Disclaimer: I no own, you no sue!

JUST TO WARN ALL READERS: THIS HAS NOT BEEN BETA'D!

(Warning: this is not funny!)

(at friend's house) (for safety I will be using nicknames that my friends and I rp in. I rp as reno very often and it has become something of a nickname)

(at cloud's house)

Cloud and me: (playing with a voice recorder) (fake voices)

Cloud and me: (imitating potterpuppetpals)

…(laughing)

(then starts to say anything in a funny voice)

Me: My hands are so big.

Cloud: Oh my gosh, my feet are big too

Me: they can touch anything but themselves….(brings hands together) oh wait

Cloud: oh my gosh! Why can't they? Cool

Me: trippin'

Cloud: trippin'

Cloud and me: (laughing our asses off as we replay the recording device)

Both of us: R&R, onigai?

Chapter 9: Reversing Effect

The first thing I noticed as I was rising to consciousness was the dull sensation of a throbbing ache in my head. I can tell you right now that it wasn't a pleasant feeling. Once the throbbing became slightly more bearable, I realized that there were voices drifting over to where ever I was. I tried to hone in on the voices, focusing on whether or not if they were familiar or alien. Right away, I recognized Roy's deep voice as he was conversing with Madame Pomfrey (sp?). I couldn't hear their topic of discussion, but by the tones of their voices, I knew it was a serious matter.

I was going to go back to sleep and, without thinking, I rolled over to my side. Unfortunately, my arm didn't land on soft cushy pillows or the bed, but instead, on the bedside table. Whack! Ok. That hurt. A lot. I hissed in pain and pulled my hand away from the offending piece of evil incarnate, and brought it closer to me. I paused a second later to see if anyone had heard me.

I held my breath and strained my ears. At first I didn't hear anything, but then a moment later I heard Roy's voice answering Madame Pomfrey. I sighed in relief. They didn't hear me after all.

I sighed again and let my eyes drift back closed as the outside sounds started to become more distant. Clack. Clack. Clack. Dammit! And I was just drifting off too.

"So I see you're awake now, Fullmetal."

"Yes, isn't it great?" I mumbled back sarcastically while irritably glaring up at him.

"Can't a person get any sleep around here without being disturbed?"

I turned over, intending to squeeze in a few more blissful hours, when I was rudely shaken awake again. Dammit!

"Dammit, I'm awake! Now stop shaking me!" I sat up to put emphasis to my statement. However, I also decided to ignore him. Wrong move. Roy does not like to be ignored.

Within an instant, his gloved hand was infront of my face, fingers in position to snap.

I gulped loudly and quickly trained my eyes back onto him. He smirked superiorly. I glared back. Our eyes held eachother's in a death match.

After a few seconds of trying to burn the other into the ground with our eyes passed by before Roy closed his eyes and let a heavy sigh escape his lips.

"Ed..." he opened his eyes. "...are you ready to begin?"

He seemed almost hesitant when he asked me this, I mused for a few seconds before the question sank in.

Solemnly I nodded in affirmation.

He smiled warmly and stated gently back, "alright then."

"Since I know you can't eat right now, we thought that it'd be best to get you to drink instead."

Again I nodded my understanding and he continued.

"So Ed, how about a supplemented protein drink?"

As he said this, he produced said drink.

It was vanilla flavored and didn't look too appetizing, but Roy gave an encouraging smile and I shrugged and gulped it down. It was actually pretty good, or maybe my sense of taste had deteriorated when I had stopped eating. Well, at least it wasn't cow piss...

When I had finished this, Roy took the empty glass from me and put it down on the bedside table. He then sat down next to me.

"Ed..."

I gave him a moment to collect his thoughts, but he didn't say anything else. We both sat in collective silence. The silence was broken when the door swung open. Madame Pomphrey had entered with a small tray that held a glass and a bottle of pills? She came right up to me and handed me the bottle, which she explained were vitamins, and told me to swallow one with the water that she had brought in. I took it without questioning, more out of fear of what she'd do to me if I didn't take them than from the fact that I had no choice in the matter.

For the whole week, I was restricted to nothing but bed rest and the six to eight times where I would have to drink another one of those food replacement supplements. I was given different flavors such as chocolate and strawberry. As the week droned on I noticed that they didn't taste as heavenly as the first time. Maybe I'm getting tired of them. Or maybe I'm just regaining my sense of taste. Either way, I was relieved when I was able to eat a bowl of fruit and a light soup instead. I nearly cried in happiness as the naturally sweet fruit and the tangy soup passed my lips. I smiled broadly when I had finished.

However, I had reached a snag once the weekend came around. I had had another dream that left me panting in a cold sweat. ...Al...I'm sorry. I didn't eat that day. Both Roy and Madame Pomphrey had noticed and they weren't too pleased either. However, I had explained that I didn't want to sleep; Madame Pomphrey seemed to realize the source of my problems and administered a spell that would allow me to rest but without dreaming.

This seemed to work.

For the next week, I was slowly allowed to progress to soup and a small sandwich with a piece of fruit on the side.

I was progressing rapidly and Roy couldn't be happier. Two more weeks passed by. Although I was still confined to the hospital wing, I was able to catch up on some of the homework that was slowly forming a pile. Everything seemed to be going well. I guess I shouldn't jinx it, but I think that I'll be back to normal soon.

Roy was almost always by my side; even now. As it was nearing the end of the month, there came a knock at the door. Both of our heads (since Roy was with me) turned in the direction of the sound. The Headmaster had entered the room. He had looked uncomfortable. He didn't speak, but the answer to his discomfort was quickly answered. He stepped aside to reveal a small blond-haired boy.

"Hi brother."

I froze. Roy froze. I think the whole fucking planet froze.

Standing in the doorway was….

"…Al?" I whispered. I must have had a haunted look on my face or something because a second later, Roy was at my side, trying to reassure me.

The blond boy looked up at the mention of his name.

I stared speechlessly gaping at him.

"N-no. It's impossible. H-how?"

"I'm not really sure how, brother. One minute I feel like I'm being ripped apart by multiple hands, and then the next moment I come crashing through a window here."

I let a hollow smile grace my face as I stared at my brother. I thought he was dead. No. I knew he was dead. This goes beyond all logic. It's simply not possible. I think I started hyperventilating. The room was spinning. Everything seemed to zoom in on me. The room suddenly felt very small. And I felt completely overwhelmed. Everything's blurring together. Too fast! The last things I noticed were the concerned faces of Roy and Al.

A/N: konnichi-wa minna-san! Gomen nasai for the LOOOOOOOONG wait! I had so much going on this past semester. But now finals are almost over with and my plot bunnies have multiplied. Cursed plot bunnies. And here's the preview (one sentence fragment) for the next chapter in Ed's pov. Unfortunately, I'm temporarily switching over to Harry's pov to speed you guys up to date. Then, I'll be continuing on with Ed's pov. . till then, .

By the time I had awoke,