Outtakes from the previous chapter:

"Please! We want to talk." Katara shouted. "It's about your height."

"Yeah, just admit it." Sokka yelled. "Even the Fire Lord thinks you're a pipsqueak."

"NO!" Ed ran to the palace and found Ozai's throne room. Ed grabbed the fire freak by the goatee, and thoroughly kicked his ass until he wept like a girl. "I AM NOT SHORT!"

And everyone lived happily ever after. The end.

Okay, let's get down to business…to defeat the Huns….Sorry, that was necessary.

AkumanoshippoNiamh: I just love typing out your username, by the way. I listen to FMA related songs like Brothers and Rain before I write, so it makes me write out the feels. Sometimes I feel tempted to put a quick song lyric in or two, but I feel that's overkill. Actually, there is a song lyric in this fic somewhere. If anyone finds it, I'll give you a cookie.

A Mysterious Illusion: Thank you. Well, here's another update (How can I resist pleading eyes?). I think Ed is fine now, since he has a great weight lifted off his chest. Don't worry, you're not the only one who reads fanfics late. Maybe I shouldn't update late, but that's how I roll. (It's usually between 10 and 11 pm when I update)

KeyStar11: Yep, I like to update every couple days. I also feel guilty for not updating my other story since May, so I'm making it up with this story. Ed could always use a good hug.

And without further ado, your update!

The Idiot

For Ed's sake, the group decided to walk rather than fly on Appa. They made sure to stick close together and talk softly. Frankly, it was starting to get on Ed's nerves. He was fine now, they didn't need to baby him like a lost child.

"Ed, do you want me to make stew tonight?" Ed's face brightened, and he nodded. Okay, they could baby him with stew; he was lost, after all. "Alright, once we get to the island, we'll make some." Ed moaned softly, because the rendezvous point for the invasion was on an island only accessible via Appa. Sokka held out his hand and pulled Ed into the saddle, which was a bit difficult since the alchemist was much heavier than his stature suggested.

They flew low over the sparkling blue ocean, which had a very lovely salty smell. The mist that flew up from the waves felt wonderful with the hot weather. Appa landed gently on the uninhabited island, which Sokka had chosen to be the meeting point for the invasion. Sheep creatures roamed around lazily, and everyone took a moment to lay down in the soft grass.

"Sokka, you chose a good spot. How'd you find it?" Ed asked, with his eyelids half closed.

"I found it on a map. It seemed like the perfect place." Sokka beamed and yawned.

"Good job, Sokka. And we're four days early!" Katara started to cook a meat stew in the pot, and Ed noticed Aang twitching his nose with disgust.

"Wait!" Aang panicked. "Four days? The invasion's in four days?" Aang's eyes widened.

"Whatever. That's like, four days from now. Let's just calm down and-" Sokka never finished his statement and fell asleep with his mouth open. Katara finished the stew and gave a bowl to Toph, Ed, and herself. They ate quickly, and tried to go to sleep.

"Aang, get some sleep. You'll need it." Ed glanced at the boy, who was extremely fidgety. Aang nodded and closed his eyes. Not too long after, Ed noticed the boy seemed to be having some sort of nightmare. There was nothing that could be done about it, so Ed gave in to his tiredness and fell into a peaceful sleep.

Ed woke up with a great big yawn and stood up to stretch. He smacked his tongue against the roof of his mouth and looked around for food. There was a thwacking noise nearby, and he feared that it was the enemy. Quickly, Ed ran to the noise and clapped his hands, only to be shocked when the noise was coming from Aang, who was hitting a tree.

"Uh, what are you doing?"

"Practicing. I have to fight the Fire Lord, but I'm too flabby. I'm not ready." Ed agreed, the kid was flabby. Then again, so was Ed. He hadn't sparred with Al in a long time.

"I can help you. Want to spar with me?" Aang nodded and Ed stood in a defensive stance. Ed noticed right away Aang seemed to be out of it, but one must train the body before the mind. Aang wobbled and sent an air stream way past Ed.

"Actually, are you sure you're alright?"

"Yeah, just attack me." Ed shrugged his shoulders and slammed his fist into Aang's stomach. The idiot didn't even try to block it! Aang was struggling to get to his feet, and his whole body trembled.

"Do it again! I need to be ready." Ed hesitated. Aang was not okay. There was a certain quaver in his voice and the way he was standing gave it away. Ed wondered if that's how he had acted when he wasn't exactly well.

"What are you doing?" Katara appeared behind Ed and Aang.

"Uh, sparring?" Ed gave her an innocent smile, and pleading eyes.

"How long have you been up?"

"All night." Oh. Ed didn't know Aang was sleep deprived.

"Sorry, I shouldn't have sparred with you. What you need is sleep. Then I promise I'll help you train." Ed crossed his arms and looked at Aang, with a slight smile.

"You don't get it, do you?" The boy lashed out. "My form is bad, I'm sloppy, and I still don't know any firebending."

"Yes, yes, and yes." Ed put in simply. Katara responded by slapping him on the arm, and gave him a nasty glare.

"The eclipse will block off firebending anyway, so you don't need to know it. Plus, it's a stupid element." Sokka said, after joining up with them.

"He's right. Back home, I know someone who can do flame alchemy. He's a useless idiot when it rains. Fire is stupid." Ed tried to reassure the worried boy.

"Firebenders can bend here when it rains…that's so not fair. We could've attacked during a storm instead of a short eclipse if that's how firebending worked." Sokka grumbled.

"Um, it doesn't rain here much, right?" Ed had been here long enough, and it had only rained once, on a day he didn't really care to remember. Katara shook her head. "All right. The sun will be blocked off by the moon in three days. Their fire bendy thing will be off, so don't worry about the führer lord. Just punch him a few times and get it over with."

"But, I can't just beat up people I don't like." Aang and the others were used to Ed calling the Fire Lord the wrong title by now. It actually seemed to amuse them.

"Why the hell not? I've done it plenty times." Ed balled his hand into a fist to prove his point.

"I like the way Crazy thinks." Toph grinned.

"All life is sacred…" Aang started and looked up at Ed, hoping he'd understand.

"Are you a pacifist, or something?" Aang beamed at Ed's question, thinking he did understand.

"Yes, I am. I'm even a vegetarian."

"Psh. That's lame. If you're too much of a pansy to get rid of this guy, I'll do it for you." Ed folded his arms, and his face slightly reddened. This kid was too self-centered to save the world. He could understand Aang not wanting to take a life, because Ed completely agreed with that, but causing no harm? That would be impossible.

"You can't. It's the Avatar's destiny." Katara said, but Ed rolled his eyes and scoffed.

"Destiny isn't real. Stop being a wuss and face your fear." All four kids gasped at Ed's comment. Apparently, 'destiny' was a sensitive subject here.

"You don't know anything! How can you say destiny isn't real?! It was Katara and Sokka's destiny to save me! It was Katara and Toph's destiny to teach me! It is my destiny to save the world!" Ed had never seen the boy so angry, save for the time he was glowing after Ed stole Appa. "Maybe it was your destiny to be some sort of freak. You were destined to fail at bringing your mother back, so now you're a freak!" Aang yelled and pulled at his own hair. Maybe he was starting to go insane, but that was not a valid excuse to Ed for the words that spilled out of the boy's mouth.

"Aang!" Katara gasped. Ed turned around so fast, that his brown ponytail smacked him in the face. He blew the hair out of his mouth, and stormed defiantly away, not caring where he ended up. It didn't take him long to end up at the edge of the island.

Ed sat down and let his legs dangle off the ledge, and he watched the waves crash against the rocks below. What would Al say if he were here? Momo appeared next to Ed and made his little chattering noises. Ed lifted his automail arm and let the lemur crossbreed climb on it. At least someone appreciated it almost as much as Winry.

The sun moved closer to the water, sending bright glares off of the waves, signaling the end of another day. Ed didn't bother moving, and remained in the spot he had been in all day. As he slightly scooted away from the edge, he yawned and found the softest patch of grass he could find. Momo curled up on his chest while he slowly fell asleep. Tonight, however, he was not free from his dreams.

They were no worse than usual. The only difference was Al was not here to comfort him as he awoke in the morning. Momo wasn't in sight; he probably went with the others. Ed looked up and noticed the sun was in the center of the sky. He had slept all through the morning, and he hadn't eaten any food in nearly 24 hours. His stomach growled to confirm that.

Dead set on avoiding his friends, or rather, Aang, Ed stubbornly stayed where he was. He wasn't going to move an inch until the little brat apologized. He wasn't expecting Toph to come walking over with a handful of jerky.

"Hey, Crazy, how you doin'?" Toph sat down next to Ed and offered the food, which was quickly engulfed.

"I'm fine."

"Look, what Aang said yesterday was totally uncalled for, and we're sorry."

"I'm not mad at you, and don't apologize for him. Tell him to get his sorry little ass over here to apologize, and so I can beat some sense into him." Toph chuckled.

"I like your style, but Aang's acting weird. Not as crazy as you, but close enough. He hasn't slept in two days. We've tried everything; Yoga, acupuncture, and counseling from Sokka."

"Did you try a fist to his face?"

"No. Katara wouldn't let me, but we have a plan that might work."

"Okay, I'll stay here and wait for him." Toph shrugged, left more food with Ed, and walked away. No one else bothered him for the rest of the day. Tomorrow was the day of the eclipse, or the Day of Black Sun, as Sokka had called it. Ed hoped Aang would be better in order to beat the tyrant, but more importantly, saying he was sorry.

It was early morning when Ed woke up, as the blinding sun shone brightly in his eyes.

"It's nice to see everyone got some sleep last night." Ed turned his head and saw his four friends standing behind him. Aang looked very guilty and hung his head low. Ed stood up and crossed his arms, then glared at the boy.

"I am so sorry. I shouldn't have said those things. I don't know what got over me. Apology accepted?" Aang smiled nervously, so Ed walked up to him and uncrossed his arms. He raised his left hand and punched Aang in the gut, which sent him flying. Ed smiled cheerfully.

"Apology accepted."

Sorry this chapter is so short, but the next one is the Promised Day! I mean, the Day of Black Sun! I promise that one will be longer, but it might take me a few more days to get it uploaded, so sorry in advance. Maybe late Monday or early Tuesday. Thanks again for reading and reviewing! Domo Arigato!