Disclaimer: I do not own Fullmetal Alchemist, Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood, or the Harry Potter series. They belong to their respective owners (Hiromu Arakawa, Bones, and JK Rowling, respectively). I am not receiving any money for this, this is just done to practice my writing and hopefully bring joy to others. Furthermore, I paraphrased some of the lines and scenes from Ed's final confrontation with Truth (from "So, you're here for your brother" to "and you're okay with that"). I hope you enjoy!
The first thing Ed always noticed is the overwhelming amount of white. It is everywhere- up, down, left, right, forward, backwards, pressing in from all sides. It is suffocating, to say the least, and it always manages to set Edward on edge. Not that he dislikes the color, per se, but something about it here just felt wrong. It is too pure a shade; nothing in nature is like that, not even the cleanest of snow in the Briggs Mountain Range. It is unnatural, and so is the place it filled.
"So, you're here for your brother?"
Ah. That would be the second thing Edward always noticed.
Ed locks his golden eyes on the hunched figure before him, and it bares its unnerving grin. He shivers as Truth stares him down from its seated position on the floor, but Ed manages to swallow his nerves and force a confident mask upon his face.
"What is your plan on getting him out of here? The only way he goes home is if you can offer something of equal value."
Edward takes a steadying breath. This was it, it was now or never. Either he walks out of here with Alphonse or he dies trying. He stands straighter, prouder, and finally acknowledges the massive pressure that has been looming over his shoulder since the moment he arrived here. "Yeah, I've got your offer right here, so let's trade." He hopes his hand isn't shaking as he gestures behind him at the massive doorway he knows is there, praying to any god that would listen that this would work. "This is my alchemy, my Portal of Truth, so I get to decide how its used."
Truth pauses, its mouth slightly agape.
As the silence continues to grow, the smallest seed of hope blossoms in Edward's chest. He wasn't rejected outright, which is more than Ed could have ever wished for, and the longer Truth says nothing, the longer Truth has to debate the benefits of Edward's offer, and the longer that debate continues, the more Truth will realize that it has nothing to lose in this deal.
Then, a chuckle fills the air, and Ed's stomach drops.
No.
No please.
This had to work.
He's out of options.
He's out of time.
Oh my god, he actually failed.
Seemingly oblivious to Edward's internal panic, Truth continues to chortle as it questions, "That's it? That's your big payment? You give up your portal, you will never again perform alchemy, and you're okay with that?" Edward perks at the last statement, the hope that had been violently extinguished rekindled into a burning inferno.
"Yes. I'd do anything for Alphonse," Edward is quick to respond. Liar, a voice whispers in the back of his mind, and he visibly winces. Alchemy has been a part of his life as long as he can remember. He was very few memories of his childhood outside the realm of the mystical science, and he isn't quite sure how he'll manage without it. Yes, alchemy put him in the position he is currently in, but it has also gotten him out of many deadly situations. Edward subconsciously grips his abdomen, the phantom pain of being impaled flashing through his mind's eye. He grimaces. Yes, there have been many times in which alchemy has saved his life. However- Ed squares his shoulders as he glares at Truth -he'd be willing to do it, he'd be willing to give it up. For Alphonse. Always for Alphonse.
Truth's eyeless gaze is fixed on Edward, for once, not smiling, its face contemplative. "What if I offer you an alternative?"
Ed blinks. That would be amazing, in all honesty. Being able to both rescue Alphonse and keep his alchemy? There's no question that that would be his preferred method. However, as Edward knows too well, nothing is ever given for free, and he is all too wary of Truth's games. "An alternative? But the laws of equivalent exchange state-"
"I know what they state, little alchemist, for I made them. Do not lecture me on things you do not fully understand." Edward grits his teeth but manages to bite back his scathing comment against the jab at his height. "As I was saying, believe it or not, I'm not your enemy. You committed the taboo, and you paid for it, yes, but that does not mean I don't wish for you to get your brother back."
"Sorry if I have a hard time believing that. What does an alternative have to do with this, though?"
"If you'd let me finish, alchemist, you might find out. That being said, I'm having . . . issues in another realm I watch over."
Edward snorts, crossing his arms across his chest. "Another realm? Now I know you're shitting me."
"There is a man there who plays at god. He splits his soul, scattering it across the land, only to raise himself from the dead years later," Truth continues, either not noticing or electing to ignore Ed's incredulous tone.
Edward's breath catches in his throat. "He raised himself from the dead?" The ghost of his mother's laugh echoes in his mind, and with it, the guilt of his largest failure to date. Ed jerks his head to the side and shoves the feeling away with some difficulty. Now is not the time to be wallowing in self-pity, dammit.
"Indeed he did, with help, and no toll. This is what I am offering you- assist in his demise, have him pay the toll he bypassed, and you will return from here both with your brother and your alchemy."
Ed doesn't immediately answer, weighing the pros and cons of completing this task as opposed to simply just giving up his alchemy. On one hand, he gets to both have his brother back- his top priority -and he gets to keep his alchemy, the only thing that has been with him through it all, that is, outside of Alphonse, of course. Alchemy has many uses, and even if he retires from the State Alchemist program, that doesn't mean that he won't use ever use it again. It just won't be as frequently. On the other hand, he doesn't know how dangerous this assignment could be, nor how long it will take. He refuses to leave Alphonse with Truth for any longer than he needs to, and if Edward can get his brother out of here today, then that is the choice he is going to make. "What about time? I can't leave Al in here for months while I work on a mission for you."
Truth waves a dismissive hand. "Once your mission is complete, you will return here the exact moment you left. It will be as if you were never gone."
Well, there goes my only issue with this. Anything for Alphonse. "Alright, I'm in."
Truth's grin slinks back across its face in full force. "Excellent." Truth then launches itself to its feet and plants itself in front of Ed faster than Roy can snap his ignition gloves. Truth's hand strikes out and latches onto his right forearm in a vice-like grip, its invisible nails painfully digging into the exposed skin. Before Edward can give a shout of protest, blue alchemical light fills the air, the cackle of an ongoing transmutation following soon after.
"What the hell are you doing Truth?"
"You can thank me for it later."
"Thank you for what?" Ed demands, struggling unsuccessfully to release his limb from the self-proclaimed deity. No sooner had he asked the question did a prickling sensation work its way down his arm, starting from deep within his shoulder socket and ending at his fingertips. This tingle doesn't fade as expected, and continues to assault the captive appendage. Edward chokes out a cry moments later, the faint prickles evolving into a pain so potent, it would have hurt less to have had somebody repeatedly stab through his arm with various serrated blades. Ed falls to a knee and watches, in alarm, as his arm- the one which Al sacrificed his very soul for -starts to unravel, greedy black hands weaving through the alchemic energy and snatching the limb for their master. In their stead, the reflective glint of his automail prosthetic is starting to form, and, as it takes shape, so does Edward's just fury.
"What happened to equivalent exchange?" he roars.
Truth's grin doesn't falter, its now flesh hand releasing Ed's metal one from its hold. "Fulfilled; this will help you block attacks that you might otherwise fall victim to. Don't worry, you'll get your arm back once you finish your mission. Consider it a . . . guarantee that you'll return and not remain in the world I sent you to."
"A guarantee? YOU TOOK MY ARM BECAUSE YOU WANTED TO MAKE SURE I WOULD RETURN? I WOULDN'T JUST ABANDON ALPHONSE YOU BASTARD."
Truth takes a step back, its unnaturally white teeth flashing in an almost predatory smile, ignoring Ed's outburst. "Good luck, Mr. Alchemist. It would be a shame if you died."
An ominous moan sounds from behind Edward as he senses the massive doors creak open, and he shoots Truth one last hateful scowl, not resisting as he starts to be dragged back through the Portal.
"If you go back on your word, I'll kill you myself. I don't care if you are a so-called god," Edward threatens, the ring of a promise lacing his words.
"And that would be equivalent, for if that were to happen, your brother would be as good as dead. Do not fear, young alchemist, lies are not one of my strengths," Truth says before stepping to the side for the first time in their conversation, allowing Edward get a clear view of what was past the deranged immortal. It takes a moment for his eyes to focus, but once they do, Edward desperately wrestles against the restraints tugging him away. Gold eyes meet gold, and even from where Edward stands he can see the determination on Alphonse's emaciated face.
"I'll be alright, brother," Alphonse reassures, his normally soft, childish voice hardened with resolve, "I believe in you. Besides," he releases a wry smile, "it'll be as if you never left."
Tears prick at Edward's eyes as he continues to struggle because, dammit, it's been a long day, and this is the last time he will see his brother in- potentially, for Edward -a long time. Not only that, but this is the first time his brother has been in his body in years, and Ed just wants to hug him and get some food in him because nobody should be that skinny he looks like a light breeze will push him over will he be okay while I'm gone I just can't believe he has his body back, he has his body back, hehashisbodybackhehashisbodybackhehashisbodyback. But Ed doesn't voice any of this though, rather, electing to put up his confident façade once more, releasing a snarky grin.
"You got that right, Al. I'll be back in a flash." Having voiced his pledge (because there is no way in hell Edward can go back on his word with Alphonse), Ed stops fighting, not sure if he would have the strength to complete his mission if Alphonse says anything else. The Gate's tiny hands give one last heave, yanking Edward completely through the doors, and the last thing he sees before his world is enveloped with darkness is his brother's confident smile and Truth's misfigured form.
Edward releases a yell as he is ungracefully tossed through the opposite end of the Portal of Truth, falling through the air for half a second before slamming into the ground. He groans, his head aching, whether from the fall or from the information Truth just crammed into his mind, Ed isn't sure. Well, Ed contemplates as he sits up, a new alchemical formula flitting around his memory, at least that takes care of how I'll send this guy back to Truth. Edward's eyes snap open as he surges to his feet in a sudden rush of adrenaline.
I didn't ask for the bastard's name! Edward would laugh at his own idiocy if he wasn't so stressed. This is something he would have done prior to his days in the military. However, ever since working with Mustang, Edward has picked up a few strategic mindsets, such as always know your target. Evidently, he didn't absorb enough of Mustang's paranoid tendencies. Nice going, Elric, you've just made this infinitely harder than it needs to be. Sighing, Ed brushes off the remaining debris from his landing, the wood shards rattling as they hit the floor.
If I find some locals, maybe they can tell me who the revived maniac is. Truth only knows where it dumped me, though, so hopefully I'm not too far from some people. With that, Edward pivots where he stands, only to halt immediately after, balled hands instinctively snapping up towards his face as he takes in the sight before him.
A good dozen people are standing there, all of them armed with . . . sticks (Ed files that away for later analysis) and leveling them at him as if they were some sort of weapon, each face expressing a different emotion, ranging from surprise to curiosity to, in some cases, outright hostility. Every face, though, despite what their initial reactions may be, makes it clear: Ed is not supposed to be here.
The person closest to Edward, a man with shoulder-length, wavy brown hair, opens his mouth and asks Ed a question. Ed's eyebrows furrow together. He has no idea what the hell the man just said. As Edward comprehends the implication of what this means, he sighs once more before forcing what he hopes is his most innocent smile across his features, releasing his fists and raising his hands in the air in the universal sign of peace.
"What are the odds someone here speaks Amestrian?"
From the blank looks he gets in return, Edward can only assume that these group of people don't understand him either.
Fantastic.
So that's that! I'm not entirely sure if I want to continue this. I have ideas of where this could potentially go, but if nobody is interested, I'll keep this as a one-shot. Either way, reviews are always appreciated! I want to improve my writing as much as possible, and I believe feedback is one of the best ways to do so! Anyway, thanks for reading this, and I hope you have an amazing rest of your day/afternoon/evening!
TheBriggsWay