This is the part where I normally put all that informational stuff, but since it's the last chapter, I decided to do things differently. First of all, I apologize for taking a week and a half longer than what I originally stated to post this, but time has been trying so...
I'd like to thank each and every single one of you who has reviewed or put me on an alert or list or whatever. THANK YOU!!! ;D So, here goes :
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I only hope this chapter sufficed. ;)
Chapter 26 : The End of the Innocence
The darkness was momentary, but it was soon replaced with a faint glow, giving off the impression of tunnel vision. Within seconds, the glow turned into a white haze, leaving Edward standing before the gate he had seen less than three years before. Only this time, instead of several pairs of eyes staring back at him as the doors creaked open, he was met with the sight of the failed transmutation, still in progress.
Immediate feelings of fear, guilt, and regret rushed through the boy's system, his shocked golden orbs instantly watering as he was pushed into the scene, screaming just as he did that night.
Helplessly, he watched as Alphonse's body was taken away, fading into the malevolent purplish hues that were spinning around them faster than the speed of light. He reached out, feeling excruciating pain as his leg was taken from him once again, though the only thought flowing through his mind was getting the nine year old back, even though he knew it wasn't going to be possible.
With tears raging down his distraught cheeks, he made the marks on himself just as he had done before, using whatever limb the gate would take as payment to get his little brother's soul back. And as history repeated itself in his mind, he watched in morbid horror as he was once again taken back to the gate, only as the doors presented themselves before him, another scene from his life flashed before him.
Only this time, he was on the inside looking out.
He was cast into the orange and yellow flames that awaited him on the other side, confusion wracking his soul. Frantically he searched around the room, looking for a way to escape the heat that was lapping at his skin as well as his lungs; but he soon realized, there was no escape.
It only took a second for him to recognize his surroundings, and the moment he did, he knew why he was there.
Without thinking, he ran to the window that overlooked the path that led up to their house, falling miserably to the flame-soaked floor as he realized there was no left leg or right arm to retain his equilibrium.
His eyes closed in pain, feeling his life's blood pouring in rivers from his wounds; but he had to see, just to make sure.
The boy's nails scratched the floor, the screeching noise entering his ears just as he made his way to the window, hearing the wood and glass popping around him as he painstakingly reached his destination.
Dizziness flared through his bloodstream, wracking his head almost senseless as he pulled himself up, blood smearing across the window pane as he did so. Edward peered out of the glass, the flames dancing hungrily in its reflection as he watched a large suit of armor and a boy cloaked in black and a red coat walk away from the burning embers, neither looking back at the sight of the destruction.
Edward could feel the tears leaking down his cheeks even through the heat, but instead of feeling panic or the urge to get out of the fire, a sense of calm made its way through him as his body gave into the pain, slowly sliding into the comforting darkness that was now awaiting him as he slid to the floor.
He understood now. It all finally made sense.
But why it took him so long to realize that was lost on him.
The thirteen year old could feel his lips curl slightly upward as his body descended, flowing peacefully through the familiar velvetine darkness, the river of satin ebony carrying him to where he was supposed to be.
The pain from the wounds was gone, vanishing instantly as recognition made its way through his brain. He felt no fear or anger at the moment either, everything finally made sense to him now.
The past six months of his life—he had relived them for a reason.
In just three short years, he had managed to forget what he once had. Of course, he was reminded every day that he had lost his brother's body, let alone his arm and leg. But that wasn't it—he'd forgotten how peaceful it was just to sit back for a moment and enjoy the sunset, something he and Al hadn't done since they were little.
He'd missed the ability to be free, to run through the fields that surrounded their childhood home for miles on end. He'd missed everything, but in the weirdest of ways, he received a second chance to remember; to cherish what he thought he'd lost years ago.
The thirteen year old was ready to go back; but for some reason, the darkness his small body was shrouded in wasn't ending. Edward was steady drifting into the vast sea of nothingness, and this time, there was no light at the end of the tunnel.
Panic began to grip at his heart, fear slowly creeping through his veins. Something wasn't right—this wasn't the peacefulness he'd been longing for.
The slight smile that had seconds before slid easily across his lips disappeared, his mouth widening in horror. Though as he tried to scream, to yell—anything, he was drowned in absolute silence, his vocal cords apparently deemed out of order by a force greater than him.
His limbs flailed helplessly through the air, his golden locks flying astray across his face. But as the blonde strands formed a veil in front of his equally vibrant orbs, something emerald caught his attention. He froze immediately, his breath holding steady in his throat.
Within seconds, he hit something, his body slamming into an invisible floor, knocking the air straight out of his lungs, pain searing through his entire nervous system. With his head spinning frivolously, he pushed himself up, labored breaths escaping out of his lips. It only took a second before an all too familiar voice made its way through his ears.
"Did you really think it was going to be that simple...Edward?" She grinned at him, yellow teeth visible through her widening mouth. The woman hovered over him, her bony fingers slowly reaching for his throat. "I've been waiting for you," she stated in a hushed whisper, her eyes glimmering with such perfected hate it almost burned to even glance in them.
Edward recoiled at the sight, tumbling backwards and falling straight to the polished obsidian floor, it seemingly moving like a river underneath of him. His fingers slid across it as he tried to get a grip on something to hoist himself back up, but the task was fruitless as the slippery surface repelled his attempts.
The woman glided easily towards him, her grin stretching even farther across her already too thin lips, the feat now seeming almost impossible, making her skin appear plastic as fine lines surrounded the disturbing gesture.
The teenager visibly cringed as her quiet cackle of a laugh echoed through his ears, the hair on the back of his neck now standing on end. Though he tried to ignore it, it crept into his ear drums, nearly forcing paralysis on his nerves.
"You're not real, you're not real," he muttered, sweat pouring down his distraught brow as he finally realized the clanking that was continuing to etch its way through his head was coming from him. He glanced down, seeing now that his right arm was made up of automail.
You've got a chance. Don't blow it.
He stopped struggling and turned to face her, inwardly praying that this nightmare would end soon. Preferably sooner than later, at least.
Surprise instantly surged across her features, and even though the expression was quick and fleeting, Ed still caught it, giving him a burst of motivation he hadn't felt in quite some time. Within seconds, he'd made it to his feet, the woman's emerald orbs on him the entire time.
"Just because you're standing now, doesn't mean you will be once I'm done with you." He could tell by the tone of her voice that the statement was more than just a threat, but he could no longer show the fear that had been all too apparent in his golden orbs. He wasn't ready to die yet, especially not by her hand.
"That's what you think," he replied almost instantaneously, a mischievous grin turning up the corners of his lips. He could feel his body tense, preparing for a blow just in case his body deceived him.
But it was his mind that was ultimately trying to destroy him.
&&&&&
Lonely, clanking footsteps made their way down the dim corridor, their owner slowly making his way to the quiet room that awaited him down the hall. Soul-filled eyes that had been trained on the floor since watching one Maes Hughes exit his vision glanced up, a lone figure making its way towards him.
Alphonse almost hesitated in his step, realizing that the shadowed person had just exited Ed's room. With his interest immediately peaked, he sped up, the clanking growing louder as he made his way closer to where his older brother lay.
Panic flooded through his soul, a strange paranoid fear spiraling inside the suit of armor that had more than picked up its pace, nearly racing down the hallway. Something just didn't feel right, and that fact continued to nag at him until he was standing in front of the stranger, only to realize that it was in fact, Colonel Mustang.
Luckily, the partially inebriated man had seen the boy coming and had stepped out of his way, just to be safe. With onyx eyes that held curious pools of navy within them, Mustang stared up at the eleven year old, highly interested in his reason for the near stampede.
"Is there something wrong, Alphonse?" he questioned, the dark circles under his eyes and paleness of his visage more than apparent now in the fluorescent light.
The boy was struck speechless for a moment, staring at the poor state the Flame Alchemist had descended into. He couldn't quite remember a time within the past year that he'd ever seen the man that way. He'd always appeared so smug and calm and collected, never...like that.
A twinge of guilt pierced his soul, Al immediately feeling bad for the accusations and assumptions he had made about the man he in reality hardly knew anything about. Without so much as a second thought, and feeling strangely like Ed, he mumbled, "I'm sorry."
The two words immediately transformed the expression on the man's face from weary to taken aback. His brow narrowed in confusion as his lips turned slightly upwards, somewhat amused by the boy's sudden apology.
"For what?" Mustang responded with what sounded almost like a light laugh, but it easily could've been mistaken for a scoff.
Al's helmet hung for a moment before he tipped it back up, making eye contact with the man. "For—"
His attempts at a full-fledged explanation were cut short as a scream erupted from Edward's room, that sudden nagging fear immediately coming back to haunt him.
"Ed!" the shout emanated out of the suit of armor, his heavy steps making their way towards his older brother's room, Mustang in tow. "Brother!" he couldn't help but yell as he pushed open the door to Edward's room, his soul-filled eyes glimmering as he caught sight of the thirteen year old, his face obviously contorted in pain, his golden eyes covered by tightly closed lids.
Two pairs of footsteps rushed to the thirteen year old's bedside, Al immediately reaching for one of his brother's hands, trying desperately to confine at least one of his flailing limbs.
"What's wrong with him? Is he dying?" the words poured from the steel suit, sounding innocently young, and too damned scared.
Mustang glanced up at the eleven year old, catching the shimmer that resonated through his soul-filled orbs, a feeling of his own tepid fear surging through his veins. Mustering as much patience and calmness in his voice as he could, he stared up at Alphonse and replied, "No, I don't think so. It's more than likely there's something going on mentally that we don't know about."
"You mean, like a nightmare?" There was still a heightened sense of fear in the eleven year old's tone, but listening to the older man's deep voice was slightly comforting. He loosened his grip on Ed's hand, but not too much. Even if it was hurting the older boy, he just couldn't let go.
"Yes, only due to the fact that he's been in a comatose state for the past six months, he's more susceptible into believing that whatever he's going through is real. It looks as though he's coming out of it though." The last sentence was voice lower than the rest, the Colonel not wanting to get the preteen's hope up just yet. But the moment the words left his mouth, he could see the sudden flare of happiness entertain the youngest Elric's eyes.
"Brother! Brother, wake up! It's okay to wake up! Nothing's going to hurt you! I promise!" Al tried to stir the still pain-stricken teen, but it was no use. The spools of golden had yet to retain their color, or open for that matter.
Mustang moved to silence the boy, but lowered his hand, second thoughts entering his system.
Perhaps it just might work this time...
&&&&&
"You're standing awfully tall for someone that's fairly small," she taunted, her emerald orbs flashing with an expression that could only be described as evil. Her lips tipped upwards once more, though it was quick, twitchy.
Anger immediately triggered nerves Edward hadn't felt in quite some time, but strangely, the feeling was welcome. For the first time since he'd come in contact with the woman, he wasn't afraid, just pissed off.
"Why don't you show me what you've got, you old bat," he returned, a delightfully devilish grin conquering his lips. He was starting to feel alive again, another feeling that had been seemingly long forgotten.
Before he could even blink, blue light surged across the black pool, aimed right for his legs. He blocked it quickly, clapping his hands without a second thought, blue hues emanating from them as well. The thirteen year old watched in semi-satisfaction as the alchemic reaction he created made its way to its target, easily knocking the woman off her feet and down onto the endless floor.
Without waiting for her retaliation, Edward clapped again, pressing his hands to the floor and sending another alchemic reaction towards Lydia LaShea. Electric blue light flew up around her, encasing her within its grasp, a cage forming around the woman, chains wrapping around her wrists, preventing any more alchemy to escape from her fingertips. Ed could hear her screams even before the task was complete, though inwardly satisfied at his feat.
"You won't forget me, Edward! You may think you've erased me, but you haven't! You haven't!" she shrieked, forcing the boy to wince as the sound of her nails scraping along the metal of the cage made its way into his ears. "I'll still be here! Whether you like it or not!"
The thirteen year old watched in silence as the weathered woman's face faded into the darkness, relieved that it was finally over. Letting out a breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding, the alchemist ran his flesh hand across his forehead, though instead of seeing sweat as he pulled it away, he saw blood.
The sound of his heart resonated through his head, his pulse quickening as a noise invaded his ears. He could tell from the second he heard it that whatever it was was wet, and coming directly towards him.
His eyes widened as they gazed past his crimson-colored hand only to focus in on a trail of blood that magically seemed to glow on the obsidian floor. Ed followed it slowly with fearful golden orbs, the confidence and fake show of cockiness he had put on just minutes before vanishing right along with his strength.
Nausea struck him instantaneously as the trail finally came to and end, though the squishing noises didn't. Horror-struck, he gaped at the sight of Nina. The lower half of her body was missing, organs and tissue and dead skin dragging along behind her as she pulled her upper half towards Edward, tears glistening on her bleached cheeks. Her blue lips quavered in the sliver of light that was peering from the shadows of the room.
"Wittle big bwuthor, help me! Pwease! Edword!" Her tiny voice was quivering, almost as badly as what was left of her body was. "I'm so scared! Pwease, wittle big bwuthor! I'm cold too!" she cried out, tears pouring from her dead eyes.
"Nina...," the whisper departed Ed's lips, his face almost turning the same shade of sickly pale white that hers was. Numbness slowly seeped through his nerves, the energy and agility that had just fused through his veins disappearing as though it were never there.
"Pwease! Edword, he's going to get me! Daddy's going to get me!" she screamed, speeding up considerably, now suddenly at his feet, though any sign of fear on the little girl's face was gone; it was replaced with a bitter hatred Edward had only seen in one other person. "I hate you! I hate you, wittle big bwuthor! You pwomised you'd come back and pway with me! You pwomised, but you lied! You lied to me!"
He wasn't prepared for the blow she gave to his leg, it sending him instantly to the floor. He glanced down at the limb that was now in pieces in front of him, his brow arching in confusion and fear.
"You let me die, Edword. You let me die." Her voice was now a contained whisper, echoing with pain and lost innocence.
The thirteen year old let the words stun him. Hell, he even let them burrow underneath his skin because he knew what had to be done, but he couldn't do it without a little self-punishment first. It was only fair.
"I'm sorry, Nina," he whispered back, his voice trembling on the edge of agony. Blinking away unwanted tears, he clapped his hands, setting them on Nina's unimaginably cold skin. Closing his eyes, he felt the splatters of crimson hit his face, but he held back, not giving into the pity or pain that he so badly wanted to feel.
He understood now.
There's just no way she could've lived like that...It was the only way...
"Brother."
The faint voice forced him to look up, though he didn't see anything at first, just continuous darkness.
"Brother!"
It was louder this time, he was sure of it. Shakily, he stood to his feet, ignoring the fact that his left leg was completely useless. Limping heavily, he went forward, unsure of exactly where Al's voice was coming from. Either way, he had to find it.
"Brother! Ed!"
It sounded much more pleading this time, a far cry from the whisper he'd originally heard. Something was wrong—he had to get there.
"I'm coming, Al. Give me a minute," the murmur parted his lips, determination more than evident. It grew louder in his ears, giving him the motivation he needed to move.
Before he knew it, the blanket of darkness was dissolving, a faint light brightening before his eyes.
It's over...
"Edward..."
The voice was deathly quiet, but it caught his hearing, and it wasn't coming from the same place Al's was.
Ed turned quickly, his golden orbs catching a glimpse of a warm smile and vibrant green eyes; and there was only one person he knew that ever looked at him like that.
"I love you...my little man."
"Mom?"
&&&&&
He awoke with a start, sitting straight up in the bed he'd been comatose in for over six months. Wide, golden orbs frantically searched the too white and dull looking room, trying to process information that he was incapable of understanding at the moment. Breath was leaving his lungs a mile a minute, temporarily forcing the thirteen year old into a fit of wheezing.
"Brother!" Al's over-joyous voice belted through his ear drums, the eleven year old sounding to be almost to the point of hysteria. "Brother, you're alive! He's alive!" the shouts and cried continued to come, taking Ed a minute to realize that Alphonse had his metallic arms wrapped fairly tightly around his bony shoulders.
"Hey, Al," he choked out, thankful when the grip was gradually released. "Long time no see?" the thirteen year old questioned with a raised eyebrow, lowering himself back down to the pillows.
"It's been six months, Ed!" the eleven year old scolded, his soul-filled eyes glimmering in the din of the room, making Ed's heart sink as his brother's words filtered through his brain. "I thought...I almost thought—that you weren't going to...you know." It was too difficult for the kid to say the truth. He didn't even want to think about it anymore.
"I'd never leave you, Al, you know that," Edward chided, his voice lower than its usual volume, due to not using it for the past half year.
He was paler and thinner than Al would have liked, but he was alive, and that was all that truly mattered. The eleven year old alchemist couldn't help but stare at the brother he thought he'd lost, almost used to staring at the motionless blonde.
"You really had me scared, Ed. I mean that." And the thirteen year old could tell too, by the honesty and sincereness in his little brother's tone, which inwardly made him feel even more guilty. He'd made it through hellfire and brimstone with Lydia LaShea and sadly even the ghost of Nina Tucker. But the one thing he couldn't forgive himself for or forget was the fact that his little brother was still trapped in a hallow suit of armor, and he still hadn't succeeded in changing that.
Not yet anyway.
"I think you even had Colonel Mustang scared," Al continued, glancing over at the other side of the bed, only to find it empty. "Hey, where'd he go?" the younger alchemist asked, more to himself than Ed.
"Where'd who go, Al?" the blonde asked, sitting up slightly when the thought of someone else being in the room made its way to his consciousness. He immediately backed down when he felt Al's gauntlet gently push him back down.
"No one," Alphonse lied, knowing that just minutes before, Mustang had just been standing there across from him. He quickly changed the subject, hoping Ed's temporary forgetfulness would kick in. "What's...the last thing you remember?"
Somehow, Edward knew he was going to be asked that question, sooner or later. Those memories had been buried in his subconscious since he'd went into a coma, and now that they were slowly coming back into form, he wasn't so sure he wanted to discuss them; for his benefit let alone his brother's.
"We were on out way to Renégauld, and the weather was starting to get pretty bad. That's about it." He was lying and he knew it, but he knew that if he told the truth, whatever pent up guilt Alphonse was hiding meticulously within that shell would grow, forcing a wedge between them that he didn't want to take a chance of.
"That's it? Nothing else?" the eleven year old prodded, searching his older brother's face as the thirteen year old shook his head, looking up into Al's soul-filled eyes.
"Nope, that's it. I guess whatever happened there is the reason I wound up in here, isn't it?" Ed inquired, silently noting that his automail had been fixed.
Oh, great. I'm definitely going to hear it from Winry the next time I talk to her...
Alphonse hesitated in answering, reluctant to tell Edward the truth. "It-it turns out that there was some sort of toxic gas released into the air there some time ago, and it winded up killing all of the townspeople." He paused for a moment, seeing the lines of wonderment and confusion crease on his brother's forehead before he continued. "But before they died, they supposedly had severe hallucinations, making the whole situation even worse. And...I think you had them too." His helmet drifted towards the floor for a moment, recalling the shear terror on Ed's face when he found him on that day a little more than six months before.
"It was horrible, Brother." The younger boy's voice had dropped to a shaking whisper, not liking the images that were passing through him. "You were so scared. And...you said that you saw Nina and she was going to get me. You told me to run, but I didn't. The next thing I knew, you had passed out and I couldn't wake you up. If it wasn't for Colonel Mustang and the others...I honestly don't know what would've happened."
For the first time in his thirteen years, Edward was speechless, completely taken aback by the emotions that were emanating from the empty shell of armor where his little brother's soul resided. He could feel tears threatening to rain down his cheeks, but held them back. He had to be strong; for Al. That's the way it was going to have to be from now on. After all, he was the older brother, even if it didn't seem like it the vast majority of the time.
"Al," he tried, his voice lower than a whisper. Clearing his throat, he attempted to speak again. "Al, no matter what happens, I'm never going to leave you. You've got to remember that." The thirteen year old State Alchemist was fighting to keep his voice restrained, though the harder he struggled, the more it shook. "I didn't mean to—"
"Brother, don't," the eleven year old interjected, placing a gentle gauntlet on Edward's shoulder. "You don't have to apologize. It's not your fault. Besides, neither of us could have known what was going to happen. You know that." He was trying to be as firm as possible, but the fear of losing his older brother was still clearly evident when he spoke.
"But see, that's the thing, Al. That voice you heard the night we tried to bring back Mom—I heard it that day. Something was telling me we shouldn't have went, but we did anyway." He paused for a moment, staring up in the soul-filled eyes that were filled with more warmth than any other person he knew, only tying with his mother's. "I guess I'm just prone to making stupid mistakes, huh? I bet I really pissed Mustang off." He couldn't help but give a tiny smile to the last bit, unable to hide the minute amount of satisfaction that was underlying in the back of his head.
"You were just doing what you thought was right. Even if you did kind of take it a little too far. Your intentions are good, Ed. You just never consider the consequences of your actions," Alphonse conceded, only to earn a slightly noticeable scowl from his older brother.
"I didn't sleep for six months just to wake up to a lecture, Colonel," he chided playfully, trying once again to sit up.
"Sorry, Brother, but you've got to learn it sooner or later. If you don't, who knows what could happen?" Al responded, carefully pushing the thirteen year old back to the apparently uncomfortable hospital pillows. "So...are you hungry?" The reluctance was more than obvious in his tone, but then again, how long had it been since Ed had eaten? Voluntarily, that is.
"Yeah." His voice was soft, much softer than Alphonse had anticipated.
There was a long silence between them that lasted until the younger of the two broke it, easing through it as politely as possible. "Ed, I'm going to ask you something, and I want you to be completely honest with me. And don't try to avoid the subject," he added seriously, pointing an accusing digit at innocent golden orbs. "Why-Why did you stop eating?" He kept going, not wanting to hear Ed's answer quite yet. "I sat here, staring at you for six months, and that was one of the only things that I could think about. What could possibly have been the reason for you to do that to yourself? And to this day, I still don't understand."
The now vibrant golden orbs immediately steered clear of the soul-filled ones, their gaze falling off to the side of his younger brother, unable to meet them at the moment.
"It was because you couldn't," Edward muttered, far too low for Al to hear it, causing the younger one to ask the thirteen year old to repeat it. "I said it was because you couldn't." Edward's words were much louder this time, seemingly echoing in the small space of the room, but they were effective nonetheless.
"But Ed—I mean, I haven't exactly been able to eat for three years now, so what made you decide that after all that time?" Alphonse was obviously confused, but quite interested to see what Ed's response would be.
"I-I just started to feel guilty about it, I guess. That, along with what happened to Nina... It just sort of all added up, you know? I'm sorry, Al." Watery, golden orbs finally met shimmering soul-filled ones, letting silence take over the room once again.
Without a word, Alphonse leaned over again, placing his steel arms around Ed; and for once, the thirteen year old didn't complain, no matter how cold the metallic body was. After all, steel or no steel, he was still his little brother, and nothing would ever change that.
Two months later...
Heavy-booted footsteps made their way down the long hall, echoing off the walls as they continued to proceed towards their intended destination. They could almost be described as precise, almost unheard of by their originator. Although, there was a slight difference between the left and the right, the right still not quite used to functioning yet, but it was getting there.
Red material swung back and forth against the black boots, evidence that the thirteen year old's growth spurt still hadn't come to pass. But that wasn't his main focus at the moment, not yet at least. He had other intentions for now.
The footfalls stopped abruptly, obviously hesitant to enter through the doors they were now paused at.
Golden bangs fell in front of a face that was still lacking in color but appeared much healthier than it had in the previous months, a relief to more than one concerned person. The blonde strands moved slightly as a sigh blew through them, filtering them ever so gently.
"You've got to do this. Don't chicken out now," the thirteen year old whispered to himself, his eyebrows frowning in frustration. "It's been long enough."
Clenching his jaw, he pushed open the door, preparing himself for the man that was waiting for him behind the too large mahogany desk, paperwork a plenty. Glancing up, he saw the Colonel was busy at work on probably nothing, his hand absentmindedly signing away on things he garnered no interest in whatsoever.
Great, he was expecting me. Here goes nothing.
Taking in a deep breath, he moved forward and stood in front of the desk, silently waiting for Mustang to acknowledge his presence, which he had yet to do.
After a few minutes of silence had passed, Edward had had enough.
He slammed his gloved hands down on top of the wood, sending papers flying every which way, and not even giving a damn about it.
"I'm ready," he stated through carefully grit teeth, his golden eyes burning into the crown of Mustang's carefully bowed head, still pretending to be interested in the papers below him.
Seconds passed before the man set down his pen, his gaze slowly meeting Ed's.
"Well, congratulations, Full Metal. I see that you were able to make it in here all by yourself. That must have been quite a feat," he stated, sarcasm dripping thickly from his tone, though there was some other emotion hiding remotely behind his eyes.
"I'm ready to go back out, Colonel. I've been out of the hospital for over a month now. I've completed the cases that you've assigned me, and I think I'm ready—"
"Think?" Mustang questioned inquisitively, leaning somewhat back in the chair, his hands folding in his lap.
"No, I know I'm ready. I've been ready." His voice was steady as he stood up straight, standing as tall as he possibly could, even if it was just under five feet.
"So, what you're telling me is that I should give you a second chance, even though you defied my orders, ran away, almost got you and your brother killed, and made me and my subordinates risk our jobs and ranks as officers, just to save you. Have I missed anything?" He folded his arms, waiting for the thirteen year old to break.
Guilt crept slowly across the teenager's face, but he quickly shunned it away, not yet deterred.
"I was this close—" he gestured with his thumb and index finger, "to getting somewhere on the Philosopher's Stone, and I'm not going to let a ghost town or anything else get in my way. I fully understand the consequences of my actions, but I think—no, I know I deserve a second chance."
"You do also understand that you're still contracted to the State and shall go wherever it is that you're needed. Correct?" The trademark smirk was slowly slipping across the man's visage, taking pleasure in watching the boy squirm.
With an inevitable roll of the eyes, Edward responded with a breathless, "Yes."
"And you also recall that the terms and conditions that we made states that you are to put the State above all other things, and that the Stone is a secondary priority." With anyone else, it would have been a query, but in Mustang's case, it was a definite statement.
"Yes, I do," Ed replied grudgingly, jaw clenched in absolute annoyance at the Colonel's ability to give him the runaround.
The smirk grew wider as the onyx eyed man reached into the still standing mounds of paperwork and pulled out a yellow case file, sliding it in Edward's direction.
"There have been sightings and confirmed reports of wild chimeras in a town east of here called Knotsford. There have been no reported deaths or physical contact with civilians, but the town is in an uproar, no less." He paused, taking in the sight of silent victory that was flooding across the younger alchemist's features. "You are to report to me as soon as you arrive, and I expect one each day until this is settled."
Edward grabbed the file without a second thought, his golden eyes lit with the very fire that had almost been extinguished in Renégauld.
"You're train leaves first thing tomorrow morning, and I've arranged for Hughes to escort you to the station."
"Thank you, Colonel." The words were hard to force out but they were at least sincere. Hell, the teen almost looked on the verge of tears before the man went back to the paperwork that was still awaiting his autographs.
Edward turned slowly, silently making his way to the door, inwardly exited at the next chance to find the Stone. Of course, after he settled the whole chimera thing and all.
"Oh, and Full Metal?" The question drifted through the air, hitting the blonde directly in the back of the head. Just the sound of it made him stop dead in his tracks.
"Don't get yourself killed. The last thing I need is a mark on my record for your ignorance."
The remark normally would have sent the boy into a frenzy, but he decided to let it go today. He had to get ready for the next crazy adventure he and Alphonse were about to go on.
Epilogue
He felt like he hadn't seen the sun in ages, with all the snow and rain they'd had for the past few months, but today, it was shining brightly in the clear blue sky. A perfect day, to say the least.
"Think you're up for this, Al?" Ed's voice streamed through the air, only Alphonse hearing the slight tinge of over-confidence it contained.
"The question is, are you, Brother?" the twelve year old's voice queried, taking in the sight of the train station up ahead.
"Of course, I am. Did you really have to ask?" the State Alchemist scoffed, his golden eyes shining in the sun's rays, appearing even brighter than what they were. "I've been ready since I got out of that stupid hospital. I just didn't realized it would take so long to use this thing again," he said, gesturing to his right leg.
"That's what happens when you don't use it for half a year, Ed. You can't just wake up from a coma and go running all around the place. Things like that take time. You of all people should know that," the boy laughed, earning a scowl from the older boy which only made him laugh harder.
"He's right though, Ed," Hughes cut in, slipping his hands into pockets as they neared the station. "But I must say, your progress was faster than half those men in there. The doctors were nothing short of amazed, to say the least."
"Well, I couldn't have done anything without all of you there. By the way, do you think you could tell Hawkeye and everyone else I said thanks? I appreciate everything they've done, while I was in there. If you guys hadn't taken care of Al, who knows what kind of trouble he could've gotten himself into?" Of course he was joking, but he still received an offended, "Hey!" from the twelve year old.
"I will. Oh, and don't forget to use what I got you. Somehow, I have a feeling it'll come in pretty handy. Especially where you two are going," Maes stated as they entered Central's train station.
"Um, what exactly did you get me?" Ed asked, obviously puzzled.
"Uh, oops," Al mumbled sheepishly, taking out the small box Hughes had given him on Edward's birthday some two months before. If metal could blush, it would have been doing so right then and there. "Here you go," he said, his voice high and rushed as he handed Ed the box.
Edward took it and slowly unwrapped it. He couldn't help but smile as he pulled out a small, silver compass, almost the size of his pocket watch.
"Thanks, Hughes." His tone was sincere, the grin that was spreading across his lips actually meeting his eyes for once.
"You're welcome," Maes returned, a crooked smile tugging up the corners of his mouth as well. "Well, I guess you two better get going, before you miss the train. Be careful. I don't want to have to come on a search party for you two again. Once was enough," he joked, getting a few laughs out of the brothers.
"We will," Alphonse reassured, waving as he walked up the train's steps, careful to duck before he entered the car.
"Yeah, no more ghost towns," Ed played it off, visions of that day still haunting his thoughts. He paused on the last step, remembering something he's almost completely forgotten about. He turned to Hughes, holding on as the train started to roll along the tracks. "Tell Mr. God complex to talk to Rian!" he shouted over the hustle and bustle to an instantly confused Hughes. "Tell him that he misses him, and it's not too late!" With a wink, the teen boarded the train, leaving a bewildered Maes on the platform.
&&&&&
"What was that all about?" Al asked as Ed sat down across from him, the discomfort of the seat automatically showcasing itself on his boyish visage.
"Nothing, really," the thirteen year old lied with a slight smile, taking off his coat and setting it down next to him. He leaned back in the seat, trying to get as comfortable as possible, but the feat was proving to be fruitless at the moment.
A lasting silence drifted between them. It was somewhat peaceful, but somehow Alphonse knew that words were supposed to be filling that space. He glanced out the window before his gaze rested on Ed, studying the teenager who sat before him. The color had found its way back to his hair as well as in his eyes, and the act of over-confidence had made its way back to him as well, personality-wise. He was still a bit thin, but nothing like he had been when he'd entered the hospital.
He's getting better, and that's all that matters.
But there was also a difference in him that Al just couldn't pinpoint. It was subtle, quietly laying dormant within his soul perhaps, but probably nothing to worry about.
"Brother?" Al's voice drifted through the silence, his soul-filled gaze never once faltering.
"Yeah?" the reply distant reply came, the thirteen year old's mind obviously in another place at the moment.
"While you were—while you were in the coma...do you remember anything, you know, that happened during it?" The voice that emanated from the metallic suit was anything but sure, but he asked the question anyway, too curious to let go of what had been in his thoughts for the past two months.
A tiny, yet barely noticeable smile crept across Ed's lips as his glance fell from the window to his little brother's soul-filled orbs, then back to the blue skies that painted the outside of the glass. With the slightest hint of hesitation, he opened his mouth, the words starting to flow.
"I was ten again, Al." He paused for a moment, almost wanting to keep everything to himself, but all the while knowing it would be too selfish. "Basically, you could say I relived the past. Pretty strange, huh?" he said, showcasing the faintest glimpse of a smile again, golden strands falling in his face.
"Was anything different?" the twelve year old queried, his body clanking as he leaned forward a bit, hanging on every word that parted his older brother's lips, as though it were story time and they were little kids again.
"To be honest, not really. Everything was almost exactly the same as back then, only this time, I think I appreciated Mom more." His voice softened ever so slightly at the mention of their mother, but he continued nonetheless. "It was nice, to see the two of you like that again. Just...to be together."
Alphonse was quiet for a moment; and if Ed didn't know any better, the twelve year old alchemist almost seemed upset in a way, instantly making the blonde concerned.
"Al, hey, what's wrong?" he asked, tilting his head to the side to stare up at the solitary suit of armor whose helmet was hung, shadowing his soul-filled eyes.
"Do you—do you wish that you never would have come back?" His voice grew a tinge higher with each word, almost breaking in two as he got to the end of his question.
"Of course not, Al! Are you kidding me?" he asked jokingly, trying to earn something that even remotely resembled a laugh emanate from the armor. "That place I went to—it wasn't real. It was just a living memory. And no matter how much I liked it at first...things still happened like they did before. Mom still died, and we still went through the with the transmutation. And there's nothing I could've done there to change any of that. What was going to happen was going to happen. And I'm just thankful that I did wind up back here."
"I am too." His voice was soft but audible, showing at least some sign of cheering up.
"Besides, if I hadn't, they'd probably be using you as a spare trash can in Mustang's office." He couldn't help but laugh at the thought, and just hearing his little brother sound offended then break into a fit of laughter didn't hurt either.
Things were normal again.
Well, as normal as they could be with those two.
FIN