Is everything okay, or did I do something wrong?
Chapter 2: Dreams
I sit back in the plush chair watching the sturdy wooden ceiling fan stir the air and my hair slightly. Outside the sun is going down and I can smell a peach pie finishing In our new automatic oven. Winry looked up from her typewriter and asked ''Are you trying to tell me something with this silent treatment? ''Unfortunately for her I am off in my own head thinking about those newfangled flying machines, which after ten years had allowed an Amestrian pilot to travel around the equator despite aurego being dominant in the emerging field given their lack of restrictions on creating flying sapient chimeras who risked little in crashes. Winry tried again ''Hellooo? Earth to wrath, are we still on?' ''Um, yeah sort of...no, look we should really get back to this in a day or two I'm sure the shop could still use your advice on those silvered lungs and pressure resistant automailes you developed!''
She practically pouts, ''Wrath, you know most of the work is out my hands these days as a 'senior consultant', besides I don't mind sending time with you and you really need to stop feeling guilty about it, you know I don't blame you for what happened at all''. Her face resolves into a soft frown.
I grimace and push back towards the original subject ''Alright we can keep going as long as you like Win this is about when I first met you after all, but...can I have a break to eat and collect my thoughts please?'' I practically begged. Her eyebrows shot up ''I almost forgot about the pies!'' she yelped before rushing back to the kitchen.
I giggle before standing up and striding across the soft green carpet of the room before bending down to reach the dials that would activate our television. Upon the screen plays a movie covering the dramatized events surrounding the fifth laboratory but for once actual chimeric actors were employed and seeming in a sympathetic...if patronizing light. I quickly switched to a news station covering events in drachma apparently in addition to their aeronautical progress some of the best telescopes yet seen were being built there. With the use of those same telescopes great rivers were found on our neighboring planet Erebus. The newscasters were excited about the possibility of us having Interplanetary neighbors or at least joy was what their faces expressed. Knowing the history of Amestris well I hoped they were wrong.
I watch the clock tick as it reaches 8PM. It is a newer clock with radium dials encased in a pale blue shatter-resistant glass It used xercian numerals to display the time and its face flipped to displayed a moon after six PM and slyly smiling sun after 6 am. I could not fathom why Winry would buy such a clock, it was hardly the most precise one out there if forced to ponder a guess I would have said its insides inspired her to keep tinkering.
Just at that moment Winry exits the kitchen carrying out two steaming peach pies. ''Wow you are sweet as always win'' I giggle out, charmed by her display. 'Well without your tartness, I doubt wed make such perfect pies'' she responded, she continued quickly ''Anyway I was wondering what made you decide to start this autobiography project now of all times?'' Through a mouthful of pie I questioned':
'What do you mean exactly?'' ''I mean you could have started almost any time after you helped catch Huskisson '' ''I wanted to give people enough time to think about what happened but not completely forget about it'' I answered evasively. "Its gotten quite late and theres no way im burdening you by sleeping here again''
With a single stride I was at the door, I turned back, but winry look as thoguh she wa too tired to argue this night, which for oonce was fine with me.
As I slipped through the door, I opened my umbrella. It had bee a while since I looked at it a big black, blue and red gaudy thing it was with a great serpentine dragon curling around a stylized lion while they were both surrounded by a circle of lightning, I felt suitably amused that I ever thought commissioning the thing was a good Idea.
After about a quarter miles walk I could finally see my dwelling on the horizon.
my dwelling was a small wooden shack with enough room for a kitchen, and a place to sleep and that was just about it. I settled onto my soft futon and pulled on a heavy blanket, hoped the roof wouldn't leak and tried to fall asleep.
…...All good things must come to an end and so my first embrace with my creator(not that I knew this and It would not be for a long time before I acknowledged her as a mother) did at the pleading of a young blond mechanic crying out not for me but for Edward. So it was that I met Winry Rockbell. Izumi's warmth left me as she looked up at wineries apprehensive spluttering ''Edward, Alphonse are you okay, Edward please tell me you didn't break your auto maile again, you didn't get sand inside you, Alphonse, right? and responded by calmly asserting ''Its only been a few days I am sure the damage is minimal, more importantly, I think they made a new friend'' I tried hiding behind Izumi when I was mentioned not knowing what to expect from this newcomer. Izumi stepped aside revealing my cowering form.
Edward attempted to direct the conversation back towards himself with a slightly embarrassed''Actually Winry my fingers-''Winry quickly hushed Edward(who made a quietly annoyed huff in response, earning him a glare), before bending down in an attempt to appear less intimidating while addressing me'' Shh Ed, Its alright little man, my name is Winry Rockbell, I'm Edwards friendly automaile mechanic, who are you?'' ''Everyone calls me Ramses'' I carefully remove my arms from my head figuring if she going to it she already would have'' So Ramses do you know where your parents are?'' Again the unanswerable questions began to rear their grimy heads. I clenched my fists and breathed in through my teeth preparing to explain my by now very annoying state of amnesia. I was preempted by Alphonse calling out to her ''Winry he doesn't remember anything, its best if you-'' this was enough'''Hey let me speak for myself!'' I growled, albeit also flushing with embarrassment over being reminded of how abnormal I was yet again.
Winry cocked her head and asked me ''Is that really true? 'A look of doubt and concern compressed her features and pitched her voice. I turned on my heel and kicked the wet sand in front of me as though it was at fault before truthfully admitting: ''Yes it is true, and its horrible, and I don't want to talk about right now.'' I could hear the approach of a paddle-boat in the distance as Mason pulled closer. Before anyone else could speak (and Edward seemed to really be eager to given his foot tapping) Izumi announced ''I'll help look after the boy until his situation is resolved.'' I was overwhelmed with joy, I knew I was finally going to see the world and at least some of the people in it really did care about me. Edward and Winry chattered about his metal arm while Alphonse helped Mason uncouple the boats that would take me to my new home. Izumi offered me her hand In entering the larger boat along with herself and Alphonse. At first, I tried standing but she pulled me down, although not to harshly to avoiding disturbing the vessel's balance.
The trip across the lake was short and fairly quiet all the recent excitement exhaustion had snuck up on Edward, with Winry gently trying to coax him to keep his head up. Meanwhile, Alphonse was busy rowing, I thought it was amazing how strong he could be without even a single muscle he seemed as though he might never tire. Yet despite this, he was quiet as though afraid that speaking might destroy something intangible about the moment. When Izumi tentatively wrapped an arm around me I admit I was slightly startled, having practically drifted off watching the ripples and dips on the lakes otherwise silky smooth surface, but I calmed almost immediately and at her concerned look managed a large smile, even if its size was not reflective of the mere contentment I felt at that moment. She spoke softly ''How would you like if we got you out of those rags and into something...more fitting, maybe even get you a warm shower?'' Despite not really knowing what she was talking about I nodded along and smiled, more gently this time, since none of it sounded bad coming from her but I still felt tempted to ask ''Whats a shower, and how do you make it warm?'' Izumi laughed ''I'm sorry but Winry Is more of an engineer than I. She could better explain how it works, but its a way to move warm water onto people so they don't stay, did I mention you'll also get a hot meal?''
''Wow, that sounds really great!'' This time she did not laugh but simply smiled and responded ''You'll get along well with my husband then.'' Before very long we reached land and at that point, Alphonse offered to carry me to quicken our pace, with me being the shortest person in the party at that point, I accepted for the sake of the view this afforded me. It felt like we had been walking for about a mile when we finally exited the forest. Behind me, I could hear Edward apologizing to Winry ''Listen Winry I'm sorry for getting you worried over practically nothing...''I think I may have strained some of the finger joints.'' Alphonse asked ''hey teacher why were left on yock island so long? This time we expected you to be back sooner?'' Izumi looked saddened and then amused but before she could respond mason tried to cover for her: ''We had a sudden surge in demand at the meat shop, besides she knew you could handle yourselves out there, especially you Ed.'' Izumi quickly corrected mason stating that while it was true that there had in fact been more demand, it was not from out of town and she stayed behind after feeling ill having planned on returning sooner.
Eventually, we reached the outskirts of dublith and from there, it hardly took us any time at all to reach the Curtis household and meat shop, an impressive edifice it was was. The building was certainly the largest dwelling I had ever seen until now. For a while we were left to wait in the living room. After plopping down into a nearby chair I had the opportunity to ask a few questions to my present companions. I started with the short blonde"" um Edward are you staying here, what about your brother's thing?'' Edward pinched the bridge of his nose ''Ram just for future reference everyone here knows about what we did and what Alphonse is'' Alphonse piped up ''If we stay for a little while well be able to feel restored and be able to help Izumi.'' Edward quickly but quietly responded: '' Al, you, you know she.. you know what your right. so never-mind, anyway we've been following this guy known as scar we've heard rumors that he might be returning to Ishbal and that he might have information on the philosophers stone which we hope will be enough to figure out how to restore our bodies."
''I'm right about what?'' Alphonse inquired.
''Your right she isnt our teacher anymore, it just sound weird when you say it is all''.
Edward closed his eyes and with a small yawn he said ''we've been busy for a while Al do you think you could pick us up some newspapers and '' with a small amount of nearly playful bickering Alphonse was persuaded to leave. Thus I was alone with a half asleep edward and a somewhat bored looking winry . I figured I would ask a few questions''Winry what exactly does an automaile mechanic do? Her eyes lit up almost instantly. ''Well I fix peoples legs well, the metal ones at least, and arms too if they need it and I build more of them. I'm not directy involved in pricing and distibution though''
I was very much interested with the idea of being able to put people back together, literally
''that sounds really cool, I wish I could do something like that!''
Winry half giggled. Just as we were finally building a rapport, Sigmund popped in
''Hey, Win this kid said he's never had a chance at a shower why don't you give one? Oh and by the way Izumi should lunch ready by the time you're done. If you need me I'll be fixing up the shop for tomorrow''.
It was thus that I had my first encounter with the famous shower. I approached with caution as though I was stalking a viper until Winry
chided/admonished ''Ramses it's not going to hurt to get wet, see?'' She started the water running and stuck her arm into it, immediately grimacing from the cold she quickly adjusted the temperature and smiling announced that it was warming up, before long I built up the nerve to step inside and I closed my eyes letting the warm water wash over me admittedly it tickled a little when It reached my belly and thighs but otherwise it was indeed very nice.
''Alright then let's get your wild mane tamed little man! '' she announced as she began sudzing my hair which was also pleasant although she warned me ''don't get any of this stuff in your eyes or mouth okay?'' as we were drying off. ''Do you think you could do that on your own next time?'' she asked I responded ''Sure, it doesn't seem that hard but why?'' She gave a rather convincing lie
Later that night as I lay in my new bed trying to sleep a mouse crept into my room, I did not notice until I found it sniffing my face startled by the sudden tickle I fell out of bed and in trying to scramble backwards and accidentally merged myself into the floor such that I could barely move disoriented, fatigued and scared I screamed. The Elric brothers were the first to enter the scene, Edward called: ''Ram what happened?!''
I tried pushing forward and got one arm still smothered with wood from the floorboards free with a horrific ripping noise''I don't know there was a mouse on my face and I jumped and then I was in the floor and then I was scared so I tried to pull out but it hurts to pull too much and..and I'm sorry'' tears rolled down my cheeks, I felt hopelessly embarrassed and overwhelmed. Edward glanced at his bother and loudly whispered ''Al, keep teacher out of here please!'' Briefly, I could hear Alphonse clanking down the hall.
For a brief moment I was alone with Edward and fear and hope merged into an anticipatory tension as I looked him while he tried to gather his thoughts, he then spoke clearly and quickly ''Listen I don't like the situation you've put me in, I'd like my limbs back, but I don't see that happening soon and I am now certain you never tried to trick us, even a plan from gluttony would be more convincing than this. So I tell you what, I'm a state certified alchemist, I'm sure with a little quick thinking I can get you out of this mess.'' ''With Alchemy?'' I tentatively ask, Edward shoots ''Of course, all I need to do it convert the wood to sawdust and you shouldn't be stuck in it anymore, now where can I draw a cir-'' I cry back, ''but ed Think maybe parts of me are wood now, I don't want to become dust!''
At that moment I can hear Izumi and Alphonse arguing in the hall outside: ''Let me thou6gh Alphonse, I need to see what's going on was followed by''Nothings going on Ramses just saw a mouse and yelped is all'' Izumi did not sound impressed ''More like a larger rat for him to scream like that'' Alphonse struggled to hold back the tide ''If he's so scarred I still ought to help calm him down.'' Simultaneously to this commotion Edward had proceeded to draw aa circle and was hastily adding symbols inside of it, before I could pipe up again he explained ''This circle will separate wood from metal, concrete and other common architectural materials it will leave the wood and your flesh in place ut without you being nailed down you should be able to move again.''
The dam burst. With a shout of ''I insist on seeing him'', and a burst of alchemy that buckled the floor and left Alphonse on his steel buttocks Izumi was in the room. The sound of tens of pounds of steel hitting the floor could be heard throughout the house.
Upon spotting me in my bizarre state of being half cocooned in the floorboards and surrounded by an alchemic circle Izumi seemed to blanch, then fury and confusion in her eyes she opened her mouth ''Edward, what on earth are you doing to this poor child?!'' she shouted, Edward in a suddenly squeaky voicewhile quickly backing away, responded '' It's not what it looks like! I was only trying to help him out of this!'' ''Quiet! I don't want to hear your excuses now'' she barked at him before bending down and smiling kindly at me. ''Now little one can you remember your original form? If you just relax and focus on it it will come back to you'' I nodded and focused on envisioning myself as I was before I got stuck in the floor. Amazingly this actually seemed to work, I could feel my limbs receding and smoothing I could hear the wood shedding off me it fell with a hard dull thunk.
When I opened my eyes I was nearly overwhelmed with joy. As I sat there stunned tears streaming down my face a few things happened at once. First Alphonse Elric stood up and entered the room at the same time I could hear heavy footfalls coming down the hall. We both attempted to speak and stumbled over ourselves. ''listen,-'' and ''I'm sorry'' collided with each other as I attempted to minimize the whole ordeal and the Elric brothers attempted to pin all the blame on themselves. Sig burst into the room to see three panicked boys, a broken floor, alchemy circles and his annoyed wife. He blurted out in confusion ''What's all this? Was someone hurt?''
Before any of us young lads could properly defend ourselves I was shocked to see Izumi cover for us, mostly me or so I rationalized later ''The young boy we took in, Ramses, asked our students for some help with alchemy, Alphonse tripped over and and I was annoyed to be awoken in the middle of the night, nothing to worry about honey.'' This was all technically true although it hardly conveyed what had happened at all.
'' Alright but we can't let you sleep in here kid, er Ramses he said looking down towards the wood splinters now flung all over the room'' ''I'm sure we can clean this up!'' Alphonse volunteered Izumi sighed ''I'm sure you can in the morning right now with the lighting as it is It will only make things worse. Now get back to your rooms, we will talk about this in the morning!'' she snapped at both of them, at first Edward looked like he was going to start a new argument but quickly he relented, leaving me alone with Sig and Izumi. Sig spoke first ''Listen I've got a mat elsewhere in the house You can sleep with Izumi tonight, but if you need any help with finding the bathroom or you get hungry its probably best that you ask me. Izumi might be one tough lady but shes had a very rough day. Also, I am sorry about those Elric boys they get their noses into everything'' I quickly attempted to reassure him its okay Mr. Sig but thank you for trying to help, everyone's been doing that a lot lately even though I don't really need much help.''
Sig felt like giving some advice in response: ''Kid, everyone needs help, even me a gown financially successful man wouldn't be able to get everything done on my own without Izumi supporting me and mason keeping up with supply our shop would go out of business, don't tell him that though he might get some grand ideas in his head''
So it was that she carried me into her bedroom. Later she seemed to notice that I lay awake even by her side after an hour as my eyes finally began to droop she asked ''Is there something wrong little one?'' With a small yawn I whispered back to
her ''I don't know what a homunculus is...do you?'' I could feel her jerk a little and her arm which had been reached towards me I presume in case I was to take her hand wrapped around my scarred shoulder. Se was quiet for a few seconds before asking ''Where did you hear that word Ramses?'' ''Edward mentioned it before we left the island, he said 'He's a homunculus none of them have ever helped' but I helped so that didn't make any sense at all and he wouldn't talk about at it at all after'' now Izumi sat up and pulled me into a soft embrace, I could not see her face but her words seemed tinged with melancholy: ''Sweet thing, whatever you hear tomorrow morning, just try to remember a few things, okay?' ''What things? ''I questioned, confused and groggy. ''Whatever is said, remember, you did nothing wrong, I love you and will protect you, and there is nothing wrong with who or what you are. Okay?''
Before very long I found myself drifting into the temporary oblivion of sleep. Yet again it was punctuated by a dream. This time I was back on the island in the clearing where I first woke up, everything seemed the same same except the stone and dirt circle was seemingly replaced by a large round door set into the ground its surface was made of ebony wood and it possessed an off white knob, It looked like ivory or carved bone and it had two twisted humanoid figures etched into its surface.
Where the door connected to the ground the soil became shinier, and smoother and stretched around its edges like taught skin. I could hear something rattling beneath the door I then heard a wet thunk hit the door and I saw the knob begin to move, I was overwhelmed with dread and the feeling that I should not let this door open so I leaped up upon it and tried to hold the knob still while pressing my full weight onto the side of the door. I could still feel the knob turning and in desperation I released one of my hands from the knob and tried to alchemically force the earth over the door but the soil responded sluggishly a and flowed upwards like a wave of syrup or taffy. The door slammed open with enough force that it threw me backwards with enough force that I collided with the dirt wall I created just as it nearly smothered the open doorway. I was covered in mud, and the gate was open the dirt falling through it. I looked down and saw two eyes staring up up at me, one a pale blue almost grey, the other a reddish purple, as soon as I saw them a huge limb ending in a many fingered, jet black hand launched from the hole in front of me, aiming right for my face, I woke up wide eyed and stifling a scream.
My eyes darted around the room, the first thing I noticed was the empty bed Izumi must have left.(later I realized that she must have started making breakfast), the next thing I noticed was that sun was already streaming through the window and that the room was rather sparse. There was the bed I was now getting out of and there was a large closet to the left side of the bed, but at the other end of the room there was only a mirror and a framed photograph of Sig and his wife, oddly enough the photograph's frame was made of metal and was in the shape of two bears sitting such that their hind legs formed the bottom of the frame, their surprisingly thin torsos made up the sides while their outstretched forelimbs made up the top of the frame. Lastly at the foot of the bed was a basket full of fresh clothes from their size I figured these were meant for me a bright green shirt with dark green long sleeves, and a pair of light brown shorts with large button up pockets at their sides.
As I left the bedroom eager to discover what Izumi was doing I heard her call out from near the front of the house ''breakfast is ready! You boys better eat up!'' I got there just in time to see Edward already at the table with a plate Alphonse instead had a newspaper that looked small in his hands. I ran into the room and practically leaped onto the table before slowing down at the realization that this would likely send Edwards breakfast across the room. Instead, I merely jumped in place once before going to the only open seat, which I had assumed was intended for me.
Edward stared at me and was probably about to ask me why I was so excited when Izumi began talking. She shot us all a serious look before briefly starting speech 'First I would like to thank my husband sig for getting all the ingredients out for me last night'' -her cheery smile immediately vanished'-'and second, you may have all already figured that this was not a normal breakfast from my words last night.' She paused seemingly to make sure we were all paying attention'
When Alphonse looked up from his copy of the South City Herald she continued. ''From this point onward it would likely be in all your best interests if the words of this meeting do not leave this room''''Hey wait a second what are you trying to say?'' Edward blurted out in a panic. 'Yeah if its so important, why cant we tell winry about it shes with us a lot so if its something we need to worry about wouldn't it be safer for her to know too?' ''I'm trying to say that your new friend is special, he is a homunculus .' silence gripped the room for a moment, I was still pretty hungry so I used the opportunity to here surprise to take a bite out of my sausage.
Then the silence was broken by Alphonse: ''We're sorry teacher, we already knew but Ramses did nothing wrong, we thought you would be angry.'' Ed glancing down to try and hide his face asked ''How did you know, and what do you plan on doing?" Now I put my fork down, ready to pay close attention. ''I knew because no human alchemist should be able to bond themselves to wood and reconstruct themselves with no effort and a boy living on an island with no training whatsoever should not know how to perform alchemy without a circle''' she inhaled strongly as if she was preparing for a difficult bit of exertion. ''The boy needs a mother until he can learn to function in our world Sigmund and I will take care of him''
I leaped halfway onto the table right knee on the table left foot on the chair arms sprawled ''Are any of you actually going to tell me what a homunculus is?'! I nearly shouted. The Elric brothers looked towards me as if only now noticing my presence then they looked towards each other as if each expected the other to speak first. Finally, their teacher spoke for them: 'Ramses It means that you are stronger than a bear, you could probably race a horse or even one of those fancy new racing cars and still come out in the lead, for you fossilitis might be like the common cold and you could outlive all of us.''
I sat back down with a thunk and giggled, surprised and elated ''This is great, I could protect all my friends for as long as I live'' I joyously proclaimed. '' It's not great!'' snapped ed, before covering his head as though in pain, Alphonse put an arm around him and looked around clearly not sure what to say. Yet again the housewife spoke for them ''Ramses, what I think Edward is trying to say is that it is not safe for you outside, lots of bad people might want your power for themselves and there's no telling what they might do to get it.''
The rest of the meal was a subdued affair, I felt almost overwhelmed, I wanted to ask who these nasty people were, what she expected me to do if I should pretend to be someone else...and yet the timing felt off. ''Thanks for the meal Izumi'' I said before practically running back to the spare bedroom I had slept in the first night to think.
Authors Note: I am really sorry that this is late!, I am sorry a family emergency stalled me last weekend! Also keeping up with college work while getting any sleep has been harder than I thought it would be.
