Wings of Mutation (An SnK x FMA crossover)

Chapter 1~Heart

"We will come back."

Ed's long blonde braid waved in the wind, following the tendrils from his tattered cloak. His eyes softened slightly at the utter of the phrase he had repeated so many times before, from the day he had woken up to find himself laying in a bed, his right arm attached to a series of cables, to the day he had stood on his own two feet for the first time in over a year.

As he held up a gloved hand to wave to the girl that seemingly had been by his side for fifteen years, his heart beated just a tiny bit out of place.

Winry.

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Ed owed his life to her. For a brief moment, he allowed the warmth of the promise back into his heart. The least he could do was keep his own life to fulfill his part of the bargain.

Being a soldier would not change that, he would return with everything intact, wouldn't he?

The young cadet now stood motionless, eyes fixed on the Commander strolling through the ranks, calling out the names of girls and boys who seemed his age, girls and boys he'd never thought to have seen war at so young.

All the teenagers are dressed the same, in beige uniform jackets and tight, white jeans under dark brown knee-high boots. The crests on their shoulder pockets and backs are two crosses, representing the fact that they're trainees.

Ed's younger brother, Alphonse, stands next to him, and for a moment the eldest allows himself to steal a glance. Al's adam apple bobs in nervousness and his eyes flicker as the roster is read. His name will come soon, and his first impression is crucial.

"Alphonse Elric!" the Commander shouts.

"Sir!" he yells back, spine rigid as steel. His combed blonde hair brushes his forehead, but he doesn't dare move his fingers up to his face to wipe it off.

"Who are you?"

A rosy shade of pink dots his cheeks as he replies, "A soldier here to protect mankind!"

With a quick breath, he brings his arms up to form a salute: his right on his chest and his left on his back, like he'd seen whenever the troops visited his rural town.

The commander arches an eyebrow. "You'll die in a day. Risembool's folk are soft!"

Ed's fist clenches tighter into his aching salute at the mention of his hometown. Soft... he thinks to himself, flexing his right shoulder, feeling the tiny shift where his limb ended to connect to cold, bullet-proof alloy.

Thoughts surge into his mind, from the once weak eleven-year old boy sitting lifeless in a wheelchair, to the day he agreed to be fitted with automail. His grandmother and Winry hadn't given him a second chance for nothing.

He'd prove them right.

The commander continues to walk amongst the cadets, glaring and spewing insults at the ones who cower.

"Edward Elric!" he barks, turning to face the significantly smaller boy, who tilts his head up in defiance.

"Sir!" Ed shouts, his voice eminating from deep inside his chest, causing heads to turn. A smirk appears on the face of a much taller boy on the opposing row, and Ed sees him move his lips to whisper a few words. 

"Shortie! Weak! Useless!" the commander teases.

Ed growls at the first, snapping his eyes back to his superior. It takes all of his willpower to endure the next two. "I'm not!"

The commander spits and laughs. "And what makes you think that?"

The man obviously couldn't care less, his eyes glazed over from bearing his indimidated look for so long. His mouth is still curved up into a sneer, however, and the roster is dangerously close to Edward's cheek.

All attention is drawn to them now. Al's eyes silently plead to his brother not to lost his temper in front of everyone. But he knows nothing can be done.

"I'm not weak! I know my limits. I can die, and the world will move on. But without soldiers, this world won't exist at all!"

The cadets are silent as they see the commander pause to think. To everyone's surprise, he utters five words.

"Everyone, back to the cabins."

Ed breaks out of his salute and turns, only to find himself being stared at by a small crowd. They disperse quickly with a few murmurs and whispers and walk towards the few wooden dorms. A few stay behind for a few lingering seconds before following. Ed catches sight of three figures, two boys and one girl.

Al walks over to his brother. "Looks like the Shiganshina trio has noticed you."

"Mm?" Ed asks, allowing himself to stretch. "Who?"

"The blonde is Armin Arlert, the girl Mikasa Ackerman, and the boy." Al pauses. "Eren Jaeger."

Ed notices the pause but doesn't push. The warm smells emitting from the cabin have caught both brother's attention, and they begin to walk towards the sound of laughter and warmth.

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Alrighty, first chapter! Let me know what you guys think, I'm writing this instead of studying for finals.