The Foundation of Truth

Bard Linn

Chapter 8: Teens Just Wanna Have Fun

"Mr. Elric, still hard at work I see."

Ed looked up from his notes. "Just checking the last details headmaster."

"I see," Dumbledore's blue eyes twinkled. "Would you mind sharing them with an old man?"

"I can't tell you everything," Ed snapped the notebook shut. "I can trust you never to try this simply because of the cost but if someone else found out…"

"Yes, it would be dangerous if Voldemort discovered how to perform your alchemy. Perhaps a general outline?"

"I already know the array to go to the gate; I've used it before. I had to alter it slightly so it had a place to draw upon the shards. After that I had to learn to apparate." Not technically entirely true. He hadn't used an array last time to get to the Gate, he had used his own will but it hadn't taken much to figure it out.

'So that's what all of the trips off the school grounds were for,' Dumbledore thought with a mental smile. "And why would you have to learn to apparate?"

"When a wizard apparates they convert their physical form, along with anything they are carrying, into a non-corporal energy form. Since the Gate only allows energy to pass through from this side…"

"Apparation takes care of the problem. You are a very clever young man Mr. Elric. It will be a shame to loose you."

"I'm going on the Winter Solstice because the wall between worlds tends to be thinner," Ed elaborated. He hadn't told Dumbledore the most dangerous part of the plan. When someone apparated they had to have mental point fixed in their mind. Apparating between worlds made this much more difficult. In the end Ed had chosen his brother for his fixation point. Because they had a close blood connection the blond could 'pull' himself towards Alphonse. If his brother was dead or still soul bound he would undoubtedly be lost in between their worlds. The consequences would mean death.

"I see. That's about three weeks away. What do you intend to do in the mean time?"

"Learn as much as I possibly can I guess. I should be able to use magic on that side since magical power comes from within a person as opposed to an outside source." Edward glanced at the piles of books surrounding him. "It's not like I can take the library with me after all."

"I have a solution for that." Two house elves appeared carrying a trunk. "This is charmed to expand as needed inside to fit all of your belongings. I have also taken the liberty of acquiring the money your father left you and converting it to wizard currency. I thought you might like to take some things back with you."

"My father?"

"Yes, he vanished two years after you left the time period. However his will left all of his money to you with a stipulation that it could not be removed without anyone using a specific password. I simply mentioned 'equivalent exchange' and the banker was much more agreeable. It has collected a sizable about of interest in the mean time."

"Thank you," Ed replied off handedly. He grabbed a sheet of parchment and quickly started jotting down everything he would need.

Foundation of Truth

"Are you sure you don't want the kitchen sink?" Harry teased as the three Gryffindors helped copy the books Ed wanted.

"Positive. I think the House Elves would object."

"Hm, that might cause a problem," Harry agreed good naturally. "Okay. That the end of that pile. Let's put them back."

"Actually you need to keep these," Ed grinned. "Study them enough and the school will have another group of Marauders."

Ron and Hermione looked confused at that. Harry, more used to the code Ed lived and breathed mulled the statement over for a few seconds. The meaning wasn't hard to discover since the books were all on Transfiguration. "Animagi…"

"Exactly. Everything you need should be in there."

"Wait, how do you know that?" Hermione asked grabbing a book off the pile.

"They were the ones that helped me the most," Ed replied. "It was my pet project."

"You're an animagus? What animal?" Hermione asked excitedly.

"Wicked!"

"Some type of bird," Ed replied. "I didn't recognize it. I'm still practicing. The change takes a lot of energy."

"Well?" Hermione demanded when Ed didn't do anything. "You can't tell us that and not show us!"

Edward rolled his gold eyes then slowly relaxed concentrating on slowing his breathing. Mentally he reached inward for his power. The animagus transformation was difficult for most wizards because it relied on an individual's will rather than specific words and motions because everyone had a different form. Luckily for Ed he'd been doing things purely by will for seven years, ever since his qualification test.

Another problem with the process was the subconscious mind often flinched at the power traveling through the mind (usually interpreted as an attack) and fought. Again, Ed's alchemy experience had accustomed him to this time of power. He had transmuted his own clothes several times after all. And he had no idea how many times he had shifted his automail.

The process went slowly. Ed could feel each of his bones shifting into his new form. With enough practice he could speed up the change and leave this disturbing feeling behind. It should also take less power. Finally the transformation finished. He peered up at his friends trying to adjust to the strange feeling of looking through a bird's eyes.

Harry carefully picked the bird up. Instead of an automail leg and arm, a metal plate covered Ed's chest and back acting as a strange kind of armor. "I'm not surprised you've ever seen a bird like this. You're a phoenix."

Ed gaped at his green eyed friend. 'A phoenix One of the prime symbols in alchemy representing the death of one form and the birth of another.' His mind whirled with the possible meanings. It could mean his old life was over; he now belonged here. Ed fiercely rejected the thought. It had to be something else!

"Think you can change back?"

Harry's voice startled the animagus from his increasingly negative thoughts. He ran a quick mental assessment of his power and nodded. Returning to human form was easier (for him at least) than shifting into animal form. He pulled his power about him again and felt himself grow back to normal size. He still had to look up but at least it wasn't so far.

Ron dug in his pockets and tossed Ed a chocolate frog. The blond nodded in thanks and quickly ate the treat. A good thing about magic, you used a lot of energy. It kept you in good shape while giving an excuse for a lot of treats.

"When did you learn that?" Hermione asked eyes bright.

"After Harry mentioned the possibility to me I kept an eye out on anything related to it when I was digging through the stacks. Just something for fun."

"For FUN!" Ron gaped. "That's it! Harry come on. I'm going to get my chess set. I think we still have some exploding snap cards too. No more research the rest of the day!"

Foundation of Truth

Two games of chess, four of poker and one of snap latter, the Gryffindor trio took turns showing their pictures to the alchemist. "Why don't yours move Hermione?"

"These were all developed in Muggle labs."

"Oh. I wish I had some pictures to show you. I had some before. I don't know what happened to them." They had been in his suitcase, several rolls of film he never had bother to get developed. Hughes had given him the rolls and asked him to take care of it at the train station years ago. He'd gotten distracted but the rolls had managed to stay intact in his pocket all the way over to this world. It was one of the few pieces of home that had. They had been in his suitcase when he fell forward in time but he hadn't seen the bag since.

"Master Edward?"

The group jumped at the voice. "Yes Winky?"

"Master Dumbledore found these. He had Winky develop them."

Ed carefully took the stack of photos from the house elf. "Is that Al?"

"Yeah. And that Colonel Mustang, Lieutenant Colonel Hawkeye-"

"Whoa, is that your dad? You look so much a like!"

"Even more than Harry looks like his!" Hermione added to Ron's statement.

Ed nodded staring at the photo. It was newer than the others. A friend of Hohenheim's had taken the picture a year after Edward's arrival. He still had mixed feelings about his father. The man clearly loved him and had a genuine reason to leave but his heart still ached every time he thought of his mother's tears late at night when he was supposed to be asleep. 'She missed him so much and Al never knew him.' At least the elder brother had a chance to say goodbye.

Hermione noticed the expression on Ed's face and quickly changed the topic back to the military photo. Ed found himself explaining everything he knew about his world as the trio grilled him. Much later, long after darkness had fallen, the friends stood to leave. Harry gestured for Ron and Hermione to go ahead and gave Ed a significant look. 'Need to talk?'

The blond shook his head. 'I'll be alright. Go on.' Harry nodded and left. Ed started at the photos in front of him and sighed. Al's armored form started back at him. 'Not much longer little brother. I'll be home soon.'

So why a phoenix? First of all, because it is a primary symbol of alchemy as Ed pointed out. Also, Ed has 'died' several times in the series. He left his life at home and burned it. He became the 'dog of the military' under the Flame alchemist. He leaves that identity behind when Scar transmutes his brother into the Philosopher's Stone. And of course he actually dies twice in episode 50.

Also, the phonier represents change. Ed often acts as a catalyst in the series to bring about change. He's the one who suggests resurrecting their mother, he's the one who decides to go to Central and he tends to change the people and places lives he tends to come in contact with.

Besides, it's cool.

By the way, the pet project is mentioned in chapter 5.