This chapter is inspired by Paramore's song "Idle Worship" off of their 5th studio album called "After Laughter."
Rot, Blau, and Gelb are characters from the 1st Fullmetal Alchemist video game for the ps2. "The Broken Angel."
Alchemist Chronicles
Chapter 34 - Idle Worship
1914, Central
(This takes place right before the first episode of the Brotherhood series.)
After visiting Giribaz and conducting an inspection of the city, Ed packs up his suitcase and leaves the hotel with his brother. As they are walking back to the station, a little girl runs up to Ed. "Futmatel!" They stop and turn around as she hands him a flower.
Ed bends down to her level. He smiles at and thanks her. She replies putting her thumb up. "Good luck, Futmatel. My hero." She hugs him. Ed hugs her back in return. He and Al wave goodbye to her as she runs back to her mother, who also waves to them.
As he's staring out the window on the train, Ed tells Al. "A hero, huh? I can't even consider myself one with everything that I've done." Al doesn't say anything as Ed sighs and lean back in the chair.
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Al is the first to wake up in the hospital. Groaning, Winry rushes over to his side. "AL! You're Awake! Thank Goodness!" "Where- Where am I? Winry?" "You're in the hospital, Al. And so is Janine." He tries to sit up but Winry shoves him back down. "She's fine, Al. Ed left a few minutes ago to check on her. Roy and her mother have been in there with her since they brought the both of you in." Al sighs.
After a few minutes of silence, Al tells Win. "I've should of protected her better." "It isn't your fault, Al." He sighs and looks away. "I've uh- I asked Roxy about Ari's stone." Al sits up quickly. "Are you serious, Winry?" "I needed ...answers, Alphonse." She tells him what Dixon said to her.
Al - "Dixon is also the man who shot her and took her stone away from her! She no longer has it!" She looks at Al with shock. Al lays back down, putting a hand to his head and asks. "So what exactly did Roxy tell you about her stone?"
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Ed opens the door to AJ's room after knocking first. He sees only Riza in there. "Hey, Hawkeye. How is she?" "She's doing better, but hasn't woken up yet." Ed sighs. "Is there somewhere private that we can talk. I have an important question to ask you in regards to Sophie and Janine?" She nods just as Roy and Chris re-enter the room.
Exiting the room, Ed and Riza head over to an empty patient room. "So what is it, Edward?" He sighs. "Did Sophie ever tell you what happens if she uses her crest?'" Riza nods her head. "Yes." "And with The Metatronic Stone, the effect is the same, right?" "Yes, it is. You don't think the two are somehow connected, do you?" She replies, asking.
Ed - "I can't say for sure. I would have to ask Blue Cloud after she sees Sophie's transmutation circle." Riza puts a hand to her chin, thinking about Ed just said. "Another thing. What did Russell mean when he said the stone chose her?" She puts a hand on his shoulder. "Nice try, Edward." He grins. "Well, it was worth a shot." Then they leave the room.
Slowly Janine wakes up. She whimpers as the pain hits her when she tries to sit up, Chris places her hands on AJ's arm. She looks up. "Easy, little one." Chris pulls into a hug as AJ starts crying, apologizing to her. Chris rubs her back, whispering words of comfort.
Once she settles down, she tells Chris everything that happened to her. Roy then asks her a few questions, to which she answers all of them. "Show me the scar, baby girl," Chris asks. Lifting her shirt up a little bit, she shows the both of them the wound. Chris holds her breath when she sees it. She places her hand on top of AJ's hand after she pulls her daughter's shirt back down.
Roy excuses himself and leaves. Walking over to Al's room, he knocks just as Hawkeye opens the door. Suprised at first, Riza nods her heads and leaves. Roy turns and follows her to talk in the hallway.
Roy - "She's awake." Riza looks at him with concern. "She showed us her injury and told us everything. Hers matched everything Al told me and his brother, if not more." "So-" He cuts her off. "If we can get a team and go back to Siam-Sid, then just maybe-"
Chris - "Roy-boy." He turns and looks at her, noticing The Metatronic Stone in her hand. They stare at her in shock "How!?" She points behind him and as he turns to look at Russell, who quickly teleports himself away from down the hall.
He looks back at her and rushes over. "He gave it to me just as I left her room. She fell asleep again in case you were wondering." He sighs before he starts to head for her room as well. "Alright, well I have to get back to work. I need to grab my jacket, though." She stops him. "It's covering her. Deal with it." Roy pouts angrily and groans as he walks away.
The next day, Al is dressed since he's being discharged from the hospital. AJ is awake but is still being kept for another day for assurance. Just as Jean walks in, Al asks him. "Is she awake? Can I go see her?" "Easy, Al. Easy." He groans in annoyance.
Walking into the room, Al sees her in a jacket, talking to Chris about something serious. As she's laying back down in the bed, she turns her head and sees him at the door. They smile at each other as Al rushes over to the other side of the bed and pulls her into a hug.
The following day, Al is holding her hand as the both of them are leaving the hospital. "So what now?" He asks her once they make it back to her apartment. "Well the Fuhrer wants to keep me in one spot, so any and all outside the city deliveries are put on hold or he'll have another officer will take my place instead. Which means that I'm not gonna get paid for those deliveries. ...Ughhh." She says in a disappointing tone as she falls back onto the sofa. Al puts a hand to his chin.
Walking into the Fuhrer's office the next day, Al asks him a question. "So you want to take over for her as she recovers from her recent injury?" "Yes." "But you're not in a legal position to do so, Alphonse Elric. I want you to understand that." Al sighs sadly. Alex Louis Armstrong (Along with Jean) then enters with an apology for their urgent appearance.
Alex - "We have just received word from 1st Lieutenant Garrett in New Hiessagart, your Excellency."
Havoc - "The three elemental alchemists that the Elrics informed us about are staging a coup d'etat within the city, attempting to overthrow the mayor or any official leader, really and gain back control of it."
Alex - "We, unfortunately, do not have a time nor day either of when intends to strike but we are-" "So I'll head down there and help. I can handle it. I've fought em' before." Al tells them.
Alex - "But you were a suit of armor then, Alphonse Elric." "Not to mention, Edward can't join you in battle this time around." Havoc adds. Al replies. "I know but I-"
Grumman - "I'll allow it. Go on and fight along side my men, young Elric."
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That night back at Janine's place with his brother. "So let me get this straight, you asked to join in a situation that has resurface from the past?" Ed asks him. "And you are leaving tomorrow with the Colonel, Captain and several other soldiers under the Fuhrer orders to take care of 'said situation'," AJ says. Al nods his head.
Ed - "Jeez Al, really?" "Just be careful, Alphonse. Ok?" She asks of Al as he then smiles and hugs her before he leaves the room.
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He looks around the city once they make it to Central Square in New Hiessagart.
Gelb (yellow jacket) - "Well, well, well. Look at who we have here."
Blau (Blue jacket) - "..."
Rot (Red jacket) - "Jeez, another teenaged pest. I thought we told you to scram, little boy. ( Rot looks closely at Al) Hey wait, you're not that boy that's been giving us trouble as of late."
Blau - "..."
Rot - "Yeah you're right. He does look familiar. (After a few minutes.) Hey, wait a minute. That's not. It can't be."
Gelb - "The gold hair. But his eyes aren't golden."
Blau - "..."
Alex, Jean, and backup arrive shortly thereafter, Al turns his head a little and still sees them behind him.
Rot smirks. "But the prick is still with the military, obviously." "That armor thing isn't around him this time," Gelb adds, smirking.
Before Al could respond, Ed, who is standing behind all of them on a stone wall, tells them. "You're right. There isn't a suit of armor following me around anymore." Everyone stares at him in shock as he walks towards the three outlaws.
Stopping right next to Al, Ed continues. "And after all these years, you three are still causing trouble." Becoming irritated, Rot yells back. "If its trouble your asking for, well. Prepare for the beatdown of your life!" "Oh please! I whooped your butts the last time and I would be happy to do it again!"
Al makes an embarrassed sigh. "Do you have to be so violent!" "Do YOU have to be so negative!" Al looks at his brother with astonishment.
Alex - "EDWARD ELRIC! You must stand back!" "Ed! Go home! Now!" Jean tells him.
Ed - "Blah Blah Blah. I've heard it all before. I'm already here so just stay out of my way!"
Gelb - "Well, well, men. Not only has the brat returned but he's itching to draw blood too." The other two laugh and activate their electric and ice alchemy. Gelb activates his fire alchemy and faces Ed.
Ed smirks. "The old fart wants to fight, huh? Well, bring it!" He swings his right arm and a blade comes out from his right sleeve. Al and the others stare in shock.
Earlier that day
As Al closes the door behind him when he leaves in the morning, Ed waits a few minutes before he turns and walks over to Janine and asks. "I need a favor."
She teaches him how to use the stone to an extent. "Ok. So my last question Blue Cloud is. Why did you choose her as your carrier?"
Blue Cloud - "I needed a body to stay existential. To stay with amongst the living. When she found me, I sensed her willed strength and expressive drive. She accepted me for who I am, a trapped soul enclosed in a shelled casing without any explanation or requirements. I knew right then and there, she was the one. The carrier of my stone."
Back in the present
In New Heissagart, Al looks at his brother's weapon more closely. 'Did Winry make that for him? ... Wait, no. She wouldn't make something like that for him even if he begged her too.' Then a thought comes to mind. Glaring at Ed, he draws his sword, ready to fight along side his brother.
Rot - "We can take 'em. Come on men!" Just as they are rushing into an attack, a shot from a sniper lands in between him and Ed.
Military re-enforcements show up, surrounding the three criminals. Gelb looks around noticing them behind him, on the side and on top of rooftops. Ed smirks. "Still wanna fight?"
Blau - "..."
Gelb - "I hate to say this Rot, but Blau is right. We are surrounded. There's no way we can win. "
Rot - "Damn bastard! I'll get you for this!" "Then, by all means, do it right now!" Ed sharply replies. Rot glares at him before he and his allies are apprehended and taken into custody.
Ed then fixes the metal, turning it back into what it was. Once he turns around, Al stands in front of him. "Move it, Al." "Why? I know you have it." Al replies. Ed sighs. "Do you miss it that much? Your automail arm?" "That's not it, Al." "Then talk." "Later. Just the two of us. I promise." Al makes a stern expression at his brother before they head back to the others.
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Back inside of the Fuhrer's office, Grumman tells Ed. "I wasn't expecting your younger brother to call for your help, Fullmetal." "He didn't. I showed up unannounced." Ed replies. Grumman chuckles. "Sounds like you're usual entrances from your younger years. Are you wanting to reclaim something, m'boy?"
Ed - "No. In fact, when I joined the military, I did it too-" Putting his hand up, The Fuhrer tells the other soldiers to wait outside, leaving Al, Ed, and Grumman in the room. After the door closes, Grumman says."I am already aware of your secret. You two need not repeat yourselves. But I am intrigued as to why sporadically you bragged and showcased your talent tediously during your time in the military?"
After explaining, the Fuhrer laughs. "I like your tricks up your shelve, Fullmetal. Tell me, what made you come back?" "I'm not signing up again, I was only looking out for my brother." "And?" "My friends and former allies in the military."
Grumman - "So no more flare then?" "Don't let me let you down, sir," Ed replies. Grumman chuckles. "I understand. You've never seemed like a throne chaser to me anyway. At least not with the conversations that I've had with Mustang and his crew prior to this conversation." "I was never in it for the money or the fame. Someone's just always placed me on a pedestal, just waiting for me to fall on my face or illuminate me as some savior superhuman."
Grumman adds. "And as for the new child in the military-" "With all due respect, she's her own person, Fuhrer Grumman." Grumman smiles at Ed's interrupting remark.
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Walking out of the room, Al turns to his brother. "You promised we'd talk." Ed nods his head. Making to Janine's place, Al helps himself in with his spare key. Closing the door behind him, Al sits across from his brother. "Talk."
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Entering her apartment, Janine starts making dinner after she notices Al's and Ed's shoes at the door. Leaving the spare bedroom about an hour after her return, Ed and Al walk into the kitchen. "Man that smells great!" Ed shouts. AJ smiles and tells them. "Good to hear, because dinner is done."
Laying down after eating and resting for a bit, Al stands and grabs the Ibis notes from a drawer and asks her. "Okay. So Janine?" "Yes?" "You said that both Roy and Grumman already talked to you about The Promised Day. What exactly did they tell you?" She explains.
"Has Roy pulled you to the side and told you anything else?" Ed asks her. She nods her head and sighs. "Listen." The both of them look at her. "If there's anything regarding Roy or whatever decisions that he made on that day, I want him and only him to tell whatever they made be, okay?" The brothers nod their heads. She then stands and leaves to head over to her room.
Leaning near each other, Al whispers to his brother. "So she doesn't know what Bradley and the others did to Roy."
Ed - "She also doesn't know about his angered revenge toward Envy for killing Hughes." "I wonder if she's talked with anyone else about that day?" Al adds. "We'd be better asking them instead of her," Ed tells him. Al nods his head in agreement. "Yeah. Good call."
As they are talking amongst themselves, AJ opens the door to her room and looks at them. Ed is the first to notice her and decides to change the subject. Wrapping an arm around his brother's shoulder. "To answer your question from earlier Al, find out what she likes. Her favorite food, what places she likes to visit and most importantly always listen. Especially if she listens to you when you need someone to talk to."
Al - "Where is this coming from, exactly?" He looks at his brother confusedly. "Teacher, Grumman and a few others talked to me before my wedding. So I thought I might tell ya now before Havoc and the others pull aside you and decide to give you a prep talk." "Oook?" Al says, with a confused expression.
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The next day as they are walking into Roy's office, Al holds the door for Janine when he sees her holding a pile of folders heading in the same direction. "Thanks!" She says as she walks past him, placing the documents on Roy's desk. Ed leaves and closes the door behind himself, leaving only Al and AJ in the room.
Al sits on the sofa, patting the spot next to him. She walks over and takes a seat. "Listen. I uh- I want to tell you what me and my brother did on The Promised Day. Our take of what happened on that day." She nods her head.
Afterwards, leaning back against the sofa, AJ stares at the ceiling. Al asks her. "So, does it change your perspective of us?" She sits up and stares at him. "No! Of course not! I mean I knew about the dwarf in the flask already and King Bradley's true identity. I also knew about the truth behind the crimson stone and those zombie dolls. What I didn't know was the gold-toothed doctor's involvement as well as the corrupted entirely of the system that they put into place so many years ago." She sighs placing a hand over her face.
Al - "To think that it was going on for that many years though." The both of them sigh.
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After work, all of them head over to the Madam's bar. The two kids sit at the stools, while the adults sit behind them at a table.
Jean asks Ed. "I'm surprised that you didn't knock him out like you usually do when someone pisses you off."
Ed - "Look, I have two ways of diverting my energy of anger now. The first is kicking anyone's ass who annoys or pisses me off when I feel like it. The other is my wife. And trust me when I say it's way better than the first." Roy and the others laugh at Ed's reference.
While the adults are talking, Al asks AJ. "So you were in Aerugo when that day happened?"
AJ - "Yeah... I saw it though."
Al - "What did you see?"
{Flashback Begins}
{Janine's POV Starts}
I knew something was up even before Hento Lonan said anything. I followed a trail to a mountain and climb it because it was the only one that faced directly towards Amestris down in New Ember it all started from there. (Al listens as turns to face her)
The wind, the earthquake and at the same time the sky was changing into a blood-stained red color. I also noticed the activation of the circle. Each one, one by one, connecting with each other.
Those hands from the gate that both you and Ed described where coming out of the ground. Then a black sphere appeared where I definitely now know was Central. I passed out just as the Dwarf in the flask was reaching towards the full moon.
{Janine's POV Ends}
{Flashback Ends}
Al leans forward and whispers "He was reaching for god. Or at least what he believed who god was. It didn't really work out too well for him in the end anyway." He says smirking.
Leaning on the countertop, covering her face with her hands. She tells Al. "I remember when I woke up the next day. There were reports that the north barside of Aerugo was affected too. I wonder if Table City or the south barside of Drachma were affected as well."
Al, putting a finger under his chin. "You know. I wonder about that as well." Noticing her change of behavior, he rubs her back. "Hey. Don't think about it too much. After all, we're still alive." She lifts her head and smiles at him. "Yeah. You're right, Al."
While the crew are in the middle of separating Roy and Ed from strangling each other, Al and AJ leave to head back to her place. Finally making it back to the home, the both of them call it a night.
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Watching Al and AJ as the walking past the alleyway as a man is watching them from the space between. "It's time to start the show, CZ84." The robot activates itself and stands.
End of Chapter 34