Ok, it's been a while. A long while. As in, over 3 years.

I apologize. These will be the last two chapters of this series, and will be posted in both Bald Eagle and Jaybird.

A lot has happened since the last chapter.

The details mentioned about the non-FMA characters in this chapter are true, aside from obvious things like the idea that the ferrets can talk.


Gravel was pulled up from the ground and was sucked in as the portal opened, shining alchemic circle patterns on the walls of the old barn. Swallows fled their perches in the rafters, chirping loudly as they departed.

Harriet stood, arms crossed, watching the boys, plus Riza, who had spent four years in her world prepare to leave forever. Her red-dyed, buzz-cut hair rippled in the strange wind as she forced the tears from welling up in her eyes.

Bacchus, Quozl, and Fujiko (formerly known as "Chink") cuddled in a pile a safe distance away.

Fujiko sniffled. "I wish Zuzu was still here to say goodbye to them too," she whispered tearfully.

Quozl licked her ear comfortingly. "I'm sure your little sister is watching us all from heaven. I bet she's smiling now, too."

"Yeah." Fujiko brightened up a bit. "I think you're right."

Quozl smiled a bittersweet smile, thinking of his own impending death. He was already nearly eight years old, old indeed for a ferret, and he had been showing signs of adrenal disease for at least a year now. Even comparatively young Fujiko had been diagnosed with the disease, but she was being treated with implants to slow the growth of the tumor, and was a good candidate for surgery whenever the money was available.

Fujiko was no longer as young as she used to be, in fact, she was a year or so from entering middle age, but to Quozl she seemed as playful and spry as the day he met her. She still had so much energy, but Quozl was prevented from active play by his arthritis and could only watch her play with Bacchus, who, despite his age, was still fairly healthy.

Zuzu had been taken away from them prematurely at the young age of three by complications of a gastrointestinal ulcer.


Al stared silently into the crumbling floor.

"I'm so sorry Magi couldn't be here, Al," Harriet murmured, giving him a hug. "Believe me, if she could, she would go with you, but I think it's best that she and Sari stay in their new home in Arizona. She'll move on, and you need to, too." She smiled and ruffled his hair. "Find a nice girl in your world and marry her."

Harriet turned to Roy, who was a few feet away. "Sari misses you!" she called.

"Well, I don't miss her!" snapped Roy. Riza squeezed his arm meaningfully.

"I wish you all luck in your world," Harriet said, smiling sadly.

"Wait, you're not coming with us?" shouted Edward.

"Nope."

"Why?" he demanded, stomping angrily over to her.

"I can't," she whispered, closing her eyes.

"But I… I don't understand!" Ed stammered.

"I'm in college, Edward."

"You could drop out, go to school in my world!"

"I have to become a herpetologist, here in my world. I want to do some good for my own world, saving the snakes and salamanders and lizards... I can't help my world if I'm in yours. You know you won't be able to come back."

"Please, I know you can help my world too!" Edward cried.

"And I need my bipolar meds!"

"We can find something!" he barked desperately. "We can find you medicine and you can save the lizards and we can get married and have kids!"

"Edward, I'm gay."


Dun dun duuuun…