Full Metal Alchemist :Blood of the Snake

Chapter 2: Wishes

The next day, Ed and Al shouldered their packs which were full of supplies for their trip to Winry's. Also, came a gift for Winry. Ed looked back at the office where he and Mustang had had their mock fights and arguements. Was he really gone? Al tapped his shoulder and pointed to the large clock tower. It was time.

The train skidded to a stop, the wheels screaming against the tracks. The doors opened wth a whoosh and everyone crowded in. Ed and Al played their traditional poker in the train and as usual, Ed won. Ed smirked as he quickly dealed the cards and swiftly switched his cards with the ones in his sleeves. Before he could complete it though, Al gripped his arm.

"I knew it! You were cheating brother! How could you?"

"What are you talking about Al? These are...um...part of a spare deck I keep in my sleeve?"

"Oh really? I thought you were cheating. Sorry."

Ed could not believe the stupidity of his brother and was about to voice this thought, when Al's hand smacked the back of his head.

"Liar!"

"Geez! That hurt. It took you that long to figure it out huh?"

"Why...you..."

They argued and mock fought throughout the trip until it was lunchtime. Exhausted, Ed ordered a small turkey sandwich and looked at Al. Al could not eat, of course, since he was just a metal suit. Al looked forlornly at the food and sighed.

"Don't worry Al. We'll find a way to make you normal without me dying..."

"Let's hope brother, let's hope..."

The train traveled on, as the sun came lower and the sky turned blood-red. Al stared outside, while Ed's eyes clouded over, thinking of the past.

Brother! Brother!

Al! Al!

The glowing circle, burning into his eyes...The physical pain, the heart-wrenching pain inside him...

"Brother, we're here."

Ed cleared his head of those memories and sat up to see they were back. Back to where it had all started.

"Purgatory huh..."

"What'd you say brother?"

"Nothing Al...Nothing at all."

They walked outside of the station, to be whacked by soft white. Snow was floating gently down from the sky. Lights were in the air and happiness rang out into their ears.

"Christmas! I forgot brother..."

"I did too Al. It's a good thing we brought a present for Winry."

"Yeah, she would have killed us."

Laughing merrily, they walked past all this joy, into a dark desolate past. Al walked steadily, but Ed felt the pain stab his heart again. They were back, after all this time...

Winry was attacking a new piece of auto-mail. It was almost time for Ed to get reconfigured. She felt the knock before she heard it. Ed and Al were here, after all this time. Opening the door, Ed and Al smiled broadly and lifted a wrapped box to her.

"Merry Christmas!"

Flustered, she smiled and gave them both a big hug.

"Ah...Ow..Winry, my lungs!"

Laughing, she let go of them and wiped a small tear from her eye. Then she whacked Ed in the face and grabbed his ponytail, swinging him to the wall inside. Then, she took Al and threw him over her shoulder, loving the screams they were making.

"Winry! What the hell!"

"That's what you get for staying away for so long!"

Ed was angry, but he could never hurt Winry. He grimaced and grumbled. It was true, they had been away for a long time. But it was because of the work...or was it because they didn't want to know...didn't want to face anymore...Why had he accepted job after job so eagerly? He looked out the window towards their home. It was gone now, decayed with time. As Winry shivered with anticipation, she unwrapped the present. Ed kept staring out the window, lost in thought. Then he saw it. A flicker of movement at their home. Ed opened the window and looked out. He could make out a man-shaped figure. Shaking with rage, he whipped around and tore the door open.

"Al! Someone's at our house!"

"What!"

Ed's yellow eyes flashed as he and Al ran out, with Winry behind them. Who was that person? What was he...or she looking for? He grimaced as he felt the pain ring out through him. Mother...

"Brother! He's coming at you!"

Ed saw the...thing... come at him. It was fast. His yellow hair rippled as he dodged the tackle, while alchemizing his metal hand into a deadly blade. But before he could swing back and attack, he was slashed across the back and thrown to the ground. He cried out as a searing pain climbed across his back. Warm blood was dripping down and he felt a knee ram into him. He coughed up more blood and lay down. The thing went off Ed, thinking he was dead, when Ed grabbed its leg and swung it. Al grabbed it and slammed it to the ground. As the moonlight started to show up, they saw it was a he. An alive he. The man whacked Ed in the nose then flashed a strange claw like hand. Smiling, the man looked at the trio. The man wore sunglasses and they glowed green. Ed got up and saw that it was a database.

"Edward Elric, Full Metal Alchemist, taboo victim, creator of Wrath. Alchemizes without circle. Yellow eyes, yellow hair, red jacket, and State Alchemist. Alphonse Elric. Brother of Edward Elric. Taboo-victim, soul sealed into armor by a blood seal. Winry Rockbell. Daughter of Rockbells from the war. Auto mail maker. Database complete."

"How the hell did it know all that!"

"Brother! Get away!"

Ed turned around in time to see the man twist his arm and reach into his jacket.

"Oh you want my jacket huh!"

Ed ripped it off, showing the curse he had come upon. The metal arm. He swung back and kicked the man across the chest. The man stood unfazed. Then he looked at his hand and smirked. The man stared at Ed, entranced as Ed became sleepier and sleepier. Finally, Al yelled as Ed crumpled onto the ground, the man laughing hysterically as Ed lost unconsciousness.

"Look. He's coming around..."

Ed slowly opened his eyes as the light filtered into his sight. Winry and Al looked at him as he gingerly sat up. His arm and leg had been reconfigured while he was asleep. The metal was lightweight yet very durable.

"You don't want to stand up yet. The metal gets strong after a few days, so you'll have to stay here."

" Brother, are you ok?"

"Yeah. Al, what happened?"

"That man made you fall asleep..."

"Hypnotism."

"Yeah. Then he just disappeared. Like evaporating air or something."

Ed wanted to fall asleep, but then felt a familiar weight gone. He reached beside his belt. It wasn't there!

"Al...He took my watch."

"What!"

"Why would he do that?"

"That's what I'm hoping to find out."

"Well. You two will have to wait till after Christmas so that Ed can get his leg set."

"Do you mind if we stay here Winry?"

"Of course not. But on one condition. I'm coming with you."

"Ah...Fine. No sense in arguing with you."

The trio smiled as they felt Christmas joy creep back into them. Winry held out a big plate of cookies and grinned. Then, they all lept onto it, grabbing around for cookies. Their laughter echoed in the house as Winry's present, a glass dog, twinkled in the light.

Meanwhile, a mysterious figure with violet eyes watched them. It fingered the silver watch tenderly, eyes gleaming.

"You have done well. This watch is all we need to revive our knowledge. You will be rewarded."

"Thank you master. All is according to plan then?"

"Yes. They have taken the bait and bit more than they can chew."

Then the figure threw its head back to let out a chilling laugh. It grew louder, almost a shriek as he laughed and laughed. The servant shivered as he felt the darkness in his master. It would soon be over. Soon...

Wings: Alrite. A little longer but not by much.

Ed: Ow, i got battered so bad.

Wings: That's your fault

Ed: how?

Wings: You're short

Ed: WHAT!

Wings: fighting off Ed Cya