Full Metal Alchemist Fan Fiction

Strength

By Kraven Ergeist

xxxxx

Chapter Three

Winry permitted herself a mental pat on the back. She had nothing against being proud when the situation warranted, but there were times where she just simply impressed herself. No one who knew them in their earlier years would have ever believed what they were seeing. But Winry grinned inwardly from her vantage point on the porch as she watched Ed and Wrath futzing with his new invention.

At first, the black haired boy had refused to believe all of Ed's wild tales from beyond the gate. When Ed had finally opted to build one of the odd mechanisms he'd encountered – namely, a hydroelectric dam - Wrath had nearly toppled over, and had demanded that Ed teach him everything there was to know about it. Ed had obliged, and was going over the basics of liquid dynamics and electricity, Wrath listening diligently. And Winry, for her part, couldn't have been more pleased with them.

Oh, she had been interested in the concept, and was fully intending to pry as much information as she could about the device from the boy when the opportunity presented itself. But her maternal instincts told her that every minute those two spent not fighting was a minute spent in the right direction.

The thought was quite abruptly ousted to the back of her mind, however, when she felt Al's surprisingly nimble hands begin to rub her shoulders, easing the day's tensions out one skilled caress at a time.

"How was your day Winry?" Al breathed, snuggling his head against the back of her neck.

Winry shivered. "Good. Or at least, it is now. H-Hey! You know how Grandma feels about that kind of stuff!"

Al nipped her ear again. "Yeah, so? Pinako's not here, is she?"

Winry snickered. "You beast…"

"You're not in a position to complain," Al said, kissing her neck.

"Oh, you…" Winry stammered, her face red. "Where's my wrench?"

Al simply chuckled and continued.

Winry, whose focus had once been vested on the two laboring young men by the sluice, had failed to notice a sad pair of eyes that watched them from by the river.

"And then what, Ed?" came the black haired boy's call. "Hello? Can you hear me? Ed!"

The other boy nodded, turning his attention back to the dam. "Sorry, Wrath, I was spacing out. Where was I?"

xxxxx

When Wrath's curiosity had finally been satiated, Ed gleamed as he admired his work. A dam and a makeshift sluice of sorts poured from the stream near the Rockbell property. A tiny little watermill slowly caught the water pressure, tightening a beam that lead all the way back to a shed not far from the river. It was far enough, however, that it could be safe from the river waters, as what was being produced in the shed was more than a little mill.

"A hydro-what?"

Ed grinned as he explained his new contraption to Riza, who gave the thing a critical eye. "A hydroelectric dam. I'd picked it up studying at the university on the other side of the gate. You can use a watermill to generate power."

The blond nodded. Her hair was up in her trademark bun, but her outfit was casual civilian wear. "Interesting. How much power can it create?"

Ed shrugged. "The ones in I saw could power a whole city if they were big enough. For this tiny river, though, I'd say something like five or ten kilowatts an hour or so."

Riza nodded, watching the water pour of the sluice. "I'm sure Winry would marvel over this. Speaking of which…" she turned her attention back to the young man. "I haven't seen you speaking with her as of late. I haven't seen you speaking with anyone recently. I'd think that you'd want to spend every waking moment with your family now that you're back."

Ed's face masked a troubled look. "Winry…I don't know, it's just been so long, and…well, we're different people now. She's engaged to my little brother, and they just look so happy together, and…"

Riza blinked, a worried look on her face. "Oh. Did you…love her?"

Ed closed his eyes. "I've known her all my life…and she's seen me in some of my weakest moments. Not many people can say that. I had always assumed that there was something there…something that neither of us could really grasp…"

Riza bit her lip. "You didn't answer my question, Ed."

Ed took a deep breath. "…No. It wasn't love. Not the kind that you're thinking of, anyway. She was more like a sister to me, anyway…and now Al…"

Riza released a breath she hadn't known she'd been holding. Why that question had suddenly left her lips was beyond her. But the sudden relief she felt after his words confused her even more.

She didn't have time to ponder what Ed had said as the boy lowered into a squat, hugging his knees. "I guess now…I can add you to the list of people who've see me cry…"

Riza's eyes widened as the boy she had always seen as a strong, overbearing soul broke down before her, his shoulder heaving. He fell on backside and rested his face on his knees.

Riza sat down next to him, her hand coming up to stroke his shoulder almost without thought. "It's okay, Ed…you don't have to pretend to be so strong like you always do. You were there for me, so…"

Ed didn't even bother to reply, as his cheeks burned. "God, I'm still such a child…"

Riza's stroking hand extended to clasp his shoulder, pulling the boy closer, leaning him against her. Her other arm came up in front of him, clutching him tightly. "Ed…if nothing else…I'll try to be there for you when you need someone."

Ed breathed in a heavy breath of air that filled his thoughts with both reality and the future.

"Thanks."

xxxxx

After dinner, Pinako and Sig had opened up a bottle of Grande Marnier, and offered some to Riza. Ed, Al Wrath and Winry weren't old enough to drink it, and the two adults were delighted to have a third party to delegate whenever their debates came to odds.

That was unnecessary, however, as the subject for that evening was, at the moment, Riza herself.

The Lieutenant sighed. While she understood that the two had undoubtedly talked every other potential subject to death, she did not understand why it had to be her duty to fill in for it.

"So, three more days?" Pinako asked.

Riza nodded, sipping her drink. It stung her throat; Riza had never particularly cared for hard liquor. That was something she and Roy never had in common. "That's a safe number. I was inclined to put it off, maybe add a few more days, make it a full two weeks, but if I put it off now, I'll just put it off again, and very soon I'll have spent more time here than I should have. You have all been extremely hospitable, I really enjoy being here with you all, and I don't look forward to leaving…but I do have a job to get back to, and if I stay too long, someone's going to suspect something."

Pinako nodded. "I see. So, what's been happening in Central? We don't get much news here in Rizenpool."

Riza twirled her glass. "The military's been busy quieting uproar's all across the map. The Ishbalites have all but settled down, but by the time that uprising died down, another's sprung up. Humanity sure doesn't seem to be able to live peacefully together."

Sig held his drink in a massive fist. "We distinctly avoided big cities like that for exactly that reason. Human beings constantly disagree with each other, it's part of our nature. When those disagreements can't be settled with words, they are settled with violence. Large numbers of people only increase the odds of that happening. That's why life out here is so peaceful – there are simply not enough people for violence to be an issue."

Riza nodded, discreetly ignoring her glass. "That idea works in theory, but humanity is constantly growing. Children are born every day, and sometimes, even small villages like this can become huge cities, simply when given a long enough period of time. That's why societies are formed – because they have to be formed, otherwise there'd be chaos."

Pinako raised a finger. "But because societies can't be perfect, they become chaotic anyway, with people taking advantages of weaknesses in the system. And like you said, humanity is constantly growing, so even these societies lose control of the people, and chaos overtakes it altogether."

Riza sighed. "That's true. Humanity just seems to cycle through period's like that."

"Well, I doubt the three of us are going to solve this debacle any time soon," Pinako topped off her glass.

"That's true," Riza nodded. "Can I ask something? What exactly got Ed and his brother interested in alchemy?"

Pinako twirled her glass, eying it critically. "Well…it was their father, originally. He was an alchemy genius, so of course his kids had a gift for it. Alchemy, I'm told, is not something you want to try if you lack the talent. But Ed and Al had talent and how. Plus, they were so smart at such a young age."

Finished off his drink. "They've also studied hard ever since they were little kids. And they had a brilliant teacher as well."

Riza nodded, not letting her eyes betray her disappointment. "I see."

"So anyway, Riza…" Pinako set her glass down. "Now that we're on the subject of the boys, I've noticed you've been spending more and more time with Edward lately."

Riza tried not to swallow too visibly. "What do you mean? It's been three years since I've seen him, and it will be a whole year until I could possibly see him again."

Pinako smirked. "And yet you hardly ever converse with the rest of us. This conversation has been your first outside of mealtime conversation."

Sig nodded. "I'm in agreement. And the rest of us have been giving Edward his space. We do this because we can all tell he doesn't yet feel comfortable, even around his little brother. But you, Miss Riza…"

Riza felt herself blushing. "What?"

Pinako finished the thought. "Ed seems…very comfortable around you."

Sig nodded. "Yes indeed – More so than his own brother. More so than even Winry."

Riza downed the rest of her glass, resulting in a coughing fit that gave her a few extra seconds to think of a response.

"I'm sure, I don't know what Ed thinks of me," Riza wiped her lips with her napkin. "But you know better than anyone that Ed's just not the type to get close to people. I don't know what you're seeing that I'm not, but I cannot see him suddenly wanting to get closer to someone like me."

Sig shook his head and Pinako sighed. "You're as blind as you are stubborn, my dear. I've never seen the lad so close to anyone beyond the family."

Riza shook her head, disappointment showing in her eyes. "Even supposing you're right…neither of us can afford to be close to each other, and he knows it as well as I do. I'm going to be leaving in a few days anyway, so it won't make a difference."

Pinako winked. "So is that why you're suddenly looking so depressed?"

Riza's heart caught in her throat.

The old woman just smiled. "You youngsters…honestly, you never know what to do with your feelings." Pinako downed the last of her drink. "Well, I'd say we've tormented this poor woman enough for one day, Sig. I'm calling it a night."

The big man nodded. "Goodnight, Miss Rockbell."

"And goodnight to you, Riza," Pinako smiled. "Winry and Al will attest; my rule in this house is no topsy-turvy. Since you've only got a few nights with Ed, however, I might make an exception if you-"

"Miss Rockbell!" Riza stammered loudly, nearly waking Al and Winry who dozed less than a stone's throw away behind a couch.

The old woman winked. "Just a thought, dearie. Goodnight."

"'Night…" Riza flushed, angrily as she all but stomped off to her room.

Thankfully, Ed was asleep when she arrived. She did not think she could talk to him after that last little discussion.

So instead, she slept, facing her dreams alone.

xxxxx

"You've decided to what!" Ed gasped out.

It was the next day, and Ed and Riza were rummaging through what books and references had accumulated in Winry's house, not the least of which focused on alchemy. While Ed looked about as aghast as a deer caught in headlights, Riza's face was her usual pinnacle of seriousness.

"I've decided to take up alchemy," Riza repeated. "Specifically, flame alchemy. I want to learn more about the craft that Roy left behind. It's the best way I could think of to honor his memory."

Ed rubbed his forehead. "Riza, Alchemy is a huge commitment! This isn't something to be made on the spur of the moment!"

Riza nodded. "I'm not, Ed. I've been seriously considering it ever since I got on the train to Rizenpool."

Ed shook his head. "Well, you haven't considered it enough, Riza. Alchemy takes an extreme level of time and energy, and flame alchemy's one of the hardest skills to master. It's likely to dominate your entire life before you get anywhere near to Mustang's level. The only reason Al and I are as powerful as we are is because we were both so naturally talented, we've been doing it since we were kids, and we worked primarily with solids. It's a whole other ball game with gasses, and you're just now beginning as an adult."

Riza bit her lip. She had assumed that Ed of all people would support a venture like this. "Roy had already taught me the basic rules – the law of equivalent exchange, the purpose of arrays, all of it. I know I'm starting kind of late…but I could at least try."

Ed sat down in the easy chair by the wall, his hanging his head.

He was laughing.

"Riza…Riza, Riza, Riza…" he shook his head in disbelief.

The blonde just eyed him, incredulously. "Wha…why are you laughing at-?"

Ed silenced her with his hand.

His right hand.

"Riza, take a look at my arm." Ed clenched his fist. "Take a good, long look at my arm. A few weeks ago, this arm didn't exist. And I'm still not sure how I got it back. I'm lucky it happened at all."

Ed gave Riza a look that made her shiver. Why did his eyes have to be so captivating?

"Take it from me, Riza," Ed sighed. "Alchemy will…literally…tear you apart."

Riza couldn't take her eyes off the boy as he got out of his seat and began to pace the room. "And that line about equivalent exchange? That's a load of crap too. That's just something used to limit an alchemist's power."

Riza's jaw fell. "What?"

Ed nodded. "Think about it. How much value does a human life have? We place so much value on ourselves and everyone else, but all we are is a composition of elements. All it takes to kill a human being is a couple of decades, a stray automobile, an incurable disease, a single well-aimed bullet…or a broken heart. There are humans who live to be a hundred years old, and there are babies who die before they are even born. And what price do we get in return? What's the difference? If all humans are equal, then why do we die so sporadically?"

All Riza could do was listen aghast. To see Ed talk like this…it was all Riza could do to stand on her own two feet.

Ed leaned his weight against the bookshelf. "I thought long and hard about this during my stay behind the gate. The law of conservation can't exist because nothing can have a set price. It's like comparing our economy to a barter system. The same item can be bought with a worthless knickknack, or with everything you've every valued in your life. Some things are simply priceless, and can never be attained. Either way…alchemy is a terrible burden to carry, Riza. I would never wish that on you. I would never wish that on anyone. I wish Al and I had never even attempted it."

Riza found the courage to approach him. She offered a comforting hand on his shoulder. All she got in reply was a sigh.

"I still want to do it, Ed," Riza said, sternly. "As much as I admired him, I could never get close to him. I could never understand him. Alchemy, for me, represents the barrier between myself…and him. I have to do this, Ed. I've…I've got nothing else to do with my life."

Riza bit her lip. She hoped that her argument would stand. What she had failed to mention, however, was that she was not just doing this to better understand Roy Mustang's world.

She was doing it to understand Edward's as well.

The boy sighed. "You're one stubborn woman, Riza."

Riza let a flicker of a smile glint her face.

Ed turned around, smiling back. "And I suppose you'll want me to teach you as much as I can while you're here?"

Riza looked uneasy. "Um, well…if it's not too much trouble…"

Ed shook his head. "Don't worry about it. But Riza…if knowing me has taught you nothing else…I hope it has taught you this…" Ed took her by the shoulder and stared her in the yes. Riza's legs became jelly. "…Never…attempt human transmutation."

Riza bit her lip and nodded. That was something she had known almost as long as she had known about alchemy.

"I promise, Ed."

xxxxx

Two shapes glided and collided in the hot afternoon sun, as Wrath and Al dueled. Fists flew and feet fell as the two boy's measured up to each other in a dazzling display of martial arts. Wrath refrained from using his right arm and left leg, not wanting to hurt the other boy with his automail, but in exchange, Al didn't use alchemy.

The sparring match came to a close when Al finally pinned Wrath to the ground, automail arms flailing about.

"Alright, alright, you win!" the black haired boy yelped. "Lemme go!"

Al chuckled and let the boy up, dusting off his hands.

"You're looking good out there, Al," came a voice.

The boy turned to see his brother, sitting in the sunlight, watching the other two.

"Niisan!"

Ed smiled. "I'd say you're about at my level from back when sensei taught us. But Wrath, how did you get so good?"

Wrath chuckled. "My fath…I mean, Sig's been teaching me. He's also been teaching Al too."

Ed raised his eyebrows. "Whoa. That big fella? Still, without your armor, you probably wouldn't stand a chance against me, Al."

Al sneered. "Oh really? You want to come over here and see for yourself?"

Ed chuckled. "Later, Al. I'm enjoying the sun."

Al shrugged. "Okay, okay, I see how it is…" Al leered. "…Shorty."

Ed's eyebrow twitched. "Oh, you did not…"

Al smirked. "Oh yes I did, Niisan. What are you gonna do about it?"

Al got his response when two mounds of clay arose from the ground beneath his feet, seizing both ankles in a death grip.

"Wha-?"

Before he could get any more out, Ed tackled him, wrestling him to the ground.

"Call me Shorty, will you?" Ed growled, his brother helplessly outmatched.

"Gah!" Al yelped when Ed started tickling him. "Wrath, help!"

The black haired boy just giggled. "No way, Al. You got yourself into that, and I'm not about to take on Ed when he's like that!"

The two boy's wrestled and fought and played till the sun began to set, and when they were finished, the two boys all laid out on their backs, exhausted. Wrath was nowhere to be seen.

"I'm not used to playing with a younger brother who's actually smaller than me," Ed panted.

"Rub it in, why don't you?" Al grunted.

Ed smiled. "Still, you held your own once you got to your feet."

Al leered. "That's because I don't like to fight with alchemy. That was a dirty trick, Niisan."

Ed laughed. "Yeah, you called me short. All bets are off after that."

The other boy just laughed.

"Speaking of which," Ed stretched. "Riza asked me to teach her Alchemy for the remainder of her time here."

Al smiled. "Oh? Well, she couldn't ask for a better teacher. Go for it."

Ed gawked. "Al, are you serious? You want her to take that kind of risk? What if she tries to bring Roy back to life?"

"She's a smart woman, she won't do that. Besides, she already mentioned that she had no talent for it. More than likely, she'll drop it after a while. At least, for now, you have an excuse to spend a bit more time with her," Al winked.

Once again, Ed gawked. "Wha…What are you implying?"

Al snickered. "Oh, come on, Niisan. You two already spend as much time together as Winry and me. You might as well accept it."

Ed winced. "No way, Al. She's too hooked on the Colonel to be interested in me anyway!"

Al shook his head. "But, Niisan…Colonel Mustang is…"

Ed nodded. "I know, I know…but that kind of devotion doesn't just go away, Al. The whole reason she wants to study alchemy is to better understand that guy."

Al shrugged. "Yeah, I guess. But you know…Colonel Mustang isn't the only guy who studies Alchemy here…"

Ed wrapped Al's head and gave him a noogie. "I think that's enough out of you for one day, Al."

"Alright, alright!" Al pleaded. "I surrender!"

But despite Edward's protests, the thought was there. And the thought had been there since that night on the roof.

Would Riza…?

No. No way. Their experiences were too vastly different, they had both suffered losses of those they had already loved. Besides, she was leaving in two days.

What kind of future possibly awaited them there?

But the possibilities…the chance that maybe, just maybe…he could hold her in his arms like that again…

Al glanced up at his brother. "Niisan? Why are you blushing?"

Ed let the boy go. "It's nothing Al. Come on, let's get going."

Al shrugged and followed his brother home.

xxxxx

A/N: I know you want more, but I like to keep my chapters consistent. Where is the relationship going? How will it foster? What will it take for Ed's family to convince the two stubborn blondes to finally realize what's right in front of their faces?

Well, you'll have to wait and see.