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// III. Mordecai's Depression in The Country 
// Story: La Fiction Fantastique 
// by Nicoville20 
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III. Mordecai's Depression in The Country



A song on an alpine horn can be heard throughout the countryside of the small village of Risembool. Edward and Mordecai's home. Another alpine horn answers the call of the other in a back and forth manner. It was nice to come back home after a disastrous night. The calm and serenity of the hills and fields were a wonderful needed change of pace. But the lingering feeling of rejection is still present in Mordecai's head. Luckily, Edward is there to keep him in check.

"Mordecai!" He would often say, "Are you feeling alright?" Mordecai was out of his lingering trance.

"Oh, I-I'm okay. Uh... thanks for letting me hop on with you to home".

"Hey, it's no problem" Ed replies happily. "I think a trip home would put you at ease. And besides, Winry wanted me to drop off a few things at Granny's house. And I also need to check up on my little brother, and the family farm". On the horse and cart Edward had last night, they continue traveling through the countryside of their hometown, the melody of the shepherd's alpine horns ringing through the hills and mountains. Mordecai couldn't help but notice how well Edward can handle a horse, especially since both how hard it is to tame one of these gallant steeds.

"Hey, Ed. I wonder how you were able to learn how to control horses. I can barely tame one, let alone on a cart".

"It's not that hard really, living on a farm for most of your life would teach you a lot of things. Though mostly, I did read up on a few things in the libraries".

"Oh, so your father never taught you this?"

"How could I learn from someone who hasn't been in my life ever, the bastard" Ed replies a little ticked. Not at Mordecai, but to his deadbeat father that left him and his family when he was younger. "No, I had to learn everything more or less by myself. Just me and the books".

"Oh. I'm sorry".

"It's nothing really. That's all in the past. I assume he's dead anyway. How about you? Are you going to visit your folks?"

"Nah, they disowned me for taking up my passions rather than working at the family inn".

"I figured it much. But you are lucky to have lived with your folks, someone older and wiser to look up to. All we ever had was each other, and for a while Granny and Winry". Edward was feeling sentimental at this point, something that Mordecai or any of their friends rarely see in him. The horns continue to play, probably at the point of which the sheep that were being called were almost all herded. Just in time too, as the cart reached in front of a small, two-story cottage, behind it was fields of vast farmland growing mostly potatoes, corn, and grapes. This was the Elric farm, a lot more simple and humbler than that of Suoh's Chateau during the previous night which is to be expected for, unlike Mordecai's family which were doing really well, the Elrics were not as well off. Edward ties the horse up to a post and opens up the small gate that leads to his home.

"Well, we're here. Come along Mordecai". Mordecai hops off the cart and walks with Ed to the front door. He knocks on the door, and footsteps along with a muffled voice are heard inside. The door opens to reveal his younger brother, Alphonse Elric. Though a bit taller than him, he is younger by one year. It was hard not to see him as Ed's brother, he has the same blond colored hair and yellow eyes.

"Brother!" He says happily, before embracing him in his arms. Ed does the same.

"It's been a while, Al".

"I hope your studies are going well".

"Better than well. You know me, just returning for the weekend to check up on you".

"Oh brother, I'm doing well thank you". Al looks back to see Mordecai, who has often visited the Elrics since the beginning of Ed's studies at the university. "Oh, bonjour Mordecai. Fancy seeing you here with brother". Mordecai waves hello back, but after that looks to the side of his shoulder absolutely silent.

"I kind of escorted him home" Ed explains, then whispering to Al, "He... had a rough night with... love". Al nods in understanding. He knew the subject of love is rather tricky. And the looks of Mordecai say more than any words he could say.

"Well, why don't you all come in. I'm sure you are hungry from traveling all that way. I was about to have breakfast myself. But I have room for the two of you as well".

"Before we do..." Ed reaches inside his sachel bringing out a piece of sheet music for Alphonse to look over. In their youth, Alphonse had a keen talent for playing the pianoforte, having read books on it along with practicing at the local tavern piano. in his early teens, he would have played at the tavern in the evening to earn money for himself and his brother for basic necessities. "Tamaki gave me this for you. I told him you played piano, and so does he". Alphonse reads the sheet music presented to him, it so happened to be a popular piece from Germany but transcribed by a Hungarian, two of which Alphonse is familiar with.

"Ooh! Beethoven's Symphony No. 6, the Pastorale!".

"You heard of it?"

"Heard of it from passing travelers from Germany. A very popular piece. Ooo! And it's transcribed for piano by Franz Liszt! Thanks, brother!"

"I knew you'd like it".

"Well, come in now before breakfast gets cold. I want to start learning this piece. Oh, and come with us Mordecai". Throughout that time, Mordecai was in remorse, silently standing there. Not getting over the fact that he was dumped by his love, and to the man he hates the most too. But of course, when his name was called he is immediately out of his worries and back to reality.

"Oh, Uh... of course. Thank you". They all settle down for breakfast, which was a light fare of porridge and bread. For Mordecai, this would be the most he would have for breakfast since in years past. Not because he is too poor, but simply he was too busy with his poetry in the morning only having a cup of coffee at the coffee house. After breakfast, they all gathered in the small drawing-room the Elrics had where Alphonse would play the pianoforte the Pastorale Symphony Ed brought with him. Like many pianists of the conservatories, Al's performance was elegant and is at the level of even the most stellar students, even though he himself never went to the conservatory. It helps that the piece is rather simple, and yet oozing with heart and soul. It envisions the countryside, much like their small hometown. It was a peaceful symphony, and it captured the essence of a stroll in the quiet countryside.

"Amazing how this Beethoven fellow can transverse the sound of music into the realm of art" Ed comments.

"Isn't it?" Al responds, continuing to play. "Beethoven knows how to play up the emotions of country life, and Liszt is able to take his music and make it all easier to perform. 'Erwachen heiterer Empfindungen bei der Ankunft auf dem Lande', or 'Awakening of cheerful feelings on arrival in the countryside'. I find the feeling mutual in both our childhood and everyday life. What about you Mordecai, do you share the same feeling?". Mordecai, who was staring out the window, was interrupted in thought when Al asked him the question.

"Uh... Yeah, sounds... like home," Mordecai replies. He stares again out in the window. His mind was closing on the chapter of his failed love affair as he sees the light of the past, his childhood growing up as a son of the local innkeepers. He no longer hears the melody of his unfeathered love. His mind was at peace. He was at peace, through the calm symphony of Beethoven, his world returned to peace. He was happy once again. Mordecai's mind was brought back to the realms of reality when Alphonse ceased the music, getting up and to the kitchen.

"Al, why did you stop?" Mordecai asks. "Are you going somewhere?"

"Indeed I am" he replies, "Before you all came here, I was going down to the market to sell our produce. Hope Monsieur Syzlak is still there... Anyway, would you like to come with me to the market? I'm sure you would find many things unchanged".

"Good idea Al!" Ed replies, "Could keep his mind out of trouble". Mordecai didn't know what to say, what does Ed mean by keeping his mind out of trouble? He chooses not to go further and complies.

"Sure. I guess". Alphonse took the produce that has been growing on the farm into the horse and cart Ed brought. Ed himself was staying home, working through some experimentation with the various elements in the living room. Al and Mordecai were on their way to the marketplace. Throughout this ride, Mordecai got a glimpse of his childhood home. True though, this was the west side of the village, whereas he grew up on the east side. But the sights were pretty much familiar. this was his happy home. He warmly smiles.

"This place... it really hasn't changed hasn't it?"

"Told you. Pretty much how it looked like growing up... brother and I would play out in the fields with Winry before sunset. It was many great memories... well before mom died... I don't think Ed or I told you about our upbringing".

"Well, I only know that your mom died and your father left you at a young age". Alphonse took a minute to breathe. It was a story he was very familiar with, though it still gets him a little sad. As for Mordecai, he may have lived in the same village, but he rarely knew the Elrics until university.

"Yeah. When mom died, Ed and I were on our own. We didn't know how things were going to turn out on the farm. But bad harvests left us with nothing. We sold everything we had to get by. But we still starved wearing nothing but rags and nearly died. It was so bad, we had to dig through the bins of other people's homes for something to eat".

"Dear God. You both had it rough".

"It was a hard, demeaning life. Fortunately, when Winry and her granny found out about our plight, they took us in and thought us better ways of cultivation. We are grateful for their help". The rest of the ride was silent, a bit awkward for Mordecai to hear such a sad story of the Elric's upbringing. But it somehow helped him forget last night, which made him feel a little better. It did give him a lot to think about. Maybe his life was better than others, considering he hasn't had to dig through peoples' food scraps in his youth just to survive. Of course, when they arrived at the market, The vegetable seller Monsieur Moe Syzlak was busy selling various vegetables grown in the village. Al halted the horse, jumped down, and grabbed the produce from the back of the cart.

"Come down Mordecai. I'm sure Monsieur Syzlak would like to see you too". Mordecai complies and both of them approach Moe.

"Ah! Bonjour Alphonse, about time you showed up. About to run out of produce, and customers ain't gonna stay for ambiance".

"Bonjour! Sorry I'm late, I had to welcome home brother."

"Ed's back in town?"

"Just for the weekend". Alphonse hands over potatoes and corn to Moe, and he hands him a good sum of Francs. Moe's eyes turned to Mordecai, who he is very familiar with, especially since his parents were patrons to Moe.

"Hey! Monsieur Mordecai! You're looking well. Haven't seen you in years".

"Bonjour Moe. Yeah, you know. Just been busy around".

"You know your parents haven't mentioned you in years. And you know they used to talk about how helpful you are around the inn".

"Well, I... I... I......" Mordecai is stopped in his words. He thought he heard a familiar sound. A voice and a melody to match. It can't be, can it? Can it be that his love followed him to his childhood home? But she's going out with that God-awful Goku. It doesn't sound comforting now. It was a sound of mocking and haunting.

"Mordecai!" Al shouts, snapping back Mordecai back into reality, but still is jittery.

"I... got to... go". He said slowly.

"Home? I thought your parents disowned you".

"Oh is that what happened?" Moe asks.

"I-I... j-just. Just leave me alone!!" Mordecai shouts frantically as he runs out of the marketplace. The haunting of his mind of Twilight Sparkle is still there. Whether it was the haunting melody that was from his earlier dreams to seeing her figure next to trees and bushes. Twilight was engraved in his mind, and he can't do anything about it. There is no more peace within his childhood home. He was having delusions.

"Mordecai" the Twilight delusion speaks to him. "I love you. I want to marry you". In a small moment, Mordecai was smiling. He's hearing what he wants to hear from her at last! But of course, that moment was cut short by another delusion.

"Good Twily!" Comes out a voice of Goku. "Lie to his face! I want to see his world crumble". The haunting voice laughs as the delusions. He can't take it anymore. It's not like he can go up to her and ask her if she would betray her then ask her out. There was nothing. Nothing he can do.

The shepherd on the alpine horn plays its melody. But there is no reply. The other shepherd went home. And just in time too. Thunder rumbles and sounds as clouds gather to bring an evening storm. But this storm too was of emotions and torments of Mordecai. He can see that his love was becoming eviler in his eyes. That fluctuation of love that has burned inside him was whimpering away.

It's here he decided. If he can't have her, there is no point in living.

He takes out a bottle of opium which he stole from Ed's chemistry table in the living room earlier, opens it, and drinks its content in an act of suicide. He feels nothing. But as a minute or two passes, he begins to choke. His stomach hurling from the drug. His knees are bent on the ground, gasping for some air. He could stomach it no more, he vomits out green and brown fluids and chunks from his mouth. In his last minutes on earth, he falls on the ground everything turning dark. He is now dead.

"Mordecai!" comes a shout from the distance. Alphonse shouts his name louder in hopes of finding him after he ran off with no rhyme or reason. But there in the fields of the small country village lies a body, a body that no longer sprang life.


-End of Chapter 3-