CHAPTER 7 / INTERLUDE 1

The Furher did not like Edward Elric. The younger Alphonse was not an issue. Despite the large size of the armor, the young one would trust anyone that cared to share a kind word, and many that did not. The eldest, however, looked for motives behind motives.

The trick to leading Edward Elric to where you wanted him to go was to play on his quest to restore Alphonse's body. But while Edward would blindly leap when his buttons were pushed, he never forgot who pushed him, or how. After his adventure was over, all events would be analyzed and referenced for future decisions. No single play would work the same way twice. Anything that was too similar to a prior endeavor would be looked at with the highest degree of skepticism.

Father was able to keep their plots and plans on track. It was rare that motions the Furher put into play were caught, and when they were it was never the Furher caught doing them. But the boy's reaction to his presence in the hospital made the Furher doubt his track record was completely sound. Something in the tense set of Elric's shoulders, his restrained glare, and the fact he never looked directly at the Furher, set the homunculus on edge.

What was it that sent a red flag in the young Elric's mind? Did Envy say one word too many? Did that alchemist Tucker do so? Tucker will be the last of Father's key elements, but without having successfully survived human transmutation, his worth was far beneath the young Elric.

They only need this one last piece, but time was growing short. If their attempt to make Tucker into a usable element caused the Elrics to disappear, it would be most inconvenient.

Ignoring the state duties waiting for him at headquarters, the Furher went straight home. He smiled generously for his wife, and asked after their son. His morning lessons were over and he was playing in the courtyard before lunch began, would her husband be joining them?

Bradley kissed his wife on the cheek and gently declined. He admitted skipping out of the office, but he just wanted to check on his famiy. Used to the Furher's occasional whims, his wife let him go with a longing smile.

"Saim. How is my boy doing today?"

"Father!" The young boy ran to his father, dropping the ball he had been bouncing against the wall. The Furher crouched down, keeping his knees away from the grass, catching the boy in a giant hug.

Burying his face in his father's chest, the gleeful smile was dismissed as soon as he was hidden from any observers view. "What are you doing here?"

"I need a closer watch on the Edward Elric."

"I'm already watching the boy."

"It's not what he's doing that's a problem. He's thinking of something."

"He's always thinking of something."

"He's on alert. Do you know what Envy told him? Or Tucker?"

"Nothing that would hinder our cause."

"He's connected something. My warning was not received as planned."

"The boy knows of us, but shared nothing with the others. He's too concerned with helping his brother. Hughes will likely continue his own search, but Armstrong seemed willing to back off. All of their reactions close to what we anticipated."

The Furher shifted his weight, lifting his son up to a nearby bench. The boy's smile returned as if it never left, and he started rattling off all the interesting things that happened to him that morning.

Bradley smiled in amusement and nodded his head at the appropriate times. When Saim pouted and complained about his tutor, the Fuhrer laid a gentle hand on his shoulder and leaned down as if quietly giving encouragement.

"Edward Elric is hiding something. His report on the laboratory events was turned in early. It described events that are only loosely connected to the laboratory and the philosopher's stone. Even his writing was several degrees neater than any previous report."

The boy looked down as if chastised and mumbled a reply "We knew there would be differences now that his brother has his body back. His brother has always been Full Metal's driving force. This morning Full Metal discovered that part of his brother's soul is still in the armor. And he claims that something has jumbled his own memories as well.

"Father has calculated everything into his plans. Full Metal has never failed to be unwavering when pursuing his goal. He told the other's he would see his old teacher and start his search in Rush Valley. There is no need to be so concerned."

Their teacher was another element. Would it be safe to allow the Elrics to contact her at this point? Father had not cautioned against it, and the Furher would not have thought otherwise before today. But Edward Elric could be unpredictable at times.

The Furher patted his son's shoulder fondly, and tipped the boys head up to look him in the eyes. "He is still too far from our predictions. Watch and listen and learn what he is planning." He stood and beckoned his son to follow him. "Now, I believe lunch should be ready and I can't linger too long. Make sure you pay more attention this afternoon and don't give your tutor such a hard time."

Saim's grin came back full force and he squinted cheerfully, as if he was happy for his father's attention. But the Furher could see the hard glint in his fellow homunculus's eyes.

Pride may be angry with Wrath for telling him how to do the task Father assigned, but Wrath didn't care. He didn't like Edward Elric, but he would not underestimate any opponent.

Author's Story Note: January 7th, 2014 -

For those who haven't noticed, Chapter 6 was also updated when this was added. The second half of Chapter 6 is now included.

Writing from the Furher's point of view was completely different than Edward Elric. And fun as well. Now will Pride follow the instructions and watch Ed carefully through the shadows, or will he refuse to watch Ed once he leaves Central just to spite Wrath?