Last chapter!
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The rumbling of the train along the desert tracks was soothing. The warm, afternoon sunshine lit up the train car and made the four Elrics warm and comfortable. It was even enough to lull Sam to sleep. He was curled up on one half of the bench, his gold hair falling loosely over his closed eyes. Winry was sitting beside him and, while not sleeping, was leaning her head against the window. Trisha sat contentedly in her lap, sucking on a lollipop the kind conductor had given her when they had climbed aboard. Edward was stretched out on the other bench, his head across from the window so that he could look out of it.
This time, the train ride would be an extra two hours because the track just couldn't go straight across the desert from western Xing to south Amestris: the ruins were in the way. Therefore, the tracks had to swoop southward, making the return trip longer than the first one. But the tracks still ran close enough to the ruins that one could see them, so Ed made sure his position across from the window gave him a perfect view. Once he was comfortable, his gold eyes gazed out the window as he anticipated the first sign of the ruins of Xerxes.
As the sun got lower and the lighting in the train car changed from a bright yellow to an orange glow, the train rounded a bend and Xerxes came into view. From his position, Edward could see the crumbling stone walls and pillars that still stood. At this distance, he could even pick out the stone with the human transmutation circle carved into it. Memories suddenly flooded Ed's mind, of stories about what happened to Xerxes, and of how Amestris almost met the same fate. He looked over at his family. Sam was now snoring gently, and Winry's eyes were closed. Trisha, having finished off her lollipop, was curled up in Winry's arms, fast asleep. They looked so peaceful. Seeing the ruins had made Ed wonder what would have become of them, of Amestris, if he hadn't landed the final blow on Father. If Al hadn't transmuted himself. If Hawkeye hadn't been able to act as Mustang's eyes. If Buccaneer hadn't inflicted a mortal wound on Wrath. If Hoenheim hadn't been a Philosopher's Stone.
As memory after memory washed over Edward, the train rounded the final bend and the ruins of Xerxes slipped out of view. The sun sank a little lower in the sky. It's warmth was like a hug to Ed, soothing him and reminding him that the 'ifs' didn't matter; they had won. Father had been defeated, the Amestrians saved, and Ed and Al had even managed to regain their original bodies (with the exception of Ed's left leg). Ed had long ago come to the conclusion that he preferred his family life over the intense one he had led as a State Alchemist, and seeing the ruins had reminded him of it. The warmth of the sun began to make him drowsy, and he leaned back on the seat and closed his eyes.
As the train rumbled across the Amestrian border and neared the station at the Southern Command Center, Edward was dreaming. He dreamt that he and Winry owned an apple orchard, and Winry was baking him all the delicious apple pies he could eat. Just as he was about to take a big bite out of his sixteenth slice, a loud, sharp whistle blew.
Edward Elric sat up suddenly. The first thing he noticed was that is was darker than before he fell asleep, and the sun was just on the edge of the horizon. Sam, Trisha, and Winry were sitting wide awake on the bench across from him. Ed yawned hugely and scratched his head, and Winry pulled a face at him. "You were sleeping with your stomach exposed again, and you were drooling too." Edward reached up instinctively to wipe his chin. Winry continued. "You were dreaming about my apple pies, weren't you?" Ed gave no answer. He just looked guiltily at the floor. Another whistle sounded, and the train screeched to a stop at the Southern Command Center train station.
The bright stars on a moonless night gave of just enough light to illuminate the long path leading up to Ed and Winry's home. Ideally, they should have been in bed by now, but outside the Southern Command Center they had run into Master Sergeant Feury, who had insisted that the Elrics stay and chat with him, seeing as it had been nearly ten years since they had seen each other. By the time they were all caught up, night was fast approaching. Edward called a taxi, but when they had arrived at the path leading up to the Elric house, the insolent driver had blatantly refused to drive up it, forcing Edward and Winry to walk the rest of the way, laden down with suitcases and sleeping children.
Halfway up the path, Ed, with two suitcases in each hand, stopped when he realized Winry was no longer beside him. He turned to see her a little ways behind him, still walking and carrying Sam and Trisha, but looking exhausted. He waited until she caught up "Almost there," he assured her, "just a little farther." She smiled weakly at him, and they continued on.
After a few more minutes of mindless trudging, Ed was about ready to give up. He looked sideways at Winry. Even though she looked even more exhausted than before, she didn't stop. If she can keep going, so can I. Edward pushed himself a little farther, and over the slight hill. There, he and Winry stood, and just out of reach was the dark silhouette of their house against the black sky.
They were home.
FIN
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