The next time Ed saw actual light, it was quickly obscured when his face hit dirt. He groaned, his voice muffled by the ground. Would it actually kill the Truth to let him down nicely for once?! The first time he doesn't lose anything when passing through the gate without a toll, the Truth decides to faceplate him into dirt. Great. Must have been part of the toll.
"Ow..." Ed moaned, rubbing the newly formed bump on his head. That hurt. A lot. This little trip through time had better be worth it, because he won't be able to handle much more of the crap the Truth threw at him.
Staggering clumsily to his feet, he immediately noticed the Truth had been so kind as to provide him with clothes, seeing as the ones he had been wearing previously had been torn to hell. The only thing that irked him was that not only did he not have his favourite bright poppy red signature coat, he didn't even have a speck of red on him! He was just simply wearing a brown vest with black slacks, along with a dark brown traveling coat equipped with a hood. Boring. Eh, at least he still had his pocket watch.
Then again, it was probably a good thing that he wasn't dressed like he normally would have been because how would everyone react, knowing that there were probably two Edward Elrics running around. Well, if he was in his own time. And what year did Truth even send him to, anyway? It had better not be the sixteenth century, or someone was definitely going to be on the receiving end of his wrath. Fortunately, he recieved his answer approximately two seconds later.
"SHORTY?! CAN A SHORTY DO THIS?! WHAT ELSE YOU WANNA CALL ME, HALF PINT, BEANSPROUT, MIDGET?! I'M STILL GROWING YOU BACKWATER DESERT IDIOTS!"
That definitely answered his primary concern. Though it was kind of startling for Ed to hear himself screaming his lungs out like that, considering the fact that, well, he wasn't saying doing one of his infamous short rants, as every one of Mustang's team liked to call it.
And damn, he really was loud. Now knowing that, he almost felt bad for the people he had yelled at. Almost.
Peeking around a corner, it was like a blast to the past. Literally, since he actually was in the past. He had heard Liore had major bloodshed caused by the riots, so it was nice seeing Liore in a state of relative peace.
Well, it was nice, until Ed heard the stupid priest Cornello drifting from the radio. If his memory served him right, he had revealed the idiot's plans rather easily. Well technically, it was the priest doing the revealing, since Ed had broadcasted the whole conversation. Oh, that was fun. Ed really did enjoy the Liore incident. Especially when he had transmuted a door out of Cornello's hall and slammed the door into the face of one of the priest's followers and brawled his way out with Alphonse.
Good times, good times.
Going back to the present -Past for Ed-, Ed briefly considered helping his younger self in this before he decided against it. Eh, his younger self can handle this himself. He would know, since he went through this too. He hoped that Rose would be ok after this. She was a total wreck the last time Ed saw her. But then again, he couldn't blame her. Rose's world crashed down along with the revelation that her beloved couldn't come back from the dead, so Ed just gave her a similar advise that he had been given five years ago, when he nearly gave up.
Get up, and keep walking. You've got two strong legs, so get up and use them.
Ed waited until his younger self had left with Alphonse before he drew up his hood and stepped out of the alley he had landed in. He should find a place to hang out before giving his younger self a warning about what was too come. Also, to enjoy the little scheme of his involving broadcasting equipment and a bit of trickery.
Oh, today was going to be a very fun day indeed. Ed began counting down, all the while grinning evilly.
LINE BREAK
It was sometime around late afternoon and early evening, when the anticipated broadcast played. Ed wished he had a bag of corn from his position on a roof.
Ed really was proud of himself. That broadcast never got old. Especially that last bit.
"... Who knows, I might even carve out a slice for you, AHAHAHA-!"
"WHAHAHAHA!"
"What's so funny?!"
"I knew it! You really are a novice."
Oh, that look on Cornello's face was priceless when he finally realized what was going. Ed only wished he could have seen it again, because this time, he would have definitely taken a picture to savor the moment.
"WHAT?! When did you get hold of my broadcasting equipment?!"
"From the very beginning. And now your followers have heard everything."
"Why you-!"
The sound of a machine gun soon followed, before sounds of a transmutation clearly rang out from Alphonse's makeshift speaker.
"I've told you before. You're outclassed here."
"Grrr! As long as I have the stone, I can keep on creating miracles over and over again!"
Ed winced at the memory of what happened next, before he tuned out the sounds of battle and slid off the roof where he had taken up residence for the past two or so hours, landing in a crouch, stretching out his stiff muscles.
"Ok, now that's that." Edward yawned, scratching the back of his neck. "Time to play the cryptic stranger."
Turning, he made his way to the train station to intercept his younger self, who was blissfully unaware of what actions here would lead to. Older Ed would have definitely tried everything in his power to change the events in Liore, but there was no helping it. If Ed did intervene, he was just delaying the inevitable since the Homunculi would just find a different way to carve a crest of blood here. And who knows? There could more casualties this time, something which Ed didn't want. Then again, there might be less casualties. Huh, tough choice.
Picking out his younger self amidst the crowds at the station was fairly easy, considering the fact Alphonse's was too noticeable and tall. And much to Ed's annoyance, he couldn't even see himself.
Ah, damn it. He really was short back then. Ed had never been so glad as to have grown significantly in the past six months. Moving into his younger self's path, he made sure his hood covered his upper face, making him unrecognizable.
"Hey."
Ed's younger self was instantly cautious of him -not that he minded since that was him a year ago- and so was Alphonse, even though he didn't show it.
"What?" Younger Ed snapped, only to have Alphonse admonish him. "Brother! Don't be rude!"
Turning up to face older Ed, Alphonse apologized. "I'm sorry about my big brother."
Ed waved off Al's apology. "It's ok. I've had worst."
Turning back to his younger self, he spoke what he needed to. "Edward." Older Ed watched with some amusement as his younger self started because a supposed stranger knew his name.
"Watch out for those who bear the ouroborous. They are dangerous beings."
Turning to leave, he barely made it three steps before his younger self called out to him. "Who the hell are you?! And what do you mean?!"
Older Ed flashed younger Ed a grin. "You know me better then anyone else. And you'll find what I mean like I did." Before he quickly slipped out of sight, despite his younger self's protests to get back there and explain what the hell he was talking about.
Even though he was trying to keep a low profile, Ed had to admit that messing with his younger self was fun. But that was just an added bonus to this whole business. Ed knew he had to keep under the Homunculi's radar, because them knowing about this whole business could be pretty disasterous.
Edward only got one chance at this. So if he screws this up, he's as good as dead.
LINE BREAK
"What's the matter, brother?" Alphonse's voice brought Ed -the younger one- out of his thoughts as he stared out of the train compartment's window. Al really could read Ed like a book.
"Nothing, Al. I just can't shake the feeling that I knew that guy from somewhere. Not to mention the fact the stone was a fake." He sighed, running his fingers through his hair. If there was one thing Edward Elric hated the most, it was not knowing something. And that false lead was a real bummer.
"Maybe you have met him before, brother, but you just forgot." Al voiced his thoughts.
"I don't know about that, Al." Edward closed his eyes, recalling the encounter. "He said I knew him better then anybody else, but I don't even know him at all!"
Al had no response to that, so they just sat in silence.
The scenery outside of the train whizzed by quickly, before they left the desert region. Normally, Ed would have been taking one of his famous naps by then, but his mind was too awake for him to even think about sleeping. He probably wouldn't be able to sleep at all until he managed to figure out what that weird guy was talking about. Something about watching out for the Ouroborous. But the Ouroborous just signified perfection, if Ed's memory served him right. So what does it have to do with anything?
But one thing that was for sure, if Ed ever met that stranger again, he was definitely going to get answers from him, even if he had to beat it out of him!
LINE BREAK
Somewhere on that very train, Edward -Older version- sneezed.
"Aw, damn it! I better not be catching a cold, not when I have things to do!" Ed sniffed, rubbing his nose.
Now, what should he do next in his quest to change the future? After Liore, what did he do?
Edward gave a small gasp, his eyes darkening slightly as he remembered what happened next. He went to the Tucker household to research Bio Alchemy. Shou Tucker. The Life Sewing Alchemist. The main researcher on Chimeras. He got in two years ago by transmuting a chimera that could speak the human tongue. Ed had thought that was great, but now, he felt utterly disgusted and horrified at it's creation. That bastard used his own wife to create the damn thing.
Ed grinded his teeth and clenched his fists at the horrible memories that were beginning to surface once again. Nina... That poor, innocent little girl who only wanted to play. This time, he'd make no mistakes. Nina won't die this time. Not on his watch! That bastard Shou Tucker... He won't succeed this time. He won't succeed in turning his daughter into that, that thing!
Each and everytime Ed closed his eyes, he could still see that creature in his head. The dog like creature. He didn't even know it was Nina and her dog, until she said those words that would forever haunt him in the day and night, as a grim reminder of his failure to save just one little girl, one innocent little girl.
"Big brother... Ed."
Ed squeezed his eyes shut, trying to block out that horrible memory, unable to prevent the tears that escaped his eyes. But he quickly wiped them away, before anyone noticed.
'I'm sorry, Nina. I'll make it right this time. I promise. You can count on your big brother.'
Because this time, he'll be able to save her, even if he's not a god. That's the least that he, an insignificant human, can do.
[A/N Oh, don't mind me. I've already studied enough for today and I just wanted to get this chapter out.
Thanks for reading and to those who reviewed the last chapter, as well as followed and favourited this, thanks for your support!
Signing out!
~ Gwntan12]