Chapter 6: The New Elric Brother
UF: you've already written a lot, aren't you given too much explanation of some things?
Ed: Nope, It's because I want to express the emotions we felt that time in the best way I can't
UF: … You're doing a great job; I just hope you don't get tired of that before you finish it
Ed: don't worry, I won't.
Al: Do you want me to continue it "niisan"? You've already written a lot?
Ed: No, I want to write at least until your exam.
Al: Ok, so we'll let you continue working
UF: Ok, Let's go outside
(Al and UF left the room)
We headed to our new house. There we decided how we would use the rooms.
- Well – Al started saying – In the first floor, I think It's obvious what room works for what. In the second floor, I make this big room where we three can sleep, or maybe Anthony want to sleep alone in the other room, if you don't want to do something with that Ed!
- Maybe we can make it a study room, but one room is left.
- Yep! But I want to make it my private studying room.
- Your private studying room? What do you mean?
- I have something very important to research, and I need space, time and silence. So, I want that room for my own use.
- … Are you trying to hide something to me? – I said, glaring at him.
- You'll know it at the time
Then the truth came to my mind – Al, I've already told you that you don't have to do anything about my…
Then Al turned and looked at me face to face. I could see a very special shine in his eyes.
- You don't have to worry about anything. You lived almost 8 years carrying all the weight of our sin, forgetting that that building had two pillars, but now that you've accomplished your goal, just let me carry that weight from now. I'm strong, you'll see soon.
- But…
- Shhhh… we've a lot of things to do now – and then he went to talk to Anthony. I couldn't say anything more. I felt that he'd gained some power. In that time, whatever he made or said, I just couldn't be opposite of that, Although I wasn't agreed with it at first but he looked at me on a way that made me to change my mind quickly. "It's like he could manipulate my soul" I suddenly thought "Bah… Impossible (hehe……… "Impossible").
We finally decided that we three would sleep in the biggest room; the other room would be Al's studying room and I transformed the other one into a balcony where we could rest and think.
Then we went to the town centre to buy thing we can't transmute, such as a freezer, furniture and food. At all this time, Anthony showed a cheerfulness and energy that we didn't figure out the first time we saw him "this must be his real personality. Now that this happy atmosphere is letting him to forget" I thought. Maybe Al thought the same. When we returned to the house, I and Al decided something then we went where he was.
- Saying Anthony every time we want to talk to you is just too tiring – I said – don't your friends used to call you in some other way?
- Well… everyone had always called me as Anthony. Only Seith called me Ton, but I think you can call me that way if you want.
After a while he spoke again, very serious.
- I really can't understand…. I really can't understand why are you doing all of this for me. In my short life I've heard that there are good people in this world, so I could understand why you helped me at that forest. But then letting me to stay with you and taking care of me with only knowing few about me; not because I've hid something to you, but because I only remember few of my past; really goes out of my understanding.
Then Al approached him and started saying – If we know that you don't have anywhere to go, we can't just leave you. Besides, you really don't have any idea how much you've helped us. We were really tired of that dirty place and we were afraid about the incoming war which was said to be twice as worse as the last one. But with the power of your necklace, we could return to our home, to leave in peace at last. According to the Equivalent Exchange principle this would be at least what we should do to pay you.
- Just please don't mess that principle with this – I finally said – you needed help, and we gave it to you. And you still needing help and we're going to give that to you.
- And besides – Al, cheerfully smiling - I always wanted to have a little brother.
-….? – Ton's eyes opened wide.
- Yeah! You hear well. Since now, for us and for every people we know and we'd know you'll be the youngest of Elric Brothers: Anthony Elric.
Ton stayed frozen for a while it seemed that the notice shocked him.
- Didn't you like the news? – I asked
- That's the most – tears started to fall from his eyes – That's the most wonderful thing anyone had made to me in all my life – then he suddenly rushed against us and jumped, trying to hug both of us. The three fell on the ground for the impact and remained there until he calmed down.
That afternoon we asked Granny Pinako to take us a picture. We put that picture in the living room of our new house. That would be the distinctive of the Elric Brothers since then.
We have a wonderful month since then; and in that time we lived a lot of strange but very funny situations. Maybe I'll write all of them someday but for now I'm going to write just one (because I've to tell a lot more and I'm getting tired of writing)
This happened one day after what I've just told. As you know, Al and I used to do some sparring every time we could (Although is very difficult to beat him even now that he's not a suit of armour anymore) to maintain our bodies in shape. We got up early and Ton followed us. We went near the river, as we used to do. When we arrived there, and after some straining, Al said.
- Well, as ever. Let see what you can do now "niisan". On the other side, it was difficult to find a place where we can freely do this; but here we can do it continuously without matter
- What are you going to do? – Ton asked with a curious face.
- We are going to do some sparring to keep our fitness – we answered simultaneously
- Oh! Can I join you?
- Hmm… Maybe it won't be a good idea, we're pretty strong.
- hmm… well, you were the ones who took care about that monsters, so maybe you're right – he sighed – I'll sit here to see how good you are.
And then we started, Al wasn't as tall as he was when he was that armour but…………….. He was still…………. Taller than me (……………………….) so I started with a jump kick but not as high as I used to do.
I remembered that when we started our first sparring practices in the other side, I had to get used to fight with my now flesh and bones brother. I didn't measure my strength on the old days because I knew that he couldn't fell pain; but Al's pain moans on that battles referred me that I had to it in spite he said it didn't matter.
But he was getting very strong. He was getting so strong that I stopped mattering about the pain I could inflict him with my automail and started worrying about the pain he could inflict me with his strange strength for a 12 years body. It seemed like the strength he had when he was a suit of armour, (I hadn't understood why he had so much strength when he was in that state; maybe because of his size, but size doesn't mean power. I hadn't understood it until he explained it) and adding that he was lighter and swifter than never, it was nearly impossible to beat him. But as he was lighter, he was easier to fall, and using a lot of strategy I was able to beat him at least sometimes.
But I've talked too much; let's get back to the story. As I said, I launched an attack against him but he blocked it with his left hand, without even blinking with the hit of my automail. Then, without delaying he grabbed my feed and launched me against a near tree, where Ton was seeing us, I fastly changed my position and launched against him taking impulse in the tree, with my feet only a few millimetres away from Ton's head, he didn't blinked, even. Tried to punch Al again, and blocked again. After a lot of punches and kicks, we heard a loud yawn coming from the tree.
- AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHUUUUUUUUUUUUM – we heard Ton – you're starting to bore me.
- …?
- You are strong, I've to admit; but … there is not a difference between the speed of a snail and yours.
- …………………. WHAT ARE YOU TRYING TO MEAN?
- That you're too slow, even the eldest of my academy would have outraged you in speed…
Trying to catch him when he was distracted; I rushed where he was, but I finished punching the ground.
- Do you think I was only teasing because you didn't allow me to fight you? That's so childish – Ton said, after landing before dodging my attack. She showed a funny serious face and Al barely could dissimulate his laugh. I really wasn't amused though; he was imitating my face.
- Only a day in this family and you're already teasing me. Is a rule to every Elric to tease their brother Edward?
- It seems you even accept an innocent joke. So let's make something. I challenge both of you on a fight. If you can beat me, I'll work as the housekeeper for one week, but if I beat you… well, I'll see what you'll do later.
Was that fair? I knew I was quite rusty for two years doing few exercise and a bad diet, but Al was in his best shape and we were two against a child, but he was the one who asked for this battle, and we'd have a slave for one week, so it'll not be my fault if he got hurt; but anyway I'd get easy on him (how wrong I was)
- We must finish this quickly if we don't want to harm him – Al noted
- This is going to be easy; we won't let that midget to win us, will we?
- Midget? – Al looked at me with inquisitive eyes; he lifted one of his eyebrows
- Just a way to say it. Well Ton, ready or not, here we go.
And then I rushed against him, but he didn't make even a step. Then I started to attack him, but he dodged all my attacks. Al had just rushed against him also and tried to backstab him; but he made a high jump and after using Al's shoulder as a pillar, he reached the ground.
- And well… anything more? – he asked, grinning.
- Argh! Shut up! You haven't seen anything yet – And then I rushed against him again, this time faster and stronger. But then Ton showed his real abilities.
I remember that a lot of contestants I've had in the past had addressed me like a monkey because of my ability to move on a fight; but if I was a monkey, Ton was a flea, a giant flea that can move in light speed. He jumped, punched and kicked like crazy and we both couldn't do anything more than dodge what we could, blocked some others and receive pain from the rest. By that time Al was started getting angry (even he, the incarnation of patience and forgiveness has his limits) and made a strong attack against the youngest Elric who had no other choice to block it; but he showed a bit of pain in his face.
- You really are too strong, for a body that is not too much older than mine – he said after recovering - but your strength is your weakness though – he grabbed Al's lifted arm and twisted himself around it like a snake, and stabbed a lot of kicks on my brother's face, and after loose the arm, he made a powerful kick on my brother's back, that launched him against the tree.
I tried to use that time and ran against Ton, but he made a handstand and with his feed grabbed my neck, and launched me against Al; my poor brother couldn't do other thing than made a terrifying scream.
- Well, you're making me sweat – he said smiling – this is turning good, shall we continue?
- More? … Please… not more – Al and I said, dizzy and very tired.
-…… well, I think that I won, hehe. Well, lest rest for a while.
- Argh! Nobody had punched me so hard since I trained with sensei – Al groaned – where did you learned to fight like that?
- In my academy it was always a very important topic to train our body very hard. My body is very flexible, so I worked in my speed and resistance. That's why I even could resist your ridiculous powerful blow. So I must ask also where you trained your body to be such a strong fellow.
- was that really so strong? – Al asked as if Ton was exaggerating. well, it's a large story………………………………………………………………………………………. but I'll tell it another day – We both fainted, we were expecting the answer of that mystery, that even I didn't know.
- Well, I'm fast but I want to get stronger, so I'll help you to increase your speed and you'll help me to increase my strength.
- That's what you want as a prize?
- No, not really – he said, grinning – you said, that what I used was Alchemy, isn't it?
- Yep
- Well, I really have no idea how I used that
- …………………………..?
- I haven't could do that again since the attack of that monsters, so I want you to teach me how to use it so I can defend myself
- do you really need to learn how to defend yourself? I think you could defend yourself very easy.
- Anyway, will you teach me, yes or not?
- Well, well; we will teach you if you want it as the prize of winning us
But how could I teach a "clapper" to use "clapping alchemy"? or, is he really a clapper? Maybe was only the power of that stone.
- Oh! I was forgetting – I pulled out a small bloody red stone from my short's pocket – take, this is yours.
- I'm really not sure if that is really mine
- But you have it when we found you, so it's better you to keep it.
- Hum…well – we put the collar on his neck
We were resting for a while when I noticed that Ton was seeing my metal limbs with a strange face. I wasn't surprise, it was more some type of vaguely intrigue.
- Is anything wrong in my automail – I asked him – Tell me if it so I can fix it before Winry kill me when she come back.
- No, I was just thinking. I know why you lost your limbs because I heard you the other day, but I can't imagine why you preferred these metal limbs instead of making them to grow again.
- Grow again? – Al and I looked him with questioning eyes – but that's impossible.
- No! That's not impossible! I've seen a lot of doctors doing that since I was an enfant.
- That Idea shocked myself, but I don't know if Al was as shocked as me or even more he asked then – Do you know how to do it or where are the ones who can do it?
- No, sorry but they never taught me how to do it, and as I didn't know where my academy is according to this place, I can't say you where this doctors are now. I'm sorry.
- Don't worry, is not your fault, but thanks for that information
What was Al trying to say with those words? It seemed that nothing, but I surely knew what he was thinking "no matter I've to spend all my youth searching the answer, you'll recover your limbs", I didn't say anything though, I was tired to complain and to always lose. Anyway, since then, we've got a good student and a good teacher at the same time; with some alchemy lessons and sparring practices.
A month passed fast; not lying if that was one of the most beautiful times of my life. Winry had just arrived to visit us from Rush Valley, we six were delighted with Al's speciality (It took him a lot of time to learn it, and although it was made with milk, I've to said it was very tasty, despite I didn't want to eat it first) when my "otouto" (the usual one) started talking.
- We need to go to Central soon brother; I want to borrow some books from the library
- I really don't want to go to central; at least not now. I know that if I just put only one foot on that city again, they'll give me a mission and return me where I came.
- But we'll have to go soon either. The money you brought with you is going to finish. You need to load more.
- Well, we'll have to spend less because my founds wouldn't be eternal
- I know I left a good amount of money there, so we'll have some for a time, and we're not spending so much, this time we had to buy a lot of artefacts we needed. And besides, if you can't afford the payment, I'll have to search for a job; well, I'm going to search for a job anyway. And if you don't want to get me the books I need, maybe that job could be…
- DON'T EVEN MENTION THAT! – I screamed, launching myself from the chair
The room left quiet, Winry and Granny Pinako were staring at me; Al and Ton were drinking their tea, as if what I made was pretty normal. I apologized, sat down again, and to change topic, I made a remembrance of something that bothered me some time ago.
- The last time, I went to central, there was an absurdly high amount of money in my account. Why did it have so much money?
- There was a big raise in the salary of every state alchemist to prevent them of quitting, if you make your calculations right it's quit possible to accumulate that amount of money.
- I already know about that raise, but even if I count it, it could be only possible if you haven't used anything since I leave. What happened? Did you think that it was inappropriate to use my money when I wasn't here?
- There was a good reason why I was so thin when I met you. – That was his answer, and then he explained something
- In this two years, I really don't lived as if anything happened and if I was a 10 years old boy; I felt that something was missing, a very important part of me, I sometimes felt dizzy, and deeply sad and hopeless without any apparent reason. I'd had dreams where I was with my brother, but my body was weak, and I continuously coughed blood. When I woke up, I didn't have desire to eat, so I ditched food and sometimes I could stay a complete day without tasting even water. And at the time I left to research to find you, I was caught by the militaries and asked to do two missions, when I did them; I found a lot of people who said they knew me, Edward Elric, as a famous Alchemist who used to help people a lot. I was proud of hearing that the one that was supposed to be my brother in those 4 lost years had such a good reputation. This people gave me food and a place to rest, so I didn't have to buy anything. And yes, I also thought that it was inappropriate to use your money without permission.
- You know I don't have any problem if you use my things.
- Anyway, I didn't need it and so, I don't have to use it.
I felt worse when I heard about my brother's life when I wasn't here. I wasn't the only that passed rough moments. At least I lived in a house with a good friend that pushed me to eat and sleep. But here Al didn't have anyone to push him. I thought on blaming Winry about not taking care, but Al could sometimes be as stubborn as me (I'm not exaggerating) and when something had entered in his mind it's almost impossible to get it out. His resolution to be with me again was so strong that he followed me when I returned to the other world without the consequences it would bring. At least now he was recovering a decent weight, so as I.
I then apologized. We went to the living room to continue talking. After a while, we heard someone knocking the door. Who could be?
- I'll go – Ton offered. When he opened the door, a long hair blond girl dressed in blue appeared from outside and entered the house. Then a blond guy with a cigarette in his mouth and also dressed in blue followed the girl. Each one stood at one side of the door, LC Riza Hawkeye and the now Major Jean Havoc watched us from their outposts.
"So, this day had finally come", I thought, very uneasy. "If I really know them, then that walking lighter would appear now".
And as I predicted, a one eyed man with charcoal hair and eye as his own doing appeared at my door, with some type of machine where there was a patch the last time I saw him. With more gallons on his shoulders as he had only dreamed before, General Roy Mustang looked at me and made a twisted smile
- Hello, Fullmetal, long time no see.
A/N: I finally saw the movie (I really don't like it), andI know there are someincoherences with this story, but I'll correct them in later chapters, maybe I'll correct an old chapter, but I don't think that now.
From the next chapter, action is assured, I hope you like it, please review
Next Chapter: The birth of a new State Alchemist.