Hope ꨄ Male Reader x Edward Elric

ꨄTransmutation circlesꨄ

Chapter 20
"What are you?"
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3rd person

(Quick disclaimer: I'm typing this all at 1 am, UK time- So please bear with me if there are any grammar mistakes more often than usual.)

"Well, if it isn't my fool of an apprentice! I hear a lot of rumours about you, even out here in Dublith." A lady says as she walks, her arms crossed, "So you've stooped so low as to become a dog of the military, have you? Huh?"

M/R was crouched down next to Edward, checking if he was okay. She seemed to get pissed off at the fact that Edward wasn't responding to her.

"Say something!" She shouted.

"I- um, ma'am, I don't think-" M/R quietly spoke up.

The butcher picked Edward up, "It's no use, Izumi." He spoke over the quiet homunculus.

"And who are you in the armour?" She arched a brow, glancing over to Ed's younger brother, the sudden question making Alphonse "Eep!"

"It...It's me, Alphonse! Teacher, uh...um..."

She smiled, holding a hand out, "Ah! Al! You've gotten so big!"

Alphonse took her hand to shake it, "Teacher! You haven't changed at a-" Suddenly, he got slammed onto the ground, "-ll?!"

"You let yourselves get weak!" She scolded, then turned to look at an unfamiliar face, "And who are you?"

"I-I'm M/R L/N, ma'am!" The human stone spoke up, "I'm a friend of theirs! It's nice to meet you!" He hesitated. 'I take back whatever I said about this woman before - they were right, she is scary.' He sighed.

Alphonse slowly sat up, "I thought you weren't feeling well, teacher?" He seemed terrified. M/R sighed and went to his side, patting him on the head as comfort although he knew the other couldn't feel it.

"What're you talking about?! You think after you two came all this way, I'd just stay in bed?!" She pointed a finger at him. She did seem fine at first until blood began spilling and splattering out of her mouth. M/R backed away in shock and flinched. 'Ew.'

"I told you not to strain yourself. Here are your pills, dear." The lady's husband, the butcher, hands over a bottle of pills. They then proceeded to be all lovey-dovey in front of the trio, causing them to look away and sigh. Who knows, maybe they were feeling lonely?

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The trio is currently inside Izumi's (both Ed and Al's old teacher) house. They were sitting around a table with both her and her husband with a cup of tea. Heck, even Alphonse had one, though Izumi wasn't aware of his situation and inability to eat and drink.

"The philosopher's Stone?" She hummed, resting her chin on her hand as she thought, "I was never really interested in the stone. Why do you ask?"

"We were just wondering if you had anything on it," Edward replied.

"Why are you looking into a legend?"

"A-Ah! Just out of intellectual curiosity!"

Izumi sighed and thought again. "Well, I do recall meeting an alchemist who knew a lot about the stone. I believe his name was Hohenheim."

Edward and Alphonse both tensed up. "What was he like?" Alphonse asked.

Izumi hummed and proceeded to describe the man's appearance. "Tall, with blond hair, glasses and a beard." This time, M/R tensed up.

'That sounds like Father..?' The homunculus froze, 'But that can't be possible...He never leaves the base...'

"I see...So he's alive..." Alphonse muttered.

"Yes, he is." Izumi nodded, "Why do you ask? Do you know him?"

"He's...our father."

M/R paused and looked towards Alphonse in both shock and confusion. "W-What..? How..?"

"Huh? What do you mean 'how?'" Edward questioned.

M/R went quiet and sighed, shaking his head. "N-No, nevermind."

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𖣔
M/R's pov

Izumi wanted to see both Edward and Alphonse's progress in alchemy over the years, and since I was here, she wanted to see what I was capable of. That's why we're currently outside in her yard, waiting for Alphonse to finish drawing his transmutation circle.

Alphonse finished drawing and then transmuted a mini horse statue. I was impressed at the amount of detail, cooing at how small it was and poking at it. Izumi hummed, "Hmm...You've gotten faster and more accurate."

"I'm next!" Chimed in the Fullmetal Alchemist, pressing his hands together and pushing them against the ground afterwards. He transmuted a much bigger horse statue, it was much grander. However, his taste really needs some work.

I sighed and smiled, "I'll go next!"

Carefully, I stomped my foot against the ground which transmuted yet another horse statue. It was more basic and ordinary since I wasn't looking to impress anyone. Also, I decided to just go with the whole horse theme.

"You can work alchemy without a transmutation circle..?" Izumi questioned Edward. He looked at her and nodded, "Huh? Yeah, I can."

She paused, "Ed..."

"Yes?"

"Don't lie to me...You've seen that thing haven't you?"

We all froze, the air growing thick as we instantly realised what she was referring to. Not allowing Edward to reply as she seemed to know his answer, she turned to look at me.

"And you...What are you?"

My breath got caught in my throat as I didn't know how to respond.

Authors Note: I sincerely apologise for the short chapter hhh- I've been losing motivation to do things lately. I promise to make a much longer chapter the next time I update to make up for it. TwT. I love you guys, thank you for following this story so far! I really appreciate it! I'm glad that lots of you are enjoying this horrible fanfiction. If it's not too much trouble, if you are also in the Assassination Classroom fandom and have a thing for Karma, please do check out my other fanfic "Feathers". I'd appreciate support there too! Thank you and goodnight :,)