Hi! I'm sorry! I wanted to update sooner, but I was so busy these past two weeks -_- I had both a Chemistry test and a Molecular Biology test to study for and I didn't have a lot of time to do much else. I'm also prone to getting easily distracted so whenever I sat down to work on this I ended up doing a lot of research online on FMA wiki to make this as in character as I could. I'll be honest and say I also just did random stuff on youtube too. I hope everyone is in character, but tell me if you think anything could be improved! Also, please review! I really like to know what my readers think and reviews tell me whether people like it or not. I also thought I should say that this story follows up on the Brotherhood storyline, not the 2003 anime, although I really liked the idea of the alternate dimension idea from that so I'm using it! Only it's not quite the same :p . I hope to hear from you and I'll do my best to update soon! Without further ado…. my story.
Disclaimer: I do not own FMA! Only the OCs are mine!
I hear muffled voices and a faint beeping sound. I wake up. My body feels sore everywhere and I take a deep breath to steady myself, wincing as I feel my ribs groaning with the effort. Slowly, I open my eyes and squint because of the bright light overhead. After my eyes adjust, I look around my room. Well, not my room, a hospital room. The bare walls are painted white and a small table in the corner supports and antique radio. How gloomy I think. The only window in the room is to my left, but it is covered by some green curtains so I can't tell what time it is. To my right, I find the source of the beeping noise; I figure it's a heart monitor, but I've never seen one that looks like this. Behind that, I see the door with the silhouette of a person standing outside of it. This doesn't look like a normal hospital… I thought normally you're in a room with one other person. At least that's what it was like when grandpa was in the hospital. Why am I in a private room? Why isn't mom in here with me? There's no way she'd let the doctors keep her out… I grin sheepishly and glance back at the door. And who's the creeper standing outside my door?
Sighing, I try to remember how I got here. Well, I found a secret room in my basement where dad had some project. I set it up and turned it on and then… I must have been electrocuted or something and had to be taken to the hospital. I sure had a crazy dream though… I glance at the clock next to the door. "I hate hand clocks, digital ones are so much easier to read…" I moan quietly. 4:45… so is that am or pm? Whoever invented the hand clock should have seriously figured out some way to make it say am or pm.
While I'm silently complaining about the clock, I hear footsteps outside the room. They steadily get louder so I figure they must being coming down a hallway towards my room. I see a second silhouette appear next to the first and hear a brief, muffled conversation before the first silhouette salutes and begins to walk away. The second silhouette then takes up the same position as the first in front of my door. Okay… so my room has two creepers now. Wonderful. But seriously, why are there people standing outside my door? I frown and try to sit up, gasping in pain at the sudden burning sensation that runs down my whole body. I fall back onto the pillow vowing to not try that again.
I lay in the hospital bed for what seems like hours just staring at the ceiling. I didn't realize I had fallen asleep until I hear footsteps coming down the hallway again. I open my eyes and stare at my door. Please don't let this be just another creeper. My breath catches as a new shadow shows up on the other side of the door. I hear a hurried conversation before I see creeper two salute and step aside to allow the new person access to my door. The doorknob starts to turn.
When the door opens I can't help but stare. A woman walks in and a door floating in the air above her follows. I close my eyes and take a second look. It's locked up with a chain and padlock, but it's defiantly there. She's obviously a nurse, but her uniform looks like one of those old style ones from black and white movies. It's a white dress and apron that go down to her knees with a white hat thing to top the outfit off. Is this a dress-up day or something? I think.
She smiles at me reassuring and walks over to the monitor. "Zah. Val un dea proschimik?" she says.
I gap at her. "Wha…What?" I say.
She glances at me thoughtfully and says, "Val un dea proschimik?"
"I…. I don't understand." I can hear a note of hysteria in my voice. Why can't I understand her? This is the United States right? Everyone here speaks English except for people who speak Spanish, and even they usually know some English! That wasn't Spanish and it definitely wasn't English.
She frowns and writes something down on her clipboard before glancing at my monitor. She turns a few knobs before she stands up and heads back towards the door. "Et zai du awisn." she says before opening the door and walking out.
Okay. The uniform thing I was handling. I could take the freaky door too, but this! I start panicking even more as I remember my psychology teacher telling me that some people who suffer brain damage in accidents lose their ability to understand speech. Sometimes their vision gets messed up too. That could explain the floating door and language issues. I'm going insane! No wonder there's a guard at the door. This is probably some ward for people with brain damage. Or… or...! I stare at the ceiling and do something I haven't done since my dad disappeared. I start to cry.
I just lie there for a long time crying and trying to order my thoughts. I remember the nurse came back in and set a glass of water on the small table next to my bed, but I ignore her. As much as I want to deny it, I know I'm just lying to myself. I can recall every detail of that "dream" I had. Dad's notes on different dimensions, the experiment, the eye and black hands swallowing me, the white space, the grinning person on the other side. Everything. As much as I hate to admit it, I know those things really happened. There is no other explanation for my current position. Note too self: When I find dad, I'm gonna kill him!
"Well that's not why you came here. Aren't you trying to rescue him?" a voice echoes through the room.
I frown as I recognize it. "So you're talking to me now from this side? How often will these chats be because I'm not happy with you either." I hear a chuckle and I'm not at all surprised when I see a giant eye open on the ceiling and look at me. "It's rude to stare." I say.
"Well aren't you snappy." The voice says, and I can practically hear the grin I know the Truth is making. "I won't speak to you very often since this is your journey"
"Then why are you here now! Are you going to help me find my dad?" I say sarcastically.
"Again, no. I prefer people come up with their own answers."
"It would be easier to find my dad if I could understand the people over here. Isn't finding him doing you a favor too? Did you not consider the language issue when you dragged me here?"
"I'm glad you asked that! Oh I considered it. It will take a while, but you will gradually understand them. You'd be wasting both of our time otherwise. It would have been easier if you had a gate I could have just opened, but, since you don't, we'll have to make due. Of course that will be the same when you return home. You'll have to adjust to English again."
"I'm starting to think you like messing with people just for the hell of it."
I hear a chuckle in response. "I only came to explain the language problems to you. Now that that's settled, I'll be keeping an eye on you where you can't see. Let's work together to fix the problems your dad has caused." I watch as the eye closes and disappears leaving me in silence.
"Yeah, work together she says. It seems to me that I'm doing all the work!" I mutter to myself. "If all you're gonna do is watch, don't complain about how I do things over here. Got it?" I glare at the ceiling as I say this, and then start to come up with a plan. I know I can't stay here in this hospital, but how am I going to get past the creeper outside? Of course it still hurts to move so I'll have to bide my time…
Loud footsteps coming down the hallway break me out of my thoughts. I glance at the door again. Is it time for another creeper to fill in? I wonder. As the footsteps get closer, I can hear a conversation between two people, a man and a woman from the sounds of it. I see the shadow of my guard stiffen and salute before the other shadows even show up on my door.
"Fuhrer! Zen hamaine gro ashmil dea."
"Al dea quef."
Not a new guard, a superior to this guy… great visitors. And I still have no idea what they're saying except for maybe the word Fuhrer. I sigh. I think I've heard the word Fuhrer before in a history class. Hitler was one if I remember. I silently pray this guy doesn't have a strange mustache, and doesn't hate inter-dimensional travelers. I hear the doorknob start to twist and I wait patiently for whoever's coming in. My first view of the man opening the door fills me with relief. Thank the heavens he doesn't have a freaky mustache!
He looks like a rather stoic if unimposing man. He has dark hair and dark eyes with a little bit of gray on the edges. He's wearing a military uniform with a ton of decorations, and he has a pair of white gloves on decorated with a circle of all things. Following him into the room is a blonde woman with brown eyes. She is also wearing a military uniform. A secretary? No, they seem closer than that just by how they stand next to each other. Just like with the nurse, they both have doors floating above them. The woman's door looks exactly like the nurses except for the design, buy for the man it looks different. It's wide open and an eye is staring out from the darkness. He's seen the Truth... The thought just pops into my head, but, somehow, I know its true.
"Te go dea cazt understand te bur, welzim af Amestris mal. Tem Roy Mustang." He points to himself, and then he points to the woman saying, "Tet san Riza Hawkeye. Dea gem ze qit ul scare lam knid ven dea apashar un ul crater." He says this very slowly, and I feel my cheeks flush in irritation and embarrassment. It's kind of them to speak slowly, but it definitely stings my pride.
They are both looking at me expectantly, and it occurs to me that since they both supplied their names, they were waiting for mine. I take a deep breath and say, "My name is Charity Evans."
The woman, Riza, says, "Charity Evans? Tan san ul nice zoman." She smiles at me and I feel relieved to know that these people are friendly.
"Hia need gro go het dea got hamal." Mustang says as he hands me a notepad and a pen.
I stare at him blankly and then look at Riza who is making gestures in the air. First she points to me, and then she spreads her arms wide to show everything in the room. Finally, she shrugs her shoulders like she's confused. The whole thing looks rather ridiculous to be honest, and I can't help but smile. I think I get the idea, although I've always been bad at charades. They want to know how I got here. That question would make sense. I feel hesitant to do anything. They probably won't believe me if I tell them, but, then again, this man has seen the Truth so maybe… I've always hated Pictionary too. Without waiting for further permission, I begin to draw.
I start by drawing a really poor sketch of North America on a circle to represent Earth. Then I point to myself and circle an area on the map roughly where Los Angeles would be. To add emphasis, I draw a little house inside the circle. The two of them nod and watch me intently for more. Flipping to the next page, I draw a rough sketch of the circle I saw on my basement floor, complete with symbols and equations. I'm not sure why I'm showing them this part since I don't even really understand it, but I just somehow know that I need to. It's a really weird feeling.
I continue by drawing a giant eye over the circle with sharp lines I'm hoping look like lightning. I flip the paper once more and draw the Truth smiling at a stick figure that I hope resembles me. I hear a sharp intake of breath from Riza and Mustang frowns. Ignoring them, I continue my lame picture. The Truth and I shake hands and then I draw an arrow that leads to me in the bed I am currently in.
I look up to see what impact my drawing skills have had on them. They both have hard eyes and I feel worried I may have just convinced them I'm insane. Mustang reaches for the paper and I obligingly hand it over.
"Roy, what zon tet mean?" Riza says.
Mustang frowns and shakes his head. "Te cazt go Riza. Fullmetal zal be hamal tonight veth Al. They go mah azbon foreign alchemy dam te." He looks at me. "Gremar dea" he says while giving his head a brief nod which I take as thanks. He stands up and turns for the door. "Riza, porzay stay hamal and eos if dea can ge more zay mal Charity. Deaem mah training al language izprecion dam te."
Riza nods in response to whatever he said "Te will eos dea vehn Ed and Al gar hamal later, Roy." she says.
Mustang nods and starts to leave. Before I can stop myself, I reach out and say "Wait!"
He stops and turns to face me. I point to my sketch pad which is still in his hand and say, "You've seen it too, haven't you? The Truth? What do you know about all of this? I can't stand not understanding what's going on! Please!" I 'm breathing hard and I can fill tears stinging my eyes. They are both looking at me with wide, surprised eyes, and I look down to hide my face. Why do I even bother? They can't understand me as much as I can't understand them I think to myself.
He surprises me with what he does next. He flips to my picture of the Truth and nods as he points to it and then his eyes "Te seen et Truth. Hia will taz more later." He looks tired as he says this, like it reminds him of unpleasant things. Then he turns and leaves the room, bringing his floating open door with him.
Roy Mustang walked down the hall at a brisk pace, nodding to the military personnel that saluted him as he walked past, but not really paying attention since he was deep in his own thoughts. It's incredible how fast she seems to be picking up the language. The nurse said she was completely incomprehensible, but I could figure out what she was saying towards the end. How did she know I've seen the Truth? There's no doubt that she did.
He pictured the scene in his mind. The blonde girl was reaching for him and her light green eyes were frantic. "Ta'be seen le too, haven't ta? The Truth? Qea do ta savr about tovo di et? Ye can't stand ne knowing qeas era on! Please!" she had said. He climbed into the car that was waiting for him outside of the military hospital while reporters tried to push each other to get to the front of the railing that was keeping them back.
"Fuhrer Mustang! What do you have to say about the crater at Central Command? Is it true there was a person found inside of it and...?" The car door closed and the rest of what the reported had to say was too muffled to hear.
"Are we heading to the train station to pick up the Elric brothers and their families, Sir?" The chaffer, Devon, asked.
Mustang smirked and replied, "Fullmetal would hate the attention it would bring if we picked him up, so yes. They'll get to the hospital quicker if we get them anyway so it's easier."
"Very well." Devon smiled into the rear view mirror.
As the car pulled away from the hospital and started to head for the train station, Mustang watched the city go by. It had been two years since Grumman had died and he'd been promoted to Fuhrer and a lot had happened during that time. First had been the alchemical explosion in Eastern Command that had caused riots in the town closest to the disaster. Fuhrer King Bradley's son, Selim, had gone missing around the same time. During all this, Mustang had worked overtime to rewrite the Constitution of Amestris with his advisors and change the country from a stratocracy to a democracy. That had been a year ago now. A Parliament had been created with elected representatives from each section of the country, and the title of Fuhrer became an elected position. He'd been ecstatic when the people had voted him back in to office after forming the new government. Of course, he'd have to run again in five years, but he wasn't worried. After the homunculus crisis twenty years ago, he never wanted the government so easily able to be influenced by one being ever again.
"We're here sir. Their train should be arriving anytime now." Devon said, bringing Mustang out of his thoughts.
"Excellent."
"Brother! We're pulling into the train station now." Al said as he leaned towards the window.
"Wha…!" Ed said as he sat up in his seat. He'd been dozing for the past hour and hadn't noticed the train starting to slow down.
"Honestly Ed, you shouldn't have stayed up so late watching the news! Mustang will tell us what's going on once we see him." Winry said as Mae started laughing.
"Hey! I wanted to know what was going on without having to rely on that bastard! I can just picture him mocking me as he explains everything." Edward replied. "He'd say, 'If you want to really know what's happening, you should come back and rejoin the military.' I'm retired from that dammit! I haven't been a State Alchemist in twenty years!"
"Come on Dad! We all know you aren't really retired! You research alchemy theory from other countries all the time!" Joshua Elric laughed as he leaned over the seat separating his compartment from the adults. His sister, Sara, who was also leaning over the seat, nodded in agreement.
"Hey, I can see some military guys waiting for us on the platform!" Yue, Al and Mae's daughter, said, changing the subject.
"WHAT!" Ed stood up in his seat and looked out the window. Sure enough, two guys in military uniforms were standing on the platform holding a sign that said Elric Party. "Military escort! Why the hell is he sending a military escort! I told him we'd meet up at the hospital! This is too much!"
"Calm down Ed! If you're going to be spazzing out, at least don't do it in public!" Winry scolded. Al and Mae just grinned sheepishly as Edward and Winry drew the gazes of some of the trains passengers.
"We are now arriving at Amestis Grand Central Station. Please exit in an orderly manner and be sure to collect all of your belongings before stepping onto the platform" a voice announced over the intercom. Everyone stood and started to gather their things just as the voice had instructed.
When they had all gotten off the train, Ed and Al stepped up to the military men and shook hands.
"Thanks for being here to welcome us!" Al said brightly.
Edward sighed, "Yeah thanks we really appreciate it…"
"Welcome to Central Elrics. It's a pleasure to meet the both of you." said the taller of the two men. "If you'll follow us, we'll take you to where the Fuhrer is waiting. Mrs. Elric, we'll help carry that luggage." The two men stepped back to pick up some of the luggage that had been palced on the ground leaving Edward and Alphonse standing next to each other.
"If he wasn't Fuhrer and it wasn't a crime, I'd pop him one as soon as we see him! That bastard ENJOYS making my life hell." Edward said as he clenched his hand into a fist and raised it to his face where his eye was twitching.
"Now Brother, he just wants to make sure we get to the hospital safely. It's his way of showing he cares." Alphonse said as he grinned. They both grabbed a suitcase in either hand and followed the men and the rest of their family out of the station.
When they stepped outside, the men walked up to a long car pulled up to the curb of the station. The driver stepped out of the car and opened a door so that Winry, Mae, Yue, and Sara could climb into the car. Then, he walked around to the back and opened the trunk to allow the luggage to be loaded.
"Why hello Edward. Alphonse. It's been a few years since we've seen you in Central. And Joshua! You've grown since I last saw you. You're, what, sixteen now?" The driver said as he started to help put the luggage into the trunk.
"Hi Devon! It has been awhile." Al said politely.
"It's good to see you again Devon." Edward said as he shook the man's hand briefly.
"Yeah, I turned sixteen last January. It's nice to see you again sir." Joshua said.
They quickly finished the loading and everyone piled into the car. Edward was the last person in. As he sat down and pulled the door closed behind him he turned with a frown to look at his old mentor's face. The man was smiling calmly as he watched Edward.
"Hello Fullmetal. It's been awhile."
