Full Metal Alchemist: Blood of the Snake

Wings: I finally found a wonderful alien to speak to!

Alien:I got a question for you to ponder about

Wings: And that is?

Alien: How is it that you humans cannot conceive the fact that you are not in control?

Wings: Um...well it seems that we feel vulnerable when we are not in control of the things that could endanger us.

Alien: I pity you humans.

Wings: Ah shut up you windbag.

Alien: Am I a windbag?

Wings: Oh for God's sake! You turn even insults into psycological observations!

Alien: This shows how naive you humans are, wasting your energy and time on insults.

Wings: Lord help this poor soul

Alien: I think it is you humans who are the poor souls

Chapter 3: Burden

A week had passed since Christmas. The snow was gone now, nothing left but the bitter cold. Ed's leg and arm had been remade and configured to his height. Now he ran in the pasture, testing out the auto mail. The metal was composed of a new alloy that was lighter than a feather, and yet still durable enough to be as strong as the bone of dinosaur. It had then been reinforced with a metal coating that would make it a bit heavier, but even mroe durable. He could run faster now with the heavy burden of his old auto mail gone. The wind whipped his hair back as he smiled. The sun was shining brightly, even though it was still cold. He finally stopped to let Al catch up. Al clunked over, the metal body echoing his hollowness. Ed felt a pang in his heart. Would Al ever turn back? Ever feel the wind again, the sunlight bathe him in its golden glory? He lay down on the grass, his red coat gone. The grass felt cool against his remaining human body parts. He felt the pang again. Was his mother the cause of all this torment? Was she punshing them for something? He felt betrayed. His mother was punishing them for breaking a law that they had diligently learned, stupidly ignored. He felt even more guilt for thinking his mother was the cause of this. If he had believed in religion, he would have blamed Satan, or anything else that resembled the devil. He felt the betrayal and guilt slowly wash away. He was to blame. He had pushed Al to this, pushed himself to this conclusion. Al stood still, knowing that his brother was in deep thought, his armor glinting in the sunlight.

"Brother...shouldn't we get going?"

"Ah! Get yourself together Ed. Yea! Let's get going."

Ed stood up and with Al, he walked down the path and towards a new intersection road. One way was to the train station and the other to Winry's. Ed looked at Al and he nodded.

"We should leave Winry behind. It's too dangerous."

"Right Al. Let's get going."

Winry saw them leave. She had been using binoculars to stare at some birds when she had seen Ed and Al start to leave. They probably thought it was too dangerous for her. And they were probably right. She lowered her eyes, invisible tears falling down from them. How many times had they just left? How many more times must she feel their pain and develop more of her own? She took one last look at the road and put the binoculars down. They clattered on the floor as Winry crumpled onto her knees. She now cried freely, small snuffling sobs echoing into the room. A hand touched her shoulder. It was her grandmother (is it aunt or grandmother, someone tel me). Winry cried, not caring if anyone was watching. She could not handle the burden anymore. She could not take care of them...

"Winry, they never asked for you to take such a burden. You undertook it yourself, so at any time you may drop it."

Winry snapped her head up, her eyes wide. She could...no! She wouldn't. They needed her more than she needed them. She was their only support, the only thing left from their horrible childhood. But wouldn't it be better if that childhood disappeared? She was so confused. Finally, her thoughts settled into one complete answer.

"No grandmother. I will not give them up. They need me."

Her grandmother nodded and smoked her pipe. Winry looked out the window, noticing the clouds gathering. It was going to rain soon. She sniffed once and got up onto her feet.

Ed...Al...be careful, come back safe...

Ed felt a shot go through his heart. Something was wrong. He looked outside, to see the darkness surrounding the sky. Wasn't it just sunny? He knew that was not the only thing troubling him. It was Winry. She had always been with them since the start. Why was it growing so dark? She was like a sister to them. Other people started to notice the darkness. Nevertheless, they always left her behind, for her own safety, and to do what they had to by themselves. Was this simply a matter of pride? The lightning flashed into the air. He felt an all-new feeling. It was a warmth towards Winry. Did he...The lightning seemed a little too close. Did he actually...

"AAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH!"

Ed crashed back as lightning slammed into the train station. All the lights shut down, the screech of the train brakes split the air. People immediately panicked and screams spread out one by one. Al ran to Ed, wondering what in the world was happening. Ed stood up, slightly singed, but not damaged.

"Al! Stand back!"

"Wha...?"

Another lightning bolt struck out of the sky. It hit the ground in a blue wonder. A burning smell filled the whole station. A haunting laughter filled the air. A man-like figure stumbled out of the blackened area. The laughter continued, becoming more hysterical. Ed felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand up. He couldn't help but shudder. Al shook slightly, scared of what would appear. Suddenly, the smoke surrounded the man completely as if it did not want to be seen. Ed stared into the darkness, into teh infinite blackness. Two crimson eyes showed through the smoke, staring right through him. The color of blood...

"Edward Elric..."

Ed felt his eyes follow the red eyes as it moved around slowly and steadily. He grew sleepy and then crumpled on the ground.

"Brother!"

The man swiftly went to Ed, the smoke still covering him. Al started towards Ed, when he felt it. The man was grinning. Something was wrong. The man put his fingers behind Ed's neck and Ed's eyes pierced open, something different. Al's eyes widened. Ed screamed a piercing shriek, bouncing off the walls, echoing in everyone's minds. He kept screaming, the pain clear in his voice. Al felt the pain and saw his brother stagger up. Ed grabbed his head and shook it, stumbling as he fought to keep his balance. He fell on his knees, still clutching his head, still screaming. Then the scream changed. It turned into a throaty chuckle. Then it grew into a laugh, more chilling than the man's had been. Ed looked up at Al and Al froze in place.

"Al...Come here Al."

Al stood frozen. His brother's eyes...they were different. The mischevious glint, the sparking life was gone. It had been glazed over and the yellow dulled by a misty...red. Blood red. Ed smiled and then alchemized the whole ground. Al saw it before it came. But it was too late, he was already sailing into the air. As he fell, he reached out to break his fall, but Ed slapped his hands onto the ground again, sending an alchemized concrete spike pierce into Al. The hole was large, about the size of someone's head. Al's eyes dulled, he was losing life. Not because he was in pain, but because his brother had done this to him...Brother...Brother...BROTHER!

Wings: Yea i kno, it's really short. But hey, i got the climax to worry about. hahaha

Ed: Im possessed!

Wings: Yea, you're better that way.

Al: Myt brother! You evil son of a...

Wings: No swearing! Cya later!