandfather took a second to compose himself. Riza couldn't blame either of them. In all the years she had known Edward, she had seen him transmute more than a few things, but this was beyond what she had imagined.
"Fullmetal, it seems your skills have not been dulled by your absence," Avro extolled. The crowd broke out of its stupor and yelled their amazement. It took the Brigadier General a few times to get the assembly settled down again. "Please discuss your current research and future directions," Avro charged while Grandfather looked amused with the Brigadier General's faux stern exterior.
"As you said, sir," Edward spoke then frowned as his eyes began to track something, "my absence during the past five years has prevented my access to research materials, but I've been looking at the efficiency of the transmutation process. I've developed a new theoretical model," Edward explained moving away from the spot where the other alchemists had given their reports.
It seemed odd to Riza, so she tried to follow his eye line, but the other people observing the circular arena prevented her from seeing what he was watching. She did notice that her General was watching Edward's line of sight, too, and was making his way in that direction. She nudged the team, and all of them, including Alphonse and the Tringhams, began to make their way clockwise around the enclosed grounds while trying to keep an eye on Edward.
"The transmutation you have just seen," Edward continued as he moved further towards the far side of the arena, "used the same amount of energy my colleagues here have displayed," he nodded in their direction, "but with a more efficient use of that energy, thus this larger transmutation required no addition power." Riza saw Edward through the crowd as he walked further to the right side of the grounds, keeping his body facing Brigadier General Avro and the Führer. "In this way," he kept on talking, and she was sure he was stalling, "we can use less alchemic energy to accomplish the same result.
"As for future research," he continued while she, the team, and their alchemist companions began to sprint. Something was going on, and it probably wasn't good. "I think I'm going to look closer at the ways in which alchemic bonds created after a transmutation can be strengthened." Over her panting, Riza could hear him leave out that he would also find what would weaken those bonds, but it was politic of him not to voice that supposition.
"Fullmetal," Avro called trying to get his attention while those assembled started to murmur at his odd behavior.
"One second," Edward put up his right index finger indicating for the Brigadier General to wait, surprising everyone. Before anyone could say anything, he clapped his hands and slammed them into the dirt producing a clear dome around the Xingese ambassadors just as a shot sounded. It ricocheted safely off of the curved shielding above those closest to the envoys as Edward ran towards the now encapsulated delegation through the mobilizing crowd.
Riza lost sight of him as he jumped the arena's barrier one handed, clapping midair. When he landed, he must have slammed his hands to the ground again because he caught a man in a poorly fitting uniform with his next transmutation as she came around the scattering crowd. The fleeing man was clasped in a massive dirt hand.
Seconds later, Riza, Mustang's unit, and the blond alchemists were by Edward's side, ready to lend him support and search for any more would-be assassins. Brigadier General Mustang was already there, having been closer, but he looked pleased at his team's response, even if annoyed that another attempt had been made on the prince and, to Riza's surprise, with the presence of the elder Tringham.
She raised her eyebrow at the trio: her General, Edward, and the tall pale blond. She saw Edward wave off Russell's concern; 'I'm fine,' was the message, but the plant alchemist was still upset. Riza wondered at the irritation only those who knew her General well enough could see seeping out of him at the younger alchemists' interaction. She would have to dissuaded her General from showing petty grievances quickly; her friend was at fault for telling Edward not to wait for him, resulting in the hero of the hour seeing Russell Tringham to begin with. Idiot.
Führer Grumman called for calm, and after a sharp whistle into the microphone, he caught the swarm of military animation's attention.
"Well, Fullmetal, you sure do have style," Grandfather laughed through the speakers. "Brigadier General Fairchild, have your men take witness statements. Brigadier General Mustang, secure the area. Everyone else who is nonessential clear the parade grounds calmly and do not disturb the scene," he ordered putting down the amplifier.
Riza noticed the stunned expression Edward covered up as he took in the royal siblings. Actually, it seemed like he had seen a ghost when he looked the prince over. He hid it well, but she had spent 40 hours this week training him on the political aspects of his job, especially since they were hosting royalty, and knew when he thought something was off and when he was covering something up.
When the Führer arrived at the area where Mustang's team had taken point, she heard her grandfather speak to Edward as the alchemist was taking down the protective barrier.
"Thank you for your rapid response, Fullmetal. I am glad to have you around, as I am sure our visiting guests are." He emphasized with an open hand to the smiling ambassadors. "How did you know there would be an assassination attempt?" The Führer questioned while Brigadier General Fairchild and her General stood attentively next to Grandfather.
"Sir, during the assessment, all eyes were on me except for this man. He was watching Prince Ling and making his way towards the ambassador's group with an object in his hand that glinted. That's what got my attention at first, a metal sheen in a sea of faces."
"How very astute of you, Fullmetal," Brigadier General Mustang acknowledged his reasoning with a proud smirk.
"Yes, it was," Grandfather agreed, nodding. "And by the way, you passed your assessment. Congratulations on your research progress, and continue your hard work."
"Thank you, sir," Edward replied professionally with a salute. Riza was glad to see him handle the Führer with proper deference.
"Mustang, Fairchild, get this all cleaned up and report back to me by the end of the day," Grandfather instructed, waving his hand to include their general vicinity.
"Yes, sir," they confirmed together.
"Thank you for your protection, Mr. Elric," Prince Ling's interpreter conveyed the Xingese emissary's sentiments, diverting Edward's attention. Dragon looked intrigued by his savior. Riza worried that perhaps Edward hadn't hidden his earlier expression quickly enough. "His highness wishes to know if he may call you Fullmetal," the royal interpreter asked.
"Of course," Edward nodded courteously at the royal dignitary. "You may call me Fullmetal if you prefer, Your Highness," then he added, "but Ed is fine."
Riza was impressed that he spoke and deferred to the prince rather than make the mistake of addressing the interpreter, as if this wasn't his first time speaking through an intermediary. After another exchange of foreign words, the translator spoke again.
"His Highness is impressed with your keen observational skills and quick reflexes. He wishes to assert that you are as resourceful as is rumored."
"Thank you, Your Highness," Edward began looking slightly unnerved by the bald-faced flattery. He nodded once to the interpreter, but directed his responses to the royal ambassador again as more Xingese was spoken.
"Their Highnesses wish to thank you for your assistance and wish to call on you at a later time," the interpreter conveyed to him.
"It would be an honor," Edward articulated courteously, an ill-fitting trait that seemed to actually look good on him. He bowed slightly in the direction of Prince Ling and Princess May as they left.
'He really has grown up in his time away,' Riza thought as she smiled at his cool responses. She was directing the team to secure the scene, scour for clues, and take the would-be assassin into custody. As the masses were dispersing, she distinctly heard a feigned friendly voice talking with her General, Brigadier Fairchild, and the Führer.
"It should be interesting to see what that firecracker has up his sleeve next," Hakuro toned with a slimy smile. It set Riza's teeth on edge again. Nodding to Mustang's team, Hakuro walked away smirking.
"Does anyone else get the feeling that he's up to something?" Breda asked under his breath so that no one outside of their group would hear him.
Three blond alchemists nodded along with the rest of the team as Riza pursed her lips into a thin line. They would have to keep a more watchful eye on him. His genial demeanor right now was in contrast to his derision earlier, and the sudden shift rang alarm bells in her mind.
Breda was right. The Major General was up to something, and it would behoove the team to figure it out before the man did something to Edward she was sure they would all regret.
A/N:
So another Riza POV chapter =) Love her no-nonsense perspective. And now we can get more Ling, too, although not right away... Almost all the players are on the board, and I am so looking forward to seeing everything else that is coming! **squeaks**