Posted originally on the Archive_of_Our_Own at https://archiveofourown.org/
works/1016167.
  Rating:
      Explicit
  Archive Warning:
      Choose_Not_To_Use_Archive_Warnings, Rape/Non-Con, Underage
  Category:
      F/M
  Fandom:
      Fullmetal_Alchemist:_Brotherhood_&_Manga
  Relationship:
      Alphonse_Elric/Edward_Elric
  Character:
      Edward_Elric, Alphonse_Elric, Roy_Mustang, Riza_Hawkeye, Original
      Characters, Winry_Rockbell, Pinako_Rockbell, Mei_Chan, Jean_Havoc,
      Heymans_Breda
  Additional Tags:
      Gender_or_Sex_Swap, Sibling_Incest, Human_Experimentation, Torture,
      Project_Monarch_Techniques, Mind_Control, Behavior_Modification, Non-
      Consensual_Body_Modification, Psychotropic_Drugs, Angst_and_Feels,
      Trigger_Warning!!!, Freeform
  Stats:
      Published: 2013-10-24 Completed: 2013-10-31 Chapters: 8/8 Words: 9643
****** Pedigree ******
by Rasuto
Summary
     "I've been informed by our contacts from the outside world, that
     Truth, in it's infinite mercy, had bestowed a blessing upon us… and
     now we have in our hands, an Adam and Eve."
     --TRIGGER WARNING!!!--
Notes
     This is a short, unbeta'd story I'm trying to finish by Halloween
     Day.
***** Chapter 1 *****
I yawn as I walk down the artificially lit hallway, with cup in hand, my feet
take me to the conference room for an emergency staff meeting. It's not like
I'm an important part of the team, so I arrive a couple of minutes late and
scoot in between Barry and Donovan.
“Hi fellas! Did I miss something important?”
“Same old boring stuff about productivity.” Barry deadpans.
“Well… the director just like the sound of his voice.” Donovan decides to
contribute.
He looks around before getting closer to me.
“I've heard that two descendants of the Golden Tribe have been acquired and are
on their way to the laboratory as we speak.”
I roll my eyes, Donovan’s gossip is just that, gossip.
The director of the facility was now stacking the paper on the podium then
mindlessly readjusts his golden frames.
“Now I'm going to speak about the main purpose of this meeting.” The director
says into the microphone and all in the room quieted.
“As you are all aware, Father has been taken down…” The man looks at all the
worried faces in the room, “…And so has our fearless leader, but all is not
grim my fellow colleagues, I have been assured by our sponsors that this
laboratory will remain operational.”
A small commotion floods the room.
“Calm down!”
The director waited until everybody settled down to in order to continue.
“We are going to continue with the chimera programs, and we're also going to
continue with the production of red water.”
I notice how he grasps the podium.
“But I have an announcement to make…” Once again, he looks intently at all of
us, “We have been graced with a new project… the task of rekindling the lost
ancient civilization of Xerxes.”
Donovan elbows me as he whispers an annoying “told you so”.
“How are we going to do that?” Spoke a person on the opposite side of the room
that I couldn't see from where I am standing.
The director seems pleased with whoever asked the question.
“This evening we’re going to receive two special guests who I've been told are
direct descendants of the Golden Sage.”
Another wave of commotion rocks the room.
“Quiet!” This time the director yelled.
He cleared his throat as he composes himself.
“As I was saying, we will be welcoming Edward and Alphonse Elric into our
nucleus, and from these two, we will create the new progeny that in due time
will deliver us the perfect golden being.”
“But both potential test subjects are male.”
The same obnoxious voice decided to state the obvious, however the director
once again seems rather pleased with the asinine question.
“I've been informed by our contacts from the outside world, that Truth, in it's
infinite mercy, had bestowed a blessing upon us… and now we have in our hands,
an Adam and Eve.”
***** Chapter 2 *****
Chapter Summary
     Test Subject E steps into view. I can tell by the worried look in her
     face that she's hesitating to ask me something important.
     "Are the… are the bastards prodding Al like they do to me?"
The black telephone rings and I just keep staring at it, scowling, even.
Looking at my watch, I confirm that is 6:00 AM. Hesitancy crosses my mind
before I pick up the receiver.
"Please assist Test Subject E."
The line goes dead.
I rub my temples and a small sigh escapes, unannounced. Slowly I stand up, and
after verifying that the cart has all needed items, then I wheel it down the
cold hallway. I make sure that I look as apathetic as I feel before I enter the
examination room. I swallow deeply because I don't know in what kind of state I
will find the subject this time around. I shake my head and chastise my
wavering will. It's not like I'm new at this job, in fact its been four long
years since I've been assisting the researchers on their human experimentation
projects, but there was something about Test Subject E that keeps tugging at my
emotions, and it isn't the fact that 'she' used to be a 'he'.
"There you are." Johnson called me over.
I leave the cart by the door and stand next to the man. Johnson was scribbling
something on a writing pad so my eyes quickly set upon Test Subject E. A small
sigh of relief escapes between my lips, because at least this time around, the
researcher in charge kept her decent. She's looking away, but I can still see
the dry tear tracks running down the side of her face, I can't help but to feel
sympathy for the teen. It has been already six months since she and her brother
were brought to this little piece of insanity.
"I've performed a vaginal exam on the test subject and took some tissue samples
which all need to be tested today." Johnson said, capturing my attention.
"There's also an urine sample that needs to be analyzed for levels of LH." He
kept droning without taking his eyes from the writing pad, "Everything sits on
the tray over there, please drop them over at Sector 7 once you finish cleaning
the subject."
He finally looked at me with his cold, unperturbed eyes. "That is all."
Johnson took his personal belongings, along with the writing pad, and headed
for the door.
Once the door is shut, I set my eyes again on the blonde girl who was tightly
secured to the gynecology chair. She's still facing the other way, but once she
hears the researcher walking away, she glances at me acknowledging my presence
"Please get me off this chair." She says without making any further eye
contact.
"First I have to clean you." I proceed to pull back the blanket that was
covering her lower half when sorrowful golden eyes stared directly into my
soul.
"Please… let me do it myself." She pleaded with the most chagrined expression
and I hesitate.
"I promise I won't cause any trouble."
Her distress was palpable.
"Ok, but don't try anything funny."
She snorted.
"As if I'll get far…" Her voice trailed off.
Such defeated words made me wonder if she was finally becoming "conditioned" in
her captivity. From an underground array that seals all types of alchemy to
high-end locking mechanisms, maybe she finally accepted —like all of us have
accepted in the long run— that escape from this facility is impossible. I
unbuckle her wrist restraints and she reflexively pushed me away, and took care
of the rest of the restraints all by herself. She was sporting that quiet anger
of a person who has been forced into submission. She extends an arm my way,
waiting for me to hand her the new set of hospital clothes.
"Will you turn around already!" She hissed while she unconsciously fisted the
paper gown she was currently wearing.
I immediately turn around, feeling quite uncomfortable by the teen's hostility.
"How's Al?" She asked while tossing the paper gown next to my feet.
Of course she was going to ask about her little brother, after all, I also
attend the younger teen.
"He's doing fine."
I hear her putting on the fresh set of clothes —and since I don't sense any
shenanigans coming from her— I continue talking.
"His physical therapy is going well and he's getting stronger by the day."
Test Subject E steps into view. I can tell by the worried look in her face that
she's hesitating to ask me something important.
"Are the… are the bastards prodding Al like they do to me?"
The faintest trace of a quivering lip almost escapes unnoticed, and my eyebrows
furrow.
I can understand her concern, after all, she's constantly being forced to
sustain invasive procedures that as a former male, she can't clearly
comprehend. My heart saddens as an image of my daughter comes into my mind.
"No, Ed." I answer with fondness.
Golden orbs beamed upon hearing her name and any remnants of hostility,
crumble.
"Please help us get out of here…"
She requests from me every time I visit her.
"I can't."
Is what I reply to her each and every time… and each and every time, the
vividness in her golden eyes dulls just a bit more.
***** Chapter 3 *****
Chapter Summary
     As I approach the examination room I noticed an odd silence when
     there should be a vivid conversation. Usually Test Subject A's
     examinations consist of simple routine checks of his vitals, but this
     stillness in the air… it unnerves me.
I become instantly worried the minute I hear I was needed to assist Test
Subject A. As I turn around, my eyes encounter the calendar, and almost
immediately, a thought comes to mind. It has been one year to date since both
siblings arrived at this laboratory… a mirthless laugh echoes in the office
after the such realization.
So much has changed within me in last twelve months and the fault falls on the
siblings themselves. I'm probably the only staff member that still treats them
like human beings since the others at this point just see them as potential
pedigree material.
Being in charge of their well-being has been both a blessing and a curse
because they have gotten under my skin. A parental attachment has developed
inside me since I've been privy to their "evolution". Test Subject E or Ed, as
I prefer to call her, has gradually become accustomed to her female body, just
a shell of her former male self still lingers within her, which from time to
time decides to come out and piss everybody around her.
Test Subject A is another different matter. At this point, the boy's body has
completely rehabilitated and has become a quite strong young man. Some of the
more amicable scientists within the facility have confided to me that the young
man has acquired the spunk that the older sibling used to naturally exude… but
I wonder if it is because he's been sheltered so far from the type of
examinations that the older sibling has been exposed since day one.
As I approach the examination room I noticed an odd silence when there should
be a vivid conversation. Usually Test Subject A's examinations consist of
simple routine checks of his vitals, but this stillness in the air… it unnerves
me. I push the cart through the door and my stomach lurches at the scene that
was in front of me. It's like I'm looking at a similar setting but with the boy
instead of the girl. The bound teen, like his older sibling, is looking away
but I can tell how infuriated he is by how his neck is corded under his
clenched jaw. My heart aches when I see a long rod with a vibrating tip and a
cup filled with a whitish substance sitting on a tray near the examination
table.
"Please take care of the subject." Wheeler curtly said to me as he closes the
medical chart.
He takes his reading glasses off and tucked them inside a pocket in his lab
coat. "Run the semen sample by Sector 7 once you finish tending to him."
He glares at the teen with contempt before stepping away from the room.
The slamming of the door makes me jump a little.
"Are you ok?" I ask with extreme concern as I approach the boy.
One quick look tells me he's not ok, and I shake my head at my own stupidity.
"I want to see my brother." He says dryly.
Brother? Ah yes, I keep forgetting that the top-secret files state that the
younger sibling was found unconscious after Father's death. I still wonder
myself why the higher-ups kept the siblings separated after the fateful event
last Spring. I find it incredibly cruel that he doesn't know about his "older
brother's" new female body.
"I can't take—"
"Bullshit! Why can't I see him?"
I can see the small glimmer of tears in the verge of rolling down the teen's
eyes.
"I can assure you that he's safe, son—"
"I'm not your son!" He snarled.
I sucked in some air, steadying my nerves since I know very well where his
tantrum is heading. There's a good probability that he will try to pull an
escape stunt like his older sibling did at the beginning of their forced
captivity.
"Alphonse, please stop it. Edward is safe and he's doing just fine. You just
can't see him yet."
Out of nowhere, teen blinked in astonishment, the shock of being forcibly
ejaculated must have made him forget that he was still bound to the chair.
"Get me out of this chair!" He screeched in frantic desperation.
I carefully unbuckle the wrist restraints, and like his older sibling, he
pushes me away and takes care of the rest; but unlike his sibling, he stays on
the chair with feet dangling in front of him. A distraught look meets my eyes.
"What do you people want with us?"
The teen tried to hide the trembling in his voice but I'm just too used to the
subtle signs of abuse.
"Did he hurt you?" I asked without thinking it through.
His eyes glaze and quickly looks away in shame.
"Do they do this to Brother?" He said after a long pause.
I can't answer his question and he snorts at me in disdain.
The boy stands up and winces, and I couldn't help to feel sorry for him.
He scowls at me and slowly walks over to where the cart is and takes from it a
new set of hospital-issued clothes. I turn around before the teen has a chance
to scream to me to look away.
"I'm done." He says in a apathetic tone.
I turn around and find him staring at the cold floor, but he raises his olive
eyes at me before I had a chance to take a step forward.
"Tell me how to escape." He demands, "Alchemy doesn't work so tell me how I can
reach Brother, so we can escape this hellhole together."
My face hardens.
"No one has been able to escape this place, son."
He sends me another nasty look when he hears the word "son".
"Has Brother, tried to escape?"
It was a question I wasn't expecting from him.
"Yes, many times actually."
At least I can be truthful to him about this.
The boy frowns and unconsciously bites his lower lip, becoming rather pensive.
"Alphonse, please don't try anything stupid."
I warn him but he chooses to ignore me altogether as he launches forward and
tackles me to the ground.
"I'm sorry, mister!" He says to me before knocking me unconscious.
***** Chapter 4 *****
Chapter Summary
     These last three months have been hellish torture for me, but
     specially for the siblings. I'm almost sure that I've lost a part of
     my humanity along the way, but the siblings have lost the entirety of
     it.
Chapter Notes
     This chapter contains some descriptions of torture and mind control
     techniques used in Project Monarch, so there's a possibility of
     triggering when reading this chapter. Don't read this chapter if the
     name Project Monarch rings a bell or if you're sensitive to rape/non-
     con.
I've heard stories about the director's "special" punishments, but as always, I
pinned the telltales to just mere gossip… boy, I was dead wrong.
The day after the insurgence of Test Subject A, I was called to the director's
office. The man looked at me with such impassiveness that it made me uneasy,
but it was quickly replaced by dread, once the man spoke.
The type of facility I am working under, is considered top-secret, and all its
employees have been given "the good conduct spiel" at one point or another. The
spiel dictated that if you behave inappropriately, your loved ones would be the
ones suffering the consequences. Stories about family members being taken and
ending as test subjects for gruesome experiments, was enough to keep me in
line… that was until the Elric's entered into my life.
My heart almost gave out when the director said that my loved ones were not
going to suffer due to my negligence in the handling of the Elric siblings,
however, he punctuated that I still needed to be punished. I was surprised that
he let me continue with the care of the siblings, in fact, he said that I was
going to be promoted. He told me that since I've been so concerned for the
subjects, that I was going to have an important job to perform during the next
phase of the Elric's modification. Apparently his decision came to mind when my
irresponsibility in the handling of Test Subject A gave the team the
opportunity to test the overall endurance of the boy. The director insisted in
telling me all the details about what happened after Al knocked the lights out
of me. He said that the kid put on a phenomenal fight but alas, without proper
alchemy, he was quickly taken down by the chimera guards once the emergency
doors made him run into a dead end.
I quickly found out that as a research assistant, I was responsible in the
retrieval and escort of the test subjects, to the new experiment rooms. I was
also responsible to assist the researchers-in-charge with whatever they needed,
be it strapping the subject to a device, attaching equipment on the subject or
maintaining the functionality of said equipment. The remaining of my duties
were the same as before, including escorting the subjects back to their cells
after each session. I knew that there was something nefarious behind these new
set of orders, but I couldn't even begin to grasp the degree of cruelty —that
for the sake of my family— I was going to assist.
These last three months have been hellish torture for me, but specially for the
siblings. I'm almost sure that I've lost a part of my humanity along the way,
but the siblings have lost the entirety of it.
Both siblings had been subjected to intense behavioral modification with the
aid of mind and body altering drugs. This modification was coupled with sexual
stimulation, be it by electrical or vibrational stimuli, to the sensitive nerve
endings of their corresponding anatomical parts. In each session I have to
strap a frantic boy or girl to the machines, on which they are to remain bound
for hours. My bile rises every time I have to hook them to these infernal
machines, since once connected, they don't get release from constant sexual
stimulation. I only get unhook them once they pass out from overstimulation.
I shudder every time I'm forced to flip the movie projector on, so the siblings
can also watch a constant loop of pornographic films while they're being
subjected to the programming. These movies are catered to the desired result
for each sibling. Test Subject E watches women being forcefully subjected into
submission while Test Subject A watches men assaulting helpless women. I wish I
could deafen the agonizing screams that come out of their writhing bodies as
their sanity is slowly being ripped away from their being.
I've found that the sexualization of the siblings have a few variances. Test
Subject E's modification also includes heavy hormonal stimulation because her
body hasn't produced eggs yet. Test Subject A's modification includes heavy use
of aphrodisiacs because, as the researchers constantly point out to me, these
drugs are needed since the boy is not going to fuck his sister on his own
accord. I've even witnessed when the researchers unleash the drug-crazed youth
on some unsuspecting subjects, so he could efficiently "practice" on the young
women what he will do to Test Subject E on their "Wedding Day". I still cringe
every time I hear those two words together.
Today I was summoned to be at the observation room for an unscheduled staff
meeting. I had a bad hunch about the rendezvous, and my fears became a crude
reality, once I overheard some of the men who were already inside the room,
betting on the outcome of the "wedding". So today the nightmare, this "Wedding
Day", becomes true. I've should've realized that I was purposely being kept out
of the loop, since it was obviously a part of my punishment for caring too much
about the sibling's welfare in the first place.
It was my first time inside the famed observation room and I immediately notice
that the room is divided in sections. We sit in front of a two-way mirror where
we observe the people who are on the other side of the glass. The small room is
divided by a wall and I see that Barry is holding Test Subject A inside the
left compartment while the right side compartment still remains empty. Wheeler
enters the left compartment and injects the feisty boy with something then pats
the side of his face, like he was a lowly animal, before exiting the room.
Right before my eyes, the young man transforms from a normal human being into a
crazed beast. Barry yells out loud that's he's losing the grip on the boy, so
Donovan drags Test Subject E and pushes her inside the right compartment, then
closes the door on her. She frantically looks around, immediately recognizing
that the glass is in fact a two-way mirror, her golden eyes become frightened
as her breathing becomes shallow. The director who has been calmly standing by
a red button, sadistically smiles, and pushes on said button.
The wall dividing the two compartments raises and the siblings see each other
for the first time after more than a year of captivity.
"Alphonse!" Ed cries out when she sets her eyes on her adored younger brother.
She takes a step forward to run to his side, but quickly senses that there's
something wrong with her brother. She looks at his olive eyes with confusion
and frowns when she discovers the crazed look in his dilated eyes. Worriedly,
her eyes quickly scan the rest of his body only to gasp in horror when she sees
the tight bulge stretching around the crotch of his hospital-issued clothes.
She shakes her head in desperation when she realizes what will happen next.
"Al… please don't…" She pleads as hot tears fall from her beautiful eyes.
Like a feral animal, the boy cocks his head from side to side, then launches at
her, knocking her to the ground.
"Alphonse no!" She screeches as she writhes under him but her own programming
triggers once the boy begin to rip her clothes. Immediately she becomes
submissive, as she was trained to do so, and only reacts when her younger
brother forcibly pushes into her and punches through her intact hymen.
I can't look away, and even if I wanted to, I couldn't block out the sickly
mixture of pained screams and animalistic grunts coming off the siblings.
I want to stand up, I want to break into the room and separate the two
siblings, I want to help them escape, I want to… but I won't. I won't because,
in the end, I'm a selfish coward.
As I remain behind to take care of the siblings, I overhear some of the men
saying that the test subjects deserved exactly what the got, because they were
sinners, because they committed the ultimate taboo…
But what about us? I wanted to ask. Aren't we sinners too? Didn't we torture
and corrupted two young souls? Aren't we playing god too?
"Im sorry…"
It was faint, but the lamenting came from the boy.
I approach the now foggy mirror, I see Ed. Her red-rimmed eyes were staring
blankly at the ceiling, and one of her hands was mindlessly caressing Al's
hair. The teen had buried his face on top of her bent legs.
"I'm so sorry Ed…"
I heard again the lamenting wail of the younger sibling which only meant that
the effects of the drug have already worn off… and he has realized who he was
with and what he has done to her.
"Please forgive me, please forgive me…" He keeps chanting between anguished
sobs and my heart breaks.
I press my forehead onto the cold glass and shut my eyes close.
"Please forgive me…"
I join the boy's chant as I too lament the wrong that I've done.
***** Chapter 5 *****
Chapter Summary
     A blonde woman steps into the room and points her gun at me.
     "Where are the Elric's?"
     The terrifying look in her cinnamon eyes, made me stutter.
After putting everything needed on the cart to serve them their breakfast, and
as I push the elevator button to take me down to B4, I think back at that
nightmarish event that happened seven months ago.
I had fallen into a deep depression after the "Wedding Day". Four days after
the rape, I was called to the director's office because I've been a No Call, No
Show for three consecutive days. I knew I was in deep trouble —but I just
didn't care anymore— and after a few minutes with the man, I had found out that
the director sympathized with my feelings. I wanted to strangle the bastard
right there for mocking me, but director sensed my rising anger, and quickly
reiterated that sacrificing their innocence was needed for the greater good. I
listened in utter disbelief how he tried to sell me again the story about
living legends walking beside us in the near future… that I was going to become
part of such grandiose legacy and so on. I had to control the sudden urge to
throw up, but as I did, something clicked inside my head. I looked at the
director with pity as I finally came to realize that the man was insane… all
involved in the experiment were.
I had wanted out. I had wanted out and to never look back but then I thought
about sibling's fate and I ended biting my tongue. I had closed my eyes,
cursing the day I felt compassion for the crying blonde girl since that was the
day I sealed my current fate.
Something that the director said, had snapped me from my thoughts. He had said
to me that the sibling's behavioral programming had been a success and that no
further modification was necessary. I had felt relief right then because they
were not going to get tortured as they've been for the past few months. However
my initial elation had vanished into thin air when the man said that during my
absence, the siblings have been moved to the final phase of the depraved
experiment. Now I was to tend to both siblings, who have been moved together
into a new cell. I was going to become their full time caregiver and that meant
I was going to be temporarily away from my family until an offspring was
produced from the siblings. I was to tend to their every need in a "homey"
environment and would only take them out of their "gilded cage" when one of
them was needed for a routine checkup.
I put back the empty plates on the cart after the pair finished their breakfast
with voracious appetite. I set my eyes on them when I hear Ed giggling. I find
that her brother was playing with her long hair, but they stop what they were
doing after they notice me staring. After the "Wedding Day" and up to this day,
they haven't spoke a single word to me or to anybody in the facility for that
matter. They only speak and interact with each other, using gestures or
speaking in low voices.
Contrary to what I thought would happen between them —after the brother raped
the sister— they didn't reject each other but actually formed a strong bond
with each other. I've been told that such incredible bond was years in the
making, starting with their traumatic human transmutation failure and and
ending with their even more traumatic mind and body programming.
Subsequent copulation sessions had been drug-induced, with each following their
corresponding programming, but a breakthrough happened a month after the
"Wedding Day" when the night cameras caught them having intercourse on their
own accord. Soon after no more forced sessions were needed and the siblings
were left to their own devices.
I still wonder what changed between them for them to agree on continuing with
what had been forced on them in the first place. Did they seek solace when
they're tossing under the sheets? Is this another part of their programming
that I didn't catch on? Did they actually developed feelings for each other
that went beyond their blood ties? I wish I knew the answer, but it looks like
it is a secret that Ed and Al will take to their graves.
I push the cart out in the hall and close the cell, then I make my way back to
the elevator. As I ride back up to B2, I think that in a few more months I'll
be able to see my family once again. The elevator door opens, and as I push the
cart through the hallway, I hear what I think is a small explosion accompanied
by a small tremor. I push the cart slowly as I hear more noises that I think
are coming from B1 when suddenly the sprinkler system goes off and the alarm
system begin to sound. In a rush of panic, I look around me and I see
researchers and other attendants running. I let go of the cart and run over to
the nearest fire escape when out of my peripheral vision I see a ball of fire
making its way down the main hallway. My heart begins to race when I hear the
agonizing screams of a person who had been caught in the blaze. As I near the
stair case, I hear the sound of rifles going off. We're under attack! But who?
I don't stay out to find out.
I frantically skip down the stairs and exit into B4. As I close the door behind
me, I hear the sounds of a person heading down. All I can think of is about
hiding in my room when a bullet goes past me.
Somehow I make it to my room and manage to lock the door. There's a kick to the
door, followed by the person behind the door shooting at the lock. Another kick
to the door, and it slams open. A blonde woman steps into the room and points
her gun at me.
"Where are the Elric's?"
The terrifying look in her cinnamon eyes, made me stutter.
She cocked her gun and level it to my forehead. Her face steels as the thump my
ears deafened everything surrounding me. A joyful image of my daughter pass
through my mind as a sudden jolt courses through my body and a blinding white
light engulfs me.
 
 
"Riza!"
I turn around when I hear Havoc calling me. He's standing by the door and says
that we should keep moving along. I look back at the man whose life I just
terminated, then turn around and follow the Second-Lieutenant down the hall. We
reach an area that has another alchemical seal, so I press the talk button on
my head piece.
"Golden Hawk to Black Raven. Do you copy me Black Raven?"
"Black Raven here. What's the current situation? Over."
"We might have found the Bird's Nest on B4. Over."
A few seconds passed before the Colonel's voice crackled through the
communication device.
"I'm on my way."
Ten minutes pass by before the Colonel reaches us.
"This is the door?" The Colonel asks as he clasps his hands together.
"Yes, Sir."
Havoc and I step back as the Colonel places his hands on the seal, breaking it
with a transmutation of his own. He pushes the door open and we head down the
long hallway then we see a lighted cell at the end.
When we reach the cell we immediately see a boy with short hair that resembles
Alphonse behind the bars and a sight of relief crosses our minds.
"Alphonse…" The Colonel says as he approaches the cell, but the boy doesn't
answer him.
We all see that's he's staring at us with a feral look as if he doesn't
recognizes us.
"Alphonse, it's me Roy Mustang." He looks at me, "And this is Riza and this is
Jean. Don't you remember us?"
Alphonse looks at us with a pained look as tears well up on his olive eyes. He
nods, acknowledging that he recognizes us before a loud sob escapes from his
clenched mouth.
"Where's Ed?" The Colonel asks him but he doesn't answer.
However he walks over to where a couch is located and goes behind it. He lifts
up by the hand the female teen that is now Edward Elric. I see the faintest
look of shock coming from the Colonel's ebony eyes since this is the first time
he laid eyes on Ed's new body. He never had a chance to do so since he was
still blind when the siblings were taken from the hospital ward more than two
years ago.
Havoc gasps, as he too hadn't seen Ed in female form. He was undergoing
physical rehabilitation when the incident happened.
We see that Ed is sporting a rather chagrined expression when she sets her
golden eyes upon us. She looks at her brother and whispers something to him, to
which he nods. The boy takes her hand and both step around the couch.
Our eyes widen in horror when we see the siblings in full view. I inadvertly
cover my mouth in disbelief as I look at the scene unfolding in front of us.
I momentarily look to my side and see a profound guilt written all over the
Colonel's face. When I look back at the siblings, I see that Ed is now holding
Al's hand tightly.
"Fucking bastards…"
Havoc's angry words, state what we all were thinking as we stare at Ed's
swollen belly.
***** Chapter 6 *****
Chapter Summary
     The Colonel sighed in defeat but respected my words, then he looked
     at us with such coldness that it made me slightly uneasy.
     "Very well, Dr. Rockbell. I will tell you what happened to Edward and
     Alphonse Elric after their disappearance from Central Hospital more
     than two years ago. Then the doctor here will explain the type of
     rehabilitation treatment he has given to the siblings, who are
     survivors of a severe and traumatic human experiment."
     I heard Winry's disconcerted gasp and I held her hand tight.
I lift my eyes from the files I am currently browsing through when I hear the
door burst open.
"We caught the rat!" Havoc says as he pushes the director inside his office.
Anger immediately boils my blood and I glare at him. So this pathetic excuse of
a man is the reason why Fullmetal and his brother are so broken? What kind of
nightmare did this man and his team put the siblings through that left them
practically mute?
"Who got the girl pregnant?"
My stomach slightly turns when the question escapes my lips. It's so surreal to
be speaking about Fullmetal in that type of context.
"T-the brother, Sir." He answers, his trembling voice denotes the true coward
that he is.
I close my eyes as my breath shudders. I suspected as much, but confirming it,
only makes my failure to protect them so much harder to withstand.
"Liar!" I slam my fist on the desk as I stand up, "That boy adores his older
brother and I'm positive he wouldn't dare touch a single hair on his head now
that he's a female!"
The director stutters at the sound of my thundering voice, but eventually he
manages to become somewhat coherent.
"They're are descendants of the Golden Sage!" The man screeched as he went on a
frenetic rant.
"Truth sought to correct the aberration those two little sinners perpetrated
against him by returning them as Adam and Eve! Can't you see 'the grand plan'?
They were appointed to me so I could make them pure again, through the birthing
of the new golden people—!"
"Enough!"
I just couldn't stand this lunatic's idiocy anymore.
"Here's what I understand so far. You and your people, besides conducting
horrific genetic experiments while running a highly illegal red water
operation, decided to kidnap two of the key people responsible in saving the
entire country from oblivion, so you could force them to breed with each in
order to produce an offspring that's genetically closer to the people of
Xerxes?"
The man looks at me, wide-eyed, and nods. "You do understand 'the grand plan'—"
"I understand that you're a lunatic that corrupted and forced two minors into
committing incest!"
I pinch the bridge of my nose and exhale forcibly, fruitlessly keeping my
migraine on check.
"How?" I ask harshly.
The director looks at me with confusion.
"I don't understand the question."
His asinine answer makes me lose control. I go around the desk and I snap my
gloved hand, surrounding the bastard in a contained fire ball of low intensity
so only the exposed skin suffers third-degree burns.
The man writhes in pain on the linoleum floor.
"Those two kids don't even want to come out of their cage! Now again, what kind
of hell did you and your men put them through to, for them to be at the sorry
state they're currently in!"
The man was trembling on the floor.
"W-we—" He broke into sobs.
I snap my finger again and mercilessly engulf him in another fire ball. An
agonizing wail echoes as the smell of burnt flesh invades the room. I see Havoc
looking away, trying to breathe a cleaner air. I don't blame him, after all the
sight and smell of a burnt person is hard to stomach, but not to me. For once,
I'm actually enjoying the suffering I'm causing to this piece of shit.
"Psychotropic drugs and body re-conditioning!" The man blurted out between
pained screams.
I scowl.
During the Ishvalan War, I heard horror stories about Ishvalan prisoners of war
undergoing torturous mind-control sessions in order to extract what was needed
from them. My blood ices when I think of all the possible nightmarish scenarios
that the Elric's must have been subjected to in order to make them engage in
sexual intercourse.
I steady my breath again as I press on the talk button on my head piece.
"Golden Hawk, did you manage to put the Pair at ease in their Bird's Nest?
Over."
"Yes, Sir."
I close my eyes momentarily, hating the fact that we had to drug the siblings
with sleeping pills in order to take them out of the cell.
"Very well. I'll have Golden Eagle here come over and help you carry them to
the Safe Zone. Over."
Havoc silently turns on his heel and leaves for B4, since he has been standing
near me all this time, listening into the conversation.
I press the talk button again.
"Black Raven to Red Robin, do you copy, Red Robin?
"Red Robin here, Black Raven."
"Are the explosives set in place? Over."
"Affirmative."
"Are the chimeras and the researchers been disposed of? Over."
"Affirmative."
"Golden Hawk and Golden Eagle are heading to the Safe Zone with the Pair as we
speak. Please have the wires ready in half hour. Over."
"Affirmative."
I turn my device off now that Breda has been given the directive to activate
the explosives placed throughout the facility. I approach the director who at
this point is mindlessly moaning on the floor.
"In about half hour this place will explode and all the horrors that have
happened here will be buried along with it."
I stand next to the director as I prepare to end the his life.
"Before I send you to hell, I will let you know something about Truth."
I readjust my white ignition gloves.
"Truth is not fair when dealing with us humans, and it sure isn't merciful. I
know this because I once was forced to stand in front of it to receive its
unreasonable judgement. What you and your team did to the Elric's was not
acting upon Truth's will, you acted on your selfish accord. You subjected the
siblings to a sadistic experiment because you are one of those type of humans
who think they are god… like Truth itself."
As I finish my words, I stare down at him with utter disdain as I snap my
gloved fingers one last time.
•
I open the door and become rather surprised by sight of the man standing in
front of me.
"This is a most unwelcome surprise… now what type of misfortune do you wish to
inform to me and my granddaughter?"
Colonel Roy Mustang's shoulders tense slightly at the cold reception.
"I understand your animosity towards me Dr. Rockbell, but for once I bring you
some good news."
What the Colonel said has me intrigued.
"Well, come on in…"
I walk him to the living room where he takes sit on the large couch while I
seat on the recliner.
"We've found the Elric's—"
My eyes widen and my old heart skips a beat. As I recover from the initial
shock, I ask a sensible question.
"Are the boys alive?"
The man slouches forward and presses his folded arms onto his thighs before
answering.
"Ed and Al are alive—"
"Oh thank goodness!"
My eyesight blurs from cheer happiness.
"When can we see the boys?" I ask immediately after wiping the happy tears with
my apron, but as I put my glasses back on, I notice that the man has a dejected
look all over his face.
"They're currently at an undisclosed location."
I frown upon hearing those words.
"Did something bad happened to them?"
His lips pursed briefly before answering my question.
"Both siblings underwent a great amount of trauma after being kidnaped from the
hospital a month after the Promised Day…" He gives me a sour look, "Let's just
say they are not the boys they used to be."
We arrive at East City train station after the Colonel visited us three days
ago. I see the young female officer, who visited us in Risembool almost a
decade ago, cut through the crowd.
"Welcome to East City." She says when she reaches me.
"Thank you, Lieutenant…"
"You can call me Riza if you like." She answers in a pleasant tone.
"Shall we go?" She adds.
"I'm waiting for my granddaughter to grab our tool bags since most likely Ed
needs a good automail tune up."
I immediately see the woman blanch upon hearing my comment. Her reaction makes
me even more worried than I already am. As I see my granddaughter coming over
our way, I begin to feel doubts about bringing her with me to see the boys…
"Hi Riza!"
I closely observe how Winry's extreme cheerfulness is making the Lieutenant
uncomfortable. I hold on tight to my luggage case, feeling some apprehension
about the long awaited reunion.
I didn't expect a car ride to the outskirts of East City nor I expected to
visit a ranch. On our way to this place, Miss Riza explained to us that the
siblings had been found two months ago and were staying at the ranch while they
were being treated by a doctor. I immediately notice how my granddaughter
becomes solemnly quiet.
As we arrive at the ranch, we notice that the place is bigger than we expected.
Apparently the Colonel had been outside waiting for us to arrive. He helps with
the luggage and his expression darkens when Winry stands beside him. He escorts
us inside and takes us to the living room.
A man is sitting already at one of the chairs and I deduce that he's the doctor
responsible for taking care of the brothers.
"Good afternoon, ladies. I hope the trip wasn't too much of a bother as we're
located quite away from the big city." The doctor says as he stands up and
shakes our hands.
I clear my throat and immediately cut through the chase.
"When can we see Ed and Al? And why all this secrecy surrounding them?"
The Colonel looks at me then at Winry.
"Do you really want your granddaughter hearing this?" He asks again with
profound concern.
"We've seen the boys at their worst, Colonel, all bloody and lost when they
tried to bring their mother back. We've heard Ed's blood-curdling cries after
we fitted him with automail and we've also heard Al's sorrowful cries about his
confinement to a cold metal container. So yes, I think we're prepared for
anything that awaits us regarding the boys."
The Colonel sighed in defeat but respected my words, then he looked at us with
such coldness that it made me slightly uneasy.
"Very well, Dr. Rockbell. I will tell you what happened to Edward and Alphonse
Elric after their disappearance from Central Hospital more than two years ago.
Then the doctor here will explain the type of rehabilitation treatment he has
given to the siblings, who are survivors of a severe and traumatic human
experiment."
I heard Winry's disconcerted gasp and I held her hand tight.
***** Chapter 7 *****
Chapter Summary
     It wasn't easy setting eyes upon Ed and Al. First of all, because
     they looked completely different to the last memories I had of the
     two, and second, because no matter how prepared I was to see Ed, when
     I finally laid eyes on her new female figure —and her humongous
     belly— I felt something I side of me shatter.
I take my glasses off and absently wipe the tears at the corners of my eyes. I
frown as I think how Hoenheim and Trisha must be turning on their graves. I
also try to keep my composure for my granddaughter's sake but it is becoming
rather hard to keep a strong front when my insides have become so cold. I look
at Winry and wonder what it's going through her head. A greenish pallor shows
all over her face so I can safely assume she is feeling similar to what I am
feeling.
It was shocking to find out what had happened to the boys after we saw them
last. It was heart wrenching to hear that Ed had sacrificed his alchemy to get
Al's body back from the Truth, only to be changed into a teenage girl. It hurts
me deeply because I've seen how the young man used to look at my granddaughter
with his golden eyes expressing something more than puppy love… but to find out
that the siblings were kidnapped in order to execute a mad man's wet dream,
simply broke my heart.
I am a strong woman by nature and by nurture. I can count the times I've
actually come apart at the seams… three to be exact. The first, when I lost my
adored son and daughter-in-law, the second, when I lost my good old friend
Hoenheim and the third, just now when the doctor said that Ed was carrying Al's
baby. Winry let out a loud sob before burying her face in her hands. I stifled
a sob myself after watching her grieve. I haven't seen Winry cry so bitterly
since the day I had to tell her that her parents were returning home in
caskets.
There was a long period of silence as each and everyone gathered in that living
room followed in my granddaughter's foot steps and grieved. We all grieved
because those depraved men broke the fiery spirit that was Edward. We all
grieved because they corrupted the gentle spirit that was Alphonse.
The doctor broke the lingering silence when he began explaining to us the
current psychological state of the two tortured siblings. He said that it was
just recently —and the reason why the Colonel contacted us— that a major
breakthrough had occurred. The siblings have been refusing to talk to anyone
other than themselves, selective muteness, was the name of the condition that
was brought up by the trauma that Ed and Al had been exposed to. He also
explained that the siblings have undergone an intense deprograming after being
rescued. It was a treatment he had designed years ago and it was catered to
help prisoners of war, political prisoners, rape victims and torture victims in
order to help them to cope with their horrific experiences so they could again
become a functional part in our society. He sadly explained to us that he
hadn't have to use his system since the skirmishes that happened in Liore and
Milos of the recent past.
He also warned us not to be alarmed by the extreme closeness the two siblings
had developed for each other. He said that he is still working on correcting
their distorted view of the sexual conduct between men and women, and between
siblings, since this is what was targeted during their intense re-conditioning.
The doctor finished the chat, and waited for me and my granddaughter to digest
the given information.
"I want to see them." Winry said almost instantly.
I can see pain in her blue eyes but I can also see strength, Rockbell strength…
and I smiled with pride.
"We are prepared to see them doctor and to welcome them back into our small
loving family."
I directed my gaze to the Colonel.
"Isn't that why we were called here in the first place?"
The Colonel answered with a small smile.
•
It wasn't easy setting eyes upon Ed and Al. First of all, because they looked
completely different to the last memories I had of the two, and second, because
no matter how prepared I was to see Ed, when I finally laid eyes on her new
female figure —and her humongous belly— I felt something I side of me shatter.
Ed noticed it and looked away in shame. Al noticed it and looked down with
guilt.
…and I choked.
Granny squeezed my hand at the right moment and when I met her eyes, I felt
reassured. I let go of her wrinkled old hand and took a step forward, then a
second, and a third, until I was standing in front of the two. At that point my
eyes were too blurry to see them clearly and my throat too thick to speak to
them, so I did the next best thing. I opened my arms wide and hugged them… and
they hugged me back.
Ed broke the silence when she sobbed loudly, most likely due to the fabled
pregnancy hormones going haywire. I immediately followed Ed then I felt Al
holding me tighter.
"I'm sorry, Win." He said to my ear with the most sorrowful voice I've ever
heard coming out of that beautiful soul.
I separated from the embrace and looked at Al as I held his face in place with
a cupped hand.
"Al… there's nothing to apologize for. What happened to you was out of your
control. I know the real you… you would never commit something so dastardly on
your own accord."
I look at Ed who was biting her lower lip as she looked chagrined.
"Ed… I'm so sorry you had to go through so much hardships—" I had to stop so I
could swallow the lump in my throat.
"Winry…"
The way Ed said my name… it sounded like an apology.
"Oh, Ed…" I replied as tears cascaded from my eyes, "I know."
I sniffed loudly and cried bitterly, as I thought of unspoken promises of
undeclared love.
After I mentally said my goodbyes to the young man that I had fallen in love
with, I lowered my eyes to her burgeoning belly.
"Can I touch?" I asked as I wipe my face with my hand.
Ed nods with tears at the corners of her eyes, and I smile.
I place a warm hand across her swollen abdomen and almost immediately I feel a
kick. Ed startles and blushes, and my heart fills with warmth.
"This is great!" I say with sincerity, as I look intensely into her golden
eyes, "You know I always wanted to have a sister."
Ed looks at me rather surprised and cries some more.
I grab her hand and I also grab Al's, and I looked at them with complete
happiness.
"I'm going to be an aunt!" I say to them as tears of joy now replaced the tears
of bitter sorrow.
…and I knew that everything was going to be ok from now on.
***** Chapter 8 *****
Chapter Summary
     The doctor did everything in his power to help the siblings
     understand that they were confusing compassionate love with
     consummate love because of the distortion created by the trauma
     experienced, but now I disagree as a strong memory comes to mind.
Chapter Notes
See the end of the chapter for notes
As I come into view of the peach blossom garden, I see a setting that I've
become fondly accustomed to. Alphonse sitting at the far corner of the garden
next to the water fountain, with May by her side. She's teaching him —well,
yelling at him— about the proper chakra points in the body that help open the
paths to the Dragon's Pulse. On the opposite side by the connecting pond, sits
Ed, looking out for Hope who just recently started to take her first steps.
I enter the garden, moving my neck from side to side and rolling the tension
away from my tired shoulders, when May suddenly screams at Al and clubs him in
the head with a paper scroll.
"At this rate you will never learn the proper techniques, Alphonse!"
The petite princess stormed her way past me and back into the house. I hear Al
sighing heavily as he stands up and walks over to where Ed is. He sits by her
side and gives her a tender peck on the lips then picks Hope up and sits her on
his lap. I can't deny that uncomfortable pang my heart gets from time to time
when I see them together like that. It still takes a lot from me not to frown
at their incestuous relationship but is a sentiment that doesn't linger.
"Hi guys!" I greet as I approach the loving family, because that's what they
are, a loving family.
I sit on the ground, crossing my legs to get more comfortable on the stone
surface. Hope looks at me with those adorable golden eyes of hers and wiggles
away from Al's lap and into mine. I give her a kiss but end up holding her
tight since she's now gunning for my green bandana.
"How did the training go today, Winry?" Ed asks while keeping a watchful eye on
what Hope is doing.
This past year I've been keeping myself busy with teaching some Xinguese
engineers the mechanics of Amestrian automail engineering, it was a request
from Emperor Ling himself, one that I wasn't going to turn down, after all, he
has granted asylum to the Elric's after hearing what had happened to them from
the recently promoted Brigadier General Mustang.
"Well, the automail training went well, but it's just so exhausting to teach. I
don't know how much longer I can do this— Ouch!"
Hope managed to grab a fistful of my hair instead of the head band. Ed stands
up and takes her back in her arms, but as she does, she presses a gentle kiss
on the top of Hope's soft golden hair then hands her to Al. My breath catches
for a second, as I process the sublime moment, then my heart elates.
Everyone had been highly concerned that Ed would reject the baby when it was
born because of the fact that Ed had been a male for the most part of her life,
and more importantly, because the baby was a product of rape and of incest. The
doctor treating the siblings feared that if the child resembled Al too much
that Ed might regress to her previous state of mind or even become
psychotically depressed. He even suggested that the baby should be given to a
loving family until Ed was fit to take care of a child, if that ever happened.
Of course Granny had a say in it and the doctor backed down. She told the
doctor that the baby already had a loving family. She reiterated in her own
charming ways that we were going to take care of that child as we have been
taking care of Ed and Al.
Ed took Hope to the fountain as was helping her throw a small coin at the
lowest bowl.
"She reminds me of mom, you know." Al says while he also watches them play,
"It's just so weird seeing Ed like this… I would never thought that she would
be so… devoted."
I see that his eyes cloud with deep guilt.
"It's all my fault. I did that to Ed… she cried so much—" He choked on his
words and covered his face in shame.
I scoot next to Al to hold him. He turns sideways and places his head on my
shoulder and cries. I rock him and hold him tight.
"She forgave me… after I— She held me and told me she loved me."
He sat back and wiped the tears from his eyes and sniffed.
"I love her, Winry. Even under the fog of the drugs that I was subjected to… I
just knew I loved her too."
"I know Al." I give him a small smile.
He looks up at the reddish, setting sky.
"Life works in mysterious ways and I'm glad that it does, because it gave us
Hope… with Hope, we are complete."
Al walks over to mother and child, who are now swirling the water on the
fountain bowl with a small stick, and joined in the fun.
I stayed behind, letting Al's words sink in deep.
The doctor did everything in his power to help the siblings understand that
they were confusing compassionate love with consummate love because of the
distortion created by the trauma experienced, but now I disagree as a strong
memory comes to mind.
On one of those sleepless nights, back when we first arrived to Xing, I
accidentally heard Ed and Al in a moment of intimacy. Curiosity got the better
of me and a peeked through the open window. The doctor had said that even
though the siblings were doing better in most aspects of social life, the two
would still act out their respective programs from time to time. If they
engaged in intercourse it was because it was ingrained in their programming,
but no true love was involved in the carnal act. What I saw that sleepless
night was completely opposite of what he said. There was no carnal act, only a
holy communion of souls. It was true love what I saw in their faces and in
their caresses, as they rocked against each other in the embrace of the night.
It was true love what I saw on their satiated faces as they snuggled closely to
each other, pledging devotion to each other.
Ed and Al had much more than compassionate love —or even romantic love for that
matter— they had the real thing… they had consummate love.
They had consummate love because I know they can't imagine themselves happier
with anyone else, because I know they overcame their difficulties —but most
importantly— because I know each delight in the relationship with one other.
Hope was laughing, now that Al was making funny faces at her.
Yes, they were complete, and that's the only thing that matters. I know they
will thrive in this faraway land, were no harm or judgement or persecution will
come their way.
I stand up, wave them goodbye and head to my room. I take seat on my
comfortable bed with a notepad and pen in hand. It's time to tell Granny that
I'm heading home because it looks like Ed and Al have finally found their
Equivalent Exchange.
Chapter End Notes
     Here's the last chapter to this horror story. When I write hardcore
     content I like to end the story on a happier note even if it's of the
     bittersweet kind. The content I used to create the story had been
     researched before starting to write. The world can be full of horror
     and despair but it is also filled with hope and redemption. I just
     hope I managed to capture both with this story.
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