Episode 8:
A few days had passed since Ed had first been to visit Danielle while she was in the hospital. Nothing had changed. She was still unconscious. She hadn't gotten worse, but she hadn't gotten better. No visitors had been allowed in the room since the day Ed and Al had first came, except for the Colonel. They had been updated regularly by Fuery on Danielle's condition.
Ed laid on the couch. He stretched and yawned, bored out of his mind.
"There's nothing to do!" he complained. He turned over and looked at Al. "Think of something to do."
"We could go and try to visit Danielle again," Al suggested.
"What's the point? They won't let us in. We've tried a hundred times." Ed rolled back over and yawned again.
"Actually, Lieutenant Hawkeye came by this morning to report the Danielle is falling in and out of consciousness and that they are allowing visitors."
"When did she come by?" Ed asked, sitting up suddenly. He felt a little dizzy from the sudden change in position.
"When you were snoring loudly on the sofa," Al chuckled, noticing Ed's slight embarrassment. "So are you going to go see her?"
"I don't know. Maybe," Ed sighed. "I might run into the Colonel there. And I really don't want to see him. He still has that assignment for me, and he won't tell me what it is until tomorrow. It's probably something really stupid."
"He won't be there. He already visited her today. He came by with Lieutenant Hawkeye.," Al said.
"Why didn't you wake me up, Al?!" Ed yelled.
"I tried, but you wouldn't wake up. The Colonel said he would have thought you were dead if it wasn't for the loud snoring."
"What?!" Ed fumed. "Wait till I give that guy a piece of my mind!"
"He said that as soon as you wake up, if you ever did, to report to him immediately. He wants to give you your assignment."
"Oh great," Ed mumbled. He stood up and walked over to the window. "Well, let's go, then. We don't want to keep his 'Majesty' waiting." He walked over to the couch and grabbed his coat, then gestured for Al to follow him.
Lieutenant Havoc stood outside of the Colonel's doorway. He looked at Ed and Al as they made their way up the hallway. He smiled and made his way down farther to the chow hall. Ed knocked on the door, waiting for the Colonel's okay.
"Come in," they heard, and they both stepped in. Colonel Mustang sat behind his desk, drumming his fingers beside a piece of paper. He smirked at the sight of Edward.
"What's so funny?" Ed questioned.
"Just that you're here. I didn't think you'd actually ever wake up. I saw the violent shaking that Al gave you and I really thought you were dead," the Colonel laughed.
"Yeah, yeah, just get on with what I'm here for," Ed mumbled angrily. Mustang picked a folder up off of his desk and handed it to Edward.
"You are to locate Jeromae Duncan. He's a research alchemist, obessed with the ancient arts in alchemical processes. He has committed an unforgivable crime. He is located somewhere near Pyre. You are to bring him back; dead or alive," the Colonel said, informing them of their duties. "That folder has all of the known information in it. You'll have that to go off of."
"This is a pretty open assignment. 'Dead or alive'? You holding something against him?" Ed asked. The Colonel continued to look at him in silence. Edward began to feel an uneasiness in the pit of his stomach.
"You leave tomorrow at 1800. And, under no circumstances, are you to take Danielle along with you."
"Why would I --?"
"You will not!"
"Yes, sir!" Ed stammered, taking to folder and leaving the office quickly. That was the one time the Colonel had frightened him a bit. Either the Colonel was in a really bad mood, or he knew a bit more than what he was telling.
Ed and Al slowly made their way to the hospital. They quietly discussed the Colonel's mood, and trying to figure out what this Jeromae Duncan had done.
They passed the nurse's station, nodding their heads in greeting, and made their way to Danielle's room. Ed gripped the folder at his side as Alphonse continued to suggest ideas for what crimes are unforgivable to the Colonel. Suddenly, out of Danielle's room, Dr. Clark flew out into the hallway and against the wall.
"What are you doing?! Help! Somebody!" the doctor yelled. Ed and Al ran to him and helped him up. "She came in through the window and took Danielle! I tried to stop her, but she caught me off guard."
"What?!" Ed yelled. He and Al turned and looked in Danielle's room. She wasn't on her bed and the drapes on the window were blowing in the wind. "Al, quick!"
Ed and Al ran to the window and looked out. The breeze blew quietly against Ed's face.
"There!" Al cried, pointing to a dark figure running across the rooftops.
Ed jumped out and onto the tree next to the window. He climbed up it and onto the next building, quickly following pursuit. Al, too big to fit through the window, made his way out the front of the hospital.
"Hey, you stop!" Ed yelled. The dark figure stopped and turned to him. Ed stopped as well and realized the figure was the Phantom Lady. Danielle hung weakly over her shoulder.
"I told you not to interfere anymore, boy," the Phantom Lady said.
"You let her go!" Ed yelled.
"Now, I don't really think that's an option," the Phantom said, pretending to think about it. She smirked as Ed cursed at her under his breath.
"This is your last warning!"
"I think I could handle a pipsqueak like you."
"Then handle this!" Danielle yelled as she kneed the Phantom Lady in the stomach. The Phantom dropped Danielle.
"Tricky little bitch," the Phantom said, eyeing Danielle as she made her way over to Ed. "Just wait until I get a hold of you again." Danielle stood by Ed, both of them glaring at the Phantom. "Take this!" The Phantom threw several daggers at them.
Danielle raised a wall to protect them both as Ed transmuted spikes out of the wall and sent them flying. The Phantom jumped to the ground and looked up at both of them. She began to transmute something, then dodged an attack from Alphonse. She looked at all of them and sighed.
"I know when to quit," she said, taking a step back. "I'll just have to come up with a better plan. But for now, behave."
Al ran at her again, but he lost her in a cloud of smoke she had created.
Danielle collapsed to her knees and sighed. "That was exciting."
"Are you okay?" Ed asked. Danielle nodded her head. They both jumped to the ground and made their way toward Alphonse.
"Here, Brother, you left this behind," Al said, handing Ed the folder. Danielle looked at it suspiciously and caught sight of the name.
"Edward, what is that?" she gasped.
"My next assignment," Ed replied.
"What?! When are you starting it?!"
"Tomorrow is when our train leaves."
"I'm coming with you," Danielle exclaimed.
"No you're not," Ed replied.
"Edward! I have to!"
"No you don't, so get over it!"
Danielle just stared at him in anger. Her eyes were full of fury; the same kind of fury that had been in the Colonel's eyes. A thought struck Ed, but he didn't say anything. He just watched Danielle walk back to the hospital in a bad mood. Alphonse turned to Ed, wanting to know what he was thinking, but Ed made no sign of thought: he kept it well hidden.
Edward sat in his study all night looking at the folder with the information on Jeromae Duncan. Not much information was given on him. He was big on the study of how ancient civilizations used alchemy to construct their temples and monuments. He had tried several experiments using ancient alchemy, but most were forbidden, so now he's on the run.
Ed thought back to Colonel Mustang and Danielle's reactions to this man. There had to be some sort of connection between the three, but Ed only had a slight idea of what it may be. He jotted down a few more notes into his notebook and stared out of the window. He saw a few officers that he knew, but not by name. He sighed and rested his head on his desk.
A few minutes later, Alphonse opened the door and peered inside.
"Edward, did you want something to eat?" he asked. He got no reply. Ed lay asleep, quietly breathing. Al quietly backed out of the room, leaving his brother to sleep until they left for their mission the next day.
Edward and Alphonse arrived at the train station at six o' clock the next day. Military officials were keeping watch at every possible place at the station. Many were checking a few people who were riding the train. The brothers caught sight of the Colonel and made their way over to him.
"I guess you really don't want Danielle to go, do you," Ed said jokingly.
"I feel that it could be hazardous to the mission, and to herself," Mustang replied. "You two had better get on the train."
"Will their be any officers on the train?"
"I don't feel the need for it. She won't get on now."
"Okay, then," Ed said, getting onto the train. "Call you when we get to Pyre." He caught a glimpse of Lieutenant Hawkeye at the end of the train.
"Hey, we should get a private compartment," Ed said, pulling open a door to an empty compartment. "No one is using them.
"I guess we could," Al said. They sat down in a compartment and closed the door.
"Nice -- very nice," Ed sighed as he made himself comfortable. The train lurched forward and pulled out of the station. The sun had already begun to set as Central disappeared from sight. The sky slowly began to darken, and Ed began to light the lamps in the compartment. They turned a corner a little sharply, and a large mass fell out of the overhead compartment. Danielle lay on the floor in a daze.
"Danielle?! What are you --! How did you get onto the train?!" Ed exclaimed looking down at her. She merely smiled up at him, rubbing a small bump on her head.
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I am sooo sorry this episode was shorter than usual. The next one should be longer! Sorry! bow bow
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Preview of Next Episode:
Ed pushed the Phantom against the wall of the train and knocked the sword out of her hands. He looked at her. She began to laugh hysterically.
"What's so damn funny?"
"You're the alchemist in search of the Philosopher's Stone."
"Yeah, what of it?"
"What if I told you I've seen the Stone you're looking for?"