Ok, this is chapter two. I got great responses with this story, plenty of story alerts, but only 1 review, (as of August 16.) I'm going to address some points of that review.
DeamonRaily: Yes, the actual amount of souls is up to me and I choose that he has every natural soul that has died in the Amestris world. Second, Ed has learned how to communicate with souls, so he will talk with them. He lets the souls decide for themselves when they want to be used, giving them time to come to grip with the situation. This means that only willing souls are being used. Ed will also not sit well with the Shinigami law. There will be plenty of brush ups with it. As for that previous one shot lemon thing with Ed and Marie, no, it's not playing a part in this story. That was a result of an alcohol infused brain. Your right, Ed does not bow to God, even though Truth is God. He resists Truth but does not bow willingly. And yes, the 'call me Ed' part was intended, if overused. It's going to be one of those silent threats against him.
Oh, and as for the part about getting a Beta. The reason I rewrote this was because I would get halfway through chapter 1 then decide to completely redo it with a different plot that sounded better. My original idea was Ed to fall through the mirror in the Death Room. Then there was something about experimental transport alchemy, then Truth being an ass for no reason. It varied. This was actually attempt number 6 but I saved the first half cause I thought it sounded nice. Next thing you know I'm revisiting it on attempt 9 and adding the second part.
But, because that's the only review, that's the only feedback I'm giving.
On with the story.
Ed sat in the class, horrified at what was going on.
He had seen many gross things, his mother turned inside out in a pool if his and her blood, a person's brain blown up in their skull, a very violent blood splatter on a wall were just a few to mention. Nothing compared to what he was seeing.
A man with a screw through his head was dissecting some animal in a very sadistic manner. The creepy thing was that everyone seemed at ease about it.
Just one, just once I should listen to that inner voice directing me away from my sense of adventure.
He idly thought back to the previous event concerning the medical exam and his automail. That had been interesting.
Flashback
Ed sat through the examination, taking eye exams and physical strength tests. It was going fairly well until she asked for him to hold out his right arm.
"I'll need your right arm, we need your blood type on file." Ed hesitated before holding out his left one.
Medusa gave him a curious look. "I asked for the right one Mr. Elric," she repeated.
"Umm, I've got a medical condition with my right arm," he replied hesitantly.
"Oh, and what is that?" she asked, medical training kicking in.
"It's... It's got no blood in it," forced out Ed. She stared. "No... blood?" she stuttered. Ed sighed and removed his glove and pulled his sleeve up, revealing the metal limb.
Medusa gasped, hesitantly touching the metal appendage.
"It goes all the way up to my shoulder, same with my left leg, it's just below the knee." To show, he pulled his left pant leg up, showing the metal limb. She stared.
Unbeknownst to him her witch mind was whirring, thinking of the possibilities. How was this limb working? Who installed it, how did it work so flawlessly that she didn't know it was metal?
End flashback
He was jarred from his thinking when the bell rung, signalling the end of this horror fest and the end of the day.
Thankfully he had learned the stuff on the board, as weird as it was, while Stein did his... class. It was weird, something about 'resonating souls' and achieving power beyond what one is capable of.
"Edward," called Stein. Ed paused in mid step, curious as to what he wanted.
"Yes screw head, what do you need?" asked Ed. He already had a nickname. He was having trouble making one for Death. He refused to address him with the 'lord' part.
"First, I would appreciate you calling my Professor Stein, second, Lord Death would like to speak to you." Ed frowned.
"Alright, did Skully say why?" asked Ed. He grinned at Stein's reaction.
"That's 'Lord Death' to you, and no, he didn't say why. I suggest you go see him." Ed did a mock salute and hurried off, leaving Stein wondering what Lord Death had done.
His 'rush' to the Death Room was noted amongst the people in the halls. After all, you didn't see a 20 year old gold haired and eyed person 'dashing' through the halls.
He finally arrived in the death room, Death waiting impatiently for him.
"Well, you finally arrived," commented the skulled figure.
"Well, call me crazy but I'm not one for being on time. Screw head said you needed me?" asked Ed. Lord Death quirked his head, wondering who 'Screw head' was before it came to him.
"Interesting nick name, but please call him Professor Stein. Now, I needed to talk to you because there are some things we need to discuss. First, Nurse Medusa informed me about your... problem." Obviously referring to his limbs.
"Yes, well, I'm not going to reveal that, suffice to say if it get's broken I can make more. If I feel like telling you It will because I trust you. Was there anything else?"
"Yes, I'm needing to know a few things, these are required in order for you to stay. First, do you have any form of combat experience besides your... family... secret?"
"Yeh, I'm pretty good with hand to hand combat, learned more over the years than I knew before." Death nodded.
"Next question-"
"Nope, my turn." Death was a bit dumbfounded.
"What?" he asked.
"Equivilent exchange. You ask me a question then I ask you a question. Deal?" there was some silence.
"Alright, I can go with that, what's your question?"
"Who are you, really?" asked Ed.
"Lord Death, I'm the principle of this school. I'm a Death God while my son will follow in my place when I die."
"No, you're lying. There is no such thing as a lord of death. As for you being a god, there is only one god and it is a cruel sadistic being that exists in another existence. Plus, you really can't be him because I've seen it and paid the price."
Death was silent for a few moments.
"Next question, How old are you?" asked Death. Ed frowned.
"Again, when I trust you I'll reveal that information. I will say I am older than I look. Now, what exactly is a Kishin? Screw Head was not exactly informative about the terminology."
"A Kishing-egg is a human that has strayed down the path of madness by consuming innocent human souls to gain power. A full on Kishin is a powerful being that has consumed hundreds of souls and reached a certain level power. Now, tell me this, how powerful are you?"
Ah yes, that question. Ed knew these people would ask that. After all, when he had first come to this world, arriving in Shangri-La, they had felt his immense power residing within himself. They taught him how to mask most of it. But of course, it was still a powerful fraction present. He was thinking about scaring Death when he thought of something. What if death thought him to be too dangerous and tried to kill him. It would hurt, but he doubted him dying.
"I'll apply the same rule, when I trust you." Death frowned.
"Listen, I'm going to need you to start answering properly if this is going to work. Again, how powerful are you?"
Ed frowned, an evil glint in his eyes. Without warning, he turned around and started to leave.
"You stay right here, I'm still talking to you!" exclaimed the Reaper. As if to prove his point, he used some of his powers to close the hallway guillotine, the blades sliding closed. Ed paused before resuming his pace.
Right before he walked into the blade, red lightning flashed, the blades melting away in front of him. This continued as he approached the blades. They melted back into place as he walked. Obviously the conversation was finished.
Death fumed while he stood there, partially furious at how he left him with more questions than answers, partially amazed that he got through the hallway with no effort.
He was currently heading for his small staff apartment. He was almost there when he turned the corner and bumped into a person.
"Oh, I'm sorry," stammered the feminine voice.
"Nah, my fault, I was thinking about something else," apologized Ed. Looking, he saw it was infact Medusa.
"Oh, it's you Edward, how was your first day?" she asked, getting up.
"I'm twenty two years old in a class full of ages 16 to 17. How do you think it was?" asked Ed sarcastically. "Oh, and call me Ed, Edward just sounds too formal." She nodded, apologizing.
"So, where are you heading?" she asked, having picked up her papers and now was walking with Ed.
"I'm actually heading back to my room. I'm staying in the staff housing here."
"Oh what a coincidence, I'm using it as well. I find it's more convenient than regular housing. Let's me be closer if I'm needed." Ed nodded, seeing the logic behind it. Before they knew it, they were in front of Medusa's door. Ed's was further down.
"This is my room, which one is yours?" asked the nurse.
"I'm down a few doors. I suppose I'll see you around?" asked Ed.
"Sure, I'd actually like to see you more often, get to know you." Ed hesitated. Getting close to people was a no for him, after all, he knew there was the possibility that he would outlive the earth itself if he was careful with dying.
Then again, Medusa seemed like a nice person. She didn't stare when he reviled his arm and leg, nor did she ask about how he got it. She seemed nice, perhaps he could get to know her better. It couldn't hurt, could it?
"Sure, maybe some other time we could chat." Medusa nodded. She opened her door, stepping in. As she was closing, she said one last goodbye.
"Have a good evening Ed," she called. Ed was already half way down the hall. He waved, going for his door.
Stepping inside, he surveyed his room. It was sparse, having a TV, two rooms, a kitchen and dining room and bathroom. It was close to what the school offered in terms of student housing, which was more Spartan. As it was it was sparsely furnished.
He sighed, what he wouldn't give for something from Amestris to be in here.
Locking the door, he took a book off of the shelf pertaining to the school curriculum. It had to do with the differences in souls and how matching wavelengths is important to a weapon and meister pair.
This actually got him interested. Apparently it didn't matter on the actual strength of the soul but instead mattered on the type of energy it emmited. Some people could change their wavelengths, being able to wield different people through their life. Then there was a classification to souls. There was a regular pure human soul, one that has never consumed other souls for the pursuit of power, then a Kishin soul, red and angry looking, corrupted by madness, then there was a bright purple one, the soul of a witch. They were powerful beings, having longevity in life and magical powers. They were always at war with the DWMA, wanting to spread the madness through the world.
He was confused as to what this madness was specifically. Reaching over to the shelf he pulled a book out. It was about madness in particular, mostly just a history book on the global effects of it. There was a handy intro though about what it was.
It turns out it's a soul wavelength that Kishins emit. It causes baser emotions in people to emerge, stuff like anger, fear, paranoia, all rising to high levels while other emotions were suppressed. The overall effect was a crash of society, people becoming little better than animals.
This was interesting. Why did witches want to spread this if all it did was crash society into the ground? Did they hope to control it? Somehow get a hold on it and use it as a weapon against the DWMA? It wouldn't work, as far as he could tell it was a wild, untameable force that was a force of nature, not a gun.
He closed the book and rubbed his nose, wincing at the headache. This was an interesting world he had gotten involved in. Souls and human weapons and witches and video phone windows and mirrors.
That and an ever present wavelength that threatened to drive people into insanity.
God, what had he gotten himself into?
Although, the one nice point of his day was probably Medusa. She seemed nice, friendly. Of course he wasn't going to get too close to her, lest him become attached to her and driven insane with her death. After all, he had done that once already.
Truth's cruel card, put Alphonse's soul into him before he could resurrect him.
Now that he thought about it, he hadn't talked to Al in a while. Closing his eyes, he concentrated, felling for his soul. Finding it, he forced it out of his body into a red mist. The mist collected into a human shape, eventually forming into his brother, around 17 years of age.
"Hello brother!" exclaimed the misty form of Alphonse. Ed hugged the mist, arms partially passing through the body.
"Sorry Al, it's hard getting used to you in that form." Al nodded.
"So, how have you been brother?" asked Al, 'sitting' down in a chair.
Ed proceeded to explain the events of the past couple of days, starting with that evening in his house. He found talking with Al was nice, but brought up bad memories.
Their talk went long into the evening before Al began to feel tired. His 'body' was closely related to Ed, so because Ed was tired, but not showing it, Al experienced the fatigue more harshly because he wasn't used to the feeling anymore.
[A.N.] There you go, chapter two in under a day. That's two chapters folks! I hoped you enjoyed it, a bit dry but it's needed to help Ed learn.