(An alternate way Ed's meeting with the Truth could've gone.)
I accidentally wrote fanfiction for a practice English exam literary essay! Gave it some tweaking, and here it is!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~(V)(;,,;)(V):D:?
Ed looked around wearily. No, this wasn't what he wanted! Where was his mother? He need to find her! For Al! Ed looked around, head slowly turning. Suddenly, an invisible vice wrapped itself around his neck. Ed struggled, throwing punches as hard as he could. His struggling began to get weaker, and as the world got fuzzy, a vision of his mom flashed before him, and Ed called out, "Let me go! I have to find her!"
Then it was if time itself had slowed. Then the grip on his throat loosened, and he fell to the floor. "What do you want, Mr. Al-chem-ist?" The voice was aloof, and definitely female. Ed coughed, struggling to get air in his lungs. "Tick tock, Mr. Alchemist. My time is precious, and you're wasting it."
Ed coughed again, managing to take a deep breath. "H-how do you know I'm an alchemist?" He asked. He glanced around, but there was nothing but white, stretching forever.
"Quite simple really. Only alchemists are foolish enough to try and contact the Truth." The voice took on a nonchalant tone. "So, who'd you try and bring back? Sister? Sweetheart?"
Ed recoiled as Winry's face flashed across his memory. "My mother." The things face began to twist and morph. Suddenly, the face was hers. "Why am I here? Where is she?"
The thing tutted. "So young..." It cooed in his mothers familiar voice. "How old are you, Alchemist? Nine, ten?"
Ed glared. "Eleven." Snarling when it tutted again, he found the strength to stand. Upon doing so, he asked it, "Who are you?"
His mothers face grinned at him. "I'm glad you asked that! I am one, or perhaps all. I am the Truth. Perhaps I am the one humans call God, perhaps I am but a figment of your imagination. What is very real, Mr. Alchemist, is that you need to pay my price."
Ed glared. "What price?"
His mothers grin flickered for a moment into confusion.. "Oh, you haven't felt it yet? Hold on." The thing snapped, and Ed felt as if his head was going to explode. He gripped his head between his fingers, and knew his why he was here. Why it didn't work. Soon, the pounding subsided, and he looked back up at the Truth.
"I see what was wrong. Now, what's my price?"
The Truth just grinned once more, and Ed began to scream as what felt like burning knife began digging into his flesh.
