Prologue
5 Years Ago (Dream sequence)...
A nervous 10 Year Old Edward Elric is seen in front of a judge, handcuffed.
Judge: Edward Elric... You are hereby announced guilty of the Murder of Trisha, and Alphonse Elric, along with the use of Forbidden Magic. However, due to your age we cannot sentence to any type of rightful punishment. So to compensate, you shall be placed under house arrest for 10 years, under heavy surveillance, and will be expected to serve one week in solitary confinement each month. Guards... Take him away.
Edward quick looks around, seeing two guards next to him. The guards take Edward by the arms, and begin to drag him out of the Court Room.
Edward: No wait! You've got it all wrong! I didn't kill my mom, and my brother! I didn't do it! No... No!
Edward cries out as he's dragged away by the guards.
End of Dream Sequence...
Edward: NO!
A 15 Year Old Edward shouts out as he bolts up from his bed, with sweat dripping from the top of his head. After realizing what he just experienced was nothing more than a dream, Edward begins to take deep breaths, and tries to calm down.
Edward: That dream again?
Edward goes to get a glass of water.
Edward: It's been 5 years since they pinned me as being guilty. And my life's gone down the drain ever since then.
Edward thinks about all the times he was harassed, tormented, and tortured because he had been convicted of a heinous crime he did not commit. Along with the times he was thrown into solitary confinement, left with nothing to do, but listen to words, and threats of those who thought he was guilty.
Edward: I can't do it... I can't handle it anymore. I... Can't endure this any longer. How am I supposed to do this for another 5 years?!
Edward lashes out while on the verge of tears.
Edward: I gotta get out of here. But how? The house is being guarded at all hours, not to mention that no one can really visit without a guard being with them. Along with that, there are Magic Sensors everywhere, so even if I could go outside, they'd automatically pick on it. Plus...
He says as he looks at his arms. There are black handcuff-like bracelets on each of them. The bracelets feature a glowing jewel in the center.
Edward: The bracelets I have on make it so that I can't use Magic, and they track my location. If I were to somehow break out, they'd find me almost instantly.
Edward then falls to the ground in defeat.
Edward: I can't do it. No matter how hard I try, I can't escape.
The ground begins to vigorously shake.
Edward: What is that?!
Edward runs over to the window to check, and sees explosions going off in the distance. Edward quickly realizes what's going on.
Edward: Holy crap... We're being attacked. I've gotta get out of here.
As soon as Ed says the guards go off to check out what the explosions are about.
Edward: Perfect... Now I just need to get out of here. The government's probably busy responding to the attack. Meaning that they won't be able to keep track of me, even with the bracelets on.
Edward cautiously, and slowly opens up door, and sees no one nearby.
Edward: Alright. I should go through the back just in case.
Edward jumps closes the door, and runs out through the back. He quickly gets past the sensors, and runs into the nearby forest before bumping into something.
Edward: Ow. The hell was that?
Edward looks around, and sees his best friend Winry Rockbell in front of him.
Edward: Winry? What are you doing here?
Winry: I heard the explosions, and came to check on you. What are you doing out here? You should be inside. They'll make your punishment even harder if they find you here.
Edward: I know... I'm running away. I can't stand being here anymore. I have to get away from here. And I need your help. I need you to get these things off of me.
He shows the bracelets to Winry.
Winry: ...Alright. I get those bracelets off of you. Just promise me that you'll come back safe.
Edward: I will.
Winry deactivates the bracelets, and manages to get them off of Edward's arms.
Edward: Thanks Winry.
Winry: Look, just don't do anything stupid that'll have you get caught. I worry about you Ed.
Edward: Don't worry Winry, I won't get caught.
Edward hugs Winry.
Winry: Ed...
Edward lets go.
Edward: Well anyway... I better get going. Well, I'll see you around.
Edward says to her before running off.
Winry: Be careful Ed.
Edward: (To the reader) In this world, not everyone is treated equal. Nor is everyone created equal. Everyone is equal in the eyes of the government, but when one person steps out of line, everyone pays the price.
The scene changes to show the 10 Wizard Saints in a meeting.
Makarov: This sounds like someone's trying to wage war against Amestris. Is there anyway to stop it?
Bradley: There might be... That Elric boy.
Makarov: The one accused, and convicted of murder? What does he have to do with this?
Bradley: His understanding of his own Magic, and Magic as a whole surpasses that of some of our most powerful wizards. He has knowledge from Hundreds of Years ago. Knowledge that not even we are aware about. Combine that with his incredibly versatile Magic, and his control over it... He would be a Nigh Unstoppable Soldier.
Makarov: So, you want to turn that boy into a War Machine?
Bradley: Precisely. With him on our side we could end this War in a month's time at most.
Makarov: Bradley... While your plan would possibly work, there is one issue with it. I doubt that Elric boy would want anything to do with the government after what they put him through.
Bradley: And that's why we need to bribe him.
Makarov: Bribe him?
Bradley: That's right. If he sides with us, we can lower his sentence, to maybe... 2 more years instead of 5... We'll have to see about that though.
Siegrain: I hate to be a wet blanket here. But Edward Elric is most likely gone by now.
Makarov: What do you mean?
Siegrain: The tracker says he's in forest, but it's stuck in that location for the past ten minutes, meaning that he likely managed to get them off of his arms, and is now on the run.
Bradley: I see. Well... I can't say I'm surprised. It's just unfortunate that he decided to make a run for it tonight.
Makarov: Do you think he will get far?
The scene then goes to show Edward running through the forest as bombs are going off in the distance.
Bradley: I'm not sure. However, what I do know... Is that things are about to get MUCH more interesting for the young Elric boy.
End of the Episode...
Cue: watch?v=uMsOlhzPEfY (I know it cuts off the first part of the link, but you can still plug it in, and go to the video.)
Edward: Next Time on An Alchemic Tale... The Alchemist Guild.