Ed lay looking up at the sky and the clouds that moved slowly above him. Not a care flitted through his mind. This was a rare moment…quiet…almost normal. The teen sighed. If only life could be so simple. He pushed himself up off the lush emerald blanket of grass. There were places he and his brother, Al, needed to be. They were due at headquarters in less than an hour, for one thing. Considering they had missed the train that would have gotten them there half an hour late, and the next one was not arriving for another half-hour, Ed knew that he was destined to be fed the riot act as soon as he finally made it to his destination.

One thing he couldn't stand was the smug look on Colonel Mustang's face whenever he got to chastise the young state alchemist for his minor transgressions. That, and the fact that the damn Colonel seemed to enjoy poking fun at Ed's height. The teen had always been a bit touchy about his short stature, but it became a full blown complex when someone went out of his or her way to comment on it. Al often found himself holding a fuming Ed back in an attempt to keep him from hurting someone, or himself.

Ed rose to his feet and walked back to the station, it was only a short distance away, but he had needed some time to himself to clear his head before heading back to Central. Being a state alchemist, Ed's life was not his own. Though he was permitted to travel the country and do alchemic research on a gem known as the Philosopher's Stone, he was still a dog of the military, bound to the whims and wishes of his superior officers. It wasn't that bad, for the most part, but Ed absolutely hated the paperwork that came along with his position. It was such a waste of time, usually thrown into a filing cabinet without being read anyway. Unfortunately, to gain access to the resources he and his brother needed to reach their goal of regaining what they had lost, Ed had to comply with procedure and continue to serve as a state alchemist. I just have to bear it a bit longer. Someday, when Al and I are back to normal, I can quit the military and lead a peaceful life.

With his hands in his pockets, Ed strolled over to where his brother, a big suit of armor, sat waiting patiently for the train. "Oh, hello, brother. Did you have a nice walk?"

"Yeah, Al, but nothing can make me feel any better about having to report to that damn Mustang again."

"He's not that bad, Ed. You just don't get along with him because he tells you you're short," replied Al.

"Hey! Don't call me short!" raged Ed.

"Calm down brother, I was only kidding," Al said, laughing.

The horn of a train sounded in the distance and the two brothers stopped their banter to gather their limited belongings in preparation for the trip ahead.

As soon as the train arrived, the Elrics hastily boarded and found their seats, attempting to draw as little attention to themselves as possible. However, such a task is hard when a seven foot tall suit of armor squeezes past rows of incredulous passengers. Sinking heavily into the seats nearest the back, the brothers sighed in relief, they had made it this far without any questions.

Ed sat brooding as he stared out the window. Though he had seen far more than anyone his age should have, the thought never crossed his mind that he should let others share his burden. Truthfully, there were many who would love to take up that task, but Ed never allowed it. He stood by his belief that it was his hardship to bear no matter what the cost. Not once did he allow Al to think that any of what had happened was his fault. After all, it had been Ed who had pushed his younger brother into performing forbidden human transmutation despite his misgivings. As a result, Al had lost his body and, very nearly, his life. If Ed had not thought on his feet, giving up his arm to bind his brother's soul to the suit of armor that now sat in from of him, he would have died that day, another casualty lost to the abyss of illicit alchemy. Fortunately, the worst had not happened, and Al was still alive, in the loosest definition of the term. Ed was determined to get back what he had so foolishly caused his younger brother to lose.

The time flew by and soon the train was pulling into the station at Central. The Fullmetal alchemist heaved a sigh and pushed himself to his feet. One step closer to the dreaded report to Mustang. Perhaps if he just walked slowly…