Chapter 10: Saved by the bell

(5th moon, 24th day, 454 Lu)

"We thought we would've been ready by now, but we aren't!" Aila said quietly with a very annoyed tone. Alphonse sat there listening to her. "Well, maybe waiting longer isn't bad? After all, Cedra will be small enough to sneak out for a while..." Aila said as she drifted off into thought.

'The plan is Cedra will sneak out with a note and information, then go to someone's house, as far as I know, they are trustworthy, she will pass the note off to them and then sneak back.' Alphonse thought to ensure he has the plan memorized. 'Let's hope nothing bad happens while she's out of the house.' Alphonse thought to himself.

"Alright, I'm gonna go set things up some more!" Aila quietly said with an energetic voice. Aila walked out of Alphonse and Cedra's room and went down the stairs. Alphonse, who is pretty much on a need-to-know basis with the plan doesn't know many specifics, just the general plan, went to his bed and sat there.

'Prism wasn't kidding when she said that I can stay up for a long time, it has already been a week and a half...' Alphonse thought to himself. 'Now all that is left is to stay up for several months...' Alphonse groaned slightly as he thought about how much hell he would have to endure to get to that point.

...

In the morning, Alphonse could hear Raeloph coming up the stairs, so he got off his bed and opened the door, closing it behind him. "You're up." Raeloph stated gruffly. Alphonse nodded. "Follow me." He stated.

'Last time he was this casual, something bad happened...' Alphonse thought to himself. Alphonse and Raeloph walked down the stairs and went into the forging room.

"Enter." Raeloph said while motioning to the metal chamber. Alphonse shivered just thinking of the unbearable cold he experienced in that room. Alphonse entered as he was told and the door was shut and locked. Alphonse could easily tell that something was different, the air was only getting colder, it was also getting warmer at the same time as if each particle was moving at a different intensity.

After a few minutes, Alphonse noticed a difference in the feeling of the metal, certain spots were warm, while others were cold, and each temperature was getting more and more intense. after about eight more minutes a few portions of the metal began glowing and others became frost-covered and Alphonse's body was unsure of what to do, it was shivering, but at the same time sweating, he was getting burns and frostbite.

Alphonse knew that even if he yelled, help would never come, and his hope slowly began to fall as despair consumed his body and mind.

(forty-minutes later.)

Not even a scream or cry was heard from the chamber and Alphonse was still conscious, though barely. The door opened slowly. "Come out." Raeloph said gruffly. Alphonse tried to get up but couldn't, he was stuck to the ground, both from frost and melted skin. The skin on his legs had melted together as well, causing them to attach to one another. "Out, I said!" Raeloph said in a louder voice.

Alphonse's expression changed for the first time in an hour. He became frantic, trying to move and get up. "Fine. If you want to stay you can." Raeloph said angrily as he slammed the door. An expression of fear covered Alphonse's face. The heat and cold slowly got worse, shocking Alphonse's system more, causing him to be both overly hot and cold.

'What do I do? I can not move and this pain is unbearable! I am going to pass out, it is going to happen soon!' Alphonse frantically thought as a bell rang in his ear.

"Oi. I do not want to deal with your death again." Koyuki said with her usual tone of voice. Alphonse's face didn't move, more like he couldn't move it without immense pain. "Right, right, can't talk like this can you?" Koyuki asked emotionlessly as if she didn't actually care for the answer. A light appeared around Alphonse, repairing his skin and bones, and making it look as if the damage was never done. "Technically I'm not supposed to do this, but I really don't want to deal with you three times in a year." Koyuki said.

Alphonse stood up, the pain was still there, but it wasn't nearly as bad as it was moments ago. Alphonse said thank you with sign language. No response came to his thanks, but that was fine.

(Ten minutes later.)

"Come out!" Raeloph said sternly. Alphonse complied, as he could now move. Alphonse was still covered with burns and frostbite, he was in there for ten more minutes after being healed after all, but it still wasn't as bad as it would have been otherwise. "Get ready to spar." Raeloph said gruffly. Alphonse followed his father and stepped into the sparring ring.

Cedra walked in. "In the ring." Raeloph said to Cedra.

"No." Alphonse said as he continued. "She doesn't have to." He said.

"What I say goes." Raeloph stated.

"Let's make a bet if I win, she doesn't have to enter the ring, if you win, then she will." Alphonse said.

"Did I not teach you well? I have already told you what I say goes!" Raeloph yelled. "Today you will spar with your sister." Raeloph continued.

"I refuse." Alphonse stated.

"You're feeling quite talkative today, aren't you runt." Raeloph said with an annoyed tone.

"I said no." Alphonse responded. Raeloph picked up the bo staff, which hasn't been put away and threw it at Alphonse. Alphonse, who is still injured was hit directly, and the staff hit quite hard, causing him to fall as he took a sharp breath. Cedra gasped as she went to her brother.

"You're our father! You shouldn't do something like this to him just for existing!" Cedra yelled. Raeloph chuckled a bit.

"You have no idea just what a terrible omen the two of you are!" Raeloph said angrily. "you two will bring about the destruction of this clan, you're lucky I haven't done to you what I've done to him!" He yelled. Cedra got up with pure anger on her face and just stared angrily at Raeloph. "What are you gonna do? Stare at me until I die?" Raeloph asked with a mocking tone.

Cedra looked away and looked to Alphonse who had started to get up. "Cedra, I am fine, you don't need to do anything, just go upstairs." Alphonse said as Raeloph looked at him.

"Don't try and act tough, I still remember the first time you went into the frost chamber, you were screaming for help." Raeloph said. Alphonse's eyes glazed a bit, showing a reaction to the memories, but still not standing down.

"B-brother, you can't, not in your condition!" Cedra yelled at Alphonse.