Kaori: Sorry that this chapter is late…Writer's block…but I got some ideas from a friend.
Thank you Inuyasha4ever1!!
Anyway, today we have my friend instead of Shadow oo
Ed: Don't confuse me with Elric …
Kaori: Disclaimer!
Ed: Kaori does NOT own Fullmetal Alchemist or Pokémon. If she did, there would be characters named Kaori in the story lines.
Kaori: BUT I DO OWN AN EDWARD ELRIC PLUSH AND A ROY MUSTANG ONE TOO!!
On with the story…
"So that's how I ended up with Ash," said Dawn, finishing her explanation of meeting up with Brock and Ash.
"Wow. That's an interesting chain of events," Al complimented.
"Thanks."
The group was bound for a small town nearby to stock up on supplies and ask questions about the kidnappers in black.
Dawn and Alphonse continued with their conversation. Brock added in his two sense every now and then, receiving laughs from the others. Ash kept looking over at Edward, who was looking at the scenery and asking questions about various things.
"What kind of supplies are we going to buy?" Alphonse asked Brock.
"When you travel around, you need to keep food, medicine, and other items stocked up," he started, "You not only have to buy food for the humans, but also for the Pokémon."
"And you need medicine for them too, right?" Edward asked.
"Exactly. Pokémon get hurt and sick the same as we do," Brock continued.
"This place isn't as different as our own world if you think about it," said Al with a laugh.
"What's your world like?" Ash asked.
"It's kind of like this one," started Alphonse, "Except for the Pokémon, of course."
"Our world is also torn by war. People are suffering because the military is careless and retarded," Ed chimed in, "I'm sure this world is much better than ours."
The three natives looked at each other and then back at the brothers.
"That sounds really bad," said Dawn.
Everyone decided to keep their mouths shut for awhile. The sound of the wind blowing through the trees along the path was all that anyone could hear…besides a peculiar clanking noise. Ash looked at Brock to see if he noticed anything, but he was too busy making a list of things to buy in the next town.
"Hey, what's that sound?" Dawn asked, and everyone stopped to look at her.
"What sound?" Al asked back.
"It's like you read my mind, Dawn…I heard something too," Ash said, "but it stopped…"
Brock scratched his head.
"I didn't hear anything…what did it sound like?"
Dawn crossed her arms.
"It was like…this…clanking noise.." she explained.
"And it stopped when we stopped walking…" added Ash.
Edward yawned.
"Maybe it's just your imagination," he suggested, "Because I didn't hear anything."
"Weird…I swear I heard something…" Dawn pouted in a way.
She shrugged it off and everyone started walking again. Ash tried to ignore the sound and started a conversation with Brock about dominos…
"Brother," Al whispered, "I think I know what they heard…"
"Shush, Al…" Ed replied, "I know what it is…ok? I can't help it."
"Shouldn't you tell them?"
"No, it'll only complicate things…Besides…that Ash guy already doesn't like me."
Edward walked ahead of his brother and thought about his situation.
'If I tell them, they'll probably ditch us,' he thought, 'What is Alphonse thinking?!'
Brock looked up at the sky after finishing his conversation. The sky was getting darker and the air was cooling.
"I think a storm is coming…" he informed the others.
"Huh?" Dawn said, "But the weather forecast didn't say anything about rain! My hair's gonna get messed up!"
"You're wearing a hat…it won't be that bad…will it?" Alphonse wondered.
As if on cue, the rain started pouring on the group.
"Wonderful…" Ed growled.
In some silent agreement, they started running down the path. Pikachu jumped up on Ash's shoulder at some point during the run. Dawn pulled out an umbrella she somehow kept concealed in her bag and shared it with Alphonse. Edward put up the hood on his coat. Brock checked the map to see how far they were from the next town.
"It's not much further from here!" he yelled over the thunder that began to rumble through the air.
"That's great, now let's just keep running!" exclaimed the older Elric brother.
'Oh no…' thought Al, 'I wonder how Ed will hold out this time…'
It was only a few minutes of getting soaked out in a thunderstorm before they could see buildings on the horizon. Everyone began to run as fast as they could.
"We're almost there!" cheered Dawn.
They entered the town and headed straight for the Pokémon Center. Everyone inside stopped what they were doing to observe the group that had just entered. A woman with red hair wearing a nurse's outfit ran over to them.
"Oh my gosh, are you all ok?" she asked.
Brock's eyes turned to hearts.
"Why yes we are!" he said while grabbing the nurse's hand, "Especially now that you're here!"
A Pokémon came out of nowhere and jabbed Brock in the back, while he was in the middle of a speech of sorts.
"Or…maybe…not…"
He fell to the ground. Ash and Dawn laughed, but Ed and Al just stared at Brock like he was a moron…which we all know he is.
"I'll be right back with some towels," the nurse said.
"Thanks, Nurse Joy," Dawn called after her.
Nurse Joy came back with those towels and everyone dried off.
"I hope we don't get sick…" Ash sighed.
"That would suck..." replied Alphonse.
Dawn cried and started to ring out her hair.
"It's a mess!"
Brock pointed at Edward for a minute.
"I have just discovered something about you!" he boasted.
"Oh really…?" the blonde alchemist replied.
The lines-for-eyes older boy whispered into the other's ear.
"You're…afraid…of thunderstorms."
Ed kicked Brock away from him.
"You have no proof of that!" he accused.
"Isn't it obvious though?" Brock replied, "You ran faster every time you heard thunder!"
"No I didn't!"
"Yes you did! Didn't he, Ash?!"
Ash shrugged.
"I was too busy running myself, Brock."
Alphonse stood up and smiled.
"Yep. My brother is reeeaaally weird!"
"Gee thanks…"
Edward crossed his arms and stared out the window.
"Afraid of thunderstorms…" he muttered, "What a lie…"
While Ed was muttering to himself and the other three were having a random conversation, Brock got out a dictionary.
"Astraphobia: An abnormal and persistent fear of thunderstorms. Sufferers experience anxiety even when they realize the risk of harm is very small. Consequently, when indoors they might seek shelter under a bed, in a closet or in a basement. They generally keep a watchful eye on the sky and remain alert for reports of electrical storms."
"Are you trying to get on my bad side, Brock?" Ed asked angrily.
"No, just educating the world," replied the annoyance.
Edward stood up.
"I'll be back later…" he said.
With that, he walked off in some unknown direction. Alphonse sighed.
"I'm sorry about my brother's behavior," he apologized, "He's got a short temper…and he doesn't like to be annoyed."
"It's alright, Al," Dawn told him.
"Alright to you…" Ash said.
The others stared at him.
"There's something really weird about you two," he continued.
"You aren't usually the suspicious type, Ash," said Brock confusedly.
"Yeah, what's gotten into you?" Dawn asked.
"Nothing really…"
Pikachu frowned.
"Pika pi?"
Ash looked down at Pikachu and patted his head.
"I'm alright, Pikachu. It's just kind of…weird…"
"I hope Ed's alright…" Al said to himself.
Edward went outside on the deck. The rain was pouring even harder now and one would think that he would've gone inside by now.
"What's gotten into me…?" he asked himself.
He looked down at the ring. That was the ring that caused them to be warped here. It didn't make any sense.
'Why did this thing take Al and I here?' Ed thought, 'If this was supposed to be a test, haven't I faced enough crap over the years?'
He sighed. Ed thought about throwing the ring out into the grass or the road or something, but he figured he'd need it to get back home. If it could bring them here, it could take them back. Still, Edward had his doubts about this method. Whoever threw that ring, obviously wanted to get rid of him.
'There's more going on here than what I've figured out so far…but isn't that always the case?'
He groaned and hit his head on the railing.
"Why is this so difficult?"
Edward didn't know what to do now. He figured his best bet would be to stick to these travelers for awhile.
'Why wander by yourself when you can wander with…native wanderers?'
He smirked at his own thoughts.
'I've finally lost it.'
Ed heard the door open behind him and pretended he didn't.
"Hey…Edward?"
To his surprise…It was Dawn.
Kaori: Yeah Yeah…I know it took forever to update…and I even left you a cliffhanger of sorts.
Ed: For inspiration to write this chapter, we listened to random tracks from the FMA Soundtrack.
Kaori: And Returnable Memories helped me write the last part…and I really have no idea why Ed's just standing around in the rain XD
Ed: Review! Or else the ghost of Ed Elric's Eye will haunt you!
Kaori: -.- Private Joke!