A Word Of Caution, Ed. Many Of The Heroes Here Are On Board With This Mess, So Be Careful Who You Talk

“A word of caution, Ed. Many of the ‘heroes’ here are on board with this mess, so be careful who you talk to about not wanting any part of it. Some probably want to go back to their own worlds too, but I’m not sure which ones are which,” Mary explained, starting to lead him inside of the castle.

Usually, the more important you were to the ‘war effort’, the bigger and nicer your rooms. Since Ed was newer, and no one really knew how valuable an asset he was just yet, his room would likely be pretty simple; a bed, a desk, and a bathroom. Mary’s was nicer, and more stocked because of her ‘summoner’ status. Closer to that of what the commander was allowed as the order leader, but not nearly as nice as those belonging to the prince and princess. All the beds were wide enough for two, as it seemed that in this world, marrying someone somehow made you collectively stronger. Thus, the beds were more spacious then one would expect to accommodate for that....

A Summoner’s Tale (closed FEH AU with traceofalchemy)

rxinbowtrxveler

“I’ve tried, they check every morning if I have it,” Mary muttered angrily, recalling every time she’d tried to loose it in a battle, or bury it. Every single time, she was thwarted. She even saw Commander Anna dive for it once, and every time she’d get a lecture about how precious that monstrosity, and ‘she’ was to their cause. Only once did she feel this thing had done something remotely good, and that was when Princess Fjorm of Niflheim used it to perform the Rite of Frost to defeat King Sutur of Múspell to stop him from torching every realm he could get his claws into. However, hearing Ed’s resolve to free them both gave her some measure of hope.

“I’ll try to slow things down at least, but for now, tossing it seems to be out of the question. We might have to take it with us when we escape, so they can’t use it,” she added, knowing everyone was in the banquet hall anyways. The two were completely alone. The kingdom had been preparing for the Spring Festival all week, and tonight, everyone was resting and recouperating for the tourney come morning.

“…so…do you even feel like eating? Or do you just want to show me where you’ll be staying? I could even bring you a plate later, if you don’t feel like looking at them. That’s what I do sometimes…” Mary spoke after a few moments.

Ed was glad to hear that she was on board with the plan. He hoped they’d be successful in slowing them down, but if not there had to be something that would stop bringing these innocent people here and allow everyone to get home.

“I think I’ll wait to eat.” he said and looked toward where the rest of the group had gone, “I’ll go by later and check it out. I’m interested to meet some of these other ‘heroes’ they dragged in and figure this place out.”

The nameless girl let out a breath of relief she didn’t know she was holding in, nodding slowly. “I...yes, that hits the nail on the head. I figured that was the case, yeah... I mean, considering how far you got so quickly...” she answered, relieved that he was willing to answer her questions. The girl was so lost, and confused, and scared. Nodding again at the mention that this was not a topic for out in the open that alone seemed clear when other alchemists kept saying it was impossible, she was about to say he didn’t have to offer her food, but her stomach betrayed that statement before it was even made, growling loudly. Cheeks pink, she nodded again, though this time, it was more strained from her shame.

“That...sounds wonderful, thank you. I kind of...had to sell almost everything I had for food while looking for you, even my shoes had to go,” she told him, indicating her feet, which she had torn strips of her now fraying shawl apart to wrap them up after all the walking had injured the soles of her feet. “All I’ve got left is what’s in my suitcase, and it’s not a whole lot. I kept what I found with me when I woke up in Liore, but most of what Cornello gave me had to go...”

‘It’s impossible to transmute something without a circle; it’s the conduit for the energy necessary for a transmutation, it focuses and dictates the flow of energy pulled from the earth and matter itself. Simply understanding the sequence of transmutation and the laws of Equivalent Exchange aren’t enough, circles are integral for a transmutation to work. No circle, no transmutation. It’s impossible to transmute without drawing one,’

That’s what they’d told the unnamed girl in the last town she’d passed through; she knew that this sorcery she could now use was called ‘alchemy’, and that it was no easy feat for any common person to achieve (it requires study, innate talent, and an understanding of chemistry and the world around you), but she didn’t know how other alchemists did it. Cornello had told her that her ability to transmute without a circle, or a stone like he’d used, had meant she was a god. Now, she’d doubted that she was anything but human, no matter what the conman had made the citizens of Liore, and in part, her believe (she had taken his word on being a holy man, but not quite on his claims of her godhood)...but she still didn’t know why all she needed to do was clap to perform a transmutation. According to the few alchemists she’d run into after fleeing the desert, you needed a circle, no ifs ands or buts... unless you were her, and that boy with the red coat who’d gotten rid of the faux priest, apparently. The teen hadn’t been able to catch him, or his massive armored companion before they’d left Liore. Wanting to know more about what was going on in this strange world around her and why she could do these things, she’d decided to track him down for answers. Having sold the golden crown Cornello had made her along the way for food, she’d mostly traveled on foot with naught more than a suitcase to hold what little she had, and the clothes on her back to find him. Traveling for weeks had garnered nothing... until today.

Walking down the streets of East City, the girl sighed to herself. It felt like she’d never find the mysterious alchemist at this rate, but as she was turning a corner... she spotted a silhouette cloaked in red ahead of her, a golden braid down his back. At last, she’d found him! The dark haired girl ran as fast as her legs could carry her to catch up to him.

“Hey, guy in the red coat! Please, Hold up a second!”

@fullmetalhexrt

The summoner wore a rather...simple outfit; a white coat with a hood, and gold Askran embellishments (much like the alchemist’s red coat back in his heyday, but much larger to completely cover her head and face), loose pants that matched the coat, a blue tunic also trimmed with gold, a brown belt, and brown boots with golden accents, plus a black and gold mask that covered her eyes. It was as if the outfit was meant to erase all sense of identity and self outside of being the summoner.

“Right? Can’t mess up hair like that, it’d be a tragedy,” Mary joked along with him, before answering the questions she was sure he had. “I don’t think so, your clothes will likely be a lot closer to what the royals and Commander Anna wear. Only I’m not allowed to have my hood down, unfortunately. I’m pretty sure at this point those three have forgotten what I look like without it, and like it that way. Can’t say I’m anything but what they want me to be if I don’t have a sense of autonomy or identity, right?” She joked, but it was easy to tell how much it wore on her. All you could really see was a few of her dark chocolate waves, really. Nothing else that defined her as Mary.

“Alright... I’ll be going, then. Knock on my door four times, so I know it’s you.” Mary instructed before turning away from the man and leaving for her own private rooms. Oh, if only she could change these awful, ugly clothes, even just a little! Maybe then she’d feel herself again...

A Summoner’s Tale (closed FEH AU with traceofalchemy)

rxinbowtrxveler

“I…have my doubts, but perhaps,” Mary murmured before stopping at the door to Ed’s room. Sighing softly, the summoner lowered her gaze before pointing down the hall. “I’m five doors down, left side of the hall. If you have any ideas, or want to talk to someone sane, I’ll be in there. Otherwise, the war room is a couple halls to your right,” she informed him quietly, drained from the day. Happy, that she finally had a true ally, but worn all the same from the guilt of another kidnapping.

“Do you need anything else before I leave you in peace? Prince Alfonse likely had clothes left for you inside, and the castle is magically heated, so you should have hot water available for bathing…”

“Maybe I’ll swing by later.” Ed said. His eyes darted over her outfit and he wondered what in the world he’d be forced to wear. The idea of being left alone in a completely new world was definitely strange, but he knew a few hours alone might do him some good. “I’ll be alright. I hope I don’t have to wear a hood up all of the time too, it’ll mess up my hair.” he joked.

Naturally, the room was rather...empty, save the bed, a dresser and the desk. A door to the right lead to a small bathroom, and on the bed sat a change of clothes. White, blue and gold, just as Mary had described. He too had a long, hooded coat, but as she said, he likely wouldn’t be forced to keep it up. A white tunic, and pants were similar to Mary’s sat beside it, but his boots were shorter than hers, and had golden metal bits wound around them. There was also a layer of scalemail like the three warriors Ed had already met wore, same golden color.

The desk already had blank paper, an ink well and an iron dip pen sitting on it. A few books sat there too, one of which, ironically enough, were alchemy books. Not that it was intentional, likely someone forgot them there when setting up a room for the new arrival...

A Summoner’s Tale (closed FEH AU with traceofalchemy)

rxinbowtrxveler

The summoner wore a rather…simple outfit; a white coat with a hood, and gold Askran embellishments (much like the alchemist’s red coat back in his heyday, but much larger to completely cover her head and face), loose pants that matched the coat, a blue tunic also trimmed with gold, a brown belt, and brown boots with golden accents, plus a black and gold mask that covered her eyes. It was as if the outfit was meant to erase all sense of identity and self outside of being the summoner.

“Right? Can’t mess up hair like that, it’d be a tragedy,” Mary joked along with him, before answering the questions she was sure he had. “I don’t think so, your clothes will likely be a lot closer to what the royals and Commander Anna wear. Only I’m not allowed to have my hood down, unfortunately. I’m pretty sure at this point those three have forgotten what I look like without it, and like it that way. Can’t say I’m anything but what they want me to be if I don’t have a sense of autonomy or identity, right?” She joked, but it was easy to tell how much it wore on her. All you could really see was a few of her dark chocolate waves, really. Nothing else that defined her as Mary.

“Alright… I’ll be going, then. Knock on my door four times, so I know it’s you.” Mary instructed before turning away from the man and leaving for her own private rooms. Oh, if only she could change these awful, ugly clothes, even just a little! Maybe then she’d feel herself again…

It saddened Edward to hear her explanation on her outfit. To know that she had been forced to do such silly things in order to please them was fueling his fire even more. There were definitely somethings in this place that needed changing, and there was no way he was going to let them change him. If anything, the more he learned the more motivation he had to get moving already.

“Alright.” Ed nodded and watched her walk to her room. He made sure she was inside safely before checking on his own room to find out what he was in for. It was quiet when he entered the room and he let out a deep sigh. What an interesting day it had turned out to be… 

“I’ve tried, they check every morning if I have it,” Mary muttered angrily, recalling every time she’d tried to loose it in a battle, or bury it. Every single time, she was thwarted. She even saw Commander Anna dive for it once, and every time she’d get a lecture about how precious that monstrosity, and ‘she’ was to their cause. Only once did she feel this thing had done something remotely good, and that was when Princess Fjorm of Niflheim used it to perform the Rite of Frost to defeat King Sutur of Múspell to stop him from torching every realm he could get his claws into. However, hearing Ed’s resolve to free them both gave her some measure of hope.

“I’ll try to slow things down at least, but for now, tossing it seems to be out of the question. We might have to take it with us when we escape, so they can’t use it,” she added, knowing everyone was in the banquet hall anyways. The two were completely alone. The kingdom had been preparing for the Spring Festival all week, and tonight, everyone was resting and recouperating for the tourney come morning.

“...so...do you even feel like eating? Or do you just want to show me where you’ll be staying? I could even bring you a plate later, if you don’t feel like looking at them. That’s what I do sometimes...” Mary spoke after a few moments.

A Summoner’s Tale (closed FEH AU with traceofalchemy)

rxinbowtrxveler

Mary nodded with a soft sigh, looking over at Ed. “Yep, they sure did. Outta nowhere, I was just minding my own damn business! I was walking home from the bar when suddenly I felt that awful pulling sensation you likely felt…then I find myself here, listening to these whack jobs telling me some ‘you are the chosen one’ nonsense and handing me my kidnapper gun,” she answered, pointing to the pocket that held the offending relic. “That was six months ago, and they’ve been dragging me on their missions ever since, telling me to use this thing to kidnap them more ‘heroes’. The majority of them fit the part, but I’m no warrior or master strategist! I’m a performer, Ed! I sing, I dance, I play the music! My job was to make people happy, now I’m a glorified kidnapper! Risking my hide for their war!” the summoner ranted, steaming at the thought, but deflating a little at the thought of how long it had been.

“…I’ve been trapped here for six months, if I remember correctly. Maybe longer, I don’t even remember. I know it’s felt like forever, and god I hate it. And y’know what sucks the most? People don’t even call me by my name, most of the time. To most people ‘round these parts, I’m ‘the Summoner’. Only the commander, and the prince and princess call me by my name anymore. It’s like all they give a damn about is the fact I can basically kidnap people for them, they don’t actually care about who I am, who I was! Alfonse asked me about my world once, Ed. And when I asked how I was gonna go back? They dodged the question and said that this was my home now…” she trailed off, worrying her lip. “I’m so sorry, Ed. I’d send you right back to where you came from if I could…”

He frowned as he listened to her, understanding completely what she had said. Just a little while ago he’d been in a world he was familiar with, one that he called home. A place where he’d fought his hardest to get somewhere comfortable with himself and his family. Now, these people were trying to make him some soldier of their war… In a universe he didn’t even know existed. 

“We’re both going to get out of here.” he said and looked around, “Just give me some times to figure it out. In the meantime, why don’t you find a way to get rid of that?” he asked and pointed at her pocket, “There has to be a way to stall them from bringing more people in.”

Mary nodded with a soft sigh, looking over at Ed. “Yep, they sure did. Outta nowhere, I was just minding my own damn business! I was walking home from the bar when suddenly I felt that awful pulling sensation you likely felt...then I find myself here, listening to these whack jobs telling me some ‘you are the chosen one’ nonsense and handing me my kidnapper gun,” she answered, pointing to the pocket that held the offending relic. “That was six months ago, and they’ve been dragging me on their missions ever since, telling me to use this thing to kidnap them more ‘heroes’. The majority of them fit the part, but I’m no warrior or master strategist! I’m a performer, Ed! I sing, I dance, I play the music! My job was to make people happy, now I’m a glorified kidnapper! Risking my hide for their war!” the summoner ranted, steaming at the thought, but deflating a little at the thought of how long it had been.

“...I’ve been trapped here for six months, if I remember correctly. Maybe longer, I don’t even remember. I know it’s felt like forever, and god I hate it. And y’know what sucks the most? People don’t even call me by my name, most of the time. To most people ‘round these parts, I’m ‘the Summoner’. Only the commander, and the prince and princess call me by my name anymore. It’s like all they give a damn about is the fact I can basically kidnap people for them, they don’t actually care about who I am, who I was! Alfonse asked me about my world once, Ed. And when I asked how I was gonna go back? They dodged the question and said that this was my home now...” she trailed off, worrying her lip. “I’m so sorry, Ed. I’d send you right back to where you came from if I could...”

A Summoner’s Tale (closed FEH AU with traceofalchemy)

rxinbowtrxveler

Mary, too, was fidgeting with a piece of home that sat beneath her cloak. A pendant, a ladybug on a sturdy chord reinforced with magic thanks to a spell she’d learned, to keep it safe as she was dragged along by the Order. Maybe she didn’t remember the details of home, but she remembered pieces. She knew that she was a performer; a dancer, singer and musician, someone who brought joy. Now? She was a professional kidnapper and battle strategist, but she knew she wasn’t meant for this, no matter what the Order said. Mary wanted out, and as of the moment, she didn’t know how she’d get there.

It wasn’t much longer until they reached the castle, and the scent of food immediately wafted out as the front door opened. Commander Anna and Princess Shareena were the first to rush in, but Prince Alfonse took a moment to look back at the two still outside.

“Please…try to make yourself as comfortable as possible, if you can. Don’t hesitate to ask if you have any questions or concerns. When you’re ready, Mary will lead you to your rooms,” he spoke up before following the two women.

Ed nodded in response to Alfonse, and waited for him to walk away before he turned to Mary. The smell of food was definitely tempting, but he felt disgusted at the thought of eating their food after what they’d just done, 

“So, they got you too, huh?” he mumbled and looked Mary over, “How long have you been  here?”