The Other Side of the Gate, And Across an Ocean
Chapter 2 "Convention time! Edward, where are you!"
"Okay...let's have a code of some sort...how can I tell you apart from other people who might know us?" Ed asked.
"We won't need one. Just stay with me!" She said cheerfully. "There area lot of Eds this year, so I suggest that you stay with me."
"A lot of...Eds?" Ed asked, confused and kind of worried.
"Yeah! Meaning, lots of people dress up like you. You're famous, even here, you know!" she laughed. "I'm sorry...um, I just remembered you don't know my name..."
"Nope." Edward said. "What is your name?"
"Chelle! It's my nickname I use here. My real name's Michelle."
Edward laughed, a pretty sound compaired to when he's frustrated. Then he looked kind of sad as if remembering something.
"You remind me of Winry...!"
"Really?" asked Chelle. "Everyone says that..."
Ed looked at her with big gold eyes.
"I didn't mean to make you mad or anything..."
"Oh, no! You didn't! I like being compared to Winry! She's a cool girl! I actually was going to cosplay her on Saturday for a skit where she calls Ed short." Chelle laughed.
"What? I wasn't going to do anything!"
"No, no! There's a friend of mine who's dressing up as you and preforming an act as you. You get it? How about we go down to the convention room and check out the cool costumes!"
"Sure..."
"Remember, stay with me and keep a low profile, try to be different. I'll get you a tag, you want me to put a pen name on it for you?"
"Huh? I have to wear a tag? Uh...pen name...as in analias? I went as Daniel once...but that was for some under cover work in Central."
"That'd work! As long as no one knows whoyou werewhen undercover..."
"I wouldn't think so..."
"Okay! Al, what about you?"
"Uhn...Adrien?" Al looked confused. His brother and Chelle looked at him. "What? I like that name!"
"It works!" Chelle smiled. She went off to get the tags and had them stay there.
--Chelle's pov--
Wow...I'm actually talking to the Edward Elric! I feel so happy! It's just his luck that he came during the convention! I thought. I smiled at the thought. I arrived at the entrance and asked for two extra nametags for a couplefriends.
"Names?" asked the man in charge.
"Daniel and Adrien, sir!" I said cheerfully.
"Just a minute, miss!" he said. He left for a minute and came back with the tags. "There you go! Have a good time!"
"Thank you, sir!" I rushed back to the Elrics and gave them the tags.
"Here you go!" I smiled really big. I couldn't contain myself! "Wanna go in now?"
"Sure!" Edward said.
"Oh...one more thing, Ed." I looked him in the eyes. "If you get lost, stay where you are, either that or go to the nearest group of Ed cosplayers, okay?"
"Uhhh...okay..." Ed made a o.O kind of face. He was uneasy. I could understand. So was I. My first con ever and I met Ed. I was worried, too.
We went inside and I then realised the importance of having Ed and Al stay close. There were tons of Ed and Al cosplayers today! That on top of many cosplayers of the humonculi, the State Alchemists, random Military personel, characters from many other anime and manga. I spotted Roy and Hughes posing for a picture while Hughes tried to show Roy a picture of Elysia. Ed laughed and I knew he was looking at that funny pose, too. I laughed with him.
"Whatever you do, Dan, don't act like you're back in you-know-where." I said to Ed seriously. "These are just people dressed like the real thing."
"I can see that! They have the wrong personalities...I hate to say it, but they do. Roy doesn't get that stoic or annoyed, although Hughes gets just about that excited when showing people pictures of his cute daughter Elysia!" Ed laughed again. I laughed.
"I wish I could have met Hughes." I said sadly. "When did he pass away?"
"Um...well, not too long ago. Maybe a year and a half now." Ed said sadly, remembering. "I'd give anything just to meet him and show me a picture of his daughter. I miss his smile and his optimistic outlook." I said. Ed nodded.
Our melancholy was broken whentheHughes cosplayer who was posing with Roywalked over.
"Hi! How's your day going?" He had a big smile on his face.
"Hi, Hughes!" I said jokingly. "Masquerade time, yeah?"
"I can't help it! I have his personality anyways." Hughes said. "I like your jacket Ed! Looks like the real thing!"
I quickly turned to Ed and winked, a sign that he should play along. Ed perked up and looked at Hughes.
"Thanks, Major!" he said with a big grin. Hughes cleared his throat.
"Oops! I'm a Lieutenant Colonel now!" he said, waving his finger.
"Oh, that's right!" Ed laughed. I liked seeing him doing this, it made me feel like I was really there, in Central, listening and watching Ed and Hughes talk and laugh.
"How's the Colonel, sir?" I asked, a smile on my face.
"Well, needless to say, I think he's frustrated as usual. I just showed him the latest picture of my daughter! See!" He pulled out a wallet which had a picture of the cutest little girl I had ever seen. "She turned four recently and she loves riding a tricycle! She follows me everywhere on that thing----" he spoke really fast.
"Like my own escort of cuteness!" we said together. We laughed. I know he was just a cosplayer, but it felt like I was really there!
--Third person--
Chelle didn't notice Al wander off toa nearbykitten plushie display and Ed followed because he didn't want to lose his brother in the crowd. She was busy talking to Hughes.
"Ed! I mean...Daniel! Look at these kittens! Aren't they cute!"
"Yeah," Ed said. "Look, we need to stay with Chelle, okay? Ack! She's walking off!"
"Aren't they just adorable!"
"Al, we need to GO!" Ed grabbed onto Al's arm and tried to drag him back to where they were with Chelle and the Hughes cosplayer.
"Kitty!" Al yelped.
"LOOK!" came a shout. Ed looked and saw a group of girls of all heights running like mad towards him and Al. "IT'S ED! Omigawwd, he's so cuuute!" Ed screamed and tried to run but Al had grabbed him in his fright.
"RUN, AL!" Ed shouted. Al ran. He ran and ran until they reach a door. They went through the door and it was a game room!
"Al, remember what Chelle said? She said 'if you get lost just go to the nearest group of Ed cosplayers'."
"But, Brother! I'm not you!" Al said. Ed started to sweat.
"Uhh...you could join a group of Als? I don't know!" he said sarcasticly.
"Okay! We'll give that a try!" Al said. They ran out of the room and headed to the closest cosplay groups. There were a bunch of Eds standing by the food court talking about how they made the symbol on the back, and for Al's luck, there was a small gathering of Als leaving the photobooth talking about how they did all these cool poses.
Meanwhile, Chelle was walking to the food court with Hughes and talking the whole time.
"You know, I wish I could have been Sheska, but I only had a few costume supplies..."
"That's fine! You look good as you are now!"
"Thanks!"
"Of course, if you did Sheska, I could have called you my secretary!" Hughes laughed at the thought. Chelle laughed along.
They grabbed a bite to eat, but when Chelle turned to ask Ed what he wanted to eat, he wasn't there! Edward had disappeared!
Here's Chapter 2! Oh, I forgot to mention, the name Chelle is pronounced, Shell. I forgot to mention that...;; gomen
