How to Die - Chapter 3
Title: How to Die
Author: Shell Mel
Rating: PG - 13
Warning: Some violence and near death scenes. Also for Ed's swearing.
Spoilers: Spoilers for episode 22 and end of anime series.
Characters: Edward Elric, Roy Mustang
Summary: AU Edward never though much about the incident back in lab 5 with the red water. He doesn't really remember it that much. He's seventeen now, repaying his debt by helping Mustang reach the top now Al finally has his body again. But what happens when he and Mustang become targets for assassination?
Author Notes: Alternative ending to Anime series. Prologue is based in episode 22, while the rest is a year after the series.
Edward wasn’t sure where he was, only that he was blissfully free of the pain. His body, mind and soul were unharmed as he floated in the unending white. He was confused, so very confused. He couldn’t remember how he got to this place or why he was even here. The only thing he seemed to know for sure is that something bad had brought him here. Whether it was his actions or those of another, he wasn’t quite sure. Probably was his fault. He was always screwing up one way or another.
Ed sighed heavily as he floated, feeling rather... well... bored. It gave him time to try and remember how or why he was here but he wasn’t turning up anything. The last thing he could remember clearly was laying on the lounge in Mustang’s office, giving the older alchemist shit for being lazy.
Suddenly, the atmosphere changed around him. It went from being peaceful and pleasant to icy and sickening. Ed felt ill. He knew this feeling. How could he forget it after having been there so many times? He looked up to see himself approaching the gate.
Why the hell was he here?! Was he dead? Had he done something stupid again?
“Welcome back, Mr Alchemist,” a voice echoed around him, sending a shiver down his spine.
“What the hell am I doing here?” He demanded.
There was silence for a time. It was eerie. The hairs on the back of his neck stood up, alerting him that the silence wouldn’t last for long one way or another. A low creaking sound broke the silence as the doors opened up before him. Ed’s eyes opened wide.
“No...” He whispered, turning as if to escape but the back hands were already upon him. “NO! Not again!”
There was only silence from the gate itself, but he could hear the shadows within laughing at him, enjoying his panic.
“Stop!” He yelled out. “I didn’t summon you! I didn’t want this!”
The laughter from the shadows grew louder, as he was pulled towards the gate. Ed struggled with all his might, but it made no difference.
“Why?” He asked almost desperately. “Why are you doing this? What did I do?”
It was then the gate finally spoke again.
“You paid the toll,” it said simply. “Equivalent exchange.”
Ed frowned. He didn’t understand.
“I haven’t paid for anything!” He yelled at the accursed thing.
“It’s time for you to return.” The gate said. “Good bye, Mr Alchemist.”
“You piece of shi-“ He started to scream before another black hand wrapped itself around his mouth.
Ed’s struggles were renewed when he went beyond the threshold of the gate. Slowly, the doors closed. There was a loud sound as the doors came to a rest before Ed was left in darkness. Inside he feel the shadows pulling at his limbs, laughing at him in such childish voice. This wasn’t like when they tried to bring mum back. It was almost like... The memory was fuzzy but this happened before, and it hadn’t been pleasant.
He tried to scream, but he was just pulled deeper and deeper into the darkness.
Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Author: Shell Mel
Rating: PG - 13
Warning: Some violence and near death scenes. Also for Ed's swearing.
Spoilers: Spoilers for episode 22 and end of anime series.
Characters: Edward Elric, Roy Mustang
Summary: AU Edward never though much about the incident back in lab 5 with the red water. He doesn't really remember it that much. He's seventeen now, repaying his debt by helping Mustang reach the top now Al finally has his body again. But what happens when he and Mustang become targets for assassination?
Author Notes: Alternative ending to Anime series. Prologue is based in episode 22, while the rest is a year after the series.
Edward wasn’t sure where he was, only that he was blissfully free of the pain. His body, mind and soul were unharmed as he floated in the unending white. He was confused, so very confused. He couldn’t remember how he got to this place or why he was even here. The only thing he seemed to know for sure is that something bad had brought him here. Whether it was his actions or those of another, he wasn’t quite sure. Probably was his fault. He was always screwing up one way or another.
Ed sighed heavily as he floated, feeling rather... well... bored. It gave him time to try and remember how or why he was here but he wasn’t turning up anything. The last thing he could remember clearly was laying on the lounge in Mustang’s office, giving the older alchemist shit for being lazy.
Suddenly, the atmosphere changed around him. It went from being peaceful and pleasant to icy and sickening. Ed felt ill. He knew this feeling. How could he forget it after having been there so many times? He looked up to see himself approaching the gate.
Why the hell was he here?! Was he dead? Had he done something stupid again?
“Welcome back, Mr Alchemist,” a voice echoed around him, sending a shiver down his spine.
“What the hell am I doing here?” He demanded.
There was silence for a time. It was eerie. The hairs on the back of his neck stood up, alerting him that the silence wouldn’t last for long one way or another. A low creaking sound broke the silence as the doors opened up before him. Ed’s eyes opened wide.
“No...” He whispered, turning as if to escape but the back hands were already upon him. “NO! Not again!”
There was only silence from the gate itself, but he could hear the shadows within laughing at him, enjoying his panic.
“Stop!” He yelled out. “I didn’t summon you! I didn’t want this!”
The laughter from the shadows grew louder, as he was pulled towards the gate. Ed struggled with all his might, but it made no difference.
“Why?” He asked almost desperately. “Why are you doing this? What did I do?”
It was then the gate finally spoke again.
“You paid the toll,” it said simply. “Equivalent exchange.”
Ed frowned. He didn’t understand.
“I haven’t paid for anything!” He yelled at the accursed thing.
“It’s time for you to return.” The gate said. “Good bye, Mr Alchemist.”
“You piece of shi-“ He started to scream before another black hand wrapped itself around his mouth.
Ed’s struggles were renewed when he went beyond the threshold of the gate. Slowly, the doors closed. There was a loud sound as the doors came to a rest before Ed was left in darkness. Inside he feel the shadows pulling at his limbs, laughing at him in such childish voice. This wasn’t like when they tried to bring mum back. It was almost like... The memory was fuzzy but this happened before, and it hadn’t been pleasant.
He tried to scream, but he was just pulled deeper and deeper into the darkness.
Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2