Metallic Hearts [FullMetal Alchemist Part Twenty-Seven: Teacher
Sig walked through the door and the three of you jumped. p
You: "That means . . ." Ed ran off of the couch and ran to the window and pushed it up. He was about to jump out of it when a foot stopped him; he crashed to the floor on the other side of the room. p
Izumi: "And where were you trying to run to?" Your teacher stepped through the window. "Ed? I can easily predict your actions!" p
Ed: "Teacher . . . Why are you here?" p
Izumi: "Where's Al?!" Al straightened up quickly. p
Al: "Yes!" p
Izumi: "Oh, I'm sorry. Thank you for showing us to this place even though you were busy. Do you happen to know where Alphonse is?" p
You: "That i is /i Al." p
Izumi: "Oh, really? I see, I see. What?" Al began to sweat and he backed away slowly. Izumi grabbed Al and flung him over her shoulder and onto the floor. "Were you trying to get away from me by disguising yourself?" p
You: "No, he wasn't. He's been wearing that for a while now." When she closed her eyes to nod you slipped your tail around your waist like a belt. Luckily, she hadn't seen it in the confusion when she came in. p
Izumi: "We've heard the rumors. You idiotic students! You went against my teachings and degraded yourselves to becoming dogs of the military." Ed was shaking his head, hiding behind you.
With Roy
???: "An official transfer order has arrived. You're going to work in Central starting next week." p
Roy: "Understand." p
???: "It won't be the same here without you. You did some flashy things around here." p
Roy: "Not at all. It's nothing compared to what you did when you were young, General. Check." He moved a chess piece across the board. "No redos, General." p
General: "I was able to have an easy time thanks to you." p
Roy: "I'm sorry to hear that." He picked up his knight and set it in front of the King. p
General: "I finally lost! Consider this win a farewell gift." p
Roy: "I accept it with honor. General. If I may ask for another farewell gift, there are some subordinates I wish to take with me." p
General: "Sure. Take it." He handed Roy the chess set. p
Roy: "Thank you."
With You
Winry: "Are you okay you three?" You, Ed and Al were all tied together, sitting opposite of Winry. p
Al: "We're weren't expecting Teacher to come find us did we, Brother?" p
You: "Hell no." p
Ed: "Ouch, damn it. She took my silver watch too." That's what you loved about where you wore yours. No person could touch it without you being able to take off a finger or two. "Looks like we're heading straight to Dublith." p
Winry: "But I was surprised. Since you said teacher, I was expected to see a more rugged person. She's such a beautiful lady." p
Al: "Yeah, we've always compared her to Lita." p
You: "Aww, really?" p
Ed: "What are you all talking about? Winry, you've met her before." p
Al: "We officially became her apprentices back in Risembool." p
Winry: "Risembool?" p
Al: "Remember, the day of the heavy rain."
Flashback
Al: "ECW: 26 percent. ICW: 34 percent. Lipids: 19 percent. Protein: um . . ." p
Ed: "Maybe this would be easier if we studied human composition first." p
Winry: "Hey, what have you guys been studying so intently lately?" p
All: "It's a secret." p
Ed: "It's none of your concern Winry." You and Ed started running home. p
Winry: "No fair, you guys are always hiding stuff from me." Al waved and ran after the two of you. "Don't be late for dinner, we're having Stew!" p
Ed: "The person who invented Stew was great." Ed was walking on the edge of the bridge over the small river. "It has milk in it, but it's so good." p
You: "That's a weird reason." p
Ed: 'The idea of putting milk in a vegetable soup is pure genius. A scientist needs to think outside of the box like that." p
You: "I'm sure it took a lot of brain power to think of that." p
You and the Elric brothers sat up in your room, the attic, reading. p
You: "Studying by ourselves has its limits. This is impossible with what we can read." p
Ed: "Yeah." p
Al: "What's the missing link in Human Transmutation?" p
Ed: "Why is Human Transmutation forbidden in the first place?" p
You: "Maybe because it's a dangerous Transmutation that no one has succeeded at. There is the story of the city that perished in one night." p
Ed: "Are you talking about the one city in the Eastern Desert?" p
You: "Yeah. They tried to create a perfect human, and the people were caught in the middle of the catastrophe." p
Ed: "That's just a fairy tale." Ed gasped slightly as he stopped flipping through the book he was holding. "His equations . . . If we could understand this. . ." You stared at the equations. p
Al: "But . . . It says that Human Transmutation is forbidden." p
Ed: "We've all ready decided Al. To revive Mom."
Break
The thunder crashed and the lights dimmed as Winry shook and covered her ears. p
Pinako: "I hope the river banks don't collapse." You all looked at each other and nodded. You grabbed the rain jackets and you all ran outside. "Stop, you three!" p
Al: "We'll go help!" The men of Risembool were stacking sandbags to try and block the river. A man looked over at the three of you. p
Man: "Hey, get out of here, it's dangerous." You activated the Transmutation Circle and a wall of earth shot up form the ground. You smiled but the wall broke apart and the Transmutation Circle was washed away. p
Woman: "It's dangerous here, so please stay back." She clapped and set her hand on the ground and large walls of earth shot up all along the bank. p
You: "No way. She did that without a Transmutation Circle. And she did all that in seconds." p
Woman: "This should last a while." p
Man: "Who are you?" p
Woman: "Just a house wife passing through." She threw up blood and she was rushed to the hospital. p
Man: "You really saved us. You're the savior of Risembool." p
You: "Excuse me, let us through." p
Ed: "Um, old lady . . ." She flipped out on the three of you. p
???: "Who are you calling old?" p
Ed: "Please make us your apprentices. Young lady." p
???: "Apprentices?" p
Al: "We can do a little Alchemy." p
Ed: "We want to be the best there is." p
???: "No." p
Ed: "But why not?" p
???: "I'm looking to take on any students. And besides, I have a store to run I don't have time to baby-sit." You all clutched on to her. p
All: "Please take us with you. Make us your apprentices." She tried to shake you off. p
???: "What are you trying to accomplish by learning Alchemy anyway? Answer me that." p
Ed: "Well, we want to help others out." p
???: "Do you have your parents permission." All of your eyes dropped to the floor. p
Pinako: "Actually, they have no parents. I've been looking after them since their mother passed on." She looked at Ed and the two stared at each other. p
???: "It always happens. I'm just too nice. I'll give them one month to see if their even worth teaching. See if they have the right talents." p
Pinako: "And what if they don't?" p
???: "Then I'll send them back straight away." p
You: "And if we pass?" p
???: "Then we'll begun your Alchemy training." Later that day you all talked more and learned more about your new teacher. Her name was Izumi Curtis and she lived in a small town called Dublith. You all leaned out the window of a train. p
Ed: "You guys know we aren't comin back for a while right?" p
Pinako: "I knew you'd say that." The train took off and Ed and Al began to chant "training!" p
Ed: "I bet you there's a huge laboratory." p
Al: "Do you think we'll be able to read a lot of books?" p
Ed: "Of course." p
You: "Which reminds me, Teacher, you used Alchemy without a Transmutation Circle down at the river. How did you pull that off? Are you a State Alchemist?" And that's when she flipped. p
Izumi: "State Alchemists are thugs who would take a life without blinking an eye if someone gave the order!" You all huddled together scared out of your wits.
End Flashback
Winry: "Oh yeah, so you stayed with her." You finally got the ropes loose with your overly sharp nails. p
Ed: "Finally, lets move out." Ed opened the compartment door when his watch came flying at him and hit him in the mouth, almost making him swallow it. p
Al: "Brother?" Al jumped when he saw Izumi and Sig standing there. p
Izumi: "Ed, you still haven't learned at thing." Ed had swirls in his eyes and Al looked scared out of his mind.
With the Military
Breda, Havoc, Fuery, and Riza were all called to Roy's office. Falmon stood in front of him. p
Falmon: "Please, sir. Add me to the list." p
Roy: "When you were in investigations you worked under Hughes, right?" Everyone walked in and Falmon backed off. "Master Sergeant Kain Fuery, Second Lieutenant Heimans Breda, Second Lieutenant Jean Havoc, First Lieutenant Riza Hawkeye, and Warrant Officer Vato Falmon. You five will be transferring to Central with me. If you have any objections, get over them. That is all." They all saluted, quickly.
Back With You
You: "So much for our escape plan." You all walked along the streets of Dublith. p
Ed: "I know, I have chills just thinking about what she's gonna do to us now." p
Al: "Yeah." A little girl ran up to Izumi. p
Manny: "Teacher!" p
Izumi: "Hey there, Manny. So how is Chico doing?" p
Manny: "She's gonna have babies soon." She looked over to a sleeping pregnant cat on her front porch. p
Izumi: "Goodness, your house is going to be crowded." p
???: "Izumi, you're back." p
You: "Hey, Mason." p
Mason: "Hey there, Lita, haven't seen you in a while." He slapped your head roughly a few times. "So, finally grown a little have ya?" p
You: "He just loves to piss me off." p
Mason: "Who's your big armored side-kick." p
Al: "It's me Mason. Alphonse." p
Mason: "That's one heck of a growth spurt!" You all sat at the table for lunch. p
Winry: "Aren't you guys going to eat anything?" p
Ed: "No thanks." p
Izumi: "Eat it now." p
Both: "Yes, ma'am." p
Mason: "You should too, Al. It's quite tasty." p
Al: "Uh, no thanks, I'm not hungry." p
Mason: "Wow, it seems you three have been on one brutal journey since you left." p
Sig: "Just been getting into trouble." p
You: "Well, it hasn't been all bad. We've helped out several people along the way. We even helped delivery a woman's baby a few years back." p
Ed: "Please, you call that helping, we ran around yelling our heads off thinking she was gonna die." p
You: "Correction, I delivered the baby while you two and Nina were screaming thinking she was gonna die." Ed laughed at you. p
Al: "The point is we did our best. We learned something that day. When a mother gives birth, she risks her life, and when the baby comes, everyone around her is blessed." p
Izumi: "Yes, that's true, I'm sure it was the same way when your mothers gave birth to you." You scoffed. p
You: "Yeah, if you say so." p
Izumi: "You all should be thankful for the lives you have." p
Winry: "So what about you Izumi, do you have any children?" Your breath hitched and Mason slammed his hands on the table. p
Mason: "Uh, I'm sorry, uh . . . Ed, you've improved your Alchemy right? Why don't you show me." p
Ed: "Sure, I guess so." After everyone left Sig looked at Izumi sadly. p
Izumi: "I'm okay. They've witnessed another life brought into this world. It's an invaluable experience for anyone to have." Al drew a Transmutation Circle into the dirt. p
Al: "I'll go first." He transmuted the dirt into a beautifully detailed horse sculpture. p
Mason: "Wow, you really have gotten better." p
Ed: "Okay, my turn!" p
Boy: "Teacher!" Three boys ran up to Izumi. "Welcome back, Teacher. My toy broke, can you fix it." p
Izumi: "One of the axels is broken." She took a piece of string and began to fix it. p
Boy: "Come on, can't you just fix it using Alchemy?" p
Izumi: "If you can use something other than Alchemy to do something, you should do it. There all fixed." p
Boy: "Yeah, but now it looks really ugly." p
Izumi: "If you want your things to stay beautiful, then you shouldn't break them." The boys laughed and ran off. Manny ran to you with tears in her eyes. p
You: "Manny, what's wrong baby?" p
Manny: "It's my cat, Chico. You can help her, please?" Ed smiled as you lifted Manny up and held her. p
You: "Of course I can." A dog was barking at Chico who was stuck on the roof. Al stood over the dog and it was frightened away. "I'm on it." You jumped on Al's shoulders and leaped up swinging around the flagpole and landing on it. You looked onto the roof and Chico lay there, covered in blood, three baby kittens drinking her milk. One of them lost it's balance and began to roll down the roof. Your eyes glowed clear and kitten floated into the air. You jumped onto the roof and gathered them all into your arms. You jumped down and Izumi looked at you oddly. Manny rubbed Chico gently. p
Manny: "Chico? Teacher, is Chico broken somewhere?" p
Izumi: "No, Manny, Chico is dead." p
Manny: "But you can make her better, can't you? You can do anything." p
Izumi: "No, I can't. Lives and things are different. Chico's life has ended, and she is never coming back. I can't bring Chico back but I can help you make a grave for her." You held Manny as she cried in front of Chico's grave. It kind of felt like a family member of yours had died, it was odd, being a cat and all, you felt a connection. p
Everything that lives has to die. That is the nature of the world. But when the body is decomposed it nourishes flowers and they bloom. The soul impacts other souls and lives on in people's hearts. Everything in this world flows, circulates. This includes human lives as well. Even with someone like me, who knows so much on the subject, it's still hard to make children understand the true nature of death. p
Ed: "Teacher? After all these years. Have you ever wished you could bring someone back to life." p
Izumi: "That's the second time you've asked me that, Ed. Al, that armor is empty isn't it? Ed, your arm and leg are auto-mail." p
Ed: "How'd you find out?" p
Izumi: "Your weight when I threw you. The sound of your steps. Did you really think I wouldn't notice, Ed?" p
You: "Well, there is one thing you didn't notice." She turned around and you stood there, the real you. She looked over your ears and tail then back at you. p
Izumi: "So, did you really see it?" p
Ed: "Yes. . ." p
Izumi: "How did it happen?" Ed was just about to break down when she asked him this. p
Ed: "I . . . We . . . We transmuted our mother!" And then she snapped and attached you three. It was a lot rougher than she had ever been wit you before. She glared at you as both you and Ed stood up. She walked forward and Ed looked down waiting to get hit again, but she hugged the three of you instead. Al began to cry and you just looked down.