Once again, I don't own these characters but they are fun to write with. And I want to credit Band of Brothers for the inspiration of this battle scene.

Two months later, it was a cold early winter. Fresh snow on the ground. And Edward's group was in the forest that held the borderline. The soldiers were paired off to share a foxhole that they had dug in the ground for warmth. Edward and Gray were sharing a foxhole since Alphonse and Fuery were still recovering from their wounds.

It was early morning, and Edward heard the jeep pull up in the woods. He got out of the warmth of his foxhole to see what the jeep was bringing. He looked up and smiled. "Alphonse!" Edward cried out and ran to hug his brother.

"Easy Ed!" Al said as he received a bear hug from his brother. Fuery climbed out too but was spared the bear hug and received a high five. Edward looked at Fuery's hand, which was missing the middle finger.

Fuery saw the concern and responded. "I can still shoot and use the radio. So don't worry. It doesn't even hurt. It just feels weird sometimes like my finger is still there."

Edward understood. "Yeah, I understand. Phantom limb. It's weird. Sometimes the rain sets it off. Sometimes it comes on out of nowhere." Fuery agreed.

Alphonse spoke up. "Oh we brought supplies too." He opened the crates and showed Edward and Gray, who had just walked over.

Gray's eyes went wide. "They finally sent us winter coats!"

Edward exclaimed. "And socks! About fucking time!"

More soldiers came by and got their supplies. Edward brought some to the soldiers guarding the frontline so they wouldn't miss their much needed supplies. He also made sure they got a meal while they were up there. The jeep left to go back to the command center.

After a cold day, the soldiers were settling into their foxholes for the evening. It was Edward and Riza's turn to take watch that night on the frontline. At least they now had proper winter coats and fresh dry socks. They had already lost a soldier to trench foot. He would be fine but he was dangerously close to losing his foot and was recovering in the hospital.

Riza was using her sniper scope to look across the small field that was in the forest. Across the field was the enemy camp. This field also marked their border with Creta. Edward was eating his soup from his cup when they heard a whistling sound and then an explosion. The enemy was firing cannons at them. Edward dropped his soup and turned to grab his gun. Riza moved up on the ground out of the hole to lay prone so she could control her gun, and then there was an explosion. Edward's ears hurt and all he could hear was a whining sound. Then his ears readjusted and he heard Riza screaming. He turned around and saw her. Her left arm was on the ground and not attached to her body. The arm was beyond recognition.

Once Edward realized what had happened, he yelled for the medic but more explosions were happening. He knew what had to be done and the medic couldn't hear them. Blood was spurting from her stump that was just above where her elbow should be. He took off his belt and tied a tourniquet really tight and pressed on the wound, which caused her to scream even more though no one would hear it over the explosions. Edward lay over her to protect her from any debris while holding her wound.

Other soldiers arrived and started firing across the field. Maria Ross and Scarlett jumped in the neighboring hole and started firing. Gray and Gardner jumped in the frontline hole with Ed and Riza. Gray saw the situation and once the cannon fire slowed, Gray and Edward picked up Riza and carried her to the back where the medic was.

They were still receiving gunfire back there so Gray drew a transmutation circle in the snow and made a wall of ice. Edward looked up to see Gray's alchemy being performed. "You're an alchemist?!" he yelled in disbelief. The medic put a large bandage on Riza's arm and she screamed. Edward's attention went back to her. The medic moved to her other arm and gave an injection of morphine. Then he proceeded to start an IV and give her plasma. Edward patted her face telling her to stay awake. Fuery had been setting up his radio in the back and saw Riza and ran to her. The medic told him to call for a jeep to come take Riza to the hospital.

After Fuery radioed in the request, Edward ordered him to make another. "Tell Mustang that the hawk is down. He'll know." Fuery nodded and sent the message.

Not long after, the jeep arrived to carry Riza and General Mustang was in it. Mustang jumped out and ran to her. He helped pick her up with Edward and the medic holding the plasma. They put her on a stretcher that was on the back of the jeep. They sent Connell with them to hold up the plasma while they took her to the hospital. Before the jeep left, Mustang leaned in and said something into Riza's ear. "Don't leave me yet. Stay strong." He beat the jeep signaling it to go.

Mustang turned around and his eyes showed pure anger. Edward saw this and knew what was about to happen. "General wait! You're not supposed to take part in the battle."

Mustang looked at him. "It's personal now."

Mustang was guided to the frontline hole by Gray. The hole that still had Riza's blood in it. He analyzed the enemy's position and started the spark that would become a flame that happened to find where the explosives were kept. The forest on the other side of the field lit up. There were screams and Edward's team looked on in awe of the glow. Then they looked in horror as Cretean soldiers on fire ran onto the field and dropped into the snow.

The gunfire had ceased and an eerie silence came across the forest. Mustang got up and gave an order. "If those men are still alive in the morning, shoot them. It will be merciful compared to the burns they have."

Mustang and Edward met up. Edward's eyes were downcast. He was disappointed that Mustang had chosen revenge but there was conflict. Edward was desperate for the war to end, and if this helped end it sooner, he would be relieved.

Mustang found Fuery and asked him to radio for transport to take him back to base. Mustang then told Fuery to communicate a message to command center. "This part of the border has been reclaimed."

Mustang was taken back to command center. The soldiers bundled up in their foxholes. Edward was relieved from the frontline by Maria Ross and Erza Scarlett, who volunteered to give him a break. Edward took it and got into the hole with Gray and Alphonse, who didn't have time to make a foxhole for him and Fuery.

They covered it with a blanket and that's when Edward remembered Gray had performed alchemy. He questioned Gray about his alchemy.

"I can only do ice alchemy, which means it has to be cold outside. And I'm still a novice at it," Gray answered.

Edward thought about it but then he remembered. "Not necessarily. I've seen other alchemists use ice alchemy despite the temperature outside. If you'd like, Al and I could teach you the basics."

Gray agreed to it but he didn't want to be a state alchemist. "I just don't want to be a dog of the military."

Alphonse and Edward understood but Alphonse spoke. "It's better than it used to be. The leadership change has helped alchemists become more of a tool to help people better their lives though right now it seems we are all dogs of the military. It's your decision but we'll teach you either way."

The three men settled down for the night, and dozed off and on until the morning light shown. Edward opened the blanket a little to let the light in and took out a picture from his breast pocket that Winry had sent recently. She was holding the baby and they were both smiling at the camera. Ben was 5 months old and was holding his head up on his own. Edward looked at the happy faces. One day maybe he'll see them in person but it was hard to imagine if that day would come.