Chapter 7 – Abuse of Religion, part 1.
Edward was moving his right hand around rather rhythmically. He was still adjusting to it. Moving his new robotic limbs hurt, it kind of felt like being shocked every time he would move even so much as a finger or toe. He could actually move his new limbs much more efficiently than before but still there was nothing like the feeling of warmth.
The bumpy car ride wasn't making anything much easier either…
He looked up at his metallic brother. He felt guilty about everything and sat back sighing. He took a moment to remember everything that happened so fast. Did he really need to join Central, a paranormal agency that was hidden from the common people's view?
He had left Winry behind. Maybe I should have stayed behind Edward Ulrich thought but knew staying behind would only up more problems, especially for Winry.
-
Meanwhile near Texas, in the direction the Full Metal brothers were headed.
"Ann, Ann Rose!" The boy ran smiling haplessly up to her.
The Church was filled with so many people. The miracles the priest was performing had earned the people's faith. This truly was a man of God, their God Ra.
"What is it child?" Ann kneeled before the young boy. She was rather popular with the children. She was rather motherly and everyone knew her, everyone loved her.
"Look, look at this. He revived my goldfish," He held up a bowl full of water and a rather lively pet swimming around.
"Truly this is blessed," Ann smiled warmly at the boy.
A priest with kind eyes walked up to her.
"Hello Miss Rose," He said. "This truly is blessed," He continued.
"So, you'll be able to bring back my boyfriend?" She asked him kindly.
-
Back with the brothers.
"So, What is Izumi like?" Alfonso asked.
Ron Mustang looked over at Ed to make sure he would hear this as well.
"Well, she's actually pretty scary and you must never ever under any circumstance talk about birth around her," Ron explained. Ed looked puzzled.
"Why?" Ed asked.
"There's no need to know the specifics," Ron warned.
"Well whatever, I doubt she has anything to teach us anyway," He continued.
"Your still young and so what? You only know a few magic tricks. There's plenty of other stuff to learn,"
Ed groaned getting madder at Ron, his superior. He wasn't as nice as General Hues, General Hues was a family man while Ron Mustang was a stuck up jerk. He had however, noticed Lisa Hawkeye eyeing him a few times…
Did she have a crush on him or something?
-
It had been several days since they left Central. Edward was beginning to feel home sick. Apparently they were to arrive shortly in the town of New Mexico. From there they would travel on foot to a small town in or near Texas.
"Ed, I have something for you…" Ron spoke up handing him a box. "It's a gift from General Hues," He finished.
"Can I open it now?" Ed asked impatiently.
"Well of course," Ron answered. "It's yours…"
Ed ripped the wrapping off excitedly. What could it be he thought in anticipation?
Al looked down at his older brother who seemed disappointed. "What's that?"
"It's…a…jacket…" Ed frowned, holding up a red jacket. "And…gloves?"
"Oh, these will hide your prosthetic arm pretty well," Ron explained.
"Hey Edward, look on the back of the jacket," Al ordered.
"Hey, this is a cool insignia," Ed stated.
The red jacket's back had the Star of David on the back, better known to pagans as a pentagram. Ed noticed a folded up note inside the gift box.
"It's a letter…" Ed explained.
Dear Ulrich brothers,
I'm sorry I wasn't able to come with you. I assure you Ron Mustang isn't that bad of a guy, just try to put up with him for now. Well, to show Central has no hard feelings here's a present I thought you'd like. When I heard you took the code name Full Metal Warlocks I instantly knew what to put on this gift.
Cya soon,
General Hues
"There's something else," Ed said holding up several photos. Each one had the same signature. Ron blushed at the photos.
"I know he's a proud father now but…" Ron looked on the back of the photo of General Hue's baby daughter, Alyssa Hues. It read…
Here's one for each of you, remember to keep in touch with your family!
"Why does he need to show off?" Ron said in an irate voice.
Edward paid no real attention. He thought about the words written on his copy, "remember to keep in touch with your family!" Edward frowned to the thoughts of Winry and grandmother Rockwell.
-
"Yes, dear child of the sun. First you must however pray and pray until the time of your faith has been proven," The priest answered.
A woman with dark Jamaican-styled hair was listening to the conversation. She knew this priest was up to no good. Anyone who performed wizardry was either in service of Central or…someone using spells for all the wrong reasons. She of course was the only one who knew this man was a fraud.
It was true he could bring back a small goldfish but…
The woman spoke up. "You know, once someone is dead, there's no bringing them back," Izumi stated.
Ann Rose looked to her and smiled warmly. "Oh, I'm sure with time this priest can prove to you he can," Rose motioned for the boy to leave. "Shoo, I'll play with you later," She promised.
"Sorry…but I'm an atheist," Izumi warned.
"Surly you at least are willing to change your mind?" The priest looked to her. "After all you've joined our religious family for tonight…"
"Actually…" Izumi started but didn't feel like causing any trouble so she stopped herself from talking. She would have to patiently wait to get her chance to talk with the Warlock claiming to be a priest…alone.
-
"Well this is much livelier than I thought it would be…" Al stated, who was now covered up hiding his true form from the public. He wondered if anyone would ask him if he's hot. He was metal but no longer able to feel…
He would have to be extra careful not to let anyone touch him if he didn't want to burn them.
"Hey won't Al overheat?" Ed asked dismally.
"Actually he's full of top notch cooling systems," Ron explained. "Now if you'll please follow me…"
Ed and Al agreed to follow.
They entered a small but lively church.
"Hmm…She said she'd be here…" Ron said.
"Who…Izumi?" Edward asked.
"Of course who else could I mean?"
"Excuse me for being young," Ed mocked.
-
Izumi walked off deciding she'd better attend to something else before causing any trouble. She already felt guilty enough about having her…
"IZUMI! Hey, over here!" Ron Mustang a familiar man yelled for her.
She noticed what looked like two boys accompanying him. One was covered up pretty well. That was rather strange she thought. The other was a shorter boy who looked in his early teens. He had dirty blonde hair and a red jacket. Noticeably he was wearing gloves…
Who wears gloves anymore? What kind of boy is this she asked herself in thought? She walked up to Ron and the boys.
"Hey Mustang, what brings you out here?" Izumi asked.
"Central's been worried sick," He answered.
"Hah, Central worry about human life?" Izumi sarcastically asked. Ron looked annoyed but not press the issue any further.
"Actually I have a favor to ask of you-" Ron started but Izumi decided to interrupt.
"Forget it," Izumi scorned.
"What if I told you it was a favor from Hues…" Ron asked.
"Well…if it's for him…" Izumi said.
Edward was impatiently waiting for his turn to speak. What could this woman possibly teach him if anything?
"These two boys…I want you to teach them everything you know," Ron explained.
"Teach these two…? Aren't they a bit young?" Izumi asked in surprise.
"They are quite the warlocks, their human resurrection spell reacted quite-" Ron didn't get the chance to finish.
"No way, I'm not teaching those sinners," Izumi badmouthed them.
"Fine with me…" Edward said. "I already know all there is to know," Ed finished.
"What was that shorty?" Izumi mocked.
Ed quickly angered. This hadn't been the first time his height was attacked. "I'm still growing old lady," Ed warned. Winry and Al never really spoke of his height; they didn't care how short he was.
"What did you say…?" Izumi asked in anger. He just attacked her wrinkles.
"I'm not old! I've just been through a lot shorty and I'm only twenty-eight," Izumi mocked.
"I've never needed a teacher much less a new mother," Edward warned. Izumi stopped cold at the mention of mother. She quickly turned away from shorty.
"What?" Ed asked surprised she had nothing more to say.
"Fine…I'll teach these boys everything I know," Izumi stated.
-
Later that night everyone was sleeping except for Ed and Al. Al couldn't sleep if he wanted to. His death and rebirth had made sure of that. Ed looked up at Alfonso.
"Al…I really am sorry for this," Ed started.
"I'm sorry too brother, I wish I had stopped you," Al explained.
"Well, I guess we're going to be stuck with Izumi for awhile. She is pretty scary, I don't think I've ever argued with an older woman before like that," Edward explained.
There was a knock at the door, Ed let her in, and it was Izumi. He closed the door behind him.
"So what are your names?" She asked.
Al walked up into view.
"I'm Alfonso Ulrich but you can just call me Al," He said.
"And you are…?"
Edward looked to her in a strange stare.
"Edward Ulrich," He explained.
"So the two of you are brothers?"
"Yep…" Ed answered.
"Well, let's see it," Izumi ordered.
"See what?" Ed asked getting angrier all the moment.
"Don't play coy boy, I've heard from Ron Mustang all about your spell…Let's see your wounds," Izumi ordered again.
Edward was reluctant. Al decided to show her. "Al don't…"
"What's the harm brother?" Al asked as nicely as he could.
Al revealed his entire body had been lost, Izumi's eyes widened in shock.
"Well I'm not showing mine…no need," Ed stated.
"Boy don't play around like that," Izumi warned.
"Fine…"
Edward took off his jacket and rolled up his left pant leg.
"Oh my God…" Izumi said in a feared voice. She turned in sadness.
"Who did you try bringing back?" She asked.
"That's rather personal…" Ed stated.
"Boy if you want me to be your Teacher I first need to know everything about you," She looked down at him.
"Why?" He asked.
"Because I just need to know," She said.
Ed looked away. "Our friend's parents…they were killed in the Iraq war," Ed explained.
"It never is easy to accept death…" Izumi said.
"What about you?" Ed asked. "I need to know your secrets if I'm to be your student," Ed warned.
Izumi smiled at him.
"Smart boy…" Izumi stated.
-
The next day…
"So, This church's leader is a warlock too?" Edward asked.
"Yeah…I've been watching him for quite some time now,' Izumi answered. "I've been waiting for my chance to take him in but it's so hard since everybody is always around him," Izumi explained.
"Why not just try entering here at night?" Ed asked.
Izumi looked down in surprise.
"Well uh heh heh you see I didn't think of that until you just said it," Izumi said. Edward gave her an odd stare.
Izumi looked at a mother with her baby. She had to look away quickly. Memories of her past were haunting her.
"What's the matter?" Alfonso asked.
"Oh nothing just lost in thought," She said in a comforting voice.
"You never did tell us anything about yourself," Edward said.
"Heh, in good time boy," Izumi smiled at him. "Hey by the way Ron said he'd back for you two when I'm done with you," She explained.
-
Ann Rose smiled at the priest. He was singing with her in prayer. When they finished he walked off alone to enter a room locking it behind him.
He walked up to a black haired being with snake like indigo eyes.
"Have you done your job yet?" It spoke as another creature with similar features walked up to it. This one was rather obese and had saliva running down its chin. "If you don't do it soon you'll be food for my friend here…"
The priest gagged at the thought.
"Lust is such a weird name…Yeah I'll kill them all tonight," He explained.
"So I don't get to eat him…?" The fat one asked in disappointment.
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I do not own the rights to Full Metal Alchemist. Please review!
The story will pick up from here on out. I've got all kinds of things planned for this story, so stay tuned and keep reading if you're interested!