Fullmetal Alchemist Fan Fiction ❯ Training Edward Elric ❯ The Training Facility ( Chapter 3 )

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Training Edward Elric

 

Chapter Three

 

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The Training Facility

 

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Ed stretched and yawned loudly as he stepped off the train. The air was cool, but that was to be expected this far into the mountains. The remote train station was devoid of human activity, except for two men standing near a car. One, a man with shoulder length brown hair and dressed in a completely black suit, was leaning casually against a black car. The other, a man with short dishwater blond hair and wearing a completely white suit, was looking around as if slightly nervous.

 

When the colonel began walking toward the two, Ed followed. The brunet watched them approach, then said, “Colonel Roy Mustang?” Mustang nodded. The man looked at Ed. “Major Edward Elric?” When Ed nodded, the man pushed himself away from the car and said, “Good. I've been waiting for you. My name is Daniel Roberts.” The man looked over at his companion who instantly walked over to the car and opened the back door.

 

Mr. Roberts extended his hand. “If you please…” The colonel nodded, handed his bag to the blond man, and got into the car. The man shut the door, then opened the trunk and put Mustang's luggage in before taking Ed's and doing the same.

 

“I can let myself in,” Ed said, waving the other man away from the door. The blond man looked panicked for a moment, but a word from Daniel soothed him.

 

When Ed got into the car he leaned over and whispered. “These people are kinda freaky…”

 

Mustang looked at him for a moment, then asked, “You think so?”

 

The short alchemist nodded and opened his mouth to say something, but stopped when the other two men got into the car. Ed shut his mouth and sat back in his seat. He didn't want to make problems, at least not on his first day. No, he wanted this to go as quickly as possible. Mustang had said it was up to him how long it took, and Ed didn't want it taking any longer than necessary.

 

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It was almost an hour before they neared their destination. The `training facility' was like a small town built just for this purpose, Mr. Roberts had explained. The car slowed as they neared a tall twenty foot fence and a guard asked them for some sort of clearance code and identification before he would let them in.

 

Ed pressed his face against the window as they drove beneath the gate and when they passed it he turned around in his seat to get a better look.

 

“What's with that fence?” Ed asked curiously.

 

The brunet turned around in his seat and looked at Ed before saying, “It is to keep those who don't belong here, out, and those who need to stay here, in.”

 

“Yeah, but someone could just climb it right?”

 

Daniel smiled patently and said, “It's an electric fence.”

 

“Oh…” he said, and looked back at the gate. It suddenly seemed a little more ominous. The blond turned back to look at the man. “Do many people try to leave here without permission?” Ed asked, feeling uneasy with this new development.

 

Daniel put that same patent smile on and said, “Usually we get the State Alchemists that have `gone bad'. To those who haven't been fully trained this place is the same as a maximum security prison. You, Major, are a very rare specimen. We've never had someone request C-5 training. Of course there are a few C-4s being trained here as well, but they aren't here for very long.”

 

“But…” his brow crinkled in thought, “C-5s have unlimited access to all military files don't they? Why do they allow that if the only ones trained as C-5s are criminals?”

 

Mr. Roberts chuckled, “Oh, they aren't considered criminals after they've finished their training. When they're trained they are considered loyal dogs of the military that will follow their master's commands without hesitation. If they are told not to do something, they won't.”

 

Ed swallowed hard and looked at the colonel, but Mustang wouldn't meet his gaze. `Loyal dogs of the military that would follow their master's commands without hesitation.' As a State Alchemist he was already used to being referred to as a dog, but that second part…? It made him feel apprehensive; nervous about what was going to happen.

 

Up until now he had been able to blow off all of Mustangs worries, but now it seemed more real… What would happen to him here? The blond looked back to Mr. Roberts, but the other man had already turned around in his seat.

 

Sighing, Ed looked out the window once again.

 

To say that the training facility was like a small town was an overstatement; it was more like a large university campus or something. There were some houses, but not many. Most of the buildings were large official looking buildings, although a few looked like they could be apartment buildings. Perhaps for the people that worked here? Ed didn't know.

 

As they passed one of the larger buildings, Ed could see a park further away. It even looked like it had a pond, but he wasn't sure from the distance. There were trees and bushes dotting the sidewalks, helping somewhat to provide a `town' type of feeling, rather than a business complex.

 

There were people walking about as well. Ed noticed that everyone he saw wore white, gray or black clothing. His gaze flitted to the two men in the front of the car and eyed their clothes.

 

Strange.

 

Very strange…

 

Ed was about to ask about it when the car stopped in front of a large brick building. “This is it,” Mr. Roberts said. The blond man who had been driving the car got out and opened the door for his brunet companion, then opened the door for Mustang. Ed didn't wait to see if the courtesy would be extended to him, and opened his own door.

 

“William will take your bags where they need to go. Please follow me inside,” Daniel said, then started up the stairs that led to the entrance.

 

Mustang immediately followed their guide, but Ed stopped and looked toward the blond man. William was docilely taking their luggage out of the trunk. The young alchemist didn't think this man had the look of someone who was tame…

 

Again, he thought of how strange these men were. Something just seemed… off… but he really didn't know how to exp...”

 

“Fullmetal,” Mustang's voice interrupted his thoughts.

 

“Yeah, yeah… I'm coming…” he said, and started up the stairs.

 

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Mr. Roberts sat forward in his chair and picked up one of the papers on his desk. “As I said before Major, you are quite the unusual one, as I've never heard of anyone requesting this training, and I have been the director of this facility for a long time. That is why I decided to come pick you up myself instead of having someone else do it. But your request isn't the only thing that makes you unique. The fact that you are fifteen also struck my interest.”

 

“What? Are you saying I'm not old enough?” Ed growled irritably. He didn't like it when people treated him like a kid.

 

Daniel raised an eyebrow. “Well… considering what part of the training consists of…” he stopped, then shrugged. “I suppose if you're mature enough to handle being a State Alchemist, you aren't too young for that, but this training was designed for full grown adults…” The man never had a chance to finish.

 

“WHO ARE YOU CALLING SO SHORT HE'D NEVER BE ABLE TO BE CALLED AN ADULT!” Ed raged.

 

The director watched in calm silence as the short alchemist seethed and ranted, and soon Ed began to feel undeniably stupid. It was the look the man was giving him. The ranting hadn't fazed him at all…

 

“Are you finished?” Daniel asked blandly.

 

“Yeah…” Ed grunted and looked away.

 

The short teen glared at Mustang, expecting some sort of smirking, but there was nothing. Ed dropped the glare and cast a concerned look at his commanding officer. The man really did seem scared…

 

“Now then, there is a note here from the Fuhrer saying that you refused C-2 training. This means you'll be at a slight disadvantage in a few things; but I will explain what you need to do when we begin the introductory session to your training. After that all the rules belong to your trainer.”

 

He paused as if expecting questions, but when none came he continued. “We usually start the collaring as soon as the trainer and trainee come in, but if you'd like we can wait until tomorrow. Give you a little more time to decide if it is what you want.”

 

Ed shook his head. “No! I've decided. I want to do this, and the sooner we start, the sooner we can finish.”

 

Mr. Roberts turned to look at Mustang. “Do you agree?”

 

For a moment the colonel just sat there, then finally he nodded.

 

“Very well,” Daniel said briskly, then stood and walked toward the door, “please follow me.”

 

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The two alchemists were led to a large sitting room where Daniel indicated they should sit. “My staff will need another half hour to complete the preparations, so I hope you will make yourself comfortable here. I will have lunch brought out to you, as I'm sure you're tired from your journey.”

 

They both nodded.

 

“Before that, I will tell you a few things you should know. Up until you enter that room you have the option of backing out. However, once inside you forfeit that right. Your trainer, the colonel, will say a few things to you and then ask you a couple of questions. Your answers to these questions must be in the affirmative.”

 

Ed opened his mouth to ask a question, but the director rode over whatever the young alchemist was going to say.

 

“It all might seem ritualistic, but there is a purpose to why things are done the way they are. It prepares your mind for what is going to happen, and your answers in the affirmative lets your subconscious know you are doing this of your own free will. It makes the training easier and more effective.”

 

“But what about all those criminals? It wasn't of their own free will to come here was it?” Ed asked.

 

“The other alternative for them was death. So, yes, it was their choice.”

 

“What happens if I don't agree? What if I don't answer in the affirmative?” He just had to know.

 

The director stared at him silently for a moment, then said, “You might not survive the training. This has been proven over many years. Please don't try it. It is all for the benefit of the trainer and the trainee.”

 

“You mean I could die?”

 

“Physically… mentally… both…”

 

Ed glanced at the colonel, then back to Mr. Roberts. “How is it for the trainer's benefit?”

 

Daniel looked at him blandly. “The trainer, in his subconscious, needs to know that you've chosen this and that he or she is helping you achieve something you want. No matter how difficult it gets. It helps the trainer survive mentally,” he paused for a moment then said, “perhaps physically as well.”

 

There was silence for a moment before Ed asked, “If this is so hard on the trainer, then what do they get out of it? I mean… they aren't getting certified…”

 

“After the initial process, you are free to ask him. If you had already been through C-2 training you would know. You still have the option to do that.”

 

Ed stared at the man for a long time. Maybe he should… maybe it would be better to take the time to do that, but… well… he was already here, and he'd look really dumb going back without doing what he'd come to do…

 

“Alright then,” Mr. Roberts said, as if reading Ed's thoughts. “I have a few things to attend to, I will be back shortly.” And with that, he was gone.

 

For a while, the two alchemists sat in silence, each absorbed in their own thoughts.

 

“You know… I never really dated as much as I let on…”

 

Ed turned his head and looked at the colonel in confusion. What was the man talking about?

 

“I mean… everyone always thought I was such a playboy, but really that wasn't true,” the dark haired man said a bit despondently.

 

Why is he telling me this? Ed wondered.

 

“It's not that I don't like women, because I do, I just always put advancing in the ranks first. I thought… well, I always thought I would get married someday… I'm sure I could have found someone if I'd really wanted to, but it just wasn't something I thought about a lot.”

 

The young alchemist was beginning to feel very uncomfortable. The colonel had been so quiet during their whole trip and now he was babbling…

 

“I just want you to know that I didn't except this because of… some things… that will probably take place during the training. I'm not like that. I'm definitely a ladies man…”

 

He's so nervous... I wonder if he even knows what he's saying... the blond thought. Ed was spared the colonel's ramblings by a young woman dressed in white who was carrying tray of food for them. As soon as the girl came into sight, Mustang clammed up and didn't say anything else until the director returned.

 

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Thanks to:

MasamuneReforged for being my beta.

 

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