Fullmetal Alchemist Fan Fiction ❯ The Journey Within ❯ The Road Certianly Less Traveled ( Chapter 1 )

~I do not own our favorite pint-sized alchemist or any of his friends, but I certainly wished that I did. That way, I wouldn't have to put up any disclaimers.

~I am in the process of combining chapters, making some major edits, and finishing this story once and for all! Thanks to everyone that has reviewed; you make me smile.

 

 

 

 

 

The Journey Within

Chapter 1- The Road Certainly Less Traveled

 

 

 

It seemed that no matter how many months went by, Edward Elric, who earned the title of State Alchemist at age eleven and the name Full Metal Alchemist and hero of the people to thousands, could not let her face slip his mind.

 

Not that was a problem.

 

Every last detail was engrained in his memory, from the daintiness of her crinkled nose as she hurled insults at him to the sparkle in her eyes as she fingered the latest and greatest automail tools. Yep, no matter mow many miles he and Al traveled, or how long they stayed away from Rizamboul, Winry Rockbell was forever a part of his waking consciousness.

 

And at age 18, sometimes those thoughts of his childhood friend were less then…friend-like.

 

`Damn, I can't go even a few hours with thinking about how she's doing. I wonder if she got that new wrench Al and I sent her a few weeks back…'

 

A Sudden jostling from the train pulled Ed out of his musings, and a frown creased his boyish features.

 

`Yep Full Metal, you're one big loser to be thinking that Winry would think anything else of you instead of being a first rate jerk, and now you're on your way back to where it all began to beg her to fix your automail. Again.'

 

As the miles continued to fly by, Ed slumped against the window on his right and sighed. Glancing down, the metal of his right arm peaked out from in between the crisp white of his gloves and the blood red of his cloak. No matter what his thoughts were, whenever he saw his automail limbs that funny little pang happened in his chest, reminding him of why exactly he and Al burned their house to the ground and set out to become dogs of the military.

 

`I deserve it, for bringing this down on Al, but he doesn't need to be dragged along in all this military shit. This road is mine to travel.'

 

And as Ed looked up to the seat across from him to his little brother, a smile graced his golden eyes for a split second.

 

`You give me this strength to go on Al, so I can fix our bodies and we can return home…and maybe, just maybe, Winry will still be there, waiting for me...'

 

A sharp gasp from his left almost made him jump right out of his seat, but Ed kept his composure and peaked out from under golden bangs, only to let his surprised eyes fall on a girl with big blue eyes and flaxen colored hair. For one split second Ed felt his heart skip a beat; he could've almost sworn he was staring right into the eyes of the girl who had captured his defiant heart. Blinking quickly, his mirage faded, and instead a girl of about seven was staring quite intently at him. Leaning over into his seat, she stood on tiptoe and whispered,

 

“Hey Mister, I gotta question. Can I ask you?”

 

Though he wouldn't tell anyone in Central, and even though Al would have a tough time getting it out of him, Ed secretly had a soft spot for kids. Sure, they were stinky and made messes, and they cried or whined all the time. But whenever he was feeling blue, all Edward Elric had to do was see a bunch of the carefree little buggers running by and a smile would somehow sneak across his face.

 

And as the small girl with big blue eyes leaned into his seat, he couldn't stop that small yet sincere smile from crossing his lips.

 

“Sure, kid, whadaya want?”

 

Little fingers reached slowly out towards the bit of his right arm that was exposed, and big blue eyes filled with wonder looked up at Ed to meet his now hesitant gaze. And so quietly it was almost a whisper, she leaned in a little more and asked,

 

“Does it hurt?”

 

Her innocent question combined with the faint feeling of a small hand coming into contact with his automail arm made him cringe; yet he forced his smile a little wider, and fought through the constriction in his throat.

 

`If only the road certainly less traveled on wasn't so fuckin' painful.'

 

“Nope, kid, not at all.”

 

“Oh.”

 

Ed felt her warm little hand pull back, and was met with a smile that would've lit up the darkest night.

 

“That's good that it doesn't hurt you! My mommy says that the shiny arms and legs can hurt an awful lot, and that's why she tells me to play real careful cause if I don't and I have an ax-e-dent I might have to get the shiny arms and legs, and she says that it hurts an awful lot so I try…”

 

A women's voice from the back of the car stopped the girl's chatter, and she quickly eased back into the aisle of the train car. Dejectedly, she looked at the floor; all while Ed could feel the tremors of emotion start to build within him.

 

`Come on Ed keep it together. After all, it's just a kid, and she doesn't need to see it.'

 

 

“That's my mommy, I guess I gotta go…”

 

Suddenly she vaulted into Ed's unsuspecting lap and threw her arms around his neck, earning a not-so-manly-shriek from the state alchemist. “You promise me you play real careful too so you don't get another shiny arm or leg, ok Mister? Mister?”

 

Ed's forced smile disappeared, and was replaced by a look of gentleness he forgot he possessed.

 

“Yeah kid, I promise.”

 

“MYRAH!”

 

Ed looked up to see a very worried and frazzled women standing above him. “Oh Sir, please forgive her! I've been trying to teach her about `personal space' and that not everyone appreciates spontaneous huggings, but she is rather persistent…”

 

This time, Ed's smile was genuine.

 

“No worries, Madame, I think I needed one of those today.”

 

Small crinkles formed around the women's eyes and mouth as she carefully detached her girl from Ed's neck. As she turned away, Myrah peeked over her mother's shoulder and mouthed, “You promise?”

 

And all Ed could do was silently nod, and watch the big blue eyes disappear into a seat further down the aisle.

 

 

 

 

 

Seconds turned to minuets as Ed continued to stare into the space that Myrah and her mother previously occupied, and it wasn't until the sound of metal hitting metal that Ed shook himself from his stupor. And it was only then that he realized that Al had been kicking his other automail limb, his left leg.

 

“Brother?”

 

Without even looking in his direction, Ed knew that Al was inquiring to the spontaneous hugging incident that had just transpired.

 

“Yeah, what is it, Al?”

 

“Brother, will you be good to your word? You promised that little girl…will you keep it?”

 

Slouching back into his seat, Ed let his head fall forward, tucked his hands into the sleeves of his cloak, and said nothing.

 

“Brother?”

 

“Al, just drop it.”

 

The creaking of a metal suit was the only indication that Ed had, but he knew that Al had leaned forward was now a mere few inches from his face. Eyes closed, he waited for the reprimand that he was sure Al would give him. But instead, he almost hit the floor with what Al said next.

 

“Brother…if you can't promise me you won't get hurt badly enough to need another automail limb, that fine. Just promise me that you will always find a way to live, even if I don't.”

 

And for one split second, the earth stood still as Ed felt his chest tighten and his breathing halt. His eyes drifted and then fixated on the cold, hard metal of his right forearm.

 

`So, this is what guilt feels like…Al, you're not supposed to have those thoughts. Those are reserved for me, since it's my fault you are the way you are now. This is MY ROAD!'

 

The rest of the ride was observed in silence.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The sound of a train whistle and the smell of metal breaking on metal alerted the Elric brothers that they had arrived at their destination, and Al leaned back in his seat to gather their meager belongings. And though it pained him to see his elder brother stare at his metal arm, he secretly rejoiced because they were home. Maybe now, Ed could cheer up after the months of dead end searches for the Philosopher's Stone by seeing the only thing that brought untarnished joy into his life; a certain quick tempered, sharp as a whip and certainly beautiful automail mechanic that Ed needed to see for some repairs anyway.

 

As the train came to a halt, Ed finally broke the silence by lifting his eyes to meet his concerned younger brothers gaze. And no words needed to be spoken. Al knew, even without the verbal confirmation that he so desperately wanted to hear, that Ed would never go back on any of his promises, even those made to a small girl with big blue eyes and flaxen hair. Because the only way a promise made by Edward Elric would be broken was if he were dead.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Al kicked a pebble as he and his older brother walked the well-worn dirt road to the Rockbell's house. Actually, it was more like a stone the size of a soccer ball, but that didn't matter. He knew it wouldn't hurt. As the stone went sailing, Al sighed and let his eyes fall onto the road.

 

`Figures, when I wanted to be big enough to play with the older kids I never was. I'm 17 now, and after all this time of being big I just want to be normal again.'

 

Al stole a quick glance to Ed on his right, and sighed again.

 

` I just wished that Ed would learn to share this burden. We did this together, and we'll end it together.'

 

Off to his left, Ed could hear his little brother sigh. `Time to ease the tension; Al, you don't have to worry much longer, I promise.' Giving Al his best smile, he turned to face him as the continued their walk., slinging his signature red coat over his shoulder.

 

“Jeez, Al, you can almost hear the squeaky wheel the hamster in your head is running on. What gives?” When he didn't get a reaction, Ed softened a bit.

 

“Look Al, I know I don't tell you this enough but I promise you, you won't have to be in that body much longer. I just know we're getting close; I can fix you soon, I just know it! I just need a little more time, is all.”

 

When the suit of armor that housed his little brothers spirit stopped, Ed knew he had pushed it to far this time. He even took a few steps away because he could see Al visibly shaking, and in doing so ran into the mailbox that proclaimed the start of the Rockbells' driveway. In a voice so small he could hardly hear it, Al told Ed exactly what was on his mind.

 

“Ed, you're so damned selfish sometimes; everything is I, I, I…for once, just let me help you.”

 

And with that, Al started walking again, head down, metal limbs clinking softly together as he turned down the dusty drive that lead to their best friends house.

 

And as he stood fixed in place, the Fullmetal Alchemist felt a lone tear slip down his cheek as he watched his little brother stride away.

 

`Oh Al…'

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Winry paced back and forth in her kitchen while Grandma Pinko sat silently in a chair, pipe in mouth, arms crossed. With a disgruntled humph, she plunked down into a chair across the table from her Grandma, and let her slender fingers drum out her frustration onto the table.

 

`Those jerks said they would be here 40 minuets ago! Figures, they just love to make me wait around for them.'

 

“GRAH!”

 

With a bang, the chair Winry had been sitting fell back as she pushed back hard from the table and sprang up to resume her pacing.

 

“You know, dear, they're not here to see your theatrics so why must you continue on?'

 

Pausing just long enough to send her grandmother an evil glare, Winry tossed her long blonde hair over her shoulder and stomped over to the front door. Calling back over her shoulder, Winry declared, “Well if those jerks want to make me wait that's fine. Tell them I'll be in the barn…IF they ever decide to show up.”

 

Grumbling, she squared her shoulders and flung the door open.

 

`Fullmetal Jerk is what they should've called him.'

 

And walked right into a wall of metal, promptly falling back onto her ass.

 

“OUCH! What the fu…Al?”

 

Extending a hand, Al just looked sheepish. “Hey Winry, sorry to keep you waiting.”

 

Past fuming forgotten, Winry smiled and took the hand that was offered to her. Once back on her feet, she dusted off her rear. “Thanks Al, and don't worry about it, I wasn't waiting or anything special.”

 

Motioning for Al to follow her in Winry continued, raising her voice a bit because she knew where there was one Elric brother, the other wasn't far away. “Well come on in, I suppose we'll have to wait on that jerk brother of yours to catch up…”

 

And then she heard it; the most wonderful sound in the world; compared to the sound of new automail parts being put together, that is.

 

“Nice to see you too, Winry.”

 

Peering around Al, she could see him slouched lazily against the doorframe. His hands were in his pockets, automail shining against the black of his tank top, and with a very uncharacteristic smile softly tugging at the corners of his mouth. In an instant, the breath hitched in her throat, and Winry had to take a calming breath to make sure her voice didn't give away her happiness at seeing him alive and whole. Standing up a bit straighter, she placed her hands on the swell of her hips and did her best to sound angry.

 

“Hey, you big jerk. It's been a while.”

 

Ed's eyes swept to the floor as his head tilted down, golden unkempt bangs shielding his face with shadow. Looking from Ed to Al, she saw that Al too had turned away from her gaze, and he was now half-heartedly patting Den on the head. The dog gave a small whine, and licked his metal hand.

 

She hadn't even noticed that Ed had moved until she heard the rustling of cloth on her right. He paused, just long enough and near enough to her side to make her heart speed up. But nothing could have prepared her for the feel of Ed's metal hand gently taking hers and giving it a small squeeze. Winry could feel the blush creeping into her cheeks, and kept her gaze on Al and Den.

 

“It really is good to see you, Winry.”

 

His voice betraying him more than he wanted, Ed managed to haggardly choke it out before he brushed past her and up the stairs to the room that he and Al shared when they stayed with the Rockbells.

 

Hearing his brother go up the stairs, Al suddenly turned to her.

 

“Is it ok if I take Den for a walk?”

 

Numbly nodding, Winry watched Al go, the metal clank of his steps mixing with the softer clink of Den's metal leg fading as they walked outside.

 

“You know, it's obvious that they're going to need you now more than ever.”

 

Winry turned to face Pinako, and the light pink that graced her cheeks from Ed's touch turned into a full flush when she realized that she hadn't moved from her chair and had witnessed the whole situation. Looking out the front window to see Al loping away with Den trotting at his side, she let a small sigh escape her lips.

 

“I don't know if I can, granny.”

 

Pinako just smiled, and continued to smoke her pipe.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As the dark of night settled over the sleeping town of Rizamboul, Ed lay wide-awake.

 

Sure, he had endured many sleepless nights, but this one wasn't entirely due to the stifling humidity that had decided to settle over the town, as it wasn't entirely due to the fact that he and Al hadn't spoken since the incident by the mailbox earlier that day. No, tonight it was more in part because of the blonde haired, beautiful, and fiery automail mechanic that lay sleeping a scant few feet away in her room across the hall. As always, each time he came home he could never get her out of his head. Flat on his back with his hands behind his head, he sighed as he kicked the thin sheet that covered him onto the floor next to his pile of clothes and let the cool night air hit his heated skin.

 

`Man, this night sure is hot. Ug.'

 

Crossing his legs, Ed slid his hands under his head. Faintly, he could hear the gentle breathing of his little brother in a light slumber across the room.

 

Reaching up with his right hand, he let the coolness of the metal forearm fall across his forehead, in a vain attempt to get rid of the heat that cloaked him. Smacking his dry lips, Ed gave another sigh and heaved himself over the side of the bed.

 

`I think this calls for a cold glass of water.'

 

Quietly grabbing his red boxers and slipping them on, Ed slowly made his way out the room he and Al were sharing and made his way downstairs. Except he never made it to the kitchen, because he ran into something in the front room that made it rather difficult to even breathe.

 

Winry Rockbell stood gazing out onto the moonlight front lawn, in nothing but a short, blue, and partially see-through bathrobe.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ah, I love cliffhangers, don't you?

 

Much love,

The Cerulean Alchemist