Disclaimer- I don't own Kimbley, Archer, Ed, Al, or Noah. This story is purely fictional, though based off of true history.
Sadie-kun I'm sooooooo sorry to all my readers out there! Marching season finally ended so now I can get back to writing a lot more.
Edward Yeah, you know how bored I've been lately? YOU CAN'T PLAY BOARD GAMES BY YOURSELF!
Sadie-kun Sorry Ed, I'll make it up to you with a pumpkin pie smoothie….
EdwardDone!
starts greedily drinking
Sadie-kun I just wanted to mention the historical significance of the date. On June 6th, 1944 the invasion party of the Allies landed on Normandy beach. It was the first big sign of the tide turning in the Allies favor.
June 1944"Brother, what's going on?" Al asked in a hushed whisper."Shh…." Over a year had passed since the last major battle. Although a few days ago, the allies had made a huge break-through. Everyone was calling it D-day. The allies had attacked several beaches along the French coast. Casualties on both sides were catastrophic but the allies were slowly gaining an upper hand. This had thrown the Germans into a slight panic. The number of captive at camp was almost cut in half in an attempt to finish the genocide. The remaining refugees were kept on their toes, unsure of what was going to happen next. At the moment, they were all lined up outside the barracks. Everyone was visibly shaken and afraid they were going to be the next one sent to the gas chambers.Edward strained to hear Archer talking to Kimbley and Tucker. It was never a good sign when Tucker and Kimbley combined. Al was still watching his brother anxiously."Can you hear what they're saying?" Edward shook his head and sighed. Apparently, Archer was done talking because the group had split up and Tucker was moving down the line of prisoners. Dread welled up in Edward's chest as he realized this was similar to their inspection at their arrival at the camp. He and Al were relatively healthy, but he wasn't so sure about Noah. Every time a German soldier touched her, he could see waves of pain wash through her eyes. Her gift of clairvoyance was becoming a mighty curse.As Tucker went along the line, he handed each person a piece of paper with a number on it. Like how teachers split up students into groups, Edward thought wryly. When Tucker reached them, he spent an uncomfortably long time on Al, sending Ed into a spiral of worry. Tucker handed Al a number one and then turned to Ed. A small gasp escaped his lips, but Edward didn't notice. Tucker hastily scratched out a number one and wrote in a three before handing it to Edward. When Tucker passed further away, the three compared numbers. Noah was a two, Alphonse was a one and Edward was a three. Being split up was not a good sign.When Tucker finished his assessment, Archer stepped forward to make an announcement. "Those with a number one, report to Basque Grand. Two's will go with Doctor Marcoh. Any others will come with me." Noah began to silently cry. Alphonse tried to comfort her, but the German soldiers were beginning to split up the crowd. One grabbed Noah's wrist and her eyes filled with shock. Her screamed echoed through the camp as she tried to free herself. Al sensed something was wrong and started to try to help her. More soldiers joined the scene and pulled Al away. Edward turned to help his brother but a firm hand on his shoulder stopped him. He looked up to see Archer grinning at him maliciously."Get your hand off me!" Ed snarled as he shrugged off the pale fingers. "Now, now. I won't stand for that kind of behavior." A contingent of soldiers restrained Edward before he even had a chance to strike. Edward glanced over to see Alphonse and Noah as well restrained as he was. "Oh, I wouldn't worry about them. I would be more concerned about myself." The arms holding him started to drag him towards a looming building. "Ed!" Alphonse yelled desperately. "Al!" He tried to reach out his hand but he was almost completely immobile. Slowly he was being separated from his reason to live. His mind raced through solutions but there were none. All he could think of was not 'Not Al, not my brother.' But the hands of destiny were pulling them apart.
Edward was slammed down on a cold metal chair, hands cuffed behind his back. Archer stared at him from across the table with his fingers forming a steeple in front of him. "So, you've been hiding something from us." Ed growled defiantly but tried to find the meaning hidden behind his words. Archer nodded towards someone behind Ed. Doctor Chou Tucker stepped forward holding a large scalpel. Needles were bad enough but this was becoming even more of a nightmare. As Tucker raised the sharp instrument, Edward flinched and closed his eyes. Shhhhhk. The blade had cut something but he felt no pain. He partially opened his eyes to see his right arm cut open. If the arm had been flesh, the pain would have been unbelievable. Luckily, only the fake skin had been sliced to reveal the automail underneath.
Archer gave another malevolent smile as the rest of the fake skin was removed from his arm. "So, are any other of your appendages metal or shall we just cut you until we find them?" Light refracted off the blade, reminding him of its sharpness. "Only my left leg from the knee down." He grudgingly admitted. He heard cloth rip as Tucker worked his way down to the faux skin and finally metal. In the course of a few minutes, Edward's strange automail was laid bare for the whole world to see.
Archer's greedy eyes scanned the lines and contours. Ed couldn't help feeling naked with his secret exposed. "You should have known we'd find out. The Nazi power is all knowing." "Yet you still act like such an idiot." He was sure or his eminent death so he say no reason in not adding a few sarcastic remarks. Instead of the beating he expected to come, there was only cold silence. This served to further his dread. "Why did you never become a military official of the great Nazi party? You have the intelligence and blond hair that every true Aryan possesses. True, your eyes are a freak of nature but I'm sure it would have been over-looked. Even now, you are being offered a chance. The higher ups have seen it fit to offer you a position among our ranks. Soon our great Furher will possess the world and countless honors would rain down upon you. Why throw away your life if you could have everything?" "And my brother, Al? What about him?"
"That all depends on your performance. It is quite possible that he could be released if you prove yourself worthy. The gypsy girl will have to go. Her tainted blood has no place in this world." Edward thought of Noah- her kind smile, her sensitive nature. He could never abandon her like that, even for his brother's sake. He shook his head. "I won't accept those terms." "You act as though I'm giving you a choice. You will cooperate, willing or not." With that, Archer stood up and left. Edward wasn't sure what to expect next. A faceless soldier placed a hand on his shoulder. He was led to a small, blank cell. Solid concrete walls gave no break for light. Only a singular bulb lit the sparse conditions. He heaved a sigh and sat with his back to a wall, searching for a reprieve that might never come.
Time had no meaning in his darkened cell. Eventually his worry and anticipation were replaced with pure exhaustion. He fell into an uneasy rest with only his nightmares for company.
Edward awoke with a jolt. Something didn't feel right. He tried to sit up but was unable to. Frantically, he looked around to see his setting had changed. He was in a white, sterile-looking room. He was strapped to a flat table-top which explained his inability to move. He began to struggle against his bonds, but all in vain. "I wouldn't do that if I were you. You wouldn't want me to miss." Edward tilted his head to see who spoke. Standing over him was Doctor Marcoh holding a large syringe. "This is to boost your immune system. Colonel Archer doesn't want his best weapon to be disease-ridden." "Like hell that's what it is! Why should I believe you?" He started to struggle again but guards were there to bind him even more tightly. His eyes darted around but all he could see was the ever-nearing needle. As it pierced his skin, he let a cry of anguish escape his lips.
He was in an open room. He sat in a chair, unbound. Marcoh was standing behind him with a slide projector. Ed's golden eyes were dialated and his breathing was shallow. A sheen of sweat covered him as he tried to stay in control. "This is a group of gypsies performing their satanic rite. See how they worship the devil? They need to be destroyed." "No." Ed fought even harder. "They're… they're people. Roma… they don't hurt people…" He struggled to remember Noah but only Marcoh's words cut through his foggy mind. "Gypsies are evil, Edward. They are always stealing which is why they always travel. They're dirty, evil, vagabonds." For some reason, Ed found himself nodding in agreement. Marcoh moved to the next slide. "This is a jew. They are inferior but still try to steal our money. They need to be destroyed."
"Nooooo!!!!!! Augh!!!!" His screams cut through the night air. The dreams were back. Unspeakable horrors played through his mind and he was unable to stop them. "Sh, shhh. It's alright." The kind words were said in a toneless voice. "The medicine is just wearing off. That's why you get these nightmares. Here, I'll inject some more to make it stop." Edward felt a cool needle press into his skin. Slowly, the terror of the dream disappeared into a haze. Somewhere, in the deep recesses of his mind, he could feel a sense of wrongness. But even that thought drifted away as the drug went along its course.
He stood rigidly in a military salute. His hair was pulled in a neat ponytail and he wore military-issued clothes. Faded bruises were hidden under the starched grey uniform. It had only been eight months yet Ed had lost. His mind had been buried deep in a dark corner. What showed on the outside was little more than a beast. His humanity had deserted him.
"Today we will test your prowness with weapons." Edward gave a curt nod. Several technicians swarmed Ed and pulled back his right sleeve to reveal the metal underneath. They efficiently strapped on a metal blade to the arm. Somewhere in the dark fog, Ed realized he had used a similar weapon many times before. The outward Ed only grinned at his new toy. Archer noted the changes in the Elric boy with satisfaction. He was pleased to see even the most feral dogs could be subdued under a military collar. "Now I know you've already had weapon training. I think we should see how you fare against someone similarly taught." Archer beckoned Ed to follow and he did so without hesitation. They wound their way through the camp. People Edward once viewed with compassion were now invalids and underlings in his eyes. Hardly worth the effort to exterminate them. The refugees seemed to sense his thoughts and shrank back in fear. Edward let a smirk grace his lips. They were right to be afraid.
Eventually they reached the edge of the camp where a boxing style ring was set up. A huddled mass of rags sat in the far corner. Archer motioned for Edward to step into the ring. "This will be your opponent. I want you to bring me his head when you're done having fun." He turned to view his victim properly. One of the soldiers lining the ring was handing the other person a spear. It was someone of slender build with cropped brown hair and compassionate grey eyes. In his divided mind, Edward released a scream of anguish. His own brother… They were pitting him against his own brother. "I presume you recognize his face." The evil grin appeared on his face as he nodded.
Meanwhile a battle was raging within. The true Ed was fighting with all his might to free his mind. He was losing the battle. A week of intense emotional and physical trauma had created a kind of alter-ego. This Ed was cruel and malevolent. Where empathy once dwelt, there was only anger and hatred. It was a beast with had taken control of the true Ed's body and was not planning on relinquishing its hold.
Alphonse got unsteadily to his feet. His eyes glistened with tears. "Ed! Ed you're okay! I thought they had killed you!" The grin on Edwards face grew. Alphonse responded with a look of confusion. "What's wrong brother? You don't seem the same." "Don't worry, I'm fine. I'd be more worried about yourself." As he said these words, he licked the sharp edge of his blade. Alphonse gave an involuntary shudder. "Your brother has had a change of heart." Alphonse saw Kimbley leaning on the rope with a bemused expression. "What do you mean?" "It seems all that stuff about brotherly love is crap. He's out for your blood." "That's right. And there's no one to protect you!" Edward dashed at his brother with lightning speed, his blade held high.
At the last second, Alphonse lifted the blunt edge of the spear to block the attack. Edward pulled back, ready to strike again. Carefully, they began to circle each other. "Brother, I don't want to hurt you. You've got to wake up. I can't do this. I can't fight you." Tears were starting to well up in his eyes. "Too bad, because I have no problem with fighting with you." Edward made another attack, this time aiming for Alphonse's stomach. Only a quick jump backwards saved him from spilling his organs. But it wasn't quite enough because Al still sustained a deep cut. At the sight of his brother's blood, Edward's attacks became more vicious. He could tell Al was weakening and he was winning.
Finally, he cornered Al. Both were panting heavily with sweat rolling down their faces. Edward was barely dirty while scratches and blood covered Alphonse. The outward Ed grinned at his handiwork. He was going to win. No! I don't want to win! It's Al! A raging battle was being fought inside him. Dark Ed and the true Edward grappled for control.
"Why fight me? I'm offering you protection!" Edward threw a punch at the other Ed but missed. "Protecting me from what? That's my brother you're killing! I've never let anyone control me before and that includes you." In their wrestling for power, they fell with Dark Ed holding the upper hand. "Hah, you act tough but I know the truth. You've always felt held back by your brother. Imagine what you could accomplish with him out of the way! These Nazis are offering you the power to do anything!" The true Edward could feel himself waning. Dark Ed held a little bit of truth in his statement.
Alphonse couldn't read any emotions on Edward's face. He realized it was either now or never. A clatter echoed through the camp as Al threw down his spear. A vicious smirk rose on Edward's face. "I promise I'll try not to miss." "It's alright brother, I love you."
As Edward felt his arm swinging down towards Al's exposed throat, his fury released a burst of energy. The arm stopped, causing nothing more than a bead of blood to form on Al's neck. Hot tears streaked down Ed's face. "Al, I'm so sorry." Then his knees buckled and collapsed. Alphonse barely caught him at the last second. It had taken all of his strength to banish the evil presence in his mind.
"I see, it seems our experiment was a failure. Throw them in the cell for execution tomorrow. Don't bother feeding them; it will be wasted tomorrow anyways." Several soldiers gathered around the Elrics and roughly dragged them to their feet. From there they were taken back to the camp and unceremoniously thrown in a cell. Al, barely conscious, crawled to his older brother. "Brother, please, you have to get up. We'll be dead by morning if we don't escape." A note of hysteria was creeping into his voice. "Well, it looks like you two are in quite a fix. Maybe I can offer some assistance." The cat-like voice came from a dark corner of the cell. "Who's there?" Al called fearfully.
Edward What's wrong with you! Are you insane? You made me almost KILL my brother!
Sadie-kun Well, it was just almost so…. And it made a great plot twist.
Edward Psycho, absolutely psycho.
Sadie-kun While Ed throws a hissy fit….
Edward THIS IS NOT A HISSY FIT!!!!!!!!!
Sadie-kun Sure. So while he's going on about his brother, I want to point out the great inspirations I had for this chapter. First, I would like to thank Robert Conrad and the show called Baa Baa Black Sheep. It was thanks to them that I was able to brainwash Edward.
Edward You're saying it like it's a good thing. Besides, who do you think you are? An actress in the emmys?
whacks him on the head
Sadie-kun As I was saying, I also owe a debt to my younger brother. He gives much of his historical insight which is extremely accurate. Well, that's it for this chapter! I know you're all excited about the one to come! My newest character is going to be a personal favorite!
