The Winged Alchemist: Revisited

Welcome to the new and improved version of The Winged Alchemist. I originally wrote this story in 2005, when I was a mere freshman in high school. Now that the years have passed and my writing has improved, I've decided to rewrite this story and show you what I really imagined for this story, for now I can express it as so. Enjoy!

Chapter One: From Darkness to the Light

He was going to die. He couldn't see, he couldn't hear, he couldn't move. All he could do was wait for the end, for he failed what he had come to do. He could only wait for death to claim his soul. He could already feel it knocking at his door, clawing its way through to take him down into the darkness. As he felt himself slipping away from life, he began to think about what had happened that had brought him to this point. He remembered how it had all begun.

"You're late again, Fullmetal." Colonel Roy Mustang looked at Ed as he entered the office. His hands were laced together, acting as a rest for his chin. Ed kept his eyes on the raven haired man, already irritated.

"What do you, Colonel Bastard?"

"Well, some respect would make a nice start." Ed groaned in reply, plopping down in the overstuffed chair that faced the man's desk. Mustang allowed his hands to fall on the many papers that surrounded him and leaned forward in his chair. "I have some homework for you to get done. There have been some homicides in a town called Ciara. I want you to find out who is doing what and put an end to it."

"Why can't the local authorities take care of it? Sounds like something they need to deal with on their own…" Ed retorted, making the Colonel cringe.

"The local authorities were the first ones killed." He leaned back in his chair then, taking in a flustered breath. "You leave in an hour…the train doesn't put up with late behavior. Oh, and leave your brother home."

As he lay on the cold, hard ground, he realized he could feel the blood from his torso spreading down to his feet and up to his neck. The throbbing from his broken ribs seemed to fill his entire body, making him want to die faster. The pain was too much. He wanted to yell, scream, or even just whimper, but he couldn't move his lips. Nothing would cooperate. He was ashamed of himself for letting something that bad to happen, and his brother came to mind, making him feel all the more ashamed.

On one hand, he was relieved Al had to stay in Central. It meant that he was safe from harm. But at the same time, he wanted him there by his side for comfort, so that he wouldn't die alone. He didn't want to leave the world knowing the last living thing he had contact with was a monster.

"Brother, are you sure you'll be alright by yourself?" Alphonse looked down at his older brother with concern in his glowing eyes. Ed merely chuckled, hoping it would lighten things up between them.

"I'll be fine, Al. Besides, if you were told to stay here, then the mission should be a breeze!"

"Ed, I heard others talking. They were saying that Ciara has a monster. They said that whatever was killing everyone wasn't human! What if it's a homunculus?" Edward gave him a reassuring smile.

"Don't worry. I'll come back in one piece, no matter what. That's a promise."

Ed laid still, the crimson from his body the only thing moving. Everything seemed to freeze, like time had stopped completely. He waited for the wretched darkness to swallow him whole. And swallow him it began to, for he could no longer feel the ground below him. He felt like he was floating in a sea of black, stuck in between the realm of the living and the dead. He momentarily wondered if he would be in front of the gate soon to be taken to wherever it was all went when they died.

But no gate came. And neither did death. Suddenly, a bright light cascaded over the Elric and the alley he bled freely in. Ed could feel again, and he squeezed his eyes shut, the light too much for him to handle. He wanted the dark to come back, feeling it had been more comfortable. His gut began to churn, warning him not to shy away from it, but to embrace it. A voice echoed in his mind, telling him to live, to welcome the warmth the light was offering. The warmth of life. But he fought it. Why? Why go back? There is nothing left for me…His insides were wrenched with a heavy guilt, making him realize he was very wrong. Alphonse…I'm so sorry. He knew the promise he made to his little brother had been broken and he hated himself for it.

He closed his eyes as tight as he could, trying to retreat from the brightness. But it was persistent, making its way to his pupils and making them retract. But he was weak. The darkness now made a comeback, his body unable to hold on much longer. The voice in his head whispered to him, hold on for a little longer…

A hand caressed his dirtied cheek, finally forcing his eyes to open. Edward gasped. Before him stood a woman more beautiful than he had ever seen. Her golden brown hair flowed feather like over her shoulders, framing her glowing skin and emerald eyes. Her complexion was so soft, it seemed the slightest touch could damage its delicacy. He opened his mouth to speak to her, to ask her why she was standing in a place that was dangerous, but the woman placed her finger over his mouth to hush him.

"Be calm now, everything is fine." Swiftly, she placed her hands over his heart and began to chant in a tongue Ed was unfamiliar of. As she continued, he could feel heat radiating throughout his body, pushing out the deathly cold. And then he began to glow a brilliant gold. The mysterious woman removed her hands and looked deep into his eyes. He lay there, looking back at her, awestruck by what he was feeling. She smiled down at him, waving her right hands over his eyes, whispering "Sleep now."

"Wait…" Ed managed, but his eyes were already closing, the woman fading away.

. . .

Edward's eyes fluttered open and he squinted, the sunlight making him flinch. He allowed his vision to adjust and he looked around him. At first he didn't recognize where he was. It wasn't a hospital, but he wasn't in a house either. He closed his eyes again, not wanting to strain himself. He was surprised he was even alive. His body felt like he had been hit by a train, or chewed on by a monster…but somehow he was still among the living.

He drifted in and out of sleep for a while, unsure of time. He kept dreaming of the woman he had seen, the woman who saved his life. Finally, as he came back out of another dream, a familiar voice made him wake up. "Al…Alphonse?" He croaked, his voice hoarse from lack of use. He opened his eyes back up and managed a small smile at the giant suit of armor staring down at him.

Ed wanted so much to leap up and hug his tin-can brother, but he kept himself in the warm and comfortable bed. His body was still in immense pain and it hurt to breathe. He looked at his brother and said nothing more to him, but let a single tear slide down his cheek. Al sighed, wiping the tear from his older brother's face. "I'm so glad you're alive, brother. I thought I was gonna lose you."

"I'm sorry, Al." Ed choked out, clenching his fists weakly. "I almost broke my promise."

"But you didn't. You came back. You're alive, and that's all that matters." He replied comfortingly. Ed took in a deep breath, watching his brother look behind him at the door. He then noticed where he was.

"Why am I in the dorm?" He asked, figuring with his injuries he should be in a hospital. Al rubbed the back of his metal head.

"Well, you were in the hospital for 3 days after you were found in the alley, but they released you to us after you…"

"After I what?"

"Brother…all of your injuries…five broken ribs, a concussion, internal bleeding, and a tear down the entire side of your body…it all healed. They said it practically happened overnight. Nobody can explain it, brother."

The Elrics stayed silent a moment, Ed letting the words sink in. He looked down at himself and noticed everything was normal, despite the pain he was still feeling. But as he focused on it, it faded away, leaving him as though he was untouched. He looked back up at Al and blinked, unsure of what to say. Al stood up and held his hands out. "I'll be right back. Everyone's waiting to find out how you are."

Al left the room, leaving him alone again for a few minutes. He sat up in his bed, giving himself a second look over. "This isn't possible. It can't be. I was ripped apart." He lifted his shirt, exposing his upper torso where he had been sure he was torn open. His eyes widened as he saw what was in place of his mortal injury. Instead of the large gash, a scar climbed all the way up to his shoulder in the shape of a feather. "…What the hell?" He let his shirt fall and he leaned back against the headboard, dumbfounded by what he saw. He couldn't believe it. Days ago he was lying in a dirty alley way, waiting to die. And now he was back in the graces of the military, alive and well.

Alive….still alive… Ed closed his eyes once more, the soft voice whispering to him the words reminding him he was back. He drifted into a peaceful slumber, able to rest for the time being.

. . .

End of chapter one. This chapter is comprised of both the first and second of the original. I don't know how I could write such short chapters! And this is still short! That's ok, though. I don't want to change it too much. Review and let me know what you think!