Fullmetal Alchemist Fan Fiction ❯ Fullmetal Alchemist: Revised Version ❯ The Coal Mine Town ( Chapter 3 )
[ T - Teen: Not suitable for readers under 13 ]
By: Xichiathik 
After the work at Reole, Ed and Winry finally arrive at Youswell Coal Mine. And meet everyone's favorite punching bag: The 1st Lt. Yoki himself.
More on EdWin's childhood.
Anime/Manga: Fullmetal Alchemist Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Adventure / Action / Romance / Fantasy / Drama | Type: Alternate Universe | Uploaded On: 01.22.2007 | Pages: 20 | Words: 14.8K | Visits: 315 | Status: Completed
After the work at Reole, Ed and Winry finally arrive at Youswell Coal Mine. And meet everyone's favorite punching bag: The 1st Lt. Yoki himself.
More on EdWin's childhood.
Anime/Manga: Fullmetal Alchemist Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Adventure / Action / Romance / Fantasy / Drama | Type: Alternate Universe | Uploaded On: 01.22.2007 | Pages: 20 | Words: 14.8K | Visits: 315 | Status: Completed
Disclaimer: FMA? T'ain't mine to begin with. Otherwise, it would have been like THIS.
Btw, as much as I love EdxWin fluff till my teeth rot, I need to find time for that to develop halfway in the story. Nothing like developing it, right? So please have patience. XD
Another thing: I am SOOOOOOOO sorry for the late update. Why? One word: BLACK-OUT. For two STRAIGHT miserable days, I've been sitting by the window rereading books, and wondering if you guys'll ever miss me. Not like there are actually people missing me on the net. XD Most of them I see offline.
So kids? Please stop begging for a typhoon so to postpone classes. Be careful with what you wish for. For the sake of electricity and the casualties(the trees).
Interlude
Winry stretched in her seat before letting her arms drop back down with a tired sigh. “How much farther till we get there, Ed?”
“Not for long now.” he answered somewhat passively, sitting opposite from her. He was busy fiddling with his military watch, something of a habit he was accustomed to. It helped him think sometimes.
She watched Ed for a while, and then an idea came to her.
“Hey, Ed! Do you wanna play cards?” Winry produced a deck from her jacket pocket and showed it to him.
“Uh…no thanks, Winry. I'm good.”
She frowned, a little disappointed. He could be so hard to entertain.
Then again…he must be thinking of a lot of things. Ever since that incident in Lior, he's been really quiet.
Winry furrowed her brows, watching Ed turn the pocket watch over in his right gloved hand. His metal hand.
…Are we ever going to find the cure? Will Ed and I ever be normal again…?
What about me? What about my real body? How do I know that it's not…gone?
Winry wanted to stop right there. If she thought too much on that, she might lose face along the way and give up.
She looked out the window and watched the scenery fly by with sadness in her eyes. Wherever they went, for the past six months, nothing they found came close to being a clue. The Philosopher's stone: the only sole evidence for recovery.
“…So about this assignment, Ed.”
He looked up to shoot her a glance, frowning. “Yeah. The Colonel asked for me to make an inspection. See how things are running over there.”
She cast her eyes inside the car, and Winry's confusion grew. “But going this way, no one's on board at all.”
Aside from them, the train car was empty. Or the entire train, for that matter.
“Yeah. I heard rumors, but I didn't think it would be this bad…” Ed stated, scanning the map in his hands. “And it's because there's nothing to see there. Youswell coal mine.”
Fullmetal Alchemist
Chapter 3: The Coal Mine Town
The pair scouted the little town, suitcases in hand. Winry carried hers in both. Ed glanced around at the buildings. Aside from the spooky quietness of Youswell, everything seemed just fine. But…
“You know,” Ed directed to his companion, “I thought a coal mine would be a little livelier.”
Winry nodded quietly. “Yeah. And yet, everybody's really tired…”
“Where do you think's a good place to stay?”
She hefted the suitcase with a grunt, before muttering, “I think—“
BONK!
“Whoops, sorry.” a boy of ten said to Ed, who to his misfortune got whacked in the head by the wooden post the boy was lifting over his shoulders. And he sat rubbing his head in annoyance.
“That hurts, you little—!“
“Ed, are you okay?” Winry asked him brow furrowed in concern. Then a second later, she added teasingly, “If you weren't so short, you wouldn't have gotten it in the head.”
Ed rounded on her, looking apoplectic now. “Don't you start with me!”
“AH!” One end of the post fell in front of him, the boy suddenly excited. “Are you guys tourists?”
“Uh, well—“ Winry started.
“Where'd you come from?” the boy continued to press.
“Ah…” Ed stuttered, trying to come up with an answer.
“Want food?”
“No.”
“Decided where you're staying?”
“Wait a minute…!” Ed began.
“DAD! CUSTOMERS!” the boy hollered up to his father.
“Listen to what other people are saying!” Ed fumed.
“What is it, Kaval?” a tall bearded man clad in coal miner gear showed up with a pipe on his shoulders.
“A customer!” the boy Kaval answered eagerly. “Revenue!”
“What do you mean by revenue?” Ed demanded losing his temper.
“Ed, wait!”
“Hey.” Kaval's father flashed them a grin.
-sss-
Later, Edward and Winry found themselves sitting at a table in Kaval's father's store/restaurant.
“Sorry if it's a little dusty.” he apologized. “The salary for coal miners is low, so I'm working at this store part-time.”
“What're you saying boss?” one of the miners guffawed. “You're the one who's taking cash away from guys with money problems!”
“Yeah, the wife would cry!”
“Shaddup!” he snapped. “If you got any complaints, pay your beer tab!”
“One night and two meals for two, right?” his wife asked the two teenagers politely.
“Yeah, how much?” Ed inquired.
The boss turned towards him with a gleam in his eyes. “It's expensive.”
“Fear not.” Ed returned the challenging stare. “I have plenty on me.”
“200,000!”
Ed fell off his chair in shock. Winry would have too. If she was sitting down, that is.
“There's nothing good about a rip-off like that!” the alchemist complained.
“Sir we're not carrying money in suitcases!” Winry chimed in.
“That's why I said `expensive'.” said the boss flatly. “We have to get cash from rare tourists.”
Ed had had enough. “Don't joke around! We'll go somewhere else!”
A hammer-sized hand grabbed his head. So much for the hospitality.
“TRYING TO GET AWAY, REVENUE?”
Winry suddenly felt protective of Ed, and she walked up to the boss, anger written on her face. “Hey, you leave him alone! You can't swindle money off of us like that!”
No sooner did she say that, when another giant hand grabbed her around the back of her neck, scaring her out of her wits and she emitted a terrified squeak.
“YOU TOO, MISSY?”
“Winry!” Ed rounded on the boss with a furious snarl. “Let her go, you ape!”
But inside, he was in a panic. No, they both were. Nobody could tell the difference between flesh and painted clay. Unless they were being touched.
Kaval laughed from across the room. “You'd better give it up, Bro. It's the same price everywhere else.”
-sss-
Ed crouched behind the table, counting their money with desperation. Winry knelt next to him, rubbing the back of her neck. Thank God the boss was too excited about tourist-herding to notice anything.
“Well?” she asked.
“…Not enough.”
Picking from a variety of choice solutions, Ed whispered, “In this situation, I could change rocks to gold through alchemy…!”
Winry picked up on that, and scolded, “No, Ed…! Gold transmutation is illegal according to the National Alchemist law, isn't it?”
“If nobody finds out, we're fine.” Ed said in a creepy voice. “If nobody finds out. Huhuhuhuhu…”
She grimaced. “Ed, I knew you were evil, but this is going too far…!”
Suddenly, the mischief vanished, and he fixed Winry with a stare so intense it caught her off-guard. And she felt herself quickly blush(if she actually could, that is) under his scrutinizing gaze. He was giving her the same look he threw other people whom he cross-examined. And when he did, it was almost as if he could look into their minds, into their hearts…
“Wh-what…?” she stammered, daring herself to maintain eye contact with those bright, golden orbs.
After a few moments of silence, Ed threw up another suggestion, holding the seriousness of his air. “Okay then. Winry, say you strip so we can get money for our lodgings?”
Cricket chirp.
“IS THAT WHAT YOU THINK OF ME?” Winry shrieked at the top of her lungs in outrage, hands around Ed's neck and shaking him like a rattle. “ED, YOU BETTER BE JOKING OR I'LL STOMP ON YOUR FACE! I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU SAID THAT! YOU, OF ALL PEOPLE!”
The racket caught everyone's attention.
“…Psst! Sis. Bro.”
Winry desisted as she took heaving breaths, Ed falling limp in her grasp. Kaval was crouching between them, eyes shifting from Ed to Winry and back. Apparently he'd heard every word of their conversation. But it wasn't the stripping idea that reawakened his undying excitement.
“DAD! THIS GUY'S AN ALCHEMIST!”
-sss-
Ed clapped his hands and fixed the broken pickaxe on the table, to everyone's astonishment and awe.
“Well I'm happy!” the boss declared. “It's been a while since I've had an alchemist as a customer.” he placed the plate in front of Ed. “I used to do a bit of alchemy before. Didn't have any talent, so I quit studying it. So I tell you kids what. I'll give you a discount as a favor to a fellow practitioner.”
“Alright!” Ed and Winry cheered.
“That'll be 100,000 with the huge discount.”
Winry deflated.
“That's still expensive!” Ed's temple started to throb.
She patted him on the shoulder. “Never mind, Ed. We'll get to round up some money easier that way at least.” she told him encouragingly.
“Yeah, I guess.” he muttered sullenly. Then, “But we still need you to strip.”
A suitcase collided with the back of his head. Winry's suitcase. And the fact that a woman had twice as much luggage than a man, which meant double the weight, was pretty much a given.
“Youuuuuuuuuu…” she uttered menacingly, flames crackling around her.
The boss coughed into his fist. “Well, aren't you both the couple.”
“We're not a couple!”
The simultaneousness of their response didn't help their argument, and it sent the bearded man laughing. The “couple” settled for trying to hold to whatever dignity they had left and quieted down, embarrassment written on both their faces. Worse on Ed's case probably, since Winry didn't have blood to blush anyway.
“By the way,” the boss choked, settling down, “you still haven't told me your names.”
“Oh, right.” Ed turned his attention to his plate, utensils in hand. “This is my childhood friend Winry Edgestone, an alchemist like me. I'm Edward Elric.”
But before he could dig in, the plate was swiped off the table. He turned with a puzzled look to the boss, Winry sharing the same feeling as him.
“If you're an alchemist named Elric…that would make you a National Alchemist, right?”
Silence fell in the store. Winry had a bad feeling.
Ed, on the other hand, kept talking. But he was being careful with his words now. “Maybe a little on the side.”
All the same, his cup was the second thing to go.
“What the hell's your problem?” he demanded, losing it.
“GET OUT!”
Before they even had a chance to speak, both Ed and Winry were thrown out into the darkness of the night.
“Hey! We're customers!” Ed hollered from his position on the ground.
“Shoo shoo!” the boss retorted. “We don't have meals or beds for a dog of the army!”
“Wha—“
“Wait!” Winry scrambled to her feet. “I'm a normal person! I'm not a National anything!”
“Oh really? Come on in!” they beckoned warmly.
“WHA—? WINRY?“
-sss-
“Good grief, and I thought we'd gotten outsiders after such a long time.”
“Don't be a sissy.”
Winry cast her blue eyes around at everyone with anxiety. “Ed's not liked an awful lot.”
“Yeah, that's right.” Kaval scowled. “Everybody here really hates anyone in the army. First Lieutenant Yoki controls this place. He's really money crazy. He's the worst.”
“The guys at Central really look like they love the guy,” piped one of the men, “even when he keeps sending them bribes.”
“He bought his current rank too.” grumbled another.
“He used to just be a coal mining proprietor but he got greedy for promotion.”
“Eh? Then this place is…!” Winry realized.
“Yeah, missy. This place is Yoki's private property. He takes advantage of his rights and lowers our salaries down to crumbs!”
“And on top of that, all the guys who tried to complain about him got beaten up!”
“He sucks, right?” Kaval fumed.
Winry's plate arrived at the table, and she thanked the boss. “Missy, for your boyfriend to become a National Alchemist…it's despicable. Alchemists live for the sake of the people. A practitioner has common sense as well as pride.”
He looked away with disgust. “I can't forgive anyone who would sell their soul to the national military for the privileges they offer.”
Winry listened with a pained expression on her face.
They really despise Ed…if only they knew why he joined in the first place…
…Then again…
-sss-
The quietness of the night was shattered by Ed's growling stomach as he lay prostrate on his stomach on the porch.
“I'm hungryyyyyy…” he moaned, looking pretty much like an adorable sad, suicidal puppy. “Damn it…damn you, Winry…”
He couldn't believe it. She just left him to eat the dust outside while she sat in comfort inside the store.
And to think I thought she was cute…! She's not cute! NOT AT ALL!
Just then, he heard the clatter of a mug, and he looked up to see a smiling Winry presenting him a tray of food.
“I snuck this out when they weren't looking.” she told him sweetly.
“Wha…!”
I take back what I said about her! Winry IS cute!
“D-um, th-thanks Winry!” he stuttered in amazement, making her giggle and pout playfully.
“You really think I'm that cold to leave you to starve out here?”
Later on, Winry filled him in on what she'd heard inside.
“Yeah, corrupt officials are everywhere.” he replied.
“And because of them, their rations are poor.”
“…I see.” he replied, a little more quietly. “So thanks to that First Lieutenant Yoki, we were treated pretty badly. And everyone here hates the army. Honestly, even in good times, we wouldn't be so hated.”
Winry was thoughtful there for a moment. Then she whispered so softly that Ed almost missed the words. “Maybe I should try to get a license too.”
He turned to face her with a firm stare. “Don't, Winry. It'll be enough for me to just sit on this bed of thorns by myself. And the last thing I want is for you to get treated as badly as me.”
She sat there, stunned at the words. Ed had sounded so sweet and sincere. It might have been the first time. Winry's butterflies were suddenly swarming in her nonexistent stomach, and she had to fight back the inexplicable urge to wrap him in a bear hug. Or…kiss him…or something…
…Okay, she needed to stop thinking about that.
Luckily, he didn't notice the look on her face, as he went on.
“To go so low as to be a military dog, huh? I don't have anything to say to that, though.”
“Plus,” Winry chimed in quietly, “we ignored the law and got these bodies as a result…”
A silence fell between them. Then Winry went on to say, “What would our master think…”
Ed sighed.
But there was a tense air that followed after that. And they both shuddered at the prospect of their fates if they ever turned up at their master's door now.
“We'd be killed…!” they said in unison.
“Out of the way!” an unfamiliar voice behind them caught their attention.
-sss-
Three men in military uniforms strode into the store, each as obstinate as the next one. And the thin-mustached one taking the lead, the First Lieutenant Yoki himself, was dabbing his face with a handkerchief.
“Such a dirty store as usual, Hulling.” he muttered.
“It's you, First Lieutenant.” the boss greeted blandly from behind the counter. “Welcome to this filthy place.”
“Nice greeting.” Yoki sniffed. “It seems that this place isn't paying its taxes. And this doesn't stop at you. I could say the same for everyone in this town.”
The bearded man's brows furrowed. But if there was any civility left in his blood, he was using it now. “I apologize. I can't do anything about our wages.”
“Hmph. And yet, there's more than enough to just enjoy alcohol? Which means, it would be acceptable if I lowered your income a little?”
All the miners began to object, but Kaval was the first to act. “Why you!”
A dirty rag was flung into Yoki's face.
“Don't push us around!”
“First Lieutenant! You little runt!” the first subordinate growled.
Yoki backhanded the boy, who collapsed to the floor.
“Kaval!” the boss yelled.
The First Lieutenant, however, wasn't swayed. “Show him no mercy as a child. This is a warning.”
The second subordinate drew his sword and took a swing towards Kaval, his father rushing towards him. “KAVAL!”
The man brought his sword down upon the boy…
…and struck a metal arm.
Kaval, whose arm was up in defense, brought it down to see Edward shielding him from the attack with his own arm.
The room's clamor increased tenfold.
SNAP!
The man's sword broke in half, much to his shock. “HUH?”
Finally, Yoki found his voice and outraged, demanded, “WHAT? Who is this ruffian?”
Coolly, Ed sipped from his mug as if nothing was wrong. “A passerby ruffian.” he replied.
Winry stood at the doorway behind the three officials, sighing in relief to see that no one was hurt.
“This has nothing to do with you! Stay out of this!” Yoki yelled at Ed.
“Nah, I saw the First Lieutenant, so I figured…” he flicked his pocket watch out of his pocket for everyone to see. “…why not say hi?”
Yoki fixed his beady eyes on the watch. “This is…eh…!”
He balked when he recognized the engravement. The President's crest! The hexagram gold watch!
Meanwhile, the second subordinate whispered to him, “First Lieutenant, who's that kid?”
His question was answered by a smack to his face.
“YOU MORON!” Yoki scolded, then he dropped his voice to a squeak. “Haven't you heard of the National Alchemists? The agency under the President's control?”
The man was disbelieving. “Sir, are you serious? That pipsqueak?”
Ed must have heard that, when his eye twitched in annoyance. But he kept his temper in check and stayed quiet. Winry continued to watch the scene.
“This is my chance.” Yoki went on.
“Huh?”
“I'll be able to make some connections in Central if I make a good impression!”
“What cunning, First Lieutenant…!”
With the conversation ended, said official glided over to the young alchemist. “I apologize for my subordinate's actions. I am Yoki, this town's governor.”
Ed looked around at everyone while Yoki continued. “It must be some sort of fate that we met like this. Don't stay in this filthy place! This might be a town in the country, but we have excellent lodgings!”
The golden-haired boy smirked. “Then I'll let you take care of things, `cause this old man wouldn't let me stay here. He's really stingy.”
Said old man bristled.
And with that, Ed made to follow the three men.
“Ed…!”
He turned his head to the side towards Winry at the doorway. She looked worried. Instead of answering he just grinned, before taking her hand to drop his moneybag in it and went on his way, leaving her to watch after him in exasperation and puzzlement.
“Hey!” she flailed her arms in the air after him. “Now you're leaving me all alone?”
“Do you understand?” Yoki turned back to the boss. “The taxes will definitely be paid! I'll be back!”
The door slammed behind them. Instantly, an outburst sprung up among the miners.
“What a pain in the ass!” Kaval complained in agitation.
“Which one?” Winry sighed.
“BOTH!” they all said in unison.
“Missy,” the boss slapped a hand to his face, “you should reconsider, and dump that no-good boyfriend of yours.”
“He's not my boyfriend…” Winry muttered, sounding embarrassed.
“Yeah. I betcha he isn't.”
-sss-
“Don't hold back. Please eat.”
Ed was staring at his food, a little disgruntled. “I'm eating good stuff…even when the town is…”
“It is embarrassing to talk about,” Yoki said opposite him, “but I am having difficulty collecting taxes. In addition, there are ruffians like the ones earlier…hahaha. Yes, it really is embarrassing.”
“So,” Ed munched, “they insist they have rights, while not paying their taxes.”
“Exactly. Sir Edward, you're rather smart.” the First Lieutenant commented.
“All logic in the world can be represented by the basis of alchemy, `equivalent exchange'.” Ed explained knowledgeably. “Privilege comes with duty.”
Yoki nodded along. “I see, I see. Yes, wonderful. So then,” he rang a small bell, “I wonder if you will accept this as `logic'?”
Instantly, an official appeared with a tray carrying a small but really fat moneybag.
“Sir Edward, because you are a National Alchemist, it is thought that you would have some sort of influence with the higher-ups. This is merely what I feel, but…”
The tray was placed beside him, and he stared at it before picking the bag up. “This is the so-called `bribe', isn't it?”
Yoki grinned behind his clasped hands. “What I feel. I do not want to end my life as a petty official of a hick town like this. You do understand, don't you?”
-sss-
“Please rest peacefully.” Yoki bid Ed as two officials led him to his room.
“Thanks.”
Just then, the first subordinate appeared behind Yoki. “First Lieutenant. This concerns Hulling's store. It seems that every night, disturbing elements gather there to complain about their treatment.”
“Hmph.” he scoffed. “They were being somewhat defiant earlier. How annoying.”
“What are your orders, sir?”
“Burn it.” was Yoki's simple command.
And it reached his guest's ears.
-sss-
Winry lay curled up in bed, unable to sleep. It wasn't as if she could. But she didn't want to make anyone suspicious, so she had to take up a room somewhere, much to the boss's disconcertion. Maybe there was some sense in Ed leaving her in charge of their funds. Sighing deeply, she wondered what on earth Ed was doing at that moment.
…Sleeping, of course. Stop thinking about him…! she commanded herself.
She was so tired, spiritually. Winry was a little appreciative of how she never felt physical exhaustion in the body she possessed. But there was very little convenience in owning such a body. For one thing, she couldn't let others come in contact with her in case they felt the “plasticity”, which was why she got nervous around crowds. In a hot climate, she was stiff in her limbs and found it hard to move around because the soft clay inside was being baked. For certain, the fibrous material, along with the body paint, concealed the layers and gently protected the clay from drying up, but Winry always worried about the paint peeling.
She couldn't eat anything because her body never starved. She didn't need to drink because she never got thirsty. And sleep was always the last thing on her mind.
Winry snuggled further into her pillow, pretending to be comfortable for her own sake. She was still fully clothed, seeing that there was no real reason to shed her jacket. Tired of staring at the ceiling, she decided to close her eyes. Those eyes of pure glass…
And strangely enough, she began to dream…
-sss-
8 years ago…
“Ed! Ed, where are you?”
Little Winry trudged tiredly up the hill, exhausted from playing. The two little ones, along with a few other boys, were playing Hide-and-seek. And Winry became It. And after two grueling, unsuccessful hours of searching up and down the fields and meadows for any sign of them, she'd given up and decided to look for her best friend instead, whom she hadn't found yet. And she was beginning to worry. Where was he?
“Ed! Ed come on! I wanna go home!” she cupped her hands over her mouth to yell for him.
She reached the dirt road and quickened her pace as she continued to look for the missing boy. And as time passed, Winry's worry grew, and she was trying not to imagine the worst case scenarios. But for a 7-year old, she had quite a wild imagination. And when children let their imagination run away with them, it was hard trying to convince them of things that weren't even possible.
What if hedrowned in the river? What if he fell into the well? What if hegot kidnapped?What if the Bogey Man ate him?
Shaking like a leaf, little Winry Edgestone tried to persevere and flat out refused to come back home without her friend. It was getting dark, and she was getting cold and hungry. Where was little Edward Elric?
“Ed! Ed!” she yelled at the top of her lungs in her tiny voice. “Please, come out! I don't wanna play anymore! Let's go home already! Please Ed!”
As loudly as she called, she received no answer.
Then suddenly, the little girl began to well up inside, and she started to cry, the lonely abandoned feeling sweeping over her; the same feeling she had when she watched her parents, a pair of doctors, turn their backs as they departed for the battlefield.
“Ed, where are youuuuuuuu?”
-sss-
“Winry!”
Her eyes snapped open, and was greeted by a face she was only too familiarized with.
Had she actually fallen asleep?
“…Ed? Why are you—“ she began confusedly, but he didn't waste time, and he grabbed her wrist.
“Come on!” he pulled her out of bed, her suitcase already in his other hand. She managed to catch a glimpse out the window before they exited the room, and her blue eyes widened to see the blazing fire outside.
-sss-
“I can't believe this…!”
Winry fell to her knees in shock as she watched the fire consume Hulling's store. To think that she was just next door; she could have burnt. Ed was some feet ahead of her, watching the flames lick the porch almost passively. But she knew what he was thinking.
It's just like that time…
-sss-
The next day, all the townsfolk gathered around the place where the store used to stand. But of all the people offended by the scene, it was the boss and his family.
“This is horrible…” one of them groaned.
Winry glanced at Ed beside her, who said, “Last night, Yoki's men were hanging around the boss's store. I saw it.” he came to stare at the ground. “What's lucky is that the place you were staying at didn't catch fire too…”
She was quiet, but she nodded. “Yeah. But…how'd you know I was in there…?”
Ed's bangs fell to hide his eyes. “…I didn't. I just went to look for you.”
She stared. Then she couldn't help but smile warmly in gratitude. “Thanks for coming for me.”
Ed looked like he wanted to say something else, but the subject was dropped immediately when Kaval sunk to his knees and cursed out loud.
“Damn it…they really pulled something dirty this time…” Kaval mumbled, sullen-faced. “The reason why Dad studied alchemy was so that he could save this town, live the way an alchemist should and help the people.”
“Kaval-kun…” Winry whispered.
The boy's face suddenly lit up, and his eyes fell on Ed. “Hey Ed, you have enough power to transmute gold, don't you? Transmute in a jiff and save Dad…and the town…!”
The alchemist held his gaze for a second before turning away. “No.”
“No way…” Kaval couldn't believe his ears. “Isn't it ok? You won't lose anything either!”
“Kaval-kun—“ Winry started, but Ed cut her off.
“The alchemic standard is `exact trade'! I don't have any obligation or responsibility to make money for you.”
“Why you…!”
Kaval lunged for Ed and grabbed the front of his coat in a threatening gesture, his other hand balled into a fist.
“Kaval-kun!” Winry exclaimed, grabbing his shoulders to restrain him.
“And you're supposed to be an alchemist!” he yelled, at eye-level with Ed and ignoring Winry's vain protests.
For several moments, the two stared, silently daring the other to move. Then Ed opened his mouth. “'Alchemists live for the sake of the people', eh?”
With one move, he jerked away from Kaval's grip. “In any case, even if I give you money, it'll be taken away as taxes and then it'll be over. I won't get anything either if I do anything for your little problems.”
Ed turned on his heel, readjusting his red coat. “In your situation, I'd just get out of this town and look for a different job.”
“Kid, you don't get it.”
He spared the boss behind him a glance. And the bearded man patted his son on the head as he cried.
“This is our home. And our coffin.” he muttered solemnly as he walked off with his family.
Winry watched the miners move away with saddened eyes. “Their…coffin…”
Then she heard feet shifting behind her, and she turned to see her best friend moving away too, and she followed.
“Ed! Wait! Where are you going?”
But he plunged on ahead, in the direction of the mine cars.
“Ed!” Winry called sharply once she'd caught up to him, then her voice softened. “Ed…are you really going to—“
“Winry.” he cut her off again. It was surprising how she didn't find it annoying. “How much do you think this pile of sludge weighs?”
Ed was eyeing one of the motionless cars carting a load.
She blinked, wondering if she heard him right. But she decided to answer his question anyway. “Um…I'd say around one or…two tons?”
He made a sound in his throat as an affirmative. “Alright then.”
And before she could object, he was already clambering onto the car. “I'll break the law a little, so pretend you're not watching.”
Winry's blue eyes widened in realization. “Wh—? …So, are you asking me to assist you?”
Ed clapped his hands together in preparation. “If you don't want to, I'll understand.”
She seemed thoughtful for a moment, but her face broke into a grin. “Since when have I ever not helped you, Edward Elric?”
Her answer surprised him a little, but he shared grins with her.
“Besides, if I said no, you'd still do it, right?” she beamed, knowing him.
Ed began the transmutation. “Whaaaat? If no one finds out, it's okay.”
She shook her head. “Oh well. So far in our line of work, we're more of fugitives than just alchemists, anyway.”
-sss-
The First Lieutenant's jaw literally dropped to the floor. Along with everyone else's.
“Ex…” he stammered. “…ex…cuse me…?”
Ed and Winry stood at the doorway. And behind them, glowing pyramids of gold bars lay neatly stacked.
Ed cleared his throat as if to emphasize his request. “I said I'd like you to sell me the deed to the coal mines.”
Some of the officials were ogling at the pyramids up close. “Incredible…they're all real…?”
“Not enough?” Winry asked innocently.
Yoki flailed his arms. “D-d-d-don't be absurd!” and he clasped his hands in bliss. “With just this, I can say goodbye to this town…”
Send bribes to the higher ranks and then, and then…!
His attention fell on Ed again. “And then…”
Taking the hint, Ed smiled, pearly whites glinting. “Yes, I'll be sure to inform my friends among the higher-ups about the First Lieutenant.”
“Sir Alchemist!” Yoki clasped his hand in blind joy.
“However,” Ed went on, “gold transmutation is illegal, so I'd appreciate it if you'd write a memorandum stating that the deed was kindly transferred free of charge, so that no one finds out.”
“I don't mind! Very well, let's skip to the legal process…” Yoki clapped a hand to his mouth in adoration. “But sir Alchemist, you are quite evil. Hohoho…!”
Ed went along with him. “No, no. Not as much as the First Lieutenant. Hohoho…!”
Winry sighed. They look like they're having fun.
-sss-
“Dad!” Kaval pounded a fist on the barrel. “Why stop?”
Because I won't let you attack them.” his father quietly put in.
They were all gathered inside one of the warehouses. And now the boss had had enough of rebelling. But the others felt otherwise.
“Even if the boss doesn't, I will…” muttered one.
“Yeah, I've had enough.”
“Even if we die, I'm going to shoot off that Yoki's head with one shot!”
“No!” the boss was firm. “I won't let all of you become criminals!”
“But…!” Kaval started to protest.
Then the door was thrown wide open, and in walked the two people they were least expecting to see at this time.
“Hiii everybody!” Ed walked in with an uncharacteristically cheerful smile on his face.
“All people who owe money, line up and be very happy!” Winry chimed in, genuinely cheerful. Ed was really just being smug.
The brightness of the pair contrasted with the glum of the miners.
“What did you come here for…?” Kaval grumbled.
“Hey, hey.” Ed chided. “You wouldn't say that to the owner of this place, would you?”
One of the miners lost his patience with the smart-aleck and demanded, “What the hell are you—!“ A set of papers perused in his face interrupted him, and he frowned further. “This is…”
Ed grinned smugly. “Mining, management, sales…the deed for all businesses.”
“But why the hell are you holding this…?”
Then the signature at the bottom caught the miner's attention, and he blanched reading it. “AAAAHHHH! THE SIGNATURE READS EDWARD ELRIC!”
And everyone else blanched along with him. They looked like a set of chalk people.
“RIGHT! IN SHORT, PRESENTLY…!” Ed announced with an emphasis. “THIS COAL MINE IS MINE!”
“NO WAY!” was everyone's obvious reaction.
“…Is what I said.” the prodigy finished. “We're the wandering sort that go from journey to journey.”
“Yes.” Winry agreed. “We can't own this mine if we travel around so much…”
The boss's brow furrowed. “…Are you saying you're going to sell this to us? How much?”
Ed grinned with mischief in his eyes. “It's expensive? If you want to get something, you gotta pay a price.”
The bearded man suddenly felt uncomfortable.
“Winry, would you care to do the honors?” Ed gestured to her.
She almost laughed at his silliness, but she took the stage anyway. “The deed is vellum embossed in gold. And its storage box has a design finely carved in jade. The work of a fine craftsman.” she spared the proud Ed a glance before finishing, “Oh, and the key is silver.”
“To the untrained eye,” Ed took over, “all of this lumped together...equals the price of one night and two meals for two at the boss's place. Is this a reasonable transaction?”
Everyone was quiet. Then, Kaval gasped.
“Ah, exact trade…!”
His words were followed by laughter coming from his father, the boss. “Hahahaha, yeah that is expensive!” he slammed his fist down on the barrel to settle it. “ALRIGHT, BOUGHT!”
Ed, in turn, slapped the papers on the barrel. “SOLD!”
Then, more visitors appeared at the doorway. And a very stressed Yoki barged in. “Sir Alchemist, what is the meaning of this?”
“Well if it isn't the First Lieutenant.” Ed commented, looking like an innocent puppy. “I just sold the deed to this man.”
“WHAT DID YOU SAY?” Yoki slapped his forehead. “No, never mind that! More importantly, the gold bricks you gave me all turned into stone!”
As to attest his complaint, he was holding a handful of pebbles. “Why did this happen? Please explain!”
“When did you turn it back, Ed?” Winry whispered in his ear.
“Just before we left.” then to the distressed official he answered pleasantly, “I don't know anything about gold bricks.”
“Don't play innocent with me! Didn't I trade the certificate for that mountain of gold? This is fraud!”
“Oh?” Ed smugly produced another piece of paper and showed it to Yoki. “I received the certificate free of charge, and look! This is a memorandum.”
“HUUUUUUHHHH?”
Yoki snarled. “This transaction is invalid! You two take back the…”
His protests died in his throat when the biggest miner meandered over to them.
“…deed…?”
“You shouldn't take our private property through force.” he said.
“Is this abuse of authority?” another piped up.
“S-silence!” Yoki sputtered, losing his nerve. “If you don't want to get hurt, hurry up and—“
“Uh-uh-uhhh…” they began to crack their knuckles. “Not taking coal miner power seriously is a MAJOR no-no, First Lieutenant.”
In two seconds, Yoki's two subordinates were on the floor, either bashed in the face or clocked in the head. And the First Lieutenant stood there, screaming like a girl.
“Ah, I forgot.” Ed said as an afterthought. “First Lieutenant.”
He looked at the boy questioningly.
“I'll be sure to inform the higher-ups about the First Lieutenant's incompetence. Please take care of it from there.”
Yoki felt summer slipping away from him, and figuratively, he died on the inside.
“ALRIGHT!” The miners cheered. “BRING THE BEER! BRING THE BEER!”
Winry lunged for Ed and embraced him. “Ed, we did it! We did it!”
Too shocked for words, all that red-faced Edward could come up with was a, “Uh…yeah…!”
She squealed when they started pouring the beer on their heads.
“GAAHHH!” Ed complained. “What are you doing? Don't make minors drink!”
“What? I did it when I was your age!” laughed a miner.
“You can't get bigger if you don't drink!”
“HEY!”
“Come on! You and your girlfriend need to relax and have fun now!” the boss laughed.
“WE'RE NOT A COUPLE!”
End of Chapter 3
A/N: Okies, there you go. Sorry about Ed's perversity. But hey, he's a teenager, and traveling with a girl rather than a big suit of armor might give him ideas, ehehe. Plus, he can be really vulgar. What with him calling Winry a bitch during the manga. Yeah, really. And he was just joking about Winry stripping, of course. Lol, stripping doll-Winry is like stripping Barbie! Thus, EXPOSURE!
Btw, haven't you guys figured out yet which anime doll-Winry was inspired from? It's too easy. Just think: clay. Or maybe, mud.