Disclaimer: FMA does not belong to me.
Parallel Universe
Chapter 2
The beginning of a new adventure is nearing to the end as our hero drives though the rolling hills of France. Seconds and minutes pass by slowly, slowly bringing the end closer and closer. Wheels turn on the locomotive that moves towards the end, time brings it into reach, and like all stories there is always an end. The end is near, but for the time being not near enough to grasp. For now, the end of the beginning has begun, our hero awaits his future and most likely his undoubting end.
20 km NW of Strasbourg, France
On the streets of France people worked ferociously rebuilding what was destroyed during the war. Bitter remarks were thrown at those who sat in vehicles and horse driven chariots. Soldiers that the war spared volunteered to help the town's folks, many of them working with guilt and sorrow looming over them. Food was rationed out to the citizens every night by the major's assistants. The economy was failing miserably, many of the town's people held frowns and miserable faces that looked worse then those who believed in the Star of David when held captive. Although brutal deaths breathed happily down on the prisoners, they all had hope that the Allies would free them, compared to the French citizens they were royalty.
A black car wheezed its way down the muddy path receiving glares along the way from all the town's folks and alike. Ed looked out into the faces of the desperate that were currently shooting death glares at the tinted black window. Children not much older then five carried wood to the fires set along the village to keep the workers warm. A feeling of dread spread onto Ed's face upon seeing a child trip on debris left from the war. Pain wrenched itself onto the child's face but moments later he stood up again and continued on with his chore, earning a sigh of relief from Ed's lips.
Somewhere off the main road an explosion rocked the earth sending nearby structures to shake and fall. The French driver in the front stopped and parked the car as chaos erupted within the souls of everyone in the small village. Worn soldiers who bore many different flags on their arms ran with shovels to the sight where dust and debris now littered the air. Distress was written all over Major Armstrong's face and he followed his orders, the driver on the other hand had jumped out of his seat as soon as the car was in park. Ed could no longer sit and watch this ordeal occur, he swung the door open and ran out with Armstrong hot on his heels. The larger man ran after Ed shouting for him to return to the vehicle immediately, but his words went unheeded as Ed's mind whirled at what he would find once he was at the scene.
A strong arm grasped Ed's as the screams of those trapped under the structures could be seen and heard. Ed looked into the stubborn eyes of his captor as he kept a steady grip on Edward. Neither one moved, they only turned towards the situation and watched as both men and women worked away at the lumber that masked their loved ones beneath the ruble. For more then an hour, bodies both living and dead emerged from the destruction. Amongst the living was a young boy no older then ten, he was one of the first to pulled out alive. Villagers wept for the boy's luck and was later embraced by his young mother as yet another dead body was brought out of his grave. Another body, this one alive and well, then another and another, bodies twisted in ways the human body should never be were being dug up and lay to rest on the side as everyone worked feverishly to save those still alive. As the situation unraveled, a shrill echoed through the air, Ed turned towards the one who had diminished the silence of the dead. The young boy that was pulled out earlier now lay limp in her mother's arms, she wept as she cradled his lifeless body.
"…ne pas me partir Adrien! Adrien! Adrien…mon petit frère," the girl screamed in blurred French.
It then dawned on Ed that the young mother was not a mother at all, instead she is the boy's sister. Anyone can easily see that she was once a young beautiful girl, but the war had a taken a toll on her body making her much older and frail. Major Armstrong had long ago relieved Edward from his grip, he now stood slouching wiping away a tear. Ed's gaze reverted back to the girl as she sobbed quietly by herself. Without knowing it, Ed made his way towards her resting a hand of comfort on her shoulder as he bent down to her level. Together they carried the boy, Adrien, to a designated piece of land where rows of white crosses stretched into the horizon.
For the rest of the day, Ed, Armstrong and the girl stood above the grave mourning the loss of the child. The girl cried into Ed's shoulders, each sob broke Ed's heart into pieces then smaller pieces. A white cross now marked the spot where little Adrien lay, his name scratched hastely into the wood. Later on that day when Ed's heart could break no more, the girl moved onto two more graves. Ed read the names on white cross, "Gabriel and Jeanne Lambert."
"Oui, Gabriel et Jeanne Lamert sont mes parents," the girl pointed out.
Ed looked at the girl dumbfounded, this girl has no family members left, their all dead. The only thing Ed could think of doing was to give this unfortunate girl a hug. The two embraced each other as a drift of wind blew through the field, then together they walked back towards the main street where everything was quiet. Much of the street was deserted, people from all over the village had heard of the incident and gone to aid those in need. Although the street was filthy the girl sat down on the curb, her beautiful brown eyes focused on nothing particular.
"Monsieur Elric, it is time to go now," Armstrong said.
"But we can't leave her-"
"Merci pour votre aide," the girl looked into Edward's eyes, " vous pouvez aller maintenant."
Ed looked towards the larger man for a translation but he only blinked dumbly towards the girl's direction. Following his gaze, he turned to meet the girl face to face. Without a warning she embraced him in a thankful hug and brushed her lips upon his own, "Merci". Ed stumbled to find something to say, but with a blink of an eye she was running down the street with a smile on her lips.
The girl stopped as if forgetting something, she turned back to the direction where the major and Ed stood watching her,"my name is Chantel." A grin spread across Ed's face, "my name is Edward Elric," he screamed back as he waved his hand in the air. Both men stood planted on the spot watching the girl called Chantel run deeper into the town wondering if they would ever see her again.
"A girl like that would be on top of the world, if not on top of France. The war was no good for anybody, at least it's over for now," the major muttered, "by the way, Mister Elric your knowledge of the French language is…how do you say, not bad."
"Just to let you know Major, my knowledge of the French language is…how do you say, not good. I only understand the basics, the local grocer back in Germany had tried to teach me the language but he gave up after I told him to shut up. It was an accident! How was I suppose to know saying the word "head" and "you" right after is rude…"
The larger man chuckled at Edward's mistake and proceeded towards the direction of diesel powered car. The black vehicle came into view to review that the driver as well had returned. He was now leaning on the hood of the car puffing out long wisps of stressful smoke from his cigarette. Edward nodded at the driver as he nodded back, Armstrong only grunted and they were off again on the devastated roads of France.
Author's Note: Sorry this took so long, I've been lazy and well work sucks. For all those wondering in which part of the timeline does this story take place, well the story starts right after the series and the movie just never happened. This chapter is also a short one just cause its one of those side stories that might or might not come into play later on into the story. I didnt do much proofreading...sooo.My French is VERY rusty, I only listened for 2 out of the six years that French class was offered to me. Hope you enjoy it and please tell me how you think it is.
…ne pas me partir Adrien! Adrien! Adrien…mon petit frère – do not leave me Adrien! Adrien! Adrien! My little brother.
Oui, Gabriel et Jeanne Lamert sont mes parents – yes Gabriel and Jeanne Lambert are my parents.
Merci pour votre aide, vous pouvez aller maintenant – Thank you for your help, you may go now.
Joy geen, Ciao