Disclaimer: Fullmetal Alchemist belongs to Arakawa Hiromu-sensei, Square Enix and recently, Viz. I earn no profit in this.

Notes: This is an alternate universe story set in a semi-medieval setting. Please bear with me if it seems strange at first.

Please do not rely on me for accuracy of the information I mention in this story. Some are real to the best of my knowledge, while others are purely fictional to fit the FMA story.

This was revised and rewritten on the 26th June, 2007.

ORIGIN:

Did you know? "Philosopher" originally meant "Lover of wisdom" and took its origin from a famous retort which Pythagoras made when he was called "wise". His wisdom only consisted in knowing that he was ignorant. He declared that he was not "Wise" but rather a "Lover of wisdom".

Philosophy is contracting. The last of its children; the science of Psychology and Sociology, have made their independent advances. Philosophy is not, "everything and nothing". That is only the definition given to it by the sarcastic unbeliever.

Scientists search for answers, philosophers questions the truth of their answers in their search for answers of their own philosophy. The philosophy of a philosopher is a pillar solid enough to be called a religion. It is sacred, unique, a world of beliefs and questions within a world of "Reality".

The sky was bleeding blood and acid as the dragons swooped across the fortress, their claws dragging the soldiers into the air with the hooks of their claws. If the men were lucky enough to not be punctured fatally by those claws, they were surely not lucky enough as to survive the fall back to the ground where the enemy swam like piranhas.

The fortress would fall if they did not send men out.

The front lines were sacrifices; a wall of flesh to act as a shield for them to attack behind from. The state alchemists would later move forward and pay back the debt of their deaths a thousand times over in turn.

Ed lost sight of Roy almost immediately as the first cannonball hit the fortress that was behind them. He was on defence, creating walls of stone by compacting the muddy ground beneath them. Roy was on offence somewhere on the other side of one of the walls he had constructed, snapping his fingers as though to the music of the screams of burning men.

The enemy's ground attack was just as bad as the airborne dragons. Chimeras charged from the cages they were confined in the moment they were released and seemed to find pleasure in taking out their pent up energy and frustrations quite well.

On them.

Ed's barriers were rendered useless against the giant beasts, whose weight alone crushed even the most solid of his mud walls. The chimeras were pouring from around the walls faster than he could transmute them, while some of the lizard crossbreeds climbed the wall with an ease that was insulting. In that split second, the rank of 'colonel' given to him, weighed more heavily than ever on his shoulders. The men were waiting and looking at him for orders. One word from him would determine their life or death.

Even before it registered in his brain, the word had fallen from his lips.

"RETREAT!"

I don't think you really want to know… you don't know what you're asking and frankly, I don't really want to share the experience. But since it seems to be my turn to speak, I'll tell you from the beginning. Remember, you asked for it.

Here we go…

o0o

When the profile of Edward Elric, eldest son of Hohenheim Elric was delivered to his office desk, Roy Mustang's first impression was quite sceptical. Sure, it was tradition to send the first son to the military, but that was just as a plain recruit in the army, why could the military's elite state alchemist division be after a 15-year old? The state alchemist division drew its human resources from the Tower of Knowledge alumni and then, only those blessed with talent were allowed to graduate from the Tower of Knowledge at the age of 17. However, he sighed and picked it up nonetheless, his opinion didn't matter, the brass wanted him and so, Roy would fetch the boy like the obedient dog of the military he was supposed to be.

Despite the prestigious reputation of the Tower, the Elric boy lived at the city's orphanage. The orphanage wasn't as bleak as he had imagined. Sure, the walls were of cement and the gate surrounding the place made it look like a prison but Roy had seen far worse in the heat of the war as the abandoned children were herded into shelter houses. Nonetheless, compared to the dorm rooms of schools for the rich, the orphanage rooms were grey and bare shacks. 'At least the kid will have better living conditions when he's recruited by the military,' he thought, yet another part of his mind nagged at him, the Tower of Knowledge, wasn't just a school. It's a respected place well known for their high degree of education for those capable of conducting alchemy, though it also served when necessary, as a stern environment of discipline and correction for the difficult children to lead them onto a better and respectful path in life.

'Did Elric belong in the earlier or latter category?' Roy wondered. Was the boy a talent from the alchemy faculty of the Tower that they wouldn't accommodate any further and forced to send to the military? So perhaps this Elric boy was a delinquent? Have the instructors here given up all hopes of correcting him and are sending him to the military to become a pawn and one of the many front line shields when the next war hit? That didn't make sense either because Roy was quite sure that the military would not have sent a colonel for such a task.

So then, just what was Edward Elric?

o0o

He was welcomed into the reception lounge, which had round spacious room and quaint furnishings, was quite off the mark from how he had imagined it to be. The tea table was made from frosted glass and the sofas were individual round blue blobs of leather. He made a mental note to himself to see if the rest of the place was similarly furnished, though, he suspected, it probably wouldn't. He had checked the budget of the orphanage before he came here and if it was being surged like this in the staff areas… there wouldn't be enough for the rest of the school and students.

Deep in thought, a silver platter of cupcakes suddenly appeared before him. Staring at it stupidly for a few seconds, he woke from his reservoir to finally noticed the tall attractive woman who had placed the platter before him. Quickly getting to his feet, he bowed and introduced himself.

"I am sorry for troubling you but I am here on behalf of the military..."

"Yes, I was expecting you, Mr. Mustang. I received the letter regarding Edward's… 'Adoption' into the military", she replied and Roy heard the way she paused on the word 'adoption' as though tasting it and finding it foul.

Somewhat embarrassed, Roy couldn't help but notice the revealing manner the woman flaunted her D cups… no… a larger size than that most likely and hurriedly tried to come up with a topic to occupy his mind before it would wander any further into the gutter. 'Is that really proper for someone working with kids?' he thought. However, he kept that to himself and replied smoothly with, "It would be most appreciated Ms…?" he trailed off, hoping from a name.

"Lust."

'What in the blazes…?' he thought to himself for the second time as he struggled to come up with a topic of communication again. It was then that Lust spoke.

"I understand that my name is often uncomfortable to hear. Goodness knows what my father was thinking when he named me."

'Yes,' Roy thought, ' and thank goodness, I don't know,' but he also kept that to himself and instead smiled in what he hoped was a reassuring and friendly way.

"Before I go fetch Edward, I hope you don't mind my curiosity in the matter. What are the military's intentions for him?"

"We've been informed that Edward Elric is a budding young alchemist. The military simply intends to nurture that talent in a more suited environment. Alchemists are hard to find these days and a great treasure for the nation," he replied, 'and war,' he added silently to himself.

"Do you know of a boy named Alphonse Elric?" asked Lust.

"Another Elric? Are they related?" indeed he had not heard the boy had a brother. Interesting. He'd let Hawkeye check it out when they got back.

"Alphonse is Edward's younger brother. He was adopted not long after he came here."

The conversation drifted into a detailed account of Edward's protectiveness of his brother and how they were forcibly parted, Edward's rebellious personality and alchemy abilities causing trouble in the orphanage.

"I think losing Alphonse is the real reason behind his rebelliousness. His brother was very dear to him."

Roy sighed to himself. So he was right after all, this Edward kid might be talented but he was also a troublesome brat. No, he shouldn't jump to conclusions from what this 'lady' told him. Prejudice was a dangerous thing. He would judge the kid himself.

"Shall I go fetch him now, Colonel Mustang?" Lust asked.

"Please do," he said with another bow.

With an exaggerated curtsy that gave Roy a good glance of cleavage underneath her shawl, she left the room with her dark, wavy hair rippling behind her.

When Edward Elric entered the room, Roy's skepticism returned again. Not only was he only 15, he looked like he was 12. 'Great. Just great,' Roy thought, mentally slapping his forehead. Taking into account, the plain white shirt and black trousers the kid was wearing, he also noticed that his feet were bare and hands were tightly bandaged. This rang more bells in his already fuddled mind. Was he being abused? Simply clumsy? Got himself into a fight? Goddangit! He wanted answers!

"Head up, Edward. Don't be rude and greet our guest properly!" Lust said her tone quite different from the velvety one earlier.

Edward mumbled a muffled "Yes, Miss Lust," and rose his head slightly higher. Roy's breath caught as he found himself staring into pools of liquid gold eyes. All previous doubts were pushed aside. Those eyes… Those eyes burned with determination, death and the understanding of a true philosopher. Things made sense now.

The military could definitely use a dog like him.

"You are Edward Elric?" He asked, as though that needed clarifying.

"Yes," was the impatient reply, as though he couldn't wait to leave the room. Roy noted that the boy was fidgeting and was clearly uncomfortable with the attention focused on him.

"Edward, you're coming with me," Roy stated.

"…What?"

"You've been officially adopted."

If he wasn't here strictly for business and thus, had a composure to maintain, he would have laughed at the dumbfound expression on the boy's face.

o0o

Edward followed Roy down the maze of halls in the building. 'They don't need guards,' Ed thought bitterly, 'whoever attacks would probably spend the rest of his life in this labyrinth.' However, despite his thoughts, Roy seemed to know his way, so he continued to pass halls that were identical to the ones before until he came to a halt before two wide oak doors below the Fuhrer's sigma and between two guards armed with swords.

He gulped. Why he was here, he had no clue. Firstly, he gets adopted by some stranger he's never met. Secondly, he's told the stranger was actually adopting him on behalf of the military (who the fuck gets adopted by the military?). Then, he's told that some person named Brass wanted to meet him. Then, he finds out that the brass actually meant the important people in the military and that the (freak) stranger was of colonel rank. Then, he's told to get in fancy too-tight ('presentable') clothes and led along grey buildings and grey halls.

Ed was not stupid. He knew this couldn't be a good sign.

The guards lowered their arms and gave a respectable bow when Roy presented his watch for them. Ed hitched a ride on Roy's coattails.

There was yet another guard behind the doors who signaled them to stop and said, "I will inform his Majesty of your arrival. Please wait here." With that the Guard gave a brisk bow and left.

Ed's nervousness was somewhat calmed (though he would never admit to being nervous) by Roy's calm composition. 'This must be normal procedure,' he thought and waited patiently with only a slight occasional shuffle of his feet against the rich scarlet carpet.

The Guard came back soon enough though, and motioned for them to "Please enter."

This new room was brightly lit by chandeliers that emphasised just how high the ceiling actually was. Portraits of the country's previous rulers hung in frames of gold from the royal blue walls. However, Ed didn't take notice of any of this. His attention was entirely consumed by not the Fuhrer seated on the thrown in the middle of the room, but by the other man sitting in a luxurious armchair angled slightly to allow more comfort in talking to the Fuhrer as old friends would.

Ed could count the number of times he had seen this man on his right hand. He had rarely managed to catch glimpses of him through the second storey stair railings in his childhood but despite this, he recognised this man immediately. From this man, he had inherited his golden hair and unique matching golden eyes.

As though sensing Edward's stare, the man turned around to face the new arrivals.

Their eyes met and held. One pair accessing, the other pair burning with fierce anger.

"Edward," the taller man said in greeting, his tone almost friendly.

Like a mouthful of lemon, Ed spat out his reply at him.

"Father."

Post Note:

I'm testing new waters here, so if anyone thinks this fantasy genre isn't working, tell me and I'll do something about it.