Chapter Twenty-Four: To See the Light

Ed glared into the darkness, how did this happen? The last thing he remembered was Mustang telling him to get out of the cave and then… nothing. Suddenly, he felt a wave of concern and tried to see through the darkness, hoping that there would be a gray area. Nothing.

"Mustang?" he called out softly, kneeling slightly in a defensive position, holding the switchblade he had transmuted up. "Where are you?"

He heard coughing and he walked toward it, tripping over a soft something. He caught himself quickly and spun around, his hand reaching out. "Full…metal…" he heard the general rasp and he let out a sigh of relief.

"Colonel, you're alive." Ed breathed in relief. He heard a weak chuckle and he lifted he general's head onto his lap, once he had found it, of course.

"You're concerned," Mustang crowed happily. Ed rolled his eyes, even if the general couldn't see him and looked up.

"Can you make a light?" He paused for a moment then added, "I can feel a draft, so I'm sure there's another way to get out of here, but I can't see either." He shifted slightly and felt Mustang nod.

"Yes, I can." The general said and Ed heard a loud snap. Suddenly a flame settled in his fingers and Ed looked up, his eyes lighting on the long plank of wood. Gently he placed the general's head on the ground and walked over to it, tearing a little bit of his red cloak off and wrapping in around the wood before walking back to the lieutenant general, who was sitting up, concentrating on the flame. Ed placed the torch under it and it caught, so Mustang put it out. "We got to find a way out of here." Mustang said, standing up.

Ed nodded and glanced at his cloak. "Yes, and you owe me a new cloak."

Mustang glared at him, then shrugged and both of them started walking.

~…~

Ed looked over his shoulder for the fiftieth time in the last hour or so. Mustang glanced at him in concern; he was currently holding the torch. Ed shook his head, frowning, and began to determinedly walk faster.

"What was your mother like?" Mustang asked his face turned away from Ed. Ed stumbled to a stop and the older man turned to look at him. Ed paused and absentmindedly rubbed his shoulder, the one with the automail port attach to it.

"Mom… she was… amazing." Ed said with a small smile, his eyes far away and remembering. He began to walk again. "She made the best stew and she was always smiling, even after Hoenheim left." He didn't speak with anger or even bitterness; he just stated a simple fact. "She had been so full of… life," a pained expression crossed his face in the dim light. "When we went home that day and found her on the ground…" He shook his head.

"She sounds wonderful." Mustang said softly. Ed smiled slightly and ran his flesh hand on the cool stone, reveling in its touch.

"She was," he agreed, his voice bouncing off the walls slightly. There was a lull of talking when suddenly he tripped over something soft and warm. He yelped and caught himself, his automail clanging with the rock floor.

"Fullmetal!"

"Fine." Ed muttered, pushing himself back up. "I just tripped over something… or someone." He glanced at thing that he tripped over and blinked. It was a chestnut color. "Huh… maybe there's another person down here…" he said to himself and he held his hand up. "Mustang, give me that torch." The elder frowned but held it out and Ed grasped it with his automail right hand and held it out.

"Who do you think it is?" Mustang asked curiously. Ed shrugged.

"No idea…" He placed the torch on a rock and spun the person around gently so that he could see his (or hers) face. That chestnut hair… He thought to himself …I've seen it before. But… He looked more closely at her face (he had figured out that it was female), and frowned, Al had that same nose and chin. But the only person that I know would be… His eyes widened and he let out a gasp.

"Ed, who is she?" Mustang asked now concerned.

"I… it's impossible. She can't be…" He shook his head, unable to wrench his eyes from her face. "The dead can't back." "No, not by any human means, that is." Ed's eyes widened, that's what he meant… He shook his head, this wasn't happening, it can't be. Suddenly the woman stirred and he paused as she let out a soft moan and her eyes opened.

No. No. It can't be… the dead can't… she died, just like all the others… it's impossible! "Van?" The woman asked, confusion layering in her eyes. Ed shook his head, fighting down a sob. She paused and reached up to cup his face, "No… you have the same features as my boy, just… older."

"Fullmetal, what is going on?"

Ed just shook his head, biting his lip. "How is this possible?" He murmured quietly, almost fearfully, but he kept staring at her. "You… you can't be real… the first law of the universe… all is one, one is all…" He raised his flesh arm to wipe his eyes, keeping his automail under her head to support it. He shook slightly and the woman looked at him in concern.

"Edward… what? Your right hand is so hard…"

Ed bowed his head, feeling the tears come into his eyes. No, not again! He told himself furiously. "Please," he whispered, "Please don't let this be a dream…"

The woman bit her lip and ran her fingers over his ponytail, which was falling over his shoulder. "It's not, Edward, I promise."

He looked up and rubbed his arm over his face again. "But… it's impossible… you… you…" He shook his head desperately.

"What do you mean?" She asked softly but gently. He stared at her and felt a tear leak out of his eye and drop onto her cheek.

"You…" He reached behind to scratch the base of his head. "I'm not sure how to say this… but…" He trailed off and she looked at him, he gritted his teeth and shook his head and she reached up to cup his face. He let out a soft sigh and felt his tense muscles relax.

"Fullmetal?" Mustang soft voice floated in his ears. She narrowed her eyes at him and he blushed slightly.

"Fullmetal?" she repeated her tone a little dry. He gulped, this was her, indeed. Oh, he remembered that tone she used whenever she was scared.

"It's a long story," he admitted softly, staring at her as if he would lose her again, "Mom."

Author's Note: YAWR! Now do you see why I put "bending rules of alchemy" in the summary? xDDD No, I'm not even sorry. That felt so good to write though… I've been planning this since chapter six-ish or so. (Are you seeing a pattern yet?)