Preachers
Disclaimer: I do not own FMAB
Making this clear now: I am NOT ragging on anyone's religion, hence why I have left any any forms related to any religion out other than the word 'god'. Also, I am not trying to offend anyone by that either. I am portraying the religious radicals in Amestris in how I think some of them would, and could, become.
Please understand this. Thank you.
I would also like to apologize for the lateness of this chapter, my day got busy.
Enjoy.
December
The snow was falling lightly in Central City, make a crunching noise beneath Kaio and Joseph's feet as they walk to school. Their mothers had a client and their fathers had to leave early for work. Both boys however, knew the way to school as well as they knew their homes so it was no problem for them to walk to school. It was maybe a couple of miles away from their homes, and both boys were bundled up nicely.
"I wonder what we gonna learn today?" Kaio asks with a smile.
"I don't know. I wonder what book teacher will read to us today." Joseph smiles as they round a corner. A young woman standing outside a large church building spots to the two young boys and smiles at them, waving them over.
"Sorry lady, we have to get to school." Kaio says as they continue on only for her to step in front of them.
"Excuse me lady, but we need to go." Joseph says politely.
"Sweet children, wouldn't you like to come to where I learn?" The woman asks.
"No, we like our school." Kaio says.
"But boys, this is my school." The woman says, gesturing to the church.
"Silly lady, that's a church." Joseph giggles as he tries to go around her, only for her to move in front of him.
"No, it is god's school. It is the most important school." The woman says.
"No, most important school is where we are trying to go." Joseph says.
"Now, now, little one, how do you think your parents would feel if they heard you say such horrid things?" She asks in a condescending tone.
"Mine wouldn't care." Kaio says.
"Same." Joseph replies. The woman's eyes grow wide at their responses.
"Why would you say that? As church goers, as most parents should be, I would think they would be rather upset." The woman says in an astonished tone.
"Lady, my mom and dad are busy with life. And both of them don't really care much for church." Joseph says.
"My mom is from Xing, and my dad doesn't really care for church either." Kaio says.
"Church is more important than some hum drum job!" the lady yells.
"My mom is a doctor and my dad works for the military." Joseph says, Kaio nodding in agreement.
"The Military. It's their fault that our nation is like this." The lady says.
"Look, we want to go to school, go away." Joseph says as he and Kaio make a break for it. Just as they start, they feel her grip their arms.
"Well, the school of god is always in session." The lady says.
"Lady, look, my dad is in the military and is friends with the Fuhrer, so unless you let us go, you will be in big trouble. My dad is an alchemist you know!" Joseph shouts. The woman lets the boys go, only to snap her fingers and two men block their exit.
"Cleanse them." She barks as two other men come forth with buckets of water and pour the boys until they're drenched through.
"Why did you do that?" Kaio asks about to cry.
"Now little one, I had to wash the witchery off of you." She coos.
"The only witch I see is you, you mean hag." Joseph spits at the woman. She grabs their arms only for the sound of car tires squealing to a stop and the sounds of car doors slamming.
"Release my son right now." Ed shouts. The woman looks behind her and sees the two men dressed in their uniform.
"So you're the heretical alchemist?" She asks.
"Let my son go right now you psychotic radical, otherwise, I will call my troops and have this place demolished before lunch. You can count on that." Ed snarls. Al looks ready to pounce but waits as patiently as he can for his brother to make a move.
"Then join our church." She quips.
"I'm agnostic you psycho, in short, I have an open mind. And if you refuse to let my son and nephew go, you will be arrested." Ed says.
"Join the church and the light of god!" The woman shouts. Joseph bites the woman's arm, and Kaio kicks her legs out before the two soaking boys scurry to their fathers. Ed and Al put their sons in the back of Ed's car and take them back to their respective homes to change into warmer clothes.
"Why is Joseph wet?" Winry asks as Ed and Joseph walk through the door after dropping off Kaio and Al. Ed briefly explains what he knows and by the time Joseph explains, Winry has called the school to let them know about the boy's lateness, and is full of anger.
"Let's walk to school Joseph, May and Kaio should be here shortly." Winry says before she goes to get her coat.
"Mom's gonna go beat up the mean hag isn't she?" Joseph asks.
"More than likely. I pity the girl." Ed chuckles.
"Are you really gonna have that place demolished?" Joseph asks.
"Not my call, though, I can arrest those who partook in your harassment and almost abduction and get them a very heavy punishment. Not to mention, Roy will probably propose a few ideas. If demolishing the place is one of them and the majority of parliament and people agree, then it will be done. Since this will get on the news, I expect hoards of concerned parents." Ed says.
Winry walks back to the two men, gently takes Josephs hand and they start their walk, May meeting them along the way until they turn the corner that leads to the church. The woman and men were still standing there, just waiting, and the moment the woman's head turns towards the group, a sinking feeling grips her.
"Hello ma'am, may I interest you in…" She starts but is silenced with a quick slap to the face, followed by an even quicker series of kicks to her stomach. She didn't know if one of both women attacked, but she did know that these two were the obvious mothers of the boys. Nails rake through her hair before her head is forcibly brought up to face a pair of smoldering blue eyes.
"There is no need for violence because our god is obviously…" The woman starts again but is slapped, harder.
"This has nothing to do with your beliefs, or that my husband in alchemist, or that her husband, my husband's brother, is an alchemist. No, this has to do with that you attacked, belittled, and degraded our sons because they don't want to join your messed up religion. Because they want to go to school, not this messed up institute, which obviously has rotted your brain away because you seem to have forgotten the meaning of the word 'no'. I warn you now, you idiotic bitch, if you so much as look at my son or nephew in a threatening way, I can and will personally destroy this church and make you watch. Under, fucking, stood?" Winry hisses. The woman cringes, seeing all the wind from her sails vanish. This woman was not here to belittle the church or her faith, even though she had a little, no, she was here because of her son. Feebly, she nods and is released from Winry's hold.
May walks up next to the woman and smirks.
"I know all the pressure points on the human body and know which ones can paralyze, kill, and cause harm. I have no qualms to using them if you hurt my baby again, got it?" May says sweetly. The woman nods in fear and watches as the two mothers and their sons walk away, shaking in fear.
2 days later
Naturally, Ed and Al had informed Roy of what had happened to their sons, and as Fuhrer, he hatched an idea on how to deal with the problem. Of course, it had to go through parliament first and then the people, but the idea was simple.
"Churches are not allowed to talk to children under the age of fifteen about joining their faith. If a child approaches them however with questions, that is different, but church members standing outside their organization or promoting, are not allowed to speak to a child under fifteen. They must let them walk on by if they show no interest in them." Roy proposes to the group of parliament.
"Dare I ask why such a proposal Fuhrer sir?" One member asks.
"Certainly…" Roy starts before he goes into what happened to Joseph and Kaio Elric as they were going to school. Some of the members, having children or grandchildren themselves gasped at what happened to the two five year old boys, while others got mad at the actions of the church peoples. Either way, it was approved by parliament.
"Now, all that's left is for there to be an announcement over the radio. Also, be sure that the announcer apologizes to those who had nothing to do with the atrocious behavior." A parliament member says.
"Will do. Have a nice day." Roy says as he leaves the meeting, almost to collide with Ed as he was walking back to his office.
"Fuhrer sir." Ed says with a salute.
"Easy Elric. Just about to let you know parliament agrees with the suggestion that you, me and your brother proposed. Could you, or one of your people, run this to the radio station, make sure it's broadcast on every channel twice an hour. Have someone draw up an apology to those who had nothing to do with it." Roy says, handing the stamped document to Ed before taking his leave. Ed walks back to his office, hands the document to Makuto who write on a separate piece of paper the instructed apology before he leaves and delivers the document to the radio station. The moment Makuto returned to headquarters, the radio played the first airing. The reporter even did the back story to explain why the parliament had made this decision.
"By the end of the week, we should see results." Al chuckles.
"I give it by the end of tomorrow." Ed laughs.
Within hours of the first announcement, over half of the Amestrian citizens had voted in favor of the new proposal.
"Looks like you'll be right again brother." Al laughs as they leave headquarters.
"Looks like." Ed smiles as he gets into his car and drives home.
So, I hope I portrayed the radicals correctly, and I also hope I portrayed how angry mother's would react. Anyway, I will do my best to get the next chapter up earlier than now. Until then, please, R&R.