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ALTERNATE ENDING #2

Warning: Strong violence, torture (I'm not sure if it should be boosted up a rating for torture or not but I think I'll do it just to be safe)

IIIII

A smart person would run from this. A smart person would pick up Elisia, drag Al, and run like there was no tomorrow. But when said person's common sense is blinded by anger, frustration, and pain, said person becomes oblivious to anything around them; especially if that thing happens to be their death perception. Edward kept thinking that if he just stayed strong and concentrated on beating them he would be able to.

How very, very wrong.

The sins were now only two. Lust was left without another thought to die. That was, if she could. She felt as if her whole world was spinning out of control. The small but muscled figure that stood over her was blurred. The figure was Edward who was looking over at Envy and Gluttony with fury in his eyes.

Elisia had somehow made it out of Envy's grasp and made a sprint towards Al who was still sitting there, broken pieces that once made his foot all around him. Edward stood in the way of Envy who had tried to get at Elisia. No wonder, if he had a hold of her, Ed wouldn't attack. But now that he didn't have anything to hold against him he knew that the State Alchemist would go all out. No matter. Having Elisia in their clutches didn't mean they wouldn't win.

"So, Full Mini, you think you're tough? You know, just because you are a State Alchemist doesn't mean you're special or anything," Envy said.

"I have no time to talk," Edward punched Envy in the face, knocking him to the ground.

Envy wiped the blood away from his mouth as he sat up. "Cheap shot. You won't be so lucky next time."

"You'll learn not to mess with the only family I've got left," Edward cracked his knuckles as he walked towards the sin. "I'm pissed off as you can tell."

Envy couldn't help but admit that punch had hurt. He hadn't felt pain like that in a long time. Edward's anger had boosted his power in some way. Seemed strange to the sin. No matter. Envy still had a strong belief that they would be victorious in this fight.

"And I'm pissed off that you're still alive. So I guess we're even."

The blonde went to transmute something but he didn't think anything of Gluttony who charged at him. Before he could complete anything the chubby sin tackled him to the ground.

Ed laid on his back, his head sort of spinning after hitting the floor so hard. He felt breath on his face. He looked up to see Gluttony's face only an inch from his. The teen made a disgusted look and pulled himself out from underneath him.

"Time to eat!" Gluttony declared insanely as he charged once again.

Edward dodged it but then felt something on his shoulder. He spun around to find Envy's fist connecting with his face. He hit the floor once again with both Envy and Gluttony at his side. He tried to get up but Envy dug his foot into the boys chest.

"Ha, Full Mini. Thought that you could beat us? I don't think so, you little nothing," hissed Envy.

Edward put his hand around Envy's foot in an attempt to get it off but Gluttony grabbed both of his hands from behind. He held them tightly leaving Edward with nothing to protect himself with.

"You won't beat me either," Edward said.

There were some insane chuckles from Gluttony. A shiver went down the youth's spine, Oh God please don't let him eat me, Edward thought, I'd rather be shot through the heart then be eaten alive. Then again I shouldn't say that because they just might act out my request.

"How can you say that? We have you right where we want you. On the floor. Helpless. You know you'll die, right? You fell right into this trap hook, line, and sinker. You are so entertainingly stupid when we toy with your emotions. I mean, you should have seen your face when you realized Al was going to fight you," rambled the sin who had a cocky look that Edward couldn't help but hate.

"I came because you had my brother and friend. What the hell did you expect me to do! I'm not going to abandon my friends!"

Edward looked at Al and Elisia just to see if they were okay. Well, they weren't out of danger, but atleast no one was attacking them. Elisia had crawled into Al's arms and started crying once again. The blonde closed his eyes and set his head back down.

What was he doing on his back? He should get up and fight these guys. Just that he already felt defeated. Edward couldn't get his arms away from Gluttony, Envy kept digging into his chest, and the only reason he hadn't started crying out in pain was that Al and Elisia weren't even ten feet away from them. He wouldn't give Envy the satisfaction of that anyway. His face showed signs of extreme pain though.

"Aw, keeping it in?" Envy teased.

"Shutup," Edward hissed through clenched teeth. "I'm not giving in to you."

"As long as you die a horrible death, I don't care if you give into us or not," he replied as he shrugged his shoulder as if he were talking about a nice summers day. "And I'll be the one who'll give out that death sentence. I'll be creative, don't worry."

Gluttony shouted "But Lust said I would be able to eat!"

Envy snorted. "Heh. Look. She's not even able to get up. Does it look like she's in charge anymore?"

In fact, Lust was having trouble breathing, much less getting up.

"I'm hungry!" argued Gluttony.

"Ugh, be quiet, Gluttony. I'm not in any mood to argue with a pig," Envy insulted the short sin. The boy looked down at the teen who was still struggling under their grip. "Now, where were we? Oh. Yes. How can we kill you?"

Edward's eyes widened as Envy pulled out a dagger from what seemed nowhere. Envy sat next to the teen, looking at the short knife with a sadistic smile, as if he were deciding on how he was going to start whatever he was going to do. Edward knew what he was going to do. That's why the widely known emotion known as fear had filled him.

Just like anybody else faced with this situation his imagination started running wild. Man, I have to get loose. I'm not going to let them torture me in front of those two. I just... He struggled once again, trying to pull his arms down as Envy started tearing off his shirt ...I can barely move! Dammit! If I could just get my arms down I could pound him into oblivion!

Envy pointed the dagger at Edward's throat. "So, Full Mini, tell me, what does it feel to be completely helpless?"

"..." Edward looked away. He knew that he was helpless.

"Hey, look at me when I talk to you, brat!" the sin ordered in an annoyed tone. He absolutely hated being ignored.

Edward closed his eyes in an effort to get everything cleared. He just wanted to hit somebody. Preferably Envy. His hands tightened as he felt the dagger started slicing into his chest.

Al couldn't watch. He turned his back, holding Elisia tight so she wouldn't dare try and look. His screams as Envy dug the knife deep into his flesh were ringing throughout the apartment.

Al began to think that there was no way they would make it out of here alive. Were they really going to die? If Ed were going to die here he would die along with him. There was nothing to live for if Ed died. Besides, his brother was the only one who could get him back in his body, his chance at being human would be ruined if he died now. Al wouldn't dare live like this for the rest of his life. That wouldn't be living at all.

Blood. Screams. The carpet absorbing the red liquid underneath the hurting boy. A sadistic smile. Ed could see that smile through the aches and pain.

Was this really the end?

The knife was pulled out of the deep hole in his stomach and there was no time to relax. His arm throbbed when the dagger entered it.

No. This couldn't be the end of it.

Elisia cried even louder as the shouts from Ed worsened. "Don't cry. Everything will be okay. Brother will find a way out," shushed Al as he held her close. "He will. He always does."

"Don't be so sure," Lust hissed through the screams.

The fourteen year old looked at her. She was still laying on the floor, blood dripping slowly from her mouth. But that mouth was smiling even though she felt as if she were dying. Smiling. Al hated it.

"I know he will," Whispered Elisia to Al. Her eyes shut as she caught a small glimpse of the horror. "Make him stop screaming...!"

Edward felt the dagger go back into his gut, deep within his stomach. Envy moved the hilt around, the inside moving also, causing Edward to scream. His throat raw and dry from all of the yelling. He was in so much pain that he couldn't bare thinking about another second of being alive.

"J...Just kill me...!" Edward said.

Al hunched over in defeat. Elisia continued crying.

"Oh no, no, no," said Envy. "This is to much fun. You should see your brother too. I bet if he could cry he would right now. But that little girl is doing all the crying for an army."

Al? Elisia? I-I have to stop this. I have to get up and fight...for Al and Elisia...and myself... thought Edward. I'm failing though...I'm a failure.

If you go fighting those monsters without self-confidence, thinking you're a failure, how do you expect to beat them? Did you ever stop to think that you are a hero to so many people?

Winry, Edward thought as his vision blurred. He was loosing to much blood. His eyes were starting to burn. Dizziness.

You're my hero

Even though he was in so much pain Edward found a strength he hadn't felt before to pull his arms down. Gluttony somehow was thrown off a couple feet away from his feet and hit a table. The small man was easily knocked out. Sitting up was a painful effort but he ripped that dagger out from his stomach.

"Bastard!" shouted Envy as he reached for the knife.

"Like you have room to call names!" Edward replied. He stabbed the dagger into Envy's arm. The sin pulled back. "I'm not going to let you rule over me! You won't kill me! Not in this life and not in the next!"

Edward stood up, holding the wound loosely with his injured arm. Blood fell everywhere in large amounts as if it were natural. He coughed and covered his mouth. He looked at his glove. Blood.

Envy stood up and kicked Edward in the face. Edward stumbled back but held his ground. He clapped and put his hands on the ground.

"Die," hissed Edward.

The sadistic smile turned emotionless. A large spike went through Envy's chest, leaving his lifeless body hanging in the air.

Edward slowly walked past Lust and over to his brother. He fell to his knees, his blood mixed into his breathing. He gargled and vomited blood next to Al whom couldn't believe what was going on. Was his brother dying?

"Brother!" shouted Al. "Come on, brother! We have to get out of here! You need to get out and into a hospital right now!"

Edward looked up at his little brother. "I...I have to fix your foot. You have to run," he said under his breath.

"What are you muttering?" Al truthfully couldn't understand what he had said. He watched his brothers slow movement.

The blonde grunted in horrendous pain as he started the transmutation on Al's foot. All of the pieces rose and came back to form his metallic foot once again. Edward hunched over in pain. The dizziness was beginning to be to much.

"Come on, brother, we need to get out of here," urged the younger Elric.

Elisia looked at Edward with a fear in her eyes. "Big brother? You okay? Why do you have so many owies?"

Edward smirked. He managed a, "It's alright".

"Why aren't you getting up?" Al asked.

"I-I can't...you just run," Edward said.

"I'm not leaving without you, brother. There's nothing that could make me leave without you!" Al said with frustration. "Why do you keep thinking that you have to stay behind? You aren't going to. I won't let you. You aren't going to die here!"

"Al! Listen to me! You're getting out of here!" snapped Edward harshly. "I have to finish what I started. Besides, I won't make it. I'm loosing to much blood to survive. I have to make my last moments meaningful."

Edward stood up and wrapped his arms around Al's waist, embracing both Al and Elisia into a hug.

"I love you guys..." Edward whispered. "Now, you have to get out."

"B-Brother?" Al questioned as the elder brother pulled away. He started backing up and clapped his hands. At the last moment, Al looked around Ed's back to see Lust stabbed him one final time in the back... "What are you doing?"

A thick metal wall divided Al and his brother. Al set Elisia down and started pounding on the door. "Brother! Brother! Stop this! You can make it! I know that you can! If you just come with us to the hospital you can get the help that you need! Don't be stupid! You're all I have left! I need you! I-If I don't have you, what do I have left? Brother! YOU'RE ALL I HAVE LEFT!"

There was no answer.

On the other side, Edward had got the spike out of his back and crawled to Lust and looked at her face. She was near death. Just a minute away.

"Go ahead...I know you want to," Lust hissed softly.

"My pleasure," Edward hit her in the face one last time.

The blonde fell backwards. He closed his eyes and the darkness started slipping over his mind. He could hear the faint noise of Al's voice. His life had been meaningful. Now it was time to let the suffering that his body was going through to end.

Edward's last breath was taken that day, at 4:05 P.M.

After a minute Al saw that it was useless. Sobs echoed in his armor. Elisia looked up sympathetically at the armored boy. A part of Al was ripped from his soul. Ed was dead.

"Brother!" screamed Al as he fell to his knees.

Elisia dug her head into Al's side, sobbing along with him.

IIIII

Al made his way towards Hughes's house. He hated to be the bearer of bad news. How would he say it? Certainly coming outright with the news would just make his death seem even more sad. Though they would want to know why he hadn't come with him.

Elisia had fallen asleep in his arms. Al thanked God that atleast she had survived. Then it hit him. He really was alone. His dad wasn't anywhere to be seen, his mother was dead, and now his only family was dead too. How could this have happened? Why did it have to happen? Edward sacrificed so much for so many people already and now he had to pay with his life?

This is all my fault. I should have been more careful! I shouldn't have gotten kidnapped! I'm so sorry, brother, Al thought sadly.

There really wasn't anything that he could have done though. He hadn't wanted to admit it but what Edward said was true. If he had tried to get out he would have died anyway. He had lost to much blood to survive...

Brother? Will you ever forgive me? Al began to think again as he got to the Hughes's door. I'll understand if he doesn't. If I got myself killed because of my stupidity I wouldn't forgive myself either.

Al knocked nervously. The door swung open to see Winry, then Gracia ran to the door with tears in her eyes as soon as she saw Elisia sleeping in his arms, and Hughes walked over with a big grin. Winry looked around Al. He knew what she was looking for.

"Where's-" Winry began.

Al interrupted before she could begin "He's...not coming back."

Winry's eyes grew wide. "Y-You...mean...?"

Al nodded as he handed Elisia to Gracia. He entered the house with a sigh, "I'm sorry Winry."

"Edward..." softly said Hughes.

Armstrong came over, expecting to see Edward too, but as soon as he saw everyone's faces he knew that he wasn't there.

"I'm so sorry, Al, Winry," apologized Armstrong.

Al didn't say another word. The boy just wanted to be alone for a while. So he separated himself from the others, in the room his brother slept in, and thought to himself about the good times they had had over the years. After all, they were all he had left.

IIIII

By the time supper time rolled around Winry was beginning to worry about Alphonse. She hadn't expected him to be happy but to atleast come downstairs to dinner. Then again, why should he? He wasn't able to eat. But he used to always join them for dinner even if he wasn't able to. She ate her dinner as quickly as she could then remembered what Edward wanted her to give him.

She got upstairs and knocked on the door. A meek, "Come in," came from inside.

Poor Al. Ed was the only family he had left. No wonder he feels so down, thought Winry sadly.

Winry came inside with a fake smile on her face. "Al? Why don't you come down and sit with us? Gracia is planning to take us all out later too, for shopping," Winry informed as she sat next to Al who was sitting in the corner.

"No. I don't want to. Thank you anyway."

Winry frowned. "Al, you know you can't stay up here all the time, right?"

"Why can't I? It's not like I'll starve or dehydrate," he snapped. He saw the hurt expression on his friends face and saw that she was only trying to help. "I-I'm sorry Winry. Just that...E-Ed's gone. It's hard to believe."

"He left a little of himself behind," Winry dug into her pocket and handed him the letter. "He said to give it to you if something happened," The girl stood up, sensing that he wanted to be alone. "I'll leave you to it. Just promise you'll come back downstairs after reading, alright? I don't want you to sit on your thoughts or be lonely."

Al nodded as she left the room. He began to read the letter.

Dear Al,

Hopefully you don't have to read this but I just wanted to prepare for what might happen. I'm really hoping that I'll be alive but, hey, nobody knows what's going to happen, right?

Realizing now that I'm dead while you read this I know, because I've known you all of my life, you'll blame yourself for my death in some way. Nu-uh. No way. Stop it. Stop it. Stop it! There's no way that me dying is your fault. Blame it on the enemy. If there was something you could have done I know that you would have done it.

I want to apologize for everything that I've done to hurt you. I've realized over the years that you've grown up a lot faster then most fourteen year olds should have to. You've come near death, been faced with things you shouldn't have been, and it's because I made the mistake four years ago because I missed Mom. I hope that you don't hate me for me putting you in that metal body. It may have been selfish of me but I didn't want to be the only Elric around, you know?

To tell the truth I don't know where I'd be without you. With my temper I probably would have ended up in jail if you didn't use your common sense. You always were the calmer and cooler one of the us, right? Heh. Even if you used to cry a lot when you were little. I remember when I opened your Christmas present by accident and you cried because you should have opened it. We were silly when we were kids.

I've taken a lot of time to figure you out. I mean, you are more mature then a lot of the adults we know. You always use your common sense. You are so kind to everyone you meet. You'll show mercy to the most villainous person we could meet.

Stay the way you are, Al. You were a great little brother. I just hoped I was a good big brother.

And please try to live on. Life gets hard. I know it can be. It's been no easy road for either of us, I just wish I could be there to see you get your first girlfriend (you WILL get one, I know it, you're a charmer!). Pick out a good one alright?

It's hard to say it. It's always hard to say goodbye and apologize. I'm sorry I didn't get you back in your original body before I passed. I'm sorry that I got you in that body in the first place. I know you hate it. You can hate me a bit for putting you in there, you know. I'd understand.

Though, my biggest regret (and this will sound sappy) is never telling you enough how much I love you. I usually keep my emotions locked up (except for my frustration, sorry!) and don't let people know how close to me they are. You were the closest to my heart and you always will be. So, well, a final goodbye, alright? Take good care of yourself, Winry, and everybody else! I know you can do it!

Your big brother, even in death,

Edward Elric

If Al could cry, he would have.

"You were always a great big brother, Ed, I just wish I got to tell that to you," Al said, his voice cracking a bit. "Though deep in my soul I know that you know it. And that's good enough for me."

IIIII

"Winry?" Hughes said to the girl who was in the backyard, staring up at the passing clouds, her thoughts drifting away in the slowly approaching darkness.

Winry smiled, "Yes?"

"Ed left something behind for ya'," Hughes handed her a paper. "I'm sure he'd want me to give to you so you'll feel better. Alright?"

"Thank you," Winry said. He left one for me too? She thought in a bit of surprise. She began to read eagerly as Hughes headed back into the house.

Dear Winry,

Well, first off, I'd like to thank you. Not a lot of people would stick through with Al and I like you have over the years. I've made a lot of stupid mistakes that put your life in danger too. I'm glad you've been by my side the whole way through.

You've always have been part of Al and I's family. You're our older sister in a way. I usually don't like to ask people for help, but when I get between a rock and a hard place, I'd always come to you. Sometimes I wanted to call you 'sister' just in the way Al calls me 'brother'. I wish I would have just once. Though, you'd probably be confused.

I have to ask you to keep Al's spirits up. With that dream, and you telling me he committed suicide by destroying his own seal, it worries me. If he even thinks about it you rip his arms off and knock his head off with one of those strong hits with your wrench. Remember? The ones that you always used to try and kill me with?

Anyway, thanks. It's been a hard road. I'm sorry that we couldn't have hung out more in these last few years.

Your best friend,

Edward Elric

P.S.: Thanks for the water, sis!

Winry choked back tears as she looked at the letter. "T-Thanks for the water? Ed...you always were strange..." She wiped away tears as she cried the loss of her best friend.

Though, everything will be okay, Winry thought as she wiped away her tears, Everything will be okay. Right Edward?

She looked into the sky and a sign from Edward appeared. It just had to be. A beautiful rainbow appeared in the sky the moment she looked up signaling that he was alright and that they should be too.

IIIII Do I have to say it? ...The End!

Wow. I actually completed the story::throws a party: I do realize that this is MUCH longer then the happy chapter…sorry! I'm just the Angst Queen!

I would like to thank all of my reviewers! Thank you! You all get pocky and...and...my gratitude...?

'Do you remember me ?

Lost for so long.

Will you be on the other side ?

Will you forgive me ?' - Tourniquet, Evanescence

Sakaki's Little Sis