"Alchemy Legends"
"He gave me the lamest justification I ever heard"
Hughes almost chuckled but he held it. It was weird to see his best friend that shocked, "So?"
"So", he sighed, "I've to think of something in case he decide to threw us there"
The L. Colonel tapped his fingers thoughtfully for a moment glancing around the bar, "You won't take him with you, will you?"
Roy threw his friend an odd look, "I've thought of it, but I don't want him to be near the battlefield"
In that moment, Riza appeared at his side taking a seat and ordering white wine, "Sorry I'm late, Hayate did a mess at my apartment"
Both men's eyes widened, "You didn't kill him, did you?"
"Barely", she flatly said. She was obviously still angry. "What did you want to talk about?"
"Well", Roy began after he gulped feeling bad for the dog, "The Fuhrer almost confirmed that State Alchemists are going to battle, so I need your opinions about Edward"
The woman flinched at the sudden news and frowned. "Did he tell you why he wanted you to go too?"
The dark-haired man glanced around checking if someone was too close to eavesdrop the conversation, "You won't want to know, believe me. For now let's focus in Ed"
She sighed and grabbed the glass with her drink, "What do you want to do?"
"I can't take him with me, but I can't leave him here without huge protection", Roy muttered turning his gaze to Hughes and then to Riza, "The things Bradley asked me told me that he is getting ready to do whatever he want to do with the kid"
"What do you mean?", Hughes inquired as he lifted his glasses.
"He asked me how well Edward was doing controlling his alchemy and", Roy threw a look around again, "If I could control him"
Riza's brows twitched, "Can you?"
The Colonel didn't say anything for a moment, as he was regretting what he was about to say, "I found how"
Edward laid down in the grass with a deep breath of tiredness. Roy then approached him and sat at his side.
"I told you not to overwork. When you feel that you are losing it, you have to stop"
The blonde glared at him, "Don't you think I'm trying? It's not that easy, you know?"
"I'm not saying it's easy, I'm asking you to concentrate, to focus"
Ed bit his lip and moved his eyes to see the blue sky. They had been in that place for four weeks now and even when he had more control over his alchemy, he kept losing it if he had to transmute something huge. Roy was reading one book quietly as the blonde stood up and approached Fuch to play with him, he needed a break anyway.
"I'll be right back, we're going to the lake", the boy announced with a grin as Fuch jumped happily.
"It's going to get dark soon, come back before that"
Ed nodded and both disappeared between the trees. The man then grabbed his jaw thoughtfully analyzing a transmutation circle that he had found weeks ago which he had modified; he wasn't sure if it was what he was looking for since it could be dangerous. He would have to consult it with the kid since he was amazing when it comes to transmutation circles. Roy wished he was that kind of logic, that way he could be more useful for the boy.
An hour later, he noticed that the sun had almost disappeared and he glanced to the way the kid had taken quite annoyed. He never listened to him. The man stood up and headed to find the blonde before the night showed at the sky; he would have to scowl him so he would actually do as told.
Edward, instead, was swimming in the lake with his clothes on not quite concerned as Roy was about the sunset. The place was surrounded by a cliff that created a beautiful waterfall that Edward loved, but he would dare to go that far with an automail arm.
Fuch then growled, "I know! I'm going", he barked and he swam to the edge. However, he noticed something was wrong, very wrong. Fuch had rolled up scared and everything around here began to shake, so he hurried to grab the fox in his arms. 'An Earthquake!,' he looked around trying to see what could work as a refuge, but it was all trees and rocks.
Suddenly, a strong sound caught his attention and looked up to the waterfall. The cliff was cracking dangerously, so he ran to get far from the place; however, Fuch jumped from his arms and ran to the exact opposite direction.
"FUCH!"
The boy turned around and followed the animal which was running towards a little hole in the rocks, but Edward noticed how the rocks began to fall so the fox would not make it in that place Gritting his teeth, the blonde clapped his hands and touched the ground as the transmutation began to shine.
Edward smiled since everything was going just fine, the rocks were almost back to its place and he wasn't feeling anything yet, but the earthquake wasn't finished and large piece of the mountain slipt. Without time to think in another strategy, Ed focused and the power of the transmutation increased significantly; it was when he began to feel it. 'Concentrate, you can do it', he shut his eyes and used all the strength he had, but it was too much. The transmutation went out of control and kid fell on his knees with his hands on his head shaking. 'Not again!!'
The sensation of something trying to take him off his body was so strong that he thought he would die there; it wasn't pain per se, but it was a lot worse. And now, Mustang wasn't there to help him...or so he thought.
An arm embraced him as he looked up to see Roy's fearfully face, "Concentrate Edward, forget about everything and concentrate. You can stop this"
The kid narrowed his eyes and shook his head, "I-I can't!"
"Do it Edward. Now!"
The blonde placed both hands over the grass and gripped the leafs as he gritted his teeth. He had to do it, he had to. Roy then noticed how the transmutation was being shutting down slowly, maybe too slowly. Ed then grabbed the man's arm and he looked down to see those golden orbits full of fear; he felt so helpless like this.
Then he remembered the transmutation circle. He took the sheet and thought of it for a second since it could be dangerous to use a circle he didn't know exactly what it did, but he would have to find out later.
Roy held the kid tight, put the piece of paper on the grass and activated the transmutation. For a few seconds, the man closed his eyes and focused in don't let Ed go, but everything was over as it began. Edward drew from Roy and glanced around confused noticing the paper on the ground.
"Wha-….How-…?", the kid began when the man opened his eyes ,his breath raced.
"…It worked"
The blonde stared at him waiting for an explanation, but the man just patted his head with a soft smile.
"It worked", he repeated.
"That's how I discovered how to stop him", the man said as he took a sip of his drink.
"You used something like that…without knowing the consequences?", Riza asked accusatorily
Roy discretely moved away from her scared, "Sort of, I had an idea but I wasn't sure if it would work"
"It's like it was the opposite of Edward's alchemy?", Hughes risked trying to change the direction of the conversation
"Something like that, it nullify his alchemy", the Colonel explained, "I had to modify it a lot, but I know should have consulted Edward about it before", he added noticing the glare of Riza.
"He's Ok with that anyway?", the woman asked giving up.
Roy threw her a odd look, "Of course he is OK, now he is more confident when he use his alchemy because he knows I can do something about it"
Maes caught the hidden message, "But if you go…"
"I'm more worried about the interest of others over him than that, so this should be just between us. I don't want anyone to know how to control his alchemy"
Both friends nodded agreeing with his concern.
……………….
"Did you get fun?"
Edward closed his backpack and put it on his back, "Yeah, we read a lot and created some transmutation circles", he said excited.
"…And that's what kids do these days…", the blonde glared at Roy who only smirked amused, "Let's dinner out of the house"
"Really? I thought you didn't like it"
"I don't, but I feel like doing something different", he confessed which made Edward grin.
Then the blonde remembered, "What did the Fuhrer tell you?"
Oh yeah, that, "Well, he said that it wasn't for sure yet", the man lied without a particular expression on his face.
"But why do they have to send you?"
It wouldn't be that easy, would be? "Because my alchemy would be a strong advantage in the battlefield since the North is covered with snow"
Edward just 'mh'ed lifting a brow, but Roy patted the kid's head and he decided to drop the subject for now. Soon, both got into a nice cafeteria near their house where they discovered a delicious stew .
"So, we need to talk", Roy announced when the waitress brought their drinks.
Edward took a sip of his juice, "You used to say that when you dated a girl more than once", the kid commented with a smirk as the man glared at him, "Tell me"
Roy coughed to clear his throat, "Well, we have to think of something in case I actually have to go to the North"
"Can I go with you?", the blonde risked knowing what the answer would be.
However, the dark-haired man moved his glass back and forwards, "I'll be honest with you", he said, "I think it would be best if you came with me, but I don't want you to be anywhere near the battlefield"
Ed stared at him surprised, "I want to go with you"
"Besides, maybe we're being paranoiac about the whole thing", he added after he drank his soda, "And I can't be sure that I would be able to protect you over there. What if they attack the camp?"
"But I want to go"
"Of course we have one more problem", the man continued ignoring Ed, "It would not be easy to hide a 10 years old boy, no matter how short he is"
"I want to g-", Ed blinked a few times processing what Roy had just said, "WHO ARE YOU CALLING SO SHORT THAT IT WOULD FIT INSIDE A LUGGAGE!"
"I would be easier if you actually did", the man said quietly drinking his soda.
"Mustang-San!"
"Take it easy, OK? I'm listening to you", Roy assured as he drew himself closer to the table, "I haven't decided what to do, both options are equally dangerous. And by the way, I think it's time to you to call me Roy"
Edward growled and averted his eyes. He knew it was dangerous, but he would felt a lot safer with Roy, even far from the city he had got to know.
"I wanted to ask you something", the man suddenly asked. The blonde glanced at him slightly mad. "About the circle"
Golden eyes widened nervously, "…What circle?"
"You know, the circle"
Edward opened his mouth but didn't say anything just staring at Roy. Had he discovered about the book? But how could he know about the transmutation circle he saw in his dreams? He shifted nervously on his chair and lowered his eyes.
The man cocked a brow, "What's wrong?", he asked concerned. Maybe Riza was right after all? "I know we haven't talk about it, but I want to know how you feel about it"
"…About it?"
Roy rolled his eyes impatient, "You know, the circle"
Oh…that circle. "What about it?"
"Are you listening to me or just pretending to be?"
"Sorry", he said with a nervous grin.
"I want to know how you feel about it", when he noticed the confused gaze of the kid, he decided to explain more, "Are you ok with me using it?"
"Why wouldn't I?"
Well, Riza had been wrong this time, "I don't know…I don't think I would love the idea of someone having that kind of control over me"
"I don't", the kid plainly assured, "But as long as is you, I'm OK with it"
Roy smirked, "I could get fun with that, you know?", he teased.
"I know you won't"
The man was taken back by the seriousness on the kid's voice. Had he said something wrong? "Everything's OK, Ed?"
Golden eyes met onyx eyes. Ed moved his hand nervously telling to his insides how stupid he was again and again; he didn't want him to know, at least not before he could find who the man was in his dream. Still, he couldn't help but take Roy's comments so serious, connecting them to the other circle, "Of course, why you ask?"
Roy tapped his fingers looking at the kid's grin, looking at the kid's fake grin, "Just asking"
The waitress then arrived with their food and Edward took the chance to change the conversation, "By the way, do you know what happened to Winry and Al's parents?"
"…Winry and Al's parents?", he repeated for the sudden change of topic. Ed nodded so he remained thoughtful for a moment before answering. "Pinako told me that Winry's parents died at Ishbal war, they were doctors", he began, his voice quite hollow, "Al's…I'm not that sure actually"
The blonde threw him and odd look, but he had managed to distract Roy, "How can't you know?"
"I think it was a car accident… I don't recall Pinako telling me the details", the man answered before he put some food on his mouth, "Why do you ask?"
"Just…because", he said holding his fork, "It's not like I can ask them"
"They have live with Pinako since they were almost babies, "Roy continued, "I used to help her when she had to go to meet a client or something"
Edward's eye twitched, "…You were…a babysitter?"
"NO", he barked, "I just helped her"
"…That's babysitting", the kid teased with a snicker.
The man glared at the boy and concentrated on his food, "Shut up"
………
Roy shifted in his bed one more time. For some reason he just couldn't fall sleep even thought he hadn't drunk coffee that night and didn't feel particularly worried. Maybe it was just insomnia. Damn it.
He got up from his bed and went downstairs to make him a cup of coffee. If he couldn't sleep, at least is should be for a good and tasty reason. While the drink was ready, he grabbed a book that Edward had left over the table and read it…just for the distraction. However, the formulas written in there were away too complex for his mood that night, so he closed it.
A few minutes later, he was in the couch with the TV on and a coffee mug on his hand. There was nothing to see at that hours, but it was better than moving around his bed bored. In that moment, he recalled the talk he had had with Ed at the cafeteria, how he had lied to him. Why the blond would do that? Well, two reasons came to his mind; one, the kid was afraid that he would get hurt if he involved the man, and two, he didn't want to worry him since he had a lot to think about.
Either way, he would find out what the blonde was hiding and he would hope it wasn't something to worry about. Anyway, he had to make a decision about the kid, should he take the boy with him? Should he leave him? What he said over there was true, he wasn't sure he would be able to protect him if the battle went out of control…but here, even when he asked everyone to stay with Ed, he would be too vulnerable. Guns didn't have a change against alchemy and the Fuhrer could ask any State Alchemist to come for Edward.
Why could the Fuhrer possibly want with the kid anyway? A weapon maybe? No, Ed could not control his alchemy to that level and it would be a danger to anyone, including the commander in chief. So, a treat? It would make a lot more sense, to use the blonde as a treat…the only thought made him nauseous.
Roy drank his coffee slowly just staring at the TV, his mind a mess. What if, apart from the Fuhrer, the stupid members of the Alchemists Union took the chance too to attack Edward? The man ran a hand on his dark hair with a deep sigh of concern, but then, he flinched. He remained quiet analyzing the thought that had just came to his mind over and over before he brought a hand to his mouth.
"…Could it be….?"
The Colonel stood up and ran to his small library and began to throw the books one by one looking for a specific book, a book that it wasn't there. 'Where is it?'. He went to the commode and opened the drawer and did the same until he found a brown leather book with the inscription of "Alchemy Legends" and stared at it for a moment before opening it.
"Come on, come on!"
Page to page he read the titles of the articles until one of then caught his attention, one of then that had looked a long time ago, a very long time ago. His eyes moved quickly through the words, his mind playing with him with scenes of the young Roy full of despair, hope and fear, thoughts of what he could do if he had that thing on his hands.
But now, he wasn't looking for something to cure his heart, something that could bring his family back. Still, there he was reading about the Philosopher Stone, the legendary stone that could do anything, make any wish come true, that could challenge the equivalent law of alchemy. He hated that once he believed all that crap with all his heart, but now he had one reason to stare at the page shocked.
There, at the middle of the article, was the name of "Van Hohenheim", the creator of the last Philosopher Stone known.