Wow, no one killed me for throwing them for a loop with that last chapter! Yeah! Hehehe...I never know what people will get upset about, but I'm glad that you're enjoying the story anyway.
Disclaimer: I do not own FullMetal Alchemist. (Insert zeeky buggy doog here) BOOM! Wait, that's not a FullMetal Alchemist joke, what's that doing there? (See The Demented Cartoon Movie on if you want to get the joke.) Ok, I must be running out of good ideas.
I lay awake in bed, my head resting on my hands. I was waiting for Edward to show up. Then I felt his presence enter the room. Finally, he was here.
"Edward," I said, "Did you find anything out?"
"Yes," he said, "The keeper of the Gate told me that those in this family, and those close to this family, are the same souls that I was close to back in my time."
"So that's why this family was chosen for you," I said, "But did he saw who I was?"
"No," he said," But he gave me a way to find out. Since we know that you, your family, your friends, and acquaintances are all souls that I was close to, we can find out who you are by elimination."
"But if we're having such a hard time figuring me out, how would we be able to figure them out? They're not even psychic."
"I know," said Edward, "But many of them had strong traits that they would carry into this life. If we can spot those traits, we'll have nailed them."
"Well, it's worth a shot, I guess," I said, "Let's make a list of everyone you were close to, so that we can cross them out as we identify them."
"Ok," said Edward, "Let's see, there was my mother, Al, Winry…"
We continued listing until we couldn't think of any more names. Then Edward kissed me goodnight, and left.
December 19th, five days remaining. I got up bright and early so that I could start finding out who these various people were as soon as possible.
I was sitting at the dinging room table, and a bowl of cereal, when my friend Tammie stopped by. She placed a wrench on the table and said, "I'm done borrowing your dad's wrench. I finished what I was making for my dad."
Wrench? Tammie? Little red flag going up. I got to scratch one name off the list, that of Winry.
Maybe I could even get Tammie's help on this. "Tammie, I'm trying to find out who among our friends and family acts most like the people Edward knew back in his time. Does anybody you know remind you of one of those people?"
Tammie put her hand under her chin to think for a moment, and then said, "You know, Sheila always reminds me of Ed's mother." Scratch that name off the list.
Tammie continued talking, "Heh, I've even accidentally called her 'Trisha' at times."
Trisha? That's right, what about Trisha the shadow stepper and her mother? They were kind of annoying, especially Trisha, yet helpful in a way, and knew so much. Who could they be?
"Who in FullMetal Alchemist is an annoying know-it-all?" I asked Tammie.
"That's easy," she said, "Dante, all the way, and Hohenheim is the second place runner up."
That would certainly make sense. I crossed off two more names and chuckled to myself. Hohenheim became a woman in this life!
"I can think of some obnoxious characters too, like Major Armstrong and Auntie Pinako," said Tammie.
"Obnoxious, but lovable," I said, "Like my grandma and grandpa." I smacked my forehead. Of course, who else would they be? I scratched them off the list.
I picked up the list and sighed. There were still too many names to draw a conclusion as to who I was. I hoped that I would figure it out soon.
"So what kind of project are you working on here, anyway?" Tammie asked.
"You wouldn't believe me if I told you," I said.
"Well, that just makes me want to hear it all the more," said Tammie, "Come on, lay it on me."
I sighed, and gave in. Who could resist her begging? No wonder Edward had always given in to Winry's whims.
"If I tell you," I said, "You must promise not to tell anyone else. This doesn't need to be kept a secret for very long, only until after Christmas, but I need you to be tight-lipped until then."
"I won't utter a word," said Tammie, "My lips are sealed. Now tell me, what is it?" She leaned forward eagerly.
So, I started at the point where I'd had that strange dream, and ended with the part about my trying to find out who I was, so that I could recall the memories of how to do alchemy in time to resurrect Ed.
"My goodness!" said Tammie, "Are you just pulling my leg?"
"If I were pulling your leg, I wouldn't have made you promise not to tell anyone," I said.
"Then, what's this list about?" asked Tammie.
"Edward figured that we could find out who I was faster if we found out who those around us were. Then, by process of elimination, I'd found out who I was," I said.
"Wow, how many people have you got so far?" asked Tammie.
"Well you just helped me figure out most of them," I scoffed.
"Oh…right. Who do you have that I didn't help with?" she asked.
"I only have one other person figured out thus far…you," I said.
"Me? Who do you say I am?" asked Tammie.
"Isn't it obvious, Winry?" I said with a chuckle.
"I'm Winry?" she said.
"Yep."
"That's so awesome! Does that mean that I know how to make auto-mail too?" said Tammie.
"Maybe," I said, "You should try and tap into your subconscious mind."
"I'm going to go and see if I can," she said, getting up to leave, "That's so awesome!"
"Just don't spill the beans about…"
"I won't," she finished as she stepped out the door.
I shook my head in amusement. Tammie was such a character.
I continued marking off names, practicing alchemy, and studying the philosophy behind the science for the next few days. If I could either cram the information into my head at record speed, or discover who I was and tap into my subconscious mind, I might be able to pull this off. I certainly wasn't going to give up without a fight.
Finally, December 24th arrived. If I didn't perform the transmutation by sun up tomorrow morning, Edward would be lost forever.
I dragged my feet down into the kitchen that morning and pulled out the carton of milk. It didn't taste bad to me after Edward left my body after all, so I poured myself a glass and took a sip. I sighed, and placed the glass on the counter.
My mom noticed my downcast expression, and asked, "What's the matter, sweetheart? Do you have the last-day-before-Christmas blues?"
I looked at my mom and managed a weak smile. "Yeah, I guess you could say that," I said.
"Why don't you go and call one of your friends?" said Mom, "Maybe they could cheer you up."
"Maybe," I said, "I'll try that. Thanks, Mom. "I grabbed my milk and walked out of the kitchen, towards the living room.
I plopped myself down on the couch, picked up the phone, and dialed Tammie's number. I sat back against the couch, and waited. One ring…two…three.
"Hello?" came the voice from the other end of the line.
"Hi, Tammie?" I said.
"Oh hi, Katie, what's up?" said Tammie.
"Nothing, that's the problem," I said.
"Still haven't figured it out yet, huh?" said Tammie.
"Nope," I said, "And it's getting me all depressed. Today's the last day I have to figure it out, and I'm no closer than I was a week ago."
"That's really too bad," said Tammie.
Then I noticed something playing in the background on her end of the line.
"What are you watching?" I asked.
"FullMetal Alchemist, what else?" she chuckled to herself, "It's more interesting to me now that I know that we all actually lived through this."
"I'm sure it is," I said, "Which episode is it?"
"The one where they're beating up Sloth," she said.
I listened to the noise for a moment and was able to make out Al saying, "Brother, I can't control my movements!"
"Yep, that's that episode alright," I said, chuckling slightly.
We talked for a few more minutes, then Tammie had to go. Her family was going to a family get together, and would be gone for a couple days.
"I hope you have a good time," I said.
"I wish you lots of luck," she said.
"Thanks," I said, "I'm going to need it." We said our goodbyes and hung up the phone.
I spent the rest of the day studying and meditating. My parents expressed their concern about my keeping to myself all day, but I just passed it off as near Christmas anxiety. Actually, it WAS near Christmas anxiety, just not the kind they thought it was.
By night fall, I was crying. Edward came and placed his hand on my shoulder. "Please don't cry, Katie," he said, "I was wrong to put you under such pressure."
"You had no choice," I sobbed, "I was the only one who could have resurrected you, yet I failed you."
"You haven't failed unless you've failed to try," he said. "There's still a little time left. I'll tell you what; I'll draw up the transmutation circle, while you gather the materials for my body. We'll have everything all ready, so that if you find out who you are, you can immediately perform the transmutation.
I sniffed back my tears and wiped my eyes. "Okay," I said, "Let's do that. I'll continue to try as long as there's hope."
"That's the spirit!" said Ed. While he was busy drawing a transmutation circle for human transmutation, I was quietly grabbing my secret stash of chemicals. I had become quite efficient at maneuvering in the dark during the past few weeks.
Once we had the transmutation circle all set up, I sat back, and waited.
The hours of the night ticked on. I dosed in and out of consciousness as I tried to stay awake for Edward's sake. Sometimes we would strike up a conversation in the hopes that it would jog my memory, but nothing was coming to mind. Finally, the first rays of sunlight began to rise in the east. Was it too late? Had I failed Edward?
Suddenly, my mind went into a frenzy like it never had before, desperately trying to make a connection. Then, I thought of something.
"Edward," I said, "There's a person I've never tried who is a good candidate for being my previous incarnation."
"Who is it?" said Edward excitedly. I didn't bother to answer, as there was no time to lose. I was lowering myself into that deep, deep trance with this person as my intention. I waited for the images to come…and finally, they came! Within second, my mind had taken in more information than I thought I could ever learn in a lifetime.
I opened my eyes. "Edward, quick! Get on the transmutation circle. We have no time to lose!"
Without asking questions, Edward rushed over and stood in the middle of the transmutation circle. I picked up a knife and made a small cut in my finger to add a little of my blood to the mix. This wasn't to transmute a soul, as Edward had thought when he'd tried to resurrect his mother. This was simply lending a bit of my DNA, so that he would truly be my brother.
"Okay, let's do this!" I said. I clapped my hands together once, and then placed them just inside the transmutation circle. I finally knew who I was. I just hoped that I had found out in time.
A time comes when all things must end. Sadly, the next chapter is the last one in this story. However, if you really don't want this to be the last you'll see of these characters, then review and let me know. Would you like a sequal perhaps, or a "behind-the-scene-qual" like Lion King 1 1/2? Also, do you like me telling everything from Katie's point of view, or should that change? Please, let me know your thoughts. I need them. Please review, and come back tomorrow to read the conclusionof this story.