Seito: Happy Valentines Day! –pass out candy- We like to thank everyone for the reviews. We almost broke 300! WAI! (279 reviews –faint-)
To Devon1919-Hits head against the wall- Why. –hit- do. –hit- we. –hit- bother! –hit-growl- we respect your opinion that you think that making Roy and Ed gay is stupid and that you think this is a good story but tell me one thing… DID YOU EVEN BOTHER TO READ THE BOLD PRINT IN THE FIRST CHAPTER! –hits head against the wall again-
To ai cyke-blush- I'm not that skilled… and there is more Roy/Ed coming up (heavens know that I can't go long without it.)
To FinalSephCloudFantasy-Smile- Yes a nice Yaoi scene would be nice. But… we'll see. And Shinka is just a normal cat, a very smart cat. She's there to cause mainly mischief. She also happens to be very protective of Ed. I think Shinka has been hanging out with my muses a little too much… -sweatdrop-
To Shiru23454
Ah well the ACHOO think is that in anime, when a character sneezes it usually means someone is talking about them. Yeah I was only up to 'The Other Elric Brother Part I' when I got you review but I've been reading FMA for quite some time now. (Got up to chapter 40 –Smile-) Rose? Oh dear… did we get her name wrong? It's the girl from the first chapter/episode. –Sweatdrop- we want to do the next books, but we might take a break and work on some other ideas before we start the second book
To QianYun
HIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII!
To Caelistes
-grin- see what you can get when you ask nicely? Thank you! And yes, Ed singing is excellent blackmail material. –Bigger grin-
To MusigMistress
-grin- it wasn't Hawkeye. (yes you spelled her last name right). Who it was… well that's a secret: P
To Everyone Else
THANK YOU FOR REVIEWING!
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Yoake Mae
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Chapter X
What Destiny Has Stored, Beneath the Trapdoor
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Shinjikaneru, utaretsuyosa yo
Konya mo, soutou nemurenai
The toughness gained from my damage is unbelievable.
I won't be able to sleep at all tonight either.
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Ed wasn't completely sure how he was still alive after falling down, but something soft definitely broke his fall. As he was shaking the stars out of his head, he became aware of Roy calling to him. "Fullmetal, will you wake up! We have a problem!"
That was when Ed noticed that something was wrapping around him. Jerking awake, he started to struggle to get free only to have the tentacles continue to wrap themselves around him. "What the hell?" he asked. Ed looked to the side to see Roy struggling to do the same.
Ed paused for a moment as he recognized what was attacking him. "This is the Devil's Snare!"
"Figured that part out already, Fullmetal. You're the one learning about it, how on earth do we kill it!" yelled Roy. By now, the Devil's Snare had wrapped itself around Roy's hand, making it very hard for the Flame Alchemist to fight back.
Ed racked his brain for the answer. It was in there somewhere. "Devil's Snare, Devil's Snare… stupid plant, umm.. it likes the dark and the damp…"
Roy, who was beginning to look like a mummy, ordered, "Then light a fire. My hands are tied up, I can't make a spark!"
Beginning to panic, Ed answered, "There's no wood!"
If his hands were free, Roy would have whacked his head at that answer. Edward did not just say that. "ARE YOU A WIZARD OR NOT!" he yelled at the younger boy. This was a life or death situation and Ed just forgot that he was a wizard.
"Oh right," mumbled Ed. He wrestled his hand free and grabbed his wand out of his coat. "Incendio!" From his wand, a blue flame shot out. As the flames began to spread, the vines of the Devil's Snare started to wither and shrink. It loosened its grip on Ed and Roy as the plant fled from the warmth and heat.
'Finally, I can breath again…' thought Roy. He pulled himself free from the loose vines. Ed was doing the same. Once they were free, Roy sent a mini-glare towards the younger boy. "Honestly, Fullmetal, 'there's no wood'," said Roy. His voice had plenty of sarcasm in it.
Ed did nothing but send the glare back as the two continued their way through a long stone hallway. At the end of hallway, a dim light shone. As they got closer to the light, a soft rustling and clinking was heard.
"What's that sound?" asked Ed.
Roy frowned. "It sounds like… wings."
They came to the end of the passageway. It revealed a brightly lit stone room. Its ceiling arched up high. Near the top, jewel-like birds flew together in a swarm. They fluttered and clicked as they flew in the air. Across the room, there was a big, heavy wooden door.
Ed blinked, once, twice, three times as he recognized the objects flying in the air. "They're keys!" he exclaimed.
"Probably for that door," pointed out Roy. They stepped into the room. "We probably have to catch the right key to open that door."
Ed frowned. "We don't have time for that!"
A smirk graced Roy's face. "Precisely, Fullmetal, which is why," he took aim at the wooden door, "we won't bother trying to catch them." Roy snapped his fingers and the door went flying. It had completely burned into ashes before the door even landed.
"That's one way, I suppose," said Ed, a bit impressed.
The dying embers gave a glimpse into the next room before light came flooding in, illuminating the room. Both Ed and Roy blinked in shock. They were now standing on the edge of a giant chessboard. Broken pieces of former chessmen littered the floor around the board. Faceless white pieces stared at the two of them.
Ed looked across the room. He could see another door. Then, Ed noticed something else. "There's Ron!" he said. Roy looked in the same direction.
Near a pile of shattered segments of black chessmen, laid Ron Weasley unconscious. "Looks like we'll have to play our way across" said Roy as he continued to analyze the situation.
Ed smirked. "What do you know? Finally something to put your chess skill to the challenge."
Roy gave an undignified snort. "You wouldn't be able to play your way out of a paper bag, Fullmetal. You would lose this game within minutes. Be grateful that I'm here with you."
Ed rolled his eyes. Before he could come up with a sarcastic reply, Roy continued. "Take the place of the queen, Edward and I'll take the knight."
"Why do I have to be the Queen!" complained Ed. He got the feeling that this was Roy's way of punishing him.
Roy just merely smiled. "Now, now. Don't complain, Fullmetal. Just take your place on the board." Much like Halloween, Roy was subconsciously creating a classical scenario. Only thing different this time was that Ed wasn't playing the princess but rather the queen. Ed could only glare at him.
Nevertheless, Ed took his position in the spot of the queen. Right before Roy took his place, he changed his mind. Roy stood next to Ed as the Black King. Before Ed could even ask, Roy gave him the answer. "Why settle for a lowly knight when I can be the most important piece in chess? Besides, the King doesn't move much so I can see what move is best to make." Roy patted Ed's shoulder. "So be a good queen and go and protect me."
Ed looked at him with half-moon eyes and disbelief. Roy did not just say that. He did not just say that. Making a noise that sounded familiar to a bark, Ed continued to sulk on his square.
Roy merely hid his smile and stated, "White has first move." With that, the game commenced.
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Ed never really liked wizard chess. The chessmen were usually brutal to the opposing color. Plus the chessmen didn't seem to like him whenever he played. Ed flinched as a white knight took out another black pawn. The idea of being crushed into tiny pieces was not a pleasant thought. All there was left to do was to hope, possibly pray, and have a bit of faith in Roy's skills, or a lot of faith. Who was he kidding? Of course he had faith in Roy skills. He was practically in love with him— Ed paused and started to hit himself on the head. He. Did. Not. Just. Think. That.
As Ed continued to hit himself, Roy could only stare and send a strange look towards the younger alchemist. Knowing he couldn't dwell on thoughts of the golden-eyed boy, Roy forced himself to focus on the game. McGonagall must have designed this game. Shame though, she wasn't a very good chess player. Roy had seen this play many times and already knew how to counter it. So unless the white chessmen did something out of the ordinary, he would win the game in a matter of a few rounds.
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"Checkmate," announced Roy.
The white king took off his crown and threw at Roy's feet. The white pieces parted and bowed, letting Ed and Roy pass. Ed went quickly to check up on Ron. Poking at the redhead's face, Ed announced, "He's out cold."
"Might as well leave him here. We can't go dragging his body around," said Roy. He carefully walked towards the wooden door.
"You said that Sprout, Flitwick, McGonagall, Quirrell, Snape, Dumbledore all put spells to protect the stone," counted Ed. "We faced Sprout's Devil Snare. Professor Flitwick was probably in charge of those flying keys. McGonagall transfigured the chessmen so that leaves Quirrell, Snape, and of course Dumbledore's spell."
"Dumbledore's spell will be the last line of defense," said Roy. "So we just have to worry about Quirrell and Snape's."
"Joy," muttered Ed. A potions master whom he hated and a coward teacher's spells were the only that stand in his way and that wasn't including the craftiest of wizards, Dumbledore.
"Might as well get this over with," Ed continued to mumble.
Roy pushed open the door. Immediately a repulsive smell invaded their noses, causing them to cover their noses. "What is that smell," asked Ed. He stepped into the room to see a troll (which was twice the size of the one he took on during Halloween) out cold.
"Glad we don't have to deal with that troll," said Roy. His eyes were beginning to water. Just as he said that, the troll began to stir.
"You just had to say that," cursed Ed.
Swiftly the two of them jumped away. Ed clapped his hands and touched the ground. From it, came a familiar spear. Before the troll even had a chance to stand up, Roy had already fired. As the smell of burning flesh filled the room, Ed attacked with his spear, drawing blood.
Sensing attackers, the troll picked up a piece of broken rock and threw it blindly. Roy barely got out of the way of the wayward rock. Ed drew the troll's attention away from the Flame Alchemist by attacking the troll's hand.
The troll let out an enraged howl of pain as the blade of the spear cut further and further into his skin. Swinging his other hand, the troll successfully threw Ed into the wall. "Damnit," cursed Ed.
-Snap-
Another flame flew towards the troll, burning it. The assault didn't stop there. –Snap-Snap-Snap- Each flame was stronger then the last one. However, before Roy could deliver the final blow, the troll swung his hand one more time. He struck Roy dead on. Roy went flying. He hit the wall with a sickening 'crunch' before dropping to the floor. He grinded his teeth as pain raced though his body like a fire spreading through a forest.
There was a flash of blue light as Ed transformed his arm into a blade. With the troll's attention focus on Roy, Ed took this opportunity to attack. As his temporary sword cut through the thick skin, blood began to splatter from the troll, drenching Ed. The troll let out another howl before falling to the ground with a 'thud'.
While Ed was finishing off the troll, Roy was wavering back and forth between consciousness. 'Damn,' Roy cursed to himself as he fought to stay conscious. How could he let his guard down like that? Pain raced from his right arm, and left leg. They were probably broken. He briefly noticed another flash of blue light. 'Ed must be returning his arm back to normal.' His eyes closed for a moment as he felt himself being lifted.
"Roy?"
Roy momentarily thought his hearing was going or that the troll had hit him harder then he thought. Edward didn't just call him by his first name, right? He couldn't remember if Ed had ever called him by his first name –no wait Halloween was the last time… Anytime before that, Roy wasn't sure.
Roy forced himself to open his eyes. He was greeted by the worried face of a golden angel who… was covered in blood. 'Kami-sama, please don't tell me that's his blood that covers him,' Roy half mumured to himself. Slowly, he raised his left hand to cup Ed's face, feeling the warm blood seep through his spark glove.
Ed sensed what Roy was asking and said, "It isn't my blood." Roy let out a sigh of relief and his hand drop down. From there, Roy saw nothing but darkness…
"Roy?" Ed asked. Panic began to fill him until he noticed that Roy's breathing was still consistent. He was alive, just unconscious. The troll must have hit him harder than Ed thought. Ed shed his red coat. Even though it was soaked with blood and torn, it would be a good enough pillow for the moment. Ed rested Roy's head upon his coat before he got up to look around. Now that he thought about, it might not be best to leave Roy in this room. Ed considered putting Roy back in the other room, next to Ron.
However, before Ed could do anything, Hermione came running into the room. Ed raised his eyebrow, presenting a questioning look, but Hermione ignored it, glomping Ed in one swift movement. She didn't even notice the blood that was covering him. Instead she started babbling like crazy. "Harry and Snape. He went after the stone. By himself. Voldemort. Need to get help," Hermione said quickly.
As Ed sorted through the fragment-ish sentences, he grabbed Hermione by her shoulders and shook her to snap her out of her shock. "Hermione! Calm down!"
Hermione tried to calm down. She really did, but it was clear that she was in a panic and in a hurry. It took her a few minutes before she settled down. Then she noticed that Ed was covered in blood. Remembering now that she just hugged him, it meant that she was also covered in blood. Hermione let out a scream.
'Where's a paper fan or mallet when you need one?' asked Ed to himself. Not that he really wanted to hit Hermione, but she was acting like an idiot. All he needed to do was to ask her to take of Roy. He wasn't going anywhere until he knew that Roy would be okay. The Flame Alchemist needed to see a doctor.
Finally Hermione stopped screaming, long enough for Ed to get some words in. "Hermione! Harry told you to get help right?" he asked. Hermione could only nod. "Okay. Roy needs to see a doctor immediately. He's got a broken arm and leg and possibly a few broken ribs as well. Try and wake up Ron and two of you take Roy back and get help," said Ed.
Hermione nodded once more and rushed into the next room to try and wake Ron. As soon as she was gone, Ed turned back to Roy. "Baka taisa," he mumbled. He bent down and kissed Roy on the cheek. Hearing Hermione's footsteps return, Ed headed towards the door. He trusted Hermione enough to get Roy to safety. Now he had to return the favor and help Harry out.
Hermione and Ron (who was still unbalanced on his feet) walked into the room to see Ed walk out. "Ed!" called out Hermione. Ed stopped and looked back. "Be careful okay?" He nodded. When was he not?
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Ed walked into the next room. There was a table of six different shape bottles near the center. Just as he reached the center, two unnatural fires sprang forth. The fire behind him was a dark purple color as blame flames danced in front of him. On the floor was a piece of parchment. Ed picked it up. It read:
Danger lies before you, while safety lies behind,
Two of us will help you, whichever you would find,
One among us seven will let you move ahead,
Another will transport the drinker back instead,
Two among our number hold only nettle wine,
Three of us are killers, waiting hidden in line.
Choose, unless you wish to stay here forevermore,
To help you in your choice, we give you these clues four:
First, however slyly the poison tries to hide
You will always find some on nettle win's left side;
Second, different are those who stand at either end,
But if you would move onward, neither is your friend;
Third, as you see clearly, all are different size,
Neither dwarf nor giant holds death in their insides;
Fourth, the second left and the second on the right
Are twins once you taste them, though different at first sight.
A smirk appeared on Ed's face as he glanced up from the paper to the six bottles. Ed tossed the paper aside. "It's easy. This is logic," he stated to himself. "Snape did a brilliant job putting this trap together." After he said that, he noticed that there were only six bottles on the table. Ed then spied a little black bottle on the floor, the missing bottle. Instantly his smirk turned to a frown.
"Look likes this little tiny bottle would have taken me across," said Ed.
He let out a sigh and ran a hand through his bangs as he thought of a way out of this. Then his eyes opened again, lit with the fires of determination. The familiar smirked returned as well.
"Hope this works," he mumbled. He clapped his hands together and touched the ground as blue lightning began to dance around him. The ground began to shift and move. Slowly the black flames disappeared as the ground closed on top of it. Finally the flames vanish and nothing but smooth floor stood in its place. Ed's smirk grew wider as he strolled over to the door.
Ed opened the door, prepared for anything. What he wasn't prepared for, was to see Harry tied up and Quirrell standing in front of the Mirror of Erised…
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Tardiness Clause
Any person found to be acting as the organizer at activities with an expressed or implied goal of promoting for the purpose of reforming the City's Schedule, taking part in discussions concerning such practices to the end of meeting these or similar goals, or other wise perceived as an instigator of such actions as would pertain to such goals, will be sentenced to death, and summarily executed.
(Adonis Time Law, Chapter 1 Article 2— King of Bandits book 2)
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Seito: We liked this chapter the best. –Grin- We hoped everyone enjoyed it. Don't forget to take some candy!
Next Time: Ed is venturing into the heart of danger by himself. We all know what lies behind that door, the question is how will he deal with it? We're down to the second to last chapter of this saga and climax has just began.
So do this authoress and give her a nice big Valentine by
REVIEWING PLEASE!