DarkKalendor: Yeah! I'm so excited! Remember this happened before Hughes died. Also it's going to switch from Al's P.O.V. to Ed's in Chapter 2, and it will simply go back and forth as such.
Hughes:...what...
Chapter 1: Dog of the Military
"That pompous"
He slammed Roy's office door I watched as my brother paced the hallway outside of Colonel Roy Mustang's office. I was headed towards the outside Central's bustle, and didn't want to become entangled with brother's military life…even if I was his catalyst for doing so.
"Don't make us the charity of the week!" Ed roared back at the door, "We can take care of ourselves"
He must have heard my hallow body clank as I walk because he dashed towards me, and even half way he was fuming out loud. Not seeing straight, Ed continued to stomp passed me and exited into the summer afternoon. I watched him storm out, and was about to fallow except a voice stopped me. His gaze never meet mine, and that made me uneasy.
"Alphonse Elric"
Not being part of the military I was able to forgo the formalities, and I simply turned to face The Flame Alchemist who stood about to my shoulders. We stared at each other in silence, and he possibly guessed that I saw Ed storm out of his office. Naturally my good nature controlled my anger, and I was thankful I didn't have facial expression as I greeted.
"Hello, Colonel Mustang"
"Eves dropping again, Al?" Roy laughed in his coy matter, and then he solemnly stated, "Full metal…err…I mean Ed and I where just discussing his newest mission, and he left without any further explanation. I am only allowed to explain missions to State Alchemist and their family members…" he heavily sighed knowing that he was simply delaying some hard news, "Al…The East is becoming even more dangerous as you are well aware. We are loosing more soldiers as this pointless rebellion persist, and the Firer wants it to end immediately"
My hallowed gasp echoed inside my empty form, and Roy simply smiled and scoffed, "So? You figured it out, haven't you"
"Another Ishbal?" I angrily asked, "Hasn't the Firer learned that lesson before"
"Funny…Ed said the exact same thing." I watched as The Flame Alchemist returned to his office, but as he did he informed me, "He leaves in ten hours…That is if he decides to. He's still a state alchemist, Al. He knew what he was getting himself into."
Later that day I was about to enter our room in a tavern on the other side of Central, but I was stopped by my own thoughts.
This was my fault. He wouldn't even be in this compromising position if it wasn't because of me. Even with the fatality rate in the military's favor, I wasn't convinced. Ed hadn't kill anyone before, and the thought was ridiculous.
Then…there was what he though of Ishbal.
Ed wasn't asked to solve a matter with democracy and peaceful delegations…he was to kill hundreds to set an example for other revolutionaries against the state. The stories from Armstrong, Marco, Mustang, and other state Alchemist where the same. The alchemist where ordered to destroy entire cities without question. Ishbal was a massacre, and Edward hated the state because of it.
Ed was about to go against his internal ethics for me…
It was my fault.
Finally I found the strength to turn the door knob, and when I looked inside my heart dropped. Ed stood in front of the full length mirror completely dressed in a state uniform, and most of his belongings packed inside the suite case. He could see me through the mirror's reflection, but he still had his back turned to me.
"I…" Ed began, but sighed in defeat, "I'm going to leave for a while, Al"
"I can't let you do this." I furiously stated.
He closed his eyes, and sighed heavily, "So…Mustang told you, and when I asked him not to"
"What where you planning to do, Ed?" I asked, "Not tell me until I found out from somewhere else"
He finished adjusting the blue uniform and turned to the opened suit case upon his bed, and he still wouldn't meet my gaze. I watched in silence as he shut the case, and I could feel the internal conflict we was having through his blank and yet silently frustrated expression.
"I have…a train to catch." he stood in front of me as I bared the door with my massive body.
"You don't have to do this!" I could feel myself becoming more frantic, "We can leave, and return to Ressumbull! We can forget the military and the state, and live our lives like we use to before with Winry and Pinako and"
"Mom?" Ed asked angrily glaring up at me, and then he practically yelled, "We can't, Alphonse! We burned down our home and all the familiar things inside, remember? I became a state alchemist on my own! I knew the consequences, and the duties! I don't need your permission, and I don't need you"
It finally came out. Harbored contempt that he had hidden somewhere inside the pocket watch was finally freed for my crimson eyes to witness. Somehow…deep inside my hallowed existence I had always expected his feelings, but…actually hearing it.
I didn't stop him.
After his rash statement echoed inside the room for a minute, he pushed my numbed bodiless soul aside and quickly dashed towards the exit. I heard him utter something…it sounded like a stifled sob.
I wondered if he would see me, and if he did…what would he do.
Being seven feet tall has it's advantages and disadvantages. If one is searching for someone in a crowded Central train station, it is an advantage. If one is avoiding someone in a crowded Central train station, it is a disadvantage. Ironically for myself, I was doing both.
There were too many state alchemist dressed in the same mundane navy blue uniforms, and they where all tearfully bidding farewell to their families. I could see Armstrong saying good bye to a few dozen slightly identical Armstrong men and women as pink sparkles clouded and clogged half the train station. Roy, Riza, and the rest of their followers stood near the boarding dock, and I noticed Riza holding a gun tighter was Roy slowly moved closer to her. Fury had Hawkeye's puppy who seamed to have been through a war of his own. Havoc was smoking his cigar in a clearly marked no smoking area, and the gray haired man…err…was doing something or other. It think he was complaining about not being able to fully open his eyes. The orange haired pudgy guy was doing his Armstrong impersonation again, and he is really good.
"Alphonse! Hey, Al"
"Hughes?" I called back turning and found a picture of Alicia Hughes in front of my face.
"Isn't she adorable! This is the picture Garcia took yesterday when they where at the beach! I have about a dozen photo albums of her at the beach, but every time I see another one she just grows cuter! She's just like an angel in flip flops! Daddy's little angel! You must be so proud to know her, aren't you"
Understanding about half he said, I simply nodded and laughed nervously, and after showing me a dozen more pictures he finally calmed down. Hughes adjusted his glasses as he asked.
"Seeing your brother off"
"Uh…" I muttered, and then sighed, "Yeah"
"Listen, Al. Ed talked to me right after he left your bedroom, and he was really upset. I finally had to drag it out of him." Hughes slowly whispered, "He only said that so you wouldn't stop him from going to the East, and if he didn't go then his state alchemist license would be revoked"
"I know but I it wouldn't be worth it just to stay a state alchemist." "Al…you already know the reason why his a state alchemist, right"
Turning my gaze towards the granite flooring, I solemnly heaved, "Righ. Thanks, Hughes." I numbly smiled, and then slowly turned to leave, "I'd better go"
"Without saying good bye to your brother?" Hughes gasped, "Isn't that why you came"
"I just wanted…to stop him. It's better that he goes." I slowly began to meander towards the exit, but as I did someone called.
"Al! Wait"
With his lungs heaving, Ed laughed, "It's a good thing you don't get tired or you would never wake up this early"
Slowly turning I gave a silent sigh.
"There's nothing I can say?" my voice was racked with a stifled cry.
"This isn't your burden, brother." Shaking his head, Edward weakly smiled, "I made you a promise, Al. No matter what…I'm going to get your body back."