A/N: hey ev'ryone! sorry i haven't updated in a while. truth be told i've been playin too many video games cause i'm sorta gettin bored now lol. swn, three chapters? since when did i say that? lol u must be out of whack or somethin lol jk jk. well, here's chapter 4. here's where something goes wrong...-hint- -hint- o yea, and i haven't written this in a while and i'm afraid i might get in trouble if i don't!
Disclaimer: I do not own FMA (i wish i did though it's a great show!) or any of it's characters. So there! I said it! I hope I don't get in trouble if i haven't done that to any of my other stories in a while...better go and double check! anyways, happy reading and plz leave a review at the end! (pleeeeease? lol)
Chapter 4: Something's Wrong, Something Just Isn't Right
"Brooother...you really shouldn't be slurping like it! It's-bad-for-you!" Al continued to scold.
"Will you relax Al? You're starting to sound girly." Ed teased.
"Girly! GIRLY!" Al cried, appauled.
"Yes, girly. You heard me." Ed replied. Al was outraged, his hair stood up in shock and his face was in 'surprised' mode. When he stopped, he bent down to whisper to his brother.
"Brother, should we ask about visiting auntie?" he asked. Ed finished slurping, and nodded.
"Um, mom, could we ask you something?" Ed asked. Trisha nodded.
"Could we visit auntie again? Winry was asking about it and she told us she was getting lonely now that we can't come over there and stuff." Ed asked and Trisha looked very serious, and angered. That wasn't what she would normally do, what was wrong with this picture?
"Out of the question! I will not allow my children to go over to that old hag's-" she started, and realized what she was saying. Ed and Al had shocked looks on their faces.
"I mean..." she began to add and the two were still shocked. She sighed and rubbed her temples. "I'm sorry boys I didn't mean to yell at you. I'm sorry for startling you. What I really meant to say, it that I just don't think it's okay for you to go over there now. You might be questioned for all I know, and I wouldn't want that to happen to my two favorite boys." she cooed.
"O-oh...All right. We'll tell Winry that we just can't visit her anymore." Al said with a frown.
"Yeah...mom...is it okay if I may be excused?" Ed asked as he slowly slid off of the chair. Trisha nodded, and Ed walked off to his room.
"Could I be too mom?" Al squeaked.
"Yes of course Alphonse, you may." she said tiredly and he walked up to join his brother. She sighed, and looked out the window. She could see the Rockbell's house, it made her eyes narrow. She slowly got up, gathered all of the dishes, and started to wash them. As she did so, she continued to think of how she would deal with Pinako. If it would come down to it, then it would be done. She then gasped, and noticed that her hands seemed to be a little wrinklish. She wondered what had happened, and shrugged it off.
"I must be a little pruney from the water. Either that or I haven't been using that much lotion." she chuckled to herself, but she couldn't help but worry at what she had noticed. She reassured herself through laughter, but deep down she knew that something was wrong, something was changing...
"Brother?..." Al asked as he entered the quiet room. Ed was lying on his bed, back turned to his brother.
"Al...didn't something seem, out of place back there at dinner?" Ed asked, not turning.
"Just a little I guess...do you think mom's really mad at Auntie?" Al asked.
"I would. She called mom a homunculous after all." Ed answered his own question it seemed.
"Brother...do you think mom is?" Al asked.
"Don't turn on me now Al!" Ed roared as he shot up from his bed.
"But..but mom would never hold a grudge, even if the insult was bad like this one." Al explained.
"She's probably just not in the mood to talk about this! Look, even though it's been a couple of days that doesn't mean she's ready to forgive Auntie for calling her that!" Ed snapped.
"Still...it's just..not like mom." Al finally said with a sigh, losing the conversation.
"Al, do me a favor and stop thinking mom isn't mom." Ed said and covered himself under his sheets. Al decided to give up from there, and walked downstairs. 'Mom isn't a homunculous! She can't be!...Then...why do I have a sinking feeling deep inside my gut?...' Ed thought and screamed inside his pillow.
"M-mom?" Al asked quietly as he saw his mother wash the dishes.
"Yes Alphonse?" Trisha asked politely and sweetly.
"Would you please allow me to visit Winry? She's really sad that we can't visit her. Pleeeeease?" Al begged. Trisha, not wanting Al to get alarmed of her true answer allowed Al to go, but just for a few minutes. Al rushed off to tell Ed, and he quickly followed and they ran out the door to Winry's house. Trisha couldn't help but clench a fist, just a little. She had allowed them to visit that devil's house.
There was a knock on the door. "I'll get it grandma!" they heard Winry cry. As she opened the door, there stood Ed and Al. She made her little high pitched squeak that seemed to be famous, and hugged them both.
"Ed! Al! Come in come in!" Winry said and practically dragged them inside. "Grandma! They're here! Ed and Al! They came!" she called and Pinako bursted through the house and rushed up to them.
"Well boys, glad to see you. What took you so long?" Pinako asked.
"Well we asked mom and at first she said we couldn't but then-"
"Then I asked mom and she said okay but we can't stay for long only for a few minutes." Al finished, interrupting Ed who narrowed his eyes. Everyone was silent.
"Well, at least a few minutes is better then none." Winry said with a weak smile.
"It's because of what I said that night, isn't it?" Pinako asked with a frown. Ed and Al's faces went from smiles, to frowns, and they nodded sadly. Pinako sighed as she sat down.
"Listen to me boys, while I still have the chance to tell you. Your mother...are you very sure that she's the real Trisha Elric?" There was no response. Den whined when he walked over, tail between his legs. "Because the Trisha I know wouldn't let something like that get to her and keep a grudge. I just want you two boys to be safe, and to be sure that what you created is the real Trisha Elric, not someone who looks like her, and has her memories." she finished. Ed burst into tears and shouted.
"Why does everyone keep asking us that! Mom is mom! She has to be! WE created her! WE brought her back from the dead! WE did the work, we succeeded! Now since we have everyone's out to get us! To prove us wrong that our successful human transmutation is really something else! I won't stand for it anymore! Come on Al we're leaving!" he called.
"B-brother! I think they're only concerned for us! Please don't be mad at Auntie! BROTHER!" Al called but it was too late, Ed was already running back to the house. Al looked at Winry, and at Auntie.
"Auntie...Winry...I'm sorry, but you have to understand it's been hard on us ever since people have been having questions. And we know that tommorow that state alchemist is coming back for an, 'inspection'. Please, don't think Ed is really mad at you. He's just having...some problems." Al apologized, bowed, and rushed off after Ed.
"Grandma...you're really sure that Mrs. Elric is a homunculous?" Winry asked.
"Yes. Something just, isn't right about her." Pinako replied and walked off. Winry began to form tears as she watched her friends rush into the house, Den licked her hand and she pat him on the head, giving him a weak smile. She frowned as she looked out, and could have sworn to see Mrs. Elric give her a deadly stare before shutting the door. It gave her chills. She shut the door, and breathed in heavily. What if Mrs. Elric was a homunculous! Would she hurt Ed and Al! Trying to have these thoughts out of her mind, she quietly went upstairs to her room, Den following.
"Ed, Al, what's wrong? Why are you crying?" Trisha asked in alarm as the two clutched on to her like they used to. They didn't answer, only whimpers could be heard.
"Now now you two, it's all right I'm here. I'm here..." she cooed to them and ruffled their hair just a little to calm them down. When they finally were, they decided to go to bed. Trisha couldn't help but feel sorry for them, poor souls. She decided to go to bed herself, but suddenly felt a little queasy. She felt a little light headed as well, but shook it off and staggered upstairs. 'What's happening to me?' she wondered a little dazed as she hit the bed. She closed her eyes, and fell into a deep sleep.
"I can't believe this! Everyone's out to get us! Why is that!" Ed wondered angrily as he paced around the room.
"Maybe because human transmutation needs more..." Al replied in a low whisper.
"Will you cut the crap Al! Aren't you happy that we succeeded? Don't tell me you're having second thoughts!" Ed shouted.
"Never Brother! I mean...I'm just thinking logically on what everyone's been saying, been asking! It might actually make sense if...she's...a-" Al started but was tackled to the ground.
"Don't say it Al. DON'T-SAY-IT. We worked too hard for this to have a downfall! Too hard! We succeeded, and we came through. That's it! No more!" Ed growled and went to bed irritably. Al brushed himself off, and went to sleep too, whimpering just a little to himself. He began to think Trisha Elric was a homunculous. It seemed as if only Ed needed to believe now, before it might be too late.
The next day was the day where the Flame Alchemist would visit. The three waited for his arrival. When they saw a black car outside, they looked at the person who was coming out. Accompanying him was a woman with blonde hair in a little bun, and a man with a mix of yellow bangs (sorta) and brown hair. They walked up to the family.
"Hello there Elric family. This is my assistant Riza Hawkeye, and my driver Jean Havoc." Mustang said as he introduced them. Riza bowed, and Havoc's eyes narrowed angrily at Mustang. He bowed, and added, "I'm also in the military ma'am. It's a tough job but someone has to do it." He gave her a small grin and then a wink.
"Hey! Are you flirting with our mom!" Ed barked and Havoc took a step back.
"Of course not!" Havoc cried, a sweatdrop formed.
"Then why are you acting strange around her!" Al asked.
"No reason at all!" Havoc cried, more sweatdrops accompanying his first while he waved his hands in front of him frantically.
"Al, you get the rope while I get the matches!" Ed said with a devil's grin. Havoc's mouth dropped.
"Boys,boys! I'm flattered that you're overprotective, but calm down I'm sure that Mr. Havoc is just glad to have someone like me in his presence." Trisha said, taking advantage of the situation. Mustang laughed, Riza smiled, and Havoc was in a corner, gloomy colors surrounded him.
"With all jokes aside, you know why we've come here, don't you boys?" Mustang asked. They played dumb and shook their heads. "Come now. You know as well as I do that you succeeded in human transmutation, something no one has ever achieved. What I'm wondering, is how you exactly did it." Mustang said with a frown.
"How did you find out?" Ed asked, making sure this Mustang character wasn't just making a guess.
"Before I came here, I visited the graves on top of the hill. One of them was engraved, 'Trisha Elric'. Also, a little while away from your house I saw a bright light engulf the house completely, and that led to this conclusion." Mustang explained. Ed was about to talk, but Al's voice made him stop and agree.
"We're not telling you anything mister!" Al cried.
"...Th-that's right! We're not gonna tell you a single word if you're just going to turn us in to the state!" Ed added with a frown and a fist. Trisha was silent from that point on, she wasn't going to interfere.
"Calm down shorty. We never even thought about telling the military." Mustang said as he put his hand on Ed's hair who backed off right after.
"Get the hell offa me!" Ed cried.
"Brother! Calm youreslf! If you're not here to take us away, what are you here for?" Al asked.
"To get answers, and to check up on things. Is that so hard to ask?" Mustang asked as he took off his gloves. Ed and Al were silent, and finally let the three inside. Ed and Al were making some coffee for the adults while they checked on Trisha. Ed didn't like it, it still seemed like they were experimenting on her, even though that Mustang character said that they were only giving her a check up. Al grabbed the mugs while Ed stirred the coffee, and watched carefully at everything they did. When it was over, everyone sat at the table.
"So, Mr. Mustang sir--"
"Please, call me Roy kid." Mustang said with a laugh as Alphonse nodded slightly.
"All right. Roy, what do you make of our mom? And what questions do you have for us?" Ed inquired.
"I want to know how you did it. As I told you before no one has ever succeeded, and even when they tried and gave up almost everything they had their results were nothing. What did you exactly do?" Mustang asked, his face darkened with concern.
"Well, tell us about mom first." Al asked nicely.
"Your mom's fine. Her heart rate's normal, everything looks good, and basically, she's A-okay." Riza said with a reassuring nod. The boys nodded back, and were ready to tell.
"Well, at first...when mom died we planned to bring her back from the very start, but we weren't skilled as we are now." Ed started.
"Ah, going to the very beginning." Mustang interrupted.
"Do you wanna hear the story and get answers or not!" Ed roared.
"Brother...please don't make a scene." Al said quietly. Ed coughed, and Al continued.
"So we got ourselves a teacher who taught us everything there is to know about alchemy." Al said.
"Even martial arts!" Ed interrupted. Al raised an eyebrow.
"Brother, are you telling the story or am I?" Al asked and Ed laughed and he decided to continue.
"Anyways, we found ourselves a teacher, she taught of alchemy, and when we came back from training we were all set to perform the human transmutation." Ed said.
"We got all the ingredients for it, and finally some of mom's...remains..." Al said quietly. Ed nodded.
"Then before we performed the act, we remembered that in order to obtain, something of equal value must be lost." Ed said.
"I see. Equivalent Exchange. And what did you two boys give up? You seem perfectly fine to me." Mustang asked.
"Well, not much actually. We just gave ourselves cuts with a knife and our drop of blood was the sacrifice. Besides, this was our blood, from her blood." Ed explained. Mustang jumped up.
"Blood? All you gave up was a little drop of blood! That's impossible! You boys don't know what people have given up for Equivalent Exchange, and never even succeeded! This is absolutely unbelievable!" Mustang roared.
"Sir! Please, calm down." Riza said and Mustang was able to calm down just a little. He coughed, and gave them stern looks.
"So you're telling me, that all you boys gave up was a drop of blood? Nothing else?" he asked and they both nodded. He sighed, and then snapped his fingers. "All right. That's all I need to know. Good day to all of you, I'll be visiting again next week to check up on things. Hawkeye, Havoc, let's go. And this time Havoc cut the flirting." he said and Havoc went white out of embarrassment. Trisha laughed at his expression.
"So he was flirting with mom! Al! Quick! Go upstairs and get the rope! We'll skin him alive!" Ed yelled and Al sighed.
"Let it go Brother, just let it go." was Al's reply. As the car drove away, the Elrics closed the door.
"Sir, what do you make of this?" Hawkeye asked.
"I'm not sure myself. All I know, is that their successful human transmutation might just be a fluke." Mustang replied.
"How so sir?" Havoc asked.
"That person, might not even be Trisha Elric. She might be a--" he started, but his voice trailed off at the last second. Finally he finished his sentence quietly and it made Havoc stop the car with a jolt as it screeched to a hault.
"A homunculous! Sir is that possible! They're just a myth aren't they!" Havoc cried.
"Calm down Havoc. I'm not sure if that's the possiblity, but it's definately an option." Mustang said.
"Sir, if she is a homunculous would that put those boys in danger?" Hawkeye asked, concerned.
"It might. Especially when they might fight the truth once it's found. Besides all of that, let's head back to Central. I need to look into this successful alchemy just a little more." Mustang replied and the car continued to drive down the street. Mustang looked behind him, seeing the house grow farther and farther away. He gasped when he thought he had saw Trisha Elric turn, giving him a deadly gaze. He blinked, and then saw no one. Could she have heard them? How was it possible? No...it was just his imagination. There was no possible explanation for someone at such a distance to hear his conversation, right?
"Well Ed, Al, that wasn't so bad was it now? We'll be expecting them again next week so I'll want you on your best behavior next time." Trisha said to them with a scold and a playful smile.
"Yes mom." they said in unison. Suddenly, there was a knock on the door and the person standing outside was Winry.
"Hi Mrs. Elric. I was wondering if Al and Ed would like to play with me today." Winry asked politely.
"Of course Winry." Trisha answered with a smile and Ed and Al raced outside. Trisha watched as her children ran playfully, happily smiling and laughing. It made her sick her to stomach. Wait a minute...sick to her stomach? How could that be? She should have felt happy at that moment, but felt sadness and anger. Why was that? Now she felt dizzy, what in the world was going on! 'I should just sit down. I'll feel better in no time.' she said to herself and went upstairs. She fell onto her bed, and finally fell asleep.
A horrible dream took place, and she was afraid. In her dream, she was acting, strangely. Ed and Al were cowering in fear of her. She looked down at herself to see blood on her hands, and then on the ground a puddle of red was there; in it was a cracked pair of glasses and a lone pipe. Pinako's! Winry was crying, running away from her with Den growling and barking angrily to protect his master, his friend. Ed and Al had angered faces, sad expressions mixed in. She was in the center of a circle, a transmutation circle? All of a sudden there was a blinding flash of light, and then...pain. She felt helpless, weak, fragile, and most of all...she felt as if she didn't exist anymore. After the flash she felt like she was nothing, a nobody. She woke up to two voices calling her name frantically. She opened her eyes to see Ed and Al, tears running down their scared faces as they hugged her tightly. They said to her that she wouldn't wake up, they thought she was dead. Trisha made sure to calm them down, reassuring them that was having a bad dream. As they raced downstairs, it was almost time for supper. She wearily walked down the stairs, shock was giving her the chills. 'Stop worrying!' she said to herself. 'It was just a dream there isn't anything you need to worry about!' she continued to say, but then felt queasy at what she had remembered fom that terrible dream, that nightmare. She walked into the kitchen and Ed and Al sat patiently, waiting for food. As she made whatever she could manage, they sat down quietly and ate their meal.
"Mom...are you okay? You said you had a nightmare. What was it about?" Al asked.
"Alphonse, you wouldn't believe me if I told you. Please, keep eating. You two need to eat to have strong bones." Trisha replied tiredly. Ed had a worried look on his face and stared down at his food. Tonight was, odd. Something felt out of place. What was it? And why did his mother's nightmare send him chills down his spine? What was the reason? Why was there to worry? What they had so longed for was finally here, and all of a sudden everything was going down the tubes. Why was that? So many questions...he started to have a headache from thinking about it. Finally, he finished and Ed and Al were sent to bed even though it wasn't close to the night. They sat in their room quietly, no one said a word. They fell asleep, and Ed continued to worry.
'Somehow...I feel that something's wrong...something's just, not right...but that can't be...it just can't! Why is everything going into question when we're finally a family again? What could go wrong? This feeling...it won't leave me alone. This feeling...worry, anxiety, fear..all of it is swelling deep inside. What kind of nightmare could mom have had to make me worry! Whatever it was...I don't like it one bit..and I hope that tommorow will be a better day...' he thought to himself and finally closed his eyes, with no more worrysome thoughts.
A/N: there u are. chapter 4! looks like trisha's goin through some changes...and what did her nightmare send out? a message perhaps? was it just a nightmare, or did it have some more meaning to it? and will it be too late if those unfortunate events happen? everything seems to be going down the tubes right now, will the elrics be able to bring it back up? next time! Chapter 5: The Perfect Mom?