I don't own Fullmetal Alchemist or Brotherhood. But there will be some direct lines from the story.
This story deals with a gender-swapped Ed.
And please feel free to comment and or give suggestion.
POV AL
I like to think that Winston believed me that the fight wasn't that bad, but my arm fell off right in front of him ruining the idea that I was okay. He helped me tie fabric over the exposed holes so no one could see that I was empty inside. It was a battle in it's own convincing Winston to let me go to the hospital to visit the Colonel and Havoc. I wore him down enough to let me go with a warning that Edelle was going to kill him if I got hurt. On the walk to the hospital I ran into Fuery.
"Alphonse!" He called out running to meet me.
"Sergeant Fuery." We walked beside each other talking about trivial things.
"You know I'm not really sure who I should be visiting, you or the Colonel and the 2nd Lieutenant." He joked.
"It's really obvious isn't it?" I was worried to many people would start to question about the armour.
"And a seven foot suit of armour isn't?" Fuery retorted. We walked into the hospital Fuery going to the front desk right away. "Hi Janet, how are the kids?" She smiled at him.
"They are fine Sergeant, are you here to see Hughes because he was just released yesterday." Janet, the receptionist said. "We are actually here to see Colonel Mustang and 2nd Lieutenant Havoc." The tiny receptionist stood leaning over the desk.
"Go down that hallway and turn right, they'll be in the first door on the left." She pointed out the direction.
"Thanks." He nodded and we walked in the direction she told us to. When we got to the door we heard no noise so Fuery opened it as quietly as he could. He leaned and pulled his head out quickly, "They are in there, the Colonels still asleep, Havoc is awake and Hughes and Hawkeye are visiting." He reported. He then opened the door again and walked into the room I followed him trying to be as quiet as I could. Hughes lifted his head up and smiled at me.
"Hey Alphonse, Havoc and Hawkeye here were just telling me about last night, sorry I missed all of the fun." Hughes said holding his left hand to shake. "What's with losing right arms eh?" He asked holding his sling away from his body to show me. There was a silence in the room after that, the Colonel mummer something in his sleep and tried to turn onto his right side he gasped in his sleep and rolled back over onto his back.
"He's been sleeping all morning." Hawkeye said. I looked to the clock to see that it was only eight in the morning.
"He had a tough night last night let him." Hughes countered.
"What about me, last night wasn't exactly a walk in the park." Havoc complained from the bed beside the Colonels. I looked to Hawkeye she had a scowl on her face that reminded me of sister.
"Homunculus...Hughes...Riza." Roy actually said words this time.
"Yeah speaking of that, your nurse Solaris is a homunculus and she told us last night that she was one of the people who attacked you." Havoc said from his bed.
"I don't want to talk about it Havoc, but thanks anyway." Hughes narrowed his eyebrows like he was trying to remember something but couldn't.
"Alphonse I just wanted to thank you for last night, I wasn't myself and you saved my life."
"You are just like brother Lieutenant, you're there for everyone else and you were willing to give your life for me, I couldn't stand by and watch you die." It's true what I said the Lieutenant and Ed are very similar, when I think about it last night reminded me of when Scar attacked us and Ed was willing to sacrifice herself in order to save me.
"You idiot." We all weren't expecting that, our five heads turned to the Colonel who was still in his bed glaring at his 1st Lieutenant. "How can you believe what the enemy said, did it occur to you that she might have been lying to you. You can give up just because you think that I'm dead." He paused and grabbed his right side. He was about to start again when Hughes cut him off.
"Give her some slack Roy." Maes was glaring at his best friend. Hawkeye had her head hung low waiting for the Colonel to continue with his scolding.
"I still trust you just don't do anything stupid like that again." He finished on a softer note. I felt like I was invading a private conversation so I looked away to appear that I wasn't listening.
"Oh you would know about doing something stupid wouldn't you Colonel." Havoc said.
"Shut up!" Mustang yelled. For someone who was asleep a moment ago he was completely awake now. I looked up to Hughes to see that he was laughing as quietly as he could. "Is that anyway to talk to the man who saved your life?" he asked as he moved to sit on the edged of his bed. I started to laugh to, he was almost as funny as Edelle when he yelled for no good reason.
"You couldn't have been a little more careful, I know these burn marks are going to chase girls away like crazy." Havoc complained.
"Next time I'll try not to cook you as much, just be luck I did you second or else you would have been burnt just as badly as I am." Mustang snapped at him
"No one is talking about who's burnt worse." Havoc yelled.
"Should I got get the nurse to calm everybody down?" Hughes stood up leaning to the door.
"Don't even think about it Maes." The Colonel threatened
"I think you owe me for when I was in the hospital." Hughes countered. Hawkeye walked over to beside me so she could have full view of the door.
"I don't understand, we know she wasn't working alone so why haven't they made a move to finish any one of them off?" She asked herself aloud trying to figure out the puzzle.
"Maybe because of what happened. Lust called the Colonel a sacrifice so I doubt that they are going to kill him no matter how much he knows." I started and she nodded. "The Lieutenant Colonel doesn't remember the night of the attack right?" I asked and she nodded again. "So finishing him off would be pointless. And Havoc..." I was trying to figure out why they haven't tried to take care of Havoc yet.
"His injury." Hawkeye said I looked at her and her eyes held something that looked like a combination of sorrow and anger. "He isn't moving his legs, which probably means that he can't. Even with what he knows he is no longer a threat to them." I looked to the 2nd Lieutenant's legs and she was right they weren't even twitching.
"The only real logic behind them not finishing them off is that someone higher up in their ranks decided against it." I said. I looked back at the other four adults who were looking at a map of the city.
"Fuery watch the door." Hawkeye order and moved to the map. Fuery left the room and I went to stand besides Hughes. Hawkeye grabbed a pen and made a circle around the 3rd laboratory. "Judging by the footsteps that I counted from the entrance to the giant doors that Alphonse and I saw I was able to come up with this circle with the lab at it's centre." I looked at the circle and the 2nd laboratory was in that circle as well as the Fuhrer's office.
"Could there be a connection between Bradley and the homunculi?" Roy asked. Hughes stood up went he said that.
"This is pretty deep what we are stepping in and one attempt on my life is enough for now."
"Are you pulling out Maes?" The Colonel asked
"No I'm not, just tell me what I need to know when I need to know it. And remember what I said" Hughes was about to leave the door when he stopped and leaned back into the room. "Do you want me to get you a night light?"
"I'm not going to be here that long to need it." Roy called back, and Hughes shut the door laughing. I looked back to the Colonel who was staring at the map with great concentration on his face.
"I'll come back later then." I told Hawkeye and she nodded.
"Thank you again Alphonse." Hawkeye smiled at me, I wished I could return the smile. As I left the room Fuery came with me, we talked again about trivial things that meant nothing really, he was a really nice guy. I said goodbye quickly though because Winston would be getting worried soon if I was gone for much longer.
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POV Ed
I felt sweat rolling down my face. Even wearing a tanned jacket that covered all of my black clothes I could still feel my automail heating up.
"It's not that hot." Armstrong said his horse looking the way I felt.
"You don't have metal limbs." I countered, I felt like you could see the heat rolling off of me.
"Are we almost there?" Breda asked probably sick of my whining
"No but we have crossed the boarder." Mr. Han said. 'Great we crossed the boarder.' I thought sarcasm steaming out of me in the heat.
"Edward you think you can handle another hour?" Breda asked.
"Yeah sure I'm fine, I'm going to get heat stroke but I'm fine." Mr. Han laughed at that. "Armstrong next time you kidnap somebody and they have automail don't take them to the desert. And why did you have to kidnap me? Is kidnapping a trait passed down from Armstrong to Armstrong?" I bitched at him, I was so sick of this heat I just had to get my anger out.
"Here big guy, before you say something you are going to regret." Breda handed me his water jug. I opened it and took a big sip, the water was almost warmer then the air. I started to cough and handed it back to him.
"What the hell was that?"
"Warm water is better for you when you are hot." Breda informed me. I wiped the sweat from my brow and sighed. This was going to be a long hour.
By the time that we got there it was well into the afternoon. The ruins were beautiful and I could only think of the Tale of the Sage of the East Desert the fairytale about Alchemy. There were two pools of water besides a giant knocked over pillar that created shade. Mr. Han lead the horses to one of the pools while Bread and Armstrong took off their shirts to get into the pool. As Breda sunk down into the pool he sighed.
"How do you keep the water cool?" He asked Mr. Han.
"It's not but compared to the air I guess it is." The smuggler replied. Breda was looking at me trying to figure out why I didn't jump into the water right away. With that I took off my black jacket and rolled up my pant legs to just above my knees. I was happy today I didn't wear my black leather pants and wore just regular black pants instead. I walked over and sat on the edge of the pool and put my feet in.
"Come on Chief, I thought you said you were dying of the heat." He was looking at me eyes searching for something wrong with me.
"I cracked ribs a while back and the bruising is still there." I lied. Breda raised his eyebrow, showing me that he didn't believe me. I looked to Armstrong for help in explaining why I couldn't take off my top. His eyes widened at me and realized what was wrong.
"Young Edward is, self conscious about his body." He lied trying to help the situation. 'great give me a complex, I'm not self conscious about my body just the automail, and way to make me sound like a girl.' I thought angrily in my head. 'maybe I should get into the water it cool me down. Who cares if Breda will find out.' I wasn't paying attention for one second too long. Breda grabbed my left wrist and pulled me into the water. It hit me like a wall. I broke the water gasping and throwing my arms trying to grab something to haul me out of the water.
"Edward calm down just stand up the water isn't that deep." Breda laughed at me. I stood up and the water came to just above my waist. Oh
"Okay, I might have over exaggerated." I said I walked to the edge of the pool to get out. Breda stood up.
"What's wrong Ed?" Breda's face was concerned. "What are you hiding from us?" I licked my lips and looked down.
"Please don't freak out." I grabbed the front of my shirt and pulled it over my head showing the wrapping around my chest. I pulled on the elastic holding my hair out and I undid the band around my chest to show my bra. After a few seconds I looked up.
"Now I know were the Colonel got his code name for you." He said.
"You're not mad?" I asked.
"I didn't say that." I looked back down to the water, I expected this and now it happened. I got out of the water and sat on the edge with my back to the pool. Mr Han and Fu looked at the scene. Mr Fu walked up to me.
"So you are like Lan Fan." He said sitting down beside me. I ignored him at first but then answered.
"Yeah I guess." I brushed sand off of the edge of the pool. "Why are we even out here?" I whined.
"Have you ever heard of the Sage of the West?" He asked ignoring my question.
"No but I've heard of the Sage of the Eastern Desert. Why does it matter."
"The sage from the west taught the people of Xing alkahestry."
"The sage of the East taught the people of Amestris Alchemy. But what does that have to do with Xerxes."
"It's legend that the sage comes from here." Mr Fu stood up and walked into what would have been an old temple. I pulled on my jacket and followed him in. I saw on one of the tallest standing walls a broken but still detailed. I froze trying to memorize the symbols on it. "What are you doing this way." Fu called again.
"Should we really be going this far in? The others might worry about... Never mind." I shook my head and caught up to him.
"Keep close to me it's dangerous for a woman to be alone in this area." I looked down watching my footing. Mr Fu at first seemed okay with the idea that I was really a girl and then he said that. 'Maybe that's how everyone feels but they are too afraid to say anything.'
"Edelle?" I heard a woman ask. I lifted my head and searched for the noise. I found Maria Ross standing on some rocks right in front of us.
"That bastard." Is the only thing I could think of saying. The three of us walked back to the group Ross telling me on how the Colonel only fake her death. When we got back Breda was dressed and ready to leave and Armstrong was in the process of getting dressed. I walked over to my shirt that was now dried. I quickly wrapped my chest back up then but the shirt and the jacket back on. Armstrong saw Ross and tried to hug her and she dodged his every attempt.
"You know it would be easier for you just to tell everyone that you are a girl."
"And get arrested for lying to the military? No thanks I have things to do and once I'm done you won't have to see me any more." I said braiding my hair back up and slipped on my right glove. I looked at Ross and Armstrong. "So the Colonel knew all along?" I asked.
"No but when you looks at the events of her arrest, it was too much of a show. So the Colonel made an arrangement with Barry to break her out and Barry made an arrangement with Ling and that's why we are here." I nodded
"If I didn't see it I wouldn't believe it." I told him.
"That's why you are here." I looked up to the ginger haired man. "The Colonel knew you wouldn't believe that she was alive unless you saw her. He also said that he didn't want to chance the mission on a hot headed kid." I was about to yell at Breda but I decided not to.
"Remind me to yell at the Colonel when we get back."
"Sure right after I tell him you are a girl." I scoffed at him.
"Hate to break it to you but he already knows." I told him walking over to Armstrong and Ross. "So does Havoc and Hawkeye!" Armstrong looked at me.
"So now that you know the truth Edelle what are you going to do?" The strong armed alchemist asked. I heard Breda walk up behind me.
"Al and I committed a taboo. We still have people that help us, people that hate us and people who support us in silence. Each one of them has helped me keep my promise to my brother. I have no choice I have to keep moving forward and protect everyone that I can along the way. I'm not going to let another person become a victim, not while I'm alive." I gripped my automail wrist, a constant reminder of what I did to my brother. "I know that it sounds arrogant but I have to try." Mr Fu and Han stood up and looked to the sun setting.
"Miss Ross it's dangerous to cross the desert at night we should go now." We all stood up.
"2nd Lieutenant, Major, tell the Colonel if he needs anything don't hesitate to contact me." She saluted and the two soldiers responded with there own salutes. I raised my hand about to salute but she held her hand our. "Edelle keep your spirits up." She smiled at me and I shook her hand.
"I still owe you for slapping me." I said my way of goodbye.
"You can get me next time then." She responded. I watched her Mr Fu and three other smugglers cross the desert.
"Come on we should be heading back to." Breda said and the three of us went back to the pool where we left the horses. I really wanted to check out that symbol in the church again.
"Hey guys, I'll be right back." I ran off not checking to see if it's okay. I found the symbol again. Five suns, two headed dragon. 'Dammit why does the top half have to be missing.' I heard rocks move behind me like someone accidentally kicked it. I stood up straight and heard the footprints move closer. 'Right I couldn't tell Armstrong or Breda where I went, hopefully they wont leave without me.' I felt a body close to me and waited I side stepped and saw a club swing out of the corner of my eye. I grabbed the attacker and threw him to the ground. "What do you want. I don't have any money so..." I saw his dark skin red eyes and white hair.
"An Ishvalan!"
Sorry for the wait between the post. Hoped you liked it. And omg did you notice the parallels between Ed and Al committing the taboo and Ed lying about her gender.
See you guys next time with the Ishvalans and Ed in Xerxes.