Zilo: Holy pachnnng, you guys!
Ed: What does that mean exactly?
Zilo: It means my car broke down! Also I'm gearing up for a promotion at work! Also my laptop is slowly disintegrating!
Risty: …Am I supposed to be writing this down…?
Zilo: Nope! Just a friendly warning that I'm totally going a completely different direction from what I planned, yet again!
Zoe: But that has nothing to do with—
Zilo: So let's get to those reviews!
Ed: You do realize you broke your—
Zilo: REVIEW TAAAIM!
Zilo: You see right, Rokuchuchu! Sorry to keep you waiting, and I hope it's worth it!
Zilo: (looks up and down) Mm-hm, Asj Johnson has indeed reviewed!
Ed: I was too preoccupied to put it up. (self-consciously touches hair)
EW77: I never thought of it like that. Hmm…maybe I could dye my hair…
Zilo: The dimensions are a big mess to figure out, but if EW77's theory is correct, then this is just one decision universe, and it probably wouldn't make sense at all. The truth is out…uh, in my files, I guess…
Astrid: I was hoping she wouldn't pay attention, being like four and all.
Risty: Well children are more intelligent than some think, you know.
Astrid: Um…
EW77: If only I had the power to do it forcibly, it'd sure solve some problems.
Risty: Well, I guess it could be…but the idea was just really upsetting at the time.
Zilo: That picky Gate, amirite? Wanting to have its cake and possess it too! And no, I've never seen the movie, so any similarities are either coincidental or the result of mind control, la la la!
Envy: That last one, unfortunately…
Zilo: Brown Jell-O? Ewwwwww! Well now I've been put off my food…Thanks for the epic review!
Zilo: Thanks for reviewing, CloudEnvyKunoichi! I'm glad the chapter was to your liking! Don't worry, starlightmint72, you can like both! I do appreciate your patience. Often real life plus difficulty with ideas can equal some time between updates, but I always do my best. Here's hoping this chapter's worth the wait!
Risty: I'm back, hooray!
Zilo: And welcome back to you, Ellenthefox!
Al: I know, it's a horrible choice.
Zilo: Somehow I really enjoy getting readers to root for characters they usually don't like…
Envy: You know I'd probably kill her anyway, right?
Zilo: YAY, you understand, Rawrzness Wolf! I swear I try not to play Xbox every day. You've got that right, alexthegreat. Let's hope it doesn't last long for the poor guy. And MUAHAHA, katsekala! I mean…thankee for the kisses!
Risty: I've got the shirt!
Zilo: Cool beans! (gives Sarah K.R. a "I Just Read TSG And Its Sequel In One Day And All I Got Was This Lousy T-shirt" shirt) I am so glad you gave my fic a chance! I do my best to make likeable, relatable OCs for everybody, and whenever I get a review like this, it feels like a big old "Mission Accomplished"! So thank you very much! Here's more for you!
Zilo: Exactly, LeFay Strent! I take forever but I always return! Time will tell if Envy and Risty get another chance to talk! And many apologies for being late again! (bows) I try my best to stay on track but life is always running over me with its shiny sports car…
Zilo: Holy some-kind-of-food, Watery Cordial! Thank you so much for taking time out to leave so many reviews! Awesome! A proper response would be twice the length of the chapter, so I'll just say again, thank you! And also, you've got quite the sense of humor; I was definitely laughing out loud at the reactions to some of the plot twists. Well, you're all caught up now, so here's another chapter for you! Please enjoy and see you next time!
Zilo: All in due time, Storygirl11! (wink)
29: All Talk, No Action
"…Of course, I wouldn't be surprised if it ended up being another trap. Green's paranoid like that," Roy was saying.
"How long do you think we have to try again?" Rita asked.
Roy smiled, hand on the doorknob. "You're saying 'we' again?"
"A mistake," Rita said, waving a hand.
"All right, I'll give you that one. Say it again and it's deliberate."
"Don't start again with me, Mr. Manne," Rita warned.
Roy pushed open the door. "All I was saying—"
Any playful banter was brought to a screeching halt when they laid eyes on Lukas, lying facedown on the floor in a pool of his own blood. Rita immediately unholstered her gun and brought it to bear. Roy kept his palm flat on the door, dropping lower, scanning the room. He couldn't see anyone or hear anything.
In a quick move, Roy pushed the door all the way open, and Rita leveled her gun at the room. Being armed, she went in first, the barrel of her gun following the direction her eyes moved. Roy watched kept an eye out for sneak attacks as he silently closed the door.
Once they had confirmed the front room was clear, Roy checked Lukas for signs of life and found none. Together, they went to the bedroom. Roy looked inside and couldn't repress a shudder. Envy might have been sleeping peacefully if it weren't for all the blood. Though it didn't seem likely, Roy carefully checked Envy as well, and found no signs of life.
There was nothing in the room to hide behind except the bed. Roy knelt and checked, but no one was under there. He stood, dusting off his knees.
"Do you think this was Green?" Rita asked him.
Roy didn't answer as he brushed past her, out of the room. Rita turned, a little confused, as he went to the closet door, slightly recessed in the wall next to the bedroom door, and opened it. She watched his back as his shoulders slumped slightly, and he knelt on the floor.
"Simon," he said softly, in a voice meant not to startle.
Rita sucked in a breath. Had Simon been here for the slaughter? She hurried to Roy's side and knelt by him. Simon was huddled back in the closet, knees up, face buried in his arms, like he was trying to disappear. He started to shake when he heard Roy's voice, and slowly lifted his head.
"Y-You're here," he trembled.
"Were you hurt?" Roy asked.
Simon shook his head. "I didn't—Envy told me to leave and he let me but—"
Roy reached into the closet and pulled Simon out. Simon uncurled enough to grip Roy's shirt in his hands. "Is—did he—is Envy—?"
"He's gone."
Simon bunched the fabric tighter and buried his face in Roy's chest. Roy stood, Simon in his arms, and Rita stood with him. Neither of them had to say what they were thinking. They left, with Roy holding his free hand protectively to the back of Simon's head to keep him from looking up and at Lukas's body.
Just when it seemed like the sky was getting darker a little too early, Noa realized she could feel vibrations in the ground, like feet pounding. Suddenly two people loomed over her, one instantly going to her knees and grabbing Noa's hand. It was Risty, and she looked really upset. Noa was vaguely happy to see her, not even really stopping to wonder how or when she'd returned.
"Noa! I'm so sorry! Please, be okay! Don't die, we'll get you to the hospital!" she was saying.
Ed was next to her, leaning over Noa. His face was grim. "Was it Al?" he asked.
It took a moment to remember how to talk, and somehow even opening her mouth to speak hurt. "Yes…he wasn't…himself…" She wanted Ed to know that she wasn't angry at Al. She knew it wasn't his fault he'd been possessed. She'd never blame him for this.
Risty was starting to cry, squeezing Noa's hand tightly in hers. Noa realized that it was harder to see what she was thinking, maybe because she was dying. But the images were there, if a little blurry. Unsurprisingly, it was centered on those idyllic five months where they had no leads and were forced to live normal lives. Risty had really liked getting to know Noa as a person, beyond what she had seen before.
"She's not gonna make it, is she?" Risty said, speaking to Ed.
He shook his head gravely.
Risty shook her head as well, as if she could deny the inevitable. "Then I want to stay here with you," she said, this time to Noa.
In response, Ed sat down cross-legged next to her, and took Noa's other hand in his. She smiled faintly at them both, half-watching their thoughts flutter around and through each other in her mind's eye. They were becoming too indistinct to make out, but it was still interesting to watch.
And it was nice to not have to face the darkness alone.
Risty was the first to return to awareness. She found herself still on the ground, both hands clasped around Noa's, forehead pressed against the unmoving fingers. Her face felt sticky from dried tears. Her bad arm ached from being in an uncomfortable position. At some point, Ed had scooted closer so their sides were touching. His head was bent as well, his bangs hiding most of his face, Noa's other hand held in his.
For once, they hadn't spoken to each other about what had happened. Risty had let herself be consumed by grief, and guilt once again, and hadn't wanted to talk at all. Ed had seemed to shut off for his own reasons.
She looked down at Noa, whose eyes were closed, expression almost peaceful despite the blood that had pooled around her stomach. Risty felt herself start to shake again as she confirmed what she had hoped was just some terrible nightmare: Noa was dead. More tears filled her eyes.
This is my fault somehow, isn't it?
Ed stirred next to her, like he'd been asleep. He rubbed his forehead with his automail hand, slowly. Risty sniffled and wiped her face. Silently, they both looked down at Noa, or what remained of her, then at the same time, they placed her hands down at her sides. Ed stood up first, slowly, stretching his arms. Risty followed soon, ignoring the stiffness in her knees.
Now standing, they both looked down at Noa again. "Somehow this keeps happening," Ed said softly, sounding like he was talking to himself.
"I didn't tell you this…but…" Risty's voice was barely above a whisper.
Ed tilted his head slightly, like he was listening, but didn't have the strength to fully turn his head.
"It wasn't just Noa. I don't—I don't know if you'd care, but there was Envy too…"
Ed's hand twitched a little, and he finally lifted his head enough to look at Risty. She was still looking down at Noa, her face miserable. "I wish the last things we'd said hadn't been a fight," she mumbled.
"…I'm sorry," Ed finally said. "I know you two were friends."
She shook her head a little. "No. I was just deluding myself. We weren't ever friends."
"There!" said a distant, familiar voice. Ed turned abruptly, his face still grim, to see Roy and Rita coming down the street in a car. Roy parked at the curb nearest them and got out, his face stormy. Rita looked stern too, until her eyes landed on what was behind their feet, and she gasped.
"What happened here?" Roy snapped out.
"What's it look like?" Ed shot back.
"Roy." Rita placed a calming hand on Roy's shoulder, then turned to Ed. "Do you know who did this?"
Ed stiffened, then looked away.
"Was it your brother?" said Roy.
At that Ed flinched, and his head whipped back like lightning. "Al wouldn't do this to anyone! It wasn't him, you understand? He's being controlled!"
"By what?" Roy said sharply.
Ed took a breath, as if he didn't want to answer.
"The way I see it," Roy said slowly, "your brother came to the temporary base, killed two people, and traumatized my nephew. If you have any good excuses ready, I'd like to hear them."
"Don't talk about Al that way, you bastard! You don't understand what's going on!" Ed yelled.
"Then enlighten me, Elric, just what is going on?" Roy shouted back.
"That's enough out of you two!" Rita shouted suddenly, startling them both. She turned to Roy. "I only met Alphonse Elric a few times, but even then I gained enough of an impression of him to believe that he would never be cold and callous enough to murder two—not to mention three—people in cold blood. I never was a believer in possession or anything of that sort, but maybe there's an explanation that can keep us from each other's throats."
Roy had stopped yelling, but he still looked angry. "Then I still want to hear that explanation," he said.
"It's my fault," Risty said now. The others turned to her in surprise, having almost forgotten she was there since she'd been so quiet. She didn't turn away from Noa's body as she spoke. "I fell in with a…very powerful, very evil organization a while ago, and so did he. We did it to save people we loved and cared about. Eventually we escaped, but they've been playing us against each other, trying to force one or both of us to give in. Al…gave himself up to save me…"
Some of the anger had lessened in Roy's face. "And just who is this organization? Who are these people?"
"They're not people. They're demons. They gain power from the deaths of others."
"Demons…" Rita repeated, as if trying to make sense of the word.
"What's their goal?" Roy asked.
"…I don't know…" Risty's head dropped some, and her shoulders hunched. She shivered.
Roy looked deep in thought for a moment, before he heaved a sigh. "All right. Let's say I believe this story of yours. Where does that leave us? How do we find Alphonse?"
"I don't know yet. But we're gonna find him," Ed said firmly. He put an arm around Risty's shoulders and managed to turn her away from Noa's body, pulling her a few steps away.
"We need to tell Luludja," Rita said. Ed looked pained at that, but he didn't say anything.
"Well we would, if we even knew where she was," Roy pointed out.
"That's true," Rita sighed.
Roy glanced back at his car, then back to Ed and Risty. "For now, we need to regroup and come up with a plan. If your brother, whether under the influence of evil spirits or not, is going to be coming after us, then we need to be ready for him."
"But you can't!" Risty exclaimed suddenly, her head snapping up. "It isn't Al's fault! He isn't—"
"Whether it's his fault or not, three people are already dead. We can't wait around for the rest of us to be picked off," Roy said firmly.
"Especially since we have no idea when or where he'll strike next," Rita added.
"If one of you has a better plan, I'd love to hear it, but for now our strength will be in numbers."
Ed and Risty stayed silent.
"Now." Roy glanced at his car again. "We'll take Noa with us to the second rendezvous point. It's behind the warehouse a few blocks from your apartment complex. Meet us there and we'll all discuss the situation."
"Fine," Ed agreed quietly.
It wasn't fair.
After all this time, all this work and effort, all the strength and endurance he had spent—was he really here again?
Insanely enough, the children had missed him. The less mature ones were all excited. Their welcome back gift to him was to tell him the grand plan in bits and pieces, all bowling over each other in their eagerness to explain their motives.
Some of the others resented how much he had resisted them, and were now acting smugly triumphant. A few were worried he'd somehow find a way to escape from them again.
There's not much hope of that, he said. I have no deals to make.
That's right! That's so true! they exclaimed.
You're stuck with us!
Forever!
FOREVER HAHAHA!
It really wasn't fair.
How long am I on probation? he asked.
Until we can trust you again, said some of them. You've been very bad, and we must make sure that you won't do it again.
Are you going to kill Brother? he asked.
He's not your brother anymore! We are!
We're your brother now! Us! Us!
That doesn't answer my question.
That sent some of them into fits of laughter. YES, WE'RE GOING TO KILL HIM! they shouted. He's been in the way much too long!
He'll be dead, dead, dead!
Why couldn't you bring the girl back with you? some of them whined.
The walk back to the apartment was silent and subdued. Ed focused mostly on steering them in the right direction, not wanting to think of anything beyond that at the moment. He wouldn't mourn Envy, who had been his enemy, but the loss of Noa was a blow. Add to that that his brother's being possessed by the Gate, and it was starting to feel like another of those dark days that could suck the life out of him. In one of those days—the loss of his mother, the failed transmutation, Nina's death, and more it hurt to dwell on—at least Al had been there in some way, shape, or form. But now Al was gone, at a time Ed needed him most, and now Ed felt like he was really alone for the first time in a long time. The one person he was always supposed to put up a tough front for, was gone.
On occasion, Risty would untangle her hand from his to wipe her face, but she always grabbed his hand again right after. He could feel the pain and guilt coursing through her, but, as he admitted guiltily to himself, he wasn't sure if he could really say anything to help her right now, especially when he felt like opening his mouth would cause him to start crying. So he could only hold onto her hand, give her the lifeline she was squeezing. And, of course, drag them down the sidewalk.
When they finally made it to the apartment, Ed felt open the door, and instantly felt a twist in his gut. Noa's shawl was hanging on the coat hook right next to the door. He pushed down the ache and pulled Risty over to the couch. Risty looked up when her shin bumped into the cushion, and she let herself sink down with a heavy sigh as Ed retreated into his room to get shoes and put his hair up.
Risty wished there was something she could do. She wanted a specific thing, an exact goal that would suddenly make everything better, and bring Noa and Envy back. The worst part was realizing that there was nothing like that. Two people she really, truly cared about were gone, forever. Now she would have to live with it. But that seemed impossible.
Add to that Al's sacrificing himself to the Gate to protect her, and that her bond with Ed had finally shown its downside and essentially separated her from her family forever—and Risty was now trying hard to find something to be optimistic about. She kept failing, and so tried to think of nothing.
She wondered what Simon had seen. Had the children, through Al, spoken to him? Threatened him? Or decided he wasn't worth the trouble of killing? How much of Envy's murder did he see? And why couldn't she have been able to do anything about it?
See, a faint voice said, if you'd just given in, your mind wouldn't be swallowed up in depression...
She tried hard not to think about that either.
So, in the midst of her using all her strength to not think of anything, she realized that she might be witnessing the first signs of going authentically insane—she was hearing even more voices, some different, singular ones that sounded like they were almost underwater.
"…that look like someone with murderous intent to you?"
"Well I—I don't—you can't just expect me to—"
"Sure I can." The first voice broke through the watery muffling, now sounding very clear and in the same room. There was a huff of either exasperation or resignation, and then it was quiet again. Risty realized belatedly that her bad arm was screaming in pain from being in positions other than its comfy sling for far too long, and she stiffly let it drop into her lap, absently reminding herself to get a new sling, as she'd left her old one at her mom's.
Mom…
A hand placed itself on her shoulder. Risty wearily lifted her head, expecting to see that Ed had returned. Instead, she found herself looking into sympathetic gray eyes behind square glasses, set in a face framed by straight black hair.
She gasped and tried to scramble back, though her back was already against the sofa, so she only succeeded in squishing herself deeper into the cushion. "W-Who are you?" she exclaimed, surprise and terror in her voice.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to startle you, Risty," said the…person—boy? girl? it was hard to tell—hand still extended.
"Well—you did and—wait, how do you know my name?"
At that, the person straightened up and adjusted the glasses with a finger. "We used to IM each other all the time," the person said, and Risty had to rack her brain for a moment to remember what IMs were. "But I guess you wouldn't recognize me. So, hi, I'm EdwardsWife77."
Risty gaped at…her? like a fish for several moments. "…But…you can't be her, she was—was—" she managed.
"I can and am. And I'm a he, actually. It's nice to finally meet you face-to-face."
"Um…likewise, I guess…" Risty trailed off uncertainly. She realized suddenly that EdwardsWife77—who was apparently a boy—wasn't alone, and her eyes trailed over and locked onto a horrifyingly familiar pair, coincidentally also gray.
Again she gasped, and again she tried to back away and only smushed herself further into the couch. "You!" she shouted, her heart pounding wildly.
Sakura stiffened, her face taking on an angry expression, and she took what seemed to be an involuntary step forward. A quick, cold glance from EdwardsWife77 stopped her in her tracks, though. "Don't worry, Risty, she's not going to try and kill you again. She's in my custody," he said.
"Why should I believe you? How do I know you're not her partner, trying to lay some trap?" Risty demanded.
EdwardsWife77 shrugged. "Well, you don't know, really. You'll just have to accept my word as it is."
"Well, I won't! Not without proof!"
"You were four years old," he said suddenly, "and your parents had taken you to the fair. They'd warned you not to run off, but you did anyway, trying to catch a guy with balloons. You got lost and tried to find your way back, but instead you were found. First, by a girl with blond hair and gray eyes, who falsely promised to help you find your mom. Then, by your cousin Astrid, though you didn't recognize her at that age, who protected you from the girl and gave you to a police officer, who reunited you with your worried parents."
Risty was stunned speechless.
"That happened to you fourteen years ago, but it wasn't very long ago for us. I just recently sent Astrid back to prevent Sakura from killing you then," said EdwardsWife77.
She tried to take a few calming breaths before she started hyperventilating. Think. Don't panic, think. "Okay," she finally said, trying to work it out rationally. "Let's say…I believe you. Why are you here?"
"To take one of the worries off your plate. We're going to convince Sakura not to kill you."
Risty's brows crinkled. "Well…I'd be in the favor of the idea, but I don't think we could. She's insane."
"She's right here," Sakura snapped.
Risty's confused expression morphed into a glare impressively quickly. "Pardon me for not including you," she said with a touch of venom.
Sakura's eyes narrowed. "You can try whatever you want, both of you, but nothing will change my mind. I know what you are. You're a monster, and you must be stopped. And since I'm apparently the only one thinking clearly, I assure you, I will be the one to do it."
"Sakura, we didn't come here for more threats—" EdwardsWife77 started.
"One more word out of you and you'll regret it for the rest of your miserable life," Ed's steely voice snapped from the hall. Everyone looked up as he entered the room, a stony glare locked onto EdwardsWife77 and Sakura. Risty stood, a little unsteadily.
"Oh boy," EdwardsWife77 sighed. "Let's not get physical, everyone. We're trying to avoid that."
"There's only one way to do that: get her out of here," Ed growled, gesturing at Sakura.
EdwardsWife77 held up both his hands, as if to ward off any attacks. "Please, hear me out. I'm only here to try and defuse this situation."
Ed snorted.
"You picked a bad time," Risty said.
EdwardsWife77 looked sympathetic again. "I know things have come to a head right now, and I'm sorry. But if you cooperate, this will be one less thing to worry about, right?"
"And just what's your grand plan?" Ed wanted to know.
"A simple conversation, between you—" he pointed at Risty "—and you." His finger swung to Sakura.
"What!" Ed and Sakura spluttered at the same time.
"You can't be serious!" Ed yelled.
"That will never happen!" Sakura seconded. "You expect me to sit down and talk with the monster that destroyed my family? You must be out of your mind!"
"I didn't destroy your family!" Risty exclaimed indignantly.
Sakura's hate-filled gaze zeroed in on her. "I'd know that face anywhere. It was you, and no one else. You can't deny it."
"You don't know what you're talking about! I don't know what you're talking about!"
"Oh, so you're telling me you don't remember the day you showed up at the fair and slaughtered all those people, including my brother and sister? Huh?"
Risty drew back, her eyes widening. She remembered something Sakura had said the last time they met. Something about "all those innocent people…"
That day…
"Sakura," EdwardsWife77 said sharply.
"I won't have that monster lying to my face!"
"That's enough out of you!" Ed roared, taking a threatening step forward. "You'd better get the hell out of here now, or—"
"I remember it."
EdwardsWife77 blinked in surprise, and Ed paused, caught off-guard.
"It had been after we had decided to test the plan. They wanted to see if it would work completely. I didn't want to do it, I thought it would be weird, but they said I didn't have a choice, it was part of the plan." Risty was talking like she was reading words off a cue card, her eyes distant. "They didn't want to alert Ed, so they picked a day from my old time. It would only be for a little while, they told me. I didn't need to be afraid.
"But I was. The moment I was outside the Gate I wanted to run, escape, get help, something. But they were in control, or I thought they were. So I gave up. I gave up and then…I…started to…" She put her hand over her mouth, as if to stop the flow of words.
"That's enough," Ed said, this time a lot less angrily. He closed the distance between her and put his hands on her shoulders. "You don't have to explain yourself to anyone. We know what happened to you, and it's not your fault."
"Those people are still dead," she managed.
"I know. But there's nothing we can do about it now."
"Don't be so sure," Sakura butted in.
Ed's head whipped around, and he glowered at her fiercely.
"Stop it. Now," EdwardsWife77 said, his voice cold. Sakura looked like she wanted to protest, but finally, wisely, kept her mouth shut.
"We're supposed to go to the warehouse," Risty whispered, wiping the back of her mouth over her hand like she was getting rid of a bad taste.
EdwardsWife77 nodded like the statement was directed at him. "When you're in a more…centered state of mind, would you be willing to have the conversation…?"
"Look, you—" Ed started.
"I would," Risty cut in, rubbing her face.
EdwardsWife77 nodded again. "Okay. The problems you're facing right now really don't fall under our jurisdiction, but still, if I can help…" He dug in his jeans pocket and produced a piece of paper folded tightly into a small square. "This will let you and one other person travel up to nineteen miles in any direction. Hopefully, if you need to travel, it will help."
Risty nodded also and shakily extended her hand, and EdwardsWife77 dropped the paper into it. "I really do hope this works out well for you. All of you," he said.
"Me too," Risty managed, pulling her hand to her chest.
"Just get out. And if you do show your face around here again, don't bring her back," Ed warned.
"We'll leave you to it, then." And in a shimmer of air, the two intruders were gone as fast as they appeared.
When he had confirmed they'd left, Ed turned back to Risty, his expression softening. "Are you okay?"
"No way," she replied, resting her forehead on his shoulder.
They stood there for a few moments, Ed's hands still holding Risty's arms.
"Are you okay?" Risty asked without lifting her head.
"No way," he answered quietly.
She nodded, then shifted so she could put her good arm around him. He leaned his cheek against her head and closed his eyes with a sigh.
"…Ed?" she whispered after a few moments more.
"Yeah," he whispered back.
"We will save Al?"
"Damn straight."
"Then…I think I have an idea."
Ed opened his eyes as Risty hesitantly began to plot.
"Any observations?" EdwardsWife asked.
Sakura swallowed, twice. Her fists were shaking.
"I'm listening," he prompted.
"I…"
"Yes?"
"…I don't know."
"Can we at least agree that the person you remember was not actually Risty Fernandez under her own impulses, but someone possessed by a rather obviously villainous force?"
Sakura didn't want to say it. But she did. "Yes."
"Then it looks like your anger's misplaced," EdwardsWife sad.
"But she still—!"
"Sakura, that's enough. Don't dig the hole even further by trying to defend yourself. You were wrong, now admit it."
She bit back the rest of her words.
EdwardsWife sighed and rubbed his forehead with his fingers. "Well, this is a fine mess we're all in. You realize we're going to have to get the letter out of you somehow? And the process is most likely going to be quite painful? And there's a strong possibly of new restrictions thanks to you? And I'm going to have to babysit you until then so you don't take off?"
"I thought I was doing the right thing!" Sakura snapped defensively.
"Oh really? And it never occurred to you that maybe there was a reason Risty was so wildly different and unclothed when she showed up that day?" EdwardsWife shot back.
"I didn't care! I thought she was just acting the other times!"
"No one can act through insanity. You of all people should know that."
Sakura lapsed into silence, knowing she wouldn't win this argument.
"So tell me," EdwardsWife said, adjusting his glasses, "what stopped you from going back to that day and trying to change it, instead of taking these drastic measures?"
Sakura flinched. "I thought about it. But you said meeting yourself creates chaos, remember?" She remembered well, and she'd come very close to risking it. That, and it was almost too painful to think about going back there, and having to see it again.
"Well, yeah, but that's another working theory. You decided all our working theories were rubbish, remember?" he reminded her.
"I…didn't want to risk it being true. I didn't want to break the universe."
He sighed again. "At least I taught you something. Now, I have a deal for you. Agree to sit down and talk civilly about this with her, and if we're successful, you and I will see what we can do about fixing that day."
"What?" Sakura's head snapped up. "But how? You said—"
"I know what I said. The theory relies on both of you recognizing yourselves. I'm surprised you didn't think of using a disguise."
"But then—so it can be done? My brother and sister—they'll really be saved? You had that other theory about decision universes and—"
"Again, I know what I said. But as long as we're destroying things left and right, we might as well do it for the sake of something positive. But only if you agree to the talk."
Sakura's heart rate had gone up, and she was breathing faster. After all she'd gone through, to have this solution dangled in front of her face was almost unbearable.
EdwardsWife watched her steadily. "Now saying this, it's possible that our manipulations won't produce the desired result, or we might get it after all—in the creation of a new dimension we'll never see. There are a lot of unseen complications and situations we simply can't control, even if we had all nineteen types of letters."
"I don't care. I want to try," Sakura said firmly. "So I'll—I'll—talk to the mons…to her."
EdwardsWife nodded. "That'll have to be good enough." He turned to the wall, and as he turned, they moved to the TV room. "Now, let's find when Risty's mess ended, and head over."
Zilo: And now, I SWEAR—
Others: STOP!
Ed: Don't make promises you can't keep!
Risty: That's right! Just make sure you do your best to get out a great chapter!
Zilo: (grumbles) Okay. I promise to update as soon as I can!
