Fullmetal Alchemist Fan Fiction ❯ Set in Stone ❯ Train Troubles ( Chapter 5 )

I realise that on the last chapter I wrote that was chapter 5, but I was having a blonde moment, hehe if my blonde friend heard me say that she'd hit me. Hey I was blonde once too, not naturally but who's hair is natural these days? If you're over 14 anyway, apart from watserface (I don't think she'd want me putting her name on here (not that she'd know)) hers is naturally freakishly red. No offense to redheads. So yes well here you are. Wooh chapter 5!

 

`Til The Sun Shines

 

Chapter Five

Train Troubles

 

`If it makes you happy, it can't be that bad;

If it makes you happy, then why the hell are you so sad?'

- Sheryl Crow, If it makes you happy

 

“Don't worry, Winry.” Ed said to the distressed blonde in front of him. “It's just a bit of paperwork, my arm's fine, and I'll be back before you know it.”

 

“Can't I come?” she asked, rushing around and picking up forgotten belongings for the party standing at the door, ready to leave, back to Central.

 

“Just stay here, alright? If I need you I'll call.”

 

“You just got back; do you really have to leave?” She asked, as the others set off down the dirt road, waving their goodbyes.

 

“He's not going anywhere, Winry. I'll make sure the Major General doesn't keep him too long.” Hawkeye assured her, brushing her gun meaningfully. Ed eyed her warily.

 

“Oh, I suppose there's not much I can do about it anyway.” She resigned, handing over his light suitcase. “Just promise me you'll come back.” Ed flashed a smile her way.

 

“Of course, I'm too much of a country boy to live in those big cities anyway.” He said, before kissing her and setting off down the road. “I'm coming, you're so impatient!” he yelled at Mustang. Winry sighed and went back into the house once Hawkeye had gone. She looked out into the backyard, and noticed the pieces of wood and other materials Ed had brought home.

 

“Yeah, that'd be right, leave a huge mess.” She muttered under her breath, but left the pile untouched anyway.

 

 

“So why am I returning to Central?” Ed asked, once they had boarded the train.

 

“Well, you're the Fullmetal Alchemist, the hero of the people. You've got to let people know that you're back, right?” Mustang replied.

 

“Since when have you pulled me all the way from something I was doing, for media purposes?” Ed asked, not convinced. And he was right in his suspicions. Mustang had not yet enlightened him for the reason behind his house call, and Ed was getting more annoyed and curious with the passing time.

 

The rest of the team, aside from Hawkeye, was politely allowing them some privacy, although curious about why Ed wasn't told about their mysterious visitors as well, they were staying out of it. “Last time I interfered I had to dress up as a woman.” Fuery had said, to which the group had hid smiles. (1)

 

Mustang didn't answer Ed's question, opting instead to pretend he hadn't heard. “I don't like this Mustang.” Ed growled, “It's not like it's uncommon for you to ignore a question I ask, but the house visit? And why are you dragging me all the way back to Central?”

 

“I didn't drag you Fullmetal; I was under the impression that you had walked to the train station yourself.” Mustang replied casually.

 

“I didn't mean it literally, bastard. Stop avoiding the questions.” Ed said.

 

“I've told you why you are returning to Central.” Mustang replied, “We need to make people realise that you are no longer just a legend. There are things that need to be sorted out. People don't just disappear for 15 years, and then come back and expect everything to be the way it was when they left.”

 

“I don't expect things to be the same!” Ed said, loud enough for the others to overhear. “But that's not a legitimate reason! I can do those things from Risembool; I don't want to become the famous `Fullmetal Alchemist' again!”

 

“That's not really something you can control, Fullmetal. You made a choice when you were a child, and that choice remains with you now. It's only for a few weeks, stop getting so worked up.” Mustang said disinterestedly.

 

“Stop treating me like a child!” Ed said, the others had stopped talking and despite their decision to but out were now listening in. As well as half of the other passengers on the train. “And start telling me what the hell is going on!”

 

“I've never treated you like a child, Fullmetal.” Mustang replied calmly. “Because I've never known you to be one, sometimes your actions may be rash, and your decisions may not be entirely logical. But they are not childish. I have never treated you as anything but an equal. All I ask is for the same in return.”

 

“Like hell you haven't!” Ed replied heatedly, getting more annoyed with the placid expression on the infuriating mans face. “I've always been the one who was sent out to do your work.”

 

“You joined the Military, Elric; you are not exempt from their duties.”

 

“Oh, give me a break.” Ed muttered under his breath. “What is this really about, Mustang?” he asked.

 

Mustang turned his one eye, so that it locked with Ed's fierce golden ones. “I'm keeping you in the dark Fullmetal, shall we see how you like it, huh?” he asked mockingly.

 

Ed began to laugh. “Ha, this is what this is all about, alright Mustang; I'll play your stupid little game. You're not getting answers out of me, and I can put up with not getting answers from you.” He said, crossing his arms and turning to look out the window. His eyes darted back and forward as he focused on different objects that were passing.

 

“Do you really want to keep it from us that bad, sir?” Hawkeye asked.

 

“The less you know the better.” He said and stood up.

 

“Where are you going?” Mustang asked when he began to move.

 

“Another carriage, you're annoying me.” He said, and walked towards the door of one of the carriage's adjoining them. The door shut behind him, locking out the chilly wind.

 

“Havoc,” Mustang ordered, but Havoc was already on his feet.

 

“On it,” he called back and followed Ed into the other carriage. “Problem, Boss?” he questioned Ed, sitting opposite him.

 

“Well there is now,” Ed answered grumpily.

 

“Y'know, Mustang's just looking out for you.” He said conversationally.

 

“He could do it in a less nosy way.”

 

“We all want to know where you've been, boss. It's been different without you there, a lot quieter.” Ed glared at him, but only half-heartedly. “Maybe we may not be hassling you, but Mustang's got the right idea, we all know you're not gonna open up because you want to.”

 

“Maybe I don't need to open up; maybe this is all in your head.” Ed replied.

 

“And Maybe it's not, we could go `what if' all day, but your hiding something, and it's big, because I can't remember a time when you've kept stuff from us.”

 

“That would be because I didn't tell you.” He replied, rolling his eyes. “And it's not like you guys are being totally honest with me, you made the trip down here for a specific reason, not so you could bring me back to go to a photo shoot.”

 

Havoc grinned slightly. “Well if I told you why we came, would you tell me where you've been?” he asked.

 

“Nope.”

 

“Not even a country name?” Ed laughed.

 

“Yeah alright, I've give you a couple of country names.” He said. “But, you first.” He bargained.

 

“Alright then, sounds fair, the reason we came here, is because a group of people stopped us, looking for you.”

 

“Stopped how?” Ed asked suspiciously.

 

“Stopped as in, walked in front of the car, and surrounded us. We probably wouldn't have bothered coming here, but the people were foreign, spoke a funny language, the Major General said he recalled you speaking in the same one. So lo and behold, here we are.”

 

Ed looked thoughtful. “Who was stopped?” he asked.

 

“Me and Mustang.”

 

“Mustang and I,” Ed corrected, “What did the people look like?”

 

“Well I didn't see their faces, they were wearing cloaks.” Ed frowned. “But one of them looked like Rose; she didn't really belong with the creepy cloaked people.”

 

“Damn.” He swore. “Brown hair, brown eyes, really tanned?” he asked, and Havoc nodded.

 

“You know `em?”

 

“What did they say?” Ed asked, ignoring Havoc's question, “You said they said something in a `funny language' what was it?”

 

“Uh…I don't know if I can remember it, Mustang wrote it down, it was uh… Seine… uh… Hände, die Handschuhe. Yeah that's it.” He said, looking at Ed, who wore a puzzled expression. (2)

 

“But that doesn't make sense.” He said.

 

“You know what it means?” Havoc asked.

 

“His hands, the gloves.” Ed relayed. “Unless she was talking about Mustang. Was she touching either of you?”

 

“Uh…she brushed my arm, barely.” He said, confused. “So you do know them? Should we be so paranoid, because they came to the Rockbells' too?”

 

“They did?!” Ed exclaimed. “When?”

 

“Uh…about 20 minutes before we got there, that's what Chris said; he sent them away on a false story.” He laughed. “Funny kid that one is.” He mused.

 

Ed sighed, “Well I guess there's nothing I can really do.”

 

“Hey, hey, hey, we had a deal, country names.” Havoc said when Ed didn't say anymore.

 

“Right, uh…Germany, London…actually that's England isn't it? Romania, France, Austria…I went to a lot of others, but I can't remember their names right now, it was mainly around Europe.” He replied lazily.

 

“What!?” Havoc said “I've never heard of those places, you're just putting syllables together and calling it a country. Germany? France?” Ed opened an eye and stared at him with a bored expression.

 

“You asked for names, I never said they'd make sense to you.” He replied. “D'you have any water? I'm thirsty.”

 

Havoc sighed and shook his head. “They should be selling some in the food car, get me some would you?” he asked, as Ed got up and headed to the mentioned cart. “And hey! Don't run off, Mustang'll fry my ass.”

 

“While it is tempting…” Ed replied, “I need to look up some stuff at Central anyway.” He headed off into the other carriage. “They're so bloody paranoid.” He muttered to himself as he walked up to the food cart. “Uh, yeah could I have two bottles of water thanks?” He asked, and then thanked her as the lady behind the counter passed them to him.

 

“Um, excuse me?” a timid voice asked Ed. He turned around; there was a girl, who seemed to be having quite a lot of trouble with her baby. “Could you…if it's not too much trouble, could you please just hold her for a second, she's giving me a bit of trouble and I need to get her bottle?” she asked nervously.

 

“Sure,” Ed said, smiling kindly, and took the baby into his arms, setting down the drinks and moving away to give the girl room. “Is she yours?” he asked, she looked too young to have a child, but he asked anyway.

 

“Oh no,” the girl said, blushing. “She's my baby sister, my parents are in the other carriage, talking to some military officials about something, and I'm just giving them some space.” She replied.

 

“Military officials?” he questioned. “On what end of the train?”

 

“Um, down there.” She pointed with the empty bottle, to the opposite direction Ed had come from. “Why?” she asked hesitantly.

 

“Oh, no reason really, there's a group down the other end is all.” He replied, “I'm supposed to be traveling with them but they were annoying me, so I left.” He made faces at the baby in his arms. Someone lined up for the food trolley behind him, almost bumping him, so he moved again.

 

“Why were you traveling with them?” she asked, filling up the bottle with milk from a thermos. Ed made a face.

 

“I'm a State Alchemist. I think.” He said. She giggled.

 

“You think?” she asked, beginning to get more confident with him.

 

“Well, I haven't been here for 15 years or so, so I don't know if they renewed my license or not. That's what this whole trip is about.”

 

“So can you use alchemy? I've been trying to learn, but I can't find a teacher.” She said sadly.

 

“I'm not sure.” He said, frowning slightly. “I couldn't use it where I was, and I don't know if I'd be able to now.” He looked at his hands dismally. “Could I try, heating up the bottle I mean?” he asked, after she had taken the baby into her arms.

 

“Sure.” She said, surprised. “It's already kind of warm.” He took it a splashed a bit on his wrist.

 

“Ah, it's just the right temperature; I'll find something else to test it on.” He replied, turning and picking up his two waters, not noticing that they weren't where he'd left them. “I guess I'll see you, you getting off at Central?” he asked, and she nodded, blushing again. “Who knows, maybe we'll see each other around. Hey, what's your name?” he asked just when she was about to go into the other carriage.

 

“Oh, it's Sophia.” she replied. A funny look passed across his face but it was gone an instant later. “Sophia Brosh.”

 

“Ed Elric.” He replied. “Bye.”

 

He took a huge gulp of his water, and handed the other to Havoc. “Have you taken quite long enough Boss, I was about to get up and look for you.” He said opening his drink.

 

“Hey I was helping a lady in distress.” He replied. “Not like that.” He said when Havoc winked at him. “You're worse than Mustang.”

 

“The girls actually go for Mustang though, course a few of them have regretted it since he was married.” Havoc replied sullenly, and then said the last part with childish glee. Ed rolled his eyes.

 

“I've been meaning to ask, they haven't had kids?” he asked stretching himself out on the seat.

 

“They were going to.” Havoc answered. And Ed looked at him curiously. “There was an…accident, and Hawkeye miscarried.” He said. Ed almost instantly regretted asking, but was glad that he hadn't said anything to the couple. “They've been cautious since then, but I think she's pregnant again. I'm hoping anyway or I'm gonna be broke for a while.”

 

“She's getting a belly.” Ed said mischievously, “Well we all know what they've been doing on their nights off.” Havoc chocked on his water, and then cracked up laughing.

 

“Don't let Hawkeye hear you say that, you'll have more holes in you then you `ought to.” He said after calming down a bit.

 

“Eh, I'll think about it.” He opened one eye and stared lazily up at Havoc, “Hey did Sergeant Brosh ever get married?”

 

Havoc laughed again. “Yeah to Maria Ross, if it weren't for them being assigned to protect you it may never have happened.” He said.

 

“I think I just met their kids.” He replied yawning. “Who knows…” he continued lazily, before drifting off to sleep. Havoc shook his head. He could fall asleep anywhere he thought.

 

 

“You sure he said he was Edward Elric?” The dark-haired woman asked the girl who was walking beside her going at quite a fast pace.

 

“I'm sure Mom,” she replied, “He said he was Ed Elric, and that he was a state alchemist, why?” she asked.

 

“Did he have blond hair?” the man asked, holding the baby.

 

“Yeah, and gold eyes, they were cool.” She replied. “Why?”

 

“It's got to be Ed, unless Alphonse was using his name, but his hair's a different colour.” He replied, talking to his wife.

 

“Why!?” Sophia asked impatiently. The entered the carriage Ed had been sleeping in and instead found a sleeping Havoc.

 

Denny went over to see if he would wake up, while Maria continued into the carriage Mustang and his group were occupying. “Lieutenant Ross.” Hawkeye exclaimed. “What are you doing here?”

 

“We were on holiday in East City,” she explained. “Sophia said she's seen Ed, is he really back?” she asked hopefully. Mustang narrowed his eyes.

 

“He's supposed to be in that carriage you just came from with Havoc.” He said, annoyance showing in his voice.

 

“Well…uh Havoc's asleep.” She said.

 

“What!” Mustang exclaimed standing up. “He was supposed to be making sure Fullmetal didn't run. For...Pete's…sake.” he said when he noticed the girl standing there.

 

“I've told you before not to cuss, sir.” Hawkeye said.

 

“I didn't.” he replied shortly stepping into the other carriage to wear Brosh was still trying to wake up Havoc.

 

“I don't think he's asleep, sir.” He said nervously, after getting the half-full bottle of water and splashing him in the face, still not getting a response.

 

“Havoc.” Mustang said. “Havoc? Wake up or I'll fry you.” He threatened holding out his hand.

 

“I don't think that's going to work, sir. Perhaps he need's a doctor.” Brosh suggested.

 

“Fuery, Falman.” Mustang ordered. “Look after Havoc.”

 

“What's wrong with him?” Falman asked.

 

“I don't know. Breda.”

 

“Where's Ed?” Breda asked.

 

“There haven't been any stops since I talked to him.” Sophia piped up. “He's got to still be on the train.”

 

“Search the train.” Mustang ordered. “The next stop is Central. Colonel, go to the communications room and order up a search party, no more than three, we don't want to cause panic; Fullmetal's probably just being stupid again.”

 

“And call a doctor.” Fuery added. “Something's really wrong here; I don't think Ed did this.” Havoc was draped over his and Falman's shoulders, still unconscious, and not looking too good.

 

“What on earth happened here, they were right next to our carriage?! I am barbequing me some shrimp when I find that damn midget.” He said angrily.

`I can only please one person per day. Today's not your day. Tomorrow's not looking good, either.'

 

Hehe that episode's good, where Fuery has to pretend to be Hawkeye. Hehe. He. I need to stop doing that.

It's funny how he can recall the words exactly, but then I suppose that would be an inconvenience to my story if he couldn't.