AN: Hello people! Here's the 2nd chappie. Warning: further chapters might take longer considering to a stupid thing called school. Yeah, I don't really like it. Can you tell? Anyways, reviews appreciated, and to those of you who did review, here's some more to read and enjoy...
Woods of Song
Chapter 2 – Mountain's Shadow
Mountain's Shadow was definitely not a deserted town. The trader's were busy trading, the restaurants were busy serving, and the whole town simply bustled with activity. Ed and Al walked along the crowded streets, having to shoulder past strangers to take three steps, although most people just made way for Al, so Ed found it easier to walk right behind him.
"Not like they can see me anyways." Ed muttered to himself.
"What was that brother?"
"Nothing Al, just keep your eyes open for a vacant motel or something."
"I am brother, but they're all full."
"Drat. Maybe we should just get the report and book it."
"What about the sister, brother?"
"Oh yeah, her. I don't know, maybe we'll see her along the way or something."
"So where are we going?"
"City Hall."
"Okay then."
It took most of the morning to find the small building that was City Hall. After a half of an hour of pointless wandering, Al finally asked directions from a nearby vendor who promptly tried to sell him something that looked illegal. After a temper tantrum by Ed, the vendor finally told them where to find it. It turned out that they had passed it about three times already.
Ed walked in and approached the nearest desk that he found. The woman who sat behind it looked like a librarian with her glasses and braided brown hair.
"I need to speak to the Mayor." Ed said, leaning on the desk.
"Yes…" The woman replied, looking up at him.
"I told you, I need to speak to the Mayor." Ed said, slightly agitated.
"You are." The woman said blandly, staring daggers at the young alchemist.
Ed stared at her, dumbfounded for a moment then quickly composed himself. "I am Edward Elric, the FullMetal Alchemist. I am here to make an assessment. I was told that you had some statistics for me."
The Mayor reached quickly into her desk and pulled out a small packet and practically shoved them into Ed's hands. "This should be all the information you need. I am sorry to inconvenience you in your coming out here. I have organized the report so that you have the shortest possible stay here."
Ed stared at the stats; once again he was lost for words. She had practically written his report for him, and the emphasis on her last sentence was not missed. However, he just stood there, reading the report.
Seeing that his brother was making no move to leave, Al steered him out of the door, yelling a hurried thank you over his shoulder at the mayor. Al sighed, the town definitely didn't take too kindly to strangers, or it was probably just the military. They wandered the streets for a few more minutes, and then Ed finally put the report in his pocket, smiling almost maniacally to himself. Al couldn't take it anymore.
"What did it say brother?"
"Oh, the usual. Crop income, industry stuff, importation, exportation, that stuff. But it's what they didn't say."
"What do you mean?"
"There's no mention of the sisters. It's like they didn't exist. They want us out of here without any information on them. They probably didn't realize that word of mouth gets around quickly."
"Oh. But why would they want to protect them? They're just alchemists."
"Perhaps, but the couple on the train made them seem like more than JUST alchemists."
"Oh, that's why we were sent here wasn't it brother?"
"Precisely."
They walked along in silence until they came upon "THE MOUNTAIN TAVERN." Ed turned to Al and said, "Al, I'm going in. But I want you to come in a bit after me. And sit a ways away, but in the same area." Without another word, Ed turned on his heel and strode into the bar.
A slightly stunned Al stood there, and then quickly made his way a bit up the streets. He looked at some produce, said no to a sample of "hisinthgard", made his way back to the tavern, and walked in.
It was a bit noisy, but not too crowded. Men and women were playing poker and pool, and a couple of people just sat at lonely tables, drinking. Al quickly hurried over to the bar, where he found Ed. Remembering his instructions Al sat at the other end of the curved bartender's table. When the bartender, a short fat man with a receding brown hairline and grandpa glasses, asked him what he wanted, Al didn't say anything, but kind of stared off into space. He couldn't really order anything because he was too young, and even if he got water, he couldn't drink it. The bartender, thinking that it was just another lost lonely soul, let him be and went back to his other customer, the one bragging to be a state alchemist.
"So….what's your business here in Mountain's Shadow?" the bartender asked.
"Oh, not much. Just an assessment, although I'm really rather interested in these sisters that I heard about. Anything in particular I should know?" Ed asked, leaning over the counter a little bit.
The bartender stiffened noticeably and Al was starting to think that these sisters were either really good, or really bad people.
"Not really. They keep the town elements clean, and there's always a fire in winter. They're just trying to keep the town safe. They're like a huge team of charity workers, even though there are only four of them."
"Really huh? If they're doing this for charity, then how do they make any money? Even if they were able to perform alchemy, you need more than that to make a living." Ed said, becoming more and more interested as to why the town was so defensive about their local saviors.
"Well, I normally work here after teaching lessons to the children on the weekdays, and weekends I do odd jobs around town. My water sister is normally helping at the food court in her spare time, my fire sister is really too childish to take on a job, and my dear earth sister handles all the finances." A voice said behind them and Ed, Al, and the bartender jumped and turned around to look at the air sister.
AN: HAHAHA! I love cliff hangers. Stay tuned for Woods of Song, Chapter 3: The Air Sister.
