Hi, everyone! Sorry it took so long for this chapter to get up. I don't know why, but I really had difficulties writing this chapter. I was motivated by all your reviews, but things just wouldn't come out fluently, if that made any sense at all. Anyway, because I was so encouraged by your reviews, I forced myself to finish this chapter. At least now that I have gotten past this one point, it should be smooth waters now. :)

Please enjoy chapter 10!

Disclaimer: I do not own Fullmetal Alchemist.

Previously:

There was no stopping the transmutation.

"I'm sorry, Roy. I had tried to avoid this, but it was either you or me, and I'd much rather it be me."

The two disappeared from Roy's sight, leaving him alone upon the bloodied ground with nothing but tears upon his face.

The Forward March

Those disgusting little black hands tore at his body, pecking away his flesh inch by inch. Ed struggled, fought, and screamed, but the pain did not leave him, not even by a little. He had almost forgotten what it was like to experience the feeling of disintegration, his senses dulled by his happiness and warmth from the people around him. He would have loved to say that he could handle it, compared to everything that he had felt before, but nothing – nothing – could put into words the feeling of pure, mind-numbing agony he felt as he was broken down to face the one entity that he loathed to even think about. He could hear the cries of the other man nearby, crying and fighting to return back the way they came. Yet, they both knew, there was no way out now that there were there.

A flash of sudden bright whiteness temporarily blinded him. Ed raised his hand to shield his eyes, blinking to comprehend his surroundings. The vast dark Gate loomed over him, its etchings emitting an ominous feeling which was growing stronger by the minute. The place hadn't changed at all – it was still the same fucking thing that haunted Ed's nightmares – but as he stood there staring down at his bloody garments, he found something quite unusual. He knew he had numerous injuries. He knew that his life was bleeding away with every ticking second, but here, in this damned emptiness, he felt all time stop for his wounds. They would prove to be no danger here, which was more than he could say for the seething phantom next to him.

Adonai lunged for Ed's throat and Ed didn't even bother to stop him. He couldn't die in this place. No one could, not even Adonai – courtesy of the Gate's unnatural powers. Still, being trapped in that place for all eternity was something worse than dying by Adonai's hands, which had tightened considerably around Ed's throat.

Hollowly and calmly, he faced the panicked man, "You know full well that I cannot die here, Adonai. Release your hands. It's over."

"No! It's not over yet! I still live!"

"Not for long, Adonai. You are going back to where you belong."

"That may be so, but I will bring you down with me, Edward Elric!" Adonai snarled.

Ed's sharp mind started clicking in. It was hard to miss the darting of Adonai's eyes, the sweat dripping down from his brow, and how much harsher and shorter Adonai's breaths had become.

"What are you afraid of, Adonai?" whispered Ed.

"Have you lost your mind?! I'm not afraid! I just wanted to be free and you ruined everything!" screamed Adonai. For the first time since Ed had known the deranged murderer, he could see a spark return to Adonai's dead eyes. The desperation was building and Ed could tell that Adonai was about to snap.

"Are you afraid of returning to the Gate? What can it do to you? You are not even a living entity. Your words, your actions, and even your consciousness do not belong to you, but to the Gate and the Truth. You said so yourself, you are the part of the Gate that connects to the other world. What is it that scares you so? What is it that warped you so?" Ed asked quietly.

"As for you, Edward Elric, why are you so calm? You know that coming here means that you are most likely to be trapped here forever. That is your greatest fear, no? Why aren't you fighting to go back to your lover?"

"Roy will keep on living, regardless if I return. That is enough for me. He will protect and look after all that I hold dear. I trust him, something you would never understand. It's a human trait, after all."

"I know full well of your pathetic human traits and those useless emotions of yours. What happened to the majestic, cold assassin side of yours?" smirked Adonai, "I liked him much better. He will be the one to survive in the end."

"He no longer exists."

"Ah, there you are wrong. As a part of the Gate, I know that he will always reside within you, just waiting for a chance to bare his fangs again. Sooner or later, your humanity will be consumed by your other side and you will no longer be the Edward Elric everyone idolizes. You will become like me, Edward Elric. I have no doubts."

Ed stared straight into Adonai's gleaming eyes, "I will never become like you, Adonai. I do not relish in the blood of others, I do not thrive on people's pain and agony. I may be an assassin, that much is true. That much will not change, no matter how much I want it to, but unlike you, I have a heart. I know what it means to love and to be loved. As long as I have something to fight for and something to protect, I will never need him. I will continue to be Edward Elric to the death."

"Will you, Edward Elric? Will you really?" sneered Adonai, "I envy how naive you are."

"Your words do not affect me, Adonai. They are merely words of a desperate animal trying to cling on to life."

"Not here, they won't, Edward Elric. Have you not realized it yet? The Gate has made you complacent and apathetic to your own fate. Once you leave here – that is if you do – my words will haunt you, even in your dreams."

Ed's golden eyes pierced Adonai with its fierce determination and will, "Even if you do haunt me, you will only remain a figment of my imagination for you will no longer exist. I will make sure of that."

Lashing out, Ed shoved Adonai off him and swept under his legs, forcing him to fall to the ground, but Adonai wasn't through quite yet. He retaliated, kicking his right leg upwards. Ed had to back flip to avoid the blow to his chin that would have left him dizzy, but the whiteness of the place confused him and he could not judge the distance to the floor. He staggered, trying to regain his footing. As he did so, Adonai scrambled to his feet, meaning to attack Ed once more, but when his fingers were a few inches away from the disoriented alchemist, a loud bang froze the two in place. From the eerie coldness and deafening creaking, Ed knew that the Gate had opened, beckoning Adonai to return.

Adonai's frightened eyes settled on Ed's. For a moment, Ed could see himself – the same scared child who was fighting to survive just like Adonai. For only a moment, Ed found himself pitying Adonai. He had only wanted to live, Ed could understand that, more so than most people and he could not help his human heart from feeling sorry for the creature in front of him, but it did not seem like that was what Adonai wanted from him. Adonai could see the pity within Ed's eyes and within seconds, the fear that had engulfed him had completely transformed into deep loathing. His red eyes flashed cold fire, shocking Ed to the point where he reeled back. Adonai's sudden and dramatic change was not something that Ed was expecting, much less something so intense that Ed could actually feel the anger rolling off the phantom. It was like a jolt of lighting running through his veins within his numbed body, threatening to stop his heart at any second.

It was with relief that Ed saw those little black hands encircle Adonai, but he didn't seem to notice it. Instead, Ed held his undivided attention and he reached his arm forward, his hand nearing Ed ominously. Ed cringed, trying to tear away, but he was entranced by those abhorring, dead eyes, like a hapless prey of a hypnotizing snake.

"This is not over, Edward Elric," whispered Adonai as the hands began to pull him back, "You will never be free of me…"

Ed could only hiss back, "Disappear, nameless one."

"You will suffer, Edward Elric. Your sins are too great to be forgotten."

At that, Ed chuckled weakly, his features settling on a sad little smile that would have broken Roy's heart, "Don't I already know…Goodbye, Adonai."

"For now…" was the last thing Adonai said before he was completely covered within the Gate's grasp and dragged at blinding speed back into its depths. The Gate snapped shut with a loud sound of finality. Silence ensued. No monotone voice echoed around. No nightmarish scenes erupted from Ed's mind. Adonai was gone, so why was Ed still there?

Cold sweat started forming on Ed's brow, "Hey! I brought Adonai back! I have fulfilled my part of the bargain! Return me back to Amestris!" he shouted, stepping forward towards the gigantic doors.

The Gate did not respond.

"What more do you want from me?" yelled Ed.

A moment's pause, then: The seal is not complete. Adonai is still free…came that dreaded voice.

"What the fuck? You took him already!"

Edward Elric, you need to create the seal upon the doors. I no longer have the power to do so. Healing your wounds and capturing Adonai have taken a great toll from me. Use your own power to make the seal.

"You're the fucking Truth and you're telling me to alchemically create a seal for you? Are you a fucking retard? I can't use alchemy here!"

You must, Edward Elric. I can keep Adonai within my Gate for eternity – trapped by my knowledge. However, you are a different matter. Either you seal Adonai Negrescu or you will remain here for eternity. It is your choice.

"This was not part of our deal! How the fuck am I supposed to do that if I have no alchemical powers and I have no idea how to create a powerful enough seal? Dumbass!"

I will supply you with the knowledge. Are you willing to obtain it?

Ed really, really, really did not want the Truth to invade his mind again. Just remembering the pain from the last time he got inundated with the Truth's knowledge was enough for Ed to just say no, but he couldn't. As much as he did not want to know, he wanted to see Roy more. He wanted to see Al, Winry, Riza, Havoc, Hughes, Gracia, Elysia, Breda, Fuery, and Falman. He wanted to go home! There was no time to waste – no other choice to make. He had made so many sacrifices already to be with the people he loved. Just one more – just enduring this one last thing would end everything…

He closed his eyes and sighed. "Fine. Do it."

The next second, all Ed could hear was his screams reverberating around the blank emptiness…

When Ed came to, he found himself lying on the floor, panting from the mental exertion. His mind buzzed with new information until he almost felt dizzy from just staying still. Flashes of transmutation circles and ancient language swirled around in his mind, piecing together one by one until the entire jigsaw had been completed. Now that he knew how to form the seal, all that was left was to figure out how to use alchemy in this godforsaken place. It was an impossible feat and Ed had no idea how much time had passed in Amestris while he laid there unconscious. He had a promise to keep to Roy and he didn't want him to wait for long. Who knew what Roy would do out of grief? Perhaps he would choose to go back on his own promise and follow after Ed, though Ed knew that Hughes and Riza would be the ones to stop him. And Al, with his crazy innate talents for medical alchemy would be there to heal with any injuries caused by Ed's dumb mistakes.

Suddenly, something clicked in his brain and he abruptly sat up, groaning as his migraine pounded, but he ignored it. There was excitement that boiled within his body that blocked out the pain from his head. He had figured it out! To use alchemy, one had to call upon the natural abilities within himself in order to exchange for whatever it was that one wanted to create out of a transmutation. Here at the Gate, that ability was suppressed so performing alchemy was not possible, but it didn't mean that alchemy didn't exist here. If someone had the capabilities of defying all rules of equivalent exchange, then he didn't need to search for the inherent abilities. It didn't pertain to him!

Ed jumped to his feet, rushing towards the empty space he saw upon the door. He reached down and took off his right boot, examining the blood beneath it. Smiling, he licked his index finger and pressed it upon the crimson liquid, effectively transferring it from the bottom of his shoe to his finger. Quickly, he drew what was necessary on the wall, repeating his actions many times in order to get the elaborate transmutation circle upon the Gate. He pleaded with any entity that may or may not have existed to let his plan work as he pressed his hand against the edge of the bloody circle. Instantly, the blood glowed and intense red lighting erupted around the drawings, shoving Ed back from it. He could hear screaming in the distance and he assumed Adonai had finally been caught in the Truth's unbreakable grasps. Slowly, slowly, the lighting started fading away, but not before it etched the word "Adonai" upon the doors once more. It was almost fascinating to watch. Who knew that Adonai would be the one thing that could tie himself back to the Gate? If only Adonai did not show to Ed that he could surpass all the rules of alchemy, Ed wouldn't have been able to deduce that Adonai's blood would be the key to using alchemy here. Ed was slightly glad that his other side had gone on a rampage and stomped upon Adonai's injured hand, otherwise he would be there forever.

"Gate, I have fulfilled my duty. Let me go home to Amestris," Ed called out the second the alchemical energies disappeared.

You have done well, Edward Elric. As agreed upon by our deal, I will return you to your loved ones. However, due to your sins from the other side, I must punish you.

Fear grasped his insides, taking away his breaths. Adonai had warned him that he was the tie to Germany. Of course the Truth would know what Ed had done the moment Adonai was one with the Gate. He swallowed, "What must I do?"

Edward Elric, your sins from the other side are great, but I cannot deny that you have done a great deed for all of humankind by sacrificing yourself and sealing Adonai when you knew of the consequences. I will return you to Amestris, but I will not heal your injuries from the fight with Adonai. You will feel the pain of the ones you have killed in the other side with your own body. You left your victims to struggle to live if they even survived beyond the initial wounds. It will only be equivalent exchange if you experienced the same thing. That shall be the price of your return, Edward Elric. Will you accept my terms?

There was absolutely no hesitation, "Yes," Ed responded resolutely.

So be it. Goodbye, Edward Elric, hopefully for the last time.

Ed smiled as he felt the familiar sensation of being enveloped in the Gate's hands. He was going to see Roy again. He was going to see Al, Riza, Hughes, and everyone else.

Goodbye had never sounded as pleasing, heartwarming, and welcoming as now.

Roy fell to his knees, staring at the emptiness in front of him. Ed was gone. He could feel his heart break in bits and pieces. Hot tears dripped down unchecked from his eyes. His hands still trembled, shaking at the feel of Ed's blood upon them. Ed had promised…he had promised that he wouldn't disappear again! Now the world kept spinning around and around, a dull darkness enveloping his surroundings. There were no colors, no warmth, no nothing. There was no meaning anymore. Not without a certain golden sunshine…

He could hear groaning of the waking people he cared about around him, but he couldn't bring himself to find out whether or not they were alright or not. He didn't want to move or even breathe. If life ended for him right now, it would be such a relief…it was too painful to live once more without Ed, if it was even called living.

There was a patting on his shoulder which intensified to frantic shaking when Roy did not respond.

"Roy! Roy, answer me!" shouted Hughes, moving around so that he was kneeling in front of his friend and staring at his face, "What happened? Where's Adonai? Where's Ed?"

"Gone…" he whispered, his tortured words striking his heart with an ice-cold lance once more. "They're both gone…"

Hughes' jaw dropped, his eyes turned watery, and Roy found himself wrapped into a bear-hug. The minute Roy felt his cold body being warmed by his best friend, his shaking hands grasped at Hughes' clothes as he, for the first time in his life, bawled his heart out into Hughes' chest.

Hughes didn't say anything and let Roy sob and cry out for Ed over and over again. It wasn't just because he knew that at this moment, it would be best for Roy to just let him vent out his emotions, but also because he couldn't say anything. He knew that if he did, he would break down as well. He couldn't help but feel as though he had lost the male version of Elysia – it was too agonizing to even place in words. It was probably worse for Roy, especially because he was crying out in the open for the first time since Hughes had known him. Hughes needed to be strong for Roy – Roy would need everything now to pull him out of this, as would everyone else.

There was a stifled sniffle nearby, and Hughes glanced up to see Al standing behind Roy, silently wiping the tears from his eyes. Hawkeye was hugging him, her usually emotionless face clenched hard to stop herself from crying out. She, too, had come to the same conclusion as Hughes and kept herself together for the sake of Al. Havoc, on the other hand, was crumpled on the ground next to the two, with tears falling down his dumbfounded face. Hughes could see that he so desperately wanted to yell and shout that this entire scenario was a joke, but he couldn't move – not with that physical injury to his shoulder and the mental wound to his heart.

A memory reached Hughes' mind and he could see Ed's smiling, determined face as he said "There will be no sacrifices in this battle – no loss of life on our side!" It didn't take a genius to realize what had truly happened here. Ed had lied – he had sacrificed himself to save everyone else. He had broken his promise of not doing something so stupid again. It was getting harder and harder for Hughes to believe in Ed now. Every time he did, Ed would pull a stunt like this, causing so much pain – so much hurt – but Hughes couldn't stop hoping that Ed would pop up and prove all them wrong once again, telling them that they should always believe in the blonde alchemist just as he did before. Ed was the Fullmetal Alchemist – the Hero of the People who defied all the rules and laws of humanity. If there was ever an impossible situation, Edward Elric was always the one to prove them possible. Hughes could only cling to that fact and hope that the tears of his best friend were shed for nothing.

Suddenly, he heard a rumbling behind him. He glanced up and from the look of shook and hope on Al's face, Hughes judged that his musings were right once again. He snapped around to see a giant blob of blackness land on the ground a few feet in front of Roy. As the black hands started unraveling, Hughes could see the glimmer of golden hair and a giant smile appeared on his face.

"Roy! Look, it's Ed!" he shouted, turning to his friend. "He came back! He really came back from the dead a second time!" he laughed.

Roy's head raised slowly at his words, and at the same time, the hands revealed Ed's tired and worn, but smiling face.

"Ed…" he gasped, rising slowly in disbelief.

The black hands completely evaporated into the ground and Ed took a quivering step forward. "I'm back…" he whispered. "I…k-kept my…promise…" He shuddered, coughing out blood as he clutched at the wound on his stomach. Blood would not stop pouring out from injuries. With a fear, Ed realized that the Truth's punishment was not something to be taken lightly. He had completely forgotten getting stabbed all the way through by Adonai in order to protect Roy and bring Adonai to the Gate. He had completely underestimated his tenacity to live past serious wounds – it was something that had not happened for so very long now and his body could not handle it. His vision faded in and out and suddenly, his legs no longer had enough strength to support him and they crumpled.

He could hear shouts of his name as he fell, and then he felt very comfortable lying in someone's arms. It had to be Roy's. There was no way his body would lie to him, feeling so at ease and so serene within someone's grasps, and he snuggled deeper into Roy's chest. Everything was over – Adonai was gone and the Gate wasn't going to interfere with his life again. He was relaxed, too calm for Roy's liking.

"Al, how is he?" Roy asked worriedly staring into Ed's face that increasingly lost the little color that was left. Ed was still smiling, but he seemed far weaker than most people would be with the same injuries. Perhaps the strain of moving at such light-speed against Adonai was taking a toll on Ed's body, preventing it from pulling then necessary measures to stem the blood. From the angle the sword went through, Roy knew that Adonai hadn't pierced any major arteries, but that didn't mean that it didn't cut open something else.

Al concentrated on the blue alchemy going through his hands and onto his brother's stomach. "It doesn't look good. I can keep him alive for now and fix some of the crucial parts that were injured, but he's going to need a hospital and fast. I can only do so much." Like Roy, Al had deduced that the blood loss was not caused by damage to an artery, but to a major organ. However, with the intimate knowledge Al had with the human body, he knew that the most important factor in saving his brother's life would be to close the wound in Ed's stomach as much as possible or risk the digestive juices to spread to other organs and destroy them.

"The hospital is close to here," supplied Hughes, "We can make it running."

"Not yet," gritted Al, flashes of terror racing through him. The digestive juices had accidentally burned through an artery. Whoever said that things couldn't be worse was an idiot. "He's bleeding too much. He'll bleed out if I don't stop some of it."

"Ed, hang in there," said Roy, lightly touching Ed's cheek. At his caress, Ed's eyes fluttered open, his attention only upon his lover. He could feel the warmth spreading from Roy's body to his, replenishing everything that he was losing every second. The familiar cackle of alchemy running through his veins was also very comforting – it distracted him from the growing numbness in his body.

"R-roy…"

"Don't talk, Ed. Save your energy. Your injuries are pretty severe. We need to get you to a hospital."

"I kept my promise…I'm back…" smiled Ed, his voice ever so weak.

"Yes, you did," Roy smiled back, "But you also promised that you'd fight tooth and nail to get out of this."

"When have I ever broken a promise?"

Roy's smile faded slightly, "Don't leave me, Ed. Don't leave me again…"

Ed raised a shaking hand to rest on Roy's cheek, his cold flesh painting Roy's face with blood, "I won't. I love you, Roy, and I'm not leaving you. I promise."

"General, I've done all I could," panted Al, glancing at his brother. He had barely managed to seal the artery, but now he didn't have enough energy to heal the damaged organs to the point where Al could feel comfortable letting Roy take Ed the mile to the hospital. It was a terrible feeling – the feeling of uselessness – but it didn't matter right now. What mattered was that Ed would get treatment and soon! "Take Brother to the hospital now."

Abruptly, the ground disappeared from underneath Ed, but it was so swift and unexpected that Ed flinched from the movement, causing him to spasm with the pain. A groan escaped his lips and he found his consciousness slipping away.

"Sorry, Ed. Hang in there, alright?" came Roy's labored voice. Ed frowned at the sound, confused at why his lover did not have that deep, silky voice that always made him feel so hot. Ah…so Roy must be running to bring Ed to the hospital. It must be tedious on him, considering the fact that Roy never liked working out and was now carrying a bundle of automail. It wasn't necessary though. Ed could hardly even feel his wounds anymore. They were all fading away into the blissful dark. Ed couldn't understand the rush. All he wanted to do was just sleep in Roy's arms. He deserved it, didn't he? After all that he had done for the Gate?

"You…don't have to run…" breathed Ed, his words slurring. His mind had slowed down to a snail's crawl and it was confusing for him. Things did not make sense as they did before.

"And why the hell not?" panted Roy, "I happen to like running with a man equipped with automail in my arms. Got a problem?"

Ed smiled slightly, but that faded away as he shivered, groaning as the freezing lance of pain swept through his body. "Roy…I'm cold…"

"We're almost there, alright, Ed? Just hang on." Roy responded, his mind reeling with panic. Ed had already skipped past the first couple stages of shock and was now nearing the end of the third. He could feel his arms, legs, and lungs burn with the exertion, but he pushed himself faster. The buildings and people around him seemed like a blur now and his heart was beating like mad, completely overshadowing Ed's weak pulse. He could barely feel it now. Sweat dripped down his face. Why was that hospital so goddamn far at the most critical moments?!

He felt something grasp his shirt lightly and he chanced a look to see that Ed had weakly grabbed onto Roy. His face was shadowed by his blonde bangs and Roy couldn't see those gorgeous golden eyes that he so loved. It scared him. Ed's colorless, sickly pallor, the drops of blood upon his face and the massive amounts of crimson liquid covering his stomach area – everything struck fear deeper and deeper within Roy's heart.

"Ed?" he called out, tentatively, hoping that he'd get a response.

Ed's head moved slightly so that he could stare up at Roy. The pain-filled, dull eyes did nothing to relieve Roy's anxiety. Ed was going to pass out in the next two minutes, that much was clear.

"'m tir'd…" murmured Ed, his head lolling against Roy's heaving chest.

"Don't sleep, Ed. Don't you dare sleep on me! That's an order!"

In horror, Ed didn't respond to him. Instead, that weak link between Ed and Roy disappeared as Ed's hand fell limply to hang by his side, almost lifelessly.

The earth fell away from underneath Roy as his heart stopped for a single moment. "Ed? ED?! SHIT! WAKE UP, DAMN IT!!!" he yelled, as he burst through the doors to the hospital, "SOMEONE HELP HIM! NOW!!"

People scurried around him, but everything moved in a haze. He could see the mouths of the doctors and nurses opening and closing, yet nothing made sense. He could only numbly nod and feel the light weight within his arms be taken away. Oddly, he felt emptier than he had before, even though he knew that Ed was in good hands. All he could do was just stand there dumbly with no sensations in his limbs, his blood freezing in an unfamiliar icy manner.

He stumbled forward as he saw Ed's limp form being placed on a gurney, ready to be rolled into emergency surgery. Lightly, he brushed the crimson dyed hair from his lover's colorless face. He could almost see the ghost of Ed's smile, assuring him that he would pull through, and Roy almost believed his own hallucinations. Almost, but his logical mind had already mercilessly pointed out to him the statistics of Ed's survival. He had gone through enough bloodshed in his lifetime to understand that being stabbed through the stomach, especially with such a broad sword, would take an extremely long time to recover from – that is if Ed survived past this. But Ed could perform miracles. He was Edward Elric. He always pulled through. He wouldn't just leave Roy alone like this. He had promised. That meant more to Roy than any reassurances he would get from Hughes or Al.

Someone touched his shoulder and he spun around to see a man in uniform standing proudly behind him. Behind his large girth, Roy could see Hughes stumble in, looking wildly around for any signs of Roy or Ed. Al and Riza walked in next, supporting a disoriented looking Havoc. Hughes sighed in relief when he saw Roy and made his way towards his friend while Riza and Al handed Havoc off to a medic, refusing treatment on themselves.

"General Mustang, you are needed back at headquarters," said the soldier as Hughes approached them. "It seems that it is an emergency."

"I'm not going," Roy responded, "They can handle whatever it is they want me to do without me. I'm not leaving this hospital."

"Roy, is Ed…?" gasped Hughes, panting from the exertion of sprinting the mile to the hospital.

"He's in surgery right now," Roy said back, his voice eerily calm.

"General, it is of the utmost importance that you come with me back to headquarters," the soldier insisted.

Roy opened his mouth to refuse once again, but something nagged at the back of his mind. Why would he be needed so soon? Adonai had just disappeared. It was too quick for the military to learn that the battle was over. There would still be chaos back in headquarters for another hour or so until things died down. Unless…it was Ed's cryptic "gift"? What had that blonde done now?!

"If the Fullmetal Alchemist blew something important up, I will sincerely apologize, but I do not see how my presence is necessary for something like that. Just pass the paperwork to my office and I will see to it."

The military man looked confused, "I do not believe that this involves Colonel Elric, General."

"No?" Roy frowned. Now, he couldn't figure out a way to get out of this, especially when he didn't know the reason behind his summons. Logically, the only reason why he would be called to headquarters was because of Ed, but Roy was sure the Fuhrer didn't know about Ed's skills yet and Ed somehow didn't make something explode, so that was out of the question. He had to go now, but he didn't want to leave when things were being balanced precariously at the edge of a cliff.

"Roy, just go," encouraged Hughes, "Ed will still be here when you come back. Remember, you promised him that no matter what happens, you are going to keep on living and fulfilling your dreams. Don't break it now."

A tick mark appeared at the side of Roy's face. "Maes, how did you know about that?"

Hughes raised his hands in a passive surrender, a sweat appearing on his brow, "I'm an intelligence officer! I can't help it sometimes!"

Roy sighed. Maes was right, as always. Roy's time had stopped the moment Ed disappeared. Now that Ed was back – and he would survive this – Roy had to start moving forward again, and that started with regaining his goals of becoming Fuhrer. It would be the only way that he and Ed could be together with no opposition, and in order to do that, Roy had to start climbing up again, sucking up whenever it was necessary, including pressing times like these.

"Fine, lead the way, Private. Maes, if there are any changes…" Roy trailed off, not wanting to say those dreaded words.

"I'll personally come find you," assured Maes.

Roy nodded and with a curt salute to his friend, he turned around and began marching forward, like he always did before, one step at a time.

The only thing different this time around was that Ed was no longer able to stay by his side, and that only made Roy's heart pang with the loneliness even more…

Hope you enjoyed this chapter. Honestly, I had so much trouble trying to make Adonai's seal more epic, but my imagination drew a line there, so I am sorry if I disappointed any readers. Overall, this chapter was short and sort of slow, and, again, I apologize for that, but I hope next chapter will be spiced up a little. I think I have come up with a second plot line to continue after this one ends, but I would like your opinions on the matter. I had thought of continuing the story line with the previous Fuhrer (remember, the one that got abdicated by Ed?) wanting to get revenge on Ed and Roy, so there are assassination plots everywhere for the two, but it seems so cliche. Are there any other ideas I could add to this?

So that concludes my ramblings. Hopefully, the next chapter will be up soon!

As always, please review! They were honestly the only things that got me through this difficult chapter, so please review!

~ Kanae Yuna ~