This story is an AU that splits right after Ed leaves the
Rockbells for the last time before the promised day. A
stubborn Winry secretly follows Ed into the battle with pride,
When pride observes her as useless meat, he fatally
wounds her, causing Ed to seek help from Father.
The story is very emotionally driven. So my arts of it are
mostly going to be showing high stress level scenes. I have
them in my fandom gallery on Devart along with more info on the story.
He can't take it anymore -
Ed stared back at the dull reflection in the hotel bathroom,
gazing into eyes he could no longer recognize. An eerie
stranger stood before him, beckoning to make a move.
What had he done? What was he going to tell granny?
That he willingly handed over her only grandchild to the
demoniac creatures that lurked beneath Central City? His
best friend. Their hostage to keep him in line. And now Al
couldn't even grant him some sort of comfort.
He was utterly alone. In his thoughts, in his actions, in his
plans.
Again and again he mulled over alternative options that
could have been taken. Marco? Using himself as a
philosopher's stone again? Anything would have been
better than asking him to help.
A bubbling rage sizzled along his skin until he couldn't
contain it any longer and drove a fist into the mirror. Shards
fell and knuckles bled, and the pain almost served as a
buffer to ease his guilt stricken mind.
That bastard had the nerve to defile her into a demon.
How was he going to save her and fight Father all at
the same time? As if this wasn't already complicated
enough, rescuing a damsel in distress was now in the grand scheme.
Thoughts of how she would be corrupted seeped into
his fuzzy mind. All the horrible things she'd be forced to
live with after the fact. He couldn't take it anymore. First,
he ruined his brother's childhood, now his best friend's
innocence.
...Tears began to fall...
(Al's not dead. Keeping pride occupied just the same as in
the manga.))
((NOTE to writers! This story is up for collab. I'm looking
for a partner. I illustrate - they write))