Chapter 24: First Day of School Part 2

They would remain in that room for around two hours, with Henderson giving an overview of the topics they would discuss throughout the next year, having dismissed the parents so they could finish their business for the rest of the morning. What sort of grades were expected of them, the daily schedules, specific school behaviors, and other things like that. Honestly, it was way too much for Anya to care about, especially when she was sitting a few yards away from Selim Bradley.

When the clock stopped at eleven, Henderson clapped his hands together, and he took the students to the lunch room so they could get food to eat. After about a five minute walk, they were in a massive cafeteria.

"Your class shall eat every day at eleven in the morning," Dr. Henderson stated, walking the children along a long counter, "You will then be allowed one hour to eat, though I would recommend you get your food quickly, the second set of students will be coming in at eleven twenty, and you don't want to have to wait in line and have less time to eat," he pointed behind the counter, "There will be three choices of entree every day. Today we have Turkey Sandwiches, the pork stew, and of course," he adjusted his monocle, and looked over at a type of pasta that looked quite green, "The quite elegant Chicken Aerugo."

The children all lined, up and soon they had filled their trays with their choices of food, alongside a drink and either fruit or a salad. It took only a few minutes before Anya and Becky were sitting at a small table, close to one of the windows so Becky could look outside. Anya enjoyed her stew, it wasn't as good as Papa's food, but it was better than Mama's so she was fine with it.

"They really do only give the little kids the cheapest food huh?" Becky said offhandedly, playing with her sandwich, "This sandwich bread is clearly a couple of days old, I wonder if they even baked it in a proper oven?" When she looked over at Anya, Anya just blinked back at her in surprise. Becky herself blinked a few times before almost jumping a bit.

'Oh crap, I forgot she's middle class,' she said aloud, before coughing, and composing herself.

"Of course, it still tastes good, and besides," she gave a glance back at the counter that had held the food, Dr. Henderson staring at the still untouched pasta dish, "At least we weren't forced to eat that Aerugo stuff. It's mostly just vegetables, I swear the last time I had that there wasn't any chicken in it at all."

'Why do these children have such inelegant taste?' Anya could hear the professor inwardly weep. She might have tried to get some of that...but the stew sounded better, and she like pork more than chicken anyway. She slurped up the next spoonful of stew.

"So," Becky finally cut in, "Did you hear about the kid who got a full score on the alchemy exam?"

"Uhhhhh," Anya's mind nearly cut out, and she was just glad that she didn't have any stew currently in her mouth, "full score?"

"Yeah," Becky leaned in, whispering in Anya's ear, "I hear that one of our students is actually a genius when it comes to alchemy, cause that's the only way they'd get a score that high."

Anya gulped, 'If Becky knows that someone got that high a score...then everyone probably knows,' she looked over at Selim Bradley, who was surrounded by a big group of students, easily over half the class, 'and he definitely, knows...I have to find out a way to make sure he doesn't realize it's me,' she looked at him closer, and her eyes widened as he looked directly at her, sweat pouring down the back of her head, 'Does he think it's me?'

'Obviously not the pink haired brat,' she heard the monster in Selim think aloud, quickly turning it's attention elsewhere, 'A child that dense looking couldn't possibly be the one who opened the gate.'

'Oh thank Truth,' Anya thought, sighing.

"Yeah, Selim Bradley huh?" Becky was smiling as she looked over at the group, a mixed look on her face, "My Dad kind of wants me to try and get close to him, for the good of the family, you know," Anya stared at Becky as she said that, before Becky sighed, "Right, middle class. Most everyone here was desperate to get in because they wanted us to be friends with the son of the Fuhrer," she looked over at him, "But...well, he just seems so phony to me. Like one of those guys putting on an act to make everyone like them. I hate people that fake."

'You...noticed?' Anya thought, looking at Becky. She never would have guessed if she couldn't have read minds.

"I mean, and some girls say they want to marry him," Becky continued, flipping her hair, "As if...why would anyone want to marry any boy at all. They're all just squat little losers," she then caught herself with her hands, "Not like real men, like your dad," she placed the back of her hand on her forehead, "He looks just like what my radio soap heroes."

'Mama has competition,' Anya just stared dumbly at her new friend, before shaking her head as she watched Selim get up from his chair, and begin to walk towards her table. She felt herself freeze up, only for it to vanish as he passed their table. She took a chance to read his mind as he passed.

'It has to be that boy,' Selim's eyes were pointed forward, 'His family's history and his loner attitude mean that he is the only one would could possibly have gotten through the gate.'

Anya stopped, and looked up towards where Selim was heading, and saw a single boys sitting by himself at a table next to the exit, a sandwich half eaten as he was looking at a book. He flipped through a page in the book, and was far too engrossed to noticed that the Fuhrer's son was approaching him.

'To move electrons between matter,' Damian, if Anya recalled, read from the book, 'One must be able to break the bonds of the at-'

'He's reading an alchemy textbook,' Anya realized, her mind recognizing exactly what those words meant. The gate was still open, so she kind of knew alchemic knowledge...she then thought about it, and inwardly she threw her arms up in triumph, though she had enough self control to not do so with her real arms, 'He is suspecting someone else completely. I'm safe!'

She pushed further into the boy's mind, 'Gah, he shouted inwardly in his mind. How does Demetrius know this stuff. I can barely understand any of it, and yet by the time he was my ag-'

"Hello there," Selim said aloud, smiling as he walked up besides Damian. Damian blinked, and quickly shut his book. The boy looked at his classmate standing over him, giving him a soft glare, "It's nice to meet you. Your Damian Desmond, right?"

"Yeah, what about it," Damian shot back, and Anya heard Becky give a small gasp. Anya looked over, and she quickly leaned in to Anya's ear, while keeping her eyes on the two.

"I know the Fuhrer and Damian's father hate each other, but I would never have expected Damian to just be that rude to the Fuhrer's son," she shook her head, "I understand not sucking up to Selim like the other kids, but being rude to him. It's like he's wasting the only opportunity to get on the next Fuhrer's good side," Becky seemed to shake for a second, "My parent's would kill me if I talked back to Selim like that."

'Father needs me to be the best student this year,' Anya read Damian's thoughts as he looked Selim dead in the eye. The scary image of Damian's father staring down at the boy appeared in his head, but he didn't flinch, rather glaring harder, 'So I'm going to study so hard, I'm going to make my eyes bleed. I will surpass you Selim, and I'll show you Bradleys what strength there is in the family Desmond.'

"I see you have an alchemy text book there," Selim continued, not changing his friendly tone as he looked over the closed textbook, "An introduction to the Alchemy, by Nicolai Flamei," he returned his attention to the boy still sitting down, "A bit of light reading then?"

"Yeah," Damian looked down at the book, his mind trying to catch up to the question, "Just something I'm trying to pick up."

'Fool,' Selim cackled on the inside, and Anya was really glad Truth had fixed her mind reading abilities, or just hearing all those voices mixing screaming and laughing would have hurt, 'You've already revealed yourself,' he nearly licked his lips, 'Now just to get you to admit you were the one who got the full marks on the alchemy test, and I can get Father to end this whole charade and lock you down in a cell beneath the streets. I'll finally be free,' Anya saw dozens of eyes and rows of teeth in her minds eye, all laughing as the twisted through Selim Bradley.

"Now, that seems silly, that's a really advanced book," Selim laughed. Damian looked down, and for a second a smile came over his face, "With how much you are reading already, you probably did really well on that alchemy section of the exam, huh?"

"Oh, I did pretty good," Damian smiled.

'I think I got like, thirty of the questions right,' Damian thought. I had no idea about the sections of the tree of life or things like that, but most of the elementary stuff is stuff my brother showed me,' he then seemed to get darker, 'But I can't just keep following my brother. I have to do better. And the only way to do that i-'

"I knew it," Selim pointed at Damian's face, his smile growing, and Anya could tell that he was barely containing his inner glee, "You must be the one who got the perfect score."

"...I don't know what you're talking about," Damian said, looking away immediately. He let out a growl as Selim walked over to that other side, and continued to stare at him, "I didn't get a perfect score. I did well," he held up his hands, "But, I didn't know some of the harder stuff."

"Oh, come on, don't be so modest," Selim laughed, though she could tell there was some anger in his words, "You're clearly the only one in this class that has exposure to that level of alchemy. Your brother is almost a state alchemist. He just has to pass the final exam for it, and my father will be giving him his watch."

'I know,' Anya could suddenly see a scene in Damian's mind. On one side was Damian, and another his father, 'Father seemed excited when he heard that someone got a perfect score. But when I told him I didn't...he just said it was disappointing,' he gripped his hands together, 'I'm just a disappointment to him,' he then looked Selim Bradley directly in his eyes, 'So that's why I have to beat you. If Demetrius couldn't be the youngest state alchemist, then I will. I'll beat Fullmetal, and show Father I am no disappointment. And the first step towards that is being number one in the class with the Fuhrer's son.'

"My brother is certainly successful," Damian said aloud, "And I'm going to do my best to be like him. But I won't do that by spending time chit chating with you. So if you'll excuse me-" Damian pushed himself to his feet, and grabbed his book. He made for the door behind him, likely to return to the classroom, when Selim's hand landed on the door too, keeping Damian from pulling it towards him.

"I guess your brother's successful," Selim said aloud, clearly not letting Damian out of this conversation, "Though, I guess he's always dealing with being number two huh?"

"Wha-"

"I mean," Selim laughed, "It can't be fun to always be compared to the Tiny Alchemist," Anya could hear the laughing continue inside Selim's mind, "Fullmetal's already achieved everything Demetrius set out to do, and did it three years younger. Despite being a guy from the country, and your brother having some of the finest tutors in all of Amestris."

"Don't you talk about my brother like that," Damian snapped, raising his hand a bit, before putting it down to his side, "My brother's career has nothing to do with anything."

'Can't lose my cool,' Damian thought, 'Father always tell us that Desmond's are always in control of themselves. Letting this little punk get under my skin woul-'

"Oh, I believe it does," Selim continued, "After all, that's what your family is always obsessed with," he almost poked his finger into Damian's face, "Your father and your brother are always trying to climb up above their natural place, beyond their talents, because they think that their family name gives them the right to that honor," Selim twisted his head to the side.

'He's right,' Anya turned her head, and looked at Becky, who was staring at the whole confrontation, 'The Desmond' are a powerful family...but they've always been trying to reach the top. They've always come late or early to anything that matters, and they've never even had a member of the General Staff.'

Anya looked around, and saw that the entire crowd was looking at the confrontation between the two boys. Many of the other children, including the massive Bill Watson, were similarly looking nervous, all of them looking around. Anya herself tried to look back at the counter, to see if Dr. Henderson could help, only to see there was no adult in sight.

"So here you are," Selim continued, and Anya could tell he was actually giving Damian a sneer, "Trying to climb, just like the rest of your pathetic family. Just another little parasite on Amestris."

"SHUT UP!" Damian shouted, "Don't you dare look down on my family!"

'Got him,' Selim inwardly smirked, 'Now for one final push. Just ask him to show you the alchemy, and when he calls on the gate's power, you can let him take it out on me. Once he's arrested for assaulting me, I can just go ahead and hide a way for a while, while we lock this little brat up,' she could hear the screams in his head grow louder as Selim's voice laughed, 'And if your family objects, we can just arrest them, and kill them. I'd love to see your face when we tell you, Damian, you stupid little cretin.'

Anya felt the hairs on the back of her neck stand up.

'He...they're going to kill them?' now that she thought about it...they'd killed the scientists at the dark place. So...maybe they'd kill that whole family to, and take Damian away and lock him up.

Her body moved before she realized what was happening.

"So why don't you show me why I shou-" Selim's cackle was suddenly cut off, as a fist impacted his cheek, and his head slammed into the door he was holding closed.

The room was silent.

Anya's fist was currently where Selim's head had been not a few seconds earlier. She stopped, and realized what she had done immediately as she pulled her arm back, realizing she had just punched Selim Bradley. Part of her was happy. Truth had said she should be ready to confront Selim and the other Dark People...yet for some reason, she couldn't help but feel a bit like she was forgeting som-

"ANYA!" she heard a scream, and turned back, and stared as she saw Papa standing in the doorway at the front of the cafeteria. She blinked for a second, and then saw what looked like Mrs. Bradley staring in horror at the sight of her boy on the floor.

"Uh oh."

For the past two hours, he and Yor had been busy at the photography shop, taking pictures to create the image for Yor's brother of a loving couple. They'd put on multiple outfits, been in numerous poses, and basically made it look like they'd been dating for almost a year. It had only taken an hour or so of their time, and they were quickly ready to return to the school, photos in hand.

They'd been told to return to the school so they could pick their children up, to surprise the children with only having to be in school for one half day as a reward for paying attention. It had seemed like a nice policy, one to allow for a slow integration into school life. He and Yor had managed to pleasantly meet with the other parents, and he'd even managed to greet the Fuhrer's wife politely.

"Really," she said as they all walked down the corridor to the cafeteria, "You're a psychiatrist?"

"Yes Madame Bradley," he gave a tilt of his head, doing his best to not only meet the behavior of a gentleman, but also one from Amestris from around two and a half decades earlier, as a way of making himself seem more appealing to this older woman, and likely a font of information. She laughed slightly, though she seemed in complete control, not fluttering like some other ladies of a similar age he'd had to flatter while on other missions.

"Please, call me Dana," she laughed. Twilight suddenly felt Yor get closer to him for a second. He looked back at her, and she had a slightly uncomfortable look on her face. He quickly filed it under her feeling uncomfortable near someone of such a high rank, and he inwardly knew what to do.

"This is my wife Yor," he introduced, and waved with his hand at his "wife". Yor blinked for a second, before nodding, and holding out her hand, which Dana Bradley took and shook.

"It's nice to meet you dear," she smiled, "You two look like such a darling couple," Yor seemed to blush at that, and Twilight was simply glad that someone like the Fuhrer's wife bought their relationship. Meant it was believable to normal people, "Though, if you are a psychiatrist, I must get you to meet with my husband sometime."

"Really," Lloyd Forger nearly choked. Twilight's mind began to race through the possibilities of getting to directly interview the Fuhrer in a doctor's office. The chance at such knowledge couldn't be passed up.

"Yes," the older woman frowned, rubbing the side of her cheek, "I'm worried about him. He seems..." she stopped for a second, "Melancholic."

"Ah," Twilight was furiously stuffing any personal knowledge he could manage into his skull for later. Lloyd nodded, "That can happen to men as they get older. They feel their bodies begin to give way, and they feel like they are no longer the same person. Especially if they were physical, active men earlier in their lives."

"Is there anything you can do?" Mrs. Bradley asked. They were coming up on the door to the cafeteria, with Dr. Henderson only a few feet behind them, making sure to keep an eye on the whole of the group as it approached their children.

"If you can get me a time on his schedule," Lloyd pushed open the doors into the cafeteria, and was greeted by a mostly empty room, with only a group of around 20 children against a door further back in, "I am sure I ca-"

SMACK

Lloyd stopped at the clear sound of a fist connecting with flesh and bone, and turned towards the children, where the sound originated. The fear in the back of his head grew, as though he already knew that the worst possible thing that could of happened had. And as he looked at the exact location of the sound, he saw a little girl standing with her fist outstretched, and Selim Bradley lying beneath her.

Oh, and she had pink hair.

"ANYA!" Twilight could see the whole of Operation STRIX die before his very eyes. Months of work, ended by a childish fight. If he was lucky, Selim would be okay, and they'd just be kicked out of the school. If they were unlucky, he'd be arrested, and they'd investigate him so thoroughly that they'd probably find enough to arrest him. Wouldn't that be a great joke, that they caught the great spy Twilight on such a stupid little thing.

"Selim!" Lloyd was pushed out of the way as Dana Bradley charged over to her downed son, who seemed more shocked than anything, "Are you okay!"

"Mother," Selim said aloud, again, mostly in shock rather than pain. He looked over at Anya and glared at her. His secondary hope, Operation: Best Buddies, was surely dead even if Anya did remain in the school. And with the anger that would surely emerge from Mrs. Bradley, he could probably kiss his session with her husband goodbye.

'It only takes the failure of one second for months of successes to come crumbling down,' Twilight considered in his despair.

"Anya," he saw that Yor was up next to their daughter. She was looking at Anya's stance, and then asked, "Why would you go and punch Selim. You aren't supposed to attack your classmates."

"Bu-"

"I believe I can spread some light on that."

Twilight had heard that voice before. He felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand straight, and a cold sweat cover his hands. The door to which Selim had been hit opened, and out stepped a well built man in a blue uniform. Twilight recognized the man instantly, the straight black hair, the massive moustache, the slowly developing wrinkles, and the eyepatch over his left eye. Mixed with the unmistakable voice that every resident of Amestris had heard over the radio, there could be no doubt that Fuhrer King Bradley was right in front of him.

Right after Twilight's "Daughter" had punched his son.

'I'm going to die,' Twilight nearly felt his knees buckle, but the shock managed to keep him upright.

"School yard fights are unacceptable behavior," the Fuhrer began, "While martial skill and grit are important qualities of the people of Amestris, they should not be displayed in school," he stood directly over Anya, and he could see the girl begin to quiver while his shadow was cast over her head, "Do you understand Ms. Forger?"

Anya, still quaking, nodded her head, and said, "Yes sir," Fuhrer Bradley continued to look down at the girl for a moment, his eyes boring into both the little girl, and Yor, who was doing her best to try and inch between the country's ruler and her daughter. He then coughed into his fist, and turned around, now facing his son.

"However," Selim seemed to be shocked as his father now faced him, "That does not mean I don't understand your actions Ms. Forger."

"What?" Twilight couldn't help but ask aloud.

"Dear?" Dana looked up towards her husband quizzically, any anger in her face having disappeared for confusion. And Selim Bradley seemed even more befuddled.

"What was it you called Mr. Desmond's family?" Twilight could hear a rustling as out of the corner of his eye, he saw Donovan Desmond stand a bit straighter. Only now, did Twilight realize that Damian Desmond was standing only a few feet away from the confrontation, "Pathetic? Social Climbers? Untalented?"

"Uh," Selim blanked. Twilight felt his jaw drop. Had anyone else been accusing the perfectly obediant boy from earlier talking in such a way, he'd have declared it obviously false. But if the Fuhrer himself, the boy's own father said it-

"He said what?" Donovan asked aloud, now standing at his full height.

"You see son," Bradley continued, not even bothering to look back at the other parents, "I was just outside this door, waiting to surprise you and your class for your fist day of school," he moved his head backward towards the alley way, "And just as I'm about to open the door, I hear my son bullying his classmate for simple disagreements between me and that boy's father. You were pushing this boy, trying to get a reaction from him, to make him fight you or say something stupid."

"Selim," Dana Bradley said aloud, and Selim turned his head around, and looked at his mother for a second, the confusion still over his face. The older woman looked quite cross, folding her arms around her chest, and staring down at him, "What's gotten into you?"

"I-I," the boy stammered. He'd probably never been reprimanded like this before, at least not in such a public manner.

"If you are going to be a future leader in this country," the Fuhrer continued, "You are going to have to learn to work for other people, rather than simply order them around and belittle them. You went out of your way to insult your classmate," Selim looked up, and for a second, Twilight thought he caught some kind of defiance, "And you insulted me."

"Wh-how did I-"

"You said that Demetrius Desmond is an unworthy member of the State Alchemists," Bradley cut the boy off before the question could be finished, "Do you have such a low opinion of my ability to evaluate my people, that you'd think I'd let a mere social climber into the most valuable branch of our military?"

Twilight gave a quick look back at Donovan, who seemed to be clenching his fists together. He could almost get why. Donovan Desmond was Fuhrer Bradley's political enemy, and yet right now, both of his sons were being defended by the man he hated so much. The thought of having to have your family's honor defended by your opponent was likely humiliating.

"So, you were bullying your classmate, trying to get him to fight you," Bradley was finishing his explanation, "But then this little girl came and hit you instead," he looked back at Anya, "And while that was very inappropriate," he returned his attention to Selim, "I also can't say that you didn't earn that strike to your face."

"Bu-"

"Dr. Henderson," the Fuhrer announced aloud, and the stately gentleman stood even straighter than usual, "Is there an empty room with a chalkboard?"

"Of course sir," the man placed a hand to his chin, "We have many such rooms, and with this being a half day, we could probably be able to find such a room very quickly."

The Fuhrer nodded, before reaching down, and grabbing both Selim and Anya by their arms. He finally looked over at Lloyd and for the first time in his mission, Twilight felt like he could touch his goal. The Fuhrer walked with the two children over to Lloyd, and then stood in front of him. The near half head in height the dictator had on him only served to make Twilight feel more intimaidated.

"Mr. Forger, if you will have your daughter follow me, I believe I know how we can make sure our children do not misbehave like this again."

It was thirty minutes after that, and all the other children and families had gone home for their half day. Only Lloyd, Anya, Yor, and the Bradley's still remained in the classroom the Fuhrer had dragged them to, and it would still be a few more minutes before they could go home. After all, it was always going to take some time for the children to write one hundred lines each.

Anya was forced to write, "I will not hit people" one hundred times, which would have been a bit harsh to Lloyd's mind, if Selim hadn't been forced to write, "I will not bully and belittle my classmates". Clearly, the Fuhrer was attempting to teach Selim a lesson about starting the whole incident.

'I should just be glad he is trying to be just in his punishments,' Lloyd couldn't help but sigh as the Fuhrer was still watching the two children like a hawk. Perhaps the Fuhrer believed he needed to have his family live up to his expectations for the country, and that meant enforcing punishments on Selim that were harsher because he failed to meet expectations.

Finally, Selim and Anya finished their last lines around the same time, Anya may have had much less to write, but Selim was clearly the faster and better writer. The two turned back to Bradley, who looked over the filled chalkboards, and nodded at them. Twilight vaguely wondered what would happen next, only to be surprised when the Fuhrer's face was transformed by a massive grin.

"Alright, I think you two have learned your lesson," he said aloud, and somehow the tension in the room seemed to dissipate instantly. Twilight took a second to glance at Dana, who seemed to let most of the tension fall from her shoulders as well, "Now, Ms. Forger, I think you owe my son an apology."

"Ah," Anya gasped, looking over at Selim for a moment, before bowing her head, and saying, "I'm sorry for hitting you."

"Very good," then Bradley looked at Selim himself, "And since the other students went home today, I will expect you to apologize to Damian Desmond tomorrow, do I make myself clear Selim?"

For a second, Twilight could swear he saw white hot anger in Selim's eyes, but it was only for a moment, and Selim nodded as well. For a few moments, the room was quiet, and then Bradley turned on his heels, and faced Lloyd directly. He smiled softly at Lloyd, and for a second, Twilight couldn't see the dictator that was smashing Cresta to pieces, but just a friendly older man.

"Now then," the Fuhrer chuckled, "I do believe I haven't been formally introduced to you, Mr. Forger?"

"Right...," Lloyd stuck out his hand, and the Fuhrer took it up, "Dr. Forger actually, I'm a psychiatrist" he corrected, and the Fuhrer nodded his head as they shook.

'Wait,' Twilight observed as their hands moved, 'This grip...it's so strong, and he isn't squeezing.'

"I remember you," the Fuhrer pointed his free hand at Lloyd's face, "From the profiles of all the families, you were the only one I didn't recognize, from around here in Central," Bradley let go of Lloyd's hand, and clasped his hands behind his back, "Very impressive for you to have made it this far with your background," Lloyd nodded at the implication, "Besides this incident, is Central treating you well?" he then twisted his head to look at Yor, "What about you, are you enjoying Central?"

"Yes," Lloyd and Yor said simultaneously, before looking at one another for a second, and then Lloyd took the lead, "It's been a bit of a bumpy ride, with how much as happened, but it's been good for us."

"Glad to hear it."

"Dear," Dana spoke up, and King Bradley looked back at her, and for the first time since he'd blasted into Twilight's view, the Fuhrer seemed a bit taken aback, "Since Lloyd here is a psychiatrist," her voice was demure, but firm, "I think it might be good for you to set up a meeting for a discussion with him."

"Dear," there was mostly exasperation in Bradley's voice...though also a bit of shock, "I don-"

"King, you've been working so hard, and there are nights I don't even see you, you are staying up so late working with the staff," her eyes were both fixed in Bradley's one remaining one, "You have to learn to relax more, or at least talk to someone who can identify if you are over stressing yourself at your age."

"Dana," Bradley clearly didn't want to do this, but as she kept her gaze on him, he seemed to buckle for a moment, before sighing, "Fine," but he held up a finger, as he looked at the clock, "But I'm going to need you to set it up," he then began to look around, before looking up at one of the windows higher up, and marching up the stairway to the window. Bradley then opened the window, and to Lloyd's shock, he looked out of it, as though he was about to jump, "My guards were on break for an hour, and they should be coming in here any moment now. If I'm going to have any peace of mind for my meetings later today, I'm going to have to have some privacy."

Then Bradley flipped out the window...which was likely on the second story.

And just as Bradley had predicted, four men with black police coats over their military blues burst into the classroom right after Bradley had disappeared from view. One of them looked around, and then approached Mrs. Bradley, who didn't seem at all phased by what had just happened.

"Mrs. Bradley, do you-"

"Out the window," she stated, not a hint of an apology as she pointed back with her thumb.

"Ah, he's already outside," the four officers charged out the room, "We need to get to him before he gets away. He can disappear for hours!"

'...Is everyone in this country crazy?'

Twilight considered the family obsessed Information Officer, the Massive Musclebound Major, the Genius Teen Alchemists, and now, the slightly flighty military dictator.

'Yes...yes they are.'

"Why did she have to ask that?" Wrath groaned rubbing the back of his head as he turned down an alley way. He quickly dived behind a trash can, and hid for a moment, as he heard the very distinct steps of his military officers charge past the opening, and soon heard them disappear. He smirked to himself, glad to have some time where he wasn't constantly being hounded. Though with that request from his wife, "I don't need to speak to a head case doctor. I have more than enough people watching my every move already."

"PERHAPS NOT ENOUGH!"

"Ah, Pride," Wrath felt the tips of his lips turn upward, as he turned around, and saw massive red eyes and rows of razor sharp teeth emerge from the shadows. The body of Selim Bradley was likely still in school, but Pride was still able to come out as his shadows while keeping up appearances for short bursts, especially now that his "mother" likely thought he was embarrassed into silence, "So, how was your first day at sch-"

"SHUT YOUR INSOLENT MOUTH!"

"Quiet," Wrath held a finger up to his lips, "We don't want any bystander to see you."

"You humiliated me," Pride continued, the shadow tentacles slowly but surely surrounding the Fuhrer, "You came in and made me look like a foo-"

"Because you were acting like one," the tentacles were only inches from him now, "Did you really think you would be able to get someone who opened the gate to react to some little bullying like you showed. Honestly, it was rather pathetic if you ask me," he could feel the tentacles climb up his legs, "You were so ready to try and get out of this mission, that you almost ruined your reputation, and perhaps cut us off our next sacrifice."

"I had him!"

"No, you didn't," Wrath snorted, "Honestly, it was actually impressive how that little boy kept his cool," if Bradley could have had an actual son, he might think that one like Damian wouldn't have been too bad, "And can you even be sure it's him?"

"It has to be him," Pride declared, "He's the only one with any kind of background who might have been exposed to a the gate," Wrath nodded at that. That did make sense.

"Well, you will be able to try and build up a relationship with him tomorrow," Wrath continued, before saying, "At least that way you might have a chance to get him to reveal it to you naturally if he really is our sacrifice."

They stood there for a moment, youngest and oldest homonculi, before finally the shadows began to recede.

"I swear Wrath," he heard Pride's voice declare as the shadows returned to normal, "I will get you back for this."

Wrath was then left alone in the alley, with nothing but his thoughts. He tightened his fist, and then turned and left the alleyway, checking to make sure the guards still weren't around. When he saw he was still alone, he pulled his sword and cut through the nearby trashcan, causing the contents to spill out. Wrath looked over his handy work, before sighing, and returning his blade to it's scabbard. He then looked back at the shadows, the desire to reveal his ultimate eye and look for any sudden movements building within him, before he shook his head, and finally walked out.

"I'm sure you'll try Pride," he said to himself, glad to just have a moment of a solitary stroll, "I'm sure you'll try."