Disclaimer: No, I still don't own Fullmetal Alchemist. If I did, there would be a lot more Ed/Win moments. :) Anyway. Author's Note: Ahem, yes it's been a long time since I've written in this story. But I received a touching review that kinda poked at my brain "Hey, you need to get to work on that story!" So, yes. I forced myself to continue. Yay. And this chapter is straight from the anime, episode 18 "Marcoh's Notes." It is very hard to script, so pardon me.I did my best! The next chapter will be scripted, mostly, as well. Once it gets to the Lab 5 Arc, however, it will stop being scripted and told mostly from Isabel's point of view as she works on her paper. Ahem. If you're still reading, wow. Thanks. :) Continue with the story, please.
Chapter 11: First Branchmore Ed/Win moments. :) Anyway.Author's Note: Ahem, yes it's been a long time since I've written in this story. But I received a touching review that kinda poked at my brain "Hey, you need to get to work on that story!" So, yes. I forced myself to continue. Yay. And this chapter is straight from the anime, episode 18 "Marcoh's Notes." It is very hard to script, so pardon me.I did my best! The next chapter will be scripted, mostly, as well. Once it gets to the Lab 5 Arc, however, it will stop being scripted and told mostly from Isabel's point of view as she works on her paper. Ahem. If you're still reading, wow. Thanks. :) Continue with the story, please.
A few hours later, Isabel was shaken from her sleep. She blinked a few times as the sunlight shined in her eyes, blinding her. It was early in the morning, but she believed that was when the sun held the most power, because it wasn't quite as tired as it was later in the day.
She turned her gaze to see Alphonse. For some reason, Isabel had the impression that he would have been smiling at her at first. But then a "sad" feeling tainted the air. "Onee-san," he said in his hollow voice, "are you all right?"
Isabel furrowed her brow. "W-what do you mean?" she asked. Then she realized what he meant. She couldn't tell what had caused him to ask before she'd spoken, but her voice was horribly scratchy. Probably from all of that coughing she'd done the previous night.
"There's something on your chin," Al told her. He handed her a cloth napkin used for meals on the train.
She took it carefully and wiped at her chin. When she pulled the napkin away, she frowned. Mucus...she must have had another coughing fit in her sleep and not realized it. "Oh." What was she supposed to say to Al? He didn't sleep, so he must have seen her first outburst of coughs. And considering her physical endurance to run had been sorely lacking in the recent weeks, everyone had probably noticed something was wrong.
So, not having anything to say about it, Isabel wiped the rest of the mucus from her mouth, a little embarrassed, then looked up at Al. "Where's Edward?" she asked quietly. Her voice still sounded horrible, like she had a frog in her throat speaking for her.
Alphonse lifted his hand and pointed to the door of their car. "Waiting for us with Major Armstrong," he answered. Isabel nodded.
"O-okay." She slid from her seat, then reached to the luggage compartment lining the top of the train. When she flipped it open, she saw it was empty. She furrowed her brow in puzzlement.
"Isabel," Edward called from the door, "I have your bag already." He held it up when she looked at him.
She swore quietly. She could carry her own bag! Just because she'd had a couhing fit or two didn't mean she was incapacitated. But as Isabel was about to protest, saying she would haul her own meager amounts of clothing to wherever Edward planned to go, he gave her a look that spoke he was going to hold her back, whether she wanted him to or not. Also, she saw another look, a slightly frustrated one. She imagined it was because of the rather large bodyguard they had, standing next to him.
If someone didn't know Major Armstrong, they would have thought he was a very menacing, dangerous man. Even Isabel thought that occasionally. She had been acquainted with him over her time serving, as a civilian, but had not been able to talk to him much. Though she'd seen a side different from the one she'd formed an opinion about, and realized he was actually very soft behind all of his gruffness.
As the four stepped off the train, Isabel sighed. She was back in Central, a place she'd spent too much of her still young life. She didn't really want to be there, but she had her orders. And, to be absolutely honest, she'd been waiting for those orders for so long. That report meant that she'd finally be free of the hold the military had on her. She knew that, what the Fuhrer wanted from her, the report, wasn't that he wanted to know what she'd done over the past six years of her life as much as it was a small autobiography to be able to let go. She wanted to let go of her past, so she could move on in peace. Isabel had been planning to do the like for some time; it was kind of strange that the Fuhrer had assigned her such a task to do so.
Edward's excited voice suddenly cut into her thoughts as he exclaimed, "All right, now let's head to First Branch!" He pumped his fist into the air and started to run off. Al followed him, telling him to wait up. That left Isabel hanging back with the major for a moment.
"You don't need to hurry like that; the library won't run away!" Major Armstrong said loudly after them. He looked to be about to walk off, but he turned his gaze onto Isabel. "Miss Elric." His gruff voice caused Isabel to look up at him, returning his look distractedly. "Are you all right?"
She flinched. Why were people concerned with her health now? Just because she'd had two coughing fits didn't mean that she was going to suddenly fall over and die, yet. At least, she hoped not. So, she nodded carefully, "Yes, I'm fine." Isabel gave him a wary smile and started off after her brothers.
When she caught up with them, she heard Edward saying, "We've finally gotten a hold of a reliable clue. I can't stay calm!"
Isabel snickered a little. "Obviously," she told him. He frowned at her for a moment, and looked about to reply when he turned his gaze in front of them.
There were two people in the standard blue military uniforms, saluting. Isabel cleared her throat. Edward looked horrified. Al stared on, but probably would have been a little confused.
"Major Armstong," the woman with dark, short hair began, "we've come to pick you up."
She didn't know why, but Isabel flinched when the major lifted his hand to his forehead in a salute, saying, "Good job." It frustrated her; she knew that Major Armstrong was dismissing himself, but she still reacted how she would have a few weeks ago: a little afraid of him.
The tall, single-curled man looked down at the Elrics. "I'll be heading to headquarters now," he said, his mustache twitching. "From here on, these two will escort you."
The three Elrics turned as one when the woman began speaking.
"I am Lieutenant Maria Ross," she announced. The man beside her with hair a little darker than Edward spoke after her, introducing himself as Sergeant Denny Bloch. As one, they both said, "We're honored to take his job, Full Metal Alchemist, sir," in a very professional tone.
Isabel looked between the two officers and her brothers, only to find that Edward was crouching on the ground with a gloom cloud over his head. What was wrong? As she continued to look between her brothers, she saw that the lieutenant and sergeant were looking at Alphonse. Isabel widened her eyes. Did they...? She looked at Al and felt what would have been discomfort. It was a little amazing how expressive his soul was in that armor.
Bloch spoke up after that first, saying, "You look just like your second name!" excitedly. "You have quite a presence."
"Oh..." Alphonse sounded nervous. "This happens all the time, but..." he trailed off, pointing at Edward. Ross and Bloch followed his hand to Edward, who interrupted his brother darkly.
"I'm already used to it." Isabel wanted to laugh almost, but at the same time felt badly for her brother.
Her gaze was torn from the small form on the ground to Bloch as he stuttered and looked between the brothers. "What?" he said in shock. "Then the small on here is..." Edward turned a frightening gaze on Bloch that made Isabel step back further than she was. "No, um..." Bloch stammered. "I wasn't expecting such a child!"
Isabel turned her gaze on Ross. There was something about the woman that intrigued the eldest Elric. She seemed to have an understanding about her that made Isabel respect the woman immediately. Now if Isabel wasn't so shy around new people still, she could actually say something.
Before she could manage to, though, Edward jumped up from his spot, saying crossly, "Forget it! Major, I don't need any bodyguards!"
It was a little frustrating for Isabel to stand where she was, not having been spoken to at all. But she really was just there because all three siblings had something to do in Central. She didn't need a bodyguard; no one was after her life. She was just going to do some research and write an extensive paper to submit to the Fuhrer. Besides, it was her usual role to just stand, silent, until someone spoke to her. Why it bothered her now, she couldn't say. She just knew that she stood, slightly annoyed and zoned out, until she heard Sergeant Bloch shouting after Edward about a car.
Isabel blinked back to reality. She was still standing beside Major Armstrong, but Edward had run off and the sergeant had gone after him. They were silent for a little while, and Lieutenant Ross was staring after the two. Then Alphonse spoke up.
"Sorry, he's like that all the time," the armor explained, sounding as though he would have been blushing in embarrassment. "Please don't take it personally." He nodded to the lieutenant and went after Edward and the sergeant.
Lieutenant Ross frowned a little, but looked up when the major spoke. "Although he acts like that, he has gone through many tough incidents in the past." Though Armstrong sounded composed as he spoke, both Ross and Isabel looked up at the large man and jumped back in shock. He was crying! And...were those...sparkles...around his head? "Please," Major Armstrong continued, finally showing his emotion in his voice, "try your best to bear with him."
Isabel heard the sigh coming from Ross as she calmed down, apparently used to the major. "Yes," she consented, "I will." Then the short haired woman looked at Isabel. "Miss Elric." The lieutenant gave her a half salute.
A smile touched the blond's face. She hadn't doubted she'd be spoken to, but it was nice for it to finally happen. "Lieutenant Ross," Isabel replied, returning the half salute.
"How have you been doing?" Ross actually seemed genuinely interested in her health; it was hard for Isabel to dredge up some of her frustration for her health being inquired upon as much as it was.
So, she held her smile. "I've been...okay," Isabel replied honestly. There were some factors of her health she didn't want to let on to anyone, but she had worked with Lieutenant Ross before and the woman knew a few of the alchemist's troubles. It made Isabel feel bad to even think of lying to whom she considered a friend.
Ross smiled, as well. "Well, I don't know how well your brother," she began, stumbling over the word 'brother' for a moment, as few people had really put together the connection between Isabel and the Fullmetal Alchemist, "will take this, but because of a fire yesterday, most of the First Branch was destroyed."
A few minutes later, the five people were standing in front of the burnt ruins of the library. The smell of burnt paper and smoke was still heavily in the air. Isabel stood a safe distance away from the building. And she stood a little ways away from her brothers. They were both standing in shock of what they were seeing, not ready to believe it yet. She didn't know if Edward would freak out in frustration, and she'd rather not be so close if he did.
"You've got to be kidding," she heard his faint voice, tainted with disbelief. Isabel could see the weight of his disappointment on his shoulders, visibly.
Lieutenant Ross spoke calmly from beside her. "From the testimonies of the witnesses," she began, "we believe the prime suspect is the wanted Scar."
Isabel saw Edward lower his head and then stoop down to pick up a book. He was acting as though he hadn't heard the lieutenant. But she knew he had, he just chose to ignore her. It was obvious, even without her having spoken to him, that he was very frustrated about the need of a bodyguard, once more. Just barely, she saw the book in her brother's hand fall to pieces, ashes staining his white glove as he lifted his hand in front of his face.
"Brother," Al's hollow voice echoed in his armor. With certain tones of voice the boy took on, whenever Al spoke it would sometimes give her a chill. She felt horribly, but she still wasn't used to the fact of having a brother who was alive only by some dried blood fixing his soul to metal.
Edward turned himself inward almost as he drew in his shoulders. It was as though he was trying to comfort himself. "Our clue burned away," he said sadly.
Isabel went to her brother and placed her hand on his shoulder. It hurt that he shirked away from her, but she could understand his frustration. "Let's go," she said. "We should see if they were able to save any books yet." Isabel didn't bother to hide her sadness for her brother. "If we're lucky, they have. Maybe one could be the book you're looking for."
Edward and Alphonse didn't move at first. But finally, Al spoke up. "She's right, Brother. Let's go. We shouldn't give up, just like that." The armor looked at Isabel. She had the faint sensation of him smiling at her in spirit.
So, she returned the smile to him. A little strange or not to have a brother like Al, she was glad she did. He was the polar opposite of Edward, gentle and soft spoken. Together, both boys made a great team, being able to see both sides of a problem. It was just whether Edward allowed Alphonse to speak his opinion that was the question.
Maybe half an hour later, give or take a few minutes, the three Elrics and two military personel were standing in an office. Edward was looking through the books almost frantically, trying to rub away the ash on the covers and read the titles before moving to the next book. Isabel was a little confused as to why his searching seemed to intent, but she knew better than to ask right now. If they were anything alike still, Edward did things in his life for reasons he would rather keep secret, or at least not as well-known as some other aspects of his life.
Isabel leaned against the wall and looked around, tired of watching Edward. Her eyes fell on Maria Ross. The woman was looking intently on her brother, out of almost some form of morbid curiosity. Isabel new Lieutenant Ross was very serious about her job in the military, and very rarely stepped out of line. When she did, she was prepared for any punishment that may come her way. The woman was irresponsible, sometimes, and responsible at the same time. Isabel really looked up to the woman.
"We found no books," a voice said, intruding Isabel's thoughts, "written by Tim Marco in the main library." The woman touched her right index finger to her right temple in mild confusion. "If it was moved from a branch, it should be in the records."
Edward snapped his head up, some form of hope in his eyes as he looked at the woman carrying a folder. "Is there...a possibility that someone borrowed it?" he asked slowly, his hope mixing with what Isabel could tell was his inner doubt trying to plague him.
"Yes," the woman said, "but the records of who borrowed what have been destroyed, so..." She trailed off sadly.
Edward held the book in his hands against his chest gently, frowning sadly. "I see." Isabel saw the weight falling on her brother's shoulders. The older sister in her longed to reach out to comfort him, but she remained standing near the wall.
Then Al spoke up, voicing the doubting question in everyone's minds. "Maybe it was just burned with all the others?" he suggested carefully.
She saw the young alchemy prodigy of her brother withdraw himself once more, seemingly clutching the book he was holding a little tighter. "If I could confirm if the book was really there or not..." Then Isabel saw Edward stand up a little straighter, like some idea had come to him. In a very commanding voice, and an intent look from what she could tell from his side profile, Edward asked, "Who else worked there?"
The woman next to Lieutenant Ross looked slightly taken aback from Ed's tone of voice, but closed the folder, looking at the man beside her. "He and I are the only workers in the First Branch."
All three Elric children were surprised, but Edward voiced his thoughts. "Only two?" Isabel was thinking the same thing. She'd been in the First Branch library, even though it was reserved for State Alchemists. She'd accompanied one in before. The building was huge! And only two people worked there? That was...impossible.
"Only State Alchemists were able to access the First Branch, so..." the woman trailed off, shrugging. That was true. There wasn't a lot of traffic with the alchemists. Sometimes they held meetings when researching a certain piece of information, but a lot of times the place was quiet. Or so Isabel guessed.
She looked at her brothers. Alphonse was standing quietly, not sure if he should, or could speak. Edward...well, Edward had his usual "lost in thoughts" expression on his face. What was the blond State Alchemist thinking of so suddenly that it had entranced him so? When his expression lightened some and he began speaking, Isabel nearly fell over from the unexpectedness.
"I think," Edward began quickly, "I remember seeing a girl with glasses there, though." He actually remembered a girl that he hadn't known his entire life? Wow.
The librarian's expression was puzzled for all of two moments before it brightened in memory. "Oh, you mean Scieszka?" she asked. The woman's look darkened again. "She was fired a while ago."
Isabel almost laughed when her brother leaned forward in shock. "Fired?" he replied. From what Isabel could tell, his eyes were wide as he spoke.
The man across the table from everyone put his hands on the surface when he interjected to speak. "She was a little weird," he said. All eyes turned to him.
Everyone's gazes shifted to the woman librarian once more as she commented, "She's a bookworm."
"Worm?" Edward's mouth fell open at the mention of the term 'bookworm.'
Isabel shook her head and pushed off from the wall. She chuckled, putting her hand on her brother's shoulder. "She's just like you, little brother--"
"Don't call me little!" He frowned at her.
"She likes to read," Isabel finished.
Edward continued to frown over the "little" remark. Then he looked up. "Is there anyway I can contact her? I want to ask her some questions about the book."
Okieday, I am gonna hopefully write a commentary for this on my LiveJournal, so be sure to check that soon. The link is in my profile. Thanks for reading!