Chapter 10

Silence, except for occasional crickets and the wind passing through the forests. If you strained your ears enough, even the running of the water could be heard from the streamside where Ed had been playing. No owls, none, but the snaps and clicks from trees hinted that night life had long begun. The moonlight touched the side of Ed's cheek, and his disturbed sleep he stirred and flipped. The cloth from his forehead, still damp, slid off and onto the pillow, missing Ed's twitching fingers just by about an inch.

Beside him, Winry slept with her head in her arms. About to slide off the chair, she had stayed up close to two in the morning, sponging Ed's forehead until her head drooped and eyes closed shut. With the movement from Ed, she pushed herself up the chair but remained in deep sleep.

The pillow grew damper, and nothing else was out of ordinary. Okay, not nothing else. SOMETHING was out of ordinary. And THAT something out of ordinary was standing (floating) on the stairs. Al glided steadily upwards, straining to see if the coast was clear. Seeing Winry at the chair by the bed, he relaxed. He did not, however, make straight for Ed's room. Instead, Al glided downstairs, into the dark hall, and pondered.

Was Ed fully recovered? If not, could he risk another memory flood, just as Ed is recovering from the fever it had given earlier? He was being indecisive, he knew – he came here to help Ed, so think what more? – but he just did not want to risk everything based on one wrong move. But after more gliding (and more wind howling – the wind was getting stronger) he made up his mind.

Up the stairs he went.

Reaching the bed, and standing beside both Ed and Winry (the latter was snoring, by the way), Al stuck out his hand and placed it once more on Ed's temple. The sleeping boy stirred, and, unknown to Al, Winry had felt his presence – she stopped snoring, and her skin crawled. But she was still sleeping, albeit slightly. Al concentrated once more, oblivious; just as he had thought, Ed was far from being fully Ed yet. There was still some considerable distance (and, definitely, some memory) from where Ed's mind was to reach the 'fully-recovered' stage. The LIGHT. And of course, that also referred to the pain and suffering Ed would feel once he awakens. Al gave a start; would Ed then retreat further into his dark abyss?

No matter. All he had to do was shake Ed up. Summing up some energy, he managed to flip Ed facing him (no easy feat) and stopped to look upon the moon shining into his brother's face.

"Sorry, Nii-san. Just bear with me a little longer."

And he placed his forehead against Ed's.

000 00 000 00 000

Back in Ed's void, he could see Ed's mind-being dozing upon the dark floor, and strode across the distance that separated it from the edge of the light. Reaching Ed, he bent down and shook Ed awake.

"Mmmhmmm…" murmured the semi-opaque figure, and it groggily stood up. "…Al?"

It would have fallen back into a doze on its feet had Al not shaken him some more.

"Nii-san… Nii-san, wake UP, Nii-san!" Al continued shaking by the arm – "…I'm supposed to be dead-" and at that Ed's mind jerked a bit, "and you are NOT supposed to be here, nii-san. Now follow me!" And Al proceeded to tug the mind-presence.

"…De…dead?… Wha…?" The mind was resisting, pulling back, though sleepily. "Al…here… … …not… dead… hahahahah…" And with that, the mind sank down to its knees and seemed to go back to snooze mode.

Al grew impatient. He turned round and jerked 'Ed' to its feet.

"Listen, Nii-san," shaking Ed hard, "I AM dead," and those words made mind-Ed alert again, as Al continued, "whether you like it or not. Sad to say, our plan failed to bring me back, and I've been stuck at the other side of the gate ever since." Al stopped shaking, for he saw a confused expression overtaking the face of the 'other Ed'.

"…But… why…? Wha…" It broke off and started to sob. "You… here… Al… no armour… but… wha…?"

Cupping its face with his hands, Al could not help but dread what was going to come next. Already he could hear a deep roaring from behind – there was limited time left now. Calming 'Ed' down, he picked up his 'brother' again, and started moving towards the light, thinking that less words, more action would prove his point.

Now, with 'Ed' simply following, the process was easier. Miscellaneous strips of memories, few but long ones, occasionally made their way towards them and into Ed. They slowly moved on. But once they reached the edge, Ed abruptly stopped. Al looked back at it in wonder, and saw worry on the being's face. It spoke, with fuller sentences now, but all washed with fear.

"…Once I step th-through… once I step through, Al… g-gone?" It did not sniffle, but all the same, the voice that spoke trembled a great deal. Al refused to look, refused to answer. 'Ed' tugged on Al's hand – he turned to look at mind-Ed, who was now having head bowed, looking at his feet. Al stiffened.

"Sorry, Nii-san." He took the hand off his, and pushed 'Ed' in front of him, "…You have no other choice now."

With that, he gave a push, and, just as the roaring wave of memory came crashing towards them, 'Ed' met it face-on. As they collided, Ed's mind jerked violently. And Al saw the frames. And he knew. That those were the last and most crucial memories Ed was going to receive.

Ed was going to see how he, Al, had died. Again.

A.N: Edited [20/05/09]