Disclaimer: I don't own Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood.
Bold- What happens in the episodes
"Episode Title"
Narrative
Regular talking/actions
Episode 9: Created Feelings
The opening song began once again.
"What about that oh so special beginning about alchemy?" Havoc asked.
"Well, obviously, it's been forgotten or thrown out." Breda replied.
"How sad. I kind of liked that beginning." Brody commented.
"Created Feelings"
An annoyed Ed appeared on the screen.
"Well, that's a lovely way to start an episode." Mustang said sarcastically.
Ed rolled his eyes. Stupid Mustang
"Looks like you can sit up now, huh?" Maria's voice asked before her smiling face was shown.
"Damn, a hospital." Ed grumbled.
"Where do you think you were going to be taken?" Miles asked.
"Anywhere is better than a hospital." Ed said. "So, you'd prefer to bleed to death?" Maria asked with a raised brow.
Ed shrugged. "I've suffered worse. Does 'losing limbs' mean anything to you?" Maria sighed. What a stubborn boy.
"What happened with the fifth laboratory?" Ed asked.
"Well, it, um," Denny said and he and Maria each raised a hand as a picture of the demolished lab appeared in the background.
"Somebody blew up the building and there's nothing left of it now but rubble." Maria finished and the background disappeared as Ed screamed.
"Damn it! You mean they wiped out everything?!" He yelled before his body twitched violently in pain and he grabbed his side.
Edward groaned and grabbed his side. "I wish future me would calm down." He gasped.
"Maybe this will teach you something about what happens when you don't sit still when you're injured." Izumi snapped at him.
"I already know what happens, but I just can't sit still. I have things that need to get done." Edward replied and subtle looked at his brother. His brother was the most important thing in his life. Nothing, not even his injuries, were going to stop him from saving Al.
"Aah! That didn't feel good." Ed mumbled.
"No duh!" Ed grumbled, holding his side tightly.
Ed's brow twitched. "This…isn't…fair." The soldiers were shown looking at him. "Do you know how close I was to finding out the truth?"
"I doubt they know since they weren't there." Hughes said.
Ed twitched. "It was a rhetorical question, Hughes."
"This is no time for me to be lying around in a hospital!"
"Foolish boy." General Armstrong growled. "Injured people shouldn't be running around like you do. That is the way you get even more injured or killed." The young State Alchemist sighed.
He already knew that! But it wasn't like he went off to fight or track down bad guys when he left the hospital when he wasn't supposed to. Usually, at least. There were those few times he did have to track down enemies when he was leaving the hospital without permission, but most of the time he was just leaving to do research!
Maria and Denny shared a look and nodded. Ed was shown back on the screen as the soldiers said together, "Fullmetal Alchemist, sir!"
"Why the hell are you calling me that?" Ed asked confused.
"You never called me so formally before."
"Actually, we have once or twice." Maria corrected. "Yeah," Ed said slowly. "But in this context, it seems strange."
Ed looked up at them. "Hmm?"
"We do apologize in advance for this!" They said.
"Huh?" Ed asked. A hand came forward and smacked Ed across the face.
Ed yelped in response and grabbed his cheek. "Ow."
Mustang slowly clapped in a mocking manner. "I love the idea. Maybe I should try that sometime to get something through his thick head. It might teach him not to go off and do such reckless things all the time."
Rubbing his cheek, Ed shot his superior a glare. "You hit me and I will hit you back, Colonel."
"Then I just have reason to court martial you." Mustang retorted.
Ed snorted. "That's been your threat for three years. A threat that you never go through on loses its intimidation eventually."
"Obviously his hand isn't firm enough." Izumi scoffed, causing Ed to shiver in fear. "I think I learned where Chief's violent streak comes from." Havoc whispered to his comrades, staring nervously at the woman alchemist.
"Just be glad she's on our side." Breda whispered back.
Mustang shrugged. "It's not like I'm his guardian. Just his commander."
Izumi scoffed. "You can think that, but you've been watching over the two for three years now. You've helped them grow up."
The Colonel gaped. Helped them? That was never in the plan. But there wasn't much in his plan to the top of the pyramid that involved two teenagers.
They were just a surprise in all this.
"Four years." Riza corrected Izumi.
The woman raised a brow. "Four years? Ed's only be a State Alchemist for three."
Riza nodded, while Mustang paled and glared at her as his way of silently telling her to shut up. "Colonel Mustang sometimes sent soldiers out to Resembool undercover to check up on the boys so he has been watching them for four years." She looked at Mustang with a shrug. Personally, she didn't think it was that big of a deal.
"Oh, we're revealing secrets now?" Havoc piped up, grinning. "Okay, Ed, I met you when you were eleven. You were in the middle of rehabilitation and you collapsed at the river, coughing blood. I took you back to Winry's place."
Ed looked from Riza to Havoc. "What?" He yelped.
Havoc shrugged. "I was just ordered there to secretly see how this kid was doing. I was told your name and said I would spot you easily because you were the only person around with gold hair and eyes. Gold eyes are very unique. You are the only person I have ever seen with them"
"I don't recall seeing you there." Ed said flatly as his eyes trailed to Mustang.
"You wouldn't. I was wearing a disguise." Havoc replied. "I was sent too." Breda said.
"Same here." Falman added.
"Why?" Ed demanded.
Mustang shrugged. "Truthfully, at the time, I just wanted to make sure nothing happened to you before you joined the military. You were my prize, something to get me credit."
Ed scoffed. He knew that. He knew in the beginning he was just being used by Mustang to get a few points, but it still hurt him to actually hear it. As if he didn't have enough pain today…
"Bastard." Was all Ed could mumble. Maybe in the beginning, they disliked each other and were just using each other, but Ed liked to think they could be friends now. The arguments and anger were still there, but they trusted and relied on each other. Mustang was someone he could trust to go to with a serious problem. He wondered in the Colonel thought the same thing.
Denny winced while Ed wobbled in shock.
"You acted like a selfish child." Maria scolded. "You only escaped with your life because you were lucky." Ed stared at her while her voice softened with a gentle piano tone playing in the background. "You don't have to do everything on your own, you know. You can lean on other people." Maria stared sadly at the boy. "Like us."
"Can you do that now, please?" Karin asked hopefully. It was becoming so scary to see how close the boy kept bringing himself to death.
Ed rubbed his sore cheek. "I can try, but Al and I have only ever relied on each other. It's not easy for us to ask for help."
"Not all adults are the enemy. You can trust us." Maria said before the scene showed Edward with his face bowed a bit.
"You are ruining Fullmetal's way of life." Mustang laughed. Ed blinked in confusion. "My way of life?" "You did say earlier that everyone older than you was an enemy." Havoc pointed out. Ed chuckled. "I was joking." He had thought that was obvious. He may not lean on adults, but that didn't mean he didn't trust any of them. They were there for if he ever needed help.
After a moment, Maria and Denny straightened up. "That's all." They declared together, surprising Ed. "Please forgive our abusive words and conduct, sir. It will not happen again."
Ed stared at them.
"Oh, right, Ed still has more power than them." Havoc said. "Not that he ever uses the power he does have." Mustang pointed out. Ed shrugged. "I didn't join for power like you, Mustang."
"Oh, thank god." Maria sighed in relief. At least now she knew she wouldn't be punished for hitting the boy.
"No, you're right." Ed said softly.
"What?!" Mustang and Havoc shouted together in shock. "Those words are not meant to be coming from your mouth." Mustang muttered.
In all the time he has known the boy, he has never admitted that someone else was right. He thought he would never hear such a thing from the boy.
"It's not that surprising." Ed grumbled at the two. Brody laughed. "Chief, I only met you today, and I find it hard to believe that you would say such a thing." "Am I really that stubborn?" Ed mumbled. "Yes!" Many soldiers shouted.
"I should be apologizing."
Mustang made a show of grabbing his heart. "If you don't stop, Fullmetal, you might just give me a heart attack."
"I should kick your ass!" Ed shouted.
"I just think that it means he is finally growing up." Hughes said, grinning. "If that's true, you are in for a lot of surprises, Roy, and should get ready for that heart attack." The Colonel rolled his eyes.
"A mature Fullmetal. I would love to see that." "You're really pissing me off." Ed grumbled.
"My punishment for slapping you?" Maria asked.
Ed looked at the two. "Nothing. I had it coming."
Maria and Denny both fell into relief. The former leaned one of her hands on the wall and the other on her chest while Denny grabbed his heart in relief.
The State Alchemist sweat dropped. "What's got you two so scared of me?"
The two adults looked at the boy. "State certified alchemists carry a military rank equivalent of that of a major." Maria explained with
Denny nodding in agreement.
"Don't worry about it." Ed replied. "I didn't get my certification so people would kiss up to me." He looked down. "You don't have to talk to me like I'm a high-ranking officer."
Maria and Denny looked happy.
"Really? Oh." Maria said. "Ah, I guess we were scared of the brat for nothing." Denny said.
"They changed quickly." Ed said angrily.
"You better be careful still." Havoc warned with Breda, Fuery, and Falman all nodding. "He may not care about his rank or power, but he will use it if he really has to."
Mustang raised a brow, amused. "So, he has order you four around?"
Fuery groaned. "Yes, sir."
"He's a little demon when he actually wants or needs to use his rank." Havoc said bitterly.
Ed blinked before smirking. "I thought you guys always considered me a demon, whether I use my rank or not." His brows pulled together in irritation and he waved his automail arm in Havoc's direction. "And, DON'T CALL ME LITTLE, HAVOC, OR I SHOW YOU JUST WHAT THIS STATE ALCHEMIST CAN DO WITHOUT ALCHEMY!"
While Havoc chuckled nervously at the metal fist, Izumi bonked her ex-student on the head. "Enough, Edward, or do you want your arm to break on you?"
Grumbling, Ed settled down, but he didn't stop glaring at Havoc with his promise still smouldering in his golden orbs.
The outside of the hospital was shown as Ed asked, "Um, where's Al? I haven't seen him."
"Alphonse got his own lecture earlier." Denny raised his bright red hand and had tears streaming down his face. "But I was the one who did the slapping."
Ed laughed before stopping with a grimace.
"Yeah, wounds still sore," Ed groaned as he grabbed his side.
A dark aura filled behind Ed. "I almost forgot. I have an even less pleasant lecture in store for me today." Maria and Denny looked at him confused then at each other before a phone ringing was heard in the background.
"Argh, Winry." Ed grumbled. But to be fair, it was completely her fault this time!
The Rockbell house was shown with the phone still ringing.
"Hello." Winry's voice rang out. "Rockbell Prosthetic Limb Outfitters."
Winry was shown as she turned her head. Her Grandma looked up from an arm she was working on. "Oh, Ed? Since when do you ever bother to call us? Is something wrong?"
"She should have been tipped off the moment she heard Ed's voice." Luke said with a grin. "Something is broken!"
Ed was shown sitting on a couch with his arm in a sling and his other hand holding the phone. "Yeah. Here's the deal. I hate to ask you, but do you think you could make a service call out to Central for me?" "A service calls?" Winry asked.
"Has she ever done that before?" Havoc asked curiously.
"Nope. I can usually just head out to see her, but that is kind of difficult to do with guards watching over me." Edward replied.
Maria smirked. "I guess we are watching you more closely this time."
"Yeah, you can be happy about that, but I will not be." Ed grumbled.
"Yeah, my right arm is messed up again." He moved one of his automail fingers before Winry was shown again. "I can move the fingers, but that's about it. I can't lift the arm at all."
A flashback was shown of Winry picking up the bolt she forgot to put in. A disgruntled Winry appeared on the screen with the bolt in her hand.
"Yeah, that sounds about right." She said.
"Huh?" Ed asked.
"Nothing, just talking to myself." Winry said.
"Oh? So, she isn't going to tell my future self what she did, is she?" Edward grumbled.
"I wouldn't want to tell my client I made a mistake either." Kei told him with a shrug. "It could cause problems."
Ed rolled his eyes. "I wouldn't stop coming to her for my automail over it."
He smirked mischievously. "I would just tease her for a very long time over it."
"Which is probably part of the reason why she didn't mention it." Mustang said with a sigh.
"I wonder why she was surprised you called. She should have been expecting it since she knew she forgot that bolt." Riza said thoughtfully.
"She was probably hoping it would hold out." Dr. Young commented, shaking her head. "Which it probably would have if Major Elric was not so reckless."
"Alright. We get it." Ed grumbled.
"So, what were you doing when the arm stopped working?" Winry asked.
A worried look passed over Ed's face. "Uh, I was in a really rough fight." He admitted.
An angry Winry appeared yelling in her phone. "You did it again, moron? How could you taint my precious automail like that, alchemy freak?"
Ed had his phone pulled away from his ear.
"My poor ear." Ed mumbled. "Stupid gear freak."
Ed looked at the phone. He put it back on his ear. "Are you there? Hello? Winry?"
"Guess I got no choice. Tell me how to get there." Winry said.
Ed looked at his phone in shock. "You're sure in a good mood today."
He said as he was shown to be standing up now. "I thought you were going to…you know what, never mind. Forget it. Yeah…Yep…Sorry again. And thanks. Right…Good-bye." He hung up the phone with a sigh.
Denny was shown to be standing nearby. "Aw, was that your girlfriend?"
Ed pulled back in shock. "My girlfriend?!" He yelled, causing blood to spurt from his wounds. "No way!"
"Damn it," Ed hissed as he grabbed his side. "I'm going to hit you, Denny….as soon as the pain goes away." Denny twitched in fear.
A wheelchair was shown with Ed in it being pushed by Brosh.
"Argh, I hate wheelchairs." Ed mumbled. It was bad enough he had to be in one for a while when he was eleven.
"It's nothing to be embarrassed about. When I was your age, I had a different girlfriend every week." Brosh said.
"I'm going to hit you two times." Ed muttered.
Ed looked over to his left in surprise. "Huh?" He saw Al sitting in the hallway.
"What are you doing sitting there in the dark by yourself? Hey! Hey, Al!"
Al looked up at his brother. "Brother…"
"You know you can come to the room, right?" Ed asked.
Ed's eyes narrowed. Was his little brother really mulling over what Barry said? If he was that upset, then why didn't he just come out and say it?!
Al was shown before Ed's face slid onto the screen. "I'll be there in a little while." Al replied.
"You go on ahead."
"Okay." Ed said and Denny started pushing him again. Al looked back down at the ground when he heard a soft clinking. He saw a toy robot bump into his foot.
'Stupid toy.' Ed thought annoyed as he knew where this was going. It wasn't a symbol that meant anything, but Al would take it as one and just remember what Barry said.
Al stared at the toy robot with despair filling up his heart. So, was he really just a toy? Just something for someone else to play with? If that was all he was and it was being revealed, then why didn't Edward just come out and admit it already?! It would be so much better than having to sit through this agony. He would much prefer to just know the truth already!
A little boy came into the scene and picked the robot off the ground. The boy smiled at Al and waved to him as he ran away. "Bye!"
Al watched him go before remembering Barry, who appeared on the screen. "Are you sure you're not a puppet created by your so-called brother?"
The screen went back to Al, who clenched his fist tightly.
Edward looked over at Al with a dark look. His hands curled into fists. "So, that's it." He said casually, glaring at his brother, who looked at him in surprise. Voice raising, Ed yelled, "If you don't trust or believe in me, then damn well say it!" He jumped to his feet and slammed his automail foot into his brother's chest. "Don't sit there and mull over the facts. Say it instead! You think you are a damn puppet!"
With one last angry look at his baby brother, Ed spun around and marched out of the room with all eyes on either him or Alphonse, who was now lying on the ground because of his brother's kick.
"It finally came out in the open." Avery commented, looking away from the room Ed disappeared into.
"Al, do you really feel that way?" Mustang asked shocked. Of course, the Al in the future would feel it. He was the one who was…. Oh, they made a mistake. The Als were the same person, but they didn't fully connect it until now. Al and his future self were both confused about what Barry said, which was something Mustang never expected. These two were brothers and have had each other's back for years. To actual believe another person over Edward was something Mustang never expected of Al. He had no clue of the torment that was raining inside of Edward over this pain of having his own brother not believe in him.
"Alphonse Elric!" Izumi snapped angrily as she practically flew to her feet. Her hand snatched up Al's arm and threw him across the room, scaring some of the soldiers and causing them to dodge so they didn't get hit by the suit of armor.
Unaffected, Al sat up angrily. "What did you do that for?" He snapped.
"You think your brother created you?" Izumi shouted. "I remember you clearly from when I trained you. I would never condone Edward making a fake brother. If you never existed, I would have said it from the start." She glared at the boy. How could he ever turn his back on his own brother like this? She would have to teach them not to listen to serial killers. Honestly. "Not to mention that he gave up his arm for you! Do you really believe anyone would do something like that for someone who never existed to begin with?"
Hughes grimaced. "Only a very desperate person would do something crazy like that. But Ed was not desperate for a fake brother, but his own flesh and blood brother."
Izumi marched over to her ex-student and kicked him hard enough in the chest to send him flying backwards. "Edward is a strong person, and as much as some of us find it hard to believe, he is sensible. As such, I can never see him giving up something for someone who never existed." She grabbed Al's arm and threw him across the room so he was closer to the room Edward went in. "Now, you are going to talk to your brother and bring him back." Then, Izumi went back to her spot on the couch and sat next to Sig, who put an arm around his wife, who leaned into his hold.
Al sat in shock for a moment, but after a glare from his teacher, he was up and jogging to the room that his brother disappeared into. He found his brother sitting on his bed with his legs pulled to his chest. Upon his entrance, Edward looked up to look at him with a completely calm look, though there was pain flashing in his golden orbs.
"Hey al." He said quietly.
"Brother," Al started, but was caught off when his brother suddenly jumped off the bed and slammed his foot into Al's head again. His brother's weight sent Al flying to the ground with a clang.
*Main Room*
CLANG!
Riza looked at the bedroom with a frown. "They immediately start fighting, instead of talking about it?"
Izumi laughed harshly. "That is the way the brothers are."
*Ed and Al's Room*
"Brother, wait!" Al cried as he ducked under a kick. "Please! I'm sorry. Can we talk first?"
"What's to discuss with someone who doesn't even trust or believe in me?" Edward retorted as he threw a punch at his brother and hitting in dead in the chest.
When Ed went to pull his fist back, Al grabbed Ed's wrist to keep him from pulling away and to get him to hold still. "Teacher knocked some sense into me, Brother. I understand now. I was wrong. Ever since Barry started talking about me being a puppet, I couldn't get it out of my head of how cruel that would be and I couldn't believe you would do that. Even though I thought that, I couldn't get it out of my head. I kept thinking and wondering if you were faking it all these years. I didn't want to believe it, but I haven't had a body in years. I'm even starting to doubt whether or not I'll ever get it back. I'm scared I'll be stuck like this forever, Brother, and then doubts start appearing and I don't know what to do."
"Al, even if I have to spend rest of my life stuck as a military dog and searching, I will get you your body back. You know that." Ed pulled his wrist free of his brother's grip. "You don't have to be scared of being stuck like that forever. Even if you don't trust me, I'll get you your body back. I promised, remember?" He knocked his automail fist into Al's chest.
"I know, but…" Al trailed off, while Ed rolled his eyes.
"Your memories aren't fake, Al. Don't you remember everything we've done as kids? All those fights we had? Can you really believe that all of those fun times, all of those hard times, were false?" Edward asked before grinning. "Besides, if I was to make a puppet, I wouldn't give him a personality that allowed him to argue with me as much as you."
Al sighed. "Honestly, Brother."
"What? You have to agree that we do disagree a lot." Ed said with a shrug.
"Even if you made a puppet that didn't argue with you, I'm sure it would end up getting out of that so it can argue with you and knock some sense into that thick skull of yours." Al argued.
"What?" Ed asked rudely. "My alchemy is not so weak, Alphonse!"
If he could have, Al would have rolled his eyes. "Brother, you could annoy a mime out of his fifteen years vow of silence. I'm sure a puppet you create would have no trouble breaking free to argue with you."
"Don't discuss mimes with me! Those people are creepy…and I have never bothered one. I avoid those freaks." Ed retorted.
"Now really, Brother, that is just rude. You don't see the mimes insulting you or your way of life." Al scolded.
Ed growled. "Not with words they aren't, but you can see it in their actions, Al. The moment I get close to them, they start mocking me!"
Al slapped his head. His brother seemed to have a very great aversion to mimes, which was just very strange to Al. Edward had some of the weirdest aversion he has ever seen. "Brother, they were putting on a show, not mocking you!"
Ed pointed an accusing finger at Al and shouted, "That's what they want you to think! Now stop siding with them, you traitor!"
The suit of armor threw his arms in the air in disbelief. How many times was he going to get called traitor and betrayer today? "This is so stupid. How did we even get on the subject of mimes?"
Finger lowering, Ed shrugged. "You brought them up."
"To prove a point, not to discuss your hatred of them." Al argued.
"This has got to be one of the stupidest arguments we have ever had." Ed said with a grin.
A metallic laugh rang throughout the room. "I don't know. That one about who would grow the tallest was pretty stupid."
Ed laughed. "Or that time we fought over the top bunk."
"Or that time we argued about how to handle the terrorists in that warehouse. We ended up beating them all up while we argued about how to take them down because we were so loud that they spotted us before we could ambush them." Al said.
"Dangerous, but at the same time hilarious." Ed laughed at that reminder.
That had been when he was thirteen. Al wanted to call for back-up, while Ed just wanted to charge in and get them taken care of so he could leave. "Do you really think everything we've done is fake? Or that I am really that cruel?"
Al was silent for a moment, which scared Edward. "Everything you do is for a reason, Brother. You really do care about other people and help them in your own special way. You may have a temper and get mad at people, but that has never stopped you from helping those people. You are a really nice guy, but you hide it under your temper and tough guy exterior. I was stupid to even think of you being that cruel."
"Well, it's great that you can admit it!" Ed said, grinning. "Now, I do believe we kept everyone waiting long enough while you had your antsy fit."
"What?" Al yelped.
Ed smirked. "Yeah, I said it. You were so angst ridden."
"I was?" Al argued. "And what about you who got so upset and stormed out of the room!"
"Oh, don't even go there, Al!" Ed retorted. "That wouldn't have happened if you didn't distrust me."
"I do trust you though." Al said quietly. "I made a mistake. Sorry. I trust you greatly, Brother. Let's forget the stupid thoughts that ran through our heads."
Ed knocked his hand against Al's chest as he walked past his brother. "I know, Al, I know."
"Wait," Al called after him.
Blinking, Ed looked back at Al. He had thought everything was fixed between them. "What is it?"
"About earlier, what was it you wanted to tell me?" Al asked. Ed stiffened. "What was it?" He asked quietly.
"Brother?" Al asked.
"My greatest fear." Ed replied.
Al paused for a moment. Could he really ask his brother to tell him about his greatest fear when he wasn't ready? Whatever it was, he has feared it for years and still wasn't ready to tell Al about it. Was it really right of Al to force it out of him?
"Okay," Al said. "Tell me when you are ready."
Whether it was right to force Ed or not, Al just couldn't. He couldn't do that to his brother.
Ed shot him a grateful smile. "Thanks, Brother."
*Main Room*
"About time you two returned." Mustang commented when he saw the brothers, which just made Edward roll his eyes.
"Yeah, Yeah, your impatient git." Edward muttered.
"Are you two all better?" Hughes asked, looking between the two. Ed grinned. "Great."
Nodding, Mustang turned to the younger brother. "Alphonse, I do apologize for how insensitive we were being when Barry was manipulating your thinking."
"What?" Al said confused.
"We made a mistake. We had only really thought about the you in the future being drastically affected by Barry's words. We didn't even realize how much the words were hurting you so we didn't pay attention to it or what we were saying." Mustang explained with a frown.
"Oh," Al muttered before perking up. "It's alright, sir. I actually preferred you did that. I didn't want it pointed out at the time. It was something private between Brother and I anyway."
Mustang nodded. He could understand that. There were just some things best kept between blood.
The train station was shown with Winry getting off one of the trains and rubbing her sore butt. "Argh, that left me really sore." She said before looking around. "I don't understand how Ed and Al can ride on these things." She started walking through the station. "Ed said to look to the west exit. Someone familiar would be there that I'd recognized right away." As she said this, Armstrong was shown to be standing in the crowd. "Hello Major Armstrong!" She called as Sig and Izumi walked behind her.
"Teacher, why are you in Central?" Ed asked surprised.
"I like to travel. You know that." Izumi replied with a shrug.
"Well, as long as you aren't hunting Al and me down, it's all good." Ed said cheerfully.
Izumi raised a brow. "Perhaps I should have done that. In all my travels in the past few years, I have heard a lot about a certain Fullmetal Alchemist."
The young State Alchemist chuckled nervously. "I'm more surprised you didn't hunt me down immediately after I became one."
"I only heard you called 'Hero of the People' or the Fullmetal Alchemist. If I ever heard the names, I left or yelled at the person for praising you. I only learned it was you a year and a half ago." Izumi explained.
Ed twitched.
"She was furious at the time and thought about coming to East City where she heard you were at the time to drag you back to Dublith for some more training." Sig added with a smirk, which just made feel faint.
"I'm so sorry it got brought up." Edward gurgled while his brother patted him sympathetically on the back. They may have both broken Izumi's first condition: to never attempt human transmutation. But only his brother broke the second, which was to never become a State Alchemist. Poor Edward.
"Why didn't you come?" Al asked curiously. "She got ill again." Sig explained.
"Oh," Ed muttered. He hated hearing about when Izumi got sick. Not that he'd ever say it, but it scared him a lot when he was younger. He thought he was going to lose someone that he cared a lot for again.
"It's Winry." Winry ran over to the soldier.
"Hello miss Winry." Armstrong replied. "Did you have a pleasant trip?" Winry looked around. "Where are those stupid Elric brothers?"
"You didn't tell her about the hospital?" Armstrong asked with a frown.
Ed scratched his head. "She would just worry the whole trip to Central if I told her over the phone. Her trip would be better without that worry."
"It's always about keeping her from worrying or being scared." Buccaneer said with a teasing grin to which Ed blushed bright red.
"It…she's a childhood friend. Of course, I would be worried about her." Ed shouted.
Armstrong looked surprised. "Well, you see…" Winry blinked and the Major leaned down to whisper it to her.
"Why are you whispering it?" Ed asked confused.
"It's best not to be overheard about that matter." Armstrong replied with a frown.
"Why not? Would it cause trouble?" Al asked worriedly.
Mustang shrugged. "Well, Fullmetal has his fans and enemies. If it was overheard, it would get out. He would either get a bunch of gifts telling him to get better or have people sneak into the hospital to finish him off. It's easier for protection if as few as people as possible know."
Al sighed. "Brother is a very difficult person to handle."
"Hey!" Ed snapped insulted. "I think you are making that up Colonel. I never get gifts."
"Well, actually," Fuery said with a little smile. "When you first joined the military and got sent to the hospital for the first time, it kind of got out and we were flooded with gifts for you. We had to get rid of them since you can't really accept gifts. Plus, we found some of them were quite dangerous.
Someone even sent candy laced with poison."
Ed twitched. "Who did I anger when I first joined that they would send me poisoned chocolates?"
"It shows you just how good you are to the State if someone has been trying to kill you from the start." General Armstrong said with a smirk.
"Doesn't comfort me." Ed mumbled. "Or me." Al groaned.
"The hospital?" Winry said shocked. The exterior of the hospital was shown. "What happened?" She asked.
Winry's feet were shown as her tool box fell to the ground in shock.
Edward was shown to be sitting on his bed with his shirt off to reveal his bandaged chest. He and Brosh both stared at Winry. "Well, that didn't take long." He said as nervous sweat went down his face. His bandaged chest was shown up close. "You're going to charge me an express service fee now, aren't you?"
"Those are some nasty scars." Luke commented since he managed to see the scars around Ed's automail port because of the close up to his chest.
"Luckily those are the worst scars he has." Al said. Lucky because if he had worst scars, then it would mean he had been more seriously injured at some point. It was so relieving to Al that it has never happened.
Winry and Maria both stared at him. "No Ed. I won't charge you for this. I didn't do a good enough job on your automail last time, and now you're badly injured."
Maria, Armstrong, and Brosh all shot stares at Edward.
"Well, it's true!" Ed said. "She did mess up a bit."
"Yeah, but you were going to be badly injured either way." Maria pointed out.
Ed shrugged. "Yeah, but if she didn't mess up my automail then she wouldn't have had to come to Central and see me all injured."
Ed looked at the three in shock before he frantically tried to explain. "It's not your fault. You can't blame yourself for this. I broke it because I was being reckless. Your repairs were as flawless as ever. This was all my fault."
"Lies!" Ed cried.
'He has no idea.' Winry thought. 'He never noticed that I forgot to put in that screw?'
Edward, still waving his flesh arm around, said, "Besides if my arm hadn't broken when it did, I would have kept fighting and then I would have been hurt even worse. So, don't worry about it, okay? Okay?"
"Oh, so you admit that fact?" Mustang asked.
"If it keeps her from getting upset," Ed said with a sigh.
"And it is true." Al added. "So, her messing up his automail actually worked out well for us."
'So, it turned out alright?' Winry thought. She jumped forward excitedly. "Well then, let's go ahead and get right down to business, shall we? I'll have to charge you the usual rush order fee, of course."
"Huh?"
"Evil gearhead!" Ed shouted, pulling at his hair. "Oh, when I get out of here, she is going to fix my arm for free to make up for this mistake!"
"What does it matter? I thought you had a lot of money." Sheska asked confused.
Ed sighed. "For my research and traveling. It's not really meant for my automail."
"And yet you pull a lot of money from your research grant for your automail." Al pointed out.
"How else am I supposed to afford it?" Ed shouted. "Is it really that expensive?" Sheska said shocked.
Ed deflated. "Yeah. I pay her and Granny Pinako so much, and yet, Winry still finds it in her to mooch off me. What the hell does she do with all that money I give her?"
"Buy parts for the automail she makes." Dr. Young said. "But she should still have some left over!" Ed protested.
"Why use it when she knows she can just mooch off you?" Al asked amused. Ed growled. "I'm not her bank!"
"You will be when you marry her." Hughes said seriously.
Ed screamed and pulled at his hair. "I'm not in love with Winry!"
"You can keep on denying it all you like, but you have to face the truth eventually." Hughes teased.
"At least I'm no longer alone in Hughes's teasing." Mustang said happily, which resulted in a glare from Edward.
Winry looked at Ed's empty plate and saw a full bottle of milk. She turned a glare to Ed. "You didn't drink your milk."
Edward turned away with sweat pouring down his face. "Why should I? I hate it."
Winry screamed and pulled at her hair. "YOU'RE GOING TO BE SMALL AND STUNTED FOREVER IF YOU KEEP USING THAT STUPID EXCUSE!"
"SHUT UP!" Ed shouted back. "I DON'T HAVE TO DRINK IT IF I DON'T WANT TO."
"You sound like a spoiled little brat, Edward Elric!" Armstrong intervened.
"It is always so lively when you are around." Breda said with a laugh. "You should come visit East City. It's been pretty boring lately."
Ed glared at him. "I'm not your toy that you can call on when you are bored. I am not used for entertainment!"
"I don't know, Brother. It is pretty entertaining to see you arguing with mimes." Al teased.
"Again, with the mimes!? Do not mention those freaks again, Alphonse Elric!" Edward shouted, waving his arm in the air like a crazy person.
"Mimes?" Miles asked confused.
Al shrugged. "Brother really hates them for some reason."
"It's a mutual hatred." Ed grumbled.
"No, it isn't, Brother!" Al said with a tired sigh.
"What actually happened with the mimes?" Miles asked curiously.
His question got him a glared from Ed and another sigh from Al. "I can't answer because I fear that Ed will call me a traitor again if I leak the information."
"Baby Brother," Ed cried dramatically and threw his arms out wide in happiness. "You have come back to my side!"
"For now." Al said.
Ed deflated and pouted to himself. "You can't just keep changing sides like this."
Al was shown to be looking in the room from the door while Maria said, "Every growing boy needs his milk."
"Yeah, you want the girls to like you, don't you?" Denny asked and Al closed the door.
Winry was shown to be pinching Ed's cheek while the two stared at the closed door. "Was that Al?" Ed asked.
"Argh, you two are still not good in the future." Havoc groaned. "I'm sure we'll be fine soon." Al said.
"But we still have to see you two fights again." Brody groaned.
Ed and Al glanced at each other. Neither one of them really wanted that seen. It was private.
Al walked down the hallway.
Winry's toolbox was shown to be open now before Ed was seen lying on his stomach on his bed while Winry worked on his arm.
"I don't get it. Al's been acting really weird lately." Ed said.
Winry reached into her apron pocket and pulled out the screw she forgot to put in. "Weird how?" She asked as she screwed it in.
Ed put his face down on his pillow. "Just seems like something's been bothering him."
Winry looked up from her work.
Al was shown to be standing in front of a sink in the hallway with a mirror in front of him as gentle, curious music enter the background. Al put a hand to the mirror. Barry's image appeared in the mirror. "Are you sure you're not a puppet created by your so-called brother? Just accept it. You'll feel better."
The mirror cracked under Al's hand.
Winry finished polishing Ed's arm. "Okay. You're all set."
Ed pushed himself up to a sitting position. "Well done." He lifted his arm and put a hand to his shoulder. "It feels good to have it back." He rolled his shoulder. "Wow. Thanks a lot."
Winry smiled. "Sure, no problem."
The door flew open to reveal Hughes. "Yo, Ed, my boy!"
"What the hell? I thought I escaped you!" Ed shouted.
"Hey, now that's rude." Hughes said teasingly. "I thought we were friends." "We can be friends, as long as you let the injured rest!" Ed retorted.
Hughes snorted. "You don't rest even when you injured. You probably only stayed in the hospital as long as you have because you needed your arm fixed."
"Well, that, and my men and I are probably keeping him confined there." Armstrong pointed out.
"Ah, good point." Hughes said with a grin.
"Is it true you brought a pretty blonde girl into your room to service you?" Hughes asked, causing Ed to fall off his bed with blood spurting from his wounds and Winry to stare blankly.
"You're banned!" Edward screamed, gripping his side one more. "Colonel, I understand your pain now."
Mustang laughed. "It's so much more amusing when I am not on the end of his teasing. I understand why you two encourage each other now."
Edward groaned.
Ed pulled himself to his knees. "She's my automail mechanic! That's all, nothing more!"
"Oh!" Hughes put a hand to his chin. "I see. You've seduced your mechanic, have you?"
Edward grabbed his hair and screamed. "That isn't what I said at all. Were you even listening to me?"
"Just give up, Fullmetal." Mustang advised. "He only hears what he wants to hear. You won't win this fight."
"Oh, you don't know that. I have yet to beat you." Hughes told his friend.
Mustang shrugged. "I haven't won yet either. I'll only win when you stop bugging me to get married."
"Yeah, that'll never happen." Ed snorted.
Hughes and Winry shook hands. "Maes Hughes. I'm pleased to meet you, young lady."
"You too. I'm Winry Rockbell." Winry said as Ed slid back on his bed.
"Nice to see you, Hughes, but don't you have work to do?" Ed asked.
"Do any of the high-ranking officers I meet do their work?" Edward groaned. It would at least get them off his back for a while if they worked.
"You should be good if you meet General Armstrong." Miles said.
Ed looked at the General then at Al. "Do I want to meet the General in the future?"
General Armstrong smirked to herself. She has barely talked to the boy and he is already scared of her. Smart kid.
Hughes held a hand in front of Ed's face. "Nope, it's all under control."
Sheska was shown to be half dead at a table with books and papers all around her.
"Demon!" Ed and Al shouted.
Sheska laughed at the two. "It's alright you two. I'm getting used to the work."
"I gave Sheska some overtime." Hughes said.
"Devil." Ed muttered. "Rude brat." Hughes teased.
"At least I don't overwork people!" Ed retorted.
Havoc snorted. "No, you just get overworked yourself." Ed groaned. "Right, the higher ups are all evil." "You're a real jerk, aren't you?" Ed asked.
"Oh, yeah, I think you'll be happy to know I just found out you and Al shouldn't need to be kept under guard for too much longer." Hughes said.
"Great!" Ed said.
"What'd you say?" Winry asked and she glared at Ed. "Hold on just a second. How much trouble have you gotten yourself into this time?"
"It's not my fault this time!" Ed protested, shooting a glare at Scar. "You aren't even chasing me anymore and you still cause me problems!"
Scar shrugged. "Personally, I believe you two just love to find things to argue about."
"Winry just loves to yell at Brother about everything." Al corrected. "And that leads to arguments."
"She worries too much." Ed grumbled.
"Can't blame her." Maria argued. "With how reckless you are, anyone would worry a lot."
"Er, well, you see…" Ed trailed off. He looked away from Winry. "It's nothing that concerns you."
Winry glared at Ed for a moment longer before standing up straight. "Of course not." She said and looked away from her friend. "I don't know why I bother to try. It's not like you'll talk to me anyway." She opened her eyes and looked at her toolbox. "Fine. I'll see you tomorrow." She picked it up. "I have to go and see if I can find some place to stay tonight."
Hughes smiled. "Come on. No need for that. Why don't you spend the night at my place?"
"You'll invite anyone over, won't you?" Ed asked blankly.
"It gives him a chance to showcase his daughter and wife." Mustang said blandly.
"Obsessive family freak." Ed muttered.
Hughes chuckled. "Now there is no reason to be rude just because I love my family."
Shrugging, Ed looked over at his brother with a sad look. "Really?" Winry asked.
"Yes, of course." Hughes said. "My wife and daughter will be delighted to have you."
"It's a trap! Don't go!" Luke shouted, much to the amusement of quite a few people.
Hughes pouted. "I am just being considerate to a friend of a friend. You people are so rude."
Edward watched the two in surprise.
"No, I, uh…"
"It's settled. Come on."
"One second…"
"Here, let me take that."
It was shown that Hughes took Winry's toolbox and was dragging the girl from the room.
"Brother, Winry is being kidnapped. Shouldn't you do something?" Al asked.
"Well," Ed said, shrugging. "I'm injured at the moment. I can't really handle Hughes and his strangeness at the moment."
Al sighed.
"Why don't you do something?" Ed asked. "I'm not around." Al replied.
"Then I guess Winry is out of luck." Ed said.
"What caring friends." Mustang teased, causing Ed to grin. "Hey, if I have to deal with it, she can too." Ed replied.
Hughes raised a brow. "Aw, do you think I am that annoying?" Laughing, Ed looked at Al. "Who knows?"
Al chuckled. Yeah, Ed will never admit it, but he really does like Hughes and how cheerful he is.
"Do you really have to drag me?" Winry asked the laughing Hughes.
"He laughs while he kidnaps." Havoc said, smirking. "Well, that's a bit worrying."
Happy music filled the background as party poppers were popped. Winry stared blankly as Elicia laughed happily. All around were adults and kids with a cake in front of Elicia.
"Happy birthday, Elicia!" Many voices shouted.
Elicia blew the candles out and a few people clapped while Winry turned to Hughes. "If you don't mind me asking, Mr. Hughes, what is this all about?"
"I'm so glad you asked that, Ms. Winry." Hughes replied with a grin. "Today happens to be my darling Elicia's birthday."
"Yeah, my birthday." Elicia said.
Winry laughed in an unsure manner. "That's exciting. How old are you now, Elicia?"
Elicia held up two fingers. "I'm two." She paused for a moment before holding up another finger. "No, I'm three!"
Winry became like Hughes and excitedly they both said, "How adorable."
"Great, she's as weird as Hughes." Ed said blankly.
"She'll be a great wife and mother someday, Edward." Hughes said with a serious expression.
Ed glared at him, but he couldn't deny the blush that filled his cheeks at the statement as a picture of Winry in a wedding dress entered his mind. "Th- that's great, Hughes."
Hughes blinked at the strange response before smirking. "Oh, what's this? Having inappropriate thoughts, Edward?"
"Shut up!" Edward shouted and hid his blush by bowing his head.
Havoc laughed. "Wow, you are already got to him, Hughes. That was quick."
The Lieutenant Colonel nodded, grinning evilly. "It is much easier to get to someone when they already have someone, they have a crush on."
"Manipulative jerk." Ed muttered to himself.
The apartment complex was shown from the outside before Winry was shown with Elicia in her lap, talking to Hughes. "I've known the Elrics for about as long as I can remember. We grew up together. They're like my brothers."
Hughes laughed. "And I'm sure knowing those two, they must give you plenty to worry about."
"Hughes is a traitor to." Ed said.
"For speaking the truth?" Hughes asked.
"The truth should never be spoken!" Edward declared. "It is assumed it is known by everyone, but you never speak of it!"
Mustang blinked. "What the hell are you talking about, Fullmetal?" Ed turned a blank stare to his superior. "We do not speak of it." "What is it?" Mustang demanded.
"You already know." Edward replied with a smirk. "But we cannot say it out loud. You will not trick me into saying it!"
"Your subordinate has finally lost it." General Armstrong commented.
Mustang glanced at her then Ed. "He is trying to screw with my mind again. Well, I have news for you, Fullmetal. It won't work this time!"
"Oh? So, it worked before?" General Armstrong asked amused. Mustang chose not to reply.
"That's an understatement." Winry replied. "When they finally came back for a visit, it was because Ed's arm was all busted up." Hughes's eyes widened a bit at the sad look in Winry's eyes. "And now he calls me out here because he's been seriously injured again. Something's bothering Al too. They keep their mouths shut though. They don't ever tell me what's going on. It's just like when they left Resembool for the first time."
"Is she referring to when we left with Teacher or when we left after I got my State Certification?" Ed asked confused.
Al shrugged. "I don't know. It shouldn't matter though. Hughes will probably just think she meant the latter."
"I guess. She should still clarify herself though." "You're one to talk." Mustang scoffed.
"Maybe nothing needed to be said." Hughes suggested, causing Winry to look back at him. "You know these boys, Winry. It's possible they thought you'd understand without them saying anything."
"So?" Hughes prompted the brothers. "Was I right?"
"We've been friends forever so we didn't think anything really needed to be said." Al said. "It's not like we were planning to be gone forever."
Winry looked back down. "Maybe. But there are some things that I actually need to be told."
Hughes smiled and removed his glasses. "Just what am I going to do with you? In general, men prefer to let their actions speak instead of words." He started to wipe his glasses clean. "When they're in pain, they don't want to burden anyone with it, not if they can help it. They don't want to make anyone worry about them. That's how they are." Elicia shifted in Winry's lap. "Even so, there may come a time when they'll ask for your help and when they do, I know that you'll be there for them.
Isn't that enough?"
"Elicia, we want to play. Let's go." A little boy said. Elicia looked up at Winry. "Will you put me down now?"
Winry picked her up and set her on the floor. "Okay, down you go." One of the boys grabbed Elicia's hand.
"Hey, you get away from her. Elicia wants to play with me, not you." Winry smiled in amusement while Hughes was frowning.
"Huh? No way, with me."
"With me."
"She's quite the heart breaking already, isn't she?" Winry asked.
Hughes put his glasses back on. Then he had his gun out and he pulled it back. "Listen up, boys, you try anything with my daughter and you'll answer to me."
"Hughes! They'll little kids!" Ed shouted. "That's a little extreme."
"The fact that it is Fullmetal saying it means that it must be really extreme." Mustang said, chuckling. "You might be a bit overprotective, Hughes."
"No one touches my daughter." Hughes growled.
Ed slapped his forehead. "They are three years old, Hughes. They don't understand anything yet."
"This coming from the kid who joined the military at twelve and destroys things on a weekly basis." Hughes retorted.
Ed shrugged. "Hey, I'm a kid. You just said it. I can go to extremes to protect myself or others. But even I wouldn't do something to someone who is a kid."
Al chuckled. "Brother has a soft spot for little kids." He explained when the adults looked confused. His statement caused Ed to blush and duck his head.
"Damn it, Al. Shut up." Ed snapped.
Havoc grinned. "The Fullmetal Alchemist, bratty teenager who destroys things all the time and runs around the State causing chaos, likes kids?"
"Yeah?" Ed said sourly. "So what?"
"It's just so amazing. I never expected something like that from you." Havoc said, but he was still grinning.
Ed shrugged. "I thought it was obvious from my interacting with Nina."
Havoc shook his head. "It may have just been that kid. But to hear you actually like all kids…"
"Your actions speak too loudly." Winry protested.
It was the next day and Winry was standing outside Hughes's apartment, saying goodbye. "Are you sure you have to go?" Gracia asked. "You're more than welcome to stay with us for as long as you're in town."
"I don't want to put you out more than I have already." Winry replied. Elicia grabbed Winry's sleeve.
"Elicia's gotten really attached to you." Gracia said.
Hughes laughed. "Well, would you look at that? The two of you could be sisters."
"Sissy," Elicia said. "Be safe, okay? And come back and visit me real soon."
Gracia smiled. "It's settled. You're staying with us again tonight."
"Wow, it's not only Hughes who is demanding." Ed said.
"Well, she did marry the guy." Mustang shrugged. "She had to be able to handle him and get want she wants in return."
Ed grinned. "A perfect match."
"Oh, that reminds me." Hughes said with a grin. "My dear Gracia has been asking about you two. She wishes for you guys to visit again. And Elicia misses her big brothers."
Al looked at his brother. "Perhaps we should visit. It has been a long time since we've seen them."
Ed shrugged. "Whenever we have time."
Winry kneeled down and hugged Elicia. "It looks like I found myself a little sister."
The hospital came onto the screen once more with Ed being shown a second later. He was shown to be glaring at something. It turned out to be his milk.
"So, we meet again, you little bastard! I'm not gonna drink you." Ed growled.
"You realize you're talking to milk, right?" Miles asked.
Ed shrugged. "What's your point? I'm stuck in a hospital and bored. I tend to get a little crazy."
"A little?" Al scoffed. "What about that time in New Optain when you were stuck in a hospital for a few weeks?"
Buccaneer grinned. These two brothers, though beyond reckless and needed that kicked out of them, tended to have very amusing stories. "What happened there?"
"I think at least four nurses and a doctor had to go see a psychiatrist for a while after we left." Al muttered.
"They did." Mustang twitched.
Ed smiled brightly. "Really? And how do you know, Colonel?"
Mustang glared at him. "Because they billed the military for the sessions! Do you have any idea of how expensive psychiatrists are, not to mention we were paying for five people?"
"Well," Ed drawled. "At least it wasn't coming from your own pocket, you cheapskate."
"Next time, I'm making you pay with your own money. Maybe then you'll learn something." Mustang snapped.
Ed twitched. He couldn't afford to pay for those sessions! He needed his money for other things.
Al appeared on the screen. "Brother, you have a living body that needs nourishment." Barry flashed on screen before it went back to Al who looked down at the ground.
"You have to drink it."
Ed bit off a piece of his bread before saying, "I don't have to if I don't want to." Winry and Hughes were shown to be walking down the hall.
"It may not look like it, but I have grown, some," Denny and Maria saluted Hughes.
"But everyone still calls me a pipsqueak." A frustrated Ed was shown. "I wish I was like you, Al."
The door was shown to be opening. "You've got such a big body now."
"Insensitive!" Ed shouted. Many soldiers stared at him.
"You said it though." Havoc pointed out.
Ed blinked and deflated his energized self a bit. "Yeah, but usually it is used as a joke. At this time, Al is really upset and confuse. He'll take it the wrong way."
"Yes, but also at this time, you do not know what is wrong with your brother. So, you opened your mouth expecting a witty retort from Alphonse, not an angry retort." General Armstrong replied as serious as ever.
Sighing, Ed shrugged. "Well, at least this gives Al a reason to get what is on his mind out in the open. Then Al and I can fight over it now and get over it."
Al shot up from his chair and screamed, "IT'S NOT LIKE I ASKED FOR THIS BODY, BROTHER!"
"Why are you still calling him that?" Havoc asked confused. "I mean, you don't believe he is your brother anymore so why still call him it?"
Al shrugged. "That's usually all I call him. It's a habit it seems."
Ed flashed on the screen, then Winry, who was standing by the door in shock, appeared.
"Sorry, you're right." Ed replied, looking down at his meal. "It's my fault that it happened. But I'll make it right. I'll get you back in your real body, you'll see, Al."
"That's what you always say, but you don't know that for sure." Al retorted.
Ed turned to look at his brother. "Look, I promise I'm going to get you back. Believe me, Al. I'll do it."
"Believe you?" Al put a hand to his chest. "How am I supposed to believe anything when I'm stuck in this body?" Hughes, Maria, and Denny were shown to be looking in from the hallway. "What should I believe in? My memories?" Ed was seen to be staring in shock at Al. "Memories are just scraps of information that can be made up as easily as anything else."
"Al, what are you talking about?" Ed asked quietly.
"Do you remember when you said there was something you were afraid to tell me?" Al asked.
"You know, I think this is worse than how we just fought." Ed said.
Al nodded. "You are much more subdued in the future, then you were here."
"It's probably because the Ed in the future didn't know where your thoughts came from or what actually happened with Barry." Riza suggested.
Al actually chuckled at that. "Yeah, probably. Brother would be more furious if he heard the actual words that Barry said to me. Right now, he is just too confused and scared."
"Scared?" Ed scoffed as everyone expected him to. "More like horrified." And that was what no one was expecting from Ed, including Al.
"Petrified with fear?" Mustang mused. "What has got you so scared? This is unlike you."
Ed shrugged. "Al's screaming probably has me thinking the worst."
"What is the worst?" Havoc asked.
Golden eyes looked at the suit of armor for a second before going back to Havoc. "It's nothing you need to know."
"Then what about me?" Al demanded. "You have yet to tell me."
Mustang frowned at his subordinate. "You usually face the fears and horrors head on, Fullmetal."
Ed glared at him. "This is just something I can't face so everyone just LEAVE IT ALONE!" He shouted the last part before looking stubbornly back at the screen. Even listening to Al and him fight would be better than to have his one true fear revealed. Sighing, he looked at Riza. "You were right. It did cause a misunderstanding, just like you said it would."
Riza smiled sadly. She was really hoping that Ed's statement wouldn't cause one, but it was the likely course of action. "It is best you clear it up then, but it seems you are not ready to tell Al what it is."
Ed chuckled weakly. "I'll never be ready." He said softly to himself so only Al heard.
Al looked at his brother sadly. Why didn't his brother just tell him what it was? Was it really that bad? He should be able to trust Al with anything, so why couldn't he just say what it is he wanted to say?
Winry gasped.
"I think…I think I might know what it was." A dark image of a monster like Al was shown. "Maybe you wanted to say that my soul and my memories are really artificial constructions you created." Al said.
Ed's eyes widened.
Al's hand shook before curling into a tight fist. "You, Winry, and Granny, you've been lying to me all along, haven't you? What do you have to say for yourself, Brother?!"
Ed's fists slammed onto his table, messing up his meal. Al gasped.
"You angered him." Fuery groaned.
"At least he isn't subdued in shock anymore." Havoc said with a grimace. "So is Ed going to yell now?" Sheska asked worriedly.
Mustang's team shook their heads.
"I don't recall ever really seeing Ed yell at Al. Maybe scold him about picking up strays, but never actually yell at him." Breda said with a thoughtful frown.
Al nodded. "Now that you mention it, the last time I remember Brother actually screaming at me is before our human transmutation."
"Really?" Mustang asked surprised before shooting a sly look at Ed. "If you have that kind of self-control, perhaps you should use it more often and towards people besides your little brother."
Scowling, Ed ducked his head. Why was it such a big deal? Al was his little brother and the only family he had left. And he was the one to trap him in a suit of armor. How could he ever yell at his precious baby brother after all that?
"Is that what you really think?" Ed growled quietly. "You believe that all this time?"
Al gasped.
Shaking in rage, Ed continued. "So, you finished or is there more you wanted to say?" When Al didn't reply, Ed opened his eyes and sighed. "Okay." He pushed his meal away and stood up. He walked past his brother, then Winry, who turned to watch him go.
"Don't go." Winry whispered to him.
"She's right. You can't just walk away from this argument. You need to clear it up." Riza said.
Ed shrugged. "I can't face it." 'Not the truth.'
Winry ran out the door. "Ed!" She called, but Ed didn't look back. Al was shown to still be standing in the room.
"Al." Winry said calmly. "You…" An infuriated Winry was shown to be swinging her wrench. "MORON!" Her wrench slammed into Al, scaring the three soldiers outside the room.
Many soldiers shuddered in the room.
"At least Winry is there to fix the problem for you." Riza said calmly.
"It is just like Hughes said. She is there for when you guys actually need her." Izumi said, smirking while Al shuddered. Why were there so many scary women around him and his brother?
Al leaned back on the floor with his head wobbling all over the place. "Where did that come from?"
A heavily breathing Winry was shown. Once her breathe came under control, tears started flowing down her face, shocking Al.
"Winry…" Al said.
"You idiot!" Winry screamed as a soft, sad tone entered the background. She slammed her wrench into Al's helmet again. "You have no idea how Ed feels!"
"That makes it sound like she's knows." Hughes said. Ed shrugged. "She does."
"You told Winry, but you won't tell me?" Al asked in a hurt tone.
"No, I never meant to tell them! I told Winry and Granny Pinako in a moment of weakness!" Ed protested.
"Weakness?" Havoc mused. "Before today, I would have thought you having a moment of weakness inconceivable."
"Ha-ha." Ed muttered sarcastically.
"Do you know what he was so afraid to talk to you about?" Winry asked through her tears. "He wants to know if you blame him for what happened to your body, Al!"
"What?" Al asked shocked.
Ed's eyes widened in shock. His whole body stiffened in horror while his eyes slowly moved to glance at his brother with petrified shock.
A flashback was shown of Ed lying in a bed with a cloth over his eyes during his automail surgery. "It's all my fault Al lost his body and it's all my fault; he can't eat anymore; he can't sleep; he can't feel cold nor warmth. He's my little brother and I'm supposed to protect him and I did this! How can he ever forgive me?"
"So that was your moment of weakness." Fuery said sadly. "The guilt was eating you away because it just happened recently so it's no surprise you let it slip to them."
"People tend to be most vulnerable after something very extreme and shocking has happened." Skylak agreed.
Winry and Granny Pinako were looking down at Ed sadly. "Al isn't the type of boy who would resent you for this. Just ask him, and I'm sure you'll see."
"No. I'm-I'm too afraid." Ed replied. A tear slipped down Ed's face. "I'm too scared of what he'll say."
"Brother," Al said weakly. Was this really how his brother had felt for the past four years? Edward had saved him from dying that night so he had no reason to hate his brother for that.
"That was private." Ed said weakly, ducking his head as he wasn't able to face his brother.
"That's what you have been wanting to tell me for the past four years?" Al demanded.
Ed nodded.
Al clenched his fist and slammed it into Ed's head. "You idiot!" "Ow." Ed grabbed his head. "Not the reaction I was expecting."
"For being so smart, you sure are stupid, Brother." Al grumbled. "Honestly, I never once thought that I hated you. You saved me from the Gate and gave me a second chance. I may not be able to sleep, eat, or feel, but I can still go on in life with the hope of getting it all back. I knew from the start of our adventure that you were doing everything you possibly could. You gave up your arm first, then you gave up your freedom by becoming a State Alchemist. You have given up so much for me; how could I hate you for that?"
Ed shrugged. "If it wasn't for me and my stupid idea, this wouldn't have ever happened." He said as he rubbed his metal shoulder.
"But it's not your fault alone." Al argued. "I wanted my mom back just as much. I went along with it. Even when I felt something was wrong, I didn't stop you. We both attempted the human transmutation together. We were both punished. I could never push all the blame on you."
"You lived with that fear for four years?" Havoc asked surprised.
"Yeah," Ed said, feeling a bit relieved now that he knew Al didn't hate him.
"That must have been so painful." Riza said softly. "You two were together every day for four years and you were silently suffering under that thought."
Ed shrugged. "At least I know the truth now."
"And it's not bad like your mind kept telling you it was going to be." Mustang added. "Maybe next time you'll realize you're overreacting about it on your own."
The teenager shot him a glare. "Do you always have to be such a jerk?"
"It's his trademark." Havoc teased, which just got his superior to glare at him.
"I do not know what you are talking about, Havoc. I am a very charming, sophisticated person." Mustang retorted.
Ed rolled his eyes. "Which is your kind way of saying womanizer?" Havoc snickered.
"At least I can get girls to fall in love with me, Fullmetal." Mustang snapped.
Al laughed. "Actually, Colonel, you might be surprised at how many girls Brother accidentally makes fall in love with him."
Ed twitched. "What annoying girls." Mustang laughed. "That hard to believe." "But it is true." Al insisted.
Winry whacked her wrench against Al's chest again and again and again. "And then…you idiot." She continued to hit him. "You said that." The soldiers were still watching the two. Winry sniffed. "Who'd ever do something like that? Who would be prepared to risk his own life to create a fake brother?" Her wrench dropped to the ground.
"Don't you get it?" Winry wiped the tears from her face. "All the two of you have left is each other." Winry pointed at the door of the room. "Now," She glared at Al. "Go get your brother."
Al stood up.
"Start running." Winry ordered.
"Right." Al said and he ran from the room and passed the soldiers who watched him go.
"Must be one scary girl." Luke teased.
Ed was shown to be standing on the roof of the hospital. His chin was resting on his hands which were on the fence.
Al was standing in the doorway of the roof. "Broth–"
"You know something, Al, we haven't had a good fight in a while. I'm starting to get flabby." Ed interrupted.
"Huh?" Al said quietly.
Ed kicked his hospital slippers off.
"Uh," Al mumbled as Ed turned around to face him.
"This just screams reckless." General Armstrong said.
"Naw, I've done more reckless things while injured. A little spar isn't going to do much but agitate my wounds a bit." Edward replied.
"Which makes it reckless." Izumi snapped at him.
Ed shrugged. "Yeah, but at least I am still at the hospital."
The soft, sad tone entered the background again as Ed ran at Al.
"Huh? Hey–" Al shouted before being forced to dodge a kick from Ed. The suit of armor stumbled back a few steps. "Uh, hold on, Brother."
Ignoring his brother, Ed swung his automail arm at Al, which Al blocked with his arms.
"Stop!" Al shouted.
Ed threw a kick at his brother, then punched his arm.
"Your wounds haven't healed enough for this." Al said. Ed hit Al's arm again before back flipping away. Al looked up from his crossed arms in surprise when he saw a white sheet flying into his face. He screamed in shock before Ed put his hands on Al's leg to flip his body upside down before slamming his automail foot into Al's covered face.
Ed stood over the fallen Al. "I beat you! The first time I ever won." He moved to lie on the ground.
Al pulled the sheet from his face. "That wasn't a fair fight, Brother."
"Don't give me that. A win is a win, and you know it, Al." Ed replied. "We've always fought like this...ever since we were really little. Now that I think about it, we've fought over some really stupid things, haven't we?" Edward asked.
"That's not really surprising." Riza said with a soft smile as she was glad the boys seemed to be fixing their fight. "Kids always fight about things that are quite insignificant."
"Definitely. Like who would get the top and bottom bunk." Al said.
"Yeah." Ed replied.
"We fought over candy a lot too, huh?" Al added.
"And that toy, you remember?" Ed asked.
"I won that one. And when we played in the rain river too." Al said.
"Oh yeah...you shoved me into the water." Ed said.
"Well, that was quite mean, especially coming from Al." Hughes said amused.
Ed rolled his eyes. "Honestly, haven't you realized by now that Al is not as innocent as he seems."
"Yeah, I guess. Why did he push you into the river?" Hughes asked.
"We were fighting over something." Ed scratched the back of his head. "I can't really remember what though. We fought a lot so I can't remember them all."
"And that fight we had during our training?" Al stated.
"Teacher said we were being too loud, then she beat us up herself. Why don't we call that one a draw?" Edward asked.
"I can't believe you two were actually stupid enough to fight around your teacher." Brody said blandly.
"What was it about anyway?" Fuery asked, curious to know what could actually cause the two brothers to actually fight around their scary teacher.
Ed, brows furrowed in confusion, turned to Al. "I can't remember. Do you?"
Al shook his helmet. "The beating from Teacher was pretty scary and intense so it kind of knocked the argument from my mind."
A few soldiers shuddered. Demon teacher, Izumi was if she could make the brothers forget a fight just by beating them up as punishment for fighting.
"We even fought over which one of us would marry Winry someday." Al said.
"Ooh, so you both have a crush on Miss. Winry." Hughes teased.
While Al laughed, Ed blinked and looked at his brother. "Did we really fight about that?"
Al tilted his head. "You don't remember?"
Ed shook his head. "Not one bit." He scratched his head. So, Al had memories that he didn't recall or were even involved in. Then wouldn't that mean that this really was Al, but that was only true if other people Al claims were in the memory remembered it.
"What? Don't remember that one." Ed asked in a panicked tone.
"I won the fight, but she shot me down." Al explained.
"Not really surprising. She likes Brother too much." Al said in a teasing voice.
Ed, blushing bright red, kicked his brother in the chest. "Shut it, Al."
"Oh, did she?" Edward paused before opening his eyes and saying, "You're telling me that all those memories are lies?"
After another pause, Al said, "Sorry."
"So, is that it?" Havoc asked hopefully. "Everyone is all good now?" Al laughed. "Yep, everything is all good now."
"Boys are so simple with their fights." Karin said happily.
"And your determination to be whole again and to get your body back no matter what, that's a lie too?" Ed asked.
"No, it's not a lie." Al replied.
Ed's automail hand curled into a fist. "That's right." Al's fist was shown. "We're in this together, all the way. Don't forget that. We're going to keep pushing forward." Ed's fist was shown again as he raised it into the air. "We'll make ourselves stronger, faster, and better until we get our bodies back."
Al chuckled. "And the milk?"
"Milk?" Ed asked surprised. Al's raised fist was shown. "Fine…I'll drink a little."
Al and Ed laughed.
Ed's fist was shown reaching towards Al. "Whatever it takes, Brother." Al's fist entered the screen to pound with Ed's.
"Hmm."
Hughes and Winry were seen standing in the doorway of the roof.
"Mr. Hughes," Winry said. "Maybe you don't have to hear some things out loud, but it sure is helpful sometimes."
Hughes smiled and looked back at the brothers. "I guess it is."
Ed was shown limping back to the doorway with Al following him.
A bright light entered the screen before it vanished to show a sun. The scene lowered to show a war-torn area with a white flag flapping around in the wind. In the distance, a man was seen too be standing.
At a close up, it was shown to be Scar from during the war. "My brother…" He whispered. "Master…They're gone…all gone."
"So, is this Ishval after the war?" Al asked curiously. "The outskirts of it at least." Scar told him.
A smirking mouth was shown. "Hey," The man drawled.
"You don't look like an Ishvalan. Who are you?" Scar asked.
"Oh, my, where are my manners? I should have introduced myself." The voice was recognized as Kimblee's. His hands with the transmutation circles on them were shown. "I'm a State Alchemist in the military. I've been sent to exterminate this sector."
"What a sadistic bastard." Ed mumbled.
Scar's angry face was shown.
One of Kimblee's hand lit up bright red before the scene changed to an injured looking Scar, whose eyes had snapped open.
"Hey, you're awake." An Ishvalan child sitting next to him said.
"Where am I?" Scar asked.
"In a slum outside of East City. You're among friends now." An old man sitting next to Scar as well said.
"That's where Ishvalans have to live now?" Al said sadly.
"You and Fullmetal seem to really dislike this treatment." Mustang said curiously. He did as well, but there was nothing that could be done by it with his current power. That was something he could work on when he got more power. But the brothers' dislike made him want to know why.
Ed shrugged. "Humans are all created equal. The color of skin and eyes shouldn't mean anything. It doesn't make them any less human."
"It makes sense they would think that way, sir." Riza said. "They grew up in the country. Their mother was a very kind woman from what I hear. They were not taught to be rude to those who are different from them. Kids learn from adults, and since they were never taught to be racists, their minds say the treatment of Ishvalans is wrong, and they would be correct."
"Ugh, sounds like psychology." Havoc grumbled.
Ed smirked. "It is psychology. Lieutenant Riza seems to understand it well." He pointed to himself and Al. "And we have our own thoughts."
"I wonder how you two would have been if you didn't lose your parents." Mustang mused. "I imagine you would have completely different personalities, morals, or behaviors had you still have your parents."
Al shrugged. "Even if that's true, you would never know, sir. It's only because of our circumstances that we met. I imagine that had things been different, Brother and I would have never met you guys."
"Never meet Chief and Al?" Havoc asked. "Sounds like a boring a time." Al chuckled.
Scar lifted his head very slightly. "Who are you, you old man?"
"Me? Why, I'm a man of Ishvalan, just as you are, son." The old man said. "There's nothing to worry about here. I won't sell out one of my own."
"Are we the only ones here?" Scar asked. "Are there other Ishvalan survivors?"
"Yes, indeed there are." The old man replied. "A rundown slum such as this may bear no resemblance to our ancestral home, but you know what they say, the world is god's bosom, our great loving god, Ishvala. Am I right?" He chuckled.
"Yes, you certainly are." Scar replied before his eyes shut as he grimaced in pain.
"You can't. You're not ready." The child said worriedly. A childish flashback was shown of the old man and the child in the sewer watching as Scar was washed away in the filthy water. "We found you floating in the sewers. You were hurt bad."
"I am surprised you didn't die from that. Your wounds would have had to be really infected." Miles commented.
"And the slums don't actually give proper treatment." Luke added.
Ed grimaced. That sounded really dangerous. "That just shows how strong and determined Scar is to live. It took about ten, maybe more days, for him to awaken. He must have struggled with living."
Scar was shown to be staring at the ceiling again. He recalled his fight with Gluttony and Lust. He grimaced before shutting his eyes. "Boy, my right arm. Did I lose it or is it still with me?"
The boy pulled off the blanket to reveal the arm. "Yeah, it stills there, mister. It should be fine. Your tattoo." The boy looked away from the arm to look at Scar's face. "It's really amazing."
Scar opened an eye. "Yeah, it's important to me. A precious gift from my family."
The scene went dark.
"Well, we didn't learn anything new this episode either." Brody said
"Besides Chief's big fear." Havoc pointed out, only to receive a glare from Ed. "But we won't mention that."
Ed nodded. "Good boy."
Havoc twitched. "This feels backwards."
Al chuckled. Ever since everything became better between him and his brother, he had been feeling more cheerful. "Sir, it seems to be getting late. Are we going to watch much more?" He asked the Colonel.
Mustang took his pocket watch out to check the time. "We should be able to watch one more episode tonight, then we'll go to bed. Breakfast will be at eight tomorrow, then we'll continue on. Does that sound good to everyone?"
While everyone nodded, Ed raised his hand. "I protest. That is too early." "You don't get a vote, Fullmetal." Mustang retorted.
"Well, that's just unfair." Ed grumbled.
"Don't complain. Let's get on with the next episode before it gets too late." Izumi said.
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