Look, my fellow fan girls, you don't know how much it upset me to think this, let alone write it. So I'm sorry, but I wanted to share this with the world.

Me: But really, I'm sorry!

Ed: You should be, humph.

Al: Brother, don't be that way.

Ed: Would you be happy if she wrote a story about something like this happening to you, now would you?

Al: The readers don't know what happens yet, Brother…

Ed: Oh…Right…Heh heh.

Me: You're very lucky you didn't just ruin that. *Sigh* I don't own FullMetal Alchemist, or the characters. But the plot line is mine!

Chapter One: Returning Home

Roy winced at the sight before him. He felt powerless, useless, and as if he should be blamed. His darkened eyes followed the limp figure being carried by a stretcher pass by. A shadow cast over his eyes, and his bangs hung low. He had had no power in this decision. He had had a feeling it would turn out like this. But did anyone listen to him?...No.

He still felt as if he should be blamed….If he would have just protected him…If he would have just paid more attention instead of focusing more on his own life…

No. That's wrong. He was trying to protect the younger alchemist, but he was also trying not to let anyone else get kill on his team. A war of four months, and 20 soldiers were dead…Gone forever…And there was nothing he could do about it.

That isn't the complete truth. He could have tried to bring each of them back to life, although those attempts would have been pointless. Pointless attempts are not worth dying for. At least, ones like that.

On the other hand, saving one of your men is a different story.

Roy let out a sigh, and began to walk towards the building in front of him. He hated, no, he despised war. He felt lucky, although. He had been given no illogical orders to have to disobey. The last time he had been at war…

He shook away the thought. Opening the door, he felt a hand touch his arm. "Sir?"

"Yes, Hawkeye?" He recognized her voice, her touch…

"The General wants to speak with you." Her voice was light. Her eyes were filled with a feeling that looked as if she could just embrace him, right there.

With a nod, the Colonel walked in the detection the General should have been in. "Sir?" Roy asked with a salute. The man turned around, and gave a look that was almost a glare. Roy wasn't shocked at this look. This man had never really like him. Though, he had slightly wished the General would have lightened his mood on him that day.

"Colonel Roy Mustang, take a seat."
Encasing a sigh, Roy walked over to a chair.

A soft moan escaped into the air. Only slightly, his eyes opened.

Light.

It pierced through what used to be darkness in his mind. From his point of view, the luminosity looked abnormally bright. He quickly shut his eyes fully.

He felt lightheaded, and the ground—bed—under him seemed to be moving, even though he was laying still. The darkness in his mind swirled with darkened spots of green and purple that were almost fully see-through. Then it all stopped. Everything quit moving for a split second, only for him to make out the words, "Are you awake, FullMetal sir?"

Ross. Lt. Maria Ross.

Although he could barely grasp this thought, he opened his eyes once more. His pupils weren't glimmering gold like normal. The fogginess in his eyes from lack of sleep and pain had turned the color into a murky goldish-brown.

Her mouth was moving. Wha…What is she saying?

Ed couldn't make out the words coming from the Lt.'s mouth. He strained hard to hear, but he couldn't tell. "……Ed…." He could just barely make out his name.

"…..Listening to-….."

"…You okay-…."

"…-ward!"

A pain shot through him suddenly. His right arm felt…Missing? His eyes quickly glanced over to his shoulder. Crap… He looked over the spot where his arm should have been. The steel plate attached to his shoulder seemed fine, until he glanced at it closer. A crack from the left side of it ran along to the bottom right edge. Was that why he was in so much pain?

The Lt. grumbled. He's obviously not paying any attention to me… Bloch walked up behind her. "Is he doing any better?"

With a sigh, Maria answered her partner. "He's in pretty good condition. He doesn't seem able to focus right now, but the only bad thing is his arm."

Bloch glanced over at Ed's right arm—or where it had been. "That means we're going to have to take him to Risembool soon."

"Yep." She said with another sigh. "We should get going, Bloch." She turned around, and began walking out the door, her partner following her.

Roy grumbled as he opened the General's office door, walking into the hallway. All he really wanted to do was go home and fall onto his bed. Sleep was so tempting at that moment; his desk even seemed to be calling him. He walked into his office, grabbed his coat, and began to leave. He intentionally ignored the mountain of paperwork piled on his desk. A bed sound much more comforting than his desk right then.

Riza looked up from a paper she was reading. "Colonel?" An odd look positioned on her face. "Why are you leaving…Now?"

Roy yawned. "I'm tired." He rubbed the back of his head. "And the General gave me the rest of the day off, along with the rest of the soldiers who participated." He glanced at her. "So are going to go home and catch up on some rest?"

She smiled. "Maybe…"

Roy blinked, and then looked at the rest of his group. "Okay. I'll see you all in the morning."
He paused then looked at Warrant Officer Falman. "If you get any news on FullMetal, tell me." He gritted his teeth at the end of his sentence. "Good night." He walked out of the door, slipping his jacket over his shoulders. Again, he let his bangs hang over his face. Pushing the door of Central Head Quarters, he walked out into the night, the breeze catching his hair and lifting it off his face, the full moon casting his shadow out behind him.