Don't Forget
Chapter 1: Is This Home?
Loss, joy, anger and excitement. We feel them all and more. We all have a heart in our chest and a brain in our head. We are all born alike, we all live in the same world. We share the same air, the same water and the same energy. Prince and pauper are all born the same, with the same human potential. Some humans are able to reach their full potential, some abuse their potential and some fail to accomplish that which they are able to. Regardless, we are all like each other and that's what's important.
Edward Elric gazed across a field from the worn bridge at the entrance to his home town, Resembool. The trickle of river water broke the silence and a woodpecker was thumping a tree not far away. There was something to be said for this chance to slow down. It had been a long time since Ed had been able to, literally, stop and smell the roses. He hadn't seen Resembool in nearly 10 years but so little had changed he felt he'd been thrown back in time. It seemed strange to him that his younger brother wasn't fishing for tadpoles, or that his childhood friend, Winry Rockbell, wasn't piecing together a new motor for Ed's toy car. He missed the sight of his mother on the hillside, calling them to come home for dinner. He looked to the hillside where his house had once been. The years had reduced the ruins of the house to stones and grass. The old tree that had practically been reduced to cinders was sprouting a few twigs and leaves. The site looked lonely but it acted as a memory. What happened there, literally, shaped the person he was. He could never forget and he never wanted to. Edward frowned at the memories and sighed. The hot sun bore down on his back and there was no time like the present to enjoy this little piece of time alone.
Over the creaking bridge was a steep bank that he and Alphonse used to fish off of. They rarely caught anything bigger than a minnow but a fish is a fish and it was all fun and games as far as they were concerned. Ed took a seat and lay back. The sun warmed his face and eased his aching muscles. It's not the greatest fun, walking for days but with the disruption of the trains, on foot was the only option. A rumble emanated from Ed's stomach, louder than he expected. So being hungry and tired wasn't exactly a holiday for Ed but he'd survive. He always did. It was good to feel the grass under his hands. Sometimes he took his right arm for granted but today he relished the bouncy softness of the green grass beneath his fingers. It reminded him to always be thankful for his body.
As far as he was concerned he had all the time in the world, so why not soak up the sun and think for a while? What was the plan now? He'd spent nearly his entire life reaching a goal, contemplating a plan or a mission. But now, he had no goal, only to enjoy what life he had left. At 25, Ed had already been to the brink of death, beyond and back. Life in the slow lane would be interesting, or not. Ed could only sigh. He had no idea what would happen now.
The trickle of the stream was permeated by a new sound, a soft, even thud. 'Oh', Ed realised, 'footsteps.'
"Edward?" It was Pinako. She looked the same as she always had. Fragile but tough, old but with a sparkle of youth bubbling under the surface. "Well, I imagine you'll be staying for dinner. You're nothing but skin and bones." She turned to walk back to her home, about a mile away. "It's very good to see you. You look different. You fit here."
A smile grazed Edward's lips. He stumbled to his feet and made to follow Pinako back to her house.
Pinako's house looked the same as ever, but it had fallen into slight disrepair. The sign advertising her automail shop had fallen, it was leant against a nearby wall and a few roof tiles had tumbled off. He noticed a crack in one of the windows. Something more was missing from the house. It looked darker. Something was missing.
"Come on in Edward, I've made a stew." Any thoughts about the ominous feel of the house soon vanished at the prospect of food. For 15 minutes nothing more entered Edward's head. The only thought he had went something like this " FOOD FOOD FOOD SO HUNGRY FOOD!"
It's no wonder Pinako left him to his own devices. When there was nothing more than a few spots of gravy left in his bowl, Ed looked to her. "Thank you for the meal."
"I suspected you hadn't eaten in a while. And your clothes are filthy. You've been travelling for a very long time. Would you like to stay for the night?" She always was a giving person.
"Thank you. It would be nice to sleep on a mattress for once. I've been leaning against trees for weeks now. I haven't slept a night through in the longest time." His limbs felt sore and knotted from the restless nights.
"You've been gone a very long time. I'd almost forgotten what you looked like. Have you got any news from the wide stretches of Amestris?" Pinako was making small talk, unusual for her.
"Things are slowly settling down. I came back from Central though I hear that Rush Valley is doing very well." Pinako considered this.
"And who do you hear that from?" Ah, she was edging towards a sore spot.
"Just word of mouth. Hey, Granny, I'd love to repay you for your hospitality. How about I fix this place up a little?" He looked around and made a list of all the little jobs that needed doing. The table wobbled, that could be fixed easily enough. The floor boards creaked too, even under the weight of Pinako. That might pose more of a problem.
"I'd be grateful for that Edward. I'm going to sit outside for a while and have a pipe. Would you like to join me? I suspect you might be tired."
"Yea, I'll sit with you for a while." It was nice to have someone else around. It's not so fun flitting around the country by oneself. She shuffled the dishes out from under Ed's nose and pushed them into the kitchen.
Ed grabbed his jacket, which he'd flung over the back of his chair, and a blanket that had been set down on one of the chairs in the living area. Pinako stepped out as Ed held the door and rested herself on the top step. The sun had just disappeared behind the hills and the sky had a pink and orange glow to it. Clouds speckled the sky and cast shadows across the ground. Ed laid the blanket around her shoulders.
"It's nice to have you home Edward. The house has been very empty. I've been thinking about getting another dog but I wonder if it would enjoy living with an old woman." Now that he could look at her, Pinako looked older, she was lonely.
"I could look into it for you. And if you'll have me I'll stick around for a while. It's not like I have anywhere to go." Ed laughed and scratched his head nervously.
"So you haven't got any plans right now? How unlike you. I don't remember the last time I saw you standing still. You look a lot older." Pinako was staring at him.
"I am a lot older. At least, I've definitely gotten older since you last saw me." He blinked, a little confused.
"You've grown. Height suits you. You were always very small." She smirked and turned to regard the disappearing sun.
"SMALL?" Seething, Ed rested his head in his hands.
"How is your leg?" Pinako tapped his leg with her pipe.
"Hmm. It's okay. Perhaps a little worse for wear." He pulled up his trouser leg so she could look at it.
"It certainly needs some adjustments. You shouldn't let it get like this. Then again, I imagine Winry is the only one who might be able to make suitable adjustments. This automail is definitely her work." Pinako started prodding and peering at the automail.
"I should get to bed. I want to be up early to get a lot of work done." Ed retracted into his shell a little bit. He had wanted to dodge the subject of Winry at all costs but when he was staying with her grandmother it was inevitable.
Pinako stood and went into the house.
She ascended the stairs, "It's a shame you haven't heard from her. This place isn't the same."
"So that's what's missing from this place." Despite the belly full of food and a warm bed, something was playing on Edward's mind. He didn't sleep well that night either.
