If this is late…I'm sorry! This last week was somewhat hectic, we were doing scheduling for next years classes and I signed up for a Duel Enrollment where I take a college level class, I'm taking another art class (yey!). ACTs are coming up soon too (cry), and my birthday is this Friday (yey! FullMetal Marathon!)…17 baby oh yeah! Ok, anyway here's the next chapter! Lobved the last one, that was cool…
What? An FMA marathon and I'm not invited! Waah! Heh, I suppose that it would help though if I lived closer to you…and if you knew me in person, hehehe.
Disclaimer: We don't own FullMetal Alchemist. What can I say today to make you read the disclaimer…um, I don't know, I'm short on ideas. No, wait, I'M NOT SHORT!
The boy looked around biting his lower lip slightly. He then motioned for me to sit down; I did so and waited for him to speak again. Before he said anything though, I realized that he might not know that I couldn't hear,
"You're going to have to speak slowly, I can't hear very well." I said. The boy gave me an unreadable look then sighed,
"I know, it was apart of my vision."
I wasn't sure what to say to this, so this kid knew that I was going to go deaf?
"You were going to tell me how to save Amestris?" I reminded. He just nodded and said slowly,
"You will be able to save Amestris and you'll see loved ones again."
"That's great! How!" I said a bit overly enthusiastic, the boy just held his hand up and lowered it indicating I said that kind of loud and should lower my voice, "Sorry."
"I wouldn't get your hopes up too soon, it was a bit fuzzy, but I saw it. The path to this future is troublesome, you have to make a choice." He said. I looked at him questioningly wondering what kind of choice I had to make.
"So, if I want to save Amestris, all I have to do is make a choice?" I asked.
"Well, with that choice a series of events will then lead to the future." He replied.
"What is it?" I asked. This time the boy didn't look me in the eye, he had an expression on his face that clearly said that if he did such a thing would mean his end. He then took a shaky breath and asked,
"You're willing to do anything, give anything up, to save Amestris?"
"Yes…" I said slowly, I was trying to see where he was going with this.
"You have two choices and they are; one, you…you are bought by the lady here leaving your brother behind and go on to saving your country. Or two, you try and get sold to the lady here with your brother, fail, and save nobody."
I must have had an odd look on my face because the boy seemed to turn sort of pale and started to inch away slowly, but I moved faster. With my good arm I grabbed the front of the boys shirt,
"You're lying…that can't be. There's no way I could leave Al behind…"
"I'm sorry…please, lower your voice," the boy stammered terrified, "But you have to choose, that's what I saw."
I let him go and scratched my head fiercely, this was insanely frustrating. How could I choose between saving Amestris and my brother? The choice should have been obvious, I'd never choose anything over Alphonse, but…there were so many other lives at stake. My frustration soon got the better of me and I threw a right hook into the wall leaving a sizable dent. The man from the door came running, he found me messaging my right fist and cursing lightly. He demanded what was going on.
"It's nothing…" I said flexing my hand about trying to get the pain to spread out and fade. He eyed the two of us for a moment then said to keep it down, that there were people sleeping. When he left I turned to the boy and asked,
"Could you be wrong? Isn't there any other way?"
"I've never been wrong before…" he said shakily. He seemed rather traumatized by my reaction, I sighed and shook my head placing my hand on his shoulder.
"Thank you…" he looked up at me slightly shocked, "You have quite a gift, don't look down on it ok. Oh and don't worry about your little sister, I'll look out for her as long as I can, ok." I then turned and started down the hall towards the door. The boy ran up to me and tapped me on the shoulder; I turned around and looked at him questioningly.
"Thank you, FullMetal Alchemist." He said, "You know, just because I've never been wrong, doesn't mean it isn't possible. You're known for turning things in your favor, maybe you could do it again and save everyone." The boy then turned and ran off, I stood there for a moment and pondered. It seemed like such a long time since somebody had called me 'FullMetal Alchemist', I couldn't help but smile at this. Not to mention the small ray of hope made for a nice thought on the walk back to the plantation.
It was almost morning by the time I got back, there was a small mishap though with some of the dogs bought to make sure none of the slaves tried to run away. They'd for some dumb reason decided to attack me upon my return. I had tripped and one of them had got hold of my leg, luckily it was my left so I wasn't hurt. Recovering, I managed to out run them by making a mad dash for the closest building I could find, the new slave shack.
Slamming the door behind me I paused to catch my breath, that proved to be slightly harder then I'd hoped. I slid down the door and flopped on the dirt floor breathing heavily, my heart still racing. I closed my eyes and leaned my head back trying to steady my breathing, somebody had walked over and sat down next to me but I was too tired to realize who it was. They put an arm around my shoulder letting my head slip onto their shoulder as I slid off to sleep.
The next morning I woke with a start, looking around franticly temporarily not knowing where I was. Finally my gaze fell on someone sleeping next to me, it was Alphonse. He was sleeping with his back against the door and his left arm around my shoulder, his breathing was somewhat irregular and he looked an off white pale color. The choice I had to make cropped up in my mind again, I sat there just watching him sleep for what seemed like hours. Finally, I sighed and turned slightly to peek out of the small hole in the wall.
It had to be nearly midmorning by the look of it, I hoped my master was still sleeping, it was unlikely but I was in a fairly good mood. I then turned and gently lifted Al's arm off my shoulder and carried, more half drag half carry, him back to his little spot in the shack. After I got him situated I made for the door and left, the sun glared down at me and my eyes hurt from the sudden light change. The sun had been glaring in my eyes so I didn't see my master storming up to me, when I realized what was happening it was too late. He grabbed me by the scruff of the neck and darn near dragged me into the house.
He let go the moment we got to his den; he stormed behind his desk and sat roughly down on the chair. He just glared at me for a moment then asked slowly,
"Do you know what I have here?"
I had a rather sinking feeling in my stomach, had he noticed somebody had been in here last night? I didn't want to find out so I just shook my head no, my master glared at me again.
"Somebody wants to buy you, though I can't see why anybody would want something as useless as you." My master then started shifting through some more papers, "It would also seem that recently, the same person who wants to buy you, also wants to purchase your younger brother. Interesting don't you think?" he said the last bit in a rather accusing manner that I tried my best to ignore. He then set the papers down again and looked at me.
"I wonder what kind of big brother you are, maybe I should just turn down the offer for your brother and just sell them you. He's not completely useless after all, besides, I just spent a hefty price for him and those other ones."
I didn't say anything, my throat had gone desert dry, and even if I had wanted to speak it would have been impossible. Was it now that I had to make the choice? It was so soon, I couldn't possibly pick one now, and I was desperately hoping something would distract my master and make him temporarily forget about all this. That's when the mistress walked in, she seemed rather flustered about something.
"Dear, you need to do something about that child. You know the one, the little one that tried to run away not too long ago." She said.
"What is it this time?" he asked in a slightly irritated tone.
"She was caught stealing from the pantry…again."
"Fine, four lashes." My master stood up and started for the door, I had to do something. I knew who she was talking about, it was kind of hard to read her lips though considering she had this habit of not moving them that much when she was mad about something. I had to keep my promise to her brother, so I stepped in front of my master. He demanded to know what I was doing, so I said,
"I'll take her place…" I said. He raised a questioningly shocked eyebrow, "Considering, I won't be here for very much longer…" I added. It was very hard to say that, the dryness in my throat soon spread to my stomach giving it a sick and horrid feeling.
"So, this means you don't care if I only sell you and keep your younger brother? Heh, some older brother." He said, "Fine…"
"Make it five." Since I'd been facing my master, I didn't see my mistress say this. All I got was a rather nasty smirk from my master as he said,
"Alright dear…" he then added, "Oh and…we should make sure that little girl sees what happens when she causes mischief. What better way to get someone to do what you want, then to punish those around them for their mistakes."
"A…public…punishment?" I stuttered. My master just smirked even more which answered everything, "You can't…do that…" I muttered.
"Oh, but I can…" he sneered grabbing me by the scruff of the neck again and this time, literally dragging me out of the house and to the small courtyard. He ordered one of the other slaves to go fetch the little girl, they did so. She had a confused look on her face, she then spotted me and her eyes went wide.
"Edward?" she muttered. All I could really do was give her a semi-confident smile, but I could tell she didn't buy it, considering I didn't either. She then looked up as another one of the slaves led someone else next to her.
"No…" I muttered. My master turned me so I was facing him; he was sneering still as he said,
"When you say public, that means everybody."
I turned and looked at the little girl and now, Alphonse. He was looking at me questioningly, I couldn't look him in the eye, all I could do was look at the ground.
"It's time…"
I shut my eyes as everyone stepped back, my master let go of me and I slumped to my knees. They just seemed to give out on me, I really didn't care though, I wasn't going anywhere, at least not yet.
-To Be Continued-
Oh darn! I came up short! Sorta…I dunno…I thought this was a good end for a chapter…
(Sigh). Yes, flames are not nice…they burn…(eep! Bad pun!).
And I told you, I'M NOT SHORT! (Nobody listens to me. Pouts. Maybe they'd listen if I only left author notes on the chapters I authored...then again, maybe not.)