Chapter 3: Hospital Days

A/N: I'm back again! I hope that you guys enjoy chapter three now!

Previously:

Mustang gazed down pityingly upon Al who had pulled his brother's form into his arms, "He is an amnesiac state alchemist- formerly known as Edward Elric." For a moment there was silence, "Also known as the full metal alchemist."

Ava dropped her weapon as though it had burned her, "I- I killed one of our best alchemists?" She gasped.

"No!" Al mumbled in surprise and relief, "Ed is still alive- but he needs to be taken to the hospital immediately if he is to stay alive."

Envy looked on from the shadows, a dark glint in his eyes, "Full Metal will either kill Mustang or die trying, I just know it." And with those soft words he disappeared silently into the shadows.

Now:

Several days had gone by before Ed was able to open his eyes groggily. The room was dark and the shades drawn. In the corner sat the slight figure of Envy, "You've awaken!" He gasped, jumping to his feet, "I had thought that maybe Mustang's men may have taken you from me again!" A dark, disgusted glint flashed momentarily through his eyes as he spoke, Ed paid it no heed feeling as though maybe he had been imagining things.

"I'm sorry Envy." Ed choked out in a pained voice, "I failed you. I'm so sorry!" His voice cracked and gave way to a fit of violent coughing that made his chest and throat burn horridly.

"Don't apologize!" Envy whispered, "For a while you must stay in the hospital until your wounds heal. I will visit you every evening when those bastards from the military aren't standing before your bed, watching to assure themselves that you aren't just going to get up and run away from them."

"Hospital?" Ed shuddered involuntarily- how he seemed to have a loathing for hospitals and their evil needles. (Did I mention milk? No... I suppose not, but we mustn't forget that awful milk that he had a deep hate for.)

"Yes, but only until you are well enough to leave!" Envy sighed and rested his head upon the boy's chest, "I should have known that you were not yet strong enough- you don't even remember how to use your alchemy properly!"

"So many people have mentioned alchemy, you say that I know how to use it too?" Ed clasped his hands together tightly, "then show me."

"Alright." Envy murmured, "But you must promise to take it slowly- do not try anything big just now. Do as I do."

Slowly Envy brought his hands together- tentatively Ed did the same thing. "Now then, imagine your arm becoming a blade and draw your hands apart, knowing full well that you wish to create a lethal weapon."

Ed did as he was told and brought his hands apart after a moment. A sudden, blinding flash of light momentarily occurred and Ed became aware that he had succeeded. In shock he stared down at his metal arm and for a moment he grasped it. "Envy, how did I end up with this metal arm, and this leg?" He touched the sheets near his left leg in emphasis, for somehow he knew that his leg was not real either.

"You used your alchemy- your brother and yourself- to try and bring your mother back to life after she died." Envy said softly, "The experiment went horribly wrong and you lost your limbs while he- Alphonse- lost his body. For nearly four years we searched for a way to bring it back, and finally you did. But, your brother had already joined Mustang by then and we were betrayed."

"I tried- to bring my mother back?" Ed was incredulous, "I didn't think that one could return from the grave."

"And right you were- you created a monster who could not sustain it's life, but in seeing that creature and journeying through the gates you became a prodigy- able to perform alchemy without a transmutation circle. Your skills greatly improved from then on."

"I see." Ed remembered that dream he had had- that beast had been what he created, and that pain had been the loss of his appendages.

There were footsteps in the hallway then and Envy backed nervously away, "If they see me here they will kill me Ed- until the morrow we must part." He couldn't help but laugh at that remark as he leapt through the window and left Ed alone once more.

The pain that had previously been forgotten came back tenfold then and Ed's body immediately curled up into a fetal position beneath the thin blanket as a figure stepped into the room. "The boy is still unconscious sir- I don't think that- hey! What are you doing!"

A foreboding red glow filled the room and then there was darkness. Ed squeezed his eyes shut as heavy footsteps approached him, "You were able to elude me for a while full-metal."

Ed sat up swiftly- although he fell back immediately as a wave of dizziness swept over him, "Why are you doing this?" He moaned, "Why can't you just leave me to myself?"

"I told you in the woods- it is god's will that you return. You are not meant to wander in the land of the living any longer. Three years ago you died." Scar's voice was close to his ear.

"Then- then how do you know that it is not god's will that I live?" Ed called, fearful for his life, "How do you know that I was not- brought back for something important?"

There was no reply as a shadow loomed over him, an indecisive frown on the other's face. "You are wrong Elric. I am certain that there is no true purpose for your return."

"I will not let you kill me." Ed said, "Especially not before I am able to regain my memories."

"So, you truly do not remember who you are? I had thought that you were lying in attempts to save your own life." Scar's tone now held a fragment of doubt on his own part.

"Of course I can't remember! I told you that already!" Light flooded into the room then and the two started.

"It's Scar! He's come to kill Ed!" Alphonse shouted, his voice filled with a dull fear.

Scar merely laughed, a frightening sound and he put his head in his hands as his shoulders shook. "Another day Elric, we will meet again." With those words he, like Envy before him, dove through the open window.

At the sight of Al, Ed's gaze grew blank, he did not wish to see his brother then. "Ed- can you remember anything else?" Al asked hopefully.

"I suppose you mean like how I brought your body back? Oh, but then it was too late, you had betrayed us to the military! How could you do it?"

"Somebody is getting in here while we're gone and filling Ed's mind with these lies!" Al's face paled, "Brother- I would never betray you! We were all each other had, I would never-"

"Ha, save it." Ed muttered, "I don't want to hear it now, just leave."

"But-"

"I said leave you scum!" Ed shouted menacingly.

Al backed towards the door, thoroughly frightened at the look upon Ed's face, "Maybe when you get better."

Ed's eyes concentrated themselves upon the ceiling until Al and the soldiers had left. "Why must I be left with these people." He growled in resentment, "I just want to leave. But first- first I must avenge my dear friend Lust- Mustang and Alphonse must die."

Morning came quickly as Ed drifted in and out of consciousness, dimly he was aware of various nurses stopping in and checking on him as a fever set in. It would seem that his immune system was greatly diminished- he hadn't been exposed ( -- I sat here for five minutes trying to remember the word that I wanted to use... it just wouldn't come to me for some reason...) to the viruses of the new age and grew violently ill before noon.

He felt thankful for only one thing- he was not able to hold in that horrid cow exscretement that some genius had called milk. Hallucinations overtook him and occasionally he fancied that he saw Envy and some large, plump bald man standing at the end of his bed.

"Envy..." He would gasp, and the figure would smile lightly and nod before disappearing once more to the realm of shadows, "Don't go! Don't leave me in this wretched place!"

"Edward, please, now you are being difficult! Drink your milk and-" Ed slammed his fist into the tray before him and sent it's contents through the air.

They landed, splattering everywhere, "Listen, there's no way that I am drinking anything secreted from a cow!" He growled.

"O-of course." The young nurse seemed about to the point of tears but Ed didn't care.

He knew only that if anything were to enter his digestive system before the virus was gone he would be sick to his stomach. He was alone in the room again- they tended now to simply leave him to himself. No visitors came- none that is except for Envy and the large man. "Who is that, Envy?" Ed questioned at last, "Who is it that you bring with you when you visit with me?"

"Don't you remember Gluttony?" Envy questioned cautiously, "Oh, but you took such good care of him!"

"Gluttony?" The name sounded somewhat familiar- but Ed could not grasp its true meaning.

"Yes. Father wished for him to accompany me, hoping that possibly he would trigger some memory or other within you." Envy said softly.

"I cannot remember. Thank you for trying anyway, I will stick with my quest and soon kill Roy Mustang, extracting Lust's revenge."

"Lust..." Gluttony fairly wailed in sorrow, "I miss Lust."

A/N: Well, I think that I'll end chapter three there, I think that if it were to continue... it would seem rather... stretched, you know? Anyway, can't wait to see you all next chapter, don't forget to review for me!

Reviewers Corner:

Not a Shorty: Thanks for the review! I hope to hear more from you!

Yunie: I'm glad that you enjoyed it- here's the update

Fayte Angel: Oh my gosh! You totally read my mind! I had Envy teach Ed to use his alchemy before I was able to read your review... Anyway, hope to see you again.

Adurama: Thanks for the inspirational review... I hope to see you next chapter (I say that way to much)

fullmetal 4eva: That's almost what I always say- except I say 'and the plot thickens' shrugs Everybody has their own little sayings...

DaisyAnimeluvr: Yay! Thanks for reviewing... (I'm a freak for ... if you can't tell already)

Infinitesimi: Thanks a lot for saying that I know that it is a common theme to use- but I wanted to try it out for myself and ended up with a halfway decent story.

LadyRiona: Thanks for reviewing- and for giving me advice and whatnot... I hope that this next chapter is decent... And about Envy- I don't do any of the chapters in his P.O.V. for that very reason :P I prefer to leave all in the dark about his thoughts and emotions- it could, after all, ruin my entire story plan.

Remember guys! My reviewers are what keep me going so don't leave me in the dark on this.

Chapter four is in progress and will be updated possibly sometime this week (It is more than likely by the way) But I would like to continue receiving many reviews from my ever faithful readers- leave feedback for me!

Ja ne

Aka-chan